Improvements in Armoured Turrets.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Aug., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 19th June, 1893-Accepted, 15th July. 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Armoured Turrets.
1, GEORGE FREDERICK REDFERN, of the Firm of G. F. Redfern & Co., The
General Patent Office, No. 4, South Street, Finsbury, in the County of London,
Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication
to me by ERNST TERNSTROM, of 2, Rue du Maine, Asnières, Seine, in the
Republic of France, Civil Engineer,) to be as follows
The object of this invention is to provide armoured turrets, more particularly
for shorter guns, such as howitzers, mortars and the smaller quick firing guns, the
ammunition for which is not so heavy as to require special mechanical means for
loading and which generally do not require hydraulic buffers for taking up the
recoil; the turrets can however also be adapted for other ordnance.
According to this invention the turrets are constructed with a cupola which can
be completely rotated so that their guns can be fired in all directions and they can
be made to hold one or two guns each.
The cupola consists of an upper exposed dome made of the required thickness and
the lower part is in the shape of a truncated cone which supports the dome all
round its outer circumference.
The upper dome which can be made of thicker armour on the side turned
towards the enemy when the gun is being fired, is formed so as to encompass the
gun, (which is fired through an orifice at one side of it) as closely as possible only
as much space being left as is necessary for other moving parts, and (in the case of
quick firing guns) for the insertion of cartridges.
The lower truncated cone bears with its lower flange upon a number of conical
rollers upon which the cupola turns; these rollers again rest upon castings placed
upon the masonry.
These castings also support the outer armour which does not turn so that if the
outer armour should shift or change position, it carries with it the cupola and the
other moving parts.
In some cases the conical rollers are placed between the upper armoured dome
and the lower truncated cone, in which cases the cone does not participate in the
turning motion.
The lower cone offers a very firm support to the armoured dome so as to support
the shock of the enemy's projectiles as well as of the firing of the gun in the
cupola. I advantageously increase the resistance to the last named shock by
causing the lower flange of the cone to project underneath the outer armour thus
preventing it from being raised by the firing or, where the rollers are placed
between the dome and the cone, projections attached to the dome are held down by
suitable parts of the cone.
The form of the dome and the conical shape of the support give to these turrets
the advantages that the surfaces exposed to the enemy's direct fire as well as to his
plunging fire are much smaller than in any hitherto known turrets for the same
guns so that the weights to be turned are much lighter and can be more conveniently
turned by hand and the cost is much less for the same thickness of armour; while
at the same time the open space in the lower part of the turret which is not
exposed to the enemy's fire remains as large or is even more spacious and
unencumbered than in previous constructions of such turrets.
The gun or guns is or are held to the armoured dome by means of a transversal
cylinder provided with trunnions or trunnion bearings at both ends round which
the cylinder can pivot or rotate; the trunnions are either in direct contact with the

page_text: dome or are supported by intermediary bearings pushed into slotted spaces in the
dome, which can be supported by screws.
In the case of such howitzers or mortars as are so short that they do not
protrude outside the dome, and which it may not be necessary to load when the gun
is in or near to its horizontal position the cylinder can be made in one piece with
the gun itself.
In the case of quickfiring guns protruding outside the dome when in firing
position, the cylinder is made separate from the gun, which is then pushed
out and drawn back through a hole which is made in the cylinder at right angles
to its axis.
The cylinder fits into a suitable recess so that no detrimental smoke can
come into the turret from the outside at whatever elevation the guns are fired,
and in the case of quickfiring guns no smoke can enter even after they are
drawn back after ceasing fire as a hood round the muzzle fills up the hole in the
cylinder.
The gun has no transverse movement in relation to the turret but the horizontal
laying of the gun is effected by turning the turret in the direction desired; this is
effected by means of a handwheel and pinion acting upon a rack or large cog wheel
attached inside the dome or the truncated cone.
