US1296642A - Sighting apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

G. ESTOPPEY. SIGHTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED IuLY 24l I9I.

Patented Mar.' 1I, 1919. 3 SHEETS-SHEET! lnventoz @f/PPEX W G. ESTOPPEY. SIGHTING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED IUIY 24, IQIII.

Patented Mar. 11,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

nventoz afr f//l/V/vV//Awa 2 mTIH 4 6 9 2, 1.

ESTOPPEY. SIGHTING APPARATUS. APPLICATION msn' 1uLY24. 191e.

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Patented Mar. 11, 1919.

3 SHEETS-sues A UITDSTATESq-p OFFICE., n

enoaens' nsrorrnx, on onaNeE, NEW cansar, n ss'IeNoa ro musa. -Es'rorriir a co.

' inclx or NEW-roux, N. Y.. n concurren or NEW Yoax.

I 1,296,642.; f I .Y Specification-of Lettefs'ygeet'- Patented Mal.. L1,

application inea 'my '24, isms,v serial N6. 246,484.

To all whom #may concern: 'ratus embodying the invention in the form Be it known that -I,` 'GEORGES E srorrni, now'considered best and -illustratingthe op a citizen of Switzerland, residing-at'Orange, eration of saidl apparatus.l In said drawin the county of Essex and State of New ings: 5 Jersey, 'have invented Sighting Apparatus, Figure 1 is a view. partly in elevation and 60 of which the following. is a specification. artly in sectiontaken' onthe line' 1-1 ofl My invention relates to sighting, apparatus ig. 3, the axis of /the sighting member 'be- `and more particularlyto apparatus for deing lshown in various positions occupied g terminng by observation the point in-the thereby in the operation of the apparatus.

travel ofan aeroplane. or like-moving body Fig2 isa fragmentary side elevation'of `65 at which 'an object, such as a bomb, Imust the same, partly broken'away.I Y bereleased in order tostrike a target, such Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section'taken on .asa a,building ofthe enemy, thev device of the line 3-3 .of ,F ig. 1, but showing the this application being -an improvement upon sighting member andits supporting bracket' 1'5' that described in my nio-pending application- Serial No'. 207330,'led Dec. b15,- 1917. 'ing member'being broken away.

' 'It 'is well known in accordance with the Fig.l 4 isl a horizontal se'onal view' taken laws of motion that` when an object,such as on line 'of Fig. 1.

`',bomb, is' released from a moving body,- Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view in elevation, theupper portion of the. sight- A. O'

suchas an aeroplane, it assumes'an initial 'takeiy` on line.5 -`5 of vFigdand showing "7.5

speed in the direction of movement 'of the the varrangement of the' timing mechanism aeroplane or other moving body equal' to the with respect tofthe sighting member.- speed of the' latter; so that if an, aeroplane Fig. 6 is arview 'of the sighting; member is moving horizontally at' a given speed'ther' 'and timiig mechanismfview-i'ng Fig. 5 from A will be atendency forfthereleased bombto the' left. continue -to move horizontallyfgat thesame Fig.l 7'is' a, diagram explaining the operaspeed. The aviator-in order to hit the-ta'r- .tion of the apparatus. f get is accordingly obliged ,to release the -Referring, to Ythe drawings, Figs.'3 and 4,7 `bomb before the aeroplane 'is' above the tarthe numerall represents a/top sideplate of get. The point at vwhich the bomb o rother' the body of aniA aeroplane. Carried by the 85 object lsh'ould be released depends- 'upon' a'-- plate 1 i s a casing '2, which'co`ntains apor- -numbersof factors includingthe. altitude of ytion -of theoperating mechanism of the `ap' 'the'moving body, the speed thereof relatively paratus. Thes'i'ghtii'ig member 3, as showii,

