Improvements in and relating to Breech Loading Ordnance.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Feb., '1896
Complete Specification Left. 4th Nov. 1896-Accepted. 12th Dec., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Breech Loading Ordnance.
We, ROBERT MATTHEWS, Director, and JAMES HORNE, Draughtsman, both
of Sir Joseph Whitworth and Company Limited, Openshaw, Manchester, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to breech loading guns and comprises improved means for
opening and closing the breech in any position of the gun upon the recoil slide,
also improved apparatus for loading and otherwise for working such guns in
turrets and barbettes.
Our improved mechanism for opening and closing the breech may be adapted to
any type of breech loading gun provided with a vertical hinge pin, around which
the breech-block is swung to one side, after being unscrewed and withdrawn
by mechanism operated by the previous rotation of the aforesaid hinge pin
independently of the swinging movement of the block.
For operating this hinge pin for the purpose aforesaid, we combine with its
mechanism improved hydraulic apparatus, in such a manner that the latter will not
interfere with the usual mechanism for operating the breech by hand, and so that
by using a disconnecting clutch or equivalent device, either the hand gear or the
hydraulic apparatus may be used at will. Our mechanism is also so arranged
that no part of it, in any position of its movement will project to the rear of the
gun so as to interfere with the loading apparatus or ammunition cages when these
are in the loading position i.e. close to the breech of the gun.
We provide on the lower end of the hinge pin a toothed pinion gearing into a
quadrant pivoted to the underside of the gun body or to a bracket thereon.
A rack geared with this quadrant is connected to the piston rod of the hydraulic
operating cylinder, so that the motion given to the piston of the said hydraulio
cylinder by the admission of water thereto under pressure, is communicated by
means of the aforesaid rack, quadrant and pinion to the hinge pin, and the breech
is thereby opened or closed; if preferred we connect the piston rod to the quadrant
by a connecting link in such a manner as to give increased power for the first
movement in opening the breech block and similarly increased power at the
terminal movement in closing it.
A safety bolt is provided to prevent movement of the hydraulic apparatus, in
case of leakage past the controlling valve or from any other cause, until such bolt
has been withdrawn.
In cases where no great disadvantage would arise from the projection of part of
the apparatus beyond the rear of the gun, the aforesaid rack may be geared
directly to the pinion on the hinge pin and the quadrant can thereby be dispensed
with.
As the whole of this hydraulic apparatus partakes of the recoil movement, we
provide telescopic pipes of an improved description for the admission and escape
of water to or from the hydraulic cylinder. These telescopic pipes are so arranged
that there is no displacement of water within them when the gun recoils or when
it is moved. backward or forward on its slide by hydraulic or other power.
We construct our improved telescopic pipes in such a manner that the inner pipe
passes through the outer pipe at both ends, so that when the gun recoils upon its

page_text: slide and the telescopic pipes are extended by the withdrawal of one end of the
inner or moving pipe, the other end of said pipe is constrained to follow, thus
always occupying the same space inside the outer pipe and preventing the
displacement of liquid as aforesaid. Either the outer or the inner pipe may be
attached to the moving part of the gun mounting.
In some cases we prefer to arrange the hydraulic apparatus so that the opening
of the breech will be effected automatically by the running out of the gun after
firing. We effect this object by means of a valve connecting the supply pipes of
the operating cylinder so that the pressure entry is converted into exhaust, and the
exhaust exit into a pressure supply for the other end of the said cylinder. This
valve being operated by an automatic bolt which after the gun has began to run
out, acts on a rod or lever connected with the aforesaid valve. This rod or lever
is likewise connected to the aforesaid safety bolt, so that in no case can motion of
the breech take place until the bolt has been withdrawn.
To provide for a more correct method of sighting heavy guns by means of
sighting apparatus of the class which has one of its sights fixed and the 'other
movable vertically, we provide devices which insure that the angular movement
imparted to the gun for any given range will be exactly and simultaneously
transmitted to the sights. In gun mountinga provided with trunnioned slides,
along which the gun recoils after firing, one end of a horizontal bar is connected
to the trunnion frame or cradle by means of a die piece arranged to slide in
suitable vertical guides attached to the said trunnion frame, so that any motion of
the trunnion frame about its pivot will be communicated to the said horizontal bar,
but by reason of its connection in the manner described its motion will be tangential
and not circular. This tangential motion is communicated to the vertically moving
sight bar by means of a rack on the other end of the horizontal bar, gearing into
toothed wheels, and so driving the said sight bar. Either the front or rear sights
may be attached to this moving bar as may be found most convenient.
