A NEW OR IMPROVED MODE OF MOUNTING, AND APPARATUS FOR MANEUVRING ORDNANCE IN LAND FORTIFICATIONS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Louis Winans, of Brighton, in the County
of Sussex, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED
MODE OF MOUNTING, AND APPARATUS FOR MANEUVRING ORDNANCE IN LAND
FORTIFICATIONS."
Sealed the 6th June 1862, and dated the 27th March 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Louis Winans
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
27th March 1862.
I, WILLIAM LOUIS WINANS, of Brighton, in the County of Sussex, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "A NEW
OR IMPROVED MODE OF MOUNTING, AND APPARATUS FOR MANŒUVRING ORDNANCE IN
LAND FORTIFICATIONS," to be as follows:-
.My Invention of a new or improved mode of mounting and apparatus for
manoeuvring ordnance in land fortifications, consists in mounting the gun or.
other piece of. ordnance together with its carriage on a platform, which is
capable of being raised and lowered by steam power. This platform will be
mounted on an under framework, on which the platform with the gun thereon
may, if required, be made to traverse on a pivot, so that the gun or other
piece of ordnance may be turned round in any direction..
. A convenient arrangement of the apparatus for applying the power of steam
to raise the gun consists in placing a steam cylinder below the central part of
the-platform, against the under side of which the piston. rod of the steam.

page_text: cylinder is made to bear, so that when: steam is admitted to the cylinder
beneath the piston, the latter will be raised by the elastic force of the steam,
and will consequently lift the platform with the gun and carriage thereon to
any altitude not exceeding the stroke of the piston. In order to support the
platform when lifted, there are two, three, or more water cylinders placed
beneath the under framing. The pistons which work in these water cylinders
are secured to the under framing, and the cylinders themselves are provided
with valves opening inwards, and communicating with water reservoirs or
tanks, so that when the platform is raised, and. the pistons of the water
cylinders are carried up with it, water will flow into the cylinders below the
pistons and follow them up, so that when the steam is cut off in the steam
cylinders the platform will be supported on water legs. In order to lower the
platform and gun other valves connected with the water cylinders are opened,
and the water allowed to flow out, the gun will then descend by its own
weight as the water escapes from the cylinders. It will now be understood
that the gun is to be loaded when in its lowest position behind the parapet of
the fortification, and consequently when out of sight of the enemy, and beyond
the reach of his direct fire. The gun when loaded is to be raised above the
level of the parapet by the admission of steam below the piston of the steam.
cylinder, and when so raised the gun may be fired clear over the parapet, in
which, therefore, no embrasures need- be made. The gun when accurately
laid on the object to be struck will be fired, and immediately lowered to its
original position, in order to be reloaded out of reach of the enemy. It will
now be understood that as the guns are mounted on traversing platforms, and
may be raised above the level of the parapet, they may be fired in any
direction over the parapet like a gun "en barbette," there will, therefore, be
no difficulty in arranging all the guns on both faces of a bastion or raveline.in
such a manner as to fire in a line parallel with the capital of the work. This.
has never yet been done, and as it is a desideratum with military engineers,
it is one of the most. important advantages, resulting from the use of my
Invention.
The ability to raise the guns up from the level at which they were loaded,
and of firing clear over the parapet, enables me to place. two, three, or more
rows of: guns one behind the other in close order, so that, an immensely
destructive and heavy fire can be brought to bear upon any given spot.
When several rows of guns are arranged one behind the other, the front row
will be first raised, fired, and, then lowered, the second row will then be raised
and fired, and while this is being done. the first row: will be loading, so that
before the third row has been raised and fired the first will be ready to fire a

