GB237869A - A gun carriage for ordnance mounted on sets of wheels or endless tracks for firing - Google Patents

Abstract

237,869. Schneider et Cie. July 31 1924, [Convention date]. Field carriages; mounting and dismounting; recoil apparatus.-Relates to gun carriages of the kind described in Specification 126,588 in which a frame B, carried by wheels or endless tracks A, supports a pedestal C forming a vertical pivot for the front part of the upper-carriage, the rear part of which is connected by a ball joint to an anchoring plate D. According to the present invention, the upper carriage comprises spaced triangular frames E, F, G tied together at the front by a shaft H pivoting on the pedestal C and at the rear by a shaft I which carries one member of the ball joint on the plate D. Further, the shaft I forms a trunnion for the rear end of the gun cradle J; the front end of which moves during elevation between the frame members E, training being effected by traversing the wheels or tracks A about the ball joint on the anchoring plate. For elevation purposes, the front end of the cradle is adapted to rest upon and slide over a frame X, Fig. 6, fitted with a shaft L<3> rotated by a hand-gear M<2> and operating spiral pinions L engaging teeth e on the frame members E. Training is effected by a hand-gear Q, R, S, T which serves to rotate a chain-gear U driving a sprocket on the endless tracks. The elevating and training gear may be driven through clutches from a single motor mounted on the pedestal C. To counterbalance the weight of the gun during elevation, each side of the cradle is connected by a cable P, Fig. 6, passing over a system of pulley blocks to the piston of a hydropneumatic cylinder N mounted on the outside of each frame member E. When travelling, the gun is placed in its lowest position and the frame members G, E are disconnected and folded to the position shown in Fig. 11, the anchoring plate being raised on to a limber.