CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN ND GUN CARRIAGES
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Krupp, of Essen, in the Kingdom of Prussia,
Cast Steel Manufacturer, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
ND GUN CARRIAGES."
GUNS AND
:
Sealed the 20th March 1856, and dated the 27th December 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Krupp at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 27th
December 1855.
I, ALFRED KRUPP, of Essen, in the Kingdom of Prussia, Cast Steel Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN GUNS AND GUN CARRIAGES" to be as follows:
It has been found that from the great tenacity and strength of cast steel
compared with other metals now in use, that guns when made of cast steel,
for which Letters Patent were granted to me of date the 17th day of December
1852, can be constructed of a far less weight, and still exert a greater resis-
tance to the explosive force of gunpowder and other explosive compounds.
It has also been ascertained in practice that repeated discharges have the
effect of destroying little by little, or burning away, the interior portion of the
gun at the vent or touch-hole.
Now, my improvements have relation, firstly, to obviating the destructive
force of the gunpowder or other explosive compound at the vent; and,

page_text: secondly, to providing a remedy against the recoil of the gun; and thereby
preventing injury to the trunnions of the gun, and also to the carriage in which
it is mounted.
My first improvement, therefore, consists in adapting to the vent of the gun
a metal of such a nature that the destructive effect of the repeated explosions
of the gunpowder has little or no effect upon it. The metals which I find
best adapted for this purpose are platina or copper, and the manner in which
I adapt either of these metals, to the gun or other piece of ordnance is as
follows:-
I insert into the lower part of the vent a conical shaped plug or piece
of either platina or copper, taking care that the size of the plug shall fit the
end of the vent perfectly tight, and allow of no aperture between it and the
metal of the gun. The upper part of this plug is, for a short distance from
the top, turned of a less diameter, and is also made conical, but in the reverse
direction; by this means a shoulder is formed upon the plug. The hole in
the gun for the reception, of the vent, is screw-threaded from the shoulder
on the plug to within a short distance from the exterior surface of the gun, and
the space thus left between the screw-thread and the surface is widened, so as
to receive the head of the vent. The vent is formed of. cast steel, and screw-
threaded on its exterior, so as to screw into the thread in the hole of the gun.
This vent is provided with a head, in which holes are sunk for inserting the
end of a key for turning the vent round and screwing it into or out of its place.
The head of the vent is of less depth than the space between the top of the
screw-thread and the surface of the gun, so as to insure that the lower end of
the vent shall abut closely and firmly upon the plug, and allow of no grains of
powder or the destructive gases getting between the plug and the vent; this
also ensures the plug being driven firmly into its seat. Into the holes for, the
reception of the key. I insert countersunk screws to prevent, when the key is
not being used, any dust or other foreign matter from getting into the holes.
and filling them up. In some cases, it may be found desirable to carry the
copper or platina, plug through the whole thickness of the metal of the gun,
and thereby to completely line the orifice of the vent with a metal capable of
resisting the destructive effect of the repeated discharges of gunpowder or
other explosive compounds..?
To prevent, secondly, the discharge of the gun or other piece of ordnance
from injuring the trunnions, and also damaging the gun carriage, I furnish
the carriage with springs, either metallic or composed of vulcanized india-
rubber or other suitable elastic material.
The manner in which I carry this part of my Invention into effect is as.

page_text: follows:-I mount the trunnions in bearings formed with flanges which are
free to slide to and fro upon slides in or on the sides of a box fastened to the
framework of the carriage. In the inside of the box and abutting against the
back end of the bearings of the trunnions and the end of the box, I place
springs, using, by preference, vulcanized india-rubber or other similar elastic
compound. These springs are partially compressed in the box, so as to
always exert a pressure against the end of the bearings of the trunnions of the
gun, so as to keep the gun always in its proper position, and prevent it from
shaking about in the carriage. The amount of compression to the springs
must depend upon the size and weight of the gun. The effect of these springs
is consequently such, that when the gun is fired. the recoil is received by the
springs, and their being compressed by such recoil, the damage to the trunnions
and to the carriage is prevented. By these means lighter guns (such as cast
steel guns) can be made use of. In some cases I place behind the bearings of
the trunnions a screw having à nut upon it, which nut abuts against a piston
or plate. Between the back of the piston or plate and the end of the box I
place the springs; so that by turning the nut 'the compression of the springs
can be regulated. I place over the top of the box and bearings of the trun-
nions a suitable cover, which can be removed, when desired, to dismount or
mount the gun. This cover also serves to keep any wet, dust, or other matter
from injuring the springs. Although I have described these springs as being.
placed behind the trunnions, I do not confine myself to that arrangement, as
the springs may be placed in front or in any other convenient position; and
connected by suitable means- to the trunnions of the gun or the bearings in
which the trunnions rest. Should it be found necessary, I form the bearings:
for the trunnions in one piece, so. that should the springs be of less power on
one side than on the other the gun will not be deflected from either side. To
prevent the sliding action of the gun when discharged from injuring the lever
used for determining the range, I'attach this lever to the sliding bearings of
the trunnions, or to a lug formed upon or attached to the under side of the.
gun. By this means, when the gun' is discharged and slides back, the lever
also slides back with it. After the gun has been discharged and the recoil.
arrested, the reaction of the springs serve to push forward the gun agáin to its.
proper position.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alfred Krupp in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
31st May 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
KRUPP, of Essen, in the Kingdom of Prussia, Cast Steel Manufacturer, send
greeting.
:
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of December; in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Alfred Krupp, Her special licence that I, the, said Alfred
Krupp, my executors, 'administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Alfred Krupp, my executors, administrators, and 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 Ircland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
GUNS AND GUN CARRIAGES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Alfred Krupp, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 tho,
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alfred Krupp, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following.
statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
that is to say:
It has been found that from the great, tenacity and strength of cast steel:
compared: with the other metals now in use, that guns when made of cast steel:
(for which Letters Patent were granted to me of date the Seventeenth day of
December, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two,) can be constructed of a:
far less weight, and still exert a greater resistance to the explosive force of
gunpowder. It has also been ascertained in practice that repeated discharges
have the effect of destroying little by little, or burning away, the interior portion
of the at the vent or touch-hole.
gun
Now, my improvements have relation, firstly, to obviating the destructive

