Improvements in Apparatus for Training and Elevating Ordnance.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd July, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 16th Apr., 1892--Accepted, 4th June, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Training and Elevating Ordnance.
I, ROBERT LETHBRIDGE TAPSCOTT of 62 Croxteth Road, Liverpool in the
County of Lancaster, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
Improvements in apparatus for training and elevating ordnance, consisting of a
series of hydraulic ramis in contact with the gun and turret, connected by means of
a series of hydraulic pipes, with the rams in contact with the model and revolving
table. Each line of hydraulic pipes is provided with an accumulator for main-
taining a uniform hydraulic pressure in the pipes, an engine for supplying power,
and a compensator for increasing the small movement of the rams in contact with
the model, so as to produce the considerable movement required for the rams in
contact with the gun and turret, to move them into the required position, which
will be nearly the same angle as that of the model, the difference having been
provided for by the compensator.
On the accompanying drawings the different parts are represented by the
following letters;-the gun by G, the model by M, the revolving turret by T, the
hydraulic rams by R, the hydraulic pipes by H, the accumulators by A, the engines
by E, the compensators by C.
Fig. 1. shows an elevation of the gun and turret, with the vertical and horizontal
rams; also the model and revolving table, with its vertical and horizontal rams;
also the hydraulic pipes connecting them, and the position of the accumulators,
engines, and compensators.
Fig. 2. shows a plan of the gun and turret, with the horizontal rams; also
the model and revolving table, with the horizontal rams; also the hydraulic
pipes connecting them, and the position of the accumulators, engines, and
compensators.
In applying this invention the operator moves the model M, and in so doing
pushes in some of the rams R, which movement is communicated by the water in
the pipes H to the rams R in contact with the gun G, which are so placed, as to
produce the same motion, and thus bring the gun G into nearly the same position
as the model M.
The model is free to make the same lateral movement, and attain the same
elevation, and depression, as the gun itself and has additional mechanism, to that
shown on the drawings, comprising a telescope through it, which can be used for
looking at the object to be fired at; while the fore sight and back sight on
its upper surface, enables a moving object to be kept in line, and readily followed by
means of a vertical wheel, and a horizontal wheel, attached, and so connected as to
be worked with one hand.
The compensator is introduced for the purpose of increasing the movement set up
by the rams in contact with the model; which may be. accomplished by its having
a series of rams of large section, so as to make the small movement displace
a large quantity of water, and so increase the movement to the range of the rams in
contact with the gun; and conversely absorb the large quantity of water displaced
when the rams in contact with the gun are pushed in, thus reducing the movement
to the range of the rams in contact with the model.
The compensator may also be made to adjust the differences due to the different
position of the model, from the gun, both in height, and position, which will have to
be obtained experimentally for each gun.
The turrets are provided with moveable pieces to meet the rams, but so controlled
by hydraulic, or other mechanism, as to have only one on each side, out at a time,

page_text: while the number and position of the rams may be varied, to suit the circumstances,
and they may be straight, and fixed, at a tangent to the turret, instead of following
its curve, as shown on the drawings, and where there is no turret, the rams for
lateral movement work directly against the gun, like the rams for elevating,
or depressing, or may be set on the recoil carriage, with a special connection of the
rams with the pipes; or by an arrangement for moving the rams out of the way of
the recoil.
Dated this Second day of Tul 1901
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Training and Elevating Ordnance.
I ROBERT LETHBRIDGE TAPSCOTT of 62 Croxteth Road Liverpool in the
County of Lancaster Civil 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 :-
The object of my invention is to provide means whereby a sighting model may
be used for training and elevating a gun, from the conning tower of a ship of war.
For this purpose I provide a model of the gun fixed to a revolving table having
several hydraulic rams in contact with them, and connected by means of hydraulic
pipes to other hydraulic rams in contact with the gun and turret or barbette. So
that when the model is moved laterally or elevated the hydraulic rams or some of
them are also moved and the movement of these is communicated to some of those
in contact with the gun or turret so as to produce the same movement of them. A
compensator is introduced into each line of hydraulic pipes to adjust the differences
in length of travel of the rams in contact with the model from that of the rams in
contact with the gun also to adjust the difference due to the different position and
height of the model as compared to the gun. The hydraulic power necessary may
be provided by an independent engine and accumulator as indicated on the
drawings for each line of hydraulic pipes, or by one of each, for them all.
