Improvements in Electrically Working Armoured Turrets, Guns, and other Apparatus, and in Apparatus suitable for these purposes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 27th July, 1893-Accepted, 3rd Mar., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electrically Working Armoured Turrets, Guns,
and other Apparatus, and in Apparatus suitable for these
purposes.
I, SYDNEY PITT, of Sutton, in the County of Surrey, Gentleman, (a communi-
cation to me from abroad by Messrs. Sautter, Harlé & Cie., of 26 Avenue Suffren,
Paris, in the Republic of France,) 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 means for electrically manoeuvring armoured turrets,
guns, and ammunition on board ship and in fortified places which are also suitable
for other purposes.
Up to the present time armoured turrets have usually been worked by steam or
water under pressure. The objections to the use of these agents for transmitting
power are numerous.
Leakages are frequent and serious, the escaping steam or water damages the
objects it meets with, rusting the mechanism and flooding the compartments.
These leaks involve difficult and lengthy repairs.
Frost often renders the use of water under pressure impossible.
The difficulties of installation become considerable when it is necessary to
unite a movable part of the passages with a fixed part, the joints being always a
weak spot.
The obstruction and weight of the water and steam passages are a great
embarrassment in modern ships already too greatly encumbered.
Damages in an engagement become more probable and they are almost impossible
to repair in good time. They cause the whole mechanism to be useless, even the
portions which have not been touched. The complication of the mechanism
renders the change from mechanical to ordinary hand working difficult which
however must be provided for in time of war.
The use of electricity does away, with these objections. Leakages in the con-
nections are of small importance and easy to prevent. The degree of temperature
no longer has any dangerous effect. The obstruction and weight of the motors
is greatly reduced.
The laying of the circuits no longer presents any difficulties. Energy may be
transmitted from a fixed to a movable part by means of a simple flexible cable.
Damages are less frequent, they may be localised by means of circuit breakers
consisting of fusible wires or disconnecting mechanism without disturbing the
intact portion which continues to work, in short they may be repaired rapidly
even at the time of action. Working by hand may immediately succeed working
by electricity; it is sufficient to cut off the motor current and the exciting current
to be able to move the mechanism without experiencing any resistance on the part
of the armature, the weight of which may form a fly to regulate the action of
the handles.
These advantageous qualities of electrical transmission of power which are
common to all installations of this nature, would be sufficient by themselves to
justify the adoption of this agent for the control of guns. By this invention
however still more perfect results are obtained with the electric motor by giving
it mechanical qualities which neither water under pressure nor steam possess, by
means of novel arrangements of manoeuvring apparatus and combinations of these
apparatus which constitute this invention.

page_text: The novel mechanical features obtained by this system, which are indispensable
moreover for the perfect manoeuvring of turrets, are as follows:-
It works
1. The electric motor starts easily when charged, in either direction.
with perfect regularity whatever may be the amount and direction of the
resisting force. Its working thus remains independent of the ship's movements.
All flying away becomes impossible. The immediate transmission of the current
gives complete precision to all movements.
2. This system allows speeds as varied as desired to be obtained and rapid
change from one speed to another.
It gives the means of instantaneous stopping by short circuiting the armature
of the electric motor and of immediately starting again in either direction by
breaking this short circuit. The combination of these two effects repeated at
very short intervals produces with the greatest precision almost imperceptible
displacements of the object to be moved and renders it possible, especially for
artillery, to aim as exactly as is desired.
3. The arrangements apply as well to control at a distance as to direct control.
The principal mechanism, generating dynamos, electro motors &c. may be placed
far from the control station in a manoeuvring chamber and suitably sheltered.
The control station itself which is less exposed to the shot of the enemy on
account of its small dimensions may be placed in a fixed position or be movable
in a turret but always within reach of the officer in command of the gun.
The portion of the circuit which connects the control station to the manoeuvring
chamber and which is alone exposed, is only of small diameter the current traversing
it being feeble. It offers but a small surface and any damage in it is easily localised
and repaired, the principal circuit for feeding the motors being completely under
cover in the protected parts of the ship.