To facilitate the loading of turret or barbette mounted guns and to obviate the
necessity of placing in the gun a separate loading tray to protect the threads of
the breech screw, as is now usual, when the projectile and powder charges are
being rammed, we combine this loading tray with our improved ammunition cage.
In turret guns which are loaded in any position of their horizontal training and
to which the ammunition is conveyed from a chamber below the turntable, our
ammunition enge is usually arranged to rise in a nearly vertical position behind
the breech of the gun-when the gun is in its loading position.
A tray for carrying the projectile is arranged on the upper part of the cage
and below this tray are receptacles for the half or quarter powder charges. The
tray on which the projectile is carried is so constructed that it has a longitudinal
movement relatively to the cage. It is so arranged that when the hydraulic
-ranimer operates to ram the projectile home, an auxiliary rammer arranged in
connection therewith engages with the rear part of the aforesaid tray, so that both
projectile and tray" partake of the same movement and enter the gun together;
when the tray arrives at the end of its travel, that is to say, completely over the
screw threaded portion of the breech, the rammer still continues its forward
movement until it pushes the projectile home. The rammer being withdrawn, the
tray is left in the gun and is securely held there by an automatic bolt provided
for that purpose. The various sections of the powder charges are then placed on
the loading tray and all of them are rammed home in one operation and the rammer
is again withdrawn with the loading tray, the bolt being previously released.
The cage can now be lowered and the breech closed.
For turret or barbette guns which are intended to be loaded in any position of
their training, but to which the ammunition is conveyed through a central tube of
small diameter revolving with the turntable, our improved ammunition cage or
carrier is constructed as follows:-that is to say in two parts, an upper and a
lower part; the upper part carries the projectile and powder charges and is
supported on the lower part so that it can be rotated through a considerable ara

page_text: of movement, and thereby take the proper position relatively to the lower part,
being vertical when it is being raised and lowered, and horizontal or nearly so
when being loaded and unloaded. The lower part is guided in its ascent and
descent in suitably formed guideways attached to the revolving tube and to the
turntable at the upper part of its travel, where they are inclined to the rear so
that the cage may take its proper position behind the breech of the gun. The
powder charges are carried in receptacles at one side and slightly above the
projectile so that when the latter has been rammed home, the former may be
lowered into the same position and successively rammed home. Suitable safety
stops are provided to insure the two parts of the cage always being in their proper
position relatively to each other.
In some cases we provide for carrying the powder charges in receptacles below
the projectile whence they can be lifted by band and placed in the projectile tray
and rammed in one operation. We can if desired also combine with this
ammunition cage, the improved loading tray previously described, thus dispensing
with the necessity of using a separate tray to protect the threads of the breech
screw.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.
We, ROBERT MATTHEWS, Director, and JAMES HORNE, Draughtsman, both
of Sir Joseph Whitworth and Company Limited, Openshaw, Manchester, 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 :-
Our invention relates to breech loading guns and comprises improved means for
opening and closing the breech in any position of the gun upon the recoil slide,
also improved apparatus for loading and for otherwise working such guns in turrets
and barbettes.
Our improved mechanism for opening and closing the breech may be adapted to
any breech loading gun provided at its breech end with a vertical hinge pin,
about which, after being unscrewed and withdrawn from the breech, the breech
block is turned or swung to one side by the rotation of the aforesaid hinge-pin.
For operating this hinge pin for the purpose aforesaid, we combine with its
gearing improved hydraulic apparatus, in such a manner that the latter will not
interfere with the usual mechanism for operating the breech by hand, and so that
by using a disconnecting clutch or equivalent device, either the hand gear or the
hydraulic apparatus may be used at will. The mechanism is also preferably so
arranged that no part of it, in any position of its movement will project to the
rear of the gun so as to interfere with the loading apparatus or ammunition cages
when these are in the loading position i.e. close to the breech of the gun.
provide on the hinge-pin a toothed pinion geared into a quadrant which is geared
with a rack on the piston rod of a hydraulic cylinder.
If preferred we can connect the piston rod to the quadrant by a connecting link
in such a manner as to give increased power for the first movement in opening
the breech block and similarly increased power at the terminal movement in
closing it.
