Improvements in Mountings for Guns.
Year: 1890

page_text: Complete Specification Lelt, in all, 1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mountings for Guns.
1, JEAN BAPTISTE GUSTAVE ADOLPHE CANET, of 91 Avenue Malakoff, Paris,
France, Civil Engineer, 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 present invention relates to improvements in the mountings for guns, and
refers especially to the different mechanisms for working and loading the guns, and to
the mechanism for working the breech for quick firing.
In order to enable the invention to be clearly understood I have shown in the
accompanying drawings the different arrangements for carrying my invention into
effect.
In these drawings
Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, are repectively a rear elevation, a longitudinal section, a side
elevation, and a horizontal section of the gun mounting.
Fig. 5, shows the charge elevator.
Fig. 6, shows the arrangement for enabling the gun to be kept back and to be
run out when desired.
Fig. 7, shows the compressed air apparatus for running the gun out.
Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 show different hydraulic arrangements for working the
breech.
The object of the invention is to render the whole of the operations of working and
loading guns as easy and as rapid as possible.
The different arrangements are applicable either separately or in combination to
mountings and to guns of any type.
The accompanying drawings refer more particularly to quick firing guns.
The gun is mounted in a cradle a (Figs. 1, 2 and 3), to which it is suitably
connected by collars entering grooves and secured by keys, but it may, if desired, be
mounted on trunnions. This cradle which carries the brake and the parts for
running the gun out, slides on a frame b to which the piston rods of the brake are
attached.
Any suitable system of brake may be employed, either with valve, central
rod, etc.
The frame turns round trunnions carried by a pillar which is supported upon the
bed plate by a ring formed by either conical or spherical rollers.
The trunnions are situated in a plane passing through the axis of the gun and the
axes of the brake cylinders. By these means all chance of the carriage tilting is
avoided.
The pillar is of cylindro-conical form, and is
protects all the parts of the mounting.
closed in front and at the sides, and
The vertical elevation of the gun is effected by means of a hand wheel e placed
within reach of the operator. This hand wheel (the position of which is constant
while the mounting rises and descends) controls two mitre wheels f, which work
an inclined shaft carrying an endless screw g. This screw acts upon a helicoidal

page_text: wheel h, keyed upon a transverse shaft supported by two brackets cast with the
frame. This shaft carries two pinions k, which gear with two strong segments
articulated at their lower ends to the pillar, and guided in slides fixed to the sides
of the frame.
The centre of gravity of the whole arrangement is so disposed that the power
requisite is reduced to a minimum, the complete apparatus being held in equilibrium
round the axes of its trunnions.
In certain cases I employ an electric, hydraulic, steam, compressed air, or other
suitable motor for effecting these operations, such motor being placed on the side of
the mounting, or connected by a flexible or other connection to the shaft of the
endless screw.
.
The mechanism for effecting the lateral sighting consists of a hand wheel which
works an endless screw, the latter acting upon a helicoidal wheel, the axis of which
carries a pinion gearing with the toothed ring of the base or bed.
This operation, like the preceding one, may also be effected by means of any
suitable motor B, the screw being capable of disconnection so as to allow the sighting
to be effected directly by hand.
I employ an arrangement of loading mechanism which enables the charges to be
conveyed from the magazine and carried behind the breech, no matter what position
the gun occupies.
The operation of this mechanism may be either automatic or by hand, or by means
of any suitable motor.
Fig. 3, shows an arrangement for direct automatic operation.
The cradle carries a pivotted tappet a¹, which during the recoil turns on its pivot
and clears the chain 61. When the gun is run out again, the tappet engages. the
chain and carries. it forward. This chain, through the mitre wheels c¹ causes the
rotation of the shaft d', upon which are fixed two large toothed wheels e¹; over these
wheels pass endless chains f¹, having brackets g', which descend into the central
charging well. At the lower end is a pivotted tension wheel which allows the chain
to follow the mounting in all its movements.
When the brackets pass through the magazine they receive the charges. Then at
each movement of the mounting, the chain rises and the buckets arrive at the top,
and tipping over deliver their contents into an inclined shoot, which conveys the
charges behind the breech of the gun in proximity to the operator.
By raising the chain-actuating tappet the charge elevator may be rendered
inoperative.
The operation may be effected by hand by means of cranks fitted to the ends of the
shafts, which would he made square to receive same.
I can actuate the charge elevator by hand, by electricity, by any suitable motor, or
by utilizing the running out movement of the gun.
I may further employ electro-motors for effecting the vertical elevation, lateral
sighting, running in and out, operating the breech, as well as the charge elevator,
while allowing same to be operated by hand when desired, it being only requisite to
actuate the shafts either directly or by means of any suitable transmission, and
employing any ordinary system of coupling and uncoupling which will enable me to
pass from mechanical operation to electrical operation.
For running out the gun at any angle I employ the following apparatus :-
Under the cradle is an auxiliary cylinder, into which penetrates a plunger t; fixed
to the rear cross bar of the frame. At its front end the cylinder is closed' by a
movable plunger forming its bottom. This plunger carries a cross bar on which are
mounted two rods, which receive springs. which abut against the frame.
When the gun recoils the fixed plunger enters the cylinder; the volume of water
displaced causes the movable bottom to move outwards, thus compressing the springs.
In running the gun out these springs give out the power which has been stored up,
and return the gun to its original position.
t
In some cases I obtain the same result by means of compressed air (see Fig. 7).
A cylinder placed under the gun is filled with air compressed to a suitable pressure.

