IMPROVEMENTS IN MOUNTING AND WORKING ORDNANCE
Year: 1869

page_text: ETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn
Fields, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOUNTING AND WORKING ORDNANCE."-A com-
munication from abroad by Jules Cèsar Houel and Ferdinand
Louis Felix Caillet, of Paris, in the Empire of France, Engineers.
caled the 29th June 1869, and dated the 5th February 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 5th February 1869.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOUNTING AND WORKING ORDNANCE," a
communication from abroad by Jules Cesar Houel and Ferdinand Louis
Felix Caillet, of Paris, in the Empire of France, Engineers, to be as
follows:-
Min Invention relates partly to an improved mode of mounting

page_text: keep the gun concealed from the enemy, excepting during the moment
it is being fired; 2, to store up either the whole or a portion of the
force exerted by the recoil of the gun, and to utilize the same in
bringing the gun to its firing position; 3, to effect the elevation and
firing of the gun automatically.
According to this Invention the trunnions of the gun are mounted
upon a pair of upright levers which turn on centres at their lower ends
in the body of the carriage, and which levers form the front portion
of a perfect parallelogram on each side of the gun composed of the two
upright levers referred to, two other upright levers in the rear and two
horizontal rods or links coupling the trunnions with the upper ends
of the hinder upright levers. The base of the parallelogram is formed
by the main body of the carriage or support. It will thus he readily
understood that the gun may be drawn inwards and simultaneously
lowered below the parapet so as to be completely concealed, this
motion being perfectly parallel, and the gun preserving the same
direction as to aim both in its elevated and lowered position. The
recoil of the gun is caused to contract a spring or springs, or elevate
a counterweight, which shall subsequently produce or assist in producing
the movement requisite for elevating the gun. The springs may be
situate beneath the main support and be connected by a chain with
a curved segment on the lower end of each of the front supporting
lever arms, so that as they turn partially by the recoil they will wind
up the chain and compress the springs. Friction breaks are applied
for the purpose of regulating or controlling the elevating movement
of the gun.
In order to work the gun by hand, if desired, geared wheels and
pinions are employed worked by winch handles for acting upon the
main supporting upright lovers or arms, Springs may be adapted to
the horizontal or upper portion of the parallelogram behind the
trunnions to deaden the shock of the explosion. By suitable chain
connections between the gun or its attachments and any convenient
fixed point or points it is obvious that the elevating and firing of the
gun may be effected automatically.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 5th August 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Henry Johnson, Her special
license that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Henry Johnson,
my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOUNTING AND WORKING ORDNANCE," a communication
from abroad by Jules Cèsar Houel and Ferdinand Louis Felix Caillet,
of Paris, in the Empire of France, Engineers, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say:-
The re:1 T

page_text: 1, to keep the gun concealed from the enemy, excepting during the
moment it is being fired; 2, to store up either the whole or a portion
of the force exerted by the recoil of the gun, and to utilize the same in
bringing the gun to its firing position; 3, to effect the elevation and
firing of the gun automatically.
According to this Invention the trunnions of the gun are mounted
upon a pair of upright levers which turn on centres at their lower ends
in the body of the carriage, and which levers form the front portion of a
perfect parallelogram on each side of the gun composed of the two
upright levers referred to, two other upright levers in the rear and two
horizontal rods or links coupling the trunnions with the upper ends of
the hinder upright levers. The base of the parallelogram is formed by
the main body of the carriage or support. It will thus be readily under-
stood that the gun may be drawn inwards and simultaneously lowered
below the parapet, so as to be completely concealed, this motion being
perfectly parallel, and the gun preserving the same direction as to aim
both in its elevated and lowered position. The recoil of the gun is
caused to contract a spring or springs, or elevate a counterweight, which
shall subsequently produce or assist in producing the movement
requisite for elevating the gun. The springs may be situate beneath the
main support, and be connected by a chain with a curved segment on
the lower end of each of the front supporting lever arms, so that as
they turn partially by the recoil they will wind up the chain and
compress the springs. Friction breaks are applied for the purpose of
regulating or controlling the elevating movement of the gun.
In order to work the gun by hand, if desired, geared wheels and
pinions are employed worked by winch handles for acting upon the main
supporting upright levers or arms. Springs may be adapted to the
horizontal links or upper portion of the parallelogram behind the
trunions to deaden the shock of the explosion. By suitable chain
connections between the gun or its attachments and any convenient
fixed point or points it is obvious that the elevating and firing of the
gun may be effected automatically.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall
now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose
shall refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheets of Drawings, the
same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the
corresponding Figures.