A safety bolt is provided to prevent movement of the hydraulic apparatus, in

page_text: case of leakage past the controlling valve or from any other cause, until such bolt
has been withdrawn.
In cases where no great disadvantage would arise from the projection of part
of the apparatus beyond the rear of the gun, the aforesaid rack may be geared
directly to the pinion on the hinge pin and the quadrant can thereby be dispensed
with.
Figures 1 and 2 show in side elevation and plan partly in section our improved
hydraulic mechanism for opening and closing the breech of a heavy gun. A is
the gun attached to the cradle B, which is arranged to recoil along the slide of a
gun-mounting.
The hydraulic cylinder C is attached at one end to the cradle B; and at the
other end to the gun by a band C so that the gun and cylinder always move
together. The cylinder is provided with a piston rod C' attached to the rack D,
which gears with the quadrant E; the latter is geared to the intermediate
pinion F the upper part of which gears with the pinion G¹ on the hinge pin G of
the breech-mechanism. The rotation of this hinge pin in one direction unscrews,
withdraws and swings the breech block to one side of the gun; and its rotation in
the opposite direction reverses these movements and closes the breech.
The quadrant E is attached to a bracket E' secured to the gun body A. When
water under pressure is admitted to the cylinder C in front of the piston C' through
the communicating pipe C³ the piston is caused to move backward, communicating
its motion to the rack D, quadrant E, pinions F and G thereby causing the
rotation of the hinge pin G, and the breech is consequently opened.
To close the breech, water under pressure is admitted to the cylinder C through
the communicating pipe C to the rear of the piston C³, pushing the latter forward
in the cylinder, moving the rack, quadrant, pinions aud hinge pin in the reverse
direction.
A safety bolt H is provided so that should water be accidentally admitted to
the cylinder C, the mechanism, will not be worked to open the breech.. The
bolt His arranged to be swung back, clear of the quadrant E, by a lever H¹
provided for that purpose. A spring H' serves to keep this bolt against a stop H³
in the position for locking the quadrant E. When the bolt H has been swung
back, the quadrant E has begun its movement, the lever H' may then be released,
as the bolt H will be prevented from falling back to the locked position by the
teeth of the quadrant E, and will be thus held as long as the breech is open, that
is to say it cannot fall into the locked position until the breech is closed, but will
then be immediately pulled to that position by the spring H..
When it is desired to work the breech by hand, (as well as by hydraulic power)
the pinion G¹ is attached, to the hinge-pin G by means of a clutch which will
permit the disengagement of the said hinge pin from the pinion G¹. To prevent
displacement of the hydraulic apparatus when it is so disengaged we provide the
end of the rack with a stop D' to act against the pivot bracket E'. This stop and
the bolt H will thus serve to keep all the various parts of the mechanism in their
proper positions for the ready re-engagement of the pinion G¹ by means of the
clutch with the hinge-pin G.
As the whole, of this hydraulic apparatus partakes of the recoil movement, we
provide telescopic pipes of an improved description for the admission and escape
of water to or from the hydraulic cylinder. These telescopic pipes are so
arranged that there is no displacement of water within them when the gun recoils
or, when it is moved backward or forward on its slide by hydraulic or. other
power.
Our improved telescopic pipes for supplying water to the hydraulic cylinder C
are shewn in longitudinal section in Figure 3. The outer tube A¹ is attached to
the gun cradle B so that it recoils therewith; it is provided with stuffing boxes
and glands at both ends, through which the inner tube B', passes, the latter. being
attached to the gun slide at C and C. The end at C' is made solid or closed and
to the other end the pipe B is attached. The pipe B' is connected to a swivel

page_text: joint, about which the gun and mounting are turned in elevation or depression,
aud thence it extends and is connected to the working valve on the gun platform.
As the outer tube A¹ is attached to the cradle B of the mounting it moves with
the said cradle when the gun recoils after firing, or when the latter is moved along
the gun slide after the recoil. The pipe B is connected to the hydraulic
cylinder C and serves to operate the piston of the latter as previously described.
The inner tube B is provided near the middle of its length with apertures
forming passages from its interior into the annular space, between it, and the outer
tube A which serve to allow free communication from the fixed pipe B' to the
moving pipe B. Therefore when the tube A moves along the tube B (as
previously set forth) no liquid can be displaced. We thus provide for a rigid
hydraulic connection and free passage from the working valve on the gun platform,
to the moving hydraulic cylinder attached to the gun.
