US2432974A - Cradle lock for cannon wagons - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 16, .1947.

P. s.` STEVENS ET Ax. 2,432,974

CRADLE LOCK FR CANNON WAGONS Filed July 13, 1945 230 Fig'. l

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Paul l5. .Et EvEl-hs Patented Dec. 16, 1947 CRADLE LOCK FOR CANNON WAGONS Paul S. Stevens, M'lwaukee, and Morton Sundnes, South Milwaukee, Wis.

Application July 13, 1945, Serial No. 604,814

2 Claims. (Cl. 280-179) l This invention relates to means for securing artillery units and like heavy ordnance loads, upon transport Wagons, and in its present embodiment is particularly adapted to use in the securement of the cannon unit on the cannon wagon shown in a co-pending application to Conlon et al., Serial No. 607,060, led July 25, 1945, for Mobile heavy ordnance.

It has for an object to provide a simple rugged and eifective means for holding a supporting leg of the cannon Wagon of said co-pending application in proper interlocking relation whereby shifting of the load in any direction is prevented.

It is an especial object to provide means which will not require the location of a bolt immediately at either of the interlocking parts during loading and unloading operations. A further aim is to present a means for these purposes which will be `self-contained and inseparable from the wagon, but readily available for movement to and from operative position manually, and being of such construction as to avoid impedance of loading and unloading operations, as well as avoiding possibility of misplacement of or damage to a screw fastening.

Additional objects, advantages, and features of the invention designed in novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts involved in the embodiment of the invention, as will be understood from the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of the cannon wagon frame and cradle leg;

Figure 2 is a similar View showing the lock en.- gaged with portions broken away;

Figure 3 is a top View showing the position of the parts as in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a front end view in an engaged position, the disengaged position being indicated in dotted lines.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is illustrated a portion of the side member |52 of a cannon wagon frame, described in said aforementioned application Serial No. 607,060, which is of box girder form, on the top side of which there is xed an anchor lug 230, having a recessed rearward side as at l extending transversely across the lug, the upper side of which slopes upwardly and rearwardly. This forms a rearwardly projecting bill II at the top of the lug. The leg |49 is formed with the foot block |49' at its rear side conforming to the shape of the recess I0 and adapted to t Asnugly therein when the cannon unit is at the rear limit of its sliding movement on the wagon frame, the leg A serving as a sliding support which rests on the frame for supporting and guiding the cannon unit during loading and unloading operation, the members |52 at each side of the wagon frame then constituting a track-way upon which the cannon unit moves longitudinally on to orfrom thewagon. The rear side of the lug 230 is formed with a spherical socket I2 for a purpose which will be explained.

On the outer-face of the side member |52 adjacent the lug 230 there is mounted a bracket I3, consisting of an elongated iiat base plate arranged longitudinally of the Ywagon secured flat against the side face of the member |52 and having at each end an outwardly projecting ear I4, one spaced a considerable distance rearwardly of the loaded position of the leg |49 and the other a short distance forwardly 0f the lug 230. A horizontal pivot pin |5 is set in these ears and has pivoted and longitudinally slidable thereon a yoke member I6 which in operative position is U- shaped in plan, having a forward arm I'| adapted to extend over the side member |52 behind the base of the leg |49 at loaded position, and a forward arm I8 adapted to extend inwardly over the side member |52 in a corresponding position before the lug 230, being of somewhat greater dimension longitudinally of the wagon than the arm I'I and having engaged therethrough a binding screw I9 adapted to be projected rearwardly from the arm a distance and into the socket I2 so as to draw the yoke forwardly and clamp the leg |49 and its foot block |49 against the lug 230. The screw has a nut head 20 which is also apertured to receive a rod tool for turning thereof, and forwardly of the arm I8 a lock nut 2| is engaged upon the screw and against the rear side of the arm I8.

