The Works Of Messrs. Schneider And Co.

250 MESSES. SCHNEIDER AND CO.’S WORKS. circular rack for lateral training. The two mechanisms are absolutely independent one from the other. Ammunition is raised to the top platform by nieans of a hoist placed in the central tube. The lioist consista of two endless chains, between which are held the buckets which contain the Cartridges. During the raising motion the cartridges are guided by gun-metal slides, placed on the whole height of the tube; the chains are, moreover, provided with cross-pieees placed at the height of the cartridge-cases. The chains in descending are also guided in a brass tube ; the buckets are thus kept in position, and remain always suitably placed for receiving the cartridges to be raised. The automatic feed of the hoist is insured by a device worked by the chains, and on which the men deposit the cartridges. For working the device, the a roller suitably placed for this purpose ; it then pivots round the bucket trunnions until it slides by gravity in the trough prepared to receive it. As soon as the cart- ridge has left the bucket, the bottom end of the latter strikes against a fixed butt which places it straight again, ready to follow the guide that surrounds the descending chain. The electric motor for working the hoist is joined to the central tube below the armoured deck. It works a shaft through an endless screw and a hélicoïdal wheel that surrounds a set of difierential gearing ; this drives a shaft arranged to work another spindle placed at the lower end of the tube, and on which are keyecl the pinions that drive the hoist. For operating the hoist by hånd power. it suffices to turn the central shaft by two cranks, the gearing above referred to transmitting the motion. Schneider-Canet Electrically-Worked Turret for Two 12-Centimetre Guns. chains are provided with suitable catches, which act on a horizontal rack that sets in motion a pinion keyed on the shaft of the hauling-in arm ; the latter consists of a forked-shaped lever, which receives the cartridges in such a way that the bottom of the cartridge-case rests first on a small roller placed between the branches of the fork, the point of the projectile bearing against a catch at the opposite end ; this catch disappears when tlie fork-shaped lever is raised, and the cartridge takes a vertical position ; it then slides down, and rests in the bucket which is ready to receive it. The hauling-in device holds the cartridge until the bottom of the cartridge-case enters the guiding tube ; it then falls back to its original position, to take up a fresh charge. When it has reached the top part of the tube, the cartridge is inclinée! while it passes through the opening provided between the mountings, by bearing on Closed-In Turret for One 15-Centimetre (5.91-In.) Gun (ligs, 832 to 837, Plate CXLIII., and Figs. 838 and 839).—In the turrets of this type, the gun is inounted 011 a carriage consisting of two beams, at the front end of which the trunnions are placed. These beams are joined in the rear by a jacket in which the gun slides during recoil and return. The recoil cylinder, placed on the axis of the gun, is cast in one piece with the jacket. The piston-i’od is keyed on the breecli end coil, the lateral surfaces of which form slides during the travel of the gun. The slide consists of two wrought-steel clieeks, strengthened by flanges and stayed together. The recoil cylinder is on the Schneider-Canet system, with central counter-rod ; two sets of springs placed on the sides insure by reaction tlie running out of the gun. The general arrangements for working are similar to those described in a préviens