Improvements in Apparatus for Minimising the Recoil in Ordnance.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 17th May, 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Minimising the Recoil in Ordnance.
I, HENRI SCHNEIDER of Creusot in the Republic of France, Ironmaster, do
bereby 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 relates to a novel system of hydraulic brakes which may be termed
"twin hydraulic brakes," and its object is to reduce the recoil of guns, to suppress
the percussive action, and to distribute the effects of the firing over a larger number
of points.
The recoil is considerably reduced by the use of four strong brakes arranged in
a manner peculiar to this system, and which transmit to four points on the body of
the carriage the force of the recoil.
The axis of these brakes, and the axis of the gun, are in the same plane, and move
in the same manner while the piece is being pointed; therefore, the gun always
recoils in the direction of its axis; it does not produce any percussion, and the
effects of the firing are directly absorbed by the brakes.
In order to better understand the system of twin bydraulic brakes, and the different
applications of which it is susceptible, reference should be made to the accompanying
drawings,
In which figure 1, sheet I, shows a longitudinal section; Fig. 2 a horizontal
section, and figure 3 a vertical section of the system of brakes.
The apparatus consists essentially of two slides, in which the gun is mounted, and in
which are formed the cylinders A A' of the brakes.
These slides work in guides forming part of a cradle, or, properly speaking,
frame E, which is fixed when firing. To the cradle E are secured the rods C C¹ of
the brakes, as will be hereafter described.
The two slides are arranged symmetrically with respect to the gun, and act in a
precisely similar manner, and they accurately fit the trunnions of the gun, and a
portion of the base of the trunnions, and consequently follow all the movements of
the piece.
The rear ends of the cylinders A A' communicate with each other by passages a a a,
made in the thickness of the metal, and the cylinders receive pistons B, B', the
rods CC of which are firmly secured to the cross heads D D', which form part of
the frame E. The cylinders are provided with the requisite amount of liquid.
When the gun is fired, will, in its backward movement or recoil, carry with it
the slides, or rather the cylinders of the brakes. The pistons B B' will remain
stationary, being secured to the frame E, and the liquid which is in front of each of
the pistons is violently driven out, and passes to the back of the said pistons by
conveniently arranged passages F.
These passages
F, as shewn on the drawing, take the form of grooves in the walls
of the cylinders. It is really sufficient for the action of the brake, that the total
section of the passages F should be such that all the force due to the recoil should be
absorbed by the forced expulsion of the liquid..
During the recoil, the void formed in the forward cylinder A, by reason of the exit
of the rod C is constantly filled by an equal quantity of liquid driven out by the
rod C¹, which, on the contrary, enters its cylinder A', the escape of the liquid boing
effected by the above mentioned passages a. a a. In this manner the brake cylinders
are at all times quite full, the loss from one being compensated for by the overflow
of the other. The brakes are thus under constant pressure, which is absolutely
necessary for ensuring a regular & unvarying recoil, and without shock.
H is a crosshead secured on the gun, and connected by rods J with the slides A A'.
Carried by threaded sockets which work in the crosshead H, are rods on which
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page_text: springs G are mounted. These springs bear against the crossheads D, and are
compressed during the recoil.
The pressure of these springs, at the end of the recoil movement, serves to return
the brakes and the gun to their normal position. During this return movement, the
rods of the forward pistons B slide in their respective cylinders A, driving out an
equal volume of liquid, which passes by the passages a. a a, and exactly fills the void
caused by the outward movement of the rods of the rearward pistons B¹.
Elastic buffers limit the travel of the slides in both directions.
The return action springs are shewn in front of the slides, but they may be placed,:
at the rear, above or below the slides; or they may be attached directly to the gun,
or even be replaced by a counter weight, which will return the gun to its normal:
position.
This system of twin hydraulic brakes, comprising four cylinders, divides the effect,
of the recoil, and distributes it on four points of the carriage by means of the four
piston rods, two of which work in compression, and two in tension. This division.
of the effects of firing, permits of the length of the recoil being much reduced,
by using brakes of small dimensions, which are at the same time very powerful.
This being established, it is now desirable, by way of example, to illustrate the
various applications of the system. Figs. 4 and 5, Sheet II, show tho invention as
applied to a turret.
In this example, the slides or brake cylinders A A¹ are arranged as in Sheet I;
they slide inside the frame E, to which are attached the brake piston rods CC. The
frame transmits the impetus it receives from the rods CC to two standards I, firmly
secured to the turret. To this end, the frame is furnished with projecting sides E,
which slide in suitable grooves formed in the standards I. Fig. 6, Sheet II, shows
the invention as applied to the main deck of a vessel, or in a gallery or casemate.
The brakes and the frame are arranged as in the turret carriage, but the standards I
are tied together at their upper part, and are secured at bottom to a bed K. This
bed, furnished with rollers, is fitted to circular ways secured on the deck or
floor.
In these carriages, the percussive effects are suppressed, and the recoil being
absorbed by the brakes, has a tendency to overthrow the carriage. This is however
averted by the resistance of the hook m, which takes under a flange in the
circular way.
To facilitate the movement of the gun, to obtain the proper elevation, the
gun with the brakes and mechanism may be balanced by means of a counter
weight.
Figs. 7 and 8, Sheet II, show a carriage in which the brakes are arranged in the
same manner, but the frame E is provided with trunnions, and the carriage is
mounted on a central pivot.
Fig. 9, Sheet II, shows another type of carriage. The twin brakes are still
arranged in the same manner, but the frame is replaced by two side pieces L L,
forming guides, and oscillating on pivots O situated forward of the arrangement.
All these severally detailed arrangements may be modified both in detail and action,
the only object for thus illustrating them being to show the variety of applications
of which the twin hydraulic brakes are susceptiblo.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would remark that
I reserve to myself the right of applying this system to any carriage whatsoever,
and also of varying, at will, the material, proportions, and dimensions, as well as
accessory arrangements, and I declare that what I claim is :-
1st. The arrangement of twin hydraulic brakes consisting of two slides in which the
gun is mounted, each composed of two brake cylinders A A' communicating with
each other, the piston rods of their pistons B B being firmly secured to a
frame E, which serves as a guide to the said slides, for the purpose of reducing, by, a
simultaneous action, the recoil of guns, and transmitting the firing strain to four

page_text: points of the carriage, while neutralizing the percussive action, substantially as
described and shown with respect to the figures in Sheet I of the accompanying
drawings.
2nd. The arrangement of twin hydraulic brakes above claimed, in combination
with return action springs G, and elastic washers or buffers t, which limit the travel
of the slides in each direction, as set forth, with respect to the Figures in Sheet I of
the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 94th day of March 1890