page_text: second time. By this means such a crushing fire can be concentrated on any
spot that no field works could be possibly held against it.
In order to protect from enfilade any work in which my Invention may be
employed, the salient angle of the work may be provided with a "bonnet," or
a powerful cavalier battery may be established at this point by cutting off the
salient angle of the work, and forming a battery on the top of a loopholed
casemate, which, if desired, may be protected by plates of iron secured in
grooves, without bolts or rivets, or other contrivances which are liable to
weaken the plates. If a raised or cavalier battery be objected to at the
salient of the work, a casemated redoubt with superior command may be con-
structed in the gorge of the ravelin, bastion, or other work, and as the guns
mounted on my plan will have superior command over those of the principal
work, all the guns of the work and redoubt may be fired along a line parallel
with the capital, or made to concentrate their fire upon any given point, the
shot from the guns in the redoubt or rear part of the work being made to pass
clear over the heads of the gunners in front.
The steam boiler and furnace, and other machinery or apparatus connected
with the working or manoeuvring of the guns may be placed in the bomb-
proof casemate or building situated at the centre of work, and which will
serve as a redoubt, as before mentioned. This redoubt will also serves- as a
protection to the guns of the principal work from "reverse" fire.
It will be evident that instead of lifting the guns and their platforms by-the
direct action of steam, a steam engine may be employed to pump water into
the cylinders; or instead of the central cylinder, a clutch apparatus or other
gearing worked by steam power may be employed. A pair of guns may also
be mounted on a vibrating framework or carriage, one at each end of the
framework. The. steam power will be employed to raise the ends of the
vibrating framework or carriage alternately, so as to lift the guns alternately
clear of the parapet, over which they may be fired in succession. When one
gun has been fired it must be lowered by allowing the water to run from the
hydraulic cylinders beneath it, the other gun will in the meantime have been
raised into the firing position in like manner, and will be discharged, and so
on alternately, one gun being loaded while the other is fired, the two guns by
their positions at the ends of the vibrating framing. being made to counter-
balance each other. The counterbalance of the parts may with facility be, so
arranged that the guns may be raised and lowered by the gunners or artillery
men without the aid of steam power, it being necessary only to use the water
cylinders to support the guns when raised.

page_text: :
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Louis Winans in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 27th September 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
Louis WINANS, of Brighton, in the County of Sussex, Civil Engineer, send
greeting.
- J
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said William Louis Winans, Her special license, that I, the said
William Louis Winans, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or sucli
others as I, the said William Louis Winans, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend; within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED MODE OF MOUNTING, AND APPARATUS FOR
MANEUVRING ORDNANCE IN LAND FORTIFICATIONS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Louis Winans, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed; and
cause the same to be filed in the Great 'Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Louis Winans, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
My Invention of a new or improved mode of mounting and apparatus
for manoeuvring ordnance in land fortifications consists in mounting the
gun or other piece of ordnance, together with its carriage, ou à platform,
which is capable of being raised and lowered by steam or other power. This
platform will be mounted on an under franiework, on which the platform (with
the
gun thereon if required) will be made to traverse: on a pivot, so that the
gun or other piece of ordnance may be turned round in any direction..
A convenient arrangement of apparatus for applying the power of steam to
raise the gun consists in placing a steam cylinder below the central part of the

page_text: platform, against the under side of which the piston rod of the steam cylinder
is made to bear, so that when steam is admitted to the cylinder beneath the
piston, the latter will be raised by the elastic force of the steam, and will
consequently lift the platform with the gun carriage thereon, to any altitude
not exceeding the stroke of the piston. In order to support the platform
when lifted, there are two, three, or more water cylinders placed beneath the
under framing and supported upon solid masonry or brickwork. The pistons
which work in these water cylinders are secured to the under framing on which
the gun platform is placed, and the water cylinders are provided with valves
opening inwards, and communicating with water reservoirs or tanks; so that
when the platform is raised and the pistons of the water cylinders are carried
up with it, the water will flow into these cylinders below, the pistons, and
follow them up, so that when the steam is cut off in the steam cylinders the
platform will be supported on water legs. In order to lower the platform and
gun, other valves connected with the water cylinders are opened, and the water
allowed to flow out; the gun and platform will then descend by their own
weight as the water escapes from the cylinders, the descent of the
gun being
regulated by the escape of the water from beneath the pistons in the water
cylinders. It should be understood that the gun is to be loaded when in its
lowest position behind the parapet of the fortifications or below a bomb proof
roof, or covering, where it will consequently be out of sight of the enemy, and
beyond the reach of his direct fire. The gun when loaded must, in order to
be fired, be raised above the level of the parapet or through the bomb-proof
covering, as the case may be. This operation is effected by the admission of
steam below the piston of the steam cylinder, and when so raised the gun may
be fired in any direction clear over the parapet, in which therefore no embra-
sures need be made. The gun when accurately laid on the object to be struck
will be fired, and immediately lowered to its original position, in order to be
reloaded out of sight of the enemy.. For the more effectual protection of the
men and guns from the effect of vertical fire, bomb-proof roofs or coverings
may be placed over the guns, and provided with hatchways and openings,
through which the guns are to be lifted before firing them. Moveable bomb-
proof covers are to be fitted to these hatchways or openings for the purpose of
closing them, when the guns are lowered into the proper position for being
loaded. It will now be understood that as the guns are mounted on traversing
platforms, and may be raised above the level of the parapet, they may be fired
in any direction over t the parapet like a gun "en barbette," there will therefore
be no difficulty in arranging all the guns on both faces of a bastion or ravelin
in such a manner as to fire in a line parallel with the capital of the work.

