Patent GB-374058-A (GB)
Abstract: 374,058. Anti-aircraft gunnery. VICKERS-ARMSTRONGS, Ltd. and WATSON, J. P., Vickers House, Broadway, Westminster. Dec. 1, 1930, No. 36190. [Class 92 (ii).] Relates to anti-aircraft fire-control apparatus of the kind employing a calculator which indicates or transmits to the guns the data for laying the guns on the target, and consists in providing means for correcting the angles of elevation or training derived from a directorsight for the vertical or lateral errors due to rolling of the gun platform, and for comparing the corrected or stabilized angles of elevation or training with the elevation or training angles produced by the calculator whereby the latter may be kept properly adjusted. In the apparatus shown, the target is followed by the director-sight A and the unstabilized angles of elevation and training are transmitted to motors A<2>, B<2> respectively. A calculator of the kind described in Specifications 236,250 and 236,251, [both in Class 92 (ii), Ordnance &c.], when adjusted by hand-wheels c, d, drives by means of motor K the shafts C, D in accordance with the angles of elevation and training corrected for speed of target, which angles are independent of the roll. The stabilized angle of gun elevation appears at a pointer A<x> driven by a shaft a<7> after the motions conveyed by the motor A<2> have been corrected for " elevation-roll " by differential gear A<3>, " own-speed" by differential gear A<4>, and " inclined trunnion axis by differential gear A<5>. Similarly the stabilized angle of gun training appears at a pointer B<x> driven by a shaft b<7> after the motions conveyed by the motor B2 have been corrected for " yaw " by differential gear B<3>, " own-speed " by differential gear B4, and " inclined trunnion axis " by differential gear B<5>. The shafts C, D of the calculator drive pointers Cx, D<x> contiguous to the pointers Ax, B<x>. After the calculator has been set to the " present " angles of gun elevation and training by means of tuning handles C<1>, D<1> which adjust the pointers C<x>, D<x> into register with the pointers A<x>, B<x>, the vertical and lateral deflection handles c, d are adjusted to keep the pointers C<x>, D<x> moving at the same rate as the pointers A<x>, B<x> whereby the calculator is kept properly adjusted. The determination of roll is effected by four telescopes F, G, H, J which sight the horizon. The sight roll along and at rightangles to the line of sight is measured by telescopes F, H mounted at right-angles to one another on a support F<1> moved in azimuth from the shaft b<7>. Handles f, h actuate mirrors F<0>, H<0> to keep the line of sight on the horizon and such movements are conveyed to the differential gears A<3>, A<5>, B<5>. Similar telescopes G, J are mounted on a frame G<1> adjustable in azimuth by a shaft g<1> moved in accordance with the stabilized. angle of gun training, and handles g, j adjust mirrors G<0>, J<0> whereby the roll along and at right-angles to the gun axis is determined. The roll differences are conveyed to differential gears F<x>, J<5>, J<7> whereby they are communicated to transmitters A<7>, B<7> which convey the angle of elevation and training to the gun. Camoids H<2>, H<3>, J<2>, J3 apply the corrections to elevation and training for inclined trunnion axis. The movements of handles c, d are conveyed to the transmitters A<7>, B<7> by differential gears C<2>, D<2>. An artificial horizon formed by a gyrostatically stabilized mirror or disc may be used instead of the natural horizon. Fig. 3 shows a plotting device used in place of the pointers A<x>, C<x> or B<x>, D<x>. The pencil C<xx>, operated with respect to a constantly movable band X<1> by the calculator, plots a line which is adjusted to fall on the line plotted by a pencil A<xx> driven from the shaft a7. Specification 374,059 also is referred to.