US3074322A - Breech mechanism for an artillery device of the muzzle-loading type - Google Patents

Breech mechanism for an artillery device of the muzzle-loading type Download PDF

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Publication number
US3074322A
US3074322A US120813A US12081361A US3074322A US 3074322 A US3074322 A US 3074322A US 120813 A US120813 A US 120813A US 12081361 A US12081361 A US 12081361A US 3074322 A US3074322 A US 3074322A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
striker
percussion
guide
rod
ring
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US120813A
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English (en)
Inventor
Jasse Joseph Raymond
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Hotchkiss Brandt SA
Original Assignee
Hotchkiss Brandt SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Hotchkiss Brandt SA filed Critical Hotchkiss Brandt SA
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Publication of US3074322A publication Critical patent/US3074322A/en
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Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F41—WEAPONS
    • F41A—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS COMMON TO BOTH SMALLARMS AND ORDNANCE, e.g. CANNONS; MOUNTINGS FOR SMALLARMS OR ORDNANCE
    • F41A19/00—Firing or trigger mechanisms; Cocking mechanisms
    • F41A19/06—Mechanical firing mechanisms, e.g. counterrecoil firing, recoil actuated firing mechanisms
    • F41A19/25—Mechanical firing mechanisms, e.g. counterrecoil firing, recoil actuated firing mechanisms having only slidably-mounted striker elements, i.e. percussion or firing pins
    • F41A19/27—Mechanical firing mechanisms, e.g. counterrecoil firing, recoil actuated firing mechanisms having only slidably-mounted striker elements, i.e. percussion or firing pins the percussion or firing pin being movable relative to the breech-block
    • F41A19/29—Mechanical firing mechanisms, e.g. counterrecoil firing, recoil actuated firing mechanisms having only slidably-mounted striker elements, i.e. percussion or firing pins the percussion or firing pin being movable relative to the breech-block propelled by a spring under tension
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F41—WEAPONS
    • F41A—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS COMMON TO BOTH SMALLARMS AND ORDNANCE, e.g. CANNONS; MOUNTINGS FOR SMALLARMS OR ORDNANCE
    • F41A19/00—Firing or trigger mechanisms; Cocking mechanisms
    • F41A19/06—Mechanical firing mechanisms, e.g. counterrecoil firing, recoil actuated firing mechanisms
    • F41A19/25—Mechanical firing mechanisms, e.g. counterrecoil firing, recoil actuated firing mechanisms having only slidably-mounted striker elements, i.e. percussion or firing pins
    • F41A19/27—Mechanical firing mechanisms, e.g. counterrecoil firing, recoil actuated firing mechanisms having only slidably-mounted striker elements, i.e. percussion or firing pins the percussion or firing pin being movable relative to the breech-block
    • F41A19/29—Mechanical firing mechanisms, e.g. counterrecoil firing, recoil actuated firing mechanisms having only slidably-mounted striker elements, i.e. percussion or firing pins the percussion or firing pin being movable relative to the breech-block propelled by a spring under tension
    • F41A19/39—Cocking or firing mechanisms for other types of guns, e.g. fixed breech-block types, forwardly-slidable barrel types
    • F41A19/40—Double-action mechanisms, i.e. the cocking being effected during the first part of the trigger pull movement