On the drawings left with the Provisional Specification
Figure 1. shews an elevation of the gun and model.
Figure 2. shews a plan of the gun and model.
The different parts are denoted by the following letters-gun G, turret or
barbette T, sighting model on revolving table M, hydraulic rams K, hydraulic
pipes H, accumulator A, engine E, compensator C.
The model M is attached to a revolving table to correspond with the movement
of the turret or barbette and is connected with the gun G and turret or barbette T
by six independant hydraulic pipes H having intermediate compensators C and cach
terminated by sets of hydraulic rams R. The gun and model are provided with
trunnions by which they rest on the supports which carry their weight, but their
position is dependant on the rams. The rams for elevating the model and gun are
fixed in a vertical position, and those for revolving the table and turret or barbette
are shown, on the drawing following the circumference, but may be fixed at a
tangent and their number increased. The ram in contact with the underside of the
muzzle end of the model is connected with the ram in contact with the underside of
the breech end of the gun, and the ram in contact with the underside of the breech
end of the model is connected with the ram in contact with the underside of the
muzzle end of the gun. The rams near the breech end of the model in contact
with the revolving table are connected with those on opposite sides of the turret
near the breech end of the gun, and the rams near the muzzle end of the model in
contact with the revolving table are connected with those on opposite sides of the
turret near the muzzle end of the gun; that is to say, the ram on the starboard
side of the revolving table with the ram on the port side of the turret, and the ram
on the port side of the revolving table with the ram on the starboard side of the

page_text: turret. The horizontal and vertical position of the model will differ from those of
the gun, and the travel of the rams due to this difference, will be adjusted by the
lengths of the compensator rams. The vertical rams for elevating the gun and
model are carried by, and revolve with, the turret or revolving table and the joint
of the horizontal hydraulic pipes with the vertical rams is made telescopic; though
not shown on the drawings; so as to admit of their maintaining their connection
with the pipes while the gun and model are moved throughout their range.
The compensator is provided with a double ram of different diameters, one end of
a sinall diameter to correspond with the diameter of the pipe leading to the model,
and the other end of greater diameter than the pipe leading to the gun, so that the
short travel and small diameter pipe required for working the rams in contact with
the model is made to displace the necessary amount of water for the long travel
and large pipe required for working the rams in contact with the
gun. The
chamber in which the large end of the compensator rain works holds sufficient water
to fill the pipe leading to the gun when the rams are pushed out to their utmost
against the gun. Both chambers of the compensator are connected separately by an
independant pipe to the accumulator.
In applying this invention the operator takes up his position in the conning
tower behind the model M and directs it on to the desired object which he follows
by means of the backsight and foresight on the model and as he depresses the
muzzle the vertical ram R beneath, is pushed in, which movement is communicated
by the water in the pipe H to the compensator C, moving that and forcing more
water into the other pipe H and thus pushing the ram R further out so that the
breech end of the gun G is raised and produces the depression of the muzzle of the
gun G and the vertical ram R beneath the muzzle of the gun G is pushed in thus
moving the water in the pipe H and moving the compensator ram so that the water
in the other pipe H is pushed forward and the ram R beneath the breech end
of the model M is pushed up, thus keeping the rams in contact. In moving
the model M laterally the revolving table pushes in the ram R on the one
side which moves the body of water in the pipe H and pushes the compensator
ram so that the water in the large chamber is forced into the other pipe H and
pushes out the rau R against the turret or barbette T on the side opposite, and the
ram R on the other side of the turret or barbette T is pushed in thus pushing some
of the water into the compensator C and forcing the compensator ram to move the
water into the other pipe H thus forcing out the ram R in contact with the
revolving table on the opposite side. In moving the model through the angle of
ninety degrees from its axis the rams in contact with the revolving table near the
muzzle end come into play and in moving it through the part of the other quadrant
comprising its range, the rams in contact with the revolving table near the breech
end of the model come into play and similarly with the rams in contact with the
turret or barbette. When the movement has extended beyond the first quadrant
the blocks against which the rams press and which slide in grooves and are
supported by a platform running alongside, which there ceases, so as to allow these
blocks to slide down and clear of the rams, but ready to rise when again brought
into contact with the platform.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
laim is ;-
=
The application of the model substantially as and for the purpose herein described
and shown upon the drawings.