Improvements in Means for Facilitating the Use of Fire Arms at Night.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Aug., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 30th May, 1893-Accepted, 22nd July, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Facilitating the Use of Fire Arms
at Night.
I, CHARLES BECIIS of 15 Place du Statut, Turin in the Kingdom of Italy
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to the employment of electric lamps in combination with a
storage battery or accumulator or other suitable electric generator as hereinafter .
explained for the purpose of illuminating the sights of rifles, orduance and other fire
arms and facilitating the taking of aim when there is not sufficient daylight to
enable the marksman to distinguish the sights with sufficient precision.
According to modern military tactics great importance is attached to nocturnal
operations. These operations being originally based on the advantages afforded by
a surprise on the side of the attacking party for overcoming an obstinate defence and
on the side of the defending party for disturbing the enemy's works or misleading
him as to the point of attack selected are at the present day rendered most useful
and important by the length of time occupied by battles by the necessity for
waiting for the arrival of the entire army (which is often delayed owing to its.
numbers) and by the terrible effect of modern fire arms.
Nevertheless the means at present provided for carrying on operations after the
daylight has ceased are altogether inadequate and the infantry cannot work except
at close quarters or at the point of the bayonet and in small groups without hope of
achieving any important results on account of the darkness which prevents correct
aim. being taken with small arms.
Now it is evident that very different results would be obtained if by nocturnal
military operations soldiers were enabled to carry on the work of the day and render
it impossible or almost impossible for the enemy to escape from the, murderous
effect of modern weapons the movements of masses of men in the zone covered by
the artillery being rendered difficult or impossible owing to the mobility of the
batteries being retained and the infantry being enabled to use their rifles as in the
day time.
The solution of this problem has not heretofore made much progress. Luminous
projectiles, electric reflectors and the like have failed to produce the advantages
expected partly owing to their inherent imperfections and partly because although
they give an idea of the position of the enemy they do not provide for taking aim
with sufficient precision.
In order to comply with the conditions of the case it is necessary to provide
means for covering the object aimed at with the sight even in complete darkness and
thus obtain useful results even when the distance only of the said object. is known
its exact position being a matter of uncertainty.
By such means the artillery would be enabled to take direct aim so as to
concentrate their fire on the object aimed at and change their position or advance
or retire and the infantry would be enabled to fire volleys in the direction indicated
or to make attacks not in light order with a view to escaping the enemy's fire as
much as possible but in the same order as in the day time.
Now by means of my present invention means are provided for illuminating the
line of sight of firearms when daylight fails in order to enable the marksman to aim
directly at the enemy by the aid of a small electric lamp and an electric accumulator
or generator attached to the firearm.
This application of an electric light may be carried out in practice in various

page_text: ways the arrangements hereinafter described being given merely as examples and I
do not limit myself as to the details of construction of the apparatus.
In applying the invention to a small arm or rifle for example the electric
accumulator is enclosed in a small sheet metal box arranged under the barrel for
example and lined with a suitable lining, coating, or varnish proof against the action
of the acids. Two holes are provided in the lid or cover for the poles or terminals
and a spring is attached to the box by a screw at one end being provided at the
other end with a stud carrying a platinum point.
In correspondence with the said point there is a slot through which the point
projects so that the application of a certain amount of pressure on the spring causes
the point to make contact with a platinum plate and close the circuit of the lamp.
When this contact is made an electric current passes in a small lamp which
illuminates the sight.
The box is attached to the barrel by the aid of a spring catch worked by a press
button or thumb piece in such a manner that the lamp contained in a ring or strap
embracing the barrel can be readily placed in front of and above the sight or in any
position most favourable for illuminating the top of the latter.
The form of the lamp is such that the ray of light from the lamp is directed in
the direction of the axis of the gun so that the line of sight can be determined with
sufficient accuracy even when the surrounding darkness is complete.
The lamp is put in and out of action by means of a mechanical arrangement
which may consist of a thin rod or wire made in two parts one part being attached
at one extremity to a knob or thumb piece, situated in a recess in the fore arm
immediately underneath the heel of the backsight and sliding longitudinally in
guides under the barrel. At the other extremity of this part a spring is placed.
between the guide and a nut or plate screwed on this extremity of the rod. This
plate is likewise screwed to the rear end of the other part of the rod which works
in guides at the side of the barrel and projects from the fore arm.
