Patent GB-190615877-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to Devices for Facilitating Musketry Instruction and Indicating Shots made.
Inventor: CUMING ARTHUR JOHN
Filed: 1906-07-13
Granted: 1907-07-13
Abstract: 1 5 , 8 7 7. Cuming, A. J. July 13. Range-finders.-Relates to apparatus for recording the result of the aim of a gun upon a distant target without the use of a projectile. A range - finder of the Fiske type is used in connexion with the apparatus. Adjustable upon a pedestal b is a bracket c' carrying a tube d on the back end of which is a back-sight d<2> capable of being rotated into a position alinable with a mark on the centre of a glass plate d', so that when the points are in line with the object aimed at, one line of sight of a range-finder is secured, the other line being taken through sights e', e<2> on a rod e carried by the tube d. The rod e being correctly sighted, the range may be read off on a scale provided. Universally mounted at g<1> upon the tube d is a tube g upon which is pivoted a counterweighted frame e<3>, e<6>. The rod e is hinged to this frame at e<8> and is adjustable thereon by a screw e<7> whereby the rod can be sighted. The tube g is connected by a ball- and-socket or gimbal joint g<2> to a flexible diaphragm g<3> of rubber, leather, for steel mounted on the tube d. To the diaphragm is attached a cell g<4> containing a solenoid whereby when the gun is fired, a rod g<5> is pulled forward so as to mark a paper target carried by the plate d'. The targets may be in roll form or in loose sheets. The gun is attached to the rod e by means of clips shown in Fig. 4, that at the nozzle having a screw for providing vertical adjustment. The members f<3>, f<6> carrying the gun are held in spring jaws f<4>. The gun is adjusted so that lines through the sights e', e', d<1>, d<2> and the gun sights all converge on the same distant object. In using the apparatus for finding the range, the frame e<3>, e<6> and bearing g' are rotated upon the tube d, so that the stay e<3> rests upon the bracket c<1>, in which case, the sight d<2> is rotated so as to be in the same horizontal plane as the sight e'. A rest supports the gun when it is not being held by the operator. Two gimbals or ball-and-socket joints connected together may be employed so as to correct the action of the pointer g<5> which is the reverse of that of the gun. In a modification, the plate d' may be capable of magnetization, so that when energized it causes the marking motion of the pointer g<5>. A modification of the gun attachment is described in which the spring clips are dispensed with. The tube d may be mounted to slide on the pedestal b and may be balanced so that it may be free to set itself at any height according to the position of the gun. Telescopes may form part of the apparatus, an eye-piece being arranged on an extension of the tube d beyond the plate d<1> or the eyepiece may replace the plate. An eyepiece may be added at right-angles to the tube,d so that a sight may be taken from the side. When the eyepiece replaces the plate d<1>, the pointer g<5> will mark against the image of the target ; in this case, the pointer is arranged to be normally held back from the eyepiece by a solenoid acting against a spring. The recording-apparatus may be arranged to be operated by the instructor on-the command 'fire,' so as to obtain a record independent of that produced when the marksman actually fires. The Provisional Specification describes a modified arrangement of the recording-mecbanism in which the gun is secured to a tube containing another tube connected by two universal joints with the marking-pointer ; means for making the target by a sparking-device, the magnetized plate being dispensed with ; a jointed recording-mechanism fixed to a plate projecting from the target, the pointer consisting of two tubes, the one containing the pointer being constantly in contact with the magnetized plate, and a third member operated by a rod from the gun.