GB237880A - Improvements in ordnance, such as trench mortars - Google Patents

Abstract

237,880. Compagnie des Forges et AciÚries de la Marine et d'HomÚ- court. July 30, 1924, [Convention date]. Ordnance design; chambers; muzzle - loading. - Relates to guns having the explosion chamber and bore separated by a partition 2 pierced with an aperture adapted to be temporarily closed by a rear projection 4 on the projectile. According to the invention, the gas-pressure is regulated by allowing a part of the gases to escape through a passage 5 leading from the bore of the aperture in the partition so that the escape of the gases does not commence until the projectile has moved slightly forwards. The passage 5 is controlled by a cock 8 which may be a rotary plug, as shown, or may comprise two apertured discs. The cock may be controlled directly by hand or it may be connected to the elevating gear so that the pressure of gases may be automatically varied at different angles of elevation; for instance, the cock may be closed when the elevation is 45‹ and opened progressively as the elevation is increased or decreased. As shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the cock 8 is rotated by bevel gearing the end pinion 13 of which is keyed to slide on a rod 14 mounted on a non-recoiling arm 15 pivoted to the carriage 20. The rod 14 is rotated by a pinion 23, Fig. 4, engaging lateral teeth on the range sector 16. The arm 15 carries an operating crank 17 which actuates a worm engaging the outer toothed portion of the sector 16. The sector 16 is independently adjustable, relatively to the carriage 20, about a transverse axis by means of a knob 21 which actuates a worm gearing with teeth on the inner lower part of the sector. The gun may be muzzle-loading, the projectile carrying the propelling charge as shown in Fig. 7. In this case, the base of the projectile, carrying the charge 31, has a tubular extension projecting into the aperture in the partition. A projecting firing rod 36 is adapted to strike against a fixed firing pin 35. The breech of the gun is closed by a plug which can be removed for cleaning purposes. The projectile may have studs engaging rifling grooves in the barrel, or may have stabilizing wings for use with a smooth-bore barrel.