This part
extends to the box of the accumulator where it is bent or provided with a removeable
arm projecting at right angles so as to be capable of acting upon the spring contact
maker herein before described. This part of the rod can be readily unscrewed and
removed when necessary.
In order to illuminate the sight the rod is manipulated by acting on the knob
under the fore arm so as to draw back the rod and compress the spring acting on
the rear part of the rod: The arm on the fore part then acts on the spring on the
accumulator and makes the contact which enables the current to pass in the. lamp.
The period of time during which the current is required to pass in the lamp is so
short that the accumulator may be used for one or more nights without requiring to
be recharged. The apparatus may be removed from the rifle. and carried in a
pouch in the day time."
It is evident that the form and arrangement of the parts may be modified
according to the class of fire arm or piece of ordnance to which it is applied. In
the case of ordnance for example the apparatus is constructed with a box or case
for the accumulator or generator provided with an extension or attachment applied
to the base of the fore sight in such a manner that the lamp is situated on the
summit of the sight. A small lever on the cover may be provided to enable the
gunner to make and break the circuit as required.
Each battalion or brigade of artillery may be provided with a vehicle carrying
all that is required for generating the supply of electricity and charging the
accumulators used with the rifles or field guns for example.
Dated this 31st day of August 1892..
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.

page_text: Improvements in Means for Facilitating the Use of Fire Arms
at Night.
I, CHARLES BECHIS of 15 Place du Statut Turin in the Kingdom of Italy
Manufacturer 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 :-
My invention relates to the employment of electric lamps in combination with a
storage battery or accumulator or other suitable electric generator as hereinafter
explained for the purpose of illuminating the sights of rifles ordnance and other
fire arms and thereby facilitating the taking of aim when there is not sufficient
daylight to enable the marksman to clearly distinguish the sights.
This application of an electric light may be carried out in, practice in various
ways the arrangements hereinafter described being given merely as example and I
do not limit myself as to the details of construction of the apparatus.
And in order that my said invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to
the several figures on the annexed sheet of drawings the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents in side elevation and partly
in section a rifle barrel provided with apparatus for illuminating the fore sight
according to this invention.
Figure 2 represents the barrel and apparatus in plan.
Figures 3 and 3 represent the apparatus detached in end elevation and in plan
respectively.
Figures 4 and 4 represent the apparatus in longitudinal section and horizontal
section respectively.
Figure 4B represents the apparatus in end elevation the end plate or cover being
removed.
Figure 5 illustrates in front elevation an apparatus arranged for illuminating the
fore sight of a piece of ordnance.
Figures 6. 7 and 8 illustrate this arrangement in side elevation in rear elevation
and in plan respectively.
Figure 9 represents in front elevation an apparatus arranged for illuminating the
back sight of a piece of ordnance.
Figure 10 illustrates this apparatus in rear elevation and Figure 11 represents
the same in plan. Figure 12 is a diagram hereinafter explained.
As represented in Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings the apparatus is provided with
a box A for the reception of an electric accumulator D Figures 4 and 4ª the said
box being made of sheet steel or other suitable material and so arranged as to
leave sufficient space at one side for a discharge valve for the escape of gas
generated in charging the accumulator. The box A is attached to the barrel of
the rifle shewn at E Figures 1 and 2 by means of a ring or collar F constructed
with a cylindrical hole fitting over the muzzle of the rifle to which it may be
connected by a bayonet joint. This collar is recessed as represented at f for the
reception of the fore sight and is provided with a spring catch a which is worked
by a press button or thumb piece a³ (Fig. 4B) and engages with the rear side of
the sight so as to retain the apparatus firmly in position upon the muzzle of
the rifle.
The accumulator D is secured in position in the box A by means of two
screws a¹ engaging with the cover of the latter as represented in Figure 4^.
