PRECISION APPARATUS FOR EXACT AIMING GUNS AND EXACT SHOOTING
Year: 1884

page_text: 11
I, JOSEPH LIVTCHAK of Wilna in the Russian Empire School Teacher do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for PRECISION APPARATUS FOR EXACT
AIMING GUNS AND EXACT SHOOTING," 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 the present invention is to give to fire arms any desired position
and direction in such manner that it shall not be affected either by a shock or
blow or by firing off the same, the fire arm retaining the same position and
direction as it had previous to being fired off. This is effected under the condition
that the fire arm is not fixed immovably to the apparatus, but may move in the
direction of the recoil so that after being fired off it only requires to be moved
forward up to a certain indicating mark. This apparatus is specially suitable, for
practising recruits in the art of taking good aim, all errors being indicated; for the
trial of fire arms and for ascertaining the ballistic properties of the same, also for
the trial of ammunition. By the introduction of some slight alterations this
apparatus may be employed as an automatic Shooting apparatus in the defence of
fortresses.
Referring to the accompanying Sheet of illustrative drawings in the whole of the
figures of which similar letters of reference indicate like parts:
The complete apparatus is mounted on a triangular frame A provided at the
angles with iron plates projecting downwards which are pressed into the ground
and so maintain the apparatus firmly fixed in position so as to be immovable. At
the front angle of the frame is a plate a with aperture a¹, in which latter is
mounted an universal joint L with three pivots B D, E, at right angles to each
other. The pivot E carries one end x of the fire arm holder F. This latter
consists of a rigid bar at the back end of which are two parallel vertical plates or
sides m bent in at top at right angles to the plates. These form a slide way and
receive the back part 0 of the fire arm. Towards the middle part of the fire arm
holder F is a second support V for the fire arm. At each side of the frame of which
the plates m form a part is a lug or projecting part G having a screw threaded hole
for the reception of its respective set screw H. These screws bear at their ends in
recesses formed in the plate K which may be moved either to the right or left hand
and also fixed by means of a screw T (passing through a slot in the bed plate N)
I Prise 617

page_text: and wing nut f. The screws H serve for the vertical and horizontal adjustment of
the back end of the fire arm holder F. Previous to placing the fire arm in the
apparatus, the clamp O is fixed on the back part of the same, as shewn in Fig 2 of
the drawings.
The clamp O (Fig 4) is made in the form of an open frame its open side being
closed when necessary by the cross piece i pin jointed at one end and at the other
fixed by means of a removable pin. At the middle of the cross piece i is fixed a
saddle or block z capable of displacement in an upward and downward direction by
the screw k. At the upper part of the clamp (on each side) are pivots p, p, in
which are also fitted set screws . To fix the clamp O on the fire arm, the cross
piece is let down on its pin joint, the clamp is laid over the arm in the required
place and then closed with the cross piece by means of a removable pin. This
being done the clamp is rigidly fixed to the fire arm by means of the screw k and
saddle or block z in conjunction with the two set screws k¹. The fire arm is
then laid at its forward part on the support V and its back part with the
clamp O in the slide way of the plates or frame m m so that it is carried by the
pivots p p.
The axis of the fire arm in the aforesaid position forms a small angle with the
plane of the slide way in consequence of which every change lengthwise in the
position of the fire arm produces an alteration in the angle or height of the
elevation.
For the purpose of determining the desired angle of elevation holes are provided
on each side of the slide way m, m, the desired angle of elevation being obtained
by placing a stud pin in the corresponding hole against which pin one of the
pivots p, p, bears. It is of course obvious that the stud pin must be placed in
front of the pivot in order to allow the fire arm to recoil freely when fired off.
The side plates v encircling the pivots p, p, on the claimp O serve for exactly guiding
or carrying the clamp on the slide way.
At the side of the plate K an excentric with pointer is arranged to turn on a
small plate provided with a scale. The plate together with the excentric may be
moved sidewise to and fro and may be fixed by a screw to the slotted base plate N.
The excentric arrangement has a double purpose: it allows of a very small lateral
displacement of plate K and of the fire arm placed in the apparatus and it also
allows of the said displacement being precisely measured by means of the pointer
and scale, which is a very important advantage for the trial of fire arms as further
hereinafter described. In the case of employing the apparatus in forts or fortified
places as an automatic shooting apparatus, the arrangements for adjustment herein-
above described are dispensed with and the fire arm holder simply slides to and
fro on the base plate N and may be fixed in any desired position by the Bet
screw T.
In order when using the apparatus for this purpose-to obtain more operating
space or play for the elevation, the slide way on the frame or plates m is inclined
to a certain angle downwards from the front, and further the distance apart of the
holes provided in the same is so chosen that each hole shall determine a certain
angle of elevation and shall consequently correspond to a certain range of fire.
The method of using the apparatus is as follows:
For aiming practice the firearm is placed in the apparatus with its tranverse
axis perfectly horizontal this being effected by placing a water level on the sight
adjustment plate when this latter is turned down after the clamp O has been fixed
on the fire arm and both clamp and arm has been laid in the apparatus, the proper
horizontality being adjusted by means of the set screws H, H. Then in order to
direct the fire arm on the object it must be set to the horizontal and vertical line
of fire, and the sight be taken which corresponds to the distance or range. The
vertical adjustment is effected by screwing the set screws H H up or down. The
horizontal adjustment is effected first by lateral displacement by hand, and after-
wards to greater exactitude by means of the excentric arrangement. For this
purpose the excentric mechanism is slid up until it comes in contact with the

page_text: plate K and then fixed in position by its screw.
To shew now if the person
learning has made an error in aiming the instructor places the fire arm so as to be
exactly directed on a given spot and notes the number of the hole in the slide way
corresponding thereto, and up to which the pivot p of the clamp O is slid, also note
is taken of the position of the pointer on the scale when the excentric is in contact
with the plate K, then the stud pin is withdrawn from its hole in the slide way,
the excentric displaced by turning the pointer and the fire arm removed from its
place, thereupon the person aiming who is being instructed has for task the placing
of the fire arm in precisely the same position it had previously occupied, by placing
the stud pin in the proper hole and the pointer so as to indicate its earlier position.
When this is done it is a proof that proper aim has been taken.
For trying fire arms, the arm is placed in the apparatus in the manner before
described and directed on to a given point. From such position the arm is fired off.
The object fired at must be at a certain distance, according to which the scale is
divided or set out. Three shots are fired and the mean horizontal distance of the
three shots from the vertical centre line of the objective point (target) is taken, and
by means of the excentric, the plate K with the fire arm holder and fire arm is
displaced so many points of the scale as corresponds to the mean distance of the
three shots from the centre line of the target, then the fire arm is aimed at the
centre of the same, and if this line of aim agrees with the sight plate this latter is
in its proper position, otherwise the sight plate must be moved sufficiently to make
it agree with the line of aim which is done without removing the fire arm from its
place.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
In apparatus of the kind described,
1. The fire arm holder F in combination with the universal joint L substantially
as described and illustrated.
2. The clamp and means for fixing the same on the fire arm in combination
with the pivots p for supporting the same on the slide way substantially as
described and illustrated.
3. The excentric mechanism for determining and indicating the lateral displace-
ment of the fire arm substantially as described and illustrated.
4. The means for the vertical adjustment of the fire arın on the slide way m
substantially as described and illustrated.
5. The inclined form of slide way in combination with the distance scale used
therewith consisting of holes arranged in the slide way at suitable distances apart,
substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 24th day of December 1994.
CAPITAINE & VON HERTLING,
89, Chancery Lane, W.C.,
Agents for the Inventor.