Improvements in Powder Hoists.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 24th May,
1004
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Feb., 1895-Accepted, 23rd Mar., 1895
privativn
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Feb., 1895-Accepted, 23rd Mar., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Powder Hoists.
We, Sir ANDREW NOBLE, K.C.B., F.R.S., of Jesmond Dene House,
Newcastle-on-Tyne, and RALPH THEW BRANKSTON, Engineer, of Elswick Works,
Newcastle-on-Tyne, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The powder hoist consists of two carriers or cages which work in guides in the
powder trunk.
The powder trunk is made of armour plate, and the guides for the cage are
carried upon an independent frame which is not attached to the armour except at
the top, and the attachment at the bottom is not made until the frame is below the
protected deck. In this manner the risk from damage by shock, should the armour
be struck is much reduced; the trunk is bulged in the centre to allow the cages
to pass each other.
On the top of each cage is a powder case to contain the powder charge. This
case is pivotted to the cage, at its base by means of a ball and socket joint.
The cages are suspended in the trunk by means of a wire rope, the ends of
the rope, being conveyed by means of conveyance sheaves to a winch for hoisting
up the powder. The cages are so suspended to the rope, that when one cage is at
the top, the other is at the bottom of the trunk, and the rope is laid on opposite
sides of the dium of the hoisting winch.
The ends of the rope are made fast to the drum by means of an adjusting screw,
so that the rope may be tightened, or the position of the cages be adjusted.
The rope is made fast to the drum on one side, and leads to conveyance sheaves
at the base of the trunk, and passes up the inside of the trunk. It is made fast
to one of the cages in passing at the side by means of a clamp, and passes on over
conveyance sheaves at the top of the trunk, and then down the trunk at the
opposite side, it is clamped to the other cage at its side in passing, it then goes on
to the bottom of the trunk, and is conveyed by means of conveyance sheaves to the
opposite side of the drum from where it started.
By this means when the drum is worked one cage goes up and the other comes
down. A cowl is provided on the gun mounting having its centre co-incident with
the centre of the trunk, the other end of this cowi comes out at the side of the
mounting.
The powder case is pivotted at its base on a ball and socket joint, so that as it
enters the cowl it falls over into position so that the powder can be removed, no
matter in what position the mounting may be.
The cages are provided with rollers on each side which fit into rails carried on
the frame in the inside of the trunk. The rails are divided at the centre part
of the trunk so as to allow the cages, and the powder cases to pass each other.
The rails are provided with switches at the joint of division, and the switches are
arranged to work automatically, so that each cage in going up or coming down will
pass into the proper rail and ensure being clear of the other cage.
The switch is pivotted at one end to the rails and at the other end to a plunger
forced outwards by a spring in a pivotted box so that whichever side the switch
may be thrown the spring holds it in that position.

page_text: After the charge is placed in the powder case the door of the trunk is closed
which brings the case into the vertical position, so that its axis is in line with the
axis of the cage, and in this position it is held by means of a locking bolt, which
will be described hereafter. As the cage ascends it passes into the guide rails on
one side of the lower switch, and as it approaches the upper switch it pushes it
over to the opposite side where it is held automatically by its spring. In the
meantime the descending cage pushes over the lower switch in the same manner,
the switches are thus always left in the correct position for the cages to ascend and
descend and keep clear of each other.
The powder case being pivotted on a ball and socket joint at its base is free to
fall over in any direction.
In order to prevent this happening during the ascent and descent of the cages an
automatic locking bolt is provided on each cage which holds the case rigidly
attached to the cage during the ascent and descent, but frees it at the top and
bottom to allow it to fall over at the top for the delivery of the powder or at the
bottom to receive the powder. The locking bolt is forced upwards by a spring and
its lower end is pivotted to one arm of a bell crank lever whose other arm carries
a roller which at the proper times enters cam grooves fixed near the top and bottom
of the trunk.
When the cage reaches the bottom of its course the bolt is withdrawn from the
powder case by the lower cam and the case is free to fall over when the door of the
trunk is opened. When the cage begins to rise the lower cam acts upon the roller
at the end of the bell crank lever and pushes the bell crank over, and forces the
bolt up into a hole in the socket of the powder case, the spring then holds the bolt
in position during the ascent of the cage, and when it gets near the top the upper
cam acts on the bell-crank lever and withdraws the bolt, the case is then free to
fall over in the cowl at the top into position for the charge to be removed. On the
descent of the cage the reverse action takes place and the case is again locked to
the cage in descending, and it is freed again at the bottom by means of the lower
cam.
