Improvements in and relating to Automatic Sighting Apparatus for Ordnance.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Mar., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 1st Oct., 1898-Accepted, 23rd Dec., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Automatic Sighting Apparatus for
Ordnance.
1, LOTHIAN KERR SCOTT, C.B., late Lieutenant-Colonel of the Royal Engineers, of
Forest Lodge, Farnborough, in the County of Hants, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to the automatic sighting of ordnance and consists chiefly in
a re-arrangement, between the sight and the gun-carriage or mounting, of the
theoretical principles of automatic sighting mechanically embodied as a whole in my
automatic sight for coast batteries set forth in my prior Patent No. 159 of the 3rd
January 1894, and in the application of other improvements so as to render this
automatic system of sighting guns more practicable than heretofore and capable
of being readily applied to the gun carriage or to any gun recoil or non-recoil
mounting.
My improvements in the automatic sighting of ordnance consist :-
1. In dispensing with the transverse rotary adjustment of the bar or frame carry-
ing the telescope (which was necessary in the sighting apparatus set ferth in my
aforesaid Specification for compensating for inaccuracies in the level of the gun
trunnions) and substituting therefor means that can be applied to the gun or gun
carriage, mounting or platform for levelling the trunnions of the gun, or the trunnions
of the cradle which carries the gun, or means for rotating the sight bracket by an
axis parallel to the axis of the gun.
2. In the extension of the bracket for carrying the telescope and of the other
portions of the sighting apparatus rearwardly from the trunnion to the breech end
of the gun, so as to enable the improved means I now employ for moving the traveller
along the sighting curve, to be connected with the elevating screw of the elevating
gear of the gun.
3. In substituting for the arrangement set forth in my aforesaid prior Specification
for actuating the traveller, a screw shaft on which the traveller is mounted to move
like a screw nut along the whole length of the range or automatic sighting curve,
when the said screw shaft is rotated. This rotation is effected by a pinion on said
shaft gearing with another pinion which is in turn geared with a toothed wheel form-
ing part of what was called (before the connection between the traveller and elevating
screw took place) the elevating gear, but which I now designate as the "automatic
sight elevating gear." In this particular case the screw of the automatic sight
elevating gear inoves vertically up and down in one constrained position, and loss of
time between the gearing is obviated if necessary by the judicious use of springs or
other means.
4. In substituting for the fixed rack described in my aforesaid Specification for
setting the automatic sight gear in motion, the toothed wheel which forms part of
the herein before stated automatic sight elevating gear, such toothed wheel being
adapted to actuate a pinion and bevel wheel gearing with the bevel pinion of the
aforesaid screw shaft to operate the traveller.

page_text: 5. In substituting for the clamping and unclamping arrangement of the multiply-
ing gear referred to in my said prior Specification for the purpose of throwing the
automatic sight out of gear with the fixed rack, a duplex elevating gear, consisting
of two separate elevating gears, (one of which I have already referred to as the
"automatic sight elevating gear "and the other of which I term the "ordinary
elevating gear") each gear actuating the gun independently of the other.
The ordinary elevating gear merely elevates or depresses the gun without setting
in motion the automatic sighting apparatus. The automatic sight elevating
gear actuates the gun and the automatic sight together. This duplex elevating
gear is a very important feature of my invention and among the various modes of
its application I give the three following examples :-
In the case of a field gun for coast defence I apply thereto a revolving axis
for levelling the trunnions of the gun, and I attach the whole of the automatic
sighting apparatus-including sight, bracket and automatic elevating gear-to this
revolving axis, so that when the latter is cross levelled by its own levelling screw
connected with the trail or other convenient part of the carriage, the gun, automatic
sight, and automatic sight elevating gear will all be levelled together. One end
of the said revolving axis passes through the centre of the axle-tree of the gun
carriage and is supported by the latter, so as to be free to revolve therein. The other
end is similarly supported by a pivoted socket connected with the elevating gear of
the gun, which becomes now the automatic sight elevating gear, the "ordinary
elevating gear" having to be added. A cross level is attached at right angles to the
axis to indicate the horizontality or otherwise of the trunnions and a clinometer is
likewise attached parallel to the same axis. When the "ordinary elevating gear" is
worked it elevates or depresses this axis at one end whilst the other end pivots in
the naves of the gun carriage wheels through the intermediary of the wheel-axle.
Thus the ordinary elevating gear raises the revolving axis, gun, and sighting
apparatus together without influencing the automatic sighting mechanism.
In the case of a 6" quick firing gun the levelling of the trunnions may be carried
out in a somewhat different manner by way of variety, viz-by levelling the
platform or by giving to the vertical pivot that carries the gun in its cradle (in
addition to its circular horizontal movement) a constrained oscillating movement
from right to left around a horizontal axis parallel to the axis of the gun; but the
application of the duplex elevating gear is carried out in a similar manner, that is to
say by separating the ordinary elevating gear from the automatic sight elevating
gear.
For the automatic sighting of the 6" quick firing gun as proposed herein, it will
be necessary to add what I may term a supplementary cradle to the existing
mounting, such cradle consisting of two arms and a trail. The arms are, as it
were, hinged to the trunnions of the existing cradle, i.e. they encircle loosely but
accurately the trunnions which are prolonged for such purpose. The trail is inter-
posed between the aforesaid ordinary elevating gear and the automatic sighting gear.
The automatic sight and bracket are attached to a convenient part of this
supplementary cradle and the ordinary elevating gear is arranged to operate beneath
the trail so as to raise the latter and the various parts of the auto-sighting apparatus
above it, altogether, without actuating the automatic sighting gear. To this
supplementary cradle is fitted a clinometer with the longitudinal axis of the level
parallel to that of the gun, and there is also a cross level arranged at right angles to
the axis of the gun and such level is fitted to said cradle or to some part of the
carriage which can be transversely oscillated for levelling the trunnions of the cradle
or gun.
In the case of the automatic sighting of a field gun for land service the duplex
elevating gear is applied to the screw of the ordinary elevating gear itself and the
automatic sighting of the gun is obtained by the direct action of the automatic
sight elevating gear wheel upon the ordinary tangent sight of the gun through the
intermediary of an inclined plane or screw. The existing elevating screw is subdivided
into two portions and re-connected together by a screw collar having a hand wheel

