US2467514A - Direction-controlling mechanism for guns - Google Patents

Description

April 1949; c. KLIWOODMAN T 2,467,514

DIRECTION-CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR GUNS Filed'May 16, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I April 19, 1949. c. K. WOODMAN DIRECTION-CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR GUNS Filed May "16, 1944 1 5 Sheets Sheet 2 A ril 19, 1949. c. K. WOODMAN DIRECTION Filed May 16, 1944 CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR GUNS s Shts-Sheet 5 Patented Apr. 19, 1949 DIRECTION-CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR GUNS Charles K. Woodman, Beverly, Mass, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 16, 1944, Serial No. 535,862

21 Claims.

This invention relates to the control of gunfire, and particularly to the exercise of such control over directions in which the gun may be pointed, so that chosen objects, such as structures upon a vessel on which thegun is mounted, may be protected from the fire.

An object of the invention is to obtain this protection by means which leaves the gun free for movement upon its mount, which may readily be altered to meet different conditions and which, if

desired, is guarded against injury by shocks produced in stopping the gun-movement. This object, I attain by combining with a gun-mount, including a non-rotatable portion and a bracket turning thereon, and a gun trunnioned upon the bracket, non-rotatable stop means, as a cam, carried by the mount and having upon its edge a movement-limiting surface, a follower movable upon the bracket and with said bracket in cooperation with the limiting surface, and pivotally joined members for connecting the "follower to the gun to move upon the bracket toward and from the limiting surface. This connecting means may include a link upon which the follower is suspended, a lever fulcrumed above the stop means, and a link through which the gun oscillates the lever. All these elements may be of ample strength to resist breakage, and are arranged closely about and are carried by the gun and its mount, in no way interfering with its manipulation. If the controlling mechanism is to be subjected to severe shocks, bufier means may be introduced between the follower and the gun to permit yield upon engagement of the follower with its limiting surface. This buiier means may be more or less efficient, as is required. Herein are shown a spring-buffer device and also a spring combined with an hydraulic buffer, when a greater cushioning effect is desired. The direction-controlling mechanism, as applied to the gun and itsmount, may include a stop member for attachment to the mouth, and a co-operating follower device having a bodily and angularly yieldable member for contacting with the stop member. As illustrated, the follower device has spaced members movable in a casing, one of said members being movable by the gun and the othermember arranged for contact with the stop member, and buffer means interposed between the members in the casing. There is also means to positively limit the approach of the members and so, correspondingly, the direction of the gun. The buffer-spring shown herein, may have associated wlthit means by which it may be loaded to difierent degrees iii and thus its cushioning effect varied. The 115 draulic device preferably includes a needle-valve, through which liquid may pass with gradually increasing resistance, and a check-valve which facilitates the return of the spaced members to their normal positions.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention,

Fig, 1 shows, in side elevation, a gun with the upper portion of its mount and to which is applied my improved direction-controlling mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a broken front elevation of one form of this controlling mechanism;

Fig. 3, a vertical section therethrough on the line IIIIII of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4, a vertical sectional detail illustrating the means for determining the contour of the direction-controlling cam;

Fig. 5, a perspective view of a portion of the cam-carrier with the applied strip upon which the cam-contour has been plotted;

Fig. 6, a top plan view of the mechanism of Fig. 2, with a portion in section;

Fig. 7 shows the hanger-plates of Fig. 2 in perspective;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 2, of another form of the controlling mechanism;

