Improvements in Mountings for Guns.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Jan., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 21st Oct., 1890-Accepted, 6th Dec., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mountings for Guns.
1, ALBERT SAUVÉE, of 22 Parliament Street, Westminster, in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which
has been communicated to me from abroad by Jean Baptiste Gustave Adolphe
Canet, of 91 Avenue Malakoff, Paris, France, Civil Engineer,) to be
follows:-
as
The present invention relates to further improvements on the invention described
in the Specification accompanying the application for Patent No. 28500 dated
8th June 1889 under International Convention, such further improvements being
hereinafter described.
In the arrangement described in the original application the gun is placed in a
cradle forming the mounting, the brake cylinders are in the same plane as the axis of
the gun, and the spring or compressed air accumulator is placed beneath the gun, the
weight of the whole system being held in equilibrium round the trunnions of the
movable frame. Such arrangement which I have employed necessitates a greater
space being left between the cheeks of the frame carrying the trunnions. In the
present arrangement I place the brake cylinder and the accumulator beneath the gun
so as to diminish the distance between the cheeks carrying the trunnions.
In the Specification of the application for Patent above referred to, it was indicated
that for operating gun mountings (and more particularly the gun mountings
described), both for vertical elevation and lateral sighting, either an hydraulic, steam,
compressed gas, electric or other suitable motor, could be employed.
It will be readily understood that in stating that the charge elevator could be
actuated by any suitable motor, it was meant that either an hydraulic, electric, liquid
carbonic acid or other suitable motor could be employed for this purpose.
The gun is fixed in a cylinder forming the mount, by means of a strong seat at the
forward end and a collar at the rear end. The seat of the gun has a number of
recesses corresponding with projections on the sleeve, so as to prevent the gun turning
round its axis during firing.
The mounting with the brake cylinder on its under side is mounted on a frame
movable round trunnions, on which it can slide during the recoil.
This frame is composed of two cheeks connected in front by a collar through which
the gun slides, and which carries the supports for the buffers. The frame is also
connected at the rear by a collar supporting the gun in its recoil, and which on its
under side carries the cross head of the piston rod of the brake.
The frame is mounted on a pillar which in its turn is supported on the bed plate by
a ring of spherical or conical rollers.
The frame formed by the two cheeks firmly strengthened by ribs carries the whole
of the vertical and lateral sighting mechanism.
The vertical and lateral sighting is effected by means of a single hand wheel placed
within reach of the gunner. This hand wheel, the position of which is constant while
the gun rises and falls, controls a shaft carrying a coupling sleeve which through
an operating lever allows either the vertical or the lateral sighting screw to be
actuated.
For vertical sighting the gunner holding the lever with his left hand engages the
coupling with the screw for vertical sighting by pulling the lever back. The coupling
then carries the screw with it in its rotation, and transmits motion to a helicoidal
wheel keyed to or frictionally mounted upon a transverse shaft. This shaft to which
is keyed a pinion transmits its motion to a sector secured to the frame and gives the
gun the required angle. The centre of gravity of the whole is so disposed that the

page_text: power to be exerted is reduced to a minimum, the complete apparatus being held in
equilibrium round the axis of its trunnions.
For lateral sighting the gunner brings the sleeve into engagement with the lateral
sighting screw, by pushing the coupling lever forward. The rotary movement
imparted to the band wheel is then transmitted to a helicoidal wheel keyed to a
vertical shaft. This shaft which is mounted between two supports fixed to the cheeks
of the pillar carries at its lower end a pinion gearing with a circular toothed rack fixed
to the bed plate.
When I employ an electro motor to effect the sighting, the hand wheel is
disconnected from its shaft, by lifting a spring catch and drawing the hand wheel
back; the spring catch is then allowed to fall again and engages a groove in the boss
of the hand wheel. I then throw mitre wheels (one of which is on the shaft of the
hand wheel and the other on a shaft actuated by the electro motor) in gear by moving
the one on the shaft of the hand wheel and fixing it in this position by a screw, pin, or
other suitable means.
The motor fixed on the pillar carries on the end of its spindle an endless screw
gearing with a helicoidal wheel. The shaft of this helicoidal wheel carries at its upper-
end the bevel pinion gearing with the pinion keyed to the hand wheel shaft. The
movement of the motor is then transmitted as before to either the vertical or lateral
sighting mechanism by means of the operating lever.
A suitable switch for controlling the motor is placed within reach of the
gunner.
A motor is also placed upon the movable platform, and through intermediate
gearing works the shaft of the chain wheel over which the bucket chain of the charge
elevator passes.
When required to elevate the charges by hand a conical wheel at the lower end of
the operating shaft is thrown into gear.
