Improvements in Sights for Guns.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 8th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 8th Feb, 1890-Accepted, 12th Apr,
1890
Improvements in Sights for Guns.
I, HUBERT HENRY GRENFELL, of 5, Astwood Road, Cromwell Road, in the County
of Middlesex, late Captain R N. do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
My invention relates to illuminated or night sights for guns.
It is essential in the use of guns at night that the sighting devices should present
to the eye of the observer a bright or luminous point or surface Various devices
have been employed or suggested for this purpose, such for example as an electric
lamp placed visibly in such a position as to project rays of light directly along the
line of sight, or a lens arranged in combination with a concealed or screened lamp to
refract rays of light along to the eye of the observer, and, in some instances, reflectors
have been used in combination with lenses for this purpose
These devices are open to objection for the reason that they have to be so constructed
that the supports for the lamps, lenses or reflectors are solid parts which necessarily
obstruct the vision. None of them permit the observer to look through the space
immediately below the illuminated point, and therefore although in other respects
the apparatus may be well adapted to serve its purpose, its efficiency is greatly
impaired.
My invention affords the means for constructing an illuminated sight which is free
from this objection That is to say, I combine with suitable means for affording the
necessary illumination, novel and improved reflecting devices which are applied to
the gun without the use of socket-pieces or holders such as are required for carrying
a lamp or a transparent substance rendered visible by the passage through it of light
from a
lamp.
My reflectors differ from those heretofore used for sighting guns, as will be apparent
from the following description For a reflector I use a thin strip of metal which is
formned on or attached to the lamp-holder or to the ordinary day sight of the gun
The said strip of metal has its rear edge or a portion of the same so formed and
arranged that it reflects the light towards the rear of the gun.
Instead of a thin flat strip of metal, I sometimes use a small metal bar or piece of
wire. I can illuminate the whole of the rear edge of the strip, bar or wire, or I can
illuminate a small portion at the centre of the same either by concentrating thereon
the rays of light from the lamp or by burnishing or brightening a small portion of the
strip, bar or wire, so that it will reflect the light in the proper direction, and making
the other parts of the edge non-reflective by any suitable means
In some instances I leave an opening or gap in the strip, bar, or wire of the rear
sight, and arrange the same so that rays from the lamp are reflected from the two
sides of the opening, thus forming two points of light
To provide for shewing different coloured rays from the front and rear sights, I use
electric lamps with coloured glass. I prefer that the lamps should be formned of
different coloured glass or I arrange at the edge of the reflector pieces of coloured
glass or of coloured tinsel or other substance to reflect coloured rays towards the
observer
T
111
J
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Sights for Guns.
I, HUBERT HENRY GRENFELL, of 5 Astwood Road, Cromwell Road, in the County
of Middlesex, late Captain Royal Navy, 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 illuminated or night sights for guns.
It is essential, in the use of guns at night, that the sighting devices should present
to the eye of the observer a bright or luminous point or surface Various devices
have been employed or suggested for this purpose, such, for example, as an electric
lamp so arranged that it is visible and will project rays of light directly along the
line of sight; or a lens or other piece of transparent substance sò arranged in com-
bination with a concealed or screened lamp that rays of light will pass through it and
be refracted towards the eye of the observer; and, in some instances, lamps and
reflectors have been used in combination with lenses for the sighting of guns at night.
These devices are open to objection for various reasons, amongst which may be
mentioned the following, viz. :- -They have to be so constructed that the supports for
the lamps or lenses are solid parts which necessarily obstruct the vision,
that is to say,
the said supports do not permit the observer to look through the space immediately
below the illuminated point, and, therefore, although in other respects the apparatus
may be adapted to serve its purpose, its efficiency is by this defect greatly impaired.
Moreover the glass or other brittle transparent substance used for refracting the light, is
very liable to be broken, and the said substance does not transmit a well defined beam
of light along the line of sight, the whole of the visible portion of the said substance
having a luminous appearance, and the whole or the greater portion of the rays refracted
by the said substance being visible to the observer.
By my invention, I am enabled to construct an illuminated sight which is free from
these objections, that is to say, to combine, with suitable means for affording the
necessary illumination, novel reflecting devices which will not be liable to injury and
which are applied to the gun in such a manner as to leave a clear space below as well
as above them, my said reflecting devices being applied to the gun without the use of
socket-pieces or holders which would obstruct the view, such, for example, as are
required, in night sights heretofore devised, for carrying the lamp or the lens or other
piece of transparent substance
My reflectors, moreover, differ from those heretofore used for sighting guns, as will
be apparent from the following description.
In carrying my invention into practice, I provide the sight with one or more
reflecting surfaces which are so arranged in combination with a concealed or screened
lamp that, whilst no direct rays of light from the lamp will reach the eye of the
observer, some of the rays of light emanating from the lamp will impinge upon the
reflecting surface or surfaces and will be thereby reflected along the line of sight in
the form of a thin or attenuated beam. And my improved sight requires no lens or
other piece of transparent substance through which rays of light from the lamp will
pass and by which the said rays will be refracted towards the eye of the observer
For a reflector, I prefer to use a thin strip of metal which is formed on, or attached
to the lamp-holder or to the ordinary day sight of the gun, and which has its rear
edge or a portion of the same so formed and ai ranged that it reflects the light towards
the rear of the gun. I find it advantageous to form the reflecting surface or surfaces
upon the top cross-bar of a frame enclosing an aperture or window through which the
line of sight extends
Instead of a thin flat strip of metal, I sometimes use a round metal iod or wie or
other suitable piece of metal as the reflector prefer to use unoxidisable metal and
to burnish or brighten a small portion of the strip, rod or wire so that it will reflect
the light in the proper direction, the other parts of the strip, rod or wire being made

page_text: non-reflective by any suitable means, so that only the beam reflected from the said
portion along the line of sight will be visible to the observer
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in vertical central section, and
Figure 2 is a rear elevation, showing one form of my improved illuminated sight
applied to an ordinary day rear-sight in such a manner that it can be readily removed
therefrom when not required for use
Figure 3 is a side elevation partly in vertical central section, and
Figure 4 a rear elevation, showing a corresponding illuminated sight applied to an
ordinary day foie-sight so that it can be readily removed therefiom
Figure 5 is a side elevation, partly in vertical section, and
Figure 6 a rear elevation, showing a combined day and night rear-sight constructed
according to my invention
Figure 7 is a side elevation, partly in vertical central section, and
Figure 8 a real elevation, showing a corresponding fore-sight.
Figure 9 is a rear elevation of another form of my combined day and night rear-
sight, and
Figure 10 is a rear elevation of a corresponding fore-sight.
The remaining figures of the drawings are hereinafter referred to.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A indicates a rear-sight and B a fore-sight such as are ordinarily employed in the
day-time.
a, a¹, are the reflecting surfaces of my improved rear aud. fore night-sights
respectively. Each of the said night-sights is provided with an electric incandescent
lamp b which is concealed or enclosed in a socket or holder c provided with a hole c¹
for the passage of rays of light to impinge upon the reflecting surface of the said sight
and be thereby directed towards the observer
In the illuminated rear sight shown in Figures 1 and 2, the socket c is provided
with two arms or projections e² whereby the said sight is secured by means of screws d
to the ordinary day-sight A, which may be attached to a vertically adjustable sight-
bar by a pin, screw or bolt passed through the eye A'. The socket c has formed or
fixed thereon a bridge or frame e the upper part or cross bar of which is provided
with two inclined reflecting surfaces a between which is a non-reflecting surface
equal, or nearly equal in length to the reflecting surface a¹ of the fore-sight.
The illuminated fore-sight shown in Figures 3 and 4 has an eye f formed or fixed
on the socket or holder c. This eye fits upon the upper part of the day-sight B and
is secured thereon by means of a screw g. The day-sight B is provided with a screw B¹
whereby it may be firmly secured in place. The lamp socket or holder has formed
or fixed thereon a bridge or frame e on the upper part or cross-bar of which the
inclinined reflecting surface a¹ is formed.
