Improvements in Ammunition Waggons and Limbers.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Feb., 1899
Anmutada Canifortion Laft 40th Ant 1000 Accented
22nd Don
1000
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ammunition Waggons and Limbers.
We, VICKERS SONS & MAXIM LIMITED, of River Don Works, Sheffield, in the
County of York, ARTHUR TREVOR DAWSON, and GEORGE THOMAS BUCKHAM, both
of Vickers Sons & Maxim Limited, of 28, Victoria Street, Westminster, in the
County of London, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
This invention relates to ammunition waggons and limbers for field guns,"
and consists in the construction of the axle, the ammunition box, and the limber
hook in such a manner as to combine great strength with lightness and security,
as well as convenience in use
The axle consists of the two tapering end parts on which the wheels turn,
made with their inner ends cranked down and formed as hollow bosses to receive
the ends of a tube which connects the two end parts. Each end part has also a
pair of side cheeks inclined in wedge form, and to these cheeks are rivetted plates
which extend down, enclosing the connecting tube between them and having their
lower edges rivetted together so that they constitute a strong light girder of
approximately triangular section rigidly connecting the two end parts which
carry the wheels. The upper edges of the side plates are flanged outwards and
these flanges are rivetted to the framing which carries the ammunition box and
the gunner's seat. To the side plates are also rivetted ribs of bent angle iron,
two at the middle of the axle to which is hinged the pole, and one near each end,
to which is fixed the bolt which extends forwards and has an eye to receive one
of the swingletrees for the traces These ribs are bent so as to extend horizontally
forwards supporting the frame which carries the ammunition box and seat.
The sides and ends of the ammunition box consist of metal plates with pieces
cut out so as to leave only open frames to which are attached light sheets such as
aluminium or leather. The box is divided by several longitudinal partitions into
compartments all of which are accessible on opening a rear door having its lower
edge hinged to the bottom of the box at the rear end. On the sides and partitions
are fixed several angle irons forming shelves on which can slide drawers each
containing several charges.
Each drawer is made of thin metal having its sides and ends stamped up out
of the sheet, and having corrugations stamped in the bottom, forming hollows in
which several charges lie. The lid is also stamped in sheet metal with ridges
projecting inwards, one over each charge, so that when the lid is closed the charges
are held down by it.
The lid is hinged at one end, at the other end it is fastened by a twin buckle.
and this end is provided with a strap of leather or other suitable flexible material
by which the drawer can be carried.
At the rear of the waggon is mounted a longitudinal spindle which can be
turned by a winch handle, this spindle having a worm gearing with a toothed
segment on a rocking shaft, arms of which are linked to the brake blocks. so that,
on turning the spindle, these blocks are drawn against the wheels.
At the rear of the limber is fixed the hook which receives the trail of the gun

page_text: carriage, and this hook is made with an arm projecting rearwards below the main
hook so as to carry a plate projecting forwards from the shoe attached to the
tube of the recoil spring of the gun carriage, this tube being supported on the
plate when the gun carriage is hooked to the limber.
Dated this 6th day of February '1899,
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants,
Improvements in Ammunition Waggons and Limbers.
We, VICKERS SONS & MAXIM LIMITED, of River Don Works, Sheffield, in the
County of. York, ARTITUR TREVOR DAWSON, and GEORGE THOMAS BECKHAM, both
of. Vickers Sons & Maxim Limited; of 28, Victoria Street, Westminster, in the
County of London; do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:―
This invention relates to ammunition waggons and limbers for field guns, and
consists in the construction of the axle, the ammunition box, and the limber
hook in such a manner astto combine great: strength with lightness and security
as well as convenience: in use as we shall describe referring to the accompanying
drawings. 1999
>
Fig. is a side view of the waggon with ammunition box, Fig. 2 is a plan of
the underframe with. wheels removed and the end of the trail of the gun carriage
shewn.in dotted lines. Fig 3 1s a rear view of the waggon and ammunition box
of which Fig. 4 is a vertical section Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section, Fig. 6-is
a:transverse section and Fig. 7 is a plan of the ammunition trav. 小
'
The axle consists of the two tapering end partsa on which the wheels turn,
made with their inner ends cranked down and formed as hollow bosses b to receive
the ends of a. tube c which connects the two end parts: Each end part has also
a pair of side cheeks. d inclined in wedge form, and to these cheeks
are rivetted plates e which extend down, enclosing the connecting
tube 6. between them and having their lower edges rivetted together so
that they constitutes a strong light girder of approximately triangular: section
rigidly connecting the two end parts a which carry the wheels
The upper
edges. of the side plates e are flanged outwards and these flanges f are rivetted
to the framing. which carries the ammunition box and the gunner's seat... To
the side plates are also rivetted ribs of bent angle iron, two hat the middle of
the axle to which is hinged the pole k and one near each end, to which is fixed
the bolt which extends forwards and has an eve to receive one of the swingle-
trees for the traces.. These angle irons and are bent so as to extend hori-
zontally forwards supporting the frame which carries the ammunition box and
seat!
1'
-;
1..
The sides and ends of the ammunition box consist of metal plates with pieces
cut out so as to leave only open frames to which are attached light sheets such as
aluminium or leather.. The box is divided by several longitudinal partitions into
compartments all of which are accessible on opening a rear door 7 having its
lower edge hinged to the bottom of the box at the rear end On the sides and
partitions are fixed several angle irons m forming shelves on which can slide
drawers each containing several charges.
Each drawer n is made of thin metal having its sides and ends stamped up out
of the sheet, and having corrugations p stamped in the bottom, forming hollows
13.
!.
1
.3.

page_text: in which several projectiles lie. The lid is also stamped in sheet metal with
ridges projecting inwards, one over each projectile, so that when the lid is
closed the charges are held down by it.
The lid is hinged at one end at r, at the other end it is fastened by a twin
buckles and this end is provided with a strap of leather or other suitable flexible
material by which the drawer can be carried.
At the rear of the waggon is mounted a longitudinal spindle which can be
turned by a winch handle, this spindle having a worm gearing with a toothed
segment on a rocking shaft, arms of which are linked to the brake blocks w
so that, on turning the spindle, these blocks are drawn against the wheels.
At the rear of the limber is fixed the hook which receives the trail of the
gun carriage, and this hook is made with an army projecting rearwards below the
main hook so as to carry a plate z projecting forwards from the shoe attached
to the tube of the recoil spring of the gun carriage, this tube being supported on
the plate when the gun carriage is hooked to the limber.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is-
1 An ammunition waggon constructed substantially as described with reference
to the drawings
2 The construction of the axle comprising two end parts for the wheels each
cranked down and provided with side cheeks and a hollow boss, a tube engaged in
and connecting the two bosses, and inclined side plates with flanges attached to
the frame of the waggon substantially as described
The ammunition box having its sides and ends made of plate with parts
cut out to form open frames covered with light plates or the like, and having its
interior fitted with angle iron shelves for ammunition trays, substantially as
described.
4 The ammunition tray made of light plate the bottom made with hollows to
receive several projectiles, and the lid made with wardly projecting ridges to
steady the projectiles, substantially as descubed.
5 The construction of the hook for the trail of the gun carriage with an arm
projecting rearwards to support a plate on the trail substantially as described.
Dated this 18th day of October 1899.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.