to the ground, and the resistance of the air is carried'by'a bracket 14, which is pivoted to i tothe released bo1nb or other object. It i'sfthe casing'2' for movement'about ahori' 90 the aim of the presenta/invention to provide v aontalgiifxis. by-means .of the pivot 5.Y .The apparatus'which, takingthe above. factors vsaid I' iv t'as shown, is mounted in the upinto account, will determine the proper point vperfport'i' n of the casing 2 intermediate the l in the travel of the moving blodyat which, endsJtheieof, vthe bracket 4 being carried by' A 40 the bomb or other such object should-'befr the outerportio'n Vof-thepivot so' that the 95 lasedso that it will fall 'upon-'thetarget. 'said bracket andthe sighting member 3 are'. Another' object of thenventionis'topro-. 'locatedout'side' of .but close to the body-of vide a .deviceof the character `referred fto the' aeroplane -in aeonvenient positioirfor whichis convenient to oper'it'eand` ofYan u seiof the 'sighting mem er.' For position improved construction.' '-ingthe sighting member, the bracket 4 has a '100 Another object is-to provide a device for -slidable 'connection with a member 7 .which the purpose stated which has as an operative A1s in ovable horizontally in a manner to .be part thereof timing mechanism arrangedto hereinafter more fully described, the bracketbe readily controlled and' observed by thel `4 having desirably a slot 8 extending longi- A operator of -the. sighting" apparatus. -Other tudinally of the sighting member through' 105 o jects of .my invention will -appear more hich extendslthe of a screw9 threadfully hereinafter.- "fedinto `the member-27.1 Theimember 7, as Y 'A clearA understanding ,of 'the invention showii,is in the formofa lateral projection can best be" had by reference to-the accom'- Ifrom a sl'de 10 which is` movable 'longitudipanying drawings showing sighting appa- 4 -nally upon a cylindrical guide'll, the latter. 11'0 beingprovided at its outerlendy with an enlargement 12 forming, a stop to limit the movement. of the slide10 in oner direction.

Suitable means are provided for securing theslide 10 tothe guide 11, such ymeans as shown comprising a screw 14 threaded into a boss .115 upon the slide 10 and arranged to vpress at its inner end upon a .bearing'block llresting against the guide '11. A-s'pring 17, which is shown as ,a helicalvv spring surrounding the inner reduced end of the screw 114 and bearing upon the block 16 and a shoulder upon the said screw, isdesirably employed'to'yieldingly hold the block 16 in position against the guide 11 when the screw 14 is released. The ide 11 surrounds vand is supported bya horizontal rod 18, the ends of which,'as shown, aremounted in bearings in the casing 2, said rod` being held against longitudinal movement by any suitable means, vsuch as a collar 19 and the ,bevel gear 20 which are secured to the opposite ends of theysaid rod and bear against the respective" end walls, of the casing 2. The rod 18 is provided adjacent it's opposite lends with screw threads 21 and 22, respectively, oneof which is right handed and the other left handedLthe guide 11v being threaded upon the screw threads 21. Threaded adjacent its 'outer ends upon the screw threads 22 is a sleeve 24, the inner end ofwhich is arranged .v to 'surroundtheadjacent end of the Vguide v11. Thesleeve 24 is'designed .to act as a stop to limit the movement of the slide-10'to a the right, referring to Fig. 1 andtb this end is provided with a bearing surface 25V against which the right hand end ofthe slide 10 isv adapted to engage. To hold the slide 10,

guide 11 and sleeve 24 against rotation about the axiskof the rod 18, I provide means such 'as a longitudinal guide-rod 26 mountedin A fixed bearingsI in .the casing`24 and slidably engaged by `upwardly extending portions'of said slide, guide and sleeve.

