Improvements in Gun Mountings in which Springs are employed for Working Ordnance.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Sept., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 4th June, 1891-Accepted, 4th July, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gun Mountings in which Springs are employed
for Working Ordnance.
We, LEONID RASKAZOFF of St. Petersburg, Russia, (9 Moika) Lieutenant
Colonel in the Imperial Russian Marine Artillery, and JOHN EDWARD COMPTON
BRACEBRIDGE of 3 Whitehall Place in the City of Westminster, Engineer do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
This invention has for its object improvements in gun mountings in which springs
are employed for working ordnance.
The improvement has especial reference to the siege or other spring disappearing
gun carriage, described in the Patent No. 1121 granted to one of us in the year
1885 and it has for its object a new arrangement of the controlling apparatus for
automatically retaining in compressed state the springs of the spring accumulator
or buffer, after discharge of the gun to store up the recoil force.
This new improvement is a hydraulic contrivance introduced instead of the
friction nipping arrangement described in the above mentioned Patent and for the
same purpose.
This hydraulic contrivance consists of a hydraulic cylinder through the axis of
which, is passed the stem of the spring accumulator on which the springs are
threaded.
The springs of the accumulator are in front of the cylinder and are arranged to
push or press against the forward end of this cylinder, so that when the springs are
compressed or expanded, this cylinder will slide up and down, along the stem.
This sliding cylinder has a couple of horizontal trunnions, one on each of its
sides, on which the eyes of connecting bars are placed to form a connection between
the spring accumulator, and rocking levers or elevators supporting the gun.
Both ends of this sliding hydraulic cylinder, are furnished with watertight covers,
and stuffing boxes, where the stem of the accumulator is passed through them. The
length of the cylinder is such as to correspond to the maximum of stroke of the
springs of the accumulator.
On the part of the stem, which is confined inside this cylinder a disc or piston is
fixed to the stem. This piston is immoveable on the stem and is situated not far
from upper cover of the cylinder, when the springs of accumulator are not
compressed. But when the springs are compressed and the cylinder is forced to
slide up along the stem the piston inside of the cylinder approaches the bottom
cover.
The piston may have holes through its body furnished with valves, which may
open, and let the liquid pass through, only in one direction, and only when the
springs of accumulator are being compressed, or preferably a pipe connects the two
ends of the cylinder through a throttle valve and a valve which closes to prevent
return.
The action of this hydraulic controlling apparatus is as follows:-
When the gun is fired, its recoil motion by means of rocking levers and connecting
bars will cause the moveable hydraulic cylinder to slide along the stem and to
compress the springs of the accumulator which are confined between this sliding
cylinder and a nut on the other end of the stem. By this sliding motion of the
cylinder the liquid contained in it, will be forced to pass through the valves from
one end of the cylinder into the other. But in consequence of the valves it cannot
return and thus the springs of the accumulator are kept in a compressed state, and
the force of recoil is stored.

page_text: .
When it is desirable to realise the force of recoil thus stored up in the
accumulator for lifting the gun a small valve is opened by which the liquid is then
allowed to pass from one part of the cylinder into the other, and thus the springs
of the accumulator are again allowed to move the cylinder along the stem and
expand, and therefore to do the work of raising the gun by the force of recoil
stored in them from a previous discharge. The throttle valve is controlled by a
cam guide during the recoil.
The above described arrangement of spring accumulator, may be adapted to
howitzer mountings on rearwardly inclined slides, or in similar casos.
The siege mounting as we prefer to arrange it consists of a trail constructed of
two plate and augle brackets united by a front transome, a centre transome
underneath, and a rear transome at the trail eye. The brackets are held to the
axle tree by joggles and plates holted on: steel castings fitted with cap squares
are riveted to the brackets in which the pivots of the elevators rest.
The elevators are of bell crank form, and are fitted with trunnion holes and cap
squares at their upper ends, and are united by a shaft which rests in the trunnion
holes in the middle, and, at their lower ends, are connected by two tension rods to
projections on the cylinder.
The stem of the spring accumulator is fixed to the rear transone, and upon it is
formed a piston fitted with double "U" leathers sliding watertight in the cylinder;
the other end of the stem is carried by a bracket bolted to the front transoure, and is
fitted with screw and nut for putting the initial compression on the springs. The
springs are threaded on the stem and bear at their forward end against the nut, and
at their rear end ngainst projections on the front end of the cylinder. The cylinder is
fitted with stuffing boxes at either end, through which the stem passes, and with two
projections to which the connecting rods are attached, which slide in guides bolted
to the inner side of the brackets. The pipe connecting the two ends of the cylinder
together has in connection with it, I recoil valve, II an automatically closed
throttle valve, al, III a bye pass valve in a pipe leading round the other two.
