IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR ABSORBING, STORING AND UTILIZING THE FORCE OF RECOIL OF ORDNANCE, AND IN APPLYING AND WORKING COVERS, ROOFS OR SHIELDS TO GUN PLATFORMS
Year: 1869

page_text: [The Specification was, upon the 5th day of February 1887, further amended under
Sections 18 to 21 of the Patents, Designs, and Trade Marks Act, 1883.]
DISCLAIMER AND MEMORANDUM OF ALTERATION as proposed to be
entered by the said ALEXANDER MONCRIEFF, pursuant to the Statutes in that
case made and provided.
WHEREAS Her Majesty Queen Victoria by Her Letters Patent under the Great
Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster
the Twenty-seventh day of August One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine did
give and grant to me the said Alexander Moncrieff my executors administrators and
assigns the sole privilege of making using exercising and vending the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR ABSORBING, STORING AND
UTILIZING THE FORCE OF RECOIL OF ORDNANCE, AND IN APPLYING AND WORKING
COVERS, ROOFS OR SHIELDS TO GUN PLATFORMS" within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man for and during the'
term of fourteen years thence next ensuing.
And whereas in pursuance of a proviso in the said Letters Patent contained I the
said Alexander Moncrieff did within six calendar months next after the date of the said.

page_text: Letters Patent cause a Specification in writing under my hand and seal, purporting to
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention and in what manner the same
was to be performed, to be duly filed in the Great Seal Patent Office.
And whereas since the filing of the said Specification I the said, Alexander Moncrieff
have discovered that parts of the said Invention as described and claimed in the said
Specification may be objected to on the ground that they were not new or that the
description thereof is not sufficiently precise, and in consequence thereof I hereby
disclaim and alter parts of the said Specification and claiming clauses in manner
following, that is to say-In page 16 of the Queen's Printers Copy of the Finnl
Specification at line 28 for the word "various" I substitute the word "precise" and
in line 30 of Page 16 I omit the word "greatly." In line 32 of page 16 between the
words" employment" and "of confined "I insert the words "in the manner described."
In line 1 and likewise in line 4 and in line 6 of page 17 between the words "other"
and "fluid "I insert the word "unelastic," and after the word "cylinder" in line 7 of
page 171 insert the words "in the manner described;" after the word "apparatus" in
line 15 of page 17 I insert the words "as herein-before described" I omit the sixth
and seventh claiming clauses lines 16 to 22 inclusive on page 17. In the same page
17 for the word "eighth " at the beginning of line 23 I substitute the word "sixth ;
for the word "ninth" in line 28 I substitute the word "seventh ;" and for the word
"tenth" in line 23 I substitute the word "eighth," And the said Specification when
disclaimed, altered and amended, will read as follows:-
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME I ALEXANDER
MONCRIEFF of Culfargio in the County of Perth, Scotland send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria by Her Letters Patent
bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-nine in the thirty-third year of Her reign, did for Herself,
Her heirs and successors give and grant unto me the said Alexander Moncrieff, Her
special licence that I the said Alexander Moncrieff, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander Moncrieff, my executors administrators
and assigns, should at any time agree with and no others from time to time and at all
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 THE MEANS
" AND APPARATUS FOR ABSORBING, STORING, AND UTILIZING THE FORCE OF RECOIL OF
"ORDNANCE, AND IN APPLYING AND WORKING COVERS, ROOFS OR SHIELDS TO GUN
"PLATFORMS" upon the condition (amongst others) that I the said Alexander
Moncrieff my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my 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 I the said Alexander Moncrieff do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof,
reference being had to the accompanying Drawings and to the figures and letters
marked thereon that is to say :-
My intention relates to disappearing guns, that is to say, guns mounted in such manner
as to be raised into an elevated position for firing, and afterwards to descend into a secure
position for loading.
One part of my Invention has reference to an improved mode of and apparatus
for absorbing, storing, and utilizing the force of recoil of ordnance in such guns, and
consists in applying hydraulic in combination with pneumatic action, using in most
eeses the properties of compressible and elastic gases for storing the forces generated
by the recoil, while the manipulation and the principal work connected with the service
of the guns, as well as the isolation and effectual enclosure of the elastic gases and the
introduction of the element of friction are effected by hydraulic agency.---This system

page_text: of operating may be carried into effect in a variety of ways. Thus in one arrange
ment In the arrangement which I prefer this system of operating is carried into effect
as follows:-I receive the recoil by means of a plunger or piston working in a cylinder
containing water or other suitable liquid which cylinder is in communication with a
closed strong vessel containing compressed air or other suitable perinanently elastic gas,
so that the piston or plunger in being driven into the cylinder forces the liquid through
a pipe or channel into the air vessel so as to further compress the air. Between the
air vessel and the cylinder is a stop-back valve, which prevents the water that has
been forced beyond it and into the air vessel from passing back into the cylinder by
the same channel; thus the plunger is retained in whatever position it has been driven
by the recoil.
When it is desired to utilize the force thus stored, this is effected in the following
manner. The pipe or channel on one side of the stop-back valve is put in communica-
tion with the pipe or channel on the other side thereof by a small branch pipe or by-
pass provided with a cock or valve, which is acted upon by the hand; if necessary, a
stop-back valve may be provided for this by-pass on the cylinder end thereof. A
hydraulic or air pump or a head of water is used in communication with the main pipe
or chaunel or lower part of the air vessel to bring the apparatus into action if the
water has been run off, or else to replace leakage, or impose a higher resistance to
the recoil by increasing the compression of the air in the air vessel to any required
amount.
Among other methods of application the system above described may be used
in combination with the arrangements for mounting guns described in the
Specifications to my former Patents No. 1548 of 1866 and No. 739 of 1860; it is
also applicable as a system perfectly independent of my said Inventions, embodying
principles not previously applied to ordnance, and it is particularly applicable to
Haval purposes; moreover it may be used as a substitute for the compressers "
or hydraulic buffers" now employed with ordinary gun carriages.
I use the system above described in combination with arrangements for mounting guns
such as are hereinafter described and illustrated which are similar to the arrangement
described in the Specification of my former Letters Patent No. 739 of the year 1869 and
illustrated in Fig. 6 of the sheet of drawings annexed thereto. In these arrangements the
gun is mounted on radius arms in such a manner that the recoil of the gun causes the
radius arms carrying the gun to swing round, so that the gun is lowered into a position
of comparative safety.
Another part of my Invention consists in applying to disappearing guns a circular
rotatable cover, shield, or roof, supported above the gun platform and with an aperture to
permit the passage of the gun up and down through the same, this aperture being fitted
or not with self-acting or with ordinary shutters. The gun may be traversed in
connection with this roof by means of a circular rack and pinion or other move-
ment, the said roof or shield being supported by the structure surrounding it by means
of antifriction rollers.
In another arrangement-this roof shield or cover forms part of or is connected
to the counterweight employed in some of my systems of working ordnance
described in the Specifications to my before-mentioned Patents and is raised or
depressed according to the position of the gun. For this purpose the shield may
either be attached to the face of the counterweight so as to be in a vertien!
position when the gun is in the firing position, and to be consequently raised
and at the sume time turned into a horizontal position over the gun by the rising
of the counterweight on the discharge of the gun.
Or in another arrangement the shield is formed of parts which turn on hinges
on either side or on one side only of the gun, and which are so connected to the
elevators or to the counterweights by means of chains, bands, links, or other
equivalent appliances, that the motion of these on the recoil of the gun causes
the shield to turn so as to close over the gun, while on the rising of the gun
into firing position the shield is thereby turned-up out of the way
Having thus set forth the nature of my Invention I will now proceed more particu-

page_text: larly to describe the manner of performing the same, for which purpose I shall refer
to the accompanying Drawings forming part of my present Specification.
Figures 1 and 2 on Sheet I. of the Drawings shew one arrangement for carrying
into effect my improved system of storing and utilizing the force of recoil. Figure 1
shews a part sectional side elevation, and Figure 2 shews an end view. Similar letters
of reference indicate similar parts in each of the Figures. The gun A is mounted upon
a carriage B supported by links C working on fixed fulcra on the platform D, and thus
far the arrangement is similar to one of those described in my previous. Patent of
10th March 1869, No. 739, and (as far as the parallel motion is concerned) also to an
arrangement submitted by me in the year 1858 to General Sir Richard Dacres K.C.B.,
commanding the Royal Artillery in Ireland at that time. Beneath the platform D is
fixed a strong metal cylinder E having a plunger F, to the upper end of which is fixed
a strong cross head G working between guides D D on the framing D¹ fixed to the
platform which cross head carries two antifriction rollers G'G' which bear against the
under side of the gun carriage B, so that on the descent of the gun into the position
shewn in dotted lines by the force of recoil on firing the carriage B forces the
plunger F down into the cylinder E. The cylinder E when the plunger is in the
raised position is full of water, oil, or other suitable liquid; the lower end thereof is
put in communication by means of a pipe H with a strong air vessel I which also
contains enough water to cover the opening of the pipe H so as completely to isolate
the air above such opening.
On the forcing down of the plunger the water is forced out of the cylinder E through
the pipe H into the air vessel, the air in which is thereby compressed to a corre-
sponding extent, and such pressure is prevented from reacting through the pipe H
in the cylinder by means of a stop-back valve J placed in the pipe. A communica-
tion is however established between that part of the pipe H below the valve J and the
part beyond it by means of a "by-pass" or pipe K provided with a valve L, the
opening and closing of which is regulated by means of a screw spindle L' passing up
to the gun deck or platform or any other convenient position, where it is actuated by
the handle L. From this arrangement it will be seen that assuming the valve L to
be closed, then on the descent of the gun after firing it will be maintained in such
lowered position until by the opening of the valve L the compressed air in the air
vessel is allowed to force the water back through the by-pass K into the cylinder E,
whereby the plunger F will be forced up and the gun raised into firing position above
the deck or cover a. It will also be seen that by opening the valve L to a greater or
less degree such raising of the gun will be effected at a greater or less speed, and thus
the manipulation of the gun will be under the most perfect control, any excess of power
produced by the recoil beyond that required for raising the gun into firing position
being destroyed by the friction produced in obstructing the passage of the water from
the air vessel into the cylinder.
The air in the air vessel being hermetically enclosed by the water contained in the
lower part of the air vessel, it will be evident that no leakage can take place, but as for
the proper working of this system it is essentially necessary that the air in the air
vessel should be under a certain degree of compression, even when the gun is in the
raised position (in order to balance the pressure of the column of water in the working
cylinder, the weight of the gun, which is not supported by the links C, and also to
overcome the friction of the working parts towards the end of the upward motion of
the gun) a small pump N is provided, the delivery valve N₁ of which communicates
by means of the pipes N' N³ (shown in red for the sake of clearness) with the bottom
of the air vessel, and by means of the pipe N' with the cylinder E, while the inlet valve
may be made to communicate either by means of the pipe N and cock N' with a
water tank, or by means of the cock N' with the atmosphere. By this arrangement if
the cock N' and the cock N on the pipe N be opened, air can be pumped into the air
vessel until any desired pressure (to be indicated by a pressure gauge) is attained,
whereas if the cock N and the cock N° on the pipe N be opened water may be forced
either into the cylinder E alone (the cock N8 being closed) or both into the cylinder
and the air vessel in order to make good any leakage that may occur, or to raise the