'The rod or shaft 18 is`rotated Iby any suitable means, such as crank 27 and the train of gears 28, 29 and 30 dri- Ven by the crank. This train of gears, as shown, is a speed increasing J'train so thaty for one rotation of the crank 27 a number of rotations ofthe screwv rod 18; are efected. v 1.- i .l

AInthe operation of the device it is neces- .sary for the operator to know when an interval of time equal to that required/.for the -alling object to fall from the body in moltion to thel ground has elapsed. I n accordance with this invention a Suitable timing mechanism 1s so arranged that the operator I may -be advised of the 'elapse of this interval' of time without discontinuing to si ht along the sighting member 3.- TheV atter, as shqwn, is in the form of an ordinary sighting tube with usual cross-hairs at rightan- Igles to each other and intersecting in the optical axis or line Qfvision and with an eye piece 30 of rubber or any other suitable mation in a frame 34, thecasin 33 bein held against axial displacement rom the frame 34 by means of an annular rim 35 on the casing which projects into a recess in the front end of the frame 34, and by means of a' ring 36 which is secured to the rear of the casing 33 and bears against the rear of the frame 34. The frame 34 is Asecured to the tube 3 by means of suitable end flanges, one of which is shown as 37. The frame 34 is provided with a suitable vslot through whichV the operating stem 38 on the stop watch 32 passes, this slot permitting the said Watch to berot-ated axially within the frame.

TheA stop watch, as shownfsets down a shortl distance within the sighting tube; although the major portion thereof extends above the said tube,

as more fullyV shown in- Figs. 5 'and 6. The

pointer or hand of'the watch' is of .greater length than the radius of the frame 34 so that it projects beyond the said frame and can be seen at=its lower end in sighting through the sightingjtube, when the said pointer or hand is in its lower-position. The

dialpfthe stop watch is desirabhly graduated so as to indicate in place of tlme intervals heights from theground corresponding to intervals of time' during whichV an object` .will fall from the height in question to the I ground* For example, in Fig. 6,v the numeral 3 'on fthe watch dial correspondsv to 3000 ft.; the numeral 4to 4000 ft. and soon,

and-the time requiredfor the index ,or hand- 38 to travel a distance from 0 to 3 is the time required for an object to fall from a-h'eight of '3000 ft. lto the ground. In constructing the scale, allowance may be made for the vertical resistance of the-air upon the falling 'bomb so thatwhen the pointer 38" travels a distance equal to thatffrom 0 to- 3 the object IWill fall fromga heightof 3000 lft.'to the ground even though' its downward move-' f ment is resisted bythe air. Surrounding the .forwardedged portion of the frame 34 is an annular frame |40 to whichis secured a mounting 41 for a glass 42 arranged in frontof the stop watch. The frame 40; is connected to a frame'member 43 which is secured to the-.sighting tu-be.

Suitable means arel desirably provided` whereby the same member by which the rotation ofthe rod 18 is controlled also controls the startin of the stop watch.. To this end the crankj2 is provided .with a hu`|b44 wrhich 4.

contains a portion 45v projecting outwardly away from the `axis ofrotatio'n of the crank.

,40 guide 63. so as setting I The member 44 co-acts with a roller- 46 covering 48, the wire" vopposlteend with a member 49 which is arl y a guide in the position preparatory to' making an observamaking supported in abearing'upon one endbf a wlrel 47 which extends through a 47 being provided at its member 150. is located downwardly away from the member 49, ingall other positions o -later,

withrespect to kthe 'thesighting tube.

' ing against thecammember end of the member 50 bears against ends at 54 and bearing at its the stem 38,

, ingn Means such as the spring 52 .may be employed to yieldingly hold the wire 47 lin position with the roller 46 bear- 44. The inner the lower 53 pivoted intermediate its npper end Aupon fa bell crank lever 55 pivoted at 56 and having a forked outer end engaging a recess in so that when the member 50 'is forced inwardly the stem 38 will be -forced downwardly to start the stbp watch. 1

It is desirable to provide means for takinto account' the" horizontal resistance of the wind upon the-forwa'rdly moving Vbomb and withthis end in viewl I have seend of a lever .-cured' to the slide `10 a needle or pointer 60 `whichtravels horiontally across .scale 6l' carried by a bracket 62 mounted within' the ca/sing 2. The upper end A.ofV the pointer as shown into provide. for the desi19ed change 1n the lapparatus because of the' resistn ance. of the. windy to the falling object.

