IL37673A - Target sighting systems - Google Patents

Description

Improvements in or relating to target sijhtin¾ systems The invention relates to target sighting systems prinoipally, "but not exclusively, for fighting vehicles.

In a fighting vehicle with a stabilised armament whic is automatioally maintained on target, and from which a gunner oan make observations via a periscope, it is known to link the sighting mirror of the perisoope to the stabilised armament so that the gunner's line of sight through the perisoope may also be automatically maintained on target.

In a fighting vehicle such as a tank, having a commander as well as a gunner, the oommander is normally provided with a separate periscope. The invention provides an improved target sighting system which enables the vehicle oommander to rotate his periscopic line of sight as far as desired in azimuth, to set accurately on target any weapon, if provided, under his oontrol, and also ΐ&' observe the aiming point of and even fire the main armament while the vehicle is moving. In addition, a magnified, view of the target may be readily provided for the commander.

Although the. invention is primarily applicable to fighting vehicles whether land, water or airborne, equipped with guns or like armaments, it is also applicable to any vehicle or even a stationary unit, equipped with a directable device such as a camera or othe optical or scientific instrument. The target may similarly be any point or object which it is desired to identify, observe or fix its · location.

According to the invention, a target sighting system oomprises — — oollaattiivv--==^^tthh^^——ootthh^^--??TT==dd^^ee°°==ss <<^^^^ 37673/2 V a first and a second sighting periscope each rotatable in azimuth rela tive to the other , the second periscope tjsving a sighting mirror which ia mechanically linked by a 2-1 ratio device to the elevation of a directeble device which is preferably s tabilised , and also having an illuminated graticule in its sighting sys tem which Indicates the direction of a dixecta^le device , each periscope having an opticl p ¾ v?ay in fixed relation to its azimuth arranged so that ^hen the two periscopes are aligned in azimuth a direct optical path is provided between the periscopes whereby an observer viewing through the first periscope can observe the view through the second periscope and a superimposed image of its graticule. .1 / Usually the seoond sighting periscope is provided with a sighting mirror aligned with the azimuth and linked to the elevation of the said directable device.

Preferably the first sighting psrisoope has a first viewing position, for example a viewing screen, at which the view from the periscope can be observed in the usual way, but is provided with a magnifying optical system having a second viewing position, normally an eyepieoe, and conveniently olose to the firet viewing position, at which a magnified view can be observed, and a mirror device provided with first and second reflecting faces and whioh can be placed in a first position at which it is excluded from the optical system of the first periscope and which oan be placed in a second position at which it can reflect from its second face light rays from the first perisoope to the second viewing position of the first perisoope, and, when the two periscopes are aligned in azimuth, simultaneously refleot from its first face light rays from the second periscope through the magnifying optical system to provide a magnified view of the target at the second viewing position* Preferably, when the mirror is in its first position the light rays from the first perisoope are arranged to pass through the magnifying optioal system to provide a magnified view from the first perisoope....

The first sighting perisoope may readily he provided with a sighting mirror which oan he moved so as to change the elevation of the view of the first periscope. The sighting mirror may also he aligned with the azimuth and linked to the elevation of a further direotahle device, for example, a light gun such as a machine gune Both or either sighting periscope may he binocular.

The invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a diagrammatio vertical cross-seotional view of a target sighting system for a fighting vehiole with its first and second sighting perisoopes aligned in azimuth.