The elevating movement can be given to the gun either by an arched rack and
pinion or by an elevating screw. In order not to increase the diameter of the
exposed dome in cases where it is sometimes desirable to draw back a long gun so
that it does not protrude outside the dome the following arrangements are
employed. When it is desired to draw back the gun, one end of the elevating
screw is jointed to a ring on the gun as near to its breech end as convenient while
the other end of the elevating screw turns on an axis in a bracket fixed to the part
of the cupola which participates in the turning movement; when the gun is drawn
back its breech end is thus supported by the elevating screw while the muzzle is
supported by the hole in the cylinder. The positions of the joint in the bracket
and of the joint on the gun to which the ends of the elevating screw are attached,
and the length of the elevating screw are so arranged that the breech end of the
gun descends soon after the movement has commenced from the smaller dome
through the widening cone into the larger space below so that there is no
necessity to increase the dimensions of the dome in order to be able to draw back
the gun.
In order to easily lift and push out the gun into firing position the elevating
screw is provided beyond the joint in the bracket with a counterweight which is
raised when the gun goes down and thus assists in lifting the gun. The breech end
of the gun when pushed out follows the same line as when drawn back which
latter movement consequently does not necessitate any larger dimensions of the
dome than are required for the gun when in firing position. As soon as the
gun has been lifted into firing position it has to be locked to the cylinder
before firing, this is done by a simple locking apparatus having a locking
ring. The locking apparatus also acts as a safety arrangement because the handle
of the locking ring is so placed that the firing handle of the gun cannot be moved
into the position which will allow the gunner to fire until the gun is perfectly
locked to the cylinder and the firing handle actually pushes the locking handle
home before such shot can be fired in case the latter should at any time be forcibly
unlocked.
Any guns placed in these turrets are landed in their firing position except
on the rare occasions when a howitzer or mortar may have to be fired in or
near its horizontal position, when the breech end can be slightly dipped for
convenient loading.
In most turrets hitherto used for smaller guns, one and the same gunner
has to judge distance, lay the gun, open and close the mechanism, load and
fire; this diminishes the rapidity of firing and interferes with the careful laying of
the gun.

page_text: In the improved turret with the large space below the gun, this work can
be divided between two gunners, one of whom attends to the laying, the other
to the loading of the gun; both stand below the gun at a convenient height
for the gunner who loads to reach the firing handle and for inserting the cartridges,
and for the gunner who aims to see to aim through an optical instrument which
throws the image of the object fired at onto a glass or plate where he can see when
the line of aim is brought in a line with the object. He can also when required
by raising his head look direct at the object through a small aperture at the level
of the gun.
Dated this 20th day of August 1892.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Armoured Turrets.
I, GEORGE FREDERICK REDFERN, of the Firm of G. F. Redfern & Co., The
General Patent Office, No. 4, South Street, Finsbury, in the County of London,
Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication to
me by Ernst Ternström, of 2, Rue du Maine, Asnières, Seine, in the Republic of
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 object of this invention is to provide armoured turrets, more particularly
for short guns, such as howitzers, mortars and the small quick firing guns, the
ammunition for which is not so heavy as to require special mechanical means for
loading; the turrets can, however, also be adapted for other ordnance.
In the accompanying drawings,-
Figure 1 is a vertical section of an armoured turret constructed according to my
invention, the gun contained therein and other mechanism being omitted:
Figure 2 is a vertical section of a modified construction of my armoured turret
shewing a gun and operating mechanism therein :
Figure 3 is a vertical section of the same taken at right angles to Figure 2:
Figure 4 is a plan partly in horizontal section on the line 4-4, Figure 2.
According to this invention the turrets are constructed with a cupola adapted to
hold one or two guns, which cupola can be completely rotated so that the gun or
guns can be fired in all directions.
The cupola consists of an upper exposed dome a made of the required thickness
and in the construction shewn in Figure 1 has a lower part 6 which extends down-
wardly within the outer armour c and is in the shape of a truncated cone which
supports the dome a.
This cone 6 bears with its lower flange upon a number of conical rollers d, d
connected together by rings d, upon which rollers the cupola turns, the said
rollers rolling upon a casting or bed e placed upon the masonry, which casting or
bed e also supports and is connected to the outer armour e which does not turn, so
that if the said outer armour should shift or change position, it carries with it the
cupola and the other moving parts.
