In order to reduce friction during the traversing operation the carriage rests on the axle through Belleville springs and two concave faced traversing rollers mounted on roller shafts in the axle housing. When gun is fired the Belleville springs are compressed and the carriage rests on the axle through the bronze traversing roller boxes.
On top of axle projecting to the left of carriage is riveted an azimuth scale graduated in mils so that the position of the carriage on the axle may easily be seen at any time. When in traveling position the carriage should be locked to the axles by the axle traveling lock, thus relieving the traversing mechanism from unnecessary stress.
155 MM HOWITZER, MODEL OF 1918 (SCHNEIDER)
TRAVERSING MECHANISM
The axle traveling lock is a device employed to relieve the traversing mechanism from unnecessary stress when the carriage is in traveling position. When the carriage is prepared for traveling the traveling lock engages a series of square grooves cut in the center of the axle. The lock is operated by an eccentric on the end of the traveling lock shaft which is controlled by the lock lever fixed on outer end. The lock lever may be placed in two positions marked “to travel” and “to fire,” by means of its handle which is provided with a spring plunger engaging the traveling lock catch. In order to properly lock the carriage in traveling position it is necessary to traverse the carriage to the center position on the axle, thus permitting the locking device to engage the grooves cut in the center of the axle.
The air pump is furnished for the purpose of charging and maintaining the necessary pressure in the counter recoil reservoirs. When in operation it is attached to a bracket on the carriage by means of a screw clamp and connected to the reservoir by the filling pipe. The pump will operate against a pressure of 400 to 600 pounds per square inch.
The liquid pump is a single-acting-plunger used for charging the counter-recoil system and for the purpose of replenishing losses of liquid from the cylinders. Power is applied through a hand lever connected by parallel links and a cross-beam at the lower end of the piston. The hand lever is detachable and also used in connection with the air pump. When in operation the pump is attached to a bracket on the carriage by means of a screw clamp. The filling pipe is employed to connect the liquid pump with the recuperator cylinder.
The reservoir for compressed gas is a commercial seamless cylinder with a capacity of 2,842 cubic inches and is charged with nitrogen gas at a working pressure of 2,000 pounds per square inch (140 kilograms per square centimeter). The reservoir is provided with a needle valve and a connection for the pressure gage or filling pipe. This cylinder is used for charging the counter-recoil system and may be carried on the artillery supply truck furnished with 155-mm organizations.
155 MM HOWITZER, MODEL OF 1918 (SCHNEIDER)
AIR AND LIQUID PUMPS