Improvements in Disappearing Gun-mountings.
Year: 1894

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Disappearing Gun-mountings.
A communication from THE BETHLEHEM IRON COMPANY, a Corporation under
the laws of the State of Pennsylvania, having their principal place of
business at South Bethlehem, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United
States of America.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, 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:
This invention relates more particularly to that class of gun mountings in which
the discharge of the gun or piece causes it to recoil to a position of safety, and
which are generally termed "disappearing guns," and its objects are to provide
simple and efficient means for controlling and guiding such recoil, and for returning
the gun or piece at will to the firing position, and the invention consists in the
various features of construction, arrangement of parts, and mode of operation
substantially as hereinafter more particularly pointed out.
In the accompanying drawings is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the
invention and several modifications thereof sufficient to explain the principles of
the invention, and in said drawings
Figure 1 is a side view of a mounting;
Figure 2 is a front end view,
Figure 3 is a rear end view,
Figure 4 is a partial side view showing a modification,
Figure 5 is a transverse vertical section of one form of counterweight,
Figure 6 is a side view, partly in section, of another modification, and
Figure 7 is a partial end view of the same.
Heretofore many attempts have been made to produce a practically working
disappearing gun adapted for heavy ordnance, and without attempting to recite the
many and various constructions which have been suggested and the objections
thereto, or the requirements necessary to the successful and practical working of
such a mounting, it may be said it is the object of this present invention to
improve upon such gun mountings, and to provide a mounting which is simple in
construction, not liable to get out of order; which is rapid and efficient in operation,
and which meets all the requirements of a thoroughly practical disappearing gun
mounting.
One of the main features of this invention consists in so arranging the parts
of the mounting that the pivotal point or trunnion of the gun shall move in the
arc of an ellipse during its recoil and return to firing position. Another
feature of the invention consists in so arranging and constructing the parts that
while the pivotal point of the gun or piece moves in the arc of an ellipse, the
breech of the gun will move in the arc of a circle. Another distinguishing
feature of the invention consists in so constructing and arranging the mounting
that the muzzle of the gun in its recoil shall have a motion which is best
adapted for retiring the gun from above a parapet or similar device, such motion
being of a unique character, comprising a movement in a sinuous or ogee line,
ending in a quick downward curve at about right angles to said sinuous line.
Another feature of the invention consists in combining with the gun, by suitable
connections, a counterweight, which is so adjusted and arranged that upon the

page_text: firing of the gun, the counterweight will take up a portion of the recoil, and when
the gun is restored to the firing position, the counterweight shall operate to aid in
returning the gun, and the movements of the counterweight under all conditions
shall be in a substantially vertical plane. These general features of this invention,
as well as those hereinafter set forth, may be used together, or in connection with
other constructions embodying other features of this invention or equivalents
thereof.
While this invention comprehends broadly any construction and arrangement of
parts whereby the general features thereof may be carried out or utilized, it also
comprises certain general features of construction and arrangement of parts, as well
as certain specific features hereinafter more particularly pointed out, and while the
means which it is preferred to employ in accomplishing the objects of this invention
will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be
understood that the invention is not limited to the use of these various features of
construction, and the various features of construction are not limited to the specific
arrangement set forth, as they may all be varied by those skilled in the art without
departing from the spirit of the invention.
.
A carriage A is provided, which may be of any suitable construction and
arrangement, according to the particular requirements of any particular case, and
what is termed a rotating lever or levers B is supported upon the carriage, which
lever or levers support at their upper ends the gun or piece C, the gun being
pivotally mounted in said levers by trunnions C₁, or any other equivalent con-
struction or arrangement, so that the pivotal point of the gun shall be at the end
of the levers. It may be remarked at this point that while a single lever might be
arranged, with forked arms or otherwise, or the parts united so as to constitute
what would ordinarily be termed a single lever, the lever is shown made of two
complementary parts, and these will be hereafter referred to as levers with the
understanding that this term includes any equivalent construction which will
operate in substantially the same way, as will be hereinafter pointed out with
reference to the levers.
These levers are provided near their middle points with an axle or trunnions B',
or equivalent means, for supporting the levers, and this axle is a moving axle, the
movements of which are constrained substantially in the manner hereinafter set
forth. The lower ends of the rotating levers are also preferably connected to a
cross bar B³ or equivalent construction, and the movements of this end of the lever
are also constrained, as hereinafter set forth. It will thus be seen that the gun is
mounted upon rotating levers having two of their points constrained to move in
respect to each other, while another point, at the free ends of the levers, supports
the gun, and the arrangement is such that this latter point of the levers moves in
the arc of an ellipse. Thus, the levers may be said to have three axes and no fixed
points, the levers moving as a whole, the movement being constrained at two points
on lines at an angle to each other.
