An Improved Centrifugal Gün or Machine for the Discharge of Projectiles.
Year: 1888

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Centrifugal Gün or Machine for the Discharge of
Projectiles.
I, WALTER EDWIN HICKS, of 216 Adams Street, Brooklyn, in the County of
Kings, and State of New York, United States of America, Inventor, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the saine is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of this invention is to throw or discharge a solid shot, an explosive shell
or a combination shot and shell-but principally an explosive shell charged with any
of the modern high explosives such as nitro-glycerine, nitro-gelatine, or gun-cotton-
from the periphery or outward edge of the circle of a pair of rapidly rotating
disc-wheels by and through the action of the resultant of the central forces―
centripetal and centrifugal.
My invention therefore, has reference to what may be termed a centrifugal
dynamite gun; and it consists in providing the same with devices to maintain a
solid shot, an explosive shell, or a combination shot and shell, in position at or near
the periphery of a pair of disc wheels placed concentrically side by side until power
having been applied, the required velocity is obtained to throw or discharge the .
projectilo, the requisite distance desired and also in the details of construction all of
which are fully set forth in the following specification and shewn in the accompanying
drawings which form part thereof.
The wheels revolve in the direction indicated by the arrows in the drawings and
the different parts are described with that direction in view.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this
Specification in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in
all the figures.
When a corresponding part is shewn in a different position, the
similar letters are distinguished by a suffix. Figure 1 is a side elevation, with
part of the carriage broken away. Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the firing
chambers. Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the whole machine, partly in section.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of the inside of one of the twin disc wheels, shewing
the machinery within. Figure 5 is an enlarged plan view of the cam, spring
lock bolt, firing bolt; and lever arm, with a part of one disc wheel in section; and
figure 6 is a detail sectional view taken on line 2-x of figure 1.
In figure 3, A represents a carriage to support the bearings 0' 0 0 through

page_text: which the shaft C passes and in which it revolves. To this shaft is attached the
pulley B, the division wheel E, and the twin disc wheels D D. The pulley B,
having rotary motion imparted to it by any suitable agency, revolves the said
wheels. The twin disc wheels, as shewn in the drawings figure 3, are bulged
towards their centres, their sectional perimeters forming the curved lines of a
tractory with cusps cut off at the axis of motion and asymptotic to the periphery ;
they are made in this. shape to resist the enormous strain of the centrifugal force,
for to the velocity of the wheels is due the acceleration imparted to the projectile.
Near the periphery of the said twin disc wheels are four oblong firing chambers F F
and F F, figure 4. It is to be understood that two of the firing chambers F and F
diametrically opposite to each other are to be unlocked in rapid sequence from the
right hand side of the twin disc wheels D D while the two chambers F1 and F¹
have been unlocked from the left hand side of the said disc wheels. All four
of the firing chambers can be unlocked simultaneously or two of them can be reserved,
if desired, but two of them must be unlocked from opposite sides of the wheels at the
same time, in order to maintain the stability of the equilibrium of the revolving
wheels. One end of each of the said firing chambers is journaled in the disc
wheels and rocks on trunnions h, the other ends have axles Š oscillating in radial
slots e¹ (figure 1).
•
The oblong bar between the trunnions and axles S is T-shaped with concave
sides tending to a flattened point at the bottom, so the arms e can work freely and
to give strength to withstand the blow at the moment of discharge. On top, at the
axle ends of the said chambers, are the cylindrical ungulæ H' having apertures
shaped to fit one-half of the projectile Q, they are lined with rubber, canvas, flannel,
or other pliable material G, to diminish the percussion when firing as well as to protect
the gunner when loading the gun. Attached to the said cylindrical ungulæ are four
doors P working on hinges p, these doors have lugs which press tight against the
sides of the twin disc wheels, and clasp the projectile in a vice-like grip when in the
position shewn by chambers F F, in. figure 4. The said chambers are held in
the said positions by clutch bars T working on shafts E', the notched ends meshing
with clutch teeth T¹ the other ends of the said clutch bars being connected to
shafts V by rods 1 and arms e. When the projectile is to be discharged, the shaft V
is turned by means to be hereinafter described which unclasps the clutch bars T from
the clutch teeth T₁, and the chambers F F are thrown upwards by centrifugal force
and cam U to the position shewn by chambers F F', the doors P falling automatically
into pockets d¹ d', as shewn by d d². The projectiles, at this instant having received
their acceleration from the velocity of the twin disc wheels, are released for their
lines of flight and the action of the firing chambers, flying upward at the moment
of discharge, counteracts the centripetal tendency of the curvilinear trajectory.
Links W, attached to chambers F F and F¹ F¹ and linked to cams U, draw the said
chambers down when locking.
t
The bearings 00, figure 3, have circular flanges a a with cylindrical sleeves a¹ a¹
extending on the inside, the opening of which is somewhat large so as not to touch
the shaft C beyond the proper bearings. On the ends of said sleeves are the collars
and flanges cc (set by set-screws) and between the said collars and flanges c c and
the said flanges a a, the discs b b are mounted concentrically with the shaft and free
to be adjusted circularly on the said sleeves. The said concentric discs are fastened
by caps and thumbscrews c¹ attached thereto, the said caps slide on the periphery of
the flanges a a, and, by the adjustment of the said concentric discs, so the pointers
will indicate on the annular rims H H the degrees of elevation or depression desired,
and fastening them there by the caps and thumbscrews c', the gun can be discharged
at any given angle in the vertical plane. y y are sleeves attached to the periphery of
the concentric discs bb; loosely sliding in the said sleeves are the firing bolts ZZ
which are held in place by the cross pins working in slots in the sides of the
said sleeves. On top of the said sleeves are the pawls q q whose fulcrums work in
brackets attached to the sleeves. Beneath one end of the said pawls are
springs ³ ³ pressing upwards so the other ends sink down through holes in the sleeves