This system renders impossible all accident arising from short circuiting the
generator.
It renders slowing down and automatically stopping the masses in motion at the
end of their course easy and simple.
It allows the use of indirect firing to be extended.
4. The properties just enumerated are preserved, whatever may be the weight
of the mass to move, without sparking being produced at the electric instruments
or damage of any kind.
The electric motors are independently excited and are of a peculiar type having
supplementary inductors and fixed supports for the brushes.
Their primary circuit is completely independent of the induced circuit and is fed
at the normal voltage which remains constant.
The induced circuit receives the current at a double voltage proceeding from the
two generators in series. If in consequence of damage, one generator breaks down,
the voltage falls to one half of what it was, but the electric motors served by this
system continue to revolve and perform work their speed being reduced to one half.
The security of the working of the installation is thus assured; each generator
being able to serve in place of the other, the number and size of the reserve
machines may be materially diminished.

page_text: C is a spiral spring tending to lift the fork of the lever A and bring it against
the stop K.
C, is a socket embracing the lever A, to which is fastened the end of the
spring C.
C, C, C, are respectively the base attachment of the spiral spring C its washer
and nut.
D is a soft iron electro magnet acting by its armature upon the lever A.
D₁ is its movable armature fixed to the lever A.
D, and D, are the core and the lower armature of the electro magnet D the inner
space of which is filled with copper wire coils.
E E' are the two parts of the stirrup fastened to the two ends of the fork of the
lever A.
E, E are two flexible plates fastened to the stirrup E E' by the
screws E, E, E¹ E¹.
FF are two bundles of conducting plates held in the stirrup E E.
G G G¹ G¹are conducting contact pieces upon which the ends of the plates F F
bear.
H H H H are four carbon prisms fixed in the sockets H₁ H, H₁ H,' the latter
sliding in the contact pieces G G G¹ G'.
H H H H are spiral springs acting against the sockets H, H, H₁₁H₁₂'.
H3 H, H, H, are screw threaded rods fixed to the sockets HI, H, HI H₁ and
frictionally sliding along the inner portions of the nuts H, H, H, H.
1
H. H. H. Hare lock nuts retaining the flexible conductors H. H. HH..
J is a carbon prism fixed in the socket J, carried by the screw threaded rod J3.
J, is a spiral spring bearing against the socket J.
2
Ja screw threaded rod frictionally sliding along the inner portions of the nut J.
Jis a lock nut supporting the flexible conductor J.
Jis a serew nut in the support L.
K is a stirrup forming a stop for the lever A. and fixed upon the base plate of the
apparatus.
L is a support separated from the stirrup K by an insulating piece L₁ and
provided with a cavity for the spring J
Lis a conducting rod connecting the support L with the terminal M.
M is a terminal making contact with an external conductor.
N is a carbon prison carried by the conducting piece A..
O is a terminal to which the flexible conductor P is attached.
P is a flexible conductor connecting the terminals O and Q.
Qis a terminal making contact with an external conductor.
RR is a bipolar electro magnet acting by its movable armature upon the lever A.
R, R, are the two cores of the electro magnet.
R, is the armature of the electro magnet fastened by the screws R, R, to the
block R which slides upon the lever A.
The one arm commutator only differs from the two arm commutator in that the
electro magnet R R, the support of the carbon holder L, the carbons J and N,
the terminals O Q M, and the conductors A, L. and P which connect them are
done away with.
The lever A is prolonged as a simple arm, the fork being done away with, half
of the contacts and the plates F with the corresponding carbon prisms being also
done away with.
It is considered unnecessary to show the simplified apparatus, the preceding
figures being sufficient for its construction, for its parts are the same, but there are
a smaller number of them.
The apparatus for controlling from a distance is arranged as follows (see
Figures 6 to 10).
Sis a cylindrical metallic box which encloses the apparatus.
S, is its lid.

page_text: SS, are two circular contacts being prolongations of S..
S is a socket for the axis T, fixed to the plate S.
S, is a conducting contact placed in the axis of the apparatus.
