IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO THE SIGHTING OR DIRECTING THE FIRE OF ORDNANCE OR ARTILLERY
Year: 1878

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to Hubert Henry Grenfell, Commander, Royal Navy, now of
Berlin, in the Empire of Germany, for the Invention of 'IMPROVEMENTS
RELATING TO THE SIGHTING OR DIRECTING THE FIRE OF ORDNANCE OR
ARTILLERY."
Sealed the 26th July 1878, and dated the 16th February 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Hubert Henry Grenfell at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th February 1878.
HUBERT HENRY GRENFELL, Commander, Royal Navy, now of Berlin, in the
Empire of Germany. IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO THE SIGHTING OR DIRECTING
THE FIRE OF ORDNANCE OR ÅRTILLERY."
My Invention relates to a novel manner or method of connecting with or
applying to ordnance the devices for sighting or directing the fire of the same.
Heretofore the sights or devices for directing the fire have been fixed directly
and undetachably on the gun, or have been arranged separately or altogether
detached and not connected in any manner with the gun. But by and according
to my said Invention I connect the sights or sighting apparatus or devices with the
gun without attaching or fixing the same thereon, but in such a manner that any
movement in a vertical plane of the axis of the gun will cause or be accompanied
by a corresponding movement of the sights, and therefore of the imaginary line
between the sights termed "the line of sight;" that is to say, the sight or sights
must be so arranged and connected with the gun that on the one hand, any movement
given to the said sight or sights will be communicated by the connecting inechanism
to the gun in a vertical plane coincident with its axis, and on the other hand any
movement given to the said gun in this vertical plane will be communicated through
the said connecting mechanism to the sight or sights.
In practising my said Invention the sight or sights may be arranged or fixed in
any position or place independently or separately from the gun, but must in all
cases be connected with the said gun in such a manner that a movement of the one

page_text: will cause or be accompanied by a corresponding or similar movement of the other
in a vertical plane. Moreover, one set of sights may be made available for directing
the fire of any convenient number of guns.
The mechanism employed for effecting the purpose of my Invention in ordinary
cases consists of jointed levers and rods supported in suitable bearings, and connected
with the gun and the sights; but the form and arrangement of this mechanism will
vary according to peculiar construction and dimensions of the gun and its carriage,
and according to the position in which the gun is used; that is to say, whether on
board ship or in fortifications on land, and whether for turret, broadside, barbette,
or other arrangement.
In a turret fitted with two guns mounted on muzzle-pivoting carriages I use a
small rod attached to the rear end of the bar lever, which works the gun in elevation.
The lower end of this rod is attached by a crank to a small block working on a
feathered shaft fixed parallel to the slide. The foremost end of the shaft is geared
by levers and wheels to a vertical rod which passes up through the roof of the
turret and terminates in the sight.
By moving the gun in elevation the sight moves on an exactly corresponding
degree.
If desired for fitment to a barbette tower gun the connection between the gun
and sight may be made by a shaft or shafts geared to the sight at one end and to
the elevating gear or pivot round which the gun works at the other end.
I may employ steam, hydraulic, or other power in connection with the said
mechanism for operating the same to effect the required adjustment of the gun and
sighting apparatus.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Hubert Henry Grenfell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th
August 1878.
HUBERT HENRY GRENFELL, Commander, Royal Navy, now of Berlin, in the
Empire of Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO THE SIGHTING OR DIRECTING
THE FIRE OF ORDNANCE OR ARTILLERY."
My Invention relates to a novel manner or method of connecting with
or applying to ordnance the devices for sighting or directing the fire of the
same.
Heretofore the sights or devices for directing the fire have been fixed directly
and undetachably on the gun, or have been arranged separately or altogether
detached and not connected in any manner with the gun. But by and according
to my said Invention I connect the sights or sighting apparatus or devices with the
gun without attaching or fixing the same thereon, but in such a manner that any
movement in a vertical plane of the axis of the gun will cause or be accompanied
by a corresponding movement of the sights and therefore of the imaginary line
between the sights terined "the line of sight;" that is to say, the sight or sights
must be so arranged and connected with the gun that, on the one hand, any move-
ment given to the said sight or sights will be communicated by the connecting
mechanism to the gun in a vertical plane coincident with its axis, and on the other
hand any movement given to the said gun in this vertical plane will be communi-
cated through the said connecting mechanism to the sight or sights.
In practising my said Invention the sight or sights may be arranged or fixed in
any position or place independently or separately from the gun, but must in all
cases be connected with the said gun in such a manner that a movement of the one
will cause or be accompanied by a corresponding or similar movement of the other
in a vertical plane. Moreover, one set of sights may be made available for directing
the fire of any convenient number of guns.
The mechanism employed for effecting the purpose of my Invention in ordinary
cases consists of jointed levers and rods supported in suitable bearings, and connected
with the gun and the sights; but the form and arrangement of this mechanism will
vary according to the peculiar construction and dimensions of the gun and its
carriage, and according to the position in which the gun is used; that is to say,
whether on board ship or in fortifications on land, and whether for turret, broadside,
barbette, or other arrangement.
As an illustration of the manner in which my Invention may be carried into
practise, I have shewn in the accompanying Drawing an arrangement of mechanism
for applying my Invention to a gun mounted on a muzzle-pivotting carriage, in
which arrangement a small rod connected to the rear end of the barbette works the
gun in elevation. The lower end of this rod is attached by a crank to a small
block working on a shaft arranged parallel to the slide. The fore end of this shaft
is connected by levers, and which, gearing to a vertical rod which passes up through
the roof of the turret to the sight.
If desired, in adapting my Invention to a barbette tower gun the connection
between the gun and sight may be effected by a shaft or shafts geared at one end
with the sight and at the other end with the elevating gear or the pivot around
which the gun works.
I may employ steam, hydraulic, or other power in connection with the said
mechanism for operating the same to effect the required adjustment of the gun and
sighting apparatus.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, and the manner of performing

page_text: the same,
I wish it understood that I claim, the improved manner or method of
connecting with or applying to ordnance the devices or means for sighting or
directing the fire of the same as above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Hubert Henry Grenfell, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
H. H. GRENFELL. (L.S.)