US1148080A - Pneumatic ammunition-conveying apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

I. T. COWLEY.

PNEUMATIC AMMUNITION CONVEYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. II, 1909.

Patented July 27, 1915.

I8 SHEETS-SHEET I.

VIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, D. c.

J. T. COWLEY.

PNEUMATIC AMMUNITION CONVEYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 11, 1909.

1,148,080. Patented July 27, 1915.

1a SHEETSV-SHEET 2.

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J. T. COWLEY.

PNEUMATIC AMMUNITION CONVEYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. I1, 1909- Patented July 27, 191".

18 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH COuWASHlNGTON, [1.5.

J. T. COWLEY.

PNEUMATIC AMMUNITION CONVEYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. II, I909.

1,148,080, Patented July 27, 1915.

l8 SHEETS-SHEET 4. I" I I" J .4. II

559 IIIIIIII A llllfll l I AI- COLUMBIA PLANDCIRAPH CO., WASHINGTON, D. c.

J. T. COWLEY.

PNEUMATIC AMMUNITION CONVEYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 11. 1909.

1,148,080. Patented July 27, 1915.

I8 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

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J. T. COWLEY.

PNEUMATIC AMMUNITION CONVEYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION'FILED OCT. H. I909.

l8 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

Patented July 27, 1915.

cuumum PLANOGRM'H c0.. WASHINGTON. n. c.

J. T. COWLEY.

PNEUMATIC AMMUNITION CONVEYING APPARATUS.

- APPLICATION FILED OCT. II, T909. 1,148,080. Patented July. 27, 1915.

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J. T. COWLEY.

PNEUMATIC AMMUNITION CONVEYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 11. 1909.

Patented July 27, 1915. 18 SHEETS-SHEET a.

COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH COWWASHING'TON. 0. c4

J. T. COWLEY.

PNEUMAT IC AMMUNITION CONVEYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED ocT.I1. 1909.

1,148,080. Patented July 27, 1915.

I8 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

COLUMBIA ,PLANDGRAPH co., WASHlNGTON, D. c.

1,148,080. Patented July 27, 1915.

I8 SHEETS-SHEET H.

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J. T. COWLEY.

PNEUMATIC AMMUNITION CONVEYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED on. n. 1909.

1,148,080. Patented July 27, 1915.

I8 SHEETS-SHEET I2.

COLUMBIA PLANOEIRAPH CO..WASHIN'7C". D c.

I. T. COWLEY.

PNEUMATIC AMMUNITION CONVEYING APPARATUS;

APPLICATION FILED OCT. I1, 1909.

Patented July 27, 1915.

I3 SHEETS-SHEET I3.

COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH co WASHINGTON. D c4 APPLICATION FILED OCT. l 1909.

Patented July 27, 1915.

I8 SHEETS-SHEET l4.

ANOGRAPH c0, WASHINGTON. D. c.

.l. T. COWLEY.

PNEUMATIC AMMUNITION CONVEYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. II. 909.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAIH co.,wAsmNGTuN. D. C.

J. T. COWLEY.

PNEUMATIC AMMUNITION CONVEYING APPARATUS;

- APPLICATION FILED OCT. 11. 1909.

1,148,080. Patented July 27, 1915.

I8 SHEETS-SHEET 16.

I. T. COWLEY.

PNEUMATIC AMMUNITION CONVEYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. II. I909.

Patented July 27, 1915.

I8 SHEETS-$HEET II.

A .v I IIIII) COLUIIBIA WRAP" CO" WASHINGTON. D- C- J. T. COWLEY.

PNEUMATIC AMMUNITION CONVEYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 00111. I909.

1,148,080. Patented July 27, 1915.

I8 SHEETSSHEET l8.

JAMES T. COJVLEY, OF MINOT, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE LAMSON COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

PNEUMATIC AMBIUNITION-CONVEYING APPARATUS.

Application filed October 11, 1909.

T all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JAMES T. COWLEY, of Minot, in the county of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic AmmunitionConveying Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in pneumatic ammunition conveying apparatus, and its object is to provide a device for rapidly handling and safeguarding the conveyance of ammunition from the handling room of a magazine to a receiving station or turret adjacent the guns.

The present invention has been made and will be illustrated and described in connection with the pneumatic ammunition conveying apparatus of my prior application, Serial No. 451,061, filed August 31, 1908, and the invention consists of certain improvements by which a high speed and greater certainty and safety of action may be secured in that apparatus, but these improvements may be applied also to pneumatic ammunition conveying apparatus other than that shown in said prior application.

The invention relates particularly to the provision of means for removing from the conveyer the pushers used in conveying the ammunition and the construction of the pusher itself, the closing of the conveyer behind the receiving terminal when the receiving terminal is open, the control of the opening of the despatching terminal from the receiving terminal, the construction of the air admission mechanism, the construction of the powder receiver, and to means for cushioning and preventing recoil of the shell on its delivery in the receiving terminal, but includes other detail improvements, all as fully described hereafter and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a construction embodying my invention, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the lower end of the system located in the handling room showing the despatching terminal and the air supply reservoir connected therewith. Fig. 2 is a continuation of the device shown in Fig. 1 showing the conveyer tube extending from the well to the turret with the receiving terminal at the upper end thereof and adjacent the guns. Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation partly in section show- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 27, 1915.