In some cases we prefer to arrange the hydraulic apparatus so that the opening
of the breech will be effected automatically by the running out of the gun after
firing.
Figure 4 shews a modification of our improved hydraulic mechanism whereby it
is arranged to work automatically by the running out of the gun after recoil.
C is the hydraulic cylinder attached as before to the gun and cradle. The
piston rod C has the rack D attached thereto and the latter can be geared by the
pinion F to the hinge-pin G as shown in this figure, or through the quadrant E
shown in Figures 1 and 2. A. valve 1 is interposed in the pipes which supply
water under pressure to the hydraulic cylinder C.. For this purpose we prefer
using the ordinary well-known double piston-valve. The two pistons
connected by means of a lever I so that when one valve is out, the other will be
in; and the pipes will be so connected that the rear end of the piston will be
always open to pressure when the gun is out, (excepting in such cases as will
be described) tending to keep the breech of the gun closed.
are
The lever 1 is connected to a bar J supported.in suitable guides, and bound to
the gun or cradle by a spring J strong enough to work the pistons I, I This
bar is indirectly connected to the bolt H serving to lock the piston rod C¹ and
rack D in its position when the block is closed, for the purpose described with
reference to Figures 1 and 2 Sheet 1.
The bar J is provided with a.projection or snug J' straight or flat on one side,
but rounded or bevelled on the other side, so that when the gun recoils after firing,
it will easily pass over the head of the spring worked bolt HT attached to the gun-
slide, or other non-recoiling part of the gun mounting. This bolt H' is provided
with a head similar in shape to the snug J on the bar J.
On the gun being run out after firing, the straight side of the snug J will come
against the straight side of the bolt head H¹ and will thereby be arrested.
The gun continuing to run out, the bar J will have a movement to the rear,
relatively to the gun, the lever I will be moved to the position shewn in dotted
lines, and the bolt H disengaged from the rack D. When the lever begins to
move, it first releases the bolt, and then, cuts off communication from the cylinder
at the rear of the piston, and the pressure supply, and at the same time between
the front and the exhaust; when the lever has arrived at the position shewn in
dotted lines the pressure connection to the front of the piston is full open, as is
also the exhaust connection to the rear, and the piston rod is consequently
compelled to travel out of the cylinder C, thereby working the rack D, and opening
the breech.
By varying the proportions and positions of the various parts of the mechanism
it may be arranged to commence opening the breech when the gun has been run
back only a few inches, or it may be delayed until the gun in its return has almost
arrived at the firing position.
To close the breech, it is only necessary to release the bolt H', when the bar J
actuated by the spring J will pull the lever nearly to its original position, (but
not quite, as the bolt H* cannot engage with the rack D until the latter has come

page_text: to the position it occupies when the breech is closed) so that the pressure con-
nection is open again to the rear of the piston, thereby compelling the piston rod C
and rack D to travel inwards and close the breech.
When this is accomplished, the bolt H will immediately be caused to drop into
its socket by the further movement of the bar J and the pull of the spring J.
In some cases, we prefer to combine our improved hydraulic apparatus for
operating the breech of heavy guns, with the hydraulic service used for running
the gun out to the firing position after recoil, and in such a manner that the water
supply to the run out cylinder is utilized in the breech opening and closing cylinder,
thus dispensing with the working valve on the gun platform, and the telescopic
pipes previously described. This modification of our invention is shewn in
sectional plan and elevation in Figures 1 and 24; A is the gun attached to the
cradle B. C is the hydraulic cylinder, attached to the gun and cradle, to recoil
therewith as previously described. Its piston rod C₁ and rack D actuate the
quadrant E in the manner described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. M and N
are hydraulic cylinders attached to the gun slide and arranged to run the gun
outward or inward along the said slide as water under pressure admitted to the
cylinder M or N, acts on the end of the ram O attached to the cradle B.
Under normal conditions the cylinder M is always kept in communication with
water under pressure from its working valve on the gun platform, so that the gun
may be kept in a definite position for loading and firing and after the recoil will
again return to the same position, without the necessity of any manipulation of the
hand lever of the working valve.