In some cases the conical rollers are placed between the dome a and the cone b
in which cases the said cone b does not participate in the turning movement.
The cone 6 offers a very firm support to the dome a so as to support the shock
of the enemy's projectiles as well as of the firing of the gun in the cupola. I
advantageously increase the resistance to the last named shock by causing the
lower flange of the cone b to project underneath the outer armour c thus preventing
it from being raised by the firing; or, where the rollers are placed between the
dome and the cone, projections attached to the dome are held down by suitable
parts of the cone.

page_text: .
=
A
In the construction shewn in Figures 2 to 4 the dome a is supported upon the
outer armour c by means of the rollers d, d and casting e the cone 6 being dispensed
with the said casting e being attached to the upper part of the outer armour c by
bolts e, e', and nuts e, e, and the lower part of the dome a is formed with a conical
surface a adapted to fit against a conical seat c¹ on the outer armour c so that the
shock of the enemy's projectiles is transmitted directly to the said outer armour.
Spring washers e³, e, are interposed between the nuts e³, and the underside of
the said casting e so as to minimize the friction between the surfaces a' and c' of the
dome and outer armour respectively when the dome is revolved.
The dome is made of such a shape in vertical section that it admits only the gun
and the parts of the mounting directly connected to the same so as to enable the
dome to be made as low as possible.
This form of the dome a gives to these turrets the advantages that the
surfaces exposed to the enemy's direct fire as well as to his plunging fire are
much smaller than in any hitherto known turrets for the same guns, so that the
weights to be turned are much lighter and can be more conveniently turned by
hand and the cost is much less for the same thickness of armour; while at the
same time the open space in the lower part of the turret which is not exposed to
the enemy's fire remains as large or is even more spacious and unencumbered than
in previous constructions of such turrets.
.
The dome a which can be made of thicker armour on the side turned towards
the enemy when the gun is being fired, is formed so as to encompass the gun (which
is fired through an orifice at one side of it) as closely as possible, as shewn clearly
in Figures 2 to 4, only as much space being left as is necessary for manipulating
the gun.
As shewn in the said Figures 2 to 4 the gun (or guns) is (or are) held in the
dome a by means of a transverse cylinder provided with trunnions f, fat both
ends upon which the said cylinder can pivot or rotate in a vertical plane; the
trunnions,, are advantageously supported by bearings, f³ in slots f³, f³
in the dome, which bearings can be supported by screws or other means.
.
In the case of quick firing guns protruding outside the dome when in firing
position, such as that shewn in the drawings, the cylinder is made separate from
the gun, so that the latter can be drawn back into the turret after ceasing fire
through a hole f* formed in the said cylinder at right angles to its axis.
In the case however of such howitzers or mortars as are so short that they do
not protrude outside the dome, and which it may not be necessary to load when the
gun is in or near the horizontal position the cylinder ƒ can be made in one piece
with the gun itself.
The cylinder fits into a cylindrical recess or seat 9 formed between the dome a
and a bracket g' the said seat being provided with packing strips 9 so that no
smoke can enter the turret from the outside at whatever elevation the gun is fired,
and in the case of a quick firing gun no smoke can enter even after the
gun is
drawn back after ceasing fire, as a hood round the muzzle fits within the hole f**
in the cylinder f.
The gun has no transverse movement in relation to the turret but the horizontal
laying of the same is effected as herein before stated by turning the turret in the
- direction desired; this is effected by means of a hand-wheel i and pinion i¹ carried
in an extension of the bracket g' and acting upon a rack or large cog wheel
formed upon the casting or bed e as shewn in Figures 2 to 4, or in the construction
- shewn in Figure 1 it may be formed on the dome or the cone b.
The elevating movement can be given to the gun by an elevating screw j or by a
rack and pinion.
In order that the drawing back of the gun shall not necessitate a large dome I
provide for lowering the breech end of the gun and for this purpose I joint one end
of the elevating screw j to a ring k on the breech end of the gun while the other
-end of the said screw pivots on a pin j¹ carried by extensions 9* of the bracket g¹.
