Improvements in Elevation Indicators for Small Arms.
Year: 1896

page_text: Improvements in Elevation Indicators for Small Arms.
A communication from abroad by JOHN KING, residing at Carrizal Bajo, Chili,
. British Vice Consul.
I, THOMAS KING, of 110 Hill Street, Garnet Hill, in the County of Glasgow,
North Britain, Professor of Botany, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows, that is to say :-
This invention has for its object to provide an improved, simple, and convenient
instrument to be applied to small arms, and to be used along with or instead of the
ordinary sights.
The improved instrument consists of a small circular case. which when in use is
to be attached to the side of the stock of a rifle or other small arm, and which has
on its circumference in a position to be conveniently seen by the soldier or other
person using the arm, a scale with a pointer or index showing degrees of elevation.
Within the case there is a plummet which is connected to a lever or indicating bar
which has its end projecting through a slot in the circumference of the case so as
to act as the index moving over the scale. The connection between the plummet
and index lever is such as to considerably enlarge the movement of the index as-
compared with that of the pluminet when the arm is more or less inclined, the
degrees on the scale being marked accordingly. The user of the arm is thereby
enabled to easily appreciate small differences of actual elevation and thus to incline
or level the arm the more accurately.
In one modification of the mechanism within the case the plummet weight is
fixed to or formed with a small open frame which is pivoted close to the top of the
case, and the index arm or lever is centered at the centre of the case between the
plummet and its pivot or-fulcrum. The index arm bas on its under side pinion
teeth which gear with internal spurwheel teeth on the plummet frame; and when
the plummet moves to either side on the arm being inclined the teeth cause the
index bar to move through an angle which is much greater than the actual
inclination as the radius between the plummet teeth and its pivot is greater than
the radius between the index bar teeth and its centre.
In another modification the index bar is made with a bell crank arm which is
connected by a link to one side of the plummet frame, the enlargement of the
movement of the index being in this case due to the difference of leverage.
When an enemy or object is visible the ordinary sights may be used, and when
the range is found the elevation indicated may be noted; and thereafter if the
enemy or object becomes obscured by smoke, or dust, or haze, or otherwise, the
firing can still be continued with the same elevation, or with a modified elevation
according to circumstances. When the proper elevation for a particular range is
known or approximately estimated, the elevation indicator can be used without the
ordinary sights and even when the enemy or object cannot be seen.
Dated this Fifteenth day of January 1896
EDMUND HUNT,.
Applicant's Agent.

page_text: Improvements in Elevation Indicators for Small Arms.
A communication from abroad by JOHN KING, residing at Carrizal Bajo, Chili,
British Vice Consul.
I, WILLIAM RITCHIE, of 110 Hill Street, Garnethill, in the County of
Glasgow, North Britain, Executor of the Applicant, THOMAS KING, who died on
the 14th September, 1896, formerly of the same address, 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, that is to
say :-
This invention has for its object to provide an improved, simple, and convenient
instrument to be applied to small arms, and to be used along with or instead of the
ordinary sights.
The improved instrument consists of a small circular case, which when in use is
to be attached to the side of the stock of a rifle or other small arm, and which has
on its circumference, in a position to be conveniently seen by, the soldier or other
person using the arm, a scale with a pointer or index showing degrees of elevation.
The pointer is acted on by a plummet or equivalent within the case and arranged
as hereinafter described with the aid of explanatory drawings upon an accompanying
sheet. The details of the arrangement are susceptible of some variation, but three
modifications are shown by way of example.
Figures, 1, 2, and 3, of the drawings are an elevation of the indicator with the
gun stock in transverse section, and sections as at right angles to each other
showing the internal details of one modification. Figures, 4, 5, and 6, are similar
views of a second modification; and Figures, 7, 8, and 9, are similar views of a
third modification.
In these drawings the same reference letters are used to mark the same or like
parts wherever they are repeated.
In all the modifications the connection between the plummet, A, and index
lever, B, is such as to considerably enlarge the movement of the index as compared
with that of the plummet when the arm is more or less inclined, the degrees ou the
scale, C, being marked accordingly. The user of the arm is thereby enabled to
appreciate small differences of actual elevation and thus to incline or level the arm
the more accurately.
In the modification of the internal mechanism shown in Figures, 1, 2, and 3, the
plummet weight, A, is fixed to or formed with a small open frame, D, which is
pivoted close to the top of the case, E, and the index arm or lever, B, is centered
at the centre of the case between the plummet and its pivot or fulcrum. The index
arm, B, has on its under side pinion teeth which gear with internal spurwheel teeth
on the plummet frame; and when the plummet, A, moves to either side on the fire
arm being inclined the teeth cause the index arm, B, to move through an angle
which is as much greater than the actual inclination as the radius between the
plummet teeth and its pivot is greater than the radius between the index-arm teeth
and its centre.
In the modification shown in Figures, 4, 5, and 6, the index arm, B, is made with
a bell-crank arm, F, which is conuected by a link, G, to one side of the plummet
frame, D, the enlargement of the movement of the index, B, being due to the
differences of leverage.
In the modification shown in Figures, 7, 8, and 9, the enlarged movement is
obtained by leverage as in the second modification, but instead of the plummet

page_text: piece being made with an open or two-sided frame (D) it is made with a single
curved side, H, the plummet being however weighted on the other side to balance.
the curved side.
The indicator case, E, may be attached to the gun stock, J, by means of a
compressible spring stud, K, entered into a socket in a small plate, L, fixed to the
stock, as shown in Figures, 1, 3, 4, 6; or it may be attached by means of screws as.
indicated in Figure, 7.
The index lever, B, moves in a slot in the circumferential part of the case, E,
the elevation scale being marked at the sides of the slot as shown in Figures, 1,
and 4, or as shown in Figure, 7, the scale marks for upward inclination may be on
one side of the slot and those for downward inclination at the other side.
When an enemy or object is visible the ordinary sights may be used, and when
the range is found the elevation indicated may be noted; and thereafter if the
enemy or object becomes obscured by smoke, or dust, or haze, or otherwise, the
firing can still be continued with the same elevation or with a modified elevation
according to circumstances. When the proper elevation for a particular range is.
known or approximately estimated, the elevation indicator can be used without the
ordinary sights, and even when the enemy or object cannot be seen.
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 :-
The construction and combination of parts constituting the improved elevation.
indicator operating by means of a plummet connected to an index arm in a
manner to give an enlarged movement thereto substantially as herein before.
described.
Dated this Thirteenth day of November 1896.
WILLIAM RITCHIE.