Improvements in Mountings for Quick Firing Guns.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 6th May, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Feb., 1900-Accepted, 24th Mar., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
· Improvements in Mountings for Quick Firing Guns.
We, ARTHUR TREVOR DAWSON, Superintendent of Ordnance Works, and
GEORGE THOMAS BUCKHAM, Engineer, both. of Messrs. Vickers Sons & Maxim,
Limited, of No. 28, Victoria Street, Westminster, in the County of London, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to mountings for quick firing guns which comprise the.
following parts.
I. A cradle in which the gun is free to recoil axially is provided with trunnions
and under it a recoil buffer having on each side a case containing a spring to
run the gun out, after recoil.
II. A top carriage provided with bearings for the trunnions is mounted on a
vertical pedestal on which it can revolve as described in the Specification
No. 23854 of 1895.
III. The pedestal, having a large base for securing to the foundation, has on
the top a ball bearing on which the top carriage revolves. A worm-wheel fixed
round the pivot gears with a worm on the carriage, for training the gun.
IV. A shield rounded or pointed in front is carried on the top carriage.
The gun has keys engaged in grooves in the cradle to prevent the gun from
being turned by action of the rifling in giving rotation to the projectile.
The springs and cases may be such as described in the Specification No. 2662
of 1899, so arranged that the springs can be readily withdrawn for inspection.
Attached to the cradle and in connection with the recoil buffer there is a
reserve tank to ensure that the hydraulic buffer is always full of liquid so that
the recoil and running out of the gun are under proper control.
Sight brackets are fitted to the cradle to carry the sights on either side of
the mounting.
Guard plates may also be attached to the rear portion of the cradle
For elevating a toothed segment fixed on the cradle gears with a pinion
mounted on the carriage.
The trunnion bearings may be of the special kind described in the Specification
No. 10606 of 1896 so arranged that the gun and cradle can be withdrawn together
from the carriage.
For the largest type of mounting for quick firing guns, we preferably arrange
the handwheel of the elevating gear to revolve in a vertical plane parallel to the
axis of the gun.
The elevating gear is of the usual type, having bevel wheels, worm and worm-
wheel gear, and friction plate clutch, to obtain the necessary power to readily
lay" the gun.
For the training gear we provide a handwheel preferably on either side of the
mounting arranged to revolve in a horizontal plane or slightly inclined to the
horizontal plane. These handwheels we may also arrange to revolve in a vertical
or nearly vertical plane transverse to the axis of the gun. The gear is so
arranged that if required, only one side may be engaged at a time, or that the
whole of the gear may be disconnected from the training worm-wheel so that
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page_text: the mounting may be trained by tackle when the ordinary gear is disabled, as
described in the Specification No. 2663 of 1899. When the mounting is for
naval purposes, a friction clamp is fitted to the carriage so that the training
of the mounting may be under better control, and a housing bolt as described
in the Specification No. 23854 of 1895 is provided for locking the carriage to
the pivot when it is not in use.
We may provide a platform on either side of the mounting which is attached
to and supported by the side bars of the top carriage so that the gunner, when
training or elevating the gun, is carried round with the mounting. In the
smaller type of mounting for quick firing guns, no platform for the gunner is
provided and training gear is arranged only on one side of the mounting.
When the gun is to be fired by electricity, the mounting is provided with the
necessary firing key and battery boxes which may be carried from the side bars,
a special safety arrangement being provided so that the gun cannot be fired
unless it is completely run out. The firing key and safety arrangement may be
of the kind described in the Specification No. 24262 of 1897. Fitted to the side
bars in a convenient position we arrange a "shoulder" piece against which the
gunner may lean while he is sighting the gun.
In the case of mountings for small quick firing guns, the cradle is similar in
construction and arrangement, but only one spring case is necessary. This is
made of telescopic form arranged in front of the recoil buffer and in the same
axial line.
A shallow recess formed in the end of the buffer receives the rear end of the
spring case from which a stem projects inside to keep the spring central.
The front part of the spring case slides over the rear part when the gun
recoils, the front portion being guided along the underside of the cradle.
A compressor bolt passes centrally through the cap of the spring case and is
screwed into the central stem so as to give initial compression to the spring.
Attached to one side of the rear portion of the cradle is an arm which.carries a
shoulder piece and suitable hand grips, by means of which the gun may be
elevated or trained.
Carried by this same bar is the rear sight and the firing key. The foresight
is fitted to the cradle.
The top carriage is in the form of a Y piece socketed into a hollow pedestal
which is fixed to the foundation. In this socket the stem of the Y piece rests,
at its lower end on a friction plate of small diameter.
A friction grip, worked from outside the pedestal helps to keep the training
of the mounting under better control when fitted on board-ship.
An arm projects rearwards from the Y piece and on this armi is a friction grip
which engages with a pivoted elevating rod on the cradle, this grip being worked
by a handle conveniently situated for the gunner.
The shield which protects the mounting is of the usual curve-fronted type with
an upper lighter shield inclined rearwards and easily detachable from the carriage.
For mountings of the largest quick firing guns we sometimes make the cradle
in the form of a trunnion frame which consists of a ring provided with trunnion
arms, and having also grooves for the keys on the gun.. Two side plates and if
necessary a bottom plate attached to the trunnion ring and extending rearwards
are secured to a curved transom, which forms a bearing on which the gun can
recoil. The transom contains the recoil buffer and cases for the running out
springs.
Where the projectile is too heavy for one man to lift to the breech of the gun
we employ the automatic arrangement described in the Specification No. 20611
of 1898.
Dated this Cith dow of W 1000
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in Mountings for Quick Firing Guns.