Various means for restraining the two points of the rotating levers may be used
in carrying out the broad principles of this invention, it being sufficient that the
levers shall be so restrained that these points shall move upon lines making an
angle with each other, which will result in causing the other or free point of the
levers to move in the arc of an ellipse, or substantially so.
.
Thus, referring to Figure 1, the axle or trunnions B', near the central portion of
the levers is supported in a top carriage D, which is mounted upon the chassis
pieces of the main carriage A, and is adapted to move horizontally thereon, either
the chassis (as shown in Figure 1) or the carriage (as shown in Figure 4) being
"provided with friction rolls a b'or equivalent devices. This carriage is connected
to some sort of a restraining device, such for instance, as springs, hydraulic
.cylinders, and the like, and in Figure 1 is shown a hydraulic cylinder E, arranged
on each side of the carriage, which cylinders are provided with pistons E',
connected by piston rods E', to projections A', on the main carriage. A. In the
present instance, the rods E' are provided throughout their length with holes.e,

page_text: which are connected at their front ends by pipes e', with the reservoir E, these
pipes being provided with a non-return valve e', and by-pass valves e.
It will be understood that instead of the specific arrangement of cylinders just
described, any other equivalent and well known construction and arrangement may
be used, and instead of the cylinders being attached to the top carriage, the pistons
may be attached to the carriage, and the cylinders to the main carriage; the rods
may be attached to projections at the rear ends of the chassis pieces, instead of at
the forward ends, so that during the recoil they will push into the hydraulic
cylinders instead of pulling out. The cylinders may also be fixed at the rear of
the chassis, and the rods attached to the trunnions or axle of the rotating lever;
the hydraulic cylinders may be bolted vertically to the underside of the racer
of the turn-table, as described hereinafter, or there may be a single hydraulic
cylinder connected to the bottom of the counterweight, as also described herein-
after; or any other equivalent and well-known restraining device which may also
act as a recuperator may be used in place of the specific construction and
arrangement of cylinders above set forth.
It will thus be seen that the top carriage D, is arranged to move in a
substantially horizontal plane on the chassis of the main platform, and its
movements are controlled by some sort of a restraining device, and it may be said
to constitute a moving fulcrum for the rotating levers..
The lower end of the levers is also constrained to move in a plane at an angle
to the plane of the movement of the top carriage, and this plane is shown as
practically at right angles thereto, being a vertical plane, and the end of the levers
is connected by a cross-bar, as before stated which is arranged to move in the
vertical cross-head guides F, formed or arranged at the front end of the carriage A.
In the present instance, the cross-bar or head B, is provided with clips b', which
embrace the guide-pieces a², on the main carriage, so that the end of the levers is
constrained to move in a vertical direction. This cross-head guide may in one
sense be said to be a secondary fulcrum for the rotating levers, this secondary
fulcrum being stationary, and the pivotal point or cross-bar or head of the lever
operating therewith, moving in relation thereto.
The counterweight which is to aid in taking up the recoil and act in returning
the gun to firing position, is connected to this moving end of the levers in any
suitable way, so that the force exerted on the counterweight will be in a vertical
direction, and of course, the counterweight will exert its force in the same
direction. Thus, the counterweight G is shown as connected to the cross-head B
by I-rods G. The counterweight may be of any suitable construction, preferably
being made up of a certain number of plates or weights g, which are supported on
the I-bolts G³, and may be arranged in a pit under the turn-table or in any other
convenient position.
It is sometimes desirable to arrange the hydraulic cylinder or cylinders on the
under side of the racer of the turn-table, as shown in Figure 4, so that it is.
enclosed by the counterweight and extends into the same pit, the, piston-rods
passing through slots in the chassis pieces and being connected to the top carriage
by any suitable means, or the cylinder may be secured to the bottom of the pit or
well, as shown in Figure 5, and connected to the cross bar of the levers and be
used in conjunction with the counter-weight. In some instances, the counter-
weight may be omitted and replaced by recuperator springs, or other equivalent
devices as indicated in Figures 6 and 7, where the springs H are arranged upon
rods H' which pass through a bar H connecting the levers, the rods being
supported at the lower ends in a pivoted support Himounted on brackets a¹ on.
the main carriage. These springs assume the position shown in dotted lines in
Figure 6, upon the recoil of the gun.. With this arrangement there may be used
a single hydraulic cylinder as E Figure 7 supported in the brackets, and the
rods on which the springs H are mounted may be attached to a cross-head E' of
the cylinder, while the piston-rod E' of the cylinder is attached to the cross-bar H
of the levers. Several typical constructions of the restraining devices have thus

page_text: been described and illustrated, and it will be understood that these may be used
in any desired combination, or other equivalent and well-known devices may be
used in connection with the rotating levers to perform the functions stated, this
invention not involving the use of any specific construction and arrangement of
cylinders or springs or the like.
