Improvements in or relating to Wheeled Gun Carriages.
Year: 1898

page_text: HAAREE
Improvements in or relating to Wheeled Gun Carriages.
I, EDUARD MÜLLER, of Thun, Switzerland, Major, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to wheeled gun carriages with brake spades in which
the following operations are effected at each recoil on firing viz:the anchoring
of the carriage in the ground, the arresting of the recoil movement, the running
out again of the gun and the cessation of the anchoring, in such a manner that
the carriage or the gun is always unanchored for the purpose of training, and can
be readily and quickly trained in a lateral direction with sufficient accuracy by
means of the training lever alone, that is to say, without any special mechanisni,
which always complicates the construction, and reduces its durability.
The anchoring is effected by means of pivotally suspended brake spades, and
the automatic action of the engagement of the same with the ground is based
on the principle of the inertia of the mass contained in the spades, combined with
the recoil movement of the gun. The stopping of the recoil and of the running
out movement is effected on the one hand by means of an elastic body such as a
spring which is strained or compressed during the recoil movement by the rotation
of the spades, and which gives up the necessary driving power for running out
the gun from the energy which has been stored up in it by the said straining or
compression and, on the other hand, by the raising of the centre of gravity of the
gun which takes place during the recoil, and the sinking of it again by the action
of gravity.
The cessation of the anchoring, that is to say, the raising of the spades is also
effected by the energy of the said body or spring which gives up its strain or
compression during the running out of the gun.
In the accompanying drawings, Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate an arrangement of gun
carriage of this kind by way of example, in elevation and plan respectively. Two
spades S S are employed, of which one is arranged on the right, and the other on
the left of the gun carriage. The spades are pivotally suspended at dd on the
carriage axle A, and they are provided on their sole pieces (which has pre-
ferably, a certain weight of its own) in front with a small spur k, and behind,
with a large spur g, which is prevented from penetrating too deeply into the
ground by making the sole pieces of a suitable width.
Each of the two spades is provided at 6 Fig. 1 with a pivot pin which is con-
nected by means of a chain C (extending rearwardly close to the outside of the
gun carriage cheek and substantially parallel thereto) with a pin c of a lever h;
said pin projecting from underneath the gun carriage cheek laterally beyond the
same. These levers h are mounted on the ends (projecting beyond the gun carriage
cheek e) of an axle c upon which there is mounted a double lever h¹ between the
carriage cheeks. The upper end of this lever is pivotally connected at with a
spring rod which can slide at its rear end freely through the eye 7, which latter
is provided on both sides with pivots m carried in the carriage frames or cheeks.
On the front end of the spring rod b¹, there is arranged a screw nut m² by means

page_text: of which the spring F (which may be a helical spring or a set of Belleville springs)
which is mounted between the nut and the eye on the spring rod, is compressed
to the extent necessary for the proper operation of the spades, for which purpose
the extent of rotation of the double lever must be limited by means of the nose n
(Fig. 1) provided on the underside of the carriage cheek.
When the gun is ready for firing, the spurs and g are not in contact with the
ground (see Fig. 1), but the suspension of the spurs (that is to say, of the spades S)
is regulated in such a manner that the spurs are raised about 10 centimetres
above the ground. The above mentioned compression of the spring is conse-
quently increased by the pressure which is transmitted by the rotation of the
disengaged spade sole pieces s in the direction of the arrow at Fig. 1 by means of
the chains C to the double lever hand the nut m to the spring.
The operation is now as follows;-
On firing, the gun and carriage, which are connected that is to say, the entire
rm or weapon has a violent movement to the rear. In consequence of the inertia
of the mass connected with the spade sole pieces s (that is to say, the weight of
the sole pieces with the two spurs) the said sole pieces have a tendency to
remain where they were. By reason of this inertia, and of the recoil movement of
the gun, there is produced a relative rotary motion of the spades about their
pivot A, in the direction of the arrow at k. By this means, first the front spurs k
are brought into contact with the ground, into which they penetrate, and thus
facilitate the penetration of the rear spurs g into the ground. As the sole pieces s
are further away from the pivot A at the rear than at the front, then with the
progressive rotary motion of the spades, the front portion of the gun, and conse-
quently the centre of gravity of the whole arrangement is raised. At the same
time, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 by reason of the rotary motion of the spades and
the resistance of the wheels acting at the spades, motion, and pressure are-trans-
mitted from the spades, through the chains C to the levers h, and from the
latter to the spring rod which moves in the direction of the arrow at (Fig. 1)
and transmits, by means of the nut m¹ the pressure (which is determined by the
ratios of the levers) to the spring F and compresses the latter until equilibrium,
that is to say, stoppage of the movement of the gun takes place, the arrangement
being such that the gun assumes approximately the position shown in Fig. 3.
The overstraining of the spring is prevented by means of a nose o, which is
provided on the gun carriage, and which limits the rotation of the lever in that
direction.
Then, by the action of gravity on the raised front portion of the gun, and of
the force stored in the compressed spring, the reverse movement of the gun is
effected automatically its wheels descend gently on to the ground, and the gun
runs out again into the position it occupied before the shot or approximately into
that position first the rear spurs, and then the front spurs are raised out of
the ground, and returned to their former positions by the force of the spring;
and after the withdrawal of the rear spurs from the ground, the front spurs serve
to further keep up the action of running out the gun; this taking place especially
when shooting with the gun placed on rising ground.
After the stoppage of the gun, it can be readily. and at once trained laterally
by means of the training lever, there being no spade sticking in the ground to
interfere with said training. The weight of the trail can be kept very low with
this construction.
In consequence of the considerable height at which the front spur is situated
above the ground before shooting, the gun can run back freely about 30 centi-
metres before the spur engages with the ground.
This fact, and also the arrangement of two spurs and g which are connected
together, and are situated a certain distance from each other, and which engage
with the ground successively and roll as it were over the ground, produce a very
great braking recoil (over one metre in the case of field guns), and require a

