A NEW CANNON- BASE.
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Franz Deisenhammer and Theodor Brezina, of Vienna, in
the Empire of Austria, Gentlemen, for the Invention of "A NEW CANNON-
BASE.
Sealed the 6th June 1879, in pursuance of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, and
dated the 20th November 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Franz Deisenhammer and
Theodor Brezina at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th
November 1878.
FRANZ DEISENHAMMER and THEODOR BREZINA, of Vienna, in the Empire of
Austria, Gentlemen. A NEW CANNON-BASE."
Our Invention relates to the construction of a new base for cannon or ordnance
in lieu of the ordinary gun carriages on wheels which are, in use for ordnance of
every description and calibre in vessels of war, in fortresses, and in siege artillery.
In carrying out our Invention we provide a base plate or disc of iron or steel
having in its centre a tenon or cone, which plate is fixed to the bottom of the ship
or fort (for example) by screws or otherwise. On this base plate or disc is placed
a upper turn plate or disc of iron or steel, having in its centre a groove or cavity,
into which the tenon or cone of the base plate fits. By these means the turn plate
or disc may be turned round in either direction. The guides consist of two flat
frames or walls of iron or steel, which are fixed to the turn plate by screws, and
held together by bolts and screws of two slotted segments firmly connected together
by a distance piece and screws, and forming the recoil track, and of two guiding
supports with grooves, in each of which is carried a brass pulley or roller moving on
a guide rail.
The gun (which is without trunnions) is carried by a strap having a guide ring,
and a brass pulley or roller, along which the gun moves during its recoil and in
returning to its original position. The strap forms part of two toothed segments.

page_text: which are actuated by an endless screw through the intervention of other gearing.
By the act of operating the endless screws the toothed segments, which are actuated
for the facility of sighting the gun, are raised and lowered, and the gun is accordingly
elevated or depressed as required.
An ear or projection is cast on the lower circumference of the gun, or in the case
of existing guns the said ear or projection may be formed on a semi circular piece
fitted at the same place. This projection has in its centre a hole, through which
passes a bolt, the ends of which are fixed in rollers or pulleys on which the cannon
passes up and down the slots in the segments first mentioned. Two strong steel
springs are provided, fixed by screws or bolts to the exterior of the flat walls.
When using a stronger or a double charge of powder the recoil may be controlled
by the use at each side of the slotted segments of a volute or buffer spring similar
those used on railway carriages.
The base may be moved round bodily along the guide rail by turning on the
pivot before referred to so as to place the gun at the required horizontal angle.
By means of our Invention the following advantages are obtained :—
1. Our cannon base does not require any wheels.
2. By the use of the same a more rapid firing can be maintained, as the base
remains after each shot undisturbed in its place, whilst the gun only by the power
of the expansion of gases rolls by means of the rollers or pulleys over the recoil
track, it is then stopped at the extremity and falls by its own weight back to its
original position. The inclination or angle of the recoil track may be as high as
60°, 70°, and even 90°, and in such cases force the recoil of the gun in consequence
of the expanded gases is more rapidly overcome.
3. The cost of our base is considerably less than that of a gun carriage.
4. The transport on ships or railroads requires a much smaller space, as our base
can be readily dismounted.
5. A great economy in the attendance, as only 4 men are necessary for it.
6. The use of guns without trunnions.
7. This base replaces advantageously the gun carriage in fortresses, sieges, and
vessels of war by adopting to the calibre of the gun the requisite dimensions and
strength.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Franz Deisenhammer and Theodor Brezina in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 6th June 1879.
FRANZ DEISENHAMMER and THEODOR BREZINA, of Vienna, in the Empire of
Austria, Gentlemen. "A NEW CANNON-BASE."
Our said Invention relates to the construction of a base or carrier for cannon or
ordnance to be employed in substitution for the ordinary gun carriages on wheels
hitherto used for ordnance of every description and all calibres in ships, forts, siege-
batteries, and the like.
In order that our said Invention may be fully understood we shall now proceed
to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to the several Figures on the
accompanying Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference indicating corres-
ponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents a side elevation of a cannon
base constructed according to our said Invention, and adapted to breech loading
guns, a gun being shewn mounted on the base; Figure 2 is a corresponding rear
end view of the same; and Figure 3 is a plan of the base or carrier, the gun being
assumed to have been removed; Figure 4 illustrates the application of the Invention
to muzzle loading guns.
