Improvement in Mountings for Ordnance.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 29th June, 1899-Accepted, 29th Sept., 1900
[Communicated from abroad by CRISPINO BONAGENTE, of Turin, in the Kingdom
of Italy, Captain 7 Brigata d'Artiglieria di Fortezza a Turin.]
Improvement in Mountings for Ordnance.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45, 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:-
The mounting for siege guns which forms the subject of this invention con-
sists of a number of arrangements which, when applied to the ordinary carriages
of siege-guns, enables these latter to travel over uneven soft roads, while being
in proper position for firing, so that on arriving near a fortress the ordnance can
open fire immediately, such as is the case with field guns.
My improved mounting consists of the following parts, viz. :—
1. A pair of sectional endless rails mounted upon the gun carriage wheels, to
form a firm bearing surface for the carriage both while travelling, as also during
firing.
2. A recoil track for supporting the tail end of the gun-carriage during firing.
In addition to these main parts the following subordinate parts. are provided,
viz.:.
3. Two brake wedges for counteracting the recoil due to the firing and for
effecting the immediate return of the gun.
4. Two longitudinal beams serving for supporting the recoil plank and the
brake beam during travelling and also as a fulcrum to the lever bar when it is
required to insert the same in the wheel-spokes.
5. Two cheeks or shoe-plates applied to the tail end of the gun carriage to
render this part parallel.
6. A carriage brake in place of the ordinary wheel brake which had to be aban-
doned through the adoption of the endless rail on the wheels.
The improved gun mounting is particularly intended for use in connection with
siege-guns but it may also be used for lighter ordnance. Although this improved
transportable mounting renders the ordinary stationary mounting for heavy guns
unnecessary, yet it may if desired be used in conjunction with a stationary
mounting, which latter then may be of lighter construction than in ordinary
cases.
I will now proceed to describe my invention by reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a side elevation, of my improved gun mounting in position for
firing.
Figures 2 and 3 are a side elevation and an end-view respectively of my
improved gun mounting ready for travelling on the road.
Figures to 18 are detail views hereinafter referred to.
In the drawings the numerals 2 and 1 denote respectively the sections of the
endless rail and the contact blocks attached thereto, which together form the
017

page_text: main parts of my travelling rail. 3 denotes the plank or track on which the tail
end of the gun-carriage slides, and 4 denotes the wedge brake for checking the
recoil.
In Figures 2 and 3 the numeral 5 shows the longitudinal beams, and 6 are the
cheeks or shoe-plates provided at the tail end of the carriage beam.
The numerals 8, 9, 10 and 11 relate to parts of the carriage brake hereinafter
described.
The endless rail according to this invention consists of a rail in the form of a
polygon mounted upon the periphery of the carriage wheel and composed of
hinged sections 2, 2, Figures 1 and 2. To each pivot pin 14 of the sections there
is connected a block 1, and said blocks project beyond or surround the endless
rail and are intended to come into contact with the ground.
This endless girdle rail is distinguished from those heretofore constructed not
only by the adoption of the blocks I which impart to the rail great stability even
when the wheel reposes on the joint between two rail-sections, but also by the
form and arrangement of the joints, as well as by the form of the sections form-
ing the rail, which parts are all so arranged as to reduce friction.
The more rail-segments there are, the smoother will be the motion of the
wheel, but at the same time the supporting surface will be proportionately small.
When the sections are formed straight it is necessary, that when the wheel comes
to the end of one section, for the next following section to lay flat on the ground
so as to obviate resistance to the motion of the wheel during its passage over the
joint between such sections. With shorter sections, the wheel in passing over
the joint receives a shock due to the next section having to move through an
angle. This may be remedied either by bevelling the adjacent edges of the
sections, or by concentrically curving the ends of the sections.
This bevelling or curving of the ends of the sections facilitates the passage of the
wheel from one to the next section, and also the turning of the sections upon the
pivots, while moreover preventing to some extent at least, the rattling noise
caused by the sections, as also by the blocks, while in contact with the ground.
By providing these blocks 1, 1 (Figures 1 and 2) which are carried centrally
on the pins 14 of the inner link-polygon 2, 2 the rail-sections are supplied with
a convenient support, while at the same time provision is made to prevent, during
the travel of the wheel from one section on to the other, one end from rising and
the adjacent end from lowering.
The length of the blocks is advantageously a little shorter than that of the
rail-sections or sides of the polygon.
The rail sections are by preference made in the form of channel irons adapted
to receive the wheel rim.
The sides of the channel sections should be at an incline to the rolling surface.
The detail construction of the rail sections are shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5.
1' is a channel shaped body of steel plate engaging the wheel rim, which is
thus caused to run on the bottom portion thereof. 2¹ is a wooden sole connected
to the channel-section by bars 31 fixed by rivets 41 and by a rivet-headed bolt 51
respectively. 6¹ (Fig. 4) are iron stirrup pieces attached to the sole 21 by a
bolt 7 and wood screw 81 and attached to the channel section 1' by means of
rivets 9 in the flaps 10¹. One of the two stirrup pieces 6' is formed with eye
pieces 11' fitted with bushes 12 of hardened steel kept in position by pins 13.
The opposite stirrups are formed with forks 15, 16, Fig. 5 provided with pins 14
which screw into the parts 16.
When the rail is mounted together, the eyes 11' of one section engage in the
forks 15, 16, of the next section and assist in carrying the pins 14.
The protruding portions of the pins 14 enter into the eyes of the blocks 1
(Figure 1).
These pins 14 are prevented from unscrewing by means of an inserted rod 17
secured by cotter or split pin 18 Figure 4 and secured by its other end in a
Ushaped piece 19 by means of a spring cotter 20 see detail view Figure 6.

page_text: In order to obviate the noise occasioned by the rattling of the wheel rim in
the rail sections I provide each rail section centrally with a two part rubber
bolster 21 enclosed in an iron casing 22 see Figure 7. The two portions 26
and 27 of the rubber bolster have interposed between them an iron plate 28 fur-
nished with guide pins 29.
The iron casing 22 is formed with two projections, one 23 of which bears
against the lower side of the channel section, while the other 24 is held by the
head of the safety bolt 25.
The details of the blocks connected to the rail sections are shown in Figures 8
to 12 of which Figure 12 is drawn to a larger scale.
In these figures 1" is the wooden block, 2" a steel plate taking the wear at the
top, and 3 are steel bands taking the wear and strengthening the block at the
bottom.
4 are wooden cheeks fixed to the block by screws 511. 611 are the bearings for
the pins 14 (Figure 5), provided with a cover 7" adapted to turn on the bolt 5",
which latter are provided with a safety device 811 for securing the screw nuts 911
of the covers 7 Springs 10" are provided to press the head 11" against the
pin 14 when mounted in the bearing 611. 121 are two rubber cushions secured to
the upper side at both ends of the blocks by iron plates 131 with wood screws 14¹.
This cushion 121 together with the springs 10" are for the purpose of preventing
noise between the rail-sections 2, 2, (Figure 1) and the blocks 1, 1; the noise
being chiefly produced through the sudden tipping of the blocks while passing
the top of the wheel.
Figure 13 shows how the blocks are mounted upon the rail.
Obviously the rail may be constructed entirely of iron and without any wood.
The plank or track for the tail end of the gun-carriage is shown in Figures 1
and 2, and 14 and 15 in which 11 denotes the bottom plank protected at its
underside by a steel plate 2111 and furnished at its upper side with a steel plate 3111
which takes the tail of the gun-carriage during firing. 4 are the side cheeks
and 5 the ends of this track. 6 are buffers at the rear end to brake the recoil,
while 7 are buffers at the front end which come into action on the return of
the gun.
8
and 911 are bolts or studs at front and rear of the plank for the levers to
act upon when training the gun.
10 are similar bolts or studs for use in adjusting the plank towards the front
or rear.
11 and 12 are eye-links and rings respectively for suspending the plank or
track below the gun carriage during travelling, 1311 and 141 are a bent piece and
a ring respectively serving to manipulate the track.
15 are connecting bolts and 16' strengthening clamps.
When firing the gun with unusually heavy charges the tail of the gun-carriage
slides on the track until it strikes against the rear buffers, whereupon the track
At the return
is caused to participate in the rearward movement of the gun.
movement of the gun the carriage slides forward upon the track until it strikes
against the front buffers and then takes the track along with it to its initial
position.
The relative movement of the tail of the carriage upon the track can be vari-
ously adjusted as may be desired by placing the tail more or less towards the front
of the track, or to the rear thereof as the case may be. The relative movement
may also, if desired, be nought, so that the plank participates in the entire
carriage movement.
As already stated, the longitudinal beams 5 Figure 2 of the gun-carriage, sup-
port during travelling the carriage-track as shown at Figures 2 and 3, and when
it is desired to shift the gun in a forward direction by the aid of levers, such
levers may be applied against the beams and between the wheel-spokes.
For the purpose of guiding the gun-carriage end between the sides of the
track during recoil it is necessary for the end of the gun-carriage to have parallel

page_text: sides, and this may be effected by wooden or iron cheeks 6 (Figure 2) which are
fixed to the tail end of the carriage.
