Improvements in Disappearing Gun Carriages.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 22nd May, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Disappearing Gun Carriages.
I, WILLIAM HENRY MORGAN, of Alliance, in the County of Stark and State of
Ohio, United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of
my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to an improvement in disappearing gun carriages and it
consists in the parts and combinations of parts as will be more fully hereinafter
described and pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings,-Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of my
improved carriage showing the parts in the firing position. Figure 2 is a similar
view showing the parts in the loading position or position after recoil. Figure 3 is
a view in plan and Figures 4 and 5 are views in side elevation of modifications.
A represents a base or bed plate of the main carriage constructed in any desired
manner and located over and secured to, if necessary, a pivot plate which latter may,
if desired, be carried on a hydraulic pivot. I prefer, however, to mount the main
carriage on a traverse circle c¹, having a circular rack engaged by a pinion c
carried on an actuating shaft, mounted in the base of the main carriage.
The side frames E of the carriage are integral with or rigidly secured to the base
plate A, and each side frame is provided on its upper edge with bearings E' in which
are mounted the pivoted arms or double cranks. These arms are arranged parallel,
two arms to each side frame, and the arms or cranks constituting a pair are connected
at their upper ends to shafts G, which pass through the sides of the top carriage.
The top carriage is provided with upwardly and rearwardly inclined upper edges
provided at intervals with rollers on which the cylinders H move. These
cylinders, one to each side rest on the rollers and overlap the sides of the top
carriage, and are connected by the section H* (shown in Fig. 3) which latter is
preferably cast integral with the cylinders thus locking them together and causing
them to move simultaneously equal distances and at the same speed. This part H* is
concave on top and passes under the gun, ample space being provided for the move-
ments of the gun. These cylinders are provided with trunnion bearings for the
trunnions of the gun, and passing through each cylinder, and preferably secured at
its front end to the top carriage is a piston rod, each rod being provided with a
piston. Thus it will be seen that as the gun moves rearwardly during recoil, the
cylinders slide on the upper faces of the side pieces, while the pistons and piston
rods remain stationary with respect to the side pieces. The cylinders are so con-
structed as to regulate the escape of the liquid from in front of the pistons, and the
cylinders and the system of double cranks are so connected by devices to be herein-
after described that as the cylinders begin to move rearwardly under the effects of the
recoil, the crank arms begin to turn, thus lowering the top carriage and gun thereon
to a covered position below the parapet, and carrying the gun horizontally rearward
and at the same time moving it in the arc of a circle rearwardly and downwardly.
With this double movement of the gun under recoil, I am enabled when the gun
is in its firing position, to have the muzzle thereof well over the crest of the
parapet, so that the gunners in the pit are not exposed to the blast occasioned by
the explosion and during the recoil to withdraw the muzzle from over the crest
and lower same to a covered position behind the parapet.
The shafts G before referred to, pass through the top carriage from side to side,

page_text: are journalled therein one in front and one in the rear, and are rigidly fastened at
their outer ends to the parallel arms F. These arms are each in effect two cranks,
the inner cranks, F, which as clearly shown, are located in planes to the inner side
of the inner faces of the side frames of the main carriage, while the outer cranks F¹
rest outside of the side frames and support the weights K, one on each side, which
combined are slightly greater in weight than the weight of the gun, but which for
convenience I have termed counterweights. The four parallel crank arms, are as
before stated, journalled in the side frames E of the main carriage, and as they
are connected at their upper ends to the top carriage, and at their lower ends to the
counterweights it follows that when the upper carriage with the gun thereon is
rising the counterweights are descending and when the top carriage is descending
the counterweights are rising.
The counterweights are provided on their inner faces with longitudinal grooves I
in which rollers J mounted on wrist pins J' of the lower cranks F move.
To confine the movements of the counterweights to a vertical movement, and
prevent them from moving forwardly with the cranks, I have provided the side
frames E with the vertical guides K in which rollers L mounted on bearings L'
curried by the counterweights move.
As the cranks begin their upward movement, the rollers carried by the cranks
move in the grooves in the counterweights, and as the counterweights are restrained
against longitudinal movement, it follows that the initial vertical movement imparted
by the cranks starting from a vertical position and moving in the arcs of a circle is
slow, but is gradually accelerated as the gun continues to descend.
In this device the cylinders and cranks are coupled up so that the rearward move-
ment of the cylinders and gun is simultaneously with the downward movement of
the top carriage.
Depending from the section H* connecting the cylinders, is the bracket H⚫ to
which is connected the rear end of pitman H, the front, end of the pitman being
journalled on a bearing h carried by the triangular frame H. This frame He is
secured on the shaft G, and on a shaft or bearing concentric with the axis of the
front cranks, or in other words this frame H is rigidly secured between and to the
front cranks.
From this it will be seen that as the gun starts its rearward movement under the
recoil, it operates through the pitman H and frame H, to rock the cranks and thus
cause the top carriage to move rearwardly and downwardly and the counterweights to
ascend. With this construction I secure a rearward movement of the gun on the top
carriage and a simultaneous downward and rearward movement of the top carriage
with the gun thereon.