page_text: which forms the automatic sight elevating gear, the other becoming the "ordinary
elevating gear." This collar can be connected to the gun by a ball and socket joint
or in any other convenient way and to the elevating screw of the ordinary elevating
gear in any suitable manner. In this design I only intend to partially automatically
sight the field gun; say for ranges from 1,000 yds. to 300 yds. (which is equal to 1° of
elevation) when artillery would suffer heavy loss from musketry fire, and when each
layer would have to do the best he could for the gun individually without word of
command from his commanding officer.
In order to give the requisite automatic movement to the tangent sight for one
degree of elevation (from 10 to 0) on turning the automatic sighting gear, an inclined
plane, (referred to above) forming one turn of a screw, is fitted to the upper surface
of the rim of the aforesaid hand-wheel on which the tangent sight rests by gravity.
This inclined plane is adjustable by screws and the action of such inclined plane,
can, of course, be augmented by making it in the form of a continuous screw thread,
if more than 1° of automatic sighting of the gun be required. In this case a cross
level would not be necessary because shrapnel fire would be employed, but a
clinometer would have to be fixed to the gun with the long axis of its level parallel
to the axis of the gun, in order to fix the datum elevation i.e. the last elevation at
which the gun, is to be fired by setting the tangent sight by hand and ordered
elevation from which the automatic sighting is to commence.
6. In attaching to a non-recoiling part of the gun carriage the automatic sight for
the purpose of being used as a range finder and as a means for laying the gun for
direction, the elevation being given to the gun by some other means, instead of
automatically by the automatic sight through the intermediary of the elevating
screw of the automatic sight elevating gear.
7. In substituting for the rigid range curve set forth in my aforesaid prior
specification, an adjustable range curve. This curve is rendered adjustable by being
formed of a series of movable sections or teeth which are vertically arranged in
a frame and which can be each or altogether shifted up or down in a vertical plane
by two separate and independent movements so that their. ends will form any
required curve. To complete the curve formed by the ends of the teeth and to
make a smooth path for the hereinbefore mentioned traveller to
employ a flexible bridging plate, rather broader than the traveller.
bridging plate is secured, or hinged, to the frame only at the
the curve and extends over the whole of the teeth ends thereby forming one
continuous curve.
The objects of making the curve adjustable are:-
run upon, I
This flexible
zero end of
(a) To allow of the same automatic sight being used for any height above
the sea,
without having to manufacture a new curve for every particular
height.
(b) To render the sight automatic in its action by enabling the automatic sight
to receive its corrections, for rise and fall of the tide, variable strength of powder,
wind and speed of target in the direction of the line of fire, through the intermediary
of the curve.
In order that an automatic sight may be entirely automatic in its action, all of the
aforesaid corrections, (which require an alteration between the line of sight of the
telescope and the axis of the gun) should be given to the automatic sight through
the intermediary of the adjustable curve throughout its whole length. They should
not have to be given piecemeal for any particular elevation, just at the time when
the layer has got the gun directed on to the moving target and ought to be just in the
act of firing his gun electrically. Indeed if an adjustable curve were not provided
for the purpose of giving these corrections they could not be given before the
moment of firing, because the range of the target could only be known to the layer
when he had actually got the line of sight on to his target which would be moving.
For the easy and accurate application of these corrections it is necessary to make
provision in the construction of the teeth themselves and in their method of arrange-
ment, and I consider this a very important feature of my invention.

page_text: The corrections, for their easy application to the automatic sighting curve, must
be divided into two categories and be applied to the curve separately and
independently of each other:-
(a) Those for tide, which may be said to be constant.
(b) Those for powder, wind etc., which vary and are ephemeral.
To be able to apply these two sets of corrections separately and independently of
each other, to the same curve, each tooth is made to move up and down by two
separate actions; one by screwing each tooth individually up or down in screw nuts
which are held and prevented from turning in the aforesaid frame; the other by
turning the screw nuts whilst the teeth themselves are held and prevented from.
turning.
A
For the sake of convenience I use the screw movement of the teeth for altering the
curve for the chronic tide correction and the screw movement of the nuts for altering
the curve for the other ephemeral corrections. The setting of the teeth is regulated
by graduations on the screw nuts aud on the cylindrical ends of the teeth next to
the bridging plate or the heads which are attached to the teeth for facilitating
their turning. The teeth are made preferably of cylindrical steel bars or
tubing of the proper length and diameter to suit the requirements.
screw thread is cut at one end of each tooth to give it motion up or down by
turning, and the other end, which is adapted to press on the said flexible bridging
plate, is of spheroidal or other suitable form. The screw threaded ends of the teeth
pass through the said rotary screw-nuts held in the aforesaid frame. Each screw nut
is graduated in accordance with the requirements of the sighting and an arrow head
is provided on the frame to serve as a zero of reference. When a screw nut is turned
and its tooth held, the latter will rise or fall and the amount will be registered by the
graduations on the screw nut with reference to the arrow head on the frame. If the
lower end of the tooth have a spiral graduated on a similar principle, the tooth
can be turned and set for correction for tide by its own graduations on the spiral
without turning the screw nut and altering its reading. This arrangement admits
therefore of the tide corrections being made separately from all the other corrections
for powder, wind, speed etc.
The screw nut and the tooth should be so graduated that their zeros will be
opposite to their arrow heads respectively for the normal curve for high tide on a
calm day.
In practice the layer should change his curve progressively with the rise and fall
of tide just as in a field battery the settings of the time fuses are kept in touch with
the words of command of the commanding officer.
Proper range tables of reference will obviously have to be constructed for giving
the amount of alteration necessary for each tooth of the curve for all the corrections
required.
For a platform which is not absolutely level, the curve and the changes in the
curve must always be made with the axis of the gun vertically over a datum line of
the platform which I call the zero line of direction. This line should be fixed by a
mark on the carriage and a corresponding mark on the platform.
The alterations in the curve required for powder, wind, speed, etc., should be
estimated as plus or minus values according to their individual effect upon the
range of the shot, and the sum of the values will represent the total corrections to
be made in the inclination of the line of sight of the telescope to the axis of the
gun. The corrections which influence the range of the gun must then be given to
each individual screw tooth of the curve as permanent corrections (at all events for
an hour or two) and such corrections must be capable of being effected without
disturbing the reading of the original datum curve for high tide on a calm day with
normal powder.
As has been explained the teeth of the curve are capable of being screwed up and
down by two different and independent actions for giving the corrections for tide
separately from those for the other causes of error, the setting in each case being
made and registered by a separate scale of graduations, and the setting of one is not