So far, the connections with the breech of the gun by which the motions of the
breech and muzzle of the gun are controlled, have been referred to but slightly.
Two elevating rods I are shown attached to journals near the breech of the gun
and their lower ends are mounted in blocks I' moving in and supported by the
The curve of these rails
curved rails J which are attached to the chassis.
corresponds to a radius equal to the length of the lever with the 'centre at the
centre of the breech trunnions when the gun is in its depressed or loading position,
shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The gun is therefore down on its bed and there
is no strain whatever on these levers, and the blocks can be raised or lowered by
any suitable mechanism of gears and worm, or otherwise, without any great effort,
and it will be understood that the raising of the blocks decreases the elevation of
the muzzle of the gun, and the lowering of the blocks increases the same, so
that the gun can be aimed for altitude while in its depressed position, by
It will be seen that the breech of
adjusting the blocks on the curved rails.
the gun being connected and controlled by the elevating rods, it will move in
the arc of a circle, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1, notwithstanding the
fact that the pivotal point or trunnions of the gun moves in the arc of an
ellipse.
This arrangement of devices that is-moving the pivotal point of the gun in the
arc of an ellipse and the breech in the arc of a circle-produces a peculiar
and unique motion of the muzzle of the gun, so that it' is well adapted to quickly
retire from above the parapet or other defence and be projected into firing
position. Thus it will be seen on reference to Figure 4, that as the gun commences
to recoil the muzzle is depressed slightly, following the curve x indicated in dotted
lines, and then rises again above its central line, as at a and moves practically in
a straight line for a short distance, when it is curved quickly downward, as
This enables the
at to its final position below the opening in the parapet.
gun to be used in close quarters and to be exposed to the opening the shortest
possible time, and the advantages of this arrangement whereby this motion is
produced will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art.
In order that the gun may be held in its recoil position, pawls K are provided,
or some other locking means, which ensure the gun remaining stationary during
the process of loading and sighting, or otherwise, and these pawls engage in the
present instance with ratchets formed on the clips 2. The inner front edges of
the cross-head guide F, may be provided with projections or teeth f, by means of
which, by the use of a bar or otherwise, the gun can be forced to the complete
recoil position, if perchance the discharge does not produce this effect. A crane L
may be attached to the carriage for supporting the projectile, or any other
arrangement for loading the cannon may be used. Sometimes it is desirable to
lower the gun into loading position for the purpose of cleaning, or for drill,
and an arrangement is provided by which this may be readily accomplished, by
attaching pulley-blocks M, to the breech trunnions, and mounting a windlass M,
in the carriage on a transverse shaft M, which may be operated by a handle M³,
and this shaft may be provided with a worm m which gears with a wormwheel m₁
mounted on a short shaft in supported on the carriage, and having also mounted
on the shaft a sprocket-wheel N, and over this sprocket-wheel may pass a chain N'
the ends of which are fixed so that the gun may be pointed in azimuth.
The carriage may be mounted in any suitable way, it being shown in Figure 1,
as mounted on a turn-table P of the usual construction, with the counterweight
underneath, and the rear portion being mounted on traverse wheels P¹ and it
will thus be seen that the carriage can be readily adjusted by operating the worm
gear through the medium of the sprocket chain. In Figure 6 the whole carriage

page_text: is mounted on a central pivotted turn-table P' and the worm gear is arranged in
front, as indicated the operation of which will be readily understood.
From the above description, the general principles of this invention will be
clearly understood, so that they may be applied in the construction and
arrangement of a gun for any particular or desired purpose, and the operation will
be apparent from what has been before set forth, and need not be stated in detail.
It will be understood that when the gun is in the elevated position, shown in full
lines in Figure 1 and the piece is discharged, the rotating lever moves in the
manner before stated, its axis B, moving rearwards in a horizontal line on the
chassis, and its end or cross-bar B' moving upward in the guides, and these two
points being constrained in this manner, the result is that the upper ends of the
levers to which the gun is pivoted move to the rear and downward in the arc of an
ellipse, while the breech piece being guided by the elevating rods, moves rearward
and downward in the are of a circle. The muzzle of the gun from this combination
of mechanism, describes a proper curve for clearing the parapet, as heretofore
described, and it will be seen that the breech is always brought to the same position
for loading being controlled by the elevating rods. When in its depressed condition,
the pawls will engage the ratchets to secure it and hold the gun until it is desired to
discharge it, or otherwise elevate it, and it can be sighted both for altitude and
azimuth while in its depressed position. The energy of the recoil of the falling
gun is absorbed partly in raising the counterweight, and partly by the resistance of
the liquid in the hydraulic cylinders, and the flow of the liquid in these cylinders
can of course be controlled and regulated in any of the well-known ways, by
adjusting the parts or valves so as to produce an approximately constant force. It
will also be understood that even if the piece does not recoil to its full depressed
position, the check valves connected with the hydraulic cylinders will prevent the
piece rising, and will retain it in any position which it may have reached, and
it can be forced downward by bars or otherwise, if necessary. Upon opening
the by-pass valves and tripping the pawls when they engage the ratchets, the
preponderance of the counterweight will raise the gun to the firing position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion as communicated to ine by my foreign correspondents, and in what mannėr
the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is ;-
1. In a gun-mounting the combination with the carriage and gun of connections
between the carriage and gun arranged substantially as described whereby the
pivotal point of the gun moves in the arc of an ellipse during its recoil and return
to firing position substantially as described.
2. In a gun-mounting the combination with the carriage and gun of connections
between the pivotal point of the gun and carriage and connections between the
breech and carriage whereby the pivotal point of the gun moves in the arc of an
ellipse and the breech of the gun moves in the arc of a circle during its recoil and
return to firing position substantially as described.
3. In a gun-mounting the combination with the carriage and gun of connections
between the pivotal point and the breech of the gun and the carriage whereby the
muzzle of the gun will move in a sinuous line and then in a downward curve in its
recoil substantially as described.
. 4. In a gun-meunting the combination with the carriage and gun of connections
between, the carriage and gun and a counterweight connected to the gun and
moving in a vertical direction on the recoil and return of the gun to its firing
position substantially as described.
5. In a gun-mounting the combination with the carriage and gun of rotating
levers having two of their points constrained. to move respectively upon two lines
making an angle with each other substantially as described.
6. In a gun-mounting the combination with the carriage and gun of levers
baving three axes and no fixed points the levers moving as a whole substantially as
described.

page_text: 7. In a gun-mounting the combination with the carriage and gun of rotating
levers having two of their points constrained one to move in a horizontal direction
and the other in a vertical direction while their free ends move in the arc of an
ellipse substantially as described.
8. In a gur-mounting the combination with the carriage and gun of rotating
levers having two of their points constrained one point being pivotally mounted on
the top carriage moving in a substantially horizontal direction on the main carriage
and the other moving in vertical guides connected to the main carriage substantially
as described.
9. In a gun mounting the combination with the carriage and gun of rotating
levers pivotally mounted on a moving fulcrum and having one end mounted to slide
in guides the other end being free and supporting the gun substantially as
described.
10. In a gun mounting the combination with the carriage and gun of rotating
levers having two of their points constrained to move respectively upon two lines
making an angle with each other and a counterweight connected to the levers
substantially as described.
11. In a gun-mounting the combination with the carriage and gun of rotating
levers having two of their points constrained to move respectively upon two lines
making an angle with each other hydraulic cylinders connected to one of the points
for constraining its movement and a counterweight connected at the other point to
constrain its movement substantially as described.
12. In a gun-mounting the combination with the carriage and gun of rotating
levers means for constraining the levers at two points and means for locking the
levers in position substantially as described.
13. In a gun mounting the combination with the carriage and gun of rotating
levers connected to the pivotal point of the gun and to the carriage and elevating
rods connected to the breech and the carriage substantially as described.
14. In a gun mounting the combination with the carriage and gan of rotating
levers connecting the pivotal point of the gun and carriage and elevating levers
_connecting the breech of the gun and the carriage the elevating levers being
adjustable on the carriage substantially as described.
15. In a gun mounting the combination with the carriage and gun of rotating
levers connecting the pivotal point of the gun and carriage elevating levers con-
necting the breech and the carriage and racks mounted on the carriage the
radius of which is equal to the length of the elevating rods with its centre
at the centre of the breech when the gun is in the loading position whereby
the gun is always brought to the same position for loading substantially as
described.
16. In a gun mounting the combination with the carriage and gun of rotating
levers connected to the pivotal point of the gun and constrained at two points
to move respectively upon two lines making an angle with each other and
elevating rods connecting the breech of the gun with the carriage the arrange-
ment being such that the pivotal point of the gun moves in the arc of an ellipse
and the breech of the gun moves in the arc of a circle and the muzzle moves
in a sinuous curve on recoil substantially as described.
17. In a gun mounting the combination with the carriage and the turn-table
supporting the forward part of the carriage of the traverse track and traverse
wheels mounted thereon a sprocket chain connected thereto and worm gearing
mounted on the carriage and connected to the sprocket chain substantially as
described.
Dated thie 22nd day of October 1894
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.