the Protection of the same, and to Charge-elevating Apparatus for Use' in Connection therewith.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 28th July, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 29th Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 1st June, 1889
the Protection of the same, and to Charge-elevating Apparatus
for Use' in Connection therewith.
I, RIOHARD COPLEY CHRISTIE, MANASSAH GLEDHILL, and HERBERT HANBURY
SMITH CARINGTON, all directors of Sir Joseph Whitworth and Co., Limited, of Open-
shaw, Manchester, in the county of Lancaster, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be'as follows:-
This invention relates to carriages or mountings for turret and other guns.
The said invention is partly designed to simplify and improve the construction of
so called minimum-embrasure gun-carriages, that is to say, gun-carriages or mountings
in which provision is made for the elevation and depression of the gun through a
large or extended angle, with a very small embrasure or port-hole, and whilst pre-
serving the advantage of the gun recoiling in the line of fire at any angle of
elevation.
The said invention, moreover, comprises a novel manner of mounting two guns side
by side in a turret so that they will counterbalance each other and their vertical
adjustment can be expeditiously effected with a small expenditure of power. It also
comprises improved means' for facilitating the loading of guns and for permitting the
loading thereof in any position to which they may be trained or whilst being trained.
And it also comprises other improvements hereinafter set forth.
We provide as hereinafter described for permitting the vertical adjustment of the
gun about an imaginary pivot' or axis in or near the embrasure or port-hole and inter-
secting the longitudinal axis of the gun, that is to say :-We combine, with the
elevating beams or the chassis or frame, concentric circular or arc-shaped guides in
which are arranged to 'slide suitable blocks formed on; or attached to the said beams,
chassis or frame, or connected there with by links or in any other convenient manner,

page_text: so that the said blocks will be guided in arcs of circles of different radius having their
common centre in the said imaginary pivot or axis. Or we provide the said beams,
chassis or frame with circular or arc-shaped guides arranged to slide upon stationary
blocks.
In constructing a gun-mounting for naval service, in cases where the gun protrudes
a considerable distance through the embrasure or port-hole, we provide the elevating
beams, chassis or frame with blocks at the forward end thereof arranged to slide in
circular or arc-shaped guides formed on or in cheeks rigidly attached to the rotating
platform of the gun-mounting, and with other blocks at or near the rear end of the
said beams, chassis or frame, arranged to slide in circular or arc-shaped guides also
formed on the said cheeks and concentric with the guides for the forward end of the
beams, chassis or frame. These two sets of guides have their common centre in
the imaginary pivot or axis extending through or across the embrasure or port-hole.
Under some circumstances, the blocks may be secured to the said cheeks and the
guides be formed on or rigidly attached to the elevating beams, chassis or frame.
When two guns are mounted side by side in a turret, it is desirable that the axes
of the guns should be as near as practicable to each other. In such cases, we some-
times dispense with the rear guide-blocks and provide the aforesaid cheeks with
bearing surfaces which are concentric with the forward guides, and we so arrange
the elevating beams, chassis or frame that the rear end thereof will bear against and
slide upon the said bearing surfaces. In this modification of the said invention, we
prefer that the forward guides should be situated between the said beams, chassis or
frames.
According to another modification of the said invention, which is advantageous in
cases where the gun does not protrude, or protrudes only a short distance through
the embrasure or port-hole, the gun is mounted in a cradle or top-carriage arranged
to slide upon a chassis or frame to which movement may be imparted around or
about an imaginary axis or pivot in or near the embrasure or port-hole and inter-
secting the longitudinal axis of the gun, the said chassis or frame being connected by
rods or links with sliding blocks arranged to move in circular or arc-shaped guides
substantially as above described. In this modification of the invention, connecting-
rods are coupled to the front of the chassis or frame and are rigidly secured to the
sliding blocks in the forward guides in such a manner that the triangle formed
between the said imaginary axis or pivot and the points of attachment of the said
connecting rods remains constant or is unchangeable. Other connecting rods are
coupled to the said blocks in the forward guides and to the chassis or frame near the
rear end thereof. Therefore, every time the chassis or frame is raised or lowered, the
sliding blocks in the rear guides move around or about the said imaginary axis or
pivot and this movement is communicated to the other sliding blocks so that the
entire system turns about the said axis or pivot.
