Patent GB-191107643-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to Heavy Ordnance.
Inventor: DAWSON ARTHUR TREVOR
IPC: F41A27/24
Filed: 1911-03-27
Granted: 1912-06-27
Abstract: 7643. Dawson, Sir A. T., and Horne, J. March 27. Naval mountings.-Relates to elevating-gear for heavy guns of the kind in which two or more guns are elevated simultaneously, and in which means are provided for correcting the elevation of one or more of the guns for muzzle velocity differences between the guns. According to the invention, the correction is made automatically as the guns are elevated, the amount being regulated by a preliminary setting of the correcting-device. The correcting-gear is disconnectible by means controlled from the sighting- station, so that, after the guns have been elevated for range, changes in their elevations may be made for rolling and permanent heel of the ship without effecting the muzzle-velocity correction. The disconnecting-device automatically locks the sight-elevating gear, so that the angle between the guns and sight cannot be altered while the correcting-gear is inoperative. In the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the elevating-pinion C<2> of one of the two connected guns A is angularly adjusted relatively to the elevating-shaft C by moving it along the shaft upon an inclined or spiral key, as described in Specification 4890/07. The sleeve c<2Î> of the pinion C<2> carries at one end a loose ring C<3Î> to which two bars C<3> are pivoted. The bars are also engaged by swivelling clips c<5Î> carried by nuts C<5Î> which are traversable along screws C<5> actuated by a handwheel c<5>. The lower nut C<5Î> has a reader c<6> which travels over a sale c<6Î> of muzzle-velocity differences. At their front ends, the bars C<3> are formed with gaps, as shown in plan in Fig. 5, one pair (top and bottom) of which gaps is engaged by pins c<4> on a saddle-piece C<4> adapted to be secured to either of two nuts c<2>, c<3> which work upon a right and left handed screwed spindle c<1Î>. The rotation of the spindle c<1Î> by toothed gearing c, c<1>, as the guns are elevated, causes the nuts c<2>, c<3> to move apart. If the axes of the swivelling clips c<5Î> coincide with the pivots of the bars C<3> on the ring C'x, no motion is transmitted by the bars to the sleeve c<2Î> of the pinion C<2>, but if the nuts C<5Î> are traversed into any other position by the screws C<5>, the movement of the nut c<3>, carrying the saddle C', is transmitted through the bars C<3> and sleeve c<2Î> to the elevating-pinion C<2>, and a continuous correction is made for the muzzle-velocity difference shown on the scale c<6Î> and in accordance with the range-elevation given to the guns. The spurwheel c is clutched to the shaft C by a oneposition clutch C' so that, after the range elevation is given to the guns, the elevations may be varied for rolling or permanent heel of the ship without further muzzle-velocity correction being applied. The clutch is operated by a pedal D<2> at the sighting-station, which pedal, through a flexible wire d<2>, operates a sliding clutch D<3> and locks the sight-elevating hand-wheel D' when the correcting-gear is disconnected. Means are provided for indicating at the sights that the gun is correctly elevated for the range; the pedal D<2> must then be depressed. The sights D may be of the kind described in Specification 2923/11, [Class 92 (ii), Ordnance &c.], In a modification, in which the inclined or spiral key of the pinion C<2> is not employed, the pinion is internally and externally toothed, and is driven by an epicyclic train of gearing from a pinion on the shaft C. The frame carrying the planet - wheels is normally fixed, but is rotated when a muzzle-velocity correction has to be made by means actuated by the rotation of the shaft C, and adjustable in accordance with the muzzle-velocity difference.