Improvements relating to Breech-loading Guns and their Mountings, and to Apparatus for Working such Guns.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Oct. 1888
Complete Specification Left, 23rd July, 1889-Accepted, 23rd Oct., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Breech-loading Guns and their Mountings,
and to Apparatus for Working such Guns.
We, JOHN HENRY RICHARD WHINFIELD, and JAMES HORNE, 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 their mountings.
One object of our said invention is to provide for changing the armament of turrets
which have been designed to carry muzzle-loading guns, that is to say, to provide for
the use in such turrets of breech-loading in place of muzzle-loading guns.
Another object of our said invention is to provide improved means for facilitating
the opening and closing of the breech of a gun, and for enabling such opening and
closing to be effecte in any position of the gun upon the recoil-slides.
Our said invention, moreover, comprises various other improvements, whereby we
provide for the washing out, loading and sighting of heavy breech-loading guns or.
ordnance, for controlling the rotation of the turret or turntable, and for performing
other operations necessary in working such guns.
In turrets provided with muzzle-loading guns, it is usually necessary to bring the
guns to a fixed loading position, the shot-hoists and rammers being fixed on a deck.
outside the turret.
It is, therefore, frequently necessary to rotate or train the turret through a
large angle in order to return the gun to the loading position, thus causing much loss
of time.
In
According to one part of our invention, we substitute for the muzzle-loaders thus
arranged, breech-loading guns with which we combine improved means whereby the
loading thereof may be effected in any position to which the guns may be trained or
whilst they are being trained; by our improvements, moreover, we are enabled to
accomplish this result without the use of apparatus comprising a central tube and
charge-carrier for raising the ammunition into the loading position behind the breech
of the gun, as described in the specifications of the following former Letters Patent,
viz. :-No. 279 dated 2nd January 1884, No. 16,736 dated 1st July 1884, No. 9375
dated 1st July 1887, and No. 10,179 dated 20th July 1887. In some instances
however, where practicable, we prefer to employ such charge-elevating apparatus.
We mount the gun or guns upon fixed recoil-slides or upon pivoted beams.
turrets wherein the centre of the platform or turntable is not available for the
introduction of a central charge-elevating apparatus such as that described in the said
former specifications, we provide circular overhead runner-ways, which are secured to
the underside of the upper deck and extend around the turret, and which are provided
with suitable tackle whereby the ammunition may be brought into position to be
placed upon loading-trays carried by the turret. On the platform or turntable behind
the breech-end of the guns, we provide suitable rails or tracks upon which are
arranged to move charge-carriers adapted to receive the ammunition from the loading
trays and convey the same into position for ramming into the guns. We prefer to
employ revolving charge-carriers such as are described in the said former specifications
No. 279 and No. 9375.

page_text: For moving the said carriers to and fro upon the rails, we prefer to employ
hydraulic apparatus, that is to say, we connect each carrier with the ram or piston of
a hydraulic cylinder secured to the platform or turntable between the said rails;
and
we provide suitable shutters or covers for protecting the said rams or pistons and
keeping them clean when moved out of their cylinders. We can, however, employ
other suitable means for moving the said carriers along the rails. The apparatus for
performing this operation is arranged to be controlled by levers from a convenient
platform through the medium of gearing of any suitable description.
Behind each gun we mount upon the platform or turntable a telescopic rammer such
as that described in the said former specification No. 16,736 or that described in the
specification of former Letters Patent No. 10,180 dated 20th July 1887. These
rammers are so arranged that the charges and projectiles can thereby be pushed from
the charge-carriers into the guns.
For controlling the rotation of the turret or turntable, we provide an automatic
device for cutting off the supply of steam or water to the motor used for effecting
such rotation. In a central tube of the turret we provide a circular rack, with which
is geared a pinion fixed on a vertical shaft. This shaft is connected by suitable gearing
with a horizontal shaft having fixed thereon a long pinion geared with a pinion which
also serves as a nut and which is fitted upon a screw-threaded part of another
horizontal shaft suitably connected with the admission-valve of the motor. This shaft
is provided with suitable means for operating it by hand in the ordinary manner.
The said nut is, however, so arranged, that, while the turret is rotating, the said nut
will be driven by the long pinion and, by its action upon the said shaft, will cut off,
or tend to cut off the supply of steam or water to the said motor. Therefore, to
cause the turret to rotate, it is necessary to continually turn the hand-wheel to
counteract the effect of the travel of the nut-pinion caused by the continuous rotation
of the long pinion actuated by the circular rack and gearing, and as soon as the hand-
gear is released, the rotation of the turret will be automatically arrested.
To provide for facilitating the sighting or laying of the gun, in a mounting wherein
the gun is arranged to recoil in the line of its axis upon a pivoted beam combined
with hydraulic apparatus for raising and lowering it, we attach to the structure of the
turret a bracket to which is pivoted a lever. One arm of this lever is connected to
the ram of the hydraulic apparatus by a pin or stud working in a slot, or by other
convenient means. The other arm of the said lever is provided with a toothed
segment which is geared with a pinion connected by suitable gearing with a vertical
rack connected with the rear sight-bar.
In a mounting wherein the gun is arranged to recoil upon fixed slides and not
necessarily in the line of its axis, and wherein the gun is supported by its trunnions
in blocks arranged to be moved up and down by hydraulic or other power to permit
of obtaining the required angles of elevation and depression without employing a
large port-hole or embrasure, we modify the construction of our apparatus for sighting
or laying the gun as hereinafter described, that is to say-We employ elevating
nechanism wherein a rack is arranged to work between vertical guides on the carriage
and is formed with a slot in which slides a nut on a vertical screw-spindle passing
through bearings in the ends of the rack and suitably secured in the said rack. The
said nut is attached to a pivot-piece on the gun by a short link. A pinion is geared
with the said rack and is arranged to be rotated for elevating the gun, the said nut
and screw-spindle moving as part of the said rack during such elevation. To provide
for the adjustment of the apparatus to suit the varying position of the trunnions in
their vertical guides, as the gun is raised and lowered, the aforesaid screw-spindle is
provided with a hand-wheel secured thereto by a key fitting in a long keyway in the
said spindle. By rotating this hand-wheel in either direction, the screw-spindle may
be turned so as to raise or lower the nut in the slot of the rack. By means of a
vernier scale on the nut and another scale behind it, the quadrant elevation of the gun
can be read. The scale-plate is adjustable, to suit the varying vertical position of the
trunnions of the gun, by means of a nut working on a vertical screw-spindle, on the
upper end of which is a pinion geared with a spur-wheel on the main screw-spindle.

page_text: This is a slight modification of elevating mechanism which has been heretofore
employed and in which the elevating pinion being set in motion through an ordinary
train of spur-wheels and pinions. We combine, with the said elevating pinion,
mechanism such as that described in the specification of former Letters Patent
No. 9373 dated 1st July 1887 and illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings
accompanying the said specification. Moreover we prolong the said main screw-
spindle and provide the upper end thereof with a suitable head arranged to work in
or upon or between bars coupled to two links suspended from pivots which are
equidistant from the upper surface of the recoil-slide, so that the said bars will always
he parallel to the fixed line of recoil. One of the said links is provided with an arm
having thereon a toothed segment, which is connected by suitable gearing with a rack
carrying the rear sight-bar.
Our improved mechanism for opening and closing the breech is constructed as
hereinafter described, that is to say,We employ devices for partially rotating the
breech-screw, withdrawing the same from the breech and swinging or turning it upon
or about a hinge-pin to permit the washing out and loading of the gun; and we
arrange these devices in combination with hydraulic apparatus for operating them.
We sometimes employ devices substantially similar in construction and operation to
those described in the specifications of former Letters Patents No. 3402 dated
5th March 1887, and No. 9813 dated 12th July 1887. For operating these devices,
however, we employ hydraulic apparatus which is more advantageous and effective
than that described in the said specification No. 9813. In the apparatus therein
described, the hydraulic cylinder is arranged to move transversely to the axis of the
gun between the recoil-slides, and in order to obtain the required travel or movement
of the said cylinder for performing the operations above mentioned, either the recoil-
slides must be arranged at such a distance apart as to make the gun-carriage
occupy an objectionable amount of space in the turret or barbette, or trains of
gearing must be used which are inconvenient in respect of their proportions or
otherwise.
In our improved hydraulic apparatus, we provide for obtaining the requisite travel
or movement of the hydraulic cylinder by arranging the said cylinder to move in a
direction parallel to the recoil-slides. For this purpose, the piston-rod is firmly
attached to one of the recoil-slides and the cylinder is arranged to move on the said
rod in or upon guides on the said slide. The said cylinder is provided with a rack
that is geared with a pinion formed or fixed on a bevel wheel which is fitted to rotate
upon a pin or stud fixed in the said slide. This bevel wheel is geared with another
bevel wheel mounted upon a shaft which is firmly connected with the gun or with the
cradle carrying the same, and which is parallel to the piston-rod. The last named beve!
wheel is carried in a bearing or bracket on the recoil-slide and is arranged to rotate
with its shaft which is preferably square; therefore the gearing can be operated
whatever may be the position of the gun upon the recoil-slides. The said shaft is
geared by means of bevel-wheels with the vertical shaft or hinge-pin of the breech-
screw-carrier, as described in the said specification No. 3402.
In gun-mountings wherein we employ charge-carriers as above described or as
described in the aforesaid specifications No. 279, No. 16,736, No. 9375 and No. 10,179,
and wherein the charge-carrier must be brought close to the breech of the gun, we
prefer to modify the construction of the mechanism described in the said former
specification No. 9813 as follows, viz. :-
We provide the breech-screw with a toothed segment which is geared with a rack
formed with a sleeve. This sleeve is fitted loosely upon a nut formed with a pinion
and fitted upon a vertical screw-spindle supported in bearings on the breech-screw-
carrier. The said screw-spindle is connected by suitable gearing with the hinge-pin
of the said carrier and the said hinge-pin is arranged to be turned by means of the
hydraulic apparatus above described. By the rotation of the said hinge-pin and
screw-spindle, the said nut, pinion and rack are raised and the breech-screw thus
turned to disengage it from the breech. The pinion formed with the nut is made with
helicoidal teeth so that it will, when the breech-screw has been partially rotated by

page_text: the action of the said rack, gear with the screw-threads of the said breech-screw and
effect the withdrawal thereof. By the continued rotation of the hinge-pin, the
breech-screw will then be turned or swung upon or about the said hinge-pin, and
moved clear of the breech so that the charge-carrier can be brought into the proper
position for loading the gun.
Our improved hydraulic apparatus can also be applied to other devices for opening
and closing the breech in the manner above described.
For washing out the gun after each discharge, we provide a cylindrical chamber
which is divided into two compartments by radial partitions. In the larger of these
compartments is arranged a vane which is formed or fixed on a central shaft extending
through a stuffing-box in one end of the said chamber and supported in a suitable
bearing at the other end thereof. On this shaft outside the cylinder.is fixed a pinion
geared with a rack formed or fixed on a hydraulic cylinder arranged to move to and
fro on a fixed piston, so that the said vane may be partially rotated alternately in
either direction. The larger compartment of the said chamber is connected near each
of the said partitions with a tank or reservoir containing the liquid to be used for
washing out the gun, the apertures being provided with suitable non-return valves.
The smaller compartment of the said chamber is connected with the pipe or tube for
delivering the said liquid into the bore of the gun, and communicates with the larger
compartment through apertures in the partitions provided with suitable delivery
valves. Each movement of the hydraulic cylinder causes the said vane to move
around from one of the radial partitions towards the other, and the said vane, in each
partial rotation thereof, draws liquid from the tank or reservoir into the larger com-
partment of the said chamber and at the same time forces liquid from the said
chamber through the smaller compartment and through the said pipe or tube into the
gun. The apparatus is, therefore, always ready for use and there is no necessity to
wait for the automatic re-adjustment of any of the parts, as in apparatus heretofore
devised for washing out guns.
The aforesaid tank or reservoir is sometimes arranged like a jacket around the said
cylindrical chamber. It may, however, be arranged in any other convenient place
and be connected by pipes with the said chamber.
In some instances, the cylindrical chamber is arranged to carry the vane and to be
partially rotated alternately in either direction, and the central shaft and radial
partition are fixed, the shaft being made hollow to serve for the discharge of the
liquid.
Instead of the hydraulic cylinder for operating the wash-out apparatus, we some-
times employ pneumatic or other suitable apparatus for this purpose.
Dated this 22nd day of October 1888.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the 'Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (AMENDED).
Improvements relating to Breech-loading Guns and their Mountings,
and to Apparatus for Working such Guns.
:
'We, JOHN HENRY RICHARD WHINFIELD, and JAMES HORNE, both of 2 Victoria
Mansions, 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 their mountings.
One object of our said invention is to provide for changing the armament of turrets
which have been constructed to carry muzzle-loading guns, that is to say, to provide
for the use, in such turrets, of breech-loading in place of muzzle-loading guns. Our
improvements are, however, applicable to other turret or barbette mountings.
Another object of our said invention is to provide improved means whereby the
opening and closing of the breech of a gun may be effected in any position of the
gun upon the recoil-slides.

page_text: Our said invention, moreover, comprises various other improvements whereby we
provide for the washing-out, loading and sighting of heavy breech-loading guns, for
controlling the rotation of the turret or turntable, and for performing other operations
necessary in working such guns.
In turret or barhette mountings, the shot-hoists and rammers are usually secured to
a deck outside the turret or turntable; the guns, therefore, require to be brought to a
fixed loading position after firing. For this purpose, it is frequently necessary to
rotate or train the turret or turntable through a large angle, and inuch loss of time is
thus caused.
According to one part of our invention we combine, with breech-loading guns,
improved means whereby the loading thereof may be effected in any position to which
the guns may be trained or whilst they are being trained, and whereby we are enabled
to accomplish this result without the use of apparatus comprising a central tube and
charge-carrier for raising the ammunition into the loading position behind the breech
of the gun as described in the specification of the following former Letters Patent
viz. No. 279, dated 2nd January 184; No. 16,736 dated 20th December 1884;
No. 9375, dated 1st July 1887; No. 10,179 dated 20th July 1887; and No. 11,732
dated 14th August 1888. Where practicable, however, we prefer to employ charge-
elevating apparatus of the kind or class described in the said former specifications.
In the accompanying drawings we have shown how our said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a plan, partly in horizontal section, of a turret with two guns mounted
therein according to our said invention, a portion of the armoured wall and upper deck
being removed.
Figure 2 is a vertical central section of the said turret, some of the parts being
removed.
Figure 3 is a vertical section on the line x, x, Figure 2, drawn to an enlarged
scale.
Figure 4 is a vertical central section of the said turret, also drawn to an enlarged
scale, showing various features of our said invention not illustrated in Figures 1
to 3.
Figure 5 is a vertical section on the line ¹, x¹, Figure 4, some of the parts being
removed.
Figures 6 and 7 are plans partly in horizontal section, drawn to the same scale as
Figures 4 and 5, the guns and parts of the mounting being removed.
and
Figure 8 shows a portion of Figure 4 drawn to a still further enlarged scale.
Figure 9 is a rear elevation, partly in transverse section.
Figure 10 a vertical longitudinal section on the lines x², ², and ³, x³, Figure 9,
Figure 11 a plan, partly in horizontal central section, drawn to an enlarged scale,
illustrating our improved means for opening and closing the breech.
Figure 12 is a vertical central section of one form of our improved wash-out
apparatus.
Figure 13 is a horizontal section on the line y, y, Figure 1.2.
Figure 14 is a horizontal section on the line y¹, y', Figure 12.
Figure 15 is a side elevation.
Figure 16 a vertical central section on the line 1, 2, Figure 15, and
Figure 17 a plan, some of the parts being removed, illustrating another form or
modification of the said wash-out apparatus.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the armoured wall of the turret; B is the floor, platform or turntable
thereof. C, C are the guns, each of which is mounted upon a top-carriage D
arranged to recoil with the gun upon a slide E capable of vertical movement about
a horizontal pivot. E¹.
In turrets wherein the centre of the platform or turntable is not available for
the introduction of a central charge-clevating apparatus such as that described in
the said former specifications, we provide the following means whereby the gun