The lamp b 18 secured in a plug h of insulating material having a central
screw h¹ and an external metal ring h². This plug is connected by a screw h¹
with another plug of insulating material having a metal core 7¹ and fixed in a metal
tube which is secured in a block or piece k¹ of insulating material. The conducting
wires from an electric battery are secured to this piece ¹ of insulating material, and
are connected with the leading-in wires of the lamp 6 as follows, viz :-One wire
from the battery is connected with the metal core 2 and the other with the tube /
One of the leading-in wires of the lamp is passed through the plug h and clamped
between the ring h² and tube k, whilst the other leading-in wire is connected with
the screw h¹.
One end of this spring is inserted
A spial spring surrounds the plug h
in a hole in the tube k, the other end thereof bears against a shoulder in the socket
A pin or stud ³
or holder c when the lamp and its adjuncts are inserted therein
is fixed in the tube 7 and is adapted to enter a bent or L-shaped slot in the socket c,
At the inner
for the purpose of securing the lamp and its adjuncts in the said socket.
end of this slot, there is a slight recess in which the said pin or stud will be retained

page_text: し
by the action of the spring so that the piece and tube k must be forcibly turned
to disengage the said pin or stud.
I may, if desired, provide other suitable means for securing the lamp in the socket
and for making the necessary connections between the lamp and the battery.
I sometimes insert in the hole c¹ in the socket ca piece of colored glass or stone,
as shown in Figure 3, so that the rays of light passing to the reflecting surface will
have any desired color imparted to them.
It will be seen that, by the herein described improvements, I provide a very
efficient open sight or window-sight, the frame e being so constructed and arranged
that it presents a very narrow edge to the eye of the observer and, therefore, offers
practically no obstruction to the view
In the combined day and night rear sight shewn in Figures 5 and 6, two triangular
projections in are formed on the frame e above the reflecting surfaces a The socket
or holder c has formed or fixed thereon the eye A' for attaching the sight to a vertically
adjustable sight-bar.
In the combined day and night fore-sight shewn in Figures 7 and 8, a semi-spherical
projection is formed on the frame e above the reflecting surface a¹, for use in day-
light in combination with the projections m on the real-sight The screw B' is formed
with, or firmly attached to the socket or holder c
Figure shows a combined day and night rear-sight in which the inclined reflecting
surface a is formed on the extremity of a curved arm p, and Figure 10 shews a
coi responding fore-sight in which the inclined reflecting surface a¹ and the semi-
spherical projection n are formed on an arm p¹ curved in the reverse direction to that
of the arm p
Figure 11 is a rear elevation and Figure 12 a side elevation illustrating anothei
modification of my real-sight wherein two bent arms p are so arranged that their
pointed ends meet midway between then vertical portions, and are provided with
inclined reflecting surfaces a Figures 13 and 14 show, in rear elevation and in
vertical longitudinal section, part of a fore-sight for use in combination with the rear-
sight shewn in Figures 11 and 12.
Figures 15 and 16 show, in rear and side elevation part of a rear-sight in
which there is a single inclined reflecting surface a on the pointed end of a bent
arm p Figures 17 and 18 show similar views of a corresponding fore-sight
Figures 19, 20 and 21 show other forms of sights in which the inclined reflecting
sui faces a, a¹ are formed on the pointed ends of curved arms p, p¹
In some instances, I leave an opening or gap in the stip, bar or wire of the
rear-sight and armnge the same so that the rays from the lamp are reflected from
the two sides of the opening, thus forming two points of light between which the
reflecting surface of the fore-sight may be seen
Figures 22 and 23 are perspective views illustrating an advantageous method of
providing for attaching my night-sight to an ordinary day rear-sight so that it may
be readily removed therefrom; for this purpose an angle-piece q having a dove-tail
projection or rib q¹ is attached to the night-sight, and a piece r having a corresponding
dovetailed groove 7 is attached to the ordinary day-sight A. When the rib q' is inserted
in the groove and the night-sight is pressed downward, the angle piece q will come
against the top of the piece and thus the night-sight will be supported and held in
place upon the day-sight
Figures 24 and 25 are perspective views illustrating a similar method of attaching
my night-sight to an ordinary day fore-sight, the night-sight having attached
thereto a plate s provided with a dovetail projection or rib s¹, and the day-sight being
provided with a corresponding dovetail groove t
I have found in practice, with sights having flat inclined reflecting surfaces such
as I have shown in Figures 1 to 21, and so arranged that the beams of reflected
light extend in a direction parallel, or nearly parallel to the axis of the gun, that,
although the reflected beams can be very clearly seen when the sights are used for
small angles of elevation, yet, when the sights are adjusted for great angles of

page_text: elevation, the reflected beams cannot be very clearly seen by reason of the change
in the position of the said surfaces relatively to the observer's eye By using curved
or rounded reflecting surfaces, however, such as the surfaces of round metal rods,
this difficulty is overcome, and the further advantage is gained that the reflected*
beams of light seen by the observer are much thinner or more attenuated than those
obtained with the flat surfaces
I find it very advantageous to make the the reflecting surfaces of my improved
night-sights with a curvature such as that shown in Figure 26. It will be seen that,
with a surface of this shape, the rays of light from the lamp which impinge upon
the said surface, will be reflected therefrom at various angles, but there will only be
visible to the observer a thin or attenuated beam of light reflected from a portion
of the said surface It is evident, moreover, that when the position of the said
surface relatively to the eye of the observer is changed (for instance, by the adjust-
ment of the sight) a similar beam of light will be reflected from another portion of
the said surface to the observer's eye.
To provide for showing different coloured rays from the front and rear sights,
I sometimes use electric lamps with globes or bulbs of coloured glass, or I arrange
at the edge of the reflector pieces of coloured glass or of coloured tinsel or other
substance to reflect coloured rays towards the observer
My improved sight is more advantageous than those in which a refractor or
lens is employed, inasmuch as the rays of light are dispersed in many directions
by the lens and the whole or the greater portion of such lays are visible to the
observer, thus impairing, or tending to impair the accuracy of aim; whereas, by my
reflector, the rays of light are directed along the line of sight in a parallel, or
nearly parallel beam, which can be very distinctly seen by the observer Moreover,
as above stated, my reflector being of metal is not liable to breakage or other
injury
It is obvious that my improved sights are applicable to torpedo-tubes or directers.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it understood that
I claim
First The employment, on a gun, of a concealed or screened lamp and a reflecting
surface so arranged above the said lamp as to leave a clear space or aperture beneath
the said surface, for the purpose above specified
Second An open sight or window-sight the upper part or cross-bar of which is
provided with one or more reflecting surfaces, for the purpose, above specified
Third A sighting apparatus comprising front and rear sights provided with
reflecting surfaces so arranged upon a gun that there is no obstruction to the view
beneath the said surfaces
Fourth An illuminated or night sight which is constructed without a lens and
wherein a curved reflecting surface is arranged in combination with a concealed or
screened lamp in such a manner that a clear space or aperture will be left beneath the
said surface and rays of light will be projected from the lamp upon the said surface
and will be reflected thereby directly along the line of sight at any angle of elevation
of the gun, substantially as, and for the purposes, above specified
Fifth An illuminated or night sight constructed with one or more reflecting
surfaces arranged in combination with a lamp substantially as described and adapted
to be secured to an ordinary day-sight, for the purpose above specified.
Sixth A combined day and night sight comprising a bent or curved arm or fiame
provided with one or more reflecting sui faces and secured to a socket or holder
containing a lamp and having a hole for the passage of rays of light from the said
lamp, for the purposes above specified
Seventh-The improved means, substantially as described with reference to
Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, whereby I provide for securing the lamp in its
socket or holder and for making the necessary connections between the electric battery
and the lamp, for the purpose above specified,

page_text: Eighth The improved means, substantially as described with reference to
Figures 22 and 23 or to Figures 24 and 25 of the diawings, whereby I provide for
securing my night-sight to a day-sight in such a manner that it can be readily
removed therefrom
Ninth The improved sighting apparatus consisting of the parts constructed and
combined substantially as described with reference to either of the forms or modifica-
tions shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 8th day of February 1890.
H. H. GRENFELL.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant