Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Jan., 1887
Complete Left, 26th Oct., 1887
Complete Accepted, 2nd Dec., 1887
1, RALPH THEW BRANKSTON of Elswick Works, Newcastle upon Tyne, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object improvements in mounting and working heavy
guns by hydraulic power.
The arrangements are such as to minimise the number of men required and to protect
as much as possible the men and machinery from the enemy's fire.
A pumping engine and accumulator is employed for supplying power to the gun
mountings; they are placed well underground for protection and the water is carried
in pipes to the various mountings to be supplied with power. One pumping engine
and accumulator may serve for several mountings. The platform or slide is mounted
on a pivot at the front which is placed nearly under the centre of gravity of the gun
and mounting and at the rear it is carried on rollers which run on a racer.
The pivot is a large casting well spread at the base and securely fixed to the
foundation by means of long bolts and anchor plates. Around the pivot is fixed a
cylinder having a flange on the top to which clips on the slide take to prevent the
mounting from lifting at the front. Underneath the platform and nearly touching
the top of the cylinder are fitted bearing pieces; these take a bearing on the top of the
cylinder when the gun is fired-at other times the bearing pieces are clear-and
the weight taken on the bearing pieces on firing is only due to the deflection of the
girders.
The gun is mounted on a carriage on permanent rollers, the cheeks of the carriage
being made of armour plate so that the part exposed above the parapet may not be
subject to damage from machine gun fire. Upon the carriage is carried a shield for
the protection of the gun detachment.
To the carriage is fitted a recoil press having the piston rod attached to the front
end of the platform. The recoil press is so arranged that the gun returns automatically
into firing position immediately after firing. The recoil press is also made available
for running the gun back for cleaning or other purposes, the accumulator pressure

page_text: being then admitted through the piston rod into the recoil press and by means of a
working valve on the platform the gun may be run, in or out as desired.
The elevating gear is arranged to be worked by hydraulic power, by means of a
hydraulic cylinder and toothed gear. The hydraulic cylinder by means of a rack
rotates a pinion on a longitudinal axis. A bevelled pinion slides along this axis
and turns with it; it gears with a similar pinion on a transverse horizontal axis
on the carriage and a tooth wheel on this transverse axis gears with an arc of teeth
beneath the gun.
The valve for the elevating cylinder is worked by the man
sighting.
The training is done by means of hydraulic cylinders placed under the platform.
These cylinders act upon chains attached to drums round the pivot cylinder. The
valve for the training gear is placed near the valve for the elevating gear-so that the
training and elevating are under the command of one man. Nearly the whole weight
of the gun and mounting being taken on the end of the pivot pin, very little power is
required for training.
It is arranged to open and close the breech by hand power, an automatic hinged
platform being provided at the rear, this platform hinges up into a vertical position
out of the way of the gun when the men leave it-steps are provided for access to this
loading platform.
The powder and projectiles are stowed in magazines and shell rooms well under-
ground at the sides of the gun, they are conveyed by means of runners along an
underground passage to a hydraulic lift at a central loading station and there placed
in a cage, the projectile being in a trough on the top of the cage and the powder
placed in a pocket underneath the projectile, whilst the cage is down. The platform
is brought to the loading position, the breech of the gun is opened and the gun is
placed at extreme elevation. The cage is then lifted by means of a direct acting
cylinder until it comes against a stop, the projectile being then in line with the bore.
The projectile is first rammed home by means of the hydraulic rammer, after which
the stop is withdrawn and the cage lifted higher against another stop when the powder
is in line with the bore. Then the powder in its turn is rammed into the gun by
means of the hydraulic rammer. The gun may then be elevated and the breech
closed.
The projectiles are lifted and placed on the runners in the shell rooms by means of
capstans worked by hydraulic power.
The powder is lifted in the magazines in the same manner.
Sometimes I mount the gun upon a barbette carriage so that it always recoils in the
line of fire, the weight of the front of the mounting is taken upon the pivot and a live
roller ring is placed at the rear. The breech is opened by hydraulic power. Elevating
cylinders on the platform support the slide and raise it in rear to bring the gun to the
elevation required. A splinter proof sighting station is placed on one side of the plat-
form and the gun is sighted by means of a telescopic sight which is carried from
the gun slide. The man at this sight has control of the elevating and training gear.