In planes with each of the arms l1 and I8 and at right angles to the latter, the yoke is provided with pivot ears 22 engaged revolubly and slidably around'the pin I5 and of such length as to support the yoke so that its arms I'| and I8 may be swung through an arc of nearly into position over the top of the side member |52 and alternatively outwardly and downwardly as denoted in Figure 4, close beside the side member |52, and obviously well below the top of the wagon frame.

It should be noted that the opposed faces of the arms I'| and |3 are spaced apart a distance substantially greater than the distance between the rearward face of the foot block |49' of the leg and the forward surface of the lug 230, so that with the screw I9 retracted forwardly Within the arm I8, when the yoke is swung inward over the wagon frame it is free for reciprocation a distance longitudinally of the wagon frame with respect to the lug 230, and the ear I4 is widely spaced rearwardly of the lug more than the thickness of the leg, permitting the front arm of the yoke t engage against the front side of the lug 230 in case of need.

In thesuse yofV this device, in unloadedicondition, the screw |9lis fully retracted intovthefarm 'f8 and secured by the lock nut or otherwise so that loss is avoided and the space between the arms and |8 fully cleared. The yoke may also hang free at the outer side of the wagon. Uponloading of the Wagon, the cannon unit having beenmoved slidably on the frame from the distant 'reareird of the latter until the leg |49 is close tdthelu'g 230 and nearly or quite in 'final engaged relation to the lug, the yoke I6 is swung upwardly and Y inwardly, being moved rearwardly on th'e Fpin T5 so that the arm mayclear the leg |49 in case the latter is not fully engaged with the lug 4230. This -brings the armsl'l and ||3 over the tfop "of the side member |52 with thescrewvl'S aligned with'the recess |2 and rearward arm-Irbehind the foot block of the leg. The lock nut-Zlfs now loosened vand the screw i9 screwed inwardly lso that its end engages in the recess1|2 andfdraws the yoke `It forwardly. Pressure ofthearml'l against the foot block |49 thereuponlr-aws the latter forwardly into snug engagement? in the recess-IU of the lug'23, the bill then being'- engaged snugly over the foot block |49eand holding the load against possibility-of `relative vertical movement on the wagon fra-me as well-aspreventing its longitudinal movementin either direction. Lateral movement of theiload is-prevented by guide means- |49 included on -the'lleg and tting within the side member1|52 as 'described in said (3o-pending application. The lock nut 2| being tightened after thescrew is inproper binding engagement with the 1ug230, the-lock'is ready'for travel.

For unloading-the reverse-operationsof the parts are carried out, and `will be understood without detailed description.

It will be understood that the construction and arrangement described and illustratedfwhilepresenting the best embodiment of the invention .leg member attached to said load unit and slid- "able on said trackway, said leg member being so VVVicon''struc'ted'iand arranged for detachable interfitting engagement with the said anchor and stop :.inemb'erfor holding said leg member against relativeY movement transverse to said trackway, a U- '/sha'ped'.- yoke, l-means on the frame adjacent said anchorand stop member for mounting said U- shape'd yoke for swinging and sliding movement whereby said yoke may be swung into operative position relative to said members to contain portions thereof; and means on said U-'shapedfyoke adapted to Contact one of said members when said yoke` is in saidvoperative position for forcing said-members together intovintertting engagement witheach other.

*2. The structure of claim 1 inwhichf the means for mounting said yoke member comprisesa pivot piny arranged llongitudinally ofthe trackway and laterally of said anchor'lugV clear of'theiloadingY prathof said unit and extended rearwardly ofthe lockingposition of said yoke the arms of said yoke-being likewise spaced more than the distal faces ofV saidleg and anchor lug whenl in loaded relation; said yoke being pivoted and 'slidavble'v on said'pin, and an extensible binding member on one arm of the yoke to engage the interposed parts when'the lyoke is in locking POSOH- PAUL s. STEVENS. MORTON SUNDNES.

l REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record-in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number lName Date E'2,336,869 Johnson Dec. 14, 1943

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