Patent GB-572668-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to ammunition limbers
IPC: F41A9/87
Filed: 1940-08-05
Abstract: 572,668. Ammunition limbers. SMITH, W. H. Aug. 5,1940, Nos. 6233/41 (divided out of 572,468) and 4801/41. [Classes 9 (i) and 92 (i)] An ammunition limber is provided with an ammunition magazine C which rotates in bearings E on the wheel axle F or a shaft parallel thereto, the ammunition being disposed in compartments G arranged parallel to the wheel axle. The compartments are formed as tubes mounted in discs D and are provided with retaining clips H for the rounds. In the operative position, the limber is turned over from the travelling position and rests with one wheel on the ground, the other wheel forming a shield for the men serving the gun. The wheels are conical discs with the cones arranged parallel to one another. In the operative position, an ammunition guide Q is turned down about a hinge S to facilitate serving the round to the gun. The limber frame J is provided with a front traction coupling K and a rear coupling O for the gun carriage. The axis of draught, which is non-central in relation to the frame J, passes through the centre of the magazine. Specification 572,468 is referred to. [Also in Group XXIV] A hydraulic mechanism for use in controlling the aiming movement of a tank gun, comprises a piston-rod 35 attachable by an end lug 48 to the gun and slidable in a bulkhead 14 fixed in a cylinder 10 which is held in place by a collar 33 and mounting trunnions 34, pistons 36, 37 fixed on the rod on each side of the bulkhead, which contains or is surrounded by a short, fluid-transfer passage, and quick-action valve means for opening or closing the passage independently of the position of the pistons, the passage and valve means when open being of an area large enough to provide flow of fluid sufficient to permit substantially resistancefree movement of the pistons. Manipulation of a heavy tank gun when the tank is pitching, is facilitated by the invention, closure of the passage locking the mechanism to hold the gun in a fixed position and opening of the passage permitting free relative movement of the pistonrod and cylinder. As shown, the transfer passage consists of an annular space provided by a casing 23 fixed to the cylinder and two sets of apertures 11, 12 in the cylinder, flow of fluid from one side of the bulkhead to the other being controlled by a rotatable ring or sleevevalve 20 containing similar co-operating apertures. The valve is engaged by one arm 29 of a crank pivoted on the casing 23, the other crank arm 30 being hand-operable by a cable. Movement of the valve is controlled by a guiding and movement-limiting stud 21 fixed in the cylinder and coacting with a slot 22 in the valve. Each piston is fitted preferably with spaced, self-sealing gland-packings 38, 39 and a spring-loaded valve 40 controlling the pressure in the space between the glands. An axial passage 46 in the upper end of the pistonrod has a lateral opening below the piston 36 and is fitted with a non-return ball-valve 46a having a very limited freedom of movement. A tubular member 44 forming an extension of the piston-rod acts as a reservoir for replenishing fluid in the cylinder. Hydraulic connections may be provided, branching into the cylinder on either side of the bulkhead. By such means the relative operative volumes of fluid on each side of the bulkhead may be varied for power elevation and training control, whilst the gunner may immediately change over to manual operation. According to the Provisional Specification, the cylinder may be in two parts and the construction of the bulkhead is different from that described in the Complete Specification.