page_text: +
On
may be loaded in any position to which it may be trained or whilst it is being
trained, that is to say-We employ circular overhead runner-ways a which are
secured to the underside of the upper deck and extend around the turret, and
which are provided with suitable tackle as at a whereby the ammunition may be
brought into position to be placed upon loading trays carried by the turret, so
that the ammunition may be passed through ports in the side of the turret.
the platform or turntable behind the breech end of the guns we provide suitable
rails, tracks or slides c upon which are arranged to move charge-carriers d adapted
to receive the ammunition from the loading trays b and to convey the same into
position for ramming into the guns. We prefer to employ for this purpose revolving
charge-carriers such as are described in the said former Specifications No. 279 and
No. 9375.
For moving the said carriers to and fro upon the rails or slides c we find it
advantageous to employ hydraulic apparatus, as follows, that is to say:-
-We
connect each carrier with the ram or piston e¹ of a hydraulic cylinder e secured
to the platform or turntable between the said rails or slides c, and we provide
suitable shutters or covers e² for protecting the said rams or pistons and keeping
them clean when moved out of their cylinders. The said hydraulic apparatus is
arranged to be controlled by levers or hand-wheels (not shown in the drawings)
arranged in any convenient position. Hand-wheels operated from the platform B¹
or from the outside of the turret are, moreover, provided for rotating the charge-
carriers d about their axis so as to bring the projectile and half-charges of powder
successively in front of the rammer, the said hand-wheels being connected with the
charge-carriers by suitable gearing so that each of the said carriers, whilst free to
move along the rails or slides c, may be rotated when required from one or the
other of the two stations. We can, however, employ other convenient means for
moving the said carriers d along the rails or slides e, and for rotating the said
carriers about their axis from the said stations whatever may be the position of the
said carriers upon their rails or slides. By these means we obviate the necessity
for the gunner's movement from one to the other end of the said rails or slides
for the purpose of rotating the charge-carrier.
We can, if desired, employ means other than those above described for conveying
the ammunition to the aforesaid charge-carriers which convey it from the circum-
ference of the turret or turntable to the loading position.
Behind each gun we mount upon the platform or turntable Ba telescopic rammer f
such, for instance, as that described in the said former specification No. 16,736, or
that described in the specification of former Letters Patent No. 10,180 dated
20th July 1887. These rammers are so arranged that the charges and projectiles
can thereby be pushed from one or the other of the charge-carriers d into the corre-
sponding gun, when the said charge-carrier is in the loading position.
The plat-
form B is, provided with arranged to rotate about a central tube g forming the pivot of
the turret and serving also as a passage for the rod hereinafter mentioned which
connects the valve of the turning-engine below with a lever in the turret, and for other
purposes.
For controlling the rotation of the turret or turntable, we provide apparatus, com-
prising an automatic device for cutting off the supply of steam or water to the motor
used for effecting such rotation; this device is illustrated in Figures 4 to 8. In the
stationary central tube 9 of the turret we provide a circular rack g¹ with which is
geared a pinion h fixed on a vertical shaft h. This shaft is connected by suitable
gearing with a horizontal shaft j on which is fixed a long pinion. This pinion is
geared with a pinion which also serves as a nut and which is fitted upon for a
horizontal screw-shaft k', this shaft is supported in suitable bearings so that it is free
to move longitudinally but is restrained from rotation. The said screw-shaft k¹ is
suitably connected with the-admission a valve of for stopping, starting or reversing the
motor. In the apparatus shown, this connection is made through the medium of
links, a bell-crank-lever k³ and a rod or link passing through the centre of
rotation of the turret. Suitable means are provided for operating the screw-shaft k¹

page_text: by hand; for instance, the said shaft is passed through a nut-pinion which is geared
with another pinion fixed on a shaft connected by suitable gearing with another
shaft 3, which is arranged to be operated by one or the other of two hand-wheels l
from the corresponding sighting-platform B2 or other convenient station. The nut-k
is, however, so arranged that, while the turret is rotating, the said nut will be rotated,
in a direction opposite to that of the-nut-pinion 1, by the circular rack-g' through the
medium of the pinion h, the shafts--and j, and the long pinion-/', and, by moving
To cause the rotation of the turret in either direction, the nut pinion 1 must be turned by
one of the hand wheels through the medium of the aforesaid gearing, so as to move the
screw shaft k¹ longitudinally and thus operate the aforesaid calce to start the motor in
the required direction.
The pinion j must be of such length that the nut k, whilst moving longitudinally
with the said screw-shaft, will remain in gear with the said pinion j. While the
turret is rotating, the nut k will be turned by the circular rack through the
medium of the pinion h, the shafts h¹ and j and the long pinion j', and thus caused to
travel along the screw-shaft k in the opposite direction to that in which the said shaft is
being moved by hand; the said nut k, therefore, by its movement along the said shaft k³,
will cut off, or tend to cut off the supply of steam or water to the said motor.
Therefore, to keep the turret rotating, it is necessary to continually turn the aforesaid
hand-wheel and thus counteract the effect of the travel of the nut-pinion k caused
by the continuous rotation of the same by the pinion j', and as when or soon after as the
hand-wheel ceases to be turned, the rotation of the turret will be automatically arrested.
In cases where the central tube is not available, we employ, for the purpose
above specified, a circular rack bolted or otherwise secured to the floor or plat-
form 3 or we employ other suitable means for transmitting rotary motion from
the turret to the shaft for the purpose specified. If the motor for rotating the
turret or turntable is carried on the platform, the pinion h instead of being geared
with the rack & may be geared with the motor direct or with any other suitable part
of the rotating mechanism.
The arrangement of controlling mechanism above described is applicablo in cases
where the turret or turntable is capable of rotation through a portion of a circle but
cannot be turned a complete revolution. The shaft must have sufficient travel to
permit this movement of the turret or turntable without the withdrawal of the said
shaft from its bearings.
In mountings such as that herein before described wherein the gun is arranged to
recoil in the line of fire upon a slide which is capable of adjustment about a horizontal
pivot and which is combined with hydraulic apparatus for raising and lowering it to
effect the vertical pointing or elevation of the gun, we provide as hereinafter described
for facilitating the sighting or laying the gun, that is to say we attach to the structure.
of the turret brackets m to which are pivoted levers n; one arm of each of these
levers is connected to the ram p¹ of the corresponding hydraulic elevating-cylinder p
by a pin or stud p² working in a slot n' in the lever n; or by other convenient means.
The other arm of the said lever is provided with a toothed segment n' which is geared
with a pinion q fixed on a shaft ql and connected by suitable gearing with a vertical
rack connected with the rear sight-bar .
The apparatus shown in Figures 4 to 8 is so arranged that both guns may be sighted
from one or the other of two positions. For this purpose, each of the shafts q' is
connected to a sight-bar on each side of the turret as follows, viz. :-Each shaft q
has fixed thereon a bevel-wheel 2, which is geared with a bevel wheel q* fixed on a
shaft on which is also fixed a spur-pinion 7 geared with one of the rack-bars r¹.
The shafts are geared with the shafts 98 through pinions q, q'. The shaft 78 on
the right-hand side of the turret is connected with the corresponding rack-bar by
a shaft q through bevel-wheels q°, q10 and a spur-pinion 9. The shaft q on the
left-hand side of the turret is connected with the corresponding rack-bar through
two spur-pinions, the pinion being keyed upon the shaft and the
pinion mounted loosely on the shaft the corresponding bevel-wheel g² is
keyed on the boss of the pinion q which is prolonged for this purpose. The

