IMPROVEMENTS IN ORDNANCE AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ORDNANCE AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," A communication
from abroad by Nathan Beach Clark, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United
States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th March 1881.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ORDNANCE AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THERE-
WITH." A communication from abroad by Nathan Beach Clark, of Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, United States of America.
This Invention, relating to ordnance and apparatus connected therewith, has
reference partly to a former Invention for "Improvements in Armoured Vessels,
Fortifications, and Protecting Armour," in respect of which I have applied for Letters
Patent, dated the 15th February 1881, No. 655; an important object of the present
Invention being to provide such defences with an armament capable of being
rapidly and easily loaded, fired, and manipulated.
The Invention embraces the following features, viz.:-
First. The use of gun carrying frames pivoted adjacent to the gun ports in the
turret or shield, whereby inclination and recoil of the gun is secured without
enlargement of the ports.
Second. The use of radius-bar or inclined plane devices, whereby the sliding
breech block of the gun is automatically inserted and withdrawn by the force due
to the extension and recoil of the gun.
Third. Loading apparatus, comprising essentially an ammunition elevator, a
tilting tube, and a hydraulic rammer.
Fourth. Loading apparatus, comprising the ammunition elevator, hydraulic
rammer, and a tilting tube hung to a swinging crane.
Fifth. The use of supplementary deflectors applied to the projecting portions of
the guns to protect the latter from injury by side shots.
:

page_text: Sixth. The use of a pipe or pipes extending from a recoil cylinder to the bore of
the gun-breech, for injecting water into the said bore on the recoil of the gun.
In carrying out the present Invention in conjunction with defences which form
the subject of the said former Invention, the guns are provided on each side with
projecting lugs adapted to slots in the side bars of a frame which is pivoted to
standards secured to the shell of the turret at points adjacent to the port hole for
the gun.
These pivots thus form in effect the trunnions upon which the gun swings,
thereby permitting the necessary elevation, depression, and recoil of the gun through
the smallest possible opening in the armour, owing to the fact that the centres of
vibration of the gun are brought up close to said openings.
Hydraulic cylinders are the means preferred for elevating and depressing the
gun, for running the same out after the recoil, or for working it both in and out in
exercising.
I utilize the movement of the gun to effect the automatic insertion and with-
drawal of the sliding breech block, the means for effecting this object being a radius
bar connected at its inner end to the projecting end of the breech block, and
pivoted at the outer end to a lateral extension of the frame.
When the gun is extended the breech block is inserted, and the radius arm is in
line therewith, but as the gun recoils the said arm swings outward and rearward,
and thus effects the direct lateral withdrawal of the breech block. The radius arm
thus acts somewhat on the principle of the knee joint, so as to exert the power to
the best advantage in effecting the withdrawal of the block.
The supporting columns of the turret are directly under the guns, and each of
the columns is directly in the rear of the breech of the gun when the latter recoils.
Hung centrally above each column is a short tube, which when adjusted vertically,
forms a continuation of a central tube passing down through the said column into
the hold of the vessel.
Ammunition is elevated through the tube from the hold by hydraulic or
pneumatic pressure, or by any suitable system of gearing, and when it enters the
short tube it is retained therein by a suitable spring catch while the tube is turned
on its pivots to a horizontal position in line with the bore of the gun and with the
plunger of a hydraulic cylinder which forms a rammer, whereby the charge is
projected from the tube into the gun prior to the running out of the latter and the
automatic closing of the breech, as above set forth.
When the gun is fired the recoil causes the automatic opening of the breech
ready for the reception of another charge, which has been meantime elevated and
swung into position in the short tube before referred to.
As the loading apparatus of the turret revolves with the latter the guns can be
kept constantly bearing on an enemy, and the operations of loading and firing can
be carried on uninterruptedly without the necessity of turning to a loading station
after each discharge, and then having to seek the target again, thereby avoiding
the loss of much valuable time at a critical period. With the automatic breech
movement and loading apparatus described the guns can be loaded and fired with
great rapidity.
When the ammunition elevator occupies a position about the centre of the turret
the loading tubes may be swung on short cranes, so that they can be swung around
over the elevator to receive the charge, and then back to the breech of the gun to
deliver the same.
In order to avoid injury to the projecting portions of the guns from lateral fire,
I provide the said projecting portions with double convex shields which are suitably
secured to and move with the guns, and form in effect part of the same, so that all
shots which might otherwise strike the gun fairly and disable the same are deflected
either upward or downward, and caused to pass harmlessly off. Hinged port
covers are provided, which remain closely in contact with the shields at all times.
The breech blocks may be arranged to slide vertically and to be actuated by inclined
planes on the gun frames, these planes terminating at each end in straight portions

page_text: on which the antifriction rollers of the breech blocks rest when the guns are in
either of their extreme positions, guides for the breech block being provided on the
gun.
In this gun mechanism the frames are provided with jointed or otherwise flexible
pipes communicating at one end with the recoil cylinders and at the other end with
the bore of the gun at the breech. The pipe is provided with a valve so weighted
that the ordinary hydraulic pressure used in working the gun will not open the
same, but when the gun recoils the increased pressure in the cylinders causes the
weighted valves to open, and forcible jets of water are thus thrown into the bore
of the gun through the pipes. The said pipes are provided with suitable stop
valves, which are closed while exercising the gun.
The injection of streams of water into the bore of the gun on each recoil serves
to take the place of the ordinary swabbing operations, keeping the inner tube of
the gun cool, and preventing the straining of the gun due to expansion.

