Improved Means for Mounting and Firing Guns on Board Ship.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Oct., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 28th July, 1890-Accepted, 27th Sept., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION,
Improved Means for Mounting and Firing Guns on Board Ship.
I, LUDWIG MAUTNER RITTER VON MARKHOF, J.D., of I, Fichtegasse 4, Vienna, in
the Austrian Empire, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to fire-arms resting, like ship's guns, on a vacillating support,
and it has for its purpose so to arrange these fire arms that they cannot be discharged
unless the axis of the barrel is exactly in the position corresponding to that required
for hitting the mark.
According to the invention, special devices are provided for controlling the elevation
of the barrel and its direction.
The device for controlling the elevation of the gun barrel is characterized by the
employment of an electric fuze for the cartridge or an electro-magnetic release for the
percussion lock, the circuit containing the said fuse or lock-operating mechanism
being provided with interruptions, which are closed by gravitating conductors at the
moment when the vacillating plane, with respect to which the angle of elevation has
been given to the barrel, passes through its horizontal position.
In order to provide for a partly automatic control of the direction of the barrel, the
sighting device which usually is fixed to the barrel, is made a separate part moveable
round the same vertical axis as the barrel and carrying a contact piece, to which
corresponds a contact piece rigidly connected to the barrel. The captain of the gun
continually directs this sighting device towards the mark, while one of the crew
so operates the carriage as to cause the barrel to follow the movements of the sighting
device. In the moment when the imaginary line of sighting on the barrel which, in
rifled guns, as is well known, has an inclined and varying position toward the axis of
the barrel, passes through the vertical plane containing the real line of sighting of the
separate sighting device, the said contact pieces touch each other. As these contact
pieces and the contact devices controlling the elevation are interposed in series in
the circuit of the fuze or lock-operating mechanism, the cartridge will only be fired in
the event of all these interruptions being closed simultaneously.
The contrivance for controlling the elevation may consist of two closed tubes, made
of insulating material and so arranged that their axes intersect, these tubes having
metal contacts inserted into the middle of their lower side, and each containing either
a small quantity of mercury or a metal hall.
The plane containing the axes of the two tubes is to be parallel to that with respect
to which the elevation is given to the barrel.
Instead of these two tubes, two scale beamus may be used, having their knife
edges supported by gimbals and forming any angle smaller than 180° with each
other.
To both ends of these scale beams are fixed vertical metal rods of equal length,
which dip into cups containing mercury.
Other means for attaining the purpose in view consist of two pendulums adapted to
ewing round horizontal axes, which form an angle with each other, these pendulums
forming parts of the electric circuit and touching metal contacts beneath them while
passing through their middle position; or one pendulum may be used which is free to
swing to all sides and touches a contact when the plane with respect to which the
angle of elevation has been given to the barrel passes through its horizontal
position.
In order to provide for cases of longer heeling of the ship, the contrivances con-
trolling the elevation may be mounted on a plate, which is moveable round an axis
parallel to the horizontal axis of the ship and fitted with leveling devices. As soon as

page_text: the ship begins to heel, this plate is leveled, and measures on a graduated ate the
heeling angle by which the angle of elevation given to the barrel on an are fixed to
the carriage is to be increased or diminished.
T
1406
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Mounting and Firing Guns on Board Ship.
I, LUDWIG MAUTNER RITTER VON MARKHOF, J.D., of 1, Fichtegasse 4, Vienna, in the
Austrian Empire, Gentleman, 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:-
As is well known, in sighting guns there are two adjustments required, namely on?
in the vertical plane through the guns axis, and the second in the horizontal plane
through such axis.
With
The present invention consists of arrangements which are adapted to fulfil two
corresponding functions for facilitating the hitting of the mark on firing.
regard to the arrangements for the lateral adjustment of the gun, the essential
feauture hereof is, that the sighting device is in no fixed connection with the gun,
but is arranged at the side, above, or below the same, and is alone adjusted
directly to the mark. This separate device may consist of a telescope. a tube
without lenses or of dioptric or other sights of the usual form, and there is rigidly
combined therewith an arc-scale through the centre of which passes the axis for the
lateral adjustment of the sighting device. This are scale, constructed of insulating
material rests upon a table which is usually horizontal, and upon the same bears a
contact roller which is carried by an arm rigidly connected to the gun or its
carriage.
On the are-scale is an electrical contact piece which is adjustable upon the scale
according to the lateral deviation of the gun required for a certain firing distance.
On firing at a moving object, account must also be taken, in the adjustment of
the contact piece, of the angle which the line of sighting to the object makes
during the time of flight of the projectile: this angle is found by following the
object with the sighting device during the time corresponding to the known duration
of the flight.
If now, by the lateral adjustment of the gun round its vertical
centre axis. the contact roller be brought over the adjustable contact piece, an
electric circuit will be closed in which may be included either an electric fuze
or an electrical signal apparatus the actuation of which is equivalent to the command
fire.
