Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Aug., 1886.
Complete Left, 31st May, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 1st July, 1887.
[Communicated from abroad by LA COMPAGNIE ANONYME DES FORGES DE
CHATILLON ET COMMENTRY, of Paris, in the Republic of France.]
543333
I JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to depressing or retiring gun carriages or gun carriages
which enable the gun to sink out of sight of the enemy and raise it en barbette or in
position for firing when required.
Depressing carriages arranged according to this invention are provided with an
armour plated casing or shield so arranged that the gun and artillery men are
protected from projectiles in all directions including falling shots or shells the upper
part being closed by an armoured roof presenting an opening of sufficient size to
admit of raising the gun the said opening being closed by sliding plates or doors when
the gun is lowered within the casing or chamber-The gun is elevated and placed in
position for firing by means of improved mechanism operating as hereinafter
described.
This improved carriage is arranged in a circular pit the roof of the casing being
level with the surrounding soil so as to offer absolutely no mark at which the enemy
could take aim. The edge of the pit is lined or covered with a thick ring of metal in
a similar manner to the glacis of an armoured turret and the circular roof of the
casing enclosing and turning with the gun is composed of thick metal plates and
revolves within the said ring-This circular roof presents a long and narrow opening
for the passage of the gun and this opening can be closed when required by sliding
doors running on rollers and operated by a rack and pinion arrangement worked by
hand or by any suitable mechanical or automatic devices controlled by electricity or
otherwise. The carriage is capable of turning on a vertical axis being supported on a
pivot in the bottom of the pit and on rollers preferably in the form of spheres

page_text: travelling in circular guides at a suitable distance from the centre. The trunnions of
the gun are supported in the extremities of two cheeks forming a lever capable of
turning on a horizontal axis and provided at the other extremity with a suitable
counterweight. The supports for this lever are connected to the base of the carriage
which is provided with flanges embracing a collar on a support fixed in the bottom of
the pit and carrying the pivot on which the whole apparatus turns.
The movements of the lever are checked or moderated by means of a dash pot or
cataract arrangement and the gun can be laid at any desired angle by means of a
hand wheel and worm gear operating a screw connected to the breech end of the
gun-The gun is retained in the depressed position within the casing by means of a
brake strap acting on a pulley on the axis of the lever.
The roof or cover of the carriage is supported on a frame work constructed with
sheet and angle iron consisting mainly of two beams at the sides of the opening
resting at their extremities upon uprights standing up from a ring forming part of
the base of the apparatus-Two vertical partitions are connected to these beams and
divide the chamber into three compartments.
The carriage is caused to rotate on its vertical axis by means of pinions engaging
with a circular rack fixed in the bottom of the pit and these pinions are preferably
connected to the base of the carriage in order that they may be less liable to be
affected by shots sticking the cover. The two main parts of the framework supporting
the armoured cover are connected together at each end of the opening by thick straps
or plates of iron somewhat in the form of a horse shoe and of sufficient strength to
enable them to stop a projectile.
Dated this 31st day of Angust 1886

page_text: 1 JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex do
hereby declare the nature of this Invention which Invention has been communicated
to me from abroad by La Compagnie Anonyme des Forges de Chatillon et Commentry
of Paris in the Republic of France and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This Invention relates to depressing or retiring gun carriages or gun carriages
which enable the gun to disappear or sink out of sight of the enemy and raise it
en barbette or in position for firing when required.
Depressing carriages for disappearing guns arranged according to this invention
are provided with an armour plated casing or shield so arranged that the gun
and Artillery men are protected from projectiles in all directions including falling
shots or shells the upper part being closed by an armoured roof presenting an
opening of sufficient size to admit of raising the gun the said opening being
closed by sliding plates or doors when the gun is lowered within the casing or
chamber.
The carriage is arranged in a circular pit the armoured roof of the casing being
level with the surrounding soil so as to offer absolutely no projection or mark at which
the enemy could take aim. The edges of the pit are lined or covered with a thick
ring of metal in a similar manner to the glacis of an armoured turret and the circular
roof of the casing enclosing and turning with the gun is composed of thick metal
plates and revolves within the said ring.
This circular roof presents a long and narrow opening for the passage of the gun
when elevated for firing and to render the protection complete when the gun is
lowered this opening can be closed by sliding doors running on rollers and operated by
a rack and pinion arrangement or by any other suitable mechanical or automatic
devices controlled by electricity or otherwise.
The carriage of the disappearing gun is capable of turning on a vertical axis being
supported in a pivot working in a socket firmly fixed in the bottom of the pit and on
rollers preferably in the form of spheres travelling on circular guides at a suitable
distance from the centre. The trunnions of the gun are supported by a lever or
levers capable of turning on a horizontal axis and provided with a suitable
counterweight. The supports for this lever are connected to the base of the carriage

