Patent GB-960180-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to guns for firing at moving targets
IPC: F41G5/06
Filed: 1952-08-13
Abstract: 960,180. Ordnance. B. A. J. TEN BRINK. Aug. 13, 1952 [Aug. 15, 1951], No. 20406/52. Heading F3C. The elevating and training devices of a gun are controlled by an electric firing circuit and by a hand-operated member adjusted according to the direction of movement of the target. The arrangement is such that after the adjustment of the said member the closing of the firing circuit will first result in the firing of a shot and then an automatic rapid movement of the barrel and sighting device ahead of the target. Sighting devices.-Two sighting devices are., provided, both being carried by a rod 28, Figs. 1 and 2, mounted on a pin 27 which passes through a block 26, the latter being carried by a link 12 which always remains parallel to the axis of the gun barrel 1. One sighting device comprises a fixed rear sight 33 and a movable foresight 34 in the form of a small window which is movable along guides in a transparent member 35. This member 35 extends radially from a tube 36 which can rotate in a tube 37 carried by a part 29 of the rod 28. By rotating a handle 41 about a pivot 40 a toothed sector 39 on the handle, by meshing with a gear 38 on the tube 36, will cause the member 35 to rotate, and in use this will be oriented so that to the gunner viewing through the sight 33 it appears to concide with the line of flight of the target. The angle of lead is obtained by rotating the handle 41 about its own axis, such movement, by means of gear 43, rack 44, wire 46, wire 49, and a weak spring 51, all arranged as shown, serving to adjust the position of the window 34. Gravity drop is accounted for by adjusting the sighting device so that a pointer 31 on shaft 27 lies opposite a calculated reading on a scale 32. The two adjustments of the handle also serve by means of cables 56, 59 to position angularly and radially the position of an opening 54, associated with the lens 52 and photo-electric cell of the second sighting device. Training and elevating mechanisms.-Training and elevating of the gun are effected by motors 21, 17, respectively, the shafts of which carry rubber wheels 22, 19, frictionally engaging discs 20, 18, which take the place of the usual training and elevating hand wheels. The direction and speed of the motors are controlled by the positioning of a universally mounted rod 23 which, in addition, carries a firing button 25. General circuit.-As shown diagrammatically in Fig. 4, the rod 23 can be moved to rotate either or both of two shafts 60, 62, each carrying a number of contacts associated with contact arcs in circuit with the motors 17, 21. Taking the .circuit of the motor 17, this includes a contact arm adapted to sweep over arcs containing resistances 72, 73, adapted to control the speed of the motor, arms 65, 66 sweeping over arcs 76, 77, 78, 79, arranged as shown to control the direction in which the motor rotates, and an arm 67 moving over an arc 91. Similar arms and contacts are associated with the shaft 62 and motor 21. The circuits also include a battery 176, resistance 97 with a cut-out 98, and members 84, 88 associated with the brushes of the motor armatures 87, 90, the members 98, 84, 88 being controlled by a slowrelease relay 86. Action.-By a suitable positioning of the rod 23 driving the elevating and training motors, and by suitable adjustments of the handle 41 of the sight, the gun and sight can be moved from a position ahead of the target towards the target in such manner that the target appears to move along a sighting line on member 35 until it coincides with window 34. By pressing the firing button 25 in circuit with a firing device 105 one or more shots can be fired at the target, the closing of this circuit at the same time energizing a relay 96 serving to actuate two switches 95, 106. Movement of the switch 95 opens the circuits of two motors 17, 21, which are of such type that they stop almost immediately so that the gun remains stationary during firing. Switch 106 closes a circuit to charge a condenser 108. When the firing button is released, the switches 95, 106 return to the position shown, and the condenser 108 discharges to actuate the relay 86 which actuates the members 98, 84, 88. By this means the circuit to the motors, now closed by the return movement of switch 95, causes a reversal of the motors 17, 21, and hence of the gun, this movement (during which the gun moves ahead of the target) being at a speed greater than the previous movements by the short-circuiting of the resistance 97. In a modification, the relay 86 is used to disconnect the members controlled by the rod 23 and the relay, and would serve to switch in other control voltages for the motors, such voltages being related to the orientation of the strip 35. Referring to the construction shown, the parts return to the position illustrated when the action of relay 86 ceases. With a switch 100 of the firing circuit in another position, the second sighting device 30 comes into operation, the firing taking place by influence of the fluctuations in the current produced, such current being amplified and transformed into impulses of a determined duration in a device 110, whereby the number of shots fired can be regulated.