An ordinary three ported slide valve Q is attached to the cylinder C with pipes
or passages from the two outside ports communicating with the two ends of the
cylinder C. The casing outside the valve is in communication with the cylinder M
by a pipe leading from the ram O in communication with the cylinder M; and the
middle port of the valve is likewise connected by a pipe to the ram O but is in
communication with the cylinder N.
A non-return valve is fitted in both these pipes or passages permitting the flow
of water only in one direction.
When the gun is in the firing position, and the breech closed, the D-slide or
valve Qwill be in such a position that it allows the free passage of water under
pressure between the run-out cylinder M and the rear or piston-rod end of the
breech cylinder C thereby tending always to keep the breech closed; the other
end of the cylinder is consequently in connection with the exhaust through the
cylinder N.
The spindle of the slide valve Q is connected to a bar J by a lever, or other
convenient means. The said bar is provided with a snug or projection J' and as
the gun returns to the firing or loading position this projection engages with a
spring-worked bolt in the manner already described so that the D slide is caused
to travel in the proper direction to put the piston-rod end of the cylinder C open
to the exhaust through the central port, and the other end of the cylinder open to
pressure from the cylinder M: thereby effecting the opening of the breech.
The release of the bar J from the spring-worked bolt by the handle R allows
the spring J' to again reverse the D slide and move it to the position shewn in
Figure 2 the breech being consequently immediately closed. We may also apply
a hand lever J to the bar which actuates the slide valve Q and thereby work
the breech by hand independently of the automatic attachment, or we may use
both together.
The non-return valves in the communicating pipes serve to keep the breech
closed when the gun is being run in, as when this is being done the cylinder N
will be open to water under pressure, and the cylinder M will be open to the
exhaust. The water would therefore tend to enter the rear of the cylinder C
through the ports of the slide valve Q, but the non-return valve in the communi-
-cating pipe prevents this; and should any leaking take place, the escape of water
from the piston rod end of the jcylinder C would be prevented by the non-return

page_text: valve in the pipe communicating with the cylinder M so that the piston of the
Instead of the slide valve Q as shewn we may use a piston or any other type of
valve suitable for our purpose.
To provide for a more correct method of sighting heavy guns by means of
apparatus of the class which has one of its sights fixed on the roof of a turret or
in some other convenient position and the other sight movable vertically, we employ
devices whereby the angular movement imparted to the gun for any given range
will be simultaneously transmitted to the movable sight.
Our improved sighting apparatus is shown in elevation and horizontal section in
Figures 5 and 6. a is the trunnion of the gun slide B*. a¹ is a piece attached to the
gun-slide forming part of or attached to the trunnion a, the latter being supported
on a bracket or bearing in any convenient manner. On the lowest part of the
piece a a vertical guide-piece c is attached carrying the sliding die or block c¹.
A pivot attached to the latter is carried in a bearing forming part of the guided
cross head d, the latter being attached to the horizontal bar d².
في
The crossbead d is suitably guided on a horizontal bar d' attached to a fixed
part of the platform. The other end of the bar d' gears with a pinion d'. The
latter through the pinion c actuates the vertical bar e the upper part of which
supports the rear sight. The fore-sight is supported on the roof of the
turret or from a support inside the turret as may be found most convenient.
When the piece a is moved about the axis of the trunnion a in elevating or
depressing the gun, the guide-piece e and the die or block cl will be carried with it;
but the pivot of the latter being attached to the horizontally sliding crosshead d
moving on the guide d' the die or block el will also be constrained to move along
the guide e, and in such a manner that the pivot will always move horizontally
along a line parallel to the guide bar d and the latter being placed at an angle
of 90° with the vertical line intersecting the trunnion a the motion of the pivot o
is necessarily tangential to the arc az at the point where it is intersected by the
said vertical line ie. the zero position of the gun; similar motion is therefore
transmitted through the bar d and pinions d' and c¹ and the vertical bar e to the
rear sight f.
Either the rear sight or front sight may be attached to the vertical moving
bar e.
The pinion e' is not absolutely necessary, as the bare may be geared directly
to the pinion d' the latter being made wide enough for that purpose; but the
arrangement shown affords a convenient method of arranging the sights trans-
versely as in most cases it is not convenient to arrange the sight/immediately
over the bar d².
To facilitate the loading of turret or barbette mounted guns and to obviate the
necessity of placing in the gun a separate loading tray to protect the threads of the
breech screw, as is now usual, when the projectile and powder charges are being
rammed, we combine this loading tray with our improved ammunition cage.