The gun elevating devices are shown in Figure 1 and consist of two frames M
located between the cheek pieces of the top carriage and provided on their inner
surfaces with grooves m. These frames are pivoted to the cheek pieces at m' and
their outer ends, which are enlarged and curved in the arc of a circle concentric with
the pivot m, are provided with teeth to engage the toothed wheel m³ fast on the
shaft m. This shaft m³ also carries the worm wheel m' which meshes with the worm
shaft me. This shaft m carries at its rear end the bevel pinion m' which meshes
with the bevel pinion m³ on actuating shaft m' carrying the hand wheel m¹º.
Surrounding the gun in rear of the trunnions is a band N, carrying bearings in
which an axle or shaft carrying two friction rollers N' (one for each frame), which
rest and move in the grooves in the frame. By elevating the forward ends of the
frames M the muzzle end of gun is lowered, and by lowering the front end of the
frames the muzzle is elevated. With this construction it will be noticed that under
the recoil of the gun, the rollers N₁ move rearwardly in the grooves, and as the
rear ends of the frames are fixed with relation to the side cheeks of the top carriage,
it follows that as the gun moves rearwardly the breech thereof is guided by the
grooves in the frame, hence when the gun comes to a state of rest, the breech
thereof is in proper position with relation to the apparatus for loading irrespective
of the elevation of the gun when in its firing position.

page_text: In the construction shown in Figure 4 I have provided each arm F of the cranks
with a pulley O fast to the arm, or to shaft G carried by the arm. These pulleys
four in all, are provided with grooved peripheries, in which rest chains or cables O¹.
These chains or cables are each secured at one end to the pulley, and the two cables
on the front pulleys pass upwardly around the front and top of the pulleys rearwardly,
and are attached to the depending brackets O' integral with or secured to the
cylinders, while the cables connected to the rear pulleys, pass upwardly around and
over the rear of the pulleys and are connected to the brackets O' preferably below the
points of attachment of the front cables.
In Figure 5, I have shown depending racks P integral with or secured to the
cylinders and meshing with segments P' fast on the rear shaft G.
With all of these devices it will be seen that the cylinder on the top carriage
operates to absorb the shock of the recoil of the gun, and as the gun begins its rear-
ward movement on the top carriage the connections between the cylinders or other
movable supports for the gun cause the crank arms to turn simultaneously with the
longitudinal movements of the gun. As the cranks F begin their upward movement
the rollers carried by the cranks move in the grooves in the counterweights, and as
the counterweights are restrained against longitudinal movement, it follows that the
initial vertical movement, imparted by the cranks moving in the arcs of a circle is
slow but is gradually accelerated as the gun continues to descend, hence the great
stress on the parts which would result if the counterweights were connected to move
simultaneously at the same rate of speed as the top carriage is avoided.
The counterweights being heavier than the gun, restore the gun from its loading
position to its firing position. I propose, however, to provide devices for manually
bringing the gun from its firing position to its loading position and for locking the
gun in its loading position.
The cylinders or pistons or both may be provided with any of the well known
devices for regulating the escape of the liquid from the front of the pistons, and the
resistance offered by the liquid in the cylinders, to the free movement of the cylinders
on the top carriage also operates through the pistons, piston rods and connections of
the latter to the top carriage, to assist in imparting a rearward and downward
movement to the top carriage and a vertical movement to the counterweights.
In the construction shown in Figure 5, I have shown hydraulic braking devices
located on the main carriage. This braking device consists of large spur wheels W
fast on the axis of the rear cranks and meshing with toothed wheels W which in turn
mesh with rack bars W* resting on the bed A of the frame. These rack bars are
connected at their front ends by cross head Ws to which the plunger of an hydraulic
brake is attached. This hydraulic brake is not essential to the operation of this device
but it may be used in connection therewith if desired.
It is evident that many slight changes and alterations might be resorted to in
the relative arrangement of parts herein shown and described without departing
from the spirit and scope of any invention hence I would have it understood that
I do not restrict myself to the exact construction of parts herein shown and
described, but
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination with two pairs of pivoted arms, of a top carriage supported
on the upper ends of said arms and connecting said arms whereby the latter are
caused to move in unison, counterweights carried by the lower ends of said arms,
gun carrying devices yieldingly carried on the top carriage and devices connecting
the yielding carrying devices and the system of arms, substantially as set forth.
2. The combination with two pairs of pivoted arms, of a top carriage supported on
the upper ends of said arms and connecting said arms whereby the latter are caused to
move in unison, counterweights carried by the lower ends of said arms, trunnion
bearings slidingly mounted on the top carriage, yielding devices for checking the

page_text: rearward movement of said bearings and devices connecting the sliding trunnion
bearings and the system of arms, substantially as set forth.