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
7th September 1881.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ORDNANCE AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THERE-
WITH." A communication from abroad by Nathan Beach Clark, of Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, United States of America.
The object of the said Invention is to provide vessels of war with guns that can
be rapidly loaded, fired, and manipulated, and which are protected from injury due
to shots striking the projecting portions of the guns.
In the accompanying Drawings I have shown the Invention in connection with
the form of armored vessel for which former Letters Patent were granted to me,
dated the 15th February 1881, but it should be understood that the present
Invention can be used in connection with other forms of armored vessels, or with
land fortifications and armored defences generally.
Referring to Sheet 1 of the Drawings,―
Figure 1 is a view of an armored vessel having a turret with a pair of guns
constructed in accordance with this Invention, the hull of the vessel being in
section, and the turret partly in section.
Figure 2, a plan partly in section of the turret and its guns.
Figure 3, a longitudinal section partly in elevation of Figure 2.
Figure 4, a plan partly in section of a turret with a pair of guns and loading
devices therefore somewhat different in construction from those shown in Figures
1 and 2.
Figure 5, a transverse section of Figure 4.
Figure 6, a longitudinal section of the same, and
Figures 7 to 11, inclusive, detached views of one of the
guns and gun frames.
A is the hull or frame of the vessel, which has a deflecting shield B and a turret W
similar to those described in the Specification to my said former Letters Patent.
The sharp edge of the turret is pierced at two points for the muzzles of the two
guns with which the turret is furnished, these guns having on each side projecting
lugs Ladapted to slots in the side bars of a frame I, which is pivoted to standards J
secured to the shell of the turret at points adjacent to the port-hole for the gun
(see Figures 7 to 11).
These pivots thus form in effect the trunnions, upon which the gun swings,
thereby permitting the necessary elevation, depression, and recoil of the gun
through the smallest possible opening in the armor owing to the fact that the
centres of vibration of the gun are brought up closer to the said openings.
Hydraulic cylinders are the means preferred for elevating and depressing the
gun for running the same out after the recoil, or for working it both in and out
in exercising. These devices will be hereinafter explained.
I utilize the movement of the gun to effect the automatic insertion and
withdrawal of the sliding breech-block x, the means shewn in Sheet 1 for effecting
this object being a radius bar O connected at its inner end to the projecting end
of the breech-block, and pivoted at the outer end to a lateral extension of the
frame I (see Figures 7, 8, and 9).
When the gun is extended the breech-block is inserted and the radius arm is in
line therewith, but as the gun recoils the said arm swings outward and rearward,
and thus effects the direct lateral withdrawal of the breech-block (see dotted lines
Figures 1 and 7). The radius arm thus acts somewhat on the principle of the knee
joint, so as to exert the power to the best advantage in effecting the withdrawal
of the block.
The supporting columns a, b, of the turret are directly under the guns, and each
of the columns a, a, is directly in the rear of the breech of the gun when the latter

