Patent GB-191503025-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to Trench Guns and the like.
Inventor: BELLAIRS ALAN DE MOWBRAY
IPC: F41A1/04
Filed: 1915-02-24
Abstract: 3025. Bellairs, A. de M. Feb. 24. [Cognate Application, 6885/15.] Ordnance, pneumatic and war-rocket; ordnance smoke and gases, disposing of.-Relates to trench guns and other forms of artillery, rocket-guns, alarm and signal guns, of the kind wherein the barrel is extended into an enlarged firing-chamber adapted to be charged with an explosive gaseous mixture, such as of acetylene and air or oxygen, and consists in an arrangement wherein the part of the barrel which enters the firing-chamber is in free communication therewith at all times. Means are provided for supplying regulated quantities of gas to the tiring-chamber. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, the gun barrel A extends into a firing- chamber B of relatively larger diameter, the end of the barrel being open and perforated round the sides B'. The projectile, inserted at the muzzle, rests upon a flange B<2> formed within the barrel. The firing-chamber B is charged from a gas-cylinder or acetylene generator through the intermediary of a measuring- cylinder D and a two-way cock E. The gas passing through the tube E<3> forces back the piston D' until the cylinder D has been filled. The cock E is then turned to put the cylinder D into communication with the chamber B through the conduit E<2>, the piston being pushed inwards by means of a handle D<2>. The charge may be regulated by cutting off the supply to the cylinder D before the pressure of the gas reaches its maximum; or the plunger rod may be locked or retained at any desired point, so that the measuring-cylinder is only partly filled. The piston-rod, for this purpose, may be graduated. The charge may be fired by means of a percussion nipple or electric ignition plug G. A pressure gauge F is mounted in communication with the tube E<3>. Four plug cocks C in the top of the chamber serve to place the interior in communication with the atmosphere. To expel spent gases, the cocks C are opened, and the piston D<1> is used to pump air through the chamber B. The gun may be carried upon a tripod or may be used without such a mounting and laid against the side of a trench. Oxygen instead of air may be mixed with the acetylene. In this case, the oxygen may be admitted to the cylinder D together with the acetylene, or a second measuring-cylinder may be provided for the purpose. In the form in which separate measuring-cylinders are used, the relative quantities of the gases required may be obtained by connecting the piston - rods to variable-throw crank-pins, which may both be operated by a single handle. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 2, which is adapted to supply measured quantities of acetylene and oxygen respectively to the chamber, the measuring-means is constituted by a spring-operated clock-work mechanism, which operates trip levers to close the supply cocks after a predetermined interval of time. The spring-controlled cocks H2, J<2> are retained in the open position by means of trip levers K, L, which are tripped to allow the cocks to close by pins M<5>, M<6> placed in selected positions on the periphery of a rotary disk M<3> driven through a train of gearing by means of a spring driving-motor M<1>. A number of gun barrels may be connected to a single firing-chamber. The gun may be formed with a bell-shaped barrel and operated automatically when utilized for sounding warnings at sea. The Provisional Specifications also state that the firing-chamber may be connected with a compressed-gas cylinder or generator by means of a hand-controlled valve, the thumb-piece of which may be locked by the air-admission valve to prevent actuation thereof except when the air valve is open. In another arrangement, the firing-chamber is in the form of a cast - iron cylinder formed with three screw - threaded sockets to receive legs forming a tripod for the gun. Reference has been directed by the Comptroller to Specification. 1260/15.