US1621365A - Gun mount - Google Patents

Description

GUN MOUNT Fi led Nov 6, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 15, 1927.

S. G. GREEN ET AL GUN MOUNT Filed Nov. 6.1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 TENT SAMUEL G. GREEN, OF CAMP BENNING, GEORGIA, AND JULIAN S. HATCHER, OF AN- NAPOLIS, MARYLAND, ASSIGNORS TO UNITED STATES MACHINE GUN COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

GUN MOUNT.

Application filed November 6, 1922'. Serial No. 599,433.

This invention relates to gun mounts and more particularly to gun mounts for anti-v aircraft guns.

;The 1nvent1on and ts aims and ob ects will be clearly understood from the follow-' ing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, of various illustrative embodimentsof the invention, the in vention in its true scope being more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a gun mount embodying one illustrative form of the invention;

Fig. 2is a top plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a section on line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the tripod;

Fig. 7 is a detailed section on line 7-7 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a section on line 88 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of a gun mount embodying certain features of the invention;

Fig. 1 0 is a side elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a sectional elevation on line 1111 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a sectional elevation on line 12-12 of Fig.

Fig. 13 is a side elevation of another illustrative embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 14: is a top plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a section on line 1515 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a section similar to that of Fig. 15 showing the adapter in use;

Fig. 17 is a section on line 17-17 of Fig. 16; and

Fig. 18 is a side elevation of the adapter.

Referring to the drawings the gun mount comprises gun carrying means and supporting means therefor, said gun carrying means and supporting means being connected by means to permit manipulation of the gun to train it upon the target, which term herein is intended to include any object to be fired at. In the embodiment of the invention here described the gun carrying means comprises a head 2 and the supporting means comprises a standard'or support 4.

The means connecting these two parts for permitting manipulation of the gun to train preferably formed integral therewith. This.

sphere 6 is received within a spherical socket formed in the head 2, which latter for convenience of assembly is preferably formed of two parts 8 and 10 provided with flanges 12 and 14 respectively, secured together by screws 16. All of the above parts are of metal any suitable metal or alloy being used for the purpose. 7

The lower section 10 of the head is provided with a slot 18 which is also continued into the upper section 2 of the head for a certain distance as shown in Fig. 4 at 20. As shown most clearly in Figs. 1 and 5, the standard t extends through this slot 18.

From the construction above described, it

will be apparent that the head 2 is capable of unlimited swinging-movement upon the sphere6 about a training axis, herein a vertically positioned axis, and that said head is also capable of swinging movement about any one of a plurality of elevating axes, herein horizontal, all intersecting said vertical axis centrally of the sphere6, this swinging movement about any one of the elevating axes being herein preferably limited by the end walls 22, 24 of the slot- 18. width of the slot 18 is such that its side walls engage the sides of the standard 4:, so that tipping or swinging movement of the head 2 transversely to the slot 18 is prevented.

As will be hereinafter more fully de'- scribed, the gun or guns are carried by the head 2 in a plane or planes parallel to the plane of Fig. 4, the gun or guns pointing to the right, referring to said figure. Fromthe movement permitted the head 2v about the two axes, as above described, it results that the gun or guns can be swung horizontally and vertically so as to be trained upon the target. that the slot 18 is of suflicient extent to enable the gun or guns to be swung upwardly into a substantially vertical posi tion and downwardly at an angle sufficient to cover ground within a very short distance of the gun. This wide sphere of possible operation is particularly valuable when It will be noted V I operating against aircraft or upon uneven ground such as hillsides or the like.

' The standard t, by its: cooperation with with the head 2. In Figs. 1,; 2 and 3 a, construction is shown havlngtwo such :gun CZLITIBIS'QG, '26. These are herein located oneuat eaehsideof the. headQ: The earrlers comprise sidewalls 28, 30, betweenwhich the 'gunis laid, substantially asshown in Fig. 1,; the muzzles: oi the guns Y point- 1 ing to the right in Fig.2. The g-uns rest. upon. the transverse pieces 32,- 32 and eachis providedflon: its under side with: a: downwa rdlyprojectingportion' 345 (see Fig, 12*),- provided: with holes. to receive bolts :86, 36*, preferably of the ehara-cter. shown in Fig. 12'. "These bolts areiprovided with. a down- I turned handle 38 and: pass :fireely through one wall of the carrier, but have a screw threaded connectionat'the'irzends with the other well? of i the ca tier, as shown in: Fig. :ieqnny. otherisuitable means may be used to secure the gun in position upon the carri'er, without 'departingfrom the. spirit of the: invention, but the above. has: proven itself'extremely practicable.

