IMPROVEMENTS IN CARRIAGES FOR HEAVY ORDNANCE FOR LAND DEFENCES
Year: 1885

page_text: I WILLIAM JENNINGS HOYLE of Elswick Works, Newcastle upon Tyne, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CARRIAGES
FOR HEAVY ORDNANCE FOR LAND DEFENCES" to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in carriages for heavy ordnance
for land defences.
With heavy ordnance mounted on the disappearing principle, where the gun is
raised to the firing position by a spring formed of compressed air or otherwise and
is brought down to the loading position or nearly so by the recoil for facility of
loading it is important to get the gun to the lowest position especially when an
overhead shield for protection of the guns crew is employed.
Inasmuch as two or more charges of different weights are used for the gun
there is difficulty in getting the full recoil in all cases.
This invention provides for this being overcome.
The disappearing carriage is fitted with an air reservoir in which is compressed
air and at the lower part a liquid.
The reservoir surrounds a cylinder in which a plunger works.
The plunger is coupled with the upper portion of the gun carriage and moves
into the cylinder when the gun is fired.
Two or more passages connect the cylinder to the reservoir and these are covered
by valves with annular opening and controlled lift. The cylinder is also filled
with liquid.
When the gun is fired the plunger forces the liquid into the reservoir from the
cylinder and further compresses the air. Thereby storing up sufficient force to
return the gun to loading position when required.
Naturally the pressure of the air is much greater towards the end of the stroke
than at the beginning and the pressure in the cylinder is unequal, this is
compensated for by the valves with the controlled lift which cause a great
additional pressure at first when the speed of recoil is great and much less towards
the end when the speed reduces to nil.
A new passage of communication is opened between the reservoir and the
cylinder when it is desired to let the gun go up to firing position. This is

page_text: worked by hand gear and is shut automatically and gently by the action of
the gun in rising so as to prevent the gun from charging too violently into its
position.
To provide for the full recoil with different charges the pressure of air and lift
of valves is so designed and arranged that the smallest charge used in practice
will just bring the gun down the full amount and when it is desired to fire a
larger charge means are provided for cutting off the action of one of the valves
by screwing a stop down on it from the outside. The small additional force
necessary to pass the liquid through only the remaining valve is sufficient to
regulate the recoil to be no greater in length than when the small charge is used.
Or to get the gun to the lowest position I provide a small hand pump attached
to a convenient part of the carriage, a suction pipe is led to the bottom of the
cylinder a delivery pipe is led to the bottom of the reservoir.
In this case the valves are permanently adjusted so as to control the recoil when
the heavy charge is used so that the full recoil will only then be obtained. With
the light charge the recoil would be about two thirds full and the gun is then
brought down by working the pump. The liquid being drawn from the cylinder
and passed into the reservoir the gun assisting the action by its own weight.
This work is easily performed by two men in a reasonable time during the time
the breech of the gun is being opened.
The pump
is always in connection with the cylinder and reservoir no stop valve
or cock having to be opened or closed previous to or after the pumping.
For purposes of drill and inspection of the mounting the pump is of great service
as the gun can be allowed to go into firing position and be pumped down as often
as desired.
The valves of the pump are constructed to bear the sudden shock caused by the
firing.
For the better protection of the gunners the carriage is provided with a flat
overhead shield almost on a level with the parapet and nearly enclosing the gun
pit with the exception of the opening through which the gun rises.
The shield is carried from the under carriage by eight columns or supports four
on either side of the gun symetrically arranged two at the front and two at the
rear part of the under carriage.
1
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1007

page_text: Defences.
I WILLIAM JENNINGS HOYLE of Elswick Works Newcastle-upon-Tyne 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 carriages for heavy ordnance
for land defences.
With heavy ordnance mounted on the disappearing principle when the gun is
raised to the firing position by a spring formed of compressed air or otherwise and
is brought down to the loading position or nearly so by the recoil for facility of
loading it is important to get the gun to the lowest position especially when an
overhead shield for protection of the guns crew is employed.
Inasmuch as two or more charges of different weights are used for the gun there
is difficulty in getting the full recoil in all cases.
This invention provides for this being overcome.
The disappearing carriage is fitted with an air reservoir in which is compressed
air and at the lower part a liquid.
The reservoir surrounds a cylinder in which a plunger works.
The plunger is coupled with the upper portion of the gun carriage and moves
into the Cylinder when the gun is fired.
Two or more passages connect the cylinder to the reservoir and these are
covered by valves with annular opening and controlled lift. The cylinder is also
filled with liquid.
When the gun is fired the plunger forces the liquid into the reservoir from the
cylinder and further compresses the air. Thereby storing up sufficient force to
return the gun to loading position when required.
Naturally the pressure of the air is much greater towards the end of the stroke
than at the beginning and the pressure in the cylinder is unequal, this is
compensated for by the valves with the controlled lift which cause a great
additional pressure at first when the speed of recoil is great and much less towards
the end when the speed reduces to nil.
A new passage of communication is opened between the reservoir and the
cylinder when it is desired to let the gun go up to firing position. This is
worked by hand gear and is shut automatically and gently by the action of the
gun in rising so as to prevent the gun from charging too violently into its
position.
To provide for full recoil with different charges the pressure of air and lift of
valves is so designed and arranged that the smallest charge used in practice will
just bring the gun down the full amount and when it is desired to fire a larger
charge means are provided for cutting off the action of one of the valves by
The small additional force
screwing a stop down on it from the outside.
necessary to pass the liquid through only the remaining valve is sufficient to
regulate the recoil to be no greater in length than when the small charge is used.