We sometimes arrange in the rear guides, sliding blocks similar to those above
described with keyed or rigid connecting-rods for sustaining the carriage, thus
forming a second rigid system similar to that hereinbefore described.
According to another modification of the said invention, we mount two guns side
by side in a turret and we provide as hereinafter described for the turning of each
gun about an imaginary axis or pivot in or near the embrasure or port-hole, that is to
say, the elevating beams of the mounting are provided with sliding blocks which are
arranged to move as above specified in circular or arc-shaped guides formed with, or
firmly attached to cheeks or side frames rigidly connected to girders extending across
the turret. The vertical adjustment of each gun is effected by means of circular or
segmental racks firmly secured to the elevating beams of the mounting and concentric
with the said guides. Conical pinions are arranged to rotate with shafts supported in
bearings formed with, or attached to the girders of the turret or the aforesaid cheeks
or side-frames, and are geared with the said racks.
We combine or connect the two guns in such a manner that they counterbalance
each other and their vertical adjustment can, therefore, be rapidly effected with a
small expenditure of power, whilst the disconnection of the guns can be effected when

page_text: desired so that they may be worked independently of each other. For this purpose,
the pinions for each mounting which are supported by the central girder of the turret
are keyed upon shafts having a common axis, one of the said shafts being solid and
the other shaft being hollow or tubular and surrounding the said solid shaft. A suit-
able clutch is provided whereby the said shafts may be connected or disconnected and
the said shafts are actuated by means of gearing driven by a crank-handle or other
suitable means.
When the said shafts are connected so that they form practically a single shaft
common to both gun-mountings, the loads borne by the racks are equal and tend to
turn the said common shaft in inverse directions, the guns are, therefore, in
equilibrium, and to effect the rotation of the common shaft and the consequent move-
ment of the guns in inverse directions, it is only necessary to overcome the resistance
due to friction.
By the means above described we are enabled, whilst affording adequate protection
to the guns and their mountings and allowing the guns to be adjusted through an
extended vertical field of fire, to reduce the dimensions of the embrasure or port-hole
and the height of the turret and to connect the guns in such a manner that the
vertical movements thereof can, if desired, be effected by manual power without the
use of hydraulic or other apparatus.
When the shafts are disconnected, the elevation and depression of the guns can
be effected by means of two small hydraulic rams arranged one beneath each
mounting and communicating with each other to balance the loads and permit the
simultaneous movement of the guns in inverse directions. These hydraulic rams are
mounted upon trunnions or are otherwise arranged so that they will adapt themselves
to the varying angle or inclination of the gun-mountings. If desired the shafts are
dispensed with. The hydraulic rams are sometimes so arranged that the guns can
thereby be worked independently of each other.
The aforesaid clutch permits the adjustment of the guns vertically, before their
shafts are connected, so that their axes are either parallel or at any desired angle to
each other.
Suitable means are provided for bringing the ammunition up to the guns in any
position to which they may be trained or during the training thereof, as hereinafter
mentioned.
According to another modification of the said invention which is more especially
adapted for land service, the turret is sunk into a pit and is supported upon steps
formed in the pit-wall, communication with the magazines being established by means
of a subterranean passage. At the upper part of the pit is a suitable glacis, and the
turret has an armoured cover or shield in which are formed one or more embrasures
or port-holes and look-outs to facilitate the directing of the gun or guns.
The floor of the turret forms the platform of the gun-mounting, and a central tube
is firmly secured to the said platform and arranged to rotate with the turret to permit
the raising of the ammunition from the magazine into position for ramming into the
gun or guns. In the lower part of the pit are arranged weights for equilibrating or
counterbalancing the gun or guns.
