Improvements in Mounting Guns for Firing at High Elevations.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Apr., 1890-Accepted, 5th July, 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mounting Guns for Firing at High Elevations.
I, THOMAS ENGLISH, of Hawley, near Dartford, in the County of Kent, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My invention relates to mounting guns in such a manner that they can be fired
at high elevations, the gun being allowed to recoil for a certain distance in the line
of its axis under the control of hydropneumatic huffers. Fig. 1 of the accompanying
drawings is a side view and Fig. 2 is a plan shewing the mounting of a gun according
to my invention. The carriage A having sides approximately triangular is carried
on a strong framing B which can turn round a pivot C and is carried on wheels D
that can traverse round a circular race at the periphery of a base E supporting the
pivot. The traverse is effected by gearing and winch handle F.
At the apex of the sides of the carriage A there are bearings for the trunnions of
a cradle G consisting of two sides G one on each side of the gun tied together by
cross bars H H above and below the body of the gun. The trunnions of the gun are
held in blocks which are fitted to slide parallel to the axis in guide grooves formed
in the inside of the side pieces G and from these sides extend backwards brackets
forming guides for a block K fixed on the breech of the gun. Within each of the
side pieces G is formed a cylinder L fitted with a piston packed with cup leathers.
The piston rods pass backwards through packings and are secured to the block K.
Above each of the cylinders L there are formed in the sides G cavities M charged
partly with liquid and partly with compressed air, both communicating with the
cylinder L through a check valve which has small grooves in its face. To one of the
sides G of the cradle is attached a toothed sector N gearing with a worm worked by
gearing from hand wheels P on a cross spindle. The charged gun being trained
to the desired direction by working the handle F and elevated to the desired angle
by working either of the wheels P, on being fired recoils dragging back the pistons
in the cylinders L and thereby forcing the liquid up into the cavities M in opposi-
tion to the pressure of the air therein. After the recoil stroke is completed, the
air pressure causes the liquid to flow back from M. into the cylinder L through the
small grooves of the check valve thus pressing forward the pistons in Land returning
the gun to its firing position at a moderate speed determined by the area of the
Small grooves.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
The mounting of a gun for firing at high elevations consisting of a traversing
frame and carriage to which is trunnioned a cradle enclosing the gun and its trunnions,
and containing hydropneumatic buffer cylinders and cavities arranged to control the
recoil of the gun in line of its axis, substantially as described.
Dated this 94th day of April 1890
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.