Improvements in Devices and Apparatus for Controlling and Regulating Motive Power for Various Purposes, but having Especial Reference to the use of Electric Motors for Training Heavy Guns.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 31st Jan., 1890-Accepted, 19th Apr, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Devices and Apparatus for Controlling and
Regulating Motive Power for Various Purposes, but having
Especial Reference to the use of Electric Motors for Training
Heavy Guns.
I, BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD
of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do
munication to ine from abroad
States Navy, to be as follows
MILLS of 23 Southampton Buildings, in the County
hereby declare the nature of this invention, a com-
by Bradley Allan Fiske, a Lieutenant in the United
The invention relates to the use of power for moving or operating machines or
bodies which are capable of novements in two or more different planes, such for
instance as heavy guns, which require to be moved horizontally, and also vertically,
cranes, and other hoisting and conveying apparatus, etc.
The object of the invention is to control the motive power, so as to give all the
different movements required for the driven machine or body, by the manipulation
of a single arm, handle or lever, and further, to cause the movements of the driven
body to conform or correspond to those of the controlling arm, that is, so that an
upward movement of the arm, will so affect the motive power as to cause the body
to move upward, a downward movement will move the body downward, movements
to the right or left will give similar movements to the body, and oblique moveinents,
when such are required, will cause the body to move in the same oblique direction
The invention was especially designed with reference to the use of two motors, one
for the vertical movement, the other for the horizontal movement, of the driven body
By a modification of the invention however, I am enabled to employ the same in
connection with a single motor, when connections are provided such that it may be
used as a source of power, for each or all of the different movements of the driven
body.
Further, the invention was especially designed for use in connection with electric
notors, but it is also adapted to be used with fluid pressure motors as will be
explained.
În carrying the invention into effect, a convenient form of apparatus consists of two
arms, each provided with a slot or elongated aperture, these arms being so situated
relatively to each other that their slots are in line and at right angles to each other
Each of these arins is connected with, or made to engage with, a device for controlling
the application of power to the gun or other body or apparatus in such manner that,
when either arm is moved, it so affects one of the two motors, or one of the two power
connections, that motion is communicated to the gun or movable body, in a direction
corresponding to that of the movement of the arm, that is to say, if two electric motors
are used, one geared or connected with the gun or other body so as to move it
vertically, the other so as to move it horizontally, then the two arms are connected
respectively with the circuit controlling switches of the two motors, so that by the
movement of one aim or the other, the circuit of one motor or the other is closed, and
such motor is started so that the gun or other body is moved in the desired direction,
and by a reverse movement of the arm the motion is stopped Or if steam or other
fluid pressure motors are employed, the arms are connected or made to engage with
throttle valves, controlling the operation of such motors; or if there is only one
motor with two power connections, each for giving one movement to the gun or
apparatus, then each arm is connected or engages with one of such power con-
nections, so as, by its movements, to attach it to, or detach it from, the gun or other
body.
Now, through the two slots placed, as stated, at right angles to each other, passes

page_text: the single controlling arm or lever, the same being so hinged or pivotted as to be
capable of movement in any required direction If such lever is moved in one
direction or plane, it plays in the slot of one arm, but it moves the other arm, and
30 affects the transmission of power to the movable gun or other body as above
described, but when in a different direction or plane, the first arm remains stationary
and the second is moved. Thus the gunner or other operator can, by the movements
of this single controlling lever, control or regulate all the movements of the driven
body, and the said lever and the two arms, being so arranged that the movements of
the driven body correspond in direction to those of the lever, the operator has only
to move his lever in such direction as he wishes the driven body to move in order to
have such body moved in that direction by the electric or other power.
M
1000
B J. B. MILLS.