The second group of devices constituting the invention, namely those for giving
the elevation of the gun, are intended for guns which are carried on rocking supports,
such as ships guns.
The guns have the required elevation given them under the assumption that the
carriage rests upon a horizontal support or on a support having a definite incli
nation, and when such support rocks, it is the duty of the gunner who has the
duty of sighting, to effect the firing at the moment when the line of sighting
passes through the object aimed at. With the devices which form the subject of
this invention, the precision of the firing of the gun at such moment when it is
in the normal position is facilitated, by causing electrical conductors, acted upon
by gravity to lose an electric current in which a signal apparatus or an electrical
fuse is also included.
As, with this arrangement, the horizontal position of a plane has to be determined,
there must be two such devices arranged at an angle to each other, and these
devices must be arranged in series in the circuit, so that a closing of the circuit
can only take place on the simultaneous closing of the contacts in both devices.

page_text: To provide for cases of long continued heeling of the ship, the contact devices are
arranged on a plate which is rotatable on an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis
of the ship, and which is always so adjusted as to compensate for and indicate the
heeling angle, so that the angle of elevation of the gun can be increased or decreased
to the extent of such heeling angle, as the case may be.
The devices whereby the contacts of the electrical circuit are closed when the axis
of the gun passes through the position corresponding to the required elevation may be
arranged on the principle of spirit levels, that is to say, they may consist of tubes
of insulating material which have at the middle of their length the metal contact
pieces connected to the circuit and which contain either a globule of mercury or a
moveable metal hall.
Or in place hereof may be used a balance beam the ends of which have down-
ward projecting bars dipping into mercury, or a pendulum or two thereof may be
used.
If the above described arrangements for lateral and for vertical sighting are
employed in combination, all the contact devices must be included in series in one
and the same circuit.
On the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 shews a sectional view of a contact device consisting of a tube in which is a
small quantity of mercury that will run from one end to the other according to the
inclination of the tube.
Fig. 2 shews a similar tube with ball and
Fig. 3 shows a balance beam with metal bars dipping into mercury cups.
Fig. 4 is a plan of a ship's gun with the above described device for closing the
contacts for the lateral adjustment.
Fig. 5 is a rear end elevation of the gun.
Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the are scale of insulating material with the moveable
contact piece.
The tube Figs. 1 and 2 is constructed of insulating material such as vulcanite.
and it has in its lower side two metal contact pieces. When, during the various
oscillations to which the support of the gun is subject, the tube a passes through the
horizontal position, the metal contact pieces will be momentarily put in conducting
connection by the mercury C Fig. 1 or the ball Fig. 2 running from one end of the
tube towards the other. From one of the contacts, for instance from b, a conductor
passes to the one pole of a current generator, while a second conductor from ¹ passes
to the contact of a second similar tube a placed at an angle, preferably a right angle,
to the first one, and from the contact of such second apparatus a conductor passes to
the contact of the lateral sighting apparatus, which is connected to the electrical
fuze of the gun, and lastly this is connected by a conductor to the other pole of the
electrical generator.
From this arrangement it will be seen that when the plane passing through the axis
of both tubes is in the horizontal position, corresponding to that for which the gun
is vertically sighted, the mercury or balls will simultaneously close the circuit in
both apparatus: if now at the same time the before mentioned contact of the
lateral sighting apparatus is closed, the circuit will be closed and the gun will
be fired.
As before stated, in cases where there is the possibility of the occurrence of a
long continued heeling of the ship, the tubes a are arranged on a plate which
can turn upon an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ship and the angular
positions of which are indicated on an are scale. When the ship is in a state of
equilibrium in quiet water, the said plate will be horizontal, and at the zero point
of the scale: if the ship now begins to heel, the plate is again adjusted to the
horizontal position by suitable known means, when it will indicate the heeling
angle on the are scale.
The gun will then have its vertical sighting angle increased or decreased to the
extent of such heeling angle, according as the side of the ship on which the gun is

page_text: situated is in the raised or the depressed position. In this case the said plate is made
to carry the contact apparatus for all the guns of the ship.
The balance beam f Fig. 3 is carried by gimbal rings so as always to turn upon a
horizontal axis g, and its centre of gravity is so situated that it always remains
in the horizontal position. The rods depending from both its ends will consequently
only then make contact simultaneously with the mercury in both cups when the
mercury in both lie in the same horizontal plane.
Two such balance beams are arranged at an angle to each other, as in the case
of the tubes, so that when both make contact with both mercury cups the base sup-
porting the latter will be horizontal. The cups being respectively connected
to one lead of the circuit this will be closed when the beam makes contact with
both cups.
For the same purpose two pendulums might also be used which can oscillate in
planes at a right or other angle to each other and which carry contact springs at
their ends that pass over contact pieces at the central position.
