Improvements in Field Howitzer Carriages.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Field Howitzer Carriages.
I, THOMAS ENGLISH, of Hawley, near Dartford, in the County of Kent, Oivi.
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 stateinent :-
My invention relates to carriages for field artillery howitzers, which I construct
and arrange as I shall describe referring to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is a side view shewing the mounting of a field howitzer according to my inven-
tion, the wheel on the one side being removed to show the carriage, Fig. 2 is a part
transverse section shewing the axle treo in elevation. Fig. 3 is a plan. The axle-
tree A is made with an enlargement A' in its middle, preferably ribbed as shewn, and
having a hole through it large enough to admit freely the body of the howitzer H.
This enlarged part has also fixed within it two hydraulic buffor cylinders CC the
sides of which towards the axis of tho howitzer fit hollows formed in parts h projecting
from the howitzer so as to form guides, allowing the howitzer to slide to and fro in
the direction of its length and at the same time preventing it from turning. Each
of the hydraulic cylinders CC has within it a solid piston with sufficient freedom for
passage for the liquid with which the cylinder is charged to pass from the one side
of the piston to the other; the two piston rods are linked to eyes. D on the breech
of the howitzer. From another eye d on the under side of the breech a bolt e passes
through a horizontal elliptical spring E which is arranged between the ribs on the
under side of A', and has in front of it a nut or collar el on the bolt e. When the
piece is fired, it slides back through the hole in A' dragging the pistons along
the cylinders C and at the same time compressing the spring E. When the force of the
recoil is spent, the spring E returns the piece to firing position. The trail consists
of a strong frame F of forked shape, cach fork provided with eyes embracing the
axle A so that the axle can turn as trunnions in those eyes as well as in the naves of
the wheels. To the lower part of the enlargement A' is linked a sleeve G internally
threaded to receive the elevating screw g which turns in a trunnion bearing pivotted
on the trail. By turning the screw g the axle A is caused to turn and thus the axis
of the howitzer is moved in a vertical plane to any desired elevation. The brakes K
are put on by raising a hand lever k, and are kept on by a pawl engaging the teeth
of a ratchet on the shaft of the lever k. On releasing the pawl by depressing a
treadle, the brakes are taken off by a spring L.
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. A carriage for a field howitzer, wherein an axletree free to turn in eyes of a
forked trail, has an enlarged part in its middle, in which the howitzer is free to slide
longitudinally, having its recoil controlled by bydraulic buffer cylinders fixed in the
enlarged part of the axle and by a spring which after recoil brings it back to firing
position, substantially as described.
2. In a field howitzer carriage such as is above referred to, the combination of the
elevating screw turning in a trunnion bearing pivotted on the trail and in a threaded
sleeve linked to the enlarged part of the axle substantially as described.
Dated this 12th day of March 1890.
ABEL & IMRAI,
Agents for the Applicant.