The poles or terminals of the accumulator project through the cover of the box
as represented at 9 g¹ Figures 44 and 4B. The terminal g¹ is directly connected
with a smail incandescent lamp a' but the terminal g is connected with the said

page_text: lamp through a contact maker or circuit breaker formed by a spring a² and
platinum contacts a³. This contact maker is controlled by a rod or wire B capable
of sliding longitudinally in guides in the fore arm being actuated by a thumb
piece (Figures 1 and 2) situated in a recess in the fore arm immediately
underneath the back sight. At the front end this rod B is connected by a
coupling with a rod 60 sliding in guides and forming an extension of the rod B
which can be readily, unscrewed and disconnected from the said rod 6°. The said
rod is provided with a knob at the front end acted on by a spring 67 which
presses the rods 6 B forwards and tends to retain them in the position.indicated in
the drawing.
The rod is provided with an arm or finger e Figures 4 and 4" which passes
through a slot in the side of the box A and acts upon the contact spring a²
-herein before referred to.
This arrangement enables the lamp to be lighted or put in action by drawing
back the rod B by means of the thumb piece b' so as to compress the spring and
cause the finger c to allow the contact spring a² to close the circuit of the lamp
which then illuminates the sight in such a manner as to enable accurate aim to
be taken.
When the thumb piece is released the spring returns the parts to their
normal position and breaks or opens the circuit of the lamp.
The accumulator can be charged without removing it from the box A the poles
or terminals being provided with suitably protected and insulated projections
preferably arranged at the underside of the box by which they can be connected to
the charging circuit. A number of these accumulators can be charged in series
and simultaneously; the charging of about 500 such apparatus in this manner
requiring an electric energy corresponding to one horse power.
The operation of taking aim with this apparatus may be facilitated by providing
the back sight with a plate 8 as indicated in the diagram Figure 12. This plate
being formed with a notch in its lower edge corresponding to the notel in the sight
an angular aperture is formed between the plate and the sight through which the
illuminated fore sight at 9 can be seen and the line of sight readily directed to a
distant target or object at 10 for example.
When intended for use with ordnance the apparatus may be arranged as
represented in Figures 5 to 8 for example. The box A containing the accumulator
is attached to the bracket Z carrying the fore sight R in such a manner that the
lamp is situated in front of the sight as in the arrangement herein before
described or if preferred instead of aiming through the luminous point of the lamp
the latter may be arranged to cast a ray of light on to the sight thereby making
the latter visible with the aid of reflected light. The apparatus may be attached
to the bracket by any suitable means such as a pin or bolt a secured by a transverse
pin or a nut.
When applied to ordnance the lamp is controlled by means of a spring arm a¹
connected to a bent lever a actuated by a lanyard or chain a² being so arranged as
to enable the gunner by pulling the chain to actuate the spring a carrying the
contact maker and close the circuit, of the lamp as hereinbefore described. The
same contact maker may be arranged as represented in the drawing to close a
circuit through conductors 1 connected to a lamp a',. Figures 9, 10 and 11, which
illuminates the notch. and scale of the back sight.
"
This lamp is protected by a tube 2 which may act as a reflector and is adjustably
supported by a clutch 3 made in two parts hinged together in a similar manner to
the jaws of a pair of pincers and provided with a spring 4 which enables it to be
clamped on the horizontal bar 5 of the sight. The end of the tube is closed by a
reflector and the light of the lamp a is cast on the notch and scale of the sight
through a hole 6 cut in the under side of the tube 2. The position of the tube and
lamp relatively to the sight can be regulated by shifting the clutch 3 on the bar 5.
This lamp may if preferred be controlled independently of the lamp on the fore
sight by providing cach lamp with a separate contact maker. The tube 2 may be

page_text: made in two parts the part carrying the lamp being capable of being rotated in
order to enable the light to be readily thrown on to that part of the apparatus
which requires to be illuminated.
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.
1. Facilitating the use of fire arms at night by means of an electric lamp or
lamps supplied with current from a battery the said lamp and battery being
attached to the arm in a position to enable the lamp or lamps to illuminate the
sight or sights substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. For illuminating the sights of small arms an electric lamp combined with a
secondary battery or other source of current attached to the arm and means for
opening and closing the lamp circuit substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.
3. For illuminating the sights of ordnance an electric lamp or lamps combined
with a secondary battery or batteries and mechanism for opening and closing the
circuit or circuits of the said lamp or lamps substantially as herein before described
and illustrated in Figures to 8 of the accompanying drawings.
4. The combinations and arrangements of parts constituting the improvements in
means for facilitating the use of fire arms at night substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
J. H. JOHNSON,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, Agents.