Patent GB-352035-A (GB)
Title: Automatic sighting and directing devices for torpedoes, guns and other apparatus
IPC: F41G7/00
Filed: 1929-12-21
Abstract: 352,035. Optical apparatus. TIHANYI, K., 324, Juranies telep D.l.Úp, Budapest. Dec. 21, 1929, No. 39195. Convention date, Dec. 16. [Class 97 (i).] Relates to devices for automatically directing telescopes, range-finders, &c., in which an image of the target is distributed on one or more light or heat sensitive cells connected in a balanced circuit, the movement of the target producing out of balance currents which actuate steering mechanism. The invention consists in providing means for automatically varying the angle of vision in accordance with the size of the image of the target. Varying the angle of vision. Two cells 93, 94, Fig. 17, are connected, or feed valves 96, 97, connected in a balanced circuit such as a Wheatstone bridge. One cell 93 is illuminated by an image 98 of the target and the other cell is illuminated by an image of an empty portion of the field of the target. Should the size of the image of the target increase, the balance of the bridge is disturbed and the resulting out of balance current, after amplification at 95, actuates a variable diaphragm such as in Fig. 15 by rotating one or both of the apertured discs 88, 89. Steering in one plane. In the complete device of Fig. 12 an image of the target 2 is reflected from a mirror 67 through a biprism 9 on to cells 59, 60, 61 of which the cells 59, 60 control the diaphragm 57 as described above. The cells 60, 61 are connected in a balanced circuit and out of balance currents produced by the movements of the target and amplified at 68 may steer the torpedo &c. or may actuate a mirror 67 which distributes light from a source 51 on to two cells 65, 69. The cells 65, 69 are balanced and out of balance currents after amplification at 64 may control the steering mechanism. The relay comprising mirror 67 and cells 65, 69 may be duplicated to add sensitivity and need not be an optical system. Short-wave electromagnetic radiation may be used and controlled by the currents from amplifier 62. This device steers in one plane only. The biprism 9 may be replaced by mirrors or an internally reflecting prism. The cells 60, 61 may comprise bolometer threads 34, 35, Fig. 8, rotating in the plane of the image and connected by commutators into the arms of a Wheatstone bridge. Spatial steering. By distributing the image over four cells 30 .. 33, Fig. 7, connected in pairs in two balanced circuits such as Wheatstone bridges, movements of the target produce two out of balance currents which are used to control the steering in two planes at right-angles. The photo-electric cells 30 .. 33 are enclosed in a common vacuum and have a common cathode 19. A slotted shutter may rotate before the cells, exposing each cell in turn to the image. Circuit arrangements. The cells for producing steering currents and those for controlling the diaphragm may be combined as in Fig. 18 in which the cells 60, 61 control the diaphragm and the cells 59, 61 control the steering. Details. The device may be enclosed in heat or magnetic protective casings and may have electrical instruments mounted on it or contacts for such instruments. The device may be fitted to be controlled by radiation from the sending station for at least part of the time. The target may be irradiated with energy to which the device is particularly sensitive.