for Mounting and Working such Guns or Ordnance:
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Mar., 1887
Complete Left, 19th Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 20th Jan., 1888
for Mounting and Working such Guns or Ordnance:
We JOHN ROGERSON of Croxdale Hall in the County of Durhamn, Steel Manufacturre,
and ALEXANDER DOWNIE of The Ashes House, Stanhope in the County of Durham
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention to be as follows:-
According to this Invention recoil cylinders are used in the mounting of the gun in
which cylinders or upon the piston rods of which cylinders are placed springs which
are compressed by the recoil of the gun during firing so that the return of the springs
to their normal condition runs the gun automatically out to the firing position without
any alteration in the laying of the gun.
The gun
slides within a saddle on the mounting and recoils in the direct line of
fire so as to reduce the tendency to tipping and the strains on the mounting and
carriage.
or lever
The breech action is of the class wherein the breech block slides horizontally or
approximately so in a wedge shaped mortice the said block containing the striking
or firing hammer an actuating spring a cocking lever and a sear
interlocking with the firing hammer so that the gun cannot be fired until the breech
is closed and the breech block is in the proper position for firing a trigger rod is
provided in such a position as to act on the sear and retain it until the trigger rod is
operated to release the sear and consequently the firing hammer so that the spring
which presses the hammer forward is allowed to act for firing. The cocking is
performed automatically by the withdrawl of the breech block after firing.
The elevating arrangements may be of the ordinary type.
With the arrangement described one man can exercise full control over the training
elevating sighting and firing devices whilst another man can by the handle provided
for the purpose operate the breech block and load the gun.
For naval purposes the gun can be mounted on a cone and carriage which latter is
applicable for mounting the gun for land service.
3017
- ...C
1 1000

page_text: Improvements in Rapid Firing Guns or Ordnance and Apparatus
for Mounting and Working such Guns or Ordnance.
We JOHN ROGERSON of Croxdale Hall in the County of Durham Steel Manufacturer
and ALEXANDER DOWNIE of The Ashes House Stanhope in the County of Durham
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
statement:-
This Invention has for its object to provide efficient means for automatically
running out the gun to the firing position (without altering the laying thereof) by
power stored up during the recoil on firing the gun sliding in a saddle on the
mounting and recoiling in the direct line of fire so as to reduce strains and tendency
to tipping and the invention also relates to means in connection with the breech block
arrangements whereby the cocking is automatically performed when the breech is
opened and the striker cannot be operated until the breech is closed. The accom-
panying drawing illustrate the Invention Figure I being a side elevation Figure 2 a
plan Figure 3 an elevation at the breech end and Figures 4 and 5 being a longitudinal
section and a sectional plan respectively of the breech end of the gun with the breech
closed, and Figures 6 and 7 corresponding views with the breech opened.
According to this Invention recoil cylinders Q are used in the mounting or carriage
of the gun at the rear of the position of the trunnions, in which cylinders are placed
hollow piston rods containing springs R which are compressed by the recoil of the
gun during firing so that the return of the springs to their normal condition
automatically runs the gun out to the firing position without any alteration in the
laying of the gun.
The pistons of the recoil presses are secured to a cross arm T on the gun which in
other types of guns would be called the trunnions the trunnions in this case being
formed on the saddle S as shewn at U both gun and saddle oscillating together upon
the said trunnions.
The gun slides within the saddle S on the mounting and recoils in the direct line of
fire so as to reduce the tendency to tipping and the strains on the mounting and
carriage.
The breech action is of the class wherein the breech block slides horizontally or
approximately so in a wedge shaped mortice the said block containing the striking or
firing hammer D an actuating spring K a cocking lever E and a locking sear or
lever Finterlocking with the firing hammer so that the gun cannot be fired until the
breech is closed and the breech block is in the proper position for firing thus ensuring
perfect safety in the firing arrangements. A trigger rod 1 is provided in such a
position as to act on the sear F and retain it until the trigger rod is operated to
release the sear F and consequently the firing hammer D so that the spring K which
presses the hammer forward is allowed to act for firing. The cocking is performed

page_text: automatically by the withdrawal of the breech block after firing by means of the toe of
the cocking lever E pressing against the inclined groove J. The breech block is
operated by means of the handle G into which is fitted a spindle connecting it with
the lever I engaging with the breech block as shewn.
The elevating arrangements may be of the ordinary type in which an arc L' is
actuated by a worm L to the spindle of which is connected a hand wheel O. The
training of the gun is performed by means of the hand wheel P acting on the worm M
and worm wheel M¹. The elevating and training may also be performed (without
any of the above mentioned appliances) by means of a shoulder piece. One man has
thus full control over the training elevating sighting and firing appliances whilst
another man can by the handle G operate the breech block and load the gun.
For naval purposes the gun can be mounted on a cone N as shewn. All the parts
of the mounting except the naval cone can be applied to a land service carriage.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In rapid firing guns or ordnance the combination with the breech and breech
block operated as described of firing mechanism arranged and operated substantially
as hereinbefore described.
2. The combination of the lever E and inclined groove J substantially as and for
the purpose herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In connection with rapid firing guns or ordnance the recoil cylinders Q provided
with hollow piston rods containing springs to be acted upon by the gun during recoil
and to afterwards automatically run out the gun to firing position as hereinbefore
described and illustrated.
4. In connection with rapid firing guns or ordnance the recoil cylinders Q provided
with hollow piston rods containing springs and arranged and situated as described
and shewn to be acted upon by the gun during recoil and to afterwards automatically
run out the gun to firing position as hereinbefore described and illustrated.
5. The arrangement and combination of parts constituting the rapid firing gun and
mounting and working arrangements therefor as a whole as herein before described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 19th day of December 1887.