Improvements in Range Finders.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Oct., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 24th July, 1890-Accepted. 13th Sept. 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Range Finders.
I, RAPHAEL CLAUDIUS ROMANEL, of 1, Dunning Terrace, Derby Road, Ponder's
End, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to a construction of range finder for military and
other purposes, comprising two tubes each having behind it a mirror arranged at a
suitable angle to the axis of the tube: each tube is mounted with its mirror to turn
about a pivot or centre; and the two mirrors are so arranged in relation to two other
mirrors that when an image of an object the distance of which it is desired to ascertain
is seen by reflection in both of the last mentioned mirrors the angular positions of the
tubes will be such that their axes if projected would intersect at the object. The
object will consequently be at the vertex of the angle formed by the axes of the tubes
and the distance of the vertex of this angle and consequently that of the object from
the observer is indicated by an indicator or pointer connected to the mechanism used
for moving the tubes and arranged to move over a suitably marked scale of distances.
The tubes may advantageously be mounted within a dark chamber that may be in the
form of a box with lid and provided with an eye-piece opposite to the mirrors that
receive the images from those behind the tubes. The tubes are connected together
and to a finger piece for operating them by links.
In one arrangement the finger piece is so connected by a link to a pointer arranged
to move over a suitably marked scale of distances that the movement of the finger
piece is multiplied by the pointer. The forward ends of the tubes may when the
apparatus is used for moderate ranges be each fitted with an object-glass. When the
apparatus is designed for long ranges each tube may be constructed as an ordinary
telescope in parts one or more of which may be arranged to move out or in for
focussing the object in an automatic manner by suitable cams adapted to act upon
and operate parts of the telescopes when the telescopes are turned for sighting an
object.
With the construction of range finder described the distance of an object from an
observer can be ascertained in a rapid and reliable manner, without the necessity of
making in each case calculations or measurements and from any given position and
when the object is luminous or illuminated its distance can be determined at night.
Dated this 23rd day of October 1889.
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant,
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Range Finders.
I, Raphael ClauDIUS ROMANEL, of 1 Dunning Terrace, Derby Road, Ponder's
End, in the County of Middlesex Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention has reference to a construction of range finder for military and other
purposes, comprising two tubes each having behind it a mirror arranged at a suitable
angle to the axis of the tube; each tube is mounted with its mirror to turn about a
pivot or centre, and the two mirrors are so arranged in relation to two other mirrors
that when an image of an object the distance of which it is desired to ascertain is seen
by reflection in both of the last mentioned mirrors, the angular positions of the tubes
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page_text: will be such that their axes if projected would intersect at the object. The object will
consequently be at the vertex of the angle formed by the axes of the tubes, and the
distance of the vertex of this angle and consequently that of the object from the
observer is indicated by an indicator or pointer connected to the mechanism used for
moving the tubes and arranged to move over a suitably marked scale of distances.
The tubes may advantageously be mounted within a dark chamber that may be in the
form of a box with lid, and provided with an eye-piece opposite to the mirrors that
receive the image from those behind the tubes. The tubes are connected together and
to a finger piece or slide for operating them, by links,
In one arrangement the finger piece or slide is so connected by a link to a pointer
arranged to move over a suitably marked scale of distances, that the movement of the
finger piece or slide is multiplied by the pointer. The forward ends of the tubes may
when the apparatus is used for moderate ranges be each fitted with an object glass or
with a perforated cap with cross wires. When the apparatus is designed for long
ranges, each tube may be constructed as an ordinary telescope in parts, one or more
of which may be arranged to move out or in, for focussing the object in an automatic
manner, by suitable cams adapted to act upon and operate parts of the telescopes
when the telescopes are turned for sighting an object.
With the construction of range finder described, the distance of an object from an
observer can be ascertained in a rapid and reliable manner, without the necessity of
making in each case calculations or measurements, and from any given position,
and when the object is luminous or illuminated, its distance can be determined at
night.
Referring to the accompanying two sheets of drawings,
Fig. 1 is a plan of a range finder according to this invention placed within a box
the lid of which is removed.
Fig. 2 is a plan of a range finder designed more particularly for long ranges, the
box in which it is placed being shewn in section.
Fig. 3 is a view of the lower side of the box shewing a scale of distances and an
indicator for use therewith.
Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. 3 illustrating a modification.
A A are two mirrors, each fixed to a frame which is pivoted at B. CC are two
fixed mirrors and D is an eye piece or sight hole. The two frames E E are connected
by links F F to a slide G provided with means, such as the button H (Fig. 3), by
which it can be moved. When this slide is pushed backwards or forwards the two
frames E E are made to execute similar and equal movements; the mirrors A A are
so arranged with reference to the pivots B B that in all positions which they can occupy
they will reflect the same object and will throw its image into the mirrors CC. The
object reflected will always be in an extension of the axial line of the instrument, and
the mirrors A must be adjusted until they both stand at the correct angle for its
image to fall upon them. When the adjustment has been made, an eye applied to
the eye piece or sight hole D will see two equal images of the object. For every
distance there will be a certain adjustment. By means of an index or pointer K and
a scale L (Fig. 3) each adjustment can be noted, and if the scale be divided into
distances, such as 1000 metres, 900 metres, 800 metres and so on, the range can be
read off at a glance.
To facilitate the use of the instrument it is desirable that it shall be enclosed in a
box or case M to exclude all the light except such as enters from the field of view
at the opening N. To further aid the vision by cutting off extraneous rays of light,
a tube O may be mounted on each frame E as shewn in Fig 1 and move with it.
This tube may have an object glass, or it may be a complete telescope as in Fig. 2.
In the latter case it must be so constructed and arranged that it will be automatically
focussed at the same time as it is directed towards the object. For this purpose the
outer portion O' of each telescope may carry a saddle or slotted piece P arranged
to slide upon a suitably formed cam or projection Q on the bottom of the box M the
arrangement being such that the portion O¹ will be moved relatively to the other
portion when the telescope is adjusted to sight an object. Or the inner portion O

page_text: may be adjusted in a similar manner. A separate hand adjustment will also be necessary
to bring the telescope into agreement with the strength of vision of the observer in
the first instance. R (Fig. 1) is a strip of material such as black velvet through which
the tubes O pass; it is of such a width as to permit of the angular movement of the
tubes and is so arranged as to prevent light entering the box through the
opening N.
For long ranges, when a slight change in the angle of the mirrors corresponds to a
considerable variation in the range it is desirable to interpose multiplying apparatus
between the slide G and the index finger K. One form of the gear is shown in Fig. 3
where the index consists of a lever pivoted at one end and moving at the other over
a circular scale. According to another arrangement, shown in Fig. 4, the slide G is
connected to a sliding rack H operated by a pinion I carried by a shaft K. This shaft
may be moved either by a micrometer screw with a suitably divided head or simply
by a divided head L as shown arranged to work in conjunction with a suitable vernier
scale M* of distances marked on a circular fixed boss. When the object sighted is
small it is advantageous to have a vertical line down the centre of each mirror C in
order to bring the image exactly into the centre of the mirror.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a range finder the combination of two fixed and two movable mirrors, the
latter of which receive the image of the object whose range is to be found, and project
it onto the former, where both images can be viewed simultaneously by the observer
substantially as described.
2. In a range finder the combination of two fixed and two movable mirrors with
means for directing the movable mirrors into the required positions, so that they may
project the image of the object whose range is to be found onto the fixed mirrors
substantially as described.
3. In a range finder, the combination with two fixed and two movable mirrors,
of two tubes, the latter being provided or not with object glasses, substantially as
described.
4. In a range finder wherein images of the object whose range is to be found are
projected through telescopes on to two movable mirrors, means whereby the telescopes
are automatically focussed at the same time as they are directed upon the object
substantially as described.
5. The improved range finders, constructed and operating substantially as herein-
above described with reference respectively to and shown in Fig. 1 and in Figs. 2
and 3 of the drawings annexed, or modified according to Fig. 4 for the purpose
mentioned.
Dated this 91th day of Tuim 1800
W. Lloyd Wise,
R. C. ROMANEL.
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.