Improvements in Electro-motor Apparatus for Working the Training or Elevating Shaft of a Gun, or the Working Shaft of other Mechanism.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Jan., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 18th Oct., 1895-Accepted, 14th Dec., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electro-motor Apparatus for Working the
Training or Elevating Shaft of a Gun, or the Working Shaft
of other Mechanism.
We, EDWARD WILLIAM LLOYD, formerly a Commander in the British Navy,
and LEONARD NEWITT, Engineer, both of the Firm of Messrs. Sir W. G.
Armstrong, Mitchell and Company Limited, of Elswick Works, Newcastle-upon-
Tyne, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to mechanism to be applied in conjunction with hand
power or by itself for training, elevating, and depressing guns, and for similar
work.
The mechanism consists chiefly of an electrical motor, with resistances, switches,
and worm or wheel or other gear arranged to work the training or elevating shaft
of a gun or the working shaft of other mechanism and to be readily under control
by hand.
In the case of gear which is at present worked by hand, we fix to the hand-
power shaft, a governing rotary commutator, so arranged that when the hand-wheel
or lever, is turned, the electro motor is switched into action to give motion in the
same direction as that in which the handwheel or lever is moved.
The governing commutator is so arranged that when the hand wheel is turned
more or less slowly, the motor follows with the same degree of speed; and when
the handwheel is stopped, the motor stops.
Further, the governing commutator is so arranged that although the handwheel
is geared so as to produce the movements without the aid of the motor, yet, when
the motor is in action, it follows the motion of the handwheel so instantly that the
hand is not resisted by the mechanism, and it only has to work the governing
commutator.
From this it follows that, the hand being relieved of load, the training or other
operations can be performed mnch more rapidly by the motor than by hand; also,
that, in the slow movements, the hand can move much more steadily when aided
by the motor than when performing the work by hand power alone.
Thus, by the aid of the motor, through the special manner of its application, a
moving object can be followed more quickly; or, on the other hand, when the
slowest movement is required, it can be much more steadily and uniformly
obtained.
In the case of guns which are too large to be worked by hand, the handwheel
and its shaft are made use of, in connection with the motor power, the handwheel
working the governing commutator, exactly as in the previous case.
By this means the respective gun numbers work large guns or small guns with
equal facility, and without any perceptible difference in the manner of working
and controlling the guns.
To accomplish the above described control and working, the electric current is
supplied from one of the dynamos of the emplacement, be it a vessel or a fortress,
and is passed to sliding contacts, bearing upon rings revolving with the hand-wheel
shaft.
The handwheel is so arranged that it may be revolved about 18 or 2 degrees,
or any desired amount, in either direction, before it drives the hand power shaft
and rotary commutator

page_text: An incline has the effect of bringing the handwheel to zero, or centre of
movement, when the wheel is let go. The handwheel carries circuit closing arms
which when the wheel turns independently of the shaft pass over insulated segments
of the commutator.
When the handwheel is in the central position, a resisted or weaker current
passes through the field magnets and through an adjustable resistance back to the
dynamo.
When the hand wheel is moved very slightly in either direction, a weak current
passes through the armature of the motor, producing a very slow rotation; and the
handwheel may be moved round just keeping up with and continuing the slow
motion so produced; or the hand wheel may be pushed further over so as to open
to the full current and so produce a rapid motion, which will be continued so long
as the handwheel is kept going at the equivalent speed.
If the handwheel be gradually slowed, the driving speed will be gradually
slowed; and if the handwheel be let go, or stopped, the driving motion will cease.
Other contacts and other resistances could be introduced, if desired, to further
vary the speeds and powers obtainable.
The motor gear may, when desired, be disconnected from the hand shaft, by
means of a magnetic clutch or other gear, so that, when desired to work by hand,
it may be done without revolving the motor.
The whole mechanism, with the exception of the handwheel or lever, and part
of its shaft, inay be encased in a silence-box.
A condenser may be put in the circuit if considered desirable..