Serial No. 522,100.

ing the valve-operating mechanism located on the opposite side of the despatching inlet shown in Fig. 1 with parts in position for the operator to admit air pressure to despatch the charge resting within the terminal. Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevation of the despatching inlet showing the mechanism partly in section located in the front of the despatching terminal shown in Fig. 1 and showing the same in position for holding the gate locked while the load is in transit. Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section through Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a front elevation of Fig. 3 showing the mouth of the despatchin g inlet with the controlling gate and cap removed. Fig. 7 is an elevation of the inner face of the gate at the despatching terminal. Fig. 8 is a detail of the valvelocking mechanism at the despatching terminal. Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the locking mechanism for controlling the gate, the operating lever and the main air admission valve. Fig. 10 is an enlarged side elevation of the receiving terminal shown in Fig. 2 partly in section' Fig. 11 is a front elevation of Fig. 10 showing the powder receptacle and locking mechanism in section and in normal position. Fig. 12 is an enlarged sectional View of the upper portion of the receptacle-locking and powder cushioning mechanism. Fig. 13 is a section on line 1313 Fig. 10. Fig. 14 is a rear end elevation of Fig. 10 with a portion of the apron counter-balancing mechanism in section. Fig. 15 is a vertical sectional view on line 1515 Fig. 10 looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 16 is an enlarged sectional view on line 1616 Fig. 10 looking in the direction of the arrow and showing in addition the shell-cushioning levers and a portion of the recoil mechanism. Fig. 17 is an enlarged side elevation of the shellcushioning lever and recoil mechanism shown in Figs. 10 and 16. Fig. 18 is a sectional view taken on line 1818 Fig. 17 looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 19 is a rear elevation of the powderreceptacle. Fig. 20 is a sectional view of the powder receptacle taken on line 20-20 Fig. 19. Fig. 21 is a sectional view showing the receptacle-locking mechanism in its normal position. Fig. 22 is an enlarged side elevation of the valvecontrolled connection between the upper bend of the conveyor tube and the return tube, showing parts in normal position.

avoid shock.

Fig. 23 is a similar View to Fig. 22 showing the valve mechanism in section. Fig. 24: is a sectional View taken on line 2424 Fig. 23. Fig. 25 is a detail sectional view of the cushioning spring shown in Fig. 10 and hereafter described. Fig. 26 is a front elevation of the pusher or carrier. Fig. 27 is a central sectional view on line 27-27 Fig. 26; Fig. 28 1s a diagrammatlc elevation on the same scale as Fig. 10, showing a modified arrangement of the devices for pneumatically con trolling the gate and air admission mechanism from the turret.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2: A represents the handling room of a warship adj acent the magazine and from which the ammunition is required to be conveyed to the turret B for use in the guns.

1 represents a despatching terminal secured to the terminal base plate 2 in said handling room and 3 is a conveyer tube connecting the terminal 1 with the receiving terminal 4 located in the turret B, said tube extending through the well 5 connecting the turret with the handling room. Through this tube 3, the ammunition is conveyed from the handling room to the turret by means of compressed air which acts-upon acarrier or pusher 6 which is adapted to fit over the Compressed air for driving the charge is ,stored in a reservoir 9 which is connected by a supply pipe 10 with the despatching terminal 1. The compressed air reservoir 9 is connected (Fig. 1) with a source of air pressure by a pipe 9* in which. is located a reducing valve 9. The reservoir 9 contains suflicient air for the delivery of a charge but is of such size as to secure such a drop in pressure during transmission as to lower the speed of the ammunition at delivery and When the pressure in reservoir 9 has dropped below a determined point, air is admitted through the reducing valve 9 and pipe 9 until the pressure in said reservoir reaches normal, whenthe supply through pipe 9 is automatically cut off.

The operation in brief is as follows: The deliveryof a charge in the receiving terminal 4 actsto exhaust the air pressure in pipe 11 connecting the receiving terminal 4: with the despatching terminal 1, which releases the gate 12 (Fig. 4:) closing the entrance to the despatching terminal 1, allowing said gate 12 to be opened automatically by spring 13 located in cap 14.- (Fig. 5), which cap is secured to the face of the terminal and in which the gate 12 is movably mounted. This exhaust of the air pressure in pipe 11 also closes the air admission valve 39 and cuts off the air from the conveyer, and locks the operating lever 17 to prevent the air being admitted until the receiving terminal is ready to receive another charge. 7

A charge consisting of two powder'bags and shell with a pusher or carrier 6 on the conical end of the shell (Fig. 1) having been previously placed on the chute 15 as shown, is immediately pushed into the despatching terminal and the gate v 12 closed, the charge remaining in the terminal until the charge previously despatched has been removed from the receiving terminal 45 in the turret and said terminal closed again to a position ready to receive another charge. As soon as the charge has been removed from the re ceiving terminal and said terminal completely closed, the air pressure will build up in pipe 11 unlocking the operating lever.

4:7 which when moved willadmit air from the supply pipelO intothe despatching terminaland transmit the charge resting in the terminal. When this charge arrives in the receiving terminal 4., the powder bags will pass through the upper bend in the conveyer tube 3 and into the hopper or; receptacle 16.

The arrival of the shell exhausts the air I pressure in pipe 11 and also unlocks the receptacle 16 permitting it to be moved either to the right or left, for removing the powder bags, while either movement unlocks the apron. 17 on its respective side, upon which the shell rolls out onto said apron into aline-.

ment with the gun. When this receptacle is moved through suitable link connections, a valve 20 located in casing 7 is rotated; this valve 20 is so constructed as to permit the passage of the powder and shell there through but is adapted to stop and hold the pusher or carrier 6 which drives the charge. When the valve 20 is turned, due to the link connections with the receptacle 16 and the movement of the same, this valve is brought into alinement with the return tube 8 allowthepusher to drop down through said tube into the handling room A. where it is received in pocket 18; On account of the inn terlocking mechanism located in the receiving terminal 4, it 1s necessary to close the apron 17 before closing the receptacle 16,

and also on account of the connection between this receptacle 16 and valve 20, the conveying tube 3 is shut off from communication with the handling room at all times when the terminal 4 is open. The arrival of a charge in the receiving terminal 4: instantly

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