The automatic switches may be dispensed with by providing separate guide rails
for each carrier. This also renders the automatic bolts unnecessary, grooves being
made in the rim at the top of the powder case into which the guide rails fit and
which serve to guide the case during its ascent and descent, a gap being cut in the
rail to allow the case to fall out at the door at the bottom to get charged.
In order that the gap in the rail may not interfere with the guide rollers on the
carrier a bridge guide is provided at the gap, and the roller pins are extended so
as to enter the bridge guide during the interval that the rollers are passing the gap in
the rail.
When the powder case has been charged, the door of the trunk is then closed,
blocks on the trunk and door holding the case in position so that the groove in the
rim of the case is in line with the guide rail. The case is then hoisted up and is
guided by means of the rail, and passes the descending case in the enlarged part
of the trunk.
At the top the case leaves the guide rail and is then free to fall over into the
cowl no matter in what position the cowl may be. Ou lowering again the groove
engages the guide rail and is guided in the same manner to the bottom.
Dated this 24th day of May 1894.
A. NOBLE.
R. T. BRANKSTON.

page_text: Improvements in Powder Hoists.
We, Sir ANDREW NOBLE, K.C.B., F.R.S., of Jesmond Dene House,
Newcastle-on-Tyne, and RALPH THEW BRANKSTON, Engineer, of Elswick
Works, Newcastle-on-Tyne, 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 principal objects of our invention are to minimise the space occupied by the
ammunition hoist and the armour required for its protection, to lessen the liability
to derangement in action, to cause the ammunition carriers to be presented so as
most conveniently to receive and deliver the charge and to attain simplicity in
structure and manipulation.
According to our invention a trunk is provided extending upwards from the
place where the ammunition is supplied to that at which it is delivered to the gun.
So much of this trunk as is exposed to the enemy's fire is of armour plate. The.
trunk contains within it a frame on which guide rails are fixed. The frame for
the greater part of its length is without attachment to the trunk so that the trunk.
may be a good deal knocked about without deranging the guide rails. There are
two carriers which ascend and descend within the trunk; they are drawn up.
and down by a rope passing around pulleys as it is wound upon and unwound from
a drum.
Only in the middle part of the trunk is it large enough for the carriers to pass;
to save weight and space it is reduced in size at the ends leaving room for one
carrier only.
Each carrier consists of two parts, a lower part or cage which simply travels up
and down in the trunk and a powder case jointed at its lower end to the top of the
cage and so able to drop into an inclined position.
At the top of the trunk there is a cowl or curved passage which moves round
with the gun. The powder case as it comes to the top of the trunk enters this
cowl, the joint permitting it to do so and thus the charge is presented in the most
convenient position for the service of the gun in every position to which the gun
may be trained.
A door is provided at the bottom of the trunk. When the door is opened the
powder case which is at the bottom of the trunk drops to an inclined position
convenient to receive the charge.
The same guide rails may for part of the length of the trunk serve for both the
carriers and automatic switches may be provided at the passing places where double
guide rails are necessary.
Or separate guide rails may be provided throughout.
A bolt controlled automatically by inclines may be employed to lock the cage
and the powder case fast together except in the positions in which the powder case
should be permitted to incline. Or the guide rails may be adapted to keep the
powder case in position without the aid of a bolt.
In the drawings annexed Figure 1 is a vertical section of a powder hoist in
accordance with our invention. Figures 2, 3 and 4 shew to a larger scale sections
taken respectively on the lines 2, 2. 3, 3. and 4, 4 in Figure 1.
In Figure 4 the winch barrel which is above the line of section also appears.
Figure 5 is a front elevation and Figure 6 is a vertical section of the lower part of
the ammunition hoist. Figure 7 shews a detail to a larger scale than any of the
other-figures.
Figure 8 is a vertical section and shows a modification. Figures 9 10 and 11
show to a larger scale sections taken respectively on the lines 9, 9. 10, 10 and 11, 11
in Figure 8.

