US33244A - Improvement in breech-loading ordnance - Google Patents

Description

J. A. FRANCE. Breech-Loading Ordnance.

Patented Sept 10, 1861.

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N- PETERS. Puom-urnoampnsn. wAsmuaToN. n cl JOSEPH A. FRANCE, OF COBLESKILL, NEV YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN BREECH-LOADING ORDNANCE.

Specification forming part of' Letters Patent No. l, dated September l0, 1861.

.To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, J osnPH A. FRANCE, of Cobleskill, in the county of Schoharie, in the State of N ew York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Breech-Loadi'ng Cannon; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specication, in which- Figure l is a longitudinal elevation, the red lines showing the yoke raised preparatory to the withdrawal or insertion of the combined breech -pin and charge-chamber; and Fig. 2, a longitudinal vertical section of the same, the yoke being in position and'confning the breech-pin and charge-chamber in the breech of the gun.

The nature of my invention consists in the arrangement of the confining-screw, and its relation to the yoke and the head of the breechpin, whereby, by a single continuous motion,

the yoke is depressed and the breech-pin clamped, or the yoke is elevated and the breechpin released. It also consists in the peculiar construction of the breech-pin and chargechamber, and in the manner in which these are confined in their chamber in the gun.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

The barrel of the gun is bored through from muzzle to breech, as is usual in this class of cannon but at the point a a shoulder is formed from which the bore gradually increases in diameter back to the extreme breech of the gun. This is for the purpose of receiving the combined breech-pin and charge-chamberA, which is constructed with asolid head, b, toe c, touchhole or nipple d, shoulder e, and truncated hollow cone f.

The yoke B is hinged at the ends of its legs to the trunnions of the gun, as shown at h, and has out through the bow part a female screw, which receives the male screw j, which has a winch, C. Attached to lugs proceeding from the under side of the gun is the hinged lever D, the upper end of which engages with the toe c.

Such is a general description of my improvements. The details which go more distinctly to mark the invention may now be pointed out, and thiswillbebest done by describing the operthe yoke, without a moments intermission,

raises the yoke j ustsuficient to clear the breech pin. This done, the same cannonier, or another, if preferred, gives the lever G a rap which expels the combined breech-pin and charge-chamber onto the ground, and a duplicate breech-pin and charge-chamber, whichV last has in the meantime been filled with powder and ball, is instantly inserted by a second cannonier when the first depresses the yoke, and follows that motion closely with a halfturn of the winch downward, which firmly secures the breech-pin, the head of said breech pin being concave, so that the concussion may not throw the yoke up, which might be the case'were the head plane or were it beveled, so as to act like a wedge on the yoke, and the screw dispensed with.

It will be seen from the description of this part of my invention that great rapidity of loading and ring is secured, a single motion, although not in a right line, being sufficient to release the breech-pin, and a like movement in a contrary direction all that is requisite for securing it. The charge-chambery, it will be observed, is thin at its edge or mouth, and is of a diameter there a little greater than that of the general bore of the gun. This last feature is for the purpose of receiving the ball at its greatest diameter, so that in effect the ball is lodged, previous to the discharge, in a chamber specially provided for it of a larger diameter than the bore of the gun. The object of the first feature is to secure a close joint between the barrel andthe charge-chamber, the gas expanding the said charge-chamber s o as to effect this, and, what is of equal importance, creating so much friction between the two that this of'itself is nearly sufficient to retain the breech-pin in its place during the discharge, thus allowing the yoke to be made so light that a single hand can operate it unless the gun be a very heavy pounder.

Any number of combined breech-pieces and A discharge is supposed charge-chambers may be used 'that is found convenient. This avoids too great heat of the parts, while the gun itself may be cooled at any time by dashing cold water on it.

TheA charge-chambers may beloaded in the field. The powder is poured loosely in and pressed down by the ball, which is forced into the mouth of the chamber, where it remains by friction. This method of charging avoids the use of all cartridge paper or cloth, and consequently one of the great dangers of accidental explosion.

Instead of the lever D to be operated by hand, the combined breech-pin and charge chamber may be thrown out automatically. This is effected by extending a toe down from one or both ends ot' the legs of the yoke under the trunnion7 and extending a rod back along one or both sides of the gun to act upon one or two projections from the sidesof the head ofthe breech-pin. The toes and rods being thus arranged, the elevation of the yoke moves the rod or rods back and forces out the breech-pin and chargechamber, they being moved forward again either by means of coiled springs or the projections on the breech-pin as the said breech-pin is forced into the bore of thegun; or the rod or rods may be hinged to the toe or toes.

If a nipple is used with the breech-pin, instead of the touch-hole shown, the lock or han'imer may be placed either on the yoke B or in the usual place.

I-Iaving thus described myinvention, I wish it to be understood that I do not claim7 broadly7 the use of a yoke and screw for .securing the breech-pin of a cannon. I claim them only (in connection with a winch) when they are constructed and arranged so as to admit of securing and releasing the breech-pin and chargechainber, each by a single motion in nearly a right line. Neither do I claim, broadly, a combined breech-pin and charge-chamber, the latter being a hollow truncated cone; but

Vhat I do claim as of myinvention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. The combination of the yoke Bvwith its screw j and winch C, when constructed and operating substantially as set forth.

2. The combined breech pin and chargechamber when the former is provided with a thick concave head and the latter has a bore at its month larger than the bore ot' the barrel, as set forth.

3. The combination7 with the yoke B, screw j, and winch C, of the combined breech-pin and cl'iarge-chan'lbcrA, as and for the purpose described.

JOSEPH A. FRANCE.

Vitnesses:

E. S. XViLLsoN, A. B. LITTLE.

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