Improvements in Apparatus for Elevating Guns.
Year: 1892

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Elevating Guns.
1, THOMAS FITCH ROWLAND, of No. 329 Madison Avenue, in the City,
County and State of New York, United States of America, Manufacturer, 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:-
The improvements relate to that class of ordnance operating mechanism in
which the gun or cannon is mounted on a vertically movable platform, lift or
elevator, arranged within a fortification, or in a gun-pit, and which is adapted to
elevate the gun, from the loading position, to the firing position and lower the
same therefrom. Usually such a lift is arranged in a fortification, and the gun is
elevated to fire over the crest of the parapet, and the following described
improvements will be considered as applied to such use and working of ordnance.
Heretofore, gun lifts have been constructed and arranged so that, when the
gun-carrying platform or lift was clevated to the firing position, the weight of the
elevated parts was wholly sustained by the elevating mechanism and therefore the
elevating mechanism had to sustain to a greater or less degree the effects of
the recoil upon discharging the gun. A source of no small danger is present in
these conditions, in that the elevating mechanism is relatively fragile, and by its
construction and necessities of operation is susceptible (particularly when under
the strain of hydraulic or other high internal pressure) to injury from the shock
of recoil. It will therefore be readily understood, that it is desirable to relieve
the elevating mechanism from internal pressure, as well as to free it from the
weight of the lift, during the discharge and recoil of the gun.
Gun-elevating lifts have also been variously counterbalanced or partially
supported by the action of weights, fluid buoyancy, and springs, but even in such
cases the power mechanism had to sustain to an undesirable degree the effects of
the discharge of the gun. More particularly, however, the inertia of the counter-
balancing or like mechanism materially interfered with the speed of working the
lift. It is of the greatest importance, however, to elevate or lower the gun at the
highest practicable speed, since the slower the vertical motion the less frequently
can shots be fired, and the longer the gun has to be exposed the greater the danger
of it being disabled by the enemy's fire.
It is also important that the gun lift mechanism be automatically controlled and
operated as far as possible, particularly in the case of large fortification-guns
operated by hydraulic pressure, in order to guard against accident of any kind,
because of the operator failing to properly manipulate the mechanism that controls
the motive power.
The invention, or inventions, and parts thereof, consist of mechanism and devices
combined and arranged in various ways (to be hereinafter fully described), whereby
the following mechanical operations of a gun lift can be effected. The lift is first
slowly started, and then increases in speed, being rapidly raised until it approaches
the limit of its upward movement, when it slows in speed and gradually comes to
rest upon horizontal bolts carried on the lift and automatically operated to enter
bracket sockets provided therefor and attached to the side walls of the sub-structure.
The gun can now be fired, and the elevating mechanism, having the power pressure
withdrawn from the same and not then acting to support the lift, will be unaffected
by the discharge. The power pressure is now reapplied to the elevating
mechanism, the lift slightly elevated, the bolts withdrawn from their sockets, and
then the lift is quickly lowered, and as it approaches its lowermost position its speed

page_text: is regularly lessened so that it will gradually come to rest without blow or shock.
In affecting such operations, the person manipulating the mechanism controlling
the motive fluid is mechanically prevented applying the full elevating power until
after the lift has been started; in like manner, the full power is mechanically and
positively reduced upon the lift approaching its upper position, and the lift is there
brought gently to rest after the locking bolts have been automatically entered in
the sockets provided therefor. And, further, when the lift nears its lower position,
the motive fluid is similarly automatically controlled to prevent the lift landing too
suddenly.
In the accompanying drawings, a gun lift is shown fitted with my improvements,
and my improved mechanism for mechanically operating the same,
Fig. 1, being a vertical section of a gun pit and the surrounding masonry or
wall of the pit on plane a a of Fig. 2, the parts being shown as when the lift is in
its upper position.
