Patent GB-146485-A (GB)
Title: Fire control apparatus particularly intended for naval guns
IPC: F41G5/16
Filed: 1920-07-05
Abstract: 146,485. Krupp Akt.-Ges., F. June 26, 1917, [Convention date]. Ordnance, discharging by means external to breech mechanism; sights. - Relates to distant control apparatus in which provision is made for the delay in firing, and consists in connecting one of the adjustable parts of the firing mechanism to a distant stabilized sighting device so that it reproduces the movements thereof, and in mounting the other part on a member that moves with the gun-barrel. In the form shown in Fig. 1 a casing A stabilized by a gyroscope is adapted to be rotated on an axis B by worm-gearing d<2>, a<1>. Rigid with the shaft B is a telescope b<1> fast with a sector b<2> geared with the transmitter C of a distant control apparatus, the receiver G of which is mounted on the gun carriage F and controls through gearing g<1>, g<2>, h<1> an arm H mounted loosely on the axis of the trunnion J. This arm has a forked upper end, Fig. 3, the prongs h<2>, h<3> which are adapted to co-operate with pivoted arms i<3>, i<18> mounted in a casing J<2> on the trunnion. Gearing from a motor K drives a shaft i<7>, Fig. 2, at a uniform speed, the arrangement being such that when the arm h<3> trips the member i<18>, a cam i<20> is coupled to the shaft i<7>. and by its rotation displaces an arm i<21> rigid with the arm i<3>, so that this is caused to be angularly displaced relatively to the arm i<18>. In operation, when there is no roll of ship, the telescope is layed on the target, the distant control apparatus causing the arm H to move in accordance with it. The gyroscope casing A is then turned through the angle of tangent elevation, and this also transmitted to the arm H. The gun is then elevated until the arm h<3> touches the arm i<18> and the shot is fired. If the ship is rolling, the gun may be discharged when the ship is in its middle floating position, or the rolling of the ship may be employed to bring the gun to the correct elevation, without operation of the elevating-gear. In either case, the firing circuit must be closed in advance of the instant at which the gun acquires the correct elevation, to compensate for the delay in firing. This is effected by the mechanism in the casing J<2>. The tripping of the arm i<18> by the stabilized arm h<3> as the ship rolls causes the arm i<3> to move away from the arm h<2> initially owing to the. action of the cam i<20>, but the design of the cam is such that the arm h<2> overtakes the arm i<3> and thereby closes the firing circuit in a position which lies by the amount of the desired preliminary ignition angle in advance of the point in which the gun barrel assumes the before-described elevation. Means is described for preventing the arms h<2> and h<3> from contacting with the arms i<3> and i<18> when the arm H moves in the sense reverse to that indicated by the arrow x. A modification is described in which instead of being mounted on the carriage F, the receiver G is mounted on the gun trunnion J and is controlled both by the distant transmitter C and by a transmitter mounted on the gun carriage and actuated by the movement of the gun in elevation. In another modification, a receiver G is employed mounted on the trunnion J and connected to the arm H through a sun-and-planet gear. Specifications 27430/03, 28750/04, 8941/10, 11774/10 and 30184/10 are referred to.