Improvements in Sighting Apparatus for Guns.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Sighting Apparatus for Guns.
I, Captain CECIL BARROW SIMONDS, R..A., of 36, Bury Street, St. James, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
According to my invention I construct sighting apparatus for guns in such
manner that the "powder corrections" which now usually have to be made by
a separate calculation for each range, can be obtained by an adjustment of the
sights so that a single correction for each kind of powder used will practically
suffice for all ranges.
In carrying out my invention I may so construct the fore and hind sights that
the distance between them can be varied, preferably, by shifting the fore sight
towards or away from the hind sight in a direction parallel with the longitudinal
axis of the gun.
When the fore sight is thus constructed I provide it with a
graduated bar upon which it slides, the graduations on such bar being numbered
to indicate the extent to which the sight has to be shifted along the bar, in
accordance with the calculation for the powder correction made in the first
instance. The sight having then been slidden along the bar to the required
extent, and suitably clamped, firing at any range given by the range finder may
be effected without again shifting the said sight or performing, further calcula-
tion for powder correction, so long as firing is continued with the same powder.
Although I prefer to arrange the said bar parallel to the longitudinal axis of
the gun as stated above I do not wish to confine myself to such arrangement.
When the laying of the gun is effected with an index plate and reader I may
make the said reader capable of shifting upon a suitable graduated bar bearing
numerals like the fore-sight bar, the said reader being adapted to be firmly
The index
clamped in the desired position upon such bar by suitable means.
plate in this case would be preferably made broader than the ordinary index
plate and would be provided with approximately parallel lines instead of radial
ones converging towards the axis of the trunnions of the gun.
the
for the powder
I do not wish to confine myself to the above described means of carrying out
my invention, the essential feature of which is, as already stated, to provide a
SO that having once
ready means of effecting the powder correction,
in use, the means
calculated
employed for laying the gun can be so adjusted as to avoid the powder correction,
notwithstanding the changes in elevation that take place when the means em-
ployed for laying the gun are re-adjusted for different ranges.
correction
proper
1807
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
15
Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: 1, Captain CECIL BARROW SIMONDS, R.A., of 36, Bury Street, St. James, in the
County of Middlesex, 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:--
According to my invention 1 construct sighting apparatus for guns in such
manner that the powder corrections" which now usually have to be made by
a separate calculation for each range, can be obtained by an adjustment of the
sights so that a single correction for each kind of powder used will suffice for
practically all ranges.
According to my invention I so construct the fore and hind sights that
the distance between them can be varied, preferably, by shifting the fore sight
towards or away from the hind sight in a direction parallel with the longitudinal
axis of the gun.
When the fore sight is thus constructed I provide it with a
graduated bar upon which it slides, the graduations on such bar being numbered
to indicate the extent to which the sight has to be shifted along the bar, in
accordance with the calculation for the powder correction made in the first
instance. The sight having then been slidden along the bar to the required
extent, and suitably clamped, firing at any range given by the range finder may
be effected without again shifting the said sight or performing further calcula-
tion for powder correction, so long as firing is continued with the same powder.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings illustrates this construction of sighting
apparatus, A being the graduated bar and A' the fore sight which is adapted to
slide thereon and to be clamped in the required position by a clamping screw A².
This bar A is provided with an upright A³ having at its lower end a bayonet-
joint by which it is firmly connected to the gun. Bis the hind sight which may
be of ordinary construction.
Although I prefer to arrange the said bar parallel to the longitudinal axis of
the gun as stated above I do not wish to confine myself to such arrangement.
When the laying of the gun is elected with an index plate and reader I make
the said reader capable of shifting upon a suitable graduated bar bearing
numerals like the fore sight bar, the said reader being adapted to be firmly
clamped in the desired position upon such bar by suitable caus. The index
plate in this case would preferably be made broader than the ordinary index
plate and would be provided with approximately parallel lines instead of radial
ones converging towards the axis of the trunnions of the gun.
Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings illustrates this construction of the
sighting apparatus, C being the graduated bar, 1) the reader and E the index
plate. The said graduated bar C is affixed to the side of the gun carriage Fand
the aforesaid reader D is capable of being shifted and clamped in any desired
position on said bar by means of the clamping screw D. G'is an arrow which
represents the direction in which the muzzle of the gun is supposed to be point-
ing. The aforesaid index plate is fixed to the gun and is suitably graduated in
hundreds of yards. The powder correction is in this case effected by sliding the
reader along the graduated bar, so that the distance of the reader from the trun-
nions of the gun is changed instead of the distance between the fore and bind
sights as in the previous example illustrated in Figure 1.
I do not wish to confine myself to the above described means of carrying out
my invention, the essential feature of which is, as already stated, to provide a
ready means of effecting the powder correction, FO that having once

page_text: calculated the proper correction for the powder in use, the means
employed for laying the gun can be so adjusted as to render the further modifi-
cation of the sighting for powder correction unnecessary, notwithstanding the
changes in elevation that take place when the means employed for laying the gun
are re-adjusted for different ranges.
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:-
1. Sighting apparatus capable of being so adjusted that a single correction for
each kind of powder used will suffice for practically all ranges.
2. In sighting apparatus, the construction of the fore sight or of the reader so
that it can readily be shifted on a graduated bar and clamped in the required
position for the purpose specified.
1
CAL 1
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.