US783127A - Combined breech mechanism and recoil-checking device for breech-loading ordnance. - Google Patents

Description

No. 783,127. v PATENTED FEB. 21,1905.

I s. N..MoGLEAN. COMBINED BREEGH MECHANISM AND RECOIL CHECKING DEVICE FOR BREEGH LOADING'ORDNANGE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 24, 1900.

mi k 2 NITED STATES PATENT Patented February 21, 1905.

FFicE.

COMBINED BREECH MECHANISM AND RECOlL-CHECKING DEVICE FOR BREECH-LOADING ORDNANCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent Nov 783,127, dated February 21, 1905.

Application filed December 24, 1900. Serial No.40,963.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL N. MoCLEAN, a resident of Cleveland, Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in a Combined Breech Mechanism and Recoil-Checking Device for Breech-Loading Ordnance, which invention is fully set forth in the following specification.

My invention relates to ordnance, and has for its object to'simplify the construction and improve the operation of the breech mechanism and recoil-controlling devices connected therewith.

In most pieces of heavy ordnance as at present constructed the breech-block is of the mutilated screw-threaded type, in which the screw-threads relied upon to withstand the shock of discharge only occupy-one-half of the exterior surface of the block. This renders it necessary to make the breech-block much longer than would otherwise be required in order to provide the requisite surface upon which to out the necessary screwthreads. The increase in size and weight over what would be required if a continuously-screw-threaded block were employed is nearly, if not quite, one hundred per cent. and the difficulties of manipulation due to this increased size and weight are also greatly inscrew-thread block can be securely locked in position or unlocked by a partial revolution on its axis, whereas the continuously-screwthreaded block, as heretofore employed, requires as many complete revolutions on its axis to lock and unlock it as there are threads upon its surface, thereby consuming much time, and this fact alone'has heretofore been sufiicient to cause the blocks with mutilated screw-threads to be universally preferred by artillery and ordnance officers. Furthermore, in hydropneumatic brakes for controlling recoil as the same have been heretofore con-' structed the resistance due to the elasticity of the air or other gas and the throttling of the water or other liquid as it passed from one compartment to another has been depended upon to overcome the recoil, and the vast energy of the recoil has been dissipated or only used to return the gun to firing position, while the energy ofthe gases of discharge has been entirely ignored as a power capable of overcoming the recoil and performing other useful work in the manipulation of the gun.

One of the objects of the present invention is to construct a hydropneumatic brake in which the engine-like action of the gun actuated by the energies of the gases of discharge and the recoil shall be compelled to do work both in the recoil and counter-recoil of the gun. Preferably this is accom plished by compelling both the gases of discharge and the gun to move a liquid through a restricted passage during recoil and counter-recoil and to utilize the liquid thus placed under pressure for performing any desired work, such as the manipulation of the breech mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a continuously threaded breech block which shall possess all the advantages of such blocks, including light weight and strength, and which may nevertheless be quickly unlocked or locked with a minimum number of turns of the block and to provide such block with means for automatically opening and closing the breech. Preferably l utilize the combined energy of recoil and of the gases "of discharge as the power for actuating the creased. On the other hand, the mutilated breech mechanism and provide means for automatically applying such power to open the breech upon the termination of the recoil and to close the breech when the charge is inserted, though such power may be and preferably is also controlled by manually-operated devices.

A still further object of the invention is to combine a hydropneumatic brake of the character heretofore described with thebreech mechanism of the gun in such manner that the operating-motor for the breech mechanism shall constitute a by-pass through which the liquid inv the brake-cylinder is vented after recoil in order to permit the gun to re-' turn to firing position, thereby effecting the operation of the breech mechanism by the hydropneumatic brake and the control of the latter by the breech mechanism that is, each operates to limit and control the functions of the other.

The inventive idea involved may receive various mechanical expressions, one of which I have for the purpose of illustration shown in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a broken side elevation of a gun embodying my invention with parts in section. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the breech end thereof with parts broken away. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the valve for controlling the pressure. Fig. 4 is a broken plan, and Fig. 5 is a sectional side elevation showing one way of automatically shifting said valve.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is a gun mounted to slide in a saddle 2, which saddle is carried by trunnions having bearings in a rigid part 3 of the carriage. A cylinder 4 is fixedly secured to the saddle, preferably at the under side of the gun, and has therein two pistons 5 and 6, abutting stiff stop-springs 5 and 6, of which piston 5 is attached to the gun by a hollow piston-rod 7 and a band 8, while piston 6 is attached by a piston-rod 9, passingthrough piston-rod 7, to a slide 10, capable of receiving and being actuated by the gases of discharge. Preferably the piston-rod is in two sections, as shown in Fig. 1, the sections being connected by an arm 11, to which the lower section is permanently attached, while the upper section is adj ustably secured thereto and has its rear end guided by an opening in the band 8. The slide 10 hasagas-nozzle or other means (not shown) for receiving the gases of discharge to actuate the same in a forward direction upon the discharge of the gun. The specific construction of one form of gas-nozzle which may be employed for this purpose is shown, described, and claimed in my United States Patent No. 715,839, and the same need not, therefore, be described in detail herein. The space 12 between the pistons 5 and 6 in cylinder 4: is filled with air compressed to several atmospheres, while the spaces 13 and 14 between the pistons and the ends of the cylinder are filled with a suitable fluid, preferably, a noncompressible liquid, such as glycerin, which spaces 13 and 14 communicate with each other through passage 15. (Shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.) A supply ofliquid, which I shall hereinafter refer to as glycerin, is contained in any suitable receptacle or tank 16, mounted, by preference, on the saddle 2, which tank is connected by pipes 17 and 18 with the spaces 13 and 14, respectively, in the cylinder 4, suitable valves 19 being provided, which permit the liquid to pass from the tank to the cylinder, but prevent its flow in the reverse direction.

Referring to Fig. 2, 20 is the breech-block, which is shaped like the frustum of a cone at its forward portion, while its rear portion is cylindrical, both portions being screwthreaded, the screw-threads on the the frustoconical portion engaging corresponding screw-threads in the breech end of the gun when the breech is closed, while the screwthreads on the cylindrical portion engage corresponding screw-threads on the interior of the breech-block carrier 21, all as clearly shown in Fig. 2. This carrier 21 is preferably provided with a cylindrical rearward extension closed at its rear end and inclosing a worm-wheel 22, rigidly secured to the rear end of the breech-block, while a motor 23 is supported on a pin 24, mounted in lugs or cars 25, pro ecting from the rear of the gun, and

has a toothed wheel or disk 26 revolving in a plane parallel with the axis of the gun and operatively engaging the worm-wheel 22 on the breech-block. The construction of the motor 23 in detail is not shown, since any form of motor capable of continuously driving the toothed wheel or disk in either direction may be employed. It will be understood that the breech-block carrier is mounted to turn in the usual manner on the hinge-pin or pintle 24.

The operation of the breech mechanism as thus far described is as follows: The breech being closed, as shown in Fig. 2, fluid-pressure from any suitable source of power is admitted to the motor in direction to revolve the wheel or disk 26 from right to left, as shown by the arrow, whereby the worm-wheel 22, and with it the breech-block 20, is revolved in a direction to withdraw the breechblock from the gun into the carrier. By reason of the frusto-conical shape of the breechblock one or two complete turns of the block are sufiicient to entirely disengage the th roads on the block from those in thegun and to withdraw the block rearward into the carrier, so that the worm-wheel 22 engages any suitable stop to preventits fu rther rearward movement, (which stop may be, and preferably is, the rear wall of the carrier,) and the motor, breechblock, and carrier thereby become so locked together that the continued rotation of the motor in the same direction serves to swing the block and carrier away from the gun and around the pintle 24 as a center. A springpressed catch 27 projects through the side wall of the carrier 21 when the latter is swung away from the breech of the gun and immediately in front of the worm-wheel 22 when said wheel is in its rearmost position in the carrier. When the carrier is in the position shown in Fig. 2, a pin 28 on the carrier abuts against the breech of the gun and acts to withdraw the catch from in front of the wormwheel; but as the carrier swings away from the breech the catch is pushed in front of the wheel 22 by its spring. When it is desired to close the breech, the motor is reversed, and the tendency thereof is to revolve the wormwheel from left to right; but the catch 27, acts to prevent the wheel from advancing, and hence locks the motor, the carrier, and the block together, with the result that the carrier is turned on its hinge-pin until the catch IIS pin 28 strikes the breech end of the gun and withdraws the catch from in front of the-wheel 22, thus freeing the latter, which is then revolved and the breech-block is firmly screwed into its seat. It will thus be seen that there are but two movements each to the opening and closing of the breechviz., that of rotation to lock or unlock the block and the swinging movement to remove it from or present it to the breech.

Any form of motor may be employed which is capable of being continuously operated in either direction, and any suitable motive power may be employed. Ihave shown means whereby the combined energies of recoil and of the gases of discharge may be utilized as the motive power. For this purpose the space 12 in the cylinder 4 between the pistons 5 and 6 is filled with any suitable gas, preferably compressed air, and the tank 16 and the spaces 13 and 14 in cylinder 4 are filled with any noucompressible liquid, as glycerin. Interposed between the glycerin-filled spaces 13 and 14 and the motor 23 is a valve 29 for controlling the flow of fluid, hereinafter referred to as glycerin, from the spaces 13 and 14 to the motor and from the'motor to the exhaust. One form of valve which may be employed for this purpose is shown in diagram in Fig. 3, wherein the valve-stem 30 is shown keyed to the four-way valve 31. In the position shown in Fig. 3 glycerin passes from the space 14 via pipe 32, through the valve 29 and pipe 33 to the motor 23, and exhausts through pipe 34, valve 29, and pipe 35 to the tank 16. To reverse the motor, the valve is given a quarter-turn, so as to connect pipes 32 and 34 and pipes 33 and 35, when pressure will enter the motor through pipe 34 and exhaust through pipe 33. The valve 29 is mounted on the saddle 2, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and has a handle or lever 36, by which it may be operated by hand or automatically. For the automatic operation the lever 36 is located in the path of a pin 37, projecting from and traveling with the gun upon recoil, the parts being so proportioned that the lever escapes from the pin when the valve has been turned through an angle of ninety degrees. Referring now to Figs. 2, 4, 5, 38 is a casing on the valve- casing 29, and 39 is a rigid immovable abutment therein, while 40 is a wing or vane secured to and turning with the valve-stem 30 andmaking practically fluidtight contact with the interior wall of the casing 38. A pipe 41 connects the casing-38 with the source of pressure-as, for example, by way of the pipe 32 (see Fig. 1)*and a larger pipe 42 leads from casing 38 to the exhaust. A valve 43 is mounted so as to control both pipes 41 and 42 and is normally pressed upward by a spring 44, so as to close pressure-pipe 41 and open exhaust-pipe 42,

said valve being provided with a round-headed stem 45, which in its uppermost position is below the path of the pin 37. A pin 46 projects radially from the cartridge-chamber out through the breech of the gun and is provided with a spring 47, whichacts to press the pin inward with its end in the path of the cartridge and preferably on a line with the cartridge-rim, as shown in Fig. 2. The exterior end of pin 46 is beveled on its under side, as at 48, Fig. 5. f

The operation is as follows: When the gun is fired, piston 5 moves rearward with the gun, and piston 6 moves forward with the gasnozzle 10, as described in my aforementioned patent. This acts to further compress the air in space 12 and to draw glycerin from tank 16 into spaces 13 and 14, 'and as the gun recoils the pin 37 strikes lever 36 and shifts the valve 31 into position shown in Fig. 3. When the recoil action has ceased, the air compressed in space 12 between pistons 5 and 6 acts to force the pistons apart, and thereby places the glycerin in spaces 13 and 14 under pressure, and these spaces being connected by passage 15 pressure therein is equalized and passes through the motor and actuates it to unlock the breech-block and swing it to one side, as heretofore described. When the carrier is swung fully open, it strikes a stop 49, Fig. 2, which arrests its movement, while the pressure in the motor serves to hold the carrier firmly in its open position. During this opening movement the gun has moved slowly forward in its cradle or saddle 2, and just as the carrier strikes the stop 49 the pin 46 comes opposite to but does not touch the rounded head of valve-stem 45, and when the cartridge is inserted into the gun pin 46 is pushed outward thereby and its beveled end 48 strikes and depresses said valve-stem, as shown in Fig. 5, thereby opening the valve 43 and permitting glycerin under pressure to pass into casing 38 and shift the parts into position shown in Fig. 4, thereby shifting valve-stem 30 and valve 31 into position to reverse motor 23 to close the breech. When valve 43 is depressed to permit pressures to pass to casing 38, it also acts to close exhaustvpipe 42; but during the closing of the breech pin 46 advances with the gun and slips off of the head of valve-stem 45 and spring 44 acts to shift valve 43 so as to close pressure-pipe 41 and open exhaust-pipe 42, so that upon the recoil of the gun when the next charge is fired the glycerin is readily forced out of the casing 38 by the movement of the wing 40 when the lever 36 is struck by pin 37, and the rounded form of pin 46 permits it to readily depress and pass over the head on valve-stem 45 during recoil. It will thus be seen that in the act of returning the gun to normal position after recoil the breech mechanism is both opened and closed and that the return of the gun to firing position is controlled by the operation of the breech mechanism.

What 1 claim is 1. In a breech-loading gun, the combination of acontinuously-threaded breech-block, with means combining energy derived from the recoil and the gases of discharge, and devices actuated by said energy to operate the breechblock.

2. In a breech-loading gun, the combination of a continuously -threaded frusto -conical breech-block, With means combining energy derived from the recoil and the gases of discharge, and devices actuated by said energy to operate the breech-block.

3. In a breech-loading gun, the combination of a contimiously-threaded breech-block, and a carrier therefor, with means combining energy derived from the recoil and the gases of discharge, and a motor actuated by said energy and operativcly connected with the breechblock and carrier.

4. In a breech-loading gun, the combination of a continuously threaded frusto conical breech-block, a carrier therefor, means storing energy derived from the recoil and the gases of discharge, a motor operated by such stored energy and opcratively connected to the block and carrier.

5. The combination of a breech-loading gun, with a breech-block, and a motor for operating the same, with means operated by the recoil of the gun to admit pressure to the motor to open the breech, and means operated by the insertion of the charge to reverse the motor and close the breech.

6. The combination ofabreech-loading gun, a breech-block therefor, a motor for actuating the block, and means operated by the recoil of the gun for admitting pressure to the motor to open the block, and by insertion of the charge to reverse the motor and close the block.

7. The combination of a breech-loading gun, and its breech-block,\vith a motor, a valve operated positively by the recoil of the gun-to admit pressure to the motor to open the breech, and a pressure device rendered operative by the insertion of the charge to shift the valve and reverse the motor to close the breech.

8. The combination of a breech-loading gun, and its breech-block, with a motor for operating the same, a four-Way valve controlling the passage of pressure to said motor, means operated by the recoil of the gun to shift the valve to admit pressure to the motor to open the breech, an auxiliary motor for shifting the valve in one direction, and means operated upon the insertion of the charge to admit pressure to said auxiliary motor and shift the same for reversing the motor to close the breech.

9. The combination of a breech-load ing gun, a breech-block, a carrier therefor, and a motor operatively connected to the block and carrier, a valve controlling the passage of pressure to said motor, means operated by the recoil of the gun for shifting said valve to admit pressure to the motor to open the breech, and a pressure device controlled by the insertion of the charge for shifting said val ve to reverse the motor and close the breech.

10. The combination of a breech-loading gun, a breech-block, a carrier, and a motor operatively connected to said block and carrier, With means storing energy derived from the recoil and the gases of discharge and automatic devices controlling the application of said energy to the motor.

11. In a breech-loading gun, the combination of a frusto-conical breech-block, a carrier therefor having a screw-threaded engagement With said block, means combining energy derived from the recoil and the gases of discharge, and a motor operatively connected to the block to turn it in the carrier, said motor being actuated by said combined energy.

12. The combination of a breech-loading gun, a continuously-t1]readcd frusto-conical breech-block, a carrier having screw-threaded engagement therewith, a motor actuated by energy derived from the recoil and the gases of discharge and means operated by the recoil of the gun to admit pressure to the motor in one direction to open breech, and by the insertion of the charge to admitpressure to the motor in the reverse direction to close the breech. 4

13. The combination of a breech-loading gun, a continuously-threaded frusto-conical breech-block, a carrier having screw-threaded engagement with said block, a motor operatively connected to the block and carrier, means storing energy derived from the recoil and the gases of discharge, a four-Way valve controlling the admission of pressure due to said energies to the motor, means shifting said valve and admitting pressure to the motor in a direction to open the breech upon the recoil of the gun, and means controlled by the insertion of the charge for reversing the valve and closing the breech.

14. The combination of a breech-loading gun, a breech-block, a motor therefor, actuated by energy derived from the recoil and the gases of discharge, a valve controlling the admission of pressure to said motor, a valvestem and lever for operating said valve, a part on the gun impinging upon said lever upon the recoil of the gun to shift the valve in one direction, a pressure-operating device to shift the valve in the opposite direction, and means operated by the insertion of the charge and controlling said last-named device.

15. The combination of a breech-loading gun, a frusto-conical continuously-tln'eaded breech-block, a Worm-gear secured to said block, a carrier having screW-tln'eaded engagement With the block, a motor having Worm-teeth engaging said gear, means storing energy derived from the recoil and the gases of discharge, and devices controlling the application of pressure due to said energies to the motor in either direction, whereby the breech may be opened and closed.

17. The combination of a breech-loading gun, a frusto-conical screw-threaded breechblock, a carrier having screw-threaded engagement with said block, a motor operatively connected to the block, and means antomatically admitting pressure due to the energy of recoil and the gases of discharge to the motor to open and close the breech.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

SAMUEL N. MOCLEAN. Witnesses:

S. T. CAMERON, E. J. THOBEIBEN.

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