GB931321A - Improvements in director installations for guided missiles - Google Patents

Abstract

931,321. Optical sighting instrument support devices. SHORT BROS. & HARLAND Ltd. March 2, 1961 [March 21, 1960], No. 10015/60. Class 97 (1). An optical sighting instrument support device comprises a column capable (a) of longitudinal extension or contraction, (b) of lateral oscillation about two mutually perpendicular axes normal to an intersecting in its longitudinal axis, and (c) of rotation about its longitudinal axis (i.e. for azimuthal adjustment), and further comprises resilient means for normally constraining the column towards a vertical position, a mounting on said column for an optical sighting instrument incorporating handles by which the operator may adjust the instrument to follow his line of sight, and the device being freely rotatable on a base to turn about a vertical axis and also free to sway against the resilient influence of said constraining means. As shown (Fig. 1), a monocular 19 is mounted on the upper end of a column comprising three telescopically arranged tubes 10-12. Tube 10 is slidably mounted in tube 11 against loading of a weak counterbalancing spring 13 but is prevented from rotating with respect to tube 12 by a dog 103 engaging in a longitudinal slot 121 in the tube 12. Tube 11 is slidable in tube 12 and may be locked in a position corresponding to the height of the operator by means of a lock-nut 122 in a collar 24. Tube 12 is connected by way of a universal joint 25 to a member 26 which is rotatably connected by way of a bearing 28 to a fixed base portion. Disposed between a collar 16 of the tube 12 and a rotary base 15 is a helical spring 14 for resiliently urging the tubes 10-12 into a vertical position. The monocular is pivotally mounted at 172 upon levers 17 which are pivotally supported by the tube 10 at 171 and connected at 18 to an upper extension 24 of the tube 11. Ring-type sights may be provided together with handles 20 by which the operator may adjust the line of sight of the sighting instrument. Movement of the monocular may be relayed for example to a missilelaunching site by means of transducers (such as 32, 33) and a cable 22. A trigger 21 and missile guidance control means may be provided in the respective handles 20. A transducer 29 operating in response to externally generated electrical signals may be provided for operating means indicating the bearing of a target. In a modification (Fig. 4, not shown), only two telescopically arranged tubes are provided and the column is urged into a vertical position by means of a flexible envelope which surrounds said column and may be pressurized. A wind and spray shield is shown at 51.