US749215A - Means for controlling the recoil of guns - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED JAN. 12, 1904.

s. N. MUCLBAN. MEANS FOR coNTNoL'LING THE REGOIL 0F GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21. 1901.

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UNITED STATES atented .Tauary 12, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE RECOIL OF GUNS.

SPECIIEICATION forming part'of Letters Patent No. 749,215, dated January 12, 1904. Applicationiled February 21, 1901. Serial No. 48,352. (No model.)

To all whom, it muy concern,.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL N. MCCLEAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahogaand State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Controlling the Recoil Vof Guns, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to means for utilizing the force of the discharge to control the recoil of guns or cannon, Vincluding field-guns, Inachine-guns, quick'- ring ordnance, and the primary and secondary batteries of forts and ships.

Most specifically stated, my invention relates to devices by which the gases of discharge are caused to supply an elastic medium by which the recoil ofthe gun is so counteracted or balanced and controlled that the shock of recoil will be takenv up andthe least possible rearward movement of the gun be permitted, any such movement being checked and the gun restored to its original position without undue strain upon the gun-mount.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a View, partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal section, showing' a fieldpgun embodying my invention; and Figs. 2 and 3 are similar views showing modifications.

In the drawings, 1 is the gun and is shown as an ordinary form of built-up'eld-cannon. It is mounted on an ordinary form of Eeldcarriage, having a tailpiece or trail 2 and the usual type of wheel-mount. rlhe gun is provided at its forward part with a gas-chamber 3, secured to itsmuzzle, preferably by screwthreads, as shown. This chamber is provided with a central forward opening 4 in line with the bore of the barrel to permit the passage of the projectile.

At a point preferably about midway of its length a band 5 is secured to the gun, carrying a downwardly-projecting arm 6, to which a hollow piston-rod 7 is secured. At the rearward end of the piston-rod within the recoilcylinder 8 is the piston 9. The recoil-cylinder 8 is closed at its rear'end and is provided with a downward extension 10, carried by the 1 is carried by the recoil-cylinder and is free' to move thereon.

Through the hollow piston-rod 7 extends a horizontal tube 14, connected by means of a coupling 15 with a tube 16, leading from the gas-chamber 3. The rear end of the tube 14 opens into the recoil-cylinder in rear of the piston 9.

In this construction when the gun is fired the gasesof discharge will act upon the front end of the gas-chamber to overcome to a large extent the force of the recoil. A portion of the gases of discharge will pass into the recoil-cylinder in rear of the piston 9 and exert a forward pressure on the piston and through the piston rod and band 5 will yieldingly check the rearward movement of the gun. The gun will thus be practically locked against movement, theaction of the gases being prolonged by reason of the fact that before they can escape they must travel forward through the tube into the gas-chamber, where whatever force they may still retain will act in a forward direction on the gas-chamber.

If desired, the tube 14 may be provided with a check-valve to prevent the return of the gas from the recoil-cylinder 8, in which case the recoil-cylinder should be provided with a relief-valve.

In Fig. 2 I have shown amodiiication in which the hollow piston-rod 7 is dispensed with, the piston being carried by the tube 14, the tube being secured in the extension 6 of the band 5.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a further modification. In the construction shown in this ligure the gas-chamber 3 is arranged to have a limited longitudinal movement on the end ofthe gun, the front end of the gun having a cylindrical or non-tapering portion 17 to carry the chamber and permit its movement and being provided vwith a retaining-flange 18, which is screwed or otherwise retained on the end of the gun. The gas-chamber 8 in this form of my device is also provided at its rear end with a'downward extension 19, through which the tube 14 passes and in which it is IOO preferably secured by screw -threading or otherwise. The tube 14 is prolonged to the rear of the piston 9 and carries at its end a solid piston 20. At points between the piston 20 and the piston 9 the tube 14 is provided with openings 2l for the escape of the gases of discharge. In this form of my device on the gun being fired the gases of discharge will first act to drive the gas-chamber forward, giving to it and to the piston 20,through the tube 14,a certain momentum. A portion of the gases will instantly be discharged through the openings 21 in the tube 14 into the recoilchamber 8 between the piston 20 and the piston 9, counteracting the forward movement of the gas-chamber 3, and at the same time, by acting against the piston 7, counteracting the rearward recoil of the gun. The forward momentum thus imparted to the gas-chamber and the piston 2O will be yieldingly opposed to the rearward movement of the mass of the gun. The gas-chamber is necessarily of much less mass than the gun itself, but by reason of this less mass will be more quickly started and will be given forward movement to a substantial extent before the gun, which is of greater mass, and therefore less quickly moved, begins its rearward movement. Before the gun moves rearwardly an appreciable distance the gases of discharge will enter the chamber 8 between the pistons 2O and 7 and will form ayielding cushion by which the recoil will be counteracted and a balance between the movement of the gaschamber and the gun will be secured, with the result that the gun will not move rearwardly any appreciable distance.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination with the carriage, barrel movable on the carriage, the recoil-cylinder and piston of a gun, the cylinder or piston attached to the carriage, of a channel connecting the bore of the gun and said cylinder to permit the flow of gases from the gun into said cylinder to reduce recoil and return the gun to battery on the carriage.

2. The combination of a gun-mount, a gun movable thereon, a device secured to the mount, a device secured to the gun, means inclosing the space between the two devices and means for introducing a portion of the gases of discharge into said space between the two devices.

3. The combination of a gun-mount, a gun movable thereon, a gas-chamber movable on the gun, a recoil-cylinder secured to the mount, a piston secured to the gun and movable with in the cylinder, a second piston secured to the gas-chamber and movable within the cylinder, and means for introducing a portion of the gases of discharge into the cylinder between the two pistons.

4. The combination of a gun-mount, a gun movable thereon, a recoil-cylinder secured to the mount, a piston secured to the gun and movable within the cylinder, a second piston movable within the cylinder, means of less mass than the gun actuated by the gases of discharge for eifecting a movement of said second piston in advance of the rearward movement of the gun, and means for introducing a portion of the gases of discharge into the cylinder between the two pistons.

In testimony whereof I afiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL N. MCCLEAN.

Witnesses:

FRANK D. BLAoKIsToNE, Gmo. C. EVANS.

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