Fig. 9 is a like view of still another form of the invention; and

Fig. 10 is an-enlarged central vertical section through the cylinder-block of Fig. 2 and the more closely associated elements.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings appears-the upper portion of a gun-mount designated, as a whole, by M. In a pedestal Ill a column 12 is supported, and arranged to turn upon the upper extremity of the column is a bracket 14, in which oscillate the trunnions l6 of a cradle I8. In this cradle, agun 20 is secured. Fixed about the top of the column, just below the bracket, is a cylindrical cam-assembly C by which the movements of the gun in azimuth and in elevation are limited. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the assembly may include a sectional carrier-ring 22, surrounding the column and having drawn toward it, by connecting screws 24, a sectional clamping ring 26 vertically spaced from the carrier-ring. The inner surfaces of the carrier-ring and clamping ring are inclined, converging outwardly toward each other and engaging correspondingly inclined surfaces of a sectional friction-ring 28 fitting about the column. By setting up the screws, the carrier-ring and clamping ring may be drawn toward each other, their inclined surfaces forcing in the friction-ring to secure the assembly in place upon the column. In a vertical wall 29 of the carrier-ring are threaded openings 30, to which may be attached by screws 32 segments 34, the upper edges 36 of which, together with a horizontal surface 31 of the carrier-ring, have a contour limiting both the vertical and horizontal angles in which the gun may be directed upon its mount. These positions of the gun are attained, respectively, by movement of the cradle [13 upon the bracket l4 and the bracket about the column l2. Cam-segments of different forms may be applied to the carrier-ring to give the desired limits of gun-movement.

Secured to one side of the bracket I4 is a casing 46, in which is movable vertically a follower device F, including a horizontal, cylindrical projection 42 co-operating with the cam-edge 36. The follower device is suspended by a link 44 from a bell-crank-lever 46, fulcrumed at 48 upon the upper portion of the casing, said lever having an upwardly extending arm joined by a link 50 to a crank-arm 52 fast upon one of the trunnions I6. This connection of the follower to the gun allows the latter to be elevated as desired, the follower rising freely from the cam as the arm 52 turns clockwise (Fig. 1). Upon depression of th gun, when the desired limit of movement is reached, the projection 42 is stopped by contact with the surface 36 of the cam, and the follower and gun are brought to rest. When the gun is rotated upon the column ID, if the muzzle is low enough to require control to be exercised, the engagement of the follower-projection with the inclined surfaces of the cam will elevate the muzzle automatically, or contact with a vertical surface of the cam will stop the gun from turning about a vertical axis.

To absorb excessive shock which might be caused in the movement of the gun by contact of the projection 42 with the cam-surface 36, Figs. 2, 3 and 6 of the drawings illustrate yieldable buffer means between the lever and projection, these including both spring and hydraulic devices to give a maximum cushioning efiect. The lower end of the link 44 is pivoted to a head '54 guided within the casing 40. On the opposite sides of the head are shoulders 56, upon which rest angular ends of spaced hanger-plates .58, 58 (Fig. 7), sliding upon the casing-walls. Pivoted at 69) between the lower portions of the hangerplates and in alinement with the vertical axis of the block is a member 62, from the bottom of which the projection 42 inwardly extends over the cam-edge 36. From opposite sides of the head 54 depend guide- pins 64, 64, received in bores 66, 66 in a cylinder-block 68, which rests upon opposite convex shoulders 70, 10 at the top of the contact member 62. Spaces at l2, 12 provide for limited relative movement between the head 54 and the block 68 before the opposed surfaces come into engagement. Extending axially of the block is a cylinder-space 14, in which is a piston 16 supported upon a spring 18 surrounding a reduced lower portion of the piston and seated at the bottom of the cylinder-space. The resistance of the spring to compression is sufiicient to hold the piston yieldably in a raised position. Below the piston the cylinder-space is filled with some such liquid as oil. Interposed between the top of the piston and the underside of the head is a buffer-spring 80, offering greater resistance to compression than the spring 76. The springs normally maintain the lower surface of the cylinder-block upon both the shoulders 10 of the contact member 62, so the block 68 and member are vertically alined. Resting upon the bottom of the cylinder-space is a seat 82 for a tapered pin 84, which furnishes a part of a needle-valve. The seat has an upwardly extending flange, within which a head upon the pin rests and is retained in place by a collar 86 threaded within the flange and bearing upon the upper face of the head. In an axial bore in the piston and seated against its lower extremity, a check-valve 88 is movable. In this check-valve is an axial bore 90, into the lower end of which th tapered pin 84 extends to complete the needlevalve. The check-valve is held yieldably against its seat at the reduced end of the piston by an expansion-spring 92 interposed between the bottom of a counterbore at the top of the piston and a washer surrounding a screw 94 threaded into an enlargement of the bore 90 of the checkvalve. Along the cylindrical stem of the checkvalve are longitudinal flutes or passages 96 joined to the axial passage 96 by radical passages 98.

