US698049A - Gun-carriage. - Google Patents

Description

No. 698,049. 'Patented Apr. 22, I902.

- H. P. OSBORN.

GU N CARRlAGE.

Applicntion filed May 21, 1898f- (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet l.

WITNESEEYS Q \NVENTUR wmww No. 698,049. Patented Apr. 22, I902.

H. P. USBORN.

GUN CARRIAGE.

' Application filed May 21. 1898.

(No Model.) I 4 Sheets-Sheet WITNESSES v INVENTDR Patented Apr. 22, I902;

H. P. WSBURN.

GUN CARRMGE.

Aiwplicn.

tion filed May 21, 1898';

4 Sheeis Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES INVENTDR Patented Apr. 22, I902. H-. P. QSBORN.

GUN CARRIAGE.

(Application filed May 21. 1898.3

4 SheeIs-Sheei 4.

(No Model.) I

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INVENTUR W6? UNITED "STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

IIEXRY r. osnons, or new YORK, N. Y.

Gun-CARRI GE.

SPECIFICATQON' forming part of Letters Patent No. 698,049, dated April 22, 1902.

Application filed May 21, 1898. Serial No. 681.398. (No model.)

To (1.7] 7I']II)7II i/ ////r IUIIII'I'ZL.

Beit known that I, HENRY PORTER OsBoax,

' acitizen of the United-States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Shield-Protected Automobile Gun-Carriages, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in shield-protected and motor-propelled guncarriages where a wide hollow wheel with a flange projecting laterally to the tread otthe wheel and toward its mate wheel is fitted with meanssuch as electric, steam, or any other form of motorfor propelling the carriage, and also serves as a shield auxiliary in protecting the gunners from the enemys fire, and also in protecting the propellingmeans or motors from said 'enemys fire; and the objects of my improvements are, first, to shield the men at the guns from the fire of the enemy; second, to provide a secure place for the means, machinery, or motors for propelling the carriage; third, to furnish a platform on whichthe gunners may ride and fire on the enemy while the carriage is in motion,

thus furnishing a movable target instead of 'eitheranimals, steam,electricity, orany other a stationary one; fourth, to envelop' the gunners and guns in a metallic inclosure, which shall give protection to gun, gunners, and propelling mechanism or motor from e'xploding shells and high explosives; fifth, to use convenient means of propulsion in the moving. of the guns and carriages from one place to another place. I attain these objects by the mechanisms illustrated in the accom panying drawings, in which- 7 Figure 1 is a plan view of a shield-protected, tread-projected, hollow-wheel gun-carriage. Fig. v2 is a section view of the same carriage shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3'is asectional view of a shield-protected gun-carriage which has a vention is protection to gun and gunners from the fire of the enemy. This is accomplished by the combineduse of a hollow wide, wheel having its tread or felly projecting toward its mate wheel and its distal side or end closed and a shield B placedv before these wheels with their mesially-projecti'ng broad treads.

The hollow wheel A and the shield D,- 1 constructfrom the best shot-proof steel known to the arts. The broad hollow wheel A has its outerend closed, and itsinnermesialend thatis, the end facing its mate wheel-is open, partly inclosing the gunner while firing. The two hollow wheels A are united by an axle F, which inmost cases is bent downward, passing underneath the standing-platform G. This standing-platform C lies between the two wheels A A, has wings extending within the flange-like extension of the fellyot the wheels A A, and protrudes in front and in back of the wheels A A.

The front extension of the standing-platform Chas attached the shield D and the back.

extension has attached a thirdor steer wheel 1- which is pivotally connected with the standing-platform O. In Fig. 3 this standingplatform C is continued up in front of the wheels A A, over their tops and back, and down over both thesides and back of the rear extension of the standingplatform, forming, as it were, a box around the gunners, the hollow wheels-forming a part of that box by means of their laterally-extended rims and distally-closed ends.

In Figs. 1, 2 no top and side shown except that given bythe hollow wheels, which are made broad and deep. by the lateral extension of this tread or tire portion,

protection is which extension also serves to hold the motive' machinery, such as electrical and any other form of motor, in a protecting inclosure. denoted by motor-space G,

For the purpose of traveling over the trol- Icy-roads of the country I can secure two car riages together, and by either removing the third wheel-from each carriage or by elevating it above rail-contact form a four-wheel truck, which can'be made to travel the rails by attaching flanges to the wheels, and its motive power can he gathered from the trol- IOO all

ley-wires after the manner of an ordinary trolleycar.

