Improvements in or relating to Gun Carriages, Ammunition Wagons, and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Apr., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 12th Feb., 1900-Accepted, 12th Apr., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Gun Carriages, Ammunition Wagons,
and the like.
We, WILLIAM HAMILTON WRIGHT, Manufacturer, of Bridgeburg, Ontario,
Dominion of Canada, and the Hon. WALTER ROTHSCHILD, Banker, of New Court,
St. Swithin's Lane, and GERALD DUDLEY SMITH, Banker, of 1, Lombard Street,
both in the County of London, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to gun carriages, ammunition wagons and the like, the
construction being so arranged as to balance the load so that the weight upon
the horse will be either nothing at all or very slight. As much as possible it
is intended to so balance the vehicle and its load that the shafts will normally
remain horizontal, though capable of being moved up or down.
In carrying out the invention the frame-work of the vehicle is made accord-
ing to the purpose for which it is required; thus, the body might be simply in
the shape of a shallow box, but special shapes may be adopted as for example
where the Maxim or other gun is to be carried centrally with ammunition
boxes or spaces in suitable parts of the vehicle. The particular feature in the
construction of the vehicle is the axle and its connection with either the frame
or the vehicle body, should those parts be separate. The axle is made with a
deep crank or depression adapted to receive a portion or the whole of the main
frame-work or the body, the ends or journals projecting as required to receive
the wheels and being tapered or not as required.
The vehicle body or frame is provided at each side with one or more sockets
in which the vertical portions of the cranked axle are free to rise or fall, but
are not permitted any material amount of side play. Upon each side of the
axle crank is placed one or more, preferably, helical springs carried at their
lower ends. in suitable shoes or sockets which may be formed upon or secured
to the crank axle; at their upper ends these springs rest against any suitable
surface of the frame or body, conveniently a portion of the previously men-
tioned socket in which the axle crank moves vertically. The socket would be
secured to the frame or body in any convenient manner. One of these springs
would lie in front and the other behind the axle, and there would be at least
four, two at each end of the axle. By this construction and by suitably dis-
posing the load in relation thereto, the above-mentioned balancing may be
satisfactorily obtained.
One or more seats are provided hinged or pivotted to the vehicle, and either
so disposed in relation to a constant load as not to interfere with or to posi-
tively promote the previously mentioned balance. When in the position for
use as a seat it will cover over one or more of the ammunition boxes or of the
space in the vehicle, but when turned upon its pivot it folds over the foot-board
or the like so as to allow free access to the ammunition boxes. When in its
position a level top or surface is if desired provided throughout the length of
the vehicle. Handles or other means of support are provided where necessary
so that the rider can hold himself securely. If necessary spring or other

page_text: catches or locking devices can be used to secure the seat in either its open or
closed position.
The pole which projects forwards between the horses is centrally secured to
the frame portion at the front by a moving clevis or other suitable means;
behind this point of attachment it is split and its ends opened out so as to
terminate at the two sides at the back of the vehicle. A suitable bracket is
provided in each corner and may have a projecting socket into which the end
of the pole will fit and in which it can be bolted or otherwise secured. The
socket fits into a recess or socket in the bracket and is secured by a bolt or
pin preferably tapered and fitted in from the top and prevented from falling
out by means of a split or other cotter pin or equivalent. By this means the
shaft while very strong and very securely connected to the vehicle can be
promptly disconnected and removed should that be necessary, and replaced by
another one if desired.
At a suitable part of the vehicle and particularly the back where the gun
projects we provide a shield which may be made in three pieces: the central
piece would be fixed and the two side wings would be hinged or pivotted. The
shield is intended to be slightly curved and placed approximately at an angle
of 45° to the ground so that bullets striking it will be deflected. The hinges
will be arranged at a suitable angle to allow of the wings being folded over the
central plate and when folded the wings may either enclose the muzzle of the
gun or not as desired.
Dated this 12th day of April 1899.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicants.
QUALLELE SITTIATION.
Improvements in or relating to Gun Carriages, Ammunition Wagons,
and the like.
We, WILLIAM HAMILTON WRIGHT, Manufacturer, formerly of Bridgeburg,
Ontario, Dominion of Canada, now of Buffalo, New York, United States of
America, and the Hon. WALTER ROTHSCHILD, Banker, of New Court, St. Swithin's
Lane, and GERALD DUDLEY SMITH, Banker, of 1, Lombard Street, both in the
County of London, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to gun carriages, ammunition wagons and the like, the
construction being so arranged as to balance the load so that the weight upon
the horse will be either nothing at all or very slight. As much as possible it
is intended to so balance the vehicle and its load that the shafts will normally
remain horizontal, though capable of being moved up or down.
In carrying out the invention the frame-work of the vehicle is made accord-
ing to the purpose for which it is required: thus, the body might be simply in
the shape of a shallow box, but special shapes may be adopted as for example
where a Maxim or other gun is to be carried centrally with ammunition
boxes or spaces in suitable parts of the vehicle. The particular feature in the
construction of the vehicle is the axle and its connection with either the frame
or the vehicle body, should those parts be separate. The axle is made with a
deep crank or depression adapted to receive a portion or the whole, of the main
frame-work or the body, the ends or journals projecting as required to receive
the wheels and being tapered or not as required,.

