US653028A

US653028A - Disappearing-gun carriage.

Info

Publication number: US653028A
Application number: US64246897A
Authority: US
Inventors: Samuel M Mansfield; Frank S Mason
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1897-06-26
Filing date: 1897-06-26
Publication date: 1900-07-03
Anticipated expiration: 1917-07-03

Description

DSPEAUQG GUN HIAGE.. (Application med zum 2s, 15:57.)

(No Model.)

f wauw,

rre Screens listar SAMUEL M MANSFIELD, OF THE` UNITED STATES ARMY, AND FRANK S.- Y MASON, OF MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS.

DiSAPPErliNG=-GUN CARRUGE.

SPECIFCATION forming part of vZiieti'fers Patent No. 653,028, dated July 3, 1900.

' @puestas nea :um 26,1897. strains. 642,468. ott maar) vSON, of Malden, in the county of Middlesex and State oflviassachusetts, have invented certain'new and useful Improvements in Dis-A showing a gun' mounted appearing-Gun Carriages,of which the following is a specification.

' This invention has for its object 'to provide a disappearing-gun carriagel of simple construction which shall be strong and durable V and insure the movement of the gun from its iii-ing ro its 'loading position, and vice versa, with an easy movement and Without developing a rotative tendency in the gun' on its arrival at either position.

The invention consists in the improvements which we will now proceed to describe and claim.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, `Ei'ure l represents side elevation of our improved carriage, thereon, the parapet behind whichA the carriage-is located being shown in section. Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of one of the supplemental chassisplates hereinafter referred to. Fig. 2 represents a section on line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig, 3 represents a section on line 3 3 of Fig. l. Fig. 4 represents a top plan View. Fig. 5 represents a front end elevation, the parapet being removed. Figs. 6, 7, and S represent views similar to Fig. l, showing diierent adjustments of the gun.

The saine letters ot reference indicate the sameparts in all the figures In the drawings, a represonis a horizontal turn-table mounted to rotate ou-a iixed base track c, between which b, having a circular arc interposed suitable and the turn-table antifriction-rolls d. I

e e represent two parallel webs or plates afiixed to the turn-table and extending rearwardly therefrom and constituting the main chassis of the carriageaid plates being bolted ci' otherwise secured to the turn-table. The upper edges of the chassis plates or webs are frmed as track-rails, supporting Wheels ou,

the gun truck or cradle p. The rear end of the chassis may be provided with wheels if, arranged to run on a iixed segmental track g,

which is concentric with the axis of the turn= table, or, if desired, the turn-'fable may beef suicientdiameter to support the chassis, in which case the track g will not be required. ,y

h h represent tw'o parallel platesv or Websl constituting what may be termed a supple-` mental chassis. Said plates their outer suitable means, such as two segmental plates or hinge members i t', one aixed to the main chassis and the other to the supplemental chassis. The plate or member 1l' is adapted to slide on the plate or member to permit a vertical swinging movementoi' the supple mental chassis. The upper plates o the supplemental chassis are formed as track-rails adapted to support wheels on the gun truck cr cradle pz Mechanism is provided for adjusting the supplemental` chassis, the mechanism here shown comprising rack-segments j, termed on' the plaies of the supplemental ohasiis, a piuion la., meshing with said segments arid affixed to a shaft k', which is journaled inthe main chassis, and an operating-shaft m, also journaled in the main chassis and havingahandwheel m' and a pinionln, the latter meshing with aV gear o, atxed to the shaft 7c'. We may, however, emplo?,7 any other suitable means for .adjusting the supplemental chassis.

are hinged at*` end to the main chassis e e by any ,65 edges of the'side V p represents the truck'or'cradlem'hich supports the gun. Said cradle,` which maybe of any suitable construction, has two pairs of wheels-q q and q q'. The forward Wheels q q are arranged to run on the rails of the main chassis, which may betermed a broad-gage trac-lr, While the rear together than ranged to run on the rails of the supplemental chassis, which may be termed a narrow gage track.

wheels q q' are nearer Vthe forward wheels and are an: i

The gun is fixed rigidly to the truck, so that v there is `no independent swinging movement of the gun therein, the angle of lire of the gun being determined by the relative positions of the adjustable and non-adjustable tracks, asshown in naval guns, which are yout trunnions, mi

carriage.

