Improvements in Means for use in Working Quick-firing Guns on Board Ship.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Dec., 1897--Accepted, 29th Jan., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for use in Working Quick-firing Guns on
Board Ship.
We, JACQUES AUGUSTIN NORMAND, and FRANÇOISE ELISABETH NORMAND, and
MARIE EMILIE NORMAND, all of the Firm of La Société Augustin Normand et
Cie., of 67, Rue du Perrey, Le Havre, in the Republic of France, Engineers, 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:-
Quick firing guns of small calibre as now employed are olevated depressed and
trained by the gunner without the use of screws or other gearing they being pro-
vided with a butt or stock against which the gunner presses his shoulder; a
vertical attachment provided with a handle or handles being provided on the
said butt which attachment the gunner grasps with one hand, whilst with his
other hand he attends to the firing operation.
This system auswers its purpose in calm seas, but in rough seas the accuracy
of firing diminishes enormously especially on board vessels of small tonnage,
such for instance as torpedo boats and torpedo boat destroyers.
The movements to which the gunner's body is subjected at sea may be divided
into three kinds, viz:-
(1) Movements forward and backward.
(2) Movements up and down.
(3) Movements from side to side.
In bearing against the butt, the gunner is supported against forward and back-
ward movements, and, if the up and down movements of the ship be moderate,
the weight alone of his body protects him from the effects of these, but, with
regard to the movements from side to side, the gunner under the influence of
these, involuntarily imparts to the gun, circular movements around the vertical
axis of its mount or carriage.
If, generally speaking, the changes in the direction of the gun, due to the
gunner's involuntary side movements, are not more considerable in rough weatlier,
it is owing to the fact that the friction of the mount upon its support is consider-
able whereas it is very desirable to reduce this friction to a minimum, for instance
by means of friction rollers.
This would be possible if the gunner, instead of taking his point of support
on the gun for the purpose of resisting the lateral movements due to the motion
of the vessel, took his support at a point fixed relatively to the vessel; but this
is, in the arrangements hitherto used, impractible, because he must have one hand
free for operating the gun; anyone having been at sea in rough weather knows
how much easier it is to keep one's equilibrium when holding a fixed point with
one hand.
The gunner's object is not solely to retain his equilibrium from such a fixed

page_text: support, as he must also be enabled to exert efforts (which increase with the weight
of the gun operated) in order that the necessary movements of elevating or depressing
and training may be imparted to the gun.
The fixed support to be grasped by one hand will be found of great assistance,
especially for lowering the butt, and still much more so for training the gun.
Even if the gunner were to separate his feet to a considerable distance apart,
the lateral effort which he could exert would bo but small, whereas this effort
would equal the whole weight of his body if he take with one hand a firm hold
on a fixed support, and moreover the movements which the gunner will impart
to the gun will be far more regular, a fact of great importance in obtaining
accuracy of aim. It is well known that, owing to the great friction, the move-
ments and more especially that of training or moving laterally at starting, require
an intense effort, and that in consequence the gun is abruptly displaced, and
especially is this the caso with heavy guns.
If the gunner takes a firm hold on a fixed support, he will not only be enabled
to exert the requisite effort far more easily, but he will also be capable of limiting
its effect without difficulty.
To sum up, if the gunner can use one of his hands for seizing a support fixed
relatively to the vessel, he will be able to avoid the involuntary displacements
which are due to the rolling and pitching, and to the vertical movements of the
vessel; and he can exert far greater vertical and especially lateral efforts upon
the butt, which offorts are necessary in order to properly elevate and train the
gun, and moreover he will impart to the gun perfectly regular movements. It
will therefore be possible to reduce the lever which he acts upon. The reduction
of the radius of the butt will present this double advantage, firstly, that of diminish-
ing the incumbrance, and of admitting of the artillery equipment of the ship
being increased, and secondly, that of reducing the amplitude of movement, which
the gunner has to execute, in order to keep his mark within the line of sight.
This result cannot be obtained in a simple manner, except when the three follow-
ing conditions are fulfilled:- (1) A basis of support must be afforded the gunner
whatever may be the direction of the gun. (2) This basis must not impede the
elevating and pointing or training movements imparted to the gun. (3) The
gunner must effect the firing by the aid of the hand with which he seizes the butt.
Of course, one of the men serving the gun may fire upon the command of the
one pointing the gun, but this method would not be conducivo to accuracy of fire.
In the accompanying drawing devices according to this Invention are repre-
sented for realizing the above mentioned three conditions.
Figures 1 and 2 represent in elevation and plan respectively the device in which
the point of support is given to the gunner's left hand, this support cousisting of
a bar adjusted in a special manner.
Figures 3 and 4 represent a simplified device, in which the fixed support for
the left hand is given by a simple circular band-rail, the periphery of which does
not project so far as the butt.
Figures 5, 6 and 7 represent a method of carrying this invention into effect as
applied to a quick-firing gun of say 65 millimetres bore, mounted on the block-
house of a torpedo destroyer.
In the arrangement Figures 1 and 2, a horizontal circle F is mounted around
the gun support, the contre of the said circle coinciding with the vertical axis of
the lateral or training movement of the gun. Upon this circle turus (through the
medium of a collar G) a bar H, the end of which, situated at a convenient height,
moves in a horizontal plane and is adapted to assume the best direction to sorve
as a point of support, according to the position of the mark to be hit.
The bar H is fixed to the circle F either by a spring bolt I, for engaging with
notches of the circle, like the lovers employed for reversing the motion in locomo-
tives, or by other suitable means such as a friction brake actuated electrically.
A handle J, arranged at the extremity of the bar, sorves as the point of support
for the gunner, who changes, at will, the direction of the bar by releasing the

page_text: bolt or by pressing an electric push, according to the system of release and fixing
Edopted. He executes these operations instantaneously with the hand with which
he takes hold of the bar.
The operation of firing here represented, is effected mechanically. A trigger D,
fixed to the handle of the butt, transmits, by a bell-crauk lever E to the trigger
or releasing mechanism of the gun, the effort, exerted by the finger of the gunner.
If several butt-handles are employed, each of them is provided with a trigger.
The height of the butt can be modified, according to the stature of the pointer and
to the angle of mean-elevation of the gun.
The gunner bears with his right shoulder against the butt A of the gun, seizes
with his right hand one of the handles of the butt and fires by pressing the
trigger D. The operation of firing can be effected through the medium of any
one of the butt handles, in case several of such handles are provided.
Figures 3 and 4 represent in elevation and plan respectively a small-calibre
quick-firing gun, mounted on a non-recoil mount. The moveable handle J, as
represented in Figures 1 and 2 is replaced by a circular hand-rail C which is of
such a diameter as not to project so far as the butt; contrary to the following
example,
In the device represented in Figures 5, 6 and 7 the gunner seizes with his left
hand a circular hand-rail C fixed to the ship concentric with the axis on which
the gun is trained. The radius of this circular hand-rail, is such, relatively to
the position of the butt from the centre, that the gunner imparts to the gun a
very large positive angle, without the hand-rail, which is situated between his
right arm and his body, in any way impeding his movement. In order to avoid
encumbrance, the hand-rail is, or may be, adapted to be dismounted or turned
down, when the gun is at rest. The poiator bears with his right shouldor against
the butt A of the gun, which is fixed laterally to the mount in order to admit of a
free recoil of the gun. He holds with his right hand that handle of the butt-end
which suits his stature and the angle of elevation of the gun, and operates the
firing mechanism, which can be done electrically, by applying his thumb against
a push B, placed at the extremity of this handle. Several pushes can be employed
in different positions.
In the examples illustrated the gunner's position may vary; he can bear against
the butt with his left shoulder, effect the firing with his left hand and support
himself by his right hand.
We have, so far, supposed the power employed in operating the gun to be derived
from the muscular strength of the gunner, but this may be inadequate in the case
of quick firing guns of medium or largo calibre guns and then the working of the
gun is often effected by power derived from electric or other auxiliary motors.
In this case again, the movements of the vessel interfere with the gunner and
cause him to lose his line of sight; so it is very useful for him to be able to grasp
a fixed point, so that he may keep his equilibrium.
In the case of guns fitted with a training platform which does not move with
the gun, the bar radiating about the vertical axis of the movement of training
(Figures 1 and 2) or a fixed circular horizontal hand-rail (Figures 3 and 4 and
Figures 5, 6 and 7) or any other equivalent means within the scope of this Inven-
tion can be employed. The gunner would obtain a hold with one hand on the
fixed support thus offered, whilst with the other hand he would operate the motor,
by which the elevating depressing and training movements of the gun are obtained.
The firing may in this case be effected electrically through the medium of the
sane hand, by which the motor is operated. For this purpose it is only necessary
that a contact push such, for example, as is indicated at B (Figures 5 and 6) be
arranged upon the rod, handle or other device, utilized by the gunner for operating
the auxiliary motors provided that this contact push be so placed as to enable
5 the gunner to press the push with one of his fingers, in order to fire, whilst his
hand occupies the position proper for operating the auxiliary motor.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. In relation to guns, pointed through the medium of the shoulder the com-
bination of a pointing butt, provided with a firing device and of a point of
support, fixed or stationary relatively to the ship, substantially as herein before
explained.
2. In combination with shoulder-pointed guns, a pointing-butt or stock such that
the gunner can effect the firing with the same hand by which he holds the butt,
and an adjustable radiating bar or stationary hand rail for being grasped by
the other hand; substantially as herein before described.
3. In guns such as are hereinbefore described and wherein a fixed support is
provided for the gunner's one hand, and means for enabling him with his other
hand to effect the pointing and firing, the combination of means for enabling
firing to be effected electrically through a contact push, or contact pushes, arranged
in the butt, so that the gunner can fire the gun without ceasing to take firm hold
of the butt-handle; substantially as hereinbefore explained.
4. In guns as hereinbefore described, wherein means are provided to enable the
gunner to obtain a fixed support with one hand, while at the same time, with
the other haud, he effects pointing and firing at once, the arrangement for effecting
firing mechanically by means of a trigger or triggers oporated by the gunner's
hand, the movement being transmitted to the trigger or reheusing mechanism of
the gun, through the intermediary of mechanism which does not impede the move-
ments of the gun; substantially as hereinbefore explained.
5. In the arrangement of quick-firing guns, in which the elevating, depressing
und training movements are effected by means of an electric or other motor, while
the pointing or training platform is stationary relatively to the vessel and not
moving with the gun, the use of a supporting point, fixed relatively to the vessel,
as herein before described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, enabling
the gunner to obtain with one hand a hold on such supporting point, and to
operate with the other hand the motor of the gun, so that he can always keep
his eye in the line of sight irrespective of the movements of the vessel.
6. In the arrangement of quick-firing guns, in which the elevating, depressing
and training operations are effected by means of an electric or other motor while
the pointing or training platform is stationary relatively to the vessel; the com-
bination of a point fixed relatively to the vessel, as herein before described, with
reference to the accompanying drawings, and of an electrically actuated firing
medium so fixed to the manipulator of the motor, that the gunner is enabled to
obtain with one hand a hold on the supporting point, and to operate with the
other hand the motor as well as the firing device.
7. The particular constructional arrangements hereinbefore described and illus-
trated in Figures 1 and 2, Figures 3 and 4 and Figures 5, 6 and 7 of the accom-
panying drawings.
Dated this 6th day o
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JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.