mountings
Year: 1886

page_text: I THORSTEN NORDENFELT of 53 Parliament Street in the City of Westminster
Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in gun mountings.
My improvements apply especially to guns which are carried upon a forked
support with a stem which drops into a socket at the top of a suitable standard
preferably of a conical form.
At the upper ends of the fork are bearings which receive trunnions formed
upon a frame into which the gun is dropped and in which it is so held that it can
move longitudinally in recoil and in returning to the firing position.
The gun itself also has trunnions and these are received into bearing blocks
which can slide along guides upon the above mentioned frame which I term the
trunnion frame.
The trunnion frame carries a pair of hydraulic controlling cylinders one on
either side of the gun in these cylinders are pistons. Rods extend back from
these pistons and are fixed to the blocks into which the gun trunnions are received
Behind the blocks are coiled springs with abutments upon the trunnion frame and
they tend constantly to press the gun forward as far as the guides in the frame
will allow the blocks to go. Extending rearwards from the end of the trunnion
frame there is a shoulder piece by the aid of which the gun is aimed, a spring is
interposed between the gun and the stock of the shoulder piece so that the recoil
may not be felt by the gunner to an injurious degree.
When the gun is fired the recoil is resisted by the pistons in the controlling
cylinders and proceeds only as the liquid in the cylinders is able to find passage
from one side of the piston to the other. After recoil the springs send the gun
forward again into position to be again fired.
I provide for the passage of the liquid in the hydraulic control cylinders from
one side of the piston to the other either by well known arrangements or in one or
other of the following ways: I bore the cylinder taper and in such a way as to
allow between the piston and the side of the cylinder a suitable amount of water
way in every part of the stroke Or I bore the cylinder truly and fix longitudinal
ribs within it, the piston in this case is notched to allow it to pass freely along the
ribs and the ribs are so fashioned as to leave a suitable amount of water way in
every part of the stroke.

page_text: When the gun is fired by the time that it has gathered any considerable velocity
in recoil there is a sufficiently clear passage from one side of the piston to the other
which is gradually reduced until the gun comes to rest.
Whilst the gun is running out also its motion is controlled being dependent
upon the passage of liquid from one side of the piston to the other. As the gun
comes to the firing position the passage is almost completely closed and the gun
then comes to rest without shock.
These arrangements are applicable to other mountings in which hydraulic com-
pressors are employed to control the movements of guns.
When
Or sometimes I provide a passage by which the liquid may escape from the end
of the cylinder and I have a tail on the piston which enters this passage
the gun is in its extreme positions this tail nearly closes the escape passage whilst
in other positions it allows free passage.
I also make the conical standard or supporting base in such a manner as to be
in itself elastic its elasticity takes up a portion of the recoil and so relieves the
deck or platform to which the cone is fixed.
Mountings of this sort are very useful for what are known as galloping carriages
for land service in which the gun can be fired while the carriage is in motion.
In such carriages it is very important (especially where the gun is of any con-
siderable dimensions) to relieve the horses as far as possible from the recoil: in
order to effect this object in addition to the precautions already set forth I connect
the platform upon which the supporting cone is fixed with the axle or axles of the
carriage by means of springs.

