GB479837A - Improvements in or relating to rammer mechanism for guns - Google Patents

Abstract

479,837. Loading ordnance. GENERAL HYDRAULIC CO. June 11, 1936, No. 16292. Convention date, June 15, 1935. [Classes 92 (i) and 92 (ii)] A loading device for guns comprises a rammer head 13, Fig. 4, connected to a piston 12a working in a hydraulic cylinder 11, a source of supply of liquid under pressure, a pilot valve 9 for controlling the movements of the piston, means such as a handle 18 to actuate the valve to cause the rammer to rani home a shell, and means actuated by the rammer or by the closing movement of the breech-block 22 to cause the valve to move the rammer in the reverse direction. The valve 9, in its neutral position, shortcircuits the liquid supply system which, in the form shown, comprises a tank 6, pump 8, and a motor 7 for driving the pump. The valve is normally held in a position to withdraw the ram by a spring 9a and is depressed to effect the ramming by the handle 18 which is connected thereto by a rod 18a, and pivoted lever 19. It is held in the depressed position by a, spring-controlled latch 17. Towards the end of the ramming stroke a lug 20 on the piston rod 12 trips a lever 21 which lifts a rod 17a connected to the latch, the latter being thus moved to free the valve 9 which is moved by the spring 9a to the ramreturning position. Instead of the lug 20 and lever 21, the rod 17a may be actuated by a pivoted lever 23 which is lifted by a lug 24 on the breech-block 22 as the latter is moving into the breech-closing position. The breechblock, when closed, bears against an arm 19a of the lever 19 and thus prevents forward movement of the handle 18. To prevent firing before the rammer head has returned to a point beyond the range of the recoiling parts, the firing pin 26, Fig. 2, is positively held until the rammer head has passed beyond the rear end of a lever member 25. The pin is held by a lever 27 pivoted to the breech-block and slidably guided in a slot 27c in a spring-urged slide 27a. This slide is held by the member 25 through the medium of a lever 28 until the rammer head, which engages beneath and lifts the member against the action of a spring 28a, has returned to its rear position.