IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF MOUNTING AND WORKING GUNS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Wightwick Rendel, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, Civil
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF MOUNTING
AND WORKING GUNS."
Sealed the 30th May 1879, and dated the 24th December 187
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Wightwick Rendel
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th December 1878.
GEORGE WIGHTWICK RENDEL, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, Civil Engineer.
PROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF MOUNTING AND WORKING GUNS."
"IM-
The Invention bas reference to the mode of mounting guns, whether loaded at
the breech or muzzle.
I fix the gun on a saddle answering to the carriage in ordinary use, and arranged
like it to recoil and move backward and forward on a slide or platform, but instead
of giving elevation (i.c., angular motion in a vertical plane) to the gun by resting
and inclining the gun on trunnions in bearings on the saddle, I fix the gun to the
saddle with or without trunnions, and incline the slide with gun and saddle all
together about a horizontal pivot in the slide.
I give horizontal movement to the gun by mounting the slide on a turntable or
on a platform-pivotted vertically or in a turret.
I control the motion of the saddle on the slide during recoil and move it back-
wards and forwards at will by water pressure.
When mounted in this manner the gun may be made muzzle or (more properly)
port-pivotting by placing the pivot of the slide close underneath the port as in a
casemate or in a turret, and thus the dimensions of the port may be reduced to
little more than the size of the gun where it passes through so that the gun closes
the port.
I raise and lower the slide about the horizontal pivot by means of a hydraulic
press, or I may use screws or other suitable mechanism.
The Invention also has reference to the mechanism for closing the breech in breech

page_text: loading guns.
Having the gun fixed immovably to a saddle I attach to the saddle
instead of the gun the fittings required to receive the breech screw or wedge, together
with mechanism adapted to remove and replace the screw or wedge and to bring up
and remove the loading tube. Hitherto such mechanism has always been fitted on
the gun, and has been limited in convenience and ease of working by the difficulty
of attaching much apparatus on the gun, and the want of space for the purpose.
On this system the mechanism may be extended to any necessary amount to adapt
it either to be worked by hand or by other power, such as that of water pressure.
In some cases I prefer to fix the mechanism on the slide or on the revolving
platform, and to bring the gun up to it in position for opening and closing the
breech, the object being still to relieve the gun of the breech mechanism, and to
place this independently where there is plenty of space to fit and work it, and
facility for applying power other than manual power to work it.
In the case of breech loading guns on the interrupted screw or French system, I
apply the power to remove and replace the screw as follows:-Having turned the
screw by hand, by means of a lever or otherwise, until it is free to come out, I
withdraw it from the gun by means of a small fixed press on to a table which
carries also the loading tube, and having the screw so withdrawn I traverse the
table sideways by means of another press until the screw is clear of the loading gear
and the loading tube brought into position. Or I apply screws or toothed gear
with racks to effect the same motions.
When the breech mechanism is fixed on the saddle it is, and remains always, in
position to act, but when fixed on the slide or platform it is only in position to act
when the breech of the gun is brought up to it and in proper line, which is effected
by the movement of the gun on the slide and by the vertical movement of the slide
itself.
When the system is applied in turrets to breech loading guns I may load upon
the system of my Patent No. 3826 in the year 1872, giving the gun the necessary
angle to introduce the charge from below the deck by lowering the breech and giving
the gun elevation instead of by depressing the muzzle as in the case of guns loaded
at the muzzle on this system.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Wightwick Rendel in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
24th June 1879.
GEORGE WIGHTWICK RENDEL, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, Civil Engineer.
PROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF MOUNTING AND WORKING GUNS."
« IM-
The Invention has reference to the mode of mounting guns, whether loaded at the
breech or muzzle.
I fix the gun on a saddle answering to the carriage in ordinary use, and arranged
like it to recoil and move backward and forward on a slide or platform; but instead
of giving elevation (i.e., angular motion in a vertical plane) to the gun by resting
and inclining the gun on trunnions in bearings on the saddle, I fix the gun to the
saddle with or without trunnions and incline the slide with gun and saddle
alltogether about a horizontal pivot in the slide.
I give horizontal movement to the gun by mounting the slide on a turntable, or
on a platform pivotted vertically, or in a turret.
I control the motion of the saddle on the slide during recoil, and move it back-
wards and forwards at will by water pressure.
When mounted in this manner the gun may be made muzzle or, more properly,
port-pivotting, by placing the pivot of the slide close underneath the port, as in a
casemate or in a turret, and thus the dimensions of the port may be reduced to
little more than the size of the gun where it passes through, so that the gun closes
the port.
I raise and lower the slide about the horizontal pivot by means of a hydraulic
press, or I may use screws or other suitable mechanism.
The Invention also has reference to the mechanism for closing the breech in
breech loading guns. Having the gun fixed immoveably to a saddle I attach to the
saddle instead of to the gun the fittings required to receive the breech screw or
wedge, together with mechanism adapted to remove and replace the screw or wedge
and to bring up and remove the loading tube. Hitherto such mechanism has always
been fitted on the gun and has been limited in convenience and ease of working by
the difficulty of attaching much apparatus on the gun, and the want of space for
the purpose.
