Year: 1885

page_text: I ANDREW NOBLE late Captain in the Royal Artillery of Jesmonddene House
Newcastle upon Tyne Manufacturing Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
wise
"
The Invention relates to carriages or mountings for guns to be aimed by the aid
of a lever which projects to the rear and is furnished with a shoulder rest and
hand grip by which the gunner directs the piece and the same man fires the gun
when the aim has been obtained by pulling a trigger by the aid of a cord or other-
On a base or suitable support there is fixed a pivot piece consisting of a
hollow cylindrical casting closed at the top and bolted to the base by a flange
around it at its lower end-This pivot piece receives upon it another casting
provided with two arms on which are bearings receiving the trunnions of a slide
frame in which the gun is able to move longitudinally the distance necessary for
the recoil The pivot piece and the casting which it supports are provided with
flanges and these are held together by a clip ring made in two parts and bolted
together at parts diametrically opposite-In the top of the pivot piece there is a
central recess cylindrical in form and this receives a corresponding boss or pivot
projecting from the under side of the upper casting A screw plug passes down
through the boss and abuts upon the bottom of the cavity in the pivot piece
When this plug is suitably set the upper casting can turn freely on the lower
casting or pivot piece moving truly and without shake.
The gun can thus be trained in any desired direction, and if desired, the upper
casting can then be locked to the pivot piece by means of a pinching screw which
forces a block against the cylindrical side of the pivot piece.
The gun itself is provided with trunnions and these are received into bearings
which can move upon the trunnion frame or gun slide-The recoil is controlled by
a pair of coiled springs arranged on either side in rear of these trunnion blocks or
bearings and between them and abutments upon the gun slide From the trunnion
blocks or bearings on either side a piston rod projects forward and it carries a
piston which works in a cylinder provided to receive it in the fore part of the gun
slide The two cylinders are connected by a passage passing transversely across
the gun slide beneath the gun to equalize the pressure in the two cylinders. There
are suitable ports or passages by which when the recoil takes place the liquid in

page_text: the cylinder passes from one side of the piston to the other and when the recoil is
spent the springs bring the gun forward again to the firing position.
The gun slide terminates in front in a face upon which a shield of armour plate
is bolted for the protection of the gunners. The trunnions of the gun slide are at
the centre of gravity of the gun and shield so that the gunner by the aid of the
shoulder rest is able to move the whole including the shield when aiming. A
pinching screw is provided to lock the gun slide to its support when desired.
In some cases I replace the gun slide referred to above by a piece carried by
trunnions in a similar manner but of cylindrical form, the gun passes through this
piece, working through stuffing boxes and cup leathers at either end. The gun has
a piston ring fixed upon it within this cylinder and it is of somewhat larger
diameter in rear of the piston ring than in front of it. The cylinder is charged
with oil and it forms an hydraulic buffer by which the recoil of the gun is in part
controlled. As before there are passages by which the oil or liquid passes from one
side of the piston to the other during recoil. A coiled spring surrounds the gun
in front of the cylinder above described; it
abuts upon the rear part of the case it is contained in a case, and the spring
his in turn abuts against the cylinder
cover The fore part of the gun in front of the spring has a cap applied to it by
means of a bayonet joint. This cap abuts on the fore end of the spring, so that
when the gun recoils the spring is compressed. After the recoil the spring
brings back the gun to the firing position. The hydraulic buffer controls these
movements. -
In another modification I provide the spring underneath the gun instead of
around it; it is contained in a spring box formed or fixed upon the cylinder, through
which the gun passes and in which it recoils. A rod jointed to the gun in rear of
the spring box passes into it through a packed guide. The spring surrounds the
rod and at its fore end abuts upon a piston like head with which the rod is
provided.
In this arrangement the shield is fixed to the lower support so that it partakes
of the training movement of the gun but not of the movement which the gun has
about its trunnions for elevating and depressing the nozzle.