page_text: Figure 1 (Sheet 1) of the Drawings is a side elevation, Figure 2 a
plan, and Figure 3 a transverse section taken along the lines A, B, and
C, D, (Figure 1) of one modification of a gun carriage constructed
according to this Invention.
a shews the gun in its position for firing, with its axis in a horizontal
direction; a shews its position when housed, the axis being also
horizontal; 6 shews the gun placed at an angle of 5° in its position for
firing, and 6' the position of the gun at the same angle when housed;
c, c, are the sighting slide and wedge; d, d¹, d", d, is the frame
carrying the pointing mechanism; e, e¹, e", shews the sinusoidal
curve; fff", shews the regular curve; k is the concussion tampion
to act as a stop or check to the gun in firing; m, m', is the brake; n is
the pinion to which a winch handle is applied in order to work the gun
by hand; and T are the trunnions.
This system of gun carriage is composed of a strong metal frame, to
which are jointed the sides of the double parallelogram which supports
the piece of ordnance, and the top sides of which carry a species of
frame which serves as a point of support to the breech, or to the
cushions, or pointing screws interposed. The two fore ascending rocking
arms or sides of the parallelogram are made of suitable strength to
support the gun, the weight of which they bear alone, and to withstand
the force of the recoil. The other sides, being simply guide rods, are
made much lighter, and their distance apart is maintained by horizontal
tie rods or cross pieces. With a view to collect or accumulate the whole
or a portion of the power produced by the lowering of the gun and its
supports, and by the reaction due to the recoil, the rocking arms are pro-
longed below the points where they are jointed, and are connected at
their lower extremities either to springs fixed to the carriage or to a
moveable counterweight.
In the first case their lower surface is cut away in the form of
the arc of a circle, or of a sinusoidal curve properly calculated, and
receives the chains which contract the springs, the latter being so
arranged that they may be more or less tightened at will. As in many
cases it may be desirable to store up only a portion of the mechanical
force developed brakes are provided on the axes of the rocking arms, by
means of which that portion of the force which may be considered pre-
judicial to the facility of working the gun may by friction be absorbed.
As the gun remains constantly parallel to its own axis it may be

page_text: adjusted as regards the aim while it is shielded behind the parapet, and
be discharged as soon as its mouth has passed the level of the battery.
The gun is immediately lowered by the effect of the explosion, and after
having been re-loaded it is simply necessary to release the moveable
catch which retains it in order to cause it to rise, and in its upward
motion stretch the chain, which brings into play the apparatus destined
to effect the ignition of the priming.
This system of carriage is applicable both to land and naval service,
and it may be used with a turnplate or mounted on wheels or rollers.
By employing springs the weight is not greater than that of the
ordinary gun carriages at present in use. The application of a counter-
weight makes no alteration in its use, only the weight is increased.
In the arrangement Figures 1, 2, and 3 the carriage, which is placed
in the interior of a turret, carries four sets of springs constructed on the
system known as Belleville's, which are disposed beneath the two
girders forming the frame of the carriage, and the tension rods of which
are connected to the lower part of the rocking arms. The brakes are
composed of a series of multiplying geared wheels disposed at each side
of the carriage and connected with two smooth wheels on which the
brakes act. A winch handle keyed on to the axis of the last pinion
admits of the gearing being utilized to elevate the gun if required in
case of accident.
'
Figure 4 shews a modification of gun carriage with parallelogram
and counterweight P in which the trunnions of the gun act in recoiling
upon springs disposed in the same horizontal plane, the effect of which
is to prevent the concussion produced by the explosion being transmitted
to the whole of the mechanism. This arrangement is also equally
applicable to the carriage shewn in Figures 1, 2, and 3.
Figure 5 is a side elevation and partial section; Figure 6 a plan,
and Figure 7 a transverse section taken along the lines E, F, and G, H,
(Figure 5) of another modification of gun carriage constructed on this
system; Figure 8 is a vertical section taken along the line I, J,
(Figure 9); and Figure 9 a corresponding plan of a portion of the
carriage shewing the method of pivotting. A is the frame of the carriage;
B, the springs on Belleville's system; C, the rocking arms; D, the friction
semi-cylinders; and E, the screws for tightening the friction wedges;
Fare cross pieces which connect the screws E, to the frame A; G are
the stops to limit the traverse of the gun; H is the pivot of the carriage;