page_text: The pressure of the air augments when the plunger enters the cylinder. At the end
of the recoil the air under pressure acts to effect the running out.
I further apply to these mountings an arrangement which enables the gun to remain
in its run in position, and to allow it to be run out again at will (see Fig. 6).
The plunger is then made hollow, and through its whole length passes a central
rod, which is fixed to the movable plunger of the auxiliary cylinder, and terminates
at the rear of the cross bar of the frame. This rod carries a piston provided with a
valve opening from the rear forwards.
The internal space of the fixed plunger is filled with liquid. The rod works through
packed glands.
During the recoil the piston follows the relative movement of the movable plunger
to the rear.
The liquid being compressed against the rear face of the piston v, raises
the valve x, and passes to the other side of the piston; when the recoil terminates
the gun has a tendency to run out again under the action of the springs, but the
valve a closes. The liquid being confined in front of the piston, the movable plunger
is held stationary, and the gun cannot move.
By means of a small hand wheel a valve y situated in the central rod can be
opened, when the communication between the two sides of the piston .being
re-established, the springs can act and run out the gun.
By regulating the opening of the valve of communication before firing, the
running out of the gun at a predetermined speed may be effected automatically.
The above construction may be applied to running out mechanism operated either
by springs or by compressed air.
In the specification of my prior Patent No. 9453 dated 4th July 1887, I described
means for opening the breech of guns by the simple movement of a lever. My
specification of Patent No. 2075 dated 11th Feby. 1888, described an arrangement
for automatically opening the breech during the running out.
In my present invention I also open the breech at the end of the recoil. For this
purpose 1 place on the lever k¹ a roller 1, (see Fig. 4), against which acts one arm of
a double lever m', fixed to the gun.
The other arm carries a stud n¹, which engages the rectangular slot of a piece o¹,
fixed to the tension bar of one of the spring rods of the running out mechanism.
During the recoil this slide, which follows the forward displacement of the movable
plunger, has a differential movement, and the parts are so combined that the stud n¹
does not come in contact with the end of the slide until the end of the recoil.
This movement then produces the opening of the breech. During the running.
out the double lever is brought back to its original position.
The position of the piece o¹ upon the rod of the springs is adjusted by means of
nuts, and so as to absorb shocks springs are introduced between these nuts and the
eye of such piece.
I may also open the breech by hydraulic mechanism.
Firstly. Automatically (see Fig. 8).
In this arrangement two hydraulic cylinders communicating with each other are
fixed, the one a to the cradle, and the other 6 to the gun.
In each cylinder is a piston with a rod projecting on either side thereof. One of
the rods of the piston of cylinder b carries a slide, in which works the stud of the
double lever.
During the recoil the rod c comes in contact with a stop d, which has been suitably
adjusted.
The piston entering cylinder a forces the liquid into cylinder b, and displaces the
second piston to the extent required to open the breech. In running out, the rod c¹
comes in contact with stop d'; the double lever is returned to its original position,
and the breech is closed by hand.
Secondly. Opening the breech automatically and closing it at will (see Fig. 9).
I employ two cylinders, one fixed to the cradle with a plunger and an accumulator,
and the other fixed to the gun. The latter has a piston, the rod of which carries a

page_text: rack, which by acting upon a pinion c mounted upon the axis of the operating lever,
enables the breech block to he carried to its extreme open and also closed positions.
In this case the operating lever has only one arm-that which acts upon the breech
lever. The plunger a at a certain point in the recoil, comes in contact with a stop
fixed to the frame. Part of the liquid passes directly into the operating cylinder 6,
in which it displaces the piston and through the rack opens the breech. The liquid
which is on the opposite side of piston b¹ is driven out of the cylinder, and raising a
valve enters a spring accumulator d.
To close the breech pressure is applied to the stud e, causing the valve to rise and
allow the liquid under pressure to pass through the tube h. Such liquid then acts
upon the face of the operating piston so as to bring it back to its original position
and close the breech.
A certain pressure always remains stored up in the accumu-
lator so as to maintain the breech closed.
Thirdly. Opening and closing the breech at will and from a distance (see
Fig. 10).
A cylinder a is fixed to the mounting, and an operating cylinder f is mounted on
the gun. During the recoil the plunger t coming into contact with a stop fixed
to the frame, enters the cylinder and drives out the liquid, which raises the valve a
of the plunger, and is brought to act upon the piston of the spring accumulator. At
the end of the recoil the valve a is again brought to its seat. The liquid under
pressure is then distributed by means of a slide valve which can be operated at
will. It enters the operating cylinder through tubes g and h, in order to open and
close the breech.
The amount of liquid driven out at each operation of the cylinder f, returns by
the tube k to cylinder a, and drives the piston back to its original position.
Fourthly. Opening and closing from a distance without an accumulator (see
Fig. 11).
When the mounting is provided with a hydraulic running out mechanism, I
simplify the arrangement in the following manner :-
The running out mechanism, the reservoir a for water under pressure, and the
operating cylinder, can be placed in communication by means of a slide valve, which
is within reach of the operators.
During the recoil, the liquid under pressure from the auxiliary cylinder raises the
valve C, and charges the reservoir. At the end of the recoil the gun runs out. The
valve is again brought to its seat, and the reservoir retains its pressure.
To open the breech, the valve d is raised; the liquid from the reservoir passes
into the operating cylinder, which acts upon the breech in the same way as in the
arrangements hereinbefore described.
The liquid driven out by the piston is discharged into the running out cylinder
through the tube e.
To close the breech the two valves c and d are opened. Consequent upon the
difference of the diameters of the piston rods, there is a difference of pressure on the
two faces. The rack is carried backward and recloses the breech, which is maintained
in this position during firing.
All these operations may further (as hereinbefore stated), be effected by replacing
the hydraulic cylinders by any suitable motor.
It will be readily understood also that the materials, proportions and dimensions,
as well as the accessory arrangements of the various improved mechanisms herein
described, may be varied at will without departing from my invention, and that such
mechanisms may be applied either in part or in their entirety to gun mountings of
any construction.
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. The gun mounting consisting in a cradle sliding upon a frame movable round a

page_text: real or imaginary axis situated in the same plane as the brake cylinders; the support
of the pivot being formed by a part closed in front in the form of a crinoline, such
arrangement being also applicable to guns having trunnions.
2. The employment of running out gear, with a fixed plunger and a movable
plunger acting upon springs, the power necessary for running out being stored up
either by springs or by compressed air.
3. The arrangement enabling the employment of a piston situated in the fixed plunger,
and of a central rod, so as to maintain the gun mounting in its run in position, and to
allow it to run out at any desired speed.
4. The different arrangements of parts for vertical and lateral sighting herein
described, no matter what motive power is employed.
5. The apparatus for raising the charges within a central tube movable with the
gun mounting and capable of serving as a pivot, such apparatus enabling the charging
to be effected in all positions by means of a bucket chain, and being operated either
by the nounting itself or by any suitable motor.
6. The arrangements herein described for opening the breech at the end of the
recoil.
7. The arrangements herein described which permit of the breech being operated
either automatically or at will and from a distance, by means either of direct acting
hydraulic apparatus, or of auxiliary accumulators charged during the recoil, or of
water under pressure supplied by the running out apparatus, no matter whether the
operation is effected automatically, by slide valves or levers actuated by hand, or
otherwise.
8. The improvements in gun mountings and the accessory arrangements, sub-
stantially as described.
Dated thin 7th - Ta
1000