Improvements in Rammers for Ordnance.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rammers for Ordnance.
I, THEODORE CORNELL FENTON, of 1631, 19th Street, N.W. Washington, D.C..
Lieutenant United States Navy, and Assistant Chief of Bureau of Ordnance of
the Navy Department, Washington, D.C., United States of America, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in telescopic rammers for use with
heavy ordnance, and it consists in providing a number of tubes arranged tele-
scopically, and preferably with axes eccentric, and in providing means for
running out and then drawing back the several tubes. The inner tube carries
a rammer head of any suitable or desired construction, and the outer tube is
made fast to the pedestal frame or mount, on which the operating mechanism
is mounted.
This
The tube next to the outer tube is preferably provided with a rack, in which
meshes a pinion driven by the mechanism for operating the rammer.
may be either a series of gear wheels driven by hand-power, a train of gearing
operated by an electric motor, or suitable driving mechanism driven by steam,
hydraulic or pneumatic power.
All but the inner and outer tubes are preferably provided with pulleys at their
forward ends, over which pass chains secured respectively to the rear end of the
next inner tube, and to the next outer part. These chains pass between the
tubes where they are furthest apart, this being provided for by the eccentric
arrangement of the tubes, and the said tubes are prevented from rotating about
their axes by feathers engaging in guide ways.
The outer chain may be secured to a spring buffer lever or other device for
taking up the shock when the rammer is suddenly and violently run out, then
passes over the pulley attached to the forward end of the next to the outer tube,
is then rove through the eccentric space between the second and third tubes,
and is secured to an annular head fast to the third tube.
The second chain is secured to the end of the second tube, passes over the
pulley mounted on the end of the third tube, is rove through the eccentric space
between the third and fourth tubes, and is made fast to an annular head secured
to the fourth tube. The third chain is made fast to the end of the third tube,
passes over the pulley at the end of the fourth tube, and is made fast to the
head of the fifth tube.
To the forward end of the fifth tube I preferably attach the rammer head, or,
if necessary, and desired, there may be six, seven or more tubes, or the number
may be decreased if desired.

page_text: By this arrangement, when the second tube is run out, the first chain drags
out the third tube, the second chain drags out the fourth tube, the third chain
drags out the fifth tube, and so on, and a slow motion imparted to the second
tube causes the inner tubes to run out at an accelerated speed.
Thus the rammer is rapidly and yet powerfully run out.
To draw back the rammer after it is run out, any suitable means may be
employed, such as a rope fast to the rear head of the inner tube, and operated
by hand or by a suitable winch; but for convenience in operating the rammer I
preferably provide an arrangement of drums with a hauling in rope or chain,
by means of which said rope pays out as the rammer head advances, and may
be rapidly hauled in when it is desired to withdraw the rammer from the breech
of the gun. To accomplish this, I provide suitable pulleys, over which the
rope is rove, and a drum suspended on a swinging arm, on which drum the
rope is wound, the weight of the drum and arm always keeping the rope under
the desired tension.
This drum is provided with a spur wheel meshing with a pinion on the main
driving shaft, and so arranged that a reverse action of the said shaft will cause
the drum to rotate and will wind up the rope, thus drawing the rammer head
backwards.
It is generally preferable, whenever possible, to have ordnance machinery so
arranged that it may be operated at will, either by hand or some other motive
power, and I have devised means for operating the rammer either by hand or
by an electric motor, or by a combination of the two if desired, and other power
may obviously be applied by any one skilled in the art.
Where the electric motor is used, I may connect to the shaft of this motor one
of the members of a friction clutch, the opposite member of which is pressed
on by a strong spring. Any well known means for throwing the clutch coupling
into and out of engagement may be adopted. The friction disk is preferably
provided with a bevelled rim to engage the said clutch, and when the power
mechanism is in operation, this disk is fast on or feathered to one of the shafts
of a train of gearing for driving the main operating shaft.
The suggested method of suspending the drum for the hauling in rope in a
large measure prevents any injury to the parts from sudden jerks or strains,
in running the rammer in, and the same result in running out may be secured
by the spring buffer lever secured to the outer end of the outer chain, as alrady
described.
The forward end of each cylinder preferably carries a guide ring, with a guide
way therein, in which the feather of the next within cylinder engages and thus
any tendency of the cylinders to rotate about their axes causing the chains to jam
or bend is obviated. The same result may be accomplished in other ways.