When the gun is drawn back, its breech end is thus supported by the elevating

page_text: screw while the muzzle is supported in the hole f* of the cylinder f. The positions
of the pin and of the joint on the gun to which the ends of the elevating screw
are respectively attached, and the length of the elevating screw are so arranged
that the breech end of the gun descends soon after its rearward movement has
commenced from the comparatively small dome a into the widening space below.
In order to easily lift and push out the gun into firing position the elevating
screw jis provided with a counterweighted arm k which is raised when the gun goes
down and thus assists in lifting the gun. is a spring-stop or buffer against which
the arm strikes when the gun is lowered, the said spring-stop being fixed to a bar
fixed between the extensions g* of the bracket g¹.
As soon as the gun has been lifted into firing position it requires to be locked to
the cylinder before firing.
For this purpose I employ two toothed rings l, m and I provide the ring / which
I term a locking ring with a groove to receive the ring m and mount it so as to
be capable of rotation upon a cylindrical extension n on the cylinder f, it being held
in place by a ring o, while the ring m is formed on or attached to the ring k. The
spaces between the teeth of the ring are such as to just allow the teeth of the
ring m to pass through them into the groove when by turning the ring by means
of its handle p so that the teeth of the said ring cover the teeth of the ring m the
gun is securely locked in. position.
This locking apparatus also acts as a safety arrangement because the handle p of
the locking-ring is placed in the path of an extension on the handle q' of the
breech-block of the gun (the gun in this instance being of the type provided with
an eccentric breech-block r) so that the said handle q' cannot be moved in one
direction without pushing the locking handle p home before such shot can be fired,
thereby ensuring the locking of the gun to the cylinder ƒ (in case it should at any
time be unlocked) before a shot can be fired.
The guns placed in these turrets are loaded in their firing position except on the
rare occasions when a howitzer or mortar may have to be fired in or near its
horizontal position, when the breech end can be slightly dipped for convenient
loading.
In most turrets hitherto used for small guns, one and the same gunner has to find
the range, lay the gun, open and close the mechanism, load and fire; this
diminishes the rapidity of firing and interferes with the careful laying of the gun.
In my improved turret, however, with the large space below the gun, this work
can be divided between two gunners, one of whom attends to the laying, and the
other to the loading of the gun. Both stand below the gun at a convenient height
for the gunner who loads to reach the handle of the breech-block and for inserting
the cartridges, and for the gunner who aims to see to aim by means of a telescopes,
provided with a prism or mirror which reflects the image of the object fired at
below the gun so that he can see when the line of aim is brought in a line with the
object. He can also when required by raising his head look directly at the object
through the small aperture in the cylinder fat the level of the gun through which
aperture the telescope s is directed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. An armoured turret having an upper cupola or dome arranged substantially
as described so as to admit only the gun and the immediately adjacent parts of the
mounting above the level of the ground in order to reduce to a minimum the surface
of the dome exposed to the enemy's fire, as set forth.
2. In an armoured turret having a cupola or dome of the kind referred to in the
preceding claiming clause arranging the said cupola or dome so that it fits onto the
outer armour, springs being introduced between the dome and the outer armour for
the purpose of minimizing the friction between these parts, substantially as
described.

page_text: 3. In an armoured turret supporting the gun in a cylinder having trunnions.
carried in bearings in the cupola, substantially as described.
4. In an armoured turret having a gun mounted therein in the manner herein-
before described the arrangement f rings for locking the gun in its firing position,
substantially as described.
5. In an armoured turret having a gun adapted to be locked therein by means of
rings as herein before described the combination with the said rings of means for
preventing the gun mechanism from being handled or the gun from being worked
until after the gun is locked to the cylinder, substantially as described.
6. In an armoured turret aiming through an orifice in the cylinder supporting
the gun by means of a telescope or other similar apparatus, provided with a prism
or mirror to reflect the image of the object to a point below the gun substantially
as described.
7. The improvements in and connected with armoured turrets hereinbefore
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 19th day of June 1893.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.