New-York tribune., 1895-08-19
- TwELvEINCH PNEUMATIC MORTAR CARRIAGE

| ~rvrT-- TWELVE-INCH PNEUMA
up to the requirements. Better results have been
| obtained with the spring return carriage, and FUR
| ther trials to be had with it at Sandy Hook
In addition to these foreign inventions is the
| riage devised by Captain Gordon. Of the Army.
| This mount resembles the Whtworth somewhat,
| but has been greatly improved by Captain Gordon.
| The Cramps, In Philadelphia, have added an ord
| nance department to their works, and propose to
| enter into competition with domestic and foreign
gun-carriage makers. The firm has recently con-
| structed a carriage OF the pneumatic type, which,
1t contends. is American in design, material and
| workmanship. and possesses the necessary ele-
| ments OF simplicity and strength OF parts. with
ease and safety OF operation II the expectations
| OF the company realized, the invention VIII
| soon be in use in the land fortifcations OF this
country and possibly in many Of the big fortresses
| in Europe, China and Japan. The carriage is now
| at the Army Proving Grounds at Sandy Hook un-
| dergoing trial. Already 1t has been subjected to
| preliminary tests, which have been successfully
passed. and 1t is to be put TO severer trials by
| the Army ordnance experts. In the earlier expert
ments twenty-five heavy charges were fired, and,
| according to reports, mshaps occurred the
| mechanism working with ease and certainty. Ihe
| Cramps express confidence in the results or the
| final tests They say the invention Is constructed
| on sound mechanical principles and that the ma
| terial and workmanship employed in building 1t
determine whether the carriage fully meets tho con-
| ditons. only in relation to the strength and
| other qualities Of the working parts, but with
| respect to the method OF recoil. the degree OF
| elevation to which a gun mounted upon 1t can be
| trained, etc.
SEVERE TESTS TO BE UNDERGONE.
| The members of the Board Of Army officers who
| will have the experiments in charge are among the
| most Intelligent to be found in the service, well
grounded In al the special studies relating to ord
nance, and having through long experience, gained
| a practical knowledge Of guns carriages and
ammunition. Their verdict If favorable, will mean
that the invention is success in every respect and
| a credit to American ingenuity and zeal The car
riage will be put to the severest trials II the re-
suits are satisfactory, the country will be inde-
pendent OF Europe in the matter OF big gun-car-
riages for land batteries. just 1t now is in re-
| laton to rned guns and mortars, shells and pow
| der.
The accompanying cut gives a good idea OF the
exterior features Of the carriage which the Cramps
| have made AS stated, the invention Is OF the
| pneumatic type; that is to say the recoil OF the
gun is taken up in cylinders fitted with compressed
air The illustration represents big rfed mortar
mounted the carriage. The carriages can be
used for these high angle firing guns or for the
ordinary. longer high powered rifles of large call
| bre They can be mounted in protected places or
stationed at exposed points. Generally, In prac-
| tice they will be behind strong defences and
| guarded against the fire of the enemy In order
that they may be thrown out OF action by being
| struck either by stray wel.-directed she'll The
carriage is circular in form. The lower part Of the
base is secured to a strong foundation. and holes
are drilled through the outer rim for securing bolts
] Somewhat above this part is projecting clip
circle Still above this. and fastened firmly TO H. Is
the main body OF the carriage. The upper mechan-
| ism revolves the base In any desired direction,
| the training being accomplished by levers which
| can readily be manipulated by the gunners. on
the bottom OF this part are solid, conical steel
| rollers so balanced that the whole mount can be
trayersed By man without any special gear. "A
| fair idea OF the manner OF mounting the gun or
mortar on the carriage can be formed from the
| Illustration.
| At the command of the captain the muzzle OF the
gun or mortar quickly be thrown TO the right
| or left up or down. In few seconds a sight can
be taken. the lock-string pulled. and away speeds
the solid shot bursting shell on is mission OF
destruction. IL smokeless powder is employed, and
there is dense curtain TO obstruct the view OF
the gunners. tho firing be rapidly carried on
and rain OF steel kept up long as circumstances
require and the ammunition holds out.
HOW THE RECOIL Is TAKEN UP.
In all gun carriages of the principal consd
erations is ne designing OF a reco system that
VIII evenly and surely take up the backward move
ment OF the weapon as II returns to the battery
after firing. In the pneumatic carriage this feature
OF construction has been carefully considered. and
/ from descriptions of the mechanism received by
the experts here 1t seems TO be satisfactory. Ine
| carriage has four cylinders filled with compressed
air, each side. Into the cylinders are fittci
| pisons which. upon recoil press against the In
| closed big volumes OF compressed air. jacket
! frame containing the p.stons Is shrunk on the
| mortar or gun, and the construction Is sucn ihat
the pistons and recoli cylinders take and maintain
the same degree Of elevation as the gun or mortar.
Thus the recoil Is taken up In the direction OF the
angle OF fire, point ordnance experts say, which
Is essential. the strain OF recoi IL evenly dis-
tr.buted and readily taken. An air pressure mask
is attached 10 the carriage for the purpose OF sup
| plying Initial air pressure, also Tor making good
| any accidental leakage.
| In many carriages heretofore tested the recoH
mechanism is either of the hydraulic or the com
| bined hydraulic and spring types Hydraulic cyl,
| lnders found fault with for many reasons. anu
here OF late the system has been regarded with
favor. The hydraulic spr.ng-return system has the
disadvantage OF being complicated The recol IS
taken up by IL by hydraulic power. and springs are
required TO send the gun or mortar back into bat
| checking the backward movement OF the weapon
| and returning IL TO battery Is performed with a
| simple elastic air-cushion.
Speaking generally. an expert who has examined
! the pneumatic carriage said few days ago that
| It's chief advantages are that the recoil cylinders
are always r. Ike with the bore OF the gun In its
| return to battery, the movement being automat H.
| cally performed by the diferentla areas OF the
| two sides OF the piston. by the same agency that
| takes up the recoil. and that compressed air Is
| employed instead OF water. or water and return
| springs.
For loading purposes the gun has simply to be