Sometimes I support the platform on a live roller ring, the front of the mounting
being held down by means of clips to the roller path. The recoil strains are taken on
the flanges of the rollers. All round fire may be obtained in this design.
Dated this 90th are of Law 1007

page_text: Figure 1 of the drawings annexed shows a side elevation of an automatic garrison
mounting.
Figure 1 shows a portion of Figure 1 drawn to a larger scale.
Figure 2 is a plan of the mounting shown by Figure 1.
Figure 2 shows a portion of Figure 2 drawn to a larger scale.
Figure 3 is a plan to a smaller scale showing the arrangements for supplying
ammunition to the gun.
Figure 4 is a section on the line A A in Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a section on the line B B in Figure 3.
Figure 6 is a side elevation of a gun mounting in which the
carriage.
gun
upon a barbette
Figure 6 shows a portion of Figure 6 drawn to a larger scale.
Figure 7 is a plan of the mounting shown by Figure 6.
Figure 7 shows a portion of Figure 7 drawn to a larger scale.
Figure 8 is a side elevation of a gun mounting similar to that shown by Figures 6
and 7 except that the platform supported entirely on a ring of live rollers.
The arrangements are such as to minimise the number of men required and to
protect as much as possible the men and machinery from the enemy's fire.
The powder and projectiles are stowed in magazines and shell rooms well under-
ground at the sides of the gun. They are conveyed by runners along an underground
passage to a hydraulic lift. They are raised vertically by the lift into a position
immediately in rear of the breech of the gun when it is in a central loading position-
the projectile is then forced into the gun by a hydraulic or other rammer and then the
powder charge. The breech is opened and closed by men standing on a loading
platform which automatically turns up into a vertical position out of the way when the
inen leave it,
A pumping engine and accumulator is employed for supplying power to the gun
mountings for elevating and training the gun and for actuating the rammer.
The gun is mounted on a carriage which on recoiling runs back along a platform
which is mounted on a vertical pivot which is nearly under the centre of gravity of
the
gun
and carriage when the gun is run out.
The elevating gear is composed of a toothed rack moved end wise to and fro by

page_text: hydraulic power the rack gears with and drives a pinion on an axis which is parallel
with the longitudinal central line of the gun slide-on this axis is a bevil pinion which
turns with the axis but is free to slide along it-this gears with a similar pinion
on a transverse axis on the carriage on which axis a tooth wheel gears with an arc
of teeth beneath the gun-consequently the elevating gear does not interfere with the
recoil of the gun.
The training is done by hydraulic cylinders placed on the gun mounting-the
cylinders act upon chains which pass around and are attached to drums round the pivot
cylinder. When the gun is run out the weight of the gun and carriage is approxi-
mately balanced on the pivot.
The guns are placed behind a parapet Z and the powder and projectiles are as shown
at Figure 3 stowed in magazines and shell rooms S T well underground at the sides
of the gun. They are conveyed by means of runners along an underground passage U
to a hydraulic lift V which is situated just in rear of the breech of the gun when the
gun has been turned into a central position for loading. When the cage W of the
lift is in lowest position the ammunition is placed on to it, the projectile being put into
a trough on the top of the cage and the powder placed into a pocket X underneath
the projectile. Whilst the cage is down the platform is brought to the loading position,
the breech of the gun is opened and the gun is placed at extreme elevation. The cage
is then lifted by means of the direct acting cylinder V until it comes against a stop,
the projectile being then in line with the bore. The projectile is then rammed homie
by means of the hydraulic rammer Zx after which the stop is withdrawn and the cage
lifted higher against another stop when the powder is in line with the bore. Then
the powder in its turn is rammed into the gun by means of the hydraulic rammer.
The gun may then be elevated and the breech closed.
Preferably the projectiles are lifted and placed on the runners in the shell rooms by
means of capstans worked by hydraulic power.
The powder is lifted in the magazines in the same manner.
In the gun mounting shown at Figures 1 and 2 each gun is carried on a platform
or slide A mounted on a pivot B at the front which is placed nearly under the centre
of gravity of the gun and mounting and at the rear it is carried on rollers C which run
on a racer D.
The pivot is a large casting well spread at the base and securely fixed to the
foundation by means of long bolts B and anchor plates. Around the pivot B is
fixed a cylinder E having a flange on the top to which clips F on the slide take to
prevent the mounting from lifting at the front." Underneath the platform and nearly
touching the top of the cylinder are fitted bearing pieces; these take a bearing on the
top of the cylinder when the gun is fired at other times the bearing pieces are clear and
the weight taken on the bearing pieces on firing is only due to the deflection of the girders.
The gun is mounted on a carriage on permanent rollers G the cheeks of the carriage
being made of armour plate so that the part exposed above the parapet may not be
subject to damage from machine gun fire. Upon the carriage is carried a shield H
for the protection of the gun detachment.
To the carriage is fitted a recoil press I having the piston rod attached to the front
end of the platform. The recoil press is so arranged that the gun returns automatically
into firing position immediately after firing. The recoil press is also made available
for running the gun back for cleaning or other purposes, the accumulator pressure
being then admitted through the piston rod into the recoil press and by means of a
working valve on the platform the gun may be run in or out as desired in ways which
are well understood.
The elevating gear is arranged to be worked by hydraulic power by means of a
hydraulic cylinder J and toothed gear. The hydraulic cylinder J by means of a rack K
rotates a pinion L' on a longitudinal axis L. A bevelled pinion I slides along this
axis and turns with it, it gears with a similar pinion M on a transverse horizontal
axis M on the carriage and a tooth wheel M² on this transverse axis gears with an arc
of teeth N beneath the gun. The valve for the elevating cylinder is worked by the
hand wheel O by the man sighting.

page_text: The training is done by means of hydraulic cylinders P placed under the platform.
These cylinders act upon chains P¹ which pass around and are attached to drums E'
which are concentric with the pivot cylinder E. The valve for the training gear is
acted upon by a bandle Q placed near the valve for the elevating gear-so that the
training and elevating are under the command of one man. Nearly the whole weight
of the gun and mounting being taken on the end of the pivot pin, very little power is
required for training.
It is arranged to open and close the breech by hand power. The platform R on
which the men stand for opening and closing the breech is made with that portion of
it which is immediately in rear of the breech capable of turning up into a vertical
position out of the way so that it may not interfere with the loading of the gun-steps
aro provided for access to this loading platform.
The
In the modification shown at Figures 6 and 7 the weight of the front of the
mounting is as before taken upon the pivot B and on live rollers C at the rear.
breech is opened by hydraulic power as described in the Specification of the Patent
No. 205 in the year 1885. This hydraulic mechanism is controlled by handles at X.
Elevating cylinders J on the platform support the slide and raise it in rear to bring
the gun to the elevation required as in other well known gun mountings. The
admission of the liquid under pressure to these cylinders or its escape from them is
controlled by a handle at J. A splinter proof sighting station Y is placed on one
side of the platform and the gun is sighted by means of a telescopic sight which is
carried from the gun slide. The man at this sight has control of the elevating and
training gear.
The training gear and arrangement for serving the ammunition are the same as in
Figures 1, 2 and 3 and are marked with the same letters of reference.
In the modification shown at Figures 8 and 9 the platform is supported entirely on
a ring of live rollers the front of the mounting being held down by means of clips to
the roller path. The recoil strains are taken on the flanges of the rollers. All round
fire may be obtained in this design.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. In a gun mounting the combination substantially as described of the carriage
to which the gun is secured the platform and slide supporting the carriage and along
which it recoils; the vertical lift in rear of the gun when the platform is centrally
placed the ammunition stores on either side of the gun and sunk beneath it;
the tunnel between the ammunition stores and the shaft in which the lift works;
and the mechanical rammer which drives the charge from the cage of the lift into
the gun.
2. In a gun mounting the combination of mechanism constituting the elevating
gear and consisting of the hydraulic cylinder on the gun platform; the rack thereon;
the pinion in gear with this rack; the longitudinal axis on the gun platform which
carries this pinion; the pinion sliding on this axis; and the transverse axis and gear
on the gun carriage which connects the sliding pinion with the gun.
3. In a gun mounting the combination of mechanism constituting the training gear
and consisting of two hydraulic cylinders fixed upon the gun platform; a drum con-
centric with the pivot of the gun mounting; and chains passing around this drum and
also around pulleys on the cylinders and their rams.
Dated this 7th day of October 1887.