Improvements relating to Objective Indicating in Coast Batteries and to Charts and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 19th June, 1891-Accepted, 26th Sept., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Objective Indicating in Coast Batteries
and to Charts and Apparatus therefor.
I, Captain FRANCIS GLEADOWE STONE, Brigade Major Royal Artillery,
8 Guildford Lawn, Dover in the County of Kent, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to objective indicating in coast batteries and to charts
and apparatus therefor, and more especially to apparatus of the kind or class
described in the Specification accompanying a former application for Letters
Patent viz. No. 9333 dated the 17th of June A.D. 1890.
In the said application I have described an indicating apparatus or objective
indicator, that is to say, a device intended mainly for use with a chart having any
given system of forts or batteries and the arcs of fire of each gun or group of guas
marked thereon, and graduated by radial lines converging on the observing stations
of the said forts or batteries. The said indicating apparatus or objective indicator
is intended for ascertaining the bearing and range of any objective relatively to
certain points or stations marked upon the chart from a central or head observing
station or other given point or station also marked thereon, and consists essentially
in a pivoted sighted pointer or arm having a suitably graduated scale indicating in
yards the various ranges zero being at the pivot point. A traveller or sliding
block arranged to move freely upon the said pointer or arm and provided with
an index adapted to show at any time the position thereof upon the said scale.
And a measuring rod or bar one extremity of which is pivoted or coupled to the
said traveller or sliding block and having thereon a similarly graduated scale to
the above mentioned pointer or arm, zero being at the said pivot point.
The object of my present invention is to provide an improved indicating apparatus
or objective indicator of the kind or class above mentioned that can be automatically
adjusted with greater facility by the operator, and by means of which the required
information can be more accurately and expeditiously obtained.
An important feature of my said invention is the provision of suitable means for
enabling the sighted pointer or arm to be automatically traversed or adjusted so as
to admit of any desired objective being accurately sighted, and for enabling a
shifting or moving objective to be conveniently followed therewith. I provide
moreover for the simultaneous indication upon the chart at the observing stations
of batteries in the system, of the range and bearing of the said objective, thus
obviating the delay that is caused when the measuring rod or bar has to be swung
or moved round over the chart to the observing station of each fort or battery
separately.
In some instances I provide suitable means for enabling the operator to adjust
or move the traveller along the said sighted arm or pointer from the front of the
apparatus.
In carrying my said invention into practice I employ a chart secured to a board
or other surface and having marked thereon all the forts or batteries in any given
system, and the arcs of fire of the guns or groups of guns, substantially as described
in the said former application. My improved indicating apparatus or objective
indicator is provided with a measuring rod or bar for each of the forts or batteries
in the system. The said measuring rods or bars are arranged to slide freely in
V-shaped or dovetail grooves provided in studs or pieces rotatably supported upon
the chart by means of suitable bearings in the board or surface to which the latter
is secured. The said measuring rods or bars are formed of corresponding shape in
transverse section to the said grooves. The axes of the said studs or pieces are so
placed as to be coincident with the centres of the observing stations of the forts or

page_text: batteries. Any other convenient means however may be employed for permitting
the said measuring arms to follow the movements of the traveller or sliding block
without leaving the observing stations of the said forts or batteries. A point or
index is arranged at the opposite extremity, or upon the short arm of the sighted
pointer or arm and a graduated arc is marked upon the chart to correspond
therewith.
I provide moreover the following means for enabling the moving or adjusting of
the sighted pointer or arm through any desired angle upon the chart to be more
conveniently effected from the front of the apparatus, that is to say, I provide a
hand wheel keyed or otherwise secured upon one extremity of a spindle supported
in suitable bearings in a bracket secured to the underside of the board or surface,
and a worm formed on or firmly secured to the other extremity of the said spindle
and arranged to gear with a corresponding worm wheel keyed or otherwise firmly
secured upon the lower extremity of the pivot or spindle of the sighted pointer or
arm. By rotating the above mentioned hand wheel the said sighted pointer or arm
can be moved by means of the said worm and worm wheel through any desired
angle upon the chart. The pointer or arm is provided with suitable hinged or
folding sights acted upon by springs to retain them in position when folded down
or raised.