Fig. 2 is a horizontal section across the pit, showing in diagramatic plan the
bolt mechanism, which is located at and on the bottom of the lift and which is
employed to support the lift both in its upper and lower positions. In this figure
this mechanism is shown in position as seen in Fig. 1. This view is shown on a
slightly larger scale than that of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the locking mechanism at the bottom of the
lift, and as such mechanism is seen at its lower unlocked position.
Fig. 4 is a vertical section on a slightly enlarged scale from that of Fig. 1, and
on plane across the walls of the pit, and across the galleries leading to the
bottom of the same and to the loading position of the gun, the operator's platform
and the mechanism for controlling the power pressure located in such gallery being
shown in elevation and in position relative to the lift.
Fig. 5 is a vertical section in enlarged detail, similar to Fig. 4, showing the
relation of the automatic power-controlling mechanism to the lift; Fig. 6 being a
vertical section of the same parts on plane c c of Fig. 5.
Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view in central vertical section of the valve
mechanism which controls the power fluid by which the lift is operated, this view
showing this mechanism as seen on plane d d, and looking toward the pit or to the
left, of Fig. 1.
Fig. 8 shows a modified form of the bolt-operating piston and cylinder.
Referring to these various views in detail, 1 represents the general ground-work
masonry of walls of the pit in which is arranged and mounted the gun lift and the
machinery for operating the same, this ground-work being of any suitable material:
and construction. 2, is the platform upon which the gun is mounted, as also the
turntable, chassis and other mechanism for manipulating the gun for purposes of
loading, training, etc. Preferably this platform is rectangular in form and usually
approximately square, but such form is not essential. 3, is the gunlift, which is a
structure of hollow, or box form and of smaller size in horizontal section than the
lift platform 2. The platform and lift are integral, and are composed of powerful
iron beams and girders united to form a frame-like structure of great strength
adapted in its various features of construction (not necessary to describe here) to
sustain the load and strains to which it is to be subjected.
4 represents the cylinder, and 5 the planger, of a hydraulic apparatus for
elevating the lift, the former moving telescopically over and along the latter. The
cylinder is attached to the lift and moves with the same, while the piston rests
upon a base plate at the bottom of the pit. 6 is the pipe that conducts the motive
fluid, usually water, to the interior of the cylinder. It is to be understood that
this pipe communicates with a proper source of water under pressure.
In the case
of the present plant, the water is derived from one or more hydraulic accumulators,
of form and construction shown in an application for Patent which is filed con-
temporaneously herewith, which accumulators are worked by any suitable power
so as to maintain a constant supply of water under high and uniform pressure.
Upon permitting the motive fluid to pass within the cylinder, the latter is moved

page_text: vertically on the piston, and the lift is elevated, and upon permitting the motive
fluid to exhaust from the piston the lift is lowered.
•
8 represents locking bolts, four in number, which are hung in stirrups 9 at each
corner of the lower end of the body of the lift. It is by and upon these locking
bolts that the lift is wholly supported, both when at rest at the bottom of the
substructure and when at the top of the superstructure or in the firing position, the
bolts resting in the first-named position on the shelves 10 of the base-blocks, and
when in the upper position in and on the socketed brackets 11.
12 is a cylinder mounted on a suitable cross-support of the frame-work of the
lift, the piston 13 of which cylinder is differential in form of construction and is
pivotally attached by its piston rod to an arm 14 on the rock-shaft 15 in pillar-
blocks 16, which shaft also carries rigid therewith the rocker arms 17, these arms
being connected with the locking bolts 8 by rods 18. A pipe 19 conveys water
from within the lift cylinder 4 to below the piston 13, and a pivotally jointed
extensible pipe 20 conveys water at proper time from the source of supply to above
the piston. The area of the upper face of this piston is considerably greater than
the area of its lower face. Whenever the water pressure is exerted in the hydraulic
cylinder 4 the same pressure is felt below the piston 13, and consequently,
assuming no pressure or a lesser pressure to be exerted above the piston, the
piston is forced toward the upper end of its cylinder, and pressure is thereby put
upon the bolts 8 to extend or tend to extend them outwardly from the sides of
the lift for the purpose of guiding said lift in its vertical travel.
