Improvements in and relating to Gun Carriages or Mountings.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 29th June, 1887
Complete Left, 29th Mar., 1888
Complete Accepted, 22nd June, 1888
[Communicated from abroad by JEAN BAPTISTE GUSTAVE ADOLPHE CANET, of
91, Avenue Malakoff, Paris, France.]
Improvements in and relating to Gun Carriages or Mountings.
We, RICHARD COPLEY CHRISTIE, MANASSEH GLEDHILL, and HERBERT HANBURy
SMITH CARINGTON, all Directors of Sir Joseph Whitworth & Co., Limited, of
Openshaw, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to gun carriages or mountings and has for its object to
diminish the concussion or shock of the recoil. For this purpose we make use of
two brakes both arranged almost perpendicularly, and acting in combination to resist
the pressure exerted by the gases in the bore of the gun.
Our apparatus can be employed on board ship or on land upon a suitable platform,
and with the carriages on wheels for guns of position, siege or other purposes.
The said invention comprises a carriage proper, with hydraulic brake apparatus,
supporting the gun by trunnions; the brake apparatus preferably being such as that
described in the Specification of Letters Patent dated January 2nd A.D. 1884,
No. 279, or of Letters Patent dated December 20th A.D. 1884, No. 3452.
The said carriage proper slides upon a frame formed of two main parts, viz.:—the
lower and the upper part, the lower part comprising a turning platform or turntable
and standards, the upper part being movable in a vertical plane about an axis or pivot
carried by the said standards. The movablo upper part carries at its forward end
provision for the attachment of the brake piston rods. We preferably incline the
upper part to facilitate the return of the gun to the firing position.
The turning platform or turntable carries the aforesaid brake apparatus designed
to diminish the concussion.
This brake apparatus comprises a cylinder provided with a suitable piston, the rod
of which is hollow and attached to the rear transom of the movable upper part of

page_text: the frame. The piston has at its centre a hole, through which a rod of varying
diameter extends into the hollow piston rods; the varying diameter of the central
rod serves to vary the capacity of the annular space between the central rod and the
surface of the cavity of the piston rod.
In the piston is a valve, and when by the effect of the recoil the piston tends to
descend, the liquid exerts pressure on and lifts the said valve and passes to the other
side of the piston. The cylinder cover is arranged somewhat like the gland of a
stuffing box and as the piston rod is descending tends to diminish the space for the
liquid, the pressure of the latter lifts the said cover.
This cover has two projections to which are secured two rods arranged in combina-
tion with springs which are compressed by the rising of the cover during the down-
ward movement of the piston.
When the recoil motion is terminated the springs re-act, the valve drops upon its
seat and the liquid passes through a small orifice in the piston to the space below the
same. The piston then slowly rises again.
The aforesaid cylinder is preferably cast solid or in one piece with two cylinders or
tubes that enclose the springs.
The entire brake apparatus works upon trunnions supported on a turning platform
or turntable which rests upon a roller-ring or series of balls arranged upon a saddle
or racer. At the forward end of the carriage is a flanged clip designed to prevent
the overturning of the same.
Any suitable device for effecting the elevation of the gun can be applied in com-
bination with the above described apparatus. Moreover auy suitable means may bo
provided for the training but by preference we use for this purpose one or more hand-
levers or hand spikes which are inserted in sockets formed in or fixed upon the
movable platform.
We secure the turn table in position by means of a screw clamp on the side of
the platform, or by other suitable means.
In a modification of the said invention the apparatus is so constructed that the
upper part of the frame instead of turning upon a fixed point, fulcrum or pivot is
arranged in combination with guides, so that its successive positions are parallel
throughout its descent.
As in the gun-carriage first above set forth, there is in this modification, a piston
with a movable cover or stuffing box acted on by springs performing the functions
of a recuperator, and the regulation of the orifice for the outflow or passage of the
liquid is effected in the same manner as first above described.
A further modification of our invention relates to a carriage or mounting for a
siege gun or gun of position mounted on wheels. The gun is supported by its
truunions on a rocking lever and in the recoil the stress is transmitted by means of
the said rocking lever to a hydraulic recoil cylinder secured to the frame in combination
with a recuperator having springs operating somewhat as above described.
The platform of this carriage is provided with a vertical brake and recuperator
designed as in the carriage hereinbefore set forth to diminish the concussion or shock
of the recoil.
In preparing the gun for action the wheels of the gun-carriage are removed and the
axle or shaft upon which the force is exerted is arranged in combination with
and descends between two guides. To this axle is attached the rod of the vertical
brake.