In a modification of my invention provision is also made for the adjustment of
the traveller or sliding block from the front of the apparatus. For this purpose a
suitable hand wheel is firmly keyed or otherwise secured upon the upper extremity,
or one extremity of a spindle supported in suitable bearings formed on or attached
to an upward prolongation or extension of the pivot or spindle of the sighted
pointer or arm. The lower or other extremity of this spindle is geared by means of
suitable bevel or mitre wheels or otherwise, with one extremity of a screw-threaded
spindle feed or adjusting screw supported in suitable bearings in the sighted pointer
or arm, which is formed hollow for that purpose. This screw-threaded spindle
engages in a correspondingly internally screw-threaded hole provided in the
traveller or sliding block, or in a nut secured thereto. A screw or pin is arranged
in an extension of the lower bearing in such a manner that its extremity is adapted
to engage in a circumferential groove provided in the screw-threaded spindle and
thus prevent end wise movement thereof, or other suitable means may be provided
for a like purpose. By rotating the hand-wheel the traveller or sliding block can
be moved or adjusted upon the sighted pointer or arm through the above mentioned
spindle, bevel or mitre wheels, and screw-threaded spindle or adjusting screw.
I
sometimes employ a split nut or other means for enabling the said traveller or
sliding block to be released from the above mentioned feed or adjusting screw and
permitting it to be moved along the sighted pointer or arm independently thereof.
Another worm-wheel the axis of which is supported in a bracket also secured to or
formed on the said upward prolongation of the pivot or spindle of the sighted
pointer or arm and adapted to gear with a corresponding worm formed on or
secured to the spindle carrying the herein before mentioned bevel or mitre wheel is
also provided. An index or pointer is provided upon the said bracket which is
adapted to indicate upon a suitably graduated scale provided on the side face of
the said worm-wheel the amount of adjustment of the said traveller or sliding block
upon the sighted pointer or arm. By this means the adjustment of the said
traveller or sliding block to any desired range can be effected from the front of
the apparatus, and without inspecting the position of the index upon the scale on
the sighted pointer or arm.
I provide moreover a carriage mounted upon wheels or rollers and secured to the
free extremity or long arm of the said sighted pointer or arm. This carriage serves
to support the sighted pointer or arm (which in this instance is of considerable
weight) upon the chart, and to facilitate its movements thereon. The rear sight or
that nearest the pivot point is in this case fixed to, or formed on the hereinbefore
mentioned upward prolongation or extension of the pivot or spindle of the sighted
pointer or arm.

page_text: In another modification metallic or other measuring tapes are substituted for the
measuring bars or rods. One extremity of each of the said measuring tapes is
pivotally coupled or secured to the traveller or sliding block, and passes over a
guide pulley supported in suitable bearings and through a hole in the chart, and the
hercinbefore mentioned board or surface, the centre of the said hole is coincident
with the centre of the observing station of the fort or battery. The other extremity
of the said tape is either provided with a weight or is arranged to wind upon a
spring drum or barrel supported in suitable bearings firmly attached to the under-
side of the hereinbefore mentioned board or surface, the guide pulleys and spring
drums are arranged to rotate or swivel freely in the bearings in the said board or
surface so as to allow for the movements of the traveller or sliding-block upon the
sighted pointer or arm.
In a further modification I dispense with the graduated measuring rods, bars or
tapes and employ wires or cords. One end of each of the said wires or cords is
coupled or secured to the traveller or sliding-block and the other extremity thereof
is attached to and adapted to wind on a spring drum or barrel supported upon a
stud or spindle provided in the board or surface. I provide moreover guide rollers
between which the said cords or wires are passed in such a manner as to intersect
or pass through the centres of the observing stations which are situated between
the said rollers and in line with the axes thereof, and pointers or indexes arranged
upon the chart and secured to the said board or surface and adapted to indicate
upon suitably graduated scales provided upon the upper surfaces of the said spring
drums or barrels the range of any given objective (to which the traveller or sliding
block is moved upon the sighted pointer or arm) from the observing station of the
fort or battery through which the cord or wire attached to the said spring drum or
barrel passes.
By means of my improved indicating apparatus or objective indicator I am
enabled to ascertain with great facility from a central or head observing station
and; with a single range finder the range and bearing of an objective, for any
convenient number of forts or batteries in a system.
It is obvious that my improved indicating apparatus or objective indicator may
be provided with any convenient number of measuring rods, bars tapes, cords, or
wires in accordance with the number of forts or batteries in the system. Moreover
by the said arrangements I am enabled, after moving or adjusting the traveller or
sliding-block upon the sighted arm or pointer to the range of the objective which
it is desired to engage, to read off simultaneously and without any further adjust-
ment or manipulation, the bearing and range of the said objective relatively to any
of the forts or batteries in the said system.
It is obvious moreover that my indicating apparatus may be somewhat further
modified without departing in any way from the nature of my said invention. For
instance I sometimes entirely dispense with the herein before described traveller or
sliding-block and measuring rods, bars, tapes, cords or wires and I ascertain the
required relative bearing of any given objective to be engaged for any of the forts
or batteries in the system by finding the range of the said objective upon the scale
of the sighted pointer or arm, and drawing a line therefrom through the observing
station of the said fort or battery. The bearing is taken at the point where the
said line intersects the arcs of fire as before. I sometimes place over the chart a
sheet of slightly frosted glass upon which the said lines may be drawn and from which
they may be easily washed off or removed when done with. 1 sometimes provide
a separate straight edge or rule for ascertaining the relative bearing of any of the
forts or batteries in the series and also for finding the range thereof. In using this
rule or straight edge it is placed so that zero upon its scale corresponds with the
range of the objective to be engaged, upon the scale of the sighted pointer or arm,
and so that its bevelled or graduated edge will alternately intersect the observing
station of each of the other forts or batteries in the system. The bearing and
range is read off' in a similar manner to that herein before described.
Suitable cords or wires secured to the free extremity or long arm of the

page_text: herein before mentioned sighted pointer or arm and passing over guide rollers or
pulleys to within easy reach of the operator, are sometimes provided for enabling
the lateral adjustment of the said sighted pointer or arm to be conveniently effected
from the front, or other part of the apparatus.
Dated this 4th day of December 1890.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Objective Indicating in Coast Batteries
and to Charts and Apparatus therefor.
I, FRANCIS GLEADOWE STONE, Captain and Brigade Major Royal Artillery,
8 Guilford Lawn, Dover, in the County of Kent, 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 objective indicating and to charts and apparatus therefor,
and more especially to apparatus of the kind or class described in the Specification
of Letters Patent dated the 17th of June A.D. 1890 No. 9333.
In the said Specification I have described an indicating apparatus or objective
indicator, that is to say a device intended mainly for use with a chart showing
a system or series of forts or batteries and the positions of the search lights
(where such exist) and also shewing the arcs of fire of each gun or group of
guns and the training arcs of the search lights graduated by radial lines converging
on the observing stations of the said forts or batteries.
The said indicating apparatus or objective indicator as described in the said
former Specification is intended to provide the means whereby at a central or
head observing point or station the bearing and range of a ship or other object
relatively to other points or stations may be ascertained, and it consists essentially
of the following parts, riz.-First a pointer or arm provided with sights and
pivoted at the point on the chart corresponding to the central or head observing
station, and having suitable graduations indicating ranges in yards according to
the scale of the chart, zero being at the centre of the pivot; second, a traveller
or sliding block provided with an index and arranged to move freely upon the
said pointer or arm and to be placed at a position thereon corresponding to the
distance or range of the objective; and third, a measuring rod or bar having on it
a graduated scale which rod has one extremity pivoted or coupled to the said
traveller or sliding block marked thereon so that the said bar or rod is adjustable
over the chart. It can therefore be extended to any point thereon indicating a
fort or station in the system and will give the range of the objective for the
said fort or station and by its intersection of the lines representing the graduated
arcs of fire of the guns will indicate also the bearing of the objective for the said
fort or station.
The object of my present invention is to improve the said indicating apparatus
or objective indicator so that its adjustment can be effected with greater facility
by the operator and the required information can be more accurately and expedi
tiously obtained than heretofore.
An important feature of my said invention is the provision of suitable means for
enabling the pointer or arm to be readily and minutely adjusted to allow the
objective to be accurately sighted and a shifting or moving objective to be con-
veniently followed. Another feature of my invention is the simultaneous indication
upon the chart of the range and bearing of the said objective, for all of the forts
batteries or stations represented thereon thus obviating the delay that exists when
the apparatus has only one measuring rod or bar which has to be swung or moved
about its pivot over the chart to the observing stations the different forts or batteries
by separate or successive adjustments,

page_text: In some instances I provide suitable means for enabling the operator to adjust
or move the traveller along the sighted arm or pointer from the rear of the
apparatus, and I provide also for the indication at the rear of the apparatus of the
position of the traveller on the pointer.
In the accompanying drawing I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a plan,
Figure 2 is a side elevation, and
Figure 3 is a front elevation illustrating one form or modification of my improved
indicating apparatus or objective indicator.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 are similar views to Figures 1, 2 and 3, and
Figure 7 is a transverse section on the line x, x Figures 4 and 5 illustrating
another form or modification thereof.
Figures 8, 9 and 10 are similar views to Figures 4, 5 and 6 and
Figure 11 is a transverse section on the line y y Figures 8 and 9. illustrating a
still further modification.
Figures 12, 13 and 14 are similar views to Figures 8, 9 and 10, and
Figure 15 is a transverse section on the line z z Figures 12 and 13 illustrating
yet another modification.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
In carrying my said invention into practice I employ a chart A secured to a
board A' or other surface and having marked thereon all the forts or batteries in the
system or series in connection with which the chart is to be used with their observing
stations B, and the arcs of fire D of the guns or groups of guns C substantially as
described in the said former Specification. E indicates the position of the central
or head observing station for the commander of the said system of forts or batteries.
F is the sighted pointer or arm graduated with a scale of yards. G is the sliding
block or traveller moving in the groove F³, and H, H are the measuring rods or
bars pivoted at H and having scales similar to the scales on the pointer or
arm F. The arm F is pivoted at E by a pin F¹ working in a socket A² let in
the board A', the arm has a pointer F* moving over a graduated are a on the
chart as described in the aforesaid Specification. are the sights pivoted at 61
on the arm or pointer F so as to be capable of folding down. The said sights are
provided with springs to retain them in either the raised or lowered position
according as they may be placed. d is a clamping screw, and d¹ the index for the
traveller G. Only three measuring rods or bars H are shewn in the drawing but
my improved indicating apparatus or objective indicator can be provided with a
measuring rod or bar H for each of the forts or batteries in the system whatever
may be their number. The said measuring rods or bars are arranged to slide freely
in V-shaped or dove-tail grooves provided in guide pieces or studs e carried in
bearings in the board A so as to be capable of turning about their axis upon the
chart A to permit the adjustinent of the rods to the different angles which they
assume in the use of the apparatus. The said measuring rods or bars are formed
of corresponding shape in transverse section to the said grooves, so that while firmly
supported they can slide freely therein. The axes of the studs or pieces e are
coincident with the centres of the observing stations B of the forts or batteries
on the chart. This arrangement affords the means for very advantageously
adjusting the measuring arms H to follow the movements of the traveller or
sliding block G over the chart without leaving the points corresponding to the
observing stations of the forts or batteries, but other convenient means may be
adopted for the purpose.
I provide the following means for enabling the moving or adjusting of the
sighted pointer or arm through any desired angle upon the chart A to be
conveniently effected from the rear of the apparatus, that is to say; I provide a
hand-wheel keyed or otherwise secured upon one extremity of a spindle which
is supported in suitable bearings in a bracket g secured to the underside of the
board or surface A'. ' is a worm formed on or firmly secured to the other extremity

page_text: of the said spindle f¹ and arranged to gear with a worm wheel keyed or other-
wise firmly secured upon the lower extremity of the pivot or spindle F1 of the
pointer or arm F. By rotating the hand wheel the said pointer or arm F can be
moved through any desired angle upon the chart A.
In the modification of my invention shewn in Figures 4 to 7 provision is made
for the adjustment of the traveller or sliding block G from the rear of the apparatus.
For this purpose a suitable hand wheel is firmly keyed or otherwise secured upon
the upper extremity, of a spindle supported in suitable bearings F formed on or
attached to an upward prolongation or extension of the pivot or spindle F. The
spindle is geared by means of suitable bevel or mitre wheels or otherwise
with a screw threaded spindle k which is supported in suitable bearings in the
sighted pointer or arm F. The said pointer or arm is suitably shaped to receive
the screw-spindle. The said screw-threaded spindle k engages in a screw-threaded
hole provided in the traveller or sliding block G or in a nut secured thereto;
is a screw or pin which is arranged in an extension of the lower bearing F¹ and
the extremity of which is adapted to engage in a circumferential groove k³ provided
in the screw-threaded spindle k and thus prevent endwise movement thereof, or
other suitable means may be provided for this purpose. By rotating the hand-
wheel the traveller or sliding block G through the medium of the spindle ¹,
wheels and screw spindle k can be moved or adjusted upon the sighted pointer
or arm F. I sometimes employ a split nut or other means for enabling the
traveller or sliding block to be released from the above mentioned feed or adjusted
screw spindle and permitting it to be moved along the sighted pointer or arm F
independently thereof. I thus provide for rapidly adjusting the traveller when
considerable movements thereof are required. is a worm wheel supported upon a
bracket F also secured to or formed on the said upward prolongation of the pivot
or spindle F and adapted to gear with a worm formed on or secured to the
spindle i².
A graduated scale is marked on the wheel l, and an index or pointer m
is provided upon the said bracket F. The said index wheel and pointer serve to
indicate the amount of adjustment of the traveller or sliding block G along the
sighted pointer or arm F. By these means the adjustment of the said traveller or
sliding block to any desired range can be effected from the rear of the apparatus
without any necessity for inspecting the position of the index d' upon the scale
of the sighted pointer or arm F.
n is a carriage mounted upon wheels or rollers n' and secured to the extremity of
the pointer or arm F. The carriage n assists in supporting the end pointer or
arm F (which is of considerable weight) upon the chart A and facilitates its
movements thereon. The rear sight & or that nearest the pivot point is in this case
fixed to, or formed on, the hereinbefore mentioned upward prolongation or extension
of the pivot or spindle F¹.
In another modification illustrated in Figures 8 to 11 metallic or other measuring
tapes H³ are substituted for the measuring bars or rods H. One extremity of each
of the said measuring tapes H³ is pivotally coupled or secured at H₁ to the traveller
or sliding block G and passage over a guide roller or pulley O supported in
suitable bearings O', and through a hole A'in the chart A, and board or surface A'.
The centre of the said hole is coincident with the point indicating the centre of the
observing station B of the fort or battery. The other extremity of each tape is
either provided with a weight p or is arranged to wind upon a spring drum or
barrel as shown in Figures 9 and 10, the said drum being supported in suitable
bearings firmly attached to the underside of the board or surface A¹. The
guide rollers or pulleys o and spring drums are arranged to turn or swivel freely
in the bearings in the board or surface A¹ so that they may adapt themselves to
the different angles assumed by the measuring tapes during the movements of the
traveller or sliding block G along the pointer or arm F.
Figures 12 to 15 show a further modification wherein I employ wires or cords H*
in lieu of the graduated measuring rods, bars, or tapes hereinbefore described. One
end of each of the said wires or cords H is coupled or secured at H to the

page_text: น u are
traveller or sliding-block G and the other extremity thereof is attached to and
adapted to wind on a spring drum or barrel supported upon a stud or spindle s
fixed in the board or surface A'. tt are guide rollers between which the said
cords or wires are passed in such a manner as to intersect or pass through the
points B on the chart indicating the centres of the observing stations.
pointers or indices which are arranged upon the chart A and secured to the
board A' and which serve to indicate upon suitably graduated scales on the spring
drums or barrels the movement of the said drums or barrels due to the adjustment
of the traveller or sliding block G the said indices having been so arranged
relatively to the zero point on the scales that the distance of the traveller or
sliding-block G from the observing stations B may be at once read off.
In some instances I arrange the spring drums or barrels to rotate on а
horizontal instead of a vertical axis, and I mark the graduated scales on the edges
of the said drums; the drums may be conveniently mounted in bearings underneath
the board A¹ and arranged so that their upper edges may be situated immediately
beneath or nearly level with the upper surface of the said board or with a plate
fixed thereon in which board or plate is formed a slit through which the graduated
scales may be seen. With this arrangement the drums for all the batteries in the
system may be brought close together and the various indications may be thus
conveniently read off. The index for each drum is fixed on the aforesaid plate.
In order that the drums may not be inconveniently large I sometimes construct the
graduated scales in the form of helices on the edges of the drums, so that the said
drums may be allowed if desired to rotate two or more times while the traveller or
sliding block moves from one end to the other of the sighting arm or pointer. In
this case instead of providing fixed indexes or reading points I make the said
indexes movable and capable of travelling in slides across the faces of the drums,
and I provide each index with a projection that engages with a helical groove
formed in the corresponding drum whereby the said index is moved across the
drum and always maintained exactly opposite the graduated scale.
It is obvious that my improved indicating apparatus or objective indicator may
be provided with any convenient number of measuring rods, bars, tapes, cords or
wires in accordance with the number of forts or batteries in the system. Moreover
by my improved apparatus I am enabled after moving or adjusting the traveller or
sliding block upon the arm or pointer to the range and bearing of the objective
which it is desired to engage, to read off simultaneously and without any further
adjustment or manipulation the bearing and range of the said objective relatively
to any or all of the forts or batteries in the said system, and marked upon the
chart.
Suitable cords or wires secured to the free extremity or long arm of the herein-
before mentioned sighted pointer or arm and passing over guide rollers or pulleys
to within easy reach of the operator are sometimes provided for enabling the lateral
adjustment of the said pointer or arm to be conveniently effected from the rear or
other part of the apparatus.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. The herein described method of providing at a central or any suitable
observing point or station, for simultaneous indications of the range or bearing, or
both the range and bearing, of an object from other points or stations in the vicinity
thereof for the purpose specified.
Second. The combination with the pointer, and traveller, of a number or series
of measuring rods or tapes wires or the like corresponding with the number of
forts or stations in the system for the purpose specified.
Third. The means for adjusting the block or traveller upon the pointer as
described with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3 of the drawings.
Fourth. The means for adjusting the traveller and for indicating its position

page_text: upon the pointer substantially as described with reference to Figures 4 to 7 of the
drawings.
Fifth. The combination, with the pointer and traveller, of a graduated tape
extending over the chart to a point which indicates the position of a station or
battery and guided by rollers or other suitable devices and provided with a weight
or coiled upon a drum, substantially as set forth and for the purpose specified.
Sixth. The modification of my invention wherein I employ a wire or cord
attached to the traveller and extending therefrom over the charts to the point
which indicates the position of a station or battery and arranged to be coiled upon
the drum of an indicating device substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Seventh. Providing the pointer with a carriage substantially as set forth for
supporting the outer end of the same and facilitating its movement.
Eighth. The improved apparatus constructed substantially as described with
reference to either of the forms or modifications illustrated in the accompanying
drawings and operating as, and for the purposes, specified.
Dated this 19th day of June 1891.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.