Improvements in or connected with Brakes of Gun Carriages.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Brakes of Gun Carriages.
I, AUGUST REICHWALD, of 9, New Broad Street, in the City of London, Steel,
Iron, Metal and Mineral Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion (a communication to me from abroad by the Firm of Fried Krupp, of Essen,
in the Empire of Germany, Cast Steel Manufacturers), to be as follows:-
The recoil brake forming the subject-matter of British Patent No. 24031,
dated the 14th December 1895, as compared with other systems of gun carriages
with spur or plough trail, has the advantage that the spur or plough, driven into
the ground during the recoil, will retain its nearly vertical position almost
unchanged. This advantage, however, is combined with the drawback, that this
recoil brake necessitates very long and heavy brake rods, considerably adding to
the weight of the gun carriage, as well as greatly increasing the delicacy
liability to being damaged, and inconvenience of the arrangement. The present
invention serves to remedy these disadvantages, by having the recoil brake-spring
located between the cheeks of the gun-carriage, and its power being transmitted
upon the rod system, bearing the spur or plough, by means of a lever.
As the rod system is therefore no longer required to adapt itself to the length
of the spring, it may be made considerable shorter, and consequently lighter,
than according to Specification of British Patent No. 24031/95, hence also per-
mitting more convenient handling, and at the same time the total weight of the
gun carriage is considerably reduced.
In
Similarly as in Patent Specification No. 24031/95, the spur or plough is con-
nected to a tubular bar or rod, which can slide upon a pivotted tubular bar or
rod, with a certain amount of liberty of oscillation, on the gun-carriage.
some cases this rod system may be composed of a solid rod, held in position and
guided by a bush or bearing, which is pivotted in the gun-carriage.
A lever is pivotted on a pin, which is carried in bearings on the gun carriage,
and this lever extends through a slot in the lower cheek of the gun-carriage, and
catches, by means of its projections or studs, into vertical guides or slots, in the
box-like part of the tubular bar or rod system. The vertical guides or slots,
are closed at the top, but open at the bottom.
It will now be evident without further explanation, that if the tubular bar or
rod of the tubular bar system, telescopes with the pivotted bar or rod, or if, in
the alternate arrangement the solid rod slides in the bush or bearing, pivotted
on the gun-carriage, then the lever will turn on its pin and in doing so will
move up or down, with its studs, in the guide-slots, and also, when the trail of
the gun-carriage is raised, the brake-bar system suspended therefrom by the lever,
will take part in the movement of the gun-carriage.
A spring column, or system of spring cups, has passed through its centre, a
spindle which has attached to its end a cross piece which can slide in guides
attached to the gun-carriage, while the other end of spindle is guided in a straight
line, in a bearing like-wise attached to the gun-carriage. The spring arrange-

page_text: ment bears on the one hand, against the cross piece of the spindle, and on the
other hand against the bearing. If the cross-piece against which the lever bears
with a cylindrical cross piece is shifted, through the oscillation of the lever,
towards the bearing, the spring arrangement will be compressed. The tension of
the latter can be regulated by means of a nut.
The mode of action of this recoil brake is therefore self-evident, viz: during
the recoil of the gun-carriage, the spur or plough which has been driven into the
ground by the firing of the shot, will remain stationary, while the bar system
will telescope into each other, at the same time executing a slight oscillation on
the pivot. The lever, (the upper end of which takes part in the recoil of the gun-
carriage, while the lower end, fitted with studs, remains stationary, or rather
glides in the guide-slots of the box like part of the tubular bar or rod system),
will by means of its cross-pin move the cross-piece of the spring spindle, towards
the bearing thus compressing the spring. After the completion of the recoil, the
re-extension of the spring will cause the gun to be run out again.
In some cases the bearing may also be arranged in the form of a thrust-bear-
ing, for regulating the recoil and running out of the gun, in accordance with
British Patent Specification No. 23445 of the 12th October 1897. Such a thrust-
hearing might also be fitted to the telescopic brake-bar system, and the latter
might be developed in the form of a hydraulic brake. Any such modifications
will not in any way affect the essence of the invention.
