Improvements in Mountings for Quick-firing Guns.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Apr., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 28th Jan., 1892-Accepted, 29th Apr., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mountings for Quick-firing Guns.
I, JOHN EBENEZER BOUSFIELD, of the firm of G. F. Redfern & Co., The
General Patent Office, No. 4, South Street, Finsbury, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication
to me by Ernst Ternström and Axel Widell, both of 2 Rue du Maine, Asnières,
Seine, in the Republic of France, Civil Engineers) to be as follows:-
This invention relates to mountings for quick-firing guns and has for its chief
object to improve the means for effecting the vertical and horizontal laying of such
guns.
The gun is kept in a jacket which is preferably integral with a hydraulic buffer
and which is attached to a cross head by means of two trunnion screws which are
fixed to the cross head and enter two bearings in the jacket. The lower part of the
cross head rests on a platform or the like having a pivot entering a socket formed
in the crosshead or the crosshead may be formed with a pivot which enters a socket
on the platform or cone.
The gun can slide in the jacket and has no trunnions but is provided with a hoop
having an ear to which is fixed the piston-rod of the hydraulic buffer. This
piston is drawn back together with the gun by the force of the recoil. By forcing
the liquid in the buffer from one side of the piston to the other through suitable
orifices the recoil is checked. A spring round the piston-rod brings the gun back.
To regulate the elevation of the gun for different distances I employ a lever
with two arms, one of which has a lng sliding in a groove in the jacket. This lever
can oscillate round the axis of the trunnions but it is not necessary that the gun
and the lever pivot together. The relative positions of the gun and lever are
determined by a screw by which the gun and jacket can be lowered or raised with
regard to the lever in order to give the necessary angle between the line of sight
and the centre line of the gun for different distances. The front and rear sight
are both fixed to the lever and a graduation giving the elevation is made on the
jacket or on the lever.
Behind the rearsight and fixed to the lever is a shoulder piece so that it will not
be necessary for the man who lays the gun to change his position on the shoulder
piece for different angles of elevation.
The elevation of the gun relative to the platform can be effected by the shoulder
piece but for more exact laying I use a screw with a hand wheel which works in a
nut, which nut, when the shoulder piece is used for laying slides in a sleeve, but
which, when the wheel is used, is clamped in the sleeve. The horizontal training
may also be effected by the shoulder piece or any suitable gear may be used for the
purpose.
In order to reduce to a minimum the friction that exists between the crosshead
and the platform the weight of the gun and mounting is carried to the centre of
the pivot by a Belleville spring. This spring carries a bolt with a spherical head
which bears against the concave end of a screw. By setting this screw the spring
is compressed and the whole weight, or such part of the weight of the gun and
mounting as may be required, is brought to bear on the centre instead of on the
outside periphery of the platform.
For the protection of the guncrew a shield might be fixed to the crosshead.
Dated the 29th day of April 1891.

page_text: Figure 5 is a sectional side clevation of the mounting illustrating an arrangement
of mechanism, suitable for use with big guns, for effecting the horizontal movement
of the same:
Figure 6 is a vertical section on the line C D of Figure 5; and,
Figure 7 is a plan partly in section taken on the line E F of Figure 6:
Figure 8 is a vertical section illustrating a modified arrangement of central pivot
of the mounting.
The gun a is held in a jacket 6 which is integral with a hydraulic buffer c and
which is attached to a cross-head or fork-shaped framed by means of two trunnions e
and screwed into the upper parts or forks of the said frame and entering two
bearings 9 and h in the jacket b. The lower part or body of the frame d rests on
a platform i having a pivot j entering a socket k in the body of the frame d.
The gun a is adapted to slide in the jacket 6 and has no trunnions but is provided
with a hoop or ring fixed thereon and having an ear to which the rod of the piston
of the hydraulic buffer c is fixed by means of nuts o. When the gun is fired the
piston is drawn back, together with the gun, by the force of the recoil, through the
medium of the ring and the piston-rod and the liquid contained in the buffer
behind the piston is driven through orifices to the other side of the piston in a well
known manner, thereby checking the recoil, a spring serving to bring back the gun
after the recoil.
To allow of pointing the gun a it is arranged to pivot (with its jacket 6) in a
vertical plane on the axis of the screw trunnions e, f, while the gun a, jacket b and
frame d can be turned round upon the pivot j of the platform i.
To regulate the elevation of the gun for different distances I employ a lever s
having two arms t and u and a screw v. A lug w on the arm t of the lever s slides
in a groove in the jacket which has two lateral guides y, y engaging in two
grooves z, z in the lug w, whereby the lever is always kept at the same distance
from the axis of the gun. The lever s can oscillate round the axis of the trunnion
and for this purpose it is provided with a boss a' having a hole through which passes
the trunnion which is screwed into the boss b' of the frame d; or the lever can be
directly screwed to one of the trunnions e or f. The gun a and the lever s pivot
upon the same axis but it is clear that it is not necessary that these two parts should
pivot together. The relative positions of the gun and lever are determined by a
screw c¹ provided at one of its ends with a pivot d' which enters a recess made in
the lever-arm t. This screw is provided with a nut e' in a hand-wheel f¹ and with
a sleeve having a pivot h' mounted on the jacket . It is therefore evident that

