Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Working Turret and other Guns.
Year: 1888

page_text: Dáte of Application, 14th Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 14th May, 1889-Accepted, 22nd June, 1889
[Communicated from abroad by JEAN BAPTISTE GUSTAVE ADOLPHE CANET, of 91,
Avenue Malakoff, Paris, France, Engineer.]
Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Working Turret
and other Guns.
We, RICHARD COPLEY CHRISTIE, MANASSAH GLEDHILL, and HERBERT HANBURY
SMITH CARINGTON, all Directors of Sir Joseph Whitworth & Co., Limited, of
Openshaw, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the working of turret and other guns, and comprises
improved apparatus for training or traversing the gun and for effecting the vertical
pointing or elevation thereof. It also comprises improved apparatus for raising the
ammunition from a magazine or deck below the gun-mounting into position behind
the breech of the gun and in line with the bore thereof, so that the gun can be
loaded in any position to which it may be trained, or whilst it is being trained.
In the specifications of the following former Letters Patent, viz. :-No. 279 of 1884,
No. 16,736 of 1884, No. 9375 of 1887, and No. 10,179 of 1887, charge-elevating
apparatus is described whereby the ammunition is raised through a central tube
attached to and rotating with the platform or turntable upon which the gun is
mounted. This central tube, in some instances, has fixed thereon a toothed wheel or
ring connected by suitable gearing with a motor, or having passed around it a chain
connected with hydraulic presses for the purpose of training the gun by the rotation
of the said tube and the platform or turntable to which it is attached.
According to one part of the present invention, we provide auxiliary or supple-
mentary bydraulic presses, which are arranged in combination with the aforesaid
chain and with the main hydraulic presses. The rams or plungers of these supple-
mentary presses are constantly subjected to the pressure of the liquid from the pressure
main in such a manner that they will maintain a suitable tension upon the said chain
and thus counteract any tendency to slackening thereof during the operation of
the main presses to train or traverse the gin.
In some cases, we provide for training the gun by means of a motor worked by
steam, compressed air, electricity or hydraulic or other power, which motor is mounted
on the rotating platform or turntable and connected with a stationary toothed ring
through the medium of the following mechanism, that is to say, the said motor
drives worms or endless-screws geared with worm-wheels fixed on vertical shafts,
on which are also fixed pinions geared with the said toothed ring. This arrangement
prevents rotation of the gun-mounting during the rolling of the ship or vessel, in the
case of accident to the pipe-service or other accessory parts.
To facilitate the rotation of the platform or turntable, we provide for diminishing
the friction between the pivot thereof and the step or bearing in which the said
pivot works. For this purpose we arrange between the said pivot and its bearing,
rollers whose axes are vertical and which are mounted in roller-rings and are
supported upon spherical or conical rollers fitted to rotate in the said bearing.
When the central tube is of such length as to require lateral support at one or
more parts thereof below the gun-mounting, we employ a similar arrangement of
rollers for diminishing the friction at the part or parts where such support is
provided.
For effecting the vertical pointing or elevation of the gun, we employ an arrange-
ment somewhat similar to that above described for training or traversing the gun,
that is to say the chassis or frame is supported upon strong screw-shafts which

page_text: work in stationary screw-threaded sleeves or nuts, and on which are fixed worm-
wheels geared with worms or endless-screws fixed upon a shaft, to which rotary
motion is imparted by a suitable motor mounted upon the platforin or turntable and
acting upon the said shaft either directly or through the medium of suitable gearing.
When it is desired that provision should be made for elevating the gun by hand,
we sometimes fix chain-wheels on the driving shaft and connect them by means of
chains with other chain-wheels fixed on shafts provided with suitable cranks or handles.
Or we provide other suitable gearing for effecting the vertical pointing or elevation
of the gun.
To provide for reducing the diameter of the turret or shield and bringing the
centre of gravity of the whole mounting as near as practicable to the centre of
rotation, the platform for the gunners, or a portion of this platform, is made to
overhang or project beyond the barbette as described in the specification filed with
our application for Letters Patent dated 29th November A.D. 1887, No. 16,382. We
sometimes arrange the hydraulic or other rammer for loading the gun, upon this
overhanging part. When the gun is very heavy, we provide for equilibrating the
mounting by means of counterweights on the said overhanging part, or by increasing
the thickness of the armour on this overhanging part or on the part of the turret
adjacent thereto.
According to another part of the present invention we provide improved apparatus
for raising the ammunition through the aforesaid central tube into position for
ramming into the gun.