I can actuate the charge elevator by hand, by electricity, by any suitable motor, or
by utilizing the running out movement of the gun.
I may further employ electro-motors for effecting the vertical elevation, lateral
sighting, running in and out, operating the breech, as well as the charge elevator,
while allowing same to be operated by hand when desired, it being only requisite to
actuate the shafts either directly or by means of any suitable transmission, and
employing any ordinary system of coupling and uncoupling which will enable me to
pass from mechanical operation to electrical operation.
Referring to the brake and running out gear, either a brake with a central rod, or
of valve or any other suitable construction may be employed.
The brake cylinder is prolonged backwards to receive a plunger or movable packed
gland, which bears against a crosshead acted upon by two columns of springs placed
at the sides of the brake cylinder.
When the gun mounting recoils under the action of firing the liquid compressed in
front of the piston passes through the brake openings to the rear thereof. The volume
of liquid corresponding to the piston rod displaces the plunger which, by the inter-
mediary of the crosshead compresses the springs.
In running out, these springs give out the power stored up and lead the gun back to
its original position.
1 may employ an arrangement of brake with running out gear actuated by
compressed air in various gun mountings.
A tubular reservoir placed under the mounting is filled with compressed air at a
suitable pressure and communicates with the forward part of the cylinder in which is
a packed piston; the rear face of this piston open to the brake cylinder.
When the gun recoils the liquid passes as before from the front to the rear of the
piston by passing through the brake opening, but the volume of liquid corresponding
to that of the piston rod passes by a channel formed in the central rod, raises a valve
acted upon by a slight spring, and displaces the plunger which thus further compresses
the air with which it is charged.
In running out, the liquid under the action of the compressed air passes back by a

page_text: small orifice pierced in the bottom of the cylinder and of which the size can be
regulated at will by a screw actuated by a hand wheel, so as to enable the speed of
running out to be regulated at will.
For supporting the revolving mounting upon the base or bed, in order to further
reduce the rolling friction the rollers or balls are relieved by slightly raising the
mounting by means of springs, placed either at the centre of the pivot of rotation, or
round this pivot of rotation in the case where the central tube for the passage of the
charges is employed. The springs, in the latter case, are then supported by a ring
movable with the gun mounting.
I may employ disc or other suitable form of springs for this purpose. These springs
are mounted on a rod, of which the lower end forms a pivot resting upon the bed or
base at its centre. They are placed in tension by means of a nut mounted upon the
movable platform. By these means I am able, by raising the movable part of the
mounting to a smaller or greater extent, to reduce the friction on the rollers and to
render the operation of the mounting much easier.
When the springs are arranged around the periphery of the base or bed, the
arrangement for raising is identical, but the rods of the springs rest upon the movable
ring.
This arrangement may be employed when it is desired to raise the mounting in
order to inspect the rollers.
It will be readily understood that this system may also be applied to mountings of
the construction described in the Specifications of my prior Patents No. 9453 dated the
4th July 1887 and No. 2075 dated the 11th Feby. 1888.
It will be readily understood that the materials and dimensions of the different parts
described may be varied as desired without departing from my invention.
And it will be further understood that the arrangement of the different parts may
also be varied without departing from my invention; for example, the cylindrical
mount may be placed right at the rear of the gun and connected to the slides, and the
piston rod be attached forward; or the arrangement of the organs or parts described
may be otherwise modified or varied without departing from my invention.
:
Dated this 21st day of January 1890.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
: Improvements in Mountings for Guns.
1, ALBERT SAUVÉE, of 22 Parliament Street, Westminster, in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which
has been communicated to me from abroad by Jean Baptiste Gustave Adolphe
Canet, of 91 Avenue Malakoff, Paris, France, Civil Engineer) and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
The present invention relates to further improvements on the invention described in
the Specification accompanying the application for Patent No. 28: dated
8th June 1889 under International Convention, such further improvements being
hereinafter described.
In the arrangement described in the original application the gun is placed in a
cradle forming the mounting, the brake cylinders are in the same plane as the axis of
the gun, and the spring or compressed air accumulator is placed beneath the gun, the
weight of the whole system being held in equilibrium round the trunnions of the
movable frame. Such arrangement which I have employed necessitates a greater
space being left between the cheeks of the frame carrying the trunnions. In the
present arrangement I place the brake cylinder and the accumulator beneath the gun
so as to diminish the distance between the cheeks carrying the trunnions.
In the Specification of the application for Patent above referred to it was indicated

page_text: air, electric or other suitable motor, could be employed. It will be readily under-
stood that in stating that the charge elevator could be actuated by any suitable motor,
it was meant that either an hydraulic, electric, liquid carbonic acid, or other suitable
motor could be employed for this purpose.
