US381264A - Wilhelm loeenz - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

- W. LGRENZ.

PERCUSSION FUSE.

No. 881,264. Patented Apr. 17, 1888.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILHELM LORENZ, OF CARLSRUHE, BADEN, GERMANY.

PERCUSSION-FUSE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No; 381,264. dated April 17, 1888.

' Application filed J une 22, 1887. Serial No. 242,099. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILHELM LORENZ, of Carlsruhe,'Baden, in the Empire of Germany, have invented a certain new and useful improvement relating to percussion-fuses or reactionplugs in metal cartridgecases for` breech-loading cannons, for utilizing the action of the explosion-gases for driving back the striking-bolt and appurtenances, and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof.

The reaction-plugs are so disposed between the striker and the primer in the cap-chamber of metal cartridge-cases, or in the priming contrivances applied to such ca rtridge-cascs, as to be moved forward by the action ofthe strikingbolt, and thus carried with the primer against the anvil, and afterward at the explosion ofthe powder, in consequence of the great force produced by the gases, to be thrown back to a' certain extent and out of the cap-chamber. The invention allows me by means of such backward movements or recoils to operate automatically on the lock mechanism in the breech of the arm to compress the spring of the striker and push back the striker into its initial (starting) position. The power thus obtained may be utilized in other ways-as, for example, to disengage an arresting contrivance of the breech-piece of the arm*and thus to open the breech or to effect useful operations, which otherwise would be made in opening and charging again the arm. The reaction-plug is larger than the Astriking-bolt, but smaller than an annular casing which surrounds the latter in the breech of the arm. This annular casing is subject to the force of a stronger spring than that which actuates the striking-bolt. It is restrained by suitable means, so that it cannot move forward too far. It is ready to move backward when subjected to a sufficientl force. When the primer receives the great force of the discharge of the arm it moves backward, carrying the striking-bolt and also the annular case with it. The striking-bolt on being carried back far enough is engaged by its proper detent in the locked position, while the annular casing urged for- Ward by the constant force of its strong spring moves again to its original position so soon as theforce of the explosion is past. c :Theaccompanying drawings form a part oi this specification and represent what I consider the best means of carrying out the invention. All are central longitudinal sections. They show very clearly the several stages of the action. They illustrate, also, some varieties in the forms and constructions. To save labor I have shown some varieties of construction in the same series of figures, which show the successive stages of the action. In two of the figures the left side shows one construction and the right side another. All are alike in the essential points.

Figure l shows all the conditions when all is ready for firing, but not yet moving. Fig. 2 shows the conditions at the moment of the forward movement of the striking-bolt to discharge the piece. The remaining figures show modifications. Fig. 3 shows a modification in which the conditions correspond to Fig. l. Fig. 4 shows the same corresponding to Fig. 2. Fig. 5 shows the same a brief period later, when the discharge is taking place. Fig. 6 shows a modification of the reactionplug. It has a coiled spring acting on the central pin. Fig. 7 shows another modification of the reaction-plug. It is solid, with a circumferential groove at the rear to facilitate its extraction.V Fig. 8 is a central horizontal section through an entire gun having this invention applied. The breech-block swings on trunnions and locks strongly with the breech of thegun, as shown. The general construction of the gun is identical with that set forth in United States patent to Nathan Thompson, numbered 130,452,'and bearing date August 13, 1872.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where they occur.

A is a metal cartridgecase of any construe tion and of any bore.

B is a cap-chamber made solid with the same.

B is the capchamber of a priming contrivance, which 'is either screwed or pinched or otherwise fixed in the cartridge-case.

The anvil C may in the ordinary way be fastened to the bottom of the cartridge-case or to the primer of the same by pressing, screwing, pinching, Sie., and may have its usual conical form or may be made annular.

IGC

D represents the breech-piece of the arm, of l any ordinary or suitableconstruction. The reaction-plug a, which if required is greased,

is inclosed in the cap-chamber B,with its rear" end flush with the cartridge-case bottom. The primer b, which we will assume is simply a percussion-cap, lies close to the plug. For better extraction, the plug may be provided with a hole or worm, at, Fig. 3, or with a notch, a5, Fig. 7, or with any other suitable provision to facilitate seizing the same by means of a suitable instrument.

In the breech-piece -D there is disposed :a case, c, which, by means of a strong spring, e', is always forced against the metal cartridgecase and against the plug a, being arrested by a suitable stop, c, so as to lie with its frontv end exactly iiush with the front face of the breech-piece. In this case c there is disposed a striking-bolt, d, which, by a spring, d', of less force than the spring c', is pushed against the plug a as soon as the trigger G, Fig. 8', is pulled for ring. Bythis action the reactionplug, with the primer, is pushed against the anvil, (position Fig. 4,) and the charge is exploded. Then, by the action of the gases against the plug a, it is driven rback and partially out of the cap-chamber, thereby forcing the striking-bolt, with vits case c, backward in the breech-piece, as shown in Fig. 5.l

the striking-bolt to its initial position, (start.- ingpoint,) (sec Fig. 1,) in order to be there engaged and held by ordinary means-as,k for instance, by the disk F2 on the bolt d, with which a springactuated catch, F, engages for tire cartridge-case and primeigwith plug,wi thdrawn, and a new cartridgecase, with its powder and projectile, with new primer and plug, may be introduced. Then the gun, after closing and securing the breech, will again be ready for firing.

