Improvements relating to the Pointing, Training, or Laying of Guns,. and to Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Mar., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Dec., 1890-Accepted, 28th Feb.,
1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, of Crayford Works,
Crayford, in the County of Kent, and Victoria Chambers, Victoria Street, in
the City of Westminster, Mechanical Engineer, at present residing at Paris,
France.]
Improvements relating to the Pointing, Training, or Laying of Guns,.
and to Apparatus therefor.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
My invention is designed to provide in a more simple and efficient manner than
heretofore, for the pointing, training or laying of quick-firing and other guns.
For this purpose I employ, in combination with a shoulder-piece or crutch such
as those usually employed on quick-firing guns, or with any other convenient device
which will serve for the same purpose, suitable mechanism whereby either the
elevating-gear or the training-gear or both will be operated by the aid of electricity
or by any other suitable source of power, when the said shoulder-piece or crutch
or its equivalent is moved through a short distance in the direction in which it is
desired the gun shall be moved.
I provide suitable means for returning the said shoulder-piece or crutch to its
central position when released, so that, in order to point or lay the gun, the said
shoulder-piece or crutch must be caused to follow, or pressed in the direction of
the movement of the gun, until the latter has been elevated or trained as required,
and, as soon as the said shoulder-piece or crutch is returned to its central position,
the movement of the gun will be arrested.
[n
I find it advantageous to provide a friction-pulley on the said shoulder-piece.or
crutch or its equivalent, which pulley is driven by an electric or other motor; this
motor may also, if desired, be mounted upon the said shoulder-piece or crutch.
combination with the said friction-pulley, I arrange other friction-pulleys above,
below and at both sides of the same. These friction-pulleys are fixed upon shafts
which are mounted in suitable supports, which may be movable with the gun; the
shafts above and below the central pulley are connected in any convenient manner
with the elevating-gear; the shafts at the sides of the said central pulley are con-
nected in any convenient manner with the training-gear. Therefore, when the
shoulder-piece or crutch is moved upward, the central pulley will be brought into
frictional contact with the pulley above it, and will transmit motion from the motor
through this pulley to the clevating-gear in the proper direction to depress the
muzzle-end of the gun; when moved downward, the said central pulley will come
into contact with the pulley below it, and the motor will operate to elevate the gun.
When the shoulder-piece or crutch is moved to either side, the motor will, through
the corresponding pulley, operate the training-gear to turn the gun in the corre-
sponding direction. Moreover, by bringing the central pulley into contact with
two of these pulleys at the same time, the motor may be caused to operate the
training-gear and the elevating-gear simultaneously.
While the central pulley is not in contact with any of the other pulleys, the
motor may, if desired, be kept rotating, so that it will be in readiness to operate the
elevating-gear or the training-gear or both when required.
In some cases, provide suitable means whereby the motor may be very readily
started and stopped. For instance, I provide for starting and stopping the said
motor by applying pressure to, and removing it from the said shoulder-piece or
rutch. For this purpose, in the case of an electric motor, I arrange in the said

page_text: shoulder-piece or crutch, a suitable device for closing and interrupting the electric-
circuit in which the said motor is included, and I so construct the said shoulder-
piece or crutch that, when the gunner presses his shoulder against the same, the
said electric circuit will be closed or completed, but immediately such pressure is
removed, the said circuit will be broken or interrupted.
A convenient and advantageous arrangement of the shoulder-piece or crutch to
permit its movement upward or downward or to either side, consists in connecting
the said shoulder-piece or crutch at its forward end to the gun or to the cradle or
top-carriage by means of a ball-and-socket or other universal joint, and combining
with the said shoulder-piece or crutch, four springs for retaining it in its central
position, and for returning it to this position after it has been moved therefrom to
effect the pointing or laying of the gun.
For the pointing or laying of guns of large size, it is not necessary that the
crutch or shoulder-piece should move with, or be connected to the gun, it being
sufficient that a lever or arm carrying the driving-pulley be provided, whereby the
said pulley can be brought into contact with one or more pulleys connected with
the training-gear or with the elevating-gear. This lever or arm may, if desired,
be mounted on the rotating platform or turntable or other suitable part of the gun-
mounting.