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Devices and Apparatus for Controlling and
Regulating Motive Power for Various Purposes, but having
Especial Reference to the use of Electric Motors for Training
Heavy Guns
I, BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS of 23 Southampton Buildings in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention a com-
munication to me from abroad by Bradley Allan Fiske, a lieutenant in the United
States Navy to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The invention relates to the use of power for moving or operating machines or
bodies which are capable of movements in two or more different planes, such for
instance as heavy guns, which require to be moved horizontally and also vertically,
cranes and other hoisting and conveying apparatus, &c.
The object of the invention is to control the motive power so as to give all the
different movements required for the driven machine or body by the manipulation of
a single arm, handle or lever; and further to cause the movements of the driven body
to conform or correspond to those of the controlling arm, that is, so that an upward
movement of the arm will so affect the motive power as to cause the body to move
upward, a downward movement will move the body downward, movements to the
right or left will give similar movements to the body, and oblique movements, when
such are required, will cause the body to move in the same oblique direction.
The invention consists in part in a novel apparatus for communicating the
movements of the arm, handle or lever to the controlling devices of the motive power,
whereby the objects above named are accomplished in a simple and effective manner;
and further my invention consists generally in so combining and arranging a single
motor in connection with a machine or body of the character mentioned and suitable
power connections, that the different movements of such body are all produced by the
single motor as hereinafter more particularly set forth and claimed.
The invention was especially designed for use 1n] connection with electric
motors, but it is also adapted to be used with fluid pressure motors as will be
explained.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1 is a view representing a gun arranged to be operated by two electric
motors by means of the controlling apparatus which forms part of my invention.
Figure 2. is a rear view and partial section of the controlling apparatus
Figure 3 illustrates the application of the invention to fluid pressure motors; and
Figure 4 the arrangement for a single motor provided with
two power
connections.
Referring arst to Figures 1 and 2, A represents a gun, which is pivoted at a upon

page_text: a carriage B, the carriage being itself placed upon a vertical pivot b and arranged
to be turned by the engagement of a toothed wheel c with a stationary curved rack d
The front end of the carriage has wheels e running on a rail f.
An electric motor C is provided for elevating or depressing the gun. The shaft of
said motor is geared by bevel gears g g with the shaft of a screw or worm 1, which
engages a toothed wheel i, carrying a pinion which engages a curved rack on the
side of the gun.
The motor C is supported as shown upon the side of the carriage
Another electric motor D placed underneath the gun between the sides of the carriage,
carries upon its shaft the wheel c by which the gun and carriage are swung upon the
pivot b
E is an arm or lever attached by means of a ball and socket joint m, or other
universal joint to a lug or projection n extending from the side of the carriage.
Each electric motor is provided with a controlling switch which, as shown, is of
that well known form in which two arms o travel over a circular range of contact
blocks p, having a central position at which circuit is broken to the motor and the
armature stands still, while the movement of said arm in either direction closes
circuit in one or the other direction to the motor, and causes the same to run in one
direction or the other.
The switch of motor C is operated by a pinion q on the shaft of arms oo, with
And similarly
which pinion a rack engages, said rack being carried by an arm 8.
the switch of motor D is actuated by a pinion q¹, rack r¹ and arm s¹, said arm s¹
sliding through a bearing in the side of the carriage.
The arm 8 which slides through a bearing t supported from the gun-carriage has
at its lower end a cross-head u having a slot at right angles to the length of the
and through this slot the arm E passes.
arm,
In line with slot v but at right angles thereto, is the slot in the cross-head u¹
of the arm s¹, and the arm E, passes also through said slot ¹
The operation of these devices is as follows:-If both switches are at their central
position and both motors are at rest, and if it is desired to raise the breech of the
gun, the arm E is raised, and such arm while it moves through the slot v so as not
to affect the ar m s¹, engages with the side of slot v and moves arms so as to turn the
switch arms and start the motor C in such a direction as to impel the breech
upwardly. Similarly, if the arm is moved down, it will start the motor so as to lower
the breech of the gun, and in either case, when the proper elevation is reached,
the return of the switch to its central position stops the motor and the gun at that
point.