page_text: by turning the hand-wheel f¹ I can raise or lower the arm t of the lever s relatively
to the jacket b and gun a. The rear sight and the front sight are both fixed
to the lever s; the rear sight being placed at the end of the arm t and the front
sight on the boss a'. The relative movements of the gun a and levers give the
necessary angle between the line of sight and the centre line of the gun for different
distances.
Behind the rear sight and fixed to the arm of the lever s is a shoulder-
piece against which the man who lays the gun rests his shoulder while firing.
The shoulder-piece, the rear sight and the front sight being fixed to the same lever s
are consequently always in the same relative positions to each other and it is not
therefore necessary that the man should change the position of his shoulder against
the shoulder-piece to determine the different angles of elevation. This we consider
one of the principal advantages of this system of mounting guns. A curved
surface on the jacket, concentric to the axis of the trunnions e, f, is graduated
to represent the different angles of elevation; over this graduated surface moves
an indicator m' fixed to the arm of the lever for the purpose of indicating the
relative positions of the gun a and arm t.
In certain cases, however, it may be found more advantageous to graduate the
arm t and fix the indicator to the jacket b.
All the arrangements hereinbefore described for pointing the gun are intended
to replace the ordinary pointing mechanism in which the rear sight is raised or
lowered according to the distance the gun is to fire. For exactly determining the
elevation of the gun with relation to the platform I employ the before mentioned
screw connecting the ends of the two arms t and u; the screw is provided with
a grooved nut n' which slides freely in a sleeve o' provided with a pivot pl adapted
to turn in the centre of a block q' sliding vertically in an opening made in one of
the sides of the frame d. The pivot pl is secured in the block q' by a nut s'; the
block is guided in the opening r by means of flanges t', t¹, Figure 4. The
person working the gun can, however, if he so desires, obviously elevate it by means
of the shoulder-piece k', the gun being then fixed at the required elevation by
operating a handle u', which causes a small clamping plate v' in the sleeve o' to press
against the grooved nut n' and thereby fix it upon the screw v.
v
Although the elevation of the gun cannot be altered by means of the shoulder-
piece when the nut n' has been so fixed upon the screw v, the elevation can be
altered by turning the screw by means of a hand-wheel w'; the nut n' is prevented
from turning in the sleeve o' by means of a feather-key ' in the sleeve over which
the groove of the nut slides. The horizontal training of the gun is effected by the
man who works it simply moving the shoulder-piece k to the right or to the left,
whereby the gun a, jacket b, and frame d including the whole pointing mechanism
which rests on the pivotted platform i then turn upon the pivot j.
In order to reduce to a minimum the friction between the frame d and the
platform I provide an arrangement by which the weight of the gun and mounting
is supported at the centre of the pivot.
This arrangement is as follows:-
:-
In the centre of the pivot j is a bolt y' with a spherical head '; between the top
of the pivot and the head of this bolt y' and supporting the bolt is a powerful
spring a² (a Belleville spring by preference). The spherical head ¹ of the bolt y'
bears against the concave end 62 of a screw c² in the centre of the body of the
frame d. By setting the screw c² the spring a² can be compressed until its
resistance corresponds to the weight of the gun and mounting, whence it follows
that the whole weight of the apparatus is supported at the centre of the pivot j
instead of on the outside periphery of the platform i.
The periphery of the pivotted platform i is of the form of an inwardly
projecting flange d² over which are applied hooks e² bolted to the interior of the
body of the frame at the front and back, such hooks serving to receive the shock
produced by the firing.