sigl itijng tube 400i usual construction.

is mounted between the two carriers 26, 26, as shown in. Figs. 2 and B, said tube being I herein secured to brackets 42, 4'12 carried-in any suitable manner by the head 2. This sightin tube constitutes common sighting means or the two guns, which are suitably positioned with relation to said tube toenable them to be trained by means of the latter upon the same tar et.

The shown in Fig. 1 in position on the gunmount is a machine gun, to which the cartridges are fed by a belt. When guns of this character are used with the mount shown Figs. 1, 2: and 3, containers for the loaded belt are provided, one of such containers being preferably carried by each of the carriers at the outer side of each gun. Herein said containers are in the form of boxes 44', one of which is shown in Fig. 1, and in part Fig. 2. These boxes are preferably removably secured to the mount. This may guns.

'a -projecting tongue-54lwhich engages a slot: provided in a. member 56 proqectmg laterally fromthefront portion of the car-= rier, a spring latch '58 secured .to the. front wall of'the carriersnapping over said tongue I 1 side of the gun, a guidewill preferably be provided to guide the belt from the. box 44 over the gun located upon the .right'side of the: mount, refer-rlng'to. F 1g. 2, :so, that the belt may readily enter-the. left side of the gun I Such.- a guide may be oi any: suitplate 60 secured to the member t8 and ex 8i i able construction,- but herein. consistent a tending upwardly and inwardly toward the. I

carrier, as shown in Figsp 2 tindd- Th-isguide rises: to! sur scient height to guidethe' belt ever: the. gun. and is provided with a rear flange .62, to assist; in. guiding the belt.

In Figsi), 10: and 11' themount embodmg our invention is shown adapted .fora asingle gun. The ball and socket joint or conne-c tion is 'the same as that previously described,

carrier isalso: the same. :The cartridge be 4 .4: :is conveniently mounted, in: the mannerw described in the previous. instance, upon the head: at the opposite side- :of the;- ball and socket joint to that upon .w

iichis mounted the zcarrier-..

bo'dying our invention adapted to. ear y. two

In this illustrated form of our invention the ball and socket connection is also. the same as that previously described, the head 2 being provided with a frame comprising the parts 64, 66, 68, and 72. All 0% these parts are preferably integral. The two. car-- riers comprise the cross-pieces 74, 74; upon which the guns rest in recesses 76, "Z6. Swinging clamping members 78: are pivoted at 80 to the frame and are provided at their free ends with slots 82, 82 adapted to be engaged by swinging clamping screws 84, which are normally swung outwardly, but when the clamping members 78 a1'e swung down into'position, are swung inwardly. to: engage the slots 82 and are then screwed down tight to hold the guns in place. The sighting tube 40- mounted between the two guns is similar in construction and operation to that already described.

The mounts described are adapted to receive guns of various sizes.- In some cases the diameter of the gun, particularly at the barrel portion, may vary considerably with different sizes. In such case means are provided toenable the gun to be firmly clamped in place despite this variation. Any suit able means may be used for this purpose, said means herein comprising a SBIDl'OIICH- lar member 86, shown in detail in Fig. 18.

In Figs-13 to. 16. is shown: a HIDE-1214b. e-n1.

When a gun is of such small diameter to re quire it, the member 86 is inserted between the clamp and the gun as shown in Fig. 16.

While for illustrative purposes machine guns have been shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and in Figs. 9 and 10, and automatic rifles have been shown in Fig. 13, it will be apparent that machine'guns and automatic rifles may be used interchangeably on any of our mounts, which are adapted to any kind of gun. It will also be apparent that our in,- vention is applicable to mounts for carrying more than two guns, these being suitably arranged on the mount.

