Improvements in or relating to Automatic Ordnance of Large Calibre.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Automatic Ordnance of Large Calibre.
I, CONSTANTIN VON HANNEKEN, of 258, Kurfürstendamm, Berlin, Prussia,
Germany, Imperial Chinese General, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
'
This invention relates to the serving of guns of large calibre being improve-
ments in the automatic arrangements described in my previous Specification
No. 19435 of 1896.
According to the present invention the construction of the accumulators, and
the loading and pointing devices, is essentially simplified; as I shall describe
referring to the accompanying drawings shewing the improvements applied to a
twin gun.
Figure 1 is an elevation partly in longitudinal section of the left gun (No. II)
in the firing position, Figure 2 an elevation partly in section, shewing the right
gun (No. I) in the loading position. Figure 3 is a cross section and Figure 4 a
plan. Figures 5 to 8 shew details.
The mounting of the twin-gun is carried out in the same manner as illustrated
in Figures 1 and 2 of my former Specification No. 19435 of 1896 and therefore the
substructure, being known, is not here shewn.
As in my previous specification the two lower gun carriages stand firmly side
by side upon the platform, and at the top they carry the moveable upper gun-
carriages, inside the accumulators with the parts belonging thereto, between them
the pressure-levers in the connexion of the accumulator of one gun with the
loading mechanism of the second gun, and the locking pawls for controlling the
said pressure-levers.
I shall first describe separately the several new arrangements of the twin and
single gun and then explain their working.
THE DOUBLE GUN-CARRIAGE
Each lower gun-carriage consists of a strong frame A open at top which, below,
is rigidly connected to the platform and carries above upon the high edges of the
front part of the longitudinal walls the slide rails which at the front and rear end
have stops a for limiting the recoil of the upper gun-carriage. For the
accumulator-casings, return brakes and hydropneumatic buffers described in my
former specification, are substituted the arrangement shewn in Figure 1, according
to which the upper gun-carriages B are linked to recoil levers b actuating directly
the accumulators C.
In the fore part of the side walls there are bearings for the shafts 61 of the
recoil-levers which are forked at their upper ends and are connected by links 2
to the upper gun-carriage. To each lever b is connected at c¹ the rod c which
terminates with the piston d sliding in the cylinder D. On the guide-rod
is a spring, helical as shewn, or it might consist of a number of dished spring-

page_text: plates. In front this spring bears against an adjustable screw collar c² of the rod c,
and in rear the spring bears against the head of the stuffing box. The
cylinder D has trunnions e between the walls of the lower gun-carriage working in
suitable bearings. The piston d as shewn in Figure 6 has several holes d¹ and
on its upper side a leather washer d², so that, when the piston is pressed down,
liquid can pass through the holes to the front, while in the back stroke the leather
washer is pressed against the front of the piston closing the holes of the piston, in
which case the liquid passes back through a small passage g in the cylinder wall
which puts the ends of the cylinder sides in communication with each other, the
area of the passage being regulated by a screw-valve h in one of the trunnions e.
Instead of the accumulator with spring and brake cylinder a hydropneumatic
accumulator may be applied as described with reference to Figure 7. In this case,
for the brake cylinder I) above described is substituted a cylinder E (Figure 7)
also having trunnions. The plunger k is connected to the recoil lever in the
same way as the guide-rods c previously described. The two cylinders are bored
deeper than the stroke of their plungers and they communicate with each other
through a valve box F firmly secured between the two gun-carriages to the
foundation plate, the trunnions e of both cylinders facing each other and projecting
through the cheeks of the gun. carriages and through stuffing boxes into the
valve box F. By axial borings e arranged in the trunnions the cylinders E
communicate with the interior of the valve box F which has a channel 7 (Figure 8)
that can be closed or more or less opened by a conically ended screw A. A branch
of the channel opens to the inlet valve f to which is screwed a suitable pump for
charging the cylinders with liquid and air under pressure.
.
Between the two lower gun-carriages the two pressure levers b of the guns I
and II are mounted on the shafts 6 projecting through the two cheeks of the
gun carriages in such a manner, that the lever pl is nearest to the cheek of the
carriage of gun II and the lever p² nearest to the cheek of the carriage of gun I,
(see Figure 4). I attain this by terminating (see Figures 2, 3 and 4) the shaft bi
of gun II outside the check of the gun-carriage with an oval plate m firmly
connected by two screw bolts n with a similar plate m' on lever 2 which lever is
moveable on the shaft 61 projecting through the cheek of the gun-carriage of gun I,
while the lever 71 is firmly secured to the extreme end of the same shaft and
stands therefore between the two plates m and m¹ beside gun II.
As shewn in Figure 4, each of the two pressure levers p¹ and p² is linked to a
rod having forked end o and is thus connected to the crank-mechanism of the
loading device L of the corresponding gun (Figure 2). The pressure levers ³ ³
have their upper ends rounded at the back and in front they have each a sharp
edges which engages with the locking pawls or s² controlling by means of the
pressure levers the accumulator and loading device. The pawls ss are pivotted
on a shaft firmly supported between the cheeks of the gun-carriages and between
them is a helical spring urging the pawls always downwards. The vertical
arms of the pawls extend up to the guide-rail of the upper gun carriage so that
a tappet attached to this guide-rail, in passing during recoil of the gun over the
arms effects the opening of the pawl."
Each upper gun-carriage B consists as usual, of two connected side cheeks
arranged to slide horizontally upon the rails of the lower gun-carriages, being
guided by rails on the outside of the gun-carriage hooking over the rails of the
lower gun carriage. On the lower side are brackets 63 to which is jointed the
link On the sides facing each other the rails u are notched to give the necessary
play to the tappets which during the recoil of the upper gun carriages strike
against the arms #1. As the tappets cannot move forwards they thus effect the
opening (rising) of the pawls, but in running out the upper gun carriages the
tappets being free to swing back pass over the arms t¹ which had returned to
their original positions. The changed positions of the two pressure levers pi
and p2 are such that the lever pa is disengaged by the recoil of the upper carriage
of gun I and the lever pl by the recoil of the upper carriage of gun II.

