Improvements in Disappearing Gun Carriages.
Year: 1893

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Disappearing Gun Carriages.
I, WILLIAM BRANDON GORDON, of Cold Springs, Putnam, State of New
York, United States of America, Captain in U.S. Army do hereby declare the
nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to an improvement in disappearing gun carriages, and it
consists in the parts and combinations of parts as will be hereinafter more fully
explained and pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of the gun carriage, showing the gun in its
elevated position or in a position for firing.
Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the position of the parts after the recoil.
Fig. 3 is an end view looking toward the breech of the gun and showing the
latter in its elevated position.
Fig. 4 is a plan view.
Fig. 4 an enlarged view of part of Fig. 4.
Fig. 5 are views of a section of one of the counterweights showing devices for
elevating it.
Fig. 6 is a view of one of the connecting rods, which connects the top carriage
with the devices for taking up the recoil.
Fig. 7 is a view in side elevation of same.
Fig. 8 is a transverse section of the cylinders showing also the air chamber.
Fig. 9 is a view in longitudinal section through one cylinder.
Fig. 10 is a view in side elevation of the top carriage.
Fig. 11 is a plan and Fig. 12 an end view of same.
Figs. 13 and 14 are views of the valve between the air chamber and cylinders.
and
Fig. 15 is a plan view of the truck to which the pistons and connecting rods are
attached.
A represents a base or bed plate constructed in any desired manner and rigidly
fastened to a pivot plate B which latter is carried by the hydraulic plunger C for
traversing. This plunger rests in cylinder D and can be elevated carrying with it
the pivot plate B and the gun carriage thereon.
When in this elevated position the carriage rests on the hydraulic pivot thus
formed and the traversing can be readily and quickly accomplished. After the
carriage has been turned to the desired position the pivot plate is lowered into the
platform and the carriage to its bearings on the traverse circle, and the plunger
allowed to descend until out of contact with the pivot plate. From the foregoing
it will be seen that the hydraulic elevating devices receive no shock from the
recoil and hence are not liable to be injured when firing.
The side frames E of the carriage are permanently fastened to the bed plate A,
and each is provided on its upper edge with bearings E' in which are mounted the
crank arms F. These armis F are arranged parallel, two to a side and are
connected at their upper ends to shafts G which pass through the cheek pieces H
of the top carriage. The top carriage is composed of two cheek pieces H rigidly
braced a suitable distance apart to receive the gun between them, each piece having
trunnion bearings for the reception of the trunnions of the gun I. The shafts pass
through the top carriage from side to side and are journaled therein, one in front
and one in the rear, and are rigidly fastened at their outer ends to the parallel
arms F of the crank arms. These arms are each in effect two cranks, the inner
cranks which as clearly shown are located in planes inside the inner faces of the

page_text: side frames, and support the top carriage, and the outer cranks F1 rest on the
outside of the side frame and support the counterweights K, which latter counter-
balance the weight of the gun. The four parallel crank arms are as before stated
journaled in the side frames E of the lower carriage, and as they are connected at
their upper ends to the upper carriage and at their lower ends to the counter-
weights, it follows that when the upper carriage with the gun thereon is rising the
counterweights are descending and vice versa. The counterweights K are pre-
ferably transomed together forming a rectangular frame, the transoms being near
the ends of the weights as shown so as not to interfere in the least with the
movable parts carrying the upper carriage. The rear transom forms a loading
platform, and is provided with a trackway L on which the loading truck runs.
This truck carries the charge to the breech of the gun when the latter is in its
depressed position occasioned by the recoil, and is provided at its front end with a
tray adapted to enter the breach and protect the threads thereof from injury in
loading.
The transom is provided with a split casing having a recess a therein adapted
to receive the head a³ on the post a' carried by the underside of the truck. This
head is narrower than the split or recess in the casing so that when in its normal
position it can pass through said casing but by turning the post by means of
handle a² and head as which is longer than it is wide enters the recess and locks the
track against displacement.