S is a circular conducting contact.
S, S,
are two insulating contacts forming prolongations on either side of the
contact S,.
S₁, is a socket fixed in the lid S, for the passage of the axes U₁ U₁'.
10
S₁ is a marble plate fixed to the bottom of the box of the apparatus forming an
insulating support.
T is the knob and T₁ the arm for turning the axis T₂ of the commutator.
T is the axis of the commutator.
T is a nut fixing the axis T, to the arm T₁.
T, is a movable contact forming a bridge between the fixed contacts S, and the
contacts S, 82 83 $1' 2¹83 S and S,.
T, is the movable contact forming a bridge between the contacts &
t is a flat spring pressing the movable contacts onto the fixed contacts during the
movement of the axis T
t is a clip fixed upon the axis T₂ for moving the movable contact T..
to is an insulating layer separating the clip from the contact. T
3 is an insulating layer separating the spring from the contact I..
U¹ U are two knobs for obtaining small movements.
U₁ U₁ are the two axes of the said knobs. U₂ U₂¹ are spiral springs tending to
bring the axes U, U back to their upper positions.
U is a nut forming an abutment for the spring U₂.
U is a guide for the axis U₁.
U, U, are conducting plates for connecting the contacts u₁₂ u₁₁u, or the
contacts 4 Ug¹ U4².
V V are boxes for the springs for bringing the arm back to zero.
V2 Vare the springs for bringing the arm back to zero acting upon the
pulley V, through the cord V3.
V, is a cord passing over the pulley V..
V is a pulley keyed upon the axis T2.
The assemblage of apparatus for electrically manoeuvring from a distance shown
in diagram at Figure 1 includes the following arrangements:
One of the poles of the exciting circuit from the generators is led by the
conductor 7 to the contact S, of the control apparatus and from thence the current
may be led either by the conductors 4, 5 to the principal electromagnets D of two
two arm commutators or by the conductors 1, 2, 3 to the electro magnets d₁ d₂ dz
of three one arm commutators.
The electro magnets D D d d₂ d, have the same common return 6. Two circuit
breakers are placed at the two ends of the exciting circuit.
The electro motor is worked by a current derived from the main exciting current
in the conductors 17, 18. Two circuit breakers with lead fuses are also placed in
this derived circuit.
The main current passing through the armature of the motor has one of its poles
in the conductor 8 which distributes it, when one of the relays D is closed, by the
contacts G G to the electric motor, according to whether the right or left hand
two arm commutator has been closed by the control apparatus, the current passes
by 10 to the armature and emerging by 12 is led across the resistances 13, 14, 15, 16
to the other return pole 9, or it passes from 8 to 16, 15, 14, 13, 12 to the armature
whence it emerges by 10 after baving made the armature revolve in the contrary
direction.
W and Ware switches the use of which will be explained later.
When the handle of the control apparatus is at zero the motor armature is short
circuited by the conductors 12. L. O. P. O. 11. O. P. O. A La 10.

page_text: Each apparatus above described possesses different functions which it exercises
when the general system of electrical manoeuvring such as shown in Figure 1 is
installed.
COMMUTATOR WITH TWO ARMS.
The two arm commutator fulfils two functions.
Making or breaking at two points the circuit of the principal current which
passes through the motor armature.
Short circuiting this armature at the moment of breaking the principal current.
The first function is fulfilled by the contacts G G G G and the plates F F
When the lever A actuated by the electromagnet D which attracts the
armature D is lowered, the plates F and F1 cach make contact and the
principal current passes. As soon as the exciting current which traverses
the electromagnet D ceases, the lever A acted on by the spring is lifted and
breaks the double contact.
The second function is fulfilled by the movable carbon N and the fixed
carbon J. When the lever A is lifted and breaks the principal circuit, the

page_text: carbon contact N meets J and thus short circuits the motor as shown in the
general diagram Figure 1.
The short circuit current then passes from:
the terminal M by the rod L2, the terminal L, the contacts J and N, the rod A,
the terminal O, the wire P as far as the exit terminal Q; it then goes to the short
circuiting magnet R.