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to breeches of the type provided with a percussion mechanism, intended for mortars and other artillery devices of the muzzle-loading type, and adapted to permit either an automatic percussion or a controlled percussion, the striker or percussion pin being held for automatic percussion in a protruding position with respect to the breech face in such manner as to strike automatically the primer of the cartridge placed at the rear of the projectile, when the latter has completed its downward travel inside the gun barrel or tube, whereas in the position of controlled percussion, the striker pin is in a withdrawn position relative to the breech face, percussion being then obtained by moving a percussion lever.
  • the object of the invention is to provide a breech of this type, which is of simple and sturdy construction, proof against all hazards and errors of operation and permits of an effective protection of its percussion mechanism against foreign bodies (sand, mud and the like).
  • an internally screw-threaded ring which is rotatably mounted on the breech block and with which are engaged the threaded ends of a transverse rod which protrude from the said breech block, said rod being housed in a chamber of the breech block and extending through a longitudinal striker guide, and the striker extending through said rod, whereby when said ring is rotated, said rod is moved in a direction parallel with the axis common to the striker guide and the striker and consequently said striker guide and striker are moved longitudinally from a position of automatic percussion to a position of controlled percussion, and inversely.
  • FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line 11 of FIG. 2, of a breech for a mortar or like artillery device of the muzzle-loading type, improved in accordance with the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a corresponding plan view
  • FIG. 3 is a rear-end view
  • FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view on a larger scale than that of FIG. 1, of the controlled percussion housing and of the knob controlling the locking means associated therewith determining safety and firing positions;
  • FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 4;
  • FIG. 6 1s a partial sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 4, and,
  • FIG. 7 is a plan view of the push-rod of the percussion mechanism.
  • the reference character T represents the extremity of the barrel or tube of a mortar or like device of the type loaded though the muzzle end with projectiles and provided at the rear with a cartridge which contains the firing or launching charge.
  • the breech block ll having a front portion 2 which is adapted to be mounted on the barrel T and rearwardly extended by a breech block neck 3 which has a generally cylindrical shape and terminates in a breech block head 4 designed to be engaged and supported, through the medium of a spherical dome-shaped end face 5, in the recess of a base plate of conventional type (not shown in the drawings).
  • the breech block 1 is provided on its longitudinl axis XX with a cylindrical stepped bore comprising a screw threaded portion a, smooth cylindrical portions 7, 8 and and a screw threaded portion 9
  • the portion 7 is intersected at right angles by a diametral hole or chamber 10 having an oblong cross-sectional shape (see FIG. 2), said hole or chamber communicating with the cylindrical outer face 11 of the neck 3.
  • the neck 3 comprises a radial aperture 12 which communicates both laterally and upwardly with the outer face of the neck 3 and is closed by a lateral plate 13 which is movable against the neck 3 and by a top plate 14 fixed to said neck by screws 1d.
  • the latter comprises a striker P composed of a striker point portion 16, a cylindrical portion 17 forming with the portion 16 a shoulder -18, and a body 19 provided with a blind axial hole ill. Housed in said blind hole 2%) are a percussion spring 21 and a push-rod 22.
  • the latter is provided with a longitudinal slot 23 (shown in FIGS. 1 and 7) and is connected to the striker P by a pin 24 extending through the push-rod 22, the latter being provided for this purpose with a diametral hole 25' (shown in FIG, 7).
  • the two ends of the pin 24 are capable of sliding in two longitudinal slots 26 formed in the body 19 of the striker P.
  • the striker P is held in position on the axis XX by a tubular striker guide 28 having a stepped cylindrical outer face, the forward portion thereof sliding in the portion 7 of the axial bore of the breech block, while the rear portion is slidable in the portion 8 of said bore.
  • the portion 17 of the striker P extends out of the forward end of the guide 28 and the portion 16 is axially movable within a plug 29 screwed into the portion 6 of the axial bore of the breech block.
  • the plug 29 is pro vided with a stepped axial hole 30, the two portions of which form a shoulder 31, the front portion of smaller diameter serving as a guide for the point portion 16 of the striker.
  • a device comprising a ring 33 rotatably mounted on the cylindrical face 11 and co-axial with the axis XX of the breech block.
  • This ring 33 is rigidly fixed by a screw 34 or the like to an outer control ring 35.
  • These two rings are held firmly applied against a lateral surface 36 of the portion 2 of the breech block by a washer 37 which is in turn held in position by a split elastic ring 38 engaged in. a circum- 3, ferential groove 39 formed in the face 11 of the portion 3 of the breech block.
  • the unit formed by the two rings which is consequently rotatable about the axis X-X, can be manually shifted through the medium of the outer ring 35, to two positions in which a projecting portion 40 provided on the outer ring and forming an index is brought in alignment with one or the other of two reference points A and C corresponding to automatic percussion and controlled percussion respectively.
  • These two stop positions of the rings are precisely determined by means of a stud 41 which is slidably mounted in the outer ring 35 and is thrust for- Ward by a spring 42, said stud engages in one or the other of two cavities, such as the cavity 43, formed in the lateral face 36 of the portion 2 of the breech block.
  • the inner ring 33 is provided, in the inner portion thereof centered on the cylindrical face 11 of the breech body, with a helical thread 44 (FIG. 1). Engaged with this thread are two corresponding threads 45 and 45 formed in the two ends of a rod 46 constituting a cross-piece perpendicular to the axis XX. Said cross-piece is housed in the hole of the breech block and its two threaded ends protrude outwardly from the face 11 to the extent of the depth of the thread so as to engage with the internal thread 44 of the ring 33.
  • the stud 49 causes a housing 50 of the controlled percussion mechanism to participate in the longitudinal displacement of the guide 28 and the striker P, said stud 49 downwardly protruding from the housing 50.
  • the housing 50 on which is laterally mounted the closing plate 13 (FIGS. 2 and 5), is mounted to slide in a direction parallel with the axis XX by means of two lateral flanges 51 (FIGS. 5 and 6) engaged in two grooves 52 forming slideways provided in two lugs of the plate 14 mounted on the neck 3.
  • a skirt 53 forming an upward extension of the stud 4-9 (FIGS. 4 and 6) is slidably mounted in the housing 56 at right angles to the axis XX.
  • the unit formed by said skirt and the stud 49 is urged downwardly by a spring 54*.