I do not, however, confine myself to any special construction of the apparatus,
as it is obvious that it can be modified in various ways without departing from the
nature of my said invention.
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Pointing, Training, or Laying of Guns,
and to Apparatus therefor.
, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 :-
My invention is designed to provide in a more simple and efficient manner than
heretofore for the pointing, training or laying of quick-firing and other guns.
For this purpose I employ, in combination with a shoulder-piece or crutch such
as those usually employed on quick-firing guns, or with a handle or other convenient
device, an electric or other suitable motor whereby either the elevating-gear or the
training-gear or both the elevating and the training gear will be operated to turn
the gun in any desired direction, when the said shoulder-piece or its equivalent is
moved in the same direction. My improved apparatus is, moreover, so constructed
that, when the movement of the said shoulder-piece or its equivalent is arrested,
the disconnection of the said motor from the elevating or training gear will be
automatically effected. Therefore, in order to turn the gun through any desired
angle for vertical or horizontal pointing, the said shoulder-piece or its equivalent
must be caused to follow, or be continually pressed in the direction of, the movement
of the gun, until the latter has been elevated or trained as required, and, as soon as
the movement of the said shoulder-piece or its equivalent is arrested, the movement
of the gun will cease.
I prefer to provide suitable means for automatically effecting the return of the
said shoulder-piece or its equivalent to its central position when it is released.
My said invention, moreover, comprises other improvements hereinafter set
forth.
Ifin it advantageous to construct my improved apparatus as follows, viz. I
provide a friction-wheel or driving-wheel which is rotated by the electric or othe

page_text: motor, and which is adjustable, by means of the said shoulder-piece or its equivalent,
for the purpose of putting it into and out of gear with other friction-wheels above,
below and at both sides of the aforesaid driving-wheel. These friction-wheels are
fixed upon shafts mounted in suitable bearings, which may or may not be movable
with the gun. The shafts above and below the central or driving-wheel are
connected, in any convenient manner, with the elevating-gear; whilst the shafts at
the sides of the said central or driving-wheel are connected, in any convenient
manner, with the training-gear. Therefore, when the shoulder-piece or its
equivalent is moved upward, the driving-wheel will be brought into frictional
contact with one of the said friction-wheels so that it will transmit motion from the
motor through this wheel to the elevating-gear in the proper direction to depress
the muzzle-end of the gun; when moved downward, the said driving-wheel will
come into contact with another of the said wheels so that the motor will operate to
elevate the gun.
When the shoulder-piece or its equivalent is moved laterally in
either direction, the motor will, through the corresponding friction-wheel operate
the training-gear to turn the gun in the same direction. Moreover by bringing the
driving-wheel into contact with two of the said friction-wheels at the same time,
the motor may be caused to operate the training-gear and the elevating-gear
simultaneously. While the driving-wheel is out of contact with the other wheels,
the motor may, if desired, he kept rotating, so that it will be in readiness to operate
the elevating-gear or the training-gear or both when required. In some cases,
however, provide suitable means whereby the starting and stopping of the motor
may be very readily effected as required. For instance, provide for the starting
and stopping of the said motor by the application of pressure to, and its removal
from the said shoulder-piece or its equivalent.
I
In the accompanying drawings I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a plan, and
Figure 2 a side elevation, partly in vertical section, showing a quick-firing gun
provided with apparatus constructed in accordance with my said invention.
Figure 3 is a side elevation, partly in vertical section, showing another form or
modification of my improved apparatus.
Figure 4 is a front elevation, and
Figure 5 a rear elevation, of part of the said apparatus.
Figure 6 is a plan, and
Figure 7 a side elevation, partly in vertical section, showing a convenient device
for automatically effecting the return of the shoulder-piece or its equivalent to its
central position when it is released after being moved in either direction.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is a frame or cradle in which the gun is arranged to recoil, and which is
supported by means of trunnions A' in a suitable carriage or mounting B. This
carriage or mounting, or the upper portion thereof, is arranged to turn about a
vertical pivot B for the purpose of training the gun.
The elevating-gear, in the gun shown in the drawings, comprises a curved toothed
rack C pivoted at C' to the rotating part of the mounting B, and geared with a
pinion D fixed on a shaft D', on which is also fixed a worm-wheel E. This worm-
wheel is geared with a worm F formed or fixed on a shaft supported in suitable
bearings secured to the frame or cradle A.
The training gear, in the gun shown in the drawings, comprises a worm-wheel G
formed or fixed on the stationary part of the mounting B, and geared with a worm H
formed or fixed on a shaft H', which is fitted in suitable bearings in the rotating
part of the mounting B, and on which is also fixed a worm-wheel J. This worm-
wheel is geared with a worm K formed or fixed on a vertical shaft K', which is
supported in suitable bearings K secured to the rotating part of the mounting B.
a is a small electric motor, which is attached at one end by a universal joint b,
to the side of the frame or cradle A. a' is the armature-spindle of the said motor,
on one end of which is fixed a friction-wheel or driving-wheel c provided with a

page_text: socket c'. Into this socket is fitted another socket d made in two parts which are
hollowed out to receive and hold a ball d' formed on the end of a spindle d², which
is fixed in the rod e¹ of the shoulder-piece e (Figures 6 and 7). A ball-and-socket
joint is thus formed between the armature-spindle a¹ and the said rod e'. The
socket is restrained from rotation with the armature-spindle c' by a pin which is
fitted in the said socket and extends through an oval or elongated hole in the ball,
in which the said pin has a small amount of play. The rode of the shoulder-piece e
is attached by a universal joint y to a bracket, which is formed or fixed on the
frame or cradle A in which the gun recoils.
The said shoulder-piece e is held in its central position and is automatically
returned thereto (after being operated and released) by the following means, ris. :—
A sleeve his fitted on the rod e so that it can slide to and fro thereon. This sleeve
is taper or conical at its forward end, and is adapted to enter a hole in the
bracket j. The said sleeve his acted upon by a spring k, which presses the said
sleeve rearward and thus retains it in the said bracket, whilst permitting its dis-
engagement therefrom as hereinafter described. The sleeve is provided with an
arm against which bears one end of a rod 7, the other end of which bears against
the shoulder-piece e as shown in Figure 7. This shoulder-piece is pivoted at e" to a
frame e fixed upon the rod e', and is acted upon by a spring e which tends to move
it rearward about its pivot . By pressing against the said shoulder-piece and
moving it forward about its pivot e, the sleeve h may, through the medium of the
rod, be forced out of the hole in the bracket; the shoulder-piece e and rod e¹ can
then be turned through a small angle in any desired direction about the universal
joint g, this movement being limited by the bracket j. By means of the said
shoulder-piece, therefore, the motor a can be moved in any desired direction about
its universal joint for the purpose hereinafter specified.
mm are spindles which are fitted to rotate in brackets n, n¹ attached to the side of
the gun. On one end of each of these spindles is fixed a friction-wheel o. These
friction-wheels are so arranged that, when the shoulder-piece e is in its normal or
central position, the periphery of each of the said wheels is in close proximity to,
but not in contact with the periphery of the driving-wheel c. When the shoulder-
piece is liberated by moving the sleeve out of the bracket as above described,
the driving-wheel e can, by turning the motor about its universal joint, be put
into gear with either of the four friction-wheels o. The upper and lower spindles m
are connected by bevel-wheels p, p' with the shaft F on which is formed or fixed
the worm F of the elevating-gear. The two other spindles m have fixed thereon
small spur-wheels q, q' geared with each other through idle spur-wheels situated
between them and geared with them both. These wheels are fitted to rotate upon
pins or studs fixed in the bracket n. The spindle m on which the spur-wheel is
fixed is connected by a universal joint with a rod or shaft s. This rod or shaft is
connected by a universal joint s' with a shaft having formed or fixed thereon a
worm ', which is geared with a worm-wheel connected by bevel-wheels "", 21 with
the shaft of the training-gear. The rod or shafts and universal joints q²
serve for imparting rotary motion from the spur-wheel or q', in one or the other
direction, to the shaft t, whilst permitting the turning of the gun about its trunnions
for vertical pointing or elevation.
q
When it is
The operation of the apparatus above described, is as follows, viz. :——
desired to point or lay the gun, the motor a is first started; the gunner then, by
pressing his shoulder against the shoulder-piece e, disengages the sleeve / from the
bracket; he then moves the said shoulder-piece e about the joint g in the direction
in which he desires to move the gun, thus turning the motor a about its universal
joint band bringing the driving-wheel e into gear with one or other of the friction-
wheels 09 or with two of the said friction-wheels as the case may be. Motion will
then be imparted from the motor a through the said wheel or wheels o to the
elevating-gear, or to the training-gear, or to both the elevating and the training
gear, so as to move the gun in the desired direction.
k
The spring constantly tends to force the taper or conical part of the sleeve h

page_text: into the hole in the bracket j, and to thus automatically return the rod e' and
shoulder-piece e to the central position. It is evident, moreover, that, as soon as
the gunner ceases to move the shoulder-piece in the same direction as the gun, the
continued movement of the gun through a very small angle will automatically
effect the disconnection of the elevating or training gear from the motor. Therefore,
in order to elevate or train the gun through any desired angle, the gunner must
maintain the pressure against the shoulder-piece e so as to keep the said sleeve h out
of the bracket j, and must also continue to move the shoulder-piece in the desired
direction to keep the driving-wheel e in contact with the wheel or wheels o, until
the gun has been moved through the required angle.
When the shoulder-piece e is released, the sleeve his forced by its spring k into
the hole in the bracket, thus effecting the return of the shoulder-piece to its
central position.
The motor a is so arranged that the driving-wheel c will always rotate in the
same direction, as the movement of the said wheel does not require to be reversed.
It is evident that the motor can, if desired, be kept rotating while the gun is in
use, so that the said motor is in readiness to be put into gear with either of the
wheels when required. I find it advantageous, however, to provide for the
starting and stopping of the motor by the application of pressure to, and its removal
from the shoulder-piece e or its equivalent.
For instance, in the case of an electric motor, I provide the said shoulder-piece
with a suitable device for closing and interrupting the electric circuit in which the
said motor is included; and I so arrange this device that, when the gunner presses
against the shoulder-piece, the electric circuit will be closed or completed, but,
immediately such pressure is removed, the said circuit will be broken or
interrupted.
When a handle or other suitable device is used instead of the said shoulder-piece,
I provide suitable means whereby the motor will be started when the said handle
or other device is grasped by the hand, and will be stopped when the said handle
or other device is released.
In the modification of my apparatus shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5, the motor a is
rigidly attached to the side of the gun and the four spindles mare fitted to rotate
in bearings firmly attached to the frame of the said motor. The armature-spindle a
is provided with a suitable joint at a² which permits a slight lateral motion of the
friction-wheel or driving-wheel e either up or down or to the left hand or right
hand side, sufficient to allow of its being put in gear with the friction-wheels o; in
other respects the construction and operation of the said apparatus are similar to
those of the apparatus hereinbefore described.
The apparatus may, if desired, be enclosed in a suitable box or case as shown.
1 sometimes combine, with the said shoulder-piece or its equivalent, four springs
for retaining it in its central position and for returning it to this position after it
has been moved therefrom to effect the pointing or laying of the gun.
When the apparatus is designed for the pointing or laying of heavy guns, it is
not necessary that the shoulder-piece or its equivalent should move with, or be
attached to the gun; it is sufficient that a shoulder-piece, a lever, a shaft or other
convenient device be provided, whereby the driving wheel or pulley can be put
into gear with one or more wheels or pulleys connected with the training-gear or
with the elevating-gear for the purposes above specified. This shoulder-piece,
lever or shaft may, if desired, be mounted on the rotating platform or turntable or
other suitable part of a gun-mounting. For instance, an electric motor may be
attached to the rotating platform or other suitable part of a gun-mounting by a
universal joint and provided with a shoulder-piece or its equivalent for adjusting it
for the purpose above specified.
I do not confine myself to any special construction or arrangement of the details
of my improved apparatus, as it is obvious that such construction or arrangement
can be modified in various ways without departing from the nature of my said
invention. For instance, any other suitable motor may be employed, and any

page_text: other suitable description of gearing may be used for transmitting motion from the
motor to the gun or to its mounting, for the purpose of elevating or training the
gun.
The shoulder-piece e, instead of being pivoted to the frame may be
arranged to slide in the said frame towards and away from its rod e' for the purposes
above specified. Any other convenient device may be employed for retaining the
shoulder-piece or its equivalent in, and returning it to its central position and any
other suitable device may be provided for starting and stopping the motor either
by the application of pressure to, and its removal from the shoulder-piece or its
equivalent, or in any other convenient manner.
My improved apparatus can, if desired, be used for operating only the elevating-
gear or only the training-gear; or it can be arranged to operate both sets of
gearing as above described.
It will be seen that my invention affords the means whereby the pointing or
laying of quick-firing and other guns can be very rapidly performed, without the
necessity for any special knowledge or skill in the manipulation of the elevating or
training gear. Moreover by my invention a single gunner is enabled to rapidly
eflect the pointing or laying of a heavy gun, and to follow with the same the course
of a torpedo-boat or other object in motion.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I wish it understood that I claim:
First. The herein described method of providing for the pointing or laying of a
gun by the use of an electric or other motor in combination with suitable gearing,
with which it may be connected so as to move the gun in any desired direction, by
the movement of a shoulder-piece or its equivalent in the same direction..
Second. An apparatus for pointing or laying a gun, comprising an electric or
other motor, and suitable means whereby the said motor may be connected with
gearing for elevating or training the gun in either direction, by the movement of
a shoulder-piece or its equivalent in the same direction, but will be automatically
disconnected from the said gearing upon the cessation of such movement of the
shoulder-piece or its equivalent.
Third. The combination, with suitable gearing for elevating and training a gun,
of an electric or other motor and suitable means whereby the said motor may be
caused to drive either the elevating or the training gear in one or the other direction
as may be required, for the purposes above specified.
Fourth. A gun having attached thereto, or to a frame or cradle in which it is
arranged to recoil, an electric motor and an apparatus comprising a shoulder-piece
or its equivalent whereby the said motor may be connected with gearing for pointing
or laying the gun, and which, in order to move the gun in either direction through
any desired angle, must be first moved through a small angle in the same direction
and then caused to follow the movement of the gun, (with or without the means
for starting and stopping the motor), all substantially as, and for the purposes,
above specified.
Fifth. The combination, with suitable gearing for pointing or laying a gun, of
an electric or other motor, a shoulder-piece or its equivalent adjustable about a
universal joint for the purpose of connecting the driving-wheel of the said motor
with the said gearing, and means for automatically returning the said shoulder-
piece or its equivalent to, and retaining it in its central position, for the purposes
above specified.
Sixth. The combination, with suitable gearing for pointing or laying a gun, of
an electric or other motor attached to the gun, or to its mounting by a universal
joint, and suitable means whereby, when the motor is moved about the said joint
in either direction, it will be so connected with the said gearing as to turn the gun
in the same direction, for the purposes above specified.
Seventh. The combination, with suitable gearing for pointing or laying a gun,
of an electric or other motor attached to the gun or to its mounting, a driving-

page_text: wheel arranged to be rotated by the said motor, friction-wheels suitably connected
with the said gearing, and a shoulder-piece or its equivalent for putting the said
driving-wheel in gear with one or other of the said friction-wheels, for the purposes
above specified.
Eighth. The combination, with the movable shoulder-piece or its equivalent for
connecting the motor with the elevating or training gear, of suitable means whereby
the return of the said shoulder-piece or its equivalent to its central position (when
it is released after being moved in either direction) will be automatically effected,
for the purpose above specified.
Ninth. The combination, with a motor for pointing or laying a gun, of a shoulder-
piece or its equivalent for connecting the said motor with the elevating or training
gear for the purposes above specified, and suitable means whereby the starting and
stopping of the said motor will be effected by the application of pressure to, and its
removal from the said shoulder-piece or its equivalent.
Tenth. The improved apparatus constructed substantially as described with
reference to the accompanying drawings and operating as, and for the purposes,
above specified.
1004
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.