Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Working Ordnance.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Feb., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 28th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 16th Dec., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Working Ordnance.
I, ROBERT MATTHEWS, Engineer, of Sir W. G. Armstrong Whitworth & Co.,
Ltd., of Openshaw, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the working of ordnance, and has for its object to
provide means whereby in the event of the failure of the hydraulic or other
power employed for running the gun in and out, the gun can be run out at any
angle by hand and be retained in such position without danger of its running
back and injuring the gunners, such means however being so contrived that the
gun will not be prevented from recoiling on shock of discharge.
For this purpose I propose to employ a slipping pawl or trip gear, which under
ordinary circumstances is held in engagement with a projection or recess by a
spring so loaded as to enable the pawi or trip gear to retain the gun in its run-
out position, the said pawl or trip-gear being so formed and arranged that on the
discharge of the gun, the spring will be overcome and permit the pawl or trip
gear to disengage itself from the aforesaid projection or recess and allow the
gun to recoil in the ordinary manner.
In carrying my invention into practice I sometimes employ an endless sprocket
chain passing around sprocket wheels carried by the undercarriage of the gun, such
chain being provided with projections at suitable intervals. The cradle of the gun
carries the aforesaid spring-pawl which is pivotally mounted in a socket or
bracket formed on said cradle and through such socket the chain passes. The nose
of the pawl and the face of the projection with which it engages are preferably
inclined at such an angle that the pawl will not become disengaged from the
projection on the chain when the cradle and gun are being run out by hand but
will become disengaged when the cradle moves rearwardly with the recoiling gun.
I prefer to so form the aforesaid projections and the nose of the pawl that the
latter will act to prevent the cradle and gun shifting when they are either run
out or in battery so that their longitudinal movement at such times will not be
caused by the rolling of the ship.
The spring controlling the pawl is made capable of adjustment so that its
resistance can be increased or diminished to cause the pawl to engage more or less
firmly with the projections on the sprocket chain.
Any suitable gearing may be employed for driving the aforesaid chain by hand
and if bevel or spur gearing is used, I provide a ratchet and ratchet wheel for
preventing any effect upon the said gearing by the movement of the gun on recoil
or by its tendency to run backward by gravity while it is being run out by hand.
If worm and worm wheel gearing be employed such ratchet and ratchet wheel
will be unnecessary.
Instead of employing sprocket wheels and an endless chain as above stated I
may adapt the nose of the pawl to engage with recesses or projections on a recti-
linear moving part of the cradle, such as the rack by which the latter is run to and
fro

page_text: If the aforesaid pawls are employed in pairs I prefer to provide a lever arranged
beneath and transversely to said pawls, the ends of such lever being suitably
formed to carry the springs by which the pawls are controlled. This enables the
pressure of the springs on said pawls to be equalized.
Dated this 16th day of Februar 1899
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Working Orduance.
I, ROBERT MATTHEWS, Engineer, of Sir W. G. Armstrong-Whitworth & Co.,
Ltd., of Openshaw, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, 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:-
This invention relates to the working of heavy guns and has for its object to
provide means whereby in the event of the failure of the ordinary hydraulic or
other power employed for running the gun in and out, it can be run out to its
firing position at any angle of elevation by hand or other auxiliary power and be
retained in such position without danger of being run back unintentionally or
prematurely and injuring the gunners or the gearing; such auxiliary power being
so applied that the gun will not be prevented from recoiling on shock of discharge.
For this purpose I employ a slipping pawl or other form of trip-gear carried
by the cradle or other recoiling part of the mounting, and adapted to engage with
a non-recoiling part of the mounting by the action of a spring or other means so
arranged as to ensure the retention of the gun in its run out position until it is
fired, and to be then overcome and allow the gun to recoil in the ordinary manner.
In order that my said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried
into effect I will proceed to describe the same more fully with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation showing one form of my trip-gear apparatus
and so much of the gun-mounting as will suffice for a proper explanation of my
invention.
Figure 2 is a sectional plan of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section illustrating the hand gearing shewn
in Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken approximately on the line 1, 1
of Figure 1 looking towards the right.
Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view of the slipping pawl slightly varied in
construction from that shewn in the preceding figures.
Figure 6 is a vertical section of a portion of the gun-mounting showing a modi-
fication of my apparatus.
Figure 6 is a fragmentary section on a larger scale of a portion of the modified
apparatus.
Figure 7 is a vertical section taken approximately on the line 2, 2 of Figure 6
looking towards the right but showing only the left-hand half of the said figure.
Figure 8 is a detail sectional view taken approximately on the line 3, 3 of
Figure 6.
In all these figures like letters of reference indicate similar parts and in Both
of the arrangements illustrated the cradle is supposed to have been run forward and
to have carried the gun into its firing position.

page_text: A is the recoiling part or cradle in which the gun is mounted in the well known
manner. B is the frame upon which the said cradle slides. C is the piston of the
hydraulic cylinders D D to which piston the said cradle is rigidly connected by
the bracket E.
Referring more particularly to the arrangement illustrated in Figures 1 to 5;
F is an endless sprocket chain passing around sprocket wheels F1 F mounted on
stationary axes 13 carried by the underframe of the gun mounting. One of the
sprocket wheels (viz. F) is mounted on a sleeve F that carries a bevel wheel F5
capable of being revolved by any suitable hand-operated or other auxiliary gearing
provided for the purpose.
Gis the slipping pawl which is pivotally mounted at 9 in the bracket E with
which the cradle is provided and through such bracket the endless chain F passes.
g¹ is the spring by which the said pawl is pressed inwardly to engage with one
or other of several projections ff with which the endless chain is provided, these
projections being so arranged that when the gun and cradle recoil, the nose g² of
the said pawl will lie immediately in front of one of the projections, as represented
by dotted lines in Figure 2. Therefore in the event of the failure of the motive
power (which in the present instance is hydraulic) for running the gun out to its
firing position, the said sprocket chain can be caused to travel in the direction of
the arrows (Figure 2) by operating the aforesaid sprocket wheels through the
auxiliary gearing. Thus the said pawl and consequently the cradle carrying
it are run out or forward and the gun is brought to its firing position; any
liability of the pawl's becoming disengaged from the projection during this
operation being prevented by the resistance of the said spring g'. The gun having
thus been run out to its firing position is maintained in such position by the pawl's
engagement with the said projection on the sprocket chain and any tendency of
the chain or the auxiliary gearing to move backwardly under the weight or the
recoil of the gun is avoided by a spring controlled ratchet H engaging with
ratchet teeth H¹ formed in the face of the bevel wheel F5. In place of this
ratchet device I may however employ any other appropriate means for the purpose
of my invention. The nose of the pawl G and the face of the projections with
which it engages are inclined so that on firing the gun, the rearward stress on the
cradle due to the shock of discharge, will cause the pawl to move outwardly
against the resistance of the spring g', whereby the pawl will be disengaged and
permit the gun and the cradle to recoil in the usual manner. The said pawl then
occupies a position corresponding with that represented by the dotted lines in
Figure 2, ready to be carried forward again by the adjacent projection on the
sprocket chain, when the auxiliary gearing is next actuated.
It will be readily
understood that when the gun is run out by the ordinary hydraulic or other
power provided for the purpose, the sprocket chain remains stationary, the pawl G
merely passing over the forward projection f as the cradle and its bracket E
advance and that on firing the gun, the pawl becomes disengaged from this
projection by the shock of discharge as already explained.
If desired the aforesaid projections on the sprocket chain may be arranged in
pairs and the nose of the spring pawl G formed in the manner illustrated in
Figure 5, so that when the hydraulic or other power apparatus is disabled, the
said pawl will act to prevent the gun from shifting longitudinally by the rolling
of the ship, whether the said gun be in its run out position or in its run in position.
The spring g' controlling the pawl is preferably made capable of adjustment,
so that its resistance can be increased or diminished to cause the pawl to engage
more or less firmly with the projections on the sprocket chain. I have for this
purpose (as best seen in Figure 5) represented the outer end of the said spring
supported by an adjustable screw g³ carried by the bracket E. By turning this
screw in one or other direction the resistance of the spring can be readily varied.
In some cases I construct the aforesaid pawl G with a tail g (Figure 5) with
which a screw g³ carried by the socket E engages; the turning of this screw in
the proper direction will cause the said pawl to be set into such a position that

page_text: its nose will lie out of reach of the aforesaid projections f, whereby said pawl will
be thrown entirely out of action.
By arranging the sprocket chain to pass through the aforesaid bracket E, I
provide for effectually supporting the said chain against inward movement, which
would otherwise take place by the pressure of the nose of the pawl and which
would render the working of the apparatus unsatisfactory.
The gearing for operating the sprocket chain as shewn comprises a bevel
pinion mounted onl a transverse shaft and formed in one
piece with a bevel wheel F8 that gears with a bevel pinion F
mounted on an inclined shaft F10; the latter, by bevel pinions F", FR,
is geared with the aforesaid shaft F. By reason of the shaft being carried
by a part of the mounting which receives movement about fixed trunnions J when
the gun is elevated or depressed while the shaft F is carried by, a part of the
mounting which does not so move, it is necessary to provide means whereby the
relative position of these two shafts while being kept in gear with each other
can vary in accordance with the alterations in the angle of elevation of the gun.
For this purpose the said inclined shaft F is mounted at its lower end in a
socket which is capable of rocking about the axis of the shaft 17 and the
bevel pinion is adapted to revolve in a bracket which is free to oscillate
about the axis of the shaft 1. The said shaft Fo is free to slide through the
pinion and the bracket F4 and is made rectangular to correspond with the
hole in the pinion through which it passes, so that while it is free to slide
longitudinally as required, it will always remain in rotative connection with the
pinion.