The annexed diagrams illustrate a suitable arrangement of the circuit
connections.
Figure shows the commutator and other parts in the position of rest.
Figures 2 and 3 indicate the changes which are made when the motor is required
to drive either in one direction or the other.
In these figures K, L, M, N and O represent insulated metallic rings mounted
upon the hand power shaft; through these rings circuits are led by rubbing
contacts. In the commutator there are two rings, on one of them are the two
insulated segments A and B and upon the other ring the four insulated
segments CD D₁ and E. b and are the circuit closing arms carried by the
hand wheel. PP and Q Q represent the terminals of the field magnet coils of
the motor and S and T are the brushes belonging to the revolving armature of the
motor. R and are resistances. The resistance is used only for adjustment and
may in some cases be dispensed with.
+ and
indicate the main leads of the
driving circuit.
In the position shown in Figure 1 the circuit may be traced from the positive
main from d to e through K to O and thence to the segment E of the commutator.
The current, which is moderated by the resistance R, then flows by the circuit
closing arm b to both of the segments A and B and by the arm it reaches the
segment C.
C is connected with M and M with P so the current passes through
the field magnet coils to Q thence to and so to the negative lead.
In this position viz. that of Figure 1 the motor remains at rest there being no
current through the armature coils.
In the position indicated by Figure 2 the contact arms bb' are shown shifted to
one of their extreme positions; the handwheel being turned for this purpose.
Now the circuit can be traced front point to point in the following order-
+ d, e, N, D, b, B, K, T, S, L, A, b¹, C, M, P, Qr —
+ d, e, N, D, b, B, K, T, S, L, A, b¹, C, M, P, Q r
-
The current now passes through both the armature and the field magnets of the
motor and the motor runs driving the hand power shaft in the same direction as
the hand applied to the handwheel tends to turn it.
In the position indicated by Figure 3 the circuit may be traced thus:-
+d, e. N, D¹, b, A, L, S, T, K, B, b', C, M, P, Q r —

page_text: Thus the direction in which the circuit passes through the armature is reversed
without changing the flow through the field magnet coils. The motor consequently
runs in the reverse position. When the contact arms are moved a short distance
only from the zero position the circuit may be traced as indicated in Figures 2
and 3 excepting that the passage of the current is then through E in place. of D
or D'.
As already explained E receives only the current reduced by the resistance R
and consequently when the handwheel departs from its zero position a short
distance only less power is applied.
Dated this 18th day of January 1895.
EDWARD W. LLOYD.
1. NEWITT.
Improvements in Electro-motor Apparatus for Working the
Training or Elevating Shaft of a Gun or the Working Shaft
of other Mechanism.
We, EDWARD WILLIAM LLOYD, formerly a Commander in the British Navy,
and LEONARD NEWITT, Engineer, both of the Firm of Messrs. Sir W. G. Armstrong
Mitchell and Company Limited of Elswick Works, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 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 mechanism to be applied in conjunction with hand
power or by itself for training, elevating, and depressing guns, and for similar
work.
The mechanism consists chiefly of an electrical motor, with resistances, switches,
and worm, or wheel or other gear arranged to work the training or elevating shaft
of a gun or the working shaft of other mechanism and to be readily under control
by hand.
In the case of gear which is at present worked by hand, we fix to the hand
power shaft, a governing rotary commutator, so arranged that when the handwheel
or lever, is turned, the electro motor is switched into action, to give motion in the
same direction as that in which the handwheel or lever is moved.
The governing commutator is so arranged that when the hand wheel is turned
more or less slowly, the motor follows with the same degree of speed; and when the
hand wheel is stopped, the motor stops.
Further, the governing commutator is so arranged that although the hand wheel
is geared so as to produce the movements without the aid of the motor, yet, when
the motor is in action, it follows the motion of the hand wheel so instantly that the
hand is not resisted by the mechanism and it only has to work the governing
commutator.
From this it follows that, the hand being relieved of load, the training or other
operations can be performed much more rapidly by the motor than by hand; also,
that, in the slow movements, the hand can move much more steadily when aided by
the motor than when performing the work by hand power alone.
Thus, by the aid of the motor through the special manner of its application, a
moving object can be followed more quickly; or, on the other hand, when the
slowest movement is required, it can be much more steadily and uniformly
obtained.
In the case of guns which are too large to be worked by hand, the handwheel
and its shaft are made use of, in connection with the motor power, the hand wheel
working the governing commutator, exactly as in the previous case.

page_text: 3
-
By this means the respective gun numbers work large guns or small guns with
equal facility, and without any perceptible, difference in the manner of working and
controlling the guns.
To accomplish the above described control and working, the electric current is
supplied from one of the dynamos of the emplacement, be it a vessel or a fortress,
and is passed to sliding contacts, bearing upon rings revolving with the handwheel
shaft.
The handwheel is so arranged that it may be revolved about 18 or 20 degrees, or
any desired amount, in either direction, before it drives the hand power shaft and
rotary commutator.
An incline has the effect of bringing the handwheel to zero, or centre of move-
ment, when the wheel is let go. The handwheel carries circuit closing arms which
when the wheel turns independently of the shaft, pass over insulated segments of
the commutator.
When the hand wheel is in the central position, a resisted or weaker current
passes through the field magnets and through an adjustable resistance, back to the
dynamo.
When the handwheel is moved very slightly in either direction, a weak current
passes through the armature of the motor, producing a very slow rotation; and the
hand wheel may be moved round just keeping up with and continuing the slow
motion so produced; or the handwheel may be pushed further over so as to open to
the full current and so produce a rapid motion, which will be continued so long as
the handwheel is kept going at the equivalent speed.
If the handwheel be gradually slowed, the driving speed will be gradually
slowed; and if the handwheel be let go, or stopped, the driving motion will cease.
Other contacts and other resistances could be introduced, if desired, to further
vary the speeds and powers obtainable.
The motor gear may, when desired, be disconnected from the hand shaft, by
means of a magnetic cluch or other gear, so that, when desired to work by hand, it
may be done without revolving the motor.
The whole mechanism, with the exception of the handwheel or lever, and part of
its shaft, may be encased in a silence box.
A condenser may be put in the circuit if considered desirable, in order to prevent
sparking.
The annexed diagrams illustrate a suitable arrangement of the circuit
connections.
Figure 1 shows the commutator and other parts in the position of rest.
Figures 2 and 3 indicate the changes which are made when the motor is required
to drive either in one direction or the other.
In these figures K, L, M, N, and O represent insulated metallic rings mounted
upon the hand power shaft; through these rings circuits are led by rubbing
contacts. In the commutator there are two rings, on one of them are the two
insulated segments A and B and upon the other ring the four insulated seg
ments CDD and E. and are the circuit closing arms carried by the hand-
wheel. P P and Q Q represent the terininals of the field magnet coils of the motor
and S and T are the brushes belonging to the revolving armature of the motor.
R and rare resistances. The resistance r is used only for adjustment and may in
some cases be dispensed with. + and indicate the main leads of, the driving
circuit.
-
In the position shown in Figure 1 the circuit may be traced from the positive
main from d to e through R to O and thence to the segment E of the commutator.
The current, which is moderated by the resistance R, then flows by the circuit closing
arm 6 to both of the segments A and B and by the arm b¹ it reaches the segment C.
C is connected with M and M with P so the current passes through the field
magnet coils to Q thence to r and so to the negative lead.
In this position viz.: that of Figure 1 the motor remains at rest there being no
current through the armature coils.

page_text: In the position indicated by Figure 2 the contact arms bb' are shewn shifted to
one of their extreme positions; the handwheel being turned for this purpose.
Now the circuit can be traced from point to point in the following order.
The current now passes through both the armature and the field magnets of the
motor and the motor runs driving the hand power shaft in the same direction as.
the hand applied to the handwheel tends to turn it.
