The Works Of Messrs. Schneider And Co.

LO Ql MESSRS. SCHNEIDER AND CO.’S WORKS. recoil cylinders, the counter-rods on their leaving the recoil cylinders being utilisée! for forcing liquid into the air receivers. When the recoil is complété, the air expands and forces back the liquid, which, in its turn, drives back the counter-rods of the recoil cylinders, thus running out the gun again. An air compresser is placed in the turret, and in this an initial compression of 15 kilogrammes (213 1b. per square inch) is obtained. This is sufficient to run out the 2'un under an angle of 15 deij. A small hånd pump placed under the carriage provides for the running in of the gun when necessary. The recoil cylinders and air receivers have no piping, and as they are bored in forged-steel Blocks, they offer a great resisting power and are perfeetly tight. The carriage trunnions are placed exaetly in the centre of gravity of the oscillating system ; they are covered with a gun-metal lining, and rest in suitable bearings in two cast-steel supports strongly bolted to tlie platform. The required elevation for the gun is obtained by the displacement of two racks fitted under the carriage, and guided by rollers. These racks engage two square pinions keyed on the same shaft as a hélicoïdal wheel ; a crank drives the endless screw which works the hélicoïdal wheel through two bevel pinions. Two men working the crank can elevate the gun from — 5 deg. to + 15 deg. in 30 seconds. A dynamo can also be employed for turning the endless screw shaft by a double set of gearing, and the time required is only 12 seconds. Should the gun not run in, the angular displacement of the carriage could be effeeted by hand-power by means of a ratchet lever acting on the end of the dynamo shaft. The lateral training mechanism contains two plate chains, two band winches, and two dynamos. The chains that surround the drum on the socket are worked by two pinions keyed on the same axles as two hélicoïdal wheels. Lateral training is obtained by the revolution of the hélicoïdal wheels ; the latter are worked by two dynamos which drive direct the endless screws that gear in them, or by hand-power through cranks and winches; elutehes enable the dynamos to be disengaged from the winches. The hélicoïdal wheels are joined to their shafts by means of friction elutehes, which serve to limit the efforts on the transmission gear which result from a sudden stoppage of the turret. A speaking-tube establishes communication with the gunner to the men who work the cranks on the orlop deck. The gunner works the dynamos for lateral training direct by acting on a hand-lever placed in the turret. Lateral training has a limit of 240 deg. ; when the ship is on a level keel this movement takes, by hånd, 1 minute 35 seconds, and by electric power 35 seconds. The device for supplying ammunition consiste of a carrier which can bold the projectile and the two cartridges forming tlie powder charge; and a winch fitted to the socket worked by hånd or by electric power, to raise the carrier up to the firing platform at the rear of the gun. Guides are provided for the carrier, and the apparatus is complétée! by a hånd rammer. The carrier consista of a case suspended on two roller pivots ; the projectile is placed in the middle, and the powder charge in the two lateral movable charge-holders. When the carrier is at the lowest part of its travel, it arrives automatically oppo- site a charging table, and the projectile and powder charge are slid into it by hånd, the charging table being suitably inclinée! for the purpose. The winch which works the I hoisting chains is then set in motion ; as soon as the hoisting operation starts, the carrier straightens and rises I vertically until it reaches the turret, when it follows the incline of the guides ; near the end of its travel it arrives in a horizontal position at the rear of the gun. The angle given to the carrier at the end of the lift is obtained automatically by means of two racks fixed to the guides, I and two pinions which form part of the carrier, which I turn when they meet the fixed racks on the guides in raising or lowering motion. The hoisting apparatus contains all the necessary devices for safe working. The electrical plant comprises one dynamo for elevating the gun, two dynamos for lateral training, one for the hoist and one for the pivot compressor, besides the electric machines referred to in the preceding description. The j auxiliary apparatus consista of a band-pump for running J in the gun ; a hand-worked compressor for starting the air recuperators ; and a pump worked by hånd or by electric power, to maintain the required pressure under the step bearing of the turret. Closed Turret, Worked by Hand or Electric Power, for 28-Centimetre (11.023-In.) Gun (Figs. 852 to 854).— Tilis installation comprises the following principal parts : I The carriage and slide ; the turret and its rotary I mechanism ; the training mechanism and the hoist. The i carriage proper consiste of a jacket provided witli trunnions, with the recoil cylinder and the collars that hold the compressée! air recuperator; it is fitted inside with gun-metal rings which guide the gun during recoil. At the lower part, a shoe is provided on which is the sector for elevating the gun. The slide consista of two cheeks, of plates and angles, which rest on a soleplate fixed to the top flooring of the turret, and which carry the trunnion plates that receive the trunnions of the jacket. To facilitate the elevation of the gun and jacket, the trunnions are surrounded by a ring of anti-friction rollers. The right-hand cheek is made with a bracket for the elevating mechanism. The recoil cylinder is on the Schneider-Canet system, with central counter-rod ; it is joined to the compressée! air recuperator placed under the jacket, through a pipe that opens on the front part of the cylinder, as well as through a small brauch on the pipe, and ending at the rear of the cylinder in a gun-metal ehest which contains tlie valve that Controls the running in of the gun. When recoil takes place, the piston-rod entere the cylinder, and drives out a quantity of liquid equal to ils volume ; this acts on one of the sides of the recuperator piston, the latter serving as a compressor for the air; the expansion of which, during the return of the gun, causes the liquid to resume its original place.