Improvements in and relating to Gun-mountings,
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Dec., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 28th Sept., 1893-Accepted, 28th Oct., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by JEAN BAPTISTE GUSTAVE ADOLPHE CANET, of
Paris, France, Engineer.]
Improvements in and relating to Gun-mountings,
I HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine Lake & Co. Patent Agents,
45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to gun mountings and chiefly to improvements in mountings
of the class described in the Specification of former Letters Patent dated
January 21st A.D. 1890 No. 1078. The said invention comprises:
First. A sleeve in which the gun slides formed on or attached to side frames or
cheeks which are provided with trunnions and having a single hydraulic brake
cylinder below the gun arranged in combination with a piston rod attached to a
hoop or ring fixed on the gun.
Second. The combination with the said sleeve and side frames of brake cylinders
arranged at the sides of the gun.
Third. A novel arrangement of a recuperator in combination with the said sleeve
and side frames.
The mounting constructed according to the first part of this invention consists
essentially of a sleeve which is made in one or several parts surrounding the breech
end of the gun and in which the gun slides during the recoil. This sleeve has cast
on it or attached to it a hydraulic brake cylinder below the gun. The piston rod
of this cylinder is attached by its forward extremity to a projection on a hoop or
ring which is mortised or secured by tongues and grooves to the exterior surface of
the gun.
Or the said ring may be placed while hot upon the gun and shrunk into
its place thereon.
Side frames cheeks or beams of suitable form are cast with or attached to the
aforesaid sleeve and on these frames are formed or fixed the trunnions. The said
frames serve as slides along which the gun moves in its recoil and return. These
side frames may or may not be braced by suitable transoms and may be provided
at the rear with stops or buffers to diminish the shock of recoil.
The hydraulic brake employed in this mounting, (the principle of which has been
described in the Specification of the aforementioned former Letters Patent) is
furnished with a taper rod arranged to enter a central aperture in the piston for the
purpose of regulating the size of the area through which the liquid flows from one
to the other side of the piston during the recoil. The excess liquid displaced
during the recoil by the entrance of the piston rod into the brake cylinder acts
upon a spring recuperator which returns the gun into battery at the end of the
recoil. A spring valve, which is arranged in the piston to be raised by the pressure
of the liquid flowing from one to the other side of the piston, returns to its seat
when the recoil is finished. This valve may be perforated with small bye-pass
orifices to moderate the speed of the running out or return of the gun to battery:
When the valve is closed, the liquid can pass from the forward to the rear side
of the piston through a passage formed for example in the wall of the brake
cylinder, the area of which passage is regulated by a conical screw plug. Orifices
are made leading into this passage, to which orifices can be connected a pump in
case it should be necessary or desirable to use the same for running the gun in and
out of battery.
According to the second part of this invention, the same general characteristics,
as those above described are adopted; that is to say, the mounting comprises the

page_text: rear sleeve to which are attached the side frames beams or cheeks provided with
the trunnions, but there is a difference in respect of the arrangement of the brake
cylinders of which according to the said second part of the invention there are two
placed one on each side of the sleeve. At the moment of the recoil the surplus or
excess of liquid arising from the entrance of the piston rods into the brake cylinders,
raises an outlet valve and enters a reservoir of compressed gas or air or into an air
recuperator under spring pressure.
The said air or gas recuperator is formed for example of one or more hollow
cylinders connected to each other at both ends. The tubes or passages at the lower
end admit the liquid under pressure from the brake to the space below tight-fitting
pistons moving in the cylinders and covered by a slight depth of liquid. This
arrangement has the advantages of preventing the escape of the air or gas under
pressure in the liquid and of furnishing an efficiently tight bydraulic joint.
A pipe having a plug or stopper is provided to permit the liquid that comes
under pressure from the recuperator to enter the brake cylinders and force the gun
back into battery.
A special arrangement is sometimes provided according to this invention which
allows the gun to be moved into and out of battery at will. This arrangement
comprises a series of hydraulic cylinders placed around the sleeve and provided
with pistons the rods of which are normally or under ordinary conditions held by.
pins passing through the same. For putting the gun out of battery it will be
sufficient to disengage the said pins, move the piston rods forward, connect the said
rods to the hoop or ring which is movable with the gun, and inject liquid under
pressure in front of the pistons of said hydraulic cylinders.