Considering the muzzle of the gun 20 to be elevated so the projection 42 of the follower device F is spaced from the surface 36 of the cam-assembly C, of which the carrier-surface 31 may be considered to be a part, and then lowered, before the line of fire reaches an object to be protected the projection will strike the cam-surface. If the force of the impact'is substantial but not excessive, and the surface engaged approaches the horizontal, the member 62 and the piston 76 will yield promptly against the spring 18 without compressing the spring 80, if such force is sufficient otherwise to cause damage to the controlling mechanism. In this yield, the member 62 moves vertically. The shoulders 56 of the head 54 will separate from the hanger-plates 58, and the spaces 12 will partially close. The displaced liquid in the cylinder-space will pass through the passages 90. 98 and 96, encountering gradually increasing resistance because of the taper of the needle-valve-pin 84, so the shock to the follower in the vertical movement of the gun will be effectively cushioned before the predetermined limit has been reached. This limit is fixed positively by contact of the head 54 and the block 68, when the spaces 12 are closed in the descent of the head. Upon elevation of the gun, the check-valve 88 is forced open against its spring 92, allowing the liquid to redistribute itself promptly. If the force of contact had been greater, the spring also would be compressed, the hydraulic device now absorbing the energy dissipated by said spring. If the force transmitted to the follower device F should be the result of movement of the gun in azimuth upon the column I2, the striking of the projection 42 against an inclined or vertical surface 36 of the cam-assembly would tilt the contact member 62 angularly about its pivot 60. This would lift one or the other of the shoulders 10 upon the member, to produce upward movement of the cylinder-block 68. The cushioning of the shock would be in a manner similar to that just described, the liquid first being forced through the gradually closing needle-valve and then the spring 80 compressed.

If a less effective cushioning of the shock produced by contact of the follower device F with the cam-assembly C is acceptable, one of the buffer devices may be omitted, preferably the hydraulic arrangement. Such a simplified organization is illustrated in Fig. 8 of the drawings. Here, all the parts of the follower device and its s aman connection to the gun-trunnion may be identical with the form previously described, except as to the cushioning means interposed between the link-supported head 54 and the block 68. This means may consist of a compressible spring-unit adjustable as to resistance. At the lower extremity of this unit is an outwardly flanged sleeve H10 and at the upper a similar sleeve I02. The flanges of the sleeves rest against the ends of a compression-spring we lying within the depressions in the head and block. The sleeves are joined by a screw H16, the head of which is seated in an inward flange at the inner end of the sleeve I02 and the opposite end threaded into the sleeve I00. With the unit removed from the follower, the screw I06 may be turned to vary the space between the sleeves, and thus the degree of compression of the spring and its resistance to further compression. When in place between the head 54 and the block 68, upon engagement of the contact-projection 42 with the cam-surface 36, the spring will yield to allow relative movement between the block and the member 62, whether the latter moves vertically or rocks about its pivot 60. The cushioning effect offered by the spring I04 will depend upon the extent to which it has been loaded by the screw I06.

A still further simplification of the gun-controlling mechanism is illustrated in Fig. 9. If the movement-limiting contact members are of sufficient strength to resist the shocks to which they are to be subjected, or if it is desired to minimize complication, the buffer mechanism may be entirely omitted. The link Ml, which is raised and lowered by movement of the gun in elevation and which turns with it in azimuth, is pivoted directly to a unitary slide Illl guided for vertical movement in the casing 40 attached to the trunnionbracket M, as before. From the bottom of this slide is the'inward contact-projection 52 for engagement with the surface 36 of the cam-assembly C. When this projection strikes the cam-surface, either upon vertical movement of the gun 20 upon its trunnions H5, or about the column l2, movement will be stopped positively, or if the surface is inclined to the horizontal by an angle sufficiently acute, the projection may slide up the incline during azimuth-movement of the gun, but still causing the gun to be directed away from objects to be protected.

