US1755340A

US1755340A - Director firing system

Info

Publication number: US1755340A
Application number: US394685A
Authority: US
Inventors: Elmer A Sperry; Meitner Elemer
Original assignee: Sperry Gyroscope Co Inc
Current assignee: Sperry Gyroscope Co Inc
Priority date: 1917-04-09
Filing date: 1929-09-23
Publication date: 1930-04-22
Anticipated expiration: 1947-04-22

Description

April 22, 1930. E. A. SPERRY ET AL 7 1,755,340 DIRECTOR FIRING SYSTEM I Original Filed April 9, 1917 6 Sheets-Shee 1 flay IN VEN TOR6 TTORNEY.

April 221930. SPERRY ET AL I 1,755,340

' DIRECTOR FIRING SYSTEM Original Filed April 9, 1917 5 sh t s 2 74 5 INVENTORS April 22, 1930. E, A, SPERRY ET AL 1,755,340

DIRECTOR FIRING SYSTEM I Original Filed April 9, 1917 6 Sheets-Sheet. 3

INVENTORS N BY ' TTORNE April 22, 1930; E. A. SPERRY ETlAL DIRECTOR FIRING SYSTEM I 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed April 9, 1917' INVENTORS April 22, 1930. E. A. SPERRY ET AL 1,755,340

DIRECTOR FIRING SYSTEM Original Filed April 9, 1917 a Sheets-Sheet 5 wig M A'TTORNEY,

April 22, 1930. SPERRY ET AL 1,755,340

DIRECTOR FIRING SYSTEM Original Filed April 9, 1917 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS [2mm 19 5PRRY & flENE/P NE/TNER I position indicator.

Patented Apr. 22, 1930.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELMER A. SPERRY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, AND ELEMER MEITNER, OF LOS AN- GELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO SPERRY GYRO SCOPE COMPANY, INC. A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK DIRECTOR FIRIIIG SYSTEM Original application filed April 9, 1917, Serial No. 160,877. Divided and this application filed. September 23, 1929. Serial No. 394,685.

This invention relates to a new and improved system of aiming and firing a battery of guns on a warship or elsewhere, wherein instead of each gunner sighting the target from his gun, he merely brings the gun to a position indicated to him at the gun from a single target bearing instrument or control station. Theguns are thus all aimed uniformly and fired usually in a salvo. Such a system of firing has come to be known, especially in the Navy, as the director firing system or a directed system of firing guns from a centrally located point. To this end an indicating means is usually placed adjacent each gun or group of guns, such as a turret on-aship, said indicating means comprising usually a target bearing indicator and a gun More particularly our invention relates to improvements and further developments in the system 'of fire control disclosed in the prior patents of Elmer A. Sperry, #1296,- 439, for Multiple target turret indicator, dated March 4, 1919, and #1,356,505, for System of gun fire control, dated October 19, 1920.

One of the objects of this invention is to introduce, automatically or semi-automatically, a correction due to the necessary pigeon-toeing of the gun turrets. What is meant by pigeon-toeing will appear more clearly as the invention is hereinafter developed.

Another object is to provide a novel means for causing a receiving instrument to lead or lag behind a transmitting instrument in order to introduce a correction in the transmitted bearing.

Another object is to improved form of stop and repeater motor for an indicating member.

Further objects and advantages will appear as the description of the invention proceeds.

This appllcatlon 1s a division of our copending application Serial No. 160,877, filed April 9, 1917.

Referring -to the drawings, which illustrate what are now considered the preferred forms of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation provide a novel and of an instrument located at a control station which instrument We term a target turret transmitter.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the instrument illustrated in Fig. 1 with the dial and certain other parts removed.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the cover plate, dials and pointers of the same instrument.

Fig. 4 is a detail elevation of the stop used in the above instrument. I

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 6 is a plan view, with certain parts removed, of an instrument adapted to be located adjacent a turret and which we term a tar et turret indicator.

ig. 7 is a fragmentary elevation of a transmitter coupled with a turret, which instrument we term a turret transmitter.

Fig. 8 is a section taken on the Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a diagram of electrical connections instruments.

Fig. 9 is a .diagram of connections of a modified form of target turret indicator.

Fig. 10 is a partly diagrammatic detail illustrating a modification.

Fig. 11 is a detail view of a further modification.

Fig. 12 is a form of armature for and Fig. 13 is a diagram used in explaining our invention.

' Fig. 14 is a detail view of a brake mechanism.

Fig. 15 is an inverted plan view of details illustrating one form between the various detail view showing our novel the repeater motors,

shown in Fig. 2.

line 8-8 of mitted from a control or central station to the turrets. Assuming that the bearing of a target is observed at a point remote from the turrets, a pigeon-toeing correction should be introduced in order that the guns may be aimed accurately.

We will explain at this point what is meant by the term pigeon-toeing. Referring to Fig.

' 13 in which S indicates a battleship and T a target, assume that the bearing of the target angle Tab, is observed at and this bearing is transmitted to a turret officer located at d. Obviously if a gun located at (Z were pointed along the line gd, Where the angles db and Tab are equal, this gun would be off the target. To bring a gun located at cl on the target the bearing observed at 0 should be corrected by an amount equal to the angle gdT when transmitted to (Z. The value of the angle 903T may be called the amount of pigeon-toeing. The amount of pigeon-toeing, which is greatly exaggerated in Fig. 13. is dependent on the bearing and range and is, of course, diflerent for separated turrets on the ship as indicated in the diagram.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, which show one form of target turret transmitter T. T. T., it will be seen that th1s form comprises essentially a repeater motor or

motors

2, 2 which drive indicating means such as a pointer 3 and a transmitter drum 4 which may be of the same general type as shown in Figs. 7 and 8 and need not be further illustrated. This instrument is located pref- I erably at the central control station on the ship. While only one repeater motor might be used in this instrument, We have shown two, for by gearing these to a single gear and adjusting the armatures so that one armature leads the other by an amount equal to If X (Z (where K is an odd number and cl one-half the angular distance between a pair of adjacent field poles) the same effect can be produced by two motors as by a single motor with double the number of poles. Said repeater motors are actuated preferably from the target bearing telescope, as hereinafter explained. The pointer 3 is connected by suitable gearing to the

repeater motors

2, 2 to be driven by the latter. Such gearing may take the form of the train of gears shown as 5, 6,- 7, 8, 9 and 10. Spur gears 5, 5 are mounted on the armature shafts of the

repeater motors

2, 2. Gears 5, 5' mesh with a gear 6 fixed on a shaft 11, rotatably mounted in the frame of the instrument by means of suitable bearings such as

ball bearings

12, 13 and said gear 6 has fixedly secured thereto a gear 7. The last mentioned gear meshes with spur gear 8 fixed on a shaft 14 rotatably mounted in bearings 15 and 16 in the motor frame which shaft also has fixed thereon a gear 9. The shaft 17 which carries the pointer 3 is rotatably mounted in the frame by I means of bearings 18 and 19, and carries a gear 10 adapted to mesh with the gear 9. The shaft 11 may be provided, at its upper end, with a pointer 20 cooperating with a scale 21 for a purpose hereinafter to be described.

Means for adjusting the pointer 3 with refs erence to its driving transmitters, while not indispensable, are provided. The shaft 14 is shown as carrying a gear 23 adapted to mesh with a crown gear 24 mounted on a shaft 25. The latter carries one element 26 of a twopart clutch of which the other element 27 is rotatable and slidable by means of a crank shaft 28; The latter is pressed outwardly by a spring 29, so that the clutch is normally in the inoperative position shown, and a cap 30 may be provided to prevent accidental operation of the crankshaft.

A brake may be provided to prevent overthrow of the pointer 20. One form of brake, illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and shown in detail in Fig. 14, comprises a hub 113 seculed to gear 6 and engaged by afriction lever 114. The latter is pivotally mounted at one end 119 to the frame of the instrument and has secured thereto at the opposite end, one end of a spring 115. The other end of the last mentioned spring is adjustably connected to the frame of the instrument by means of. a hook 116 provided with a threaded shank 117 ad ustabIy secured to the instrument frame by means of nuts 118. i

The transmitter drum 4 may be mounted on a shaft 31 suitably journaled in fixed sleeves 33 and 34 and which shaft has fixed thereto a gear 32 which meshes with the gear 6.

The means for applying a correction to the transmitted bearing may take the form illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 in which the contacts controlled by the drum 4 are shiftable by suitable means and means provided for indicating the amount of displacement. The contacts 35 and 36 are shown as mounted on a bracket 37 and as being fixed at an angle of 90 with each other, although this angle may have other values. The bracket 37 is rotatably mounted with respect to the drum 4 and the instrument frame by being secured to a sleeve 38 surrounding and rotatable with respect to the fixed sleeve 33. Secured to and rotatable with the sleeve 38 is a pinion 39 meshing with the

gears

40 and 41 of which the gear 40 may be fixed to the sleeve 42 and gear 41 loosely mounted thereon. These two

gears

40 and 41 may be resiliently connected to each other as by means of a spring 43, the function of this arrangement being to avoid the effect of back lash. This construction is shown 1n exaggerated form in Fig. 17, where- 1n, by means of spring 43, which is connected at one end to gear 40 and at the other to gear 41, the teeth 41 of gear 41 are forced away from the teeth 40 of gear 40, and thus the space between two adjacent teeth 39 of pinion 39 is completely filled by a tooth 40 similar to the structure between crank 28 and shaft 25. Thus it is obvious that by turning the crank 50 the contacts 35, 36 will be angularly shifted.

One form of indicator for showing the amount of displacement of the contacts 35, 36 is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A pointer 60 is shown which cooperates with a scale 61 and is provided with suitable means connecting it to the said contacts or with the mechanism' for moving the latter. The pointer 60 is shown as mounted on a shaft 64 suitably journaled at 62 and 63 and carrying two gears and 66, the gear 65 being secured to shaft 64 and the gear 66 being loosely mounted thereon. If it is desired to avoid the effect of back lash the gears 65 and 66 may be spring connected. Gears 65 and 66 mesh with a gear 67 secured to the sleeve 43.

It is preferable, althou h not indispensable,

that some form of step. e provided for the pointer 60 to prevent the latter from being thrown off the scale 61. This stop means may take the form illustrated in Fig. 4, and constructed as follows: The shaft 47 is provided with an additional worm 68 meshing with a worm wheel 69 secured to a shaft 70 suitably journaled in a stationary frame 76. The shaft 70 carries also a spur gear 71 fixed thereto and meshing with a gear 72, loosely mounted on a bolt 73 on the frame 76. Secured to the gear 72 is a stop wheel 74 having a cutaway portion to cooperate with a pin 75 fixed in the frame 76. These parts are so designed that when the pointer 60 reaches either limit of travel the stop wheel will engage the pin 75 to prevent further turning of the crank 50.

As has been previously mentioned, the contacts 35 and 36 are rotatable with respect to the frame of the instrument so that \some means is necessary to conduct current to and from these contacts. Such means may take the form of slip-rings and brushes as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, in which the disc 77 of insulating material is secured to a sleeve 78 which forms an extension of the bracket 37. The disc 77 carries slip rings 79 to which contacts 35 and 36 are adapted to be connccted and with which the stationary brushes 80 and 81 engage. It should here be noted that the angular position of the shaft 17 as indicated by the pointer 3 is dependent on the bearing of the target with referenceto the observation point as will later appear in greater detail.

One way of applying the pigeon-toeing correction is by shifting the scale 61, an amount dependent on two factors, i. e., the bearing and range. The means for accomplishing this result may take the form'illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 in which the scale 61 is secured to the flange 82 of the sleeve 83 suitably journaled in the cup-shaped hearing 84. The flange 82 is provided with an extension 85 which is connected to a lever 87 by means of a link 86. The lever 87 is pivotally connected at one end to a stationary bracket 88 and is provided at its other end with a downwardly extending U-shaped portion 89 which is pivotally connected to one end of a link 90. The latter, as shown in Figs. 2 and 15. is provided at its other end with a pin 91 slidable in a slot 92 provided in the lower face of a. nut 93 mounted for sliding movement on

guide rods

94 and 95. The pin 91 extends also through the slot of a slotted arcuate arm 96 of a bell crank lever of which the other arm is designated as 97. This bell crank lever 96 is pivoted on a stationary bracket 98 and its short arm 97 is pivotally connected to the arm 99 of a yoke 103 of which the other arm 100 is connected to one end of a link 101 pivoted at its other end on a stationary bracket 102. Fixedly mounted on the shaft 17 is a cam 104 which engages the interior of the yoke 103. By virtue of the connections just described it is clear that the position of the scale61 is controlled by the position of the shaft 17 and the extent of movement of the scale for any given movement of the cam 104 depends on the position of the pin 91 in the slot of'the arm 96, which position may be controlled by sliding the nut 93 along

guides

94, 95. One form of means for sliding the nut 93 is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and comprises a screw threaded shaft 105 rotatably mounted on

brackets

106 and 107 and engaging the nut 93 at its screw threaded portion. The shaft 105 may be rotated by a manually operated crank shaft 108 in all respects similar to crank shaft 28 or automatically by mechanism such as that illustrated in Figs. 9 and 11 to be described in greater detail, hereinafter. The nut 93 may be set at difierent positions along the

rods

94, 95 for different ranges by the mechanism above described, so that the position of the scale 61 is dependent on the range. I

Suitable means may be provided for indicatin g the setting of the nut 93 by the shaft 105. Such means may take the form illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and constructed as follows: The shaft 109 is rotatably mounted in

brackets

113 and 114 and fixedly carries a worm wheel which meshes with the threaded portion of the shaft 105. The shaft 109 carries also a calibrated drum 111 adapted to cooperate with a fixed reference line 112. By calibrating the drum 111 in ranges, the nut 93 may be adjusted for any range by rotating the shaft 105 until the indication corresponding to that range coincides with reference line 112. This above described indicating means is especially useful when the shaft 105 is manually adjusted and may be dispensed with when the shaft 105 is operated by the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 11..

As has been previously stated, the shaft 105 may be automatically actuated. The mechanism for accomplishing this actuation may take the form of a repeater motor suitably geared to the shaft and connected to a transmitter forming a part of a range indicator or finder. More specifically, such mechanism may take the form of the device illustrated in F igs. 9 and 11. Referring to Fig. 11 the shaft 105 carries, fixed thereon, a

bevelled gear 120 meshing with a bevelled gear 121 secured to and rotatable along with a spur. gear .122. The latter meshes with a pinion 123 secured to the shaft 124 of a repeater motor 125. Calling attention to Fig. 9, it will be seen that the repeater motor 125 is connected to a transmit ter 126 forming a part of a range indicator R. The specific details of the range indicator employed do not form a part of this invention as any range indicator may be employed which comprises a transmitter, the position of which is constantly dependent on the range of the target.' By using the connection above described, it is clear that the position of the nut 93will be automatically adjusted to correspond to the range of the target.

To carry out our invention, an indicator adjacent to or within the turret is employed and we term this instrument a target turret indicator. In its essentials it comprises receiving means for operating a means for indicating a transmitted target bearing and preferably additional means for indicating the position of the turret. Figs. 5 and 6 are illustrative of one form which the target turret indicator may take.

Referring to said figures the

pointers

130 and 132 cooperating with a fixed scale 131 are adapted to indicate the target bearing and turret position respectively. The pointer 130 is adapted to be driven through suitable gearing by the repeater motors 133 and the pointer 132 by repeater motor 134. Such gearing may take the following form: The shaft 135 on which the pointer 130 is mounted is rotatable within the sleeve 136 and journaled at its lower end in the instrument frame. Fixedly mounted on said shaft 135 is a spur gear 150 meshing With a pinion 151 fixed on a shaft 136', suitably journaled in the instrument frame and fixedly carrying a gear'l52. The last mentioned gear meshes with a pinion 153 which is rotatable with a gear 154. The sleeve 137 is suitably journaled on a fixed sleeve 138 and carries, fixed thereon, a spur gear 155 which meshes with the gear 154. The gear 155, as shown in Fig. 16, is adapted to be driven by the spur gears 156, 156 mounted on the shafts 139, 139' of the repeater motors 133, 133'.

