Improvements in Controlling Mechanism, applicable to Gun Turrets and Turntables or Platforms on Shipboard.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Dec., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Sept.. 1895-Accepted, 16th Nov., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Controlling Mechanism, applicable to Gun Turrets
and Turntables or Platforms on Shipboard.
1, ROGER WRIGHT, of Elswick Works, Newcastle upon Tyne, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :--
The turning gear and engines by which the gun is trained are provided with a
brake applied by a spring and sufficiently powerful to prevent movement so long
as the spring is operative.
The spring can however be compressed and restrained by the operation of an
hydraulic rain, this ram I will call the brake ram. By a valve, liquid under
pressure is admitted to and allowed to escape from the cylinder in which the brake
ram works. The said valve is controlled by another ram which I will call the
valve rain and by a counter spring. When the pressure on the valve ram exceeds
say 400 pounds to the inch the ram holds the valve in such a position that liquid
passes from the pressure main into the cylinder of the brake ram and so the brake
is put out of action. When on the other hand the pressure acting on the valve
ram for any reason falls below say 400 pounds on the inch then the counter spring
determines the position of the valve, so that it permits liquid to escape from the
cylinder of the brake ram; the brake consequently comes into operation.
The reversing shaft of the turning engines (whether worked directly by hand or
through a hydraulic servi-motor) in addition to operating the valves necessary for
starting and reversing the engine, moves a slide valve by which liquid is passed
from the pressure main to operate upon the valve ram. When the starting lever
is in position either for forward or backward running, the liquid under pressure has
free access to the valve ram but when the starting lever is placed in mid position
to stop the engines, the valve connected with the starting lever is at the same time
so placed that liquid can escape from behind the valve ram. Then at once the
valve ram moves, so also its valve, the brake ram is relieved from pressure and
the brake is applied. It will be observed that any accident which so reduces the
pressure in the pressure main as to render it inefficient will result in the immediate
application of the brake to the turning mechanism. Hand gear is provided by
which the brake may be released.
Dated this 1st day of December 1894.
Improvements in Controlling Mechanism, applicable to Gun Turrets
and Turntables or Platforms on Shipboard.
I, ROGER WRIGHT, of Elswick Works, Newcastle upon Tyne, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the sanie is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :--
The turning gear and engines by which the gun is trained are provided with a
1

page_text: brake applied by a spring and sufficiently powerful to prevent movement so long
as the spring is operative.
The spring can however be compressed and restrained by the operation of an
hydraulic ram, this ram I will call the brake ram. By a valve, liquid under
pressure is admitted to and allowed to escape from the cylinder in which the brake
ram works. The said valve is controlled by another ram which I will call the
valve ram and by a counter spring. When the pressure on the valve ram exceeds
say 400 pounds to the inch the ram holls the valve in such a position that liquid
passes from the pressure main into the cylinder of the brake ram and so the brake
is put out of action. When on the other hand the pressure acting on the valve
ram for any reason falls below say 400 pounds on the inch then the counter spring
determines the position of the valve, so that it permits liquid to escape from the
cylinder of the brake ram; the brake consequently comes into operation.
The reversing shaft of the turning engines (whether worked directly by hand or
through a hydraulic servi-motor) in addition to operating the valves necessary for
starting and reversing the engine, moves a slide valve by which liquid passed
from the pressure main to operate upon the valve ram. When the starting lever is
in position either for forward or backward running, the liquid under pressure has
free access to the valve ram but when the starting lever is placed in inid position
to stop the engines, the valve connected with the starting lever is at the same time
so placed that liquid can escape from behind the valve ram. Then at once the
valve ram moves, so also its valve, the brake ram is relieved from pressure and
the brake is applied. It will be observed that any accident which so reduces the
pressure in the pressure main as to render it inefficient will result in the immediate
application of the brake to the turning mechanism. Hand gear is provided by
which the brake may be released.
In order that my said invention may be fully understol and readily carried into
effect I will proceed to describe the drawings annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a plan of a portion of the base or foundation for a gun turret or
turntable.
Figure 2 is a vertical section of the same together with a portion of the turn-
table or revolving part.
Figure 3 shows the brake sheave in plan together with parts in immediate
connection therewith.
Figure 4 is a sectional elevation showing the brake spring, the brake ram and
other parts.
Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of the motor engine.
Figure 6 is a sectional elevation of the valve gear by means of which the
reversing shaft controls the brake.
a is the crank shaft of the hydraulic turning engine, a bevelled pinion upon it
engages with a bevelled wheel which so long as the hydraulic turning gear is in
use. is clutched fast upon the upright shaft b. The shaft drives a pinion e
through a frictional coupling which is provided to prevent breakage and the
pinion e engages with a ring of teeth dupon the lower part d of the turret or
turntable. e is a brake sheave, it is fast upon the same shaft with the pinion c.
A brake strap is tightened around the sheave e by a lever upon which the spring
operates and it is sufficient to hold the turret or turntable at rest. is a hydraulic
cylinder containing the brake ram which when driven by water under pressure
compresses the spring and slackens the brake strap.
At band gear is shown by which the spring can be compressed and the brake
released when the hydraulic appliances are not in use.
i is the reversing shaft of the hydraulic engine; by turning this shaft through a
small are the direction of rotation of the hydraulic engine is reversed by means