page_text: The vehicle body or frame is provided at each side with one or more sockets or
guides in which the vertical portions of the cranked axle are free to rise or fall, but
are not permitted any material amount of side play. Upon each side of the
axle crank is placed one or more preferably helical springs, carried at their
lower ends in suitable shoes or sockets which may be formed upon or secured
to the crank axle; at their upper ends these springs rest against any suitable
surface of the frame or body, conveniently a portion of the previously mentioned
socket or guide in which the axle crank moves vertically. The guide would be
secured to the frame or body in any convenient manner. One of these springs
would lie in front and the other behind the axle, and there would be at least
four, two at each end of the axle. By this construction and by suitably dis-
posing the load in relation thereto, the above-mentioned balancing may be
satisfactorily obtained.
One or more seats are provided hinged or pivotted to the vehicle, and either
so disposed in relation to a constant load as not to interfere with or to posi-
tively promote the previously mentioned balance. When in the position for
use as a seat each will cover over one or more of the ammunition boxes or of the
space in the vehicle, but when turned upon its pivot it folds over the foot-board
or the like so as to allow free access to the ammunition boxes. When in its
position a level top or surface is if desired provided throughout the length of
the vehicle. Handles or other means of support are provided where necessary
so that the rider can hold himself securely. If necessary spring or other
catches or
locking devices can be used to secure the seat in either its open or
closed position.
At a suitable part of the vehicle and particularly the back where the gun
projects I provide a shield which may be made in three pieces: the central.
piece would be fixed and the two side wings would be hinged or pivotted. The
shield is intended to be slightly curved and placed approximately at an angle
of 45° to the ground so that bullets striking it will be deflected. The hinges
will be arranged at a suitable angle to allow of the wings being folded over the
central plate and when folded the wings may either enclose the muzzle of the
gun or not as desired.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a side view of a gun carriage constructed according to this inven-
tion with one wheel removed,
Figure 2 is an end view of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an elevation of a shield hereinafter referred to,
Figure 4 is a plan of Figure 3.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
A gun carriage constructed according to this invention comprises an axle A
provided with a cranked or depressed portion B; the ends of the axle A, which
receive the wheels C, are tapered or not as desired.
The frame D is situated within the crank B and is provided at each side with
guides E which are adapted to engage with the arms B¹ of the crank B in such
a manner as to allow of relative movement of these two parts longitudinally,
but so as to permit of no material amount of side play: if desirable the guides E
may be secured to the vehicle body itself instead of to the frame.
Springs F are arranged between the cranked axle and the frame. Prefer-
ably these springs are helical, as shown, and their upper ends bear against the
parts E of the guides E or against the frame itself. The lower ends of the
springs F are secured to projections 132 on the crank B, or, if desired. to the
crank itself. There are four of the springs Farranged in pairs one of each
pair being in front and the other behind the axle A if there are more than
two pairs the upper ends of the springs may bear against the frame D itself.
The seat G is preferably hinged at G. so that it may be moved into the posi-
tion shown in chain lines in Figure 1. in order to allow of free access to the
ammunition boxes H arranged beneath it. It is preferably hollowed out, as

page_text: shown at G2, and a cushion or the like K may be placed between it and the
ammunition boxes H.
A central space may be left between the two sets of ammunition. boxes H
(Figure 2) in which the gun, preferably of the automatic type, is mounted. A
shield M, M, M2, may be arranged upon the gun so as to protect the men working it
when in action. It is preferred to arrange it at an angle of about 45° with
the ground in order to deflect any bullets striking it. The shield M, M', M²,
is constructed of two thicknesses of metal, the outer surface being very hard
and the inner surface of softer and tougher metal; when these two metals are
welded together a solid bullet-proof shield is obtained. The shield may con-
veniently be formed of three portions M, M, M², hinged together, the centre
one M being secured to the gun. When not in action the side pieces or
wings M M may be folded, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, and held in this
position by means of a hook M³ on one wing of the shield engaging with an
eye M on the other. Conveniently cushions M³ are placed near the edges of
the side portions M1, M2, of the shield so as to be interposed between it and
the gun when closed. The junctions between the side wings M¹ M³ and the
centre portion M of the shield are preferably made double in order to strengthen
these parts; this may be done by flanging the edges of the wing pieces M¹ M²
in such a way as to overlap the edges of the centre piece M on the outer side
of the shield, as shown in Figure 4: in this case the hinges are similarly bent.
If desired, however the edges of the centre piece M. may be made to overlap
those of the side wings MM² on the inner side of the shield, and in this case
the hinges may be flat.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
what we claim is:―
.
1. In a gun carriage or other road vehicle the combination with a cranked
axle of springs and guides which receive the arms of the crank substantially as
described.
2. In a gun carriage or other road vehicle the combination with a cranked
axle of four or more springs disposed in pairs at its opposite ends and guides
which receive the arms of the crank substantially as described.
3. In a gun carriage or other road vehicle a folding armour shield the sec-
tions of which are flanged at their junction with or without cushions such as M
substantially as described.
4. In a gun carriage or other road vehicle the complete folding shield M M¹ M²
substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
5. The complete gun carriage or road vehicle substantially as and for the
purpose described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 12th day of February 1900.
BOULT, WADE
& KILBURN,
Agents for the Applicants.