IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC COMPRESSORS ESPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR USE IN WORKING GUNS
Year: 1885

page_text: I WILLIAM ANDERSON of No 3 Whitehall Place in the City of Westminster
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
HYDRAULIC COMPRESSORS ESPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR USE IN WORKING GUNS
be as follows:-
دو
to
It is now common to mount heavy guns on carriages running on slides which are
inclined so that the gun recoils uphill and descends the incline in running out.
This arrangement is objectionable as it throws great strain upon the carriage and
deck or platform, the ports also have to be higher to admit of the recoil and a list
in the ship will prevent the gun running out.
According to my invention I cause the recoil to be transmitted by means of
water or other liquid to cork or solid substance capable of being cubically com-
pressed and which is immersed in or surrounded with the water or liquid. The
force of the recoil is expended in the compression of the solid material. The
rearward movement of the gun drives a ram into a cylinder filled with liquid,
displacing the liquid and forcing it into a vessel in which cork or like material is
contained. The fluid pressure then exerted on this material reduces its volume,
and as it regains its original state, when allowed to do so, it, by its elasticity causes
the gun to run out to the position it occupied before firing.
I would state that there are hydraulic compressors now in use in connection
with heavy ordnance in which the recoil of the gun drives a ram into a cylinder
containing liquid and so compresses air in another vessel with which the cylinder
is in communication. The elasticity of this air is made to return the gun to the
firing position, either immediately or after the gun has been again loaded. It is
necessary with such compressors to provide means for replacing loss of air by
leakage and there is frequent inconvenience from this cause which by my invention
is avoided.
My invention is applicable to guns mounted on disappearing carriages and to
replace air vessels commonly used in connection with pumps and other hydrauliɑ |

page_text: machines. The container which takes the place of the air vessel is filled with cork
or other solid substance capable of cubical compression such for example as india
rubber sponge, and the water or liquid under pressure is allowed to permeate
amongst it. The elasticity of this cork or other solid substance or that of the air
or gases contained in its pores will compensate for variations of pressure of the
liquid and will prevent shock to the machinery and pipes in the same way as an
air vessel does, but the arrangement is free from the inconveniences and objections
to which air vessels are liable especially when they are worked under heavy
pressure.

page_text: for Use in Working Guns.
I, WILLIAM ANDERSON of No 3 Whitehall Place in the City of Westminster
Engineer 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 :-
It is now common to mount heavy guns on carriages running on slides which are
inclined so that the gun recoils uphill and descends the incline in running out.
This arrangement is objectionable as it throws great strain upon the carriage and
deck or platform, the ports also have to be higher to admit of the recoil and a list
in the ship will prevent the gun running out.
According to my invention I cause the recoil to be transmitted by means of
water or other liquid to cork or solid substance capable of being cubically com-
pressed and which is immersed in or surrounded with the water or liquid. The
force of the recoil is expended wholly or in part in the compression of the solid
material. The rearward movement of the gun drives a ram into a cylinder filled
with liquid, displacing the liquid and forcing it into a vessel in which cork or like
material is contained. The fluid pressure then exerted on this material reduces its
volume, and as it regains its original state, when allowed to do so, it, by its
elasticity causes the gun to run out to the position it occupied before firing.
I would state that there are hydraulic compressors now in use in connection
with heavy ordnance in which the recoil of the gun drives a ram into a cylinder
containing liquid and so compresses air in another vessel with which the vessel is
in communication. The elasticity of this air is made to return the gun to the
firing position, either immediately or after the gun has been again loaded. It is
necessary with such compressors to provide means for replacing loss of air by
leakage, or absorption and there is frequent inconvenience from this cause which
by my invention is avoided.
"
My invention is applicable to guns mounted on disappearing carriages and to
replace air vessels commonly used in connection with pumps and other hydraulic
machines. The container which takes the place of the air vessel is filled with cork
or other solid substance capable of cubical compression such for example as india
rubber, sponge or an artificially made cellular structure and the water or liquid
under pressure is allowed to permeate amongst it. The elasticity of this cork or
other solid substance, or that of the air or gases contained in its pores will
compensate for variations of pressure of the liquid and will prevent shock to the
machinery and pipes in the same way as an air vessel does but the arrangement is
free from the inconveniences and objections to which air vessels are liable especially
when they are worked under heavy pressure.
In order that my said invention may be most fully understood. and readily
carried into effect I will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed,

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a gun carriage provided with a cork
compressor or accumulator in accordance with my invention. The gun is shewn
in place upon the carriage. Figure 2 is a plan part in section. Figure 3 is
a transverse section one half on the line C C in Figure and the other half
on the line D D. Figure 4 is a transverse section one half on the line EE
and the other half on the line F F. Figure 5 is a section on the line A B in
Figure 4.
In the carriage advantage is taken of the cubical elasticity of cork to control
recoil and to run out the gun under all conditions of inclination of the deck or
platform on which the gun is mounted.
The trunnions G G of the gun H rest in bearings formed on the upper portion
of the two hydraulic cylinders I, I, which together form part of the saddle casting K
which is arranged to slip along the hollow cylindrical slides L L which are filled
full of cork and water.
The front ends of the slides L L are attached to the pivot casting M which is
capable of turning about a pivot secured in any convenient manner to the battery.
The weight resting on this casting may be carried by a roller N running on a
suitable racer O.
The rear ends of the slides L L are secured water tight into the rear carriage or
frame P which is formed with two parallel water tight chambers Q, R, one behind
the other. The hollows of the slides L L communicate with the rear chamber R
only, by which means the pressures in them are always equal. The front
chamber is connected watertightly with two hollow rams S S which work
through suitable water tight glands into the cylinders I. I. and here again the
chamber ensures an equality of pressure at all times in the cylinders.
There is a communication between the chambers Q and R by means of one or
more recoil valves T which open from the chamber Q to the chamber R and close
automatically so that the water cannot return by the same passage from R to Q.
These valves are so proportioned, or so loaded by springs or otherwise that a
certain portion of the energy of recoil is expended in forcing the water past the
valves, and the remaining portion is expended in forcing water into the hollow
slides L L through the holes V and there compressing the cork. The amount
of compression imparted to the cork need only be sufficient to run the gun out
under the most unfavourable circumstances, say when a ships deck is inclined at
an angle of 15°.
Communication may also be established between the chambers Q and R by
means of the valve W which can be opened or closed at pleasure by means of a
suitable handle.
For filling the apparatus with water a plugged aperture X is provided into which
can be screwed a small force pump by means of which the water can be forced in,
the return flow being prevented by the leather valve Y. When properly charged
the plug X is restored, and then, if there be no leakage of water, the carriage will
remain ready for action for an indefinite time.
For large guns a small hand force pump with supply cistern will be permanently
attached to the rear carriage, so that any leakage may at once be restored by a
stroke or two of the pump.
The water forced in at X will make its way through all the hollow spaces of the
carriage and through the rams into the cylinders I, I, while the air will be allowed
to escape through the plugs Z Z.
Cork can be placed in the hollow slides L L by removing the caps 1, 1, which
close their ends water tight.
The elevation of the gun is accomplished by means of the rack and pinion 2, 2.
or in any other convenient manuer.

page_text: The rear carriage P traverses on suitable racers by means of the trucks or
rollers 3, 3, and training gear of the usual kind may be attached if considere.
desirable.
The action of the carriage is as follows:-
The gun being loaded and in the position shewn in the drawing, and the running
out valve W being shut, it is fired, when the force of recoil drives the saddle back
towards the rear ends of the rams. The water contained in the cylinders is forced
through the hollow rams into the chamber Q thence through the recoil valves T, T,
into the chamber R and thence through the holes V into the hollow slides L L
where the cork is compressed to the extent represented by the amount of water
forced in. As the water cannot return through the recoil valves the gun remains
in its position in the rear where it may be loaded and then, the running out
valve W being opened, the expansion of the cork will force the water from the
hollow slides L L back through the holes V into the chamber R thence through the
valve W into the chamber Q and so through the hollow rams into the cylinders
and thus produce a pressure which will run the gun out and hold it securely for
the next discharge.
If it is not desired to hold the gun back after firing, for the purpose of loading,
then the running out valve W may be left open, or the recoil valves may be
suppressed and small holes the size of which can be adjusted left in their stead,
and then the gun will run out automatically the moment after recoil has ceased.
The above description relates merely to one form of carriage it is obvious that
the water cork vessel may be of any form and may be placed in any convenient
situation.
These water cork vessels are useful to replace air vessels in connection with
pumps and other hydraulic machines wherever air vessels are now employed but
more especially where high pressures have to be dealt with.
It is possible in these hydraulic compressors to employ solid materials other
than cork which exhibit cubical elasticity, but cork is the material I prefer, it is
inexpensive and unalterable and possesses in the highest degree the qualities
required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
(1.) An hydraulic compressor serving in lieu of an air vessel, such compressor
being charged with cork or other solid substance capable of being cubically
compressed immersed in or surrounded with water or liquid exposed to the
pressure and in which the compressor operates.
(2.) The combination of my hydraulic compressor with a gun carriage thereby
controlling the recoil of the gun.
(3.) The combination of my hydraulic compressor with a gun carriage and
valves in such manner that the force of the recoil may be stored in the cork or
cubically elastic solid material and applied when desired to return the gun to the
firing position.