Patent GB-791037-A (GB)
Title: A new or improved action speed tactical teacher
IPC: G09B9/00
Filed: 1954-10-08
Abstract: 791,037. Warfare teaching. RESEARCH ENGINEERS, Ltd., GOODHART, G. C., GLADSTONE, W. S., LAURENCE SCOTT & ELECTROMOTORS, Ltd., PLATT, J. M., BUCKINGHAM, J. and BURNSIDE, W., (Goodhart, A. G. J.). Jan. 9, 1956 [Oct. 8, 1954], No. 29130/54. Class 119 Apparatus for providing synthetic exercises in tactical naval manoeuvres comprises a projection screen, a series of projectors, each under the control of a trainee for projecting a spot of light on to the screen, a radar simulator, i.e. viewing apparatus for each trainee for giving him directly or indirectly a view of an area of the screen which he would have in actual practice by radar from the particular size and type of craft which his spot of light is intended to represent, and course and speed mechanism under the control of each trainee for controlling the direction of movement and speed of the spot of light over the screen in correct proportion to and within the range of speed and manoeuvre of the craft represented by the spot of light. Behind the screen, which may be of the bead type, is a second screen of trans-' parent material so that the various spots of light projected on to the main screen will be observable from the back of the second screen and the movement of each spot traced on the second screen with coloured chalk to provide a record of all manoeuvres for subsequent examination and analysis. Each trainee occupies a separate cubicle containing the projector and the course and speed mechanism and the radar simulator may comprise an optical, telescope fixed to the projector giving the trainee. a direct view of an area of the screen. Alternatively in a large installation when direct viewing of 'the screen is not possible, the projectors are arranged in a bank remote but controlled from the cubicles, each trainee obtaining information as to the position of the spots of light within radar range from an electrical radar simulator in his cubicle. For training in torpedo tactics additional mechanism is provided for projecting on to the screen an arc of light representing the maximum spread of a torpedo salvo and moving away from the point of firing, i.e. a spot of light, in the correct direction and at the correct speed, this direction and speed being maintained irrespective of the movements of the spot of light subsequent to "firing". As shown in Fig. 3 the projector for the spot of light and the optical radar simulator is formed as a unit comprising a tube 13 containing a projection lamp and lens system, a telescope 14, the axes of the telescope and projector tubes being so disposed that the spot of light will always appear in the centre of the optical system of the telescope. The angular movement of the telescope and projector system is under the control of horizontal and vertical lead screws 16, 17 operated by electric motors controlled by the operation of a course and speed unit. The optical system of the telescope includes two graticules, one 18, Fig. 6, marked with compass points and being fixed, the other 19 being calibrated radially in units of distance. The graticule 19 is rotated by a hand wheel 20 so that the trainee can read off the range and bearing of any spot of light indicating another ship which appears within his range of vision. The vertical lead screws 17 are operated through gearng by an electric motor 35 and the horizontal lead screws 16 by an electric motor 36 both these motors being controlled by the speed and helm controls in the cubicle via a transmitter in the plotting table of the cubicle. The helm and speed control unit also incorporates gear changing mechanism to adapt the apparatus to simulate, as regards speed and rate of turn against helm. the particular class of ship which the spot of light is intended to represent. The torpedo projector unit comprises an optical system whose axis coincides with the spot of light at the screen and consists of a single projection lens (not shown), four graticules 50-53, Fig. 7, and condenser lenses, lamp and reflecting mirror also not shown. The glass graticule 50 is a fine transparent spiral on an opaque background, graticule 51 is a single turn coarse spiral cut in a thin metal diaphragm and the graticules 52, 53 are then diaphragms with triangular segmens cut therein. Graticules 52, 53 indicates on the screen the spread of a torpedo salvo whilst graticules 50, 51 indicate the run of the salvo. Graticules 50, 51 are geared together and are driven by an electric motor 56 and the graticules 52, 53 are driven separately by motors 57, 58. Motors 35a, 36a, controlled by the helm and speed controls ensure that normally the torpedo projector will follow the course of the spot of light representing the ship but on "firing" transmission to the motors 35a, 36a is cut, the torpedo projector becomes stationary and movement of the arc of light representing the salvo will be in a straight line and independent of the movement of the spot of light. When the torpedo projector is following the spot of light before "firing", all four graticules rotate together, their drive motors 56, 57, 58 receiving compass transmission from the speed and helm unit, but this transmission also ceases on "firing", and at the same time the drive motors receive transmission from three transmitters in a torpedo control unit in accordance with the range, speed, direction and spread settings for the salvo. Four control wheels are operated by the trainee for setting in these values. On "firing", the arc of light must move uniformly across the screen and this is effected by change-gear mechanism which causes the multi-turn spiral graticule 50 to rotate at a speed greater than that of the single turn spiral graticule 51. Mechanism is provided for re-aligning the torpedo projector with the projector for the spot of light after completion of the run of the torpedo salvo.