page_text: To fix the gun and the mounting in the required position in a horizontal plane
I use one or more screws f2, f2 (or other suitable means) by which the body of
the frame and the platform can be fixed together.
In cases where it would be more advantageous to effect the horizontal laying of
the gun by other means than the shoulder-piece I arrange a gear between the
platform of the mounting and the frame. This gear is actuated by means of a hand-
wheel (arranged in a convenient position to be operated by the person pointing
the gun and who stands near the shoulder-piece in order to turn the hand-wheel
of the pointing apparatus) or other suitable known means for giving the required
movement but the said hand-wheel or other device for actuating the gear must be
arranged in such a manner that the person can effect the laying of the gun as regards
elevation and direction at the same time.
To fire the gun a pistol-grip or handle 12 having a trigger is provided on the
jacket b. This pistol-grip is placed in a convenient position for the use of the
person placed at the side of the gun and bearing with his shoulder against
the shoulder-piece k¹. The pistol-grip 2 being fixed to the jacket b cannot recoil
but follows all the other movements of the gun in vertical and horizontal planes.
The movement of the trigger 2 is communicated to the trigger in the breech-
block of the gun by means of a series of levers 2 and rods 2 so that the said person
by pressing the trigger i can fire the gun.
In certain cases, however, I employ an electrical arrangement for firing the gun
by means of the trigger 2 instead of the levers and rods above referred to. In this
case the cartridge cases are provided with electrical quick matches and the breech-
block is provided with an electrical arrangement by which the circuit can be closed
by pressing on the trigger i².
For the protection of the gun crew the mounting may be provided with a
shield 12, fixed by preference to the frame d by means of bolts m², m².
I would observe that the rear-sight can be attached to the levers so as to allow
a horizontal movement to be effected at the same time as the alteration of the
angle of the line of sight and the axis of the gun. This movement may be added
in order to compensate for the deviation of the projectiles.
For effecting the horizontal movement of guns mounted as hereinbefore described
and which are too heavy to admit of conveniently setting them by means of
the shoulder-piece I find it advantageous to employ the arrangement of
mechanism illustrated in Figures 5, 6, and 7. For this purpose cut a conical
groove n² on the inner periphery of the platform i, in which groove works a
triction-wheel o², the edge of which is cut to fit the said groove. The friction-
wheel is fixed to a spindle p² adapted to turn in bearings in a block 7. In order
to facilitate the turning of the spindle I sometimes provide the block with ball-
bearings.
The block is pivotted at 2 to the body of the frame d and is secured in
proper position by a projection or flange s2 on the said body. By this means the
block and consequently the friction-wheel are attached to the fork-shaped
frame which carries the gun a and which is provided with a pivot which fits into
the socket in the centre of the platform i in the manner hereinbefore described with
reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3.
The friction-wheel o² is pressed into its groove by a spring t² acting upon the
block q². The action of the spring is regulated by an eccentric u² through the
medium of a cylinder 2. By turning a hand-wheel w² the spring is compressed
more or less or altogether released to enable the block q² to be turned round on its
pivot and the wheel to be thrown out of gear.
The friction-wheel o² is turned by a hand-wheel through the medium of a
worm-wheel 2 and worm 22. The hand-wheel 2 is placed in a convenient position
to be operated by the man laying the gun and having his shoulder placed against
the shoulder-piece.
Instead of the platform I can employ the arrangement of truncated cone y

page_text: illustrated in Figure 8. The socket k is formed in the upper part of the truncated
cone g² and the pivot j on which the whole mechanism has its horizontal movement
forms part of the body of the frame d. The bolt y', the spring a² and the screw c²
are arranged in the same manner and serve the same purpose as those herein-
before described and shewn in Figures 1, 2 and 3 and they therefore need no
further description.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. In a mounting for quick firing guns the two screw-threaded trunnions fixed in
the fork-shaped frame and extending into a jacket in which the gun can slide
substantially as herein before described and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the
accompanying drawings.
2. In a mounting for quick firing guns the combination of a jacket in which the
gun is adapted to slide and which carries a hydraulic buffer to which the gun is
connected by the piston-rod of the buffer and a hoop or ring on the gun, with two
screws which form the trunnions of the jacket and by which the jacket is connected
to the frame, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 1,
2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
3. In a mounting for quick firing guns, a lever adapted to oscillate upon the axis
of the trunnions and carrying the rear sight, the front sight and a shoulder-piece
for the purpose of keeping the said sights and the eye of the person pointing the
gun and leaning against the shoulder-piece always in a direct line no matter what
may be the elevation of the gun or the direction in which it is pointed, the said
lever being connected to the gun by a screw and nut arrangement or by
other suitable means, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in
Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
4. In a mounting for quick firing guns, a lever adapted to oscillate upon a
trunnion or other axis and carrying the rear sight and the front sight of the gun,
substantially as, and for the purpose, hereinbefore described and illustrated in
Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
5. In a mounting for quick firing guns, the combination of the arm t of the
levers, the screw c', the nut e', the hand-wheel f', the sleeve g', the jacket b,
the rear sight, the front sight j¹ and the shoulder-piece k', substantially as
set forth.
6. In a mounting for quick firing guns, the combination of a two-armed lever,
a screw, a hand-wheel conveniently placed for the use of the person pointing the
gun, and a slot in the supporting-frame of the gun, by means of which mechanism
the pointing, as regards elevation, of the gun is effected, substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying
drawings.
7. The herein described arrangement of mechanism for effecting the elevation of
quick firing guns.
8. In mountings for quick firing guns, the arrangement of a spring such as a*
placed in the centre of the pivot around which the mounting is turned for the
horizontal pointing of the gun, the said spring serving to diminish the resistance of
the rotary movement by concentrating the friction produced by the weight of the
mounting and gun, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in
Figures and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
9. In mountings for quick firing guns, the arrangements of spring a², bolt y' and
screw c² as herein before described and illustrated respectively in Figures 1 and 8 of
the accompanying drawings.
10. In a mounting of the kind herein before described for quick firing guns too
heavy to be moved by the ordinary shoulder-piece the combination with the
mechanism for elevating the gun set forth and illustrated in Figures 1 to 4
of the drawings, of the arrangement for effecting the horizontal movement of

page_text: the gun described and illustrated in Figures 5, 6 and 7 of the accompanying
drawings.
11. The improved mountings for quick firing guns hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the various figures of the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 28th day of January 1892.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.