In order to prevent the spur or plough from forming an obstacle while the gun
is travelling, it may be thrown out of gear. This is done by pulling out the
pin from the bearings, and bringing the lever into position. In this case the
telescopic brake-har system, will be telescoped into each other, or the solid rod
will be pushed forward. When in this position the lever is held, on the one
hand, by the pin which is put through holes in the gun carriage, and the hole in
the upper end of the lever, and on the other hand, by its cross-pin which rests
on the bottom of the gun carriage and lodges under the hooks or lugs. As, in
the course of firing, dirt may easily get between the upper part of box like part
of the tubular bar or rod system, and the lower part of the gun carriage, so that
the lever may be subjected to a tensile strain in its longitudinal direction and
then exerts a pressure upon the pin, it may happen that the pin may jam in its
bearings, and may be hard to pull out when the spur or plough is to be put out
of action. In order to obviate this difficulty, the central part of the pin, on
which the lever revolves, is eccentric with reference to the gudgeons and of the
pin, so that, when the handle of the pin, is turned vertically downward, the
centre-line of the central part of the pin is situated vertically above the centre-
line of the gudgeon. In this position of the pin the lever will cause the box like
part of the tubular bar or rod system to come up close to the lower side of the
gun-carriage. If, on the other hand, the pin is turned through 180 degrees, so
as to cause the centre-line of the middle part of the pin to be situated in a
vertical line underneath the centre-line of the gudgeons, a certain space is left
between the box-like part and the gun carriage. If so, the pin is relieved of any
strain caused by intrusion of dirt between the box like part and the gun-carriage.
The arrangement of the pin is moreover made so that the pin can be with-drawn
from its bearings in the last mentioned position, because a catch arranged on the
gudgeon, (and which is any other position of the pin is held in an annular groove
of the bearing,) will now have entered a lengthway groove in the latter.
ות
1211
1
1000

page_text: I, AUGUST REICHWALD, of 9, New Broad Street, in the City of London, Steel,
Iron, Metal and Mineral Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion (a communication to me from abroad by the Firm of Fried Krupp, of Essen,
in the Empire of Germany, Cast Steel Manufacturers), and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
:―
The recoil brake forming the subject-matter of Patent No. 24031, of
the 14th of December 1895, as compared with other systems of gun-carriages
with spur or plough trail, has the advantage that the spur or plough, driven into
the ground during the recoil, will retain its nearly vertical position almost
unchanged. This advantage, however, is combined with the drawback, that this
recoil brake necessitates very long and heavy brake rods, considerably adding to
the weight of the gun carriage, as well as greatly increasing the delicacy
liability to being damaged, and inconvenience of the arrangement. The present
invention serves to remedy these disadvantages, by having the recoil brake-spring
located between the cheeks of the gun carriage, and its power being transmitted
upon the rod system, bearing the spur or plough, by means of a lever.
As the rod system is therefore no longer required to adapt itself to the length
of the spring, it may be made considerably shorter, and consequently lighter,
than according to Patent Specification No. 24031/95, hence also permitting more
convenient handling, and at the same time the total weight of the gun carriage
is considerably reduced.
In the annexed drawing, Fig. 1 shews a general side elevation of the trail end
of the gun-carriage fitted with a recoil brake according to this invention. Fig. 2
is a corresponding view from below. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section
through Fig. 1, illustrating the recoil brake in its position of rest before the gun
is fired. Fig. 4 shews the position occupied by the principal parts of the recoil
brake after the completed recoil of the gun-carriage, and before the commence-
ment of running out. Fig. 5 shews in elevation the parts placed into position
for transport. Fig. 6 is a cross section on the line - (Fig. 1), and Fig. 7 is
a cross section on the line y--y (Fig. 3), both sections being shewn when looking
in the direction indicated by arrows of Figs. 1 and 3. Fig. 8 is an elevation of
an arrangement of guide rod hereafter described.
Similarly as in Patent Specification No. 24031/95, the spur or plough a is con-
nected to a tubular bar or rod B, which can slide upon another tubular bar or
rod the latter being pivotted, with a certain amount of liberty of oscillation,
on the gun-carriage at d. In some cases this rod system may, as shown in
Fig. 8, be composed of a solid rod B', held in position and guided by
a bush or
bearing C, which is pivotted in the gun-carriage.
A lever His pivotted on a pin D, which is carried in bearings M on the gun-
carriage, and this lever extends through a slot 6 in the lower cheek of the gun-
carriage, and catches, by means of its projections or studs, into vertical guides
or slots e, in the box-like part A of the tubular bar or rod system. The guides or
slots c, Fig. 6, are closed at the top, but open at the bottom.
It will now he evident without further explanation, that if part B of the
tubular bar system, telescopes with bar (, or if, in the alternate arrangement
Fig. 8, rod B slides in the bush or bearing C, pivotted on the gun carriage,
then the lever H will turn on its pin D, and in doing so will move up or down,
with its studs, in the guide slots c, and also, when the trail of the gun-carriage

page_text: is raised, the brake bar system suspended therefrom by the lever H, will take
part in the movement of the gun carriage.