\Vhile I intend to use principally animals, electricity, steam, petroleum, with their requisite and proper motors for converting these various energies into motion, still any convenient method of propulsion can be used whose motor can be operated in the motorspace G and connected to drive the large wheels A A, the kind of power employed depending upon the election of those in authority. \Vhere animals are used, they walk behind the carriage and push it in front of them, advanei ng with the guns playing on the enemy, in which case the steer-wheel B is used to guide the carriage; but when the movementis a retreat the steer-wheel is not so much in use as a guide. Still it maybe used to aid the rapid turning of the carriage.

I prefer to arrange the shield l) at a deflective angle to more readily turn the enemys shot, and where the carriages are intended for use behind brcastworks I place the shield D above the center of the large wheels, as is shown in Fig. 3.

The width of the wheels and their distance apart is, a matter of mere selection to be determined by experience and judgment of military authorities.

Heretofore guns on carriages have been moved with their breech advancing. My gunca'rriage is intended to be moved with the muzzles of the guns advancing, so that they can fire while advancing.

E shows the gun; F the axle, which may be either straight or bent to pass below the standing-platform O or above the gunners head, as desired.

H denotes any form of steering apparatus desired, a lever being here shown; but any convenient apparatus can be employed.

Q shows electric motor, ga-solene, kerosene, or any convenient form of motor, such as compressed air or the like.

M shows poles for attaching horses, mules, or other animals for pushing when advancing or pulling when retreating. The animals walk behind the carriage, pushing it in front of them when the carriage isvadvancing and is then turned by the steer-wheel l3,which guides the horses, and dragging it after them when it is retreating, at which time the steer-wheel B is but little used, the muzzles ot' the guns in both cases being pointed toward the enemy. This feature is of great importance in case of a charge in which a steady tire is desired d uring the charge and during the retreat. This arrangement of the draft-animals places the carriage, with its shield, between the animals and the enemys tire, protecting them, as well as the gunners and guns.

ating mechanism can be used on 'guns when they are mounted on my form of carriage.

In placing my shields disposition is so made of the shield and of the thickness of metal as nearest of any at right angles to the project iles course. The V shape of the shield gives upward and downward detlectionto an onconiing projectile. I extend the shield above and below the \vhecls center sufficient to leave the exposed portions of the wheel a defiective inclined surface to the course of the oncoming shot of the enemy. \Vhere possible, I place the motor Q, with its machinery, behind the thicker portions of the shield D, which aids the hollow end-closed wheels A A in guarding it from harm.

\Vhere the large wheels A A are very deep, as in Fig. 4, I partition oh? the motor-space G for the purpose of giving greater protection to the motor Q and also to strengthen and stiffen the wheels A A. This inclosed space jserves to hold the storage batteries when the storage system of electrical 'supplyis used,-

from which batteries the electricity is conveyed to the motors for propelling purposes.

I am aware that prior to my invention shields have been used on gun-carriages. I therefore do not broadly claim the sole use of a shield on a gun-carriage; but

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination in a gun-carriage of a pair of hollow wheels which have their distal ends closed and their tires or treads mesially extended, with a riding-platform having lat-- eral extensions .withi'n the wheels and a posterier extension between the wheels for the attachment of a third wheel.

2. In a gun-carriage, the combination of a pair of hollow wheels, which have their distal ends closed and their-tires or treads mesially extended, a COIEIICChlIIg-EIXlG, and a platform with lateral extensions within the wheels and a posterior extension between the wheels for the attachment of a third wheel substantially as described.

3. In a gun-carriage, the combination of a pair of hollow w ieels which have their distal ends closed and their tires or treads mesially extended for motorand man protection, a connecting-axle, a pla form supported by said axle which platform has lateral extensions within the wheels a posterior extension for the attachment of a third or steer wheel and an anterior extension for the attachment of a shot-shield, and a shot-shield extending across Ice and infront of the space between the wheels and in front of the wheels for motor and man protection, substantially as described.

4. In a motor-actuated gun-carriage, the combination of a disk-like wheel having mesial extension of its tire or trend, and an electrical or other form of motor protectively arranged within the hollow of said wheel as a means-of motor protection, substantially asdescribed.

5. In a gun-carriage, the combination of a pair of hollow wheels having their distal ends closed and their tires or treads inesially extended for motor and man protection, an electrical or other motor protectively arranged within said wheel or wheels,substantially as described.

(5. In a gun-carriage, the combination of a pair of axially-connected hollow wheels having their distal ends closed and their tires or treads mesially extended for motor andman protection, an electrical or other motor protectively arranged within said wheel or wheels, and a connecting-axle, substantially as described.

7. In a gun-carriage, the combination of'a pair of axially-connected hollow wheels having their distalends closed and their tires or treads mesially extended for motor and man protection,-an electrical or other motor protectively arranged within said wheel or wheels, a connecting-axle, a standing or riding platform supported by said axle and havinglateral extensions within the hollow of the wheels a posterior extension between the wheels for the attachme'nt of a third wheel and an anterior extension between the wheels for the attachment of a shot-shield substantially as described.