An important feature of this part of our said invention is the construction of the
apparatus in such a manner that the carrier will move around the lower edge of the
breech of the gun in the are of a circle or approximately so, instead of moving in a
straight line rearward and then in a straight line upward, as in some forms of the
apparatus described in the said former specifications, the axis of the said carrier
changing its position or shifting from a vertical or nearly vertical position to an
inclination corresponding with that of the axis of the gun in the loading position.
We are thus enabled to dispense with the vertical slide and its adjuncts at the rear of
the guides.
In one form or arrangement of this apparatus, we employ a charge-carrier similar
to that described in the specification of the said letters patent No. 9375, and which
has three compartments for the projectile and powder-charges, arranged to turn around
a common centre to bring the projectile and powder-charges into line with the bore
of the gun. The said carrier has, moreover, on each side two rollers and an arm
provided with a third roller. The rear rollers on the carrier and the rollers on the
said arm are arranged to move in suitable guides, which, near the top of the central
tube, are inclined and extend rearward or towards the breech of the gun. During
the movement of the charge-carrier in the central tube, the said arms are vertical or
nearly vertical The said guides, near their rear ends, are bifurcated, and another
set of guides is provided for the front rollers of the carrier. The position and
arrangement of the guides is such that the charge-carrier, after having cleared or
moved around the lower edge of the breech of the gun, will be brought into the
desired position for loading. The rear rollers on the carrier and the rollers on the
said arms then abut against the closed ends of the guides, and the elevating chains,
being kept taut, firmly retain the said carrier in position during the loading.
In another modification of the charge-elevating apparatus, when applied to a
turntable with two guns, we arrange the two sets of guides within the central tube
as closely as practicable to each other, in order to diminish the diameter of the said
tube. In this case, we so arrange the said sets of guides that they diverge from
each other at the top of the said tube, so that, when either charge-carrier is moving
rearward from the central tube, it will also move laterally whilst remaining parallel
to the axes of the guns, and will thus arrive at the loading position behind the breech
of the gun. The working of the charge-carrier is effected by means of chains or
their equivalents attached to hydraulic presses arranged vertically within the centra!
tube or horizontally on the platform or turntable, or by other suitable means.
The

page_text: central tube is made with a partition extending diametrically across it, or is provided
with other suitable means for supporting the guide-bars therein.
In a further modification of the charge-elevating apparatus, a revolving charge-
carrier is provided on each side with two rollers. On the axles of the rear pair of
rollers are pivoted arms or connecting rods, the lower ends of which are provided with
rollers and are connected with the elevating chains. The axis of rotation of the
charge-carrier, during its movement in the tube, is vertical, the point of the projectile
being uppermost. The said rollers move in suitable guides which, at the top of the
tube, are inclined towards the rear of the mounting, and are divided into curved
branches to conduct the charge-carrier into position behind the breech of the gun.
The guides are so formed that the charge-carrier, after having cleared the breech of
the gun, will be gradually turned about the axis of the forward pair of rollers, until
the rear rollers abut against the ends of the guides. The carrier will then be retained
firmly in position during the loading of the gun provided the chain is kept taut.
After the loading has been performed, the charge-carrier descends under the influence
of gravity, the rollers at the ends of the connecting rods and those at the rear of the
carrier first descending and then the forward rollers. The lower ends of the vertical
guides are so formed that the carrier, when it has terminated its downward movement,
will turn about the axis of the forward rollers until it occupies a convenient position
for the placing of the ammunition therein.
Hydraulic presses for working the chains are placed when convenient in the tube
or on the platform; or other suitable means of imparting motion to the chains are
employed.
In some instances, we make the charge-carrier with three compartments arranged
in the arc of a circle, and we adapt the apparatus for use with either one gun or
with two guns mounted side by side. For this purpose we provide the carrier with
two rollers on each side arranged to move in suitable guides; and we use a single
operating chain which is coupled to the underside of the carrier near its centre of
gravity. At the lower ends of the vertical guides is a pivoted block formed with
grooves which, when the said block is in one position, coincide with the lower ends
of the vertical guides and form continuations of the said guides. This block is
arranged to turn or rock upon or about a fixed horizontal axis and to sustain the
carrier during the charging thereof, the carrier being suitably constructed to prevent
the sliding or slipping of the charge or load therefrom till the carrier is in the
loading position behind the gun. When force is applied to the elevating chain, the
said pivoted block is turned at the same time that the carrier is raised, and, when
the grooves in the said block are opposite the lower ends of the vertical guides, the
charge-carrier ascends in the latter; it then moves along the inclined parts of the
guides which are situated midway between the two guns.