  • the bottom position of the stud, in which the latter is engaged in the hole 49 of the guide 28 and the hole 49* of the striker P, is determined by a stop pin 54 (FIG. 6) which is carried by the housing 50 and encounters the top end of a recess 55 which is formed in the skirt and into which the said stop pin extends.
  • the nose 59 of the trigger 58 has such length that it enters the elongated slot 23 of the push-rod 22 which the percussion spring 21 urges rearwardly. ins, swinging the lever 61 in the direction of arrow f (FIGS. 1 and 4) about the axis YY shifts the lever 22 forwardly and compresses the spring 21.
  • the trigger 58 is provided with a second stop-catch 62 formed between a flat face 63 (FIG. 4) and a curved face 64.
  • a lock 65 adapted to move in the direction Z-Z (FIG. 5 at right angles to the axis YY and intersecting the axis X-X, co-operates with the stop-catch 62 and with the faces 63 and 64.
  • the lock 65 is constituted by the end of a screw 66 on which is screwed a nut 67 which is capable of turning about but cannot be displaced along the axis 2-2.
  • the nut 67 is centered in a hole 63 in the plate 14 and upwardly bears against a counterbore 69 formed in the bottom face of the plate 14.
  • the knob 71 guides the screw 66 which is provided for this purpose with an extended portion 76; a clearance a slightly greater than the travel a of the screw 66 is provided between an annular flange 77 of the screw and the bottom face 78 of the knob portion forming a guide for the screw 66.
  • the breech is in the position of controlled percussion since the index 40 of the ring 47 is in alignment with the reference point C and, furthermore, in the safety position since the index 72 of the knob 71 is in alignment with the reference point S.
  • the cross-piece 46 is in its rear position and thus holds the striker P in the position of controlled percussion by means of the guide 28 and the stud 49, the striker point being withdrawn inside the hole 30 of the plug 29. Further, the trigger 58 is prevented from turning about the axis Y-Y in the direction of arrow f as a result of the contact between the catch 62 of said trigger and the lock 65 which is in its lower position over the plane face 63 of said trigger.
  • the safety knob 71 To render controlled percussion possible it is essential to rotate the safety knob 71 about the axis Z--Z through an angle x in the direction of arrow f (FIG. 2) as to bring the index 72 in alignment with the reference point F.
  • the knob 71 rotates the nut 67 about the axis Z-Z and said nut causes the upward longitudinal displacement of the screw 66 through a distance a which is slightly less than s and is such that the lock 65 is withdrawn not only above the catch 62 but also outside the path of the curved profile 64 during rotation of the trigger 58 about the axis YY and above the plane W---W (FIG. 4) intersecting the top face of the stop 74.
  • This lever actuates the trigger 58 through the medium of the pin 60 and results in, firstly, the arming of the percussion device by means of the nose 59 or" said trigger, said nose urging forward the push-rod 22 while the pin 24 of said push-rod moves forward inside the elongated slots 26 of the striker P which is held stationary by the stud 49; tension is thus applied to the spring 21.
  • the catch 57 encounters the end of the recess 56 of the skirt 53 of the stud 4% and displaces the latter upwards such distance as to Withdraw from the hole 49 in the striker P; the striker P is thereupon released and, under the action of the stressed spring 21, the striker is thrown forward until its point passes to the position 16 and strikes the primer of the cartridge.
  • the curved profile 64 of the trigger 58 prevents the lock 65 from completing its downward movement and thus prevents the knob from being placed in the safety position.
  • the unit is so designed as to avoid any accident when withdrawing the striker following on such a misfire, in particular if the shot is fired accidentally and the gun tube recoils during this withdrawal.
  • the projecting portion 40 of the ring 35 which effects the movement of withdrawal of the striker is so positioned that the foot or hand of the operator cannot be caught in the movement of recoil of the gun since the projecting portion is located outside the tube structure while the thrust controlling the movement of withdrawal of the striker is directed at right angles to the direction of any such recoil movement.
  • the hole 10 in which the cross-piece 46 moves constitutes an expansion chamber which substantially reduces any danger of penetration inside the percussion mechanism of the gases which emanate from the combustion of the powder and pass through the clearances between the striker P and the plug 29.
  • a breech mechanism for an artillery device of muzzle loading type the breech mechanism being adapted for selectively permitting controlled and automatic percussion
  • the breech mechanism comprising a breech block having a longitudinal axis, and provided with an axial bore, said breech block being further provided with an aperture extending transversely of said axis and in communication with said bore, said aperture having a cross-section which is elongated in a direction parallel to the axis of the breech block, a striker guide slidably supported in the axial bore, said guide being provided with first and second cylindrical bores of different diameters each extending a part of the length of the guide and communicating with one another to cooperatively form a through going bore in said guide, a one piece body in said striker guide constituting a percussion member, said percussion member including a first portion constituting a striker adapted for penetrating the bores of said striker guide, and a second portion slidably supported in one of the cylindrical bores of said guide,
  • a mechanism as claimed in claim 1 comprising cntrol means coupled to the striker guide and operably connected to the percussion member to selectively couple said striker guide and percussion member together to enable manual control of said percussion member for controlled percussion.
  • a mechanism as claimed in claim 3 comprising means for selectively locking said trigger means including a lock engageable with said trigger means to block movement of the same and means coupled to said lock and movable between first and second positions for moving the block into and out of engagement With the trigger means in correspondence with the position of the lock.
  • a mechanism as claimed in claim 4, wherein the means for moving the lock includes a knob, said knob being movable between safety and firing positions, said trigger means being blocked against movement with said knob in said safety position, said housing including a stop cooperating with said lock to prevent displacement of said percussion member to a position corresponding to automatic percussion with said knob in safety position, the latter said stop preventing movement of said knob to safety position with said guide in position corresponding to automatic percussion.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Portable Nailing Machines And Staplers (AREA)
  • Electrophonic Musical Instruments (AREA)
  • Snaps, Bayonet Connections, Set Pins, And Snap Rings (AREA)
US120813A 1960-05-10 1961-05-02 Breech mechanism for an artillery device of the muzzle-loading type Expired - Lifetime US3074322A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR826794A FR1264561A (fr) 1960-05-10 1960-05-10 Culasse perfectionnée pour engin d'artillerie à chargement par la bouche