The gun mount embodying our invention will preferably be mounted upon a tripod, but it may be mounted upon any suitable support. Vhen not mounted upon a tripod, 'the standard 4 may be inserted in any convenient aperture in any object suitable to support the gun, such as a gun-carriage, or wall, or part of a fence, for example, from which the gun may be operated. For convenience of insertion the lower end of the standard 4 will preferably be pointed, as shown in Fig. 13. A

In Fig. 1 the gun mount is shown as mounted upon a tripod. To this end the standard 4 is inserted within a tubular memher or post 88 in which it can telescope, and in which it is securely held by a removable pin 90, see'Fig. 7, which is adapted to fit in a hole extending through the standard 4 and through registering perforations in the side walls of the tubular member 88. The perforation in one of the side walls of the tubular member 88 is provided with a downward extension 92, with which a tongue 94 on the pin 90 may be brought into registration. About the hole provided in the standard 4 to receive the pin 90 there is provided an annular recess 96 at that end of the hole at which the pin 90 enters, as shown in Fig. 7. When the handle of the pin 90 is in the dotted-line position shown in Fig. 7 the tongue 94 registers with the opening 92, and by pushing the pin 90 inwardly the tongue 94 may be caused to pass through the opening 92 and into the annular recess 96, whereupon, by turning the pin 90 into the fullline position, for example, shown in Fig. 7, the pin will be locked in position by the tongue 94, and the standard 4 will be firmly held within the tubular member 88.

Upon the tubular member or post 88 there is slidably mounted a sleeve 98, to the lower part of which the three legs 100, 102, 104 of the tripod are pivoted at 106. Intermediate their ends the three legs of the tripod are pivotally connected to the central tubular member 88 by links 108. The sleeve 98 has a sliding fit upon the tubular member 88 and is provided with a hollow boss 110 within which the wall of the sleeve is cut away. Into one end of the circular bore of the boss there fits a member 112-shaped upon one side 'to fit the contour of the tubular member 88, and provided at its front end with a screwthreaded pin 114. Into the other end of the circular bore of the boss 110 there fits a second member 116, also cut away at one side to fit the contour of the tubular member 88. This member 116 is provided with a perforation through which extends the pin 114. A head 118 is provided with a screw-threadbore to enable it to be screwed upon the screw-threaded end of the pin 114.

If the head 118 be screwed down upon the member 116 it will draw the members 112 and 116 together, firmly clamping the sleeve 98 in adjusted position upon the tubular central member 88. By variably adjusting the sleeve 98 upon the central post 88 the legs may be spread more or less, as desired. The connectionof one of the links 108 with one of the legs is preferably made adjustable lengthwise said leg, as shown in Fig. 1. As shown in said figure, the sleeve 120, to which one end of the link 108 is connected, has a sliding fit upon the leg 100 and is provided with a boss and clamping means which may be similar to that shown in Fig. 8 and used for the sleeve 98. This construction enables the mount to be tipped upwardly or nownwardly at one side when necessary.

When two guns are used means are preferably provided to stop the empty cartridge shells as they are ejected from the gun which discharges its empty shells toward the other gun. If such means are not pro vided the empty cartridge shellsmight impings upon the other gun or some part of the mount and cause injury thereto and also possibly to the operator. Any convenient means may be used for this purpose, but we have found that a piece 124 of fiexiblematerial, such as leather, suspended between the guns opposite the discharge opening of the gun in question, Will arrest the ejected empty shells and cause them to fall to the ground harmlessly.

The gun mounts embodying our invention possess may advantages over those heretofore used. The whole structure, and particularly the tripod is Very sturdy and offers a very rigid and steady support for the gun. The provision of the pointed standard 4 enables the gun mount to be used upon any temporary support of suitable strength, providing a suitable opening is or can be provided therein to receive the standard. The joint used enables the gunner to train quickly upon any object, and if the object is in movement, such as an aeroplane, for example, to keep the gun trained thereon without difficulty. Experiments have shown that the barrel of a gun mounted on our gun mount can be caused to follow any line, no matter how irregular it may be, and this without any jerking or irregular movement,