page_text: gun into the firing position should by any chance the air vessel get out of order, as also
to adjust the pressure in the air vessel to meet cases where abnormal charges are used,
or to counteract the effect of rolling during action in a heavy sea. A cock or valve
may also be provided at the bottoin of the cylinder E, as also under the air vessel I,
for letting off the water should it at any time be required to lower the gun into the
loading postion without firing, or to decrease the pressure to any required amount.
If desired also a water gauge may be applied to the air vessel to assist in regulating
the proper adjustment of the apparatus.
the
A
It will be observed that this system of working guns by hydraulic apparatus will
render possible a manipulation of the guns in action, which the ordinary or any
previous system is incapable of affording. Thus for instance by carrying a prolonga-
tion of the small by-pass pipes, with their regulating valves to the station of the
officer who is conducting action he may himself effect the raising of the guns to
the firing position with his own hand, and fire them by electric fuzes after they have
been correctly laid to his instructions, the lateral angle being given by provisions
similar to those proposed by me for land service, and the elevation by the Moncrieff
trunnion pointer. The parallel motion would leave an error so slight if the gun were
not quite raised that it would in no case affect the aim. The advantage of simul-
taneous volleys and taking aim from above the smoke may be obtained in the highest
degree by the above arrangements, which of course pre-suppose the provision of
control over the steering at the station referred to, and of a moveable sight which
works in harmony with those of the guns, and by which the officer in command can
give the necessary directions for laying, whether as regards elevation or the lateral
angle.
It is obvious that the rigidity of the structure of a vessel is quite sufficient to ensure
practically perfect accuracy when the angles at the two positions are set in harmony
and correctly. I do not claim this method of controlling the firing, laying, and
working the guns from one position as forming of itself any part of my present
Invention, although of course from the nature of the case it cannot be fully carried
out except in combination with my Invention.
Figure 3 on Sheet II. of the Drawings shews a vertical section of another arrange-
ment of my before described system of working ordnance. In this arrangement the
air vessel surrounds the working cylinder E, being conveniently formed of one and
the same casting therewith. The cylinder E communicates with the air vessel through
the passage H provided with a stop hack valve J so that the water on the descent
of the plunger F is forced through the passage H into the air vessel, but is prevented
by the valve J from being forced back by the compressed air which as in the former
case is hermetically enclosed in the air vessel by the water.
For raising the gun into firing position a communication is established between the
air vessel and the cylinder by means of the pipe K, provided with the cock or valve L,
the opening of which is regulated to the exact extent required by means of the screw
spindle L and handle actuating the cock through the links L L, and bell
crank L. A pump is, as before, provided for forcing air or water into the air
cylinder. The cross head G of the plunger F is in this arrangement shewn provided
with a catch O taking into the toothed rack P on the framing D, whereby the gun
may be held in the lowest or any intermediate position independently of the action of
the cock L.
Figure 4 shews a vertical transverse section of another modification in which the
plunger F and cross head G are formed as a hollow casting, the space I inside of
which constitutes the air vessel of the apparatus. For this purpose the lower end of
the plunger is closed by a valve J opening inwards, so that on the descent of the
plunger on firing, the water in the cylinder E is forced into the air vessel, the air in
which is as in previous cases at all times hermetically enclosed, as the water extends
into the air vessel so as to cover the valve J even when the plunger is in the highest
position.

page_text: For allowing the gun to rise into firing position an escape aperture K is formed in
the side of the plunger communicating with the small chamber K' formed in the
thickness of the plunger, which in its turn communicates with the cylinder E through
the passage K closed by means of a valve or plug L. This valve is opened or closed
by means of a handle L, to which it is connected by means of the rod L' passing
through a drilled hole in the thickness of the air vessel, any leakage through such hole
being prevented by suitable packing as indicated. On raising the valve L by
depressing the handle L, the water is forced from the air vessel back into the
cylinder, whereby the gun is raised into firing position, the valve being held in the
open position during the ascent of the gun, by causing the handle L2 to catch into a
notched quadrant L, from which it is afterwards withdrawn so as to close the valve
again before or during the next descent of the gun. It will be seen that by depressing
the lever more or less the valve L is opened to a greater or less extent, and thus the
rising of the gun controlled. N is as before an inlet aperture communicating with a
pump through which wator or air may be forced respectively into the cylinder E or
into the air vessel I.
In connection with the last described arrangement. I wish to observe that since the
date of my application for the present. Letters Patent. I have been made aware of a
contrivance for absorbing and storing the recoil of guns described in the Specification
to Letters Patent granted to W. E. Newton dated 24th March 1869 No. 869 which
in the principle of action is identical with some of the arrangements described in the
Specification of my Patent dated 10th March 1869 No. 739, but which at first glance
might appear similar in principle to my last described arrangement. There is however
between the two this vital difference, that whereas in Newton's arrangement, not only
is the air contained on the working cylinder itself (as in my former Invention) but
also it is expressly specified that a communication is to be established between the
external atmosphere and the interior of the cylinder at the end of the outward stroke,
(an arrangement that would obviously not work as the resistance due to the weight of
the gun, the friction of the working parts, as also any leakage of the air from the
cylinder or air vessel would clearly prevent the air in the latter from expanding to its
full extent, so as to bring the gun back into the position from which it originally
started) on the other hand according to my present system the air as before stated
never enters the working cylinder at all, it being effectually enclosed inside the air
vessel, and the working of the gun is entirely effected by the regulated flow of water
or other fluid from the air vessel into the working cylinder.
Figure 5 on Sheet III. shews a modification of my arrangement to which no inde
pendent claim is made which may be adopted in combination with either of the two
first before described arrangements, whereby the force generated by the recoil is
rendered available both for the manipulation of the gun and for other work connected
with the service thereof, as herein-before mentioned. For this purpose the working
cylinder E contains centrally inside it a second small cylinder Q over which fits the
hollow plunger F of the working cylinder. This plunger carries a second plunger R
working inside the cylinder Q. This cylinder is put in communication by means of
the passage S and pipe T with the air vessel V, the lower part of which, as also the
pipe T and cylinder Q contain water. Hence on the descent of the plungers F and R
after firing the water is forced out of the cylinder Q into the air vessel V, thereby
compressing the air in the latter, and a stop back valve U on the pipe T retains the
water under pressure thus forced into the air vessel. The pipe T also communicates
by means of a pipe X provided with an inlet valve W with a water cistern Y, so that
as the plunger R rises in the cylinder Q on the ascent of the gun water flows from
the cistern into the cylinder Q and is at the next down stroke forced in like manner
as above described into the air vessel. By this means water under pressure may be
accumulated in the latter whence it is allowed to pass through outlets a b to hydraulic
apparatus adapted for traversing the gun for increasing the pressure in the main
cylinder, or for other similar purposes.
In order to prevent the pressure in the air vessel from becoming too great a safety
valve Z loaded to the maximum pressure is provided, from the valve box of which the

page_text: excess of water escaping from the air vessel may be made to pass through a pipe back
into the tank Y. The plunger F being made to fit tight against the cylinder Qby
means of packing at its lower end, as indicated, the space inside the plunger F above
the cylinder Q may be put in communication with the atmosphere by means of an
aperture in the top of the former so as to allow the air free ingress and egress as the
plunger works up and down.
A somewhat similar arrangement to the above might be employed as the converse
of the arrangement shewn at Figure 3, that is, the cylinder Q might be closed at its
upper end and be put in communication at its lower end with the working cylinder,
so as to serve as an external air vessel. But such an arrangement would be incon-
venient on account of the greatly increased dimensions that the working cylinder and
plunger would have to assume.
Figure 1 on Sheet 1, Figure 6 on Sheet III, and Figures 7 to 12 on Sheets IV
and V of the Drawings shew various arrangements of my circular rotatable covers
or shields with sliding or other shutters for completely enclosing the gun when in the
lowered position.
At Figure 1 is shewn merely a longitudinal section of a rotatable cover a without
shutters, which is connected to and made to rotate with the gun platform D in the
manner presently to be described with reference to Figures 7 to 12. This circular
cover of wrought iron or other suitable material fits into a circular hole formed in the
deck, floor, or roof and is supported at its circumference by antifriction rollers c
carried by the deck, other antifriction rollers e' carried by the brackets e on the
cover a being if necessary provided for holding down the cover in its place; or such
holding down of the covers may be effected by a bearing upon the ground platform
or floor itself, as shewn at Figures 13 to 16 Sheets VI. and VII. The cover has an
oblong hole a of sufficient width and length to allow of the gun A and its carriage B
passing up and down through it, the form of such aperture being shown in the
arrangement on Sheet IV., where Figure 7 shews a part longitudinal section of the
gun platform, cover, and shutters. Figure 8 shows a transverse section of the same,
and Figure 9 shows a half plan thereof. The cover a is fixed rigidly to the side
framing D of the platform D by means of strong brackets d d so that whatever
rotary motionis imparted to the platform for traversing the gun is always imparted
to the cover a. Such motion may be imparted by means of a bevil wheel e fixed to
the platform in gear with which is a pinion upon a shaft g, driven either by a steam
engine, if convenient at hand (and brought into action by a friction clutch or similar
contrivance) or by hydraulic power, as before described or by any other suitable
means. Upon the cover a on each side of the aperture a¹ are situated two sliding
wrought-iron shutters hh which rest upon the cover by means of antifriction
rollers carried in recesses formed in the shutters, and by other antifriction
rollers carried by the cover a.
These shutters are made on the descent of the gun after firing to move over and
close the aperture a', and to move back so as to uncover such aperture as the gun
rises again into firing position, which operations are effected in the following
manner. The framing D carries on each side thercof a vertical rotatable square
shaft ii on the lower part of which is formed a screw thread of quick pitch increasing
somewhat towards the upper end. Upon these shafts slide bushes; fixed to the
cross head G of the plunger F to the working cylinder so that on the descent of the
gun the bushes on reaching the threaded parts of the shaft cause these to turn in one
direction, while on the rising of the gun the bushes impart rotary motion to the shafts
in the reverse direction during the first part of the upward motion only. The shafts i i
carry at their upper ends bevil pinions in gear with each of which are two other
bevil pinions k¹ upon two shafts carried by the cover a. The other ends of these
shafts have spur pinions in gear with other pinions 3, also carried in recesses in
the covers and in gear with racks fixed in grooves on the under side of the
shutters h. From this it will be seen that when during the descent of the gun this
has passed down to the level of the aperture a' the motion then imparted to the
shafts i will cause the shutters to be slid over the opening so as to meet each other

page_text: on the centre line thereof, whereas when the gun begins to rise into firing position
the shafts i i will be made to revolve so as to slide back the shutters into the position
indicated before the gun has risen to the level of the opening.
Figures 10 to 12 on Sheet V. of the Drawings shew respectively a part longitudinal
section, a transverse section and a part plan of a modification of the above-described
arrangement, to which no independent claim is made whereby the sliding shutters in
place of being actuated by the rising and falling of the gun are worked indepen-
dently of the same by means of a steam engine or other source of power. For this
purpose the framing D₁ carries on each side two vertical shafts ii the upper ends of
which pass through the cover a and carry pinions in gear with two racks *, fixed
, in recesses in the under side of the shutters: The lower ends of the shafts carry spur
pinions in gear with a spur rim on the bevil wheel I carried by the platform D.
This wheel is not fixed to the platform but may be made to revolve independently of
it upon the central boss by means of the pinion on the shaft g driven by the steam
engine or other power. Thus by causing the wheel. I to revolve in one direction or
the other the shafts ii will be caused to move the shutters h so as to either close or
open them.
If it be required to traverse the gun, then by sliding a clutch m (actuated by the
handle m and secured to the framing D) in gear with the wheel 4, this is rendered
fixed relative to the the platform D and consequently any rotary motion imparted to
it will be imparted to the gun and the cover a. The shutters h may be thrown out of
action at any time by sliding the pinions on the shaft i out of gear with the spur
rim by means of the handles 13. The raising and lowering of the gun may also be
effected by means of the wheel and pinion should it at any time be required to
perform this operation without firing or should the bydraulic apparatus be out of
order. For this purpose the framing D' may carry on each side a screw spindle n
having at its lower end a pinion a capable of being slid in gear with the spur rim
by means of the lever . Upon the cross head G are projecting bushes j embracing
the screw spindles n and containing screwed nuts made in halves, which by the action
of cams turned by the levers j¹ are made to take into the screw threads of the spindles n.
Thus by putting the pinions n' in gear with the wheel 1, and putting the screwed nuts
on the cross head G in gear with the spindles n the rotation of the wheel in one
direction or the other will cause the screw spindles to raise or lower the cross head G
and with it the gun.
I wish it to be understood that I do not claim this arrangement for raising and
lowering the gun as forming any part of my present Invention."
In connection with the above described arrangement of revolving covers and
shutters may be employed my system of reflecting sights and trunnion pointer
(see and o Figure 1) for laying the gun when under cover, which however I also do
not claim as part of my present Invention, as this has been previously submitted to
the Director General of Ordnance in connection with my system of working artillery
range finding and the laying of heavy ordnance and which I am now carrying out for
the Government.
The reflecting sight is placed so as to cast the reflection of the field in front of the
gun down to the gun deck, thus assisting those who traverse the gun to act by their
own observation in concert with or independently of the man who fires, and who is at
the man-hole 9 (Figure 12) at the rear of the ordinary sights pp carried by the
revolving cover a.
Figure 6 Sheet III. shows a transverse section of another arrangement of my
revolving covers and shutters. Here the shutters h à instead of being made to slide
as in the previous cases are free to turn up into the dotted position upon strong
pins A', being provided with balance weights & so that when the gun rises into firing
position it readily pushes open the shutters, while on its descent the latter owing to a
certain amount of preponderance in their weight over that of the balance weights of
themselves sink down into the closed position.
It will be evident that the above described system of rotatable covers and shutters
may be employed in combination with my other systems of mounting ordnance,

page_text: described in the Specifications to my before-mentioned Patents, and also in fact to
any system where the gun is raised into an elevated position for firing. and the
arrangements of cliding or hinged shatters may also in certain enses be employed in
connection with fixed instead of rotatable covers, roofs or shields, the opening being
in that case mude sutleiently wide to allow of the requisite traversing of the gun.
Figures 13 to 16 on Sheets VI. and VII. of the Drawings shew two other modes of
mounting the gun for effecting the raising and lowering of the same by my before-
described improved system.
In the arrangement shown in side and end elevation respectively at Figures 13
and 14 Sheet VI., the gun A is carried directly by the strong links or levers B
turning on fulcra B₁ carried by the platform D and connected by the double
horizontal bars E to other links C, also turning upon fulera C carried by the plat-
form D. The bars E which serve as support to the elevating mechanism of the gun
(not shown) are caused on the descent of the gun to force down the plunger F of the
working hydraulic cylinder arranged as before described, the plunger being for this
purpose made to bear with large antifriction rollers FI carried by the cross head G
against the under side of the hars E. As the gun descends the rollers H pass along
the bars E, and finally when in the lowest position (shewn in dotted lines) pass on to
the levers B carrying the gun so that in raising the gun into firing position the
plunger may first act directly against the levers B, and then against the bars E. By
this arrangement it will be seen that the hydraulic apparatus is brought into a
somewhat lower and consequently more profected position than in the foregoing
arrangements, and the stroke of the plunger is also somewhat less than the vertical
distance through which the gun is raised and lowered.
Figures 15 and 16 Sheet VII., shew a side elevation and part sectional elevation of
an arrangement similar to the foregoing, in which the hydraulic apparatus is made to
assume a still lower position relative to the gun and in which the stroke of the plunger
is also still further decreased. For this purpose the plunger F instead of bearing
directly against the connecting bars E bears with the rollers H against the under side
of the arms or levers I, turning on fulcra at I carried by the platform and bearing with
antifriction rollers against the under side of the hars E so that the downward pressure
of these bars is during the descent of the gun transferred first to the levers I and
thence to the plunger, while in the upward motion the reverse action takes place.
I do not claim these last-lescribed arrangements for mounting the gun as forming
any part of my present Invention, otherwise than in combination with my before-
described improved system for storing and utilizing the force of the recoil.
Figures 17 to 20 on Sheet VIII. of the Drawings shew the application of my new
system of absorbing and storing the power generated by the recoil of gune to the
"compressors" or "hydraulic buffers of ordinary gun carriages.
In the arrangement shown in side elevation, part plan, and end elevation at
Figures 17, 18 und 10, the gun curringe A is connected by strong luge BB, to the
plungers C, C, of the horizontal hydraulic cylinders DD-fixed incide the platform
or clide E on either side of the air vessel F. This nir vessel communicates with
the rear ends of the hydraulic cylinders by means of the pipes GG' provided with a
stop back-valve at I so that as the plungers Cure forced into the cylinders D by the
recoil of the gun the water or other fluid is forced out of the cylinder into the
Air vessel F
For bringing forward the gun into firing position a communication is established
between the air vessel and the hydraulic cylinders by opening the regulating
valve on-the-by-pass--when the water being forced back from the air vessel
into the cylinders will force out the plungers, and-with them the gun carriage. It
will be seen that this system of compressors or hydraulic buffers differs from those
heretofore employed in this, that the force of recoil is in this ense utilized for
bringing the gun-buck into firing position by means of the compressed air. This
system will be particularly convenient when the clides are inclined backwards in u
similar manner to one of the arrangements shewn in the Specification to my Patent
No. 730 of 1869 and will be-upplied with advantage in arming ships' boats where

page_text: the gun will recoil into a convenient londing postion, and be run up without labour
when required for nation.
Figure 20 shows a longitudinal section of a modification of the above described
arrangement, in which the motion of the plungers is rendered less than the recoil of
the-gun by enusing the latter to act upon the former and vice versa, by means of
two chains or ropes 1 one end of each of which is fixed to the front end of the gun
earriage whence the chain passes back over the guide pulley 1 and the pulley kon
the plunger C of the hydraulic cylinder to which latter the other end of the ohnin
is attached:
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise
arrangements for carrying the same into practice herein-before described with reference
to the accompanying Drawings as these may be varied without departing from the
essential features of my Invention; but what I claim is :-
First. The employment in the manner described-in connection with disappearing
guns mounted on radius arms of confined or hermetically enclosed air or other clastic
gas for storing up the force generated by the recoil of the gun, while the manipulation
raising of the gun is effected entirely by water or other unelastic fluid acted upon by
the said air-er gas under pressure.
Second. Utilizing substantially in the manner hereinbefore described and illustrated
the force produced by the recoil of ordnance for raising the a disappearing gun-
mounted on radius arms-into an elevated position for firing by causing the gun on its
descent from such raised position to force water or other unelastic fluid freely out of a
hydraulic cylinder into a closed air vessel, containing compressed air, while the raising
of the gun is effected entirely by the controlled flow of the water or other unelastic
fluid from the air vessel back into the hydraulic cylinder.
Third. Controlling the rising of the gun-by-regulating the flow of water or other
unelastic fluid from the air vessel into the working hydraulic cylinder in the manner
described.
Fourth. The provision of means for destroying or absorbing-a-portion of the
stored up foree of the recoil by water friction by opposing obstructions to the passage
of the water from the air vessel into the hydraulic cylinder substantially as herein-
before set forth.
Fifth Third. The provision of means such as are hereinbefore described in connection
with apparatus of the kind referred to in the first and second claiming clauses for
maintaining the air at any required degree of compression inside the air vessel, even
when the gun is in the raised position, and for making good any leakage of water or
other fluid from the apparatus as herein-before described.
Sixth Fourth. The employment in combination with any system whereby guns are
made to rise into an elevated position for firing of circular rotatable covers, shields or
roofs having an opening through which the gun rises and falls, and operating sub-
stantially as herein-before set forth.
Seventh Fifth. The employment either in combination with such rotatable covers,
shields, or roofs, or in combination with fixed-roofs or covers of sliding or hinged
shutters for closing the apertures in such covers, shields, or roof, through which the
gun passes, substantially as herein-before set forth.
Eighth Applying the before described system of absorbing and storing the force
of recoil by combined pneumatic and hydraulic netion to the working of hydraulie
compressors or buffers of guns mounted in the ordinary manner.
In witness whereof 1 the said Alexander Moncrieff have hereunto set my hand and
seal this Twenty-fifth day of February in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy.
A. MONCRIEFF. (L.S.)

page_text: In witness whereof I the said Alexander Moncrieff have hereunto set my hand and
seal this Nineteenth day of September in the year of our Lord One thousand
ight hundred and seventy-three
Witness,
A. MONCRIEFF. (L.S.)
CD ADM..
To the Commissioners of Patents for Inventions.
I hereby grant my fiat giving leave to the above-named Alexander Moncrieff of
Culfargie in the County of Perth Scotland to file in the Great Seal Patent Office
together with the Specification to which the same relates the above-written Disclaimer
and Memorandum of Alteration.
To the Commissioners of Patents for Inventions.
I hereby grant my fiat giving leave to the above-named Alexander Moncrieff of
Culfargie in the County of Perth Scotland to file in the Great Seal Patent Office
together with the Specification to which the same relates the above-written Disclaimer
and Memorandum of Alteration.

page_text: En the Matter of Letters Patent granted to ALEXANDER MON-
CRIEFF, of Culfargic, in the County of Perth, Scotland, for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR
ABSORBING, STORING, AND UTILIZING THE FORCE OF RECOIL OF ORDNANCE,
AND IN APPLYING AND WORKING COVERS, ROOFS, OR SHIELDS TO GUN
PLATFORMS," bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-seventh
day of August, in the year of our Lord Onc thousand cight
hundred and sixty-nine, No. 2539.
ISCLAIMER AND MEMORANDUM OF ALTERATION as proposed to
be entered by the said ALEXANDER MONORIEFF, pursuant to the
Statutes in that case made and provided.
WHEREAS Her Majesty Queen Victoria by Her Letters Patent under
he Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
earing date at Westminster, the Twenty-seventh day of August Onc
ousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, did give and grant to me, the
id Alexander Moncrieff, my exccutors, administrators, and assigns, tho
A.

page_text: sole privilege of making, using, exercising and vending the said In-
vention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR ABSORBING,
STORING, AND UTILIZING THE FORCE OF RECOIL OF ORDNANCE, AND IN APPLYING AND
WORKING COVERS, ROOFS, OR SHIELDS TO GUN PLATFORMS," within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the
Isle of Man, for and during the term of fourteen years thence next
ensuing.
And whereas in pursuance of a proviso in the said Letters Patent
contained, I, the said Alexander Moncrieff, did, within six calendar
months next after the date of the said Letters Patent, cause a Speci-
fication in writing under my hand and seal purporting to describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, to be duly filed in the Great Seal Patent Office.
And whereas since the filing of the said Specification, I, the said,
Alexander Moncrieff, have discovered that parts of the said Invention as
described and claimed in the said Specification may be objected to on the
ground that they were not new, or that the description thereof is not
sufficiently precise, and in consequence thereof I hereby disclaim and
alter parts of the said Specification, and claiming clauses in manner
following, that is to say:-In page 16 of the Queen's Printers' Copy of
the Final Specification, at line 28, for the word "various "I substitute the
word "precise," and in line 30 of. Page 16 I omit the word "greatly."
In line 32 of page 16 between the words "employment" and "of con-
fined "I insert the words "in the manner described." In line 1, and
likewise in line 4, and in line 6 of page 17 between the words "other"
and fluid" I insert the word "unelastic;" and after the word
cylinder" in line 7 of page 17 I insert the words "in the manner
described;" after the word "apparatus" in line 15 of page 17 I insert
the words "as herein-before described;" I omit the sixth and seventh
claiming clauses lines 16 to 22 inclusive on page 17. In the same page
17 for the word "eighth," at the beginning of line 23, I substitute the
word "sixth;" for the word "ninth," in line 28, I substitute the word
"seventh ;" and for the word "tenth" in line 23 I substitute the word
cighth." And the said Specification, when disclaimed, altered, and
amended, will read as follows:-
**
"

