Patent GB-190704588-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to Ammunition Hoisting Apparatus for Heavy Ordnance.
Inventor: DAWSON ARTHUR TREVOR
Filed: 1907-02-25
Granted: 1908-05-25
Abstract: 4588. Dawson, A. T., and Horne, J. Feb. 25 Loading-appliances in turrets carrying three guns, but applicable to turrets with one or two guns. In Fig. 1 an artangement is shown for supplying three guns A<1>, A<2>, A<3> mounted in a turntable B, the working chamber C and the trunk D rotating with the turntable. The projectiles are deposited on fixed waiting trays F<1>, F<3> in the shell room F, and are then allowed to roll upon rotating bogies G which are brought into alinement with openings in the trunk leading to the projectile cages G, G<3>. The central projectile cage G<2> is supplied from an inclined tray which is fed from hand trollies running upon overhead rails f<1>, the base of the cage G<2> being automatically inclined into alinement with the tray as the case descends. The powder charges are placed on trays D<1>, D<3> fixed, to the trunk, and are rolled into the cages G<1x>, G<3x>, the central cage G<2x> being fed from an inclined tray, and having its base automatically tilted, similarly to the central projectile cage. The projectile and powder cages are tetescopically connected, and are worked by the same hoisting-rope; those for the side guns discharge automatically, into receivers C<1>, C<3> fixed to the floor of the chamber C, from which they are transferred to loading-cages A<1x> &c. The projectile and powder charges for the central gun are transferred directly from the cages G<2>, G<2x>. to the loading. cage for the central gun. The automatic tilting of the cages is effected by means of a lever g<4> and guides g<5>, Fig. 13, for the projectile tray, and by means of a double-armed lever g<6>, g<7> engaging a roller g<8> on the trunk for the powder receptacle. In a modification, the powder receptacle is tilted by means of rack-and-pinion gearing operated from the lever g'. A modified arrangement is shown in Fig. 4, in which the projectiles are deposited directly upon the bogie G and transferred by means of a tray d' to the cage G3, the band-wheel g being thus more readily accessible. When the trunk is fixed instead of rotating withthe turret and working-chamber, the two side receptacles C<10>, C<30>, Fig. 7, are capable of rotation relatively to the chamber C and trunk, and a central bogie C<20> rotates above the trunk. The projectile and powder cages are permanently connected to constitute single frames H<1>, H<2>, H<3> ; the side cages H<1>, H<3> receive projectiles from trays F<1>, F<3> across shelves d<1>, d<3>, and powder charges through hoppers D<1x>, D<3x>; the central cage is loaded from a tray and hopper arranged behind the trunk, a chain rammer pushing the projectile and powder longitudinally into the cage H<2>. The side cages discharge automatically into the bogies C<10>, C<30>, which are then brought into alinement with, and discharged by rammers into, the upper hoisting-cages A<1x> &c. For the central gun, the cage H<2> is hoisted to a position within the bogie C<20> which is rotated to bring the cage H<2> and the upper hoisting-cage into alinement, the projectile and charges being then transferred direct. To permit this rotation, the hoisting-rope is arranged centrally within the bogie, and the guide-rails are divided where they leave the trunk. In a further modification with a fixed trunk, the two side bogies C'‹, C<20> are independently rotated by handgear, and the central bogie 0<20> is adapted to have the ammunition transferred to it from the cage H<2> similarly to the two side bogies. The three cages H<1>, H<2>, H<3> are then constructed alike. In another modification, the two side bogies C<10>, C<30> are arranged to rotate between the upper end of the trunk and waiting-receptacles fixed to the floor of the chamber C ; the side cages discharge upon the bogies; and these, after rotation, discharge into.the: waiting-receptacles, from which the upper loading- cages are eventually charged. The central bogie, in this arrangement, is similar to that in the preceding arrangement. The three bogies C<10>, C<20>, C<30> may. be combined to form a single rotating triple bogie, into which the cages H<1>, H<2>, H<3> discharge automatically. The bogie.is then rotated into.line with the upper hoisting-cages, and the ammunition is transferred thereto through intermediate trays. The central bogie C<20>, in the arrangement above described, may be rotated by hydraulic apparatus provided with a single controlling-lever J, Fig. 28, and so arranged that, whether the guns have been trained to port or starboard where the lever is moved to the position x, the bogie is rotated into alinement with the central hoisting-cage H<2>, is retarded as it approaches, and is finally locked to the trunk D in, that position; while by moving the lever J to the position y, the bogie is similarly rotated, retarded, and finally locked to the turntable B in alinement with the gun-loading cage A<2x>. The rotation is effected by means of rack- and-pinion gearing P<1>, an hydraulic cylinder P, and valves K, K<1>, the reversing-valve K<1> being automatically operated by cam-and-lever mechanism D<2>, k<14>, from the trunk. The retardation is effected by the partial closing of the valve K during the rotation, and the locking by means of a bolt M engaging an inclined rail D<1> on the trunk, or b on the turntable, and finally entering a recess Dx or bx, the bolt being pressed against the rail by means of the ram k and levers k<2>, k<5>, k<4>, k<6>, k<7>, k<8>, and k<9>. In a modified arrangement, the bogie is rotated by hand through chain and worm gearing, and the lever system k<2> ... k<9> is actuated from a separate lever through springs which finally shoot the locking-bolt M into its recess ; or these springs may be replaced by hydraulic pressure. An arrangement is also described for rotating the triple bogie, referred to above, into alinement with the hoisting-cages and there locking it to the trunk, or into alinement with the upper gun-loading cages, and locking it to the turntable. A multi-cylinder hydraulic motor rotates the bogie through toothed gearing. The locking-bolt is actuated hydraulically.