The third part of this invention is also characterized by substantially the same
features in respect of the rear sleeve and the side frames or cheeks furnished with
trunnions. The said frames or cheeks are united at the forward end by a piece
cast on or otherwise attached thereto aud forining a collar. This collar also carries
buffers or stops. The said frames are formed at their under portions. to serve as a
guide to a projection formed on a hoop or ring which is solid with the gun and to
which is secured the end of the brake piston rod.
The recuperator cylinder is placed behind the brake cylinder. A passage
connects the latter to the recuperator cylinder and permits the surplus liquid due to
the entrance of the piston rod into the brake cylinder to pass into the recuperator
cylinder after raising a spring loaded valve. This valve is perforated with small
orifices to permit the liquid to pass on the return of the gun into battery. A lateral
passage having a conical plug for regulating its area, connects the passage between
the brake and recuperator cylinders to the rear of the brake cylinder. Orifices are
made into this passage to admit of connecting thereto a pump. Inlet apertures are
also formed either in front of or in rear of the brake piston to permit the gun to be
run out and into battery when desired.
Doted thi 00th
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Gun-mountings.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C. 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 gun-mountings and chiefly to improvements in mountings
of the class described in the Specification of former Letters Patent dated
January 21st 1890 No. 1078.

page_text: According to one construction, a sleeve in which the gun slides is formed on or
attached to side frames or cheeks which are provided with trunnions, and in the
said sleeve or attached thereto on the lower side thereof is provided a single
hydraulic brake-cylinder the piston rod of which is attached to a hoop or ring fixed
on the gun. The said hoop or ring slides on the said side frames or cheeks during
the recoil and running out of the gun. In a slightly modified form of construction,
an additional sleeve through which the gun slides is formed on the side frames, and
the brake-cylinders are arranged at the sides of the gun. The said invention
also comprises the provision of subsidiary hydraulic cylinders for running the gun
in and out when desired without firing, and also a novel recuperator in combination
with the said sleeve, hoop or ring, and side frames.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a vertical central section of the recuperator-cylinder and sleeve, and
hoop or ring, fixed to the gun, and showing also in, side elevation a portion of
the gun.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the gun and mounting.
Figure 3 is a horizontal section on the line, Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a half front elevation and half section on the line ¹, x¹ Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a half rear elevation and half section on the line ', ' Figure 1.
Figure 6 is a half plan and half horizontal central section through the side frames
and sleeve.
Figure 7 is a side elevation of a portion of the gun and slightly modified mounting
constructed with brake-cylinders at the sides of the gun.
Figure 8 is a longitudinal section of the mounting on the line y³, y' Figure 10,
showing the gun in side elevation.
Figure 9 is a half plan and half horizontal central section of the said mounting.
Figure 10 is a half rear elevation, and half section on the line y, y Figure 9.
Figure 11 is a half front elevation and half section on the line y', y' Figure 9.
Figure 12 is a section on the line y³, y³ Figure 9.
Figure 13 shows in side elevation partly in section an air or gas recuperator
hereinafter described.
Figure 14 is a vertical central section of a mounting constructed according to a
further modification of my invention, a portion of the gun being shown in side
elevation.
Figure 15 is a horizontal section on the line 2, z, Figure 14.
Figure 16 is a section on the line z¹,
او
Figure 14.
Figure 17 is a section on the line 3, Figure 14.
Like letters denote corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
Referring to Figures 1 to 6.
A is the gun; B is a sleeve through which the gun can slide; C, C are side
frames cast with or fixed to the sleeve B; C, C¹ are the trunnions formed on or
fixed to the said side frames. D Figure 4 represents a portion of the carriage. E is
a hoop or ring fixed to the gun and adapted to slide on the side frames C. The
sleeve B is made in one or several parts, and has cast on it or attached to it a
hydraulic brake-cylinder F below the gun. The piston rod F¹ of this cylinder is
attached at its forward extremity by a cottar f Figures 1 and 4 to a projection E¹
on the hoop or ring E which is suitably secured to the exterior surface of the gun.