Each gun is mounted in a cradle or top-carriage arranged to slide upon a chassis or
frame or beams having hydraulic recoil-brake cylinders formed therewith or firmly
which are
attached thereto. The said top-carriage has secured thereto two rods upon
placed so called "Belleville" springs or other suitable springs which bear against a
cross-bar or transom of the chassis or frame. These springs are compressed during
the recoil, and, by their reaction, effect the return of the gun to the firing position, or
the guns may be provided with other well known or suitable brake and recuperator
apparatus.
The chassis or frame or the beams are provided with sliding blocks which are
movable as above described in circular or arc-shaped guides firmly secured to the
platform.
The force of the recoil is, in all cases, transmitted to the segmental guides or
| bearings through the medium of the brakes and the aforesaid sliding blocks.

page_text: In order that the embrasure may be made as small as practicable, we prefer that
the said embrasure should be formed in a projection on the armoured shield, and that
the imaginary pivot or axis of rotation for the vertical adjustment of the guns should
be at the outer extremity of the said embrasure and should intersect the longitudinal
axis of the gun.
An arm or lever is attached at one end to the aforesaid rotating platform and has
at its other end a slot in which moves a roller fitted to rotate upon a pin or stud fixed
in the chassis or frame. This arm or lever is connected by a rod or link with the
front of the chassis or frame. When the gun is moved vertically under the action of
the elevating mechanism, the said roller moves in the slot in the lever and lowers or
raises the said lever, which acts, through the medium of the connecting-rod or link,
upon the front of the chassis or frame. The shape of the said slot and the dimensions
of the lever are such that the point of connection of the front of the chassis with the
said connecting-rod described an arc of a circle concentric with that of the aforesaid
guides, and the movement of the gun takes place around the imaginary pivot or axis
extending across the embrasure.
The guns and mountings are, as above mentioned, equilibrated or counterbalanced by
means of weights, the vertical pointing or elevation of the guns is effected by means
of chains passing around chain-wheels, or through the medium of a toothed sector or
a hydraulic ram, or by other suitable means.
The horizontal pointing or training of the guns and turret is effected by means of a
chain which is wound upon a cylinder secured to the lower part of the platform and
which passes back over two pulleys and then around a drum to which rotary motion is
imparted by hand or by means of a suitable motor. Or the training may, if desired, be
effected by other suitable means.
For conveying or raising the ammunition into position behind the breech of the
gun, we use apparatus somewhat similar to the apparatus described in the specifications
of the following letters patent, viz. :-No. 279 dated 2nd January 1884, No. 16736
dated 20th December 1884, No. 9375 dated 1st July 1887, and No. 10,179 dated
20th July 1887, that is to say, we employ a charge carrier arranged in the aforesaid
central tube which moves with the platform. The said charge-carrier is adapted to
contain two projectiles and two powder-charges, or any other desired number thereof
and is conducted by suitable guides to the rear of the gun upon the charging-platform.
The charge-carrier is raised by means of a winch or by other convenient means, or
we use a double set of charge-carriers and accessory parts, one set for each gun.
The said central tube remains constantly in communication with the subterranean
passage which leads to the magazine; the charging can, therefore, be effected at any
moment and in any position of the gun and mounting.
The platform is preferably provided with a hinged door or shutter for closing the
aperture through which the ammunition is raised. In this case, we so construct and
arrange the charge-carrier that it will, in its upward movement, automatically raise
and open the said door or shutter.
We provide in the platform openings which serve for the passage of the guns and
apparatus when they are to be dismounted.
Dated this 27th day of July 1888.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements relating to Mountings for Turret and other Guns, to
the Protection of the same, and to Charge-elevating Apparatus
for Use in Connection therewith.
We, RICHARD COPLEY CHRISTIE, MANASSAH GLEDHILL, and HERBERT HANBURY
SMITH CARINGTON, all Directors of Sir Joseph Whitworth and Co. Limited, of
Openshaw, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers.