The truck body is curved to conform to the contour of the charge, and is
provided with the semi-cylindrical bands at which latter are adapted to lock the
charge to the truck. These bands at are pivoted each at one end to the truck,
and when placed over the charge can be locked at their free ends.
By thus
locking the charge in the truck, and clamping the truck to the rear transom as
before mentioned the charge is lifted to the loading position by the recoil of
the gun.
I have described the counterweights connected by one or more transoms to suit
convenience as to space available, but I do not confine myself to such a construction
or arrangement, as the counterweights may have no other connection but the pivoted
levers or crank arms.
From the foregoing it will be seen that the carriage as thus far described consists
of a bed plate mounted on an hydraulic pivot for traversing and carrying a main
carriage or side frames, parallel crank arms journaled in said frame, counterweights
each carried by two arms, and a top carriage carried by the four arms, so that as
the gun and top carriage move rearwardly and downwardly from the effect of the
recoil, the counterweights move forwardly and upwardly, until they come to a rest.
When in this latter position the gun is in its lowermost position, or in its
position for loading, and the counterweights are in their elevated position, and
hence in a position to raise the gun or assist in raising it to its firing position.
The gun is mounted on the top carriage and moves with it in recoil without
change of elevation, the top carriage, being provided with an elevating device, to
be now described, which is independent of any other part of the carriage.
The top carriage as before described consists of two cheek pieces rigidly secured
a suitable distance apart for the reception of the gun between then. The front
and rear lower ends of the carriage thus formed are mounted on the shafts carried
by the crank arms F. Passing transversely through the top carriage near the rear
end of the latter is a shaft M provided at its ends with hand wheels N. This shaft
is provided at a point between the cheeks of the top carriage with a mitre wheel O
which latter meshes with a similar wheel P on worm shaft S mounted in bearings
attached to the top carriage. The worm meshes with the segment gear T secured
at its ends to the underside of the gun. By this arrangement it will be seen that
the elevating devices are wholly on the top carriage and subsequently totally
independent of any other part of the system.
The device for taking up the recoil consists of two hydro-pneumatic cylinders U
secured to the bed plate of the system each provided with a piston and piston rod,

page_text: the forward or outer ends of the latter engaging the front end of a truck V (see
Figure 15) which will be explained later on. These cylinders are parallel but are
separated sufficiently for the entrance of truck V between them and are in com-
munication at their rear ends with the air chamber W which latter contains air
under pressure. Between the cylinders and air chamber are a series of valves,
which in the present instance are ball valves shown in Figures 13 and 14 but which
can be of any variety whatsoever, that will open to permit of the passage of the
water from the cylinders to the air chamber when the pistons are moving toward
the latter and will retain the water under pressure therein, the water being
released from the air chamber by a by-pass leading from the chamber .to the
cylinders.
The pressure within the air chamber opposes the motion of the pistons and when
the water has been forced into the air chamber it is necessarily under a high
pressure and serves when released to assist the counterweights in restoring the
gun to its position for firing. The chamber W is therefore connected to the
cylinders by a by-pass for conveying the water back behind the pistons thus
forcing the latter out and assisting the counterweights as before stated in elevating
the gun.
The two piston rods are connected at ² to the truck or cross head V and the
cross head or truck is provided at its rear end with two wheels which run on rails
permanently fastened to the bed plate.
Journalled to the truck or cross head at the rear end thereof is the connecting
rod C. This rod is journalled on the steel shaft carrying the flanged wheels of
the truck or cross head and is provided at its lower end with a flanged wheel
adapted to traverse a central rail, and is journalled at its upper end to the shaft G
supporting the rear end of the top carriage. The front end of the truck is
supported by and mounted on lower end of a similar connecting rod C¹, which
latter is also provided at its lower end with a flanged wheel adapted to run on the
central rail, and is journalled at its upper end to the shaft G supporting the front
end of the top carriage H.