Dated this 00-11
1007
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, ANDREW NOBLE late Captain in the Royal Artillery of Jesmonddene House,
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Manufacturing 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 :-
The invention relates to carriages or mountings for guns to be aimed by the aid
of a lever which projects to the rear and is furnished with a shoulder rest and
hand grip by which the gunner directs the piece and the same man fires the gun
when the aim has been obtained by pulling a trigger by the aid of a cord or
otherwise. On a base or suitable support there is fixed a pivot piece consisting of
a hollow cylindrical casting closed at the top and bolted to the base by a flange
around it at its lower end. This pivot piece receives upon it another casting
provided with two arms on which are bearings receiving the trunnions of a slide
frame in which the gun is able to move longitudinally the distance necessary for
the recoil. The pivot piece and the casting which it supports are provided with
flanges and these are held together by a clip ring made in two parts and bolted
together at parts diametrically opposite. In the top of the pivot piece there is a
central recess cylindrical in form and this receives a corresponding boss or pivot
projecting from the under side of the upper casting. A screw plug passes down
through the boss and abuts upon the bottom of the cavity in the pivot piece.
When this plug is suitably set the upper casting can turn freely on the lower
casting or pivot piece moving truly and without shake.
The gun can thus be trained in any desired direction, and if desired, the upper
casting can then be locked to the pivot piece by means of a pinching screw which
forces a block against the cylindrical side of the pivot piece.
The gun itself is provided with trunnions and these are received into bearings
which can move upon the trunnion frame or gun slide. The recoil is controlled by
a pair of coiled springs arranged on either side in rear of these trunnion blocks or
bearings and between them and abutments upon the gun slide. From the trunnion
blocks or bearings on either side a piston rod projects forward and it carries a
piston which works in a cylinder provided to receive it in the fore part of the gun
slide. The two cylinders 'are 'connected by a passage passing transversely across
the gun slide beneath the gun to equalise the pressure in the two cylinders. There
are suitable ports or passages by which when the recoil takes place, the liquid in
the cylinder passes from one side of the piston to the other, and when the recoil is
spent the springs bring the gun forward again to the firing position.
The gun slide terminates in front in a face upon which a shield of armour plate
is bolted for the protection of the gunners. The trunnions of the gun slide are at
the centre of gravity of the gun and shield so that the gunner by the aid of the
shoulder rest is able to move the whole, including the shield, when aiming-
A pinching screw is provided to lock the gun slide to its support when desired,

page_text: In some cases I replace the gun slide referred to above by a piece carried by
trunnions in a similar manner but of cylindrical form, the gun passes through this
piece, working through stuffing boxes and cup leathers at either end. The gun
has a piston ring fixed upon it within this cylinder and it is of somewhat larger
diameter in rear of the piston ring than in front of it. The cylinder is charged
with oil and it forms an hydraulic buffer by which the recoil of the gun is in part
controlled. As before there are passages by which the oil or liquid passes from
one side of the piston to the other during recoil. A coiled spring surrounds the
gun in front of the cylinder above described, it is contained in a case, and the
spring abuts upon the rear part of the case and this in turn abuts against
the cylinder cover. The fore part of the gun in front of the spring has a cap
applied to it by means of a bayonet joint. This cap abuts on the fore end of the
spring, so that when the gun recoils the spring is compressed. After the recoil the
spring brings back the gun to the firing position. The hydraulic buffer controls
these movements.
In another modification I provide the spring underneath the gun instead of
around it; it is contained in a spring box formed or fixed upon the cylinder
through which the gun passes and in which it recoils. A rod jointed to the gun
in rear of the spring box passes into it through a packed guide. The spring.
surrounds the rod and at its fore end abuts upon a piston like head with which
the rod is provided.
.
In this arrangement the shield is fixed to the lower support so that it partakes
of the training movement of the gun but not of the movement which the gun has
about its trunnions for elevating and depressing the muzzle.
In order that my said invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect I will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
.
Figure 1 is a side elevation showing a gun carriage or mounting constructed in
accordance with my invention with buffer cylinders and recoil springs on the slide
frame on each side of the gun.
A quick firing gun is shown in place upon the carriage.
Figure 2 is a plan of this carriage or mounting.
Figure 3 is an elevation of the gun and carriage as seen from the rear.
Figure 4 is a transverse section taken through the trunnions of the slide frame
and of the gun.
Figure 5 is a section on the line 1, 1, in Figure 2.