At the rear ends of the said guides is another pivoted block having grooves to
coincide with the said guides and form continuations thereof. This block is arranged
to turn about a horizontal axis and is supported upon a carriage. When the rear pair
of rollers arrive at the rear ends of the guides on the pivoted block, the elevating
chain, continuing to act, turns or rocks the said pivoted block and the charge-carrier
in such a manner that the axis of the latter is brought to the same inclination as the
axis of the gun in the loading position. A pawl maintains it in this position until
it is permitted to rock in the reverse direction by acting upon this pawl by means of
a foot-lever or treadle, which can only be depressed when, after the loading of the
gun, the charge-carrier is brought back to its position in front of the central tube.
The tail-piece of the foot-lever can then enter a hole so that the said lever may be
depressed and the aforesaid pawl disengaged. A hydraulic press is provided, the
cylinder of which is formed with or firmly attached to the aforesaid carriage, and
the piston-rod of which extends through both ends of the said cylinder and is firmly
secured at its extremities to the platform or turntable. The carriage is provided on
its underside with a pinion mounted upon a vertical shaft or pivot about which the
charge-carrier and pivoted block can turn. The elevating chain is provided with a
T-shaped piece engaging in a corresponding groove in a rod attached to the carrier

page_text: and the said chain remains stationary during this movement, being disengaged
in the first part of the said movement. When this disengagement is effected, the
said pinion engages with a rack fixed on the rotating platform or turntable and is
turned thereby upon or about its axis, thus causing the carrier to make half a
revolution in the proper direction to bring the ammunition into the desired position
for ramming into the gun. After the loading is effected, the aforesaid carriage is
moved back to the middle of the platform, and, in its return movement, causes the
charge-carrier to turn half a revolution in the reverse direction; the chain then
becomes again engaged with the said carrier; the said foot-lever is then depressed,
and, the centre of gravity of the carrier and pivoted block being in front of the
aforesaid horizontal axis, the charge-carrier and block turn upon the said axis and the
carrier descends along the guides by gravity, the cylinder of the hydraulic apparatus
for elevating the charge being opened to the exhaust to permit the descent of the
carrier.
The aforesaid rack is arranged upon the platform or turntable in such a manner
that the charge-carrier can be turned into the desired position behind either of the
guns to permit the loading thereof.
We sometimes make the carrier with a curved or segmental chamber for the
projectile and powder-charges, so that the projectile may be placed in the centre of
the said chamber, and a powder-charge on each side thereof; and we provide means
whereby the powder-charges will be held up until after the projectile has been
rammed into the gun, and can then be released one after another so that each powder-
charge will in its turn roll or drop down to the loading position in the said chamber.
Dated this 14th day of August 1888.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Working Turret
and other Guns.
We, RICHARD COPLEY CHRISTIE, MANASSAH GLEDHILL and HERBERT HANBURY
SMITH CARINGTON, all Directors of Sir Joseph Whitworth and Co., Limited, of
Openshaw, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers, 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 :-
This invention relates to the working of turret and other guns, and comprises
improvements in charge-elevating apparatus of the kind or class described in the
specifications of former Letters Patent, viz. :-No. 279 of 1884, No. 16,736 of 1884,
No. 9375 of 1887, and No. 10,179 of 1887, that is to say, apparatus for raising the
ammunition from a magazine or deck below the gun-mounting into position behind
the breech of the gun and in line with the bore thereof, so that the gun can be
loaded in any position to which it may be trained, or whilst being trained. Moreover
we provide improved apparatus for training or traversing the gun and also for
effecting the vertical pointing or elevation thereof.
In the accompanying drawings we have shown how our said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation.
Figure 2 a rear elevation partly in central transverse section, and
Figure 3 a plan partly in horizontal section, illustrating our improvements applied
to a barbette mounting.
Figure 4 is a sectional side elevation showing a modified arrangement of our
improved apparatus.
Figure 5 is a plan, partly in horizontal section on the line x, x, Figure 4, drawn
to an enlarged scale, showing apparatus for training the gun through the medium of
the central tube through which the ammunition is raised.

page_text: Figure 6 is a plan, partly in horizontal section, illustrating another arrangement of
our charge-elevating apparatus adapted for use with two guns mounted side by side.
Figure 7 is a sectional side elevation, and
Figure 8 a plan, illustrating a further modification of our charge-elevating apparatus
adapted for use with two guns mounted side by side.
Figure 9 is also a plan, some of the parts being removed.
Figure 10 is a front elevation, showing the charge carrier in its central position
supported by the pivoted guide-pieces hereinafter described.
Figure 11 is a similar view, showing the said carrier in position for allowing the
charge to be rammed into one of the guns, the position of the guns in these two
figures being indicated by dotted lines.
Figure 12 is a plan of the central tube and the guides, showing the charge-
carrier in the position which it occupies while moving vertically in the said tube.
Figure 13 is a sectional side elevation, drawn to an enlarged scale, more clearly
illustrating details of construction.
Figure 14 is a sectional side elevation, and
Figure 15 a plan, partly in horizontal section, illustrating a device for turning the
charge-carrier about a horizontal axis in the central tube to facilitate the placing of
the ammunition in the said carrier.
Figure 16 is a plan, and
Figure 17 a front elevation partly in transverse section, both drawn to an enlarged
scale, of the said charge-carrier.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is a base-plate or racer, B is a rotating platform or turntable supported by
rollers on the said base-plate or racer, is the central tube through which the
ammunition is raised, and which is secured to, and rotates with the turntable B
substantially as described in the said former specifications. D is the charge-carrier;
E, F are guides therefor.
In the arrangement shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, A* is the armoured wall or
barbette; B* is the armoured shield, which is mounted on, and rotates with the
platform or turntable B.
The charge-carrier D has three chambers or compartments, one for the projectile
and two for the powder-charges, these chambers or compartments are arranged to
turn about a central longitudinal axis, as described in the said former specifications,
to bring the projectile and powder-charges successively into line with the bore of the
gun when the said carrier is in position behind the breech. The said charge-carrier
has on each side thereof two rollers a, b and an arm c¹ provided with a third roller c.
The rollers b, c are arranged to move in the guides E, which extend vertically through
the central tube C and near the top of the same are inclined and extend rearward or
towards the breech of the gun. During the vertical movement of the charge-carrier D
in the central tube C, the said arins c maintain a vertical, or nearly vertical position.
At the top of the tube C, the rollers b, c following the bend or curve of the guides E,
the position of the longitudinal axis of the charge-carrier is changed, the said carrier
then moving along the inclined portion of the guides E in the position indicated by
the dotted lines in Figure 1. The guides E near their rear end are bifurcated or
divided into two branches E', E2, the branch E' being curved for the purpose herein-
after specified. The rollers a are so arranged that, when the carrier D has nearly
terminated its rearward movement, they will enter the curved supplementary
guides F.
The elevating chains H are attached to the axles of the rollers c and are passed
around guide-pulleys K and connected with suitable hydraulic or other apparatus for
operating them. Guide-pulleys K' are also provided, over which the chains H will
pass when the carrier D is lowered within the tube C.
The form and arrangement of the guides E1, E2, F are such that the said charge-
carrier D will move in a curvilinear path around the lower edge of the breech of the
gun, and the longitudinal axis of the said carrier will again change its position. The
said carrier will thus be brought into the required position to permit the loading of

page_text: the gun. The rollers b, c then abut against the closed ends of the branches E¹, E
of the guides E, and the elevating chains H, being kept taut, firmly retain the said
carrier D in position during the loading.
By constructing the charge-elevating apparatus in the manner above set forth, we
are enabled to dispense with the vertical slide and guides described in the said former
specifications No. 9375 and No. 10,179, and thus economize space; moreover we
obtain, in a mounting in which the centre of gravity of the gun and carriage are as
near as practicable to the centre of rotation, the advantage of having continuous guides
so that the charge-carrier with the projectile and powder-charges therein can, without
leaving the said guides, be brought into the loading position behind the breech of the
gun.
With a view to a minimum diameter of the shield, and in order to bring the
centre of gravity of the rotating portion of the mounting as near as practicable to
the centre of rotation, the platform L for the gunners, or a portion of this platform
is made to overhang or project beyond the barbette as shown in Figure 1, and as
described in the specification of former Letters Patent granted to us and dated
29th November A.D. 1887, No. 16,382. We sometimes arrange upon this over-
hanging part the hydraulic rammer L' or other suitable rammer for loading the gun.
When the gun is very heavy, we provide for equilibrating the mounting by means
of counterweights on the said overhanging part, or by increasing the thickness of the
armour L² on, or adjacent to this overhanging part.