page_text: This has never yet been done, and as this is a desideratum with military
engineers, it is one of the most important advantages resulting from the use of
my Invention. The ability to raise the guns up from the level at which they
are loaded, and of firing clear over the parapet, enables me to place two, three,
or more rows of guns one behind the other in close order, so that an immensely
destructive and concentrated fire can be brought to bear upon any given spot.
When two or more rows of guns are arranged one behind the other, the front
row will be first raised, fired, and then lowered; the second row will then be
raised and fired; and while this is being done the first row will be loading, so
that before the third row has been raised and fired the first will be ready to
fire a second time. By this means such a crushing fire can be concentrated
on any spot that no field works could be possibly held against it..
In order to protect from enfilade any work in which my Invention may be
employed, the salient angle of the work may be provided with a "bonnet."
Or a powerful cavalier battery may be established at this point by cutting off
the salient angle of the work, and forming a battery on the top of a loop-
holed casemate, which, if desired, may be protected by plates of iron secured
in grooves without bolts or rivets or other contrivances, which are liable to
weaken the plates. If a raised or cavalier battery be objected to at the salient
of the work, a casemated redoubt with superior command may be constructed
in the gorge of the ravelin, bastion, or other work, and as the guns mounted on
my plan will have superior command over those of the principal work, all the
guns of the work and redoubt may be fired along a line parallel with the
capital, or made to concentrate their fire upon any given point, the shot from
the guns in the redoubt or rear part of the work being made to pass clear
over the heads of the gunners in front.
The steam boiler and furnace, and other machinery or apparatus connected
with the working or manoeuvring of the guns may be placed in a bomb-proof
casemate or building situate at the centre of the work, and which will serve as
a redoubt, as before mentioned. This redoubt will also serve as a protection
to the guns of the principal works from "reverse" fire. If preferred, the
steam boiler and furnace may be placed in a casemate constructed in the
rampart or other convenient part of the work, where it will be secured from
the enemy's fire.
It will be evident that instead of lifting the guns and their platforms by the
direct action of steam acting on a piston in a vertical cylinder, as above
mentioned, a steam engine may be employed either to pump water into the
water cylinders, or a steam engine may be used to actuate suitable gearing
and tackle, whereby the moveable platform with the gun thereon may be lifted.