To enable the present invention to be understood I refer to the accompanying
drawing showing the principal arrangements which 1 employ, and in which
drawings,
Fig 1 is an elevation of the left side of the mounting.
Fig. 2 a plan view of the sighting mechanism.
Fig. 3 a vertical section through the axis of the hydraulic brake.
Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through the axis of the brake and the running
out springs.
Fig. is a section through the axis of the brake with an arrangement for running
out by compressed air.
Fig. 6 shows the application of an electric motor for actuating the system described
in the Specification of the application above referred to for the supply of the
charges.
Fig. 7 shows an arrangement in which a set of balls are employed for supporting
the revolving mounting upon the base or bed, so as to diminish the power required
for lateral sighting, such arrangement being applicable to the mountings of of
guns
any other construction, besides those described in the Specification of the application
for Patent above referred to.
The gun A is fixed in a cylinder forming the mount B, by means of a strong seat C
at the forward end and a collar D at the rear end. The seat C of the gun has a
number of recesses corresponding with projections on the sleeve B, so as to prevent
the gun turning round its axis during firing.
The mounting with the brake cylinder F on its under side is mounted on a frame
movable round trunnions G, on which it can slide during the recoil.
This frame is composed of two cheeks H connected in front by a collar I through
which the gun slides, and which carries the supports for the buffers. The frane is also
connected at the rear by a collar J supporting the gun in its recoil, and which on its
under side carries the cross head of the piston rod of the brake.
The frame is mounted on a pillar K which in its turn is supported on the bed
plate L by a ring of spherical or conical rollers.
The frame formed by the two cheeks firmly strengthened by ribs carries the whole
of the vertical and lateral sighting mechanism.
The vertical and lateral sighting is effected by means of a single hand wheel a
placed within reach of the gunner. This hand wheel, the position of which is constant
while the gun rises and falls, controls a shaft carrying a coupling sleeve b, which
through an operating lever c allows either the vertical or the lateral sighting screw to
be actuated.
C
For vertical sighting the gunner holding the lever c with his left hand engages the
coupling with the screw for vertical sighting by pulling the lever back. The coupling
then carries the screw with it in its rotation, and transmits motion to the helicoidal
wheel d keyed to or frictionally mounted upon a transverse shaft e. This shaft, to
which is keyed a pinion g, transmits its motion to the sector f secured to the frame,
and gives the gun the required angle. The centre of gravity of the whole is so
disposed that the power to be exerted is reduced to a minimum, the complete apparatus
being held in equilibrium round the axis of its trunnions.
For lateral sighting the gunner brings the sleeve into engagement with the lateral
sighting screw h, by pushing the coupling lever forward. The rotary movement
imparted to the hand wheel is then transmitted to a helicoidal wheel i keyed to the
transverso shaft j. This shaft, which is mounted between two supports fixed to the
cheeks of the pillar, carries at its lower end a pinion gearing with a circular toothed
rack fixed to the bed plate.

page_text: When I employ an electro motor to effect the sighting, the hand wheel is
disconnected from its shaft at 1, by lifting a spring catch m and drawing the hand
wheel back; the spring catch is then allowed to fall again and engages a groove
in the boss of the hand wheel. I then throw the mitre wheels (one of which is
on the shaft of the hand wheel and the other on a shaft actuated by the electro
motor) in gear by moving the one on the shaft of the hand wheel and fixing it
in this position by a screw, pin, or other suitable means.
The motor fixed on the pi lar carries on the end of its spindle an endless screw
gearing with a helicoidal wheel n. The shaft of this helicoidal wheel carries at its
upper end the bevel pinion o, gearing with the pinion p keyed to the hand wheel shaft,
which passes through the shaft carrying the lateral sighting screw h. The movement
of the motor is then transmitted as before to either the vertical or lateral sighting
mechanisin by means of lever c.
The electro motor is controlled by a reversing switch of which the handle is within
reach of the gunner.
Referring to Fig. 6 a motor X is placed upon the movable platform, and through
intermediate gearing it works the shaft of the chain wheel over which the bucket chain
of the charge elevator passes.
When required to elevate the charges by hand a conical wheel at the lower end of
the operating shaft is thrown into gear.
I can actuate the charge elevator by hand, by electricity, by any suitable motor, or
by utilizing the running out movement of the gun.
I may further employ electro-motors for effecting the vertical elevation, lateral
sighting. running in and out, operating the breech, as well as the charge elevator,
while allowing same to be operated by hand when desired, it being only requisite to
actuate the shafts either directly or by means of any suitable transmission, and
employing any ordinary system of coupling and uncoupling which will enable me to
pass from mechanical operation to electrical operation.
Referring to the brake and running out gear, the drawing shows a brake with a
central rod, but same may be of valve or any other suitable construction.
