GB126588A - Improved Connecting Mechanism Between the Gun Carriage and the Endless Track Trucks in Trail Gun Carriages with Endless Tracks. - Google Patents

Abstract

126,588. Schneider et Cie. April 19, 1918, [Convention date]. Field carriages; recoil apparatus.-Relates to endless-track gun carriages of the kind in which the trail A is trunnioned to a gun pedestal C vertically pivoted to a frame D supported on the trucks of the endless tracks G, and consists in making the frame D movable, round a shaft H, itself journaled in bearings I in the endless-track trucks E, the frame being further fixed to one of the trucks, as by arms D'. The endless tracks are therefore capable of turning independently of each other round the shaft H during firing or transport, whilst the truck fixed to the frame D provides a firm support for the gun carriage during firing. The invention is shown applied to a carriage which is trained round a pivot J<1> on the trail spade J by propelling the endless tracks at suitable relative speeds by a hand-operated ratchet-lever, Fig. 6, detachably applied to the squared end L' of a spindle L mounted to revolve within the hollow shaft H. When the ratchet lever is mounted and retained by a spring catch X, projections U on the ratchet V engage corresponding recesses in a sprocket N freely mounted on the shaft L and connected by a chain R to a sprocket S fast with the driving sprocket T of one of the endless tracks G. The driving sprocket Q of the other track is similarly connected by chain gearing 0 to a sprocket M keyed to the end of the shaft L. To compensate for differences of level at the front and rear of the carriage, the trail is connected to the pivot J<1> by a ball joint K.