Our invention relates to carriages or mountings for turret and other guns.
Our said invention is partly designed to facilitate the working of guns mounted
on so-called minimum-embrasure gun-carriages, whilst preserving or retaining the
advantage of the gun's recoil in the line of fire at any angle of elevation. By
minimum-embrasure gun-carriages, we mean carriages or mountings which are used
with small embrasures or port-holes and in which provision is made for the elevation
and depression of the gun through a great angle.
For this purpose, we provide for the vertical adjustment of the chassis, beams or
slides about an imaginary or virtual pivot or axis in or near the centre of the
embrasure or port-hole and preferably intersecting the longitudinal axis of the gun.
We are aware that gun-mountings have been heretofore devised in which the gun
is arranged to turn about an imaginary pivot or axis in the port-hole or embras re ;
but in such mountings, the chassis or part upon which the gun recoils is not arranged
to turn with the gun about the said pivot or axis; therefore the gun can only recoil
in the line of fire when it is at such an angle of elevation that this line is parallel
with the said chassis or part.
We are also aware that gun-mountings have been constructed with pivoted beams
or gun-slides upon which the gun will at any angle of elevation recoil in the line of
fire. But we are not aware that any mounting has ever been devised or constructed
in such a manner that the pivot or axis about which the gun-slides turn for vertical
pointing or elevation is within the port-bole or embrasure.
We combine with the chassis, beams or slides segmental or are-shaped guides
which control the movement thereof with the gun about the imaginary or virtual
pivot for vertical pointing or elevation, so that at any angle of elevation the line of
fire will be parallel to the surface on which the gun slides.
Our said invention, moreover, comprises a novel manner of mounting two port-
pivot gun-slides side by side so that with their guns they will counterbalance each
other and their vertical adjustment can be expeditiously effected with a slight
expenditure of power.
Our said invention also comprises other improvements hereinafter set forth.
In the accompanying drawings, we have shown how our said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a plan, partly in section, showing our improvements applied to a turret
armed with two guns.
Figure 2 is a vertical central section on the line x, x, Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a central transverse section, some of the parts being shown in rear
elevation.
Figure 4 is a sectional rear elevation showing details of construction hereinafter
described,

page_text: Figure 5 is a sectional rear elevation, and
Figure 6 a horizontal section on the line x', ', Figure 5, illustrating a modification
of our invention hereinafter described.
Figure 7 is a sectional side elevation illustrating our improvements applied to a
mounting for a single gun.
Figure 8 is a sectional side elevation, and
Figure 9 a transverse section on the lines ³, ³, and ³, ³, Figure 8, illustrating
another modification of our said invention.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the turret; B, B are the guns; C is the glacis. The armoured turret is
carried by a rotating platform or turntable a which is supported, through the medium
of a live ring of rollers b, upon a racer or roller-path c fixed upon a suitable
foundation d.
In the arrangement shown in Figures 1 to 4, rotary motion is imparted to the
turret A by means of a circular rack e firmly fixed on the part a¹ of the turntable a.
The rack e has geared with it a pinion which is driven by power applied through
suitable gearing arranged in the substructure. Hoisting-tackle as at g, g¹ or other
convenient means, at the centre or side of the mounting, are provided for bringing
the ammunition from a magazine into position for being rammed into the gun.
The guns B are mounted side by side in the turret and participate in the rotary
movement of the said turret ; they are arranged to fire through port-holes or
embrasures the diameter of which is but slightly greater than that of the chase of
the gun.
Each gun B is supported in a cradle or top-carriage j, which is arranged
to recoil with the gun, against the resistance of suitable hydraulic brakes, upon the
chassis, slides or beams 7. Recuperator apparatus of any suitable description is, or
inay be combined with the said brakes for the purpose of automatically effecting the
running out or return of the gun after each discharge.
As hereinbefore stated, we provide for the vertical adjustment or elevation of each
of the guns by displacement thereof with the chassis, beams or slides about the
imaginary or virtual pivot, that is to say, the gun and the part on which it slides in
its recoil, though not provided with an actual or material pivot, are guided in their
vertical movement by arc-shaped surfaces so that they turn about an axis in or near
the port-hole or embrasure or intersecting the chase of the gun.
Each of the guns shown has its imaginary pivot or axis at a point indicated by the
intersection of the lines within its port-hole or embrasure i¹, and is turned about
the same in the raising and lowering of the gun for vertical pointing or elevation or
for bringing the gun to the loading position. For this purpose we employ the
following mechanism, that is to say :-The beams or gun-slides are provided with
slide-blocks m arranged to work in segmental or arc-shaped grooves or guides n
formed with, or rigidly attached to vertical cheeks or side frames p which form part
of or are firmly secured to the rotating platform or turntable a. The curved surfaces
of the grooves or guides n are arcs of circles having their common centro in the
imaginary pivot or axis at i'.
The movement of the guns about the imaginary pivot or axis is effected by means
of segmental racks r, r¹ firmly attached to the beams or gun-slides and concentric
with the grooves or guides n. These racks are geared with conical pinions s, s¹ fixed
upon shafts which are supported in suitable bearings attached to a cross-beam or
girder pl formed with the central cheek or frame p. The diameters of the said
pinions &, s are proportional to their distances from the imaginary pivot or axis at i².
Suitable gearing is provided for connecting the shaft with hydraulic or other
apparatus for imparting rotary motion to the said shaft.
In the arrangement shown in Figures 1 to 4, there is fixed on each of the shafts s
a bevel wheel geared with another bevel wheel t¹ fixed upon a shaft t, which is
connected by means of bevel-wheels t, with a shaft t; a worm-wheel te is fixed on
the said shaft to, and with this worm-wheel is geared a worm or endless-screw t fixed
upon a shaft to provided with a crank-handle t whereby it may be rotated by manual
power.
t8

page_text: The segmental racks r, ¹ on the inner beam or slide / of one mounting are geared
with those on the inner beam or slide of the other mounting by means of the
corresponding conical pinions s, s', there being only one set of these pinions s, &
between the two sets or pairs of racks r, r. The loads carried by these sets of racks
are equal or abont equal, and as they tend to turn the shafts in opposite directions, it
follows that the guns counter-balance each other in respect of their action upon the
said shaft, so that for rotating the shaft to turn the guns about their imaginary pivots
or axes, only the resistance due to friction has to be overcome; the guns can, there-
fore, be quickly elevated or depressed with a slight expenditure of power.
By the arrangement of the guns and their mountings and the minimizing of the
dimensions of the embrasures as above described, we are enabled, in a very
convenient manner, whilst affording adequate protection to the said guns and their
mountings, to allow the guns to be adjusted through an extended vertical field
of fire.
Figures 5 and 6 show a modification of our invention whereby we provide for the
connection and disconnection of the guns so that they can be worked conjointly or
independently of each other as desired. For this purpose, two sets of pinionss, are
employed between the inner slides ; these pinions are fixed on two shafts,
which have a common axis, the shaft being hollow and the shaft & extending
through the said hollow shaft.
The racks on one gun-mounting are, as shown, placed at a greater distance apart
than those on the other mounting. A clutch or other suitable device is provided
whereby the shafts, may be locked together or connected so that, when one
gun is elevated, the other gun will be depressed, or as above stated the said
shafts may be disconnected when it is desired to work the guns independently of
each other.
When the shafts s*, & are connected, they form practically a single shaft, and the
guns counterbalance each other as hereinbefore described, so that their movement
about their imaginary pivots or axes can be rapidly effected, power being applied for
this purpose to the shaft s or to the shaft s³.
For elevating and depressing the guns independently of each other when the said
shafts are disconnected, we, in some instances, provide hydraulic cylinders u as shown
in Figure 5. One of these cylinders placed under each gun-mounting and
its piston-rod u is suitably connected with the mounting at u². The cylinders u
are connected by a pipe u provided with a stop-cock ut. The said cylinders u are
mounted upon trunnions supported in suitable bearings in standards so that the
said cylinders are free to oscillate and thus adapt themselves to the varying angle or
inclination of the guns. Or the said cylinders may be fixed and the pistons provided
with trunks for this purpose. To permit the movement of the
guns, by mechanism
such as
we have hereinbefore described, when the shafts, are connected,
the cock u is opened, so as to put the cylinders u in communication with each
other. Or we may operate the guns by means of the hydraulic apparatus, the
cock u being closed and the cylinders u being alternately opened to pressure and
exhaust.
8°
By the above described arrangement comprising the solid and hollow shafts,
we are enabled to vary the elevation of the guns relatively to each other when
desired.
Figure 7 shows a mounting for a single gun, which is advantageous in cases
where it is desired that the gun shall not protrude, or shall protrude but a short
distance through the embrasure or port-hole. In this case, the gun B is mounted in
a cradle or top-carriage which slides upon a chassis supported on a frame con-
structed as follows, that is to say, the chassis is provided with suitable slide-blocks m
arranged to work in segmental grooves or guides n in cheeks or standards p firmly
attached to the platform a. The slide-blocks m are connected by means of a tie-rod or
bar w with slide-blocks m' arranged to move in segmental or arc-shaped slots or
guides in brackets p* firmly attached to the platform a, the said guides n¹ being
concentric with the guides n. In the drawing, one of the brackets p' is removed.

page_text: The slide-blocks m³ are also connected by means of
tie rod or bar w' to the forward
end of the chassis as at w. The segmental grooves or guides n, n¹ have their
common centre in the imaginary pivot or axis about which the gun is to turn for
elevation or depression. The said frame is so constructed that, when the gun is
elevated or depressed, the slide-blocks m, m', the rods or bars w, w¹ and the gun turn
as a whole about the said imaginary pivot or axis at
We sometimes arrange in the rear guides n, sliding-blocks similar to the blocks m¹
with key or rigid tie-rods or bars for sustaining the carriage, thus forming a second
rigid system similar to that above described. These blocks and the blocks m¹ are
then connected by suitable rods or bars. Hydraulic or other apparatus is provided
for supporting and elevating the gun and its slides.
If desired, more than one tie-rod or bar, such as w or w³, may be used in the
construction of the aforesaid frame.
Figures 8 and 9 show a modification of our invention designed more especially
for naval service, but also useful in other cases in which the gun protrudes a con-
siderable distance through the embrasure or port-hole. The beams are provided
with slide-blocks m arranged to work in segmental guides n formed in the cheeks or
side-frames p as above described; the said beams are supported at their forward end
by slide-blocks m² arranged to move in segmental or arc-shaped guides n' also formed
in the said cheeks or side-frames p and concentric with the guides n, that is to say,
the guides n, n' have their common centre in the imaginary pivot or axis at . The
said beams have, however, no angular movement about the axis of the pin or bolt m³
whereby they are connected with the slide-blocks m¹. The guns and their beams or
slides are guided in their vertical movement or adjustment about the imaginary pivot
or axis entirely by the segmental or arc-shaped surfaces.
The beams, the cradle or top-carriage and the gun are supported by the blocks. m³
and by a hydraulic press U which serves for the vertical pointing or elevation
of the gun. Other mechanism may, however, be used for effecting the vertical
pointing or elevation.
Under some circumstances, it is desirable to have the slide-blocks secured to the
aforesaid cheeks, and the guides formed on, or rigidly attached to the beams, chassis
or frame of the gun-mounting.
We sometimes dispense with the rear slide-blocks m and provide the aforesaid
cheeks or side-frames with guides or bearing surfaces which are concentric with the
forward guides n' and we so construct and arrange the beams, chassis or frame that
the rear end thereof will bear against and slide upon the said guides or bearing
surfaces, being secured against forward movement therefrom by suitable clips or
otherwise. In this modification of the said invention, we prefer that the forward
guides should be situated between the beams.