By having the cylinders complete circumferentially, the well known strength
combined with lightness of the hollow cylinder is secured, and the arrangement
of these cylinders eccentrically enables the use of wire rope or chains in the
spaces where they are farthest apart, while the opposite sides of the cylinders
nay fit closely together. Moreover, while the hereindescribed construction
enders it possible to construct a series of telescopic cylinders so arranged that
great strength and rigidity is secured, at the same time the total diameter of
that part of the rammer that enters the breech of the gun is kept within the
narrow limits prescribed by the screw box and the bore of the gun.
It will be evident that instead of a rack and pinion the second cylinder may
be run out by a piston, or in any other well known way, and that other means
for operating the running in rope may be employed if desired.

page_text: Improvements in Rammers for Ordnance.
I, THEODORE CORNELL FENTON, of 1631, 19th Street, N.W. Washington, D.C.,
Lieutenant United States Navy, and Assistant Chief of Bureau of Ordnance of
the Navy Department, Washington, D.C., United States of America, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention relates to improvements in telescopic rammers for use with
heavy ordnance; and it consists in an improved construction of rammer com-
bining great structural strength, lightness, compactness, and efficiency and in
improved means for running the rammer out and for withdrawing the same
suitable for use with hand-power, electricity, steam or pneumatic power, or
hydraulic power.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown the invention as operated either
by hand power or by an electric motor; but the means for applying the power
and the power itself may be varied at will.
My invention also relates to a certain improved construction and certain com-
binations of parts, that will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.
Reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which the same parts are
indicated by the same letters throughout the several views.
Fig. I represents a side elevation of the rammer and its mount or pedestal
and shows the rammer run in or withdrawn to its rearward position. Fig. 2
represents a vertical longitudinal section of the rammer and its mount, the
section being taken on the broken line 2, 2 of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction
of the arrows, the scale of Fig. 2 being somewhat larger than that of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 represents a transverse section along the line 3, 3 of Figs. 1 and 2, the
scale of Fig. 3 being still further enlarged.
A represents the pedestal, mount, or frame, which may be made as a single
casting, in which the parts are mounted, which frame is provided with Hanges a
to secure the pedestal to the deck or other platform. The top of the frame is
preferably in the form of an arch or a cylinder slotted along its lower side and
projecting to the rear, as at A', while suitable journal-bearings a¹ are provided
for the ciank shaft H¹. The frame is preferably cast with the annular open-
ing A to secure increased lightness and also accessibility to the parts of the
mechanism.
The rammer proper consists of a series of hollow cylinders arranged eccen-
trically one within another, as shown in Fig. 3. I have shown four of these
tubes or cylinders B, B1, B2 and B3, to the inner one of which the rammer
head 10 is secured, having on its face the yielding annular pad 6º. The tubes
are kept eccentric by eccentric collars at each end, the collars on the forward
end being substantially Z-shaped, as shown at b¹ and 62 in Fig. 2, and are
slotted to permit the passage therethrough of the ribs or feathers 6', secured to
their respective tubes, which collars or ribs serve as guides to prevent the tubes
from rotating on their axes when being run out or run in.
To the rear end of the tubes B, B2, and B, respectively, the eccentric
collars 668 are secured, while the outer tube B has a rack (secured along
one side thereof, preferably the lower side, in which rack the pinion 1) meshes.
This pinion is mounted on the shaft D', which is rotated by hand or other
power, as will be hereinafter described.

page_text: The front end of each of the tubes B, B, and B2 carries journal-bearings B'
for a pulley B5, and over these pulleys pass the chains E, 2, and 3 respec-
tively. The chain E is secured at one end, as by a bolt c, to the eccentric
collar 66 (see Fig. 2) and then passes between the tubes B and B over the outer
pulley B³, and its opposite end e' is fast to the bolt e, secured by the nut e to
the buffer lever F. This lever is pivoted to the frame A, as at f, and has its
lower arm pressed on by the heavy spring G, mounted on the bolt G¹ and held
between the adjustable washer g and the lower arm of the lever F. This spring
should be under heavy compression. In practice a compression of about twelve
hundred pounds has proved satisfactory. The second chain E³ is secured to the
second eccentric collar, and after passing forward and reeving over a pulley B5,
as before, is secured to the journal-bearing B or any other fixed part of the
next outer tube. In the same way the third chain E is rove, and similarly
should there be any more joints in the telescopic rammer than are shown in
the drawings.
The inner tube 33 has its rear head closed by the rear portion of the
collar 68, the whole forming a ferrule over the rear end of the tube, and to this
ferrule the hauling-in rope N is secured, as at n, (see Fig. 2).