page_text: By this means the central steam cylinder may be dispensed with, and a clutch
apparatus or other equivalent contrivance may be used for throwing the engine
in or out of gear with the lifting tackle. A pair of guns may also be mounted
on a vibrating framework or carriage, one at each end of the framework. The
steam power will be employed to raise the ends of the vibrating framework or
carriage alternately; so as to lift the guns alternately clear of the parapet, over
which they may be fired in succession. When one gun has been fired it must
be lowered by allowing the water to run out from the hydraulic cylinder
beneath it; the other gun will in the mean time have been raised into the
firing position in like manner, and will be discharged, and so on alternately,
one gun being loaded while the other is fired, the two guns by their positions
at the ends of the vibrating framing being made to counterbalance each other
or nearly so. The counterbalance of the parts may with facility be so
arranged that the guns may be raised and lowered by the gunners or artillery
men without the aid of steam power, it being necessary only to use the water
cylinders to support the guns when raised.
In the accompanying Drawing I have shewn various plans of mounting,
manoeuvring, and working guns according to my Invention.
Fig. 1, Sheet I., is a sectional elevation of a gun and carriage suitably
mounted behind the parapet of a fortification. The gun is mounted on a
carriage a, and is supported on a traversing platform b, which rests upon an
under platform c. To the central part of the under side of this platform c is
secured the hollow piston d¹ of the steam cylinder d. The hollow pistons e¹
of the water cylinders e, e, are also secured to the under sides of the platform c,
so that all the pistons act together; ff, are water tanks or reservoirs, which.
are connected by lateral channels f* with the lower ends of the water
cylinders e, e. Suitable valves of any of the ordinary or well known con-
structions are adapted to these lateral channels f*, as shewn in Fig. 1, for the
purpose of admitting the water from the tanks or reservoirs f. f, to the water
cylinders e, when the pistons rise or fall, the water being also allowed to escape
therefrom when it is desired to allow the gun and platform to descend; ff;
are rods and levers for working the exit and entrance valves of the water
cylinders e; d is the steam pipe for supplying the cylinder d with steam from
a boiler placed in a casemate below or in some other convenient part of the
work. This steam pipe is provided with a throttle valve for regulating the
admission of steam to the cylinder d. This valve is worked by a hand lever
placed in any convenient situation.
In order to protect the guns and gunners from from vertical fire I also
propose to cover the guns with a wrought-iron bomb-proof roof g, g, in which

page_text: an opening or hatchway is made immediately above the gun, and is closed
when the gun is down by means of a moveable bomb-proof door or doors h, h,
which are moved to and fro to open or close the hatchway by means of
.suitable bevilled, toothed, or other gearing, as shewn at i, i, in the Figure.
This gearing is actuated by a steam engine, which drives the fast and loose
pullies k, k, by means of a strap, as shewn in the Figure. The centre pulley
is a loose one, and of the two outer pullies one is connected with the bevil
, .wheel 7, and the other with the wheel ', .so that by shifting the driving band
on to one or other of the fast pullies 1 or 11, the toothed gearing.i, i, may be
driven in either direction, as may be desired, for opening or closing the
doors h, h, of the hatchway in the bomb-proof cover. The superior and exterior
slope of the parapet are protected by wrought-iron armour plates m, m, the
edges of which are rebated, so that they may mutually support each other; it
will be seen that the two slopes run into each other, and that the armour-
plating is curved, in order the better to deflect any projectiles that may strike
it. 'It will now be understood on inspecting the Drawing that the gun having
been loaded, and the hatchway having been opened by drawing back the
doors h, h, the gun and its platform may be raised into the position shewn by
dots in the Figure, by simply admitting steam into the cylinder, d below the
piston d', and as the piston d¹ and the platform c with the gun thereon rises
it will carry up the pistons e¹, e¹, of the water, cylinders, and water will flow
from the water tanks finto the cylinders e below the pistons e¹, e¹. When
the steam, is cut off from the cylinder d the whole weight of the gun with
its carriage and platform will be sustained by the pistons of the water
cylinders, of which there may be three, four, or more, as may be desired, and
the pistons of these cylinders will be sustained by the water below them. It
will be evident therefore that while the water is left in the cylinders e the
gun will be supported in its elevated position, but when it is desired to lower
the gun it will be necessary to open the exit valves at the bottom of the
cylinders e by means of the rods f', and then the water will flow back into
the reservoirs or tanks f... The rapidity of the descent of the gun will of
course be regulated entirely by the speed with which the water leaves the
cylinders e, e; the operations of raising and lowering the gun are therefore
completely under control.
At Fig. 2, Sheet II.,. I have shewn a plan of mounting and arranging two
rows of guns, one behind the other, and raising them. by the direct, action of
steam, so that while one gun or set of guns (the front ones, for instance,) is
being loaded, the rear ones may be brought into a position for being fired.
In this instance, the boiler for supplying the steam .cylinders. d, d, with steam