page_text: THE LOADING DEVICE.
Each loading device L is situated in the rear lateral extension of the lower gun
carriage A and is arranged as follows:
w and w are the shafts (supported only on one end in the extension of the
frame box) of the two levers M and M' carrying by pins a loading trough N
situated in line with the bore of the gun. The loading trough is in form of a
tube having its fore part cut out a distance corresponding to the length of the
cartridge. The tubular part behind receives the rammer y, and is slotted at top
and bottom for passage of the rammer-lever 0; a pin y' on the rammer y engages
in a slot of the rammer-lever 0.
The loading trough has on its underside a fork-like projection N¹, on the end
of which is pivotted the rammer-lever 0; beyond its pivot the lever 0 has a
nose 0. When the whole system moves upwards into the loading position, the
nose bears against a sleeve 2 on the lever-shaft to which has fixed on it
beside the sleeve w² a pawl w³ (Figure 1) with which engages the nose 01 of the
rammer-lever causing the rammer-lever to swing back in the loading trough on the
return movement of the whole device.
The shafts and w¹ on which are fixed the levers M and M' project through
the extension of the frame box into the space between the two lower gun-carriages
and these carry upon their free ends crank-arms and ¹ which are fixed on the
shafts and are connected to each other by the link rod z².
To the fore crank-arm there is jointed the rod r which, as above mentioned,
is connected with the pressure lever p¹ or p² respectively of the other gun. By
this rod the movement of the upper carriage of gun I or II is transmitted to the
loading device of gun II or I; when the pressure-lever por 2 moves forwards,
the cranks z of the corresponding loading device are also moved forward, so that
the two lever arms M and M' swing upwards raising and advancing the loading
trough N.
When the nose 0' of the-rammer lever O is in the position shewn in dotted lines
in Figure 2, it bears against the sleeve w² so that, when the lever arm M continues
to move forward, the rammer y is pressed forward by the swinging rammer-lever O
for the length of a cartridge. At the same time during this latter part of the
movement the rammer-nose (0¹ has become engaged with the pawl w³. The recoil
of the other gun causes then the pressure-lever pl or p² belonging to it to move
backward and the loading mechanism actuated thereby to move completely backward
and downward, so that the pawl 3 holds then fast the nose O¹, until the rammer y
is pressed back again into its original position in the rear part of the loading
trough.
THE POINTING DEVICE, Figures 2, 3 and 5.
To the cheeks facing each other of the two lower gun carriages there are secured
two brackets S forming the supports of the pointing device for the guns. The
brackets terminate above with bearings the centres of which are situated exactly.
in the axis of the pointing pivots secured to the guns, as soon as the gun is in
the fixed recoil position determined by the recoil and in consequence in a horizontal
position.
In the bearings is journalled the axis of a beam S₁, the lower arm S of which is
a toothed segment while the upper arm S¹ carries the strong cross head S", on the
pivots of which swing pointing arms R'R¹ the length of each of which between
its pivots is equal to that of the beam arm S¹. These pointing arms have their
lower ends jointed to the two inner pointing pivots of the two guns and determine
the elevation of the guns returned into the firing position.
The arc of the segment S has teeth gearing with screw T which can be turned
by the hand wheel R (Figure 2). This arrangement permits therefore of trans-
mitting simultaneously the same elevation to both guns, as the raising or lowering
of the armi S¹ determines a higher or lower position of the pointing pivots suspended
on the pointing arms R³ when the gun is in the firing position. But when the
gun returns into its fixed recoil position and into the horizontal position necessary

page_text: the arm S and the pointing arm R' having the same length swings without causing
the gun in this position to move.
Instead of this pointing device, that described in my prior Specification No. 19435
of 1896 may be used.
THE SINGLE GUN.
Figures 9 to 13 show a single gun, wherein likewise as in the above described
twin-gun the construction of the accumulators, of the loading and of the pointing
device is simplified. In the drawings of this single gun there is shown at the same
time an automatic closure such as was described in my former Specification
No. 19435 of 1896, but provided with a new stopping device, by means of which the
whole mechanism of the gun is stopped when a cartridge is not quite regularly
introduced into the gun.
Figure 9 is a side view of the single gun in the loading position before the
beginning of the loading operation, the side-wall of the gun-carriage, covering
the arrangement of the accumulator, being omitted.
Figure 10 is an outer side view of the gun in the loading position after loading..
Figure 11 is the corresponding rear view.
Figure 12 is the side view corresponding to Figure 10, the gun being in the
firing position.
Figure 13 is a plan.
Parts corresponding to those for the twin gun, are marked with like letters of
reference, and the substructure for the single gun is like that of the twin-gun
shown in the Figures 1 to 4. To the platform is secured a fixed frame receiving
the accumulator as well as the bearings of the lever-systems by which the recoil
power is transmitted to the several mechanisms. The frame A consists of two
strong side metal plates firmly connected with each other by means of suitable
transoms.
The gun is supported on a strong lever B pivoted on a shaft 61 journalled in
the lower part of the frame-box. The upper part of the lever B' is forked having
in its forks 1 bearings for the trunnions, so that the gun can swing in an arc
round the shaft b'. The rear movement of the lever B' is limited by the transoms 2.
Behind the lever B¹ is arranged the accumulator-system C¹ pivotted at e in the
frame A and having the head of the plunger c entering a recess of the lever B¹
and jointed to it by a pin c. Below there is screwed into the right hand side
of the lever B a round striking-stud 3, having a quadrant cut out on its upper side
(Figure 9), so that the pawl 4 can engage therein. This pawl 4 is pivotted on a
shaft journalled in the frame and projecting on one side out of the box of the frame
carrying on its projecting part the pressure arm 5.
On the same side of the gun there is on the shaft of the lever B₁ a socket
extending on both sides of the corresponding wall of the frame box. Within the
frame box a lever P is fixed on this socket and outside the right wall of the frame
the lever P. The inner lever P is in connection with the accumulator-system
and the outer one has its upper end connected by the rod r to the loading device L
which is constructed as described above with reference to Figures 1 to 4, except that
the short lever arms z, z¹, are arranged in an opposite position, so that the cartridge
trough N is raised by the thrust of the rod r, and lowered by its tension.
THE ACCUMULATOR (Figures 14 to 16).
For effecting the loading and the return to firing position of the
guns
independently of each other I have described a new accumulator arrangement
shown in cross-section on an enlarged scale in Figure 14. It consists of a strong
double cylinder with two bores 6 and 7 of different diameters and is pivotted at e
to the frame. In the large bore 6 moves the accumulator plunger c having at its
rear end a concave washer and having its front end connected at c² to the
lever B. In the small tore 7 is a piston 8, the rod 9 of which has a slotted head,

page_text: connected to the lever P swinging on the shaft of the lever B and actuating by the
said lever P the loading device.
:
Below the piston c of the cylinder 6 there is formed a space 10, between which
and the cylinder 6 is a valve 11, which closes when by descent of the piston e the
air compressed thereby is forced into the space 10. From 10 a passage 12 in the
wall of the accumulator casing leads upwards and opens at certain points into
the bores 6, 7; into the bore at 13 where the washer of the plunger c when it.
is quite down bears against the cylinder wall, and into the bore 7 higher at 14.
which is above the piston 8 when it is fully out. The supply of air under pressure.
into the passage 12 can be shut off by a valve 15 the stem of which passes through:
the bottom of the cylinder-body and is connected to the starting lever 16, by the
movements of which the passage 12 is closed or opened. Besides the ports 13.
and 14 of the passage 12 there is a direct communication 17 between the two
cylinder bores. Three sectional plans Figures 15, 15, 15°, show the com-
munications between the cylinders looking down. The communication 17 is
controlled by a special valve in such a manner, that the air under pressure or the
liquid in cylinder 7 passes to cylinder 6 when the piston 8 is below the mouth
of 17, and the valve in the passage 17 prevents flow from cylinder 6 to cylinder 7.
(Figure 15º)..
Between the plunger and the piston rod 9 there is a connexion such as shown
in plan in Figure 16. On the head of the plunger c a tappet c° projects towards
the piston rod 9 and when the piston advances, bears on a corresponding tappet of
the piston-rod 9, so that the piston 8 moves outwards along with the plunger c.
BREECH-CLOSURE.
The gun is represented with a vertical block-closure with ejector which is
opened and closed by the curved rail described in my former Specification
No. 19435 of 1896.
The closure is shown in the Figures 17 to 23 of the accompanying drawings, of
which Fig. 17 is an end view, Figs. 18 and 19 are side views partly in section,
shewing the parts in different positions, Fig. 20 is a transverse section.
As shewn in the longitudinal sections Figures 21 and 22, the closure contains
the hammer 18 suspended so as to swing on an upper pivot and strike with its
point through an opening in the fore block-face under the action of the spring 19
against the priming cap of the cartridge as soon as the closure is closed. A
pressure bolt 20 passes above the hammer point transversely through the block and
outside on the block-cheeks, (see Figures 18 and 19) bent pressure arms 21 rivetted to
the bolt swing also on the pivot of the hammer which projects to the outside.
the slide faces of the breech of the gun serving to guide the closure there are
arranged as seen in the plan Figure 23 on each side two tappets 22, dotted in
Figures 18 and 19 and between these the pressure arms 21 actuating the hammer
are suspended so that owing to their peculiar shape they are moved backwards.
when the closure is opened (Figure 18) and moved forwards when the closure is
closed (Figure 19).
In
Thus when the closure is opened the hammer is forced back with certainty by
the bolt 20, compressing the spring 19. When the closure is quite opened the
nose 23 slides over a second nose 24 urged forwards by a small spring. In lowering
the closure the arms 21 (Figure 19) again swing forwards taking with them
the bolt 20. The hammer however is held by the engagement of the noses 23.
and 24 (Figure 21). The nose 24 is provided, outide with a slotted lug 26,
which as soon as the breech is completely closed, slides down over a nose 27 having
an inclined rear which is secured to the rear part of the breech, so that when the
closure is complete the piece 24 is drawn back releasing the lever end 23, so that as
shewn in Figure 22 the hammer is suddenly driven forwards.
STOP DEVICE.

page_text: which might occur owing to the inertia of the cartridge when the gun is run out;
secondly it stops the forward movement of the gun when the cartridge has not
completely arrived into its chamber. In order to attain particularly this latter
object the following circumstance has been utilised in constructing the stop
device.
The transfer of movement from the gun running out to the simultaneous
downward movement of the closure, owing to the double lever-transmission (curved
are and closure lever) gives such power on the closure, that any resistance in
the closure movement is sufficient to prevent the running-out accumulator from
acting. For this purpose there is arranged in a bore of the rear part of the breech
(Figures 18 and 23) a bolt 28, which is urged by a spring into a hole in the closure
block, when the closure is quite opened. The bolt 28 has outside a lug 29, into
which can enter the tongue 30 of a pawl 31. The right end of this pawl has a
nose 32 under the control of a stop 33, as soon as the pawl 31 moves so that its
tongue 30 withdraws the bolt 28 from the recess of the closure. This takes place
(Figures 18 and 21) as soon as the lever O of the loading mechanism has finished
its forward motion effecting the complete introduction of the cartridge into the
chamber of the gun, the lever then striking against the pawl 31. In order to
prevent the cartridge from sliding back, there is arranged, (Figure 21), below
the hammer in the closure block a vertically swinging lever 34 urged downwards
by a spring so that its front end comes behind the upper edge of the cartridge
bottom, as as soon as catch 35 behind the bolt is disengaged. This is effected
by the pressure of the pin 36 (Figures 21 and 23) against which the lever O
strikes.
This pin 36 passes through a slot of the pawl 31, and as soon as the lever Q,.
when the loading is completed, strikes against it the bolt 28 is withdrawn and the
lever 34 is at the same time disengaged. When the breech-block is lowered, the
lever 34 meets a stop screw 37 and is turned to the position shown in Figure 22
out of the way when after the discharge of the gun the empty cartridge is to be
ejected.
The catch 33 is also moved disengaging the pawl 31, so that the bolt 28 can again
enter the hole of the closure when it is opened.
POINTING DEVICE.
The pointing device already shown on the gun in the Figures 9 to 13 is more
fully explained on reference to the cross section Figure 24 and its side-view
Figure 25. Two slide-rails 38 are arranged on both sides of the gun, their open
sides facing each other, and are pivotted at 39 in bearings arranged in the fore
. part of the frame A. In the slide rails 38 when the gun moves, slide the
pointing pivots 41 projecting from the gun, and below the slide rails there are
fixed segments 42, the teeth of which gear with two toothed wheels 43 on a
chaft 44, mounted in bearings 45 in front of the head of the frame A and turned
by a hand crank R' or it might be by a motor and suitable gear.
WORKING OF THE TWIN GUN.
The working of the twin gun arranged as above described is as follows:-
The two guns are put first by any suitable mechanical means in the loading
position. The cylinders are filled with liquid or air under pressure and a cartridge
is introduced into each of the loading troughs. The gun I is loaded by hand
introducing a cartridge into the cartridge chamber. To commence the movement
the pawls of the pressure-lever p¹ lying on the gun II is disengaged by hand.
By the pressure exerted by the return action of the spring or of the air under
pressure the upper carriage of gun I is moved to the firing position. This effects,
as described in my prior Specification No. 19435 of 1896 the first automatic effect,
closing the breech and at the same time actuating the loading mechanism of
gun II. After the running-out of the upper carriage of gun I is terminated, the
gun II is in its loading position having the breech closure opened, a cartridge
is placed in the gun and the locked pawl above the pressure-lever p³ (situated next

page_text: to gun I) controls its accumulator. The pointing device has given the gun during
its return to firing position, the proper elevation. The gun I is now fired
electrically or otherwise, the hammer being automatically disengaged when the
closure is complete. On firing, the upper carriage of gun I recoils rearwards upon
the rails of the lower gun carriage up to the rear stop a, against which the upper
gun carriage strikes. By this backward movement the accumulator lever is
reversed and the accumulator is compressed. Simultaneously with the lever bits
shaft and the pressure-lever p¹ outside of the gun carriage I nearest to the
gun carriage II makes the same stroke (indicated by dotted lines in Figure 2),
the rear part rounded off of its upper end lifting the pawls which however urged
by its spring t (Figure 3) descends again stopping the lever in this position. The
stoppage is transmitted in the same way to the accumulator and to the upper gun
carriage so that the latter is locked with its gun in the loading position.
By the recoil motion of the upper gun carriage three different operations are
effected:-
First The opening of the closure of gun I which takes place in the same manner
as described in my Specification No. 19435 of 1896.
Secondly: The lowering of the loading device of gun II into its first position for
receiving another cartridge (Figure 1) the pressure lever 21 having in its rear
movement pushed back the rod of the loading mechanism of gun II, turning the
arms of the loading trough rearwards and downwards, so that the loading box
is returned to its first position, the loading lever O having withdrawn the rammer y
into the rear part of the loading trough which is then ready to receive a fresh
cartridge.
Thirdly: The disengaging of the pawl of gun II, as the tappet v of the upper
carriage of gun I during the recoil strikes against the arm t¹ of the pawl s² and
opens the latter; by this the pressure-lever p² is disengaged and the return action
of its accumulator effects the return movement of the upper carriage of gun II to
the firing position. The same automatic operations are then repeated by gun II in
respect of gun I, that is to say, the closure of gun II is closed and gun I is
charged, as the pressure-lever 72 moving forwards advances the rod of the
loading mechanism of gun I and therefore moves the loading trough upwards
and forwards.
The working of the two kinds of accumulators differs inasmuch as in the spring
system with brake cylinder the energy stored up in the accumulator of the one
gun returns this gun to firing position, while in using the cylinder containing air
under pressure the energy stored up in the accumulator of the one gun is
employed for return of the other gun to firing position. The pressure increased
by the recoil of the one gun tends to equalise itself through the channel provided
in the trunnions and the valve, with the lower pressure in the cylinder of the
other gun, whereby, after the release of the pawl, the return to battery of the other
gun is effected. In the two kinds of the accumulators the running out of the gun
carriage and in consequence the closing of the closure as well as the loading.
operation of the other gun does not take place suddenly, but the return action
of the accumulators remains under the control of the regulating valve h or t
respectively, which is more or less opened, as may be required according to the
rapidity of firing.
For ceasing fire, the valve is completely shut off or the supply of cartridges to the
loading trough is stopped.
WORKING OF THE SINGLE GUN..
The single gun is worked in the following manner.
The gun is according to Figure 9 in the loading position before the beginning
of the loading operation. The cylinder of the accumulator C¹ is filled with air
under pressure and liquid, the cartridge trough N is lowered and the closure is
opened for receiving a cartridge. A cartridge is placed by hand in the loading
trough. By reversing the lever 16 (Figure 14) the valve 15 is opened and air
under pressure flows from the collector 10 through the channel 12 above the

page_text: piston 8 into the cylinder 7, forcing back the piston 8. The piston rod 9 takes with
it the lever P on the socket of the shaft 61, and lever P¹ following this backward
movement transmits it by the rod r to the known loading mechanism which is
caused to introduce the cartridge into the gun in the manner already described in
respect of the twin gun. When the lever P₁ terminates its back stroke it presses
against the arm of the pawl 5 releasing it (Figure 10). At the same time the
loading lever O presses upon the head of pin 36 and locks the closure. After
the loading has been completed, the piston 8, being forced backwards passes beyond
the passage 17, the fluid under pressure flows from the cylinder 7 into the
cylinder 6 below the piston e (Figure 14) this piston is immediately forced forward
and bears with its tappet co (Figure 16) against the corresponding tappet of the
piston rod 9, taking with it the piston 8 and so moving the levers P and P¹, so
that the cartridge trough is lowered again backward by rod r and cranks z.
In its forward movement the piston 8 shuts off gradually the inlet opening to 17
(Figures 14 and 15), but before the closure is quite completed, the accumulator
piston c has moved forward so far as to open the communication 13 between the
passage 12 and the cylinder G. The pressure in the space 10 is communicated
through the opening 13 to the cylinder and terminates the forward movement of
the piston. In the movement of the piston e the lever B¹ connected therewith is
moved forwards and the gun is advanced to the firing position, with the elevation
determined by the pointing device. Immediately afterward, after the closure has
been completely lowered the cartridge is fired.
By the recoil the lever B¹ is then turned backward and the accumulator piston c
is forced again into its cylinder. The pawl 4 catches behind the recess of the
bolt 3, so that the gun is stopped in the loading position. The air compressed in
the cylinder 6 is forced through the valve 11 into the space 10, where it receives
its initial pressure, it passes then through the valve 15 left open into the passage 12
and by actuating the piston 8 in the cylinder 7 starts a new loading operation and
the subsequent disengagement of the pawl 4 and of the valve for advancing the
accumulator piston c.
As long as there are furnished cartridges into the trough N, all these operations
are repeated automatically, until by reversing the hand lever 16 in proper time
the valve 15 is closed, whereupon the recoiled gun rests in the loading position, the
cartridge trough N being in its lowered position as shewn in Figure 9 representing
the starting position.
Dated this 2nd day of July 1898.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Automatic Ordnance of Large Calibre.
I, CONSTANTIN VON HANNEKEN, of 258, Kurfürstendamm, Berlin, Prussia,
Germany, Imperial Chinese General, 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:-
This invention relates to the serving of guns of large calibre being improve-
ments in the automatic arrangements described in my previous Specification
No. 19435 of 1896.
According to the present invention the construction of the accumulators, and
the loading and pointing devices, is essentially simplified; as I shall describe
referring to the drawings accompanying the Provisional Specification shewing the
improvements applied to a twin gun.

page_text: Figure 1 is an elevation partly in longitudinal section of the left gun (No. II)
in the firing position, Figure 2 an elevation partly in section, shewing the right
gun (No. I) in the loading position. Figure 3 is a cross section and Figure 4 a
plan. Figures 5 to 8 shew details.
The mounting of the twin-gun is carried out in the same manner as illustrated
in Figures 1 and 2 of my former Specification No. 19435 of 1896 and therefore the
substructure, being known, is not here shewn.
As in my previous specification the two lower gun carriages stand firmly side
by side upon the platform, and at the top they carry the moveable upper gun-
carriages, inside the accumulators with the parts belonging thereto, between them
the pressure-levers in the connexion of the accumulator of one gun with the
loading mechanism of the second gun, and the locking pawls for controlling the
said pressure-levers.
I shall first describe separately the several new arrangements of the twin and
single gun and then explain their working.
THE DOUBLE GUN-CARRIAGE
Each lower gun-carriage consists of a strong frame A open at top which, below,
is rigidly connected to the platform and carries above upon the high edges of the
front part of the longitudinal walls the slide rails which at the front and rear end
For the
have stops a for limiting the recoil of the upper gun-carriage.
accumulator-casings, return brakes and hydropneumatic buffers described in my
former specification, are substituted the arrangement shewn in Figure 1, according
to which the upper gun-carriages B are linked to recoil levers 6 actuating directly
the accumulators C.
The
In the fore part of the side walls there are bearings for the shafts 6 of the
recoil-levers which are forked at their upper ends and are connected by links b
to the upper gun-carriage. To each lever is connected at c¹ the rod e which
terminates with the piston d sliding in the cylinder D. On the guide-rod c
is a spring, helical as shewn, or it might consist of a number of dished spring-
plates. In front this spring bears against an adjustable screw collar of the rod c,
and in rear the spring bears against the head of the stuffing-box c³.
cylinder 1) has trunnions e between the walls of the lower gun-carriage working in
suitable bearings. The piston d as shewn in Figure 6 has several holes and
on its upper side a leather washer, so that, when the piston is pressed down,
liquid can pass through the holes to the front, while in the back stroke the leather
washer is pressed against the front of the piston closing the holes of the piston, in
which case the liquid passes back through a small passage y in the cylinder wall
which puts the ends of the cylinder sides in communication with each other, the
area of the passage being regulated by a screw-valve h in one of the trunnions e.
Instead of the accumulator with spring and brake cylinder a hydropneumatic
accumulator may be applied as described with reference to Figure 7. In this case,
for the brake cylinder 1) above described is substituted a cylinder E (Figure 7)
also having trunnions. The plunger k is connected to the recoil-lever in the
same way as the guide-rods c previously described. The two cylinders are bored
deeper than the stroke of their plungers and they communicate with each other
through a valve box F firmly secured between the two gun-carriages to the
foundation plate, the trunnions e of both cylinders facing each other and projecting
through the cheeks of the gun-carriages and through stuffing boxes into the
valve box F. By axial borings e arranged in the trunnions the cylinders E
communicate with the interior of the valve box I which has a channel 1 (Figure 8)
that can be closed or more or less opened by a conically ended screw . A branch
pump for
of the channel 7 opens to the inlet valve f to which is screwed a suitable
charging the cylinders with liquid and air under pressure.
Between the two lower gun-carriages the two pressure levers 6 of the guns I
and II are mounted on the shafts projecting through the two cheeks of the
gun carriages in such a manner, that the lever is nearest to the cheek of the

page_text: arriage of gun 11 and the lever 22 nearest to the cheek of the carriage of gun I,
(see Figure 4). I attain this by terminating (see Figures 2, 3 and 4) the shaft b
of gun II outside the cheek of the gun-carriage with an oval plate m firmly
connected by two screw bolts n with a similar plate m¹ on lever which lever is
moveable on the shaft b' projecting through the cheek of the gun-carriage of gun I,
while the lever p¹ is firmly secured to the extreme end of the same shaft and
stands therefore between the two plates m and m' Beside gun II.
As shewn in Figure 4, each of the two pressure levers p² and 22 is linked to a
rod having forked end o and is thus connected to the crank mechanism of the
loading device L of the corresponding gun (Figure 2). The pressure levers¹²
have their upper ends rounded at the back and in front they have each a sharp
edges which engages with the locking pawls s¹ or s² controlling by means of the
pressure levers the accumulator and loading device. The pawls ss2 are pivotted
on a shaft firmly supported between the cheeks of the gun-carriages and between
them is a helical spring turging the pawls always downwards. The vertical
arms t¹ of the pawls extend up to the guide-rail of the upper gun carriage so that
a tappet attached to this guide-rail, in passing during recoil of the gun over the
arms effects the opening of the pawl."
Each upper gun-carriage B consists as usual, of two connected side cheeks
arranged to slide horizontally upon the rails of the lower gun-carriages, being
guided by rails on the outside of the gun-carriage hooking over the rails of the
lower gun carriage. On the lower side are brackets 63 to which is jointed the
link 62 On the sides facing each other the rails u are notched to give the necessary
play to the tappets which during the recoil of the upper gun-carriages strike
against the arms t¹. As the tappets cannot move forwards they thus effect the
opening (rising) of the pawls, but in running out the upper gun carriages the
tappets being free to swing back pass over the arms t¹ which had returned to
their original positions. The changed positions of the two pressure levers p₁
and are such that the lever 2 is disengaged by the recoil of the upper carriage
of gun I and the lever p¹ by the recoil of the upper carriage of gun II.
THE LOADING DEVICE.
Each loading device L is situated in the rear lateral extension of the lower gun
carriage A and is arranged as follows:-
30 and wo are the shafts (supported only on one end in the extension of the
frame box) of the two levers M and M carrying by pins al a loading trough N
situated in line with the bore of the gun. The loading trough is in form of a
tube having its fore part cut out a distance corresponding to the length of the
cartridge. The tubular part behind receives the rammer y, and is slotted at top
and bottom for passage of the rammer lever 0; a pin y¹ on the rammer y engages
in a slot of the rammer-lever 0.
The loading trough has on its underside a fork-like projection N¹, on the end
of which is pivotted the rammer-lever 0; beyond its pivot the lever has a
nose 0. When the whole system moves upwards into the loading position, the
nose bears against a sleeve 2 on the lever-shaft w which has fixed on it
beside the sleeve 2 a pawl u³ (Figure 1) with which engages the nose 0¹ of the
rammer-lever causing the rammer-lever to swing back in the loading trough on
the return movement of the whole device.
The shafts and w¹ on which are fixed the levers M and M project through
the extension of the frame box into the space between the two lower gun-carriages
and these carry upon their free ends crank-arms and ¹ which are fixed on the
shafts and are connected to each other by the link rod 23.
To the fore crank-arm there is jointed the rod r which, as above mentioned,
is connected with the pressure lever p1 or 2 respectively of the other gun. By
this rod the movement of the upper carriage of gun I or II is transmitted to the
loading device of gun II or I: when the pressure-lever pl or p³ moves forwards,
the cranks of the corresponding loading device are also moved forward, so that

page_text: the two lever arms M and M¹ swing upwards raising and advancing the loading
trough N.
When the nose O¹ of the rammer lever O is in the position shewn in dotted lines
in Figure 2, it bears against the sleeve w so that, when the lever arm M continues
to move forward, the rammer y is pressed forward by the swinging rammer-lever O
for the length of a cartridge. At the same time during this latter part of the
movement the rammer-nose O' has become engaged with the pawl w³. The recoil
of the other gun causes then the pressure-lever por p2 belonging to it to move
backward and the loading mechanism actuated thereby to move completely backward
and downward, so that the pawl 3 holds then fast the nose O¹, until the rammer y
is pressed back again into its original position in the rear part of the loading
trough.
The pointing device, Figures 2, 3 and 5.
To the cheeks facing each other of the two lower gun carriages there are secured
two brackets S3 forming the supports of the pointing device for the guns. The
brackets terminate above with bearings 3 the centres of which are situated exactly
in the axis of the pointing pivots secured to the guns, as soon as the gun is in
the fixed recoil position determined by the recoil and in consequence in a horizontal
position.
In the bearings 3 is journalled the axis of a beam S¹, the lower arm S of which is
a toothed segment while the upper arm S¹ carries the strong cross head S₁, on the
pivots of which swing pointing arms R'R' the length of each of which between
its pivots is equal to that of the beam arm S¹. These pointing arms have their
lower ends jointed to the two inner pointing pivots of the two guns and determine
the elevation of the guns returned into the firing position.
The arc of the segment S has teeth gearing with a screw T which can be turned
by the hand wheel R (Figure 2). This arrangement permits therefore of trans-
mitting simultaneously the same elevation of both guns, as the raising or lowering
of the arm S¹ determines a higher or lower position of the pointing pivots suspended
on the pointing arms R¹ when the gun is in the firing position. But when the
gun returns into its fixed recoil position and into the horizontal position necessary
for loading, the latter is not altered by the elevation taken or to be taken, as
the arm S and the pointing arm R' having the same length swings without causing
the gun in this position to move.
Instead of this pointing device, that described in my prior Specification No. 19435
of 1896 may be used.
THE SINGLE GUN.
Figures 9 to 13 shew a single gun, wherein likewise as in the above described
twin-gun the construction of the accumulators, of the loading and of the pointing
device is simplified. In the drawings of this single gun there is shewn at the same
time an automatic closure such as was described in my former Specification
No. 19435 of 1896, but provided with a new stopping device, by means of which the
whole mechanism of the gun is stopped when a cartridge is not quite regularly
introduced into the gun.
Figure 9 is a side view of the single gun in the loading position before the
beginning of the loading operation, the side-wall of the gun-carriage, covering
the arrangement of the accumulator, being omitted.
Figure 10 is an outer side view of the gun in the loading position after loading.
Figure 11 is the corresponding rear view.
Figure 12 is the side view corresponding to Figure 10, the gun-being in the
firing position.
Figure 13 is a plan.
Parts corresponding to those for the twin gun, are marked with like letters of
reference, and the substructure for the single gun is like that of the twin-guns
shewn in the Figures 1 to 4. To the platform is secured a fixed frame receiving
the accumulator as well as the bearings of the lever-systems by which the recoil

page_text: power is transmitted to the several mechanisms. The frame A consists of two
strong side metal plates firmly connected with each other by means of suitable
transoms.
.
The gun is supported on a strong lever B¹ pivotted on a shaft 61 journalled in
the lower part of the frame-box. The upper part of the lever B is forked having
in its forks 1 bearings for the trunnions, so that the gun can swing in an arc
round the shaft b¹¸ The rear movement of the lever B' is limited by the transoms 2.
Behind the lever B is arranged the accumulator-system C¹ pivotted at e in the
frame A and having the head of the plunger c entering a recess of the lever B¹
and jointed to it by a pin c. Below there is screwed into the right hand side
of the lever 13 a round striking-stud 3, having a quadrant cut out on its upper side
(Figure 9), so that the pawl 4 can engage therein. This pawl 4 is pivotted on a
shaft journalled in the frame and projecting on one side out of the box of the frame
carrying on its projecting part the pressure arm 5.
On the same side of the gun there is on the shaft of the lever B¹ a socket 1
extending on both sides of the corresponding wall of the frame-box. Within the
frame box a lever P is fixed on this socket and outside the right wall of the frame
the lever P. The inner lever P is in connection with the accumulator-system
and the outer one has its upper end connected by the rod to the loading device L
which is constructed as described above with reference to Figures 1 to 4, except that:
the short lever arms z, z are arranged in an opposite position, so that the cartridge
trough N is raised by the thrust of the rod r, and lowered by its tension.
THE ACCUMULATOR
(Figures 14 to 16).
For effecting the loading and the return to firing position of the guns
independently of each other I have described a new accumulator arrangement
shewn in cross section on an enlarged scale in Figure 14. It consists of a strong
double cylinder with two bores 6 and 7 of different diameters and is pivotted at e
to the frame. In the large bore 6 moves the accumulator plunger c having at its
rear end a concave washer and having its front end connected at c¹ to the
lever B. In the small bore 7 is a piston 8, the rod 9 of which has a slotted head
connected to the lever P swinging on the shaft of the lever B¹ and actuating by the
said lever P the loading device.
Below the piston c of the cylinder 6 there is formed a space 10, between which
and the cylinder 6 is a valve 11, which closes when by descent of the piston c the
air compressed thereby is forced into the space 10. From 10 a passage 12 in the
wall of the accumulator casing leads upwards and opens at certain points into
the bores 6, 7; into the bore 6 at 13 where the washer of the plunger c when it
is quite down bears against the cylinder wall, and into the bore 7 higher at 14
which is above the piston when it is fully out. The supply of air under pressure
into the passage 12 can be shut off by a valve 15 the stem of which passes through
the bottom of the cylinder-body and is connected to the starting lever 16, by the
movements of which the passage 12 is closed or opened. Besides the ports 13
and 14 of the passage 12 there is a direct communication 17 between the two
cylinder bores. Three sectional plans Figures 15^, 15, 15°, shew the com-
munications between the cylinders looking down. The communication 17 is
controlled by a special valve in such a manner, that the air under pressure or the
liquid in cylinder 7 passes to cylinder 6 when the piston 8 is below the mouth
of 17, and the valve in the passage 17 prevents flow from cylinder 6 to cylinder 7
(Figure 15º).
Between the plunger and the piston rod 9 there is a connexion such as shewn
in plan in Figure 16. On the head of the plunger ca tappet c° projects towards
the piston rod 9 and when the piston advances, bears on a corresponding tappet of
the piston-rod 9, so that the piston 8 moves outwards along with the plunger c.
BREECH-CLOSURE.

page_text: opened and closed by the curved rail described in my former Specification
No. 19435 of 1896.
The closure is shewn in Figures 17 to 23 of the drawings accompanying the
Provisional Specification, of which Figure 17 is an end view, Figures 18 and 19
are side views, partly in section, shewing the parts in different positions, Figure 20
is a transverse section.
As shewn in the longitudinal section Figures 21 and 22, the closure contains
the hammer 18 suspended so as to swing on an upper pivot and strike with its
point through an opening in the fore block face under the action of the spring 19
against the priming cap of the cartridge as soon as the closure is closed. A
pressure bolt 20 passes above the hammer point transversely through the block and
outside on the block-cheeks, (see Figures 18 and 19) bent pressure arms 21 rivetted to
the bolt swing also on the pivot of the hammer which projects to the outside. . In
the slide faces of the breech of the gun serving to guide the closure there are
arranged as seen in the plan Figure: 23 on each side two tappets 22, dotted in
Figures 18 and 19 and between these the pressure arms 21 actuating the hammer
are suspended so that owing to their peculiar shape they are moved backwards
when the closure is opened (Figure 18) and moved forwards when the closure is
closed (Figure 19).
Thus when the closure is opened the hammer is forced back with certainty by
the bolt 20, compressing the spring 19. When the closure is quite opened the
nose 23 slides over a second nose 24 urged forwards by a small spring. In lowering
the closure the arms 21 (Figure 19) again swing forward taking with them
the bolt 20. The hammer however is held by the engagement of the noses 23
and 24 (Figure 21). The nose 24 is provided, outside with a slotted lug 26,
which as soon as the breech is completely closed, slides down over a nose 27 having
an inclined rear which is secured to the rear part of the breech, so that when the
closure is complete the piece 24 is drawn back releasing the lever end 23, so that as
shewn in Figure 22. the hammer is suddenly driven forwards.
STOP DEVICE.
With this closure a stop device is combined in such a manner that it performs
two conditions: First it prevents the cartridge in the gun from sliding backward,
which might occur owing to the inertia of the cartridge when the gun is run out;
Secondly it stops the forward movement of the gun when the cartridge has not
completely arrived into its chamber. In order to attain particularly this latter
object the following circumstance has been utilised in constructing the stop
device.
The transfer of movement from the gun running out to the simultaneous
downward movement of the closure owing to the double lever-transmission (curved
arc and closure lever) gives such power on the closure that any resistance in
the closure movement is sufficient to prevent the running-out accumulator from
acting. For this purpose there is arranged in a bore of the rear part of the breech
(Figures 18 and 23) a bolt 28, which is urged by a spring into a hole in the closure
block, when the closure is quite opened. The bolt 28 has outside a lug 29, into
which can enter the tongue 30 of a pawl 31. The right end of this pawl has a
nose 32 under the control of a stop 33, as soon as the pawl 31 moves so that its
tongue 30 withdraws the bolt 28 from the recess of the closure. This takes place
(Figures 18 and 21) as soon as the lever of the loading mechanism has finished
its forward motion effecting the complete introduction of the cartridge into the
chamber of the gun, the lever then striking against the pawl 31. In order to
prevent the cartridge from sliding back, there is arranged, (Figure 21), below
the hammer in the closure block a vertically swinging lever 34 urged downwards
by a spring so that its front end comes behind the upper edge of the cartridge
bottom as soon as a catch 35 behind the bolt is disengaged. This is effected
by the pressure of the pin 36 (Figures 21 and 23) against which the lever O
strikes.

page_text: This pin 36 passes through a slot of the pawl 31, and as soon as the lever O,
when the loading is completed, strikes against it the bolt 28 is withdrawn and the
lever 34 is at the same time disengaged. When the breech-block is lowered, the
lever 34 meets a stop screw 37 and is turned to the position shewn in Figure 22
out of the way when after the discharge of the gun the empty cartridge is to be
ejected.
The catch 33 is also moved.disengaging the pawl 31, so that the bolt 28 can again
enter the hole of the closure when it is opened.
POINTING DEVICE.
The pointing device already shewn on the gun in the Figures 9 to 13 is more
fully explained on reference to the cross section Figure 24 and its side-view
Figure 25. Two slide-rails 38 are arranged on both sides of the gun, their open
sides facing each other, and are pivotted at 39 in bearings arranged in the fore
part of the frame A. In the slide rails 38 when the gun moves, slide the
pointing pivots 41 projecting from the gun, and below the slide rails there are
fixed segments 42, the teeth of which gear with two toothed wheels 43 on a
shaft 44, mounted in bearings 45 in front of the head of the frame A and turned
by a hand crank R¹ or it might be by a motor and suitable gear.
WORKING OF THE TWIN GUN.
The working of the twin gun arranged as above described is as follows:-
The two guns are put first by any suitable mechanical means in the loading
position. The cylinders are filled with liquid or air under pressure and a cartridge
is introduced into each of the loading troughs. The gun I is loaded by hand
introducing a cartridge into the cartridge chamber. To commence the movement
the pawls of the pressure-lever plying on the gun II is disengaged by hand.
By the pressure exerted by the return action of the spring or of the air under
pressure the upper carriage of gun I is moved to the firing position. This effects,
as described in my prior Specification No. 19435 of 1896 the first automatic effect,
closing the breech and at the same time actuating the loading mechanism of
gun II. After the running-out of the upper carriage of gun I is terminated, the
gun II is in its loading position having the breech closure opened, a cartridge
is placed in the gun and the locked pawl above the pressure lever p² (situated next
to gun I) controls its accumulator. The pointing device has given the gun during
its return to firing position, the proper elevation. The gun I is now fired
electrically or otherwise, the hammer being automatically disengaged when the 3
closure is complete. On firing, the upper carriage of gun I recoils rearwards upon
the rails of the lower gun carriage up to the rear stop a, against which the upper
gun carriage strikes. By this backward movement the accumulator lever b is
reversed and the accumulator is compressed. Simultaneously with the lever bits
shaft and the pressure-lever p outside of the gun carriage I nearest to the
gun carriage II makes the same stroke (indicated by dotted lines in Figure 2),
the rear part rounded off of its upper end lifting the pawl s' which however urged
by its spring t (Figure 3) descends again stopping the lever in this position. The
stoppage is transmitted in the same way to the accumulator and to the upper gun
carriage so that the latter is locked with its gun in the loading position.
By the recoil motion of the upper gun carriage three different operations are
effected:
First The opening of the closure of gun I which takes place in the same manner
as described in my Specification No. 19435 of 1896.
4
Secondly: The lowering of the loading device of gun II into its first position for 5
receiving another cartridge (Figure 1) the pressure lever having in its rear
movement pushed back the rod of the loading mechanism of gun II, turning the
arms of the loading trough rearwards and downwards, so that the loading box
is returned to its first position, the loading lever O having withdrawn the rammer y
into the rear part of the loading trough which is then ready to receive a fresh 5
cartridge.

page_text: Thirdly: The disengaging of the pawl of gun II, as the tappet v of the upper
carriage of gun I during the recoil strikes against the arm of the pawl and
opens the latter; by this the pressure-lever pis disengaged and the return action
of its accumulator effects the return movement of the upper carriage of gun II to
the firing position. The same automatic operations are then repeated by gun II in
respect of gun I, that is to say, the closure of gun II is closed and gun I is
charged, as the pressure-lever moving forwards advances the rod r of the
loading mechanism of gun I and therefore moves the loading trough upwards
and forwards.
The working of the two kinds of accumulators differs inasmuch as in the spring
system with brake cylinder the energy stored up in the accumulator of the one
gun returns this gun to firing position, while in using the cylinder containing air
under pressure the energy stored up in the accumulator of the one gun is
employed for return of the other gun to firing position. The pressure increased
by the recoil of the one gun tends to equalise itself through the channel provided
in the trunnions and the valve, with the lower pressure in the cylinder of the
other gun, whereby, after the release of the pawl, the return to battery of the other
gun is effected. In the two kinds of the accumulators the running out of the gun
carriage and in consequence the closing of the closure as well as the loading
operation of the other gun does not take place suddenly, but the return action
of the accumulators remains under the control of the regulating valve h or t
respectively, which is more or less opened, as may be required according to the
rapidity of firing.
For ceasing fire, the valve is completely shut off or the supply of cartridges to the
loading trough is stopped.
WORKING OF THE SINGLE GUN.
The single gun is worked in the following manner.
The gun is according to Figure 9 in the loading position before the beginning
of the loading operation. The cylinder of the accumulator C¹ is filled with air
under pressure and liquid, the cartridge trough N is lowered and the closure is
opened for receiving a cartridge. A cartridge is placed by hand in the loading
trough. By reversing the lever 16 (Figure 14) the valve 15 is opened and air
under pressure flows from the collector 10 through the channel 12 above the
piston 8 into the cylinder 7, forcing back the piston 8. The piston rod 9 takes with
it the lever P on the socket of the shaft 61, and lever P following this backward
movement transmits it by the rod r to the known loading mechanism which is
caused to introduce the cartridge into the gun in the manner already described in
respect of the twin gun. When the lever P₁ terminates its back stroke it presses
against the arm of the pawl 5 releasing it (Figure 10). At the same time the
loading lever O presses upon the head of pin 36 and locks the closure. After
the loading has been completed, the piston 8, being forced backwards passes beyond
the passage 17, the fluid under pressure flows from the cylinder 7 into the
cylinder 6 below the piston c (Figure 14) this piston is immediately forced forward
and bears with its tappet co (Figure 16) against the corresponding tappet of the
piston rod 9, taking with it the piston S and so moving the levers P and P¹, so
that the cartridge trough is lowered again backward by rod r and cranks z.
In the forward movement the piston 8 shuts off gradually the inlet opening to 17
(Figures 14 and 15), but before the closure is quite completed, the accumulator
piston c has moved forward so far as to open the communication 13 between the
passage 12 and the cylinder 6. The pressure in the space 10 is communicated
through the opening 13 to the cylinder and terminates the forward movement of
the piston. In the movement of the piston c the lever B₁ connected therewith is
moved forwards and the gun is advanced to the firing position, with the elevation
determined by the pointing device. Immediately afterward, after the closure bas
been completely lowered, the cartridge is fired.

page_text: By the recoil the lever B¹ is then turned backward and the accumulator piston c
is forced again into its cylinder. The pawl 4 catches behind the recess of the
bolt 3, so that the gun is stopped in the loading position. The air compressed. in
the cylinder 6 is forced through the valve 11 into the space 10, where it receives
its initial pressure, it passes then through the valve 15 left open into the passage 12
and by actuating the piston 8 in the cylinder 7 starts a new loading operation and
the subsequent disengagement of the pawl 4 and of the valve for advancing the
accumulator piston c.
As long as there are furnished cartridges into the trough N, all these operations
are repeated automatically, until by reversing the hand lever 16 in proper time
the valve 15 is closed, whereupon the recoiled gun rests in the loading position, the
cartridge trough N being in its lowered position as shewn in Figure 9 representing
the starting position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim in respect of automatic ordnance of the kind described in my prior
Specification No. 19435 of 1896 is:-
1. For storing up the energy in twin-guns, the modified arrangement of the
accumulator which is brought by the lever transmission under the control of
the upper gun-carriage B directly in the lower_gun carriage A, in such a manner
that the rod e guiding the spring system terminates with the piston d of a liquid
brake-device Dsuspended in an oscillatory manner within the cheeks of the gun-
carriage, substantially as described with reference to the drawings.
2. In the liquid brake 1) the combination of the perforated piston d with a
leather collar closing at the stroke the perforations so that then liquid can
pass over from the one side of the piston to the other only through a channel g
the area of which is regulated by a screw-valve h provided in one of the cylinder
trunnions e, substantially as described with reference to Figure 6.
3. For the accumulator C with its liquid-brake D referred to in Claim 1 the
substructure of a hydropneumatic accumulator such as is shewn in Figure 7, having
plungers connected to the recoil levers 6 and working in oscillating cylinders E
which communicate below the lowest position of the piston with a stationary
valve F (Figure 6) arranged between the two guns, this valve having a regulating
screw and an inlet valve f for introducing liquid and air under pressure,
substantially as described.
4. Supporting the single gun with its trunnions by a forked lever B¹ on shaft
in the lower part of the gun carriage coupled directly with the plunger c
of the recoil accumulator substantially as described.
5. For a single gun such as is referred to in Claim 4 the arrangement of a
hydro-pneumatic accumulator C¹ (Figure 14) mounted to oscillate in the lower
gun-carriage and having two cylinders 6, 7 with the plungers c, 8 of the running-
out and loading accumulator, the liquid being supplied to each cylinder from a
collector 10 fed anew during each recoil by a valve 15 controlled by the starting
lever 16, substantially as described.
6. The construction of the accumulator referred to in Claim 5, with means for
alternately actuating the plungers, comprising a direct connecting channel with
valve 17 between the two cylinders, and ports 13, 14 to the cylinders from a supply-
channel 12, which communicates with the collector, through the valve 15 or is
shut off therefrom (Figures 14 and 15) substantially as described.
7. For a single gun with accumulator such as is referred to in Claims 5 and 6, a
running-out plunger c provided with a tappet 0 (Figure 16) catching in its
running-out movement behind a stop on the piston-rod 9 of the loading accumulator
so as to take along with it the piston 8 for actuating the lever P or Pl. of the
loading mechanism, substantially as described.
8. The modified construction of the pawl-mechanism as shewn in Figures 2 to 4
or 9 to 13 where the pressure levers 2 of the twin gun or the gun-carriage lever B¹

page_text: of the single gun are locked by the pawls in the rest position, substantially as
described.
9. In automatic twin- or single guns of the kind referred to in Claims 1 and 3
or 5 a loading mechanism L shewn in Figures 1 to 4 or 9 to 13 comprising a crank
mechanism Z moved by a rod r from the pressure levers pl² or PP actuating a
pair of levers M oscillating with the shaft w of the cranks, the said pair of levers
raising a cartridge trough N with the cartridges placed thereon in a horizontal
position from the place where the cartridges are received, up to behind the breech
of the gun, the cartridge being then introduced into the charge chamber by a rammer-
piston y, as the double-armed rammer lever 0 actuated with the cartridge trough
strikes against the shaft w and thus pushes the piston forwards, substantially as
described.
10. The automatic closure of a gun characterised by lateral pressure-arms 21
pivotted on the hammer pivot and effecting the tension by a compulsory guiding
(Figure 23) on the opening of the closure (Figure 21) releasing on the closure the
hammer 18 which is held in tension by noses 23, 24 and released only on the
complete closure (Figure 22), substantially as described.
11. The combination of the closure mechanism with a safety stop preventing
forward movement of the gun when the cartridge is not completely introduced into
its chamber, a pinch in the closure movement preventing the further relaxation
of the accumulator, the said stop-device being characterised by a bolting 28, 29 of
the opened block on the breech of the gun, which bolting is disengaged only when
the loading operation is terminated by the loading lever O striking against the
pawl-levers 30, 31 and withdrawing the bolt (Figures 20, 21), substantially as
described.
12. In combination with the stop-device referred to in Claim 11 a device for
preventing the cartridge in the gun from sliding backward when the gun is run
out, this device comprising a lever 34 engaging, as soon as the loading operation is
quite terminated, behind the cartridge bottom, the catch 35 of lever 34 having been
disengaged by the loading lever O striking against it in its end position, while the
lever, after the breech block is completely lowered, is pressed again by a stop
screw 37 under its catch (Figures 21, 22), substantially as described.
13. The pointing device shewn in Figures 2 and 3 for simultaneously elevating
both guns without influencing their recoil position, wherein the common crank-
wheel R actuates by means of a worm gear a double armed lever SS carrying on a
cross-head S the pointing arms connected with the pivots of the guns, the axis of
revolution of the lever being so arranged, that in the recoil position of the guns it
coincides with the axis of the pointing pivots, substantially as described.
A
14. A modified construction of the pointing device for a single gun as shewn in
Figures 9 to 13 and 24 to 25, wherein slide rails 38 supported in a rotatable manner
in the frame A and guiding the pointing pivots of the gun in longitudinal slots are
adjusted by means of toothed segments 42 moved by toothed wheels 43 actuated
by the pointing crank R¹ substantially as described.
Dated this 13th day of January 1899.
ABEL & LMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.