Patent GB-191400382-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to Ammunition Hoisting and Loading Apparatus for Heavy Ordnance.
Inventor: DAWSON ARTHUR TREVOR
IPC: F41A9/21
Filed: 1914-01-06
Granted: 1915-01-06
Abstract: 382. Dawson, Sir A. T., and Horne, J. Jan 6. Loading-appliances.-Relates to ammunition hoisting and loading apparatus for heavy ordnance, of the kind in which the ammunition is carried from the magazine to the gun platform by a duplex arrangement of cages, one cage ascending while the other is descending. According to the present invention, the two cages are automatically caused momentarily to come to rest opposite each other; the projectile or powder charge is then automatically transferred from the lower to the upper cage, after which the lower cage automatically descends to the magazine while the upper cage automatically ascends to the gun platform. In one arrangement, shown in Fig. 6, the lower cage B runs on guide-rails B<1>, and the upper cage A on slightly-inclined rails A<1>. The ammunition is carried on a tilting tray B<2>, which is mounted on the cage B and tipped by means of a projection a on the upper cage engaging an arm b connected by a rod to the tray B<2>. The tray A<2> which receives the ammunition is also automatically tipped when the upper cage reaches a receiver C<1> near the gun. The hoist may be operated by any type of rotary motor, or by hydraulic or hand power. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, an electric motor E drives, through worm gearing, two drums E' on which ropes are wound in opposite directions for working the two cages, the cages being also connected by a tail rope. The motor E runs constantly in one direction and drives the drums E<1> through a, bevel-wheel e<1x>, two bevel-pinions e<1> loose on the shaft e<2>, and two clutch members e<3> keyed to the shaft e<2> and operated by levers e<3x>, which are connected by a link e<4>. One of the levers e<3x> may carry an armature e<4x> arranged between two electro - magnets F, F<x>, one of which is energized according to the direction in which it is required to rotate the drums E<1>. The shaft e<2> is connected to the shaft e<5x>, which operates the drums E<1> through worm gearing, by a clutch e<2x>, e<5>, Fig. 5<a>, the member e<5> being operated by a rod e' and lever e<7x> situated in the shell room. For hand operation of the drums E<1>, the clutch member e<5> is disengaged from the shaft e<5x> and clutched to a pinion e<6> loosely mounted on the shaft e<5x> and gearing with a pinion on the upper end of a vertical shaft which is operated by a crank from the shell room. The switch apparatus for controlling the movements of the clutch members e<3> through the armature e<4x> and electro-magnets F, F<x> comprise four switch arms f<1>, f<2>, f3, f<4> arranged, respectively, at the upper end, centre, and lower end of the trunk, and shown in Fig. 6, for clearness, at one side of, but level with, the positions they actually occupy. The arm f<1> is carried by a two-armed lever F<1> pivoted at f<1x>; the arms f<2>, f<3> are connected together, but electrically insulated from each other, and are carried by a two-armed lever F<2> pivoted at f<2x> ; the arm f<4> is carried by a two-armed lever F<4> pivoted at f<4x>. Springs and electro - magnets F<1x>, F<4x>, F<2x> control the arms, the electro-magnets being sufficiently powerful to hold the arms against the pull of the springs. The full lines in Fig. 6 show the arms in the position they occupy when the upper cage A is ascending and the lower cage is descending. The current then follows the path f', 1, f<4>, 2, f<2>, F<2x>, 3, F, and the armature e<4x> is in position to raise the cage A and lower the cage B. When the cage A reaches the highest, and the cage B the lowest, position, the levers F', F<4> are rocked to bring the arms f<1>, f4 into the positions shown in chain lines, thus breaking the circuit of the magnets F, F<2x>, and moving the arms f<2>, f<3> to the positions shown by dotted lines. The arm f<3> completes a shunt circuit containing conductors 4, 5, 6 through electro-magnets F'x, F<4x>. When the projectile is discharged from the cage A, and a new projectile is placed in cage B, the levers F', F<4> are actuated to bring the arms f<1>, f<4> to the position shown in dotted lines, the electromagnets F<1x>, F'x retaining them. The current then passes by the path f<1>, 7, f<4>, 2, f<2>, 8 and the electro-magnet Fx is energized, thus reversing the drums E<1>. As the cages approach the central position, the cage B rocks the lever F<2>, and the arms f<2>, f' move to the position shown in chain lines. The circuit of the electro-magnet F<x> is broken, the armature e<4x> occupies the central position, and the cages come to rest. The shunt circuit of electro-magnets F<1x>, F<4x> is broken, and the arms f<1>, f<4> being released return to the position shown in full lines. The projectile, in being transferred from the lower to the upper cage, rocks the lever F<2> and causes the arms f<2>, f<3> to assume the position shown in full lines, energizing the electro-magnets F<2x>, F<x> and completing the sequence of events. In a modified arrangement, the cages are operated by two hydraulic presses controlled by a single value and connected to the cages either by a rope or directly by rams.