The brake cylinder is prolonged backwards to receive a plunger or movable packed
gland M, which bears against a crosshead N acted upon by two columns of springs
placed at the sides of the brake cylinder.
When the gun inounting recoils under the action of firing, the liquid compressed in
front of the piston passes through the brake openings to the rear thereof. The
volume of liquid corresponding to the piston rod displaces the plunger which, by the
intermediary of the crosshead, compresses the springs.
In running out, these springs give out the power stored up and lead the gun back
to its original position.
In Fig. 5 I have shown an arrangement of brake with running out gear actuated by
compressed air, which I employ in various gun mountings.
A tubular reservoir O placed under the mounting is filled with compressed air at a
suitable pressure, and communicates with the forward part of the cylinder in which is
a packed piston; the rear face of this piston is open to the brake cylinder.
When the gun recoils the liquid passes as before from the front to the rear of the
piston by passing through the brake opening, but the volume of liquid corresponding
to that of the piston rod passes by a channel formed in the central rod, raises a valve s
acted upon by a slight spring, and displaces the plunger P, which thus further com-
presses the air with which it is charged.
In running out, the liquid under the action of the compressed air passes back by a
small orifice t pierced in the bottom of the cylinder, and of which the size can be
regulated at will by a screw u actuated by a hand wheel, so as to enable the speed of
running out to be regulated at will.
In the arrangement for supporting the revolving mounting upon the base or bed
shown in Fig. 7, in order to further reduce the rolling friction the rollers or balls are
relieved by slightly raising the mounting by means of springs, placed either at the

page_text: centre of the pivot of rotation, or round this pivot of rotation in the case where the
central tube for the passage of the charges is employed. The springs, in the latter
case, are then supported by a ring movable with the gun mounting.
The drawing (Fig. 7) shows the first of these arrangements.
I have shown disc springs, but I may employ any other suitable form of spring.
These springs are mounted on a rod, of which the lower end forins a pivot resting
upon the bed or base at its centre. They are placed in tension by means of a nut
mounted upon the movable platform. By these means I am able, by raising the
movable part of the mounting to a smaller or greater extent, to reduce the friction on
the rollers and to render the operation of the mounting much easier.
When the springs are arranged around the periphery of the base or bed, the
arrangement for raising is identical, but the rods of the springs rest upon the movable
ring.
This arrangement may be employed when it is desired to raise the mounting in
order to inspect the rollers.
It will be readily understood that this system may also be applied to mountings of
the construction described in the Specifications of the prior Patents No. 9453 dated
the 4th July 1887 and No. 2075 dated the 11th February 1888.
It will also be readily understood that the materials and dimensions of the different
parts described may be varied as desired without departing from my invention.
And it will be further understood that the arrangement of the different parts may
also be varied without departing from my invention; for example, the cylindrical
mount may be placed right at the rear of the gun and connected to the slides, and the
piston rod be attached forward; or the arrangement of the organs or parts described
may be otherwise modified or varied without departing from my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the saine is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The arrangement of gun mounting consisting in a cylindrical mount in which the
gun is placed and which can slide in a frame movable round an axis, the gun being
connected to the cylindrical mount by means of projections entering recesses, so as to
prevent it rotating round its axis.
2. The arrangement of frame formed of the cheeks connected in front and at the
rear by collars which guide the gun, and of which one carries the head to which the
piston rod is connected.
3. The employment of a brake cylinder with a plunger or movable packed gland
acting upon springs, the power necessary for running out the gun being stored up by,
and given up again after, the recoil.
4. The arrangement of a cylinder containing a plunger which is acted upon by
compressed air contained in tubular reservoirs, substantially as described, and which
enables the gun to be kept back or allows it to run out at an adjustable speed.
5. The arrangement of the different sighting organs or parts, enabling all the move-
ments for the vertical and. lateral sighting to be effected by the aid of a single hand
wheel, without any interruption.
6. The employment of a toothed or a friction coupling for effecting the connection
and disconnection, substantially as specified.
7. The arrangements shown for enabling a single motor to be applied so as to serve
for effecting both the vertical and lateral sighting.
8. The application of hydraulic, electric, steam, gas, liquid carbonic acid, or other
suitable motor, for effecting the vertical elevation, lateral sighting, running in and out,
the operation of the breech, and the supply of charges, of and to guns, substantially as
specified.
9. The special electric arrangement, shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, for elevating
the charges.
10. The arrangement described for enabling the gun mounting rolling on rollers or

page_text: balls, to be raised so as to facilitate lateral sighting or the inspection of the rollers or
balls.
11. The application of the arrangements described either separately, or in combina-
tion one with another, the different organs or parts being arranged in any suitable
manner.
12. The improved gun mounting constructed substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 21st day of October 1890.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.