page_text: said shaft is thus connected to the shaft q without interfering with the motion
of the shaft and each sight is thereby connected with its corresponding gun,
i.e. the left-hand sights in each case are connected with the left-hand gun and the
right hand sights with the right hand gun. 2, 3 are the fixed fore-sights.
The pipes for conducting the liquid to the various hydraulic cylinders may extend
through the central tube in the usual manner.
Our improved mechanism for opening and closing the breech is constructed as.
hereinafter described, that is to say, we employ devices whereby the partial rotation
of the breech-screw, the withdrawal of the same from the breech. and the swinging or
turning thereof upon or about a hinge-pin to permit the washing out and loading of
the gun may be effected by the continuous rotation of a shaft; and we combine with
these devices hydraulic apparatus for operating the same. We sometimes employ
the devices described in the specification of the following former Letters Patent,
viz. No. 3402, dated 5th March 1887, No. 9813 dated 12th July 1887, and
No. 7435 dated 28th March 1888. For operating such devices, however, we provide
apparatus which is more advantageous and effective than that described in the said
specification No. 9813. In the apparatus therein described, the hydraulic cylinder
is arranged to move transversely to the axis of the gun between the recoil-slides, and
in order to obtain the required motion for performing the operations of turning the
breech-screw, withdrawing the same and swinging it upon or about the hinge-pin,
the recoil-slides must be arranged at such a distance apart as to make the gun-carriage
occupy an objectionable amount of space in the turret or barbette, or trains of gearing
must be used which are inconvenient in respect of their proportions or otherwise.
In our improved apparatus, we provide for obtaining the requisite travel or move-
ment of the hydraulic cylinder by arranging the said cylinder to move in a direction
parallel to the recoil-slides or to the axis of the gun.
In Figures 9, 10 and 11, we have shown a convenient and advantageous arrange-
ment of our apparatus for opening and closing the breech. F is a hydraulic cylinder
which is arranged to move to and fro in or between guides E on one of the recoil-
slides E, and in which is fitted a piston G the rod G₁ of which is firmly attached to
the said recoil-slide. The said cylinder F is provided with a rack F which is geared
with a pinion H formed or fixed on a bevel wheel J which is fitted to rotate upon a
pin or stud J¹ fixed in the said recoil-slide. This bevel wheel is geared with another
bevel wheel K mounted upon a shaft K which is connected with the gun or with
the cradle or top-carriage D, and which is parallel to the piston-rod G₁. The bevel
wheel K is carried in a bearing or bracket E on the recoil-slide E and is arranged
to rotate with its shaft K', which is preferably square as shown or is otherwise
suitably connected with the said bevel wheel so that it can slide longitudinally therein
but will rotate therewith. By this arrangement, the breech-mechanism can be
operated whatever may be the position of the gun upon the recoil-slides. The said
shaft K is geared by means of bevel-wheels L, M with the vertical shaft or hinge-
pin N of the breech-screw-carrier N. The mechanism for transmitting the required
motion from the hinge-pin N¹ to the breech-screw P may be of any suitable
construction.
In gun-mountings wherein we employ charge-carriers as above described or as
described in the aforesaid specifications No. 279, No. 16,736, No. 9375, No. 10,179
and No. 11,732, and wherein the breech-screw requires to be moved clear of the
breech to permit the charge-carrier to be brought into the loading position, we find
it advantageous to employ the mechanism shown in Figures 9, 10 and 11, which is a
modification of that described in the said former specification No. 7435, and is con-
structed as follows, viz. :-The breech-screw P is provided with a toothed seginent s
which is geared with a rack t' formed on a sleeve t. This sleeve is fitted loosely upon
a nut formed with a pinion 3 and fitted upon a vertical screw-spindle u supported
in bearings u³ on the breech-screw-carrier N. The said screw-spindle u has fixed thereon
a pinion geared through an intermediate wheel u³ with a pinion u* fixed on the
binge-pin N of the said carrier.
:
By the rotation of the said hinge-pin N' and screw-spindle u, the nut ; the

page_text: pinion and the sleeve t provided with the rack t¹ are raised and the breech-screw
thus turned to disengage it from the screw-threads in the breech of the gun. The
pinion is made with helicoidal teeth so that it will, when the breech-screw has
been partially rotated by the action of the said rack t', gear with the screw-threads of
the said breech-screw after the manner of a rack, and effect the withdrawal thereof
by the continued rotation of the hinge-pin; the breech-screw will then be turned or
swung in its carrier upon or about the said hinge-pin, and moved clear of the breech
so that the charge-carrier can be brought into the proper position for loading
the gun.
For washing out the gun after each discharge, we provide the improved apparatus
hereinafter described and illustrated in Figures 12 to 20.
In the form or modification of our wash-out apparatus shown in Figures 12, 13
and 14, Qis a cylindrical chamber, which is divided into two compartments by radial
partitions Q. In the larger of these compartments is arranged a vane or piston R
which is formed or fixed on a central shaft R' extending through a stuffing-box Qat
one end of the said chamber Q and supported in a suitable step or bearing Q³at the
other end thereof. On this shaft outside the cylinder is fixed a pinion S which is
geared with a rack T¹ formed or fixed on a hydraulic cylinder T. This cylinder is
arranged to move to and fro on a fixed piston T3 so that the said vane may be
partially rotated alternately in either direction, the said vane, in each stroke or
movement of the said cylinder, moving from a position near one of the partitions Q'
to near the other of the said partitions. The larger compartment of the said
chamber is connected, by a pipe U provided with branches U¹, U which open into
the said chamber near each of the said partitions, with a suitable tank or reservoir
containing the liquid to be used for washing out the gun, the said branch-pipes being
provided with suitable non-return valves Ü³. The said larger compartment of the
chamber is also connected (by branch-pipes V1, V2 provided with non-return
valves V³) in a similar manner with a pipe V for delivering the said liquid into the
bore of the gun. Liquid under pressure is admitted to the cylinder T through the
piston-rod T3 which is made hollow for this purpose and is connected with a suitable
distributing-valve.
Each stroke or movement of the hydraulic cylinder T, as above stated, causes the
vane R to move around from one of the radial partitions towards the other; the said
vane, in each partial rotation thereof, draws liquid from the aforesaid tank or reservoir
into the larger compartment of the said chamber and at the same time forces liquid
from the said chamber through the pipe V into the gun. The apparatus is, therefore,
always ready for use and there is no necessity to wait for the automatic re-adjustment
of any of the parts as in apparatus heretofore employed for washing out guns.
Instead of the two partitions Q' we sometimes use a single partition for separating
the inlet and outlet apertures.
In some instances, the cylindrical chamber is arranged to carry the vane and to be
partially rotated alternately in either direction, and the central shaft and radial
partition are fixed, the shaft being made hollow to serve for the discharge of the
liquid.
In the modification of our washout apparatus shown in Figures 15, 16 and 17, a
tank or reservoir W for containing the liquid is arranged above the chamber Q. The
pipes U1, U2, in this case, extend directly to the said tank, suitable non-return
valves Us being provided in the said pipes. X is a valve arranged to be operated by
a lever X for the purpose of distributing and controlling the flow of water to the
hydraulic cylinder T through the hollow rod T. X2, X³ are pipes for connecting
the said valve with the pressure-main and exhaust. X, Xare pipes connecting the
said valve with the ends of the cylinder T.
If desired the hydraulic cylinder may be connected with a three-armed lever, a
pin or stud projecting from the said cylinder into a slot in one of the arms of the
said lever and each of the other arms of the said lever being coupled to the plunger
of a pump arranged within the supply tank or reservoir, so that the liquid will flow
by gravity into the pump-chambers through suitable valves.
P

