IMPROVEMENTS IN GUN CARRIAGES."
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frank Wirth, of the Firm of Wirth and Company,
Patent Solicitors, at Frankfort on the Main, in the Empire of Germany, for
communication
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GUN CARRIAGES."
from Heinrich Eichwede and Eduard Eichwede, of Hannover, in the Empire
of Cormany
Sealed the 5th September 1879, and dated the 14th March 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frank Wirth at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th March 1879.
FRANK WIRTH, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent Solicitors, at Frank-
fort on the Main, in the Empire of Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN GUN CARRIAGES."
[A communication from Heinrich Eichwede and Eduard Eichwede, of Hannover,
in the Empire of Germany.]
According to the present Invention gun carriages are constructed as follows:-
The axletree of the carriage is of wrought steel, of square transverse section, and
has turned thereon at the tapering ends axles for receiving the wheels. The part
of the axletree between the axles is curved to a radius corresponding to the length
of the trail from the shoe to the axle, and has on either side a projection for fixing
the apparatus for lateral adjustment. The cheeks of the gun trail are made of
wrought iron or steel plates planed in such manner that a projecting rim of
rectangular section surrounds the central part of the cheek which is thinned by
planing.
The trail cheeks have at the front upper side circular recesses or bearings for the
gun trunnions closed by straps, and below these they have a rectangular hole
through which the axletree passes, and in which it can slide to and fro. The two
trail cheeks are secured together at a suitable distance apart by tie bolts, and they
rest with the upper end upon the axletree, which passes through them as above
described. The lower ends of the trail cheeks taper in width and are fixed by
screw bolts to a steel shoe at the end; this shoe serves to secure the trail on the
ground, and is for this purpose so formed that on its underside it has a broad spur
projecting downwards, which is imbedded in the ground, while the upper side is
spread out so as to form a foot resting on the surface of the ground, thus preventing

page_text: the shoe from sinking too far into the earth. It also has a limber loop for limbering
up the trail on to the limber pin.
The trail, and with it the gun, is capable of lateral adjustment on the axletree
for the purposes of lateral sighting. To this end a square threaded screw spindle
is pivotted to an eye formed near the one end of the axle tree, and screws through
a sleeve having also a square screw thread formed on its outer surface and screwing
through a bush on the gun trail. The sleeve has at its outer end a hand wheel for
turning it, so that by rotating the latter the screwed sleeve and bush are actuated
in such a manner as to cause the trail, together with the gun, to traverse to a
greater or less extent upon the axletree for the purpose of lateral sighting. The
elevating screw for vertical sighting is of well known construction.
"
The tie bolts of the trail cheeks are steel distance bolts which have collars
bearing on the inner surface of the cheeks, and thus hold these the required
distance apart; the screwed ends of the bolts pass through the cheeks and are
secured by nuts.
In applying this gun carriage for mountain batteries the trail is, for the purpose
of easier transport on horseback, so constructed that each trail cheek can be
separated at its middle into two parts. At the. joint each part is widened out and
made to overlap the other, the two parts being secured together by screw bolts.
For transport each part is carried separately on a pack saddle.
These gun carriages can be applied to the smallest mountain gun as well as to
the largest field pieces, the parts being made of proportionate strength. The recoil
is with these carriages entirely prevented after the first round of firing by reason
of the spur imbedding itself firmly into the ground. As the rear end of the trail
is thus fixed in the ground the lateral sighting of the gun cannot be effected, as
heretofore, by shifting the trail end round, and consequently the lateral sighting is
effected by the above described lateral adjustment of the trail on the axletree.
With this gun carriage therefore the sighting can be effected by one man, whereas
with ordinary carriages one man is required for vertical sighting, and a second one
for shifting the trail. By thus effecting both adjustments by one and the same
man the work is accomplished more accurately and reliably.
The gun being once sighted it does not alter its position, which is a considerable
advantage. The trail cheeks are, as before stated, made of steel or wrought iron
plates without rivetting, whereby they are rendered of considerably greater strength
than ordinary trails, and are consequently better able to bear the greater strain put
upon them by fixing them in position instead of permitting them to recoil.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frank Wirth in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th September
1879.
FRANK WIRTH, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent Solicitors, at Frank-
fort on the Main, in the Empire of Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN GUN CARRIAGES."
A communication from Heinrich Eichwede and Eduard Eichwede, of Hannover,
in the Empire of Germany.
"
According to the present Invention gun carriages are constructed as follows:-
The axletree of the carriage is of wrought steel, of square transverse section, and
has turned thereon at the tapering ends axles for receiving the wheels. The part
of the axletree between the axles is curved to a radius corresponding to the length
of the trail from the shoe to the axle, and has on either side a projection for fixing
the apparatus for lateral adjustment. The cheeks of the gun trail are made of
wrought iron or steel plates planed in such manner that a projecting rim of
rectangular section surrounds the central part of the cheek, which is thinned by
planing.
The trail cheeks have at the front upper side circular recesses or bearings for the
gun trunnions closed by straps, and below these they have a rectangular hole
through which the axle tree passes, and in which it can slide to and fro. The two
trail cheeks are secured together at a suitable distance apart by tie bolts, and they
rest with the upper end upon the axletree, which passes through them as above
described. The lower ends of the trail cheeks taper in width and are fixed by
scrow bolts to a steel shoe at the end; this shoe serves to secure the trail on the
ground, and is for this purpose so formed that on its underside it has a broad spur
projecting downwards, which is embedded in the ground, while the upper side is
spread out so as to form a foot resting on the surface of the ground, thus preventing
the shoe from sinking too far into the earth. It also has a limber loop for limbering
up the trail on to the limber pin.
The trail, and with it the gun, is capable of lateral adjustment on the axletree
for the purposes of lateral sighting. To this end a square threaded screw spindle
is pivotted to an eye formed near the one end of the axletree, and screws through
a sleeve having also a square screw thread formed on its outer surface and screwing
through a bush on the gun trail. The sleeve has at its outer end a hand wheel for
turning it, so that by rotating the latter the screwed sleeve and bush are actuated
in such a manner as to cause the trail, together with the gun, to traverse to a
greater or less extent upon the axletree for the purpose of lateral sighting. The
elevating screw for vertical sighting is of well known construction.
The tie bolts of the trail cheeks are steel distance bolts which have collars
bearing on the inner surface of the cheeks, and thus hold these the required
distance apart; the screwed ends of the bolts pass through the cheeks and are
secured by nuts.
In applying this gun carriage for mountain batteries the trail is, for the purpose
of easier transport on horseback, so constructed that each trail cheek can be
separated at its middle into two parts. At the joint each part is widened out and
made to overlap the other, the two parts being secured together by screw bolts.
For transport each part is carried separately on a pack saddle.
These gun carriages can be applied to the smallest mountain guns as well as to
the largest field pieces, the parts being made of proportionate strength. The recoil
is with these carriages entirely prevented after the first round of firing by reason
of the spur embedding itself firmly into the ground. As the rear end of the trail
is thus fixed in the ground the lateral sighting of the gun cannot be effected, as
heretofore, by shifting the trail end round, and consequently the lateral sighting is
effected by the above described lateral adjustment of the trail on the axletree.
With this gun carriage therefore the sighting can be effected by one man, whereas

page_text: with ordinary carriages one man is required for vertical sighting and a second one
for shifting the trail. By thus effecting both adjustments by one and the same
man the work is accomplished more accurately and reliably.
The gun being once sighted.it does not alter its position, which is a considerable
advantage. The trail cheeks are, as before stated, made of steel or wrought iron
plates without rivetting, whereby they are rendered of considerably greater strength
than ordinary trails, and are consequently better able to bear the greater strain put
upon them by fixing them in position instead of permitting them to recoil.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 shews a side elevation, and Fig. 2 a plan of one arrangement of the before
described improved construction of gun carriages. A is the wrought iron or steel
axle-tree of rect-angular section, and curved to a radius corresponding to its distance
from the spur of the trail C, which slides with rectangular holes thereon; D is the
adjusting screw pivotted to the axletree at E, and screwing into a sleeve F which
in its turn screws with an external thread of reverse pitch through a bush G on
the gun trail, so that by turning the sleeve F by the hand wheel the trail is
traversed on the axletree for sighting. The trail cheeks C, C, are each of a single
wrought iron or steel plate having a projecting rim all round for strength. They
are secured together by screw bolts and distance, pieces H, and at the lower end by
the steel shoe I with spur J, which penetrates the ground, as and for the purposes
àbove described, the flat part I preventing the spur from penetrating too far; I2 is
the limber loop. The trunnions of the gun are secured to the cheeks C by means
of straps K hinged at one end and fixed by screw bolts at the other. Fig. 3 shews
a side elevation, and Fig. 4 a plan of a modified construction for light mountain
guns, in which the trail cheeks are made of two separate parts C¹, C², secured
together by an overlapping joint at C³, widened out, as shewn, to afford the requisite
strength. The other parts of the carriage are of the same construction as previously
described, and are designated by the same letters of reference.
Having thus described the nature of this Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, as communicated to me, by my correspondents, I claim,-
First. Constructing gun trails with spurs at their rear ends which enter the
ground and thus prevent recoil.
Second. In combination with a spur on the gun trail, as set forth in the preceding
claim, the provision of means for traversing the front end of the trail on the axle-
tree for lateral sighting, substantially as herein described.
Third. Constructing the cheeks of the gun trail of solid plates of iron or steel
without rivetting, substantially as described.
Fourth. Constructing the solid iron or steel trail, cheeks referred to in the
preceding claim of two separate parts secured together by screw bolts for facility of
transport, substantially as described.
Fifth. The combination of the curved axletree A, sliding gun trail C, C, with
spur J and adjusting device D, F, G, H, arranged and operating substantially as set
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frank Wirth, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty fifth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
FRANK WIRTH. (LS:)