page_text: I, the foundation plate; and J the endless screw which serves to turn
the carriage around its own axis.
In the system of carriage shewn in Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 the
girders of the frame A are hollow and contain each a series of washers
B which form a spring on Belleville's system; the tension rod which
traverses them terminates in a chain, the links of which are attached to
a piece with which the lower part of the rocking arms O is provided.
In this arrangement the axes of the rocking arms are made hollow
and two friction semi-cylinders D intended to form a brake, the pressure
of which may be varied at will by means of a tightening wedge fixed
to the extremity of a screw E which is supported by a cross piece F
secured to the frame of the carriage. The rising and falling motions
of the gun are limited by the stop G fixed to the lower part of the
rocking arms, and the carriage turns round the pivot H secured at the
centre of a flanged foundation plate I, the periphery of which is provided
with teeth with which the endless screw J engages in order to turn
the carriage round its own axis.
Figure 10 is a part side elevation and part longitudinal section;
Figure 11, a horizontal section taken along the line K, L, (Figure 10);
Figure 12, a longitudinal section taken along the lines M, N, and O, P,
(Figure 13); Figure 13, a horizontal section taken along the line Q, R,
(Figure 12); and Figures 14, 15, and 16, details of the tie pieces of
two other modifications of this system of carriage provided with paral-
lelogram and counterweights in which the latter is utilized as a moveable
shield to protect both the gun and the men serving it. K are the
counterweights forming the shield; L is the end of the frame carrying
the counterweights K; M are springs which are interposed between
the counterweight and the lower part of the rocking arms; N is a spur
or projection carried on the end of the rocking arms and which acts
on the springs M; O is an opening made in the parapet to admit of
the gun being loaded at the muzzle. In these arrangements since the
counterweight K is destined to be more or less shaken and distorted by
the fire of the enemy it should not be rigidly secured to the other parts
of the carriage, it therefore takes its point of support on the ends L
of the frame on which it is hooked. The force of the recoil is trans-
mitted to it through the intervention of two springs M, the axis of which
is situate in a plane nearly perpendicular to that of the rocking arms,
and it is the tension of these springs which enables the gun to traverse

page_text: reaction of the recoil, which power is utilized after the operation of
loading has been effected in order to elevate the gun again and bring
it into its position for firing, substantially as herein-before described.
Third. The application and use of brakes which admit of the regu-
lating of the motion of the gun in its ascent and descent, so as to
prevent any sudden shock or concussion, substantially as herein-before
described.
Fourth. The application and use of a train of geared wheels for
elevating the gun in case of injury to the spring arrangement, or for
assisting the said springs in their operation, substantially as herein-
before described.
Fifth. The application to the top side of the parallelogram before
referred to of springs for the purpose of deadening or absorbing the
shocks of the explosion, substantially as herein-before described.
Sixth. The peculiar mechanical arrangements for ensuring the
regular operation of the mechanism, as herein-before described and
illustrated by the Drawings.
Seventh. The general arrangements and combinations of self-acting
mechanism for enabling a gun to be concealed from the view of the
enemy, except during the moment of firing, substantially as herein-before
described and illustrated by the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this
my Specification set my hand and seal, this Fourth day of
August One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.