page_text: action of the gunpowder (when exploded) at the vent, and this I effect by the
following arrangement, reference being had to Figure 1 of the Drawings
hereunto annexed, which represents a longitudinal section of a portion of a
gun, taken on the line of the touch-hole or vent. The metals which in
practice are found best to resist the destructive effect of the repeated discharges
of the gunpowder or other explosive compounds are platina and copper.
:
Now, the manner in which I adapt these metals so as to form an improved
vent to the gun is as follows:-I first drill or. bore a hole through the metal of
the gun, and at that part where it is desired to insert the vent. This hole
is made conical at its lower part, as represented in Figure 1, into which is
inserted a conical shaped plug or piece. of platina or copper A, taking care that
the size of the plug shall fit the end of the hole perfectly tight, and allow of
no aperture between it and the metal of the gun. The upper part of the plug
A is, for a short distance from the top, turned of a less diameter, and is also
made conical, but in the reverse direction. By this means a shoulder is formed
upon the plug. The hole in the gun for the reception of the vent is screw->
threaded from the shoulder on the plug A to within a short distance from the
exterior surface of the gun, and the space thus left between the screw-thread'
and the surface is widened, so as to receive the head a of the vent B. This
vent B is formed of cast steel or other suitable metal, and screw-threaded on
its exterior surface, so as to screw into the thread in the hole of the gun. b, b,.
are holes sunk in the head a of the vent B, for inserting the end of a key for
turning the vent round and screwing it into or out of its place. The head a
is also made of less depth than the space between the top of the. screw-thread'
and the surface of the gun, so as to insure that the lower end of the vent shall:
abut closely and firmly upon the plug A, and allow of no grains of powder or
the destructive gases getting between the plug and the vent. This also
insures the plug A being driven firmly into its seat. Into the holes b, for the:
reception of the key, I insert countersunk screws, to prevent, when the key is
not being used, any dust or other foreign matter from getting in and filling,
them up. In some cases it may be found desirable to carry the platina or
copper plug A through the whole thickness of the metal of the gun, and'
thereby to completely line the orifice of the vent with a metal capable of:
resisting the destructive effect of repeated discharges of. gunpowder or other
explosive compounds. This arrangement I have represented in Figure 2,*
where A is the plug, B the metal of the gun, and C the cast steel or other
metal screw. Although I have described platina- or copper as being the
metals for forming the plug A, yet I do not confine myself to these metals
alone, as other metals or alloys of metals capable of resisting the destructive -

