Gun Firing.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Nov., 1886.
Complete Left, 3rd Aug., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 6th Sept., 1887.
in Gun Firing.
I, MICHAEL JOHN O'FARRELL, of No. 130 Collins Street West, in the City of
Melbourne, and Colony of Victoria, Newspaper Proprietor, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention of an improved range instrument for exhibiting the data necessary in
gun firing relates to arranging it in such a manner as that only the data appertaining
to one range can be read off at a time. To accomplish this I form the instrument in
two parts one of which has marked or engraved upon it in a series of divided columns
the necessary data relating to each individual range while the other part which fits
over or slides upon such data plate has a slot cut or formed in it of a length and width
just sufficient to expose the figures of a single column of the data and on the surface
of such outer plate is marked or engraved the descriptive matter describing the nature
of the data or figures which are in a line with it in the divided column. The instru-
ment may be constructed in a cylindrical form, that is with the data tube fitting
telescopically in the outer slotted descriptive tube, or it may be constructed with the
data plate flat and having the slotted descriptive plate to slide upon it. Means are
also provided for securing the instrument together at the range which is being read
off. I intend this invention to be known as "The range cylinder."
The cylindrical form of instrument consists of an outer tube and an inner tube, a
slot being formed in the outer tube through which the figures or data on the inner can
be read. On one side of the slot in the outer tube are marked or engraved the words
Range," Elevation,'
," "Time of Flight," "Length of Fuze," "Correction for drift,"
"Allowance for objects moving at - - miles per hour" with the Nos. 3, 4, 8 and 12,
وو

page_text: "Minutes deflection" with the Nos. 2, 3, 5, 7, and on the other side of the slot imme-
diately opposite these words and figures are marked. "Yards "" Deg Mts,"
""Seconds,"
"Inches," "Inches,"
," "Minutes deflection," do, do, do, do "Feet for given range," do,
do, do. On the inner tube the numbers corresponding to these indications are marked
in such a way that on the instrument being set at any given range the time of flight,
elevation etc., for that range can be read off, and no other. The instrument is
furnished with a thumb screw to enable it to be clamped at any given range.
If the instrument is made flat the under plate would take the place of the inner tube
and the top sliding plate the place of the outer tube. These plates are also capable of
being clamped to one another in any given position by means of the thumb screw.
Dated this 22nd day of November 1886.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Range Instrument for Exhibiting the Data Necessary
in Gun Firing.
I, MICHAEL JOHN O'FARRELL, of No. 130 Collins Street West, in the City of
Melbourne, and Colony of Victoria, Newspaper Proprietor, 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: —
This invention of an improved range instrument for exhibiting the data necessary
in gun firing relates to arranging it in such a manner as that only the data appertain-
ing to one range can be read off at a time. To accomplish this, I form the instrument
in two parts, one of which has marked or engraved upon it in a series of divided
columns the necessary data relating to each individual range; while the other part
which fits over or slides upon such data plate has a slot cut or formed in it of a length
and width just sufficient to expose the figures of a single column of the data; and on
the surface of such outer plate is marked or engraved the descriptive matter describing
the nature of the data or figures which are in a line with it in the divided column.
The instrument may be constructed in a cylindrical form, that is, with the data tube
fitting telescopically in the outer slotted descriptive tube; or it may be constructed
with the data plate flat and having the slotted descriptive plate to slide upon it. Means
are also provided for securing the instrument together at the range which is being read
off. I intend this invention to be known as "The range cylinder."
Referring to the drawing,-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the instrument when of a cylindrical form, and
Figure 2 a horizontal section of it on the line a, a, Figure 1.
Figure 3 a side elevation of the inner tube.
Figure 4 a front view of the instrument when made flat, and
Figure 5 an end view of the same.
"
The cylindrical form of instrument consists of an outer tube A, and an inner tube B,
a slot A being formed in the outer tube, through which the figures or data on the
inner can be read. On one side of the slot in the outer tube are marked or engraved
the words "Range; "Elevation" "Time of Flight;" "Fuse (small, medium);"
"Drift;"" Objects moving at - miles per hour;" with the Nos. 3, 4, 8 and 12;
"Lateral error in feet" with the Nos. 3, 6, 9; and on the other side of the slot, imme-
diately opposite these words and figures, are marked "Yards," "Deg. Mts.," "Sects,"
"Inches," and "Minutes Deflection for given range." On the inner tube B, the
numbers corresponding to these indications are marked in such a way that, on the
instrument being set at any given range, the time of flight, elevation, etc., for that
range can be read off, and for no other. The instrument is furnished with the thumb-
screw C to enable it to be clamped at any given range.

page_text: The foregoing description and drawings describe and illustrate the instrument as
arranged for a 12 pound R.B.L. Armstrong field gun; while for other descriptions
and ranges of guns the data will necessarily have to be altered. The dimensions of
the cylindrical instrument I prefer is about 4 inches long by about 1 inches in
diameter.
If the instrument is made flat, the under-plate D would take the place of the inner
tube B and the top sliding plate E the place of the outer tube A. These plates are
also capable of being clamped to one another in any given position by means of the
thumb screw F.
I do not wish to confine myself to the precise words and figures herein recited and
shewn in the drawings marked on the instrument, as such words and figures would
have to be varied to suit the different classes of guns, projectiles, and fuses.
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. Constructing range instruments used for exhibiting the data necessary in gun-
firing, in two parts either in a cylindrical form, or flat, the outer part on which the
descriptive matter is marked or engraved having a slot in it just large enough to
expose one only of the columns of tabulated data marked or engraved on the inner or
under tube or plate, substantially as described and as shewn on the drawings.
2. Furnishing the above claimed two-part range instruments with a thumb-screw
or clamp for securing them to one another at any desired position or range, sub-
stantially as described and as shewn on the drawings.
Dated this Twenty fourth dow of Tun 1007