An Improvement in the Mounting of Quick Firing and such like Guns.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Dec., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 12th Sept., 1896-Accepted, 31st Oct., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 12th Sept., 1896-Accepted, 31st Oct.. 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in the Mounting of Quick Firing and such
like Guns.
We, DOUGLAS VICKERS, a Managing Director of Vickers Sons & Co. Ld. and
GEORGE THOMAS BUCKHAM Engineer, both of River Don Works, Sheffield in
the County of York, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
:―
Our invention relates to the mounting of a quick firing or such like gun in such
a manner that it can be readily turned in a horizontal plane on anti friction balls
or rollers which are protected against the shock of recoil, and that the worm or
other wheel employed for training is completely protected.
For this purpose, I provide a fixed base plate from which a boss extends some
distance upwards, tapering to a somewhat smaller diameter at the top. This boss
forms the pivot for a hollow cylinder which entirely encloses it and nearly fits
around the boss at its upper and lower parts, these parts forming bearings, which
are preferably bushed with gun metal or other suitable lining. The cylinder,
which is open at the bottom to pass over the boss, is closed at the top and has in
the centre of its cover an adjustable cylindrical pivot which enters a hole in the
upper end of the boss. In this hole there is a pair of plates separated by balls or
rollers;
the lower plate is stationary and the upper plate is connected to the
cylindrical pivot so as to turn with it, but with certain freedom to slide vertically,
and between this plate and the lower face of the pivot there are springs which
serve to deaden shock when the recoil of the gun throws vertical pressure on the
balls or rollers. On the boss is fixed, under the upper bearing for the cylinder, a
toothed wheel which is engaged by a worm or pinion mounted in bearings formed
in the cylinder. By turning the worm or pinion the cylinder is caused to turn
around the vertical axis of the boss. As the wheel and the pivot are entirely
enclosed within the cylinder, these parts are quite protected, the cylinder con-
stituting a shield for them. From the top of the cylinder, which presents a broad
base, a pair of brackets extend upwards to carry the trunnions of the cradle or
frame in which the gun slides. Between those brackets there is free access to the
central pivot for lubrication and adjustment.
When the gun is to be housed, bolts or pins are passed through the eyes of
brackets projecting from the lower part of the cylinder into holes in the base, thus
preventing the cylinder from turning.
The trunnions project from a sleeve in which the gun is fitted to slide longi-
tudinally, this sleeve having in the lower part of its rear end a bracket to which is
fixed the piston rod of the hydraulic recoil cylinder, and near its upper front end a
bracket to which is fixed the front end of the running out spring case. The
hydraulic recoil cylinder and a bracket for attaching the rear end of the running
out spring case are carried by a sleeve which is shrunk or otherwise fixed on the
breech of the gun, and has a side bracket to which the breech mechanism is hinged.
Instead of one bydraulic recoil cylinder, and one running out spring, there may be
a pair of either of these.
Dated this 12th day of December 1895.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: base "A," thus preventing the cylinder "B" from turning, or a hinged bolt "A"
attached to the base "A" engages in a slotted bracket "B" projecting
from "B."
Referring now to Figures 4, 5, & 6 the trunnions "H¹" project from a
sleeve "H," in which the gun is fitted to slide longitudinally and which has in the
lower part of its rear end a bracket "H," to which is fixed the piston rod "K" of
the hydraulic recoil cylinder "L," and near its upper front end a bracket "H" to
which is fixed the front end of the running out spring case "M." The hydraulic
recoil cylinder "L" and rear attachment of the running out spring case are carried
by a sleeve "P," which is shrunk or otherwise fixed on the breech of the gun, and
has a side bracket "P," to which the breech mechanism is hinged. Instead of
one hydraulic recoil cylinder and one running out spring there may be a pair of
either of these, and the running out spring, or springs, may be on the underside
of the sleeve instead of the top.
Having now particularly described and ascertained and in what manner the
same is to be performed we declare that what we claim is :-
1. A mounting for a quick-firing gun substantially as described with reference
to Figures 1 & 2, or as modified in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.
2. The construction and arrangement of the sleeve recoil cylinder and running
out spring substantially as described with reference to Figures 4, 5 & 6 of the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 12th day of September 1896
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.