page_text: effect of repeated discharges of gunpowder or other explosive compounds
may be used.
Secondly, my Invention has for its object the providing a remedy against
the recoil of the gun, and thereby preventing injury to the trunions of the
gun and also to the carriage in which it is mounted. This I accomplish by
providing the gun carriage with springs, either metallic or composed of
vulcanized india-rubber or other suitable elastic material.
The manner in which I carry this part of my Invention into effect is as
follows, reference being had to the Drawings annexed; where Figure 3
represents a side elevation of so much of a gun carriage as is necessary to
explain my Invention. Figure 4 is a plan, and Figure 5 a section of the
same. A is the gun, shewn in dotted lines in Figure 3, the trunnions B of
which are mounted in bearings C. These bearings are formed with flanges,
and are free to slide to and fro upon slides in or upon the slides of a box D
fastened to the framework E of the carriage. In the inside of the box and
abutting against the back end of the bearings C and the end of the box, I
place springs F, F, using: by preference vulcanized india-rubber or other.
similar elastic.compound. These springs are partially compressed in the box,,
so as always to exert a pressure against the end of the bearings C of the
trunnions of the gun, and thus keep the gun always in its proper position, and
prevent it from shaking about in the carriage. The amount of compression to
the springs must depend upon the size and weight of the gun. The manner
which I compress these springs is as follows:-I place behind the bearings
Ca piston or plate a, having attached to it at the back a screwed rod b, which
passes through the end of the box, and is furnished with a nut c, so that by
turning this nut round, any desired amount of compression may be given to
the springs. In this arrangement it will be observed that I have also placed
springs d; d, in front of the bearings for the trunions. These springs serve to
receive the gun after the recoil action has ceased, and when the back springs
push forward the gun again. The effect of these springs is such, that when
the is fired the recoil is received by the back springs, and their being
compressed by such recoil, the damage to the trunions and to the carriage is.
prevented or materially lessened.. By these means, lighter guns can be made
use of... G. is a cover placed over the box and bearings of the trunions, which
can be removed; when desired, to mount or dismount the gun. This cover also
serves to keep any wet, dust, or other matter from injuring the springs..
.
gun
slight
Figure 6 is a side elevation, and Figure 7 a plan in section, of a
modification of the preceding arrangement, in which a pad d of vulcanized
india-rubber or other suitable spring is inserted between the front end of the

page_text: bearings of the trunions and the end of the box in which they slide, to reduce
the concussion consequent upon the return of the gun to its place after the
recoil has ceased.
>
Figures, 8, 9, and 10 represent respectively; side elevation, section, and plan
of a modification of the arrangement shewn in Figures 3, 4, and 5, in whicli
the bearings C of the trunions are formed with a V piece e on their under side,
which slides in a V groove f in the top plate H of the carriage. By this
means there is no necessity for a 'cover to the bearings, though one may be
added. if thought desirable. Although I have described these springs for
receiving the recoil as being placed behind the trunions,' I do not confine
myself to that arrangement, as the springs may be placed in front or in any
other convenient position, and connected by suitable means to the trunions of the
gun, or the bearings in which the trunions. rest. Figure 11 is a side elevation
of a portion of a gun carriage, and Figure 12 a plan of the same, in which
the vulcanized india-rubber or other suitable springs are placed in front.
A is the carriage; 'B, the bearings for the trunions, which are free to slide
to and fro when acted upon by the recoil; C are rods, which are securely
attached to the bearings B, the ends of which are passed through the turned-up
ends of the top plates A' of the carriage; D, D, are the vulcanized india-
rubber springs which surround the ends of the rods, and are placed between'
the ends of the plates A¹, and the collars a, a, on the rods C, C; E, E, are
nuts upon the rods C, C, for preventing the rods from being drawn through the
plates, and also for giving to the springs the required degree of compression.
Should it be found desirable, I construct the carriages in such a manner and
adapt the springs thereto, so as to combine the two arrangements above
described in one, that is to say, I place the springs so that the recoil shall be
arrested both behind and before the bearings of the trunions. This arrange-
ment will be found particularly applicable in mounting heavy guns, and when
the recoil is extremely great. Where it is desirable, I form the bearings for
the trunions in one piece, so that should the springs be of less power on one side
than on the other the gun will not be deflected from either side. To prevent
the sliding action of the gun when discharged from injuring the lever and
screw used for determining the range by elevating or lowering the gun, I attach
this lever to the sliding-bearings of the trunions or to a lug formed upon or
attached to the under side of the gun; or I tap the elevating screw through
a nut turning in a swivel joint, as represented in Figures 3 and 4, where H is
the screw, I the nut, and K the swivel. By this means (when the lever is
used) the lever slides back with the gun when it is discharged, or when the

page_text: screw is used (as shewn in Figure 3, the swivel turns upon its centre and no
injury is sustained.
1
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim as my
improvements in guns and gun carriages is,―
First, the obviating the destructive action of gunpowder (when discharged)
upon the vents or touch-holes of steel or other metal guns and ordnance by
means of the improved vent or touch-hole herein-before described, and repre-
sented in Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawings hereunto annexed, that is to say;
in so far as regards the method therein described and shewn for fixing such
vents of copper, platina, or other similar metal or alloys of metal in their
position in guns and ordnance.
Second, I claim the adaptation to the carriages of guns and ordnance of
vulcanized india-rubber or other suitable clastic or metal springs, for the purpose
of resisting or lessening the recoil of such guns or ordnance when discharged.
And, third, I claim the methods herein-before described, and represented
in the Drawings hereunto annexed, for adapting to the carriages of guns and
ordnance of vulcanized india-rubber or other suitable elastic or metal springs,
for the purpose of resisting or lessening the recoil of such guns or ordnance
when discharged.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Krupp, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Witness,
THEODOR TOPP,
of Essen.
ALFRED KRUPP. (L.S.)