In Figure 1, I have shown the gun in its firing position and the cross head or
truck Vin a position immediately below the top carriage. As the charge is fired
the gun begins to move rearwardly and downwardly and necessarily elevating the
counterweights. As the top carriage begins to descend, the connecting rods move
the truck forwardly between the cylinders, and consequently force the fluid
contained in the cylinders into the air chamber, and by the time the pistons have
reached the end of the stroke the gun and counterweights have moved to the
loading position. During the recoil, the system rotates about the journals of the
parallel cranks the loading position being as nearly as may be, directly under
the firing position, thus securing the maximum amount of cover.
The recoil stores energy in the air chamber for returning the gun to the firing
position, but I provide an independent mechanism attached to the counterweight
for working either by hand or by power. This mechanism consists of a segment Y
attached to each side frame of the main carriage, and a series of gear wheels
carried by the counterweights and adapted to mesh with the segmental gears on the
side frames. A simple form of gearing is shown in Figure 5. As the gearing on
both sides is alike a description of one will suffice for both. This gearing consists
of a sliding shaft X having thereon a toothed wheel which latter is adapted to
mesh with the segment Y fast to the side frame E. Secured to the outer end of
shaft X is one arm of the bell crank lever Z. This lever is pivoted to a bracket
and is provided at the end of its other arm with a foot rest. The lever is also
provided with a depending projection ¹ to which a strong spring C² is attached the
object of which latter being to hold the foot rest elevated and the toothed wheel a
out of contact with the segment. This is the position of the parts just before
firing and during the recoil.
Mounted on the sliding shaft X is the toothed wheel A' which latter engages the
smaller toothed wheel BT carried by crank B2. From the foregoing it will be seen

page_text: that by turning the crank motion is imparted through wheel B' to wheel H' and
from thence to shaft X and wheel a. After the recoil the gun is in its lowered
position for loading and the counterweights are elevated. Now if it should be
desired or necessary to assist the hydro-pneumatic devices and counterweights in
restoring the gun to its firing position, or if it should be necessary to restore the
parts without assistance from the hydro-pneumatic device, the foot rests are
depressed which actions move the shafts longitudinally and bring toothed wheels a
into engagement with segment Y. By now turning cranks B2 the counterweights
are lowered and the gun elevated to the position for firing. As soon as the foot
rests are released the springs C2 force the vertical arms of bell crank levers 7
inwardly and move the shaft X with the wheel thereon until the latter is out of
engagement with the segment. It is evident that the gearing just described for
elevating the gun may be considerably modified and that a motor may be employed
for actuating the gearing.
I also employ an air pump for forcing air into the water chamber and a pump
or pumps for supplying water to the several cylinders but these parts can be of
any desired form and construction and form no part of my present invention.
I would also have it understood that I do not confine myself to details but
consider myself at liberty to make such changes, alterations and additions as fairly
fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is:
1. The combination with pivoted arms, of a top carriage supported upon the
upper ends of said pivoted arms and counterweights carried by the opposite ends of
said arms.
2. The combination with crank arms journaled at points between their ends, of a
top carriage mounted on the upper ends of said arms and counterweights carried by
the lower ends of said arms.
3. The combination with side frames and crank arms journaled therein at points
between their ends, of a top carriage mounted on the upper ends of said arms and
counterweights carried by the lower ends thereof.
4. The combination with crank arms journaled at points between their ends, of
a top carriage mounted on the upper ends of said arms, counterweights carried
by the lower ends thereof, and gun elevating devices carried by the top carriage.
5. The combination with a top carriage and counterweights connected therewith,
of gun elevating device carried by the top carriage.
6. The combination with side frames and crank arms journaled therein at points
between their ends, of an upper carriage carried by the upper ends of said crank
arms counterweights carried by the lower ends of said arms, and transoms connecting
the counterweights.
