US1880174A

US1880174A - Continuous aim gunfire control system

Info

Publication number: US1880174A
Application number: US613489A
Authority: US
Inventors: Dugan Joseph
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1932-05-25
Filing date: 1932-05-25
Publication date: 1932-09-27
Anticipated expiration: 1949-09-27

Description

Sept 27, 1932.. J. DUGAN CONTINUOUS AIM GUNFIRE CONTROL SYSTEM Filed May 25, 1932 SShQG'LS-Sheet l Sept. 27, J. DUGAN 1,880,174

CONTINUOUS AIM GUNFIRE CONTROL SYSTEM Filed May 25, 1932 5 ShetS-Sheet P Sept. 27, 1932. J, DIUGAN @$80,174

CONTINUOUS AIM GUNFIRE CONTROL `SYSTEM Filed May 25, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. Z7, 1932. J. DUGAN CONTINUOUS AIM GUNFIRE CONTROL SYSTEM I 5 sheets-sheet 4 Filed May 25, 1932 sepa. 27, 1932. J, DUGAN www@ CONTINUOUS AIM GUNFIRE CONTROL SYSTEM Filed May 25. 1932 5 sheets-sheet 5 Patented Sept. 27, l32

JOSEPH DUGAN, F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA CONTINUOUS AIM G'UNFIE CONTROL SYSTEM Application led May 25, 1932. Serial No. 613,489.

The invention forming the subject matter of this application is a fire control system adapted for use on unstable platforms such as the deck of battleships, the chassis ofwrailroad guns, tanks, etc. to eliminate the effect of roll and pitch of the platform on the train and elevation settings of the gun or guns mounted on such platforms to rotate about .the usual train and elevation axes.

The 'object of the present invention is to provide such guns with control mechanism for maintaining the guns continuously core rected in train and' elevation for the trunnion tilt error caused by rolling and pitching' of the platform, regardless of the position or movements of the target in space relative to the gun. A

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as the detailed description thereof proceeds. I

In the drawings Figures l, 2, 3 and et are mathematical diagramsexplanatory ofthe system involved in the present invention;

Figure 5 is a View, partly in side elevation and partly in central vertical section, disclosing the arrangement of the essential elements of the mechanism forming the gun director of this system;

Figure is an end elevation of the director shown in Figure 5, parts of the mechanism being broken away and shown in section to illustrate the details of construction;

Figure 7 is a horizontal section taken on a line 7 7 of Figure 5;

Figure v8 is a plan view of the corrector mechanism forming part of the aforesaid gun director, parts beingbroken away to show details of construction;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary detail in elevation of part of the fire control elements of the director;

Figure l() is a wiring diagram illustrating the connection between the follow-up motors forming part of the director and a two-part commutator for controlling said motor; and

Figure 11 is a diagram illustrating generally the Ytype of gun adapted to be controlled by thedirector 'illustrated in Figures ed in Figures l to 4, inclusive; and the symbols used therein to designate the various' angles and their mutual relation have the mean-- ings attributed to them in the following table:

A-angle of elevation between a horizontal line, in the vertical plane of sight to the target, and the line of sight;

cle-vertical angle of depression between a horizontal line, in the vertical plane of sight to the target, and the line of sight;

.s-vertical angle (super-elevation) between the line of sight and the bore axis of the gun;

angle of elevation of the gun relative to the horizontal in the vertical plane of sight to the target;

P-vertical angle of the deck to the horizontal in the vertical plane of sight to the target;

R-angle of roll of the deck in a plane per- 75 pendicular to the deck and perpendicular to the vertical plane of sight to the target at any angle of pitch;

E-angle of elevation of the gun in the Vertical plane of sight to the target, relative to the deck and uncorrected for cross roll R;

Ec-angle of elevation of the gun in a plane perpendicular to the deck corrected for cross roll R;

T-'angle of correction of the gun in train in the plane of the deck from the vertical plne of sight to the target, to correct for error due to cross roll of the deck through the angle R;

Dg-angle of lateral deflection of the gun bore axis relative to the vertical plane of sight to the target;

D-angle of lateral deflection of the vertical plane containing the bore axis ofthe gun and set-ofi1 in a horizontal plane relative to the vertical plane of sight to the target;

DZ-angle of deiiection of the gun in the plane of the deck relative to the vertical plane of sight to the target.