In turret guns which are loaded in any position of their horizontal training and
to which the ammunition is conveyed from a chamber below the turntable, our
ammunition cage is usually arranged to rise in a nearly vertical position behind.
the breech of the gun, when the gun is in its loading position.
A tray for carrying the projectile is arranged on the upper part of the cage and
below this tray are receptacles for the half or quarter powder charges. The
tray on which the projectile is carried is so constructed that it has a longitudinal
movement relatively to the cage. It is so arranged that when the hydraulic
rammer operates to ram the projectile home, an auxiliary rammer arranged in
connection therewith engages with the rear part of the aforesaid tray, so that both
projectile and tray partake of the same movement and enter the gun together;
when the tray arrives at the end of its travel, that. is to say, completely over the
screw threaded portion of the breech, the rammer still continues its forward
movement until it pushes the projectile home. The rammer being withdrawn, the

page_text: tray is left in the gun and is securely held there by an automatic bolt provided
for that purpose. The various sections of the powder charges are then placed on
the loading tray and all of them are rammed home in one operation and the
rammer is again withdrawn with the loading tray, the bolt being previously
released. The cage can now be lowered and the breech closed.
Figures 7 and 8 show in sectional elevation our improved ammunition cage S
in its upper position, carrying the projectile T on the tray S¹ ready for ramming,
and the powder charges in the receptacles S conveniently arranged below the
tray S. When water under pressure is admitted to the rammer U, the auxiliary
ram U pushes the lower part S of the loading tray into the gun A, and the
rammer head U pushes the projectile T along the upper part S¹.
The part S of the tray may be arranged to move simultaneously with the
projectile T or it may be arranged to move into the gun before any movement is
given to the projectile. We prefer the latter method so that absolute protection
is given to the screw threads of the breech before the projectile is moved.
When the projectile T is rammed home, and the rammer bead U* withdrawn
from the gun A the tray S S is left in the position shewn in Figure 8 held by
the locking bolt V. The powder charges are now taken from the receptacles or
pockets S and placed on the extended tray S¹ S². Water pressure again being
admitted to the rammer U, the charges are all pushed into the gun A together.
The rammer head U is again withdrawn, the locking bolt V being at the same
time actuated to release the tray by a short handle Vi provided for this purpose.
The tray S is likewise withdrawn from the gun A to the position shewn on
Figure 7.
To provide for the proper arrangement of the tray S with the auxiliary
rammer U¹ it is furnished with a notch S* which as the cage S rises to the proper
loading position, engages with a hook U formed on the end of the auxiliary
rammer U. This hook is provided with inclined faces so as to allow it to engage
easily with the notch St.
In our improved loading apparatus we also provide a locking bolt W to prevent
the cage S being accidentally lowered when the tray S is in the gun A. The
hook U of the auxiliary rammer U is formed with a projection U which serves,
as it acts on the arm W to withdraw the bolt W from the socket S* in the
cage S and to keep it free from this socket when so withdrawn as shewn in
Figure 7, but these parts are so arranged as to allow the bolt W to engage with
the said socket 'S" when the auxiliary rammer U₁ moves forward to the position
shewn in Figure 8. A spring W serves to force the bolt W outward, immediately
the auxiliary rammer U is moved, so that from the initial outward movement. of
the rammer U until its complete withdrawal the cage is held immovable, but as
soon as withdrawn, the cage S is immediately and automatically liberated.
For turret or barbette guns which are intended to be loaded in any position of
their training, but to which the ammunition is conveyed through a central tube of
small diameter revolving with the turntable, our improved ammunition cage or
carrier is constructed as follows:--that is to say, in two parts, an upper and a
lower part; the upper part carries the projectile and powder charges and is
supported on the lower part so that it can be rotated through a considerable arc of
movement, and thereby take the proper position relatively to the lower part, being
vertical when it is being raised and lowered, and horizontal or nearly so when
being loaded and unloaded. The lower part is guided in its ascent and descent in
suitably formed guideways attached to the revolving tube and to the turntable at
the upper part of its travel, where they are inclined to the rear so that the cage
may take its proper position behind the breech of the gun. The powder charges
are carried in receptacles at one side and slightly above the projectile so that when
the latter has been rammed home, the former may be lowered into the same position
and successively rammed home. Suitable safety stops are provided to insure the
two parts of the cage always being in their proper position relatively to each
other.

page_text: In some cases we provide for carrying the powder charges in receptacles below
the projectile whence they can be lifted by hand and placed in the projectile tray
and rammed in one operation. We can if desired also combine with this.
ammunition cage, the improved loading tray previously described, thus dispensing
with the necessity of using a separate tray to protect the threads of the breech.
screw.
Our improved ammunition cage with the raising and lowering apparatus is
shewn in sectional side elevation and end elevation in Figures 9 and 10. It.
consists of two parts: an upper part 9 carrying the projectile and powder-charges.
and a lower part g' provided with rollers h so that it can be readily raised and
lowered along the guides i attached to the rotating central tube secured to the-
turntable a portion of which is shewn at X. Figure 9 shows the ammunition cage.
at the bottom of the tube j in position for receiving the projectile from the tray k...
The upper part g is shewn turned round to the same angle as the tray k. It is.
arranged to turn about the pivot g of the lower part gl of the cage. When the
projectile has beer, pushed into its pocket or tray k¹ from the tray k and the
powder charges have been likewise pushed into the receptacles * above and at
one side of the pocket k¹ the upper part g is turned round the pivot into the
vertical position shewn in dotted lines. It can then he raised along the straight
guides attached to the tube; until it comes to the lower floor of the turntable X,.
it is then deflected to the rear along the inclined part of the said guides i until it
comes to the position shown at the top in Figure 9.
or
The upper part g is then again turned about the pivot g² when it assumes the
position shewn in full lines behind the breech of the gun A.
The projectile can then be rammed into the gun, either by a hydraulic or hand
rammer.
When the rammer has been withdrawn, the powder charges are lowered from
the pockets g to the pocket or tray k' just vacated by the projectile, whence they
can be rammed into the gun.
To obviate the necessity of using a separate loading tray, we sometimes combine
with the pocket or tray k¹ a movable lower part, similar to that described with
reference to Figures 7 and 8.
Instead of carrying the powder charges in pockets above the projectile, we-
sometimes carry them below as shewn on Figures 11 and 12 whence they may be
transferred by hand to the tray and all rammed home together.
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. The hydraulic cylinder attached to the gun, or cradle, or to both, and having
its piston rod provided with, or connected to a rack for operating the quadrant and.
pinions to turn the hinge pin of the breech mechanism, and thereby open or close
the breech, substantially as described.
2. The hydraulic cylinder attached to the gun, or to the cradle or to both and
having its piston rod provided with a rack to operate directly on a pinion fixed on
the hinge-pin of the breech mechanism for opening or closing the breech of the.
gun, substantially as set forth.
3. In combination with the hydraulic apparatus, arranged to recoil with the
gun and having the toothed gearing for operating the hinge pin, the interposed
valve arranged to open and close the water passages so that the breech may be
opened automatically by the running out of the gun, substantially as set forth.
4. The telescopic supply pipes for the hydraulic cylinder, arranged so that no.
displacement of liquid takes place within them when the gun recoils.
5. The apparatus consisting of the parts herein described with reference to
Figures 1 and 2 or to Figure 4 or to Figures 14 24 for the purposes specified.
6. In an apparatus for sighting a barbette or turret gun, the guide attached to.
the trunnion piece or frame with its sliding die or block and pivot connected to a.
B

page_text: bar which is constrained to move, so that the angular motion of the pivot is
tangential to the arc of movement at its zero point.
7. The combination with a gun, of the apparatus described with reference to
Figures 5 and 6 substantially as set forth for the purpose specified.
8. In an apparatus for loading guns; an ammunition cage with a moveable tray
arranged to enter the gun, and protect the breech screw, during the process of
loading substantially as set forth.
9. In an apparatus for loading guns, a bydraulic rammer provided with an
auxiliary rammer arranged to work a loading tray in and out of the gun, during
the process of loading.
10. The apparatus consisting of the parts described with reference to Figures 7
and 8 combined and operating as above set forth, for the purposes specified.
11. An ammunition cage consisting of an upper and a lower part and having the
upper part arranged to turn about a pivot on the lower part, so that it may be
placed in convenient positions for receiving the ammunition from the magazines
and for allowing it to be rammed into the gun substantially as set forth.
Dated this 4th day of November 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.