page_text: hereinafter described; also when the shaft is placed in mid position the engine is
stopped. The shaft i is moved and when in position is retained by a hydraulic
cylinder at which is coupled with a lever arm fast upon the reversing shaft, and
which may be termed the starting or reversing lever. Valves in connection with
the cylinder k are operated by hand.
Another arm on the reversing shaft is coupled with a valve which (except
when the shaft is in inid position) admits water under pressure into the cylinder m
by one or other of the passages m¹ m'. If the pressure is sufficient to properly
control the turntable or turret the ram n will be moved and the strong spring o
will be compressed. Also at the same time the valve p which is connected with the
ram n will be moved along its valve face and it will admit water under pressure to
the passage q which is connected by a pipe with the cylinder of the brake ram at g;
so the brake will be taken off and the turntable or turret will be left under the
control of the hydraulic engines. On the other hand if from any cause the water
pressure is insufficient to be used with safety the ram will not move when the
valve is opened but will remain in the position in which it is shown in Figure 6;
in this position the passage q is connected through the cavity of the valve with a
free outlet. Consequently the brake remains on. This will always be the case
when the reversing shaft is in mid position, for then the valve also is in
mid position and in this position as seen in Figure 6 an outlet passage m² is
uncovered and placed in communication with one of the passages m and water is
free to escape from the cylinder m.
y indicates a connection with the pressure main.
The hydraulic engine has three oscillating cylinders, and they work on
cranks 120° apart; one of these cylinders is seen at 7 in Figure 5. s is the valve
which controls the flow of water under pressure to and from the cylinder.
This valve is coupled with the cylinder and is moved by it so that whilst the
crank pin is above the crank shaft. the port s is uncovered and open to the water
in the valve chest. If the reversing shaft be set for forward movement, the water
then passes through s¹ and the passage t' in the reversing valve t into the cavity u
which is constantly connected with the cylinder through the trunnion. So the ram
is caused to make its outward stroke whilst the crank pin is above the shaft.
When the crank pin passes below the crank shaft the valves assumes such a
position that its cavity connects the ports and sand water can then escape from
the cylinder of the engine its course being through the cavity u the passage t¹ the
ports s and the passage (2 in the reversing valve and so to the free outlet v.
During forward movement the port in the valve face remains closed being
covered by the reversing valve. When the reversing shaft is set for backward
movement it is the port s which is covered and closed by the reversing valve
whilst the port s³ comes into use and water is supplied through it to the cavity u
and to the cylinder whilst the crank pin is beneath the crank shaft. When tho
engine is reversed water returns from the cylinder when the cavity in the
valves covers and connects the ports and 3 that is to say whilst the crank pin
is above the shaft. wow are relief valves, they play no part in the automatic
working of the engines but they allow the engine to he turned by an external
force.
ea in Figure 1 mark the position of the three sets of engine valves.
The hydraulic motor engine shown by Figure 5 is not claimed; it is shown for
the purpose of more clearly explaining the invention which is applied in connection
with 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 is:-
Apparatus substantially as described in which a reversing shaft controls a motor
engine driving turning gear and also controls a brake upon the turning gear, the

page_text: said brake being connected with mechanism such that it is released only when the
engine is supplied at an adequate pressure and when the valves are set for the engine
to run.
D
1
ROGER WRIGHT.