To facilitate determination of the contour of the surface 36 of the cam device C, the contactprojection 32 of each of the various mechanisms is provided with an axial horizontal bore H2. The radius of this cylindrical projection is equal to the width of the space '12, the closure of which positively limits the movement of the gun 20. The bore I ll receives a cylindrical, prick-punch, or other marking member, P (Fig. 4). About the wall 29 of the carrier ring 22, a strip S of thin material, such as sheet-metal, is wrapped and secured in place by screws inserted through it into the openings 30. The peripheral relation of the strip to the wall is noted by inscribing registering index-marks upon the two elements. Now the gun is bore-sighted in a series of directions to clear properly the objects to be protected from fire, and by pressing the device P, for each of the gun-positions, through a vertical slot H4 in the casing 43 and through the bore H2 in the contact-projection, there will be made on the strip S a series of marks m (Fig. 5), which, when connected, will give a template presenting the desired contour of the cam device. Under the "guidance of this template, the surfaces 36 of the desired number of segments 34 are cut and these segments secured to the openings 30 in the carrier-wall '29. The angular positions of the segments about the wall are fixed by the template S, as located by the index-marks upon it and upon the wall. The relation between the radius of the projection 42 and the width of the space 12 so locates the template-line as to give the desired limit to the movement of the gun, when all the yield permitted by the buffer mechanisms has been taken up. For the nonyieldable mechanism of Fig. 9, the cam-contour should be cut to a form corresponding to that the making of which has been just described, but separated from the template line m at the side opposite the contact-surface by a space equal to the radius of the projection 42. This allows said projection to travel to its extreme limit. The plotting of the contour of a direction controlling cam above described but not claimed herein has been made the subject matter of a divisional application Serial No. 642,508, filed January 21, 1946 in my name.

It will be seen that a mechanism, arranged in accordance with the present invention, is carried compactly upon the mount of the gun itself, so it does not interfere with movement of the gun-crew. The form of the direction-controlling means may readily and accurately be determined and, by the provision of the separable cam-segments, may quickly be changed, wholly or in part, with relatively little effort, to meet different conditions as to surrounding objects to be protected from gun-discharge. When it is considered desirable to cushion the contact of the follower with the stop member, this may be accomplished to the proper degree without excessive complication of the controlling mechanism.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. The combination with a gun-mount including a non-rotatable portion and a bracket turning upon such portion, and a gun trunnioned in the bracket, of non-rotatable stop means carried by the mount and having a movementlimiting surface, a follower movable upon the bracket and with said bracket in co-operation with the limiting surface of the stop member, and members pivotally joined to one another for connecting the follower to the gun and transmitting to the follower a force applied directly to the gun to move said follower upon the bracket toward and from the limiting surface.

2. The combination with a gun-mount including a non-rotatable portion and a bracket turning upon such portion, and a gun trunnioned in the bracket, of stop means fixed to the nonrotatable portion of the mount and having a movement-limiting surface, a casing attached to the bracket, a lever fulcrumed above the stop means, a link pivoted to the lever, a follower suspended from the link and guided in the casing for movement in co-operation with the limiting surface, and a link through which the gun in its movement upon the bracket oscillates the lever.

3. The combination with a column, of a cylindrical cam surrounding the column and having at its upper edge a movement-limiting surface, a trunnion-bracket rotatable upon the column, a gun trunnioned in the bracket, a casing attached to the bracket, a follower guided in the casing and provided with a projection for con,-

tact with the limiting surface of the cam, a lever fulcrumed upon the casing, a link connecting the lever to the follower, an arm fixed to the gun-trunnion, and a link joining the arm to the lever.