The commutator fulfils therefore the two functions assigned to it. It remains
to be shown by what arrangement destructive sparks are prevented at the moment
of making and breaking the principal current and of making and breaking the
short circuit.
The arrangement for catching sparks for the main current consists of the
flexible plates E, E₁ fixed to the stirrup E.
When the lever A is drawn down
these plates come into contact with the carbons H H H H before the bunched
conductor F has touched the contacts G G G G. The spark is therefore
produced at the carbon, a material of small value, and easily replaced. When
the main contact of F with G G is made, the current being already established
no longer gives rise to a spark. It is therefore certain that the contact will be
kept in good order and is certain to work. When from the breaking of the
circuit, the contrary effect takes place, the metallic contact being broken
before the plates E, have left the carbons HH, the latter alone receive the
spark.
The short circuiting of the armature is ensured by the spring C which brings.
the carbon contacts M and J against one another. The spark is taken entirely by
a carbon contact. However as the spring upon which the carbon is mounted
may in consequence of a blow, vibrate and give rise to several breaks of
contact, which with the current arising from short circuit, might produce
strong sparking, there has been added to the apparatus the electro magnet R
where the current from the short circuit causes an attraction which tends to
bring the contact N still more strongly against the contact J preventing thereby
all vibration.
These spark catching carbon contacts are mounted upon the springs H, J, which
allow their position to be exactly regulated by means of the screws I, J, and
nuts and lock nuts H, H. One is therefore certain of being able to give to the
contacts the pressure necessary for making good contact.
ONE ARM COMMUTATOR.
This apparatus which is only a simplification of the preceding one has only one
function.
To make or break at one point the circuit of the main current which passes
through the motor armature.
It is therefore composed of the controlling electro magnet D of the lever A. and
the two contacts G with a single bundle of plates F.
When the lever A is lowered or raised by the electro magnet or the spring C
the current is made or broken at a single point.
As in the double commutator, the destructive effect of sparking is avoided by
means of two carbon contacts H H and a flexible plate El.
APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING FROM A DISTANCE.
The control apparatus has for its object the making or breaking of the
exciting current of the electro magnets D D d, d, d, working the levers A of the
commutators.
The flow of the current through these magnets lowers the lever A and allows
the passage of the main current. The breaking of this same circuit causes the
lever A to be lifted and breaks the main circuit.
The main handle T, of the control apparatus causes the motion to right or left
according as it is pushed to right or to left.

page_text: At its position of rest to which the springs V V2 by the aid of the pulley T
Figure 10 always bring it, the electric motor is short circuited, the exciting current
of the electro magnets D being broken.
As soon as the handle T, is turned from its position of rest, the exciting current
flows (Figure 9) the motor circuit is closed through all the three interposed
resistances (Figure 1) and the speed is the minimum. When the handle T, reaches
the contact the exciting current is started in the electromagnet of the first
one arm commutator, the motor current then only traverses two resistances instead
of three, and the speed increases. At the contact the second one arm commutator
comes into action and does away with a second resistance. Then at the contact
the current is at its maximum the last resistance being put out of circuit by the
third one arm commutator (Figure 1).
The knobs U and U₁ are intended to produce the small displacements of the
motor for working to right and working to left.
The handle T, being left to itself returns to its position of rest short circuiting
the motor.
By pressing on the knobs U or U the short circuit is broken and the motor
begins to revolve, directly the knob is let go the spring U₂ or U₂ lifts it, breaking
the
main establishes the shout
2
THE RIGHT AT DIFFERENT
STEEDS.
As shown in Figure 1 the apparatus selected as an example of this system allows
the movement of the motor to right and to left at four different speeds and also
provides for instantaneous stoppage and small movements.
For this two two-arm
commutators, three one arm commutators and a control apparatus are employed, the.
whole acting upon an electric motor of any suitable type by preference of the
special type described in a former Patent with fixed.supports for the brushes.
The handle of the control apparatus being at rest, the exciting circuit, the poles.
of which are on the conductor 7 leading to the contact S, and on the conductor 6,
is broken.