suitable
21 represents four vertical stanchion guides adjustably secured by any
means against or in the walls of the substructure and located parallel to the lift and
opposite the ends of the locking bolts 8 on the lift. These stanchions are composed
of steel beams with angle bars attached and they present to the locking bolts flat
and smooth faces against which the locking bolts press as the lift ascends and
thereby steady and guide the latter, as well as hold the lift in proper relation to
the hydraulic cylinder and its piston. These stanchions rest upon plates 22 (Fig. 3),
which plates are contained in base-blocks 23, of form and construction adapting
the plates to have vertical motion. Beneath these plates are located wedges 24,
and screws 25, rotarily fixed in the fronts of the blocks enter threaded holes in the
wedges. Turning the screws gives horizontal motion to the wedges and thereby
affects the lowering or raising of the stanchions.
Resting upon the upper ends of the stanchions and properly secured to them are
socket brackets 11, which are of iron or steel. These sockets are of such
construction as to loosely receive the ends of the locking bolts and to permit
of a slight upward movement of the lift after the locking bolts have entered
the sockets.
The main operation of elevating and lowering the lift can now be explained, it
being understood that there are controlling means, to be hereinafter fully explained,
for supplying water under pressure to and exhausting it from the supply pipe 6
leading to within the hydraulic cylinder 4, as also to and from the pipe 2.)
communicating with the cylinder 12 above the piston 13. To elevate the lift, the
water will be slowly admitted to the elevating cylinder to first gradually and
without shock overcome the great weight of the lift and its load. This application
of lifting pressure is also felt, through pipe 19, beneath the piston that operates
the locking bolts, and as the lift begins to ascend, and thereby frees the locking
bolts of its weight, the piston will be slightly raised and the locking bolts will be
partially shot out so that their end faces press against the stanchions on the side
walls of the pit. The area of the under-face of the bolt-operating piston is such
as to effect the prompt and certain action of the locking-bolt mechanism in its
guidance of the lift, but is not so large as to cause them to so forcibly press
against the stanchions as to create any essential friction as the lift ascends; this
pressure, is, however, sufficient to cause the bolts to effectively steady the lift and
to prevent undesirable vibration or other irregularity in the vertical movement of
the lift. Upon the lift being thus started, the flow of the motive fluid to the

page_text: lifting cylinder is increased and the speed of movement of the lift is accelerated to
the maximum, depending however, in, certain respects, to be explained, upon the
will of the operator. As the lift approaches the limit of its vertical travel, the
feed of the motive fluid is gradually and automatically cut off until the lift is
brought gently to rest, with its locking bolts projecting into the socket brackets at
the top of the side stanchion guides; that is, as the locking bolts leave the upper
ends of the stanchions the fluid pressure maintained on them causes them to shoot
outwardly to the full extent of their movement and to enter the sockets. The
water is now to be gradually exhausted from the elevating cylinder, thus permitting
the lift to descend a short distance and to come to final rest or firing position, the
lift being wholly supported upon its locking bolts which are now extended to within
the sockets. Thus the entire weight of the lift is upon the stanchion guides
attached to the superstructure when the former is in firing position, and the
elevating cylinder and piston are relieved of internal pressure. It will therefore
be seen that the elevating mechanism has not to sustain shock or strain, especially
the shock of the discharge of the gun.