In the construction shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4 the hoop E is secured between
projections A' formed on the gun and a hoop e constructed in halves and held by
means of a ring e' in a recess e' formed in the gun. The projections A¹ constitute
an interrupted collar on the gun. The hoop E is made with parts that project
into and fit in the interruptions of the said collar and thus prevent the gun from
turning in the hoop during the recoil. The said ring may be otherwise secured to
the gun, for example, it may be placed while hot upon the gun and shrunk into its
place thereon.
The side frames C, C serve as slides along which the hoop E, which is suitably
recessed or grooved at e, Figure 4 for the purpose, moves in its recoil and

page_text: return. These side frames may or may not be braced by suitable transoms and
may be provided at the rear with stops or buffers to diminish the shock of recoil.
A stop is fixed in the forward end of each side frame or beam to limit the
forward movement of the gun.
The hydraulic brake employed in this mounting, is furnished with a taper rod F
arranged to enter a central aperture F³ in the piston for the purpose of regulating.
in a well known manner the area of the opening through which the liquid displaced
by the entrance into the cylinder of the piston rod FI, flows from one to the other
side of the piston during the recoil. The liquid so displaced operates to force
outward the loose head of the brake-cylinder and thereby compresses a spring
recuperator which serves to run out the gun at the end of the recoil. The
recuperator consists of springs G, G G', G' threaded upon rods H. The springs G, G
bear at their rear ends against the front of the head F and at their forward ends
against nuts H' screwed on the rods H. The springs G', G' bear at their forward
ends against a flange F of the brake-cylinder, and at their rear ends against
shoulders H' formed on the rods H. H³ is a piece secured to the brake-cylinder
and forming a guide for the rear ends of the rods H.
A spring-loaded valve F', which is mounted on the piston rod in front of the
piston, is raised from its seat hy the pressure of the liquid flowing through
orifices F, F from one to the other side of the piston during the recoil, and
returns to its seat when the recoil is finished thus preventing the return of the
liquid and maintaining the gun run in until a return thoroughfare is opened. This
valve is in some cases perforated with small bye-pass orifices f which allow of the
slow return of the liquid and thus permit of the immediate commencement of the
running out of the gun under the action of the recuperator while however
moderating the speed of the running out.
F Figure 1 is a passage formed in the wall of the brake cylinder and com-
municating with the ends of the said cylinder on opposite sides of the piston. The
area of opening of this passage can be regulated, or the said passage can be closed
entirely by means of a conical screw plug F which is adapted to be screwed down
upon a seat formed in the metal around the passage. By this device the speed of
running out can be regulated at will..
Orifices f', f are made, leading into the said passage F on opposite sides of the
screw-down valve F, into which orifices can be inserted the delivery pipe of a,
pump in case it should be necessary or desirable to use the same for running the
gun in and out of battery. When a pump is not in use for this purpose, the
said orifices are closed by screw plugs, The action of the brake-cylinder is
well understood and need not be further explained here.
The mounting illustrated in Figures 7 to 12 possesses the same general
characteristics as those above described, that is to say, it comprises the rear
sleeve B to which are attached the side frames, beams, or cheeks C, C, but there is
a difference in respect of the arrangement of the brake-cylinders F of which,
according to this part of the invention, there are two, placed one on each side of
the sleeve B.
In this mounting is also provided a forward sleeve B' in front of the fixed hoop
or ring. E. The trunnions are formed on the sleeve B₁ and project through and fit
into openings C³ provided in the side frames C. The sleeve B' is fitted with
bushes B, B' which can be removed when worn and replaced by new ones. . The
side frames C are made with central openings which form guides for the hoop or
ring E that is constructed to slide therein during the recoil and running out of the gun.
The construction of the brake-cylinders is similar to that above described, but in
this case the excess of liquid expelled by the entrance of the piston rods into the
brake-cylinders, passes out through pipes F10 which communicate with a valve
box J containing a spring-loaded non-return valve F' and raises said outlet valve
and passes along a pipe c to a reservoir of compressed gas or air K, Figure 13, or
into an air recuperator under spring pressure.
The said air or gas recuperator is constructed of one or more hollow cylinders K¹

page_text: connected to each other at both ends by pipes K³, K' and provided with pistons K*
above which is the air or gas under pressure. The liquid enters the recuperator at
the lower end below the said pistons which are covered by a slight depth of liquid.
This arrangement effectively prevents the escape of the air or gas under pressure
in the recuperator.