On this system the mechanism may be extended to any necessary.
amount to adapt it either to be worked by hand or by other power, such as that
of water pressure.
In some cases I prefer to fix the mechanism on the slide or
on the revolving platform, and to bring the gun up to it in position for opening
and closing the breech, the object being still to relieve the gun of the breech
mechanism, and to place this independently where there is plenty of space to
fit and work it, and facility for applying power other than manual power to
work it.
In the case of breech loading guns on the interrupted screw or French system
I apply the power to remove and replace the screw as follows:-Having turned the
screw by hand by means of a lever or otherwise until it is free to come out I with-
draw it from the gun by means of a small fixed press on to a table which carries
also the loading tube, and having the screw so withdrawn I traverse the table
sideways by means of another press until the screw is clear of the loading gear and
the loading tube brought into position. Or I apply screws or toothed gear with
racks to effect the same motions.
When the breech mechanism is fixed on the saddle it is and remains always in
position to act, but when fixed on the slide or platform it is only in position to act
when the breech of the gun is brought up to it and in proper line, which is effected
by the movement of the gun on the slide and by the vertical. movement of the slide
itself.
Breech loading guns I may load upon the system of my Patent No. 3826, in the

page_text: year 1872, giving the gun the necessary angle to introduce the charge from below
the deck by lowering the breech and giving the gun elevation instead of by
depressing the muzzle, as in the case of guns loaded at the muzzle on this system.
In order that my Invention may be most fully understood and readily carried
into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
The Drawings upon Sheet 1 show a pair of heavy guns mounted according to my
Invention in a turret and upon pivotted slides which can be raised and lowered to
give the required elevation to the guns. The same Drawings also show the
mechanism for receiving the breech blocks and to remove and replace them, and to
bring up, place, and remove the loading tubes; this mechanism is here shown fixed
upon the floor or platform of the revolving turret. These Drawings also represent
my combined hydraulic shot hoists and rammers arranged to raise the charges to
and to pass them into the open breeches of the guns.
Figure 1 is a plan of the guns and mechanism; Figure 2 is a vertical section,
showing one of the guns in the firing position; Figure 3 is also a vertical section,
and here the gun is seen in the loading position; Figures 4 and 5 are transverse
sections to a larger scale, taken respectively on the lines A, A, and B, B, in Figure 2;
a, a, is the turret; it is capable of being turned by mechanism about the hollow
cylindrical pivot a', and it runs upon rollers a²; b is the gun slide, it is jointed to
the turret a at-61, immediately beneath the port in the turret, and it is supported
at the back by the ram of the centrally placed hydraulic press c; d is a saddle
capable of traversing along the slide b, under the control of the hydraulic cylinders
c. These parts are shown to a larger scale and more in detail by the Figures upon
Sheet 2, where Figure 6 is a side view, partly in section, and Figures 7 and 8
are respectively sections on the lines B, B, and C, C, in Figure 6. The hydraulic press
c it will be seen is arranged to rock upon knife edges, its connections are made by
means of copper tubes, which are so curved as to afford the requisite flexibility.
The presses e, e, are supplied in a similar manner, the valves employed are of well
known construction.
Returning to Sheet 1, f,f, represents my combined shot lift and rammer, it is to some
extent similar to loading apparatus which I have employed in connection especially
with muzzle loading guns, prior to the date of this Patent. It consists of a trough
jointed at one end to a deck or stationary platform, and the trough descends when
not in use below the level of the deck or platform, leaving a flush surface without
inconvenient projections. The trough carries a ramrod which can be thrust forward
when required by means of a hydraulic press. Another press serves to raise the
free end of the trough and to bring the trough into alignment with the bore of the
gun when in the loading position. There is also space provided upon the trough in
front of the rammer for the cartridge and projectile, which, having been previously
placed are carried up by the trough into position to enter the breech of the
gun, and when the rammer is made to advance they are thrust by it into their
places in the gun. Between this ramming gear however and the breech of the
gun it is necessary to provide mechanism for manipulating the breech block and the
loading tube; this mechanism is seen at g, g, it is here fixed upon the floor or plat-
form of the revolving turret. I will defer for the present the detailed description
of the mechanism g.
On Sheet 3, Figure 9, there is shown a muzzle loading gun mounted in accord-
ance with my Invention upon a turntable. The arrangement is very similar to that
shown on Sheet 1, and the parts are lettered to correspond with the description
already given, but for the more convenient arrangement of the loading mechanism,
the gun is not clipped fast to the saddle, but is carried upon it by trunnions.
During aiming and firing the gun lies on the saddle, the breech preponderating, but
for loading whilst the slide remains down, the breech of the gun is clevated by a
press provided for the purpose. Thus the muzzle is brought to such a position

page_text: that the charge can be thrust into the gun by the hydraulic ramming apparatus,
which the Drawing shows.