To lower the lift, pressure is first gradually restored in the elevating cylinder
until the lift is slightly raised, thus freeing the locking bolts from contact with the
socket bearings. The motive fluid being at the same time applied above the bolt
cylinder piston, coincidentally with the upward movement of the lift, the locking
bolts are automatically withdrawn, by reason of the upper face of the locking-bolt
piston being larger than the lower face. After the locking-bolts have been thus
withdrawn, the elevating cylinder is exhausted, and the lift lowered. The pressure
to withdraw the locking bolts is continued until the locking bolts pass to below
their socket bearings, after which such pressure is exhausted and the locking bolts
are, by the action of the pressure below the bolt piston, again automatically
projected to bear against the faces of the stanchion guides and steady the lift as it
descends. This function is practicable because of the pressure within the elevating
cylinder during its descent, which pressure is produced by the weight of the
structure. As the lift nears the landing blocks, at the base of the stanchion guides,
its speed is reduced so that it is brought gradually to rest without shock.
It is to be noted that the lift, when at either its upper or lower position of rest,
is supported upon the base-blocks of the stanchion guides and that each of the two
landings of the lift (the base-blocks shelves 10 and the socket brackets 11) are
positively positioned relatively by the stanchion guides and yet are capable of
being adjusted at will. By these means, these landings are independent of the
masonry of the superstructure, and any settling, variation or disturbance of the
walls will not affect the desired positive relation of the lift landings to the pre-
determined range of movement of the lift. At the same time, if it be necessary,
for any reason, to alter the position of the landings relatively, this can be easily
effected by the adjusting base-block devices provided therefor.
I have shown in the drawings the earth works, masonry or other ground structure
surrounding the gun pit as provided with one main passage or tunnel leading to the
pit, see particularly Figs. 1, 2 and +, and such passage is divided by a gallery floor
into an upper way opening into the pit at or near the level of the gun platform
when at its lower position, and a lower way or passage on the level of the bottom
of the pit. The mechanisms for controlling the movements of the lift are located
in these passages. It is, however, to be understood that these features of the plant
may be otherwise disposed.
In the lower part of the tunnel and near to the lift, is located the valve
mechanism 26, which mechanism may be fixed in position and supported by any
Buitable devices, such devices being omitted from the drawings. Just above this
valve mechanism (Figs. 1, 4 and 7) is located the valve-operating mechanism, the
same being mounted on the gallery floor 45, which is the position of the operator in
charge of the lift, this position being preferably such, that the operator is in view
of the lift and can watch it when in operation.
The valve mechanisn shown in detail in Fig. 7, the valves being in a closed

page_text: position, consists of a valve casing 26, containing four plunger or piston valves:
which have lengthwise movement through the various valve seats and open or close
the same by the registry with the seats of portions thereof varying in diameter.
In this view the inlets and outlets of the casing 26 are indicated by the same
numerals that represent the pipes lending to and from the same. Thus, the dotted
circle 6 represents the opening through the casing where the pipe 6, which conducts
the water under pressure to the lift elevating mechanism, is joined to the casing;
20 is the connection with the pipe that supplies the bolt withdrawing or unlocking
pressure to the cylinder 12 on the lift; 28 is the induction passage and communicates.
with the pipe 28 which extends to the source of fluid pressure, the hydraulic
accumulators, or other similarly operating fluid pressure devices; and 29 is the
eduction passage that communicates with the exhaust pipe 29.
30 is the main valve. It works through and to open and close the valve seats 31
and 32, to put the chamber of the feed pipe 28 into communication with the
chamber of the supply pipe 6, as also to put the feed chamber into communication
with the chamber of the exhaust pipe 29, the contracted or passage portion of the.
valve serving to open these valve seats when the valve is adjusted so as to bring
either of such contracted portions into or adjacent the valve seat it controls.
33 is the auxiliary valve, it being constructed similarly to the main valve, and is-
arranged to open or close the valve seat 34 arranged between the feed and supply
chambers 28 and 6 around the main valve, and also to open and close the valve-
36 is the valve that
seat 35 between the supply and exhaust chambers 6 and 29.
controls the admission and exhaust of water to and from the locking bolt cylinder 12.
on the lift and through the pipe 20. This valve opens and closes the valve seat 37;.
and it is to be noted that the seat of this valve is of smaller cross-section than the-
spindle part, whereby pressure in the chamber 38 will tend to cause the valve to
return to the closed or normal position. Chamber 38 communicates around valve 33
with the chamber 6. This valve 36 also serves to close the passage 39 which.