page_text: influenced by the setting of the other. For convenience in setting and in altering
the curve, the divisions of the graduations on the spirals of the teeth and those on
the screw nuts should all have equal value, such as for instance 100 yds. at every part
of the curve. The divisions at 5,000 yds. for 100 yds. range, will naturally be larger
than those at 1,000 yds.
This will enable "elevation" to be very readily given or "taken off" from the gun
through the intermediary of the range curve for corrections due to powder, wind,
speed etc.
The threads of the screws of each tooth might be so cut as to make one complete
turn of the screw nut suffice at all points of the sighting curve to give corrections
in elevation for the maximum effect of all extraneous causes upon the shooting
of the gun.
For registering the alteration in elevation given by turning the
tooth itself, the latter can have a spiral scale graduated around that portion of
it which projects below the frame and an arrow head can be provided on the
frame.
All the teeth of the curve should be numbered from one upwards according to
the number of them employed in the curve and they should be graduated so as
to give the corrections to the line of sight for say every foot of fall of tide so that
if there are 20 feet of fall, there will be twenty graduations on each tooth, each
graduation representing a point in a different automatic sighting curve; then each
curve, having been previously found and registered on paper, will be of easy applica-
tion. Thus if the tide has fallen 10 feet, the automatic sight at zero elevation will
be depressed without being actuated by the ordinary elevating gear till the bubble
of the clinometer (which too bas been set at the tenth graduation
from high tide) is level, and the whole of the teeth of the curve will be also set to the
tenth graduation.
In fact a table of curves indicated by abstract numbers with reference to every
foot of fall of tide will require to be constructed, and the same thing will have to be
done on similar principles for alterations in these curves due to the powder, wind,
and other corrections, thus:-
The aforesaid duplex elevating gear, which is subdivided into ordinary elevating
gear and automatic sight elevating gear, is very essential for the working of an auto-
matic sight when there is fall of tide and when there exist fore and aft inaccuracies
in the level of the platform over which the wheels of the gun carriage travel.
The aforesaid automatic sight elevating gear is disconnected from the gun or the
cradle in the 6" quick firing gun mounting, or from the trough in the field gun
carriage I have hereinbefore referred to, but is retained in complete contact therewith
by the preponderance given to the gun. The gun recoils in its sleeve and rests
always in the bottom of the hollow of its trough. If the gun be truly mounted in its
trough, and the elevating screw be provided with a ball or roller fitting a suitably

page_text: formed groove in the underside of the trough, the axis of the gun cannot deviate from
the line of sight of the automatic sight, fixed to the carriage. The above method of
connection between the ordinary elevating gear and the gun or the trough carrying
the gun, enables me to obtain for a sight attached to a non-recoiling part, the same
command over the axis of the gun as if the sight were actually attached to the
gun itself.
The automatic range finder and director referred to under paragraph 6 is
similar in construction to the automatic sight already described.
It comprises a horizontally disposed bar mounted in bearings on a vertical
oscillatory plate having end trunnions which are carried by brackets affixed to the gun
carriage. The portion of the aforesaid oscillatory plate carrying the bearings for the
said bar is adapted to be angularly shifted vertically within the portion of the said
plate that carries the end trunnions, suitable graduations being provided to indicate
the angles of depression for each foot of fall of tide from. high to low water. In order
to angularly shift the said moveable portion of the plate I may furnish such portion
with a projection which is arranged to lie between the inner ends of a pair of set
screws having milled heads. The said portion also carries a clinometer which is
capable of being independently adjusted by a set screw for corrections in tide,
graduations being provided to represent one foot fall of tide. The number of
graduations should be equal to the number of feet in the fall of tide.
For turning the aforesaid vertically arranged plate about its trunnions I employ a
horizontal set screw carried by the plate, the inner end of such screw resting against
the gun carriage or a piece forming part thereof, by the weight of the said plate.
By revolving such screw in one or. other direction the plate can be oscillated about
its trunnions as required for cross-levelling purposes, a suitable cross-level being
provided. The aforesaid horizontal bar instead of being carried in bearings may in some
cases be cast in one piece with the oscillating plate. This bar is adapted to receive a
screw shaft carrying the traveller that acts upon the adjustable range curve which is
.similar in construction to that already described and is hinged at one end to the bar
or to the bracket carrying said bar. The opposite end of the range curve moves
vertically in a guide forming part of the said bar or bracket such guide preventing
lateral movement of the curve. This guide is suitably graduated and the curve is
furnished with a vernier that works over such graduations.
The telescope, at its object glass end, is hinged to the hinged end of the range
curve and lies in the same vertical plane therewith. The opposite or eye piece
end of the telescope is provided with a suitable attachment by which it is connected
with the curve. I may provide a counterpoise weight for compensating for the
pressure with which the telescope and curve bear upon the said traveller.
The various adjustable teeth of the range curve may be furnished with means
whereby their adjustment can be effected simultaneously.
In some cases I provide an adjustable range scale over which the traveller runs, so
that by adjusting such scale I am able to cause the traveller to occupy such a position
on the scale that it will compensate for the variations in the powder, wind etc.
For instance imagine that the powder causes a loss of range of 20 yds. and that
the wind increases the range 10-yards; there will then be a loss in range equal to
20-10, or 10 yds. The traveller which under normal conditions would give a
reading of say 1,000 yds. on the scale must now give 1,010 yds. so that the gun
may receive a corresponding elevation.
The adjustable scale must therefore be shifted so as to read 1,010 when the
traveller is in the normal position of 1,000 yds. on the scale.
When the platform is not uniformly level throughout the horizontal training of
the gun carriage, it will be necessary to select the mean line of fire and to preserve
this line of direction by making a mark on the carriage and a corresponding mark on
the platform as herein before described under Paragraph 7. This is the line on
which the range curve is to be constructed and subsequently altered as required for
making corrections. The curve constructed at high water, under normal conditions
I call the datum or zero curve.