The vertical pointing or elevation of the gun is effected by means of a parallel
motion apparatus, one of the bars or links of which is secured to the
gun.
In some instances we use, in combination with the herein described improvements,
the recoil apparatus described in the Specification filed with our application for
Letters Patent, dated June 27th 1887, No. 9125. This recoil apparatus comprises
'a rocking or oscillating lever with one arm extending upward and arranged to support
the gun by trunnions. It also comprises a brake cylinder fitted with a piston which
is connected with a cross-head working between guides and coupled by means of
connecting rods to the lower end of the said rocking lever. Two recoil presses with

page_text: plungers acted upon by springs are arranged at the sides of the recoil cylinder.
Spring buffers or cushions are moreover provided in the said apparatus for the said
rocking lever to abut or impinge upon in the recoil. Suitable connections are made
between the said brake and recoil presses to enable the movements of the gun to he
controlled, and so that, at the termination of the recoil, the gun will be rendered
temporarily immovable to permit the loading to be effected.
Dated this 29th day of June 1887:.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.
Improvements in and relating to Gun Carriages or Mountings.
We, RICHARD COPLEY CHRISTIE, MANASSAH GLEDHILL, and HERBERT HANBURY
SMITH CARINGTON, all Directors of Sir Joseph Whitworth & Co. Limited, of
Openshaw, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, 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:-
This invention relates to gun carriages or mountings, and has for its object to
diminish the concussion or shock to which the apparatus is subjected in the recoil of
the gun. For this purpose we make use of two sets of brake-apparatus so arranged
that the one will resist the horizontal, or nearly horizontal, and the other the vertical
components of the force or stress exerted in the recoil. We have hereinafter
distinguished these sets of apparatus as horizontal and vertical brakes.
I
Our improvements are applicable to guns mounted on platforms for use on board
ship or on land, and also to seige and other gun carriages supported on wheels..
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of our improved gun carriage or mounting
with a rotating platform or turntable.
Figure 2 is a transverse section on the line x, x, Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a plan showing a clip hereinafter referred to.
Figure 4 is a side elevation showing another form or modification of our improved
gun carriage or mounting with a rotating platform or turntable.
Figure 5 is a transverse section on the line y, y, Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a section on the line y', y¹, Figure 4.
Figure 7 is a similar section showing another modification of our invention
hereinafter described.
Le is a ulan
:

page_text: Figure 9 a vertical longitudinal central section, and
Figure 10 a front elevation of a carriage or mounting constructed according to our
present invention for a siege-gun or gun of position.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the base-plate or racer-path, forming also a pivot; B is, the turntable or
rotating platform carrying the frame and supported on the said base-plate or racer-
path by rollers (or halls) A'. C is the cradle in which the gun is supported by
trunnions.
In the gun-mounting shown in Figures 1 and 2, the turntable or platform B is
prevented from tilting by one or more clips B₁; the cradle C is arranged to slide
upon a frame D, which is movable in a vertical plane about a fulcrum-pin or pivot-
pin D carried by a frame or standards B formed with, or firmly attached to the
turntable or platform B. The movable frame or slide D is provided at its forward
end with projections or brackets D2 in which are secured the pistons-rods E' of the
horizontal brakes E.
This brake-apparatus is preferably similar to that described in the specification of
Letters Patent No. 3452 of 1885, or of Letters Patent No. 9125 of 1887. Other
suitable brake-apparatus may, however, be used if desired.
The frame or slide D is, under normal conditions, inclined as shown in Figure 1,
to permit the return of the gun to the firing position by the action of gravity.
The platform or turutable B carries the vertical brake-apparatus designed to diminish
the concussion or shock due to the downward blow or thrust of the recoil.
This brake-apparatus comprises a cylinder F provided with a piston G the rod H of
which is made with a central cavity H' and is coupled to the frame I by means of a
trunnion-block I fitted in bearings J' on one of the transoms J of the said frame or
slide D. The piston G has at its centre a hole or aperture G through which a rod K
of unequal or varying diameter extends into the cavity H' of the hollow piston-rod H,
as, and for the purpose, described in the specification of the said former Letters
Patent No. 9125.
The piston G is provided with an annular valve L which is held down by a
spring adjustable by means of a screw-nut 1 on the rod H. This valve L is so
arranged that when, by the effect of the recoil, the piston begins to descend, the liquid
beneath the said piston, passing through the apertures or passages G¹, G², will exert
pressure on and lift the said valve as far as allowed by the spring L' and nut L³, and
thus pass to the other side of the piston. The cylinder F is closed at its upper end by
a cover M which serves as a cross-head, and which is arranged somewhat like the
gland of a stuffing-box, that is to say, it is provided with a projecting piece or plug M¹
which extends into an enlargement of the bore of the cylinder F. Suitable packing
is placed between the said projecting piece or plug and a disc or ring N. To the two
arms or extensions 0 of the cover or crosshead M are secured two rods P provided
with discs or pistons P¹ arranged in combination with springs (preferably so-called
"Belleville" springs) in cylinders or boxes F1, F2; or the said rods may be provided
with, or connected with pistons or plungers working in air-chambers.