page_text: is placed in a casemate beneath the rampart, but it may be placed in any
other convenient situation.`
Fig. 3 represents a modification, in which the lifting steam cylinders are
dispensed with, and the two guns are mounted on or worked by a vibrating
lever or 'frame 1, which, however, may be actuated by steam power. By one
gun being made to counterbalance the other a very small power will be
required. I would remark that the pairs of guns in Fig. 3 are so arranged that
when the vibrating lever is in á horizontal position, and the two guns are
on the same level, they are both out of sight and reach of the direct fire of
the enemy, so that when in that position they may be loaded without exposing
the 'men.
Fig. 4 represents another mode of raising the 'gun with its platform 'by
steam power. In this instance the direct-action steam cylinder d, of Figs. 1
and 2, is dispensed with, and in place thereof the platform and gun are raised
by means of a toothed rack r and pinion p. The rack r is secured to the
under side of the platform and moves in vertical guides. On the axle of the
pinion p is a toothed wheel 7, into which gears another toothed wheels, which
is driven by a small cylinder engine. Any convenient arrangement for putting
the toothed wheels out of gear with the moving power may be employed, but
it may be convenient to adapt a winch handle to one of the toothed wheel's 9-
or s, so that should the steam engine be out of order at any time the appa-
ratus may be temporarily worked by manual labor. It will of course be'
understood, that in order to lower the gun the toothed wheels must be thrown
out of gear with the moving power, and the water allowed to flow out of the
water cylinders e, e, into the tanks or reservoirs f, as in the former instances. I
would also observe, that in order to prevent jar to the mechanism when the gun
and platform descend, it is advisable that in all the arrangements shewn thick
cushions or padding of india-rubber `n, n, Fig. 1, should be adapted to the'
top of the cylinders or other stationary parts on which the platform rests'
when down. Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are simply intended to represent the general'
features of the Invention as applied to the rampart of a land fortification, and
therefore only the principal parts of the mechanism are shewn, as the details
are drawn in Fig.1.. Fig. 5 is a Diagram representing the salient angle of
a bastion, ravelin, or other work, in which there are two lines or rows of guns
arranged one behind the other. The red lines indicate the crushing fire that
can be brought to bear on any point in front of the work. It will also be
seen that in front of the salient angle there is no dead ground, which would
require to be covered or flanked by a neighbouring work, as in fortifications
armed with the usual appliances. The tracing of a fortification may there-

page_text: fore be much simplified as it will only be necessary for the protection of the
work to sweep the ditch and the escarp from a covered caponniere or other
loop-holed work, as in the Prussian, or German system. I would here observe
that although when steam is applied, as in Figs. 1 and 2, direct to a piston
adapted to the under side of the platform, I prefer to support the gun on
water legs, as shewn in the Drawing, yet the gun and platform may when raised
be supported upon rigid vertical rods, or standards placed temporarily beneath
the platform. I prefer, however, to use the water cylinders in all cases.
Having now described my Invention of "A New. or Improved Mode of
Mounting and Apparatus for Manoeuvring Ordnance in Land Fortifications,"
and having explained the best means with which I am acquainted for carrying
the same into effect, I would observe that I do not mean or intend to confine
myself rigidly to the precise arrangements herein set forth, as the
same may be
varied without departing from the nature, and object of my Invention, I desire
it to be understood, that what, I claim and desire to secure by Letters
Patent is,―
First, mounting cannon or ordnance with their carriages and platforms in
land fortifications in the manner above described, so that they may be raised
and lowered at pleasure by steam power for the purposes herein set forth.
Second, I claim the use in land fortifications of the water cylinders in combi-
nation with the arrangements herein set forth for raising and lowering the guns,
carriages, and platforms, which may, if desired, be protected by a bomb-proof
roof or covering, in which are made hatchways or openings, through which to
lift the before firing them, such hatchways or openings being protected by
moveable bomb-proof covers or doors, as above mentioned, and for the purposes 2
herein set forth.
guns
Third, I claim the mechanical arrangements and combinations indicated,
described, and, set forth above,, or any analogous thereto in connection
with steam power for accomplishing the objects and purposes herein
mentioned.
In witness, whereof, I, the said William Louis Winans, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, the Fifth day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
3
WILLIAM LOUIS WINANS. (L.S.)