GB147596A - Improvements in and relating to the electrically controlled valve gear of a hydraulic gun laying mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

147,596. Krupp Akt.-Ges., F. Nov. 10, 1917, [Convention date]. Naval and garrison carriages and mountings.- Relates to hydraulic mechanism for laying guns, the valve-gear of which is actuated electrically from a distant post, and consists in employing in hydraulic parallel at the gun a slowly acting and two rapidly acting valve mechanisms, the slowly acting mechanism being actuated in one direction by the receiver of the distant-control device and in the other direction by the resultant movement of the gun, and the two rapidly acting mechanism being so dependent on the slowly acting mechanism that a rapidly acting mechanism is always opened before, and closed after, the slowly acting mechanism. In the form shown, a naval gun A is adapted to be controlled in elevation from a distant telescope k<10> which may be rocked by a hand-wheel k<3> to maintain it on the target as the ship rolls, this motion, and a motion due to the setting of the range on a device k<8>, being imparted through a differential gear k<6> to the transmitter K of an electric distantcontrol device which transmits the movement to the receiving motor F. Coupled to the armature shaft f<1> of this motor, through a differential gear in a casing E, is a rocking arm D<4> having teeth engaging a rack c' on the control rod C of the slowly acting valve B, which serves to connect a pressure pipe b<1> through ports b<3>, b<4> selectively with pipes a<6>, a<7> leading to the ends of the gunelevating cylinder A<3>, and also to connect these pipes selectively with an outlet pipe b<2>. In parallel with the pipes a<6>, a<7> are pipes b<5>, b<6> leading through rapidly acting valves G, H, additional outlet pipes a<9>, a<8> also passing through these valves. The arm D<4> is also coupled through the differential gear in the casing E with a toothed arc a<14> depending from the rear end of the gun. The displacement of the arm D<4>, resulting from the action of the receiving motor F, first of all displaces a contact c<5> mounted on the valve-rod C into engagement with one or other of two contacts b<7>, b<8> and thereby closes a circuit containing a solenoid g<6> or h<6> adapted to displace an armature g<5> or h<5> solid with the pistons of the valve G or H. One of these valves is thus opened, according to the direction of rotation of the motor shaft f<1>, and admits water under pressure to the corresponding end of the cylinder A<3> to elevate or depress the gun, at the same time exhausting water from the other end. The continued movement of the arm D<4> now opens the pressure port b<3> or b<4>, and the outlet pipe b<2> of the valve B, thereby accelerating the movement of the gun. Meanwhile, the movement of the arc a<14> tends to restore the arm D' to its neutral position, which it will attain when the gun has reached the correct elevation. As the arm approaches its neutral position, the valve B is closed, but the valve G or H remains open and is closed only when the contact c<5> has been restored by the final movement of the valverod C to its mid-position. As a consequence of the provision of the rapidly acting valves G, H for controlling the initial and final movements of the gun, it is not necessary to construct the controlling valve as an accurately working element and its dimensions may be considerably diminished.