page_text: Instead of the hydraulic cylinder for operating our wash-out apparatus as above
described, we sometimes employ a hand-lever or pneumatic or other suitable
apparatus.
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 do not confine ourselves to gun-mountings wherein the gun is mounted upon
a recoil-slide pivoted at its forward end to the turntable, as our improvements are
also applicable to other gun-mountings, and we claim :—
First. A charge-carrier mounted on slides or rails on the platform or turntable
and arranged to convey the ammunition from the circumference of the turret or
turntable into the loading position behind the breech of the gun, for the purpose
above specified.
Second. The combination, with the said slides or rails and a revolving charge-
carrier travelling thereon, of means whereby the said charge-carrier may be rotated
from one or more stations, for the purpose above specified.
Third. The combination, with a charge-carrier arranged to move on rails or slides
on the platform or turntable as above specified, of means substantially such as are
herein described for conveying the ammunition to the said carrier, for the purposes
set forth.
Fourth. The combination, with a rotating turret or turntable, of the mechanism
constructed substantially as described with reference to Figures 4 to 8 of the drawings
for controlling the supply of fluid to the motor which rotates the said turret or
turntable, as, and for the purposes, above specified.
Fifth. The combination, with the ram of a hydraulic cylinder for elevating a gun,
of means whereby the sight-bar will be caused to move with the gun in the up-and-
down movement of the said ram, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Sixth. In combination with mechanism for opening or closing the breech of a gun
by the continuous rotation of a shaft, a hydraulic apparatus the cylinder of which is
parallel to the gun-slide or to the axis of the gun and which is arranged to operate
the said mechanism whatever may be the position of the gun upon the slide.
or
Seventh. The gun-mounting having our improvements embodied therein
incorporated therewith substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 to 8 of
the accompanying drawings.
Eighth. The improved apparatus constructed substantially as described with
reference to Figures 9, 10 and 11 of the accompanying drawings and operating as,
and for the purposes, above specified.
Ninth. The improved wash-out apparatus constructed substantially as described
with reference to Figures 12, 13 and 14, or to Figures 15, 16 and 17 of the drawings
and operating as, and for the purpose, above specified.
Dated this 201
11 1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 23rd July, 1889-Accepted. 23rd Oct.. 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Breech-loading Guns and their Mountings,
and to Apparatus for Working such Guns.
We, JOHN HENRY RICHARD WHINFIELD, and JAMES HORNE, 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 their mountings.
One object of our said invention is to provide for changing the armament of turrets
which have been designed to carry muzzle-loading guns, that is to say, to provide for
the use in such turrets of breech-loading in place of muzzle-loading guns.
Another object of our said invention is to provide improved means for facilitating
the opening and closing of the breech of a gun, and for enabling such opening and
closing to be effected in any position of the gun upon the recoil-slides.
Our said invention, moreover, comprises various other improvements, whereby we
provide for the washing out, loading and sighting of heavy breech-loading guns or
ordnance, for controlling the rotation of the turret or turntable, and for performing
other operations necessary in working such guns.
In turrets provided with muzzle-loading guns, it is usually necessary to bring the
guns to a fixed loading position, the shot-hoists and rammers being fixed on a deck
outside the turret.
It is, therefore, frequently necessary to rotate or train the turret through a
large angle in order to return the gun to the loading position, thus causing much loss
of time.
According to one part of our invention, we substitute for the muzzle-loaders thus
arranged, breech-loading guns with which we combine improved means whereby the
loading thereof may be effected in any position to which the guns may be trained or
whilst they are being trained; by our improvements, moreover, we are enabled to
accomplish this result without the use of apparatus comprising a central tube and
charge-carrier for raising the ammunition into the loading position behind the breech
of the gun, as described in the specifications of the following former Letters Patent,
viz. :-No. 279 dated 2nd January 1884, No. 16,736 dated 1st July 1884, No. 9375
dated 1st July 1887, and No. 10,179 dated 20th July 1887. In some instances
however, where practicable, we prefer to employ such charge-elevating apparatus.
We mount the gun or guns upon fixed recoil-slides or upon pivoted beams. In
turrets wherein the centre of the platform or turntable is not available for the
introduction of a central charge-elevating apparatus such as that described in the said
former specifications, we provide circular overhead runner-ways, which are secured to
the underside of the upper deck and extend around the turret, and which are provided
with suitable tackle whereby the ammunition may be brought into position to be
placed upon loading-trays carried by the turret. On the platform or turntable behind
the breech-end of the guns, we provide suitable rails or tracks upon which are
arranged to move charge-carriers adapted to receive the ammunition from the loading
trays and convey the same into position for ramming into the guns.
We prefer to
employ revolving charge-carriers such as are described in the said former specifications
No. 279 and No. 9375.
For moving the said carriers to and fro upon the rails, we prefer to employ
hydraulic apparatus, that is to say, we connect each carrier with the ram or piston of
a hydraulic cylinder secured to the platform or turntable between the said rails; and
we provide suitable shutters or covers for protecting the said rams or pistons and
keeping them clean when moved out of their cylinders. We can, however, employ

page_text: other suitable means for moving the said carriers along the rails. The apparatus for
performing this operation is arranged to be controlled by levers from a convenient
platform through the medium of gearing of any suitable description.
Behind each gun we mount upon the platform or turntable a telescopic rammer such
as that described in the said former specification No. 16,736 or that described in the
specification of former Letters Patent No. 10,180 dated 20th July 1887. These
rammers are so arranged that the charges and projectiles can thereby be pushed from
the charge-carriers into the guns.
For controlling the rotation of the turret or turntable, we provide an automatic
device for cutting off the supply of steam or water to the motor used for effecting
such rotation. In a central tube of the turret.we provide a circular rack, with which
is geared a pinion fixed on a vertical shaft. This shaft is connected by suitable gearing
with a horizontal shaft having fixed thereon a long pinion geared with a pinion which
also serves as a nut and which is fitted upon a screw-threaded part of another
horizontal shaft suitably connected with the admission-valve of the motor. This shaft,
is provided with suitable means for operating it by hand in the ordinary manner.
The said nut is, however, so arranged, that, while the turret is rotating, the said nut
will be driven by the long pinion and, by its action upon the said shaft, will cut off,
or tend to cut off the supply of steam or water to the said motor. Therefore, to
cause the turret to rotate, it is necessary to continually turn the hand-wheel to
counteract the effect of the travel of the nut-pinion caused by the continuous rotation
of the long pinion actuated by the circular rack and gearing, and as soon as the hand-
gear is released, the rotation of the turret will be automatically arrested.
To provide for facilitating the sighting or laying of the gun, in a mounting wherein
the gun is arranged to recoil in the line of its axis upon a pivoted beam combined
with hydraulic apparatus for raising and lowering it, we attach to the structure of the
turret a bracket to which is pivoted a lever. One arm of this lever is connected to
the ram of the hydraulic apparatus by a pin or stud working in a slot, or by other
convenient means. The other arm of the said lever is provided with a toothed
segment which is geared with a pinion connected by suitable gearing with a vertical
rack connected with the rear sight-bar.
In a mounting wherein the gun is arranged to recoil upon fixed slides and not
necessarily in the line of its axis, and wherein the gun is supported by its trunnions
in blocks arranged to be moved up and down by hydraulic or other power to permit
of obtaining the required angles of elevation and. depression without employing a
large port-hole or embrasure, we modify the construction of our apparatus for sighting
or laying the gun as hereinafter described, that is to say :-We employ elevating
mechanism wherein a rack is arranged to work between vertical guides on the carriage
and is formed with a slot in which slides a nut on a vertical screw-spindle passing
through bearings in the ends of the rack and suitably secured in the said rack. The
said nut is attached to a pivot-piece on the gun by a short link. A pinion is geared
with the said rack and is arranged to be rotated for elevating the gun, the said nut
and screw-spindle moving as part of the said rack during such elevation. To provide
for the adjustment of the apparatus to suit the varying position of the trunnions in
their vertical guides, as the gun is raised and lowered, the aforesaid screw-spindle is
provided with a hand-wheel secured thereto by a key fitting in a long keyway in the
said spindle. By rotating this hand-wheel in either direction, the screw-spindle may
be turned so as to raise or lower the nut in the slot of the rack. By means of a
vernier scale on the nut and another scale behind it, the quadrant elevation of the gun
can be read. The scale-plate is adjustable, to suit the varying vertical position of the
trunnions of the gun, by means of a nut working on a vertical screw-spindle, on the
upper end of which is a pinion geared with a spur-wheel on the main screw-spindle.
This is a slight modification of elevating mechanism which has been heretofore
employed and in which the elevating pinion being set in motion through an ordinary
train of spur-wheels and pinions. We combine, with the said elevating pinion,
mechanism such as that described in the specification of former Letters Patent

