IMPROVEMENTS IN "PNEUMATIC CANNON
Year: 1884

page_text: I WALLACE ALEXANDER BARTLETT, of the City of Washington, in the District
of Columbia, and United States of America, Patent Solicitor, do hereby declare the
nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN "PNEUMATIC CANNON" 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 cannon of the character more particularly described
in another application (N° 4355) of even date herewith, to which reference is made
for a more complete statement of the nature thereof.
Fig. 1, illustrates a valve which may be actuated by the pressure of the air in
the flask. In this case a tube p, which may contain air or oil, leads from a small
cylinder q, near the muzzle of the gun, so that the pressure of air in the bore of
the gun will move a valve os, at the other end of the tube p".
This slide valve o³, governs a passage way from the air flask to the cylinder *,
in which a piston m³, slides.
This piston m³, has a rod k³, which connects with valve h³, in chamber q³,
latter valve adapted to open and close the supply pipe.
the
In this case the flight of the projectile throws into operation the mechanism by
which the compressed air or gas in the flask is made to close the operating valve,
but it is apparent that the mechanism by which the valve is thrown into operation
may lead to some other point than to the muzzle of the gun, and be operated by
other means than the projectile.
Fig. 2, shows a section of the breech of the gun tube, with a spring or detent 20³,
in position to keep the projectile from sliding back over the aperture which
connects the supply pipe with the gun tube. This spring can be depressed into a
groove in the gun tube for the projectile to pass in.
Figs. 3 & 3* are side elevations of a gun mounted on a flask which serves as a
carriage, the supply pipe being a curved telescopic pipe.
Fig. 4, is a cross section of pipe and gun tube.
Fig. 5, is a reverse side elevation of said section.
Fig. 6, is a side elevation of gun, flask and jointed supply pipe.
Fig. 7, a rear elevation of same, the gun tube being sectioned.
Fig. 8, is a side elevation, partly sectioned, of a gun mounted on flask which
serves as carriage, the supply pipe being a straight telescopic pipe.
Fig. 9, is an enlarged cross section of similar pipe connection.
Fig. 10, is a section showing telescopic pipe and universal joint connections from
flask at the rear of the gun.

page_text: Fig. 11, is a plan of the flask and carriage and a device for traversing the flask,
and Fig. 12, is a detail.
The gun 1, Fig. 3, is supported at me, on trunnions or similar supports which
permit a lengthwise movement of the gun. The flask 30, which takes the place of
an ordinary gun carriage, may be rectangular or cylindrical or other form. It is
preferably pivoted at about no, and the compressed air or gas is forced into the
flask through the pivot. The rear end of the flask is on wheels or truck for
convenience of traversing.
The gun tube 16, has an elbow a, near the breech, which elbow connects with
the curved pipe 4º. A plate from the side of the elbow moves in grooves in one
side of this pipe or trough 46 and completes the pipe.
This portion moves up and down with the breech and forms with 4º, a telescopic
arrangement, whereby the inclosed portion of 46, may be lengthened or shortened
within the limit of the diameter of flask 30, with which the pipe 4º, communicates.
An extension 6, beneath the flask 3º, permits a greater movement of the
telescopic piece than would otherwise be the case. Other curved telescopic pipes
may be used, the curve being struck from trunnion.
At 4, Figs. 6 and 7, I show a supply pipe made in joints on the principle of
the lazy tongs, a section co, being pivoted to the breech of the gun, a section do, to
the flask, and the two pivoted together at e, so that an extensible pipe is formed
from the flask to the gun tube, a movement of the gun lengthwise being permitted.
Fig. 8, shows a telescopic supply pipe 46, which communicates with the breech'
at elbow aº.
The sections g, h, of this pipe close into flask 36, and as the larger sections of
the pipe are below, the upward pressure of the gas may be utilized to some extent
to raise the breech of the gun. In this case the arm is without trunnions, but has
a lengthwise movement on its support o°.
Fig. 10, illustrates a telescopic supply pipe 46, with universal joints 1º, 2º, whereby
connection is made from a flask 36, in rear of the gun to the gun tube, at the same
time permitting a freedom of movement for the training of the gun.
The gun is supported and trained as usual, the supply pipe adapting itself to
the position of the gun.
-
In these later examples, I have deemed it unnecessary to show the valve, it being
understood that valves will be used, and preferably near the breech of the gun.
In fig. 11, is illustrated a mode of traversing the flask 36, which serves as the
gun carriage, by the force of the compressed air in the flask.
K6, is a cylinder pivoted on the flask 36, above or below, and having a piston 8º,
and piston rod mo, passing through it. The cylinder and its valve box are free to
turn or oscillate with reference to the flask. The ends of rod m, rest against
abutments no, and may slide in sockets in said abutments, see fig. 12.
A lever p, serves to operate slide valve o, in the valve box or chamber.
The movement of this valve will admit compressed air to one side or the other
of piston 8, and as the piston cannot move lengthwise the cylinder will be moved
carrying the flask and gun with it.
The oscillation of the cylinder on its pivoted connection will permit this
movement of the flask, which is supposed to be pivoted at 15.
Fig. 13, is a plan view partly in section of a gun having its supply pipe entering
at trunnions near the breech.
Fig. 14, is a side elevation, partly in section of the same.
Fig. 15, is a rear view in section at the trunnions on line x³,
Fig. 16, is a cross section through the trunnion cylinder.
Fig. 17, is an elevation from the muzzle, the gun tube being in section.
The gun tube 15, may be supported on a strengthening piece 2³.
The supply of air or gas is through standards 45, (only one of which need be
hollow) through passages is, i³. The gas is supplied from flask 35, and regulated by
any suitable valve mechanism, as heretofore described.

page_text: The center of the gun or some portion forward of the trunnions, is supported by
an elevating device. One form of such device is illustrated, although others may
be used. In this instance the gun rests on piston rod d³, being so mounted as to
have longitudinal movement thereon, as by resting in a groove at e³.
The cylinder a³, may be furnish with compressed air from the flask 35, through
the valve chest 65, the movement of the valve in said chest being controled by
rod c³.
Thus the gunner from his position near the breech can raise or depress the
muzzle by the force of the compressed air in the flask, which air is supplied to the
flask preferably through pivot s³.
It must be understood that whatever form of flask is used, the same can be
supplied with air or gas directly from an air compresser through pipe connections,
or, as in case of a ship or fortification a number of flasks may be supplied with air
from a storage tank common to all, and by an arrangement of reducing valves
between this storage tank and the gun flask, the pressure in each gun flask may be
maintained at the proper maximum, (not necessarily the same in all the flasks) so
long as the pressure in the storage tank is kept up.
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. The method herein befor described of controlling the movements of the
operating valve of a pneumatic cannon by means of air pressure from the flask.
2. A pneumatic or similar cannon mounted on its flask, and mechanism
substantially as described by which the air pressure in the flask is made to train
as well to discharge the gun.
3. A pneumatic cannon, a flask which serves as a carriage therefor, and jointed
pipe connections between the flask and gun tube.
4. A pneumatic cannon, a flask forming part of the carriage, and mechanism
substantially as described by which the gun may be raised or depressed relatively
to the flask without moving said flask.
5. A pneumatic cannon and air flask forming part of the carriage thereof,
mechanism by which the gun may be elevated or depressed relatively to the flask,
and mechanism by which the flask may be traversed by air pressure, substantially
as described.
Dated the 1st day of September 1884.