page_text: which is provided with flanges embracing a collar on a support fixed in the bottom
of the pit and carrying a pivot on which the whole apparatus turns.
The movements of the lever are checked or moderated by means of a dashpot or
cataract arrangement and the gun can be laid at any desired angle by means of a hand
wheel and worm gear operating a screw connected to the breech end of the gun. The
gun is retained in the depressed position within the casing by means of a brake strap
acting on a pulley on the axis of the lever.
The roof or cover of the carriage is supported on a framework constructed with
sheet and angle iron consisting mainly of two beams at the sides of the opening
resting at their extremities upon uprights standing up from a ring forming part of the
base of the apparatus. Two vertical partitions are connected to these beams and divide
the chamber into three compartments.
The carriage is caused to rotate on its vertical axis by means of pinions engaging
with a circular rack fixed in the bottom of the pit and these pinions are preferably
connected to the base of the carriage in order that they may be less liable to be
affected by shots striking the cover. The two main parts of the framework supporting
the armoured cover are connected together at each end of the opening by thick straps
or plates of iron somewhat in the form of a horseshoe and of sufficient strength to
enable them to stop a projectile.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to the several
figures on the annexed sheets of drawings the same letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in all the figures.
The accompanying drawings illustrate an arrangement for a disappearing gun
awarding this invention, Figure 1 being a vertical section of the pit with the gun in
the elevated position and Figure 2 a plan partly in section.
Figure 3 is a section taken at right angles to the section in figure 1 and Figure 4
is a corresponding plan. In Figures 1, 2 and 3 the gun is represented elevated in
position for firing the position when lowered being indicated by line and dot in
Figure 1.
The edge of the pit is lined by an inwardly projecting metal ring A figures 1 and 3
within which revolves an armoured cover B protecting the interior of the pit and
provided with an opening C of sufficient size to admit of the gun being elevated to a
suitable height for firing or being lowered within the pit for charging.
This opening
is capable of being closed as indicated in figure 4 when the gun is lowered by means
of three moveable armour plates or sliding shutters 4, 41 4¹¹ travelling on rollers under
the cover B being worked by handles 6, 61 6¹¹ operating pinions engaging with racks
attached to the shutters.
The depressing carriage or support for the gun is arranged centrally within the pit
and rotates upon a solid steel socket or bed plate D firmly imbedded in the concrete
foundation.
The carriage is constructed with a circular base E which supports a strong horizontal
axis F on which two cheeks or levers G carrying the gun are capable of oscillating;
The rotating base E is provided with flanges which embrace a collar on the fixed
part or bedplate D and retain the rotary part E in position as indicated in Figure 1.
The flanged part is made in sections which are bolted together after they are placed in
position.
The upper extremities of the levers G carry the trunnions of the gun and the lower
extremities carry counter weights H. These levers are connected by links I to the
cylinder of a hydraulic brake J which limits and regulates the motion during the
elevating and lowering. The cylinder of the brake J is provided with a stationary
piston K fixed at the middle of a rod the extremities of which are attached to the
base E of the carriage being arranged parallel with a guide on which the brake
cylinder slides.
A ring or collar on the gun behind the trunnions is connected by a rod M to a
screw with a slide or nut 2 working in a straight line being operated by a handle 1.

