An Improved Range Finder for Gunnery and other Purposes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 8th June, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 1st Nov., 1894-Accepted, 5th Jan.. 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Range Finder for Gunnery and other Purposes.
I, GEOFFREY HENEBERY, of Ballinlaw, Ferrybank, Waterford, in the County
of Kilkenny, Ireland, Master Mariner, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
+
This invention is for the purpose of providing an easy method of finding
distances, either on sea or land by means of a simple mechanical contrivance
whereby either one or two persons can take the necessary observations in getting
the distance from any object, moving or stationary.
The instrument consists of a graduated bar forming a base, upon which and at.
one end there is fixed an upright standard carrying a sight vane or telescope with a
vertical hair in the centre, and fixed perfectly at right angles to the graduated bar
or base.
'
Sliding along the graduated bar is another sight vane or telescope, fixed at an
angle so that the line of sight intersects the line of sight of the first mentioned right
angled sight vane or telescope. Upon the bar is also placed a sliding clamp
through which an adjusting screw passes, one end of the said screw being attached
to the sliding part or foot to which the angular sight vane is attached so that when
the clamp is secured to the graduated bar, the fine adjustment may be made
by revolving a screwed and milled nut upon the before-mentioned adjusting screw.
Projecting jaws upon the clamp with the milled nut between them and the
adjusting screw passing through eyes in the jaws enables the adjustment to be
made.
When a distance is to be taken, the object is sighted through the right angled
telescope and also through the moving angular sight vane or telescope, the clamp
and sight vane being moved along the graduated bar for this purpose.. Fine
adjustment is secured by fixing the clamp and revolving the milled nut before
described. The bar is suitably graduated along its entire length, the distance from
the object corresponding with the angle taken by the instrument, the markings on
the graduated bar showing the distance the observer is from the object at any
point where the line of sight intersects. The graduations which I prefer to make
are those suitable for heavy gun practice and represent yards. Each inch upon the
scale would indicate 500 yards, so that a distance of say 5000 yards would equal
10 inches upon the graduated base. Each inch is again subdivided into ten-tenths
representing 50 yards each.
When the angular sliding sight vane with the foot to which it is attached is
brought to the required position, the fine measurements are read off from, vernier
engraved on the side of a longitudinal slot made in the upper face of the sliding foot
and to which the angular sight vane is attached.
The whole of the arrangement is mounted on any convenient tripod or fixed
support, such as a ship's bridge rail or its equivalent. The angle of the sliding
sight vane is adjusted, and permanently fixed to the required degrees, as may be
determined according to the distances engraved upon the base or graduated bar..
1
1004

page_text: An Improved Range Finder for Gunnery and other Purposes.
I, GEOFFREY HENEBERY of Ballinlaw, Ferrybank, Waterford, in the County
of Kilkenny, Ireland, Master Mariner, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of this invention is to provide an easy method of finding distances
either on sea or land, by means of a simple mechanical contrivance, whereby either
one or two persons can take necessary observations in getting the distance from any
object moving or stationary.
The instrument consists of a graduated bar A, forming a base upon which and at
one end is fixed an upright standard carrying a sight vane or telescope B, with a
vertical hair in the centre, and fixed perfectly at right angles to the graduated bar
or base. Sliding along the graduated bar is another sight vane or telescope C,
fixed at an angle so that the line of sight intersects the line of sight of the first
mentioned right angled sight vane or telescope B. Upon the bar is also placed an
adjustable sliding clamp D, through which an adjusting screw E passes, one end of
the said screw being attached to the sliding part or foot C¹ to which the angular
sight vane C is attached, so that when the clamp is screwed to the graduated bar,
the fine adjustment may be made by revolving a screwed and milled nut F upon the
before-mentioned adjusting screw. Projecting jaws upon the clamp with the milled
nut between them and the adjusting screw passing through eyes in the jaws, enable
the adjustment to be made.
When a distance is to be taken, the object is sighted through the right angled
telescope B, and also through the moving angular sight vane or telescope C, the
clamp and sight vane being moved along the graduated bar to effect this purpose,
the fine adjustment being made by fixing the clamp D and revolving the milled
nut F before described. The bar A is suitably graduated along its entire length,
the distance from the object corresponding with the angle taken by the instrument
and the markings on the graduated bar showing the distance the observer is from
the object at any point where the lines of sight intersect. The graduations which
I prefer to use on the bar A, are suitable for heavy gun practice and represent
yards. Each inch upon the scale would indicate 500 yards, so that a distance of,
say, 5000 yards, would be indicated by 10 inches on the graduated bar. Each inch
is again subdivided into one-tenths, representing 50 yards each.
When the angular sliding sight vane or telescope C with the foot C' to which it
is attached, is brought to the required position, the fine measurements are read off
from a vernier engraved on the side of a longitudinal slot G made in the upper face
of the sliding foot and to which the angular sight vane is attached.
The whole of the arrangement is mounted on any convenient tripod H, as
in Figure 2, or on a fixed support, such as a ship's bridge rail or its equivalent, as
in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a plan of the bar and télescopes.
The angle of the sliding sight vane is adjusted and permanently fixed to the
required degree as may be determined according to the distances engraved upon the
base or graduated bar.
The standards are shewn as being of different heights. The object of this
difference is to provide for both telescopes being used at the same moment when the
standards are close together. The difference in height is therefore about that of a
head.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
The combination of graduated bar and fixed and adjustable telescopes or sight
PHILLIPS & Leigh,
No. 22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.