' This scale also indicates, as will be explained the absolute speed of \the" aeroplane ground. The scale `is desirably made'` translucent and an ordinary incandescent .light -65 isprovlded within.

' 50- A transparent .window 66l 1s provided on' the csing.2 toilluminate the scale byl night.

' the outside of fthe casing' 2zto permit read-y l operator also determines inspection of the scale or chart 61 and .the

with the slide' 10 bearing surfacel 1240i the guide 11, x.this vposition upon the the crank 27 is',frst"rotated 'ton forward end .of thel guide'y 1 1 the collar 1.9. The

the height ofhis' In operation,

`said guide, bring the into engagement with machine from a barometer or othersuitable -means andfrotates the fixed reference 65A i fthe? stop watch 32 until "mark-SQ upon' the glass 42 'registers-.with the graduationfon the-.face

.rigid tubular I The scale or chart 61 is designed the line. of vision of thesighting member -miakes its maximumangle p v(seev Fig. 1)

with the vertical and the stop 24,25 is so positioned that if the/slide 10 weremoved into engagementvwith the said stop theline of v isiorr through the sighting member would be vertical.'

the-target .most desirably .in "the direction ofthe wind either with or againstithe same.

In ap roaching vthe targetwthe' aeroplane,

is maintainedat a -substantially constantv height above the ground and is operated at a constant speed. In approaching. the tar-1 get theoperator-sights through the member 3, wgith' tance awayfrom the verticalas stated, until the target appears in theI line Aof vision. 'through the .'.sighting Imember.- At. this moment theoperator begins the rotation of the crank 27 to move the sighting-'member .3 about its axis, so as to maintain' the tare get in the line of vision of the sighting .memben As soon as the operator begins to rot-ate the'crank4 27 the projection y45 onl the member 44' moves the wire .47 "so as tocause member 49 to shift the member 50 inwardly and through vthe levers 53 and' 55 to force in thestem 38 of' the stop watchsto start the movement of the hand Or'pointer 38 from its adjustedposition'of rest in a clockwise direction.- vThe rotation of the-'crank 27 is contin the ta vertical position' registering .with the. verthe sighting tu-be.. At

,former vertical position of.

such

The aviator then'approaches l I .thelatter inclined its maximunrdised by. the operatorso as/to maintain et in the line of vision alongthe Fig- 3v' desirably travels 1.11 af sighting member until the pointer 3.8 reaches 101iv .this v'moment the crank -has been rotated for a? period .of time corresponding'toth time required.

correction :for thel reslstance of the wind to the forward movement of the bombas it falls to -the .groundyassuming `the"ax'aro'pla-ne to be traveling drectly-against the,wi`nd, the

'operator observes "at whichv the needle 60 intersetsthe hori- -zotalline representing the height at which theaeroplane is travehng. H e then rotates hift theslide 10 and the'crfank 27 so-asto; guide 11' forwardly to the distance onv nearest upwardly extendlng heavyline andthc-lighter again a distance equal line representing Jthe height atiwhich vthe` for the bomb to drop to theg'round.

from a height equal to that at which the traveling and the rotation. of

diatelystoppedk At this Y thsigha the' point on the. chart' 61 f the chart fl'between` the 115 I l In; order to -make line to the left at the horiontal the vertical had the slide 10 been moved aeroplane is traveling.l This operation can be easily'andqui eected by /obvserving the position of t eneedleiO with respect to the chart 61 4at the height in question. During this complete movement of thesighting tube and ofthe slide 10 and uide 11, the surface 25of rthemember 24 as been moved forwardly 'a distance equal to the distance 'slide 10 and guide 1l have Latem -Let CB represent thepoint Cf v It must be DAE.

Let FG represent the point F.

a. verticalv line through a vertical line-` through proved that angle o=angle 70 l/ff Z=tlie distan`ce. along the axis of the been moved rearwardly, the threads 21an'd i 1 22 beingof equal pitch. The axis or'li'ne of vision of the sighting member at this time makesfan angle r (see Fig. l) with the vertical. The operatorth'enloose'ns screw 14and movesthe slide 10 backwardly until it engages the surface 2 5 thereupon securing the slidelO to the guide 11 by means ofl the said screw 14. In this positionthe axis or line of vision of the sighting member makes an angle 0 with the vertical '(see Fig. l), o representing the angle which the sighting member would have made with back Wardly into' Iengagement withthe surface 25 after 'the preliminary observation of the target without having made any correctionfor the'resistance of the wind to the movementv of the falling object. With the sighting member 3 in the \-position stated in which-theline of vision --makes the angle o with the vertical .the aviator continues to approach the target,A the operator continuing to sight through the tube 3 until the target comes in view-and is located in the line of vision -of-the member 3. He then immediately releases the bombs which travel downwardly and forwardly ona curved trajectory EA, (see Fig. 7) to the target.l

Let AD represent a vertical'line through the point A. Let EH represent ayertical line through The'theory upon the apparatus operations (1l-:the distance moved by the axisof pivot will be clear by reference to a diagram'shown in Fig. 7

Let A represent the target. Let AB represent the ground'line.

Let CDl represent the horizontal pathof the aeroplane.

Let E represent the point at which'the target would be released from the aeroplane to strike the target A if there were no' horizontal resistanceqfthe wind. Let E"represent the point at which the bomb-must be released from the aeroplane 'to strike the target A with the aeroplane traveling against the wind. O

Let -F represent the position in its pathv occupied by the`r aeroplane after it has travf' eled from the point C 3 fora length of time equaly to: that required for an 'object tojfall a height indicated by the Vthe-point E. f

Let EH represent avertical line through the point E.-

in sighting the targetffrom point C to point F; so that i horizonally at a constant speed which'was to be proved. Whereby it appears' that the sighting tube in 'Its Hnal position 015,130y Y J" Assumingv the aerplaneltoibetraveling adjustment referred to is properly located' to vcause the target to appear in the line of vision through the sighting member at "the moment at which the bomb must be released from-the aeroplane to fall upon the target,

The indicating means comprising the"nee i dle 6 0 and chart or scale' 61 serve not only'to make the desired correction for the resistance of the Wind tothe falling bomb or other object, but also to 'indicate -the absolute speed of the aeroplane vvith respect to the ground If' s`=speed of Wind horizontally relafr and l y From 6) i also] 4 tively to the round. s :absolute speed o the aeroplane r'elatively to the ground.

fv=the s eed ofthe aeroplane rela-- tive y tothe fwind. a

t=the time it takes for' an fall distance DA, Then From 7, 8 and'9 If .e=the horizontal` distance of' pointer l :obje-ct to tion of an aeroplane also known,

I the sighting member tob lzontal rsistance of the'^ wind `moving bomb or otlierfalling obJect` TheA readily" computed from e from the left liandend of scale- Letters Patent v.use upon a bodyin motion,

From mi AD y 'and are constant, andin the normal opera- /v is constant, so that v the only variables Vin (14) are', z and AD.

Accordingly if AD and zare known, s .is

and if s and AD are assumed,

z can be computed. From, this relation lines each corresponding.- to a certain 'definite 90x speed-of the aeroplane with respect to Ithe ground' may `be'plottedfin the scale as indi-v cated.

the Icurved lines. extending upwardlyand :forwardly the numerals at the chart indicating speedsin mi These lines 1n the vchart shown are the'upper en'd of 95 es per hour for the varius heavy lines adjacent tj which said numerals are' arranged. -The vertical column of'numerals, as already indicated,

designate altitudes corresponding to the vaT rions adjacent horizontal lines.