The gearing between the pointer 132 and the corresponding repeater motor 134 may take 'the following form: The rotatable sleeve 136 suitably journaled within the fixed sleeve 138 carries the pointer 132 at its upper end. At its lower end said sleeve 136 has fixed thereon a gear 160 which meshes with a pinion 161 fixed on the shaft 141. The latter is suitably j ournaled in the instrument frame and has fixed thereon a gear 162 which meshes with the pinion 163 fixed on the shaft of the repeater, motor 134. 4

The target turret indicator may be provided with two auxiliary indiactors 164 and 165 of which the former is adapted to be driven by the repeater motor 134 and the latter by the repeater motors 133, 133'. The auxiliary pointer 165 is ada ted to be driven at a speed which is a multip e of the speed of the corresponding main pointer 130 and the auxiliary pointer 164 is adapted to be driven at a speed which is the same multiple of the speed of the corresponding main pointer 132. The means for accomplishing the above functions may take the form illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. The pointer 165 is shown fixedly secured to the top of the rotatable sleeve 137, the driving means of which has already been described. The other pointer 164 is shown as fixed to a rotatable sleeve 166 suitably journaled within a stationary sleeve 167 and said rotatable sleeve 166 has fixed thereon a gear 168 meshing with a gear 169 fixed on the shaft of the repeater motor 134.

The auxiliary indicators 164 and 165 are used in practiceto train the guns, the operator bringing the turret around until the two indicators exactly coincide. Since, however, the indicators are geared to rotate through a number of revolutions for each revolution of the turret or target bearing telescope, as the case may be, there are of course a number of positions of coincidence which are not correct positions for the gun turret. It is necessary, therefore, to provide additional means to indicate which position of coincidence is the true position. If the

pointers

130 and 132 are observed in connection with the auxiliary pointers, these will indicate, of course, the correct position of coincidence, which would be where both pairs of pointers are together. We prefer, however, to provide additional means for drawing the attention of the turret trainer to the instrument when the auxiliary indicators approach the true position of coincidence. For this purpose means may be provided to control the circuit of an electric signal when the pointers 164 and 165 upproach coincidence. Such circuit closing means may be constructed as shownin Figs. 5 and 9 in which the gear 160 carries a leaf spring contact 170 adapted to engage a contact 171 fixedon but insulated from gear 150.

nected to the frame of the target turret indicator as shown in Fig. 6. Since the contacts 170, 171 are carried by the coarse dial mechanism, their contact will indicate merely ap-- preach of comcidence, complete coincidence being then observed on the fine indicators 16 4, 165. 1

Preferably some form of synchronizing means should be provided for the indicators of the target turret indicator. Such means may take the form of the mechanism illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 and as the two synchronizing means are substantially identical a description of one will suffice for both. The gear 152 is shown as having fixed thereto a gear 180 adapted to be engaged by a crown gear 181 secured to one end of a shaft 182 su tably mounted for sliding and rotary movement. The said shaft 182 is shown as mounted in a stationary U-shaped bracket 183 and as having fixed thereto, at the end opposite the gear 181, one element 185 of a clutch of which the other element is designated as 186. A spring 184 may be interposed between clutch element 185 and one leg of the bearing 183 for the purpose of normally holding the gear 181 out of engagement with gear 180. The clutch element 186 is shown as fixed on a shaft 189 suitably mounted for sliding and rotary movement in an interiorly bored, externally threaded bushing 191, said shaft having fixed thereto at its end opposite the element 186 a crank 192. A spring 190 may be provided in the bore of the bushing 191 as shown, which spring tends to hold the clutch element 186 out of engagement with element 185. It is obvious that by thrusting the shaft 189 and consequently the shaft 182 inwardly the clutch will become operative, the gears 181 i and 180 will mesh and the gear 152 may be rotated by turning the crank 192. An internally screw threaded cap 193 may be provided, to be screwed on the bushing 191 to prevent accidental operation of the bearing In order to actuate theturret position indicator, a transmitter controlled by the position of the turret is employed. Such transmitter, which we term a turret position transmitter, may take the form of the mechanism illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 in which the transmitter cylinder 200 is driven through suitable gearing by the turret. As shown the internal gear 205, which is adapted to be attached to the inside of the turret, meshes with a gear -1 secured to the pinion 203, which in turn meshes with a gear 202 fixed on the shaft 201 of the transmitter cylinder. The last mentioned element controls the making and breaking of the pairs of

contacts

206, 20

For carrying out our invention some suitable form of target bearing transmitter is employed but as the particular details of this instrument do not form a part of the present invention we show it merely in diagrammatic form. Calling attention to Fig. 9 the target bearing transmitter T. B. T. comprises a transmitter comprising one or more sets of contacts. The instrument illustrated is shown asprovided with one set of contacts 210 utilized to transmit the observed bearing of the target from the target bearing telescope to the bearing indicator.

The operation and electrical connections of that part of our invention thus far described may best be understood by reference to the diagram in Fig. 9 which is illustrative of one form these connections may assume.

To simplify the diagram one of the repeater motors 2, transmitter contacts 36, and one of the repeater motors 133 have been omitted. In this figure a target bearing transmitter, range transmitter, target turret transmitter, target turret indicator and target position transmitter are indicated diagrammatically T. B. T., R, T. T. T., T. T. I. and T. P. T. respectively. A battery, or other suitable source of E. M. F., B is connected to a pair of mains 220, 221 which are adapted to supply energy to the system. The repeater motor 2 of the target turret transmitter T. T. T. is shown connected to the main 220 and connected in series with the brushes 210 of the target bearing transmitter by means of con ductors 222. The repeater motor 125 is connected in series with the transmitter 126, of the range indicator R, through the conductors 224 and the motor and transmitter last mentioned are shown as connected across mains 220, 221. Likewise the

repeater motors

133 and 134 are shown connected in series with the

transmitter contacts

35 and 206 by means of the

conductors

225 and 22 respectively. The contact 170 is shown as connected through the slip ring 17 2 and brush 174 to the main 221 and the contact 171 through the slip ring 173 and brush 1'1'5 to the lamp 177 which, in turn, is connected to the main 220. The operation is substantially as follows:

The bearing of the target is observed and transmitted by means of the target bearing instrument T. B. T. through the conductors 222 to the repeater motor 2 of the target turret transmitter T. T. T. located at the control station. The repeater motor operates the

pointers

3 and 20 which may be calibrated to indicate bearings in degrees and fractions of a degree respectively. The brake 114 prevents overthrow of these pointers. This bearing at the control station is corrected by two factors, deflection and pigeon-toeing. The deflection correction includes corrections due to windage, drift of the shell, relative motion of the ship and target, etc. This correction is applied by an operator at the control station by turning the crank 50 until the pointer 60 irdicates the desired deflection on the scale 61. By turning the handle 50 the contacts 35, 36 are shifted and thus the deflection correction is applied to the transmitted bearing. The pigeon-toeing factor is applied by the shifting of the scale 61 by the mechanism including the cam 10 i, the extent of which shifting may be adjusted automatically by the shaft 105 automatically positioned by the range indicator R through the transmitter 126 and the repeater motor 125. If it is desired to apply the range adjustment manually instead of automatically, the shaft 105 may be operated by hand in which event the repeater motor 125 would be unnecessary.

By shifting the scale 61 as above described it is obvious that the operator at the control station will, in setting the pointer 60 for deflection, introduce the pigeon-toeing correction. It is to be noted that if the operator attempts to move the pointer 60 past either limit of travel the stop 74-7 5 will come into operation to prevent this movement. If the operator applies such a force as would break the stop it will be noted that the vital parts of the mechanism Will not be injured or impaired even though the stop is broken.

The corrected bearing is transmitted through the conductors 225, to the repeater motor 133, of the target turret indicator T. T. I. located adjacent the turret. The last mentioned motor operates the

pointers

130 and 165 to indicate the corrected bearing in degrees and fractions thereof. By the means above described, the turret officer is .given the direction in which his ghns should be pointed to hit the target. The turret is now brought to such a position as to cause the pointers 132 and 164 to coincide with the

pointers

130 and 165 respectively, the former being positioned by the turret through the turret position transmitter T. P. T. and repeater motor 134. When the above mentioned pointers coincide the guns of the turret are in position to hit the target when mits the amount of pigeon-toeing to be adjusted to correspond to different distances between the point of observation of the target bearing and the turret.

In the system above described but-one target turret indicator was described as connected to the target turret transmitter. The turrets t t (see Fig. 13) of a battle ship are spaced apart a distance which is negligible, compared with the length of the usual target so that the pigeon-toeing cam 104: may be designed to apply a correction based on the assumption that the guns of both turrets t t are located at (Z. Thus two or more turrets may be controlled from a single target turret transmitter. As this would merely mean duplicating the target turret indicator this arrangement has not been illustrated. The two turrets t 25 would form a group controlled by a corresponding target turret transmitter at the control station 0. In practice the turrets t and t. may be provided with a system practically identical to that described for turrets t t Such a system for the turrets t 25 is shown in Fig. 9. The instruments for the control of the fire of the last-mentioned turrets are exactly similar to the instruments T. B. T., T. T. T.,etc., already described, being designated by the same reference characters with a prime added. The connections are also identical except that the lamp 177 and its control circuit are omitted in the instrument T. T. I to avoid unnecessary duplication in the diagram. It is evident that the system lends itself readily to group operation of the turrets.

Supposing that it is desired to train the turrets t t on the target T and the turrets t on the target T the instrument T. B. T. is trained on target T and T. B. T on target T and the instruments It and R indicate the ranges of the targets T and T respectively. The rest of the operation will be clear from the operation already described.

If it is desired to train all of the turrets on the same target, all of the instruments T. B. T., R, T. B. T and B may be directed toward such target or the

instruments

2, 2 connected to the same target bearing transmitter and

instruments

125 and 125 to the same range indicator or finder. A suitable means for accomplishing the last mentioned functions is shown in Fig. 9 in which the triple pole double throw switch N, when in the full line position, connects the motor 2 and the transmitter 210. By throwing the switch N to the dotted line position,the motor 2 may be disconnected from the target bears ing transmitter T. B. T and connected through conductors 223 to the target bearing transmitter T. B. T. A similar switch and connections N and 223 may be employed to connect both

motors

125, 125 to the same range indicator. It is to be understood, of course, that the specific adjustment of the lever 87 and link 86 for adjusting the scale of the target turret transmitter for the turrets t t would differ from that of the target turret transmitter for the turrets t and t The embodiment of our invention described up to this point is susceptible of numerous modifications. For example, as has been pointed out, either one of the

motors

2, 2 or 133, 133 may be omitted and the system would still be operative. -A very important modification is illustrated in Fig. 10.

The pigeon-toeing correction, instead of being applied at the control station may be applied at the target turret indicator in which case the mechanism for shifting the scale 61 of the target turret transmitter T. T. T. would be omitted and the mechanism of the target turret indicator modified. In this case the target bearings may be sent directly from the target bearing telescope to the target turret indicator, if desired.

One way of applying the pigeon-toeing correction in the target turret indicator is by mechanically shifting the field frame of the repeater motor which drives the target bearing indicator of the target turret indicator. Calling attention to Fig. 10 which is illustrative of one form of mechanism for applying the pigeon-toeing correction at the target turret indicator T. T. I. it will be seen that the

elements

105', 94, 95, 91, 92, 93, 86' and 96 are similar in structure and connection to the

elements

105, 94, 95, 91, 92, 93, 86 and 96 of Fig. 2. The link 86, however, instead of being connected to ascale is pivotally connected to one arm 236 of a bell crank lever pivoted at 235 and the slotted arm 96, instead of forming one arm of a bell crank lever, is rigidly connected with the frame of a repeater motor 133". The frame of the last mentioned motor is movable with respect to its support and adapted to be shifted by means of the slotted lever 96. The shaft 135 pointer 130 and motor 133 correspond respectively to the shaft 135, pointer 130 and either motor 13.3 shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Suitable gearing, such as

gears

230, 231, 232 and 233, is provided between the motor shaft and the shaft 135 whereby the motor is adapted to drive the last mentioned shaft. The cam'104 is mountec on the shaft 135' ings transmitted through the motor 133".

The variation of the amount of pigeon-toeing due to difference in ranges is taken care of by turning the shaft 105'. Obviously, the latter may be operated by means similar to those described for turning the shaft 105. The remainder of the target turret indicator may be substantially the same.

The wiring diagram for that form of our invention in which the pigeon-toeing correction is applied at the target turret indicator is substantially the same as that illustrated in Fig. 9, the only difference being that the repeater motor 125 is placed in the target turret indicator (see Fig 9*) instead of in the target turret transmitter.

The operation of the system as modified in Fig. 9 is in many respects the same as that of Fig. 9. The target bearing is observed and transmitted, and the deflection correction may be applied in the sameway as in connection with the first described form but. the pigeon-toeing correction is applied in the target turret indicator, T. T. 1., the range repeater motor 125 now driving the shaft 105'.

Bearing in mind that the deflection correction is practically the same for all guns or turrets trained on the same target itwill be noticed that the form of our invention last described lends itself readily to a system of control of all turrets of a ship from and by means of, a single target turret transmitter.

For this type of control the target turret indicators may be connected to a common target turret transmitter as shown in Fig. 9, said target turret transmitter being located at the control or central station. By throwing switch N (similar to switches N and N already described) to the dotted line position both instruments T. T. I. and T. T. I are connected to a single target turret transmitter T. T. T. It is also adapted for the other system, however, i. 'e., that one where one group of turrets is trained upon one target and another group on a diiferent target, in

which case the switch N" would be placed in the full line position shown. The former described system however possesses the advantage that there is a comparatively small num-' ber of instruments employed.

In the operation of the various instruments herein disclosed, it is extremely important that the repeater motor armatures take an accurate and definite position at all times. It has been found that if the are of the outor faces of the armature has for its center the point 277 shown in Fig. 12 the armature may swing through quite an angle without varying the reluctance of the magnetic path from one pole 27 5 to another. In short, with such an arc the position of the armature for any definite field would not be definitely determined. If, however, the said outer face is given a radius of curvature 278, less than the radius 279, the position for any definite field will be fixed and definite, due to the fact that any movement of the armature to either side of this position would lengthen the air gap and increase the reluctance of the magnetic path. It is to be understood, of course, that the ratio of the

radii

279 and 278 is greatly exaggerated in Fig. 12.

Since

pointers

3 and 20 of the target tur ret transmitter and also pointers 130- and 165 of the target turret indicator indicate the bearing of the target, the target turret transmitter and the target turret indicator.

may each be termed a target bearing indicator.

. In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, we have herein described the principle of operation of our invention, together with the apparatus, which we now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but we desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means. Also, while it is designed to use the various features and elements in the combination and relations described, some of these may be altered and others omitted and some of the features of each modification may be embodied in the others without interfering with the more general results outlined, and the invention extends to such use.

Having described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1s:

1. In a gun fire control system, a transmitting instrument, a remotely located receiving instrument connected thereto whereby the bearing of a target observed at a point remote from the receiving instrument may be transmitted to said receiving instrument, means for applying a correction to'the bearing prior to transmission and for transmitting the corrected bearing to cause the receiving instru ment to indicate approximately the bearing .of the target with reference to said receiving instrument, and means, including an element the position of which depends on the bearing transmitted for indicating the correction to be applied.

2. In a gun fire control system, a transmitting instrument, a receiving instrument normally spaced from said transmitting instrument and connected thereto whereby the hearing of a target observed at a point remote from the receiving instrument may be transmitted to said receiving instrument, means for applying a correction to the transmitted bearing to cause the receiving instrument to indicate approximately the bearing of the target with reference to said receiving instrument, and means, including a part adapted to be driven by a range indicator, for indicating the correction to be applied.

3. In a gun fire control system, a transmitting instrument, a receiving instrument normally spaced from said transmitting instrument and connected thereto whereby the bearing of a target observed at apoint remote from the receiving instrument may be transmitted to said receiving instrument, means for applying a correction to the transmitted bearing to cause the receiving instrument to indicate approximately the bearing of the target with reference to said receiving instrument, and means, including an element the position of which depends on the bearing transmitted and a part adapted to be driven by a range indicator for indicating the correction to be applied.

4. In a gun fire control system, a transmitting instruinent, a receiving instrument normally spaced from said transmitting instrument and connected thereto whereby the bearing of a target observed at a point remote from the receiving instrument may be transmitted to said receiving instrument, means for applying a correction to the transmitted bearing to cause the receiving instrument to indicate approximately the bearing of the target with reference to said receiving instrument and means, including an element the position of which depends on the bearing transmitted, and a part adapted to be set according to the range, for indicating the correction to be applied, said element being operated by one of said instruments.

5. In a gun fire control system, a target bearing transmitting instrument, receiving instruments having connections with said transmitting instrument whereby they are operated in synchronism and means for shifting a part of said connections to cause said receiving instruments to step ahead of or drop behind said transmitter, to transmit correct ed target bearings, said means comprising a scale movable in accordance with the error to be corrected, a pointer adapted to be maintained on a predetermined point on said scale, and means whereby said shifting means actuates said receiving instruments.

6. In a gun fire control system, a transmitting instrument, a receiving instrument, connections between said instruments whereby they are operated in synchronism, means for shifting a part of said connections to cause said receiving instrument to step ahead of or drop behind said transmitter, indicating means, a portion of which is connected to said shifting means, and a member adapted to be connected to a range indicator operatively connected to a ,portion of said indicating means. a

7. In a gun fire control system, a transmitting instrument, a receiving instrument, connections between said instruments, whereby they are operated in synchronism, and means for shitting a part of said connections to cause said receiving instrument to step ahead of or drop behind said transmitter comprisingindicating means a portion of which is connected thereto and means including an element operated by one of said instruments operatively connected to one portion of said shifting means.

8. In a gun fire control system, a bearing transmitting instrument, a receiving instrument, connections between said instruments whereby they are operated in synchronism,

means for shifting a part of said connections to cause said receiving instrument to step ahead of or drop behind said transmitter, range indicating means, a portion of which is connected to said shifting means and means adapted to be connected to said range indicating means including an element operated by one of said instruments operatively connected to one portion of said shifting means.

' ting instrument, a receiving instrument, connections between said instruments whereby they are operated in synchronlsm, means for shifting a part of said connections to cause said receiving instrument to step ahead of or drop behind said transmitter, indicating means connected to said first mentioned means and means for changing the zero point of said indicating means.

10. In a target bearing transmission system, a transmitter, an indicator remote therefrom, but 0 eratively connected thereto, means for shi ing a part of the connections between said transmitter and indicator, an indicating element connected to said means, an indicating element cooperating therewith, and means for moving said last named element, comprising a part adapted to be connected to a range indicator.

11. In a target bearing transmission .system, a transmitter, an indicator remote therefrom, but operatively connected thereto, means for shifting a part of the connections between said transmitter and indicator, an

indicating element connected to said means,

an indicating element cooperating therewith, a member operatively connected to said transmitter and means connecting said member to said last named indicating element.

12. In a target bearing transmission system, a transmitter, an indicator remote there- 'from, but operatively connected thereto,

means for shifting a part ofthe connections between said transmltter and indicator, an indicating element connected to said means, an indicating element cooperating therewith, a member operatively connected to said transmitter, means connecting said member'to said last named indicating element and means for varying the extent of movement of said last named indicating element for any given.

movement of the member 13. In a gun fire contiol system, a trans- In a gun fire control system, a transmit mitter for controlling a remotely located indicating instrument comprising a set of contacts and a drum for operating said contacts, means connected to the contacts for rotating them with respect to said drum and means for rotating the drum with respect to said contacts.

14. In a target bearing transmission system, a transmitter for controlling a remotely located indicating instrument, said transmitter comprisin a contact member and a movable member or engaging said contact member, means for actuating one of said members, and means connected with said means for indicating the position ofthe last mentioned member.

15. A transmitting instrument for controlling a remotely located receiving instrument and comprising, in combination, a movable contact member, a member rotatable with respect to said contact member and adapted to engage the contacts thereof, means for actuating one of said members and stop mechanism connected to said means.

16. In a transmitting instrument, atransmitter comprising a movable part, means for moving said part, an indicator, connections between said means and indicator and stop mechanism for said indicator, said stop mechanism being connected directly to said means. 17. In a fire control indicator, a pair of major indicators comprising a rotatable indicator for indicating the bearing of the target and adapted to be connected with a target bearing lnstrument, and a second indicator adjacent the first for indicating the bearing of the gun and adapted to be actuated by the rotation of the gun, a pair of conjointly read able auxiliary indicators arranged for rotation at a multiple of the speeds of the first named indicators and adapted to be actuated from the target bearing instrument and gun, respectively, a signal, and means for rendering the same operative on approach of the units of. the first named pair of indicators.

18. Afire control indicator comprising a pair of conjointly readable rotatable indicators of target bearing and gun positions, means for rotating each indicator through one revolution for each revolution of the taret and gun respectively, a second pair of con- Jointly readable rotatable indicators of target bearing instrument, a second indicator adj a cent the first for indicating the bearing of the gun, and adapted to be actuated by the rotation of the gun, a pair of conjointly readable auxiliary indicators arranged for rotation at a multiple of the speeds of the first named indicators and adapted to be actuated from the target bearing instrument and gun, respectively, a signal for showing when to observe the coincidence of said pairs of indicators, and means for actuating said signal when the first mentioned pair approach coincidence.

20. In a fire control indicator, a pair of major indicators comprising a rotatable indicator for indicating the bearing of the target and adapted to be connected with'a target bearing instrument, and a second indicator adjacent the first for indicating the bearing of the gun, and adapted to be actuated by the rotation of the gun, and a pair of conjointly readable auxiliary indicators concentric with said major pair arranged for rotation at a multiple of the speeds of the first named in dicators and adapted to be actuated from the target bearing instrument and gun, respectively.

21. In a target turret indicator, an indicator for indicating in which direction a gun is to be pointed, a second indicator for indicating the direction in which the gun is pointing, an auxiliary indicator connected to each of said first named indicators, the speeds of said auxiliary indicators being higher than that of said first named indicators but bearing the same ratio to each other as the speeds of said first named indicators bear to each other, and a signal also operated by said first named indicators for showing when to observe the auxiliary indicators.

22. In a fire control system, a target bearing transmitter, a gun osition transmitter, a follow-the-pointer receiving instrument adjacent a gun and actuated from both of said transmitters, said instrument comprising a pluralit of pairs of pointers, one pointer of each pa1r being the target bearing indicator and the other the gun position indicator, the

difierent pairs of pointers being arranged to rotate at multiple speeds, and means for introducing corrections into the positions of one of each pair of pointers, said means including means for introducing such corrections into one of said transmitters.

23. In a fire control system, a target bear? ing transmitter, a gun position transmitter, a follow-the-pointer receiving instrument adjacent a gun and actuated from both of said transmitters, said instrument comprising a plurality of pairs of pointers, one pointer of each pair belng the target bearin indicator and the other the gun position in icator, one pair of pointers being arranged to rotate at the same speed as the angular displacement of target and gun and the other pair of pointers at a multiple of said speed and means for correcting the transmitted indication for one of each pair of pointers, in the same ratio as the ratio between'the speeds of the two pairs of pointers.

24. A gun fire control system for directing the fire of spaced groups of guns, comprising means for transmitting the bearing of 'a target with reference to a common point, means, located adjacent each group of guns, for receiving and indicating such bearing and means for applying a parallax correction to the bearing indicated at each group, said means comprising a member movable in accordance with the parallax error, a second member, means whereby the movement of said second member actuates said indicating means, and means whereby said second member may be caused to follow a fixed point on said first member to correct for parallax, or be caused to move relative to said first member to correct for other errors.

25. In a gun fire control system, means positioned in accordance with the bearing of a target, means adapted to be positioned in accordance with the range, means connected to said two first named means and actuatable thereby for combining a function of the target bearing with the range and an indicating element actuated by said last named means, said means comprising a scale, means adapted to be maintained on a predetermined point on said scale.

26. A gun fire control instrument comprising a repeater motor, a transmitting device mechanically connected to said repeater motor, means for shifting certain of the parts of said transmitting device with respect to the remaining parts, means for indicating the ex tent of such. shift and a member operatively connected to said repeater motor for operating a part of said indicating means.

27. In a gun fire control system, means for transmitting the bearing of a target, means for receiving and indicating said bearing, means for correcting said bearing for deflection, and means for automatically applying a pigeon-toeing correction to said bearing when said correction for deflection is applied.

28. In a gun fire control system, an instrument for transmitting the bearing of a target, an instrument for receiving and indicating such bearing, means for applying a correction for deflection, a movable element, means connected with one of said instruments for positioning said element in accordance with said corrected bearing, and means including said element for applying an additional pigeontoeing correction to said bearing.

29. In a gun-fire control system, means for transmitting the bearing of a target, means for receiving and indicating said bearing, means for correcting said bearing for deflection, means for automatically applying a pigeon-toeing correction to said bearing when said correction for deflection is applied and transmitting said corrected bearing to a distant point.

30. Ina gun-fire control system, an instrument for transmitting the bearing of a target,

an instrument for receiving and indicating the error to be corrected, a pointer, means termined point whereby said pointer may be a predetermined point on said scale, and means whereby said second means operates one of said transmitters.

32. In a gun firecontrol system, a target bearing transmitter, an indicator operated by said transmitter, means for introducing acorrectionin the movements of said indicator, said means comprising a member movable in accordance with the error second member, means whereby said second member may be caused to follow a predetermined point on said first member, and means .whereby-said second member operates said agun,a'

transmitter. v

33. ln-a gun fire control system, transmitter, an indicator operated by said transmitter, means for introducing a correction for parallax and other errors into the. movements of said indicator,

said means comable in accordance with the parallax error, a pointer, means for adjusting the pointer with reference to the scale, and means whereby said last-namedmeans operates said transmitter, said pointer being adapted to be maintained opposite a predeprising a scale mov fire control system, a target caused to follow to be corrected, a

on said scale to correct for nation with target bearing and gun position transmitters, ofanindicating means actuated from sald transmitters for showing the relative bearings of the target and the gun adgacent thereto, an auxiliary indicating means also actuated from said transmitters, and mounted ad acent said first named means said auxiliarymeans being arranged to mag nify the bearing deviation, and a signal actuated from said first-named means for showing when to observe the auxiliary indicator.

36.111 a gun fire control system for warshlps, a target bearing transmitting device, aplurahty of gun position transmitting devices, a rotatable relative angle indicating instrument adjacent each gun or group of guns actuated from said bearing transmitting device and the adjacent gun position transmitting device, each instrument including coarse and fine reading angle indicators, and means for introducing proper corrections into both the said coarse and fine indicators for each gun or group of guns to compensate for parallax, said means including means for introducmg such correction into one of said transmitting devices.

In testimony whereof we have affixed our signatures.

ELMER A. SPERRY. ELEMER MEITNER.

parallax and to be moved relative-to said scale tocorrect for other errors. I

34:. In a gun fire control system, a gun, a" 3 target bearing transmitter,

ing a correction for parallax and other errors an indicator operated by said transmitter, means for introducin the movements of said gum-said means comprising a member movable in accordance with a second member, means the parallax error, whereby movements of said second member operates said transmitter, and means whereby said second member may be maintained in a fixed position relative to said movable member to correct for parallax and be moved relative to said member for other corrections.

35. In a target turret indicator, the combi-