Improvements relating to Breech-loading Guns and to Apparatus for Facilitating the Loading of such Guns in Turrets or Barbettes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Feb., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 19th Nov., 1890-Accepted, 27th Dec., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Breech-loading Guns and to Apparatus for
Facilitating the Loading of such Guns in Turrets or Barbettes.
We, JAMES HORNE and JOHN HENRY RICHARD WHINFIELD, both of 2, Victoria
Mansions, in the City of Westminster, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to breech-loading guns and comprises improved apparatas for
facilitating the loading of such guns in turrets or barbettes, and improved means for
affecting the opening and closing of the breech.
With breech-loading guns mounted in turrets or barbettos, it has heretofore been
customary to provide for bringing the ammunition into the loading position behind
the breech of the gan either by means of hand-tackle, or by means of a cage or hoist
travelling in a trunk situated ontside of the circumference of the rotating platform or
turntable, or by means of a cage, hoist or charge-carrier arranged to be raised and
lowered in guides within a central trunk or tube attached to, and revolving with the
said platform or turntable. Various arrangements of apparatus for this purpose have
been described in the Specifications of the following former Letters Patent, viz. :-
No. 279 dated 2nd January 1884, No. 16,736 dated 20th December 1884, No. 9375
dated 1st July 1887, No. 10,179 date: 20th July 1887, and No. 11,732 dated
14th August 1888.
In turrets or barhette gun-mountings wherein the ammunition-trunks are situated
outside of the circumference of the platform or turntable, especially in cases where the
sides of the ship are not armoured above the water-line, it is usual to provide an
armoured structure for enclosing the said trunks; this structure adds greatly to the
weight of armour required for the protection of the gun-mounting. With the central
loading arrangement, a considerable saving in the weight of armour required for the
protection of the gun and trunk is effected.
Now one object of our present invention is to provide for enabling the gun or guns
to be loaded from one or more fixed loading positions as in cases where the ammuni-
tion-trunks are situated outside of the circumference of the platform or turntable,
whilst retaining the advantage in respect of the diminished weight of armour, afforded
by the use of the central tube.
For this purpose we employ ammunition-trunks which are arranged beneath the
rotating platform or turntable and within the circumference of the same, and
which extend downward from the said platform or turntable to the magazines
or banding-rooms below the deck; and we provide suitable openings in the said
platform or turntable, which, when the latter is in the fixed loading position, will
coincide with the said trunks. Moreover we provide suitable means whereby the
ammunition may be raised through the said trunks and through the openings in
the platform or turntable and thus brought into position behind the breech of the
guns, so that it may be rammed into the same. These improvements are obviously
applicable to turrets or barbettes provided with one or more guns.
In carrying this part of our said invention into practice, we arrange the ammuni-
tion-trunks beneath the platform or turntable and in rear of the guns within the
inner circumference of the roller-path of the said platform or turntable. We find it
advantageous to provide around the openings in the platform or turntable which
correst ond with the aforesaid trunks, short frames or trunks which will form pro-
longations of the fixed or stationary trunks, and which are provided with shutters or
covers actuated by hand-mechanism or otherwise. To permit the loading of the
guns, the said turntable must be trained so that the openings therein will coincide

page_text: with the fixed trunks; and we provide automatic or other suitable devices for locking
the turntable in this position. Each of the said trunks is providod with suitable
guides, and a charge-carrier (preferably a rotary charge carrier, such for instance as
that described in the said former Specification No. 9375) is arranged to be raised
and lowered in the said guides. A cage is arranged to move up and down through
a short distance in suitable guides in the upper end of the trunk, so that it can be
raised with the charge-carrier through the corresponding opening in the turntable.
The said cage is provided with suitable guides, which may be either straight or curved,
and which are adaptet to receive the charge-carrier from the guides in the trunk and
form continuations of these guides. One or more suitable supports are provided in
the trunk for sustaining the cage in its lowermost position while the charge-carrier
is being lowered and raised independently of the said cage in the fixed or stationary
trunk.
The mechanism for raising and lowering the charge-carrier is so arranged and the
cage is so constructed that, when the said charge-carrier is moved upward and enters
the said cage, the latter will rise with the charge-carrier in the continued upward
movement thereof. A suitable locking device is provided for retaining the cage and
charge-carrier at the top of their stroke or movement during the loading of the gun,
and suitable means are provided for disengaging them to permit their descent under
the influence of gravity when the chain or rope is slackened or the hydraulic ram
relieved from pressure.
The charge-carrier and the cage are both provided with suitable safety-catches or
brakes to prevent the falling of the said charge-carrier or the cage should they
become detached from the elevating mechanism.
The rammer of each gun (which is preferably constructed substantially as described
in the Specification of former Letters Patent dated 20th July 1887, No. 10,180) is
carried by the platform or turntable.
The raising and lowering of the charge-carrier and cage may be effected by means
of a hydraulic ram acting directly on the charge-carrier, or by means of chains or
ropes passing over suitable pulleys and attached to the said carrier, and operated by
hydraulic or other suitable motive power, or by any other convenient means.
We find it advantageous to employ for this purpose, a series of pulleys arranged
upon the said cage in a manner somewhat similar to those used on the slide described
in the aforesaid former Specification No. 10,179, so that the charge-carrier alone may
be raised in the trunk until it reaches the desired position in the cage, and the said
cage and carrier will then be raised together; and so that the said cage and carrier
will be lowered together until the said cage rests upcn its supports in the trunk, after
which the carrier will descend without the cage.
The gun is mounted on a suitable chassis, bean or slide and is brought to a con-
venient angle for loading. The breech may be opened by any well-known or other
suitable mechanism, for example the hydraulic mechanism described in the Specifica-
tion of former Letters Patent granted to us and dated 23rd October 1888,
No. 15,188.
In some instances, however, we prefer to employ the following mechanism for
opening and closing the breech, viz. :- -We employ a breech-block having the usual
interrupted or segmental screw-threads, and provided with a continuous rack one part
cf which serves as a toothed segment on the rear end of the breech-screw for rotating
the said breech-screw about its axis, and the other part of which extends longitudinally
along one side of the breech-screw and serves for withdrawing the said breech-screw
from the breech of the gun. A wheel provided with helical teeth and fitted to rotate
upon a pin or stud fixed in the bracket which carries the breech-screw when out of
the breech, is geared with this rack and with another wheel also having helical teeth
and fixed on the shaft or pivot-pin about which swings the said bracket for carrying
the breech-screw when out of the breech. Suitable gearing is provided for retating
this shaft or pivot-pin continuously in either direction to effect the complete opening
and closing of the breech by means of the said toothed wheels and rack. By these
means the breech-screw can be withdrawn from the breech and moved or swung

page_text: about the said pivot-pin into such a position as to permit the aforesaid charge-carrier
to be moved into the loading position behind the breech of the gun, without any risk
of its coming into contact with the breech-screw.
We sometimes combine this breech-opening mechanism with hydraulic apparatus,
similar to that described in our said former Specification No. 15, 188, for operating
the said mechanism. It is obvious, however, that the said mechanism can be operate i
by any other suitable means either by hand or otherwise.
Dated this 19th day of February 1890.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Breech-loading Guns and to Apparatus for
Facilitating the Loading of such Guns in Turrets or Barbettes.
We, JAMES HORNE and JOHN HENRY RICHARD WHINFIELD, both of 2, Victoria
Mausions, in the City of Westminster, Engineers, 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 apparatus for
facilitating the loading of such guns in turrets or barbettes, and improved means for
effecting the opening and closing of the breech.
With breech-loading guns mounted in turrets or barbettes it has heretofore been
customary in some instances to provide for bringing the ammunition into the loading
position behind the breech of the gun either by means of hand-tackle, or by means of
a cage or hoist travelling in a trunk situated outside the circumference of the rotating
platform or turntable. In other instances the raising of the charge has been effected
by means of a chargo carrier arranged to be raised and lowered in guides within a
central trunk or tube attached to, and revolving with, the platform or turntable,
various arrangements of apparatus for this purpose having been described in the
Specifications of former Letters Patent viz.-No. 279 dated 2nd January 1884,
No. 16736 dated 20th December 1884, No. 9375 dated 1st July 1887, No. 10,179
dated 20th July 1887, and No. 11732 dated 14th August 1888.
In turret or barbette gun-mountings wherein the ammunition trunks are situated
outside of the circumference of the platform or turntable, especially in cases where the
sides of the ship are not armoured above the water line, it is usual to provide an
armoured structure for enclosing the said trunks; this structure adds greatly to the
weight of armour required for the protection of the gun mounting. This is avoided
in the central loading arrangement and a considerable saving in the weight of armour
required for the protection of the gun mounting and trunk is thereby effected.