but in a vperfectly steady line. ifhis we ,attribute to the fact that the two axes about which the guns can swing, intersect, so that the swinging movements about thetwo axes takeplaceabout a single point, namely t-he point of intersection of said axes, instead of about two separate points, as is the case where the two axes permitting ,a substantially universal movement of the gun, do not intersect. IVhere such intersection of the two axes does not take place, the movements about the two axes are more or less distinct and do not merge into a smoothly executed resultant, as is the case with our invention. The gun can ,bevswung in an entire circle horizontally, and upwardly into a substantially vertical position, and down wardly into a position to cover ground close upto the iinplacement of the gun. The cooperation of the standard with the slot .prevents tipping of the gun carrier transversely to the slot, so that, when the rifle or, rifles are once properly adjusted in a vertical plane in the carrier, they and the means used for sighting them will-be maintained in such position, thus avoiding inaccurate shooting due to inclination of the rifle or its sighting means laterally out of the vertical. The means forstopping the ejected empty'cartridge shells is very efiicient and avoids accidents. A multiple gun mount having a common sighting means for training all of the guns simultaneously upon the target'oilers the advantage not only of en-.

abling the operator to deliver a greater weight of metal than can be delivered by a single gun in the same space of time, but also enabling him to use one gun to get on the target by firing tracer bullets from the gun, and then open up on the target with the other gun or guns. In this way much ammunition can be saved, while with a single gun using one tracer bullet for every ten or so ball cartridges, as is usual, the waste of ammunition before getting on the target is often great. Other advantages will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

It will be apparent that it is not indispensable-that all of the features of the invention be used conjointly, since they may be used to advantage separately in various combinations and sub-combinations. It will also be understood that, whilethe invention is herein described as embodied in the details illustrated, it is not to be considered as circumscribed by or limited to these details, or any of them, but that said details may be'variously modified within the true scope of the invention which is definitely set forth in the claims.

Claim 7 1. In a gun mount, in combination, a support; a sphere carried by said support; a socket provided with a spherical chamber slidably embracing said sphere; gun carrying means carried by said socket; a slot provided in the wall of said socket; a part of said support to engage said slot for rotary movement of said socket about the axis 015 said part and for sliding movement of said part in said slot.

2. In a gun mount, in combination, a support; a. sphere carried by said support; a socket havinga spherical chamber slida-bly embracin said sphere; a slot provided in the wall of said socket; a part of said support to engage said slot for rotary movement of said socket about the axis of said partand for sliding movement of said part in said slot; means to position said slot in a vertical plane; and gun carrying means carried by said socket and adapted to carry a gun with its sights in a plane parallel to that of said slot;

3. In a gun mount, in combination,.a support; a sphere carried by said support; a socket provided with a spherical chamber slidably embracing said sphere; a slot in the wall of said socket; means cooperating with said slot to prevent movement of said socket about said sphere transversely to said slot, said socket being movable about the axis of said means and the axis of the sphere directed perpendicularly to the plane of said slot; and gun carrying means carried by said socket and spaced from the axis of said means.

4. A gun mount. comprising in combination, gun. carrying means comprising a sphere and a socket provided with a spherical chamber slidably embracing said sphere; a support therefor; a slot provided in the wall of said socket; means cooperating with said slot to prevent relative movement of said socket and sphere transverselyto said slot, said socket and sphere being relatively movable about the axis of said means and the axis of the sphere directed perpendicularly to the plane of said slot, said axes constituting the training axis and the elevating axis respectively; means to position said raining axis in a vertical plane; and means to support a gun onsaid gun carrying means with its front and rear sights in a plane parallel to said training axis.

5. A gun mount comprising in combination, gun carrying means comprising a sphere and a socket provided with a spherical chamber slidably embracing said sphere; a support therefore; a slot provided in the wall of said socket; n'ieans cooperating with said slot to prevent relative movement of said socket and sphere transversely to said slot, said socket and sphere being relatively movable about the axis of said means and the axis of the sphere directed perpendicularly to the plane of said slot, said axes constituting the training axis and the elevating axis respectively; means to position said training axis in a vertical plane; means to support a plurality of guns on said gun carrying means, in spaced relation to said training axis and each with its front and rear sights in a plane parallel to said training axis; and common sighting means for said guns.