page_text: Or to get the gun to the lowest position I provide a small hand pump attached
to a convenient part of the carriage, a suction pipe is led to the bottom of the
cylinder a delivery pipe is led to the bottom of the reservoir.
In this case the valves are permanently adjusted so as to control the recoil when
the heavy charge is used so that the full recoil will only then be obtained. With
the light charge the recoil would be about two thirds full and the gun is then
brought down by working the pump. The liquid being drawn from the cylinder
and passed into the reservoir the gun assisting the action by its own weight.
This work is easily performed by two men in a reasonable time during the time
the breech of the gun is being opened.
The pump is always in connection with the cylinder and reservoir no stop valve
or cock having to be opened or closed previous to or after the pumping.
For purposes of drill and inspection of the mounting the pump is of great
service as the gun can be allowed to go into firing position and be pumped down
as often as desired.
The valves of the pump are constructed to bear the sudden shock caused by the
firing.
For the better protection of the gunners the carriage is provided with a flat
overhead shield almost on a level with the parapet and nearly enclosing the gun
pit with the exception of the opening through which the gun rises.
The shield is carried from the under carriage by eight columns or supports four
on either side of the gun symmetrically arranged two at the front and two at the
rear part of the under carriage.
In order that my said invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a heavy gun on a disappearing carriage it is
arranged and controlled in accordance with my invention.
Figure 2 is a plan of the same gun and carriage with some of the parts
removed.
a, is a pivot secured to a sufficient foundation and forming a centre around
which the turn table frame b is able to rotate, it is supported by wheels c, which
run upon the ring rail d.
e, e, are hand wheels having pinions on their axes which gear with toothed
wheels which are fast with the supporting wheels. By turning these wheels the
turn table is moved around its pivot and the gun which it carries is brought to
bear upon the object. f is a double lever or frame which at its lower end is jointed
to the turn table b, and at its upper end it carries the gun by its trunnions.
The elevation of the gun is controlled by long links g, g, jointed to it beneath
the breech on either side and passing down to lugs on a pair of curved racks h, h,
which gear with pinions which by intermediate gear are connected with the hand
wheel. By turning this hand wheel any desired elevation can be given to the
muzzle of the gun. k, is a ram which at its upper end is jointed to the frame f.
The rain is received into a cylinder 7, which can rock upon trunnions at 1. In the
same casting with the cylinder there is an air vessel in which air under pressure is
contained. The cylinder 1, and a portion of the capacity of the air vessel is filled
with water or other liquid. The pressure in the air vessel is sufficient to maintain
the gun in the firing position and to offer a suitable resistance to the recoil. The
lower part of the cylinder is connected with the air vessel by two passages in each
of which is a valve and the valve in each case is prevented by a stop screw from 5
rising from its seat by more than a short regulated distance. One of these valves,
when desired can be set down on to its seat so as to remain entirely out of action;
this is done when the gun is to be fired with a heavy charge.
On the recoil taking place it will be seen that the ram k, is driven into the
cylinder, forcing the water or liquid before it into the air vessel through the 5

page_text: narrow passage or passages which the valves allow. The recoil of the gun is in
part absorbed by the resistance the liquid experiences in the passages. A portion
of the force of the recoil, however sufficient to bring the gun back to the firing
position is expended in compressing the air in the air vessel. The gun after recoil
remains down in the loading position as the valves prevent the return of the
liquid from the air vessel into the cylinder. A small bye pass valve is opened by
hand when the gun is to come up to be again fired.
If the gun is fired with a low charge both of the controlled valves are allowed
to lift when the recoil takes place; the resistance offered to the transfer of liquid
from the cylinder to the air vessel is then less than before and consequently,
although the force of the recoil is less, the gun is still able to come fully down to
the loading position. The gun may however be fired with a light charge with one
valve only in operation, or one valve only may be provided, and this so set that
the gun on recoil will not come fully down to the loading position. In this case
the hand pump m is employed to bring it down. Its suction pipe m¹ is connected
with the lower end of the cylinder 1, and its delivery pipe m2 is connected with
the air vessel.
n is the lever handle by which the pump is worked by manual labour. The pump
then draws liquid out of the cylinder and delivers it into the air vessel; the gun
can thus always be brought completely down altogether independently of the
recoil.
The turn table b carries eight columns o, o, and these support a horizontal armour
plated shield p which closes the upper part of the gun pit with the exception of
an opening through which the gun rises for firing and descends on recoil.
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. The general arrangement of the gun mounting, consisting of the turn table b,
carrying the gun by means of a frame f, and supporting an overhead shield p
closing the gun pit and with an aperture through which the gun rises and falls
substantially as described.
2. The combination with the ram k and cylinder and air vessel by which the
recoil of the gun is controlled and by which the gun is raised to the firing position;
of a pump m drawing liquid out of the cylinder and delivering it into the air
vessel; the whole so arranged that the gun may be brought down to the loading
position independently of the recoil as herein explained.
3. The provision of two or more controlled valves between the cylinder 1, and
the air vessel; by which provision is made for obtaining the full recoil of the gun
when light charges are fired and sufficient control of the recoil when high charges
are employed as herein explained.
4. The improved carriage for heavy ordnance substantially as described and
illustrated by the annexed drawings.
Data : ntahan 100-