The automatic throttle valve is turned by a crank on its spindle catching against
a groove in a cam plate attached to the brackets of the carriage, thus when the gun
recoils, the automatic valve is gradually closed, and the pressure in the cylinder is
kept uniform throughout its stroke. The elevating gear consists of an elevating
band surrounding the gun, furnished with two trunnions to which are attached two
elevating rods. To the lower ends of the elevating rods are attached two studs
upon two curved racks, sliding in guides attached to the brackets of the carriage,
and actuated through friction and spur gearing by means of a handwheel attached
to one of the brackets. Suitable stops for checking the gun going up and coming
down are provided. The handle of the "running up" valve, as the gun goes up,
is automatically shut by catching against a projection attached to the brackets of
the carriage.
The gun is anchored in the following manner :—
To the axle tree is attached a forked rod terminating in a piston fitting loosely
in a cylinder which is attached to an arm working round a circular plato bolted to
the platform. A spring is inserted in the cylinder to draw the piston down after
recoil.
By this means the "jump" of the mounting is gradually taken up, and the
carriage gently returned to its firing position.
DL
"
1000
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gun Mountings in which Springs are employed
for Working Ordnance.
We, LEONID RASKAZOFF of St. Petersburg, Russia, (9 Moika) Lieutenant
Colonel in the Imperial Russian Marine Artillery, and JOHN EDWARD COMPTON
BRACEBRIDGE of 3 Whitehall Place in the City of Westminster, Engineer, 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 has for its object improvements in gun mountings in which springs
are employed for working ordnance.
The improvement has especial reference to the siege or other spring disappearing
gun carriage, described in the Patent No. 1121 granted to one of us in the year
1885 and it has for its object a new arrangement of the controlling apparatus for
automatically retaining in compressed state the springs of the spring accumulator
or buffer, after discharge of the gun to store up the recoil force.
This new improvement is a hydraulic contrivance introduced instead of the
friction nipping arrangement described in the above mentioned Patent and for the
same purpose.
This hydraulic contrivance consists of a hydraulic cylinder through the axis
of which, is passed the stem of the spring accumulator on which the springs are
threaded.
The springs of the accumulator are in front of the cylinder and are arranged to
push or press against the forward end of this cylinder, so that when the springs are
compressed or expanded, this cylinder will slide up and down, along the stem.
This sliding cylinder has a couple of horizontal trunnions, one on each of its
sides, on which the eyes of connecting bars are placed to form a connection between
the spring accumulator, and rocking levers or elevators supporting the gun.
Both ends of this sliding hydraulic cylinder are furnished with watertight covers,
and stuffing boxes, where the stem of the accumulator is passed through them. The
length of the cylinder is such as to correspond to the maximum of stroke of the
springs of the accumulator.
On the part of the stem, which is confined inside this cylinder a disc or piston
is fixed to the stem. This piston is immoveable on the stem and is situated not
far from upper cover of the cylinder, when the springs of accumulator are not
compressed. But when the springs are compressed and the cylinder is forced to
slide up along the stem the piston inside of the cylinder approaches the bottom
Cover.
The piston may have holes through its body furnished with valves, which may
open, and let the liquid pass through, only in one direction, and only when the
springs of accumulator are being compressed, or preferably a pipe connects the two
ends of the cylinder through a throttle valve and a valve which closes to prevent
return.
--
The action of this hydraulic controlling apparatus is as follows:-
When the gun is fired, its recoil motion by means of rocking levers and
connecting bars will cause the moveable hydraulic cylinder to slide along the stem and
to compress the springs of the accumulator which are confined between this sliding
cylinder and a nut on the other end of the stem. By this sluling motion of the
cylinder the liquid contained in it, will be forced to pass through the valves from
one end of the cylinder into the other. But in consequence of the valves it cannot
return and thus the springs of the accumulator are kept in a compressed state, and
the force of recoil is stored.
When it is desirable to realise the force of recoil thus stored up in the

page_text: accumulator for lifting the gun a small valve is opened by which the liquid is then
allowed to pass from one part of the cylinder into the other, and thus the springs
of the accumulator are again allowed to move the cylinder along the stem and
expand, and therefore to do the work of raising the gun by the force of recoil
stored in them from a previous discharge. The throttle valve is controlled by a
cam guide during the recoil.
The above described arrangement of spring accumulator, may be adapted to
howitzer mountings on rearwardly inclined slides, or in similar cases.
In order that our said invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into effect we will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
1
accumulator for lifting the gun a small valve is opened by which the liquid is then
allowed to pass from one part of the cylinder into the other, and thus the springs
of the accumulator are again allowed to move the cylinder along the stem and
expand, and therefore to do the work of raising the gun by the force of recoil
stored in them from a previous discharge. The throttle valve is controlled by a
cam guide during the recoil.
