Naval Ordnance.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Oct., 1887
Complete Spécification Left, 6th July, 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 10th Aug., 1888
Naval Ordnance.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of
53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention a communication to me
from abroad by Paul Oriolle, of Nantes France Shipbuilder to be as follows:-
:
This invention relates to automatic firing apparatus for naval guns and has for its
object to obviate the difficulty of hitting the object aimed at, due to the motion of
the ship constantly varying the angle firo and thus rendering the aim uncertain.
This invention consists in a pendulum circuit closing apparatus whereby the gun
is fired automatically, immediately it is brought by the motion of the vessel to the
proper angle. The invention is based on the constant verticality of a pendulum
suspended freely above the axial line of the piece, which pendulum by striking against
a movable finger, closes an electric circuit and ignites the charge through the medium
of any suitable electric fuse. This finger is set by the gunner on receiving the
command to fire the apparatus having been previously adjusted in order to vary the
trajectory according to the distance of the object aimed at. The length of the pendulum
and the arrangement of the apparatus would vary according to circumstances.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specifi-
cation wherein I have illustrated an example of the invention: Figure 1 is a longi-
tudinal section of a gun fitted with the improved firing mechanism, and figure 2 a
transverse section taken on line 1-2 figure 1. Figure 3 is a front view of a modified
arrangement of the apparatus. Figure 4 is a vertical section on line 1-2 and
figure 5 a plan of the same. Figure 6 is a section taken on line 3-4, of figure 4.
Figure 7 is a plan and cross section of the pivotal axis of the pendulum support.
Referring to figures 1 and 2, the apparatus consists essentially of a pendulum d
suspended freely on a transverse axis supported by two uprights e e so as to oscillate
in a longitudinal plane and of a finger f pivoted on a carriage b sliding in longitudinal
guides on a shoe a fitted on the gun in any suitable manner. The finger is
counterweighted so that it will assume a vertical position when released, but is normally
kept laid down flat by a cord or rod h. The slide bis adjusted longitudinally

page_text: according to the desired angle of elevation of the gun, by means of a screw. and is
provided with a pointer indicating its position on a vernier scale carried by one of the
cheek plates c c. After the gun has been trained and the finger adjusted according
to the angle at which the gun is to be fired, the finger and pendulum will come in
contact when this angle is reached and if an electric circuit be thereby closed, the gun
will be fired automatically.
In practice, the adjustable finger would have on one face an insulating plate in order
that electrical contact may be established on one side only and according as this insu-
lating surface is placed so as to face the muzzle or breech end of the gun, the firing.
will take place during the upward or downward movement of the gun. In figures 1
and 2 the insulating surface i is placed on the side next the breech, so that the gun
will be fired during its downward movement.
.
In figures 3 to 7, the apparatus is fixed permanently upon the gun and participates
invariably in all its movements. The frame is composed of two principal parts A D,
the bracket A which is fixed to the gun terminating in a vernier index applied to a
graduated are carried by the part D which is pivoted at B upon a horizontal axis'
perpendicular to the axis of the gun, the zero mark of the vernier being in a line
passing through axis B and perpendicular to the bore of the gun. The pendulum
carrier D is a tube pivoted at its lower end on axis B on which it may be adjusted in
a fore and aft direction, as shewn by dotted lines in figuré 3, and is secured in position
according to the intended trajectory of the shot, by a wing nut C clamping the are to
the vernier arm. The tube D terminates at its lower end in a socket to receive the
pivot B hereinafter described and the pendulum P is suspended centrally from a
disc E at the top of the tube so that it may oscillate freely in all directions, the ampli-
tude of its movement being however limited by the sides of the tube D which is
padded at K. The pendulum suspension is formed of thin steel strips placed at right
angles to each other and is in communication with one pole of a battery by a wire L
being for this
insulated by a gutta percha washer surrounding the shank at
the centre
The pivot pin B is hollow and slotted along the upper side
through which projects an upwardly directed metal tongue F insulated by gutta
percha and communicating by a wire M with the other pole of the battery, a key
being inserted in the circuit of wire M to enable the tongue F to be put in communi-
cation with the battery only when desired.
1115
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The action of the apparatus is very simple: During the rolling and pitching move-
ments of the ship,, the pendulum P is only free to obey the law of gravity when the
tube approaches the vertical, and the amplitude of its movement is limited by the
diameter of said tube. The pendulum only makes a single oscillation.for each rolling
movement and in passing over the tongue as closely as possible without actually
touching, it closes the circuit.through the electric fuse, the gun. being fired or not
according as the circuit is also closed or not by the key: This is done on the order
to fire, being given the gun being thereupon fired when the pendulum passes over
the pallet Feither during the upward or downward period of the roll."
ப
As corrections will always be necessary to establish an agreement. between theory
and practice, the co-efficient of correction can be obtained by adding or deducting a
fraction of a degree as determined by the first, few rounds fired.
Dated this 6th day of October 1887.
A. MELVILLE CLARK.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
a.
53, Chancery, Lane, London,
Patent Agents.
+4172

page_text: ..COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
1
Improved Automatic Electrical Firing Mechanism for
Naval Ordnance.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of 53,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents,
do hereby declare the nature of this Invention (a communication to me from abroad.
by Paul Oriolle, of Nantes, France, Ship-builder) and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in, and by the following
statement:-
This Invention relates to automatic firing apparatus for naval ordnance, and has for
its object to obviate the difficulty of hitting the object aimed at, due to oscillation of
the ship and the consequent variation of the angle of fire, a difficulty which has never
been practically overcome by the arrangements hitherto proposed with this object.
The Invention consists in a pendulum circuit-closing apparatus, whereby the gun
is fired automatically immediately it is brought by the oscillation of the vessel to the
proper angle.
The Invention is based on the constant verticality of a pendulum suspended freely
above the axial line of the piece which pendulum by striking against a movable finger,
closes an electric circuit and ignites the charge through the medium of any suitable
electric fuse. This finger is set by the gunner on receiving the command to fire, the
finger which is mounted on a vernier having been previously adjusted in order to vary
'the moment with regard to the elevation of the gun at which the circuit is closed
and consequently vary the trajectory according to the distance of the object aimed at.
The length of the pendulum and the arrangement of the apparatus would vary according
to circumstances.
Reference is to be had to the drawings left with my provisional specification,
wherein an example of the invention is illustrated. Figure 1 is a longitudinal section
of a gun fitled with the improved firing mechanism, and figure 2 a transverse section
taken on line. 1-2, Figure 1: Figure 3 is a front view of a modified arrangement
of the apparatus. Figure 4 is a vertical section on line 1-2, and figure 5 a plan of
the same. Figure 6 is a section. taken on line 3-4 of Figure 4. Figure 7 is a plan
and cross-section of the pivotal axis of the pendulum support.
Referring to figures 1 and 2, the .apparatus consists essentially of a pendulum d
suspended freely on an axis supported. transversely to the gun by uprights e e so as
to oscillate in a longitudinal plane, and at a finger pivoted on a carriage b,sliding
in longitudinal guides on a shoe a fitted on the gun. The finger is counterweighted
so that it tends, to assume a vertical position, but is normally held down flat by.a
cord or rod h.. The slide b is adjusted longitudinally according to the desired angle
of elevation of the gun at the moment of firing by means of a screw band is
provided with a
with a pointer indicating its position on a vernier scale carried by one of the
cheek plates c c. After the gun has been trained and the finger adjusted according
to the angle at which the gun is to be, fired, the finger and pendulum will come in
contact when this angle is reached, and if the circuit of a battery or other source be
thereby closed through a suitably arranged fuse, the gun will be fired automatically.

page_text: In practice, the adjustable finger would have on one face an insulating plate, in
order that electrical contact may be established on one side only and according as this
insulating surface is placed so as to face the muzzle or breech end of the
gun, the
firing will take place during the upward or downward oscillation of the gun. In
figures 1 and 2, the insulating surface i is placed on the side next the breech so that
the gun will be fired during its downward movement.
In figures 3 to 7, the apparatus is fixed permanently upon the gun and participates
invariably in all its movements. The frame is composed of two principal parts A, D,
the bracket A which is fixed to the gun terminating in a vernier index applied to a
graduated are carried by the part D. which is pivoted at B upon a horizontal axis
perpendicular to the axis of the gun, the zero mark of the vernier being in a line
passing through axis B and perpendicular to the bore of the gun. The pendulum
carrier D is a tube pivoted at its lower end on axis B on which it may be adjusted in
a fore and aft direction, as shewn by dotted lines in figure 3, and is secured in position,
according to the intended trajectory of the shot, by a wing nut C clamping the arc to
the vernier arm. The tube D terminates at its lower end in a socket to receive the
pivot B, hereinafter described, and the pendulum P is suspended centrally from a
dise E at the top of the tube, so that it may oscillate freely in all directions the ampli-
tude of its movement being however, limited by the sides of the tube D which is
padded at K. The pendulum suspension is formed of thin steel strips placed at right
angles to each other, and is in communication with one pole of a battery by a wire L,
being for this purpose insulated by a gutta percha washer surrounding the shank at
the centre of disc E. The pivot pin B is hollow and slotted along the upper side
through which projects an upwardly directed metal tongue Finsulated by gutta percha
and communicating by a wire M with the other pole of the battery, a key being
inserted in the circuit of wire M to enable the tongue F to be put in communication
with the battery only when desired.
During the rolling and pitching movements of the ship, the pendulum P is only free
to obey the law of gravity when the tube D approaches the vertical and the amplitude
of its movement is limited by the diameter of said tube. The pendulum only makes
a single oscillation for each rolling movement, and in passing over the tongue Fas
closely as possible without actually touching, it closes the circuit through the electric
fuse, the gun being fired or not according as the circuit is also closed or not by the
key. This is done on the order to fire being given, the gun being thereupon fired when
the pendulum passes over the pallet F either during the upward or downward period
of the roll.
As corrections will always be necessary to establish an agreement between theory
and practice, the co-efficient of correction can be obtained by adding or deducting a
fraction of a degree as determined by the first few rounds fired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
The herein described electrical circuit-closing apparatus for firing naval ordnance,
which consists essentially in the combination of a pendulum and a movable contact
finger, both mounted on the gun, as specified; and acting in the manner described
for automatically closing the circuit by which the gun is fired.
Dated this 6th day of July 1888.
A. M. CLARK.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agents.