The spring column, or system of spring cups F, has passed through its centre,
a spindle E which has attached to its end a cross piece g which can slide in
guides attached to the gun-carriage, while the other end of spindle E is guided
in a straight line, in the bearing G like-wise attached to the gun-carriage. The
spring arrangement F bears on the one hand, against the cross piece g of the
spindle E, and on the other hand against the bearing G. If the cross-piece g,
against which lever H bears with its cylindrical cross-piece_w, is shifted, through
the oscillation of lever H, towards the bearing G, spring F will be compressed.
The tension of the latter can be regulated by means of the nut h.
The mode of action of this recoil brake is therefore self-evident, viz; during the
recoil of the gun-carriage, the spur or plough a which has been driven into the
ground by the firing of the shot, will remain stationary, while the bar system BC
will telescope into each other, at the same time executing a slight oscillation on
the pivot d. Lever H, (the upper end of which takes part in the recoil of the
gun-carriage, while the lower end, fitted with the studs 2, remains stationary, or
rather glides in the guide-slots e of box A), will by means of its cross-pin w,
move the cross piece of the spring spindle E, towards the bearing G, thus com-
pressing the spring F. After the completion of the recoil, the re-extension of
the spring F will cause the gun to be run out again.
In some cases, bearing G may also be arranged in the form of a thrust bear-
ing, for regulating the recoil and running out of the gun, in accordance with
Patent Specification No. 23445 of the 12th of October 1897. Such a thrust-
bearing might also be fitted to the telescopic brake-bar system, and the latter
might be developed in the form of a hydraulic brake. Any such modifications,
will not in any way affect the essence of the invention.
In order to prevent the spur or plough from forming an obstacle while the gun
is travelling, it may be thrown out of gear. This is done by pulling out the
pin 1 from the bearings M, and bringing the lever H into the position indicated
in Fig. 5. In this case the telescopic brake-bar system BC, will be telescoped
into cach other, or the rod B¹, Fig. 8, will be pushed forward. When in this
position, lever H is held, on the one hand, by the pin D which is put through
holes in the gun-carriage, and the hole in the upper end of lever H, and on
the other hand, by its cross pin which rests on the bottom of the gun carriag
and lodges under the hooks or lugs L. As, in the course of firing, dirt may
casily get between the upper part of box A, and the lower part of the gun car-
riage, so that lever H may be subjected to a tensile strain in its longitudinal
direction, and then exerts a pressure upon the pin D, and it may thus happen
that pin D may jam in its bearings M, and may be hard to pull out when the
spur or plough is to be put out of action. In order to obviate this difficulty, the
central part of the pin, on which the lever H revolves, is eccentric with reference
to the gudgeons and of the pin, (see Fig. 7) so that, when the handle m of
the pin is turned vertically downward, the centre-line of the central part of the
pin is situated vertically above the centre line of the gudgeons and 7. In this
position of the pin D (Fig. 7), the lever H will cause the box A to come up
close to the lower side of the gun-carriage. If, on the other hand, the pin is
turned through 180 degrees, so as to cause the centre-line of the middle part of
the pin to be situated in a vertical line underneath the centre-line of the
gudgeons, a certain space is left between the box A and the gun carriage. If
o. pin is relieved of any strain caused by intrusion of dirt between the box
and the gun-carriage. The arrangement of the pin is moreover made so that
pin I can be withdrawn from its bearings in the last mentioned position, as a
catch arranged on the gudgeon 7, and which in any other position of the pin is
held in an annular groove of the bearing M, will now have entered a lengthway
groove in the latter.

page_text: 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 improved arrangement and construction of brake for gun carriages, of
the type described in Patent Specification No. 24031 of the 14th of December
1895, wherein the spring F of the brake-bar system BC is situated within the
body of the gun carriage, and during the recoil is compressed by a lever H
which is pivotted to the gun carriage, and which, with its studs z, takes into
vertical slots e, on the part B of the brake bar system, which slots e are closed
at their upper ends.
2. In brakes for gun-carriages, of the type claimed by Claim 1, the construction
and arrangement whereby the brake-bar system, for the purpose of throwing the
spur or plough out of action, can be telescoped into each other, or pushed forward,
after removing the pin D on which the lever is pivotted.
3. In brakes for gun-carriages, as claimed by Claims and 2 respectively, the
construction and arrangement whereby the lever H is fixed in the position which
it is meant to occupy, when the spur or plough is put out of action, by means
of a pin passed through holes i in the gun carriage, as well as through the hole
in lever H, and further by the hooks or lugs L under which the ends of the cross
pin w will lodge.
4. In brakes for gun carriages as claimed by Claim 1, the construction and
arrangement whereby the part of pin D, on which the lever H is pivotted, is made
eccentric with regard to the gudgeons kand of the pin, which are borne in the
gun-carriage, so that, by a suitable turn of the pin D, the interstice between the
spur or plough and the gun carriage can be modified.
Data
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for the Applicant.
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for the Applicant.