GB191023841A - Improvements in or relating to the Loading Apparatus of Heavy Guns. - Google Patents

Abstract

23,841. Dawson, Sir A. T., and Horne, J. Oct. 14. Loading-appliances.- Relates to means for operating the doors of hoist cages to permit the powder charges to assume the ramming position after the projectile has been rammed into the gun, and consists in the provision of automatic mechanism, under the control of the rammer, for working the doors, the mechanism being arranged in part upon the loading - arm of the gun-slide and in part on the cage, an operative connexion between the parts being established after the projectile - ramming has been effected. The mechanism on the cage C comprises a door-operating cam C<1> connected by a rod c<1> to the arm c<2> of a bell-crank C<2>, which is controlled by a spring C<0>; the arm c<3> of the lever C<2> carries a roller C<3> and a spring c<4>, which tends to draw the roller radially towards the axis c<2Î> of the lever C<2>. The mechanism on the loading-arm B<1> consists of an hydraulic ram D<2>, the stem D of which has a vertical groove d, and which ram is controlled by a differential valve B<Î> actuated in one direction bv the chain or other rammer B<2>, and in the other direction, when the rammer moves outwards, by the pressurefluid. When the rammer is actuated to ram the projectile, the valve B<Î> moves to the left and admits pressure-fluid by the pipe b<1> to the ram D<2>. The ensuing motion of the ram causes the groove d to pass above the roller C<3>, which is immediately drawn up by the spring c<4> into the groove. The return of the rammer B<2> moves the valve B<Î> to the right, and connects the pipe b<1> to the exhaust b<2>. The ram D<2> is then moved inwards by pressure from the pipe d<Î> and, through the connexion between the groove d and roller C<3>, operates the cage doors.