In order that the strikingbolt may noty have to push the whole plug a forward, but only a portion of the same, of small weight, there may be disposed in the reaction-plug a small bolt or pin, a', which is driven forward by the striking-bolt to explode the primer. F ig. 1 shows such a construction and arrangement of the parts before disengaging the striking-bolt. On the firing of the charge the percussion-cap with the pin and the striking-bolt are driven back so far that the head a2 will bear against plug a, whereupon all the parts, a, a', b, c, and d, are forced back into they breech-piece D, as shown in Fig. 5. In order that such plug may retain exactly the proper The parts are so arranged as to bring back position in the'capchamber, it may be retained there by any convenient contrivance which does not impede its backward motion produced by the recoil due to the explosion. For example, a spring, a3, may be employed, which holds the plug in its proper position, as shown in Fig. 1, on the left side. This spring will by the said recoil undergo a corresponding compression.

In an analogous way the pin a may be secured against leaving its place prematurely by a spring, a6, Fig. 6. Such a spring will also serve to urge the pin back to the right position. ing-bolt d, or of thestriking-bolt with its guidecase c, are-effected with rapidity and energy, and t'hemotion maybe utilized in various ways for effecting any functions-as for automatically driving back and arresting the striking'- bolt, or for cooking the lock, or for unlocking the brecchpiece, or for opening the breech,y or for effecting two or more of these functions together,vor any analogous work which otherwise would be done by hand after firing, thus saving the corresponding manipulations. For example, as before mentioned, the strikingbolt. in Y'its utmost back position may be retained by an arresting contrivance, (a catchspring, latch,bolt,&c.,) and the strikingspring d be compressed bymeans of the stronger spring c', working on the advancing case c; or the retiring ofthe striking-bolt or of the case c may be used for withdrawing a contrivanc'e which holds the breech in its closed position, (as, for example, a spring, a latch, a bolt, a lever, 8rd,) so that the breech may be opened; or there may, bysuch backward motions of the striker or of its guidecase, or of both these parts, be a displacing or a turning of the breech-piece, so as to automatically open the breech or to automatically prepare for this operation. Y

Fig. 2 shows the striking-bolt pushed forward and the pin ct', with primer b, forced against the anvil C.

Thel plug may bemade solid, Fig. 3, or may be hollow, Figs. 1 and 2. It may be made in one with the primer, as shown in Fig. 7. lSuch reaction-plugs may be applied to all cartridgecases of any construction and bore which are provided with cap-chambers B of sufficient dimensions, and may be employed for arms of every description,especially for small and large field and position guns, mountain-howitzers, and revolving guns, &c. They reduce the manipulations usually necessary after firing for the introduction of a new charge. They make the service simpler and easier and permit a greater number of shots than heretofore in a given time.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a primer for cartridges, the cartridgecase A, anvil C, cap b, resting on said anvil, and reaction-plug a, sliding within said cartridge-case behind said cap, in combination with the breech-piece D, arranged behind and in alignment with the cartrid ge-case, the guide- The backward movements of the strik- IOO IIS

casevc, sliding within said breech-piece, the

` guide-case, and the Weak spring d', forcing said firing-pin forward, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a primer for cartridges, the cartridgecase A, anvil C, cap b, resting on said anvil, and reaction-plug a, sliding within said cartridge-case behind said cap, in combination with the breech-piece D, arranged behind and in alignment with the cartridge-case, the guidecase c, sliding Within said breech-piece, said guide-case being of larger diameter than said reaction-plug, the strong spring c', forcing said guide-case forward, the stop c", limiting such forward movement, the striking-bolt d, sliding Within said guide-case, said striking-bolt beingsmallerin diameter than said reaction-plug, and the Weak spring d', forcing said firing-pin forward, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a primer for cartridges, the cartridgecase A, anvil C, cap b, resting on said anvil, longitudinally-perforated reaction plug a,slid ing within said cartridgecase, and firing-pin af, sliding Within the perforation in said reac- 1 tion-plug, in combination with a breech-piece` D, arranged behind and in alignment with the cartridge-case, a spring-actuated guide-case, c, therein, an independently spring actuated striking-bolt, d, within said guide-case, and means for tripping said striking-bolt and thereby exploding the Cap, substantially as described.

4. In a primer for cartridges, the cartridgeease A, anvilC, cap b, resting on said anvil, internally-recessed and longitudinally-perforated reaction-plug a, slidingA within said cartridge-ease,ringpin a', sliding Within the perforation in said reactionpiug, and spring a5, disposed in the recess in said reaction-plug and operating to draw said ring-pin back within said plug, in combination with abreech-piece, D, arranged behind and in alignment with the cartridge-ease, a spring-actuated guide-ease, c, therein, an independently spring-actuated striking-bolt, d, within said guide-case, and means for tripping said striking-bolt and thereby exploding the cap, substantially as described.

5. In a primer for cartridges, the cartridgecase A, anvil C, cap b, resting on said anvil, reaction-plug a, sliding within said case, and springaa, for pressing said plug gently against the baolc of the cap, in combination with a breech-piece, D, arranged behind and in alignment with the cartridge-case,a spring-actuated guide-oase, c, therein,an independently springactuated striking-bolt, d, within said guidecase, and means for tripping said striking-bolt and thereby exploding the cap, substantially as described,

In testimony whereofI have hereunto set my hand at Berlin, this 24th day of November, 1886, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

VILHELM LORENZ.

Witnesses:

B. ROI, C. GRoMIs.

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