Or a single metallic pendulum that can oscillate in every direction can be used,
this being made to touch a contact piece only when, during the oscillations of the
support of the gun, the position of the pendulum coincides with the vertical line
passing through its point of suspension.
In the arrangement shewn diagrammatically at Fig. 4, in which, when the gun is in
the correct lateral position for firing, a signal is given or the charge is fired, kis
the sighting device arranged at the side of the gun and turning on a centre at c;
as already stated, this device might also be above or below the gun.
The sighting instrument is here supposed to be a telescope or other tube with
cross hairs, which must be rotatable upon an axis perpendicular to its optical
axis and parallel to the plane of the sighting movement, in order to be capable of being
adjusted to higher or lower marks.
In place of a telescope or tube might also be
used a dioptric instrument or ordinary sights.
With the sighting device is combined an are scale m of insulating material such
as vulcanite, ou which is an adjustable metal contact piece m'.
This scale has for its purpose to allow of adjustment for lateral movements of the
gun and for the movement of the object aimed at for which purpose the scale is provided
with divisions both for distance and for angles. The are scale m rests upon a table n²,
the surface of which must, of course, be parallel to the plane of motion of the sighting
device k, or must coincide with that plane.
On the gun carriage or on the gun p is fixed an arm q extending over the are
scale, the free end of which arm can turn upon a hinge-joint, so that it is drawn
downwards by its own weight, thereby causing the contact roller carried thereby
to bear continually upon the arc scale m.
If the adjustable contact piece m² is placed at the zero division of the scale, and
the contact roller q2 comes in contact therewith, the axis of the gun will be parallel
with the sighting device, as indicated at Fig. 4.
In operating with this device, the contact piece m' is first adjusted to a division on
the scale determined by the distance of the object fired at and, when required, by the
lateral motion of the object, after which an observer continually keeps the sighting
device directed upon the object, while another operator moves the gun in accordance
with the movements of the sighting device, so that on the contact roller coming in
contact with the contact piece m' the electrical circuit will be closed.
It will be evident that the described arrangement may be modified by fixing the
arm on the sighting device and the arc scale on the gun, as, the only object to be
attained is, to cause the axis of the gun, at the moment when the two contacts touch
each other, to form a certain angle with the sighting line which is dependent upon
the lateral deviation due to the distance of the object.
It will be evident that the firing contacts of all the guns of a ship might be
included in series in one and the same electrical circuit, so that only a single current
generator is required.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. A lateral sighting mechanism for guns carried on oscillating supports, consisting
of a sighting device & situated at the side of, above or below the gun scale m of
insulating material fixed to the sighting device or to the gun, carrying an adjustable
metal contact piece m', and an arm with metal contact connected to the other part
(either the gun or the sighting device) the contacts and being included in an
electric circuit in which is also included either an electric fuse or a signalling apparatus,
and the contact m' being adjusted on the scale m according to the lateral deviation of
the projectile and the movement of the mark fired at, substantially as described.
2. For ships guns, the use in combination with a lateral sighting apparatus such
as is referred to in the preceding claim of one or more conducting devices and contacts
included in the electrical circuit and so acted upon by gravity, as to effect the closing
of the circuit when the plane in respect of which the angular elevation has been
imparted to the gun assumes a horizontal position, substantially as herein described.
3. In combination with the contact device referred to in the preceding claim, arranging
the contacts and moveable conductors, upon a plate that can be turned on an axis
parallel to the ship's longitudinal axis, and that is provided with means for adjusting
it to a horizontal position. so that on the heeling of the ship the horizontally
adjusted plate is made to indicate on an are scale the heeling angle by which
the angle of elevation of the gun has to be increased or decreased substantially as
described.
4. The use. for the apparatus referred to in the second claim, of two tubes # of
insulating material, placed at an angle to each other, and having at the middle of their
length metal contact pieces and containing either a globule of mercury c or a
moveable metal ball adapted to make contact with the pieces b', the plane passing
through the axes of the two tubes being parallel with the plane with reference to which
the elevation is given to the gun substantially as described.
5. The use for the apparatus referred to in the second claim, of two balance beams f
placed at an angle to each other, and turning on horizontal axes y the ends of the
beams being provided with pendent rods which touch the surface of mercury contained
in cups substantially as described.
6. The use for the apparatus referred to in the second claim, of two pendulums
Oscillating on horizontal axes placed at an angle to each other and adapted to make
contact with contact pieces placed below them substantially as described.
7. The use for the apparatus referred to in the second claim, of a metal pendulum
free to oscillate in every direction upon its point of suspension beneath which pendulum
is a contact piece so arranged that the pendulum makes contact therewith when the
plane in respect of which the angle of elevation of the gun is determined assumes the
horizontal position, substantially as described.
Datadi. Deal 1
TI 1000
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.