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3074322A true US3074322A (en) 1963-01-22

Family

ID=8731109

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US120813A Expired - Lifetime US3074322A (en) 1960-05-10 1961-05-02 Breech mechanism for an artillery device of the muzzle-loading type

Country Status (9)

Country Link
US (1) US3074322A (is)
BE (1) BE602185A (is)
CH (1) CH366475A (is)
DE (1) DE1145518B (is)
ES (1) ES267889A1 (is)
FI (1) FI40073C (is)
FR (1) FR1264561A (is)
GB (1) GB900520A (is)
NL (2) NL111110C (is)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2396945A1 (fr) * 1977-07-09 1979-02-02 Diehl Detente a rappel automatique
US4744283A (en) * 1986-03-17 1988-05-17 Esperanza Y Cia, S.A. Mortar
US8277141B1 (en) * 2011-01-04 2012-10-02 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army Ball and socket joint for indirect fire weapon
US10386144B1 (en) * 2018-09-10 2019-08-20 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army Firing mechanism assembly
US10830549B1 (en) 2018-06-27 2020-11-10 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army Handle and firing mechanism assembly

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4483250A (en) * 1983-04-14 1984-11-20 Thiokol Corporation Flare manual safety device
DE19633904C2 (de) * 1996-08-22 2000-01-20 Rheinmetall W & M Gmbh Vorderladerwaffe
FR2796140B1 (fr) * 1999-07-09 2002-08-23 Giat Ind Sa Dispositif de mise a feu pour artillerie par percussion d'une etoupille

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB623708A (en) * 1946-07-01 1949-05-20 Brandt Edgar Ets Improvements in and relating to mortars

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2444920A (en) * 1947-01-13 1948-07-13 Jr George B Davis Firing mechanism
NL93055C (is) * 1949-03-15 Brandt Soc Nouv Ets

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB623708A (en) * 1946-07-01 1949-05-20 Brandt Edgar Ets Improvements in and relating to mortars

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2396945A1 (fr) * 1977-07-09 1979-02-02 Diehl Detente a rappel automatique
US4744283A (en) * 1986-03-17 1988-05-17 Esperanza Y Cia, S.A. Mortar
US8277141B1 (en) * 2011-01-04 2012-10-02 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army Ball and socket joint for indirect fire weapon
US10830549B1 (en) 2018-06-27 2020-11-10 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army Handle and firing mechanism assembly
US10386144B1 (en) * 2018-09-10 2019-08-20 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army Firing mechanism assembly

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE1145518B (de) 1963-03-14
FI40073B (is) 1968-05-31
BE602185A (fr) 1961-07-31
NL108457C (is)
CH366475A (fr) 1962-12-31
NL111110C (is)
GB900520A (en) 1962-07-04
ES267889A1 (es) 1961-09-01
FR1264561A (fr) 1961-06-23
FI40073C (fi) 1968-09-10

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