Patent GB-191116295-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to Control Systems for Gun Mountings and other Mechanism.
Inventor: DAWSON ARTHUR TREVOR
Filed: 1911-07-14
Granted: 1912-08-14
Abstract: 16,295. Dawson, Sir A. T., and Horne, J. July 14. Mountings.-Relates to apparatus, controlled electrically from a distant station, for elevating and training guns, or for operating other mechanism, and comprising a hunting-gear, one element of which is actuated electrically from the transmitting station, and the other element by the driving motor of the mechanism controlled, which hunting-gear controls an electromagnetic relay governing the valve or controlswitch of the hydraulic or electric driving-motor. According to the invention, the electricallyactuated element of a hunting-switch is also controlled by the relay in such a manner that the circuit through the relay, after the valve or control-switch of the driving-motor has been initially actuated to start the driving-motor, is automatically broken, and is thereafter intermittently made and broken in the opposite sense, so that the valve or switch is gradually returned to the cut-off position. The contacts on the driven member of the hunting - switch are arranged so that, within certain limits, the extent of the relay movement necessary initially to break the relay circuit is proportional to the displacement set up between the two switch members. To introduce corrections for muzzlevelocity changes or for the distance between the turret and the control station, means is provided for varying the displacement of the electrically-actuated member. In the construction shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1, the electrically-actuated member B is driven by a stepby-step motor B<Î> controlled from the distant station, and has two contacts b<Î>, b<1Î>, the former of which bears upon a contact strip a<3> on a drum A which drum forms the powerdriven member of the hunting-switch and is rotated by a pinion A'. Two other contact strips a<1>, a<2> on the drum A are separated by an inclined insulating-strip a. The contact strips a<1>, a<2>, a<3> are connected respectively to slip-rings a<1Î>, a<2Î>, a<3Î> on the drum, and thence to the two solenoids D<1>, D of the relay, and to the positive main. The toothed core D<Î> of the solenoids actuates the plug-valve d<1> of an hydraulic ram c<1>, which operates the valve C of the driving-motor and is connected by an adjustable pivoted link C' to the spindle B' of the member B. When the member B is angularly displaced by the motor B<Î>, the contact b<1Î> moves on to one of the contact strips a<1>, a<2>, according to the direction of rotation, and completes the circuit through one of the solenoids D<1>, D. The plug-valve d<1> thus opens the cylinder d<2> to exhaust or pressure, and the valve C is operated to start the hydraulic motor. The movement of the ram c<1>, communicated through the link C<1>, displaces the member B transversely to the drum A until the contact b<1Î> again rests upon the insulating strip a, and the solenoid circuit is broken. In practice, the rotary displacement of the member B does not extend beyond the extremities of the inclined portion of the strip a, and the transverse displacement is therefore proportional to the rotary displacement. The interruption of the solenoid circuit allows the core D<Î> to be centred bv a spring, and the valve d<1> closed. The continued rotation of the drum A then brings the other contact strip a<2> or a<1> under the contact b<1Î>, and the other solenoid is energized, opening the valve d<1> so that the ram c<1> moves the controlvalve C back towards the cut-off position. The same movement of the ram c<1> returns the contact b<1Î> of the member B on to the insulating-gap a, and the solenoid circuit is again interrupted. This intermittent action continues until the control valve C reaches the cut-off position shown in Fig. 1. In modifications, (1) the valve C is actuated directly through the link C<1> and spindle B<1> by a cam-groove on the drum A, corresponding in shape to the insulating strip a, in which groove works a roller on the member B; (2) two electrically - actuated members, either geared together or separately controlled from the distant station in the manner described in Specification 11,019/11, [Class 40 (i), Electric signalling systems &c.], are provided, one being arranged to control the valve C when large movements are required, and the other to act in the manner first described for small movements, and a rotary switch driven by the spindle d of the plug-valve d<1> may be provided to cut out the non-operative solenoid D or D' during the time that the valve C is under the control of the auxiliary electricallyactuated member; (3) the contact strips a<1>, a<2>, a<3> are arranged upon the face of a dial, and may be electrically connected with a number of contact fingers bearing upon two contact plates, disposed on the spindle c of the valve C, and in circuit with the solenoids D, D'. In this case, the electrically-actuated member B (or members) carrying the contacts is rotated in front of the dial, and the contact plates on the spindle c are displaced transversely in accordance with the movements of the valve C. To effect the muzzle-velocity or other correction, the motor B<Î> is mounted in a casing which is rotatable in a bearing co-axial with the spindle B', graduations being provided to indicate the extent of the displacement of the casing and motor.