page_text: I THORSTEN NORDENFELT of 53 Parliament Street in the City of Westminster
Civil 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:-
-
This Invention has for its object improvements in gun mountings.
My improvements apply especially to guns which are carried upon a forked
support with a stem which drops into a socket at the top of a suitable standard
preferably of a conical form.
At the upper ends of the fork are bearings which receive trunnions formed upon
a frame into which the gun is dropped and in which it is so held that it can move
longitudinally in recoil and in returning to the firing position.
The gun itself also has trunnions and these are received into bearing blocks
which can slide along guides upon the above mentioned frame which I term the
trunnion frame.
The trunnion frame carries a pair of hydraulic controlling cylinders one on
either side of the gun in these cylinders are pistons. Rods extend back from
these pistons and are fixed to the blocks into which the gun trunnions are received.
Behind the blocks are coiled springs with abutments upon the trunnion frame and
they tend constantly to press the gun forward as far as the guides in the frame
will allow the blocks to go. Extending rearwards from the end of the trunnion
frame there is a shoulder piece by the aid of which the gun is aimed a spring is
interposed between the gun and the stock of the shoulder piece so that the recoil
may not be felt by the gunner to an injurious degree.
When the gun is fired the recoil is resisted by the pistons in the controlling
cylinders and proceeds only as the liquid in the cylinders is able to find passage
from one side of the piston to the other. After recoil the springs send the gun
forward again into position to be again fired.
I provide for the passage of the liquid in the hydraulic control cylinders from
one side of the piston to the other either by well known arrangements or in one or
other of the following ways; I bore the cylinder taper and in such a way as to
allow between the piston and the side of the cylinder a suitable amount of water
way in every part of the stroke. Or I bore the cylinder truly and fix longitudinal
ribs within it; the piston in this case is notched to allow it to pass freely along the
ribs and the ribs are so fashioned as to leave a suitable amount of water way in
every part of the stroke.
When the gun is fired by the time that it has gathered any considerable velocity
in recoil there is a sufficiently clear passage from one side of the piston to the other
which is gradually reduced until the gun comes to rest.
Whilst the gun is running out also its motion is controlled being dependent upon
the passage of liquid from one side of the piston to the other. As the gun comes
to the firing position the passage is almost completely closed and the gun then
comes to rest without shock.
These arrangements are applicable to other mountings in which hydraulic com-
pressors are employed to control the movements of guns,

page_text: carried into effect I will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a gun carriage or mounting constructed according
to my invention; the gun is shown in place upon it.
Figure 2 is a plan of the same.
Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the carriage without the gun.
Figure 4 is a plan partly in section of the trannion frame.
Figure 5 is a vertical section on the line 1. 1, in Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a rear elevation partly in section of the trunnion frame.
Figures 7 show separately one of the strips fixed within the bydraulic cylinders.
A is a socket or support; it is conveniently mounted upon a conical support
formed of sheet steel and which is more or less elastic. A part of this support is
shown at A¹. The socket A carries a forked standard or support B which is able
to rotate about a vertical axis. B¹ are bearings on this support which receive the
trunnions C on the trunnion frame C. D is the gun. The gun is provided with
small projections or trunnions D¹ D¹ and these fit into recesses in blocks L L-
L' L' are pieces which fill the recesses in the blocks L L over the trunnions of the
gun. The blocks L L are received into chambers formed one on either side in the
trunnion frame C. There is an opening in the top of the chamber and by this
the block L and filling piece L is inserted and by it also the trunnions of the gun
pass when the gun is dropped into its place.
When all is in position the covers C³ are bolted on to the top of the trunnion
frame and the blocks L L are then confined in their places in the trunnion frame
so that they (and also the gun) can only move longitudinally within the cradle on
the bottom of which the gun rests. CC are the main hydraulic cylinders, they
form part of the trunnion frame and are in front of its trunnions, lying parallel to
the gun one on either side of it. In each cylinder there is a piston M having
a rod M', passing out from the cylinder by a cupped leather at M². The outer end
of the rod M' is attached to the block L. N is a screw by which the gland at M*
is turned to tighten it upon the cupped leather or to unscrew it when the cupped
leather has to be renewed. 00 are coiled springs abutting upon the trunnion
frame at C C7 and upon the hinder part of the blocks L L. The springs tend to
bring the parts into the position in which they are represented in the drawing with
the pistons M M abutting against the covers which close the hydraulic cylinders Co
at their fore ends. On each side the two coiled springs forming a pair abut upon
a piston like guide C, which is able to slide in a recess formed for it in the
trunnion frame C-P P are the regulating strips fixed within the cylinders C6 C8
they project as will be seen into the notches Mx in the pistons M. As the recoil
proceeds they gradually fill these notches and leave less space for the passage of
liquid from one side of the piston to the other; thus the strips P regulate the speed