page_text: This curve is corrected (1) for fall of tide by manipulating the teeth and (2) for
ephemeral causes affecting the range, by shifting the adjustable range scale
graduated on the traveller bar so as to cause the traveller to read on the scale a
corrected range instead of the true range for a normal day.
Of course the curve constructed for any level of tide can. for convenience be
assumed to be the zero curve.
To construct the zero curve, suppose that the nearest point on the sea (which
can be seen and intersected by the zero line of sight of the telescope with
the maximum depression from the battery) to be 1,000 yds. at high tide on a
calin day;
(1) Level the traveller bar as indicated by the clinometer by adjusting the
levelling screw of the sight or by shifting the vertically moving portion of the
oscillating plate.
(2) Set the traveller to 1,000 yds. on the adjustable scale.
(3) Depress the telescope by adjusting the 1,000 yds. tooth of the series of
teeth composing the adjustable range curve, i.e. tooth No. 1, till the line of sight
cuts the sea at a range of 1,000 yds. from the telescope.
(4) Read off this angle of depression on the are that is graduated on the aforesaid
curve guide by means of the vernier, and note this down."
(5) Fix the position of this tooth by a mark on the circumference of the bottom
end and another mark on the curve frame as a mark of reference. Engrave the mark
on the tooth as zero.
(6) Move the traveller on to a position adjacent to the next tooth (No. 2) and
depress the telescope so that it will cut the sea at the range indicated by the
traveller on the scale. Read off this angle as before and note it down, and make a
mark on tooth No. 2 and on the frame, engraving it zero. Perform this operation
for every tooth in succession and the graduations for the zero curve will be
obtained.
Improvements in and relating to Automatic Sighting Apparatus for
Ordnance.
I, LOTHIAN KERR SCOTT, C.B., late Lieutenant-Colonel of the Royal Engineers,
of Forest Lodge, Farnborough, in the County of Hants, 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 automatic sighting of ordnance and consists in a
re-arrangement, between the sight and the gun-carriage or mounting, of the
theoretical principles of automatic sighting mechanically embodied as a whole in my
automatic sight for coast batteries set forth in my prior Patent No. 159 of the 3rd
January 1894, and in the application of other improvements so as to render this
automatic system of sighting guns more practicable than heretofore and capable
of being readily applied to the gun carriage or to any gun recoil or non-recoil
mounting.
My improvements in the automatic sighting of ordnance consist :-
1. In dispensing with the transverse rotary adjustment of the bar or frame
carrying the telescope (which was necessary in the sighting apparatus set forth
in my aforesaid specification for compensating for inaccuracies in the level of

page_text: the gun trunnions) and substituting therefor means that can be applied to the
gun or gun carriage, mounting or platform, for levelling the trunnions of the gun,
or the trunnions of the cradle which carries the gun, or means for rotating the sight
bracket by an axis parallel to the axis of the gun.
2. In the extension of the bracket for carrying the telescope and of the other
portions of the sighting apparatus rearwardly from the trunnion to the breech end of
the gun, so as to enable the improved means I now employ for moving the traveller
along the sighting curve, to be connected with the elevating screw of the elevating
gear of the gun.
3. In substituting for the arrangement set forth in my aforesaid prior specification
for actuating the traveller, a screw shaft on which the traveller is mounted to move
like a screw nut along the whole length of the range or automatic-sighting curve,
when the said screw shaft is rotated.
4. In substituting for the fixed rack described in my aforesaid specification for
setting the automatic sight gear in motion, a toothed wheel which forms part of the
automatic sight elevating gear, such toothed wheel being adapted to actuate a
pinion and bevel wheel gearing with the bevel pinion of the aforesaid screw shaft to
operate the traveller.
5. In substituting for the clamping and unclamping arrangement of the
multiplying gear referred to in my said prior specification for the purpose of throwing
the automatic sight out of gear with the fixed rack, a duplex elevating gear, con-
sisting of two separate elevating gears (one of which I refer to as the "automatic
sight elevating gear" and the other of which I term the "ordinary elevating gear")
each gear actuating the gun independently of the other.
The ordinary elevating gear merely elevates or depresses the gun without setting
in motion the automatic sighting apparatus. The automatic sight elevating gear
actuates the gun and the automatic sight together. This duplex elevating gear is a
very important feature of my invention.
6. In attaching to a non-recoiling part of the gun carriage the automatic sight for
the purpose of being used as a range finder when the gun is placed in an elevated
position and as a means for laying the gun for direction, the elevation being given
to..the gun by some other means, instead of automatically by the automatic sight
through the intermediary of the elevating screw of the automatic sight elevating
gear.
7. In substituting for the rigid range curve set forth in my aforesaid prior
specification, an adjustable range curve.
In order that my said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into
effect I will now proceed to describe the same more fully with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which :
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a field gun fitted with my improvements.
Figure 2 is an end section on the line x-x Figure 1.
Figure 2 shows an alternative means for imparting angular movement to the
axis b.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of a stationary gun or gun of position fitted with my
improvements and
Figure 4 is an end section on line y-y Figure 3.
Figure 5 is an end view of a constructional form of my invention showing the
.duplex elevating gear adapted to the ordinary elevating screw, the adjustment for
range being obtained by the direct action of the automatic sight elevating gear wheel
upon the ordinary tangent sight of the gun through the intermediary of an inclined
plane or screw.
Figure 6 shows my duplex elevating gear adapted to a gun fitted with the form of
automatic sight described in the Specification of my prior Patent No. 1590+
Figure 7 is an enlarged side elevation showing details of construction of my.
adjustable sight curve.
Figures 8 and 9 are an end elevation and a side elevation respectively showing the