These operations, as will be seen, will all be performed without affecting the motor D
in any way When however, it is required to train the gun and carriage trans-
versely upon the pivot b, the arm E 18 moved to one side or the other according to
the direction in which the gun is to be moved, and such arm will then move freely
in the slot v, but will engage with the slot so as to move the arm s' and turn
And said
the switch of motor D so as to start said motor in the right direction
motor will be stopped again by bringing arm E back to its normal position.
It will be seen that the position of the gun on its pivot a does not affect the
action of the motor D, and neither does the position on vertical pivot b affect the
operation of motor C
It will be seen further, that both motors may be made to run together, whereby
the gun will move in an oblique line, by moving the arm E obliquely in the required
direction, whereby said arm will engage with both slots and v₁, and turn both the
motor switches..
In Figure 3 the arms r and are shown as arranged to operate the valves or
other controlling parts of the fluid pressure motors.
Figure 4. shows an arrangement wherein only one motor is employed both for
F 18 the motor.
raising and lowering and for horizontally moving the driven body
Upon its shaft is a bevel gear wheel H engaging with a wheel H' whose shaft I
carries a bevel gear K This engages with one face of the double gear wheel L
whose other face is adapted to engage with either of the bevel gears M and M¹

page_text: according to whether the sleeve which is keyed on the shaft O₁ is raised or
lowered on the shaft. Shaft O' terminates in screw h which may operate as
described with reference to Figure 1 It should be understood that in Figure 4
the controlling apparatus is shown as to be placed on the opposite side of the gun
from that on which it is shown in Figure 1.
The sleeve O is raised and lowered by means of the arm E universally hinged
at m as before explained. This arm carries a slotted cross-arm P, through which the
sleeve passes, having a collar on each side of the cross arm
When the arm is moved laterally it does not affect the sleeve since the
shaft O'slides in the slot But when the arm is raised it lifts the sleeve into the
position shown in the drawing, with the wheel M engaging with wheel L and
receiving motion therefrom in such direction as to raise the breech of the gun,
and when the arm Ę is lowered, the wheel M¹ engages with L and by turning the
screw in the opposite direction causes the breech of the gun to be lowered
The shaft of motor F also carries a bevel gear wheel Q, which is adapted to engage
with either the wheel R or wheel R', these wheels being on a shaft S which slides
through a stationary sleeve S Sleeve S¹ carries a gear wheel T engaging with a
wheel T¹ which gives motion to the driving wheel c.
The arm E passes through a vertical slot in the end of a bent pivoted arm U
whose horizontally-extending end is joined to a vertical arm U₁ which terminates in
a collar V encircling the shaft S between two flanges on the shaft It will be seen
therefore that the vertical movement of arm E by which the elevation of the gun 18
controlled does not affect the shaft S; but a lateral movement of said arm either
raises or lowers the said shaft S; and causes either wheel R or wheel R' to come
into engagement with wheel Q whereby wheel c is turned and the driven body 18
propelled in the required direction
The bevel gears H H¹ will work through an opening in the side of the gun
carriage.
It is evident that placing the slot in a cross-arm on the controlling lever 18
mechanically equivalent to placing it in the arm moved by said lever and passing
the lever through it
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim 18-
1. The combination of a heavy gun or other body or apparatus moveable in
divergent planes, two motors or two separate power connections from a single motor
each for giving it one kind of movement, the universally pivotted handle or lever and
the intermediate controlling apparatus connected with devices controlling the motors
or the power connections whereby the movements of said handle or lever cause
corresponding movements of the driven body, substantially as herein before described.
2 The combination of a heavy gun or other body or apparatus capable of move-
ment in divergent planes, a single motor having two separate power connections
with said body, devices for controlling the application of power by each of these
connections, and a single controlling handle or lever connected or engaging with
these devices, so that all the movements of said body are given it by the single
motor and controlled by the single lever, substantially as herein before described.
Dated January 31 1890
Dated January 31 1890
B. J. B. MILLS.
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.