For training the gun, a suitable motor is mounted at M on the rotating platform
or turntable B and is connected with a stationary toothed ring N through the medium
of worms or endless-screws M' geared with worm-wheels M² fixed on vertical shafts M³
on which are also fixed pinions M₁ geared with the said toothed ring N. This
training gear prevents accidental rotation of the gun-mounting during the rolling
of the ship or vessel. If desired the said training gear is arranged to be operated
by hand instead of by the aforesaid motor. Or the training may be effected by power
applied to the central tube C through the medium of a chain, as hereinafter described
with reference to Figures 4 and 5.
To facilitate the rotation of the platform or turnable B, antifriction rollers A' are
mounted on vertical axes in rings A³ between the pivot B¹ of the said platform or
turntable and the step or bearing A³ in which the said pivot works. The roller-
rings A2 are supported upon spherical or conical rollers A* fitted to rotate about
horizontal axes in the said bearing.
When the central tube is of such length as to require lateral support at one
or more parts thereof below the said step or bearing, we sometimes employ a similar
arrangement of rollers for diminishing the friction at these parts.
The chassis, beam or frame O on which the gun slides in its recoil is pivoted at O¹
to the turntable B, and is supported upon elevating-screws P pivoted or coupled to
clips P¹ which engage with flanges on the said chassis, beam or frame in such a
manner that the latter is free to slide therein. Or the said screws are otherwise so
connected with the chassis, beam or frame as to permit the required angular move-
ment of the same about its pivot O₁ for vertical pointing or elevation. The
screws P work in screw-threaded sleeves or nuts which are fitted to rotate in
bearings P2 firmly secured to the platform B, and which are formed with, or have
fixed upon them worm-wheels P³ geared with worms or endless screws P* fixed upon
a shaft P. Rotary motion is imparted to this shaft by a suitable motor mounted
at P upon the platform or turntable B, and acting upon the said shaft either directly,
or through the medium of suitable gearing. When it is desired that provision should
be made for elevating the gun by hand, we sometimes fix chain-wheels P7 on the
driving-shaft P' and connect them by means of chains P8 with other chain-wheels P
fixed on shafts provided with crank-handles P¹º. Or we provide other suitable gearing
for effecting the vertical pointing or elevation of the gun.
In the modification of our charge-elevating apparatus illustrated in Figures 4
and 5, the charge-carrier D, is provided on each side with two rollers a, b and on
the axles of the rear pair of rollers b are pivoted rods or links d, the lower ends

page_text: of which are provided with rollers d' the axles whereof are connected with the
elevating chains H. Hydraulic cylinders I for working the chains H are placed in
the tube C, or the said cylinders may be placed on the platform; or other suitable
means of imparting motion to the said chains may be employed.
The guides E extend vertically through the central tube C and at the top of the
same are inclined and extend towards the rear of the mounting; the said guides at
their rear end are bifurcated or divided into curved branches E1, E2 whereby the
charge-carrier D will he conducted into the loading position behind the breech of the
gun. The guides E are also lifurcated or divided at their lower end into branches E³, E
for the purpose hereinafter specified.
The axis of rotation or longitudinal axis of the charge-carrier, during the movement
of the said carrier in the tube C, is vertical, the projectile being carried therein with
the point upward. At the bend of the said guides, the position of the said axis
changes as above described. The branches E1, E2 of the guides E are so formed that,
when the charge-carrier, in the elevation thereof by means of the chains H, has
moved clear of the breech of the gun, the rollers a will abut against the closed end of
the guides E¹ and the said carrier will be gradually turned about the axis of the
forward pair of rollers a until the rear rollers abut against the closed end of the
guides E. The carrier will then be retained firmly in position during the loading of
the gun, provided the chains H are kept tant.
When, after the loading has been performed, the cylinder I is opened to the exhaust,
the charge-carrier D descends under the action of gravity, the rollers d' and b being
in advance of the rollers a. The branches E³, E of the guides E are so formed
that the carrier D will, in the latter part of its descent, turn about the axis of the
rollers so that, at the termination of its downward movement, the said carrier
occupies a convenient position for the placing of the ammunition therein.
When the training of the gun is to be effected by power applied to the central
tube through the medium of a chain, we fix upon the said tube a toothed wheel or
ring around which is passed the chain e, the said chain is also passed around
toothed wheels f carried by the rams or plungers g' of hydraulic cylinders g, and
the extremities of the said chain are firmly attached at g² to lugs on the cylinders g,
or they are secured in any other suitable manner.
To counteract any tendency to slackening of the chain e and thus keep it taut.
during the operation of training the gun, we, according to our present invention,
provide auxiliary or supplementary hydraulic cylinders which are of smaller
diameter than the cylinders g, and the rams or plungers of which are connected
with the rams or plungersg. The rams or plungers are constantly subjected to
the pressure of the Iquid from the pressure-main, so that they will maintain a suitable
tension upon the said chain e and thus counteract any tendency to slackening
thereof during the training or traversing of the gun by means of the rams or
plungers g'.
