US1384005A - Fire-direction apparatus for naval guns - Google Patents

Description

W. AKEMANN.

FIRE DIRECTION APPARATUS FOR NAVAL GUNS.

Patented July 5, 1921..

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1'.

v APPLICATION FILED OCT, 23, 1920.

I W. AKEMANN.

FIRE DIRECTION APPARATUS FOR NAVAL GUNS.

APPLlCATlON FILED-001123, 1920.

1,3 4,005, Patented July 5,1921.:.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STTE-S P-TENT QFFICE.

WALTHER AKEMANN, OF ESSEN, GERMANY. ASSIGNOR' T0 FRIED. KRUPP' AKTIEN- GESELLSCHAFT, 0F ESSEN-ON-THE-RUHLR, GERMANY.

FIRE-DIRECTION APPARATUS FOR NAVAL- GUNS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WALTHER AKEMANN, residing t Essen, Germany, a citizen of the German Republic, have invented a certaln new and useful Improvement in F ire-Direction Apparatus for Naval Guns, for which I have filed application in Germany, filed November 4, 1916, of which the following is a s ecific-ation.

ThlS invention relates to fire control apparatus for naval guns, in which a' gyroscopic apparatus is'provided which enables the influence of the rolling movements of the ship on the angle of elevation of the gun corresponding to the range of the target to bev allowed for.

The object of the invention is to prov1d e an apparatus ofthe above type which-primarily enables the shot to be fired at the point of reversal or in the vicinity of the point of reversal of such rolling movement.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 diagrammatically shows an example of the construction of the object of the invention, in which the gyroscopic ap' paratus is placed at an elevated observing station remote from the gun station. Fig. 2 is a section on line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows a. graphic representation hereinafter referred to and based upon a rectangular system of coordinates, which illustrate a fre quently occurring species of irregular rolling movements of a ship and also the in-.

stants of firing the shots, and Fig. 4 diagrammatically shows another example of construction of the invention.

The fire control apparatus consists of two apparatuses separated a distance from each other and connected by electrical conductors,

one of these two apparatuses being placed at 1 an elevated observing station remote from the gun station and the other at the gun station itself.' The apparatus placed at the observing station consists of a casing A which can be rotated about a vertical axis by means ofa hand wheel C and a worm gearing 0, a and in the upper part of which an electricall driven gyroscope B is hung by means 0 a Cardan suspension. The outer Cardan ring, the pin of \vhlch passes through the casing, carrles rigidly connected to it a horizontal sighting telescope B, a downwardly extending pointer B and a firing tongue I). The firing tongue I) oo- Specification of Letters Patent.

acting with the firing tongue 6 is placed on the outer casing B which surrounds the outer Cardan ring and can be rocked on the casing A about the axis of rotation of: the outer Cardan ring by means of a gearing to be hereinafter described. The pointer B 1s prov ded with three marks I), ,bTancl b which he in a straight line and each of which points to a rolling angle scale a a and a, inscrlbed on three segmental pieces a, a and a mounted on the casing A and curved concentrically with the 'axis of rotation of the pointer. o

On the casing A are also mounted to oscillate in guides u and a two other segmental pieces D and E which embrace the segmental pieces a and a and include "the same angle and of which the upper one has a mark 03 placed in the middle of the segment while the lower one is provided with a mark 6 likewise placed in the middle and two other marks 6 and 6 arranged at equal distances apart on either side of the mark e. The marks 6? and e are adjustable in dove-tail guide-ways in the bow pieces E (see particularly Fig. 2). The mutual distance apart of the marks e and e and also e and e is arbitrarily chosen and depends upon the time by which the instant of firing is to be separated from the instant of reversal of the rollingmovement of the ship. The marks 6', e and e and also the mark d are intended to bebr'ought into register, in a manner to be hereinafter described with themarks b and b on the pointer B when the rolling movement of the ship takes place and at the same time the relative movements of the pointer B with respect to the casing A ensue, by correspondingly swinging the segmental pieces D and E outward.

These segmental pieces 'D and E are swung outward by a hand wheel F mounted on the casing A which transmits its rotation to a horizontal shaft F and from this latter through a bevel wheel gearing F, g to a vertical shaft G also mounted on the casing Patented July 5, 1921. Application filed October 23, 1920. Serial No. 419,127.

6 are equal to each other, while the gearing which leads to the segmental piece D is adapted to bring about a considerably more rapid movement of the segmental piece D than the segmental piece E and the part B undergo.

The difi'erence in the ratios of transmission given is so determinedthat the partB? and with it the firing tongue 6" is adjusted to the angle of advanced ignition correspond. ing to the firing delay, when the segmental piece D and with it the mark d has been moved out of its middle position, by an amount which corresponds to the angle of roll. On the shaft F is also keyed an inclicating drum F provided with a scale of degrees on which the amount of rotation of the hand wheel F can beread ofi by means of a sliding mark.

The shaft F is connected to a co-axial shaft H by means of a clutch F, H which can be thrown into and out of operation and the shaft H is connected in its turn with the transmitter J of along distance indicating apparatusthrough a sun and planet gear, if, '5, 2'", one of the middle wheels of which, 71 is adjustable by means of a milled head K and an indicating apparatus 7c, 70 to correspond to the range of the target.

The transmitter J is electrically connected to the receiver which is mounted on the gun v and which reproduces, true to angle, the rotation imparted to the transmitter J. In the vicinity of the indicating apparatus M of the receiver is located an indicating apparatus N which belongs to the elevating gear of the gun and by the aid of which the elevation indicated by the indicating apparatus M of the receiver, can be imparted to the gun-barrel N. In the breech block of the gun-barrel N is placed a winding 12, for the excitation of a firing magnet, and the ends of this winding n are connected through the firing, tongues 12 and b and a hand-operated switch P to a source of current.

In the consideration of the working of the times, and the magnitudes inserted in the milled head the vicinity of the point of reversal of the rolling curve and for example by a small period of time behind the instant at which the points of reversal are passed through when the ship rolls, the elevations previously imparted to the gun barrel N and correspondin to the range of the target must be modified by an angle which is equal to the oblique position of the ship which exists just at the point of firing.

Consequentl firstly by rotating the 18: the transmltter J and with it also the indicating apparatus M of the receiver mounted on the gun, are adjusted to the angle of elevation corresponding to the range of the target and the clutch F, H is then thrown into operation. If the ship now rollsout of the middle position, the pointer 13 which is held in its vertical position by the gyroscope and with it the mark 12 execute relatively to the mark 6 a relative rolling movement, by the amount of the angle of roll. This rolling movement is also taken part in by the firing tongue rigidlyconnected to the pointer 13 and it moves away-from the firing tongue '6 also by the amount of the angle of-roll.

Notice isnow taken, ,to which side the mark 6 of the pointer B makes the relative movement, in respect of the oppositely situated marks 6, e and e and the hand wheel F is then rotated in such a direction that the mark 6 for example, past which the pointer B with the mark 6 has moved in its relative movement, follows the pointer B and with it the mark 6 up to the point of reversal. As soon as this point is reached, the hand wheel F is stopped, the segmental piece E with its mark 6 thus being moved out of its middle position through an angle which is equal to the angle of roll passed through by the pointer B with respect to the casing A, less theangle formed by the angular distance apart of the marks-e c.

The rotation of the hand wheel F imparts movement in addition to that imparted to the mark e to the firing tongue 6 mounted on the part 13 said tongue 6 moving under the above given ratio of transmission through the same angle through which the segmental piece E and with it themark 0 moved. The result of this is, that the firing tongue b, at the instant of the reversal of the relative movement of the pointer B that is to say, at the instant of stopping the hand wheel F, (is disant from the firing tongue 12 by the difference of the angle of roll and the angle of movement of the segmental piece E, that is to say, by the same angle as the pointer mark 6 is from th op 7 site, middle mark 6'.

he movement of the hand wheel F is also transmitted through the gearing F, F H, H, if, z", 2' to the'transmitter J and consequently to the indicating apparatus M .apparatus M of the'receiver.

of the receiver mounted on the gun. The receiver is at the same time rotated out of the elevation imparted to it corresponding to the range of the target, through an additional angle which is equal to the angle of movement of the segmental piece E, that is to say, the angle of roll passed through by the pointer B diminished by the angle determined by the distance e e. This additional angle is added to or subtracted from the angle corresponding to the range of the target, according as the hand wheel F is rotated in one direction on the downward roll or in the other direction on the upward roll.

The gun layer whose duty is to rotate the elevating gear then adjusts the gun barrel N to the elevation shown on the indicating The time at his disposal to do this is somewhat less than the time which elapses from the instant in which the marks 6 and b were opposite each other at the point of reversal, up to the instant in which the pointer mark 6 in the further course of the rolling movement reaches the middle mark 6, now fixed with respect to the casing A.

When he has adjusted the gun barrel N during this time, he givesby a signaling device (not shown), a corresponding signal to the observing station, and, at this station, the switch P is then closed. As Soon as the pointer mark 6 is opposite the middle mark 6, when the course of the rolling movement is as given, the two firing tongues b and b are opposite each other as they, as already stated, were removed from each other at the point of reversal, by the same angle as the two marks 6 and .e', and the gun will accordingly be fired at this instant.

As the gun barrel N has an elevation imparted to it in respect of the ship, forming its emplacement, which is equal to the angle of elevation corresponding to the range of the target, modified by the angle of roll fixed by the position of the mark 6', and the ship, at the instant of firing the shot, is inclined to its horizontal floating position, by the angle of roll determined by the position of the mark e, the gun-barrel N just possesses, at the instant of firing the shot, the elevation with respect to a horizontal lane, which corresponds to the range of the target. 5

As will be clear without any further description, the mark I) can also be followed by the mark 6' and the firing of the shot at the point of reversal of the rolling movement itself so allowed to take place. 1

Instead of controlling the firing by the aid of the indicating apparatus formed by the marks 6 6', 6 and e it may be controlled also by the aid of the fire control apparatus described, by using the indicating apparatus containing .the marks I)" and d, which is most conveniently done when the ship makes a rolling movement which takes place uniformly according to the sine. law. In this case the gun barrel N will be adjusted to the elevation corresponding to the range of the target, using the indicating apparatus formed by the marks I) and d and fired at an instant which lies by the amount of the firing delay corresponding to the angle of roll in advance of the instant at which the ship passes through the horizontal floating position. For this purpose firstly the clutch F, H is thrown out of operation. The transmitter J is then adjusted by means of the milled head K to the angle of elevation corresponding to the range of the target and this adjustment of the transmitter J results in a corresponding adjustment of the receiver. The gun barrel N is next adjust ed to the elevation corresponding to the range of the target and .which can be read off on the indicating apparatus M of the receiver.

As soon as it has been ascertained at the observing station by the aid of a return signaling apparatus (not shown), that the gun barrel has been adjusted to the elevation corresponding to the range of the target, the hand wheel F and with it the toothed sector D positively connected thereto are so rotated that the mark 03 thereon follows the pointer mark I) and is exactly opposite it at the point of reversal of its relative movement and at this moment the hand wheel F is stopped. The rotation of the hand wheel F is also taken part in by the part B positively connected thereto and carrying the firing'tongue b and the said firing tongue 6 as the ratios of transmission in question are selected as before stated, is adjusted with respect to the firing tongue 6 to an angle of advanced ignition corresponding to the angle of rotation (angle of roll) just present of the mark d.

g If now the firing switch P be closed,the gun, as both the firing tongues are adjusted to the angle of advanced ignition, will be fired at an instant, which lies by a time cor responding to the firing delay in advance of the instant at which the pointer B has again reached its middle position,that is to say in which the ship passes through its horizontal floating position.

The fire control apparatus affords primarily the possibility of firing the gun by the aid of the indicating-apparatus above described, automaticallyexactly at one of the points of reversal or in the vicinity of one of the points of reversal of the rolling movement. This fact is of special importance when the rolling movements do not take place regularly, but irregularly (see Fig. 2). In this case it was heretofore necessary, when it was desired nevertheless to fire the gun in the vicinity of the middle floating position to estimate the angle of advanced ignition necessary, as the speed of the passage of the ship through the middle floating position when the rolling movements are irregular is beyond calculation and undesirable errors in the laying of the guns were therefore unavoidable. According to the present invention however these errors are eliminated, as the movement of the ship-in the vicinity of thepoints of re versal takes place at such a low speed that the'advanced ignition may be dispensedj with or a constant advanced ignition of small amount may be provided at the fire control apparatus.

The method of firing above described, shortly behind one of the points of reversal of the rolling movement, possesses the further advantage, that the elevating gear and with it the gun barrel even shortly before the firing of the shot, makes no further movement with respect 'to the ship and that consequently jumps are avoided which arise from the oscillations ofthe gun barrel which occur when the said gun barrel is moved.

The fire control apparatus according to the present invention possesses the further advantage that the gun layer stationed at the observing station whose duty is to adjust the transmitter is 'able to ascertain with special ease the continual variation in the speed of the rolling and the approximation of the point of reversal by the aid of the indicating apparatus (6 2 or e?) located at the observing station and is consequently enabled to adjust the transmitter of the long distance indicating apparatus leading to the gun with particularly great continuity and V certainty.

In addition to this the fire control apparatus according to the present invention affords the advantage of a particularly high readiness of fire, of the gun equipped therewith. As it ma be assumed that for the comparatively s ort time which is consumed, the telescope retains its position of being trained on the target under the action of thegyroscope and further marking of the target according to the first sight taken of the target by the aid of the telescope is no longer necessary, it is clear, that the present fire control apparatus permits of the adjustment of the gun and the firing thereof in the vicinity of the points of reversal, even when the target is temporarily obscured by smoke.

Further the fire control apparatus according to this invention also enables the general arrangement to be so constructed that the firing is effected automaticall if desired, either in the vicinity of the points of reversal or on the passage of the ship through the middle floating position.

Without altering any of the essential features of the invention the equality of the ratios of transmission of the gearing for drivin the segmental piece E and the part B may be dispensed with and the transmission of the gearing" for the segmental piece E soa ove described can be so modified as shown j in? Fig. 4 tha-tinstead of a single pair of firing tongues b and 6 two pairs 6 and b and b and 6 are used, of which one pair b and b is intended for the firing of 'the gun during the upward roll and'the other pair 6 and 6 for the firing of the gun during the downward roll. The firing tongues and b are connected with-a 'source of current in the manner shown in Fig. 4. In this case it is necessary to provide a switch R by means of which the pair of tongues which is just out of use, is to be switched out of circuit. 1

Finally instead of the long distance indicating apparatus formed by the transmitter J and the receiver, a long distance controlling apparatus may be employed, by means of which the 11 barrel is automatically 'adjusted according to the adjustment of the corresponding transmitter.

It is also possible for the purpose of shifting the firing point to make the marks 0 and e adjustable in respect to the mark'e'.

Claims.

1. A fire'control apparatus for naval ns comprisingthe combination with a gun arrel, a sighting telescope, a stabilized shaft carrying said telescope, means for stabilizing said shaft, a control device between said sighting telescope and gun comprising a transmitter positioned adjacent the telescope, means including a'range device for adjustsaid transmitter, a receiver positioned ad acent the 'gun and electrical conductors connecting said transmitter to said receiver whereby the range imparted to said transmitter may be transmitted to the receiver and means for correcting the adj ustment imparted to said transmitter corresponding to the angle of roll.

2. A fire control apparatus for naval guns comprising in combination with' an ad ustable gun barrel, a transmitter forming part of a distance electrical control device, a receiver positioned at said gun, means operatively connecting said transmitter/to said receiver, means including a range device for adjusting said transmitter and means operatively connected to said transmitter for measuring the angle ofroll and for imparting an additional adjustment to the transmitter corresponding to this angle of roll, substantially as described.

3. A, firecontrol apparatus for naval guns which comprises the. combination with an angularly adjustable gun barrel of means for adjusting the angle'of said gun barrel, said means comprising a transmitterga receiver positioned adjacent said gun arrel,

shaft carrying said sighting telescope, means for stabilizing said shaft, a pointer rigidly supported by said shaft, cooperating marks, an adjustable member carrying said cooperatlng marks, means for operating said adjustable member, said operating means also serving to adjust said transmitter, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. A fire control apparatus for naval guns which comprises incombination with a gun,

' than the cooperating firing tongue whereby a distance control device embodying a transmitter, a receiver positioned at the gun, means connecting said transmitter to said receiver for synchronous operation, means including a range device for adjusting said transmitter, a sighting telescope, a stabilizable shaft carrylng said sighting telescope, means for stabilizing said shaft, a firing tongue controlledby sai'd stabilizing means -a cooperatmg hrlng tongue, means for adjusting said cooperating firing tongue, a firing device mounted at said gun, a circuit connecting said firing tongues to said firing device, means for imparting an additional adjustment to said transmitter, said last mentioned means causing the adjustment of said cooperating firingtongue.

5. A fire control apparatus for naval guns which comprises in combination with a gun, a distance control device embodying a transmitter, a receiver positioned at the gun, means connecting said transmitter to said receiver for synchronous operation, means including a range device for adjusting said transmitter, a sighting telescope, a stabilizable shaft carrying said sightin telescope,

means for stabilizing said sha t, a firing tongue controlled by said stabilizing means, a cooperating firing tongue, a pointer rigidly mounted on said stabilizable shaft, a mark carried by said pointer, an adjustable segment, cooperating marks carried by said a justable segment, and means for moving said adjustable segment and for adjusting said cooperating ring tongue, said means being operatively connected to the transmitter for imparting thereto an additional adjustment corresponding to the angle of roll. v

6. A fire controlapparatus for naval guns comprisin the combination with an adjustable gun iarrel of a long distance control device embodying a transmitter, a receiver positioned adjacent said gun barrel, means connecting said transmitter and said receiver for synchronous operation, means for adjusting said transmitter correspondin -to the range, and means for imparting an a ditional adjustment to said transmitter corresponding to the angle of roll, said last mentioned means comprising a stabilizable shaft, means for stabilizing said shaft, a pointer rigidly mounted on said shaft, a firing tongue controlled by said stabilizing means, a cooperating firing tongue, a mark carried by said pointer,'an adjustable mark cooperating with said first mentioned mark, said coiiperating mark and said cooperating firing tongue taking part in the rolling movement of the ship and means for adjusting said cooperating firing tongue and said cooperating mark, said means simultaneously imparting an additional adjustment to the transmitter, thecooperating mark having a greater ratio of movement the cooperating firing tongue may be adjusted to an angle which corresponds to the angle of advanced ignition.

7. A fire control apparatus for naval guns comprising in combination with an angularly adjustable gun barrel a distance control device embodying a transmitter, and a receiver mounted adjacent the gun barrel, means for adjusting said transmitter corree sponding to the range, means for imparting an additional adjustment to said transmitter, said means comprising a stabilizable shaft, means for stabilizing said shaft, a sighting telescope carried by said stabilizable shaft, a pointer carried by said stabilizable shaft, a-mark carried by said pointer, a pair of cooperating marks positioned symmetrically to the point with which the first mentioned mark registers in the middle floating position of the ship, means for ad justing said pair of marks, said pair of cooperating marks being spaced a distance from the middle position of the first mentioned mark which corresponds to the angle of rotation passed through by-the sighting telescope with respect to the hull of the ship from the instant of the reversal of the rolling movement to the instant of the firing ofthe gun.

8. A fire control apparatus for naval guns comprising in combination with an angularly adustable gun barrel a distance control dev ce embodying a transmitter, a receiver mounted adjacent the gun barrel, means for adjusting said transmitter correspondin to the range, means for imparting an ad itional adjustment to said transmitter, said means comprising a stabilizable shaft, means for stabilizing said shaft, a sighting telescope carried by said stabilizable shaft, a pointer carried by said stabilizable shaft, a mark carried by said pointer, a pair of cooperating marks positioned symmetrically to the point with which the first mentioned mark registers in the middle floating position of the ship, a segment carrying said pair of marks, means for adjusting said marks with respect to said segment, means for adjusting said segment, said pair of cooperating marks being spaced a distance from the middle position of the first mentioned mark which corresponds to the angle of rotation. passed through by the sighting telescope withrespect to the hull of the ship from the instant of the reversal of the rolling movement to the instant of the firing of the gun.

9. A fire control apparatus for naval guns comprising in combination with an adjustable gun barrel an electrical distance control device comprising a transmitter, a receiver positioned adjacent the gun barrel and electric conductors operatively connecting said transmitter and receiver, means for adjusting said transmitter corresponding to the range, means for imparting an additional adjustment to said transmitter corresponding to the angle of roll of the ship, said means comprising a sighting device, a stabilizable shaft carrying said sighting device, means for stabilizing said shaft, a pointer rigidly mounted on said stabilizable shaft, marks carried by said pointer, coiiperating marks, means for adjusting said cooperating marks, two pairs of firing tongues, one of each pair of firing tongues being controlled by said stabilizing means, the other of each pair of firing tongues being adjustable, means for adjusting said last mentioned firing tongues and for moving said adjustable marks, said means being connected to the transmitter for imparting thereto its addi tional adjustment.

The foregoing specification signed at Essen, Germany, this 16th day of June, 1920.

DR. WALTHER AKEMANN. In presence of- HANS GoTTsMANN, JOHANN DECKERS.

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