page_text: We will first describe the ammunition hoist shown by the Figures 1 to 7.
This ammunition hoist consists of two carriers or cages à a which work in
guides bb in the powder trunk.
The upper part c of the powder trunk is made of armour plate, the lower part of
the trunk is marked c'. The guides for the cage are carried upon an independent
frame d which is not attached to the armour c except at the top, and the
attachment at the bottom is not made until the frame is below the protected
deck e.
In this manner the risk from damage by shock, should the armour be
struck is much reduced; the trunk is bulged in the centre to allow the cages to
pass each other.
On the top of each cage a is a powder case y to contain the powder charge.
This case is pivotted to the cage, at its base, by means of a ball and socket joint.
The cages are suspended in the trunk by means of a wire rope h, the ends of the
rope being conveyed by means of conveyance sheaves i to a winch k for hoisting
up the powder. The cages are so suspended to the rope, that when one cage is at
the top, the other is at the bottom of the trunk, and the rope is laid on opposite
sides of the drum of the hoisting winch.
The ends of the rope are made fast to the drum by means of an adjusting screw,
so that the rope may be tightened, or the position of the cages be adjusted.
The rope is made fast to the drum on one side, and leads to conveyance sheaves
at the base of the trunk, and passes up the inside of the trunk. It is made fast to
one of the cages in passing at the side by means of a clamp a' and passes on over
conveyance sheaves at the top of the trunk, and then down the trunk at the
opposite side. The rope is clamped to the other cage at a' at its side in passing
down, it then goes on to the bottom of the trunk, and is conveyed by means of
conveyance sheaves to the opposite side of the drum from where it started.
By this means when the drum is worked one cage goes up and the other comes
down. A cowl is provided on the gun mounting having its centre co-incident
with the centre of the trunk, the other end of this cowl comes out at the side of the
gun mounting.
The powder case being pivotted at its base on a ball and socket joint, as it enters
the cowl falls over into position as seen in Figure 1 so that the powder can be
removed, no matter in what position the mounting may be.
The cages are provided with rollers a² on each side which fit into the rails b
carried on the frame d in the inside of the trunk. The rails are divided at the
centre part of the trunk so as to allow the cages a and the powder cases 9 to pass
each other. The rails are provided with switches b' ' at the points of division,
and the switches are arranged to work automatically, so that each cage in going up
or coming down will pass into the proper rail and ensure being clear of the other
cage.
and a plunger 3 forced
that whichever. side the
The switch is pivotted at 62 near one end to the rails
outwards by a spring in a pivotted box acts upon it so
switch may be thrown the spring holds it in that position.
After the charge is placed in the powder case g the door 2 of the trunk is closed
which brings the case into the vertical position, so that its axis is in line with the
axis of the cage, and in this position it is held by means of a locking bolt, which
will be described hereafter. As the cage ascends it passes into the guide rails on
one side of the lower switch, and as it approaches the upper switch it pushes it over
to the opposite side where it is held automatically by its spring. In the meantime
the descending cage pushes over the lower switch in the same manner, the switches
are thus always lett in the correct position for the cages to ascend and descend and
keep clear of each other, each keeping to its own side.
The powder case being pivotted on a ball and socket joint at its base is free
to fall over in any direction.
In order to prevent this happening during the ascent and descent of the cages an
automatic locking. bolt a is provided on each cage which holds the case rigidly
attached to the cage during the ascent and descent, but frees it at the top and

page_text: bottom to allow it to fall over at the top for the delivery or the powder or at the
bottom to receive the powder. The locking bolt is forced upwards by a spring
and its lower end is pivotted to one arm of a bell crank lever as whose other arm
carries a roller which at the proper times enters cam grooves m m fixed near the
top and bottom of the trunk.
When the cage reaches the bottom of its course the bolt is withdrawn from the
powder case by the lower cam m and the case is free to fall over when the door e²
of the trunk is opened. When the cage begins to rise the lower cam m acts upon
the roller at the end of the bell crank lever and pushes the bell crank over and
forces the bolt up into a hole in the socket of the powder case, the spring then
holds the bolt in position during the ascent of the cage, and when it gets near the
top the upper cam m acts on the bell crank lever and withdraws the bolt, the case
is then free to fall over in the cowl at the top into position for the charge to be
removed. On the descent of the cage, the reverse action takes place and the case
is again locked to the cage in descending, and it is freed again at the bottom by
means of the lower cam.