The cylinders or boxes F1, F2 are formed in one piece with the cylinder F, or are
otherwise securely connected therewith.
The vertical brake-apparatus works upon trunnions R, supported in hearings B³ on
the turntable B, so that, while resisting the downward movement of the frame or
slide D, the brake can freely adapt itself to the angular changes in the position of the
said frame.
By providing a suitable connection of the piston-rod to the frame or slide D, we
can avoid the necessity of mounting the brake-cylinder on trunnions.
When the piston G is moved downward by the recoil, the liquid below the said
piston in the cylinder F is, as above stated, forced through the holes G1, G2 and lifts
the valve L, thus passing to the space above the said piston. The iminersion of the
rod H in the cylinder F causes the displacement of some of the liquid and the
consequent raising of the disc or ring N, cover or cross-head M and pistons P¹.
The springs (or the air in the aforesaid air-chambers) will, by the rising of the

page_text: cover M and pistons P₁, be compressed during the downward movement of
the piston G, and will react, at the termination of the recoil; the valve L will then
drop upon its seat so that the liquid must return, through orifices provided in the
valve L or in the piston G, to the space below the said piston. The piston then slowly
rises under the pressure of the liquid due to the action of the recuperating springs Q
(or of the air in the air-chambers) and thus, by raising the frame D, allows the return
of the gun to the firing position by gravity.
Any suitable device for effecting the elevation of the gun about its trunnions can
be applied in combination with the above described apparatus. Moreover any suitable
means may be provided for training the gun; for small guns we sometimes use, for
this purpose, one or more hand-levers or hand-spikes which are inserted in sockets B*
formed on the platform or turntable B. We provide a screw-clamp S on the side of
the turntable B, or other suitable means for securing the said turntable in any position
to which it may he adjusted.
The frame D is provided with projections or lugs D³ arranged to act in combination
with buffers or cushions E for the purpose of arresting the movement of the gun at
either extremity of its travel on the frame D. The said frame is also provided
with projections or arms D* which, at the termination of the upward or return
movement of the sail frame, abut or impinge against stops B* formed ou, or firmly
attached to the standards B².
In the modification of our said invention illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 6, the
frame D (which carries the horizontal brake), instead of turning upon a fulcrum or
pivot as above described, is provided with extensions D fitted to the slide upon
guides B on the standards B2 so that its successive positions are parallel to each other
throughout its descent.
Instead of a single cylinder F, as in the gun-carriage shewn in Figures 1 and 2,
the vertical brake-apparatus in this modification comprises two cylinders F each
provided with pistons G, and rods K of unequal or varying diameter as above
described, and with a disc or ring N and a movable cover M between which and a
cross-head M2 is placed a Belleville spring Q or other suitable spring. Each of the
said cross-heads M2 is firmly secured, by bolts T or otherwise, to the corresponding
standard B2 and is provided with a screw-threaded sleeve M³ which may be adjusted
to regulate the compression of the spring Q. The springs Q perform the functions
of a recuperator, that is to say, in the recoil the springs are compressed, and,
after the recoil, the said springs react to raise the frame D. The rod K and also the
piston G and parts connected therewith are arranged to operate so that the flow of
liquid through the piston will be regulated or controlled substantially as, and for the
purpose, described in our said former Specification No. 9125. The extensions D₁ of
the frame D are sometimes fitted to slide within the guides B³ as shown in Figure 7.
In Figures 8, 9 and 10 we have illustrated the adaptation of our invention to a
carriage or mounting for a siege-gun or gun of position mounted on wheels. The
gun is supported by its trunnions in the upper end of a rocking or oscillating lever a
pivoted upon the axle b. This lever is formed of two parts one on either side of
the gun. The lower arms of the said rocking or oscillating lever a are coupled, by
means of a forked piece a¹ or other suitable means, to the piston-rod E of the
horizontal brake E, which is pivoted at its rear end to the trail d. The lever a is,
moreover, connected with recuperators e which are also pivotted to the trail & and are
provided with springs Q.