From an inspection of Fig. 2 it will be seen that if the pinion D be turned in
the direction of the arrow the rack C will be run out, causing the tube B and
outer pulley 135 to advance. The chain E', having one end fast to the bolt ef,
will pay out from the other end at a speed double the velocity of the rack C,
and thus starting the tube B', and this tube in turn will start the tube 12, and
so on for the tube B3, the speed outward of each tube being twice as great as
that of the tube next outside of it. Thus it will be seen that with a slow motion
to the pinion D the rammer head B° will be rapidly run out.
To relieve the shock that results when all the sections of the rammer are un
out, the buffer-lever F is provided.
It will be obvious that various methods of running the rammer in and out
may be adopted, but the means preferred by me will now be described.
It is generally preferable whenever possible to have ordnance machinery so
arranged that it may be operated at will either by hand or by some other motive
power, and I have shown means for operating the rammer either by hand or by
an electric motor, or by a combination of the two, if desired. It will be under
stood, however, that any other suitable source of power may be substituted for
the electric motor, if desired.
The hand cranks Hª, preferably one on each side of the rammer, are fast to
the shaft H, carrying the gear-wheel II, meshing in the gear-wheel D², fast
to or feathered on the shaft D', and thus the requisite motion for running out the
So much for running out by hand. For
rammer is imparted to the pinion D.
running out by other power, as by the electric moto S, I connect to the
shaft S of this motor one of the members of a friction clutch Q, the opposite
member of which is pressed on by the strong spring R, surrounding the shaft R¹.
Any well known means for throwing the clutch-coupling into and out of engage-
ment may be adopted, and as such means do not constitute a part of my invention
for the sake of clearness they are omitted from the drawings. The friction
disc P has a beveled rim p, that engages the friction clutch Q when the power
mechanism is in operation, and this disc is fast on or feathered to the shaft K',
carrying the pinion K, which meshes in the gear-wheel D², and thus drives the
shaft and pinion D.
When run out by hand or other power it becomes important to keep the
1ope N at all times taut and ready for running in and to operate the same for
unning the rammer in when desited. This is done as follows: L represents a
yoke loosely pivoted on the shaft K and forming journal bearings for the
haf M or the drum M, on which th inner end of the rope N is wound.
end of this diam canies the gear-teeth M', meshing with the pinion K, tast
on the shatt K, and thus as this shaft is turned as the rammer is being
.
One

page_text: run out the rope N unwinds from the drum, while if the shaft K' be turned in
the reverse direction, as would be the case when the rack C was being tun in,
the rope would be wound up again on the drum. This rope passes over the
pulleys and N³, journaled as at and ², on the frame A, and the weight
of the drum and its yoke L is at all times sufficient to keep the rope N taut,
while at the same time the method of suspending the drum prevents any injury
to the parts from sudden jerks or strains. Thus it will be seen that as the
rammer is run out the rope N will unwind from the drum and that when the
motion of the pinion ) is reversed for running in the rack it will run in the
outer tube and the drum will wind up the hauling in rope N and will haul in
the other tubes, restoring the parts to the initial or run in position. (Shown
in Figs. 1 and 2).
It will be evident that the outer cylinder B may be moved directly, as by
a piston, or in any other well known way, instead of by the rack and pinion
shown in the drawings.
It will be obvious that other means for operating the running in rope may
be adopted, if desired.
It will be seen that the eccentric collars at each end of the tubes enable the
running out chains to be rove between the tubes without cutting away the tubes
at all, and thus impairing the well-known strength of the hollow cylinders.
Moreover, the herein described construction renders it possible to construct a
series of telescopic cylinders so arranged that great strength and rigidity are
secured, while the total diameter of that part of the rammer that enters the
breech of the gun is kept within the narrow limits prescribed by the bore of the
gun and of the screw box.
Many of the various other advantages of the herein described apparatus will
readily suggest themselves to any one skilled in the art.
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 telescopic ammer, the combination with a plurality of hollow
cylinders aanged one within another, the inner cylinder carrying a rammer
head, of chains each connected to the exterior of cne cylinder and passing over a
pulley fastened to the front end of the cylinder next exterior thereto, and then
secured to the second exterior part, and means for moving the outer cylinder,
substantially as described.
2. In a telescopic rammer, the combination with a plurality of hollow cylinders
eccentrically arranged one within another, the inner cylinder carrying a rammer-
head, of chains each connected to the exterior of one cylinder and passing over a
pulley fastened to the front end of the cylinder next exterior thereto and then
secured to the second exterior part, and means for moving the outer cylinder,
sub-tantially as described.
