US1206154A - Armor unit for gunners. - Google Patents

Description

J. J. SPENCE.

ARMOR UNIT FOR GUNNERS.

APPLICATION FILED Nov.15.1915.

Patented'Nov. 28, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

1 2 Fig! II'IHII INVENTOH (Z J 57267266 A TTOR/VEY J. J. SPENCE.

ARMOR UNIT FOR GUNNERS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 15 1915.

1 ,206,1 54;. Patented Nov. 28, 1916.

2 SHEYETS-SHEET 2.

JOHN E. SPENCE. O1 GEEENVILLE, TEXAS.

AEMOR UNIT FOR, GUNNERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. t 91%;.

Application filed November 15, 1915. Serial No. 61,491.

To all whom '56 may concern.

Be. it known that I, Jonx J. Shanon, citizen ot' the tnited States, residing at Greenville, in the county of Hunt and State ct Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Armor 1. nits for Gunners. of which the following is a specilicatiou.

This invention pertains to new and useful improvements in gunners armor units.

The object of the invention is to provide a portahle structure adapted to he used singly or in batteries and constituting at once a protection during battles and warfare and a shelte' at night and other times.

Another object of the invention to provide an arinor unit involving a triangular shaped housing mounted on ground wheels and provided. with a plurality of port holes at its contracted end, and also having a bed frame which further provides a draft connection when the unit is heing transported; together with means for sccurii'ig the housing in its adjusted positions.

A further ohject is to pro. i-lo a unit; constructed to house several machine guns. rillcs or other ordnance and he men for operatin; the same in such a manner that the men will he fully protected from the enemy and the housing so presented that projectiles will glance oil of the same; also the provision of a portahlc unit, several oi" which may he assembled to form a rampart or line. oi dcfense; and one which will he readil l niohile.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character doscrihed that will he strong. durahlc, cllicicut and simple and cou'iparativelv ineupeusivo to construct. also one in which the several. parts will stand unusual impact.

lVith the above and other objects in view the invention has relation to certain novel features of construction and operation. an example of which described in the follow ing specification and illustrated in the ac compan ving drawings, val

Figure l 1 :r. 1 a is a pin... Vt

tiring position. 2 is a s is a longitudinal sectional view of as shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. is a vation in transporting, position.

In the drawings the numeral 1 designates a housing exhibiting longitudinally of the unit a, triangular shape in cross-section. The housing is constructed of sheets of ar- 101' plate forming sides 4: and 5 respectively and ends 6. The ends 5 hare inturned tlan es T to which the sides are fastened by rivets 8 as shown. I prefer to form the sides l and 5 of a single plate, bending the same. sharpl transversely at its center to torin a panel 5.) which constitutes the contracted end or apex of the housing. llithin this portion of the housing an angular transverse reinlm'ring member 10 contiguous to the plate, is suitahly secured and provided with a transverse row of holes 11 which reg ister with holes 113 in the panel and allord port holes through which the harrels of the nnn-hiue guns or other ordnance may project.

'lrunuions have enlarged hascs riveted to the ends o of the housing uea the base. or enlarged open end and engage in ground wheels 2 of heavy construction on which the unit may he transported. In Fig. 4 the lower end of the side. 5 of the housing is shown curved downward and outward at 13 so that when the gunners are kneeling in the housing and on said side their iusleps will not hc suhjertcd to the edge of the plate. hut instead a smooth rounded surface. will he presented and add much to their oorn'lort. 'lransverselv within the housing a gun rest ll is mounted so as to support the guns in line with the port hole...

The ends (3 have lips 15 along their bases to which hinges ll; are riveted. The hinges are positioned on the lips so as to he attached to the upper side of a hcd traluc l7 and permit the latter to rest on. the. ground as shown in Figs. 2 and l. /Vithin the frame a plat'l' rnr llw is counter-sunk and rigidly attached. horizontal plate is disposed over toe frame on the hinges as shown and provides a seat or a shelf. For holding the housing in its tiring position asshown in all ligurcs except Fig. 5, chains 1!) are secured to cars 22 attho ends of the lips oppositcthc hinges and are engaged on hooks 2i. projecting inward from the sides oi the, lranie in rear of the platform. It is olovious that the housing may be adjusted hy engaging dillorent links oi the chains with the hooks.

In using this unit it is supposed to be drawn by some vehicle preferably a motor car and a draft coupling 23 is secured to the free end of the frame for this purpose. When the unit is transported the housing is swung up into the position shown in Fig. 5 and the housing fastened by a ring When it is desired to operate the guns the unit is uncoupled and the housing swung to the position shown for firing. While the unit is being transported the guns are suitably supported on the platform.

, Trailing in the rear ofa motor vehicle the unit affords a very efiicient and practical implement of warfare. Men within the housing with the guns and ammunition are protected from the fire of the enemy as well as the weather and may remain in the housing for hours. One or more peep holes 26 are provided in the side 5 through which the enemy may be observed While rctreating and at other times. Should it be desired to give battle the unit may be uncoupled and the housing lowered to the firing position after which with the machine guns operating through the port holes a devastating flow of bullets may be hurled at the enemy without exposure on the part of the men in the housing. It is evident that the unit could be pushed quite close to the lines of the enemy either before or after the housing is lowered and that it could be Withdrawn in firing position if necessary. Several of these units could be arranged as a rampart affording protection to the men while trenches and other defences were ing built.

The invention is presented as including all such modifications, changes and alterations as properly come within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A' device of the class described comprising an armored housing, ground wheels disposed at opposite sides of said housing and eccentric with respect to the transverse axis of the latter, and a platform supported by said housing and normally acting to balance the latter vertically of the axis of said ground Wheels.

2. A device of the class described comprising an armored housing, ground wheels disposed at opposite sides of said housing and eccentric with respect to the'transverse axis of the latter, a platform hingedly secured to said housing at one end, and means connecting the opposite end of said platform with said housing whereby the same are retained in normally inoperative position.

3. A. device of the class described comprising an armored housing, ground Wheels disposed at opposite sides of said housing and eccentric with respect to the transverse axis of the latter, a platform supported by said housing and normally acting to balance the latter vertically of the axis of said ground wheels, and means for releasing one end of said platform, whereby the latter is lowered to ground simultaneously with the forward tilting of said housing to operative position. v

- 4. A device of the class described comprising an armored housing, substantially triangular in cross section, said housing being provided with port holes at its apex,

ground wheels disposed at opposite sides of said housing and eccentric with respect to the transverse axis of the latter, a, platform supported by said housing; and normally acting to balance the latter vertically of the axis of said ground wheels, and means for releasing one end of said platform, whereby the latter vis lowered to ground simultaneously with the forward tilting of said housing to operative position.

In testimony whereof I al'fix my signature.

JOHN J. SPENCE.

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