page_text: corresponding small braking resistance along the ground, whereby the gun
carriage is considerably less strained, and is therefore rendered very durable.
To enable the gun to travel when limbered up, or for making protracted move-
ments with the gun limbered up, both spades can be easily and rapidly sus-
pended from the connecting arms or carriers p, (see Fig. 4) whereby the spring is
relieved of load to a certain extent.
For certain requirements, or for other arrangements of construction of the
spades, it may be of advantage to still further increase the energy of the auto-
matic engagement of the spades in the ground in other ways.
This may be done by utilizing the pressure of the trail of the gun produced upon
its bed when firing.
Fig. 5 shows, by way of example, and diagrammatically, a means for increasing
the energy of the automatic anchoring by means of the pressure of the trail of the
gun. The spades, chains, double levers, springs and noses, are the same as
shown in Figs. 1-4 but the spring rod is prolonged backwards up to the
joint g, where it is connected with the lever which is capable of rotating about
the axis a in two bearings fixed upon and between the gun carriage walls. This
lever has a nose t. , is a trail sole piece, beut up at the rear, and arranged
on the under-side of the gun carriage trail. This sole piece is adapted to make a
limited upward and downward rotation about the point ; it has a nose it which
engages between the nose of the lever and the carriage trail. When the gun
is ready for firing, the spades and double levers are set in the same manner as
in the case shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The spring F is strained by means of the
nut m', in such a manner that the under-surface of the carriage trail is situated
to a certain extent away from the trail sole-piece u, u thereby leaving a space z z
of about 20 millimetres in height.
say,
The end of the carriage trail cannot strike upon the trail sole-piece in its down-
ward movement caused by the firing, but remains suspended, that is to elastic,
during the blow-like downward movement, this acts to greatly reduce the wear and
tear of the gun carriage.
The mode of operation is as follows:-
In consequence of the downwardly directed pressure of the gun carriage trail
caused by the firing, there is produced a counter-pressure by the ground against
the trail sole-piece which rotates upwardly about the pin in the direction of
the arrow at , so far as the tension of the spring F allows. By this rotation,
the nose e, which is provided on the sole-piece u ul moves also upward and presses
up the nose of the lever r, whereby the latter turns on the pin a, and by means
of the joint draws back the spring rod in the direction of the arrow adjacent
thereto whilst further compressing the spring F and rotating the lever in
the direction of the arrow at 7. By this means, the chains C become loose, and
the spades fall to the ground. This movement is aided (in addition to the inertia
acting as in the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, combined with the recoil
of the gun) by gravity acting upon the spades, especially as the spring I need
not be compressed directly at the commencement of the descent of the spades. The
further course of the operation of the spades takes place as in the case of Figs. 1
and 2. In the present case, the spring F is compressed successively by means of
two different actions, vis:-1st, by the pressure of the trail in a downward direc-
tion on firing, whereby the spring rod b¹ is drawn by the movement of g, and
then, immediately afterwards, by the action of the spades in which the spring
rod is compressed from i. The carriage trail sinks only at the second compression,
that is to say, whilst the gun is being raised (see Fig. 6) and without a blow upon
the trail sole-piece , ul.