40 is the relief valve, ..
leads around the auxiliary valve to the exhaust chamber 29.
which opens and closes the valve seat 41 arranged in a passage leading from the
supply chamber 6 and to the exhaust chamber 29.
In like
Referring now particularly to Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the main valve 30 is pivotally
attached by the connecting rod 42 to the arm 43 on the rock shaft 44, which shaft
is mounted in suitable journals resting on the platform 45 just over the valve.
mechanism 26, and is also provided with an operating hand lever 46.
manner, the auxiliary valve 33 is connected by rod 47 to the arm 48 of rock shaft 49
which carries the hand lever 50. The bolt-unlocking valve 36 is connected by
rod 51 to the weighted lever 52, which is pivotally supported in block 53 and is.
provided with the foot depression plate 54 located near the operator's position
between the hand levers 46 and 50.
It will now be plain that the various movements of the valves, to effect the
elevating and lowering of the lift, are under the control of the operator, who has
but to move his hand levers and his foot lever at the proper times and in proper
directions. It is essential, however, to provide against accidental operation of the
valves as well as to ensure as far as practicable their automatic operation, in the
respects that the whole fluid pressure should not be thrown too suddenly on.
the elevating mechanism of the lift, and only after a predetermined time or when it
has been properly started, and that such pressure should be gradually and not
Buddenly reduced when the lift is being brought to rest upon either its upper or
lower landing; next, it is essential that the fluid pressure should be suitably
exhausted from the elevating mechanism when the lift has reached a predetermined
height, as in event of the operator failing to operate the valve mechanism to effect.
the arrest of the lift. Accordingly, I will now describe the means employed to
accomplish these ends.
The main valve-operating shaft 44 carries at its end next the lift a crank arm 55,
which arm is positioned within the V-shaped opening 56 of the cam slide 57 mounted
and having vertical movement in ways 58 on the platform 45. The vertical move-

page_text: ment of this cam slide causes the same to engage the crank arm and bring it to the
position shown, thus rotating the shaft 44 and closing the main valve, or to free the
crank arm to permit the main valve to be opened. The cam slide is attached to
the rod 59, which joins the slide-bar 60, passing through slide supports on cross
beam 61 and pivotally attached to one end of the rocking lever 62, also pivotally
mounted on said beam. 63 is a bracket stop fixed at the top of the lift (the lift in
these figures is shown at its lower position), and this stop is so positioned that, as
the lift descends and just before it reaches its lower position, this stop comes in
contact with the free end of the rocking lever 62 and causes the cam slide 60 to be
drawn upwardly to the position illustrated. 64 is a similar bracket stop mounted
on the side of the lift and at the bottom thereof, and 65 is a like bracket carried at
the top of the rod 59, these bracket stops being in vertical line. As the lift ascends
and approaches its uppermost position, stops 64 and 65 come into contact and the
cam slide is brought to the position shown as before. Immediately after starting
the lift to ascend or descend, the cam slide 57 is freed and drops down so that the
rock shaft arm governed by it is freed and the rock shaft can be rotated by the
operator to open the main valve.
66 is a rod extending from the relief valve 40 to the lever arm 67 pivotally
supported at one end on the platform 45 and pivoted at its other end to the rod 68
which ends in the slide bar 69 vertically movable in ways on the beam 61. The
slide 69 bears a shoulder or stop 70 which is arranged in the path of the bracket
stop 71 at the bottom of the lift. Should the operator after the main valve has been
closed, not duly close his auxiliary valve (as hereinafter explained) and the supply
of water continue to the elevating mechanism, then when the stop 71 comes in
contact with the shoulder 70, the relief valve will be lifted and the pressure on the
elevating mechanism will be relieved.
To operate the lift, assuming the water pressure to be on the main valve mechanism
and the lift to be at its lower position, the operator will first lower the auxiliary
valve, so as to gradually put the feed and supply chambers 28 and 6 into communi-
cation, thus causing the motive fluid to enter the elevating cylinder of the lift as
also to below the piston of the locking-bolt actuating cylinder. This effects the
gradual start of the lift without shock or unnecessary strain, the bolts being at the
same time pushed outwardly against the stanchion guides and brought to position
to steady and help guide the lift. When the inertia of the lift has thus been over-
come and the lift bas ascended a short distance, the slide cam controlling the main
valve is freed and the main valve can be gradually opened by pushing it down, or
the operator can wait the full freeing of the main valve and throw it wide open.
This permits the motive fluid full access to the elevating cylinder, and the lift is
moved at its greatest speed. As the lift approaches the upper landings, the cam
slide gradually closes the main valve, the bolts are shot out over the landings, and
the operator lifts and closes the auxiliary valve; or if he fail so to do, the lift will
open the relief valve, the motive fluid will pass from the supply chamber to the
exhaust chamber, and the elevating pressure upon the lift be relieved, and the lift
be lowered upon its landings. Assuming, however, as is the intent, that the
auxiliary valve be duly closed and the lift be arrested, the operator then raises this
valve to such extent that the supply and exhaust chambers are put in communication,
and the water begins to exhaust from the elevating mechanism into the supply
chamber and out through the exhaust chamber, and thereby the lift is slightly
lowered and brought to rest upon its locking bolts extended over the upper lift
landings. Immediately after the discharge of the gun, the operator again depresses
the auxiliary valve and communicates the feed and supply chambers to the valve
* long enough to elevate the lift slightly; then he depresses the bolt withdrawing
valve 36, opening valve seat 37 and closing passage 39, causing the water to flow
from the feed chamber to above piston 13, which piston is thereby depressed,
· producing the full withdrawal of the bolts. Now the auxiliary valve is moved to
exhaust position and the lift is gradually lowered until the bolts are opposite the
- stanchion guides; then the locking bolt withdrawing valve is permitted to rise,

page_text: which cuts off fluid flow to the locking-bolt cylinder and opens the exhaust passage 39
therefrom, and at the same time the pressure maintained below the locking-bolt
piston causes it to again rise and the locking-bolt to be pressed outwardly against
the stanchion guides. This partial descent of the lift has caused the cam slide to
free the main valve, which may be thrown wide open to exhaust, after the full
withdrawal of the locking-bolts, and the lift permitted to take its greatest speed of
descent. As the lift approaches the bottom of the pit, the main valve is automatically
closed by the slide cam, observing which, the operator will again raise the auxiliary
valve and so cut off the exhaust from the elevating cylinder as to cause the lift to
gradually come to rest on the stanchion base blocks.
In cases where it may be desired to more fully automatically control the move-
ments of the lift, especially the ascent thereof and the landing of the same previous
to discharging the gun, I provide means whereby the lift will be so landed without
the necessity of operating the auxiliary valve, as heretofore described. Such
mechanism is shown in Fig. 8, where the bolt-operating cylinder 12 is connected at
its upper end by a pipe 72 extending to the top of the elevating cylinder 4, a
valve 73 being inserted and normally acting to close the communication thus formed
between the two cylinders. This valve closes the valve seat 74. Its stem 75 is
winged so as to permit the passage of water when the valve is slightly elevated
from its seat, and such stem also projects a short distance into the interior of the
cylinder 12.
It will now be seen that as the lift ascends and its bolts are projected over the
landings by the upward movement of piston 13, such piston, just before reaching
the end of its upward travel will strike the valve 73 and elevate it. This action
puts into communication the interior of the cylinder 12 and the lifting cylinder 4,
and permits the flow of the water from the latter to the former, and out through
the pipe 20, which is in direct communication with the exhaust pipe 29 through the
valve mechanism 26. This exhaust passage, through pipes 72 and 20 being thus
opened, the water from within the elevating cylinder immediately begins to escape
and thereby the lift is lowered and landed upon its supporting bolts.