The predios of the -two tracks are formed Figs. 6, 7, and p8. Thur generally made with,-

y be used with our,- improved v2 ceases 'rive the center ot' gravity of the gun a path ea. movement substantially such as is indicated by the dottedline z z, Fig. 1, said path being such that the center of gravity of the gun moves during recoil first along a curve which approximates the parabolic curve which vwould result from the recoil and the force of gravitation acting ccnjoinily, then along a reverse curve which changes the direction of movement of the said center of gravity, so that the movement is approximately horizontal, (although preferably at a slight downward inclination at the end of the recoil.) rihe said path may include a straight downward incline between the tivo curves, as shown, or'one curve may run tangentially into the `other Withontan intermediate ineline. The result is an easy movement of the center of gravity of the gun from one position of rest to another, the latter part of each rnevementwnamely, to its loading position and toits firing position-being alonga practicallynstraight line, both the muzzle and the breech moving in a straight path at the end of the recoil, so that when the motion is checked there is no teudencyif the gun to swing in a vertical plane, the gun moving as a mass in one direction. in all of the disappeering-gun carriages uoW in use, comprising swinging levers, linhsyyftc., the gun acquires a tendency to rotate c'- swing in a vertical. plane in approaching its firing as Well as its loading position. With heavy guns the stresses due to therotary or swinging motion of the mass are very great and often destructive, being didlcult to restrain or check sudA denly and a frequent cause of breakage. ln our improved carriage, however, this objection does not exist, the gun 'having uo tendency to swing in a vertical plane.

tracks, as here shown, have curves :c of approximately-parabolic form at their forward portions, the curves of 'the main chassis being preferably formed so that the forward end of the track will have a slight downward inclination to the stops c of, which limit the forward movement of the gun, this inclination causing the forward wheels of the truck to bear postivelyagainst the said stops. The curves fr e join iuclines extending downwardly at an angle of about thirty degrees, and from thence the said profiles extend through reversed approximately-parabolic curves mimi to downward inclines :ci co4 at an A angle of about five degrees, these rear inclines forming the rear portions of the tracks. lt is obvious, however, that the curves moz. and c2 ci may join each other tangentially without the intervening incline cv' The profiles of the two tracks differ slightly from each other, the difference being such as to cause the muzzle ofthe gun whenthe firingangle is asindicated in either'liig's. 1, 6, orS to move during recoil along a practicallyf straight line until it clears the parapct and' then through a reversed curve to the loading position, the path of the muzzle being indicated by the line y y in Fig. 1.

s represents a counterbalau'ce, which is con Yiiected with the truck or cradle by wire ropes The counterbalance s hangs which is determined by the stops o',here shown 8o as arranged to blocklthe front wheels of thel truck.

The pulleys u u are separated sufciently to permit the barrel-of the gun to drop between them when it approaches its loading position. It will be seen that by connecting the couuterhalanceA with the truck by two ropes or cords and guiding said cords by two pulleys separatedA sufficiently to receive the gu n-barre1 between them we insure an effective angle of draft of the cords through but a greater portion of the forward movement of the gun than would be possible if a single cord and pulley were employed,'in which case it would be necessary to locate the top of the pulley below the barrel of the guu. The angle of draft may be varied'at will by the use of pulleys of different diameters or'by adjusting the height of the axis or center of the puh leys,

Any usual or suitable means may be used t0 check and stop the recoil movement of the gun. We have here shown as the checking means a cylinder w, attached to the rear end of the main chassis, and a piston or plunger w', `projecting therefrom in position to receive the impact of the truck, the cylinder having suitable provisions for retarding the backward movement of the plunger, such as' a body of air or liquid permitted to escape slowly from behind the plunger. lVe do not limit ourselves, however, to the means last described and may use any other suitable means, such as rubber or steel-spring "ouders or any of the contrivances heretofore used for this purpose. l

102 represents a catch, here shown as a hook pivoted to the truck to engage a dctent on the chassis, for the purpose of holding thegun in its'loadiug position. In this case the datent is a projection w3 on the piston of the recoilcheck. A

It will he seen that the tracks are extended rearwardly beyond the point of engagement of the catch Witnthe detent, so that'provlsiou is made for permitting the gun to overrun or move baekwardly from its loading position under the influence of heavy charges, the counterbalance returning it to its loading pel sition. Without this provision when relf.

