16 
THE NEW AUSTRIAN FIELD GUNS. 
(4) The Elevating Arrangement* * * § (Fig. 18) has a species of differential 
screw. It consists of the outer left-handed wrought-iron screw [a, Fig. 18), 
the interior right-handed screw, b, of steel, the hand wheel, cl, the elevating 
screw socket, c, and the elevating fork ,f. 
The interior screw 7 , b, has a flat head, and is secured to the elevating fork 
(as shown) by a bolt. The outer ends of this fork are secured on the 
interior of the cheeks to a bolt passing between the latter. The thread of 
exterior screw 7 , a, fits into that of the socket, c, which. is free to move in a 
vertical plane, being pivoted between the cheeks. The upper end of a is 
furnished with the handwheel, d. 
The arrangement allows of very rapid elevation or depression. For, sup¬ 
posing the handle, cl, to be turned to the right, the exterior screw tends to 
elevate; at the same time, as the fork,/, prevents any movement of trans¬ 
lation of the screw, b, this latter must also rotate as the exterior (with the 
nut, c) swings, and thus it also gives elevation. The opposite action, of 
course, occurs when the handle is turned to the left. 
To prevent the screw running down when the gun is moved, the handle 
is then firmly secured by means of a strap, the end of which is fastened to 
one of the axletree boxes. 
This apparatus can give an elevation of 24° and a depression of 9° (10°). 
(5) The wheels f resemble closely our own Madras wheels,J consisting 
of bronze nave in two pieces, 12 spokes of oak, 6 ashen felloes, an iron 
ring tire, and a bronze removable bearing for axletree arm. 
The bronze nave is in two parts, each consisting of a cylindrical portion 
joined to a plate—-the latter being pierced near the circumference with a 
number of holes corresponding to that of the spokes. In the cylindrical 
portion is placed a hoop or cylinder of chilled bronze, as a bearing for 
axletree arm. This can readily be changed when necessary. 
The spokes are so formed that when their lower ends are assembled round 
the bronze pipe-box and between the plates, they form with the latter a 
complete solid nave. They are then secured by passing through the holes 
in the plates and through the centre of the lower end of each spoke an iron 
bolt, which is nutted on the exterior of the outer plate.§ 
The outer-end ends of the spokes are fastened, as with us, into the felloes, 
and the ring tire is secured over the latter by means of six screw-bolts and 
nuts. 
The linchpins (g, Fig. 17), which secure the wheels on the axletree arms/ 
have broad flat cross-heads, making their withdrawal very easy* 
ft. c. 
Width of track .. 5’02 (153) 
Diameter of wheels ... 4'49 (137) 
Dish of wheels . 0T23 (3*75) 
when the axis of the gun is horizontal and the piece fully equipped. 
* This exactly resembles that used with the German field gun, 
p Weight of wheel, 9 C -166lbs. (76 k ), 8 e -148lbs. (68 k ). The wheels of the guns are, however, 
interchangeable if required. The scantling of those for the 8 C is- smaller, and the wheels therefore 
not so strong. 
+ Though it will be seen that they differ as to securing of lower ends of spokes in the have. 
§ In this it will be seen they differ much from our oavu. 
