US615814A - dawson - Google Patents

Description

No. 6|5,8|4. Patented Dec. I3, i898.

' A. T. DAWSUN G. T. BUCKHAM.

ELECTRIC FIRlNG DEVICE FOR ORDNANCE.

(Applicatio'n med may 1e, 189s.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

y Patented Dec. I3, i898. A. T. DAWSON & G. T. BUCKHAM.

ELECTRIC FIRING DEVISE FDR URDNANGE.

CND Model.)

(Application med may 16, i898.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Illl

Wir/Leases vPacen'ued Dec. I3, |898. A. T. DAWSON G. T. BUCKHAM.

ELECTRIC FIHING DEVICE FOR URDNANCE.

(Application led May 16, 1898,)

`(No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

mi, e5 7;; ven Cors Resi the load UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. l

ARTHUR TREVOR DAWSON AND GEORGE THOMAS BUCKHAM, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS TO THE VICKERS, SONS du MAXIM, LIMITED, OF

SHEEFIELD, ENGLAND,

. ELECTRIC FIRING DEVICE FORORDNANCE SPECIFICATION forming part of Lettere Patent No. 615,814, dated December 13, 189s.

' Application filed May 16. 189s. serieiNo. 630,832." oro modelo.

` Electric Firing Apparatus for Ordnance, (for which we have applied fora patent in Great Britain, dated October 20, 1897, No. 24,26%)

of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to electric iring apparatus for ordnance, so arranged that firing is automatically prevented unless the gun is in`liring position and that electrical Contact for ring cannot take place accidentally. In order to prevent firing when the gun is not in firing position, we introduce -in the electric circuit a switch which is kept by a spring from completing the circuit when the gun -is in a rear position, but which when the gun is run out to firing position is moved to a position so as to make contacts, closing the circuit in condition to pass the firing-current. This current is transmitted from the source of electricity by the action ofa firing-switch which is in the form of a pistol which can be held in the hand. In the case of the pistol there is a vloaded lever attached to the trigger and having 011 its unloaded arm an insulated piece of conducting metal .which .is pressed by al spring-plunger cooperating with on the other arm from acontact-stu'd.- One of the conductingwires being connected to the spring-plunger and the other to the contact-stud, on pulling the trigger in opposition to the weight and spring the piece of metal is brought to bear on the stud, thus forminga conducting-bridge connectingthe plunger and stud, and thus closing the electric circuit. y

In order that the construction and action of the apparatus may be more clearly understood, we VshallA describe it in detail, referring Y to the accompanying drawing Figure l is a vertical section, and Fig. 2 is a horizontal section, of the firing-pistol. Fig. 3 is a vertical section, and-Fig. 4 is a horizontal section, of the switch, which is shown in its twodierent positions in Figs. 5 and 6.

of the lever awayl A is the hollow pistol-case, in which is pivoted a lever having a-heavy rear arm B, a trigger-arm B', and a third arm B2, on the under side of which is fixed, insulated, a plate of metal. One of the conductingewires Wis attached to a springurged plunger C, on which rests the lever-arm B2. The other wire v W' is attached to a piece of metal C'.

C2 is ablock of insulating material in which the metallic piece C' is held and in which the spring-plunger C is fitted to slide.

A bracket D', fixed on the cradle D, in which the gun slides, is made with side re cesses, into which is slid the lcasing E of the switch, which is held in position by a springbolt E'. Within the casing is fitted t-o ,revolve a plug F, having two opposite segments made of insulating material and a hole through it also lined with insulating materiali Through this hole and the segments passes a rod, of metal, G, secured by nuts on its'ends. The plug F has an arm F', which terminates in a projecting pin F2, and on the axis of the plug is a torsional spring F3, which urges the plug against a stopto the position shown in Fig. 6. The two conducting-wires W' and W2 are connected to spring-plungers, whichy bearagainst the plug F on opposite sides of it. R is the breech-ring of the gun, between which and the cradle D the pin F2 projects.

When the gun has recoiled, the breech-ring 8o R being at' some distance behind the cradle D, as shown in Fig. 6,' the pin F2 being free, the switch-plugF is urged by its spring to take the position in which the ends of the rod G are not in contact with the spring-plungers; but when the gun is run out to ring' position, bringing its ring R nearly up to the cradle, as shown in Fig. 5, then the pin F2 and arm F' are moved so as to turn the plug F 4into the position When the ends of the rod 9e G are in contact with the spring-plungers, so that there is a conducting connection of the Wire W" to the wire W2. When the parts are in this condition and the wire Wisin connection with a source of electricity, while the l wire W2 is in connection with the firing-fuse, the gun can be red by pulling the trigger B',

thus bringing the plate on the arrnrB2 down y shown in Fig. v6, opening. thev circuit,.so that the gun cannot be fired electrically until the gun is again run up to firing position. When the trigger B' is let go, the heavy armfB and the spring-plunger C-cause -the plate on the arm B2 to leave thepiece C', thusopening the f circuit until the trigger is. pulled again.

Having thus-described .the nature of this invention and the best means we know for carrying the same into practical eect, We claim- Electrical firing' apparatus for ordnance consisting of-a wire connecting a source of electricity to a sprng+plunger, a trigger-levver having an ann adapted-to form a conducting-bridge to a pieceof metal, a wire .as described. d

connecting this piece of metal to a switch on the gun-cradle this switch being provided with a springvand lever arm havinga pin in the path of the breech-ring of the gun, and a wire connecting the` switch to the firingfuse, arranged and operatingsubstantially In testimony whereof We; have hereunto set our hands in presence oftwo subscribing wit# 'nesses A ARTHUR TREVOR DAWSON.

GEORGE THOMAS BUCKHAM.

Witnesses to the signature of Arth rxr-Trevor Dawson: N

GEO. W. REA, F. B. KEEFER.

Witnesses to -the signature of .George Thomas Buckham:

FRED C. HARRIS, JNO. P. M. MILLARD.-

Images