7. The combination with side frames and crank arins journaled therein, of shafts
secured to the upper ends of the crank arms, a top carriage mounted on said shafts,
and counterweights carried by the lower ends of said crauk arms.
8. The combination with side frames crank arms journaled therein, a top carriage
mounted on the upper ends of said arms and counterweights carried by the lower
ends thereof of segment gears on the side frame and gearing carried by the counter-
weights and adapted to engage the segment gears on the side frames, substantially
as set forth.
9. The combination with side frame, crank arms journaled therein a top carriage
mounted on the upper ends of said arms and counterweights carried by the lower
ends thereof of segment gear secured to the side frame, a sliding toothed wheel
adapted to be shifted to engage said segment gear, and gearing for actuating said
sliding toothed wheel, substantially as set forth.
10. The combination with side frames, crank arms journaled therein, a top
carriage mounted on the upper ends of said arms, and counterweights adapted to

page_text: counterbalance the gun and top carriage in all their position of segment gear
secured to the side frame, a sliding toothed wheel adapted to be shifted to engage
said segment gear, means for rotating said sliding toothed wheel, and means for
normally holding the latter out of engagement with the segment gear, substantially
as set forth.
11. The combination with side frame crank arms journaled therein, a top carriage
mounted on said side arms and counterweights adapted to counterbalance the gun
and top carriage in all their positions, of a loading platform carried by the counter-
weights.
12. The combination with side frames, crank arms journaled therein, a top
carriage mounted upon the upper ends of said arms and counterweights adapted to
counterbalance the gun and top carriage in all their positions, of a loading platform
carried by the counterweight and a loading truck on said platform.
13. The combination with a top carriage and connected counterweights adapted
to counterbalance the gun and top carriage in all their positions, of a loading
platform carried by the counterweights, a truck on said loading platform and means
for locking the truck to said platform.
14. The combination with a top carriage and connected counterweights adapted
to counterbalance the gun and top carriage in all their positions, of a loading
platform carried by the counterweights, a truck on said loading platform, means for
locking the truck to said platform and means for locking the charge to the truck,
substantially as set forth."
15. The combination with a bed plate and hydraulic devices for elevating same,
of side frames on the bed plate, a top carriage and connected counterweights
carried by said side frames, the said counterweights adapted to counterbalance the
guu and top carriage in all their positions substantially as set forth.
16. The combination with a bed plate and devices for elevating same for
traversing of side frames on said bed plate and a top carriage and connected
counterweights carried by said side frames, substantially as set forth.
17. The combination with side frames, crank arms journaled therein, a top
carriage carried by said arms, and counterweights adapted to counterbalance the
gun and top carriage in all their positions, of a cylinder containing a resistance
medium, a piston in said cylinder and means connecting the piston and top carriage
whereby as the top carriage descends the piston is moved against the resistance
medium, thus compressing same, substantially as set forth.
18. The combination with side frames, crank arms journaled therein, a top
carriage carried by said arms and counterweights adapted to counterbalance the
gun and top carriage in all their positions, of cylinders, an air chamber connected
therewith, pistons in said cylinders and means connecting the top carriage with said
pistons, substantially as set forth.
19. The combination with side frames, crank arms journaled therein, a top
carriage mounted on said arms, and counterweights adapted to counterbalance the
gun and top carriage in all their positions, of two cylinders, a connected air
chamber, valves between the cylinders and air chamber, pistons and piston rods, a
truck connected to said rods, and connecting rods connecting the truck and top
carriage, substantially as set forth.
20. The combination with side frames, crank arms journaled therein, a top
carriage mounted on said arms, and counterweights adapted to counterbalance the
gun and top carriage in all their positions, of cylinders, pistons and piston rods
therein, an air chamber communicating with said cylinders, a truck mounted on
wheels and connected to the piston rods, and rods connecting the truck and top
carriage, substantially as set forth.
בד
... 30
1000
R. HADDAN,
Herbert Haddan & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, Agent for Applicant.