In this system the terms pitch and roll have broader meanings than are applied to them in seamans language. The axis of roll lies constantly in a plane parallel to the gun deck and in the vertical plane of sight to the target passing through the intersection of the train and elevation axes of the gun, regardless of the pitch .of the deck in the plane of sight, and regardless of any lateral deflection of the gun relative to the vertical plane of sight to the target. l

The expression vertical plane of sight is used for convenience in referring to the vertical plane passing throu h the target and the point of intersection o the train and elevation axesof the gun. It is contemplatedv that the guns controlled by this director system may be firedat targets invisible to per-- sons operating the guns; as for example, at targets obscured by a smoke screen or by a mountain range, etc. In this case, it would be necessary to set the director and the guns by compass, by sighting at some object known to lie in the vertical plane through the target and the intersection of the gun axis, or by some other means of determining the direction of the target from the gun or guns.

The diagram shown in Fig. l is intended to illustrate the necessity for considering the angles of altitude and depression of the target relative to a horizontal line in the vertical plane of sight, in order to determine the angle e of elevation of the gun bore axis relative to the said horizontal line. As shown in Figure 1, the horizontal line 0T2 is taken as the horizontal line of reference in the vertical plane of sight to the target, and the distance 0T2 is considered as the maximum horizontal range of a gun positioned at the point O and elevated so that the trajectory of a shell tired therefrom will pass through the tar et T2. It will be evident :from Figure l, that t e altitude A of the target T2 above the horizontal line is zero. It will also be evident that thel angle e indicates the angle which the bore axis of the gun makes with the said horizontal line of reference. 'In this case theangle e is equal to the angle of the superelevation S2. v

The same angle of gun elevation e relative to the horizontal would be necessary in firing at targets T1, T3, and T4 lying on the trajectory of the gun positioned at the point O and elevated for maximum range. The target T1 is evidently depressed below the horizontal reference line through the angle de while the line lire or angle e remains the same as before. In this case, it is evident that the superelevation angle is equal to S1.

In the case of the target T3, the altitude is A3 while the angle of superelevation is S3. Similarly the angle of superelevation of the gun aimed atl the target T4`is the angle S4, nd the altitude of the target of the angle It is evident., then, that it is necessary to take int'o consideration the altitude or depression of the target relative to the horizontal line of reference in the Vertical plane of sight tothe target in order to determine the line'of'ire ofthe gun; that is, to determine the angle of 4elevation e of the gun bore axis relative to the said horizontal reference line. The target T5 is illustrated in Figure 1 as located at the same range from the gun as the target T4; but the target T5 lies in the horizontal plane and the trajectory for target T5 is different from the trajectory for target T4 and much less curved and a dilierent angle of gun elevation relative to the horizontal line is required. The angle of gun elevation for target T5 would also be required for any target lyin in the trajectory of target T5 as, for examp e, the target T6 lying in the 'line of sight depressed through depression angle De in the vertical plane of sight to the target.

This discussion of the matter illustrated in Figure 1 is interpolated here to emphasize the. fact that although the altitude angle may be determined from the stabilizedv sight forming a part of the director disclosed herein, it is not'essential to use the director sight for this purpose. The angle of altitude is usually determined by an altimeter connectedA with the range finder. The angle of superelevation must be determined in connection with the angles of altitude or depression before it can be introduced into any corrector system. f

The angle e includes all angles measured in the vertical plane of sight relative the horizontal in that plane. This, of course, includes altitude, sight depression, vertical prediction and ballistic correction angles, etc.; and constitutes one of two settings of an ideal gun, forming part of this system, relative to a plane representing the horizontal plane of reference. The algebraic sum of this an le e and the pitch angle P, give the setting of the ideal gun relative to the deck, and in the vertical plane of sight to the target.