Now one object of our present invention is to provide for conveniently loading the
gun or guns from one or inore fixed loading positions whilst retaining the advantage
in respect of the diminished weight of armour, afforded by the use of the central tube.
For this purpose we employ fixed ammunition trunks which are arranged beneath
the rotating platform or turntable and within the circumference of the same, and
which extend downward to the magazines or handing rooms below the deck and we
provide apertures or openings in the said platform or turntable, which openings when
the latter is in the fixed loading position, will coincide with the said trunks so that the
ammunition may pass up through the turntable. Moreover we provide means as
hereinafter described whereby the ammunition may be raised through the said trunks
and through the openings in the platform or turntable to the loading position whence
it may be rammed into the gun. These improvements are obviously applicable to
turrets or barbettes provided with one or more guns.
Our improved breech-mechanism is chiefly designed to afford convenient means for
operating the breech-block so that when open it will not prevent or interfere with the
ascent of the charge-carrier to the loading position.

page_text: Figure 1 is a vertical section of a barbette with guns mounted therein.
Figure 2 is a vertical section in a plane at right angles to that of Figure 1.
Figures 3, 4 and 5 show portions of our apparatus drawn to an enlarged scale,
Figure being a horizontal section, and Figures 4 and 5 being rear and side elevations,
partly in vertical section.
Figures 6 and 7 are vertical sections in planes at right angles to each other
illustrating modifications of our invention.
Figur s 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 illustrate our improved breech mechanism and are
hereinafter described.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A A are the walls of the barbette; A¹ is the platform or turntable; B, B are the
guns C are the fixed ammunition trunks.
In carrying our invention into practice we arrange the ammunition trunks (beneath
the platform or turntable A' and in rear of the guns, that is to say the said trunks
though not central with the turntable are within the inner circumference of the roller-
path D of the same, and in such a position that the apertures in the turntable will
coincide herewith when the said turntable is in the loading position.
We find it advantageous to provide around these openings or apertares in the plat-
form or turntable short frames or trunks for supporting the guides hereinafter
described the said frames or trunks being provided with shutters or covers E actuated
by hand mechanism F or otherwise to open and close the apertures. We provide
automatic or other suitable devices for locking the turntable in the loading position.
In the arrangement shown, the locking bolt G is actuated by a hand wheel F through
the medium of the gear-wheels F1 F2 and this hand-wheel also works the shutters E
by means of the gearing F3, F4.
Each of the fixed trunks C is provided with suitable guides H for a charge-carrier J
(preferably a rotary charge-carrier, such for instance as that described in the said
former Specification No. 9375) which charge-carrier is arranged to be raised and
lowered in the trunk or tube urder control of the said guides by any convenient
means. For instance we may use ropes or chains actuated by hydraulis rams or by
other means; or we may employ direct acting hydraulic rams. In the arrangement
of our invention shown in Figures 1 and 2 a cage K is arranged in guides K' in the
upper end of each fixed trunk C, so that it can be raised with the charge-carrier J
through the corresponding trunk C in the turntable A' when the same is locked in
the loading position. The cage K has within it guides K2 which are designed to form
a continuation of the guides H in the fixed trunk C, so that the cage may be termed
a movable or adjustable prolongation of the trunk C whereby the control of the charge-
carrier is maintained till the same has arrived at the loading position. The guides K³
may be either vertical, inclined or curved. One or more suitable supports K³ are
provided in the trunk limiting the downward movement of the cage and for sustaining
the said cage in its lowermost position while the charge-carrier is moving below it in
the fixed or stationary trunk C.
The aforesaid guides are formed of angle or other bars and are attached to the sides
of the trunk and cage in such a manner as to permit the free upward and downward
movement of the charge-carrier.
The mechanism for raising and lowering the charge-carrier J is so arranged and
the cage is so constructed and arranged in combination with the said charge-carrier
that when the latter in its upward movement has entered and engaged with the cage,
the said cage will, without any interruption of the upward movement of the charge-
carrier rise with the said carrier through the trunk on the platform until the carrier
is in its highest position. A suitable locking device is provided for retaining the cage
and charge-carrier in their highest positions during the loading of the gun, and means
are provided for disengaging them to permit their descent under the influence of
gravity when they are released from the restraint of the elevating mechanism.
prefer to use, for this purpose, on each side the cage a catch L arranged to engage
with a projection on the cage and operated by means of a foot lever or treadle L, the
We

page_text: two catches L being connected and caused to operate together by a link L. For
locking the cage in the trunk C in the proper position for the carrier to enter the
same we use a locking bolt or locking bolts. And for releasing the said cage and
locking it and the carrier to each other we provide the following devices that is to say,
at one or both sides of the cage a bell-crank lever X and a locking bolt X¹ are
arranged as shown. The said lever has a hook X* on the end of its long arm arranged
to enter a socket in the trunk. The carrier J has a tappet Y arranged to strike the
short arm of the bell-crank lever as the carrier ascends within the cage thereby
actuating the lever to withdraw the hook from the socket. Connected with the bell-
crank lever is a lever Z so arranged and operating in combination with the locking
bolt that the withdrawal of the said bolt from the socket in the trunk and the locking
of the carrier to the cage are effected simultaneously. The cage then being released
from the trunk rises with the charge carrier as above described.
In order that the charge carrier may be securely locked to the cage in its ascent
and descent the hooked end of the lever X bears against the guide way K' and thereby
holds the bolt X' immovably in its place until the said hooked end of the lever X has
gain descended with the cage and can enter its socket in the tube. The weight of
the carrier acting on the inclined surface Z' of the locking bolt X³ will force it back
cising the lever Z to turn about its axis thereby forcing the hooked end of X into
i.s socket.
The charge-carrier and the cage are both provided with suitable safety-catches or
brakes M M to prevent the falling of the said charge-carrier or the cage should they
become detached from the elevating mechanism.
As above stated we may use any suitable means for raising and lowering the charge-
carrier. A convenient arrangement of chains or ropes for this purpose is shown in
the accompanying drawings. The chains or ropes N pass around or over suitable
pulleys O and are attached to the said carrier at O* the said chains or ropes being
connected with hydraulic or other suitable machinery P or means for operating them.
We find it advantageous to employ a series of pulleys 01, 0, 0'; 0 is attached to
the trunk C and 03, 03 are attached to the cage K in a manner somewhat similar to
those used on the slide described in the aforesaid former Specification No. 10,179.
The arrangement of these pulleys is such that by pulling the chain or rope N
down the charge-carrier Jay be raised in the trunk until it reaches a position
in the cage K where it will engage with the same, the cage and carrier being then
aised together as aforesaid. Then by slackening the chain or rope N the K
and carrier J. can be lowered together until the said cage rests upon its support K*
in the trunk below the platform A' after which the carrier will descend without
the cage.
cage
In the modification shown in Figures 6 and 7 the charge-carrier J has a vertical
downward extension J' whereby it is guided in the trunk C by means of the afore-
said guides H; guides H¹ are provided in the short trunks C or are otherwise
supported on the turntable so that the charge-carrier may be guided therein
(preferably by the aid of rollers J') while completing its upward movement and
while in the loading position, that is to say the charge-carrier while approaching and
while remaining in the loading position is controlled and supported by the extension
on the charge-carrier in the guides H and H'.
Each gun is mounted upon a suitable chassis, beam or slide B¹ so arranged that the
gun can be conveniently run in and out and brought to a convenient position and
angle for loading. To permit the loading the turntable must be trained to the
loading position that is to say, the position in which the trunks or frames and
guides on the turntable coincide with and form prolongations of the fixed trunks and
guides.
Any well known or other suitable breech mechanism may be used, for example
the hydraulic mechanism described in the Specification of former Letters Patent
granted to us and dated 23rd October 1888, No. 15,188.
We prefer however, to employ for opening and closing the breech the improved
mechanism shown in Figures 8 to 13.

page_text: Figure 8 is a rear end elevation.
Figures 9 and 10 are longitudinal sections on the lines x, x and y, y, Figure 8.
Figure 11 is a plan of the breech end of the gun.
Figure 12, is a side elevation of the same.
Figure 13 is a side view of a portion of the breech block.
The breech-block Q is formed with the usual interrupted or segmental screw-
threads and when withdrawn is carried by the bracket Q hinged at Q to a plate R
attached to the breech end of the gun B. The said breech-block is arranged in
combination with devices for opening or for closing the breech by the continuous
rotation of a shaft R¹ in one or the other direction. For this purpose we provide
the said breech-block with a series of teeth S formed as shown most clearly in
Figure 13, that is to say, they are formed or arranged obliquely or askew upon the
block and extend circumferentially a short distance around the rear end of the block
and thence longitudinally to the other end of the same forming a continuous rack
consisting partly of a circumferential toothed arc or segment S₁ on the rear end of
the breech-block Q and partly of a straight portion S along one side of the breech-
block. With this rack geared a wheel T having belical teeth and fitted to rotate
upon a pin or stud T' fixed in the bracket Q. In the opening of the breech this
pinion working in the circumferential part of the rack rotates the block on its axis
to release it from the screw threads in the gun and by its action upon the straight
portion of aforesaid rack withdraws the block from the gun, these movements being
reversed in closing the breech. The wheel T is geared with a wheel U also having
helical teeth and fixed on the shaft or pivot-pin Q of the said bracket or ring Q.
The said shaft Q3 is geared with the transverse shaft R' by a worm and worm
wheel R³, R³, and this shaft R' has on it the handle R whereby the mechanism is
operated. Or other suitable gearing is provided for rotating the shaft or pivot-pin Q³
continuously in either direction, to effect the complete opening or closing of the
breech through the medium of the said toothed wheels T, U, and rack S, St. With
this arrangement of mechanism the breech screw can be withdrawn from the
breech and swung about its pivot into a position which will permit the aforesaid
charge-carrier J to rise into the loading position behind the breech of the gun clear
of the breech-mechanism.
The breech-block is capable of rotary and longitudinal movement in the ring Q
In its rearward movements in the said ring it bears against a stop pin V controlled
by a stud V¹ with inclined faces and by a spring V. When the block has been
withdrawn so far that the pin V comes opposite a notch or socket W therein the
continued action of the shaft and worm R' R' causes or tends to cause the ring Q¹
to turn about its pivot or hinge Q thereby forcing the pin V to enter the socket W
under the pressure of the inclined surface of the stud V¹. The block is then locked
to the ring and both swing together. The spring will keep the bolt in place when
freed from the stud V1.
We sometimes combine this breech mechanism with hydraulic apparatus, similar
to that described in our said former Specification No. 15,188, for operating the said
mechanism or it may be combined with any hydraulic or other apparatus arranged
to give continuous rotary motion to the pivot-pin or shaft Q³.
We are aware that it has already been proposed to employ a breech block or
screw provided with a rack similar to that hereinbefore specified, but we are not
aware of any arrangement of gearing for operating the said breech screw which
would permit the use of a charge carrier such as we have herein described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we wish it understood that
we claim:-
First. The fixed vertical guides below the turntable within the circumference
thereof, but not central therewith which guides are made continuous through the said
turntable when it is in the loading position but which at other times do not prevent
the rotation or training of the same.

page_text: Second. The combination, with the turntable, of a fixed trunk below and a trunk
or frame on the same provided with guides for the charge-carrier and so arranged
relatively to an aperture in the turntable that the charge can be raised through the
fixed trunk and turntable directly and continuously to the loading position.
Third. In combination with the main or fixed trunk and guides and the charge-
carrier, the cage also provided with guides and arranged to receive the said carrier,
as it rises in the trunk, and rise with it through and above the turntable so that the
guides in the cage form a continuation or prolongation of the guides in the trunk as
and for the purposes specified.
Fourth. The modification of our invention in which the charge-carrier is con-
structed with the vertical extension arranged in combination with the aforesaid guides
in the fixed trunk and on the turntable, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
Fifth. The means for locking the charge-carrier to the cage and the cage to the
fixed trunk, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
Sixth. The means for locking the charge-carrier to the cage and the cage to the
fixed trunk in combination with means for locking the cage to the trunk on the
platform, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Seventh. The combination with the trunk of the shutter and the locking gear
operating as and for the purpose described.
Eighth. The herein described mechanism comprising the breech block or screw
and the gearing for operating the same so that the breech screw when open will
permit the charge-carrier to rise to the loading position clear of the breech
mechanism.
Ninth. The combination, with the breech screw and supporting ring or bracket,
of the locking device arranged and operating substantially as an for the purpose
specified.
Tenth. A turret or barbette gun-mounting wherein the rotating platform or turn-
table and the apparatus carried thereon are arranged in combination with trunks or
frames and guides below and above the turntable and with charge elevating
apparatus constructed and operating substantially as described with reference to the
accompanying drawings for the purposes specified.
Dotad this 10th day of November 1890.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicants.