IMPROVEMENTS IN GUN CARRIAGES
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Bridges Heathorn and Joseph Henry
George Wells, of 12, North Street, in the City of Westminster, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GUN CARRIAGES."
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GUN CARRIAGES.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Bridges Heathorn
and Joseph Henry George Wells at the Office of the Commissioners.
of Patents, with their Petition, on the 20th November 1865.
We, THOMAS BRIDGES HEATHORN and JOSEPH HENRY GEORGE WELLS,
of 12, North Street, in the City of Westminster, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN GUN CARRIAGES," to be as
follows, and consists in mounting any gun, with or without trunnions, upon
such description of gun carriage as to effect a perfecting pivoting motion
cither at the muzzle or any other part of the gun in the vertical plane by
an arrangement of lever, fulcrum, and guiding slots for the adjustment of
the motion. The accompanying Drawings illustrate our Invention.
Fig. 1, Sheet 1, represents elevation of one method of our Invention
and adapted for a muzzle-loader, the gun being shewn at its greatest
elevation and depression; Fig. 2, Sheet 1, end elevation of same; Fig. 3,
Sheet 2, represents elevation of one method of our Invention adapted to
breech-loaders, the gun being shewn at its greatest elevation and depres-
sion; and Fig. 4, Sheet 2, end elevation of same.
017

page_text: The following description applies to Figs. 1 and 2, Sheet 1. The gun
carriage A is made with vertical slots or guides B on either side, in which
the gun trunnions (or their substitute) C work. The slots are the arcs of
circles with the centre of the muzzle of the gun, or that part required to
be pivoted, as a centre, and the distance from same to the centre of
trunnion as centre radius; on each side of the gun carriage, within or
without, levers D are fixed, the fulcrums E of which are attached to the
gun carriage A, and by preference between the trunnions and the muzzle;
these levers D are made with two slots F, G, in each; one pair F to act
upon the trunnions bearing the weight of the gun, elevating and depressing
the same, making the trunnions C rise or fall in the before-mentioned
vertical slots B, and the other pair of slots G are for the purpose of
adjusting the proportional movement of the breech of the gun, so that the
centre of the muzzle, or the part required to be pivoted, may act as if on a
centre or pivot. These levers D are connected together at the fulcrum E
and by a cross bar H; this cross bar works in the last-mentioned slots G,
to which also the cascable J, or a double ring at the breech of the gun, is
connected, but working freely upon it, and to secure a true motion of the
said cross bar H, it works in slots or guides K in the gun carriage A.
Through the centre of the cross bar H and the centre of the said cascable
J, or between the double rings, is a vertical bolt L, with a thread cut
thereon working into a thread into the said cross bar H; this screw bolt
I is connected with the gun carriage by another cross head or bar M, and
by a cross head or bar or its equivalent at its base, motion being given to
-the said bolt. L by means of bevilled and spur gearing as shewn, or by any
of the well-known methods of imparting motion to a screw, and is for the
purpose of elevating and depressing the levers D, causing the slots F
to bodily raise or depress the gun in the slots B in the carriage, and the
slots G in the said levers D guide its pivoting motion. A counterpoise N
to balance the weight of the levers D and the gun may be used if required.
For muzzle-pivoting motion in this principle it is not necessary for the
fulcrum to be placed as shewn in Fig. 1, it may be placed between the
trunnions and the breech and the power still applied to the rear; or the
power may be applied before the trunnions in this case and in that above
described, viz., when the fulcrum is between the trunnions and the muzzle.
The power of elevating and depressing the gun may be applied direct to
the gun, leaving the levers D merely to form the muzzle-pivoting motion.
Although the fulcrum E of the levers D is shewn at or near the bottom
of the gun carriage, it may be placed at or near the top or above the

page_text: trunnions. If the fulcrum be placed in rear of the trunnions, the slots G
that give proportional movement to the breech of the gun may act upon
the cross bars attached to the chase of the gun, the motion being given at
or near the muzzle or in rear of the gun... These levers D are for the
purpose simply of muzzle-pivoting, and are in no way effected by the
force of recoil which is taken by the gun carriage. Wedges O may be
used for rigidly connecting the levers D to the gun carriage.
The description of Figs. 3 and 4, Sheet 2, is the same as that of Figs. 1
and 2, Sheet 1, with the exception that the fulcrum of the levers Dis
placed above the gun at its greatest depression and the guiding or pivoting
motion between the trunnions and the rear of the gun, the cross bar working
in the slots G simply passing underneath the gun, the object being to keep
the breech of the gun perfectly clear for breech-loading purposes. The
levers D are placed between the carriage and the gun. For working the
said levers D differential pullies are shewn: these pullies, however, may
be made to elevate and depress the gun direct, the levers being merely,
as before mentioned, to form the muzzle-pivoting motion. Instead of
elevating or depressing the levers or gun by these pullies, it may be
accomplished in a similar manner to that shewn in Fig. 1, Sheet 1, or by
any of the well-known mechanical methods.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Bridges Heathorn and Joseph Henry
George Wells in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th May 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, THOMAS
BRIDGES HEATHORN and JOSEPH HENRY GEORGE WELLS, of 12, North
Street, in the Oity of Westminster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself. Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto us, the said Thomas Bridges Heathorn and Joseph Henry
George Wells, Her special licence that we, the said Thomas Bridges
Heathorn and Joseph Henry George Wells, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as we, the said Thomas Bridges Heathorn and
Joseph Henry George Wells, our executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all

page_text: times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN GUN CARRIAGES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that we. the said Thomas Bridges Heathorn and Joseph Henry George.
Wells, our executors or administrators. by an instrument in writing under
our, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we. the said Thomas Bridges Heathorn and
Joseph Henry George Wells, do hereby declare the nature of said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement (that is
to say):-
Our Invention consists in mounting any gun, with or without trunnions,
upon such description of gun carriage as to effect a perfect pivoting motion
either at the muzzle or any other part of the gun in the vertical plane by
an arrangement of lever, fulcrum, and guiding slots for the adjustment of
the motion.
The accompanying Drawing illustrates our Invention. Figs. 1, 2, 3,
and 4 represent elevations of two methods of our Invention, and adapted
for a muzzle-loader, the gun being shewn at its greatest elevation and
depression; and Figs. 5 & 6 represent elevations of one method of our
Invention adapted to breech-loaders, the gun being shewn at its greatest
elevation and depression.
The following description applies to Figs. 1 and 2. The gun carriage
A is made with vertical slots or guides B on each side, in which
the gun trunnions C (or their equivalent) work. The slots are the arcs
of circles with the centre of the muzzle of the gun, or that part to be
pivoted, as a centre, and the distance from same to the centre of trunnion
as centre radius; on each side of the gun carriage, within or without,
levers D. are fixed, the fulcrums E of which are attached to the gun
carriage A, and by preference between the trunnions and the muzzle;
these levers D are made with two slots F and G in each; one pair F
to act upon the trunnions bearing the weight of the gun, elevating and
depressing the same, and making the trunnion C rise or fall in the before-
mentioned vertical slots B, and the other pair of slots G. are for the purpose

page_text: of adjusting the necessary proportional movement of the breech of the gun,
so that the centre of the muzzle, or the part required to be pivoted, may
act as if on a pivot. These levers D are connected together at the
fulcrum E and by a cross bar H. This cross bar H works in the last-
mentioned slots G, to which also the cascable J, or a double ring at the
breech of the gun, is connected, but works freely upon it. To raise the
gun and decrease its clevation or give it depression, toothed segments K
are attached to the gun carriage on either side as shewn, and to the cross
bar H eccentrically; gearing into these toothed segments are horizontal
racks L, working in slots M in the carriage. In the same horizontal plane
and under the gun are fixed two hydraulic rams which are connected to
the before-mentioned racks, so that when motion is given to the rams by
means of the pumps N, or their equivalents, the racks L and toothed
segments are put into motion, causing the slots F to bodily raise the gun
in the slots B in the carriage, and the slots G in the levers D guide its
pivoting motion. To lower the gun and decrease its depression or give
it clevation, the water behind the rams is by means of a valve allowed to
escape, and the gun to fall by its own gravity, the said slots G still guiding
its pivoting motion. Wedges O may be used for rigidly connecting the
levers D to the gun carriage.
The description of Figs. 3 and 4 will be the same, with the exception of
the means of elevating and depressing the gun, which is accomplished by
worm wheels and vertical screws. To ensure a true motion to these screws
straight slots P are made in the carriage, and the cascable of the gun
slotted, to allow the cross head H which receives the vertical screws to
keep within the said straight slots P.
The description of Figs. 5 and 6 will also be the same, with the excep-
tion that the cross bar H working in the slots G is fixed underneath the
gun, and between the trunnions and the breech, the object being to keep
the gun perfectly clear for breech-loading purposes. The slots R may be
dispensed with; if used, the distance from the centre of the muzzle to the
centre of the cross bar is their centre radius. For elevating and depressing
this gun differential pullies, as shewn, can be used. It is not, however,
necessary to use these pullies, as the gun may be elevated and depressed
by any of the well-known mechanical methods, or as before described as
applying to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4. For muzzle-pivoting motion on our prin-
ciple it is not necessary for the fulcrum of the lever D to be placed as shown;
it may be placed between the trunnions and the breech, and power still
applied to the rear, or the power, auxiliary or otherwise, may be applied

page_text: before the trunnions in this case and in those above described, viz., when
the fulcrum is between the trunnion and the muzzle. The power for
elevating and depressing the gun may be applied direct to the gun, leaving
the levers D to form the muzzle-pivoting motion, and although the
fulcrum E is shewn at or near the bottom of the gun carriage or below the
trunnions, it may be placed at or near the top or above the trunnions. If
the fulcrum be placed in rear of the trunnions, the slots G that give pro-
portional movement to the breech of the gun may act upon cross bars
attached to the chase of the gun, the motion being given at or near the
muzzle or in the rear of the gun. The levers D are in no way effected by
the force of recoil, which is taken by the gun carriage.
Having fully described the particulars and nature of our Invention, we
wish it to be understood that we do not confine ourselves to any particular
form of gun carriage or materials for its construction, neither do we confine
ourselves to any particular form of lever or mode of working the same
(with the exception of that hereafter mentioned); for although it be
necessary to connect the gun by the cross head to the breech or cross bars
on the chase to the second pair of slots, yet the elevation and depression
of the levers may be accomplished by any of the well-known mechanical
methods, or by connecting any of these methods to the bar or bolt which
forms the fulcrum, or by applying lifting power direct to the gun, and
leaving the levers merely to form the muzzle-pivoting motion; but what
we claim as our Invention is the vertical and guiding slots in the gun
carriage in which the trunnion and cross bar works; also the two slots in
each of the said levers, so that in their action they will, if force be applied
to the levers, lift and pivot the gun at the muzzle or optional point, or
simply effect that movement if force be applied direct to the gun for
elevating and depressing it; we also claim the application of differential
pullies for pivoting guns as before mentioned.
In witness whereof, wc, the said Thomas Bridges Heathorn and
Joseph Henry George Wells, have hereunto set our hands and
seals, this Eighth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.