or Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1885

page_text: or Apparatus therefor. :
I JOHN NOTTIDGE PURKIS 3 Station Road Upper Walmer Kent Gentleman do
hereby declare the nature of my invention for MODE OF AIMING GUNS BY THE AID
OF ARTIFICIAL LIGHT, AND MEANS OR APPARATUS THEREFOR to be as follows:-
According to my Invention I fix a lamp of suitable construction, on a gun or
other instrument used to shoot with, in such a manner and position that when the
light from the lamp is projected upon the object aimed at, the sight at the breach,
and object, will be pointing in the same direction.
The lamp, which is provided with a suitable adjusting arrangement, is so
designed, that by means of a condensing lens, and a reflector, the light will be
concentrated upon, and illumine the "long sight," which is visible through a tube
or other opening furnished at the base of the lamp.
Provision is also made, by means of a shutter, or shield, for closing the aperture
in front of the lens, when it is desired to obscure the light.'
0 Mode of Aiming Guns by the Aid of Artificial Light, and Means
or Apparatus therefor.
I JOHN NOTTIDGE PURKIS, of 3 Station Road, Upper Walmer, Kent, Gentleman,
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for MODe of aiming guns by
THE AID OF ARTIFICIAL LIGHT AND MEANS OR APPARATUS THEREFOR and in what
5 manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
In accordance with my Invention I fix a lamp of suitable construction on a
gun—such for instance as an ordinary fowling piece in such a manner that when

page_text: the light from the lamp is projected upon the object aimed at, the sight at the
breech end of the gun and the object, shall be in line.
Referring to the accompanying drawing, A is the lamp casing or lantern, and D
is the lamp charged with any ordinary illuminant; the whole being mounted upon
the carrier bracket E surrounding the gun barrel and provided with adjustable
screws a. The lamp casing or lantern is provided with a condensing lens B and
reflector C with a view to ensure that the light from the lamp shall be concentrated
upon and illumine the foresight f, to allow of which latter being visible to the
person aiming the gun an opening is left at the base of the lamp casing as indicated
on the drawing by the dotted lines at b. The object of the screws a, a, is as will
be seen, to tighten the carrier bracket to the barrel of the gun.
For the purpose of intercepting the rays of light, I employ a shutter F which is
attached by any suitable means to the spindle G which is continued towards the
stock of the gun and held in position by the eyes or brackets c. The modus
operandi is as follows: when it is required that the rays of light should be inter-
cepted, it is only necessary that the knob or handled should be turned so as to
bring the shutter F over the lantern lens B. And, it will be noticed on reference
to the drawing that the spindle G is continued beyond the shutter stem g, for the
purpose of allowing said shutter stem to be moved along the spindle G when
required in order that the lantern may be focussed.
I wish it to be understood that although in my title I use the comprehensive
term "artificial light" I do not intend that term to cover electricity, as I am aware
that electricity has already been employed as a search light" to a gun or cannon.
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
The means or apparatus, substantially as herein described and shewn in the
accompanying drawing, for aiming guns by the aid of artificial light produced from
any ordinary illuminant such as usual lamp oils.
JAMES
STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers,
20, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agent for Applicant.