4. The combination with a gun-mount including a non-rotatable portion and a bracket turning upon such portion, and a gun trunnioned in the bracket, of stop means fixed to the nonrotatable portion of the mount and having a movement-limiting surface, a casing attached to the bracket, a follower guided in the casing for movement in co-operation with the limiting surface, means for connecting the follower to the gun to move said follower toward and from the limiting surface, and yieldable means in the casing interposed between the follower and gun.

5. The combination with a gun-mount including a non-rotatable portion and a bracket turning upon such portion, and a gun trunnioned in the bracket, of stop means fixed to the nonrotatable portion of the gun and having a movement-limiting surface, a follower movable upon the bracket and with said bracket in co-operation with the limiting surface of the stop member, means for connecting the follower to the gun to move said follower upon the bracket toward and from the limiting surface, and a spring interposed between the follower and the gun and arranged to yield upon engagement of the follower with the limiting surface.

6. The combination with a gun-mount including a non-rotatable portion and a bracket turning upon such portion, and a gun trunnioned in the bracket, of stop means fixed to the non-rotatable portion of the mount and having a movement-limiting surface, a follower movable upon the bracket and with said bracket in co-operation with the limiting surface of the stop member, means for connecting the follower to the gun to move said follower upon the bracket toward and from the limiting surface, and a plurality of successively effective bufier devices interposed between the follower and the gun.

'7. The combination with a gun-mount including a non-rotatable portion and a bracket turning upon such portion, and a gun trunnioned in the bracket, of stop means fixed to the non-rotatable portion of the mount and having a movement-limiting surface, a follower movable upon the bracket and with said bracket in co-operation with the limiting surface of the stop member, means for connecting the follower to the gun to move said follower in the bracket toward and from the limiting surface, and a spring device and an hydraulic device interposed between the follower and the gun and arranged to yield upon engagement of the follower with the limiting surface.

8. Direction-controlling mechanism for guns comprising a stop member for attachment to the gum-mount, a follower device for co-operation with the stop member, said follower device having :a casing and spaced members movable in the casing, one of said members being movable by the gun and the other member being arranged for contact with the stop member, and a buffer device interposed between the members in the casing.

9. Direction-controlling mechanism for guns comprising a stop member for attachment to the gun-mount, a follower device for co-operation with the stop member, said follower device having a casing and spaced members movable in the casing, one of said members being movable by the gun and the other member being arranged for contact with the stop member, and a buffer device interposed between the members in the casing, there being means arranged to limit positively the approach of the member in the casing upon yield of the buffer device.

10. Direction-controlling mechanism for guns comprising a stop member for attachment to the gun-mount, a follower device for co-operation with the stop member, said follower device having a casing and spaced members movable in the casing, one of said members being movable by the gun and the other member being arranged for contact with the stop member, and a buffer device interposed between the members in the casing and removable therefrom as a unit, said buffer device comprising a spring and means for loading the spring.

11. Direction-controlling mechanism for guns comprising a stop member for attachment to the gun-mount, a follower device for co-operation with the stop member, said follower device having a casing and spaced members movable in the casing, one of said members being movable by the gun and the other member being arranged for contact with the stop member, and a springunit interposed between the members in the casing and comprising spaced sleeves for respective engagement with the two members, a comparession-spring abutting against the sleeves and a screw connecting said sleeves to apply a variable load to the spring.

12. Direction-controlling mechanismfor guns comprising a stop member for attachment to the gun-mount, a follower device for co-operation with the stop member, said follower device having a casing and spaced members movable in the casing, one of said members being movable by the gun and the other member being arranged for contact with the stop member, and an hydraulic buffer device interposed between the members in the casing.