8. In a gun-carriage, the combination of a pair of axially-connected hollow wheels having their distal ends closed and their tires or treads mesially extended for motor and man protection, an electrical or other motor protectively arranged within said wheel or wheels, a-connecting-axle, a standing or riding platform supported by said axle and having lateral extensions within the hollow of the wheels a posterior extension between the wheels, for the attachment of a third wheel and an anterior extension between the wheels for the attachment of an armor-shield, and an anteriorlyplaced armor-shield which bridges the space between the wheels and overlaps the mesially-projecting tread of the hollow wheels, substantially as described.

9. In a gun-carriage, the combination of a pair of axially-connected hollow wheels having their distal ends closed and their tires or treads mesially extended for motor and man protection, an electrical or other motor protectively arranged within said wheel or wheels, a connecting-axle, a standing or riding platform supported by said axle and havin g Iateralextensions within the hollow of the wheels a posterior extension between the wheels for the attachment of a third wheel terior]y-placedarmor-shield which bridges the space between the wheels and overlaps-the mesially-projectingtread of thehollow wheels,

and a third wheel pivotally connected with the standing-platform, substantially as described.

mesial extension of its tire or tread, an elec-.

trical or other form of motor protectivelyarranged within the hollow of said wheel as a means of motor protection, and an anteriorlyplaced shield as a further means of motor and man protection, substantialiy as described;

12. In a gun-carriage, the combination of an armor-shield which bridgesthe space lietween a pair of hollow tub-like wheels and overlaps the extended tread of the tub-like wheels, and a standing or riding platform which has an anterior extension for the attachment of the shield a posterior extension and lateral extensions which platform the hollows. of the tub-like wheels substantially as described.

13. In a gun-carriage, the combination of a pair of tub-like wheels, a connecting-axle, an

electrical or other motor placed protectively within the wheels and in operative relation therewith, a standing-platform within the wheels and bridgin g the space between them, a shield placed anterior to the wheels and to the space between them, and a third wheel, substantially as described.-

l-l. In a gun-carriage, the combination of a pair of axially-connected hollow wheels which have their distal ends closed their tires or treads mesially extended and a partition within the extended tread which with the closed end and extended tread forms a motorprotection space, and an electrical or other motor operatively connected with said wheel within said space, substantially asdescribed.

15. In a gun-carriage, the combination of a pair of hollow wheels which have their distal ends closed and their tires or treads mesially extended for motor and man protection, a connecting-axle,a platform below the center of the wheels which is supported by the axle and has extensions within the hollow of the wheels an extension forward between the wheels supporting an anteriorly-placed shield and a posteriorextension, poles-or shafts for animal attachment, substantially as described.

16. In a gun-carriage, the combination of a pair of hollow wheels with distallyclosed ends and mesia'lly-extended treads, an axle, an electrical motor and a storage battery arranged so as to be protected by theextended' tread and closed endof the wheel, a platform supported by the axle and placed below the center of the wheels which has an anterior extension which supports a shield a posterior extension which connects with a third Wheel and lateral extensions behind the extended treads of the wheels, and a grin above said platform, substantially as described.

17. In a gun-carriage, the combination of a pair of hollow wheels with distally-closed ends and mesially-extended treads, and a third. orsteer wheel in pivotal connection with a standing-platform which. projects into the hollow of the wheels, substantially as described.

18. In a motor-actuated gun-carriage, the combination of a disk like wheel having mesial extension of its tire or tread, an electrical or other form of motor protectively ar ranged within the hollow of said wheel as a means of motor protection, a wheel-spacebridging and wheel-tread-coverin g shield as a means of motor and man protection, and a riding-platform which is carried by the disk like tread-extended wheel, substantially as described.

19. In a motor-actuated gun-carriage, the combination of a disklike wheel having mesial extension of-its tire or tread, an electrical or other form of motor protectively arranged within. the hollow of said wheel as a means of motor protection, a wheel-spacebridging and wheel-tread-covering shield as a means of motor and man protection, a ridingplatform which is carried by the disk-like tread-extended wheel, and a pivotally-connected steering-wheel, substantially as described.

20. In a motor-actuated gun-carriage, the combination of a disk-like wheel, having mesial extension of its tire or tread, an elec-' trical or other form of motor protectively ar ranged Within the hollow of said wheel as a means of motor protection, a wheel-spacebridging and wheel-tread-covering shield as a means of motor and man protection, a rid ing-platform which is carried by the disklike tread-extended wheel, a pivotally-connected steering-wheel, and an armored roof or canopy bridging the space between a pair of disk-like tread-extended wheels, substantially as described.

HENRY P. OSBORN.

Witnesses:

LILLIAN. A. BARrHoLoMEw, M. J. LINZELL.

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