In the position indicated by Figure 3 the circuit may be traced thus
:-
+ d, e, N, D¹, b, A, L, S, T, K, B, b', C, M P,
Thus the direction in which the current passes through the armature is reversed
without changing the flow through the field magnet coils. The motor consequently
runs in the reverse direction. When the contact-arms are moved a short distance
only from the zero position the circuit may be traced as indicated in Figures 2 and 3
excepting that the passage of the current is then through E in place of D or D¹.
As already explained E receives only the current reduced by the resistance R.
and consequently when the hand wheel departs from its zero position a short.
distance only less power is applied.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of part of the carriage of a quick-firing gun and
shows the electro-motor apparatus applied to the training shaft so as to aid the
hand power in training the gun.
Parts of the apparatus are shown to a larger scale and more in detail by the.
Figures 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.
a is the handwheel for the application of manual power, it is upon a shaft which
carries the two contact arms b, b; this shaft engages with another shaft h but.
spaces c c allow of independent movement through a small part of a revolution in
either direction. The shaft h serves to train the gun for which purpose it may
have a bevilled pinion at its lower end and this may drive a corresponding wheel
upon a worm which gears with a ring of teeth fixed to the gun platform, but no
gearing is shown as this will vary with the work the shaft is required to perform.
The axis of the handwheel a may be pressed downwards by weight or by a spring
contained in the bearing but not shown in the drawing and the interlocking parts
are inclined as is shown so that the wheel a always tends to a mean position,.
leaving equal spaces c c on either side of the contact arms. The ring with the
insulated segments A, B, and that with the segments CD &c. and the undivided
insulated rings K, L, M, N and O are all fixed upon the shaft h. I is the electro-
motor, a pinion on the axis of its armature drives a spur wheel g which is fast
upon the axis h.
At S the circuit is closed through a plug, or other switch when
the apparatus is out of use this is removed from its socket; the electric gear then
becomes inert and no current is expended.
Of the Figures 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 no further description is necessary; the way in
which the rings K, L, M, N and O receive current through rubbing contacts is
clearly shown, as are also the connections of these rings with the several insulated
segments of the rings A B and CD &c. The contact arms 66' which establish
communication between the rings A B and C D are also fully shown.
The arrangement shown in the drawings gives two grades of power, first a smail
power is applied when the contact arms 6, 61, are not far from the central position
and afterwards the full power when the contact arms are further removed from the
central position. As the full power circuit is never suddenly opened or closed
there will be but little sparking.
If required it is easy to apply the power in three stages in place of two.
Figure 10 is a diagram which illustrates this. It will be seen that the changes
necessary consist in providing an additional insulated ring on the shaft h and six
insulated segments in place of four in the divided ring C Ď &c. The resistance R.
is divided into two parts which are successively removed out of circuit.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
―
1. The method herein described of controlling an electro-motor, by mounting upon
a shaft driven by the motor, a commutator one part of which is movable, relatively
to the other part by a hand wheel or like appliance; the arrangement being such
that on altering the setting of the commutator by turning the hand wheel, current
flows and the shaft is driven by the electro-motor until the shaft overtakes the
wheel and the commutator is thus reset to its normal position.
2. Apparatus substantially as described consisting of an electro motor driving a
shaft under the control of a hand wheel or like appliance by the aid of a commutator
one part of which is moved by the hand wheel and the other by the motor; such
commutator having contacts so arranged that when the commutator is in its normal
position no driving current passes and the motor is inoperative whilst as the parts
of the commutator are shifted from the normal position first a weak driving
current, and afterwards, if the movement be continued, a more powerful driving
current is transmitted.
3. An electro-motor applied to a hand power shaft substantially as described so
that the electro-motor, whilst aiding in the work of training and elevating of the
gun or performing such like work, is controlled by and follows the application, or
the discontinuance of the hand power.
4. Apparatus substantially as described and illustrated by the annexed drawings.
Dated this 23rd day of September 1895.
EDWARD W. LLOYD.
LEONARD NEWITT.