13. Direction-controlling mechanism for guns comprising a stop member for attachment to the gun-mount, a follower device for co-operation with the stop member, said follower device having a casing and spaced members movable in the casing, one of said members being movable by the gun and the other member being arranged for contact with the stop member, and buffer means comprising a buffer-spring and an hydraulic buffer device interposed between the members in the casing.

l4. Direction-controlling mechanism for guns comprising a stop member for attachment to the gun-mount, a follower device for co-operation. with the stop member, said follower device having a casing, a head movable in the casing by the gun, a block movable in the casing and being normally spaced from the head, a member for contact with the stop member, said contact member engaging the block at the end opposite the head and means for connecting the contact member to the head, and a buffer device interposed between the head and block.

, l5. Direction-controlling mechanism for guns comprising a stop member for attachment to the gun-mount, a follower device for co-operation with the stop member, said follower device having a casing, a head movable in the casing by the gun, a block movable in the casing and being normally spaced from the head, a member for contact with the stop member, said contact mem-- ber engaging the block at the end opposite the head and means for connecting the contact member to the head, and a buffer device interposed between the head and block, there being opposed surfaces upon said head and block positively limiting the approach of these elements.

16. Direction-controlling mechanism for guns comprising a stop member for attachment to the gun-mount, and a follower device haVing a member arranged to yield bodily and angularly upon contact with the stop member, said follower device having a casing, a head movable in the casing by the gun, a block movable in the casing and being normally spaced from the head and a member for contact with the stop member, said contact member engaging the block at the end opposite the head and being movable with the head and supported to rock with respect thereto, and a buffer device interposed between the head and block.

1'7. Direction-controlling mechanism for guns comprising a stop member for attachment to the gun-mount, a follower device for co-operation with the stop member, said follower device having a casing, a head movable in the casing by the gun, a, block movable in the casing and being normally spaced from the head and a member for contact with the stop member, said contact member engaging the block at the end opposite the head and being movable with the head and supported to rock with respect thereto, and a buffer device interposed between the head and block.

18. Direction-controlling mechanism for guns comprising a, stop member for attachment to the gun-mount, a follower device for co-operation with the stop member, said follower device having a casing, a head movable in the casing by the gun, a block movable in the casing and being normally spaced from the head, a hanger depending from the head and a member for contact with the stop member pivoted upon the hanger in vertical alinement with the axis of the block and having spaced projections upon which the iblOCk rests, and a buffer device interposed between the head and block.

19. Direction-controlling mechanism for guns comprising a stop member for attachment to the gun-mount, a follow-er device for co-operation with the stop member, said follower device having a, casing, a head movable in the casing by the gun, a cylinder-block movable in the casing and a member for contact with the stop memher, said contact member engaging the block at the end opposite the head, a piston movable in the cylinder-block by the head, a spring by which the piston is held normally raised in the cylinder, and portions of a needle-valve carried by the cylinder and piston respectively.

20. Direction-controlling mechanism for guns comprising a stop member for attachment to the gun-mount, a follower device for co-operation with the stop member, said follower device having a casing, a head movable in the casing by the gun, a cylinder-block movable in the casing and a member for contact with the stop member, said contact member engaging the block at the end opposite the head, a piston movable in the cylinder-block, a spring by which the piston is held normal y raised in the cylinder, portions of a needle-valve carried by the cylinder and piston respectively, and a spring interposed between the piston and head.

21. Direction-controlling mechanism for guns comprising a stop member for attachment to the gun-mount, a follower device for co-operation with the stop member, said follower device having a casing, a head movable in the casing by the gun, a cylinder-block movable in the casing and a member for contact with the stop member, said contact member engaging the block at the end opposite the head, a piston movable in the cylinder-block by the head and provided with a longitudinal bore, a check-valve movable in the bore, and co-operating portions of a needlevalve carried by the cylinder and check-valve.

CHARLES K. WOODMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,274,518 Dawson et al. Aug. 6, 1918 1,300,264 Hamilton Apr. 15, 1919 1,820,820 Muller Aug. 25, 1931 1,883,204 Whitaker Oct. 18, 1932 2,391,956 Eastman Jan. 1, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 298,987 Germany Apr. 5, 1921 494,256 Great Britain Oct. 24, 1938 534,928 France Jan. 14, 1922

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