In the figure, the sighting mirror 1 of a first sighting periscope is pivoted about a horizontal axis 2 the rotation of whioh is controlled through a 2-1 drive, represented schematically by 3? oonneoted to a machine gun (not shown) mounted on the rotatable cupola 4 of a fighting vehicle. Cupola also carries the sighting mirror 1 , and the maohine gun and sighting mirror 1 are aligned in azimuth. A mirror device 5 s pivoted about a horizontal axis 6 and is capable of being arranged in two stable positions as shown by the full and dotted lines. When the mirror device 5 is in the angled position shown by the full lines, light reflected towards the mirror device 5 from mirror 1 is reflected by the upper surface 5a to a viewing window 7» When the mirror device 5 is in the vertical position shown by the dotted lines, light reflected from mirror 1 passes througha magnifying optioal system comprising a' lens combination 8, internally reflecting prisms 9 and 10 and an eyepieoe lens 11 . The focal lengths of the lenses 8 and 11 and their relative position are arranged so that a magnified image is seen through eyepiece lens 11 » The mirror 1 , mirror device 5, lenses 8, 1 1 and prisms 9, 10 are all carried by the oupola which rotates with respect to the supporting ring 12 of the oupolao Referenoe 13 indicates a bearing between the cupola and supporting ring 12. A second sighting perisoope comprises a sighting mirror 1 pivoted at 1 about a horizontal axis the rotation of which is controlled through a 2-1 drive, represented schematically by 16, oonneoted to a stabilised main armament (not shown). Sighting mirror 14 is aligned in azimuth with the stabilised main armament and is carried by the supporting ring 12o Light refleoted from sighting mirror 14 is internally reflected by a prism 17 which is also carried by the supporting ring 12, passes through passages 19? 18 machined in the supporting ring 12 and the cupola 4 respectively towards the lower surface or face b of mirror device . When the mirror devioe 5 is in the angled position the light is then reflected through the lens 8, the prisms 9 and 10 and the eyepiece lens 11. The graticule 20 is illuminated by a light source 21 , and an image of the graticule 20 is made visible at the eyepiece 11 via the lens system 22 in the collimator 23» the prism 17» passages 18 and 19» by reflection at mirror device 5 and passage through prisms 9 and 10.

In operation, in an armoured fighting vehiole such as a tank, the cupola 4 is rotatable through 36Ο0 about a vertioal axis, and with mirror device 5 in the angled position, the commander watching through the window 7 and rotating with the cupola may make observations all round the vehicle at a magnification of X1 , with the line of sight of the first periscope parallel to the direotion in which the machine gun mounted on the cupola is pointing* If the angle of elevation of the machine gun is altered, the sighting mirror 1 is rotated by means of the 2-1 drive 3 so that the line of sight remains substantially parallel to the machine gun* If a graticule (not shown) is included in the sighting system it may be used to assist the aiming of the machine gun. If the mirror device 5 is then moved to the vertical position by lever means (not shown), a magnified view is obtained through the eyepiece 11 and the movement of the commanders head from the viewing window 7 to the eyepieoe 11 is small.

If the cupola 4 is moved to a position such that passages 18, 1 are substantially aligned in azimuth and the mirror device 5 is in the angled position, a magnified view along the line of sight from sighting mirror 1 will be obtained through eyepiece lens 11. Sinoe the sighting mirror 1 is aligned in azimuth with the main armament which is?unferythe control viewing through a gunner's periscope (not shown) of a gunner, and since an alteration in elevation of the main armament imparts through the 2-1 drive 16 a movement to the sighting mirror 14 suoh that the line of sight through the sighting mirror 14 and the direotion of the main armament are substantially parallel, the system may be used by the commander to monitor the aim of the main armament, the point of superimposition of the second gun on the target being indicated by the image of graticule 20 at eyepiece 11.

Since the main armament (and therefore the sigh ng mirror 14) is stabilised, the commander need not move his head to keep the target in view and consequently oan monitor the gunner's aim continuously, and the main armament can be fired by the commander even when the tank is moving over rough ground.

A suitable magnification provided by the magnifying optioal system comprising the lenses 8, 11 ranges from X8 to X20, for example X10, X12 Improvements in or relating to target sighting systems The invention relates to target sighting systems principally, but not exclusively, for fighting vehioles.

In a fighting vehicle with a stabilised armament whioh is automatically maintained on target, and from which a gunner oan make observations via a perisoope , it is known to link the sighting mirror of the perisoope to the stabilised armament so that the gunner's line of sight through the periscope may also be automatically maintained on target. ' In a ighting vehicle such as a tank, having a commander as well as a gunner, the oommander is normally provided with a separate periscope. The invention provides an improved target sighting system which enables the vehiole oommander to rotate his periscopic line of sight as far as desired in azimuth, to set accurately on target any weapon, if provided, under his oontrpl, and also to-observe the aiming point of and even fire the main armament while, the vehiole is moving. In addition, a magnified view of the target may be readily- provided for the oommander.

Although the invention is primarily applicable to fighting vehicles whether land , water or airborne, equipped with guns or like armaments, it is also applicable to any vehicle or even a stationary unit, equipped with a directable device such as a camera or other optioal or soientifio instrument. The target may similarly be any point or objeot which it is desired to identify, observe or fix its looation.

According to the invention, a target sighting system oomprises •etiolr ¾o-t½j- Btjrbiii trend- main- arm-ament -of- a-fa.'Eti ini eirtolffr ¾¾oh asioui-. -€H»a»ge^- e» •whea-Wie- two- ^ rso-o enr ¾re* -siignet n a¾irou4; -a- *»ο *- ep-t-ieat -p&*k -io- y&vd^&d- -between-the- "peristrepea ±l-^- i&w. ks(>ufik-tho- «*Q<>nd-p^^ -of its. -gsatAeule-.

Usually the second sitti g perisoope is provided with a sighting mirror aligned with the azimuth and linked to the elevation of the said direptable deyioe.

Preferably the first sighting perisoope has a first viewing position, for example a viewing screen, at which tne yiew from the periscope pan be observed in the usual way, but is provided with a magnifying optical system haying a second viewing position, normally, an eyepieoe, and conveniently close to the firet viewing position, at v/hich a magnified view oan be observed, and a mirror device provided with first and second reflecting faces and whioh oan be placed in a first position at which it is excluded from the optical system of the first periscope and which can be placed in a seoond position at v/hich . it can reflect from its second face light rays from the first perisoopa to the seoond viewing position of the first periscope, and , when the two periscopes are aligned in azimuth, simultaneously reflect from its first face light rays from the seoond perisoope through the magnifying pptic_aTVystem to provide a magnified view of the target at the seoond viewing position.

Preferably* when the mirror is in its first position the light from the first periscope are arranged to pass through the magnifyin optical system to provide a magnified view from the firs periscope The first sighting perisoope may readily he provided with a si mirror which oan he moved so as t change the elevation of th view the firet periscope. The sighting mirror may also be aligned with azimuth and linked to the elevation of a further directable device, example, a light gun such as a machine gun.

Both or either sighting periscope may be binooular.

The invention v/ill now be described by way of example only and reference to the accompanying drawing whioh is a diagrammatio verti cross-seotional view of a target sighting system for ¾ fighting veh with its first and seoond sighting parisoopes aligned in azimuth.

In the figure, the sighting mirror 1 of a first sighting peris is pivoted about a horizontal axis 2 the rotation of whioh is pontr through a 2-1 drive, represented schematically by 3» oonneoted to a machine gun (not shown) mounted on the rotatable cupola of a figh vehicle. Cupola 4 also carries the sighting mirror 1 , and the mach gun and sighting mirror 1 are aligned in azimuth. A mirror device pivoted about a horizontal axis 6 and is oapable of being arranged stable positions as shown by the full and dotted lines. When the mi device 5 is in the"angled position shown by the full lines," light refleoted towards the mirror device 5 from mirror 1 is reflected by the upper surface 5a to a viewing window 7« When the mirror device i i n hown b the dotted lines li ht reflec combination 8, internally reflecting prisms 9 and 10 and an eyepiece lens 11 . The fooal lengths of the lenees 8 and 11 and their relative position are arranged so that a magnified image is seen through eyepiece lens 11. The mirror 1 , mirror device 5» lenses 8, 11 and prisms 9» 0 are all carried by the oupola 4 which rotates with respeot to the supporting ring 12 of the cupola.. Reference 13 indicates a bearing "between the cupola 4 and supporting ring 12. A second sighting perisoope comprises a sighting mirror 1 pivoted at 15 about a horizontal axis the rotation of which is controlled through a 2-1 drive, represented sohematioally b 16, oonnocted to a stabilised main armament (not shown). Sighting mirror 14 is aligned in azimuth with the stabilised main armament and is carried by the supporting ring 12. Light refleoted from sighting mirror 14 internally reflected by a prism 17 which is also carried by the supporting ring 12, passes through passages 19» 18 machined in the supporting ring 12 and the cupola 4 respectively towards the lower surface or face 5^ of mirror devioe 5· When the mirror device is in the angled position the light is then refleoted through the lens 8, the prisms 9 and 10 and the eyepieoe lens 11. The gratioule 20 is illuminated by a light source 21 , and an image of the graticule 20 is made visible at the eyepiece 11 via the lens system 22 in the collimator 23» the prism 17 » passages 18 and 19» by reflection at mirror device 5 and passage through prisms 9 and 10, * In operation, in an armoured fighting vehicle suoh as a tank, the cupola 4 is rotatable through 3^0° about a vertical axis, and with mirror device in the angled position, the oommander watching through the .window perisoope parallel to the direotion in whioh the machine gun mounted on. the cupola is pointing. If the angle of elevation of the maohine gun is altered, the sighting mirror 1 is rotated by means of the 2-1 drive 3 so that the line of sight remains substantially parallel o the machine gun. If a gratioule (not shown) is included in the sighting system it may be used to assist the aiming of the machine gun. If the mirror devioe 5 s then moved to the vertical position by lever means (not shown), a magnified view is obtained through the eyepiece 11 and the movement of the commanders head from the viewing window 7 to the eyepiece 11 is small* If the cupola is moved to a position such that passages 18, 19 are substantially aligned in azimuth and the mirror device 5 is in the angled position, a magnified view along the line of sight from sighting mirror 1 will be obtained through eyepiece lens 11. Since the sighting mirror 1 normally , A is aligned in azimuth with the main armament which is/under the control viewing through a gunner's periscope (not shown) of a gunner, and sinoe an alteration in elevation of the main armament , imparts through the 2-1 drive 16 a movement to the sighting- mirror 14 suoh that the line of sight through the sighting mirror 14 and the direotion of the main armament are substantially parallel, the system may be used by the commander to monitor the aim of the main armament, the point of superimposition of the second gun on the target being indioated by the image of gratioule 20 at eyepiece 11.

Sinoe the main armament (and therefore the sighting*mirror 14) is stabilised, the commander need not move his head to keep the target in view and consequently can monitor the gunner's aim continuously, and the main armament can be fired by the commander even when the tank is movin over rou h round

Claims (1)

1. WHAT IS CLAIMED IS t A target sighting comprising a first and a second sighting periscope each rot3table in relative to the the second periscope having a sighting mirror which is mechanically linked by a ratio device to the elevation of a di device which is preferably and also having an illuminated graticule in its sighting which indicates the direction of a diractable each periscope having an optical way in fixed relation to its azimuth arranged so that when the two periscopes are aligned in a direct optical path is provided between the periscopes whereby an observer viewing through the first periscope can observe the view through the second periscope and a superimposed image of its A target sighting system according to claim 1 wherein the directable device is the stabilised main of a fighting A target sighting system according to claims 1 or 2 wherein the first sighting periscope has a first viewing position at which the view from the periscope can be a magnifying optical system having a second viewing position at which a magnified view can be and a mirror device provided with first and second reflecting faces and which can be placed in a first position at which it is excluded from the optical system of the first periscope and which can be placed in a second position at which it can reflect from its second face light rays from the first periscope to the second viewing position of the when the two periscopes are of target at the second viewing target sighting system according to Claim 3 wherein when the mirror device is in its light rays from the first periscope are arranged to pass through magnifying optical A target sighting according to Claim in which said optical system is a lens system providing in the range from X8 to A sighting according to Claim 1 wherein the first periscope has a sighting mirror which can be as to change the elevation of the view of the first A target sighting to Claim 6 and wherein the sighting of the first periscope is aligned with the azimuth of and linked by a ratio device to the of a further directable A target sighting system according to Claim wherein the said further directable device is a light Attorney for Applicant insufficientOCRQuality