page_text: No. 9373 dated 1st July 1887 and illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings
accompanying the said specification. Moreover we prolong the said main screw-
spindle and provide the upper end thereof with a suitable head arranged to work in
or upon or between bars coupled to two links suspended from pivots which are
equidistant from the upper surface of the recoil-slide, so that the said bars will always
be parallel to the fixed line of recoil. One of the said links is provided with an arm
having thereon a toothed segment, which is connected by suitable gearing with a rack
carrying the rear sight-bar.
Our improved mochanism for opening and closing the breech is constructed as
hereinafter described, that is to say,-We employ devices for partially rotating the
breech-screw, withdrawing the same from the breech and swinging or turning it upon
or about a hinge-pin to permit the washing out and loading of the gun; and we
arrange these devices in combination with hydraulic apparatus for operating them.
We sometimes employ devices substantially similar in construction and operation to
those described in the specifications of former Letters Patent No. 3402 dated
5th March 1887, and No. 9813 dated 12th July 1887. For operating these devices,
however, we employ hydraulic apparatus which is more advantageous and effective
than that described in the said specification No. 9813. In the apparatus therein
described, the hydraulic cylinder is arranged to move transversely to the axis of the
gun between the recoil-slides, and in order to obtain the required travel or movement
of the said cylinder for performing the operations above mentioned, either the recoil-
slides must be arranged at such a distance apart as to make the gun-carriage
occupy an objectionable amount of space in the turret or barbette, or trains of
gearing must be used which are inconvenient in respect of their proportions or
otherwise.
In our improved hydraulic apparatus, we provide for obtaining the requisite travel
or movement of the hydraulic cylinder by arranging the said cylinder to move in a
direction parallel to the recoil-slides. For this purpose, the piston-rod is firmly
attached to one of the recoil-slides and the cylinder is arranged to move on the sail
rod in or upon guides on the said slide. The said cylinder is provided with a rack
that is geared with a pinion formed or fixed on a bevel wheel which is fitted to rotate
upon a pin or stud fixed in the said slide. This bevel wheel is geared with another
bevel wheel mounted upon a shaft which is firmly connected with the gun or with the
cradle carrying the same, and which is parallel to the piston-rod. The last named bovel
wheel is carried in a bearing or bracket on the recoil-slide and is arranged to rotate
with its shaft which is preferably square; therefore the gearing can be operated
whatever may be the position of the gun upon the recoil-slides. The said shaft is
geared by means of bevel-wheels with the vertical shaft or hinge-pin of the breech-
screw-carrier, as described in the said specification No. 3402.
In gun-mountings wherein we employ charge-carriers as above described or as
described in the aforesaid specifications No. 279, No. 16,736, No. 9375 and No. 10,179,
and wherein the charge-carrier must be brought close to the breech of the gun, we
prefer to modify the construction of the mechanism described in the said former
specification No. 9813 as follows, viz. :—
We provide the breech-screw with a toothed segment which is geared with a rack
formed with a sleeve. This sleeve is fitted loosely upon a nut formed with a pinion
and fitted upon a vertical screw-spindle supported in bearings on the breech-screw-
carrier. The said screw-spindle connected by suitable gearing with the hinge-pin
of the said carrier and the said hinge-pin is arranged to be turned by means of the
hydraulic apparatus above described. By the rotation of the said hinge-pin and
screw-spindle, the said nut, pinion and rack are raised and the breech-screw thus
turned to disengage it from the breech. The pinion formed with the nut is made with
helicoidal teeth so that it will, when the breech-screw bas been partially rotated by
the action of the said rack, gear with the screw-threads of the said breech-screw and
effect the withdrawal thereof. By the continued rotation of the hinge-pin, the
breech-screw will then be turned or swung upon or about the said hinge-pin, and

page_text: moved clear of the breech so that the charge-carrier can be brought into the proper
position for loading the gun.
Our improved hydraulic apparatus can also be applied to other devices for opening
and closing the breech in the manner above described:
For washing out the gun after each discharge, we provide a cylindrical chamber
which is divided into two compartments by radial partitions. In the larger of these
compartments is arranged a vane which is formed or fixed on a central shaft extending
through a stuffing-box in one end of the said chamber and supported in a suitable
bearing at the other end thereof. On this shaft outside the cylinder is fixed a pinion
geared with a rack formed or fixed on a hydraulic cylinder arranged to move to and
fro on a fixed piston, so that the said vane may be partially rotated alternately in
either direction. The larger compartment of the said chamber is connected near each
of the said partitions with a tank or reservoir containing the liquid to be used for
washing out the gun, the apertures being provided with suitable non-return valves.
The smaller compartment of the said chamber is connected with the pipe or tube for
delivering the said liquid into the bore of the gun, and communicates with the larger
compartment through apertures in the partitions provided with suitable delivery
valves. Each movement of the hydraulic cylinder causes the said vane to move
around from one of the radial partitions towards the other, and the said vane, in each
partial rotation thereof, draws liquid from the tank or reservoir into the larger com-
partinent of the said chamber and at the same time forces liquid from the said
chamber through the smaller compartment and through the said pipe or tube into the
gun. The apparatus is, therefore, always ready for use and there is no necessity to
wait for the automatic re-adjustment of any of the parts, as in apparatus heretofore
devised for washing out guns.
The aforesaid tank or reservoir is sometimes arranged like a jacket around the said
cylindrical chamber. It may, however, be arranged in any other convenient place
and be connected by pipes with the said chamber.
In some instances, the cylindrical chamber is arranged to carry the vane and to be
partially rotated alternately in either direction, and the central shaft and radial
partition are fixed, the shaft being made hollow to serve for the discharge of the
liquid.
Instead of the hydraulic cylinder for operating the wash-out apparatus, we some-
times employ pneumatic or other suitable apparatus for this purpose.
Dated this 22nd day of October 1888
HASELTINE LAKE & CO.,
45, Southampton Buildings. London. Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Breech-loading Guns and their Mountings,
and to Apparatus for Working such Guns.
We, JOHN HENRY RICHARD WHINFIELD, and JAMES HORNE, both of 2 Victoria
Mansions, 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 their mountings.
One object of our said invention is to provide for changing the armament of turrets
which have been constructed to carry muzzle-loading guns, that is to say, to provide
for the use, in such turrets, of breech-loading in place of muzzle-loading guns. Our
improvements are, however, applicable to other turret or barbette mountings.
Another object of our said invention is to provide improved means whereby the
opening and closing of the breech of a gun may be effected in any position of the
gun upon the recoil-slides.
Our said invention, moreover, comprises various other improvements whereby we
provide for the washing-out, loading and sighting of heavy breech-loading guns, for

page_text: controlling the rotation of the turret or turntable, and for performing other operations
necessary in working such guns.
In turret or barbette mountings, the shot-hoists and rammers are usually secured to
a deck outside the turret or turntable; the guns, therefore, require to be brought to a
fixed loading position after firing. For this purpose, it is frequently necessary to
rotate or train the turret or turntable through a large angle, and much loss of time is
thus caused.
According to one part of our invention we combine, with breech-loading guns,
improved means whereby the loading thereof may be effected in any position to which
the guns may be trained or whilst they are being trained, and whereby we are enabled
to accomplish this result without the use of apparatus comprising a central tube and
charge-carrier for raising the ammunition into the loading position behind the breech
of the gun as described in the specifications of the following former Letters Patent
No. 279, dated 2nd January 1884; No. 16,736 dated 20th December 1884;
No. 9375, dated 1st July 1887; No. 10,179 dated 20th July 1887; and No. 11,732
dated 14th August 1888. Where practicable, however, we prefer to employ charge-
elevating apparatus of the kind or class described in the said former specifications.
In the accompanying drawings we have shown how our said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a plan, partly in horizontal section, of a turret with two guns mounted
therein according to our said invention, a portion of the armoured wall and upper deck
being removed.
Figure 2 is a vertical central section of the said turret, some of the parts being
removed.
Figure 3 is a vertical section on the line a, c, Figure 2, drawn to an enlarged
scale.
Figure 4 is a vertical central section of the said turret, also drawn to an enlarged
scale, showing various features of our said invention not illustrated in Figures 1
to 3.
Figure 5 is a vertical section on the line ', a', Figure 4, some of the parts being
removed.
Figures 6 and 7 are plans partly in horizontal section, drawn to the same scale as
Figures 4 and 5, the guns and parts of the mounting being removed.
Figure 8 shows a portion of Figure 4 drawn to a still further enlarged scale.
Figure 9 is a rear elevation, partly in transverse section.
Figure 10 a vertical longitudinal section on the lines 2, 3, and¸³, ³, Figure 9,
and
Figure 11 a plan, partly in horizontal central section, drawn to an enlarged scale,
illustrating our improved means for opening and closing the breech.
Figure 12 is a vertical central section of one form of our improved wash-out
apparatus.
Figure 13 is a horizontal section on the line
yy, Figure 12.
Figure 14 is a horizontal section on the lino y', y¹, Figure 12.
Figure 15 is a side elevation.
Figure 16 a vertical central section on the line 24, x, Figure 15, and
Figure 17 a plan, some of the parts being removed, illustrating another form or
modification of the said wash-out apparatus.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the armoured wall of the turret; B is the floor, platform or turntable
thereof. C, C are the guns, each of which is mounted upon a top-carriage D
arranged to recoil with the gun upon a slide E capable of vertical movement about
a horizontal pivot E'.
In turrets wherein the centre of the platform or turntable is not available for
the introduction of a central charge-elevating apparatus such as that described in
the said former specifications, we provide the following means whereby the gun
may be loaded in any position to which it may be trained or whilst it is being
trained, that is to say:-We employ circular overhead runner-ways a which are