Figures 2, 3 and 4 are vector diagrams in which the vectors designated by the characters E, Ec, T and Dg are to be considered as segments of arcs of great circles lying on a sphere having its center at the point O in each diagram. These vectors represent elements in the corrector part of the director disclosed herein and the vectors corresponding to said elements are designated by similar reference numerals underscored.

Figure 2 is a vector diagram of a general type in which deection of the target from a i vertical reference plane is taken into consideration. The director mechanism includes a Amechanical replica of the vector diagram ICL! man@

fill

assuma the angles Ec and T when the angle E and g are given. In 'accordance with the laws of spherical trigonometry: f

(a) sin Dg=sin K sin m; or, 4sin =sin Dg/sinK (b) tan E=tan K cos or, cos m=tan E/tan K l' (c) tan r=tan Dg/sin E; or, -cos aar-*sin E/tan Dg tan T= tan K(cos 90- (R4-ad) tan K sin (Rl-x) sin Ec sin KsinGlO- (R4-a) sin K cos (R4-x) sin K(cos R cos msin R sin x) sin Dg sin a:

cos R cos xsin K sin Dg msm R sin Dg cos R cot xsin Dg sin R D RilLl sin g cos mn Dg sin Dg sin R sin Ec sin E cos Dg cos .R 4

sin Dg sin R Equations (a), (b) and (c) are fundamental equations used iii spherical. trip;- onometry, the solutions of which are obvious from inspection of the diagram in Figure 2; and are employed herein merely to facilitate the solution of thc more complicated equations (l) and (2).

Figure l is a vector triangle in which the deflection angle Dg -is zero. It Will be evident from inspection of Figure 4, that the Atangent of the angle .of train 'correction T of the giin. This will also be evident from consideration of Figure 4 in which it is evident that if the arcuate line representing the dock be rolled abeiit the point ab in the Iline gun is elevated above' the decir.

ings, it Willbe necessary to trans below the horizontal plane give.

oab, no vector triangle will be generated. lt is furtherevident that if the gun he depressed toward the deck, instead of elevated, the vectortrian'gle representing'this nondition will be above the point ab in l and to the right of the vertical plane VOf; the train and eleva tions being eiiected in the opp tions to the corrections necessar endition will also be evident from consideration of any o' the equations (l), (2), (8) and (fl) in which a negative angle E would give negative results for the angle T, i

In determining the angle of use in this system, and reterri ticularly to Figures 2 and 3 i tlection angle Dg of this line r plane perpendicular to the vertic reference VULZ from its elevated p the horizontal plane. The method. of performing this translation is clearly indicated in Figure 3, in which the angle D indicates the angle of deection in the horizontal plane of reference. This angle l) the projection on the horizon sition Where the gun boreaxis in sphere. A continuation of this of deflection Dal in the plane o.; ne deck Which is clearly shown in the drawing as depressed through the angle P belori7 the horizontal reference plane..

Regardless of the position of the angie Dg either above or below the'horizc l plane, it is necessary that its projecti horizontal plane be determine can be set in properly in the de.1 of the apparatus. For targets lyi same horizontal plane as the gn vious that the deflection angle l?" ,J determined in the usual mannerv It` will be apparent from the foregoing discussion, that the-system is intended to correct continuously the errors diie te vthe roll and pitch of the deck, and to provide a means for setting the gun in train and elf-va''icn as if the director and gun were nie n stable horizontal deck or platform., also beevident that the systeiii is dif-:signed to divorce the problem of trunnion tilt correction from the line of sight; to con- Sider this problem With reference to vertical 4 and -horizontal planes, regardless of the elevation or depression of the sight.

In Figures 2, 8 and 4,' the vertical `1eference plane is indicated .by the sector VUOZ; and Of indicates the horizontal reference line lying in said vertical plane. The are @nl is the angle of train correction T required to compensate for the error in gun train caused by the roll of the deck through. the angle R about the axis l/*BJ lying in the plane of `tions; and the arc ab is the angle of lateral deflection Dg of the gun bore axis to comof the shell, etc. The arc ad is the angle ofpensate for errors due to drift, change of position of the target during the time of Hight elevation E of the un relativeto the deck,uncorrected for roll aout the axis R-R.

