Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Jan., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 2nd Nov., 1888
We, HENRY CLAUDE WALKER, Engineer, and HENRY CHARLES HEFFER, Artist,
both of the Newington Iron Works Falmouth Road London S.E. do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to improvements in rangefinding and sighting apparatus and
has for its object to determine unknown ranges and also to ensure correct aiming, the
principle upon which it is based being the difference in the apparent height of a man
at different distances.
The rangefinding apparatus of our invention can be applied to any existing telescope
or binocular field-glass or may form part of a special apparatus.
In the form in which we preferably apply our invention to a field telescope we place
inside the body of the telescope two plates both in the same vertical plane transversly
to the axis of the telescope with horizontal parallel edges between which the object is
viewed. These plates are not rigidly fixed to the telescope but are so arranged that
whilst the edges are kept parallel and equidistant from its axis they may approach to
or recede from each other. This movement is controlled by a sleeve or other suitable
appliance sliding longitudinally along the body of the telescope and operating by
inclined planes or other suitable device. Outside the telescope we provide a screw
with milled head for operating the sliding sleeve and a graduated scale for reading
off its position. Connected to the sliding sleeve is a secondary adjusting screw by
means of which the distance apart of the plates can be varied independently of the
main adjustment to suit the different heights of cavalry, infantry standing, infantry
kneeling, etc. with a scale or quadrant-to-ensure.correct adjustment.
We apply our invention to each telescope or body of a binocular field-glass in the
same manner but the same screw operates both sets of plates.
The second part of our invention relates to the mounting of a telescope substantially
as afore described on an ordinary rifle. We employ a small telescope fitted with
plates and sliding sleeve or ring as aforementioned and connect it to the rifle by a
series of radiating arms or other arrangement for keeping it in a vertical plane and

page_text: securing its alignment with the fore sight at all degrees of its elevation. Instead of
operating the sliding sleeve by a screw as aforementioned, we preferably connect it to
one of the radiating arms so that the motion of raising the telescope brings the plates
closer together, and proportion this radiating arm and sleeve connections so that the
distance apart of the plates agrees with the elevation of the telescope. We may also
attach to one of the radiating arms an index pointer by means of which the range can
be read off on a scale fixed to the rifle, and may also use a clamping screw or other
appliance for securing the telescope at the desired elevation. We may also use an
eye guard consisting of a spring or other appliance bearing against the check or fore-
head of the marksman to protect his eye from any injury that might possibly be
caused by the recoil. When not in use the telescope folds back into a chamber
formed in the stock of the rifle with sliding cover to protect it from injury, or the
telescope may be made detachable and carried in a separate receptacle.
In using the apparatus as described in the first place, the object is viewed through
the telescope or binocular and the secondary adjustment regulated to suit whether
cavalry infantry etc. The plates are then adjusted by the main screw until the object
apparently just fits in between them and the range read off on the scale.
In using the apparatus as described in the second place, the object is viewed through
the telescope and the secondary adjustment regulated to suit whether cavalry
infantry etc. The telescope is then elevated or depressed until the object apparently
just fits in between the plates and as the alignment of the telescope with the fore
sight is secured by the radiating arms or other appliances the rifle is at the same
time correctly aimed and may be.fired.
Any ordinary back sight may be fitted to the rifle so that the latter may be used
in the ordinary manner without the telescope when desirable.
We may also in some cases fit a spirit level or any other suitable appliance for
ensuring that the line of sight is in the same vertical plane as the line of fire, and we
may also make lines or notches in either top or bottom plates to ensure the object
being sighted centrally in the telescope.
We have described our invention as consisting in part of two plates arranged in a
telescope and moving in the same vertical plane but in some cases we arrange them
to describe in their movements ares of circles or move in any other suitable direction
provided always that we keep their edges parallel and equidistant from the axis of
telescope. We may instead of the sleeve or ring moving longitudinally, or instead
of the adjusting screws, use any other mechanism which will allow of the required
movement and adjustment. It is also evident that the apparatus of our invention may
be applied to machine guns and other weapons of war used against bodies of cavalry,
infantry etc.

page_text: We, HENRY CLAUDE WALKER, Engineer, and HENRY CHARLES HEFFER, Artist,
both of the Newington Iron Works, London S.E. 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 :-
Our invention relates to improvements in range-finding and sighting apparatus and
has for its object to determine unknown ranges and also to ensure correct aiming, the
principal upon which it is based being the difference in the apparent height of a man
at different distances.
The range-finding apparatus of our invention can be applied to any existing
telescope or binocular field-glass or may form part of a special apparatus.
In the form in which we preferably apply our invention to a field telescope we place
inside the body of the telescope two plates both in the same vertical plane transversely
to the axis of the telescope with horizontal parallel edges between which the object
is viewed. These plates are not rigidly fixed to the telescope but are so arranged
that whilst the edges are kept parallel and equidistant from its axis they may approach
to or recede from each other. This movement is controlled by a sleeve or other
suitable appliance put in motion by a screw with milled head operating by inclined
planes or other suitable device and provided with a graduated scale for reading off
its position. A secondary adjusting screw is provided by means of which the distance
apart of the plates can be varied, independently of the main adjustment, to suit the
different heights of cavalry, infantry standing, infantry kneeling, etc.
The second part of our invention relates to the mounting of a telescope substantially
as afore described on an ordinary rifle. We employ a small telescope fitted with
plates and sliding sleeve or other device and connect it to the rifle by a series of
radiating arms or other arrangement for keeping it in a vertical plane and securing
its alignment with the foresight at all degrees of its elevation. The mechanism for
operating the plates aforementioned is connected to one or more of the radiating arms
so that the motion of raising the telescope brings the parts closer together, and we
proportion this or these radiating arms and connections so that the distance apart of
the plates agrees with the elevation of the telescope. We may also attach to one of
the radiating arms an index-pointer by means of which the range can be read off on a
scale fixed to the rifle, and we may also use a clamping screw or other appliance for
securing the telescope at the desired elevation. We may also use an eye-guard

page_text: consisting of a spring or other appliance bearing against the forehead or check of
the marksman to protect his eye from any injury that might possibly be caused by the
recoil. When not in use the telescope folds back into a chamber formed in the stock
of the rifle with sliding cover to protect it from injury or the telescope may be made
detachable and carried in a separate receptacle.
In the accompanying drawings the same letters indicate the same parts and the
various views show different forms of our apparatus.
Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 show our combined sighting and range-finding apparatus
attached to an ordinary rifle and used in conjunction with an ordinary foresight.
Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are diagrams showing the manner in which an object is viewed
with our range-finding apparatus as shewn in figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11.
Figs. 9, 10 and 11 show our range-finding apparatus attached to an ordinary
binocular field-glass.
Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 show our combined sighting and range-finding apparatus
attached to an ordinary rifle and used in conjunction with an ordinary foresight.
B is a small telescope with lenses of ordinary construction. C are flexible plates
attached at c to the body of the telescope, the other ends e¹ of these plates are bent
at right angles and have parallel and horizontal edges between which the object is
viewed. D and E are vibrating arms supporting and guiding the telescope. They
are pivotted to the stock of the rifle and so proportioned to secure the alignment of
the axis of the telescope with the foresight at all degrees of its elevation.
The upper
ends d of arms D are cranked and connected to sleeve F by links f. The lower ends
of arms D are fixed to a spindle d¹ to which is connected an index-pointer d².
A graduated scale d³ is fixed to stock of rifle to indicate the range. G is an adjusting
screw engaging with sleeve F and stirrup H and bearing against the upper flexible
plate C, the portion g' of this screw has a thread twice the pitch of the portion g.
The milled head g is graduated and has an index-pointer 2 to facilitate its adjust-
ment. This screw passes easily through a slot g³ in telescope. H is a stirrup guided
by screw G and by a steady pin h which passes through a slot h¹ in telescope and into
a hole in sleeve F. This stirrup presses against the underside of the lower flexible
plate C.
By turning the screw G the ends c¹ of flexible plates can be brought closer together
or allowed to move further apart at will, the combined action of screw G and
stirrup H causing them in all positions to have their edges equidistant from the
axis of the telescope. The distance apart of the edges el is automatically adjusted to
suit the various ranges by the levers D which act through links and cause the sleeve
to travel along the telescope, so that as the sleeve is moved away from the object glass
the ends of plates are brought closer together and vice-versa. The curve of plates C
is so proportioned that at any elevation of the telescope (to suit the different ranges)
the distance apart of the edges c¹ exactly agrees with the apparent height of the
object at the range corresponding with that elevation. The secondary adjustment
afforded by screw G is for the purpose of altering the position of the plates to suit
the different height (at the same range) of cavalry or artillery, infantry standing,
infantry kneeling, or infantry lying down as indicated in diagrams shewn in figs. 5,
6, 7 and 8.
In using this form of our invention the adjusting screw is first regulated to suit the
object viewed, whether cavalry infantry etc., and the telescope then elevated or
depressed until the object apparently just fits in between the edges c¹ of plates. The
rifle is now sighted and aimed at the same time and may be discharged in the
ordinary manner.
I is a spring guard attached to the eye-piece of the telescope to bear against the
forehead of the marksman to protect his eye from any injury that might be caused by
the recoil. J is a chamber formed in the stock of the rifle into which the telescope
folds when not in use and is protected by a sliding cover j.
Figs. 9, 10 and 11 show the range-finding part of our invention applied to an
ordinary binocular field-glass. In these views we have shewn a modification of the

page_text: means hereinbefore described for adjusting the plates and have dispensed with the
sliding sleeve asing only the screw for adjustment although we may in some instances
fit the sleeves on the binocular and operate them with a thumb-screw. In the modi-
fied form here shewn we use the flexible plates C with stirrups and adjusting screws
as before but instead of the milled heads we fit small toothed wheels K and L.
These wheels are geared together by a third wheel M running loosely on a pin m
secured to the binocular. Wheel K is graduated with numbers indicating the ranges
at which the apparent height of cavalry at those ranges just fits in between the
edges of plates. Wheel L is graduated in like manner to suit infantry standing.
Wheel M is graduated similarly with a double scale to suit infantry kneeling or
infantry lying down. Index-pointers k, m¹ and I are fixed to the binocular to enable
the ranges to be easily read off.
In using this range-finding apparatus the object is viewed in the ordinary manner.
and the distance apart of the edges c¹ of plates adjusted by any of the toothed wheels
until the object apparently just fits in between the edges of plates. That graduated
scale which corresponds to the object (whether cavalry, infantry etc.) will now indicate
the range.
In cases where it may be considered desirable, we fit the plates (with stirrups etc.
aforementioned) to one only of the bodies of the binocular instead of to the two.
In some cases, instead of the sliding sleeve with stirrups acting on the flexible
plates of telescope as shown in figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, we connect the upper arm d to a
series of cams or cam-shaped grooves by means of which the edges c¹ of plates are
operated.
In figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 we have assumed the object to be viewed between plates, but
it will be evident that wires or hair lines could be substituted if desired.
Any ordinary back sight may be fitted to the rifle so that the latter may be used in
the ordinary manner without the telescope when desired. We may also in some
cases fit a spirit level or other suitable appliance for ensuring that the line of
sight is in the same vertical plane as the line of fire and we may also make lines
or notches in either top or bottom plates to ensure the object being sighted
centrally in the telescope.
We have described our invention as consisting in part of two plates arranged in a
telescope and moving approximately in the same vertical plane but in some cases we
arrange them to describe in their movements arcs of circles or move in any other
suitable direction provided always that we keep their edges parallel and equidistant
from the axis of telescope. We may instead of the sleeve or ring moving longi-
tudinally, or, instead of the adjusting screws, use any other mechanism which will
allow of the required movement and adjustment. It is also evident that the apparatus
of our invention may be applied to machine guns and other weapons of war, and may
also be used to find the distance of any object of known height with a suitably
graduated scale.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The combination, construction, and arrangement of combined sighting and range-
finding apparatus substantially as described and as shewn in figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4.
2. A combined sighting and range-finding apparatus in which the sight is taken
through a telescope which contains two plates or other media between which the object
is viewed, the distance apart of such plates or other media being controlled and
operated by elevating or depressing the telescope, and the mechanism operating such
plates being so proportioned that their distance apart at any elevation of the telescope
agrees with the apparent height of the object aimed at, at the range corresponding
to such elevation.
3. The combination, construction and arrangement of range-finding apparatus
substantially as described and as shown in figs. 9, 10 and 11.

page_text: 4. The construction and arrangement of a range-finding apparatus in which the
range is found by the apparent height of an object aimed at, if the object fits exactly
between the parallel edges of plates contained in a telescope or binocular, the distance
apart of such plates being controlled and operated-by a screw or equivalent mechanism
with graduated scales for reading off the ranges.
5. In range-finding telescopes having plates or other media between which the
object is viewed, placing these media in close proximity to the erector lens instead of
the eye-piece so as to obtain more range and magnifying power.
Dated this 20th day of September 1888.
HENRY CLAUDE WALKER.
HENRY CHARLES HEFFER.