When used for a siege-gun, this mounting has a platform or turntable B supported
on the base-plate or racer A by balls A¹ or rollers. It is provided with a vertical
brake F combined with a recuperator having a spiral spring Q, or a so-called
"Belleville" or other suitable spring. The rod H³ of the said vertical brake is
connected with the axle or shaft b, through which the downward force or thrust due
to the recoil will be transmitted to the said brake. The axle bas firmly fixed thereon
blocks whereby it is arranged to slide vertically in or upon guides y formed or fixed
on the standards B2 of the turntable B.
The vertical pointing or elevation of the gun is effected by worm-gearing or other

page_text: .
suitable devices through the medium of a parallel motion apparatus, the bar or link h
of which is connected at one end to the gun at hand at its other end to a lover h²
pivoted upon the axle & so that the elevation or depression may be effected without
impairing the action of the parallelogram in respect of keeping the gun in its recoil
parallel to the line of fire as described in our said former specification No. 9125.
The rod H³ of the vertical brake is so attached to the axle that the said brake
and the base-plate A and platform B can be readily removed when the gun and
carriage are to be transported from one place to another, and can he readily replaced
when the gun is to be used. The wheels should be removed when the base-plate,
platform and vertical brake are used.
In some instances we use, in combination with the herein described improvements,
the recoil apparatus described in our said former specification No. 9125.
It is evident that other recuperators may be substituted for those above described.
For instance, air-accumulators may, as above stated, be arranged in combination with
hydraulic rams or pistons working in cylinders connected with the vertical brake-
cylinder. Or the said brake-cylinder may be connected with a chamber containing
compressed air.
We mount a shield in any convenient manner on each of the mountings above
described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to us by our
Foreign correspondent we wish it understood that we are aware that in the Specifica-
tion of Letters Patent dated 24th December A.D. 1878 No. 5264 a gun-mounting
is described wherein the gun recoils upon a slide pivoted at its forward end and
arranged in combination with hydraulic apparatus for turning the said slide about
its fulcrum or pivot to effect the vertical pointing or elevation of the gun, and we
therefore make no claim to the use of a pivoted slide on which the gun recoils, except
as one of the elements of our improved gun-mounting; nor do we claim generally
or irrespectively of our present improvements the use of parallel motion apparatus for
elevating the gun, as we have described the application of such apparatus to a
disappearing gun in our said former Specification No. 9125; but we claim :-
First: A gun-carriage or mounting constructed with two sets of brake apparatus,
with or without recuperators, arranged relatively to each other, as, and for the
purposes, above specified.
Second-In a gun-mounting in which the gun recoils upon a frame or slide pivoted
at its forward end, the arrangement of brake and recuperator apparatus in such a
manner that it diminishes the concussion due to the downward thrust of the recoil
and reacts to raise the said frame or slide into such a position that the gun, after its
recoil, returns to its firing position by the action of gravity.
Third A gun-mounting wherein the gun recoils upon a frame or slide pivoted at
its forward end to the turntable or under-carriage and supported by brake and
recuperator apparatus, substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
:
Fourth A gun-mounting wherein the gun recoils upon a frame or slide capable
of movement between vertical, or nearly vertical guides so that its successive positions
are parallel to each other, and arranged in combination with brake and recuperator
apparatus, substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Fifth A hydraulic brake the piston of which is formed with orifices or passages
closed by a valve or valves (with or without the central rod of unequal or varying
diameter), and the cylinder of which is provided with a movable cover arranged in
combination with recuperator apparatus, all substantially as, and for the purposes,
set forth.
Sixth A gun-mounting wherein the gun is carried by a rocking or oscillating
lever pivoted upon the axle, and which is provided with two sets of brake and
recuperator apparatus, substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Seventh-A mounting for a siege-gun or gun of position, wherein the gun is
carried by a rocking lever combined with brake and recuperator apparatus and

page_text: forming one side of a parallelogram, the other side or link of which is forward of the
trunnions and is connected with a lever pivoted upon the axle and provided with
suitable means for turning it thereon to elevate or depress the gun.
:-
Eighth The combination, with a turning platform or turntable and a base-plate
or racer-path, of vertical brake and recuperator apparatus so arranged that the
cylinder of the brake, or that of the recuperator serves as the pivot of the said
platform or turntable, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Ninth The improved gun-mounting consisting of the parts constructed and com-
bined substantially as described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3, or with
reference to Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings for the purpose specified.
Tenth A gun-carriage provided with brake and recuperator apparatus and
mounted on wheels, the parts being constructed and arranged as above set forth with
reference to Figures 8, 9 and 10 of the drawings for the purposes specified.
TIJ 1 1
3211 1
1659
53331
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.