TQ ldetermine ythe absolute speed of the aeroplane theoperator is simply requiredto note the'speed represented b y theourved ine-which inter` sects the Ahorizontal line rrespondinglo 1105. the altitude of the aeroplane-gat the polnt j nearest theneedle 60. 1 The-light lines'betweenthe'varius heavy vlines of the scale serve to indicate 1n 'connection'with the heavy-flines, as*already'd 110 u pointed out, the correction in the position of' 'made for vthe horiainst the form of invention'which I new consider best,

l numerous modifications vmay b e'ma'dejin the apparatus. shownwlthout departing ,frofm `mY invention. a'

Whatgclaim and" desire-:to protect by of'th'UntedStates is: f

the class describedfo'r --the -'combination-of sighting'flpeans oomprsng a mem- 1." In apparatus of 'ber pivote@ i9? PUOYQIUSBDO' change thevlsc .directionof the line of vision with respect to the vertical, and means co-acting with said member andoperable to locate the same to .cause the'line of vision thereof to make With the vertical an angle, the tangent of which is equal to the' quotient obtained when the distance traveled by the body in the time required by an object to fall from said body to the ground is divided by the distance of the -body from the ground, said apparatus having means for determining the correction ofthe angle'of the line ,of vision to the vertical to provide for resistance of the wind to the falling object.

2. In apparatus of the class described for use upon a body in motion, the combination of sighting means comprlsmg a member pivoted -for movement to change the direction of the line of vision with respect' to the vertical, and means co-acting with said member and operable to'locate the same to cause the lin'eJ of vision thereof to make with the vertical an angle,.the tangent of which is 'equal to the quotient obtained when the distance traveled by the bodyin the time .required by an object \to fall from said body to the ground is vdivided by the distance of the body from the ground, 'said apparatus having means for determining the correction of the angle of the line of vision to the f vertical to provide for resistance of the wind to the falling object, said last named means comprising a scale and co-acting pointer, one

of whichis movable'swith said sighting mem- 35 *l ber. v 3. In apparatus of the class described, the combinatlonof a movable sighting member and means for settingthe same for determining when an object should be released from a moving body to fall upon a target, said setting means comprising means for I determining the correction of vthe setting of `'said sighting member to provide for the resistance of the wind to the lfalling object, said correction determining means indicating the' speed. of the ybody,relativelyto the ground.

for setting the same to determine when an' comprising ymeans operable by the setting of said sighting member for indicatingy the speed ofthe body relatively to the ground.

5. In apparatus of the class described the combination of a movable sighting member,

a stoptherefor and unitarymeans for moving said sighting member in agiven direc.-

tion and for moving saidstopin the opposite direction.

I 6. In apparatus ofthe class'described the*l combination of a movable sighting member, .-a stop therefor land unitary means for mov- -55 ing said lsighting member in' a Agiven direc- "guide, and unitary means for moving said apparatus of the -class described, lthev combination ofasighting member and means v 50 objectshould be lreleased from a moving body to fall upon a target, said apparatus' tion. and for moving said stop in the op- .posite direction, said sighting member beoperation relative to saidstop.

8. In apparatus of the class described, the 80 combination of a pivoted sighting member,

a .stop therefor, a movable guide, a device connected with'said sighting member and movable relatively to said guide, means for. detachably securing said devicetosaid guide, and means for'moving saidguide and said stop equal amounts. f

9. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a pivoted sighting member, a stop therefor, a movable guide, a device connected with 'said Isighting member and movable relatively to said guide, means for detachablly securing said device to` said.

guide and said stop 4equal amounts in op-'l95 4 posite directions.

10. In apparatus of the class described the combination of a pivoted sighting member, a rotatable screw 'having portions threaded in opposite directions, a non-rotatablestop threadedupon one of said portions, anon- .rotatable guide threadedon the other of said portions, a device connected with said sighting(` member and movable along` 'said guide into engagement with said| stop, and means 4for -detachably securing said device t'o said guide.

11. In apparatus -0f the class described the combination of aniovable sighting member,

a stop therefor, `means for moving said 11-0 sighting member in agiven directioncomprising a rotatable screw "and for moving .said stop 4in the opposite direction; said sighting member being releasable from said' means to permit movement 'thereofinto op- 115 eration relative to saidstop, and means including speed increasing gearing for rotating said screw.

12. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a movable sighting mem-I 12-0 ber, means co-actingl with said member and operable lto y determine the position of said sighting member for sighting a target from a moving body adapted totravel at different heights and speed-s at the moment when an l' objectshould be released from said body to fall upon'said target, said means comprising a movable device adapted to be adjusted by preliminary observation of the target by said sighting nlember, and timing mechanism having indicating means carried by A, said sighting member and visible when sightlng with said sighting member. v

13. In apparatus of the class described,.

the combination, of va movable -sighting member,` means co-acting with said member and operable to determine the position of said sighting member for sighting` a target from a moving body adapted to `travel at different heights and speeds at the moment when an object should be released from said body to fall upon said target, said means comprising a movable device adapted to be adjusted by preliminary observation of the target b y said sighting member, and timing mechanism having an indicator arranged to move in the field of said sighting member, said sighting member having a reference mark for said indicator.

14.11'1' apparatus of vthe class described the combination of a sighting member for sighting a distant object, andtiming mecha- 4 nism carried by said member and having an indicator arranged to move inthe field of said sighting member.

15. In apparatus of the class described the combination of a sighting-member,r'timing mechanism having an indicator arranged to move. in the field of said sighting member,`

said' sighting member having a reference mark for said'Y indicator, and said timing mechanism being 'adjustable to set said indicator toward or away from said reference mark, and means for controlling the operaling erable to determine the position of saidv -sightlng member for sighting a target from a movlng body adapted to travell at different heights and speeds at the moment 'when an object should be released from said bodyl to fall upon Said target, said means comprising a movable device adapted -to be adcomprising a unitary operating member for justed by preliminary observation of the target by said sightlngmember, and means described the.

moving said sighting member amd controlling the operation of said timing mechanism. v f

18. In apparatus of the'class described, the combination of a sighting tube forsighting a distant object and timing mechanism carried thereby and comprising indicating. i

means visible without and within said tube.

19. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a sighting tube, timing mechanism carried thereby-and comprising an indicator visible without and within said tube, and means for controlling th'e operation of said timing mechanism, said means comprising'a flexible member and means for shifting said fiexibleA member longitudi-v nally.

20. In fapparatus of the class described,

the combinatlon of a sighting member, timing mechanism' carried thereby and comprising an'indicator visible while sighting with said member, said timing. mechanism being adjustable in position, and means for controlling the operation of said timing mechanism, said means comprising means movable with said timing mechanism during the ad- Y justment thereof, and-other means co-acting with said movable means in dierent -positions of adjustment of said timing mecha-` nism.

21.*In apparatus of the-class described for use on a moving body, the combination of movablesighting means comprising a de'- vice adapted for making a preliminary ob-` servation ofthe target, means-for determining the location of the line of vision when an object is to be released from the body to fall on the target, and means whereby'said last named means is set compr-ising a screw. for moving said device and location determining means equal distances.

22. In' apparatus of the class described,y the combination of movable sighting means,

means coacting with said sighting means and operable to determinethe position of the line of vision for sighting a target from a moving body adapted to'travel at-diferent lheights and-speeds to determine when an object should'be released from said .body

to fall upon said target, and timing mechanism having indicating means visible when sighting with said sighting means.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

GEORGES Es'roPrEY.

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