page_text: with which the gun moves both in recoil and return and by altering the dimensions
of the strips this speed can be adjusted as desired. The forward movement of the
gun may be wholly controlled in this way and dependent on the form of the strips P
but preferably the return to the firing position by the operation of the springs O is
checked by a projection M° on the piston entering a cavity nearly fitting it in the
cylinder cover. In this projection are passages m which are progressively closed as
the projection on the piston enters the cavity. The forward movement of the piston
and of the gun is checked by the resistance offered to the escape of liquid from the
cavity in the cylinder cover. GG are small hydraulic cylinders in connection
with the cylinders C, they contain rams which when the recoil takes place press
upon stationary concentric surfaces B around the trunnion of the trunnion frame
and resist any change in the elevation of the gun. Q is a pressure screw which
can be tightened by hand against a concentric surface B²*.
The gun here shown is not provided with mechanical gear for elevating or
training it but this is effected by means of a crutch lever R against which the
shoulder of the gunner is pressed. S is a shield to protect the gunners, it is
attached to the trunnion frame C.
In place of employing the strips P a like result may be obtained by boring the
cylinder taper so as to allow a suitable space between it and the piston varying
with the position of the piston in the cylinder. In this case the piston is without
notches.
Or another way of obtaining a like result is by causing the liquid to be ejected
from the cylinder of the compressor by a passage into which a suitably shaped tail
upon the piston enters.
This method of checking recoil was referred to incidentally in my former
Specification No. 11173 85 but it forms no part of the subject matter of the Patent
to which that Specification relates.
In Figure 8 T is a cylinder fixed to the cradle in which the gun recoils. U is a
block piston or ram in this cylinder. U₁ is the piston rod attached to the piston
and to the gun. U2 is a tail upon the piston entering an orifice T¹ at the end of
the cylinder. When the gun recoils it drives in the piston U and forces the liquid
from the cylinder through the orifice T¹ the available dimensions of which are
varied from one part of the recoil to another by the entrance into it of the tail U².
This tail may be shaped as to control the recoil as desired.
The liquid forced out of the cylinder T enters another cylinder in which is
a piston abutting on a spring. This spring is compressed during the recoil and by
its reaction causes the gun to return to the firing position. The form of the tail is
also adjusted to cause the gun to come gently to rest at the end of its forward
movement. The standard or supporting base A Figures 1 and 3 I prefer to make
in sheet steel; it is flanged at its lower end and bolted down to the deck or platform
on which the gun is carried. The base so made possesses sufficient elasticity to
advantageously lessen concussion.
For galloping carriages and such like mountings as a further precaution I mount
the platform carrying the gun mounting on springs as the platforms of spring
waggons are usually mounted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. A gun carriage comprising a trunnion frame in which the gun is able to move
longitudinally; and two bydraulic cylinders upon the trunnion frame one on either
side of the gun and in front of the trunnions; and pistons in these cylinders with
piston rods connected with the gun and springs upon the trunnion frame on either
side of the gun and behind the trunnions.
2. A gun carriage comprising a trunnion frame in which the gun is able to move
longitudinally, and an bydraulic cylinder or cylinders formed or fixed upon the
trunnion frame and containing pistons or equivalent parts which during the recoil

page_text: of the gun drive liquid through a passage or passages which as the recoil proceeds
are progressively contracted.
3. The regulating apparatus consisting of the hydraulic cylinder T (Figure 8)
from which liquid is ejected during recoil through an orifice T¹ and past a tail U²
partly filling the orifice and recoiling with the gun substantially as described.
4. Mounting guns on galloping carriages in the manner herein described.
5. Gun mountings substantially as represented in the annexed drawings.
Dated this 2nd day of Novambox 1996.