page_text: secured to the underside of the upper deck and extend around the turret, and
which are provided with suitable tackle as at a whereby the ammunition may be
brought into position to be placed upon loading trays carried by the turret, so
that the ammunition may be passed through ports in the side of the turret. On
the platform or turntable behind the breech end of the guns we provide suitable
rails, tracks or slides upon which are arranged to move charge-carriers d adapted
to receive the ammunition from the loading trays b and to convey the same into
position for ramming into the guns. We prefer to employ for this purpose revolving
charge-carriers such as are described in the said former Specifications No. 279 and
No. 9375.
-We
For moving the said carriers to and fro upon the rails or slides c we find it
advantageous to employ hydraulic apparatus, as follows, that is to say :-
connect each carrier with the ram or piston e' of a hydraulic cylinder e secured
to the platform or turntable between the said rails or slides c, and we provide
suitable shutters or covers for protecting the said rams or pistons and keeping
them clean when moved out of their cylinders. The said hydraulic apparatus is
arranged to be controlled by levers or hand-wheels (not shown in the drawings)
arranged in any convenient position. Hand-wheels e³ operated from the platform B¹
or from the outside of the turret are, moreover, provided for rotating the charge-
carriers d about their axis so as to bring the projectile and half-charges of powder
successively in front of the rammer, the said hand-wheels being connected with the
charge-carriers by suitable gearing so that each of the said carriers, whilst free to
move along the rails or slides c, may be rotated when required from one or the
other of the two stations. We can, however, employ other convenient means for
moving the said carriers d along the rails or slides c, and for rotating the said
carriers about their axis from the said stations whatever may be the position of the
said carriers upon their rails or slides. By these means we obviate the necessity
for the gunner's movement from one to the other end of the said rails or slides
for the purpose of rotating the charge-carrier.
We can, if desired, employ means other than those above described for conveying
the ammunition to the aforesaid charge-carriers which convey it from the circum-
ference of the turrot or turntable to the loading position.
Behind each gun we mount upon the platform or turntable B a telescopic rammer f
such, for instance, as that described in the said former specification No. 16,736, or
that described in the specification of former Letters Patent No. 10,180 dated
20th July 1887. These rammers are so arranged that the charges and projectiles
can thereby be pushed from one or the other of the charge-carriers d into the corre-
sponding gun, when the said charge-carrier is in the loading position. The plat-
form B is provided with a central tube g forming the pivot of the turret and serving
also as a passage for the rod hereinafter mentioned which connects the turning-engine
below with a lever in the turret, and for other purposes.
a
For controlling the rotation of the turret or turntable, we provide apparatus, com-
prising an automatic device for cutting off the supply of steam or water to the motor
used for effecting such rotation; this device is illustrated in Figures 4 to 8. In the
central tube g of the turret we provide a circular rack g' with which is geared
pinion fixed on a vertical shaft h. This shaft is connected by suitable gearing with
a borizontal shaft j on which is fixed a long pinion . This pinion is geared with a`
pinion which also serves as a nut and which is fitted upon a horizontal screw-
shaft supported in suitable bearings so that it is free to move longitudinally but
is restrained from rotation. The said screw-shaft is suitably connected with the
admission valve of the motor. In the apparatus shown, this connection is made
through the medium of links 2, a bell-crank-lever ³ and a rod or link passing
through the centre of rotation of the turret. Suitable means are provided for
operating the screw-shaft by hand; for instance, the said shaft is passed through a
nut-pinion which is geared with another pinion fixed on a shaft connected by
suitable gearing with another shaft 13, which is arranged to be operated by one or the
other of two hand-wheels from the corresponding sighting-platform B³ or other

page_text: convenient station. The nut is, however, so arranged that, while the turret is
rotating, the said nut will be rotated, in a direction opposite to that of the nut-
pinion 7, by the circular rack g' through the medium of the pinion 4, the shafts ¹
and j, and the long pinion, and, by moving along the said shaft ¹, will cut off, or
tend to cut off the supply of steam or water to the said motor. Therefore, to keep
the turret rotating, it is necessary to continually turn the aforesaid hand-wheel and
thus counteract the effect of the travel of the nut-pinion k caused by the continuous
rotation of the same by the pinion j, and, as soon as the hand-wheel ceases to be
turned, the rotation of the turret will be automatically arrested.
In cases where the central tube is not available, we employ, for the purpose
above specified, a circular rack bolted or otherwise secured to the floor or plat-
form B or we employ other suitable means for transmitting rotary motion from
the turret to the shaft ; for the purpose specified. If the motor for rotating the
turret or turntable is carried on the platforin, the pinion instead of being geared
with the rack g' may be geared with the motor direct or with any other suitable part
of the rotating mechanism.
The arrangement of controlling mechanism above described is applicable in cases
where the turret or turntable is capable of rotation through a portion of a circle but
cannot be turned a complete revolution. The shaft k¹ must have sufficient travel to
permit this movement of the turret or turntable without the withdrawal of the said
shaft from its bearings.
In mountings such as that herein before described wherein the gun is arranged to
recoil in the line of fire upon a slide which is capable of adjustment about a horizontal
pivot and which is combined with hydraulic apparatus for raising and lowering it to
effect the vertical pointing or elevation of the gun, we provide as hereinafter described
for facilitating the sighting or laying the gun, that is to say we attach to the structure
of the turret brackets m to which are pivoted levers n; one arm of each of these
levers is connected to the ram p' of the corresponding hydraulic elevating-cylinder p
by a pin or stud p2 working in a slot n' in the lever n; or by other convenient means.
The other arm of the said lever is provided with a toothed segment n² which is geared
with a pinion y fixed on a shaft q' and connected by suitable gearing with a vertical
rack connected with the rear sight-bar r.
!
10
The apparatus shown in Figures 4 to 8 is so arranged that both guns may be sighted
from one or the other of two positions. For this purpose, each of the shafts q is
connected to a sight-bar on each side of the turret as follows, viz.:-Each shaft q¹
has fixed thereon a bevel-wheel 2, which is geared with a bevel wheel q³ fixed on a
shaft on which is also fixed a spur-pinion q' geared with one of the rack-bars r¹.
The shafts are geared with the shafts 8 through pinions 7, 7. The shaft on
the right-hand side of the turret is connected with the corresponding rack-bar by
a shaft through bevel-wheels q°, 70 and a spur-pinion q. The shaft on the
left-hand side of the turret is connected with the corresponding rack-bar through
two spur-pinions 13, 74, the pinion being keyed upon the shaft 78 and the
pinion mounted loosely on the shaft ; the corresponding bevel-wheel is
keyed on the boss of the pinion which is prolonged for this purpose. The
said shaft is thus connected to the shaft q without interfering with the motion
of the shaft q' and each sight is thereby connected with its corresponding gun,
i.e. the left-hand sights in each case are connected with the left-hand gun and the
right hand sights with the right hand gun. 12, are the fixed fore-sights.
The pipes for conducting the liquid to the various hydraulic cylinders may extend
through the central tube in the usual manner.
Our improved mechanism for opening and closing the breech is constructed as
hereinafter described, that is to say, we employ devices whereby the partial rotation
of the breech-screw, the withdrawal of the same from the breech and the swinging or
turning thereof upon or about a hinge-pin to permit the washing out and loading of
the gun may be effected by the continuous rotation of a shaft; and we combine with
these devices hydraulic apparatus for operating the same. We sometimes employ
the devices described in the specifications of the following formner Leiters Patent,