If worm and worm-wheel gearing be employed for actuating the said sprocket
chain, the aforesaid ratchet arrangement H H will be unnecessary.
It will be obvious that instead of arranging the sprocket chain F to work in a
horizontal plane as represented in the drawings it can be arranged to work equally
well in a vertical plane.
Referring now to the arrangement illustrated by Figures 6, 6, 7 and 8; I have
therein dispensed with the sprocket chain F and sprocket wheels F1 F2 illustrated
in the previous figures and substituted therefore a rack I with which gears a
toothed pinion I carried by a transverse shaft F7. This toothed pinion receives
its motion from auxiliary gearing which (with the exception that the socket F
and the bracket F are inverted) is similar to the hand or auxiliary gearing
already referred to in the preceding figures and therefore needs no further
description.
The rack I is carried by a downward extension a on the cradle of the gun but
does not recoil with the said cradle. By operating the aforesaid hand or auxiliary
gearing the pinion I that gears with the rack can be revolved in either direction
to cause the rack to travel forward or backward as may be necessary in the event
of the failure of the ordinary hydraulic or other power.
The pawl G, which is also of similar construction to that already described,
is adapted to engage with a recess formed between the projections f f on the said
rack in an analogous manner to that above stated with reference to the sprocket
chain F.
When the gun is in its firing position the said pawl will resist the tendency
of the gun to run backward under the action of gravity but (as in the previous
arrangement) will give way on shock of discharge and allow the gun to recoil in
the ordinary manner, (see Figure 6") the rack remaining stationary during the
recoil by reason of the pinion I and the other parts of the auxiliary gearing being
held by the ratchet H₁ engaging with the ratchet wheel H² fixed to the shaft F.
His a rod which is connected with the ratchet H¹ and which is under the control
of the gunner so that he can disengage the ratchet from the ratchet wheel after
firing the gun and permit the rack to be moved rearward by the auxiliary gearing
for the purpose of bringing the projections f into re-engagement with the pawl G
when the latter and the cradle carrying it are in their recoiled position. Then by

page_text: revolving the hand or auxiliary gearing in the reverse direction (the pawl G being
still in engagement with the projections f) the cradle and gun can be run out
to their firing position again. In other respects the working of this modified
apparatus is similar to that already described.
If the aforesaid pawl G be provided with the tail piece 9', the aforesaid screw g
will act to prevent the pawl from being pressed too far inwardly by its spring
when it becomes disengaged from the rack.
The aforesaid ratchet and ratchet wheel also operate to prevent the gun from
running backward while it is being moved to its firing position by the auxiliary
gearing. If however worm gearing be employed the aforesaid ratchet and ratchet
wheel will be unnecessary.
Instead of employing only a single pawl G, I may in the aforesaid arrange-
ment illustrated by Figures 6 and 7, use a pair of pawls and two racks as shewn,
in which case I provide a transverse lever G1 centrally pivoted to the cradle at G²,
the ends of such lever being formed to receive the springs g¹ by which the pawls
are controlled. This lever enables the pressure of the springs on the said pawls to
be equalized.
The arrangement of the aforesaid pawl on a recoiling part of the gun mounting
to gear with a projection or recess on or in a non-recoiling part may obviously
be reversed, that is to say the pawl may be on the non-recoiling part and the
projection or recess on or in the recoiling part.
Although in the drawings I have illustrated the auxiliary gearing adapted
to be worked manually, I wish it to be understood that if desired such gearing
may be worked by steam, electrical or other power.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. A gun mounting provided with apparatus which, while not preventing or
interfering with the ordinary working and control of the gun by hydraulic or other
power will, in the event of the failure of the latter, permit the gun to be run
out by hand or other auxiliary power and to be retained in its run-out position
at any angle of elevation but without hindrance, to its recoil when discharged.
2. In a gun mounting the combination with the recoiling part of a spring-pawl
or other form of trip-gear which is adapted to engage with a projection or recess
on or in a non-recoiling part of the mounting substantially as described and for
the purpose specified.
3. An endless sprocket chain or a rack formed with projections or recesses for
engagement with the aforesaid spring pawl and adapted to be actuated by hand
or other auxiliary power when required, substantially as described.
4. The combination with the said sprocket wheels and the auxiliary gearing for
communicating motion thereto, of a ratchet or other appropriate device for
preventing the backward movement of the sprocket chain or the auxiliary gearing
for the purpose specified.
5. A gun mounting provided with apparatus constructed arranged and operating
substantially as described with reference to either of the arrangements illustrated
in the accompanying drawings for the purpose specified.
Dated this 28th day of October 1899.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.