6. A gun mount comprising in combination, gun carrying means comprising a sphere and a socket provided with a spherical chamber slidably embracing said sphere; a support therefor; a slot provided in the wall of said socket; means cooperating with'said slot to prevent relative movement of said socket and sphere transversely to said slot, said socket and sphere being relatively mov able about the axis of said means and the axis of the sphere directed perpendicularly to the plane of said slot, said axes constituting the training axis and the elevating axis respectively; means to position said training axis in a vertical plane; means to support two guns, on said gun carrying means, in spaced relation to said training axis at opposite sides of said training axis and each with its front and rear sights in a plane parallel to said training axis; and common sighting means for said guns.

7. In a gun mount, in combination, a support; a sphere carried by said support; a socket provided with a spherical chamber slidably embracing said sphere; a slot provided in the wall of said socket; means cooperating with said slot to prevent movement of said socket about said sphere transversely to said slot; saidsocket being movable about the axis of said means and the axis of the sphere directed perpendicularly to the plane of said slot; and gun carrying means carried by said socket.

8. A gun mount comprising in combination, gun carrying means comprising a sphere and a socket provided with a spherical chamber slidably embracing said sphere; a support therefor; a slot provided in the wall of said socket; means cooperating with said slot to prevent relative movement of said socket and sphere transversely to said slot, said socket and sphere being relatively movable about the axis of said means and the axis of the sphere directly perpendicularly to the plane of said slot, said axes constituting the training axis and the elevating axis respectively; means to position said training axis in a vertical plane; means to sup port two guns, on said gun carrying means, in spaced relation to said training axis at opposite sides of said training axis and each with its front and rear sights in a plane parallel to said training axis; common sighting means for said guns; and cartridge supplying means located at the outer sides of said guns.

9. In a gun mount, in combination, a gun carrier; a support therefor comprising a tripod and a central standard; links pivotally connecting the legs of said tripod and said standard; and means to adjust thepoint of connection of the link which connects said standard to one of the tripod legs longitudinally of the latter.

10. In a gun mount, in combination, a support; a sphere carried by said support; a socket provided with a spherical chamber slidably embracing said sphere; gun carrying means carried by said socket; a slot provided in the wall of said socket; means associated with said support to engage said slot for rotary movement of said socket about the axis of said means and for sliding movement in said slot; the construction and arrangement being such that said socket is movable only about the axis of'the sphere coincident with the axis of said slot-en aging means and about the axis of the sp ere directed perpendicularly to the plane of-said slot.

11'. In a gun mount, in combination, a support; a sphere carried by said support; a socket provided with a spherical chamber slidably embracing said sphere; gun carrying means carried by said socket; a slot provided in the wall of said socket; means associated with said support to engage said slot for rotary movement of said socket about the axis of said means and for sliding movement in said slot; the construction and arrangement being such that said socket is simultaneously movable only about the axis "of the sphere coincident with the axis of said slot-engaging means and about the axis of the sphere directed perpendicularly to the plane of said slot.

12. A gun mount comprising in combina ton, gun carrying means comprising a sphere and a socket provided with a spherical chamber slidably embracingsaid sphere; a support therefor; a slot provided in the wall of said socket; and means cooperating with said slot to prevent relative movement of said socket and sphere transversely to said slot, said socket and sphere being relatively SAMUEL s. GREEN. 7 JULIAN s. HATOHER.

CERTIFECATE OF GGRREGTIGN.

Fateni: No. 1,621,365. Grantedl'viarsh 15, E927, t0

SAMUEL G. GREEN ET AL It is hareby certified that error appears in the printed specification 0f the abeve mambared patent requiring wrrection as follows: Page 1, Hue 79, for the word pssitiened" read "pusitiouabie"; page 4, line 1121, claim 5, for tiza Word "therefore" mad "therefor"; and that the said Lettels Pawn; should he read with these mz'iections thei'ein that the same may 0011mm! to the record 015 the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and seabed this 19th day of April, A. D 1927,

J Moore, Seal Acting Cammissimzer of Patents:

CERTIFICATE OF GORREGTIGNE Patent No. l,621,36 5. GrantedMarch 15, 1927, to

SAMUEL G. GREEN ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1, line 79, for the word "positioned" read "pos itionabie"; page 1, line 12!, claim 5, for the Word "therefore" reed "therefor"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these eoz'rections therein that the same may enniortn to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 19th day of April, A. l). 1927.

M, J Moore, t SeaL Acting Commissioner of Patents

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