page_text: construction of the oscillating brackets carrying the traveller bar when the automatic
sight is used as a range finder and director to the gun.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2. A is the gun of which the trunnions a are mounted
in suitable bearings at the extremities of the arms of the forked bracket B fixed
5 to the revolving axis or arm b. This arm b is parallel to the longitudinal axis of
the gun and its end at one extremity passes through the centre of the axle
tree of the gun carriage and is supported by the latter so as to be free to
revolve therewith; its end at the other extremity being supported on a bearing 62
carried by the ordinary elevating screw s¹ supported by the trail T of the gun.
C and C are brackets fixed to the gun and in which are journalled respectively
the ends of the screw rod D. Hinged to the bracket C at c is one end of the range
curve frame E the other end of which slides in the slotted guide e carried by the
bracket C¹. This guide e is graduated to cooperate with a vernier marked on the
frame E for a purpose hereinafter referred to. The range curve consists of a number
of parallel screw teeth or sections e¹ individually vertically adjustable in the frame E
and having their ends forming the curve bridged over by a flat spring e², all as
hereinafter more fully explained with reference to Figure 7. The tooth or section e³
of the curve has its lower end prolonged and spirally graduated in degrees, minutes
or yards and when the curve is not in use rests upon the upper surface of the
traveller-bar. Hinged to the curved frame E at et is the bracket C2 which carries
one end of the sight bar or telescope F the other end of which is carried by a
bracket C3 attached to the frame E. G is an internally screw threaded block or
traveller mounted on the screw rod D and prevented from rotating thereon by means of
guides g, g. Upon this traveller the spring e² of the range curve rests.
Fixed to
the rear end of the rod D is the bevel gear wheel h which engages with another bevel
gear wheel h¹ fixed to the top of a vertical rod H journalled in a sleeve h² fixed to
the gun. To this rod H is also fixed the spur wheel h³ which engages with another
spur wheel h fixed to the screw sleeve s. On the top of this sleeve is formed a ball
which forms a ball and socket joint with the socket a² on the gun. Engaging with
the screw sleeve s is the automatic sight elevating screw s² the lower end of which is
pivoted at 3 to the revolving axis b. t is a toothed segment having a recess t¹ with
which the revolving axis b engages so as to be capable of vertical movement therein.
This segment is provided with projections or guides t2 t2 which engage with suitable
grooves in a case t* fixed to the trail of the gun, so as to be capable of sliding therein.
15 is a rotary worm or screw which engages with the toothed segment t and is
journalled in the trail of the gun and rotated by means of a hand wheel to situated
on the left hand side of the gun. To the revolving axis 6 and parallel to the
longitudinal axis thereof is attached a clinometer R which is set to indicate the zero
of the range curve which zero should be the shortest range.
An ordinary cross level R¹ is attached at right angles to the revolving axis b to
indicate the horizontality or otherwise of the trunnions. When it is required to
correct the transverse level of the gun, and automatic sighting apparatus the hand
wheel is turned in the required direction and by means of the worm to and
segment t imparts angular movement to the axis b carrying the forked bracket in which
the gun trunnions are mounted; when the bubble is in the centre of the cross
level R the transverse level of the gun will be correct.
Figure 2 shows an alternative means for correcting the transverse level of the gun
and automatic sighting apparatus, in which the revolving axis b is prolonged so as to
project a short distance beyond the bearing 6². This projecting part of the axis b
has a worm wheel t' fixed to it. t8 is a rotary worm or screw carried in suitable
fixed bearings and gearing with the worm wheel t7. By rotating this worm or
screw 8 by means of a hand wheel to the transverse level of the gun and automatic
sighting apparatus can be corrected.
By operating the screw sleeves by its hand wheel the gun can be elevated or
depressed and at the same time the correct adjustment for range given to the sight
by means of the traveller G which is caused to move along the screw rod D (through
the medium of the spur wheels h*, h³, the rod H and the bevel wheels h¹ and h) and

page_text: operate the range curve and sight bar or telescope; the gun being thus truly laid
by a single operation of the sleeves of the "automatic sight elevating gear."
When the ordinary elevating screw s' is worked by means of its hand wheel s*,
it elevates or depresses the axis b at one end while the other end pivots in the
naves of the gun carriage wheels through the intermediary of the wheel axle.
Thus the ordinary elevating gear operates the revolving axis b, the gun, the
sighting and range finding apparatus and the automatic sight elevating gear
together, and without influencing the automatic sighting mechanism; thus per-
mitting the gun to be sighted nonautomatically in the ordinary way.
If it is required to use the auto-sight as an ordinary sight i.e. to alter the
angle formed by the longitudinal axis of the sight bar or telescope F with the
longitudinal axis of the gun, (in other words the "angle of elevation"), indepen-
dently of the automatic apparatus, this can be done by bringing the traveller to
zero by means of the auto-sight elevating gear and then rotating the screw tooth
or section 3 (which bears on the upper guide g and so raises or lowers the frame E
and sight or telescope F) and turning the hand wheel s4 of the ordinary elevating
gear, the amount of this elevation or depression being read off by means of the
vernier on the guide e or on the graduated tooth e3 and the requisite tangent or
clinometer elevation being thus given to the telescope by hand as is done with
the ordinary well known "Scott telescopic sight."
Referring now to Figures 3 and 4 the gun A is mounted so as to be capable of
recoiling in the sleeve A¹ and trough A². The trunnions a are attached to the sleeve
and jourralled at the ends of the arms of the forked bracket B attached to the
revolving axis b which is mounted as previously described.
The revolving screw D and the guides g, g are mounted in brackets C C¹ attached
to the revolving axis b. The range curve frame E is hinged to a bracket C² also
'fixed to the revolving axis b, and the range curve and telescope are mounted with
respect to one another and the traveller bar D as previously described.
The automatic sight elevating screws is pivoted to the trough A² by means of
the ball and socket joint a2 and has its lower end working in a guide 63. The
automatic sight elevating wheel and sleeve & is adapted to bear in a loosely fitting
collar 64 fixed to the revolving axis b. This sleeve s carries the toothed wheel h¹ as
'before, the latter gearing with the pinion 3 on the rod H which also carries the
bevel pinion gearing with the bevel wheel h on the rod D. The sleeve carrying
the rod H is attached to the bracket C¹.
It will be seen that in this arrangement the whole of the automatic sighting
'apparatus is carried by the revolving axis b, and that when the hand wheel and
'sleeve s are rotated to elevate or depress the gun the necessary adjustment for range
will be given to the sight as previously described. The ordinary elevating gear also
operates as previously described, and the revolving axis is fitted with a clinometer
and cross level and means for effecting its lateral adjustment for cross levelling
purposes as shown in Figures 1 and 2, so that the automatic sighting apparatus and
gun will be cross levelled together.
Referring to Figure 5. A is a field gun for land service having my duplex elevating
gear applied to the screw of the ordinary elevating gear itself, the automatic sighting
of the gun being obtained by the direct action of an automatic sight elevating gear
wheel upon the ordinary tangent sight of the gun through the intermediary of an
inclined plane or screw. The elevating screw is divided into two parts, viz. a lower
part s forming the ordinary elevating screw and operated by the ordinary elevating
gear wheels, and an upper part s² constituting the automatic sight elevating gear
Screw which is pivoted to the gun at a² and is operated by the automatic sight
elevating screw sleeve and hand wheel s. The upper end of the ordinary elevating
screw is provided with an annular groove s5, and a smooth part at the lower end
of the sleeve s fits over the upper end of screw 8 and is retained so as to be capable
of rotating thereon by means of screws 80 which pass through the said sleeve and
project into the groove s³.

page_text: E is an inclined range curve or screw fitted to the upper surface of the wheel
carried by the sleeve s. K is an ordinary tangent sight carried in a sleeve fixed to
the gun and is a roller attached to the lower end of the tangent sight. This roller
is normally kept in contact with the curve E by gravity. s is a spring situated
between the screws s¹ and s² to take up any possible back-lash. R is a graduated
clinometer level suitably attached to the gun.
Upon turning the ordinary elevating gear wheels the gun will be elevated.or
depressed without giving any adjustment to the tangent sight for range. Upon
turning the automatic sight elevating gear wheel carried by the sleeve s, however,
to left or right the gun will be either depressed or elevated and at the same time
the necessary adjustment given to the tangent sight for range.
In this design I only intend to partially automatically sight the field gun, say for
ranges from 1,000 yds. to 300 yds. (which is equal to 1° of elevation) when artillery
would suffer heavy loss from musketry fire, and when each layer would have to do the
best he could for the gun individually without word of command from his commanding
officer.
In order to give this requisite movement to the tangent sight for 1° of elevation'
(from 1 to 0) on turning the "automatic sighting gear," the inclined plane E forms
one turn of a screw. The curvature of the inclined plane E may be made adjustable
by means of screws and its action can of course be augmented by making it in the
form of a continuous screw thread if more than 1 of "automatic" sighting of the
gun is required. In this case a cross level is not necessary because shrapnel fire.
would be employed, but the clinometer R is fitted to the gun with the longitudinal
axis of its level parallel to the longitudinal axis of the gun in order to fix the datum
elevation, i.e. the last elevation at which the gun is to be fired by setting the tangent
sight by hand and the ordered elevation from which the automatic sighting is to
commence.
Referring to Figure 6, which shows my duplex elevating gear adapted to a gun
fitted with an automatic sight in which the traveller is caused to move along the
range curve through the medium of a train of pinions and toothed segments gearing
with a rack fixed to the gun mounting, of the type fully described in the Specification
of my prior Patent No. 1599; J is the telescope arranged as aforesaid above a range
curve resting by gravity on the traveller G. This traveller G is carried by a toothed
rack capable of sliding longitudinally in the tube D and geared to a fixed segmental
rack U by means of the train of gearing P1, P2, Q1, Q2 as described in the specification
of my aforesaid previous patent. The segmental rack U is fixed adjustably in the
slotted arm fixed to a collar arranged around the trunnion of the gun and fitting
it well but loosely. The tube D is journalled parallel to the longitudinal axis of the
gun in brackets C C fixed to the gun trunnions and is fitted with a worm wheel W
with which engages a tangent screw or worm w carried by one of the brackets C for
the purpose of cross levelling the sight. The collar has an arm ¹ extending to the
elevating screw of the gun. S and S¹ are the automatic sight elevating apparatus
and the ordinary elevating apparatus respectively. These elevating devices are each
composed of a nut s receiving screwed spindles $1 82 which are oppositely threaded,
the screws of the upper (or automatic sight) elevating gear being hinged at s³ to
the gun and the screw & thereof being hinged to the arm at 4. The screw st
of the lower (or ordinary elevating device is also hinged to the arm at 8 and the
screw 82 thereof is hinged to the carriage at 85). When the lower nuts (of the
ordinary elevating gear) is rotated, elevation given to the gun without, operating
the automatic sighting apparatus, the gun the arm and collar moving together.
When the nut 8 of the upper or automatic sight elevating gear is operated the gun
and its trunnion are caused to move vertically but the arin collar and fixed
rack U remain stationary so that movement is imparted to the traveller and the
necessary adjustment for range given to the telescope.
Referring to Figure 7. E is the adjustable range curve frame pivoted at c to a
bracket carried by the gun mounting and arranged with regard to the telescope,
traveller, and graduated guide e, as already described. This frame E consists of

page_text: upper and lower bars e and e, and side plates e. The bars e" and e" are each pro-
vided with a series of perforations at regular intervals. The perforations in the bar e
are of such diameter as to fit external annular grooves formed in the internally
screw threaded nuts L. Engaging with these nuts are the screw spindles of the
adjustable teeth or sections el forming the curve. These teeth e¹ are provided at
their upper ends with thumb pieces or heads e³ and their lower cylindrical extremities
pass through the projections in the bar e and are bridged over by the spring or
flexible bridging plate e² to make a smooth path for the traveller to run upon. This
spring e² is hinged at e to the frame E, and is sufficiently thick to prevent any
indentation taking place between the teeth from the superincumbent weight of the
telescope and curve. The lower extremity of each of the teeth or sections e¹ has a
scale M marked thereon to be read in connection with a fixed mark to serve as a zero
of reference on the plate e when setting the curve for the correction in variations of
wind and powder, and each of the nuts L has a scale M¹ marked thereon to be read
in connection with a fixed zero of reference marked on the plate when correcting
the curve for variations in the height of the tide. A sliding range scale m is marked
on the upper traveller guide g for adjusting the traveller G as hereinafter described
and a scale m¹ is marked on the lower edge of the plate e of the curve frame also to
be read in connection with the traveller. The end tooth or section e³ of the curve
has its lower extremity prolonged so as to bear upon the upper traveller guide g so
that by means of rotating the said tooth the angle between the longitudinal axis of
the telescope and that of the gun may be altered, (the amount of such alteration
being read off by means of the vernier on the guide e, or on the graduated spiral on
the tooth or section e) and the sight thus used non "automatically and as an
ordinary sight if required. e10 is a screw fixed to the under side of the bar F and e¹¹
is an internally screwed sleeve which engages with the screw e¹0 and the end of which
rests on the bar E. By rotating the sleeve ell the angle which the longitudinal axis
of the telescope makes with that of the traveller bar D can be altered without
moving the traveller G. In this figure a hand wheel 5 is shown for rotating the
bar D and for working the sight by hand when it is to be used as a range finder and
director.
The objects of making the curve adjustable are:-
39
(a) To allow of the same automatic sight being used for any height above the sea,
without having to manufacture a new curve for every particular height.
(b) To render the sight automatic in its action by enabling the automatic sight
to receive its corrections, for rise and fall of the tide, variable strength of powder,
wind, and speed of target in the direction of the line of fire, through the intermediary
of the curve.
In order that an automatic sight may be entirely automatic in its action, all of the
aforesaid corrections, (which require an alteration between the line of sight of
the telescope and the longitudinal axis of the gun) should be given to the automatic
sight through the intermediary of the adjustable curve throughout its whole length.
They should not have to be given piecemeal for any particular elevation, just at the
time when the layer has got the gun directed on to the moving target and ought to
be just in the act of firing his gun electrically or otherwise. Indeed if an adjustable
curve were not provided for the purpose of giving these corrections beforehand they
could only be given at the moment of firing, which would be most inconvenient and
unpractical, because the range of the moving target and the corrections required could
only be known to the layer and the adjustments therefor made when he had actually got
the line of sight on to his target which latter would be moving and changing every
moment the basis of calculation. For the easy and accurate application of these
corrections it is necessary to make provision in the construction of the teeth them-
selves and in their method of arrangement, and I consider this a very important feature
of my invention.
The corrections, for their easy application to the automatic sighting curve, must be
divided into two categories and be applied to the curve separately and independently
of each other :—

page_text: (a) Those for tide, which may be said to be constant.
(b) Those for powder, wind etc. which vary and are ephemeral.
To be able to apply these two sets of corrections separately and independently of
each other, to the same curve, each tooth or section thereof is made to move
up and down by two separate actions; one, by screwing each tooth individually (by
means of its thumb piece or head e³) up or down in its screw nut L which is held and
prevented from turning in the frame F; the other by turning the screw nuts L whilst
the tooth itself is held and prevented from turning.
For the sake of convenience I use the screw movement of the nuts for altering
the curve for the chronic tide corrections and the screw movement of the teeth for
altering the curve for the other ephemeral corrections. The setting of the teeth
is regulated by the said graduations on the screw nuts and on the cylindrical ends
of the teeth next to the bridging plate e². The teeth are made preferably of
cylindrical steel bars or tubing of the proper length and diameter to suit the
requirements.
When a screw nut is turned and the head es of its tooth e¹ held, the latter will rise
or fall and the amount will be registered by the graduations on the screw nut with
reference to the arrow head on the frame and a correction thus made for tide. If
the lower end of the tooth has a spiral graduated on it as shown, the tooth can be
turned by means of its head and set for correction for powder and wind by its own
graduations on the spiral, without turning the screw nut and altering its reading.
This arrangement admits therefore of the tide corrections being made separately
from all the other corrections for powder, wind, speed and so forth.
The screw nut and the tooth should be so graduated that their zeros will be opposite
to their arrow heads respectively for the normal curve for a fixed height above the sea
at high tide on a calm day. This curve I call the zero or datum curve.
In practice the layer should change his curve progressively with the rise and fall
of tide just as in a field battery the settings of the time fuses are kept in touch by
means of the fuse number with the words of command of the commanding officer.
Proper range tables of reference will obviously have to be constructed for giving the
amount of alteration necessary for each tooth or section of the curve for all the
corrections required.
For a platform which is not absolutely level, the curve and the changes in the
curve must always be made with the axis of the gun vertically over a datum line of
the platform which I call the zero line of direction. This line should be fixed by a
mark on the carriage and a corresponding mark on the platform.
The alterations in the curve required for powder, wind, speed, etc., should be
estimated as plus or minus values according to their individual effect upon the range
of the shot, and the sum of the values will represent the total corrections to be made
in the inclination of the line of sight of the telescope to the axis of the gun. The
corrections which influence the range of the gun must then be given to each
individual screw tooth of the curve as permanent corrections (at all events for an hour
or two) and such corrections must be capable of being effected without disturbing
the reading of the original datum curve for high tide on a calm day with normal
powder.
As has been explained the teeth of the curve are capable of being screwed up and
down by two different and independent actions for giving the corrections for tide
separately from those for the other causes of error, the setting in each case being
made and registered by a separate scale of graduations, and the setting of one is not
influenced by the setting of the other. For convenience in setting and in altering
the curve, the divisions of the graduations on the spirals of the teeth and those on the
screw nuts should all have equal value, such as for instance 100 yds. at every part of
the curve.
The divisions at 5,000 yds. for 100 yds. range, will naturally be larger
then those at 1,000 yds.
This will enable "elevation" to be very readily given or "taken off" from the gun
through the intermediary of the range curve for corrections due to powder, wind,
speed etc.

page_text: The threads of the screws of each tooth might be so cut as to make one complete
turn of the screw nut suffice at all points of the sighting curve to give corrections in
elevation for the maximum effect of all extraneous causes upon the shooting of the
gun.
All the teeth of the curve should be numbered from one upwards according to the
number of them employed in the curve, and they should be graduated so as to give
the corrections to the line of sight for say every foot of fall of tide so that if there are
20 feet of fall, there will be twenty graduations on each tooth, each graduation repre-
senting a point in a different automatic sighting curve; then each curve, having
been previously found and registered on paper, will be of easy application. Thus if
the tide has fallen 10 feet, the automatic sight at zero elevation will be depressed
without being actuated by the ordinary elevating gear till the bubble of the clino-
meter (which too has been set at the tenth graduation for a fixed height above the
sea) is level, and the whole of the teeth of the curve will be also set in the tenth
graduation.
In fact a table of curves indicated by abstract numbers with reference to every
foot of fall of tide will require to be constructed and the same thing will have to be
done on similar principles for alterations in these curves due to the powder, wind, and
other corrections, thus:-
The aforesaid duplex elevating gear which is sub-divided into ordinary elevating
gear and automatic sight elevating gear is very essential for the working of an
automatic sight when there is fall of tide and when there exist fore and aft in-
accuracies in the level of the platform over which the wheels of the gun carriage
travel.
The aforesaid automatic sight elevating gear is disconnected from the gun or the
cradle in the 6" quick firing gun mounting, or from the trough in the field gun
carriage I have hereinbefore referred to, but is retained in complete contact therewith
by the preponderance given to the gun. The gun recoils in its sleeve and rests always
in the bottom of the hollow of its trough. If the gun be truly mounted in its
trough, and the elevating screw be provided with a ball, or roller, fitting a suitably
formed groove in the underside of the trough, the axis of the gun cannot deviate
from the line of sight of the automatic sight fixed to the carriage. The above method
of connection between the ordinary elevating gear and the gun, or the trough carry-
ing the gun, enables me to obtain for a sight attached to a non-recoiling part, the
same command over the axis of the gun as if the sight were actually attached to the
gun itself.
The automatic range finder and director referred to under paragraph 6 is similar
in construction to the automatic sight already described with reference to
Figure 7.
It comprises a horizontally disposed traveller bar mounted in adjustable bearings

page_text: as shown in Figures 8 and 9. Referring to these figures, the bearings are carried by
brackets C C on a vertical oscillatory plate having end trunnions P which are carried
by brackets CS C3 affixed to the gun carriage. The said oscillatory plate consists of
a vertically fixed part p which carries the trunnions P and a vertically adjustable
part pl engaging with the part p and carrying the brackets C C of the traveller bar.
The portion p¹ of the aforesaid oscillatory plate is adapted to be angularly shifted
vertically within the portion p thereof, and suitable graduations are provided on the
part p and a vernier on part p¹ to indicate the angles of depression of the line of
sight for various fixed heights of the gun above the sea at high water on a calm day
under normal conditions. In order to angularly shift the said movable portion p¹ of
the plate I furnish such portion with a projection p² which is arranged to lie between
the inner ends of a pair of set screws p³, p having milled heads. The said portion
also carries a clinometer R which is hinged at one end to the part p and is capable of
being independently adjusted by a set screw for corrections in tide; a graduated
scale being provided on the clinometer case 71 the graduations on which each repre-
sent one foot fall of tide. A vernier on the clinometer operates in conjunction with
this scale and the number of graduations on the scale should be equal to the number
of feet in the fall of tide.
For turning the aforesaid vertically arranged plate about its trunnions P, I employ
a horizontal set screw p5 carried by the said plate. The inner end of this screw p
bears against the gun carriage or a piece forming part thereof and is normally
retained in this position by the weight of the said plate when the range finder and
director is in place on the bracket. By revolving this screw in one or other direction
the plate can be oscillated about its trunnions P as required for cross-levelling
purposes, a suitable cross-level p6 being provided. The traveller bar carried by the
brackets C is adapted to receive the traveller that acts upon the adjustable range
curve which is similar in construction to that already described and is hinged at one
end to the traveller guide or to the bracket carrying said bar. The opposite end of
the range curve moves vertically in a guide forming part of the said traveller guide
or bracket, also as previously described (e Figure 7), such guide preventing
independent lateral movement of the curve. This guide is suitably graduated
and the curve is furnished with a vernier that works over such graduations.
The telescope, at its object glass end, is hinged to the hinged end of the range
curve and lies in the same vertical plane therewith. The opposite or eye piece end
of the telescope is provided with a suitable attachment by which it is connected
with the curve. I may provide a counterpoise weight for compensating for the
pressure with which the telescope and curve bear upon the said traveller.
The various adjustable teeth of the range curve may be furnished with means
whereby their adjustment can be effected simultaneously.
In some cases I provide an adjustable range scale m, (Figure 7) over which the
traveller runs, so that by adjusting such scale I am able to cause the traveller to
occupy such a position on the scale that it will compensate for the variations in the
powder, wind etc.
For instance imagine that the powder causes a loss of range of 20 yds. and that
the wind increases the range 10 yds. there will be a loss in range equal to (20-10)
or 10 yds. The traveller which under normal conditions would give a reading of
say 1,000 yds. on the scale must now give 1,010 yds. so that the gun may receive a
corresponding elevation.
This adjustable scale for making corrections for powder, wind, and so forth must
therefore be shifted so as to read 1,010 when the traveller is in the normal position
of 1,000 yds. on the scale.
When the platform is not uniformly level throughout the horizontal training of
the gun carriage, it will be necessary.to select the mean line of fire and to preserve
this line of direction by marking a mark on the carriage and a corresponding mark
on the platform as herein before described. This is the line on which the range curve
is to be constructed and subsequently altered as required for making correction's.

page_text: The curve constructed for a fixed height of gun above the sea at high water, under
normal conditions on a calm day, I call the datum or zero curve.
This zero curve, when used in connection with the range finder and directors is
corrected (1) for fall of tide by manipulating the nuts L of the teeth and (2) for
ephemeral causes affecting the range, by shifting the adjustable range scale graduated
on the traveller guide so as to cause the traveller to read on the scale a corrected
range instead of the true range for a normal day.
Of course the curve constructed for any level of tide can, for convenience, be
assumed to be the zero curve.
To construct the zero curve suppose that the nearest point on the sea (which can
be seen and intersected by the zero line of sight of the telescope with the maximum
depression from the battery) at high tide on a calm day, in other words the shortest
range, to be 1,000 yds. ;
(1) Level the traveller bar as indicated by the clinometer by adjusting the
levelling screw of the range finder bracket or by shifting the vertically moving
portion of the oscillating plate.
(2) Set the traveller to 1,000 yds. on the adjustable scale.
Depress the telescope by adjusting the 1,000 yds. tooth of the series of teeth
composing the adjustable range curve .e. tooth No. 1 till the line of sight cuts the
sea at a range of 1,000 yds. from the telescope.
(4) Read off this angle of depression on the arc that is graduated on the aforesaid
curve guide e by means of the vernier or on the spirally graduated screw es (Figure 7)
and note this down.
(5) Fix the position of this tooth by a mark on the circumference of the bottom
end and another mark on the curve frame as a mark of reference. Engrave the
mark on the tooth as zero.
(6) Move the traveller on to the graduation immediately under the next
tooth (No. 2) and depress the telescope so that it will cut the sea at the range
indicated by the traveller on the scale. Read off this angle as before and note it
down, and make a mark on tooth No. 2 and on the frame, engraving it zero.
form this operation for every tooth in succession and the graduations for the zero
curve will be obtained.
Per-
The zero curve for the fixed height of the gun above the sea at high water on a
calm day is first established and the necessary corrections for tide, powder, wind and
so forth, made afterwards.
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. In ordnance provided with sighting apparatus of the type referred to, means
for correcting the cross level of the gun and sighting apparatus together, for the purpose
specified.
2. In sighting apparatus for ordnance of the type referred to, means whereby the
rotary collar of the elevating gear is connected with and actuates the traveller bar
when the gun is elevated or depressed, for the purpose specified.
3. In ordnance provided with sighting apparatus of the type referred to,
duplex elevating gear whereby the gun may be elevated or depressed either with
or without effecting the necessary adjustment of the sight for range, for the purpose
specified.
4. A gun having its trunnions or the trunnions of its sleeve carried by a forked
bracket fixed to a bar supported in bearings from the gun carriage or platform so as
to be capable of angular movement about its longitudinal axis, substantially as
described and for the purpose specified.
5. A gun having the sleeve for operating the elevating gear thereof provided with
means for directly giving the necessary adjustment for range to an ordinary tangent
sight, for the purpose specified.

page_text: 6. In sighting apparatus for ordnance of the type referred to, a range curve
comprising a number of individually adjustable parallel sections or teeth, for the
purpose specified.
7. In sighting apparatus for ordnance, of the type referred to, a range curve pro-
vided with means whereby the angle made by the longitudinal axis of the telescope
with the longitudinal axis of the gun may be altered and recorded independently of
the "automatic" working of the sight, for the purpose specified.
8. In automatic sighting apparatus for ordnance of the type referred to, a
range curve traveller cooperating with a sliding scale, for the purpose specified.
9. In sighting apparatus for ordnance means for supporting the aforesaid range
curve from a non-recoiling part of the gun carriage or mounting whereby it may be
adjusted vertically and horizontally, for the purpose specified.
10. Sighting apparatus for orduance, arranged, constructed and operating, substan-
tially as herein described in connection with Figures 1 and 2, or Figures 3 and 4, or
with Figure 5, or Figure 6, or Figure 7, or with Figures 8 and 9, of the accompanying
drawings, for the purpose specified.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.