Year: 1886

page_text: I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved gun-carriage or apparatus for supporting and
working a gun in connection with an embrasure of minimum size; and for raising
the gun for firing, and lowering the same thereafter to protect it from the fire of an
enemy.
The said apparatus is surrounded by an armour-plated casing or shield and is
provided with a lid or cover which is circular and adapted to fit into the seat in the
upper part of the said casing.
The gun is mounted between two side plates supported upon a pivot at the upper
end of a column. The said column is carried, by means of two lugs, upon a
lever provided with a counter-weight, and is maintained in a vertical position by
guides.
The cover of the armour casing is rigidly connected with the two side plates of the
gun-carriage.
The counter-weight is such that it approximately balances the gun, the gun-carriage,
and the cover.
If the gun is to be brought into action, the lever is depressed, thereby lifting the
gun-carriage, together with the cover.
The pointing of the gun in the horizontal plane is effected by turning the gun-
carriage upon the pivot at the upper end of the column. A lever placed in a suitable
position is sufficient for causing the turning.

page_text: The pointing of the gun in the vertical plane is effected by raising or lowering the
breech end of the gun. The gun is, for this purpose, supported at the muzzle by two
trunnions located in bearings in a ring integral with the cover. The breech end
of the gun is supported upon the upper ends of two segmental bars or racks
sliding in guides arranged on the side plates. The other ends of the said segmental
racks are connected with a counterweight by means of chains passing over pulleys
mounted between the side plates. The said counterweight slides upon the column and
approximately balances the gun.
The vertical adjustment is caused by rotating a hand-wheel, the motion of which is
transmitted by pinions to the segmental racks. The latter are held in engagement
with the pinions by rolls.
The recoil of the gun is partially counteracted by the weight of the cover.
The
remainder is received by the edge of the armour casing, against which a flange on the
cover bears immediately after firing. The cover, however, by reason of the distribution
of its weight relatively to the pivot always returns to its normal position.
When the gun is to be lowered out of action, the lever is released, whereupon the
cover drops into its seat in the armour casing.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Gun-carriages and Apparatus for Use in
Connection therewith.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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:-
My invention relates to gun-carriages or apparatus for supporting and working a
gun in connection with an embrasure of minimum size.
My said invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which A indicates
an armour-plated casing or shield surrounding the gun, and B a lid or cover which is
circular and adapted to fit into the seat C in the upper part of the said casing.
D is the gun which is mounted between the two side plates E supported upon the
pivot F at the upper end of the column G. The said column is carried by means of
two lugs H, upon the lever I, having its fulcrum at I and provided with the counter-
weight K and is maintained in a vertical position by the guides G¹, G³.
The cover B is rigidly connected with the two side plates E of the gun carriage.
The weight K is such that it approximately balances the gun, the gun carriage and
the cover B.
If the gun is to be brought into action, the lever I is depressed, thereby lifting the
gun-carriage together with the cover into the position indicated in the drawing.
The pointing of the gun in the horizontal plane is effected by turning the gun-
carriage upon the pivot F. A lever placed in a suitable position is sufficient for
causing the turning.
The pointing of the gun in the vertical plane is effected by raising or lowering the
breech end of the gun. The gun is for this purpose supported at the muzzle by two
trunnions located in bearings in the ring B' integral with the cover. The breech end
of the gun is supported upon two segmental bars or racks L sliding in the guides M
arranged on the side plates E. The other ends of the said segmental racks are
connected with a counterweight N. by means of chains passing over pulleys N' mounted
between the side plates E. The said counter weight N slides upon the column G and
approximately balances the gun.
The vertical adjustment is caused by rotating the hand-wheel O the motion of which
is transmitted by pinions P to the racks. The latter are held in engagement with the
pinions by the rolls R.
The recoil of the gun is partially counter-acted by the weight of the cover B. The
remainder is received by the edge of the casing A, against which the flange B¹ of the
cover bears immediately after firing. The cover however, by reason of the distribution
of its weight relatively to the pivot F always returns to its normal position.

page_text: When the gun is to be lowered out of action the lever I is released whereupon the
cover B drops into its seat in the armour casing A.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my foreign
correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
First A gun carriage pivotted on a vertical column supported upon a lever, in such
a manner that the gun can be raised and lowered behind the shield protecting the
same.
Second-The employment of the counterweight N guided by the column G and
connected with the segmental racks substantially as described for the purpose
specified.