When it is desired to lower the lift, this automatic exhaust valve mechanism
being employed, water under pressure will be supplied through pipe 20, which will
restore the pressure in the lift cylinder and so cause the lift to be raised from
contact with the landings. If desired, the restoration of pressure in the lift cylinder
may take place wholly through pipe 6, pipe 20 being meanwhile closed; or pressure
may be restored through both of these pipes at the same time. So soon as the lift
is raised and its bolts are free of the landings, the pressure on the upper face of the
bolt piston overcomes that on the lower face of the same, and the piston is forced
downwardly to withdraw the bolts. The water in the elevating cylinder is now
gradually exhausted, preferably through pipe 6, and the lift thereby lowered.
When the bolts arrive opposite the stanchions, pipe 20 is put to exhaust and the
pressure above the bolt piston removed; whereupon valve 73 is closed, by the pressure
in the lift cylinder, and the bolts are projected against the stanchions by the pressure
under the bolt piston.
By these means a gun lift and load of great weight can be rapidly and safely
handled. These arrangements and combination of parts, result in higher efficiency
than is true of other forms of lifts, and at the minimum of cost, and with the least
liability of failure of the mechanism or injury thereto. I am aware that the
mechanisms shown and described are susceptible of many modifications, and, therefore,
I do not limit myself to the particular forms shown.
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. In combination with a vertically movable gun lift and a stationary structure
adjacent the lift, a locking bolt mechanism adapted to engage said stationary

page_text: :
structure and support the lift thereon, and a hydraulic mechanism connected with
and operating to project and withdraw the locking bolts.
2. In combination with a gun lift and mechanism for elevating the same, a
stationary structure adjacent the lift, combined lift-supporting and steadying
mechanism adapted to bear against the said structure as the lift ascends and to
engage the said structure to support the lift thereon.
3. In combination with a vertically movable gun-lift and the superstructure
thereof, a locking-bolt mechanism adapted to engage the side walls and support the
lift thereon, and a hydraulic mechanism connected with and operating to project and
withdraw the locking bolts.
4. In combination with a gun-lift, hydraulic mechanism for elevating the same,
a bolt-locking mechanism carried on the lift and adapted to engage the pit walls
and support the lift thereon, and hydraulic mechanism carried on the left and for
operating the bolts and adapted to operate to project the bolts by the lift elevating
pressure.
5. In combination with a vertically movable gun-lift and the side walls or pit
structure thereof provided with landings for the lift, a locking-bolt mechanism
carried on the lift and adapted to engage the landings of said walls and support the
lift thereon, and a hydraulic mechanism connecting with and operating to hold said
bolts against the side walls as the lift moves vertically, and to project said bolts to
engagement with said landings.
6. The combination with an elevator or lift, its side or pit walls, and hydraulic
elevating mechanism therefor, of hydraulic bolt mechanism carried on the lift and
adapted to engage the pit walls and support the lift thereon, and an exhaust outlet
to the elevating mechanism provided with a valve adapted to be operated to open
said exhaust by the bolt mechanism as the bolts of the same are projected to engage
the pit walls.
7. In combination, an elevator or lift and the side or pit walls thereof, a hydraulic
cylinder and piston for raising and lowering the same, and exhaust outlet to the said
cylinder provided with a valve acting normally to hold the exhaust closed, and
hydraulic mechanism carried on the lift and operated by the lifting pressure to open
said valve when the lift has arrived at a predetermined height.
8. In combination, an elevator or lift and the side or pit walls thereof provided
with landings for the lift to rest upon, an hydraulic cylinder and piston for raising
and lowering the lift, hydraulic bolt-mechanism carried on the lift and adapted to
engage the wall landings, an exhaust outlet to the elevating cylinder which is
provided with a valve normally holding the same closed and adapted to be operated
to open the exhaust by the bolt-operating mechanism as the bolts are projected to
engage the landings.
