Patent GB-125442-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Gun Mountings.
Inventor: MANSELL JOHN HERBERT
IPC: F41A9/49
Filed: 1916-07-27
Abstract: 125,442. Mansell, J. H., and Redpath, R. July 27, 191G. Ordnance b r e c c h mechanism; fuse-setting devices combined with parts of guns.- Relates to guns in which the energy of recoil is stored and utilized to effect the operations necessary for bringing a cartridge into the loading position and ramming it into the chamber. The invention consists in providing in combination an hydraulic accumulator, a spring adapted to be compressed during recoil and to put pressure upon the liquid in the accumulator, a magazine, a magazine cylinder, means for admitting pressure from the accumulator to such cylinder for bringing the magazine into the loading position, a rammer, a ramming-cylinder, and means for admitting pressure from the accumulator to such cylinder to ram a cartridge from the magazine. The invention is described as applied to a gun having a vertically - sliding breech-block. On the cradle of the gun A, Figs. 1 and 3, is mounted an hydraulic accumulator C having spring sets D, Fig. 9, on each side of it. The rod C' of the accumulator and the rods of the sets D pass rearwards through a lug A<1> on the breech ring, and are connected to a cross-bar D<2> between which and the lug spring washers D<3> are interposed. On recoil, the lug A<1> moves the bar D<2> and the three rods rearwards; during run out, the bar remains in the rearward position so that the energy stored in the spring sets is available for loading. The front of the cylinder C is provided with a valve C<2> communicating with a reservoir E in which a spring- pressed plunger E<1> maintains a continual pressure, and the plunger in its rearward position lifts the valve C<2> and thereby admits liquid to the cylinder C when the system is being filled. A valve C' in the piston C<3> of the cylinder C allows liquid to pass from the rear to the front of the piston. A charging cylinder F above the cylinder C has a piston F<2> connected by a rod F<1> to the lug A', and the rear ends of cylinder C and Fare always in communication through a passage F<3>, while liquid can pass from the rear of these cylinders to the front of the cylinder C through a pipe F', non-return valve F', and pipe F<6>. The sum of the areas of the annuli behind the pistons C<3> and F<2> is equal to the area of the cylinder C. A pipe E<5> leads from the tank E to a non-return valve E<6> from which a pipe E<7> leads to the pipe F<4>. A pipe C<5>, Fig. 9, also leads from the front of the cylinder C to the magazine and rammer cylinders G<6>, Fig. 3, and J, Fig. 9, respectively, this pipe communicating with a relief valve to reduce shock on the system. When the gun recoils, the lug A<1> moves the pistons C<3>, F<2> rearwards, compressing the spring D, causing liquid behind the pistons to pass to the front of the cylinder C through the valve C<4> and through pipes F<4>, F<6>. On the gun commencing to run out, the valve C<2> closes locking the liquid in front of the piston C<3> and subjecting it to the pressure of the springs D, thereby causing the liquid to pass through the pipe C<5> for operating the magazine and rammer. As the liquid passes to the magazine &c. cylinders, the piston C<3> moves forward and liquid enters the rear of the cylinder C through the pipes E<5>, F<4>. The magazine drum H, Figs. 3 and 4, rotates upon a spindle G<3> mounted in arms G<1>, G<2> fast on a shaft G which has bearings B<3> carried by an arm B<2> secured to the cradle. The arm G<1> extends below the shaft G and is connected by a link G<4> to the rod G<5> of a cylinder G<6> which receives liquid under pressure from the cylinder C to move the magazine, into loading position, a spring G<7> causing the return movement when the pressure liquid is allowed to exhaust. A series of trays H<1>, each comprising two spring arms, is arranged on the drum H, and front and rear plates H<3>, H<4>. fixed to the shaft G are also provided, the cartridges being loaded by hand into the trays and retained, if desired, by. spring catches H<5>. The drum is rotated on the spindle G<3> to bring successive, trays into loading position by means of a ring of teeth H<6> on the drum engaged by a spring pawl H' on a rod H<8> pivoted to the arm B<2>, the rotation occurring during the swinging upwards of the arm G<1>, the reverse swing allowing the pawl to pass idly over the teeth. A portion of the plate H<3> is formed as a cam to push forward any cartridge incorrectly placed in its tray until the nose of the fuse touches the plate H<4>. The fuses are set automatically, after the cartridges have been inserted in the magazine, by means of a segmental rack I which engages teeth on the time rings. In the position shown in Fig. 3, the rack is inoperative, but it is brought into the operative position by a clockwise rotation produced by means of a handle I<1>, worm gearing I<2>, and a telescopic rod I<4> having universal joints I<5> at each end. To allow the cartridge to pass the rack during ramming, the rack pivot is mounted upon a vertical axis I<6>, and a spring l<7> maintains the rack teeth in mesh with those on the fuse rings. Pressure liquid is admitted to the rammer cylinder J, Fig. 9, when the magazine is in the loading position, to move forward a rod J' against a tension spring connected at the rear to an arm on the carriage. The rod J<1> is connected to a pin K on lazy-tongs K<1> so that, as the pin K moves towards the fixed pivot K<2>, the lazy-tongs close and a toe K<4> on the rammer K<3> pushes the cartridge into the gun. The control valves of the magazine and rammer cylinders are operated in correct sequence by the breech block A<2> engaging a lever L, during run out, thus opening the valve L<1> in the pipe C<5>, and admitting pressure liquid to a pipe, L<2> leading to the cylinder G<6>. A pipe L<3> connects the pipe L<2> through a valve L<4> to a pipe L<5> leading to the cylinder J. As the magazine swings into loading position, a cam L<6> on the arm G<2> operates a lever L<7>, thereby opening the valve L<4> and admitting liquid to the cylinder J. When the cartridge is fully home, the breech block begins to close in known manner, allowing the spring L<8>, acting on the lever L, to close the valve L<1>. Further movement of the breech block allows a spring M to move a rod M<1> to open a valve M<2> which allows the pipe L<2>, and cylinders G<6>, J to exhaust through the pipe M<3> to tank E. When the rammer and magazine reach their clear positions, the valve M<2> is closed by means of a crosshead M<4> on the rod M<1> connected by links to a lever M<5>, which is actuated by a toe K<5> on the pin K of the rammer, and also connected by links to a tappet M<6> actuated by a cam surface G<8> on the arm G<2>. A safety-valve L<9> in the pipe L<3> opens due to back pressure, in the pipe L<5> when valve M<2> opens, and thus allows the cylinder J to exhaust even if the valve L<4> is closed. To prevent firing until the magazine is clear, a spring plunger N is secured to the gun and arranged to be pushed forward by an incline H' on the plate H<3> of the magazine as the magazine swings into the ramming position.