An Improved Rammer for Heavy Guns.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Feb., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 28th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 2nd Jan., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Rammer for Heavy Guns.
I, JOSIAH VAVASSEUR, of 8 Great George Street, Westminster, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The improved rammer is intended for use in positions where there is not room
to accommodate a rammer having a rigid stem.
The head of the improved rammer has a double or twofold stem jointed to it.
Each branch of the stem consists of a series of links connected by rule like joints
which permit the links to fold in one direction only.
The two branches of the stem are arranged to come back so that one supports
the other and the mutual support thus afforded prevents either from folding.
So long as by suitable guides the two branches of the stem are kept together
they operate as a rigid stem but when permitted to separate they may be led off*
in opposite directions and may if desired be wound upon or pass around rollers.
Dated this 20th day of February 1896.
J. VAVASSEUR.
An Improved Rammer for Heavy Guns.
JOSIAH VAVASSEUR, of 8 Great George Street, Westminster, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the naturo 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 improved rammer is intended for use in positions where thero is not room
to accommodate a rammer having a rigid stem.
The head of the improved rammer has a double or twofold stem jointed to it.
Each branch of the stem consists of a series of links connected by rule like joints
which permit the links to fold in one direction only.
The two branches of the stem are arranged to come back so that one supports
the other and the mutual support thus afforded prevents either from folding.
So long as by suitable guides the two branches of the stem are kept together
they operate as a rigid stem but when permitted to separate they may be led off in
opposite directions and may if desired be wound upon or pass around rollers.
The annexed drawings show apparatus in accordance with my invention.
Figure 1 is a plan. Figure 2 is a vertical section. Figure 3 shows a portion of
the apparatus to a larger scale. Figure 4 is a plan of one of the links of the
double or two fold stem of the rammer; and Figure 5 is an end view of the link.
a a are a pair of guns in a barbette. bb represents a portion of the barbette
wall. ccare projectiles lying on the trough like heads d d of the shot hoists.
ee are the rammer heads, they have each a short rigid stem jointed at el so that

page_text: when out of use the rammer head inny bo turned back out of the way as indicated
in dotted lines in Figure 2. is the double or two fold jointed stem, it forms
a continuation of the rigid stem, gg are main guide rollers between which the two
fold stem passes by bringing the two branches of the stem together theso guido
rollers render it rigid. are other guide pulleys which control the branches of
the stem when separate. Each link of the chains composing the two fold jointed
stem has a section of a toothed rack upon it and when the chains straighten
these sections abut end to end and form continuous racks. I is a toothed wheel
gearing with the racks, it can be driven by an electro motor and when so driven it
protrudes the rammer into the gun or withdraws it therefrom. m is the handle for
starting and stopping the motor.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inveu-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A rammer having a double or two fold jointed stem substantially ns
described.
2. Ramming apparatus substantially as described.
J. VAVASSEUR.