3. The combination with two pairs of pivoted arms of a top carriage supported
on the upper ends of said arms and connecting said arms whereby the latter are
caused to move in unison, counterweights carried by the lower ends of said arms,
cylinders slidingly mounted on the upper face of the top carriage and provided
with trunnion bearings, piston rods secured to said top carriage, pistons on the
piston rods, and devices connecting the cylinders and the system of arms, substantially
as set forth.
4. The combination with two pairs of pivoted arms, of a top carriage supported on
the upper ends of said arms and connecting said arms whereby the latter are caused to
move in unison, counterweights guided to move vertically, supported by the lower
ends of said arms, gun carrying devices yieldingly carried on the top carriage, and
devices connecting the yielding carrying devices and the system of arms.
5. The combination with a top carriage and counterweights for normally holding
said top carriage elevated, of trunnion bearings adapted to slide on said top carriage,
means for checking the rearward movement of said trunnions and devices connecting
the sliding trunnion bearings with the devices connecting the counterweight and top
carriage whereby when the trunnion bearings begin to move rearwardly the
counterweights begin to move vertically.
6. The combination with a top carriage, parallel arms carrying said top carriage
and counterweights for normally holding said top carriage elevated, of trunnion
bearings mounted and adapted to slide on suid top carriage, means for gradually
checking the rearward movement of said bearings and means connecting the system of
parallel arms with the trunnion bearings.
7. The combination with a top carriage, counterweights for normally holding said
top carriage elevated and devices connecting the top carriage and counterweights, of
a liquid checking device on the top carriage, trunnion bearings carried by said
checking device, and devices connecting said liquid checking device with the devices
connecting the top carriage and counterweights.
8. The combination with a top carriage, counterweights for normally holding same
elevated, and devices connecting the top carriage and counterweights, of stationary
pistons and piston rods connected to the top carriage, sliding cylinders mounted on
the top carriage, trunnion bearings carried by the cylinders and devices connecting
the sliding cylinders with the devices connecting the top carriage and counterweights.
9. The combination with two pairs of pivoted arms, of a top carriage supported on
the upper ends of said arms and counterweights guided to move vertically and
connected to the lower ends of said arms.
10. The combination with two pairs of crank arms journalled at points between
their ends, of a top carriage for a gun, the said carriage mounted on the upper
ends of said arms, counterweights loosely carried by the lower ends of said arms and
means for guiding the counterweights vertically, substantially as set forth.
11. The combination with side frames and two pairs of crank arms journalled at
points between their onds, of a top carriage for a gun the said carriage mounted on
the upper ends of said arms, counterweights carried by the lower ends of said arms
and means for preventing longitudinal movement of the counterweights, but permitting
free vertical movement thereof, substantially as set forth.
12. The combination with two pairs of pivoted arms, of a top carriage supported on
the upper ends of said arms counterweights guided to move vertically and connected
to the lower ends of said arms, a hydraulic brake or checking device, and means
connecting the moving parts with said hydraulic brake or checking device,
substantially as set forth.
13. The combination with two pairs of pivoted arms, of a top carriage supported
on the upper ends of said arms counterweights guided to move vertically and
connected to the lower ends of said arms, a checking cylinder, piston therein, and
gearing connecting one pair of pivoted arms, and the piston, substantially as set
forth.

page_text: 14. The combination with two pairs of pivoted arms of a top carriage supported on
the upper ends of said arms, counterweights carried by the lower ends of said arms,
and gun carrying devices yieldingly carried on the top carriage.
15. The combination with two pairs of pivoted arms, of a top carriage supported on
the upper ends of said arms, counterweights carried by the lower ends of said arms,
trunnion bearings slidingly mounted on the top carriage and yielding device for
checking the rearward movement of said bearings.
16. The combination with two pairs of pivoted arms, of a top carriage supported on
the upper ends of said arms, counterweights carried by the lower ends of said arms,
cylinders slidingly mounted on the upper face of the top carriage and provided with
trunnion bearings, piston rods secured to said top carriage, and pistons on the piston
rods, substantially as set forth.
17. The combination with two pairs of pivoted arms, of a top carriage supported on
the upper ends of said arms, counterweights guided to move vertically supported by
the lower ends of said arms, and gun carrying devices yieldingly carried on the top
carriage.
18. The combination with a top carriage and counterweights for normally holding
said top carriage elevated, of trunnion bearings adapted to slide on said top carriage
and means for checking the rearward movement of said trunnion bearings.
19. The combination with a top carriage, counterweights for normally holding said
top carriage elevated and devices connecting the top carriage and counterweights, of a
liquid checking device on the top carriage and trunnion bearings carried by said
checking device.
20. The combination with a top carriage, counterweights for normally holding
same elevated, and devices connecting the top carriage and counterweights, of
stationary pistons and piston rods connected to the top carriage, sliding cylinders
mounted on the top carriage and trunnion bearings carried by the cylinders,
substantially as set forth.
Dated this 12th day of Databor 1806
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
18 Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents to Applicant.