A trolly is also shown to carry the charge from the service magazine to the
loading point. After loading, the breech of the gun is allowed to descend, and the
muzzle rises to a position which permits the turntable to be rotated. The aiming
is effected by this rotation, and by the inclining of the slide on its horizontal pivot.
The turn table, with the apparatus and gun upon it, is protected by a shot proof
belt, which affords complete shelter to the mechanism, and a large amount of shelter
to the gun itself.
As respects this part of my Invention, I would remark that it has before been
proposed to mount guns on slides (or equivalent parts) capable of being inclined
about horizontal pivots to give elevation to the gun; consequently, to this I make
no claim, but in the prior arrangements to which I refer, the slides have been also
moveable (apart from the structure or platform on which the gun is carried) about
a vertical pivot, and in this way the training motion has been obtained. I, as will
have been seen, obtain the training movement by the rotation of a turret or struc-
ture within which the gun is contained, or of a turn table upon which it is supported,
and I wish it to be understood that I make no claim in respect to the manner of
mounting guns upon saddles sliding on horizontally pivotted slides, except in con-
nection with turret or turntable guns.
Sheets 4, 5, 6, and 7 show the mechanism which I employ in connection with
breech loading guns. on the interrupted screw or French system, to remove, receive,
and replace the screw or breech block, and to bring up, place, and remove the
loading tube; Figure 10 is a back elevation showing this mechanism, and also the
breech end of the gun; Figure 11 is a side elevation of the same; Figure 12 is a
plan of the mechanism; Figure 13 is a section taken on the line A, A, in Figures 10
and 12; Figure 14 is a section taken on the line B, B, in Figure 12.
i is the breech screw, with its lever attached; k is a press, by means of which
the breech screw is withdrawn on to the table 1; the press operates by means of
a claw m at the head of the piston rod, best seen in Figure 13. When the breech
screw has been turned by hand ready for removal from the gun a projecting tongue
q upon its outer edge engages with the claw m, and the press k being then made to
operate, the screw is withdrawn and landed on to the table l.
The table is upon
a saddle n, which by means of a press k¹ can be caused to traverse along guides.
By this means the breech screw is moved away, and at the same time the loading
tube o is brought into position, the saddle coming to rest against a stop p. In this
position the loading tube o is in a line with the bore, and its tongue q has engaged
with the claw m. The groove 1 in the saddle has also come opposite the press k,
and the press being made to operate, its piston rod acts to force the loading tube
home into the breech of the gun to cover the screw thread in the breech. 8 is a
stop which guards the entrance to the groover in the saddle, and until it is displaced
the breech screw cannot be turned sufficiently far round to free it from the gun, the
tongue coming against the stop 8.
q
When the piston rod of the press k advances,
it pushes the stops in front of it, thus taking it out of the way, and its place is
taken by the notch in the claw m, which the tongue q is able freely to enter. The
stop s is carried upon a stem, which is received into a hole or socket in the saddle n,
and there is a spring which holds the stop in position until it is displaced in the
manner already described. When the claw retires it brings back the loading tube,
and the spring brings back the stop. The piston rod of the press k, by entering the
grooves and in the saddle, locks it fast, and prevents movement at improper
times. t is a flap which when the loading tube has been passed into the gun, is
turned over, so that it may serve both to lock the loading tube in position, and also
to conduct the charge from the trough of the ramming apparatus into the loading
tube o, from which it passes on into the chamber of the gun.
v, v, are the levers actuating the valves by which the hydraulic pressure is
admitted to the presses k, k¹, at either end at the time required.
This apparatus for manipulating the breech block and loading tube may be

page_text: mounted upon the turret or turntable, as is represented upon Sheet 1, Figures 1, 2,
and 3, or it may be mounted upon the slide, as is represented at Figure 15 on
Sheet 8. Or it may be mounted on the saddle, as is represented by Figure 16 on
the same Sheet.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I would have it understood that I claim,-
First. The combination of parts for mounting guns, consisting of a rotating turret
or turntable, a slide attached thereto by a pivot, allowing angular motion in a
vertical plane only, and a saddle carrying the gun and capable of traversing along
the slide, substantially as described in respect to Sheet 1 of the Drawings.
Second. The modification of the arrangement adapted to muzzle loading guns, in
which the gun is carried on trunnions upon the saddle, to admit of the depression
of the muzzle for loading, substantially as described in respect to Sheet 3 of the
Drawings.
Third. The arrangements for manipulating the breech block and the loading tube
by mechanism separate from the gun, and upon the turret or turntable, as repre-
sented on Sheet 1; or upon the slide, as represented by Figure 15; or upon the
saddle, as represented by Figure 16 on Sheet 8 of the Drawings.
Fourth. The mechanism for manipulating the breech block and the loading tube,
substantially as described, and illustrated by Sheets 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Wightwick Rendel, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.