A passage J Figure 8 fitted with a plug or screw-down stop valve J' is provided
to permit the liquid to re-enter the brake-cylinders and force the gun back into
battery when required.
A special device is shown in Figures 8 and 10 which allows the gun to be moved
into and out of battery at will. This device comprises two or more hydraulic
cylinders L mounted or formed on the sleeve B and provided with pistons L' the
rods L of which are normally or under ordinary conditions locked by pins L'
passing through the same and through a piece L' fixed to the cylinder. The
forward end of each piston rod is adapted to be coupled by a pin for example to
a stud L or the like fixed in the hoop or ring E. For running the gun in, it will
be sufficient to disengage the pins L, move the piston rods L' forward, connect the
said rods to the studs L and then inject liquid under pressure in front of the
pistons L' of said hydraulic cylinders.
The mounting shown in Figures 14 to 17 is also characterized by substantially
the same features in respect of the rear sleeve and the side frames or cheeks
furnished with trunnions. The said frames or cheeks however in this modification
are united at their forward euds by a piece B' cast on or otherwise attached
thereto and forming with a cover or cap B a sleeve which embraces the gun. A
bronze bush B2 is preferably inserted in the said sleeve. This sleeve carries
stops C in the form of buffers to limit the outward run of the gun.
frames C, C are formed with projecting portions C₁, C* to serve as guides to a
projection E formed on the hoop or ring E which is solid with the gun and to
which projection is secured the end of the brake piston-rod F.
The side
N is a recuperator cylinder placed behind the brake cylinder and fitted with a
ram N³ that presses against a head F' that bears upon the recuperator springs G.
The recuperator cylinder communicates with the brake-cylinder by a passage O in
which is placed a valve F. The passage O permits the liquid expelled from the
brake-cylinder during recoil by the entrance thereinto of the piston rod F¹ to pass
into the recuperator cylinder after raising the spring-loaded valve F. This valve
is perforated with small orifices fe to permit the liquid to return and run the gun
out again. A thoroughfare P connects the passage O with the rear end of the
brake-cylinder. This thoroughfare is adapted to be closed by a screw-down
valve P. Orifices p, p are made into this passage one on each side the valve P¹
adapted to receive the delivery pipe of a pump whereby the gun can be run in or
out without firing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :—
1. In a gun mounting, the combination of a sleeve through which the gun slides,
a brake cylinder or brake cylinders and side beams or frames cast therewith or
secured thereto, trunnions formed on the said side frames, and a hoop fixed to the
gun, said hoop having attached thereto the piston-rod or rods of the brake
cylinder or cylinders, and being constructed to fit the side frames so as to slide
thereon and be supported thereby during the recoil and running out of the gun,
substantially as described, for the purpose specified.
2. The thoroughfare forming a communication between the ends of the brake-
cylinder on opposite sides of the piston, in combination with a screw-down valve
which can be adjusted to regulate the area of the opening, substantially as
described, for the purpose specified.
3. The combination, with the said thoroughfare and screw-down valve, of
apertures leading through to the front of the piston from the interior of the

page_text: piston-rod, and a spring-loaded valve which may or may not be perforated, placed
over said apertures, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.
4. In a gun mounting, the combination, with a hydraulic recoil brake, of a
recuperator containing a compressible fluid under pressure, a piston to separate the
compressed fluid in the recuperator from the liquid of the recoil brake, and a liquid
seal in said recuperator to prevent leakage around the piston, substantially as
described, for the purpose specified.
5. The combination with a gun, of a hydraulic brake-cylinder, a thoroughfare
formed in the cylinder to communicate with the opposite ends thereof, a screw-down
valve adapted to close said thoroughfare, and apertures leading into said
thoroughfare one on each side of the said screw-down valve, said apertures being
adapted to receive the delivery pipe of a force pump whereby, when the screw-down
valve is shut, the gun may be run either in or out, substantially as described.
6. A gun-mounting constructed substantially as described with reference to
Figures 1 to 6 or to Figures 7 to 12, or to Figures 14 to 17 of the accompanying
drawings, and operating as specified.
7. In combination with a gun mounting, a recuperator constructed substantially
as described with reference to Figure 13 of the drawings herewith, and operating
as specified.
Dated this 28th day of September 1893.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.