None of the electromagnets D D d d d are excited, the main motor circuit is
broken and the motor is short circuited by 12, M, L, A, O, P, Q, 11, R, 11, R, Q,
P, O, A, L, M, 10.
If the handle of the control apparatus be slightly drawn to the right the exciting
current is restored and passes from the conductor 7 and the contact Sg to the
contact S, the conductor 4 the right hand electro magnet D of the two arm
commutator and passes to the other pole 6. The main motor current passes from.
the pole 8 to the conductor 16 and across the three resistances 15, 14, 13, and the
conductor 12 into the armature from whence it goes out by 10 to again traverse.
the actuating two arm commutator and reaches the other pole 9..
If this movement of the handle be, continued as far as the contact S₁ the exciting.
current also passes by S, s, 1 and to the electromagnet d₁ of the speed changing
one arm commutator. The main armature current 8, 16 passes through the simple:
commutator and the conductor 14 and the two last resistances only and the speed
of the motor increases.
By continuing thus to contact 2 and contact 3 two other gradually increasing
Sneeds are obtained
Movement to the left is obtained when the handle of the control apparatus is
upon the contact. S, the exciting circuit is then closed by 5 and the electro 50
magnet D of the left hand two arm commutator. The main current passés through

page_text: the armature by 8, 10 from whence it goes out by 12 the resistances 13, 14, 15, 16
and the return pole 9.
The armature thus has a movement contrary to that given by the right hand two
arm commutator.
1
1
By continuing this movement of the handle upon the contacts ₁₁₁₁ $3 the
three one arm commutators d, d, d, are successively put into action each of which
does away with one of the resistances. Thus the four different speeds for the left
hand motion are obtained. It is easy to follow on the diagram the direction of the
current analogous to that just described for the right hand movement.
SMALL MOVEMENTS.
1
1
26-
It now remains to describe the direction of the current when small movements
are produced by means of the knobs U and U. Take as example the left hand
movement. The main handle being at rest, the motor armature is short circuited.
By pressing the button U the plate U at its end connects the contacts and
Ug
The exciting current then passes by 83 s, u₁₁₂ U, S, and the conductor 5 to
actuate the left hand motion giving electromagnet. The same exciting current
also passes from the plate U, to the contacts s, and, by the piece T, and returns
to the conductor 2 to actuate the simple relay d, thus allowing the motor to take, a
middle speed.
On letting go the knob U the spring U, brings it back, the exciting circuit is
broken and the motor again short circuited. As shown by experiment short
circuiting the motor causes an instantaneous stoppage by developing an electric
break of great power.
If the movement of the knob be rapidly repeated the motor is given a succession
of impulses causing small displacements thus allowing an aim of as great exactitude
as desired to be obtained.
It is to be observed that it is precisely at starting that the electric motor gives
its couple of maximum motive power, a condition eminently favourable for causing
small displacements.
By pressing the right hand knob U₁ the motor repeats the same movements but
in the opposite direction. It is however impossible with the control apparatus.to
actuate at the same time the two electro magnets of the two arm commutators,
which would produce the stoppage of the motor and its deterioration by a current-
of exaggerated intensity. If the knob U¹ for example be pressed down whilst
pressing on the knob U the current is stopped by U₁ and the motor stops. If the
main handle of the control apparatus be actuated the current is stopped between
the contacts S, and ' and the motor is again stopped.
:

page_text: An accessory circuit of high resistance (not shown in Figure 1) derived from
the exciting circuit of the coils is provided. It is intended to weaken the breaking
spark produced in consequence of the high self induction of the coils when the
exciting current to the motor is broken for working by hand.
- 1 %
The extra current then passes by the accessory circuit which serves the purpose
of a safety valve preventing the current attaining a tension dangerous to the
insulation.
REGULATING THE STOPPAGE ON SHORT CIRCUITING.
In certain cases, as in moving heavy masses, it may be advantageous to lessen
the shock produced by the instantaneous stoppage of the armature on short
circuiting. The stoppage may be regulated by interposing a greater or less
resistance in the short circuit where are already short circuiting electro magucts.