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Wheeled Gun Carriages."
I, EDUARD MÜLLER, of Thun, Switzerland, Major, do hereby declare the nature
of said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to guns and cannons and has more particular reference to
brake devices therefor, the object being to provide an improved device, adapted
to be applied to guns and cannons and to be operated by the action of the back
impact produced by the shot, so that the anchorage, the stopping of the back-
ward movement, the forward movement and the releasing of the gun or cannon
will be automatically produced, said gun or cannon being always released from the
ground and ready for aiming and setting.
With this object in view my invention consists of. pivotally mounted brake-
spades, adapted to be automatically driven into the ground by reason of the
inertia of their gravity combined with the backward movement of the gun or
cannon. This backward movement is stopped and the forward movement promoted,
on the one land, by the action of suitable elastic devices such as springs, the
tension of which being increased in the backward movement by the rotation of
the spades, to store up the necessary amount of power for producing the forward
movement and on the other hand by the raising of the centre of gravity of the gun
or cannon occurring in the backward movement thereof, and the lowering of said
centre of gravity produced by the weight of the gun or cannon. The removal of
the anchorage i.e. the withdrawing of the spades from the ground is also effected
by the releasing of the aforesaid elastic device in the forward movement of the
gun or cannon.
In the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one half of a gun or cannon provided with my
improvements:
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the gun or cannon.
Fig. 3 shows the improved brake-device in operation;
Fig. 4 shows the gun or cannon with the improved brake-device in an inoperative
position;
Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a gun or cannon provided with a slightly modified
brake-device;
Fig. 6 shows the modified brake-device in operation.
In the drawings like letters refer to like paris throughout all the figures.
The improvements consists of two spade like members S S arranged on each
side of the gun or cannon-frame and pivotally attached, at dd, to the axle-tree A
of the cannon. The lower end or sole s of said spades, having a certain dead-
weight for the purpose hereinafter pointed out, is provided with a small pointed
lug or spur at the fore-part, and with a larger spur g at the rear part, adapted)
to be driven into the ground and prevented from penetrating too far into the
ground by the width of sole s. Each spade S has a pivot-pin b (Fig. 1), flexibly
connected, by means of rearwardly-extending chain C running parallel with and
near the outer surface of the corresponding frame-bar, with the pivot-pin e of a
double armed lever h¹, said pivot-pin e being located under the frame-bars and
projecting laterally therefrom. Said lever his rotatable on a pin e journaled in
the frame-bars, and the upper end of said lever is pivotally attached at i to a
spring-rod b, b, the rear end of which extends loosely through an eve 1, journaled
in the frame-bars of the cannon. The fore-end of said spring-rod b, carries a

page_text: nut m, by means of which the tension of the spring F (coiled spring or any
suitable elastic device) fitted over said rod b, may be adjusted as required: the
movement of said lever h¹ in the direction of the arrow at c (Fig. 1) is limited
by a suitable stop-lug n located on the lower part of the frame-bar (Fig. 1). The
minimum of the tension of said spring F will correspond to the pressure produced
on said spring by the rotation of the free ends or soles of spades S in the direction
of the arrow at k, said pressure being transmitted through the agency of chain C,
double-armed lever hand screw-nut m¹.
The cannon being ready for shooting, the lugs or spurs & and 9 do not engage
the ground, as in Fig. 1, the attachment of the spades S being regulated so as to
leave a distance of about 2 to 4 inches between lug and the ground.
The operation of the device is as follows: The shot produces on the gun-barrel
firmly connected with the frame-bars, and therefore on the whole cannon a violent
back motion; the soles s of spades S, on account of the inertia of their weight,
tend to remain in place, and this inertia and said back motion result in a relative
rotation of the spades on axle A in the direction of the arrow at k, whereby the
spurs thereof are first brought in contact with the ground and driven into the
same, thus assisting in driving spurs into the ground afterwards. Further
rotation of said spades results in the lifting of the fore-part of the cannon and
therefore of the centre of gravity, since the rear part of soles is at a greater.
distance from the rotation axle A than the fore-part thereof. At the same time,
the movement and the pressure, produced by the rotation of the spades and the
beaking action of the spurs thereof, will be transmitted from said spades, through
the agency of chain C and lever h', to the rod b, b', which is moved in the direction
of the arrow (see Figs. 1 & 3), whereby and by means of screw-nut m', said
pressure will be transmitted to spring F and the tension thereof increased until
the cannon be balanced, the wheels of the latter having been lifted to a greater
or less extent in accordance with the nature of the ground. The action of the
weight of the lifted fore part of the cannon and of the power stored up by spring F
will now automatically cause the parts to move in a reversed direction, ie first the
wheels of the cannon will be slowly lowered, the cannon brought again to its
starting point, and the rear and fore spurs and successively withdrawn from
the ground and moved into their initial positions by the action of said spring 1';
the spurs g being withdrawn from the ground, the spurs & assist in moving the
cannon forwards, which is of special importance on an ascending ground. The
cannon being at rest again, the same may be easily moved in any direction for
shooting, the brake-spades being now disengaged from the ground.
The brake-device being not in use, the spades S S may be easily hung or attached
on the connecting arms ?? (Figs. 2 and 4), whereby spring F will be relieved
to a certain extent.
In Figs. 5 and 6, I have shown a slightly modified form of construction of my
improved device, which may be applied when it is desired to increase the energy
whereby the spades are automatically driven into the ground. The energy may
be increased by utilizing the pressure of the frame-bar ends on their seating.
The construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6 resembles that already shown and
described, except that the spring-rod b, b' is extended rearwardly and pivotally
attached, at q to a lever r, pivotally mounted on pin a journaled in the frame-bars
of the cannon, said lever being provided with a finger t. designates a plate
or sole arranged under the frame-bar ends and turned upwards as shown, said
plate or sole being adapted to move upwards and downwards to a certain extent
about pivot-pin, and having a lug w, extending between finger t of lever r and
the frame-bar end.
The cannon being ready for shooting, the spades and double-armed levers are
in the position already shown and described. The tension of spring F is adjusted
by means of screw-nut m', so that the underside of the frame-bar end be slightly
held out of contact with sole or plate to leave a free space of about 3 inch
between said parts, whereby the frame-bar end is prevented from striking upon

