connection with the guns in ship's turrets.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Nov.. 1895-Accepted, 18th Jan., 1896
connection with the guns in ship's turrets.
Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.
A represents the telescope which is mounted upon trunnions B in standards C ;
the standards being supported upon a suitable base D. Near the sight end of the
telescope are brackets E and F, which are formed upon or attached to the ring Y
which encircles the telescope. Between the brackets E and F is inserted first, a
block G, having a hemispherical cavity to receive the globe H. The globe H is
at the upper end of a rod I, which is carried by the elevating screw J. After
the globe H is inserted in the hemispherical cavity of the block G, two smaller
blocks K and L are inserted also into the space between the brackets E and F so
as to rest upon the inwardly turned flanges of said brackets. These blocks K
and have their inner faces shaped to conform to the globe surface with which
said faces are in contact. In this way the block G and the blocks K and L form
a bearing for the globe H in which said globe is retained. Hence there is a
positive connection between the elevating screw J and the telescope, so that when
the screw J is raised or lowered it moves the telescope with it; while on the other
hand, the telescope cannot be moved by the concussion of the gun to which it is
applied, because it is held at two points along its length, namely, at its trunnions
and at the point of its positive connection with the screw. While I prefer to
employ the globe H beld in the cavity between the blocks G, K, L, I may omit
the blocks and provide the rod I simply with an enlarged head which enters the
space between the brackets E, F, and will not pass through the interval between
their flanges.
The elevating screw J enters a threaded opening in the fixed nut or cylinder M,
which is secured by bolts N to the base D. Above the screw J and between the
said screw and the rod I is a threaded portion O. of less diameter than the screw J.
This threaded portion O enters the central threaded orifice of the disk P. When
said disk P rests upon its seat on the upper shouldered part of the screw J, a
pin Q is passed through the flange of said disk and also through the threaded
part 0; thus securing the disk P and the screw J firmly together. R is a hollow
cylinder of metal, having on its outer periphery a scale graduated to show ranges
in yards, meters, or other units corresponding to angles of elevation of the
telescope A. In the inner surface of the cylinder R is a groove S. Entering this
groove are small disks T, which are supported by the screws V, which pass down
[Price 8dl

page_text: through the disk P. In order to prevent the small disks T from turning when the
screws are rotated I provide screws Z which pass through said disks T and into
the disk P. Finally W is an index point, which is rigidly secured to the base D
by screws X.
In adjusting the apparatus it is necessary first, to bring the zero point of the
scale on cylinder R to coincidence with the fixed index W when the line of sight of
the telescope A is laid parallel to the axis of the bore of the gun which the
apparatus is to control. To this end the screws V are loosened, so that the scale
cylinder R may be turned independently of the disk P, the circular groove S then
sliding freely over the small disks T. This turning of the cylinder is effected by
hand, and in this way the zero point on the said cylinder R is easily brought into
coincidence with the index W. This accomplished, the screws V are tightened,
forcing the disks closely against the side of the groove S; and so binding the
cylinder R and disk P firmly together.
To elevate the telescope A to the desired angle the disk P is turned, and the
screw J thereby rotated, so that said screw then moves longitudinally in
the cylinder M carrying with it the globe H. Thus the sight end of the
telescope A is raised or lowered as desired. Of course, a point on the telescope A
moves over a circular arc, of which the centre is the centre of the trunnions B,
while the globe H carried by the screw J moves up and down in a right line.
But this difference in movement is permitted by the sliding of the blocks G. K. L
in the brackets E and F in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the
telescope. As the screw J moves up or down while rotating it of course carries
with it the graduated cylinder R; therefore, said cylinder moves spirally in front
of the fixed index W. Hence 1 inscribe on the cylinder surface a spiral line of a
pitch similar to that of the screw J; and upon said line, I mark ranges as shown
in Figure 2, corresponding to the angular position of the telescope A. and to the
angle of elevation which will be given to the gun which the apparatus is to
control.
This apparatus practically supersedes the ordinary sight on the gun. In order
to adjust the telescope for a given range, the disk P is turned until the mark
indicating that range comes opposite the index point W; and by reason of the turning
of the said disk the globe H engaging with the blocks in the brackets E and F raises
or lowers the sight end of the telescope to an angle corresponding to said range.
The form of apparatus which is specifically represented in Figures 1 and 2 is
more particularly designed for use on the saddle of a gun which recoils along the
line of fire in the saddle, which saddle is moved by the operator to elevate or
depress the gun.
In adapting the device for use with turret guns, where the sight is necessarily
placed in the sighting hood at a distance above the gun, I may use the construction
represented in Figure 3. It is necessary to know the angle of the telescope sight
to the axis of the bore, and incidentally to provide means whereby said telescope
can be laid parallel to said axis. This is sometimes done by means of a
mechanical device in the nature of a parallel motion, which connects the gun with
the base on which the telescope is secured; so that the act of elevating or
depressing the gun, will, through said mechanical connection, correspondingly
elevate or depress the base of the telescope. My present device exhibits a mode
of accomplishing a like result without the use of such connecting mechanism.
I mount the base D of the telescope on trunnions a, on a standard, which in
turn is mounted on the base c. At the end of the base D, I provide brackets d,
similar to the brackets E and F. In these brackets is received a globe, not shown,
which in turn rises from a screw which carries a disk e, and cylinder f. The
arrangement of the parts d, e, f, is similar to that of the parts E, F, P and R.
The index 7 secured to the base c is located with reference to the cylinder f, in
the same way as index W is located with reference to the cylinder R.
The
cylinder however instead of being graduated for ranges corresponding to augles
ot elevation, may be graduated directly in angles of elevation; hence when the

page_text: gun is given a certain initial elevation, the base D of the telescope A is brought
parallel to the axis of the bore of the gun by manipulating the disk e and
cylinder f; the disk e being rotated until the angle of the elevation of the gun is
indicated on the cylinder opposite the pointer g. The disk P and cylinder R
are then operated in the manner already described to give to the telescope A an
angle corresponding to the desired range. In some cases it may be convenient to
graduate the cylinder fin angles of elevation and the evlinder R in ranges.
In addition to possessing all of the advantages incident to telescope sights in
general, the following additional cues are secured by my present apparatus. The
telescope is firmly held at two points of support in the position to which it may
be adjusted, and cannot be thrown out of such position by the concussion of the
gun when the latter is fired. The sight may therefore he adjusted once and for
all, and need not be re-adjusted for every firing of the gun, unless the range is
changed. The construction of the elevating and depressing mechanism is such
that the telescope can be moved over a considerable angle, while the graduations
for range will be far apart; thus enabling the instrument to be set at any range
with especial accuracy.
So also the centre of the trunnions may be set low
down,
thus minimizing the effect of vibration of the instrument, and rendering it
more solid and compact. It will also be observed that the elevating screw is
completely protected and has a large bearing in its supporting cylinder. It is
also possible, as I have already explained, to adjust the cylinder R to the zero
mark, without moving the screw J; by simply loosening the clamping screws V.
This enables the apparatus to be readily adjusted on any gun.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The combination in a telescope sight of a sight tube movable on pivots on
its transverse axis, two supports therefor, one of said supports receiving said
pivots, and the other of said supports being adjustable to alter the inclination of
the sight tube, and means for showing the degree of said inclination.
2. The combination in a telescope sight of a pivoted sight tube, an elevating
and depressing screw J positively connected thereto, a cylinder R carried by said
screw J and having on its periphery a scale suitably inscribed to show ranges or
angles of inclination and a fixed index W near said scale.
3. The combination in a telescope sight of a pivoted sight tube an elevating and
depressing screw J positively connected thereto, a disk P carried by said screw,
a cylinder R having a scale on its periphery suitably inscribed to show ranges or
angles of inclination, a clamping device whereby said cylinder may be clamped
rigidly to said disk or freed so as to be independently movable and a fixed
index W near said scale.
4. The combination in a telescope sight of a sight tube movable about a
transverse axis, a supporting base therefoi also movable about a transverse axis,.
a fixed table c, and means for varying the inclination of said base with reference
to said table and for indicating the extent of said inclination.
5. The combination in a telescope sight of a sight tube movable about a
transverse axis, a supporting base therefor also movable about a transverse axis, a
fixed table, means for varying the inclination of said sight tube with reference to
said base, and for varying the inclination of said base with reference to said
table, and indicating devices for showing the extent of inclination of sight tube
and of base.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.