Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 12th June, 1886
Complete Left, 10th Mar., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 15th Apr., 1887.
We, ANDREW NOBLE a Companion of the Bath, residing at Jesmond Dene House,
Newcastle-on-Tyne, and RALPH THEW BRANKSTON of Elswick Works, Newcastle-on-
Tyne Engineer do hereby declare the nature of our invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object improvements in machinery for working heavy guns.
We cause the gun when it recoils to drive water or liquid into accumulators or
vessels in close proximity to the gun and containing elastic or compressible bodies,
such as thin steel tubes in which air is enclosed. We connect these accumulators
with another or main accumulator conveniently placed at a distance and loaded in the
usual manner with a heavy dead weight. From this main accumulator we draw
liquid under pressure to perform the operations necessary in working the gun such as
loading and training.
Usually we mount the gun on a pivotted slide or platform and the recoil of the gun
is controlled by a control press. The ram of this press is fixed to a horn plate on the
front of the gun carriage and the cylinder of the press is fixed to the slide.
The auxiliary accumulators containing the compressible solids, are also mounted
upon the gun slide and the connection between these and the main accumulator is
carried up through the pivot. When the gun recoils the ram entering the cylinder of
the recoil press drives liquid into the auxiliary accumulators, room for it being
provided by the temporary collapse of the compressible solids. A clack valve prevents
the return of the liquid into the recoil press but it is free to pass into the main
accumulator, the entrance to which from the auxiliary accumulators is always open.
When the gun runs forward again and the ram of the recoil press leaves its cylinder,
liquid is drawn from a tank into the cylinder of the press through a suction pipe and
past a suction valve. Hydraulic loading and training gear is also carried upon the

page_text: platform and the liquid under pressure required to work it is drawn when required
from the main accumulator which is fed in the manner already described.
The action of the apparatus is thus as follows:-
When the gun runs out the cylinder of the recoil press is filled from the tank;
when the gun recoils the liquid is driven out from the cylinder of the recoil press,
first into auxiliary accumulators where it acts against the compressible solids and
thence into the main accumulator where it is stored.
By opening the valves leading to the loading and training gear when required the
liquid stored under pressure is drawn off rendered available for working the gear and
then returned to the tank.

page_text: Improvements in Machinery for Working Heavy Guns.
We, ANDREW NOBLE, a Companion of the Bath, residing at Jesmond Dene House,
Newcastle on Tyne, and RALPH THEW BRANKSTON of Elswick Works, Newcastle on
Tyne, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
This invention has for its object improvements in machinery for working heavy guns.
We cause the gun when it recoils to drive water or liquid into accumulators or
vessels in close proximity to the gun and containing elastic or compressible bodies,.
such as thin tubes in which air is enclosed. We connect these accumulators with
another or main accumulator conveniently placed at a distance and loaded in the usual
manner with a heavy dead weight. From this main accumulator we draw liquid
under pressure to perform the operations necessary in working the gun such as
loading and training.
Usually we mount the gun on a pivotted slide or platform and the recoil of the gun
is controlled by a recoil press. The ram of this press is fixed to a horn plate on the
front of the gun carriage and the cylinder of the press is fixed to the slide.
The auxiliary accumulators containing the compressible solids are also mounted
upon the gun slide and the connection between these and the main accumulator is
carried up through the pivot.
When the gun recoils the ram entering the cylinder of the recoil press drives
liquid into the auxiliary accumulators, room for it being provided by the temporary
collapse of the compressible solids.
A clack valve prevents the return of the liquid into the recoil press but it is free to
pass into the main accumulator, the entrance to which from the auxiliary accumulators
is always open. When the gun runs forward again and the ram of the recoil press
leaves its cylinder, liquid is drawn from a tank into the cylinder of the press through
a suction pipe and past a suction valve. Hydraulic loading and training gear is also
carried upon the platform and the liquid under pressure required to work it is drawn
when required from the main accumulator which is fed in the manner already
described. The action of the apparatus is thus as follows:-
When the gun runs out the cylinder of the recoil press is filled from the tank;
when the gun recoils the liquid is driven out from the cylinder of the recoil press,
first into auxiliary accumulators where it acts against the compressible solids and
thence into the main accumulator where it is stored:
By opening the valves leading to the loading and training gear when required the
liquid drawn under pressure is drawn off and rendered available for working the gear
and then returned to the tank.
Figure 1 of the drawings hereunto annexed is a plan view. Figure 2 a rear end
view partly in section and Figure 3 a side elevation of machinery arranged as above
described. Figure 4 is a vertical section of an hydraulic accumulator.

page_text: A is the gun and gun carriage. B the platform on which it runs. C the recoil
press fixed to the platform. Dits ram fixed to a horn plate on the front of the
carriage. EE two cylindrical accumulators each containing elastic compressible
bodies as described in the specification lodged by C. H. Murray with an application
for Patent No. 4654 in the year 1886. Into these accumulators liquid is driven from
the recoil press when the gun recoils. F is a pipe fitted with a iron return valve and
leading from the accumulators E through the pivot around which the platform B
turns to the hydraulic accumulator G which may be placed in any convenient position
in the gun battery. H is a pipe fitted with a suction valve and leading to a tank
containing liquid-the valve allows the liquid to be drawn into the recoil cylinder
when the gun is run out but prevents the liquid passing back to the tank when the
gun recoils. From the pipe F which leads to the hydraulic accumulator branch pipes
each fitted with a stop valve lead to the cylinders of the hydraulic loading and training
gear which may be of any suitable construction. I is a handle for opening a valve
for working the shot tray. Ja handle for opening a valve for working the rammer
and Ka handle for the training gear.
The platform is also provided with hand training gear as shewn at L, Figure 2.
As before stated the exhaust liquid from the several hydraulic cylinders used for
loading and training is returned to the tank from which the recoil cylinder.draws its
supply.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed we would state that we do not limit
ourselves to the exact construction of the gun mounting and loading and training gear
shewn in the drawings as accumulators or vessels containing elastic compressible
bodies may be used with hydraulic accumulators in the manner above described to
receive the liquid driven out from recoil presses of gun mountings otherwise arranged
but we declare that what we claim is :-
1. In machinery for working heavy guns the combination of recoil cylinders,
accumulators or vessels containing elastic compressible bodies and a hydraulic
accumulator substantially as described.
2. The combination of machinery for working heavy guns substantially as described
and illustrated in the drawings annexed.
1 11. 1ou
1
1000