Figure 6 shows our charge-elevating apparatus adapted for a mounting in which
two guns are arranged side by side. For this purpose, we provide two sets of guides
the vertical portions of which extend parallel to each other, but the horizontal or
inclined portions of which diverge from each other as, and for the purpose, hereinafter
specified. In the arrangement shown in Figure 6, the vertical portions of the two
sets of guides E are enclosed within the central tube C and the inner guides of the
two sets are placed as close as practicable to each other, to minimize the diameter of
the said tube. The two sets of guides diverge from each other at the top of the
tube (, so that either of the charge-carriers D, in moving rearward from the said
central tube, will also move laterally away from the path of the other charge-carrier,
that is to say, the carrier for either gun will move in an oblique path towards the
breech of the said gun, but the axis of rotation or longitudinal axis of the said carrier
will nevertheless remain parallel to the longitudinal axis of the gun, and therefore
the charge-carrier will be brought to the required position to permit the ramming of
the charge into the gun. The working of each of the charge-carriers D is effected
by means of chains H or their equivalents operated by hydraulic or other apparatus

page_text: as herein described. The central tube is preferably made with a vertical partition C²
which extends diametrically across the said tube and to which the inner guides E are
firmly attached; or other suitable means are provided for supporting the guides in
the said tube.
In the modification of our charge-elevating apparatns shown in Figures 7 to 13,
the charge-carrier D is constructed with a single chamber adapted to contain a
projectile or shell and two powder-charges or half-charges of powder. The bottom of
this chamber is curved or inclined so that a powder-charge at either side of the centre
of the said chamber will, unless held or restrained, roll to the centre thereof. The
projectile is placed in the centre of this chamber and a half-charge of powder on each
side thereof. Suitable means, such for instance as those hereinafter described, are
provided for retaining the powder-charges in position at the sides of the chamber of
the charge-carrier, until the projectile has been rammed into the gun, and for then
releasing the said powder-charges one after the other so that each powder-charge will,
in its turn, roll or drop down to the loading position in the said chamber. A hole D' is
formed in the rear end of the said chamber for the passage of the rammer in loading
the gun.
The charge-carrier D, in the arrangement illustrated in Figures 7 to 13, is provided
on each side with rollers a, b, arranged to move in the guides E in the raising and
lowering of the said charge-carrier in the central tube C. There is a single operating
chain H, which is coupled to the underside of the carrier near the centre thereof,
that is to say, the elevating chain H is provided with a T-shaped piece H' adapted to
enter a correspondingly shaped groove or slot in a rod Q coupled or otherwise attached
to the carrier D at Q. This arrangement permits the automatic disconnection of the
charge-carrier from the elevating chain and its connection therewith as hereinafter
described.
R is a carriage provided with wheels or rollers R¹ and arranged to travel upon ways
or rails Son, and extending partly across the platform or turntable B. A
bracket R² formed with a short shaft or pivot R³ is supported upon the said carriage
and arranged to turn about the axis of the said pivot for the purpose hereinafter
specified. A pinion R is fixed on the shaft or pivot R³ beneath the carriage R and is
geared with a rack R firmly secured to the platform or turntable B and parallel to
the rails S. This rack is provided with two series of teeth equidistant from the centre
thereof, the central portion of the said rack being made without teeth so that the
carriage R may be moved laterally along the rails S for a short distance in either
direction without causing rotation of the bracket R² about the axis of its pivot R³.
A hydraulic cylinder R is formed with, or firmly attached to the carriage R and is
provided with a piston the rod R' of which extends through both ends of the said
cylinder and is fixed at its extremities in suitable brackets B2 firmly attached to the
platform or turntable B.
Grooved bars or auxiliary guide-pieces T are pivoted at T¹ to the bracket R² so
that their grooves T2 will coincide with the guides E and form continuations thereof as
hereinafter specified. A spring bolt or catch U is fitted to slide in the bracket R² and
is adapted to engage with a projection or projections Q2 on the bar Q, as more
clearly shown in Figure 13, and thus maintain the charge-carrier and the pivoted
guide-pieces T in the position shown in this Figure and in Figure 7. The said bolt
or catch is connected with a foot-lever or treadle U¹ which is joined at U² to the
bracket R2 and whereby the said bolt or catch may be disengaged from the charge-
carrier when its lower forked end is over holes Rs in the carriage R as shown in
Figures 7 and 13. When the said bracket is turned about the axis of its pivot R³
as hereinafter described, the said bolt or catch will bear against the solid part of the
said carriage and therefore cannot be disengaged from the charge-carrier.