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the
thirty-third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Alexander Moncrieff, Her special
licence, that I, the said Alexander Moncrieff, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander Moncrieff,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all 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 THE
"MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR ABSORBING, STORING, AND UTILIZING, THE FORCE OF
"RECOIL OF ORDNANCE, AND IN APPLYING AND WORKING COVERS, Roors, OR
"SHIELDS TO GUN PLATFORMS," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Alexander Moncrieff, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
scals, 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 Scal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Moncrieff, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is
to say:-
One part of my Invention has reference to an improved mode of and
apparatus for absorbing, storing, and utilizing, the force of recoil of
ordnance, and consists in applying hydraulic in combination with
prieumatic action, using in most cases the properties of compressible
and elastic gases for storing the forces generated by the recoil, while the
manipulation and the principal work connected with the service of the
guns as well as the isolation and effectual enclosure of the elastic gases
and the introduction of the clement of friction are effected by hydraulic
agency. This system of operating may be carried into effect in a variety
of ways. Thus in one arrangement I receive the recoil by means of a
plunger or piston working in a cylinder containing water or other

page_text: suitable liquid, which cylinder is in communication with a closed strong
vessel containing air or other suitable permanently elastic gas, so that
the piston or plunger in being driven into the cylinder forces the liquid
through a pipe or channel into the air vessel so as to compress the air.
Between the air vessel and the cylinder is a stop-back valvo which
prevents the water that has been forced beyond it and into the air vessel
from passing back into the cylinder by the same channel; thus the
plunger is retained in whatever position it has been driven by the
recoil..
When it is desired to utilize the force thus stored, this is effected in
the following manner:-The pipe or channel on one side of the stop-
back valve is put in communication with the pipe or channel on the
other side thereof by a small branch pipe or by-pass provided with a cock
or valve, which is acted upon by the hand; if necessary, a stop-back
valve may be provided for this by-pass on the cylinder end thereof. A
hydraulic or air pump or a head of water is used in communication with
the main pipe or channel or lower part of the air vessel to bring the
apparatus into action if the water has been run off, or else to replace
leakage, or impose a higher resistance to the recoil by increasing the
compression of the air in the air vessel to any required amount.
Among other methods of application the system above-described may
be used in combination with the arrangements for mounting guns
described in the Specifications to my former Patents, No. 1548, of 1866,
and No. 739, of 1869; it is also applicable as a system perfectly
independent of my said Inventions embodying principles not previously
applied to ordnance, and it is particularly applicable to paval purposes..
Moreover, it may be used as a substitute for the "
compressers.
"hydraulic buffers" now employed with ordinary gun carriages.
"
or
Another part of my Invention consists in applying a circular rotatable
cover, shield, or roof, supported above the gun platform, and with an
aperture to permit the passage of the gun up and down through the
same, this aperture being fitted or not with self-acting or ordinary
shutters. The gun may be traversed in connection with this roof by
means of a circular rack and pinion or other movement, the said roof or
shield being supported by the structure surrounding it by means of
antifriction rollers.
In another arrangement this roof, shield, or cover forms part of or is
connected to the counterweight employed in some of my systems of

page_text: my
working ordnance, described in the Specifications to before-mentioned
Patents, and is raised or depressed according to the position of the gun.
For this purpose the shield may either be attached to the face of the
counterweight so as to be in a vertical position when the gun is in the
firing position, and to be consequently raised, and at the same time
turned into a horizontal position over the gun by the rising of the
counterweight on the discharge of the gun.
Or, in another arrangement the shield is formed of parts which turn
on hinges on either side, or on one side only of the gun, and which are so
connected to the elevators or to the counterweights by means of chains,
bands, links, or other equivalent appliances, that the motion of these on
the recoil of the gun causes the shield to turn so as to close over the
gun, while on the rising of the gun into firing position the shield is
thereby turned up out of the way.
Having thus set forth the nature of my Invention, I will now proceed
more particularly to describe the manner of performing the same, for
which purpose I shall refer to the accompanying Drawings forming part
of my present Specification.
Figures 1 and 2 on Sheet I. of the Drawings shew one arrangement
for carrying into effect my improved system of storing and utilizing the
force of recoil. Figure 1 shews a part sectional side elevation, and
Figure 2 shews an end view. Similar letters of reference indicate
similar parts in each of the Figures. The gun A is mounted upon a
carriage B supported by links C working on fixed fulcra on the
platform D, and thus far the arrangement is similar to one of those.
described in my previous Patent of 10th March 1869, No. 739, and (as
far as the parallel motion is concerned) also to an arrangement sub-
mitted by me in the year 1858 to General Sir Richard Dacres, K.C.B.,
commanding the Royal Artillery in Ireland at that time. Beneath the
platform D is fixed a strong metal cylinder E having a plunger F, to
the upper end of which is fixed a strong cross head G working between
guides D, D, on the framing D', fixed to the platform, which cross head
carries two antifriction rollers G', G', which bear against the under side
of the gun carriage B, so that on the descent of the gun into the
position shewn in dotted lines by the force of recoil on firing the
carriage B forces the plunger F down into the cylinder E. The
cylinder E, when the plunger is in the raised position, is full of water,

page_text: oil, or other suitable liquid; the lower end thereof is put in communi-
cation by means of a pipe H with a strong air vessel I which also
contains enough water to cover the opening of the pipe H so as com-
pletely to isolate the air above such opening.
On the forcing down of the plunger, the water is forced out of the
cylinder E through the pipe H into the air vessel, the air in which is
thereby compressed to a corresponding extent, and such pressure is
prevented from reacting through the pipe H in the cylinder by means of
a stop-back valve J placed in the pipe. A communication is however
established between that part of the pipe H below the valve J, and the
part beyond it by means of a "by-pass" or pipe K provided with a
valve L, the opening and closing of which is regulated by means of a
screw spindle I passing up to the gun deck or platform or any other
convenient position, where it is actuated by the handle L. From this
arrangement it will be seen that, assuming the valve L to be closed, then
on the descent of the gun after firing it will be maintained in such
lowered position until by the opening of the valve L the compressed air
in the air vessel is allowed to force the water back through the by-pass K
into the cylinder E, whereby the plunger F will be forced up and the
gun raised into firing position above the deck or cover a. It will also
be seen that by opening the valve L to a greater or less degree, such
raising of the gun will be effected at a greater or less speed, and thus the
manipulation of the gun will be under the most perfect control; any
excess of power produced by the recoil beyond that required for raising
the gun into firing position being destroyed by the friction produced
in obstructing the passage of the water from the air vessel into the
cylinder.
The air in the air vessel being hermetically enclosed by the water
contained in the lower part of the air vessel, it will be evident that no
leakage can take place; but as for the proper working of this system it
is essentially necessary that the air in the air vessel should be under a
certain degree of compression even when the gun is in the raised position
(in order to balance the pressure of the column of water in the working
cylinder, the weight of the gun, which is not supported by the links C,
and also to overcome the friction of the working parts towards the end
of the upward motion of the gun) small pump N is provided, the
delivery valve N¹ of which communicates by means of the pipes N, N³,
(shewn in red for the sake of clearness) with the bottom of the air vessel,

page_text: and by means of the pipe N* with the cylinder E, while the inlet valve
may be made to communicate either by means of the pipe Ns and cock
No with a water tank, or by means of the cock N' with the atmosphere.
By this arrangement, if the cock N' and the cock N on the pipe N³ be
opened, air can be pumped into the air vessel until any desired pressure
(to be indicated by a pressure gauge) is attained; whereas if the cock N°
and the cock N° on the pipe N' be opened, water may be forced either
into the cylinder E alone (the cock N being closed), or both into the
cylinder and the air vessel in order to make good any leakage that may
occur, or to raise the gun into the firing position, should by any chance
the air vessel get out of order, as also to adjust the pressure in the air
vessel to meet cases where abnormal charges are used, or to counteract
the effect of rolling during action in a heavy sea. A cock or valve may
also be provided at the bottom of the cylinder E, as also under the air
vessel I, for letting off the water should it at any time be required to
lower the gun into the loading position without firing, or to decrease
the pressure to any required amount. If desired also a water gauge may
be applied to the air vessel to assist in regulating the proper adjustment
the
It will be observed that this system of working guns by hydraulic
apparatus will render possible a manipulation of the guns in action
which the ordinary or any previous system is incapable of affording.
Thus, for instance, by carrying a prolongation of the small by-pass pipes,
with their regulating valves to the station of the officer who is con-
ducting action, he may himself effect the raising of the guns to the
firing position with his own hand and fire them by electric fuzes after
they have been correctly laid to his instructions, the lateral angle being
given by provisions similar to those proposed by me for land service, and
the clevation by the Moncrieff trunnion pointer. The parallel motion
would leave an error so slight if the gun were not quite raised that it
would in no case affect the aim. The advantage of simultaneous volleys
and taking aim from above the smoke may be obtained in the highest
degree by the above arrangements, which of course pre-suppose the
provision of control over the steering at the station referred to, and of
a moveable sight which works in harmony with those of the guns, and by
which the officer in command can give the necessary directions for laying,
whether as regards clevation or the lateral angle.

page_text: It is obvious that the rigidity of the structure of a vessel is quite
sufficient to ensure practically perfect accuracy when the angles at the
two positions are set in harmony and correctly. I do not claim this
method of controlling the firing, laying, and working the guns from one
position as forming of itself any part of my present Invention, although
of course from the nature of the case it cannot be fully carried out
except in combination with my Invention.
Figure 3 on Sheet II. of the Drawings shows a vertical section of
another arrangement of my before described system of working ordnance.
In this arrangement the air vessel I surrounds the working cylinder E,
being conveniently formed of one and the same casting therewith. The
cylinder E communicates with the air vessel through the passage H
provided with a stop back valve J, so that the water on the descent of
the plunger F is forced through the passage H into the air vessel, but.
is provented by the valve J from being forced back by the compressed
air, which as in the former case is hermetically enclosed in the air vessel
by the water.
For raising the gun into firing position a communication is established
between the air vessel and the cylinder by means of the pipe K provided
with the cock or valve L, the opening of which is regulated to the
exact extent required by means of the screw spindle L' and handle L
actuating the cock through the links L, L, and bell crank L³. A pump
is, as before, provided for forcing air or water into the air cylinder. The
cross head G of the plunger F is in this arrangement shewn provided
with a catch O taking into the toothed rack P on the framing D, whereby
the gun may be held in the lowest or any intermediate position inde-
pendently of the action of the cock L.
Figure 4 shews a vertical transverse section of another modification,
in which the plunger F and cross head G are formed as a hollow casting,
the space I inside of which constitutes the air vessel of the apparatus.
For this purpose the lower end of the plunger is closed by a valve J
opening inwards, so that on the descent of the plunger on firing, the
water in the cylinder E is forced into the air vessel, the air in which is as
in previous cases at all times hermetically enclosed, as the water extends
into the air vessel so as to cover the valve J even when the plunger is
in the highest position.
For allowing the gun to rise into firing position, an escape aperture K
is formed in the side of the plunger communicating with the small

page_text: entirely effected by the regulated flow of water or other fluid from the
air vessel into the working cylinder.
Figure 5 on Sheet III. shews a modification which may be adopted in
combination with either of the two first before described arrangements,
whereby the force generated by the recoil is rendered available both for
the manipulation of the gun, and for other work connected with the
service thereof, as herein-before mentioned. For this purpose the
working cylinder E contains centrally inside it a second small cylinder
Q, over which fits the hollow plunger F of the working cylinder. This
plunger carries a second plunger R working inside the cylinder Q. This
cylinder is put in communication by means of the passage S and pipe T
with the air vessel V, the lower part of which, as also the pipe T and
cylinder Q, contain water. Hence on the descent of the plungers F
and R, after firing, the water is forced out of the cylinder Q into the
air vessel V, thereby compressing the air in the latter, and a stop back
valve U on the pipe T retains the water under pressure thus forced into
the air vessel. The pipe T also communicates by means of a pipe X
provided with an inlet valve W with a water cistern Y, so that as the
plunger R rises in the cylinder Q on the ascent of the gun, water flows
from the cistern Y into the cylinder Q, and is at the next down stroke
forced in like manner, as above described, into the air vessel. By this
means water under pressure may be accumulated in the latter, whence
it is allowed to pass through outlets a, b, to hydraulic apparatus adapted
for traversing the gun, for increasing the pressure in the main cylinder
or for other similar purposes.
In order to prevent the pressure in the air vessel from becoming too
great, a safety valve Z, loaded to the maximum pressure, is provided,
from the valve box of which the excess of water escaping from the air
vessel may be made to pass through a pipe back into the tank Y. The
plunger F being made to fit tight against the cylinder by means of
packing at its lower end, as indicated, the space inside the plunger F
above the cylinder Q may be put in communication with the atmosphere
by means of an aperture in the top of the former, so as to allow the air
free ingress and egress as the plunger works up and down.
A somewhat similar arrangement to the above might be employed as
the converse of the arrangement shewn at Figure 3, that is, the cylinder
Qmight be closed at its upper end, and be put in communication at its

page_text: lower end with the working cylinder so as to serve as an external air.
vessel; but such an arrangement would be inconvenient on account of
the greatly increased dimensions that the working cylinder and plunger
would have to assume.
Figure 1 on Sheet I., Figure 6 on Sheet III., and Figures 7 to 12 on
Sheets IV. and V. of the Drawings shew various arrangements of my
circular rotatable covers or shields, with sliding or other shutters for
completely enclosing the gun when in the lowered position.
At Figure 1 is shewn merely a longitudinal section of a rotatable
cover a, without shutters, which is connected to and made to rotate with
the gun platform D in the manner presently to be described with refer-
ence to Figures 7 to 12. This circular cover of wrought iron or other
suitable material fits into a circular hole formed in the deck, floor,
or roof b, and is supported at its circumference by antifriction rollers c,
carried by the deck, other antifriction rollers c¹, carried by the brackets c²
on the cover a, being if necessary provided for holding down the cover
in its place, or such holding down of the covers may be effected by a
bearing upon the ground platform or floor itself, as shewn at Figures 13
to 16, Sheets VI. and VII. The cover has an oblong hole a¹ of sufficient
width and length to allow of the gun A and its carriage B passing up
and down through it, the form of such aperture being shewn in the
arrangement on Sheet IV., where Figure 7 shews a part longitudinal
section of the gun platform, cover, and shutters; Figure 8 shews a
transverse section of the same, and Figure 9 shews a half plan thereof.
The cover a is fixed rigidly to the side framing D' of the platform D by
means of strong brackets d, d, so that whatever rotary motion is imparted
to the platform for traversing the gun is always imparted to the cover a;
such motion may be imparted by means of a bevil wheel e fixed to the
platform, in gear with which is a pinion fupon a shaft g, driven either
by a steam engine, if convenient at hand (and brought into action by a
friction clutch or similar contrivance), or by hydraulic power, as before'
described, or by any other suitable means. Upon the cover a on each
side of the aperture at are situated two sliding wrought-iron shutters h, h,
which rest upon the cover by means of antifriction rollers ', ', carried
in recesses formed in the shutters, and by other antifriction rollers h³, 1²,
carried by the cover a.
These shutters are made on the descent of the gun after firing to move.
over and close the aperture a¹, and to move back, so as to uncover such,

page_text: aperture as the gun rises again into firing position, which operations are
effected in the following manner :-The framing D carries on cach side
thereof a vertical rotatable square shaft i, i, on the lower part of which
is formed a screw thread of quick pitch, increasing somewhat towards
the upper end. Upon these shafts slide bushes j, j, fixed to the cross
head G of the plunger F to the working cylinder, so that on the descent
of the gun the bushes j on reaching the threaded parts of the shaft cause
these to turn in one direction, while on the rising of the gun the bushes
impart rotary motion to the shafts in the. reverse direction during the
first part of the upward motion only. The shafts i, i, carry at their
upper ends bevil pinions i, in gear with each of which are two other
bevil pinions upon two shafts k carried by the cover a. The other
ends of these shafts have spur pinions in gear with other pinions k³,
also carried in recesses in the covers and in gear with racks ', fixed in
grooves on the under side of the shutters h. From this it will be seen
that when during the descent of the gun this has passed down to the
level of the aperture a¹ the motion then imparted to the shafts i, i, will
cause the shutters h to be slid over the opening, so as to meet each other
on the centre line thereof, whereas when the gun begins to rise into
firing position the shafts i, i, will be made to revolve so as to slide back
the shutters into the position indicated before the gun has risen to the
level of the opening.
Figures 10 to 12 on Sheet V. of the Drawings show respectively a
part longitudinal section, a transverse section and a part plan of a modi-
fication of the above-described arrangment, whereby the sliding shutters
in place of being actuated by the rising and falling of the gun aro
worked independently of the same by means of a steam engine or other
source of power. For this purpose the framing D' carries on cach side
two vertical shafts i, i, the upper ends of which pass through the cover a
and carry pinions in gear with two racks k* fixed in recesses in the
under side of the shutters. The lower ends of the shafts carry spur
pinions in gear with a spur rim on the bevil wheel 2, carried by the
platform D. This wheel is not fixed to the platform but may be made
to revolve independently of it upon the central boss by means of the
pinion on the shaft g driven by the steam engine or other power.
Thus by causing the wheel to revolve in one direction or the other the
shafts i, i, will be caused to move the shutters so as to either close or
open them.

page_text: the
^
If it be required to traverse the gun, then by sliding a clutch m
(actuated by the handle m' and secured to the framing D) in gear with
the wheel, this is rendered fixed relative to the the platform D and
consequently any rotary motion imparted to it will be imparted to the
gun and cover a. The shutters h may be thrown out of action at any
time by sliding the pinions on the shafts i out of gear with the spur
rim by means of the handles P. The raising and lowering of the gun
may also be effected by means of the wheel and pinion f, should it at
any time be required to perform this operation without firing, or should
the hydraulic apparatus be out of order. For this purpose the
framing D' may carry on each side a screw spindle n having at its lower
end a pinion n' capable of being slid in gear with the spur rim l¹ by
means of the lever n°. Upon the cross head G are projecting bushes j
embracing the screw spindles n and containing screwed nuts made in
halves, which by the action of cams turned by the levers are made to
take into the screw threads of the spindles n. Thus by putting the
pinions n' in gear with the wheel 7, and putting the screwed nuts on the
cross head G in gear with the spindles 2, the rotation of the wheel / in
one direction or the other will cause the screw spindles to raiso or lower
the cross head G and with it the gun.
I wish it to be understood that I do not claim this arrangement for
raising and lowering the gun as forming any part of my present
Invention.
In connection with the above described arrangement of revolving
covers and shutters may be employed my system of reflecting sights and
trunnion pointer (sce x and o, Figure 1), for laying the gun when undor
cover, which, however, I also do not claim as part of my present
Invention, as this has been previously submitted to the Director General
of Ordnance in connection with my system of working artillery range
finding and the laying of heavy ordnance, and which I am now carrying
out for the Government.
The reflecting sight is placed so as to cast the reflection of the field in
front of the gun down to the gun deck, thus assisting those who traverse
the gun to act by their own observation in concert with or independently
of the man who fires, and who is at the man-hole q (Figure 12) at the
rear of the ordinary sights p, p, carried by the revolving cover a.
Figure 6, Sheet III., shows a transverse section of another arrange-
ment of my revolving covers and shutters. Here the shutters h, k,.

page_text: instead of being made to slide as in the previous cases, are free to turn
up into the dotted position upon strong pins ¹, being provided with
balance weights h², so that when the gun rises into firing position it
readily pushes open the shutters, while on its descent the latter owing to
a certain amount of preponderance in their weight over that of the
balance weights of themselves sink down into the closed position.
It will be evident that the above described system of rotatable covers
and shutters may be employed in combination with my other sytems
of mounting ordnance described in the Specifications to my before-
mentioned Patents, and also in fact to any system where the gun is
raised into an elevated position for firing, and the arrangements of
sliding or hinged shutters may also in certain cases be employed in
connection with fixed instead of rotatable covers, roofs, or shields, the
opening being in that case made sufficiently wide to allow of the
requisite traversing of the gun.
Figures 13 to 16 on Sheets VI. and VII. of the Drawings shew two
other modes of mounting the gun for effecting the raising and lowering
of the same by my before-described improved system.
In the arrangement shewn in side and end elevation respectively at
Figures 13 and 14, Sheet VI., the gun A is carried directly by the
strong links or levers B turning on fulcra B¹ carried by the platform D,
and connected by the double horizontal bars E to other links C, also
turning upon fulcra C¹ carried by the platform D. The bars E which
serve as support to the clevating mechanism of the gun (not shown) are
caused on the descent of the gun to force down the plunger F of the
working hydraulic cylinder arranged as before described, the plunger
being for this purpose made to bear with large antifriction rollers H
carried by the cross head G against the under side of the bars E. As
the gun descends the rollers I pass along the bars E, and finally when
in the lowest position (shewn in dotted lines) pass on to the levers B
carrying the gun, so that in raising the gun into firing position the
plunger may first act directly against the levers B and then against the
bars E. By this arrangement it will be seen that the draulic
apparatus is brought into a somewhat lower and consequently more
protected position than in the foregoing arrangements, and the stroke of
the plunger is also somewhat less than the vertical distance through
which the gun is raised and lowered.

page_text: Figures 15 and 16, Sheet VII., show side elevation and part sec-
tional elevation of an arrangement similar to the foregoing, in which
the hydraulic apparatus is made to assume a still lower position rclative
to the gun, and in which the stroke of the plunger is also still further
decreased. For this purpose the plunger F, instead of bearing directly
against the connecting bars E, bears with the rollers H against the
under side of the arms or levers I, turning on fulcra at I' carried by the
platform, and bearing with antifriction rollers against the under side of
the bars E, so that the downward pressure of these bars is during the
descent of the gun transferred first to the levers I, and thence to the
plunger, while in the upward motion the reverse action takes place.
I do not claim these last-described arrangements for mounting the
gun as forming any part of my present Invention, otherwise than in
combination with my before-described improved system for storing and
utilizing the force of the recoil.
Figures 17 to 20, on Sheet VIII. of the Drawings, shew the appli-
cation of my new system of absorbing and storing the power generated
by the recoil of guns to the " compressors or "hydraulic buffers" of
ordinary gun carriages.
"
In the arrangement shewn in side clevation, part plan, and end
clevation, at Figures 17, 18, and 19, the gun carriage A is connected by
strong lugs B, B, to the plungers C, C, of the horizontal hydraulic
cylinders D, D, fixed inside the platform or slide E on either side of the
air vessel F. This air vessel communicates with the rear ends of the
hydraulic cylinders by means of the pipes G, G', provided with a stop
back valve at H, so that as the plungers C are forced into the cylinders D
by the recoil of the gun the water or other fluid is forced out of the
cylinder into the air vessel F.
For bringing forward the gun into firing position a communication is
established between the air vessel and the hydraulic cylinders by opening
the regulating valve G2 on the by-pass G³, when the water being forced
back from the air vessel into the cylinders, will force out the plungers,
and with them the gun carriage. It will be seen that this system of
compressors or hydraullic buffers differs from those heretofore employed
in this; that the force of recoil is in this case utilized for bringing the
gun back into firing position by means of the compressed air. This

page_text: system will be particularly convenient when the slides are inclined
backwards in a similar manner to one of the arrangements shewn in the
Specification to my Patent, No. 739, of 1869, and will be applied with
advantage in arming ships' boats, where the gun will recoil into a
convenient loading postion, and be run up without labour when required
for action.
Figure 20 shews a longitudinal section of a modification of the above
described arrangement, in which the motion of the plungers is rendered
less than the recoil of the gun by causing the latter to act upon the
former, and vice versa, by means of two chains or ropes L, one end of
each of which is fixed to the front end of the gun carriage, whence the
chain passes back over the guide pulley I and the pulley K on the
plunger C of the hydraulic cylinder, to which latter the other end
of the chain is attached.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and in what.
manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I
do not limit myself to the precise arrangements for carrying the same
into practice, herein-before described with reference to the accompanying
Drawings, as these may be varied without departing from the essential
features of my Invention; but what I claim is,―
First. The employment in
hermetically enclosed air or
the manner described of confined or
other
^
elastic gas for storing up the force
generated by the recoil of the gun, while the manipulation of the gun
is effected entirely by water or other unclastic fluid acted upon by the
air or
said gas under pressure.
A
Second. Utilizing the force produced by the recoil of ordnance for
raising the gun into an elevated position for firing by causing the gun
on its descent from such raised position to force water or other unelastic
fluid freely out of a hydraulic cylinder into a closed air vessel, while
the raising of the gun is effected entirely by the controlled flow of the
water or other unclastic fluid from the air vessel back into the hydraulic
cylinder.
Third. Controlling the rising of the gun by regulating the flow of
water or other unelastic fluid from the air vessel into the working
hydraulic cylinder in the manner described.

page_text: Fourth. The provision of means for destroying or absorbing a portion
of the stored-up force of the recoil by water friction by opposing
obstructions to the passage of the water from the air vessel into the
hydraulic cylinder, substantially as herein-before set forth.
Fifth. The provision of means for maintaining the air at any required
degree of compression inside the air vessel, even when the gun is in the
raised position, and for making good any leakage of water or.other fluid
from the apparatus, as herein-before described.
Sixth. The employment in combination with any system whereby
guns are made to rise into an elevated position for firing of circular
rotatable covers, shields, or roofs, having an opening through which the
gun rises and falls, and operating substantially as herein-before set
forth.
Seventh. The employment, either in combination with such rotatable
covers, shields, or roofs, or in combination with fixed roofs or covers, of
sliding or hinged shutters for closing the apertures in such covers,
shields, or roof, through which the gun passes, substantially as herein-
before set forth.
A. MONCRIEFF. (L.S.)
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Moncrieff, have hereunto
set my hand and scal, this Nineteenth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand cight hundred and seventy-three.
A
Witness,
CHA³. D. ABEL.
A. MONCRIEFF. (L.S)

page_text: To the Commissioners
vents for
I hereby grant my fiat, giving leave to the above-named Alexander
Moncrieff, of Culfargie, in the County of Perth, Scotland, to file in the
Great Seal Patent Office, together with the Specification to which the
same relates, the above-written Disclaimer and Memorandum of
November 6th, 1873.
J. D. COLERIDGE,
Attorney-General.

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Moncrieff, of Culfargie, in the County
of Perth, Scotland, for the Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS
AND APPARATUS FOR ABSORBING, STORING, AND UTILIZING THE FORCE OF
RECOIL OF ORDNANCE, AND IN APPLYING AND WORKING COVERS, ROOFS, OR
SHIELDS TO GUN PLATFORMS."
Sealed the 10th December 1869, and dated the 27th August 1869..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Moncrieff at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 27th August 1869.
I, ALEXANDER MONCRIEFF, of Culfargie, in the County of Perth,
Scotland, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Iм-.
PROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR ABSORBING, STORING, AND
UTILIZING THE FORCE OF RECOIL OF ORDNANCE, AND IN APPLYING AND WORKING
COVERS, Roors, OR SHIELDS TO GUN PLATFORMS," to be as follows:-
One part of my Invention has reference to an improved mode of and
apparatus for absorbing, storing, and utilizing the force of recoil of
ordnance, and consists in applying hydraulic in combination with
pneumatic action, using in most cases the properties of compressible and
A

page_text: elastic gases for storing the forces generated by the recoil, while the
manipulation and the principal work connected with the service of the
guns, as well as the isolation and effectual enclosure of the elastic gases
and the introduction of the element of friction are effected by hydraulic
agency.
This system of operating may be carried into effect in a variety of
ways. Thus in one arrangement I receive the recoil by means of a
plunger or piston working in a cylinder containing water or other
suitable liquid, which cylinder is in communication with a closed strong
vessel containing air or other suitable permanently elastic gas, so that
the piston or plunger in being driven into the cylinder forces the liquid
through a pipe or channel into the air vessel, so as to compress the air.
Between the air vessel and the cylinder is a stop-back valve which
prevents the water that has been forced beyond it and into the air vessel
from passing back into the cylinder by the same channel, thus the
plunger is retained in whatever position it has been driven by the recoil.
When it is desired to utilize the force thus stored this is effected in the
following manner:-The pipe or channel on one side of the stop-back
valve is put in communication with the pipe or channel on the other
side thereof by a small branch pipe or by-pass, provided with a cock or
valve which is acted upon by the hand; if necessary a stop-back valve is
provided for this by-pass on the cylinder end thereof. A hydraulic
pump or a head of water is used in communication with the main pipe
or channel to bring the apparatus into action if the water has been run
off, or else to replace leakage or impose a higher resistance to the recoil
by increasing the compression of the air in the air vessel to any required
amount.
Among other methods of application the system above described can be
used in combination with the arrangements for mounting guns described
in the Specifications to my former Patents, No. 1548 of 1866, and
No. 739 of 1869, it is also applicable as a system perfectly independent
of my said Inventions, embodying principles not previously applied to
ordnance, and it is particularly applicable to naval purposes, moreover it
may be used as a substitute for the compressors now employed with
ordinary gun carriages.
Another part of my Invention consists in applying a circular rotatable
cover, shield, or roof, supported above the gun platform, and with an
aperture to permit the passage of the gun up and down through the

page_text: same, this aperture being fitted or not with self-acting or ordinary
shutters. The gun may be traversed in connection with, this roof by
means of a circular rack and pinion or other movement, the said roof or
shield being supported by the structure surrounding it by means of
antifriction rollers.
In another arrangement this roof, shield, or cover forms part of or is
connected to the counterweight employed in some of my systems of
working orduance described in the Specifications to my before-mentioned
Patents, and is raised or depressed according to the position of the gun.
For this purpose the shield may either be attached to the face of the
counterweight so as to be in a vertical position when the gun is in the
firing position, and to be consequently raised and at the same time
turned into a horizontal position over the gun by the rising of the
counterweight on the discharge of the gun. Or in another arrangement
the shield is formed of parts which turn on hinges on either side or on
one side only of the gun, and which are so connected to the elevators
or to the counterweights by means of chains, banks, links, or other
equivalent appliances that the motion of these on the recoil of the gun
causes the shield to turn, so as to close over the gun, while on the
rising of the gun into firing position the shield is thereby turned up
out of the way.
filed by the said Alexander Moncrieff in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 26th February 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MONCRIEFF, of Culfargie, in the County of Perth, Scotland, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Alexander Moncrieff, Her special licence
that I, the said Alexander Moncrieff, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander Moncrieff, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no

page_text: others, from time to time and at all 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 THE MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR ABSORBING, STORING, AND UTILIZING THE
FORCE OF RECOIL OF ORDNANCE, AND IN APPLYING AND WORKING COVERS, ROOFS,
OR SHIELDS TO GUN PLATFORMS," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Alexander Moncrieff, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, 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 I, the said Alexander Moncrieff, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is
to say:-
One part of my Invention has reference to an improved mode of and
apparatus for absorbing, storing, and utilizing the force of recoil of
ordnance, and consists in applying hydraulic in combination with
pneumatic action, using in most cases the properties of compressible and
elastic gases for storing the forces generated by the recoil, while the
manipulation and the principal work connected with the service of the
guns, as well as the isolation and effectual enclosure of the elastic gases
and the introduction of the element of friction, are effected by hydraulic
agency.
This system of operating may be carried into effect in a variety of
ways. Thus in one arrangement I receive the recoil by means of a
plunger or piston working in a cylinder containing water or other
suitable liquid, which cylinder is in communication with a closed strong
vessel containing air or other suitable permanently elastic gas, so that
the piston or plunger in being driven into the cylinder forces the liquid
through a pipe or channel into the air vessel so as to compress the air.
Between the air vessel and the cylinder is a stop-back valve, which
prevents the water that has been forced beyond it and into the air vessel

page_text: from passing back into the cylinder by the same channel; thus the
plunger is retained in whatever position it has been driven by the recoil.
When it is desired to utilize the force thus stored, this is effected in the
following manner:-The pipe or channel on one side of the stop-back
valve is put in communication with the pipe or channel on the other
side thereof by a small branch pipe or by-pass provided with a cock or
valve, which is acted upon by the hand; if necessary, a stop-back valve
may be provided for this by-pass on the cylinder end thereof. A
hydraulic or air pump or a head of water is used in communication with
the main pipe or channel or lower part of the air vessel to bring the
apparatus into action if the water has been run off, or else to replace
leakage or impose a higher resistance to the recoil by increasing the
compression of the air in the air vessel to any required amount.
Among other methods of application the system above described may
be used in combination with the arrangements for mounting guns
described in the Specifications to my former Patents, No. 1548 of 1866,
and No. 739 of 1869; it is also applicable as a system perfectly inde-
pendent of my said Inventions, embodying principles not previously
applied to ordnance, and it is particularly applicable to naval purposes;
moreover it may be used as a substitute for the " compressors or
"hydraulic buffers" now employed with ordinary gun carriages.
"
Another part of my Invention consists in applying a circular rotatable
cover, shield, or roof supported above the gun platform and with an
aperture to permit the passage of the gun up and down through the
same, this aperture being fitted or not with self-acting or ordinary
shutters. The gun may be traversed in connection with this roof by
means of a circular rack and pinion or other movement, the said roof or
shield being supported by the structure surrounding it by means of
antifriction rollers.
In another arrangement this roof, shield, or cover forms part of or is
connected to the counterweight employed in some of my systems of
working ordnance described in the Specifications to my before-mentioned
Patents, and is raised or depressed according to the position of the gun.
For this purpose the shield may either be attached to the face of the
counterweight so as to be in a vertical position when the gun is in the
firing position, and to be consequently raised and at the same time
turned into a horizontal position over the gun by the rising of the
counterweight on the discharge of the gun. Or in another arrangement