page_text: recoils. Hung centrally above each column a, a, is a short tube P which when
adjusted vertically forms a continuation of a central tube P¹ passing down through
the said column into the hold of the vessel.
Ammunition is elevated through the tube P1 from the hold by hydraulic or
pneumatic pressure, or by any suitable system of gearing, and when it enters the
tube P it is retained therein by a suitable spring catch, while the tube is turned
on its pivots to a horizontal position in line with the bore of the gun, and with
the plunger of a hydraulic cylinder R which forms a rammer whereby the charge
is projected from the tube into the gun prior to the running out of the latter, and
the automatic closing of the breech, as above set forth.
When the gun is fired the recoil causes the automatic opening of the breech
ready for the reception of another charge, which has been meantime elevated and
swung into position in the tube P.
As the loading apparatus of the turret revolves with the latter the guns can be
kept constantly bearing on an enemy, and the operations of loading and firing can
be carried on uninterruptedly without the necessity of turning to a loading station
after each discharge, and then having to seek the target again, thereby avoiding
the loss of much valuable time at a critical period. With the automatic breech
movement and loading apparatus described the guns can be loaded and fired with
great rapidity.
In the arrangement shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6 the turret is supported upon
a central tubular column extending through an opening in the shield B, the lower
part of the tube that is beneath the shield being cut away at each side so as to
permit men to pass up through the tube into the interior of the turret. The tube
also contains the ammunition elevation P and the pipes for conveying water to the
hydraulic cylinders K for elevating and depressing the gun frames, and to the
recoil and extension cylinders M. The column is contracted at the bottom to form
the plunger C of the hydraulic cylinder D, and is rotated by suitable mechanism
acting upon the wheel at the base of the column, the said wheel also serving as
a platform for the men who supply the ammunition to the elevator P¹. Lateral
steadiness is insured by anti-friction rollers E carried by a collar surrounding.the
opening in the shield B.
Y is the thickened portion of the shield I, the gun-frames J, the pivots L, the
gun-lugs O, the radius bar for withdrawing the breech lock ; P the loading tubes;
and R the hydraulic rammers. As in this turret however the ammunition elevator Pí
occupies a position about the centre of the turret it becomes necessary to swing the
loading tubes P on short cranes Q, so that they can be swung round over the
elevator P¹ to receive the charge, and then back to the breech of the gun to deliver
the same.
In Sheet 2 of the Drawings I have shown modifications of some of the features
of this Invention.
The guns shown in Figures 1 and 2 are light, and project considerably beyond
the turret even when run in, hence, in order to avoid injury to these projecting
portions of the guns from lateral fire, I provide the said projecting portions with
double convex shields W, which are suitably secured to and move with the guns,
and form in effect part of the same, so that all shots which might otherwise strike
the gun fairly and disable the same are deflected either upward or downward, and
caused to pass harmlessly off. N, N, are hinged port covers which remain closely
in contact with the shields W' at all times. In the guns shown in Figures 1 and 2,
Sheet 2, the breech-blocks x are arranged to slide vertically, and are actuated by
inclined planes on the gun frames I, these planes terminating at each end in
straight portions on which the antifriction rollers of the breech-blocks rest when
the guns are in either of their extreme positions.
The details of this elevating device are more clearly shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5,
Sheet 2, in which f, f, represent the planes; w, antifriction rollers adapted thereto,
and carried by arms on the breech-block; r, r, guides for the breech-block on
the gun H; I, I, the gun frames, and M, M, the recoil cylinders. In this gun mechanism

page_text: the frames I are provided with jointed or otherwise flexible pipes p, communicating
at one end with the recoil cylinders, and at the other end with the bore of the gun
at the breech. The pipe p is provided with a valve so weighted that the ordinary
hydraulic pressure used in working the gun will not open the same, but when the
gun recoils the increased pressure in the cylinder M causes the weighted valves to
open, and forcible jets of water are thus thrown into the bore of the gun through
the pipes p. The said pipes are provided with suitable stop valves which are
closed while exercising the gun.
The injection of streams of water into the bore of the gun on each recoil serves
to take the place of the ordinary sponging operations, keeping the inner tube of
the gun cool, and preventing the straining of the gun due to expansion.
In the modification shown in Figures 6 and 7 the guns have trunnions adapted
to bearings in trunnion-blocks, consisting of heavy casting or forgings permanently
fixed to the interior of the turret so as not to admit of recoil.
The nozzles of the guns in this case have deflectors W%, which extend inward
some distance beyond the edge of the turret so as to have a side bearing against the
latter, and the said deflectors are enlarged and made concave at their inner ends
for adaptation to enlarged and convex portions of the turret, so that the strain caused
by the discharge of the gun is not entirely received by the trunnions, but is partly
resisted by the joint between the gun and turret armor. The side bearing of the
deflectors W2 against the turret serves to brace the said deflectors against the effects
of side shots. When the guns are firmly secured to the armor of the turret, as
above set forth, the shock of the discharge is communicated to the turret, and by it
communicated to the interior shield B, shown in Figure 1, and thence distributed
throughout the entire vessel. The interior shield braces the vessel so thoroughly
that it permits this method of mounting the guns without recoil.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
1. The gun-carrying frames I pivotted adjacent to the gun ports in the turret or
shield, whereby inclination and recoil of the gun are secured without enlargement
of the ports, substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The radius-bar or inclined plane devices whereby the sliding breech-block of
the gun is automatically inserted and withdrawn by the force due to the extension
and recoil of the gun, substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. The loading apparatus comprising essentially the ammunition élevator P',
tilting tube P, and hydraulic rammer R, substantially as hereinbefore described.
4. The loading apparatus comprising the ammunition elevator P¹, hydraulic
rammer R, and tilting tube P hung to a swinging crane Q, substantially as
herein before described.
5. The supplementary deflectors applied to the projecting portions of the guns
to protect the latter from injury by side shots, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
6. The pipe or pipes p extending from the recoil cylinder M to the bore of the
gun-breech for injecting water into the said bore on the recoil of the gun, sub-
stantially as hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, this Twenty seventh day of August,
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
J. HENRY JOHNSON.
(L.S.)