The wedge-shaped reçoil brakes 4 (Figures 1, 2 and 16), are made with a
broader base 14 than usual, and at the rear end are provided with double spurs 24
to prevent the brake moving. At the upper end they are formed with a pro-
jection 3 which stops the carriage-wheels in their upward motion.
The special arrangement of brake for travelling, replacing the ordinary wheel
brake which is useless in connection with the endless rail, is shown in Figures 2
3, 17 and 18.
To each of the carriage wheels is secured a ring 8 the flange of which is adapted
to be acted upon by brake blocks 9ª fixed to hollow cross beams 9, 9, one of which
is fast to the guide 10 while the other is adapted to slide therein by turning a
brake screw 11 so as to either apply or to loosen the brake. The brake is sus-
pended from the beams 5 of the gun-carriage.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion 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:—
1. A movable track for gun-carriages, and particularly for heavy ordnance, by
the use of which ordinary wheel carriages are enabled to travel over uneven loose
roads and take up any firing position without preliminary preparations, the said
track comprising jointed endless rails mounted on the carriage-wheels and a
plank for supporting the tail-end of the gun-carriage during firing, such plank
being adapted to be suspended by means of eyes, rings and the like, from the
front of the gun carriage.
2. In jointed endless rails for and rotating with the wheels of gun-carriages
as claimed in Claim 1, the arrangement of blocks suspended to the pivots of the
rail sections and forming an uninterrupted supporting plane for the wheels, when
the latter are located upon the joint between any two rail sections.
3. In pivoted endless rails as claimed in Claim 2, arranging the axis of the
pivots outside the rolling plane, and slotted eyes in the rail sections for the
reception of these pivots, arranged in such a manner as to cause the rail sections
to repose symmetrically upon the wheel rim and without sliding thereupon.
4. The use of sections having bevelled, or curved ends, for jointed rails as
claimed in Claim 2, for facilitating the passage of the wheel from one to the next
rail section.
5. Jointed rails as claimed in Claim 2 having sections which are wider at the
top than at the base.
6. In jointed rails as claimed in Claim 2 the arrangement of channel shaped
blocks applied to the joints of the rail sections.
7. In the movable track as claimed in Claim 1, the use of a jointed endless
rail constructed in the manner set forth with reference to Claims 2 to 6, a safety
locking device for securing the blocks to the pivots of the rail sections, and con-
sisting of a bent wire (17) with split pin (18) at one end, and of a U-spring wire
(20) passing through a slotted U-shaped piece (19) engaging the free end of such
bent wire (17), so arranged as to allow of a speedy fastening or unfastening of
the blocks.
8. In the movable track for ordnance as claimed in Claim 1, the use of endless
jointed-rails constructed in accordance with Claims 2 to 7 with the arrangement
for each rail section of a suitably protected fixed rubber cushion or bolster in the
floor of said rail section for preventing noise between the wheel and rail.
9. In the movable track for ordnance as claimed in Claim 1, the use of endless
jointed-rails constructed in acordance with Claims 2 to 7, with the arrangement
of rubber cushions in the ends of the sliding track for preventing noise between
the rail sections and blocks.
10. In the movable track for ordnance as claimed in Claim 1, the use of endless
jointed-rails constructed in accordance with Claims 2 to 7 having blocks formed

page_text: with bearings adapted to engage the pivots of the rail sections, and having springs
which press these pivots constantly against the swivelling cover of the bearing.
11. In the movable track for ordnance as claimed in Claim 1, a sliding track
for the tail-end of the gun-carriage during firing, provided with studs serving for
adjusting its position, and with buffers for the recoil of the gun carriage, and
arranged to be suspended during travelling below the fore end of the gun carriage.
12. In a movable track for ordnance as claimed in Claim 1, the arrangement of
longitudinal beams on the gun carriage for supporting the sliding track during
travelling.
13. In a movable track for ordnance as claimed in Claim 1, the arrangement of
parallel cheeks for the tail-end of the gun carriage to cause the latter to be
properly guided in the sliding track.
14. In a movable track for ordnance as claimed in Claim 1, the arrangement of
wedge-shaped recoil brakes having spurs at the rear to grip the ground, and pro-
jecting pieces or stops at the top for increasing the effect of braking.
15. In a movable track for ordnance as claimed in Claim 1, the arrangement of
a wheel brake for travelling and acting upon special rings secured to the carriage
wheels.
Jan of Tune 1800
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C..
Agents for the Applicant.