It is obvious, moreover, that we can further modify the construction of parts of
our apparatus to adapt it for use with different forms of gun-carriages.
For raising or conveying the ammunition into position behind the breech of the
gun, it is advantageous, in some cases, to use apparatus similar to that described in
the specifications of the following former Letters Patent, viz. :-No. 279, dated
2nd January 1884, No. 16,736 dated 20th December 1884, No. 9375 dated 1st July
1887, and No. 10,179 dated 20th July 1887. In such cases, the rotation of the gun
and turntable may be effected through the medium of the central tube through which
the ammunition is raised.
The imaginary or virtual pivot about which the gun turns for elevation, is
preferably, as above stated, within the port-hole or embrasure or within a pro-
longation thereof in either direction, and we prefer that it should intersect the
longitudinal axis of the gun.
Although we have described our invention more particularly as applied to guns
mounted on a rotating platform, it is obvious that our improvements are also
appplicable to guns mounted on a fixed platform or one capable of horizontal move
ment through but a small angle for training the gun. Our invention is advantageous
in any case where the gun is to be fired through an opening in a shield.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to us by
our foreign Correspondent we wish it understood that we claim :-
First. A gun-mounting wherein the part on which the gun slides in its recoil is
movable vertically about an imaginary or virtual pivot or axis, for the purposes above
specified.
Second. A gun-mounting wherein the chassis or part on which the gun slides
is guided in its movement for vertical pointing or elevation entirely by segmental
or arc-shaped surfaces having their centre in an imaginary or virtual pivot or
axis in or near the port-hole or embrasure or intersecting the chase of the gun.
Third. A gun and slide or chassis mounted upon a rotating platform and vertically
adjustable in guides forming arcs of circles whose centre is within or near the
embrasure or port-hole, for the purpose above specified.
Fourth. The combination, with the gun-slides or beams and the segmental or
arc-shaped surfaces for guiding them in their vertical movement, of segmental racks
concentric with the said guiding surfaces, substantially as, and for the purposes, above
specified.
Fifth. A gun-mounting wherein two guns with the parts on which they recoil
are movable vertically about an imaginary pivot and equilibrate or counterbalance
each other, for the purposes above specified.
Sixth. The combination of two guns and means whereby they may be connected
so that when one gun is elevated the other gun will be depressed, and may be
disconnected so that the guns can be worked independently of each other, for the
purposes above specified.
Seventh. The combination, with the guns mounted side by side, of the segmental
racks, the shafts working one within the other and having fixed thereon pinions
geared with the said racks, and means for connecting and disconnecting the said
shafts to permit their joint or independent action, substantially as, and for the
purposes, set forth.
Eighth. The combination, with two port-pivot guns mounted side by side on
vertically adjustable slides or beams, of hydraulic apparatus for elevating and
depressing the same, substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Ninth. The combination of parts comprising the beams or gun-slides, the concentric
guides, and the frame constructed with the slide-blocks and the tie-rods or bars,
substantially as set forth, whereby we provide for controlling the turning of the gun
and the beams or slides about an imaginary or virtual pivot or axis in or near the
port-hole or embrasure or intersecting the chase of the gun, as, and for the purpose,
above specified.
Tenth. A gun-mounting wherein the gun is arranged to recoil upon a beam or
slide having its movement for vertical pointing or elevation controlled by concentric
guides one of which supports the forward end of the said beam or slide, for the
purpose above specified.
Eleventh. The combination, with the beams or gun-slides, of circular or segmental
guides firmly attached to the platform at the rear of the said beams or gun-slides,
substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Twelfth. The improved gun-mounting constructed substantially as described with
reference to Figures 1 to 4, or with reference to Figure 7, or with. reference to
Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings, for the purposes above specified.
Thooth
A 1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London.
Agents for the Applicants.