. It is easy to thus obtain the stoppage of the bobbin after a fraction of a turn, or
one, two, three or any other number of turns.
The general system just described completely realises the conditions recognised
as necessary for the maneuvre of turrets, guns or any other machines controlled by
electric motors. There may be obtained motion in both directions at any speed,
more or less instantaneous stoppage at any moment; small displacements as small
as desired, that is to say perfect exactitude in aiming. In short automatic stoppages
are easy to make at as many points as may be considered convenient:
The whole of apparatuses is protected from the destructive effect of the sparking
whatever may be the intensity of the current needed.
In short whatever may be the manner in which the control apparatus is directed
no error can entail damage to the motor which simply stops when a wrong manoeuvre
is made.
The conductors connecting the control apparatus to the manoeuvring chamber
having only the exciting current to carry are of small section, little cumbersome
and render easy. the passage from the fixed portion to the movable portion.
Repairs to it are easy. The small tension of the current which traverses the
control apparatus allows this apparatus to be of small size and to be placed in the
turret itself within reach of the officer in command.
The commutator for direct control works in the following manner :—
The flow and return conductors of the current are connected to the contact a,
and to the contacts ს, ხ, ს, ს ს ს.
The connections of these conductors are so made as either to allow the armature
of the motor to be short circuited or metallic resistances to be introduced into the
main circuit.
When it is desired to stop the motor or vary its speed the current is passed from
contact a² to one of the contacts b¸ bo̟ b¸ bà bê bê.
The movements of the flexible contact plates fi fo should be quickly effected to
prevent the contacts being deteriorated by sparking, at the same time rendering
stoppage impossible in an intermediate position.
Shifting the movable plates by the handle (1 is discontinued.
Suppose for example that it is desired to pass from the contact, to the contact b
which
As it moves the handle by its axis c, carries with it the rollers c, and
rolling along the inclined planes of the cylindrical parts h and ½, compel them to
descend in spite of the pressure of the springs h, h. At the same time the spring
stretches by the action of the handle c₁ the bar f being unable to be displaced by
the pull of so long as its end bears against one of the steps of the semicylindrical
plates and . As soon as the handle e, has reached the contact b, the semi-
cylindrical plates h hi having descended the height of a step allow the bar to pass
which then rotates under the influence of the springe and the part. this latter

page_text: en moves carrying with it the movable contacts f₁ and ƒ, and makes contact with
e contact b
The contact may thus be closed in the desired direction without dangerous
parks.
The motion at different speeds and the small movements are obtained by causing
he contacts in circuit to vary and putting the short circuiting contact alternatively
and out.
This apparatus lends itself equally well to the addition of supplementary carbon
ontacts forming spark arresters. It may also be controlled from a distance by
ectric, mechanical or mixed transmission."
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
on and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
aim is :-
1. The method of working armoured turrets, guns and other apparatus by an
lectric motor, the armature of which is alternately put into communication with
e source of electricity and short circuited in such manner as to impart to it short
mpulses, immediately checked as shown diagramatically in Figure 1.
2. In apparatus for carrying out the method referred to in Claim
a. The one and two arm commutators substantially as shown at Figures 2, 3, 4
and 5 having an auxiliary contact for preventing the destructive effect of
sparking and a short circuiting electro magnet to insure perfect contact at
the moment of short circuiting the motor.
b. Electric commutators having an auxiliary carbon contact to avoid the
destructive effect of sparking.
c. Electric commutators having a short circuiting current for strongly main-
taining the contact closing the short circuit.
-
d. The control apparatus substantially as shown at Figures 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10
by which the motor can be worked at variable speeds or instantaneously
stopped by short circuiting the armature and small movements be given by
more or less rapid pulsations.
e. The special arrangement of commutator shown at Figures 11, 12, 13, 14
allowing direct control of the electric motor and avoiding the destructive
action of sparking.
Dated this 27th day of July 1893.
SYDNEY PITT.