page_text: to catch in notches Z' in the firing bolts Z Z when the said firing bolts are driven
forward. Attached to the shaft C are the firing bars n n which revolve with the
said shaft. Now, when the gun is to be fired the gunner draws the lanyard Y
(figure 5) which places the lever arm m in the position m', the said lever arm is then
struck by one of the firing bars n which drives the firing bolt Z forward
through the sleeve y, the firing bolt Z then strikes the cam U driving it to the
position shewn in dotted lines.
The cam U bearing on spring w attached to lock
bolt drives the said spring and lock bolt to the positions w¹ and x dotted lines,
shewn in the drawing figure 5. The firing bolt Z next strikes the arm g throwing
the said arm and the sectors and f of the upper or first order, to the position
shown in figure 1. Sectors and having now partly revolved shaft V, the arms e
by means of connecting bars have unlocked clutch bars T from clutch teeth Ti
and the cam U has raised the firing chambers F" F", as shewn in figure 4. Detent
pawl g having caught in the notches Z' in the firing bolt Z when the said firing
arm and lock bolt of the lower or second order on the opposite side of the
same wheel arrives (figure 1) when a like action as described above, produces like
results. When the wheels have been stopped, the gunner presses the spring end of
the pawl q down when retract spring returns the firing bolt Z to its proper
place. Retract spring u¹ returns the lever arm m when the lanyard Y is released.
HH, figures 1 and 3, are annular rims attached to the carriage A. They encircle
the concentric discs bb and are graduated with the degrees of two quadrants.
Sliding on the said annular rims are two standards N N (set by set screws) which
support the sight tubes M M. The said sight tubes are provided with magnifying
lenses inside and pin sights on top and at the centre of the said sight tubes are
pointers pointing to the degrees on the annular rims H H. On top of the
sleeves y y are also pointers / pointing to the degrees on the said annular rims so the
gunner can sight the object, compute the degrees required and set the pointers to
correspond on the index, then discharge the gun. The annular rims r r near the .
outward edge of the twin disc wheels (figures and 3) are on the line where the
doors Peffect their greatest strain, they are placed there as braces and utilized as
brake wheels to which are applied the brake shoes L L. When the twin disc wheels
are in motion and it is desired to stop them, the crank u is turned which rotates the
spur wheel t, the said spur revolves the pinion t¹, the said pinion rotates the worm J
the said worm revolves the worm gear I and the jack screw K, raising the frame i
and the fulcrums on which the brake shoes rest. h is a brace bar to steady the
brake shoes L L. Figure 1. dddddd are the outside of the pockets into which
the doors P fall. jjjjjj are assembling bolts, hhhh are the ends of the trunnions
of the four firing chambers. S S S S are the ends of the axles on the other end of
the said firing chambers which oscillate in the radial slots el e¹ el e¹. V VV V are
the ends of the shafts having the arms e and cams U attached thereto. E' E' E' E' are the
ends of the shafts on which the clutch bars T work. In figure 3, 17 are two bars
on the bottom of one of the firing chambers. Figure 2, Q is a projectile lying in
position, the doors P being thrown open, as at the moment of release.
I do not limit myself to the details of construction, as they may be modified in
various ways without departing from my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a centrifugal gun, the shaft C pulley B for revolving the same and the
discs DD secured upon the said shaft a short distance apart in combination with
oppositely arranged projectile carriers held between the said discs, substantially as
described.
2. In a centrifugal. gun, the shaft C pulley B for revolving the same and the
discs D D secured upon the said shaft and tapered from the centre to the periphery,
substantially as described.

page_text: 3. The twin discs D D secured upon the shaft C combined with oppositely arranged
projectile carriages and hinged doors P for holding the projectiles in the said carriages
substantially as described.
4. The projectile carriage pivoted at one end to and between the discs D D and
free at the other end to swing a short distance, in combination with the clutch T for
holding the free end of the projectile carriage, and means substantially as described
for operating said clutch for releasing the projectile carriage, substantially as
described.
5. The twin discs D D, placed concentrically side by side upon a shaft C, the
pulley B for revolving said shaft, the bearings OO for said shaft having circular
flanges a a with cylindrical sleeves a¹ extending on the inside the said sleeves acting
as a shaft for the concentric discs b b to revolve upon, the pivoted projectile carriages,
and the clutches T in combination with the intermediate mechanism for operating the
clutches for releasing the projectile carriages, substantially as described.
6. In a centrifugal gun, the two discs D D placed upon the shaft C provided with
means for revolving the same, in combination with the graduated annular rims H
arranged concentric to the shaft C, the sight tube M and standards N adapted to slide
upon said rims to indicate the angle of discharge, substantially as described.
7. In a centrifugal gun, the shaft C, pulley B for revolving the same and the twin
.dises D D secured upon the said shaft a short distanco apart, in combination with
oppositely arranged projectile carriers pivoted at A to and between the twin discs, the
hinged doors P P for locking the projectile in the carriages, recesses d³ d¹ formed in
the twin discs retaining devices for holding the free ends of the projectile carriers,
and means for disengaging the retaining devices from the projectile carriers, sub-
stantially as described.
8. The discs D D secured a short distance apart upon the shaft C and made
tapering from the centre to the periphery and forined with opposite recesses d' d¹, in
combination with oppositely arranged projectile carriers hinged at one end to and
between the said discs, the doors PP hinged to the said carriers. in position to swing
back into the said recesses d' d' at the time of firing to release the projectile, sub-
stantially as described.
W. E. HICKS.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agents.