Improvements in or relating to Gun-carriages and other Vehicles
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Aug., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 10th May, 1900-Accepted, 10th Aug., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Gun-carriages and other Vehicles.
of New Court, St.
We, The Honorable WALTER ROTHSCHILD, Banker,
Swithin's Lane, GERALD DUDLEY SMITH, Banker, of 1, Lombard Street, and
JAMES ARMSTRONG WILDING, Engineer, of 11, Clerkenwell Close, all in the
County of London, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention may be applied to various kinds of vehicles where it is
desired that at certain periods the motion of the springs should be intersepted,
but we will describe it as applied to gun carriages where it is particularly useful
for light quick-firing guns to provide a stable foundation which it is difficult
or impossible to obtain if the body of the vehicle is always supported upon
the springs.
In carrying out our invention we construct the vehicle in any desired manner
and with any desired form of springs, though we find a suitable form to com-
prise a straight or cranked axle having at each end a pair of coiled springs. To
the vehicle body two slotted brackets, operating like a pair of horn plates of
a railway vehicle, are secured, the axle playing in the slots between the plates.
In order to prevent this play when it is desired to eliminate the motion of
the springs a wedge, block, cam, or equivalent device is inserted in the slot
above the axle or is otherwise applied so as to prevent the relative movement
between the axle and the vehicle body. By this means the body is for the time
being rigidly connected with the axle and so with the wheels, thus ɔbtaining
the object of the invention.
The details may be carried out as follows: A block having an inclined upper
face lies upon the axle and between the horn plates, the upper end of the slot
being provided with an inclined surface corresponding with that of the wedge,
One of these is provided to each bracket and upon the axle between is pivotted
an arm having a handle extending to within the reach of the driver. From
each end of this arm extends a link to each of the wedge blocks so that when the
arm is turned in one direction, the blocks are forced forward and effect the
purpose of locking the two parts of the vehicle, and when the arm is moved in
the opposite direction the block is withdrawn and the springs operate in the
usual manner.
The handle extension of the arm may operate in conjunction with a rigid
plate or other means of fixing it in either of its extreme positions.
It will be appreciated that although the above described arrangement is suit-
able, many other means could be employed by which the motion of the springs
could be prevented, and this invention would include such arrangements within
its scope.
In an alternative arrangement the locking effect would be secured by drawing
the body and axle together instead of separating these parts. In yet another the
locking of the axle in the brackets which carry it in its normal position without
necessarily moving it either nearer to or farther from the vehicle body could be

page_text: effected in many ways as for example by the insertion of a bolt or plunger
through suitable holes so as to lock the parts.
When applied to vehicles other than gun-carriages the details would neces-
sarily vary according to the kind and arrangement of the springs and other
considerations, but the principle of operation and the results would be the
same as above described.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicants.
Improvements in or relating to Gun-carriages and other Vehicles.
We, The Honourable WALTER ROTHSCHILD, Banker, of New Court, St
Swithin's Lane, GERALD DUDLEY SMITH, Banker, of 1, Lombard Street, and
JAMES ARMSTRONG WILDING, Engineer, of 11, Clerkenwell Close, all in the
County of London, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention may be applied to various kinds of vehicles where it is desired
that at certain periods the motions of the springs should be intercepted, but we
will describe it as applied to gun carriages where it is particularly useful for
light quick-firing guns to provide a stable foundation which it is difficult or
impossible to obtain if the body of the vehicle is supported upon springs.
In carrying out our invention we construct the vehicle in any desired manner
and with any desired form of springs, though we find a suitable form to comprise
a straight or cranked axle having at each end a pair of coiled springs. To the
vehicle body two slotted brackets, operating by a pair of horn plates of a railway
vehicle, are secured, the axle playing in the slots between the plates. In order
to prevent this play when it is desired to eliminate the motion of the springs,
a wedge, block, cam, or equivalent device is inserted in the slot above the axle
or is otherwise applied so as to prevent the relative movement between the
axle and the vehicle body. By this means the body is for the time being rigidly
connected with the axle and so with the wheels, thus obtaining the object
of the invention.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the framing of a gun carriage showing the
invention applied to a vehicle of this type.
Figure 2 is a sectional elevation on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.
Figure 3 is a plan,
Figure 4 is a similar view to Figure 1 showing a modification.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
Upon the framing A on each side of the vehicle is arranged a bracket B
provided on its underside with cups B1 for the reception of the upper ends of
coiled springs C, whose lower ends rest in cups D¹ formed on a plate D
mounted on the axle E. The latter is square and arranged so that it can move
vertically between guides or horn plates F carried by the framing A. The
guides are connected beneath the axle by pins or bolts F¹. The underside of
each bracket B which lies in the upper part of the slot formed by the guides F
above the axle E is provided with an inclined surface B2 and on the axle
rests a block G provided with a corresponding inclined surface G¹. This block
is so arranged between guides El carried on the axle E that it can be slid along