The automatic switches may be dispensed with by providing separate guide
rails for each carrier, such an arrangement is shewn by the Figures 8 to 11. Many
of the parts it will be seen are the same as in the hoist already described and to
these the same reference letters are applied. The guide rails which now are
separate throughout are marked B B. This modification also renders the automatic
bolts unnecessary, grooves G' being made in the rim at the top of the powder case G
into which the guide rails B fit and which serve to guide the case during its ascent
and descent, a gap being cut in the rail at B* to allow the case to fall out at the
door at the bottom of the trunk to get charged.
In order that the gap in the rail may not interfere with the guide rollers A² on
the carrier a bridge guide N is provided at the gap, and the roller pins are
extended at A so as to enter the bridge guide during the interval that the rollers
are passing the gap in the rail.
When the powder case has been charged, the door of the trunk is then closed,
blocks C on the trunk and door holding the case in position so that the groove G'
in the rim of the case is in line with the guide rail B. The case is then hoisted up
and is guided by means of the rail, and passes the descending case in the enlarged
part of the trunk as is indicated by dotted lines in Figure 8.
At the top, the case leaves the guide rail and is then free to fall over into the
cowl L no matter in what position the cowl may be. On lowering again, the
groove engages the guide rail and is guided in the same manner to the bottom.
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 hoist for the rapid supply of powder or projectiles the combination
consisting of a trunk bulged in the centre, guides within the trunk and two carriers
coupled so that they travel along the guides in opposite directions; the whole so
arranged that the carriers pass in the bulged portion of the trunk and come into the
centre of the trunk at the top and bottom.
2. The combination consisting of the bulged trunk, the guides, the carriers and
the automatic switches, the whole so arranged that the carriers when at the top and
bottom travel along the same guides and travel along separate guides when in the
bulged portion of the trunk.
3. The combination consisting of the guides, the carriers, the aminunition cases
jointed to the tops of the carriers, and the automatic bolts locking the carrier and
the case, rigidly together except when the carrier comes to rest at the ends of its
course and then permits it to incline outwards from the trunk to be charged and
discharged.
4. The combination consisting of the armour plate trunk, the guides, the carriers
and a frame supporting the guides independently of the armour trunk, the whole so

page_text: arranged that the armour trunk may be deformed by the impact of shot without
deranging the guides.
5. The combination with a gun mounting, of the cages or carriers, tackle for
operating them, guide rails on which the cages travel, a trunk enclosing the rails
and having a bulged portion around that portion of the rails where the cages pass,
and a cowl at the top of the trunk carried by the gun mounting, and arranged
concentrically with the axis of the trunk, substantially as described.
6. The combination with an ammunition hoist of a cage and a powder case flexibly
connected to the cage, for the purpose specified.
7. The combination of the guide rails, a cage, tackle for operating it, and a
powder case flexibly connected to the cage.
8. The combination of the guide rails, a cage, tackle for operating it, and a
powder case having a universal joint connection with the top of the cage.
9. The combination of the guide rails, a cage, tackle for operating it, a trunk
enclosing the rails, a cowl at the top of the trunk, and a powder case flexibly
connected with the cage.
10. The combination of the guide rails, the cages or carriers, tackle for operating
them, the trunk, the door C2 at the bottom of the trunk, and the powder case jointed
or flexibly connected with the cages, substantially as described.
11. The combination of a cage or carrier, tackle for raising and lowering it, a
powder case, flexibly jointed to the carrier, and a bolt as for locking the carrier to
the cage, and means for automatically withdrawing the bolt to permit the powder
case to be tilted, substantially as described.
12. The combination with a gun mounting, of the vertical guide rails extending
from the mounting to an ammunition magazine, a stationary armoured trunk or
casing enclosing the upper part of the rails, a cowl secured to the gun mounting
and moving therewith, registering with the trunk, the cages or carriers travelling
on the guide rails and having laterally projecting arms, a raising and lowering rope
connected with said laterally projecting arms, a winch for operating the rope and
powder cases jointed to the cages or carriers.
Dated this Sixth day of February 1895.
A. NOBLE.
R. T. BRANKSTON.