The above described arrangement of spring accumulator, may be adapted to
howitzer mountings on rearwardly inclined slides, or in similar cases.
In order that our said invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into effect we will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a sertional elevation of the gun mounting.
Figure 2 is a rear elevation.
The siege mounting as we prefer to arrange it and as is here shown consists of a
trail constructed of two plate and angle brackets at a united by a front transome, a
centre transome underneath, and a rear transome at the trail eye. The brackets
are held to the axle tree by joggles and plates bolted on; steel castings e fitted with
cap squares are riveted to the brackets in which the pivots of the elevators d d rest.
The elevators are of bell crank form, and are fitted with trimnion holes and cap
squares at their upper ends, and are united by a shaft which rests in the
trunnion holes in the middle, aml, at their lower ends, are connected by two tension
rods ee to projections on the cylinder j
The rod or stem g of the spring accumulator is fixed to the rear transome, and
upon it is formed a piston g fitted with double "U" leathers sliding watertight in
the cylinder; the other end of the stem is carried by a bracket a bolted to the
front transome, and is fitted with screw and nut for putting the initial compression
on the springs. The springs are threaded on the stem, and bear at their forward
end against the nut, and at their rear end against projections on the front end of
the cylinder The cylinder is fittel with stufling boxes at either end, through
which the stem passes, and with two projections to which the tension or
connecting rods are attached, which slide in guides bolted to the inner side of
the brackets. The pipe connecting the two ends of the cylinder together has in
connection with it a recoil valve 7 and an automatically closed throttle valve m;
there may also be a by-pass valve in a pipe leading round the other two, or as is
here shown a serow and handle may be provided for lifting the recoil valve from
its sent to admit of the return of the liquid. The automatic throttle valve mis
turned by a crank m² on its spindle catching against a groove in a eam plate n
attached to the brackets of the earringe: thus, when the gun recoils, the automatic
valve is gradually closed, and the pressure in the cylinder is kept uniform throughout
its stroke. The elevating gear consists of an elevating band surrounding the gun,
furnished with two trunnions to which are attached two elevating rods p p. The
lower ends of the elevating rods are attached to two studs upon two curved racks g
sliding in guides attached to the brackets of the carriage, and netuated through
friction and spur gearing by means of a handwheel r attached to one of the brackets.
Suitable stops for checking the gun going up and coming down are provided. The
handle of the "running up" valve, as the gun goes up, is automatically shut by
catching against a projection attached to the brackets of the carriage.
The gun is anchored in the following manner :—
To the axle tree is attached a forked rod terminating in a piston fitting loosely
in a cylinders which is attached to an arm working round a circular plate u
bolted to the platform. A spring is inserted in the cylinders to draw the piston
down after recoil.
By this means the "jump" of the mounting is gradually taken up, and the
carriage gently returned to its firing position.

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 we declare that what we
claim is :-
:-
1. In a gun mounting the combination consisting of the trail or supporting frame;
the stem passing along the trail from end to end and having a piston upon it;
levers or elevators jointed to the trail and supporting the gun; a cylinder
surrounding the stem and containing the piston within it; springs around the stem
outside the cylinder compressed between an abutment at the fore end of the trail
and the fore end of the cylinder; connecting rods coupling the elevators with the
cylinder; so that when the gun recoils the cylinder is drawn forward and the
springs are compressed; a passage by which during recoil liquid can pass from one
end of the cylinder to the other; valves which offer a suitable resistance to the
passage of the liquid and prevent its return; and mechanism by which a way is
opened for the return of the liquid when the gun is required to rise to the firing
position.
2. In a gun mounting the combination consisting of the supporting frame; the
stem passing along the frame and having a piston upon it; a cylinder surrounding
the stem and containing the piston within it; springs around the stem outside the
cylinder compressed between the cylinder and an abutment on the frame; a
connection between the cylinder and the gun such that the cylinder moves com-
pressing the springs when the gun recoils; a passage by which during recoil liquid
can pass from one end of the cylinder to the other; valves which offer a suitable
resistance to the passage of the liquid and prevent its return; and mechanism by
which a way is opened for the return of the liquid when the gun is required to rise
to the firing position.
3. In a gun mounting the recoil apparatus substantially as described consisting
of the stem with piston thereon, the cylinder containing the piston; the springs on
the stem outside the cylinder and between the cylinder end and the abutment; the
passage between the ends of the cylinder; the valves regulating the flow of liquid
in the passage and preventing return; and mechanism by which a way is opened
for the return of the liquid to allow the gun to come to the firing position.
Dated this 26th day of May 1891
LEONID RASKAZOFF.
J. E. COMPTON BRACEBRIDGE.