In carrying out our said Invention we provide a base-plate or disc b of iron or
steel, having in its centre a tenon c, which plate or disc is solidly fixed to the
bottom a of the ship or fort (for example) by bolts or otherwise. On this base
plate is placed an upper turn plate or disc d of iron or steel, having in its centre a
groove or cavity, into which the tenon c of the plate b fits, so as to admit of the
turn-plate being turned round in either direction.
The turn plate d carries two flat frames e, e, of iron or steel, the same being
secured by bolts f, f, to the turn plate, and held together by bolts or screws y, g,
and these frames have either formed on or attached to them segmental slotted guides
h, h, firmly connected together by a cross piece or distance piece j and bolts k, l, the
slots ¹ in the guides forming the recoil track. The movable portion of the apparatus is
further supported by uprights 1, l, bifurcated at their lower extremities so as to
embrace and carry rollers m, which are capable of travelling along a curved guide
rail n, the uprights being strengthened by stays o.
The gun (which is without trunnions) is carried at a suitable point intermediate
between its two extremities by a strap q fitted with a roller r, along which the gun
moves during its recoil and in returning to its normal position, and the breech end
of the gun is provided with an ear or projection y carrying rollers, which are
adapted to the curved slots ¹, and traverse the said slots when the recoil takes
place and when the gun returns to its normal position, as before mentioned.
The mechanism or apparatus for effecting the elevation and depression of the
gun consists of an endless screw or worms, operated by a hand, wheel p, and
engaging with a toothed wheel t fast on the shaft u. At the extremity of this
shaft are mounted two toothed wheels v, v, which engage with toothed segments w, w,
forming part of the strap q, and adapted to suitable guides. By the act of operating
the hand wheel p the toothed wheels v, v, are caused to raise or lower (as the case may
be) the toothed segments w, w, and thus effect the elevation or depression of the gun
as required, the toothed segments being graduated for the facility of sighting the
gun. x, x, are two strong steel springs fixed by screws or bolts to the outside of
the frames e so as to engage with the roller when the gun is in its normal position..
When using a stronger or double charge of gunpowder the recoil may be controlled
and the gun stopped at y' by fixing on each side of the two guides h at about
the point a volute or buffer spring similar to those used on railway rolling
stock.
By means of our said Invention the following advantages are
obtained,
videlicet:-The ordnance base does not require any wheels. By the use of this

page_text: base a more rapid firing can be maintained than is practicable with ordinary guns
mounted on gun carriages, as the base remains after each shot undisturbed in its
place, whilst the gun only is recoiled by the force of the explosion, being guided
by the slots h¹, and descends again to its normal position by its own gravity.
Facility is afforded for placing the gun at any required horizontal angle by turning
the base round bodily on its pivot c along the guide rail n, which is suitably
graduated. The cost of this ordnance base is considerably less than that of a gun
carriage. In the case of its transport by railway or ship a much smaller space is
required, as the base can be readily taken to pieces; considerable economy is
effected in the cost of attendance, as only four men are required for the purpose.
The guns employed are cast without trunnions (when cast guns are used), and con-
sequently are less liable to explosion. The base may be substituted for gun carriages
in forts, batteries, and ships with advantage by making the parts of a strength and
dimensions adapted to the calibre of the guns to be used with them.
The arrangement herein before described with reference to Figures 1, 2, and 3 is
intended more particularly for use with breech loading ordnance. The Invention
may however be adapted to muzzle loading guns by modifying certain of the parts
of the base, as shewn in side sectional elevation in Figure 4. The two side frames
e, e, are mounted on rollers e¹, which are adapted to a suitable guide rail e on the
upper plate or disc d. By these means the whole of the upper part of the frame
with the gun can be moved backwards and forwards along the guide rail, whilst
the lower movable portion carrying the said upper part may be turned round bodily
on the pivot c. The two uprights l, l, also rest on two rollers l', adapted also to a
guide rail, which being mounted on rollers can be turned round on the curved
guide rail n so as to admit of the loading of the gun being effected in each direction
and position.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, we
would observe in conclusion that what we consider to be novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to us by the herein before in part recited
Letters Patent is,-
A cannon-base consisting of a frame mounted on a vertical pivot or axis with
segmental elevating gear and curved recoil guides, all arranged and combined
together so as to operate substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein-
before described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Franz Deisenhammer and Theodor Brezina,
have to this our Specification set our hands and seals, this Twenty second
day of May. One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.