Figure 6 is a side elevation of a gun carriage in which a spring to resist the
recoil and restore the gun to the firing position, encircles the gun itself, and where
also the gun passes through its hydraulic buffer cylinder which is part of the slide
frame and carries a piston ring upon it within the cylinder.
Figure 7 is a plan of the carriage represented by Figure 6 and Figure 8 is a
longitudinal vertical section of the parts immediately around the gun.
Figure 9 is a side elevation showing a gun carriage or mounting in which the
coiled spring to control the recoil is underneath the gun being carried by a spring
box on the slide frame in which a disc or piston attached to the gun by a rod
passing through the interior of the coiled spring compresses it during recoil.
Figure 10 is a plan of this carriage or mounting and Figure 11 is a longitudinal
vertical section of the slide frame and spring; the gun with the disc or piston and
rod passing through the coiled spring is shown in elevation.
Figure 12 is a side elevation showing a modification in which also the coiled
spring to resist recoil is arranged beneath the gun, but in this case the spring box
is connected with the gun and recoils with it whilst the piston or disc against
which the coiled spring is compressed, is attached to the slide frame by the rod

page_text: which passes through the spring. In this case also a hydraulic buffer cylinder is
provided which also recoils with the gun, and it contains a piston which is
attached by its rod to the slide frame.
Figure 13 is a plan of the gun carriage represented in Figure 12.
Figure 14 is a rear elevation of the carriage with the gun removed.
Figure 15 is a vertical section taken on the centre line of Figure 14 omitting
however some of the parts.
Figure 16 is a section on the line B B in Figure 15.
In Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 A. A is the upper part of the pivot piece; and B is the
casting which the pivotted piece receives upon it; it has arms B¹ B' on which are
bearings receiving the trunnions C¹ C¹ of the slide frame C. D is the gun, it has
projections or trunnions upon it which are received into bearing blocks E E and
these are able to travel along guide surfaces C* C* provided for them on the slide
frame C. Fis a clip ring which holds together the parts A and B but in such
manner that B can turn freely upon A. G is a screw plug in the part B which
can be set down into a recess in the part A, and this screw plug can be adjusted so
that whilst the movement of B upon A takes place with sufficient freedom it does
BO without shake-H is a pinching screw for locking the part B fast upon A to
maintain the gun in position when laid upon an object for as long as may be
desired.
In rear of the blocks E E a spring box C is provided it contains coiled springs I,
which are compressed when the gun recoils.
.
The springs have an abutment upon the rear end of the spring box which in
effect forms a part of the slide frame C. In connection with the same frame also.
and at its fore end hydraulic buffer cylinders C are formed, one on either side.
These contain pistons K. which are attached by their rods to the blocks E. C³ is a
passage connecting the two buffer cylinders to equalize the pressure in them. Lis
a shoulder piece or stock attached to the slide frame C; by the aid of it the gun is
directed.
M is a shield fixed upon the slide frame Cand movable with it. N is a pinching
screw for locking together the parts B and C when required to prevent change
taking place in the elevation of the gun.
The breach loading arrangement of the gun and the firing mechanism may be
of any suitable construction; the gun represented by the drawings is of a well
known type.
In Figures 6, 7 and 8 A is the upper part of the pivot piece supporting the
casting B with which it is connected by a clip ring Fas already described. The
slide frame Cin this case assumes a cylindrical form; it has trunnions C¹ and these
are received into bearings on the arms B¹. The gun D passes through the slide
frame, the interior of which now forms the buffer cylinder. The exterior of the
gun within the slide frame is cylindrical and of two diameters and it has upon it a
piston ring D'. The ends of the slide frame or buffer cylinder are closed by
packed glands containing cupped leathers fitting to the exterior of the gun and
serving the double purpose of guiding the gun in its movements to and fro through
the slide frame and of preventing escape of liquid from the buffer cylinder. O is a
coiled spring surrounding the gun in front of the slide frame; it is contained in a
spring box, and it abuts upon the bottom of the box, which in turn is supported by
the front gland of the slide frame. P is a ring locked on to the gun with a
bayonet joint or divided screw. The ring P abuts against the spring O and when
the gun is fired and recoils it compresses this spring. There are passages in the
piston ring D¹ by which the liquid in the buffer cylinder is able to pass, and the
dimensions of the passages regulate the speed of the gun both in recoiling and
returning to the firing position.
