GB747136A - Improvements in or relating to transporting means for mortars and like guns - Google Patents

Abstract

747,136. Carriages for mortars. STRAUSSLER, N. P. S. April 6, 1954 [March 5, 1954], No. 6460/54. Class 92 A barrel 1, Fig. 1, of a mortar has a ball and socket joint 3, 4 in an anchor plate 5 provided with tines 6 for engagement in the ground, and a wheeled carriage. Fig. 3, is pivoted in bearings 10, 11 rigidly secured to the plate 5 for movement against the action of resilient means, e.g., springs 29a; the arrangement being such that the barrel 1 can be overturned to firing position from a position in which it is above the carriage for transport. The bearings 10, 11 are formed in a bracket 7 on the plate 5 and support a U- shaped frame 12 having at each end a forked member 14 between the arms of which fits an apertured lug 15 projecting from a stub axle 16 upon which a wheel 17. is rotatably supported. The arrangement is such that, as shown in Fig. 3, the wheels and axles can be rotated 180 degrees from positions inwardly of the frame 12 to positions outwardly thereof and releasably locked in these positions and thus widen or narrow the carriage track when necessary. A spring suspension 26, 27, 29a is provided for the carriage or alternatively rubber bushings are provided between and bonded to the bearings 10, 11 and the mid-portion of the frame 12. A leather tampon 33 is connected by flexible material 35 to a sleeve 36 secured around the muzzle end of the barrel and upon which is pivoted at 37 a block 38 with a draw bar terminating in an eye 39 for connection by a pin to the draw bar of a motor vehicle. The block 38 has a projection 43 which holds the tampon in position and itself is held in position by a spring-pressed pin 41, which, when withdrawn, permits the block and parts secured thereto to pivot about the pin 37 and hang below the barrel when in firing position. An ammunition crate 44 is releasably secured to metal bands 45, 46 on the barrel and a spring-urged arm 52 pivoted on the band 45 is secured by a removable pin 54 to the anchor plate 5 to lock the ball and socket connection 3, 4 during'transport. The bipod legs are also secured to the barrel during transport by releasable means 2.