GB548550A - Improvements in apparatus for training and firing guns - Google Patents

Abstract

548,550. Controlling and actuating apparatus by sounds, HERZMARK, N. April 11, 1941, No. 4852. [Class 118 (ii)] Apparatus for training and firing guns comprises a number of microphones for the detection of an attacker, motors controlled by the output of the microphones for training the microphones and a gun or guns on the attacker, and means whereby the convergence of the intersecting axes of the detectors prepares or completes the fire-control circuit. Fig. 1 shows an arrangement for destroying an approaching torpedo E by discharging a depth charge or projectile from a gun G mounted on a ship. Sound detector units A, B, C are mounted at the ends and in a mid position on each side of the ship. The axes of the detectors A, C follow the moving torpedo, and when they intersect on a circular arc F at a predetermined distance from the ship, a stick of small bombs is discharged automatically from the gun G which is trained in the correct direction by the detector B. Each detector may consist of two microphones each carried in a tube a, or a<SP>1</SP>, Fig. 3, the tubes being secured at an angle to one another and mounted on a pivoted support D which is rotatable about a vertical axis by a hydraulic motor M. The output of each microphone is passed through an amplifier H or H<SP>1</SP> to coils i or i<SP>1</SP>, respectively, of a relay I. This relay switches a current to one or the other of two opposed solenoids k, k<SP>1</SP> which move an armature K<SP>1</SP> connected to the plunger L of a valve L<SP>1</SP> that controls the direction of rotation of the motor M. The difference in the volume of sound received by each microphone causes the motor to move the detector until both tubes a, a<SP>1</SP> receives the same volume of sound, when the relay I breaks the circuit of the solenoids. The axis A<SP>1</SP> of the detector is then directed on the target E. Coupled with the shaft of the motor M is a switch arm P that slides over a series of contacts P<SP>1</SP>, the angular movement of the arm being arranged to coincide with that of the detector. The arm P of the detector B controls the training of the gun G, and the contacts of the detectors A, C are so connected to one another and to the firing circuit that the gun is fired when the axis of the three detectors intersect on the arc F. The device may be arranged to fire guns on land at approaching tanks. Microphones of the ribbon type may be used to eliminate the disturbing effect of noises coming equally from all around the detectors.