In Figures 9. 10 and 11 the slide frame in the part through which the gun
passes is of cylindrical form as in the previous arrangement, and it may or may
not serve as a buffer cylinder-The drawing shows a simple guide in which the
°

page_text: gun is able to slide. The coiled spring to resist recoil and return the gun to the
firing point is contained in a spring box C carried by the slide frame C underneath
the gun Q is the coiled spring. R is a rod passing through the interior of the
spring; it is connected at one end with a disc or piston S and at the other with
the gun near its breech end as is clearly seen in Figure 11. When the gun recoils
the spring is compressed by the disc or piston S which abuts upon it.
In Figures 12 to 16 A. A is the upper part of the pivot piece B is the casting
mounted thereon; in bearings on its arms B₁ the trunnions C₁, of the guide
frame Care carried. The gun D has trunnions D¹ which are received into
blocks E. E.
In this arrangement the blocks E. E. are connected across beneath the gun
instead of being supported as they are in the arrangement shown in the Figures 1
to 5, so that they form together what may be termed a "carriage" and this
carriage is able to slide as a whole longitudinally on the slide frame C; there being
guide surfaces C2, C3, thereon by which it is controlled. In this carriage E the
bydraulic cylinder E¹ is formed and behind it also forming part of the carriage E
there is the spring box E². The hydraulic cylinder is closed in front with a cover
in which there is a gland, and the rod T of the piston T. passes through this
gland The rod T¹ is fixed to the front part of the slide frame C. The piston
rod T¹ is continued through the spring box E' as a stem T3 and this carries at its
end a disc Ts, which forms an abutment for the coiled spring U: As will be seen
the rod or stem T3 passes through the interior of the coiled spring U. When the
gun recoils the spring U is compressed and the liquid in the cylinder R also is
compelled to pass from one side of the piston T to the other by passages provided
in the piston for this purpose. In other respects the arrangement is substantially
similar to those previously described. H is a pinching screw which binds the
parts A and B together and H* is a bolt which may be provided to lock these
parts together when desired. L is a shoulder piece or stock bolted upon the
slide frame C for directing the gun and M is a shield. It is supported by the
standards B* from the part B with which also it is connected at B**.
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
1. In a carriage or mounting for a quick firing gun; a pivotted support carrying
by trunnions a frame provided with guide surfaces along which blocks attached to
the gun slide; and provided also with springs in rear of the blocks and pistons
working hydraulic buffer cylinders in front of them substantially as described.
2. The combination in a carriage or mounting for a quick firing gun of a slide
frame having trunnions and carried by these trunnions in bearings on a pivotted
support, and a gun with cylindrical surfaces formed upon it carrying a piston ring
within a cylindrical cavity in the slide frame such cylindrical cavity being closed
by glands at its ends filled with liquid, and serving as a hydraulic buffer to control
the movement of the gun substantially as described.
3. In combination with the arrangement set forth in the second claiming clause,
the use of coiled spring surrounding the gun in front of the slide frame and
abutting upon a collar provided upon the gun; such spring being compressed when
the gun recoils and by its reaction bringing the gun back to the firing position
substantially as described.
4. The combination in a carriage or mounting for a quick firing gun, of a
pivotted support carrying by its trunnions a slide frame in which the gun is held
so that it can move longitudinally, and a spring box or abutment on the slide
frame beneath the gun for or containing a coiled spring and a rod passing through
the interior of the spring, and at its fore end connected with a disc on which
the spring abuts and at its rear end connected with the gun near its breech end
substantially as described,
1.
Stat 4

page_text: 5. The modification of the arrangement referred to in the preceding claiming
clause which consists in connecting the rod passing through the interior of the
spring with the slide frame whilst the spring box or other abutment of the spring
is beneath the gun upon a carriage which moves with the gun substantially as
described.
6. My improved carriages or mountings for quick firing guns substantially as
described and represented by the annexed drawings.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.