We, ARTHUR TREVOR DAWSON, Superintendent of Ordnance Works, and
GEORGE. THOMAS BUCKHAM, Engineer, both of Messrs. Vickers Sons & Maxim,
Limited, of No. 28, Victoria Street, Westminster, in the County of London, do
hereby déclare 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:
Our invention relates to mountings for quick firing guns as we shall describe
referring to the accompanying drawings.
Of these Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive and Figs. 14 and 15 illustrate our improve-
ments applied to quick firing guns of the heavier class, and Figs. 7 to 13 inclusive
illustrate them applied to quick firing guns of the lighter class.
Fig. 1 is a side view and Fig. 2 is a plan of a heavy gun and its mounting.
Fig. 3 is a section and Fig.. 4 is an end view of the pedestal. Fig. 5 is a side
view of the cradle and rear part of the gun and Fig. 6 is on the right side a part
transverse section, and on, the left side a part, end view of the gun cradle, recoil
cylinder, and recuperator springs.
Fig. 7 is a side view and Fig. 8 is. a plan of a light gun and its mounting.
Fig. 9 is a section and Fig. 10 is an end view of.the pedestal. Fig. 11 is a side
view partly in section of the. cradle with recuperator and recoil cylinder and
Fig. 12 is a plan of the same parts looking from below. Eig. 13 is a transverse
section on the line A A of Fig. 11.
Fig. 14 is a side view and Fig. 15 is an end.view..shewing a construction of
cradle for the heaviest quick firing guns.
In all the figures like reference letters and numerals denote as far, as possible
like parts.
The gun a is. fitted to slide. in a cradle 6 and has as. usual keys engaged in
grooves of the cradle to prevent the gun from turning by reaction of the rifling
in giving rotation to the projectile.
The cradle has trunnions working in bearings which may be of the kind
described in the Specification No. 10606 of 1896 such that the gun and cradle
can be withdrawn together from the carriage. The bearings are formed in the
branches of the fork which in the case of the heavy gun as shewn in Fig. 3
is mounted on a vertical pedestal and is carried on balls as described in the
Specification No. 23854 of 1895. The training of the gun is in this case effected
by a worm mounted on the base of the fork and engaged with worm teeth on
the pedestal, this worm being turned by a horizontal hand wheel e connected by
bevil gear and an inclined shaft f to a bevil wheel on the worm axis. The base
of the fork can be clamped to the pedestal by a screw clamp g.
Training gear is provided at both sides of the gun, but either side can be dis-
connected, or the whole may be disconnected, so that the mounting may be
trained by tackle when the ordinary gear is disabled as described in the
Specification No. 2663 of 1899.
•
For light guns as shewn in Fig. 9 the branches c of the fork spring from a
tapering vertical shaft which revolves within the pedestal, the training being
in this case effected by hand applied to the elevating and training handle i at the
rear of the gun,
the pedestal having also in this case a screw clamp g.
For elevating the heavy gun a vertical hand wheel works by gearing a
pinion engaged with a segmental rack which projects down from the rear end
of the cradle.

page_text: The elevation of the light gun is effected by band applied to the rung handles!
of the elevating and training handle i. For the purpose of holding the light
gun at any angle of elevation, a rod m jointed to the cradle passes through a
clamp carried on an arm n projecting from the fork and this clamp is operated
by a hand lever p within reach of the gunner whose shoulder can bear against
the rest on the handle i.
.
As shewn in Figs. 5 and 6 the cradle of the heavy gun has under it two
recuperator springs which may be of the kind described in the Specification
No. 2662 of 1899 so that they can be readily withdrawn. The cradle has also
centrally under it a hydraulic recoil cylinders, which communicates by a passage
with a reserve tank 1, containing liquid, so that the recoil cylinder is always
full.
For the light gun, as shewn in Figs. 11, 12 and 13, the recuperator spring
case is of telescopic construction, the front part being capable of sliding over the
rear part, and being in line with the hydraulic recoil cylinder s. the front end of
which is recessed to receive the rear end of the spring case. The front part of
the spring case is connected by side bolts to the rear end of the gun, and slides
in guides formed on the under side of the cradle. A compressing bolt w is
screwed into the central stem a. so that initial compression can be given to the
spring.
On each side of the heavy gun mounting is a platform y for the gunner who,
while training or elevating the gun, is carried round with the mounting.
When the gun is fired by electricity it is provided with the firing key o and
automatic switch (Fig. 5) which prevents the gun from being fired unless it
is run out to firing position as described in the Specification No. 24202 of 1897.
For the heavy gun the sight bar 1 is pivotted on a bracket 2 projecting up
from the cradle. For the light gun, the fore-sight 3 is mounted on the trunnion
bearing, the back sight 4 being on an adjustable vertical rod fitted on the rear
part of the gun,
A front shield 5 with diverging sides 6 is carried on the mounting, and a light.
inclined shield 7 and a pair of guard plates 8 are provided at the rear of the
heavy gun, while the light gun has an inclined shield 9 carried on the forks
of the mounting.
As shewn in Figs. 14 and 15 the cradle for the heaviest quick firing gun has
a ring 10 with the trunnions 11 projecting from it on each side, and with
grooves 12 to receive keys on the gun. Two side plates 13 and a bottom plate 14
extend rearwards from the trunnion ring and are secured to a transom 15 which
has below it the recoil cylinders and semicircular hollows at the sides for the
cases of the recuperator springs.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is: :-
1. A mounting for a heavy quick firing gun constructed and arranged sub-
stantially as described with reference to Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive.
2. mounting for a light quick firing gun constructed and arranged substan-
tially as described with reference to Figs. 7 to 13 inclusive.
3. The construction of cradle for heaviest quick firing guns substantially as
described with reference to Figs. 14 and 15.
Dated this 22nd day of Falu1000
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.