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Теги: weapons military affairs patent mortar
Год: 1925
Текст
jan-
Jan. 27, 1925. 1,524,273 H. NEWTON TRENCH MORTAR AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 17, 1917 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Henry Menton BY лЛ ATTORNEY
Jan. 27, 1925. 1,524,273 H. NEWTON TRENCH MORTAR AND THE LIKE
Patented Jan. 27, 1925. 1,524,273 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. HENBY NEWTON, OE DEBBY, ENGLAND. TRENCH MOBTAB AND THE LIKE. Application filed November 17, 1917. Serial No. 202,475.. (GRANTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE ACT OF MARCH S, 1921, 41 STAT. L„ ISIS.) To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, Henry Newton, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, and residing at Market Place, s Derby, in the county of Derby, England, have invented certain new and useful Im- provements in Trench Mortars and the like, of which the following is a specification. This invention relates to trench mortars 10 and the like. In the conditions of trench warfare weapons of this class have ordinarily had to be carried by men to their positions of use, these being inaccessible to vehicular trans- 15 port. The limitations of weight thus pre- scribed make it necessary to construct the weapon as low pressure gun. Further, in service conditions a mortar of large bore and relatively long range not only has greater 20 offensive power but is itself much less vul- nerables than a short range weapon for which the possible locations are narrowly re- stricted. Hitherto, however, large bore low pressure weapons have not given the ranges 26 desirable by reason of the fact that the com- paratively low pressures and temperatures to which such weapons are restricted have made satisfactory ignition and combustion of the propelling charge impossible of at- 80 tainment. It is important that the mortar should be simple and cheap to construct so that adequate supplies may be available; and it must be simple to use so that the personnel that may be called upon to use it 96 do not need long training. The object of the invention is a large bore trench mortal- of long and variable range in which complete combustion of the charge is attained by the creation of a proper 40 temperature and pressure environment. More specifically the invention consists in a trench mortar or like low pressure gun in which the propellant charge is burnt in a combustion chamber from which the gases 45 are emitted through ports or apertures which may or may not be adjustable for the purpose of varying the area of escape for the gases. A further object of the invention is a large so bore trench mortar that can readily be trans- ported in a few large parts, and assembled without the aid of any loose small parts li- able to be lost. The invention includes a new means of supporting the barrel of a mortar, consisting of tensional members 66 drawing the rounded end of the mortar down upon a rounded seat. Yet another object of the invention is a trench mortar which has the characteristics of a weapon of precision, inasmuch as means 60 are provided for varying the elevation and deflection of the barrel by minute steps be- tween wide limits and to a measured extent, so that a particular setting of the mortar by which an objective has once been reached 66 can be re-established with certainty when required. In this aspect an embodiment of the invention includes the combination of adjustable tensional members connecting the barrel of the mortar to the bed upon which 70 its end is supported, with a clinometer upon the barrel of the mortar adapted to indicate both elevation and deflection. The invention further comprises other de- tails and arrangements hereinafter more 76 particularly referred to. The accompanying drawings illustrate several modes of carrying out the inven- tion :— Figure 1 is a plan of one form of mortar 80 in accordance with the invention. Figure 2 is a side sectional elevation. Figure 3 is a front elevation, partly in section; Figures 4 and 5 are fragmentary views se illustrating modifications. Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the cli- nometer. In this view the gun barrel is dia- gramatically shown. Fig. 7 is a detail side view of the clinometer 90 showing the same attached to the gun bar- rel. Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a modified form of combustion chamber showing a pis- ton for regulating the chamber outlets. 95 Fig. 9 is similar view of another modifica- tion of the combustion chamber in which a cone is provided within the combustion chamber for preventing clogging of the chamber ports by the propellant. 100 Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view of a pro- jectile carrying means for igniting the pro- pellant Fig. 11 is a side view of a portion of a modified form of projectile. 106 Fig. 12 is a detail view partly in section
1,634,273 5 10 15 20 26 30 36 40 45 60 55 00 05 а of a shell1 carrying a combustion chamber to be used in lieu of the gun combustion cham- ber. Fig. 13 is a detail sectional view of <a modified form of gun and projectile and showing the projectile carrying the propel- lant charge and the gun provided with a striker for engaging the ignition cap of the projectjle. In carrying my invention into effect in one convenient manner as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, I form the mortar from a plain tube a, preferably with a hemispherical end Ъ, whereby the forces may be more evenly dis- tributed as compared with those cases where knuckle joints and pins are employed, so that by this means even aluminium bases such as c, or very light steel bases, may be readily employed, this resulting in a con- siderable saving of weight. Guy or stretch- ing screws d with links or hooked ends e are used to secure adjustment as to elevation and direction, while a clinometer a', shown in Figures 6 and 7 having a universal spirit level bubble or the like which is adjustable in two planes at right angles provides a ready means for varying the range or direc- tion with certainty, and I may also provide a stud or pin f the axis of which contains or is in alignment with the centre of the hemi- spherical end portion and which is adapted to move in a guide g on the mortar bed h in order to ensure uniform movement of the mortar, a suitable lock or projection g' being provided upon the guide g for the purpose of limiting the relative movement between the pin and the guide. The combustion chamber i for the propel- lant charge к may be arranged within the bore of the mortar, as shown, or outside the same, and such combustion chamber may be provided with a series of ports or outlets I which may be adjustable or not as to size by means of a piston i' as shown in Fig. 8 or other suitable member or members for the purpose of varying the area of escape for the gases, the effect of such an arrangement being that the pressure and temperature within the combustion chamber will exceed the normal temperature and pressure for such low pressure guns as those under con- sideration, and may be controlled so that a uniform ignition and combustion of the pro- pellant may be obtained and the disadvan- tages hereinbefore noted in connection with low pressure guns as hitherto constructed completely obviated. An ordinary rifle mechanism or other pri- mary ignition may be arranged as shown at m for the purpose of igniting the charge, and when bombs of the tail type are em- ployed a baffle plate n may be fitted to pre- vent the streams of gas from impinging upon the tail and producing distortion. In place of the above arrangement the combustion chamber may be provided with an outlet aperture or mouth о (Figure 4) in which case I arranged that the propellant shall be ignited at the mouth by means of a suitably placed nozzle p through which the lighting agent may be conducted. Priming charges to set up initial pres- sures and temperatures may be employed in connection with the propellant, and where the combustion chamber is provided with ports or apertures as above referred to I may employ a cone i2 or other device or means for preventing the clogging or cover- ing of the ports by the propellant and in this manner preventing the propellant from 80 becoming broken up and ejected in small pieces into the bore of the mortar. I may arrange so that a quick rate of fire can be obtained by carrying the lightirig charge i?’ on the projectile as shown in Fig. 85 10 in such a manner that it may be ignited by the blow which obtains when the shell comes to rest, firing the lighting cap and igniting the propellant at its upper ex- tremity, or as shown in Fig. 11, I may ar- 00 range a simple trigger action Is to effect the firing when the shell has reached a predeter- mined position in the bore of the gun. In place of inserting the propellant into a combustion chamber in the mortar, the pro- 05 pellant may be carried in a receptacle (as shown in Fig. 12) fixed to or formed with the shell base with lighting cap attached, the receptacle being arranged in a manner simi- lar to that above described so that a re- 100 stricted area for the escape of the gases will be provided, with the result that increased temperature and pressure are obtained. In the example shown in Figure 5, the charge carried on the base of the bomb q Ю5 consists of a primary charge r, such as bal- listite or other suitable material, within the cartridge container s and surrounded by a secondary charge the latter being, if de- sired, in two or more parts so that it may HO be.varied as may be required for variation in range, and being of any suitable form, and instead of the secondary charge being carried by the shell it may be located in the base chamber of,the gun. H5 Where the bomb carries its own propel- lant charge the mortar is provided with a striker stud г7 (as shown in Fig. 13) fitted at the bottom or the barrel, and such stud may be telescopic or made to pass through 120 an aperture in the base of the gon or be otherwise adjustable in such a manner as to adjust the “working” stroke of the shell and thus regulate the range. Again, as shown in Fig. 11, the shell may carry a trip mecha- 125 nism to operate the igniting cartridges at a predetermined point in their passage down the bore. Instead of providing for a fixed weight of propellant and varying areas for escape of 130
1,524,273 5 10 16 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 the gases, I may. if desired, maintain the ports or areas of escape constant and vary the weights of the propellant charges em- ployed. or I may vary both the weight of the propellant and the areas of escape. In a further modification the charge foi* the mortar may comprise a slow burning portion such as cordite wrapped round with a quick burning charge such as gun-cotton gum. In any modification of the invention the mortar maj’ be provided with the clinometer a' adjustably mounted upon the barrel so that in conjunction with a scale и (Figure 3) the clinometer may be adjusted to any degree right or left for shooting right or left. The platform for the mortar or the like may be of any suitable form, but I prefer to construct the same of timbers united and held together by interlocking portions and by screws or other fastening devices, or so arranged otherwise that a strong platform is secured which will be easily dismountable and readily transportable since it does not comprise any heavy members in its con- struction. It is to be understood that the foregoing details are given by way of ex- ample only of several methods of carrying the invention into effect, as it will be clear that I may vary the construction and ar- rangement of mortar or howitzer or other high pressure gun to which the invention is to be applied, as also the size and loca- tion of the combustion chamber, and the manner of providing for the ignition of the propellant, as may he found most satisfac- tory in practice, depending upon any par- ticular practical requirements that may have to be fulfilled. Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let- ters Patent is:— 1. A trench mortar or other low pressure gun comprising in combination a hollow barrel into which the projectile is intro- duced, a combustion chamber for the pro- pellant charge provided with a port or ports communicating with said hollow barrel and through which the whole of the propellant gases pass and manually operated regulat- able means for artificially raising the tem- perature and pressure of combustion above the normal substantially as descirbed. 2. A trench mortar or other low pressure gun as claimed in claim 1 in which said manually operated regulatable means com- prises a device for controlling the size of said port or ports connecting the combus- tion chamber with the hollow barrel, sub- stantially as described. 3. A trench mortar or other low pressure gun as claimed in claim 1, in which said manually operated regulatable means com- prises a manually operated regulatable pis- ton-like member provided for controlling the s’ze of the port or ports connecting the com- bustion chamber with tire hollow barrel. 4. In a trench mortar or other low pres- sure gun the combination of a barrel having TO a part spherical end, a bed carrying a part spherical socket receiving and fitting said end, and guys tensioned between said barrel and said bed. 5. In a trench mortar or other low pres- TO sure gun the combination of a barrel having a part spherical end, a bed carrying a part spherical socket receiving and fitting said end. guys tensioned between said barrel and said hed, and means fqr adjusting said guys 80 to vary the inclination of said barrel. 6. In a trench mortar or other low pres- sure gun the combination of a barrel having a part spherical end, a bed. a base thereon having a part spherical socket receiving and 85 fitting said end, and having its axis inclined forward, an adjustable tie in the vertical plane containing said axis connecting said barrel with a point on said bed in rear of said socket, and other adjustable ties con- oo nerting said barrel with points on said bed to right and left of said socket respectively. 7. In a trench mortar or ether low pres- sure gun the combination of a barrel having a part spherical end, a base having a part 95 spherical socket receiving and fitting said end, adjustable guys tensioned between points on said barrel and points around said socket, and means for indicating the elevation and deflection of said barrel. TO® 8. In a trench mortar or other low pres- sure gun the combination of a barrel having a part spherical end, a base having a part spherical socket receiving and fitting said end, adjustable guys tensioned between 105 points on said barrel and points around said socket, and a clinometer attached to said barrel and adjustable in two directions at right angles. 9. In a trench mortar or other low pres- 110 sure gun, the combination of a barrel having a part spherical end, a bed carrying a part spherical socket to receive and fit said end. and guys permanently attached to one of said members and adapted to be attached to 115 the other. 10. In a trench mortar or other low pres- sure gun, the combination of a barrel having a part spherical end. a base having a part spherical socket receiving and fitting said 12° end, a pin upon said end projecting radi- ally from said end, a guide upon said base confining said pin to movement in a plane and adjustable tensional means supporting said barrel and drawing its end into said 125 socket. 11. In a trench mortar or other low pres- sure gun the combination of a barrel nav- ing a part spherical end, a bed, a base hav- ing a part spherical socket receiving and TOO
1,5ЭДО78 fitting Said end and having its axis in- clined forward, a pin projecting radially from said end in the vertical plane contain- ing said axis, a guide on said base confining s said pin to said plane, an adjustable tie in the vertical plane containing said axis con- necting said barrel with a point on said bed in rear of said socket, and other ad- justable ties connecting said barrel with 10 points on said bed to right and left of said socket respectively. 12. In a trench mortar or other low pres- sure -gun comprising in combination a, hol- low barrel having a hemispherical lower 15 end, a hemispherical base within which said end is free to work, a vertical guide upon said hemispherical base', a pin in said hemi- spherical end of the barrel, the axis of which passes through the centre of said 20 hemispherical end and means for limiting the relative movement between said pin and said guide. 13. A trench mortar or other low pressure gun as claimed in claim 12 having a cli- 25 nometer arranged on the barrel of the mortar and combined with means for adjusting for right and left shooting, substantially as described. 14. A trench mortar or other low pressure gun having a combustion chamber in which 30 the propelling charge is burnt, said chamber being provided with ports commuBticating between said combustion space and the chamber containing the projectile, manually regulated means for controlling the size of >5 said ports, and а г baffle between said ports and the projectile. 15. A trench mortar or other low pressure gun comprising a base provided with a support having a semispherical cavity, a <® hollow barrel provided with a hollow semi- spherical lower end which is seated in said cavity, tie members arranged between the upper portion of the gun barrel and said base for use in seating the barrel, a com- <5 bustion chamber arranged within the semi- spherical space of the barrel, and means for artificially raising the temperatures and pressure of the combustion above the normal. In testimony whereof I have signed my 50 name to this specification. HENRY NEWTON.