page_text: the shield is formed of parts which turn on hinges on either side or on
one side only of the gun, and which are so connected to the elevators
or to the counterweights by means of chains, bands, links, or other
equivalent appliances that the motion of these on the recoil of the gun
causes the shield to turn so as to close over the gun, while on the rising
of the gun into firing position the shield is thereby turned up out of
the way.
Having thus set forth the nature of my Invention, I will now proceed
more particularly to describe the manner of performing the same, for
which purpose I shall refer to the accompanying Drawings forming part
of my present Specification.
Figures 1 and 2, on Sheet I. of the Drawings, shew one arrangement
for carrying into effect my improved system of storing and utilizing the
force of recoil. Figure 1 shews a part sectional side elevation, and
Figure 2 shews an end view. Similar letters of reference indicate
similar parts in each of the Figures.
The gun A is mounted upon a carriage B supported by links C
working on fixed fulcra on the platform D, and thus far the arrange-
ment is similar to one of those described in my previous Patent of
10th March 1869, No. 739, and (as far as the parallel motion is con-
cerned) also to an arrangement submitted by me in the year 1858 to
General Sir Richard Dacres, K.C.B., commanding the Royal Artillery in
Ireland at that time. Beneath the platform D is fixed a strong metal
cylinder E having a plunger F, to the upper end of which is fixed a
strong cross head G working between guides D³, D³, on the framing D¹
fixed to the platform, which cross head carries two antifriction rollers
G', G', which bear against the under side of the gun carriage B, so that
on the descent of the gun into the position shewn in dotted lines by the
force of recoil on firing the carriage B forces the plunger F down into
the cylinder E. The cylinder E when the plunger is in the raised
position is full of water, oil, or other suitable liquid; the lower end
thereof is put in communication by means of a pipe H with a strong air
vessel I, which also contains enough water to cover the opening of the
pipe H so as completely to isolate the air above such opening. On the
forcing down of the plunger the water is forced out of the cylinder E
through the pipe H into the air vessel, the air in which is thereby com-
pressed to a corresponding extent, and such pressure is prevented from
reacting through the pipe H in the cylinder. by means of a stop-back

page_text: up
valve J placed in the pipe. A communication is however established
between that part of the pipe H below the valve J and the part beyond
it by means of a "by-pass" or pipe K provided with a valve L, the
opening and closing of which is regulated by means of the screw
spindle L' passing up to the gun deck or platform, or any other con-
venient position, where it is actuated by the handle L. From this
arrangement it will be seen that, assuming the valve L to be closed,
then on the descent of the gun after firing it will be maintained in such
lowered position until by the opening of the valve L the compressed air
in the air vessel is allowed to force the water back through the by-pass K
into the cylinder E, whereby the plunger F will be forced and the
gun raised into firing position above the deck or cover a. It will also
be seen that by opening the valve L to a greater or less degree such
raising of the gun will be effected at a greater or less speed, and thus the
manipulation of the gun will be under the most perfect control, any
excess of power produced by the recoil beyond that required for raising
the gun into firing position being destroyed by the friction produced in
obstructing the passage of the water from the air vessel into the
cylinder. The air in the air vessel being hermetically enclosed by the
water contained in the lower part of the air vessel it will be evident that
no leakage can take place, but as for the proper working of this system
it is essentially necessary that the air in the air vessel should be under a
certain degree of compression, even when the gun is in the raised
position (in order to balance the pressure of the column of water in the
working cylinder, the weight of the gun, which is not supported by the
links C, and also to overcome the friction of the working parts towards
the end of the upward motion of the gun) a small pump N is provided,
the delivery valve N' of which communicates by means of the pipes
N, N3, (shewn in red for the sake of clearness) with the bottom of the
air vessel, and by means of the pipe N* with the cylinder E, while the
inlet valve may be made to communicate either by means of the pipe N'
and cock N with a water tank, or by means of the cock N' with the
atmosphere. By this arrangement if the cock N' and the cock N' on
the pipe N' be opened, air can be pumped into the air vessel until any
desired pressure (to be indicated by a pressure gauge) is attained,
whereas if the cock N' and the cock N' on the pipe N' be opened water
may be forced either into the cylinder E alone (the cock N® being
closed) or both into the cylinder and the air vessel in
good any leakage that may occur, or to raise the gun into the firing
order to make

page_text: position should by any chance the air vessel get out of order, as also to
adjust the pressure in the air vessel to meet cases where abnormal
charges are used, or to counteract the effect of rolling during action in
a heavy sea. A cock or valve may also be provided at the bottom of the
cylinder E, as also under the air vessel I, for letting off the water should
it at any time be required to lower the gun into the loading position
without firing, or to decrease the pressure to any required amount. If
desired, also, a water gauge may be applied to the air vessel to assist in
regulating the proper adjustment of the apparatus.
It will be observed that this system of working guns by hydraulic
apparatus will render possible a manipulation of the guns in action,
which the ordinary or any previous system is incapable of affording.
Thus, for instance, by carrying a prolongation of the small by-pass pipes
with their regulating valves to the station of the officer who is con-
ducting the action, he may himself effect the raising of the guns to the
firing position with his own hand, and fire them by electric fuses after
they had been correctly laid to his instructions, the lateral angle being
given by provisions similar to those proposed by me for land service, and
the elevation by the Moncrieff trunnion pointer. The parallel motion
would leave an error so slight if the gun were not quite raised that it
would in no case affect the aim. The advantage of simultaneous volleys
and taking aim from above the smoke may be obtained in the highest
degree by the above arrangements, which of course presuppose the
provision of control over the steering at the station referred to, and of a
moveable sight which works in harmony with those of the guns, and by
which the officer in command can give the necessary directions for
laying, whether as regards elevation or the lateral angle. It is obvious
that the rigidity of the structure of a vessel is quite sufficient to insure
practically perfect accuracy when the angles at the two positions are set
in harmony and correctly.
I do not claim this method of controlling the firing, laying, and
working the guns from one position as forming of itself any part of my
present Invention, although, of course, from the nature of the case it
cannot be fully carried out except in combination with my Invention.
Figure 3 on Sheet II. of the Drawings shews a vertical section of
another arrangement of my before described system of working ordnance.
In this arrangement the air vessel I surrounds the working cylinder E,
being conveniently formed of one and the same casting therewith. The

page_text: cylinder E communicates with the air vessel through the passage H,
provided with a stop-back valve J, so that the water on the descent of
the plunger F is forced through the passage H into the air vessel, but
is prevented by the valve J from being forced back by the compressed
air, which as in the former case is hermetically enclosed in the air vessel
by the water. For raising the gun into firing position a communication
is established between the air vessel and the cylinder by means of the
pipe K, provided with the cock or valve L, the opening of which is
regulated to the exact extent required by means of the screw spindle L'
and handle L actuating the cock through the links L³, L, and bell
crank L. A pump is, as before, provided for forcing air or water into
the air cylinder. The cross head G of the plunger F is in this arrange-
ment shewn provided with a catch O taking into the toothed rack P on
the framing D, whereby the gun may be held in the lowest or any inter-
mediate position independently of the action of the cock L.
Figure 4 shews a vertical transverse section of another modification
in which the plunger F and cross head G are formed as a hollow casting,
the space
I inside of which constitutes the air vessel of the apparatus.
For this purpose the lower end of the plunger is closed by a valve J
opening inwards, so that on the descent of the plunger on firing the
water in the cylinder E is forced into the air vessel, the air in which is,
as in the previous cases, at all times hermetically enclosed, as the water
extends into the air vessel so as to cover the valve J even when the
plunger is in the highest position. For allowing the gun to rise into firing
position an escape aperture K is formed in the side of the plunger
communicating with the small chamber K' formed in the thickness of the
plunger, which in its turn communicates with the cylinder E through
the passage K closed by means of a valve or plug L. This valve is
opened or closed by means of a handle L, to which it is connected by
means of the rod L' passing through a drilled hole in the thickness of
the air vessel, any leakage through such hole being prevented by suitable
packing, as indicated. On raising the valve L by depressing the handle
L, the water is forced from the air vessel back into the cylinder, where-
by the gun is raised into firing position, the valve being held in the open
position during the ascent of the gun, by causing the handle L³ to catch
into a notched quadrant L³, from which it is afterwards withdrawn so as
to close the valve again before or during the next descent of the gun.
It will be seen that by depressing the lever more or less the valve Lis
opened to a greater or less extent, and thus the rising of the gun con-

page_text: trolled. N is, as before, an inlet aperture communicating with a
pump through which water or air may be forced respectively into the
cylinder E, or into the air vessel I. In connection with the last
described arrangement, I wish to observe that since the date of my
application for the present Letters Patent I have been made aware of a
contrivance for absorbing and storing the recoil of guns described in the
Specification to Letters Patent granted to W. E. Newton, dated 24th
March 1869, No. 869, which in the principle of action is identical with
some of the arrangements described in the Specification to my Patent
dated 10th March 1869, No. 739, but which at first glance might appear
similar in principle to my last described arrangement. There is how-
ever between the two this vital difference, that whereas in Newton's
arrangement, not only is the air contained on the working cylinder
itself (as in my former Invention) but also, it is expressly specified that a
a communication is to be established between the external atmosphere
and the interior of the cylinder at the end of the outward stroke, (an
arrangement that would obviously not work as the resistance due to the
weight of the gun, the friction of the working parts, as also any leakage
of the air from the cylinder or air vessel would clearly prevent the air in
the latter from expanding to its full extent, so as to bring the gun back
into the position from which it originally started,) on the other hand
according to my present system the air as before stated never enters the
working cylinder at all, it being effectually enclosed inside the air vessel,
and the working of the gun is entirely effected by the regulated flow of
water or other fluid from the air vessel into the working cylinder.
Figure 5 on Sheet III. shews a modification which may be adopted
in combination with either of the two first before described arrange-
ments, whereby the force generated by the recoil is rendered available
both for the manipulation of the gun and for other work connected with
the service thereof, as herein-before mentioned. For this purpose the
working cylinder E contains centrally inside it a second small cylinder Q
over which fits the hollow plunger F of the working cylinder; this
plunger carries a second plunger R working inside the cylinder Q. This
cylinder is put in communication by means of the passage S and pipe T
with the air vessel V, the lower part of which, as also the pipe T and
cylinder Q, contain water. Hence on the descent of the plungers F
and R after firing the water is forced out of the cylinder Qinto the air
vessel V, thereby compressing the air in the latter, and a stop-back
valve U on the pipe T retains the water under pressure thus forced into

page_text: the air vessel. The pipe T also communicates by means of a pipe X
provided with an inlet valve W with a water cistern Y, so that as the
plunger R rises in the cylinder Q on the ascent of the gun water flows
from the cistern Y into the cylinder Q, and is at the next down stroke
forced in like manner, as above described, into the air vessel. By this
means water under pressure may be accumulated in the latter, whence it
is allowed to pass through outlets a, b, to hydraulic apparatus adapted
for traversing the gun for increasing the pressure in the main cylinder,
or for other similar purposes. In order to prevent the pressure in the
air vessel from becoming too great a safety valve Z loaded to the
maximum pressure is provided, from the valve box of which the excess
of water escaping from the air vessel may be made to pass through.a
pipe back into the tank Y. The plunger F being made to fit tight
against the cylinder Q by means of packing at its lower end, as indi-
cated, the space inside the plunger F above the cylinder Qmay be put
in communication with the atmosphere by means of an aperture in the
top of the former so as to allow the air free ingress and egress as the
plunger works up and down. A somewhat similar arrangement to the
above might be employed as the converse of the arrangement shewn at
Figure 3, that is, the cylinder Q might be closed at its upper end and be
put in communication at its lower end with the working cylinder, so as
to serve as an internal air vessel. But such an arrangement would bo
inconvenient on account of the greatly increased dimensions that the
working cylinder and plunger would have to assume.
Figure 1 on Sheet I., Figure 6 on Sheet III., and Figures 7 to 12 on
Sheets IV. an V. of the Drawings shew various arrangements of my
circular rotatable covers or shields with sliding or other shutters for
completely enclosing the gun when in the lowered position.
At Figure 1 is shewn merely a longitudinal section of a rotatable
cover a without shutters, which is connected to and made to rotate with
the gun platform D in the manner presently to be described with
reference to Figures 7 to 12. This circular cover of wrought iron or
other suitable material fits into a circular hole formed in the deck, floor,
or roof b, and is supported at its circumference by antifriction rollers c
carried by the deck, other antifriction rollers c¹ carried by the brackets c²
on the cover a being, if necessary, provided for holding down the cover
in its place; or such holding down of the covers may be effected by a

page_text: bearing upon the ground platform or floor itself, as shewn at Figures 13
to 16 Sheets VI. and VII. The cover has an oblong hole a¹ of suf-
ficient width and length to allow of the gun A and its carriage B passing
up and down through it, the form of such aperture being shewn in the
arrangement on Sheet IV., where Figure 7 shews a part longitudinal
section of the gun platform, cover, and shutters. Figure 8 shews a
transverse section of the same, and Figure 9 shews a half plan thereof.
The cover a is fixed rigidly to the side framing D of the platform D by
means of strong brackets d, d, so that whatever rotary motion is imparted
to the platform for traversing the gun is also imparted to the cover a.
Such motion may be imparted by means of a bevil wheel e fixed to the
platform, in gear with which is a pinion fupon a shaft driven either
by a steam engine, if convenient at hand, (and brought into action by a
friction clutch or similar contrivance,) or by hydraulic power, as before
described, or by any other suitable means. Upon the cover a on each
side of the aperture a¹ are situated two sliding wrought-iron shutters h, h,
which rest upon the cover by means of antifriction rollers h¹, h¹, carried
in recesses formed in the shutters, and by other antifriction rollers h³, h²,
carried by the cover a. These shutters are made, on the descent of the
gun after firing, to move over and close the aperture a', and to move
back so as to uncover such aperture as the gun rises again into firing
position, which operations are effected in the following manner:-The
framing D carries on each side thereof a vertical rotatable square shaft
i, i, on the lower part of which is formed a screw thread of quick pitch
increasing somewhat towards the upper end. Upon these shafts slide
bushes j, j, fixed to the cross head G of the plunger F to the working
cylinder, so that on the descent of the gun the bushes j on reaching the
threaded parts of the shaft cause these to turn in one direction, while on
the rising of the gun the bushes impart rotary motion to the shafts in
the reverse direction during the first part of the upward motion only.
The shafts i, i, carry at their upper ends bevil pinions, in gear with
cach of which are two other bevil pinions ¹ upon two shafts k carried
by the cover a. The other ends of these shafts have spur pinions in
gear with other pinions ³, also carried in recesses in the covers and in
gear with racks ' fixed in grooves on the under side of the shutters h.
From this it will be seen that when, during the descent of the gun, this
has passed down to the level of the aperture a¹ the motion then imparted
to the shafts i, i, will cause the shutters / to be slid over the opening so

page_text: as to meet each other on the centre line thereof, whereas when the gun
begins to rise into firing position the shafts i, i, will be made to revolve
so as to slide back the shutters into the position indicated before the gun
has risen to the level of the opening.
Figures 10 to 12 on Sheet V. of the Drawings shew respectively a
part longitudinal section, a transverse section, and a part plan. of a
modification of the above described arrangement, whereby the sliding
shutters in place of being actuated by the rising and falling of the gun
are worked independently of the same by means of a steam engine or other
source of power. For this purpose the framing D₁ carries on each side
two vertical shafts i, i, the upper ends of which pass through the cover a
and carry pinions i¹, in gear with two racks *, fixed in recesses in the
under side of the shutters. The lower ends of the shafts carry spur
pinions in gear with a spur rim on the bevil wheel / carried by the
platform D. This wheel is not fixed to the platform, but may be made
to revolve independently of it upon the central boss & by means of the
pinion f, on the shaft g driven by the steam engine or other power.
Thus by causing the wheel to revolve in one direction or the other
the shafts i, i, will be caused to move the shutters h so as to either
close or open them. If it be required to traverse the gun, then by
sliding a clutch m (actuated by the handle m' and secured to the
framing D) in gear with the wheel 7, this is rendered fixed relative to the
platform D, and consequently any rotary motion imparted to it will be
imparted to the gun and the cover a. The shutters h may be thrown
out of action at any time by sliding the pinions on the shafts i out of
gear with the spur rim by means of the handles F. The raising and
lowering of the gun may also be effected by means of the wheel / and
pinion f, should it at any time be required to perform this operation
without firing, or should the hydraulic apparatus be out of order. For
this purpose the framing D' may carry on each side a screw spindle n,
having at its lower end a pinion n¹ capable of being slid in gear with.
the spur rim by means of the lever n². Upon the cross head G are
projecting bushes j embracing the screw spindles n and containing
screwed nuts made in halves, which by the action of cams turned by the
levers, are made to take into the screw threads of the spindles n.
Thus by putting the pinions n' in gear with the wheel 2, and putting the
screwed nuts on the cross head G in gear with the spindles n, the rotation
of the wheel in one direction or the other will cause the screw spindles
to raise or lower the cross head G, and with it the gun.

page_text: I wish it to be understood that I do not claim this arrangement for
raising and lowering the gun as forming any part of my present
Invention.
In connection with the above described arrangement of revolving
covers and shutters may be employed my system of reflecting sights and
trunnion pointer, (see x and o Figure 1,) for laying the gun when under
cover, which however I also do not claim as part of my present Inven-
tion, as this has been previously submitted to the Director General of
Ordnance in connection with my system of working artillery, range
finding, and the laying of heavy ordnance, and which I am now carrying
out for the Government. The reflecting sight is placed so as to cast
the reflection of the field in front of the gun down to the gun deck,
thus assisting those who traverse the gun to act by their own observa-
tion in concert with or independently of the man who fires, and who
is at the man-hole q (Figure 12) at the rear of the ordinary sights p, p,
carried by the revolving cover a.
Figure 6, Sheet III., shewsa transverse section of another arrangement of
my revolving covers and shutters. Here the shutters h, h, instead of being
made to slide as in the previous cases are free to turn up into the dotted
position upon strong pins h¹, being provided with balance weights /², so
that when the gun rises into firing position, it readily pushes open the
shutters, while on its descent the latter owing to a certain amount of
preponderence in their weight over that of the balance weights, of
themselves sink down into the closed position. It will be evident that
the above described system of rotatable covers and shutters may be
employed in combination with my other systems of mounting ordnance
described in the Specifications to my before mentioned Patents, and also
in fact to any system where the gun is raised into an elevated position
for firing, and the arrangements of sliding or hinged shutters may also
in certain cases be employed in connection with fixed instead of rotatable
covers, roofs, or shields, the opening being in that case made sufficiently
wide to allow of the requisite travesing of the gun.
Figures 13 to 16 on Sheets VI. and VII. of the Drawings shew two
other modes of mounting the gun for effecting the raising and lowering
of the same by my before described improved system. In the arrange-
ment shewn in side and end clevation respectively at Figures 13 and 14,
Sheet VI., the gun A is carried directly by the strong links on levers B,
turning on fulcra B¹ carried by the platform D and connected by the

page_text: double horizontal bars E to other links also turning upon fulcra C¹,
carried by the platform D. The bars E, which serve as support to the
elevating mechanism of the gun (not shewn) are caused on the descent
of the gun to force down the plunger F of the working hydraulic
cylinder arranged as before described, the plunger being for this purpose
made to bear with large antifriction rollers H carried by the cross
head G against the under side of the bars E. As the gun descends the
rollers H pass along the bars E, and finally, when in the lowest position,
(shewn in dotted lines,) pass on to the levers B carrying the gun so that
in raising the gun into firing position the plunger may first act directly
against the levers B and then against the bars E. By this arrangement
it will be seen that the hydraulic apparatus is brought into a somewhat
lower and consequently more protected position than in the foregoing
arrangements, and the stroke of the plunger is also somewhat less
than the vertical distance through which the gun is raised and lowered.
Figures 15 and 16, Sheet VII., shew a side clevation and part sectional
elevation of an arrangement similar to the foregoing, in which the
hydraulic apparatus is made to assume a still lower position relative to
the gun and in which the stroke of the plunger is also still further
decreased. For this purpose the plunger F instead of bearing directly
against the connecting bars E bears with the rollers H against tho
under side of the arms or levers I, turning on fulcra at I', carried by the
platform and bearing with antifriction rollers against the under side of
the bars E, so that the downward pressure of these bars is during the
descent of the gun transferred first to the levers I and thence to the
plunger, while in the upward motion the reverse action takes place.
I do not claim these last-described arrangements for mounting the gun
as forming any part of my present Invention, otherwise then in com-
bination with my before-described improved system for storing and
utilizing the force of the recoil.
"
Figures 17 to 20 on Sheet VIII. of the Drawings shew the application
of my new system of absorbing and storing the power generated by the
recoil of guns to the " compressors or "hydraulic buffers" of ordinary
gun carriages. In the arrangement shewn in side elevation, part plan, and
end elevation at Figures 17, 18, and 19, the gun carriage A is connected
by strong lugs B, B, to the plungers C, C, of the horizontal hydraulic
cylinders D, D, fixed inside the platform or slide E on either side of the
air vessel F. This air vessel communicates with the rear ends of the

page_text: hydraulic cylinders by means of the pipes G, G, provided with a stop-
back valve at H, so that as the plungers C are forced into the cylinders D
by the recoil of the gun the water or other fluid is forced out of the
cylinder into the air vessel F. For bringing forward the gun into firing
position a communication is established between the air vessel and the
hydraulic cylinders by opening the regulating valve G³ on the by-pass G³,
when the water being forced back from the air vessel into the cylinders
will force out the plungers and with them the gun carriage. It will be
seen that this system of compressors or hydraulic buffers differs from
those heretofore employed in this, that the force of recoil is in this case
utilized for bringing the gun back into firing position by means of the
compressed air. This system will be particularly convenient when the
slides are inclined backwards in a similar manner to one of the arrange-
ments shewn in the Specification to my Patent, No. 739, of 1869, and
will be applied with advantage in arming ships' boats where the gun will
recoil into a convenient loading position and be run up without labour
when required for action.
Figure 20 shows a longitudinal section of a modification of the above-
described arrangement, in which the motion of the plungers is rendered
less than the recoil of the gun by causing the latter to act upon the
former, and vice versa, by means of two chains or ropes L, one end of
each of which is fixed to the front end of the gun carriage, whence the
chain passes back over the guide pulley I and the pulley K on the
plunger C of the hydraulic cylinder to which latter the other end of
the chain is attached.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that
I do not limit myself to the various arrangements for carrying the same
into practice herein-before described with reference to the accompanying
Drawings, as these may be greatly varied without departing from the
essential features of my Invention; but what I claim is,―
First. The employment of confined or hermetically enclosed air or
other elastic gas for storing up the force generated by the recoil of the
gun, while the manipulation of the gun is effected entirely by water or
other unelastic fluid acted upon by the said air or gas under pressure.
Second. Utilizing the force produced by the recoil of ordnance for
raising the gun into an elevated position for firing by causing the gun

page_text: working of hydraulic compressors or buffers of guns mounted in the
ordinary manner.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Moncrieff, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of February,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy.