The Works Of Messrs. Schneider And Co.

21G MESSES. SCHNEIDER AND CO.’S WORKS. of the gun. The illustrations show a mounting of this dass for a 12-centimetre (4.724-in.) quick-firing gun. A shield of suitable shape may be adapted to the gun. In this mounting, the bedplate is bolted to the deck as usual, and forms a path for the live ring. The traversing platform carries the trunnion standards, to which are fitted the joints of the movable slides ; these bear on two circular racks, jointed to the lower part of the traversing platform. The gun-carriage proper consists of a seinicircular cradle, in which the gun rests ; it also comprises the two lateral brake cylinders, the blocks of which run on the movable slides. The piston-rods are in the front part of these slides. The recuperator is in one piece with the gun-carriage proper, and consists of a cylinder inside which is a fixed piunger joined to the rear stay of the slides. At the opposite end is a fixed piunger, fitted with a ring on which are joined two rods that carry the sets of springs. These rods are guided, with but slight friction, in the ring of the recuperator cylinder. During recoil, the gun, carried in its housing, travels on the slides ; the two lateral brakes, with central counter- rods, act in the usual way to absorb part of the force due to the recoil. At the same time, the fixed piunger enters the recuperator cylinder and displaces the movable end opposite ; this acts 011 the two sets of springs, which are compressed by bearing against the ring of the recuperator cylinder. When the recoil is exhausted, the stored-up energy in the springs runs out the gun. To vary the inclination of the gun, the housing is inoved by means of the two oscillating ares at the lower part of the traversing platform, which travel freely in two guides at the rear of the slides. The latter are cast with bearings for a horizontal shaft, provided with two pinions that engage the movable racks. When, therefore, the pinions are made to travel up or down the racks, the gun is given a corresponding inclination ; the gunner can produce these displacements by means of gearing. The gun is trained horizontally by a lateral wheel that works a pinion through an endless screw, and a hélicoïdal wheel, the pinion gearing into the circular rack on the bolster. The sights are fitted on the left trunnion of the housing, and on the rear of the corre- sponding side ; the gunner can, therefore, keep his eye constantly to the firing line, including the period of recoil and of running out. 4. Mounting with Independent Recuperator and Guiding- Transom (Figs. 736 to 739, page 217, are views of a mounting for a 65-millimetre 50-calibre quick-firing gun. Weight of proj ectile ... 4 kg. 8.8 Ib. ,, charge BM3 1.660 kg. 3.65 Ib. Initial velocity 750 m. 2460 ft. Weight of gun 510 kg. 1122 Ib. ,, mounting and shield 910 kg. 2002 Ib. The arrangements of this mounting are clearly shown in the illustrations : they include brake cylinders and spring recuperators, the rods of both being attached to a crosshead ring fastened 011 the gun. The mounting is central pivoting, with hydraulic brake and reduced recoil, the running out being effeeted by the recuperator ; the angles of elevation vary from - 10 deg. to + 25 deg. The gun recoils in a cradle with trunnions, the brake cylinders being attached to the cradle. The transom frame turns round a central pivot that rests on a bearing fitted to the bedplate, the base of which is large enough to insure suitable stability to the system. A holding ring that runs on the whole circumference of the transom frame, prevents the skifting of the system during firing; it is also fitted with a latch to fix the mounting. All the larger parts of the mounting are of cast-steel. The gun during the recoil, slides on gun-metal shoes fitted inside the cradle, ribs being provided to prevent the system from turning, The brake cylinders, cast in one piece with the housing, are placée! vertically, so as to reduce as mueh as possible the width of the mounting ; they have gun-metal linings, in which grooves of different sections are cut for the passage of the liquid. The piston piungers are attached by a bayonet joint to a ring shrunk 011 the gun. The recuperator for running out the gun consists of two series of spiral springs which bear on lugs on the housing, and are com- pressed by two screwed rods fixed to the gun ring. The springs are so set that they can run the gun out under the greatest angle of elevation. The gun is but little displaced during recoil, as the résistance of the brakes produces a resultant in the centre line of the gun which is in direct opposition to the pressure on the bottom of the bore. Leather plugs placed between the gun ring and the brake cylinders limit the running back of the gun. The housing, transom frame, and bolster are on the same pattern as those of the numerous other mountings built by Messrs. Schneider and Co. for the French Admiral ty, as well as for foreign ( Jovernments. The gun is trained vertically by a handwheel and gearing, which works the rack fitted to the housing through a set of pinions ; the effort required is only that necessary to overcome friction, as the whole of the oscillating weight is accurately balancée! on the housing trunnions. The gunner trains the gun by hori- zontally pressing with his right shoulder on tlie butt ; and while he sights the target, he works the elevating hand- wheel with his left hånd, and draws the firing line with his right. The sight and scale are fitted to that part of the housing which oscillâtes without recoiling ; the pointer can, therefore, when necessary, roughly sight the gun during loading, sighting it finally as lie tires. To dismount the gun, all that is necessary is to detach tlie piston piungers from the brake cylinders, and to take the rods from the recuperators, the gun being then made to slide in the housing from the front to the rear. The ring holding the brake and the recuperator is then taken oft’ by disengaging it from its lugs, by turning it a quarter round. All the parts of the mechanism, as well as the recuperator springs, can be taken to pieces with great facility.