page_text: said plate or sole, when the same is forced downwards by the shot, said frame-bar
end being thus yieldingly maintained and of much longer life than frame-bars
of ordinary construction.
The operation of the modified device is as follows:-The pressure produced by
the shot on the frame-bar end results in a back-pressure from the ground against
sole or plate un', whereby the same is moved upwards in the direction of the
arrow at about pivot-pin e, to a certain extent corresponding to the tension of
spring the lug on said sole or plate will therefore be moved upwards,
carrying with it finger t of lever, whereby the latter will move about pin a and
draw spring-rod in the direction of the arrow, thus increasing the tension of
spring F and moving lever h¹ in the direction of the arrow. The chains C become
slack therefore and the spades. S move downwards, which movement is assisted by
the action of the inertia combined with the back-movement of the cannon; thus
said spring F will not be compressed by the beginning of the down movement of
said spades. Further operation of the parts will be as already describe:.
In the construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the tension of spring F will be
successively produced or increased by two different actions; namely, first by the
down pressure of the frame-bar end at the shot, whereby the spring-rod will be
drawn at ; and immediately after this, by the action of the spades, whereby
said spring-rod will be pressed at (Fig. 1). The frame-bar end will be lowered
by the second pressure only and without stroke upon the sole or plate u u', i.c.
while the cannon will be lifted.
The various parts of my invention being liable to be modified as to the con-
struction and arrangement thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of
the invention, I wish it to be understood, that I do not confine myself to the
precise construction and arrangement of the parts as shown in the accompanying
drawings, so long as the peculiar features of the invention be retained.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
-
i
1. In a brake device of the character described for guns or cannons, the com-
bination with spade-like members or anchors, having suitable parts for being
automatically driven into ground in the back movement of the gun or cannon, of
a double-armed lever pivoted on the frame of the cannon, a suitable connexion
between said spades and lever, and means for bringing the cannon again to its
shorting point after the shot and withdrawing the spades from the ground,
substantially as set forth.
2. In a brake device of the character described for guns or cannons, the com-
bination with spade-like members or anchors, pivotally mounted on the axle-tree
of the cannon, and having suitable sole-plates at their free ends, said plates pro-
vided with means for engaging the ground, of a double-armed lever pivoted on
the frame bars of the cannon, a chain or equivalent, one end which is suitably
attached to said anchors, the other end of said chain being secured to one end of
said lever, and means for storing up the energy produced in the back movement
of the cannon, substantially as set forth.
3. A brake device of the character described for guns or cannons, embodying
pivotally mounted spade-like members or anchors, having suitable means for
engaging the ground, a double-armed lever pivoted on the frame-bars of the
cannon, a connecting-chain or equivalent between said anchors and lever, a spring-
rod pivotally attached to said lever, and loosely extending through a pivoted eye,
a suitable spring or equivalent fitted over said spring-rod, and an adjusting screw-
nut on said rod, substantially as set forth and for the purpose specified.
4. In a brake device of the character described for guns or cannons, the com-
bination with pivotally mounted spade-like member or anchors, a double-armed
lever pivoted on the frame-bars of the cannon and flexibly connected with said
anchors, and a spring-rod extending through a pivoted eye, of a lever pivoted on

page_text: the frame-bar ends and provided with a rearwardly extending finger, said lever
being pivotally attached to said spring-rod, a sole-plate extending around the
frame-bar end and having a suitable forwardly projecting lug, said sole-plate
being pivotally secured to the frame-bars of the cannon and slightly held out of
contact with the frame-bar end, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Datad this 18th day of Way 1898
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M.I.C.E.. M.I.Mech.E.,
Chartered Patent Agent, 70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Associate Agent.