9. In combination, an elevator or lift and the side or pit walls thereof provided
with landings for the lift to rest upon, an hydraulic cylinder and piston for elevating
and lowering the lift, bolt mechanism carried on the lift and for engaging the said
landings, an hydraulic piston and cylinder for operating the bolt-mechanism, and an
exhaust outlet to the elevating cylinder provided with a valve adapted to be opened
by the bolt piston as the same projects the lift-supporting bolts to position for
engagement with the lift landings.
10. In combination with a vertically operated gun-lift and the mechanism for
elevating and lowering the same, vertically adjustable landings for the lift to rest
upon when in the elevated position, and bolt mechanism carried on the lift and
operated to engage said landings and support the lift thereon.
11. In combination, with a vertically moving gun lift and the mechanism for
elevating and lowering the same, bracket landings for the lift to rest upon when
elevated, stanchions supporting said brackets, mechanism supporting said stanchion
and adapted to vertically adjust the same and the landings, and bolt mechanism
carried on the lift and operating to engage said landings and support the lift
thereon.

page_text: 12. In combination in a structure comprising the upper and lower landings of a
gun-lift, stanchions or similar vertically arranged supports located between the
upper and lower landings, and means for adjusting the landings relatively.
13. In combination with a vertically movable gun-lift, operated by hydraulic
mechanism to elevate and lower the lift, hydraulic bolt mechanism carried on the
lift, landing supports arranged adjacent the lift and in the paths of the locking bolts
of the locking bolt mechanism thereon, and a valve mechanism arranged between
said hydraulic mechanisms and their source or sources of fluid pressure and adapted
to effect and control the operation of the hydraulic mechanisms.
14. In combination with a gun-lift, hydraulic mechanism for elevating and
lowering the same, connections from the hydraulic mechanism to a source of fluid
pressure, a main valve in said connections for opening and closing the same, and a
passage around the main valve provided with a valve auxiliary to the main valve and
adapted to open and close a passage between the feed and exhaust ports of the main
valve whereby to graduate the application of pressure to and withdrawal of the
same from the elevating mechanism.
15. In combination with a gun lift and hydraulic mechanism for elevating and
lowering the same, a main valve acting to control the application of fluid pressure
to and the withdrawal of the same from the elevating mechanism, and mechanism
for closing and locking the valve and operated by the lift as it approaches a
predetermined position, and a valve and passage connecting the feed and exhaust
ports of the main valve and adapted to supply and exhaust the fluid pressure while
the main valve is closed.
16. In combination with a gun-lift and hydraulic mechanism for operating the
same, a main valve operated to control the supply and exhaust of fluid pressure to
and from the elevating mechanism, a relief valve connecting the feed and exhaust
ports of the main valve, and a mechanism operated by and upon a predetermined
movement of the lift to open the relief valve and thereby exhaust the fluid pressure
from the elevating mechanism.
17. In combination with a gun-lift and hydraulic mechanism for elevating the
same, a valve mechanism composed of two valves of different size arranged to control
the application and exhaust of fluid pressure to and from the elevating mechanism,
the smaller valve connecting around the larger valve and serving to graduate the
feed and exhaust of the fluid pressure, mechanism operated by the lift and adapted
to close and lock the larger valve, and a relief valve mechanism operated by the
lift and adapted to exhaust the fluid pressure from the elevating mechanism.
18. In combination with a gun-lift and hydraulic mechanism for elevating the
same, bolt mechanism for supporting the lift, a differential hydraulic piston connected
to and for operating the bolt mechanism, connections between the elevating and
bolt-operating mechanisms, whereby they are simultaneously operated by the same
fluid pressure, and a valve mechanism controlling the fluid pressure upon both sides
of said piston.
Dated this 27th day of December 1800
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.