8. In a telescopic rammer, the combination with a plurality of hollow
cylinders arranged one within another, the inner cylinder carving a rammer
head, of chains each connected to the exterior of one eylinder and passing over
a pulley fastened to the front end of the cylinder next exterior thereto and then
secured to the second exterior part, a rack fast to the outer cylinder, a pinion
meshing in said rack, and means for rotating said pinion, substantially as
described.
4. In a telescopic rammer, the combination with a plurality of hollow cylinders
eccentrically arranged one within another. the inner cylinder carrying a rammer-
head, of chains each connected to the exterior of one cylinder and passing over
a pulley fastened to the front end of the cylinder next exterior thereto and then
secured to the second exterior part. a rack fast to the outer cylinder, a pinion
meshing in said rack, and means for rotating said pinion, substantially described.

page_text: 5. In a telescopic rammer, the combination with a plurality of hollow cylinders
arranged one within another, the inner cylinder carrying a rammer-head, of
chains each connected to the exterior of one cylinder and passing over a pulley
fastened to the front end of the cylinder next exterior thereto and then secured
to the second exterior part, means for moving the outer cylinder, and a hauling-
in rope secured to the inner cylinder with means for hauling in on said rope to
run the rammer in, substantially as described.
6. In a telescopic rammer, the combination with a plurality of hollow cylinders
eccentrically arranged one within another, the inner cylinder carrying a rammer
head, of chains each connected to the exterior of one cylinder and passing over
a pulley fastened to the front end of the cylinder next exterior thereto and then
secured to the second exterior part, and means for moving the outer cylinder,
and a hauling-in rope secured to the inner cylinder, with means for hauling in
on said rope to run the rammer in, substantially as described.
7. In a telescopic rammer, the combination with a plurality of hollow cylinders
arranged one within another, the inner cylinder carrying a rammer head, of
chains each connected to the exterior of one cylinder and passing over a pulley
fastened to the front end of the cylinder next exterior thereto and then secured
to the second exterior part, a rack fastened to the outer cylinder, a pinion mesh-
ing in said rack, means for rotating said pinion, and a hauling-in rope secured
to the inner cylinder, with means for hauling in on said rope to run the rammer
in, substantially as described.
8. In a telescopic rammer, the combination with a plurality of hollow cylinders
eccentrically arranged one within another, the inner cylinder carrying a rammer
head, of chains each connected to the exterior of one cylinder and passing over
a pulley fastened to the front end of the cylinder next exterior thereto and then
secured to the second exterior part, a rack fast to the outer cylinder, a pinion
mesling in said rack, and means for rotating said pinion, and a hauling in rope
secured to the inner cylinder, with means for hauling in on said rope to run the
rammer in, substantially as described.
9. In a telescopic rammer, the combination with a mount or frame of a
plurality of hollow cylinders arranged one within another, the inner
cylinder carrying a rammer head, pulleys carried by all but the inner cylinder,
chains fast to the rear portion of the several cylinders except the outer cylinder,
then leading forward between the cylinders and passing over said pulleys, and
being secured to the next outer cylinder but one, and the outer chain being
secured to the mount or frame, with means for reciprocating the outer cylinder,
and means for restoring the parts to the initial position, substantially as
described.
10. In a telescopic rammer, the combination with a mount or frame, of a
plurality of hollow cylinders eccentrically arranged one within another, the inaer
cylinder carrying a rammer head, pulleys carried by all but the inner cylinder,
chains fast to the rear portion of the several cylinders except the outer cylinder,
then leading forward between the cylinders and passing over said pulleys, and
being secured to the next outer cylinder but one, and the outer chain being
secured to the mount or frame, with means for reciprocating the outer cylinder,
and means for restoring the parts to the initial position, substantially as
described.
11. In a telescopic rammer, the combination with a mount or frame of a
plurality of hollow cylinders arranged one within another, the inner
cylinder carrying a rammer head, pulleys carried by all but the inner cylinder,
chains fast to the rear portion of the several cylinders except the outer cylinder,
then leading forward between the cylinders and passing over said pulleys, and
being secured to the next outer cylinder but one, and the outer chain being
secured to the mount or frame, a rack fast to the outer cylinder, a pinion mesh-
ing in said rack, and means for rotating said pinion, substantially as described.
12. In a telescopic rammer, the combination with a mount or frame, of a

page_text: plurality of hollow cylinders eccentrically arranged one within another, the inner
cylinder carrying a rammer head, pulleys carried by all but the inner cylinder,
chains fast to the rear portion of the several cylinders except the outer cylinder,
then leading forward between the cylinders and passing over said pulleys, and
being secured to the next outer cylinder but one, and the outer chain being
secured to the mount or frame, connected fast to the outer cylinder, a pinion
meshing in the rack, a rack, and means for rotating said pinion, substantially
as described.
13. In a telescopic rammer the combination with a mount or frame, of a
plurality of hollow cylinders arranged one within another, the inner cylinder
carrying a rammer head, pulleys carried by all but the inner cylinder, chains
fast to the rear portion of the several cylinders except the outer cylinder, then
leading forward between the cylinders and passing over said pulleys, and being
secured to the next outer cylinder but one, and the outer chain being secured
to the mount or frame, a spring buffer connected to the end of the outer chain
with means for reciprocating the outer cylinder, and means for restoring the
parts to the initial position, substantially as described.
14. In a telescopic rammer, the combination with a mount or frame, of a
plurality of hollow cylinders arranged one within another, the inner cylinder
carrying a rammer head, pulleys carried by all but the inner cylinder, chains
fast to the rear portion of the several cylinders except the outer cylinder, then
leading forward between the cylinders and passing over said pulleys, and being
secured to the next outer cylinder but one, and the outer chain being secured
to the mount or frame, a spring controlled buffer-lever connected to the end of
the outer chain with means for reciprocating the outer cylinder, and means for
restoring the parts to the initial position, substantially as described.
15. In a telescopic rammer, the combination with a mount or frame, of a
plurality of hollow cylinders arranged one within another, the inner cylinder
carrying a rammer head, pulleys carried by all but the inner cylinder, chains
fast to the rear portion of the several cylinders except the outer cylinder then
leading forward between the cylinders and passing over said pulleys, and being
secured to the next outer cylinder but one, and the outer chain being secured
to the mount or frame, a spring buffer connected to the end of the outer chain,
a rack and pinion for reciprocating the outer cylinder, and a hauling-in rope for
hauling in the inner cylinders, substantially as described.
16. In a telescopic rammer, the combination with a mount or frame, of a
plurality of hollow cylinders arranged one within another, the inner cylinder
carrying a rammer head, pulleys carried by all but the inner cylinder, chains
fast to the rear portion of the several cylinders except the outer cylinder, then
leading forward between the cylinders and passing over said pulleys, and being
secured to the next outer cylinder but one, and the outer chain being secured
to the mount or frame, a spring controlled buffer lever connected to the end of
the outer chain, a rack and pinion for reciprocating the outer cylinder and a
hauling-in rope for hauling in the inner cylinders, substantially as described.
17. In a telescopic rammer, the combination with a mount or frame, of a
plurality of hollow cylinders arranged one within another, the inner cylinder
carrying a rammer head, pulleys carried by all but the inner cylinder, chains
fast to the rear portion of the several cylinders except the outer cylinder then
leading forward between the cylinders and passing over said pulleys, and being
secured to the next outer cylinder but one, and the outer chain being secured
to the mount or frame, a spring buffer connected to the end of the outer chain,
a rack and pinion for reciprocating the outer cylinder, and a hauling-in rope for
hauling in the inner cylinders with means for keeping said rope taut and for
hauling in on the same when desired, substantially as described.
18. In a telescopic rammer, the combination with a mount of frame, of a
plurality of hollow cylinders arranged one within another, the inner cylinder
carrying a rammer head, pulleys carried by all but the inner cylinder, chains

page_text: fast to the rear portion of the several cylinders except the outer cylinder, then
leading forward between the cylinders and passing over said pulleys, and being
secured to the next outer cylinder but one, and the outer chain being secured
to the mount or frame, a spring-controlled buffer-lever connected to the end of
the outer chain, a rack and pinion for reciprocating the outer cylinder and a
hauling-in rope for hauling in the inner cylinders, with means for keeping said
rope taut and for hauling in on the same when desired, substantially as described.
19. A telescopie rammer comprising a number of sliding tubes or hollow
cylinders arranged eccentrically one within another, the innermost tube carrying
a rammer head and having its rear connected by a rope to a barrel, the outermost
tube being provided with a rack geared to a pinion, the rear end of each tube
except the outermost and the tube next it being connected by a chain passing
over a pulley mounted on the front of the tube next it to the front of the next
tube but one, and the chain from the rear of the tube next the outermost being
led over a pulley mounted on the front of the outermost tube and attached to a
spring buffer lever, the barrel and pinion being suitably geared to winch handles
or other motor, all arranged and operating substantially as described.
Dated this 6th day of November 1899.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
Chartered Patent Agent, London, for the Applicant.