'tively-light charges are used the gun `would come to rest above the .icading position and IIO esepss he partlyfexposed to the fire of the enemy, from whence it would have to be laboriously `ivitljirawi by bami-power, thus delaying the 'piem ent-al chassis maybe outside theplates or webs e e of the main chassis, in which case the hroari-gage track would loe the adjustable one.

In case it is not desirable te provide e Well under'the turn-ia`ole, any usual or suitable hydraulic, electric, or other elevating apparatus may be substituted for the counierhalu ance for elevating the gun to the firing position.

A Winch or block and tackle may be provided for pulling the gun down by hand from the firing to the loading position when drilling a guncrew. life clsiinl. A ginngcarriage of the character specified,

v con] prisi n g two tracks of different gage, ni cans for varying the relative positions of said tracks, and a gun truck or cradle engaged with boil; tracks.

Aguncarriage of the characterspecilieil, comprising two tracks of dierent gage, m cans for vertically ailjnsting one of said tracks, and a gun truc i or cradle engaged with both tracks.

A guircarriag'e of the characterspecified, comprising a mail; chassis constituting a track, an adjust-able supplemental chassis ccnsiitnting anothertrack, meansior adg'nsb ingiliesupplcmental chassis, and a gun truck or cradle engaged with both trachs.

Ll. A fun-carriage of the character speciiie, comprising a main chassis .constituting a track, a supplemental chassis constituting another track, a hinge or pivotal connection between the main and the supplemental chassis, means for swinging the supplemental chassis in a vertical plane, and a gni: truck or oreille engaged with both iracks.

5. A gun-carriage of the character specified, coinprisinga :nain chassis having thc profiles oi' its side pieces formed to present alternatini; salient and rcntrant curves, constituting a track, a supplemental chassis having the l-proiil'esof its side pieces formed to present a ternating salient and rentrant cori-*es anffif constituting another track, am?. a ,or cradle engaged with both tracks, ,v v

6. A gun-carriage of the clianioterspeciii-eintrani; curves, and a gun truck er carriage es gaged with said tracks.

'7. A gun-carriage of the character specified, comprising tracks having elevatecl curves, depressed rentrant curves, and inclines extending from the reentrant curve-s, and a gon-truck or cradle engaged with. said. irse-ks.

8. A gun-carriage of the characierspeei tied, comprising tracks having elevated salient curves, depressei'l rentrant curves, anfl inclnes extending from the rentrant curves, a gun truck or cradle engaged with. said tracks, and a recoil-check arranged to permit the gun to overrun its loading position d nring recoil.

movaloiy affixed to said truck, trac-lr4 rails er members engaged with said truck, two ich leysarrangcd to permit the depressies of the gnnbarrel to a point between the pulleys, and `a counterbalanco connected4 with the truck by cords passing over seid pulleys.'

-bination of a gun truck or cradle having two' sets of wheels, a gnu immovably aiiixc to said truck, and tWotrac-ks of cliiicrent gage engaged Witlrsar wheels, one-er lyotli of sai-i tracks 'being adjustable to determine the en.; gie oi' 'fire of the gun. l i

1l. The combinaties of a gun, a or cradle in which the gun fixeil, sario. truck having two pairs of Wheels adapted te tracks of different-gage, a broadgage track engaged with one pair of wheels, a narrowgage track enfaged with the other pair of Wheels, and means for adj nsting one of said tracks to vary the inclination oi the truck and gun.

ln testimony whereof we have' signed our names ie this specification, in the presence oi two subscribing;` witnesses, this 22d day oi June, A. D. 1897.

SAMUEL M. lvliSl'l'l'LD. FRANK :5. li'iASGN'. Witnesses:

C. li. BROWN, ld. HAT-enuncia comprising tracksl having salient and :reen-" 10. ,in a disappcaringgun carriage, the cene-- Y sur f fi

9.v In a cliseppearinggnn carriage, ille combinaticn of a gun truck or cradle, a gun im gif)