page_text: the latter into the slot between the guides F so as to bring the inclined face G¹
against the inclined surface B3. When in this position the block G will lock the
framing A and the axle E together so as to prevent the action of the springs C
and to provide a stable foundation when desired.
Two blocks G are provided, one for locking each side of the axle, and these
blocks are connected by links H, which are pivotted at H₁ to a lever J pivotted
at J on the axle E about its centre. The lever J is provided with a handle to
enable it to be moved for the purpose of throwing the blocks G simultaneously in
or out of engagement with the slots in the brackets B. Suitable catches or
fastenings are provided on the framing A in such a position that they will
engage with and retain the lever J in the necessary positions when the blocks G
are in or out of operation.
The blocks G act as wedges for the purpose of lifting the framing on the
axle until the bolts F¹ are brought up against the underside of the axle. In
Figure 1 the blocks are shown out of engagement, while in Figure 3 they are
shown in engagement with the slots in the brackets B, the position of the
lever, links and blocks when out of engagement being shown in this figure by
chain lines.
The handle extension of the arm may operate in conjunction with a rigid
plate or other means of fixing it in either of its extreme positions.
It will be appreciated that although the above described arrangement is suit-
able, many other means could be employed by which the motion of the springs
could be prevented and this invention would include such arrangements within
its scope.
In an alternative arrangement the locking effect would be secured by drawing
the body and axle together instead of separating these parts. Figure 4 is an
elevation illustrating this modification in which the bevelled surfaces B2 are
formed on yokes joining the guides F beneath the axle E at each end. The
blocks G are also situated beneath the axle and extensions F2 of the guides F
or of the yoke joining them act as guides for the blocks G. Thus when the
blocks G are forced into engagement with the bevelled surfaces B2 the axle E
will be rigidly held between the surfaces B2 and the under sides of the brackets B
and the springs C rendered inoperative. If desired the upper stop against which
the axle E is wedged may be formed of bolts or the like joining the guides F
above the axle.
In applying this invention to vehicles other than gun carriages a construction
similar in all respects to that described with reference to the latter is employed.
An ambulance wagon for instance may be fitted with a spring fixing device
according to this invention. Thus the springs would be in use while conveying
the wounded, but should it be desirable to perform an operation in the wagon,
the springs would be fixed and a rigid operating table at once provided.
An important advantage in the arrangement above described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings is the fact that the locking device is carried on
the gun carriage and forms an integral part thereof, being thus available for
immediate use so that the springs can be instantly and simultaneously locked
so as to prevent them from operating.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. The combination with a gun carriage of a spring-fixing device whereby the
springs on either side of the carriage can be instantly and simultaneously locked
so as to prevent them from operating substantially as described.
2. In a gun carriage the employment of a spring fixing device operating as
a distance piece between the axle and the body of the carriage whereby movement
in either direction is prevented.
3. In a gun carriage the combination with guides such as F B2 for the wheel

page_text: axle carried by the frame of the carriage of wedge pieces such as G G¹ movable
in these guides between the wheel axle and the frame substantially as and for
the purpose described.
4. In a gun carriage the combination with the frame of springs such as C
interposed between the frame and the wheel axle E guides such as F B2 for the
latter carried by the frame and wedge blocks such as G G¹ which can be moved
so as to lock the frame and wheel axle together on both sides of the carriage
simultaneously and prevent the action of the springs substantially as described.
5. The complete spring mounting for a gun carriage frame and mechanism
for locking the frame and wheel axle together and preventing the action of the
springs substantially as described or illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3 or in
Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.
Datad this 0th day of 1000
BOULT, WADE & KILBURN,
Agents for the Applicants.