The operation of the apparatus shown in Figures 7 to 13 is as follows, viz. :-
The ammunition is placed in the charge-carrier when the latter is in its lowermost
position in the tube C. The said carrier is then raised by means of the chain H;
when the said carrier arrives at the upper end of the guides E, its rollers enter
the grooves T2 in the pivoted guide-pieces T, which then occupy such a position

page_text: that their grooves T2 coincide in direction with the upper part of the said guides E
and form a continuation of the path of the charge-carrier. When, at the termination
of the rearward movement of the said charge-carrier, the rollers b arrive at the
closed end of the guide-grooves T2, the elevating chain continuing to act upon the
charge-carrier, turns or rocks the said pivoted guide-pieces T and the charge-
carrier about the pivots T¹ in such a manner that the longitudinal axis of the said
charge-carrier is brought to an angle of inclination equal but in the reverse direction
to that of the longitudinal axis of the gun when the latter is in the loading position,
as shown in Figure 7. The cylinder R is then put in communication with the
pressure-inain and the carriage R thus moved laterally along the rails S towards
the gun to be loaded. The T-shaped piece H' attached to the elevating chain H is
restrained from lateral movement, therefore when the said carriage is moved as above
described, the rod Q is automatically disengaged from the said T-shaped piece. As soon
as this disengagement is effected, the pinion R engages with one of the series of teeth
of the rack R, and the bracket R2 and charge-carrier D are thereby turned upon or
about the axis of the pivot R³ in the required direction, thus reversing the position
of the charge-carrier upon its vertical pivot and bringing the longitudinal axis of the
said carrier into line with that of the gun, to permit the rainming of the ammunition
into the same. After the loading is effected, the carriage R is, by means of the
hydraulic apparatus, moved back along the rails S to its central position thereon. In
this return movement, the charge-carrier D is turned in the reverse direction by
means of the aforesaid rack and pinion, and the rod Q on the charge-carrier again
engages with the T-shaped piece H¹, thus connecting the said carrier with the
elevating chain H. The bolt or catch Ú, the lower end of which has, by the return
movement of the carriage R, been again brought over the holes R8 in the said
carriage, is then disengaged from the projections Q2 on the charge-carrier by
depressing the foot-lever U¹. The centre of gravity of the carrier D and pivoted
guide-pieces T is forward of the pivots T¹, therefore when the cylinder of the
hydraulic apparatus for elevating the charge is opened to the exhaust, the said
charge-carrier and guide-pieces turn upon or about the said pivots and the carrier
descends along the guides E by gravity.
The rack R and rails S are so arranged upon the platform or turntable B, that the
charge-carrier D can be moved, as above described, into the desired position behind
either of the guns to permit the loading thereof.
It will be seen, therefore, that by the construction of our charge elevating apparatus
as above described with reference to Figures 7 to 13, we provide for the loading of
two guns by means of a single charge-carrier.
In some instances, the lower ends of the guides E are provided with pivoted
grooved bars or auxiliary guide-pieces, which, in one position, coincide with the
lower ends of the said guides E and form continuations of the path of the charge-
carrier. These guide-pieces are arranged to turn or rock upon or about a fixed
horizontal axis and to retain the charge-carrier in its proper position during the
placing of the ammunition in the said carrier.
In the arrangement shown in Figures 14 and 15, we provide at the lower end of the
guides E in the central tube C, an auxiliary guide-piece V, which is pivoted at V₁ to
a bracket V2 firmly secured to the said tube. This guide-piece V is formed with a
groove on each side thereof for the rollers a, b of the charge-carrier D. We provide
suitable means whereby the said guide-piece, with the charge-carrier therein, may be
turned about its pivot V₁ by hand. In the arrangement shown, a rack k is coupled
at k¹ to the guide-piece V and extends through an opening in the tube C. The said
rack is geared with a toothed_segment or pinion / fixed upon a shaft m on which is
also fixed a worm-wheel n. This worm-wheel is geared with a worm fixed upon a
shaft provided with a hand-wheel pl for rotating it. A guide roller q is provided for
retaining the rack k in gear with the toothed segment or pinion 1. By these means,
the pivoted guide-piece V may be moved from the position shown in full lines to that
shown in dotted lines in Figure 14, and vice versa.
P
B

page_text: If desired, the pivoted guide-piece may be so arranged that, when force is applied
to the elevating chain, the said pivoted guide-piece will be turned so as to bring its
grooves opposite the lower end of the guides E and the charge-carrier will then
he raised.
In Figures 16 and 17 we have shown suitable means for retaining the half-charges
of powder in the sides of the charge-carrier. For this purpose, we combine, with the
said carrier, sliding bars or shafts r which are supported in bearings in lugs D2 formed
or fixed on the said carrier. Each of these bars or shafts is provided with arms r
extending through slots in the charge-carrier, and is acted upon by a spring s. Each
of the said bars or shafts is, moreover, provided with a handle t whereby it may
be turned about its axis. When the parts are in the position shown by full lines in
Figure 17, the arms rest upon shoulders D³ on the charge-carrier and retain the
half-charges of powder in the sides of the said carrier. To release either of the said
powder-charges, the corresponding bar or shaft is, by means of the handle t, moved
longitudinally in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 16, thus compressing
the springs and disengaging the arms from the shoulders D³. The said arms will
then turn with the shaft by gravity until they rest on shoulders D on the charge-
carrier, as indicated by dotted lines on the right hand side of Figure 17. The powder-
charge is thus permitted to roll down to the centre of the charge-carrier into position
for being rammed into the gun.
2°
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to us by our foreign
Correspondent we wish it understood that we claim :-
First. A charge-elevating apparatus wherein a rotary carrier or a carrier adapted
to contain the entire charge is so arranged in combination with the guides, that its
longitudinal axis changes its position during its movement in the said guides, for the
purposes above specified.
Second. The improvements relating to the guides for the charge-carrier whereby we
provide for movement of the said carrier in a curvilinear path about the lower edge of
the breech of the gun as hereinabove described for the purpose specified.
Third. The guides and charge-carrier so arranged in combination with the gun that,
when the said carrier has been moved rearward clear of the breech of the gun, one
pair of its rollers will abut against the closed end of the guides and the said carrier
will then be turned about the axis of the said rollers and thus brought into the loading
position.
Fourth. The combination, with the chain for training the gun through the medium
of the central vertical tube, of means substantially such as are hereinbefore described
for keeping the said chain under tension for the purpose specified.
Fifth. The improved apparatus, substantially as shown in Figures 4 and 5 of the
drawings, for the purposes above specified.
Sixth. A charge-elevating apparatus such as that herein described, provided with
two sets of guides attached to the central vertical tube or equivalent support and
diverging from each other, as and for the purpose, above specified.
Seventh. A charge-elevating apparatus such as we have hereinbefore referred to,
wherein provision is made for loading two guns by means of a single charge-carrier
arranged to move vertically in the central guides and laterally from the said guides to
either of the said guns.
Eighth. The combination, with the guides for the charge-carrier, of one or more
pivoted guide-pieces having grooves adapted to coincide with and form prolongations
of the said guides, for the purposes above specified.
Ninth. The combination, with the pivoted guide-piece having grooves adapted to
coincide with and form prolongations of the vertical guides at their lower end, of
means for turning the said guide-piece about its pivot, substantially as described with
reference to Figures 14 and 15 of the drawings, for the purpose above specified.
Tenth. The combination, with two guns mounted side by side, of guide-pieces

page_text: pivoted to a suitable support which is arranged to turn about a vertical axis upon a
carriage movable transversely to the axes of the said guns, and means whereby when
the said carriage is moved in either direction the pivoted guide-pieces will be turned
about the said vertical axis, for the purpose above specified.
Eleventh. The combination, with the pivoted guide-pieces and the carriage sup-
porting the same and arranged to move transversely to the axes of the guns, of means
whereby the elevating chain will be automatically detached from and attached to the
charge-carrier while supported in the said pivoted guide-pieces, substantially as, and
for the purpose, set forth.
Twelfth. The charge-carrier formed with the chamber having a curved or sloping
surface and provided with means for retaining a powder-charge in either side of the
said chamber, and for permitting its descent into the loading position after the
projectile has been rammed into the gun, substantially as, and for the purpose,
set forth.
Thirteenth. The improved charge elevating apparatus constructed substantially as
described with reference to Figures 1, 2, and 3, or to Figures 4 and 5, or to Figure 6,
or to Figures 7 to 13 of the drawings, for the purpose specified.
Fourteenth. The improved gun-mounting provided with the charge elevating
apparatus, the training gear and the elevating gear and constructed substantially as
described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings.
Dated this 14th day of May 1889.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.