IMPROVEMENTS IN SIGHTING ORDNANCE AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Lothian Kerr Scott, Lieutenant in the Royal
Engineers, of Chatham, in the County of Kent, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SIGHTING ORDNANCE AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREIN.
"
Sealed the 4th May 1875, and dated the 18th November 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Lothian Kerr Scott at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
18th November 1874.
I, LOTHIAN KERR SCOTT, Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers, of
Chatham, in the County of Kent, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SIGHTING ORDNANCE AND IN THE APPA-
RATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a telescopic self-adjusting sight for remedying
the error due to inclination of the existing sights, which improved sight
I designate as the "Scott-pendulo-telescopic-micrometric-sight."

page_text: The upper half of the telescopic self-adjusting sight is very similar in
construction to that of an ordinary theodolite, with the exception that a
micrometer is added to the telescope in addition to the cross wires, and
that several screws are dispensed with, and that it is rougher in con-
struction. The vertical arc is used for giving the angle of clevation.
The upper plate, which is at right angles to the supports of the telescope,
revolves upon a lower one, which is graduated on its exterior edge to
minutes and seconds to enable the firer to make the required adjustment,
by means of a horizontal angle, for the lateral deviation due to right-
handed rifling and to wind. To the lower plate is fastened the axis of
suspension, consisting of a bar with knife edges, which is to be placed in
notches made in two brackets on the gun in a position exactly parallel
to the axis of the piece. To this axis of suspension may be attached a
counterpoise or pendulum of sufficient weight to keep the telescope
above the axis of suspension or not, in which latter case the telescope
would act as a counterpoise itself, and would be below the axis of
suspension..
On the telescope there are provided a back sight and a fore sight to
assist in getting the line of sight roughly, to be subsequently adjusted
by the cross wires in the telescope. In using this sight, first lay the
knife edges or axis of suspension in the notches or marks in the brackets
on the gun, which notches are to be made exactly parallel to the axis
of the piece; then find the range of the object by means of the micro-
meter, say 2000 yards 4° 27' clevation; turn the telescope down on
the vertical arc to 4° 27'; lay the gun on the object, remove the sight,
and fire.
=
The advantages afforded by the use of my improved sight are as
follows:-

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Lothian Kerr Scott in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 18th May 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, LOTHIAN
KERR SCOTT, Lieutenant in Her Majesty's Royal Engineers, now of
6, Medway Villas, New Brompton, Chatham, in the County of Kent,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the
thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Lothian Kerr Scott, Her
special licence that I, the said Lothian Kerr Scott, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Lothian Kerr
Scott, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make; use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SIGHTING ORDNANCE," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Lothian Kerr Scott, my executors or admi-
nistrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the.
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Lothian Kerr Scott, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
In and by the following statement, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawing forming a part of this Specification:-

page_text: -
telescope being always placed in the same relative position as regards
the axis of the gun when allowance has been made for deflecting causes
by turning the upper plate L upon the lower one N, which is always
in a fixed position. The upper plate L, which is at right angles to
the supports P, P, revolves uppon the lower one N, which is graduated
on its exterior edge to enable the firer to make the required adjustment,
by means of a horizontal angle, for the lateral deviation due to internal
or external causes, as well as to find the range. To the lower plate N is
fastened the "axis of suspension" K, consisting of a bar with knife
edges, which is to be placed on brackets B, B, on the gun in a position
mathematically parallel to the axis of the gun. To the axis of suspen-
sion K may or may not be attached a counterpoise W; in the first case
the counterpoise W must be of sufficient weight, to balance the lower
half of the sight, beginning with L the lower plate; in the second
the telescope will act as the counterpoise, and be below the axis of
suspension K.
•
.
.

page_text: For vertical fire when the object cannot be seen the direction will be
given by adjusting the axis of the gun on a centre line marked on the
platform drawn towards the centre of the mark, and the elevation by
turning down the telescope on the vertical arc A to the clevation
required, and by raising the howitzer or gun until the telescope Q level Q 5
is level.
Having thus fully described my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same, I wish it understood that I claim,→
First. The method of attaching a telescopic sight for ordnance to any
part of a gun, provided the axis of suspension be parallel to the axis of 1
the piece, and of utilizing the line of collimation of a telescope as the
"line of sight," thereby requiring one sight instead of two.
Secondly. Method of dispensing with the inclination of the sights by
means of either a self-adjusting pendulum or by means of a spirit level
adjusted by hand, as in the theodolite.
Thirdly. Method of clamping the arc A in a vertical position by means
of a moveable counterpoise W.
1
Fourthly. Method of lifting off the upper portion or half of the sight
at the time of firing and of being able to return it to exactly the same
position as regards the axis of gun without any readjustment after 2
firing, owing to a peculiar construction of a loose upper plate L with
V shaped studs on its surface, which from their shape will be very
accurate.
Fifthly. Method of directing the "line of sight on a fixed mark, and
yet to have the axis of the gun pointing as much to the right or left of 2
such mark as may be desired by means of the graduated horizontal
plates.