US613252A - crozier - Google Patents

Description

Ne. 6|3,252. Patented Nev. I, |898. W. CROZIER.

UISPPEARING GUN MOUNTING.

(Application led Mar. 28, 1896,)

2 Sheets Sheet l.

No Model.)

No. 6l3,'252. Patened Nov. l, |898. W. CROZIER.

DISAPPEARING GUN MOUNTING.

- (Application med Mm". 2B. 189G.\ .No Model.) 2 Sheds-Sheet 2.

f Unirse rares Fries,

VLLIAM CROZIER, OF THE UNlTED STATES ARMY.

DlSAPPEARlNG-GUN MOUNTING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 613,252, dated November 1, 1898. Application tiled March 28, 1896. Serial No. 585,276flN model.)

tioned at Govcrnors lsland, in the State of` New York, have invented a new and useful i Improvement in Disappearing-Gun Mountings, (for which 1 have obtained Letters Patent in Greatlritain, No; 19,590, dated September Ll, 1396; France, No. 259,598, dated Septemher 11, 1896; in Belgium, No. 123,475, datedSeptember11,1896; in Italy, No.1l2,539, dated September 11, 1890; in Austria, No. A/ihd?, dated `November 6, 1397, and in Spain, No. 19,661, dated September 19, 1896,) of which the following is a specification sufficient to enable those skilled in the art to make and use the saine.

' My invention relates tothat class of gunniountings in which the gun is supported movably and ceunterweighted so to disappear below the parapet formed within the pit automatically upon its recoil and resume its firing position by the aotionof the counterweight; and my invention ,consists in means whereby to permit the gun to be turned to any position in azimuth and in certain other improvements f uily set forth hereinafter and illustrated in the' accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a disappearing-gun carriage, gun, and adjunets embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a front view with the gun in an elevated position.

The carriage A has side frames 3 3, connected by cross-pieces to form a rigid structure,and is supported by aturn-table B,whieh is under the rear portion of the carriage, and in most instances l prefer to make use, in combination with these parts, of a second outer and concentric turn-table L. These turn-tables may be of any suitable construcltion. As shown, there are annular bed-rails e 5 secured to the Yfoundation and annular i upper rails j 7 connected with the carriage in two carriers E E, movable upon rails or guides 13 13 of the carriage A. The carriers E may be sliding carriers bearing directlyvon the rails 13, or they may be provided with Wheels or otherwise movable; but preferably the carriage A is provided with a series of friction-rollers 14, arranged so closely together-that the carriers E` may slide with little friction thereon.

From the, lower end of the frame D hangs a eounterweight G, or the frame is otherwise suitably counterweighted, so that except by the recoil of the gun or the application of power to positively draw it down toward a loading position the eounterwcighting means Will serve to carry the gun to and maintain it in its firing position.

The guides or supports 13 for the carriers E instead of being horizontal, as heretofore, are inclined downward toward the forward end of the carriage A. This secures an increased resistance to the backward movement of the gun upon recoil and'facilitates the forward movement to elevate the gun, thereby reducing the weight of the counterweight Gr required-to reduce recoil and secure the proper quick elevation of the gun to iiring position.

Vith the parts described is combined any suitable restraining device. I have shown a device in the form of hydraulic cylinders formed in the carriers E, with stationary pistons upon stationary piston-rods 1 7, supported by the carriage, these cylinders being provided with a supply of Water or other fluid and with circulating-pipes, as is common in this class of appliance, and therefore need not be fully illustrated.

To properly direct the movements of the breech of the gun, I make use of controllingrods, as heretofore, such rods havin g bearings4 at their upper ends'for trunnions 18 upon a strap 19, encircling the breeohof the gun, and thelowerend of each rod being pivoted at y to a slide 20, sliding between guides 21 upon the' side frames of the carriage A and movable by means of a rack 22 upon the slide engaging a pinion The pinion 23 is driven or turned through the medium of gears 241. 25, the latter upon a shaft having a hand-wheel 26, and a' suitable frictionbrake---as, for instance, a ring 27-which is surrounded by a strap I2S, the ends of which may be brought together roo with more or less force bymeans of any suitable device, as a screw-shaft 29, having reverse thi eads fittin g those in ears at the end of the strap. By this means, after raising the slide 20 to any desired position, it may be secured in place by tightening the frictionbrake or other detent. To secure the increased rigidity, the rods I I may be connected by an intervening brace 30.

To the carriage A,.at one side, is secured a ladder-frame J, supporting a platform 3l and hand-rail 32 in suitable position for the ofiicer who sights or controls the tiring of the piece, and adjacent tothis supporting-platform is a standard 33, arranged in fixed relation to the carriage and upon which the sighting instrument may be attached. At the rear yof the carriage 4is supported the frame K, used l for elevating the projectile, and with a suit able annular rack-as, forA instance, a rack 35 at the inside of theflauge of the l'ower rail of the turn-table L-engages a pinion' 36 on a shaft driven through intermediate gearing from' a pinion 37 on a shaft 38, supported by a bracket on the carriage and provided with crank-hand1es 39. By this means the carriage may be readily turned to any suitable position.

The foundation is provided with an annular weil or opening X to receive `the counterweight G and permit the gun-carriage to be turned to any suitable position.

Heretofore in apparatus of this character the axis of horizontal rotation has coincided with4 the axis of the counterweight at the for- Ward end of the mounting, with -the result that the rotation of the carriage Was limited in each direction from the contact of some part of the gun-mounting with the parapet after revolving the carriage to a limited extent. I overcome this objection in the construction above described by arranging thefturntable in such respect to the carriage and gun and appurtenances that the-axis of the turntable is about midway between the extreme ends of the apparatus when the gun is in loading position, so that it is then possibleito rotate the gun in azimuth in a pit or emplacement of the vsmallest possible diameter, exceeding only by a slight selected extent the total length of the apparatus and permitting the gun to be brought to any desired position in azimuth.

While a second turn-table L is not absoi .lutely essential, it secures a better support for the carriage and for those portions upon opposite sides of the counterweight G which hang between the two turn-tables, and to cover the counterweight well and secure a convenient platform for maneuvering light floor-plates 40 are extended from one turntable to the other.

A small platform'M is attached to the right cylinder of the carrier' E for standing upon when using a'sight attached to the trunnion lO of the gun4 C, Whereit is sometimes placed.

For hauling the gun from theriring to the loading position by hand a rope-tackle 41 is rove through pulleys 42 and 43 on the .levers D and side frames 3, the free end of the rope being carried down to any suitable windlass arrangement on the rear ends of the side frames.

i Having thusdescribed the precise construction and arrangementot parts shown, what I The combination ,with the carriage, gun, pivot'ed frame and counterweight of a disappearing gun, of aturn-table arranged beneath the rear portion of the carriage, a concentric outer turn-table, a counterweight between the two turn-tables, and a well for receiving the WILLAM CROZIER.

Witnesses:

CHAs. KENDALL, FRANK HEATH, Jr.

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