Improvements in Field Gun-carriages.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 18th July, 1898-Accepted, 20th Aug.,
1898
Improvements in Field Gun-carriages.
We, SIR GEORGE SYDENHAM CLARKE, K.C.M.G., F.R.S., Lieutenant-Colonel R.E.,
and GEORGE HENRY BANISTER, C.E., both of the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, in the
County of Kent, 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:-
Our invention relates to field gun carriages and is designed to provide the same
with efficient and convenient apparatus whereby when a gun is in action its carriage
will be held in position with elastic resistance so that its recoil will be checked and it
will return after each discharge to its firing position.
Our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which
Figure 1 is a plan and
Figure 2 a side elevation partly in longitudinal section shewing the parts in the
position they assume when the gun is in action.
Figure 3 is a side elevation shewing the parts in a different position.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the drawing.
Our recoil apparatus comprises a spade or ground plate B which is arranged where
the trail A of the carriage bears on the ground and which is designed to be forced
into the ground to afford resistance to the recoil. This spade is held under elastic
pressure by the spring C enclosed in the case D¹ D². The part D¹ is firmly secured
to the trail A and the part D2 is arranged to slide longitudinally between the guides
E, the head D3 of the spring-case being fitted to move freely upon and along the said
guides. We prefer to arrange the spring in combination with the tube C¹ and the
screw rod C2 provided with a nut at the inner end of the tube as shewn in Figure -2.
This arrangement permits the spring to be inserted in the case while under initial
compression. The spade B is connected by the links F to the transverse pin G which
is fitted to swivel vertically in the bearing H formed on or attached to the head D³ of
the spring-case. This connection of the links with the transverse pin constitutes a
form of universal joint which allows the links to move laterally and vertically thereby
adjusting themselves to the position assumed by the spade relatively to the carriage
body during the recoil movement. Moreover the links F are connected at their rear
ends to the spade by hinge-joints I about which the said links are free to turn
laterally. The entire combination comprising the swivelling.pin G the links F and
the spade B forms an arrangement or system of linkwork, approximating to a
parallel motion, which permits the trail of the carriage to be adjusted or shifted
laterally for the purpose of aligning the gun on to the target without greatly disturb-
ing or displacing the spade in the ground so that for slight changes in the position of
the gun it will be unnecessary to withdraw the spade from the ground for the pur-
pose of traversing or training the carriage.
In our improved apparatus the system of linkwork is such that when the carriage
is traversed to the right or left of its mid-position the spade and other parts of the
apparatus assume such an angle relatively to the axis of the gun carriage that con-
siderable resistance will be offered to the swerving of the gun to which there is always
a tendency on recoil.

page_text: The pivotting at G offers the further advantage that when the nature of the ground
is unsuitable for the use of the spade, say for example if the ground should consist
of hard rock, the spade may be housed under the spring case on the carriage body,
and secured by a strap J as shewn in Figure 3 or by other suitable means.
And if
preferred the spade may be adjusted to this position when the carriage is limbered
up for travelling.
When the gun is in action the carriage, in the recoil movement, slides over the
top of the spade compressing and shortening the spring or springs in the spring
case, the head of the spring case moving on the guides in the recoil in line with the
axis of the springs, and after recoil the springs by their reaction return the carriage
and gun to the firing position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A gun-carriage provided with recoil apparatus comprising the spade arranged
in combination with the links and the swivelling or pivoted joints and thereby
connected to the spring case on the carriage so that the said apparatus acts as herein
set forth.
}
2. The attachment of the said apparatus to the carriage in such a manner that it
can be adjusted into the position shewn in Figure 2 or as shewn in Figure 3 for the
purposes specified.
Dated this 16th day of July 1898.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.