page_text: viz. No. 3402, dated 5th March 1887, No. 9813 dated 12th July 1887, and
No. 7435 dated 28th March 1888. For operating such devices, however, we provide
apparatus which is more advantageous and effective than that described in the said
specification No. 9813. In the apparatus therein described, the hydraulic cylinder
is arranged to move transversely to the axis of the gun between the recoil-slides, and
in order to obtain the required notion for performing the operations of turning the
breech-screw, withdrawing the same and swinging it upon or about the hinge-pin,
the recoil-slides must be arranged at such a distance apart as to make the gun-carriage
occupy an objectionable amount of space in the turret or barbette, or trains of gearing
must be used which are inconvenient in respect of their proportions or otherwise.
In our improved apparatus, we provide for obtaining the requisite travel or move-
inent of the hydraulic cylinder by arranging the said cylinder to move in a direction
parallel to the recoil-slides or to the axis of the gun.
In Figures 9, 10 and 11, we have shown a convenient and advantageous arrange-
ment of our apparatus for opening and closing the breech. F is a hydraulic cylinder
which is arranged to move to and fro in or between guides E2 on one of the recoil-
slides E, and in which is fitted a piston G the rod G¹.of which is firmly attached to
the said recoil-slide. The said cylinder F is provided with a rack F which is geared
with a pinion H formed or fixed on a bevel wheel J which is fitted to rotate upon a
pin or stud J fixed in the said recoil-slide. This bevel wheel is geared with another
bevel wheel K mounted upon a shaft K' which is connected with the gun or with
the cradle or top-carriage D, and which is parallel to the piston-rod G. The bevel
wheel K is carried in a bearing or bracket E3 on the recoil-slide E and is arranged
to rotate with its shaft K', which is preferably square as shown or is otherwise
suitably connected with the said bevel wheel so that it can slide longitudinally therein
but will rotate therewith. By this arrangement, the breech-mechanism
can be
operated whatever may be the position of the gun upon the recoil-slides. The said
shaft K is geared by means of bevel-wheels L, M with the vertical shaft or hinge-
pin N of the breech-screw-carrier N. The mechanism for transmitting the required
motion from the hinge-pin N¹ to the breech-screw P may be of any suitable
construction.
In gun-mountings wherein we employ charge-carriers as above described or as
described in the aforesaid specifications No. 279, No. 16,736, No. 9375, No. 10,179
and No. 11,732, and wherein the breech-screw requires to be moved clear of the
breech to permit the charge-carrier to be brought into the loading position, we find
it advantageous to employ the mechanism shown in Figures 9, 10 and 11, which is a
modification of that described in the said former specification No. 7435, and is con-
structed as follows, viz. -The breech-screw P is provided with a toothed segment s
which is geared with a rack t¹ formed on a sleeve t. This sleeve is fitted loosely upon
a nut t² formed with a pinion and fitted upon a vertical screw-spindle u supported
in bearings u¹ on the breech-screw-carrier N. The said screw-spindle u has fixed thereon
a pinion geared through an intermediate wheel u³ with a pinion * fixed on the
hinge-pin N of the said carrier.
By the rotation of the said hinge-pin N¹ and screw-spindle, the nut 2, the
pinion 3 and the sleeve t provided with the rack are raised and the breech-screw
thus turned to disengage it from the screw-threads in the breech of the gun. The
pinion 3 is made with helicoidal teeth so that it will, when the breech-screw has
been partially rotated by the action of the said rack t', gear with the screw-threads of
the said breech-screw after the manner of a rack, and effect the withdrawal thereof
by the continued rotation of the hinge-pin; the breech-screw will then be turned or
swung in its carrier upon or about the said hinge-pin, and moved clear of the breech
so that the charge-carrier can be brought into the proper position for loading
the gun.
For washing out the gun after each discharge, we provide the improved apparatus
hereinafter described and illustrated in Figures 12 to 20.
In the form or modification of our wash-out apparatus shown in Figures 12, 13
and 14, Q is a cylindrical chamber, which is divided into two compartments by radial

page_text: partitions Q. In the larger of these compartments is arranged a vane or piston R
which is formed or fixed on a central shaft Rextending through a stuffing-box Qat.
one end of the said chamber Q and supported in a suitable step or bearing Q³ at the
other end thereof. On this shaft outside the cylinder is fixed a pinion S which is
geared with a rack T¹ formed or fixed on a hydraulic cylinder T. This cylinder is
arranged to move to and fro on a fixed piston T so that the said vane may be
partially rotated alternately in either direction, the said vane, in each stroke or
movement of the said cylinder, moving from a position near one of the partitions Q
to near the other of the said partitions. The larger compartment of the said
chamber is connected, by a pipe U provided with branches U, U2 which open into
the said chamber near each of the said partitions, with a suitable tank or reservoir
containing the liquid to be used for washing out the gun, the said branch-pipes being
provided with suitable non-return valves U³. The said larger compartment of the
chamber is also connected (by branch-pipes V1, V2 provided with non-return
valves V³) in a similar manner with a pipe V for delivering the said liquid into the
bore of the gun. Liquid under pressure is admitted to the cylinder T through the
piston-rod T which is made hollow for this purpose and is connected with a suitable
distributing-valve.
Each stroke or movement of the hydraulic cylinder T, as above stated, causes the
vane R to move around from one of the radial partitions towards the other; the said.
vane, in each partial rotation thereof, draws liquid from the aforesaid tank or reservoir
into the larger compartment of the said chamber and at the same time forces liquid
from the said chamber. through the pipe V into the gun. The apparatus is, therefore,.
always ready for use and there is no necessity to wait for the automatic re-adjustment.
of any of the parts as in apparatus heretofore employed for washing out guns.
Instead of the two partitions Q we sometimes use a single partition for separating.
the inlet and outlet apertures.
In some instances, the cylindrical chamber is arranged to carry the vane and to be
partially rotated alternately in either direction, and the central shaft and radial
partition are fixed, the shaft being made hollow to serve for the discharge of the
liquid.
In the modification of our washout apparatus shown in Figures 15, 16 and 17, a
tank or reservoir W for containing the liquid is arranged above the chamber Q. The
pipes U1, U2, in this case, extend directly to the said tank, suitable non-return
valves Us being provided in the said pipes. X is a valve arranged to be operated by
a lever X for the purpose of distributing and controlling the flow of water to the.
hydraulic cylinder T through the hollow rod T. X2, Xare pipes for connecting
the said valve with the pressure-main and exhaust. X4, X are pipes connecting the
said valve with the ends of the cylinder T.
If desired the hydraulic cylinder may be connected with a three-arned lever, a.
pin or stud projecting from the said cylinder into a slot in one of the arms of the
said lever and each of the other arms of the said lever being coupled to the plunger
of a pump arranged within the supply tank or reservoir, so that the liquid will flow
by gravity into the pump-chambers through suitable valves.
Instead of the hydraulic cylinder for operating our wash-out apparatus as above
described, we sometimes employ a hand-lever or pneumatic or other suitable
apparatus.
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 do not confine ourselves to gun-mountings wherein the gun is mounte:1 upon.
a recoil-slide pivoted at its forward end to the turntable, as our improvements are
also applicable to other gun-mountings, and we claim :-
First. A charge-carrier mounted on slides or rails on the platform or turntable
and arranged to convey the ammunition from the circumference of the turret or
turntable into the loading position behind the breech of the gun, for the purpose.
above specified.

page_text: Second. The combination; with the said slides or rails and a revolving charge-
carrier travelling thereon, of means whereby the said charge-carrier may be rotated
from one or more stations, for the purpose above specified.
Third. The combination, with a charge-carrier arranged to move on rails or slides
on the platform or turntable as above specified, of means substantially such as are
herein described for conveying the ammunition to the said carrier, for the purposes
set forth.
Fourth. The combination, with a rotating turret or turntable, of the mechanism
constructed substantially as described with reference to Figures 4 to 8 of the drawings
for controlling the supply of fluid to the motor which rotates the said turret or
turntable, as, and for the purposes, above specified.
Fifth. The combination, with the ram of a hydraulic cylinder for elevating a gun,
of means whereby the sight-bar will be caused to move with the gun in the up-and-
down movement of the said ram, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Sixth. In combination with mechanism for opening or closing the breech of a gun
by the continuous rotation of a shaft, a hydraulic apparatus the cylinder of which is
parallel to the gun-slide or to the axis of the gun and which is arranged to operate
the said mechanism whatever may be the position of the gun upon the slide.
Seventh. The gun-mounting having our improvements embodied therein or
incorporated therewith substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 to 8 of
the accompanying drawings.
Eighth. The improved apparatus constructed substantially as described with
reference to Figures 9, 10 and 11 of the accompanying drawings and operating as,
and for the purposes, above specified.
Ninth. The improved wash-out apparatus constructed substantially as described
with reference to Figures 12, 13 and 14, or to Figures 15, 16 and 17 of the drawings
and operating as, and for the purpose, above specified.
Dated this 25rd day of July
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicants.