Broadwell ring
/ˌbrɔːdw(ɛ)l ˈrɪŋ/Gunnery. Now historical
noun
A kind of circular gas-check for use in cannon and small arms.
- The device is in the form of a ring located in a chamber at the front of the breechblock or at the rear of the barrel; when the charge is ignited, gas rushes into a recess in the ring and presses the ring back against the breechblock and expands the ring in its chamber, so preventing escape of gas from the breech..
Origin
Mid 19th century; earliest use found in The Times. From the name of Lewis Wells Broadwell, U.S.-born inventor of this type of circular gas-check + ring.