page_text: This line forms the chord of an arc of a circle whose centre coincides with the centre of
the joint by which the rod M is connected to the gun when the latter is lowered.
The chord being almost parallel with the arc it results from this arrangement that the
position of the gun when lowered is scarcely changed or affected by the action of the
screw and nut 2 as will be readily understood by referring to Figure 1. The position
of the gun when lowered may consequently be regulated as most convenient for loading
and the angle of the gun when in the firing position can be adjusted at the same time.
The amplitude of the movement in raising and lowering the disappearing gun is
sufficient to place it in the firing position and to bring it back to the interior of the pit
beneath the cover or roof B. The gun is retained in the lowered position by means
of a weight P acting through a lever on a brake strap which embraces a pulley N
fixed on the axis of the levers G and the gun is raised by the action of the counter-
weights H when the brake is taken off or eased by lifting the weight P by a lever
handle O.
The roof or cover B may be made with two armour plates which are supported on
a framework Q, Figure 2, constructed with angle bars and plates consisting mainly of
two vertical supports or girders R at the sides of the opening C, which are supported
at their extremities upon an annular plate or ring frame S, connected to the base of
the carriage. Two vertical partitions are riveted to the sides of the girders R and to
corresponding uprights connected to the ring S. Three compartments are thus formed
on each side of the opening C, under the armoured roof of the pit. The central
compartments are occupied by the men working the gun, the others being employed to
contain the projectiles or ammunition.
The ring S, carrying the framework, rotates upon a series of spheres T, working in
two tracks or grooves of semicircular form in section one of which is formed in the
under-side of the rotating ring S, the other being in the upper side of a corresponding
stationary ring U, fixed in the concrete foundation.
The gun is caused to rotate on a vertical axis by means of pinions X engaging with
a circular rack X' figure 3, fixed in the bottom of the pit. Motion is imparted to these
pinions by bevel gear V operated by crank handles. These pinions travel round the
rack and impart motion to the gun through the medium of the base of the carriage or
support to which they are attached, the frame-work Qof the armour being carried
round by the base supporting the gun, there being no rigid connection between the
parts in order that the full force of shocks caused by the impact of projectiles on the
armour may not be transmitted to the gun and its supports.
The two parts of the roof frame separated by the opening C, are connected together
by thick straps or plates Y (figures 1 and 2,) of iron, somewhat of the form of a horse-
shoe and of sufficient strength to enable them to stop projectiles of a certain size, which
might reach the gunner through the opening.
The angular adjustment of the gun in a vertical direction can be effected at all times
when the gun is in the elevated, or preferably when the gun is in the depressed position.
The limit of motion in elevating the gun is definitely fixed by the counterweights H
coming in contact with the base of the carriage or support. The direction of the gun
in a horizontal direction is marked on a graduated scale on the base of the carriage.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
First. A depressing or retiring carriage for a disappearing gun arranged in a pit
protected by an armoured ropf or cover presenting an opening for the passage of the
gun when elevated to the firing position in combination with sliding shutters capable
of closing the said opening. when the gun is in the lowered position substantially as
hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Second. The arrangement of sliding shutters working on rollers and operated by
toothed gear and racks, receiving motion from hand-power or other suitable mechanical
or automatic devices controlled by Electricity or otherwise so as to shut or open
.

page_text: according as the gun is lowered for charging or elevated for firing substantially as
hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Third. In combination with a disappearing gun the two curved plates Y at the front
and rear of the opening C, serving to connect the parts of the framework and to
protect the gunner, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawings.
Fourth. The arrangements and combinations of parts constituting an improved
depressing or retiring carriage for a disappearing gun and capable of being planted in
the open ground or of forming part of the armament of a fort, substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Dated this 31st day of May 1887.
J. HENRY JOHNSON,
Agent.