As shown in Figures 5 to 10 of the drawings, the director comprises a pedestal 1, having a training table 2 mounted to rotate thereon about a train axis X-X perpendicular to the unstable gun4 deck or platform.

Standards

3 and 4 are secured to the table 2, on opposite sides of the axis X-X and at substantially equal distances therefrom.

A gimbal ring 5 is pivoted to swing in said

standards

3 and 4 about the common axis of the trunnions 6 and 7; and an inner g'inibal ring 8 is pivoted to ring 5 by

trunnions

9 and 10 having their common axis intersecting the axis of trunnions 6 and 7 at right angles. The ring 8 is channel shaped 1n cross section. A ring, or spider 12 is mounted to rotate in the channel 11 of ring 8; and hassuitably secured thereto an arcuate bar 13 provided with a guide groove 14 for slidably receiving an antifriction wheel 15 at the end of a cylindrical rod 16 the axis of which represents the axis of an ideal gun. A

The bar 13 is perpendicular to ring 12 and iS braced in this position by lthe side bars17 and 18 secured at their lower ends to the said inner ring 12.

The ideal gun comprises a gear ring "19 rotatably mounted in an arcuate casing 20 supported by

standards

21 and 22 on a deflection plate 23 mounted on the table 2 to rotate about the train axis X-X. TheA gear ring 19 is rotated about its center by means of the worm 24 secured to a shaft 25 journaled in the

standards

26 and 27 also secured to the deflection plate 23 between the standards 2l and 22.

The rod 16 passes rotatably through an aperture -28 in the gear ring 19, and is connected at its inner end to an arcuate bar 29 having secured to its opposite ends the

trunnions

30 and 31, representing the trunnions ofthe real gun. The trunnion 30 is journaled in the ring 12; and the trunnion 31 is connect'ed to or forms a. part of the rotor` of elevation transmitter E-T which has its stator fixed to the ring 12. The

trunnions

30 and 31 have their common axis lying in the plane of the intersecting axes of the

trunnions

6, 7, 9 and 10.

The channel ring 8.has arms 32 'and 33 extending from its'lower face inwardly to form a cup.; shaped support 34 for an electrical y differential 35 of the Well known selsyn to table 2. A clamping nut 43 threaded onA stud 40 operates to clamp arm 38 in any desired position on bracket`42.

The ring 5 at its rear end has chisel edge electrical contact member 44 suitably secured thereto and insulated therefrom. rlhis member 44 extends around the ring 5' for twenty or'thirty degrees on opposite sides of the axls of the trunnion 10. The edge of member 44 .is designed to make contact with a. contact 45 secured to a screwthreaded stud 46 which is mounted to slide in a slot 47 formed 1n an arcuate fire control scale member 48.

The member 48 is struck from the center of ring 5; and terminates at its lower end in a spacer block 49'separating the 'standards 50 and 51 (see Figure 9) to the deection Y. plate 23. The shaft extends through an aperture in the bloeit 49 and terminates ina crank handle 52. gun. elevation scale plate 53 is fixed to shaft 25 to read against an indicator 54 secured. to. block 49. clamp nut 55 serves to4 adjust and hold the contact 45 in any desired angular position on the arcuate member 48.

The trunnion 6 has a 'bevel gear 56 secured to the end thereof projecting through standard 3; and, this gear 56 mesh-es with a. similar gear 57 secured to the rotor shaft 58 of a follow-up motor 59 which is; secured to the side of standard 3. The trunnion 9 extending from ring 8 through ring 5 has a bevel gear 60 secured thereto; and this gear 60 meshes with a similar gear 61 fixed to a shaft 62 journaled in a bearing bracket 62 fixed to or 'formed integral with the ring 5.

The shaft 58 is connected by a universal joint 63 to the slotted cylindrical. member 64, having another member mounted to slide non-rotatably therein. The two finembers 64 and 65 constitute a telescoping shaft, and are the direction finder element of the director.

The shaft 69 has its free end fixed to a. bevel gear 72 meshing with a similar gear 7 3 fixed to a trunnion 74 extending through gimbal ring 71.

The shaft 62 (see Figure 5) is connected by a universal joint 75 to a member 76 slidably but non-rotatably mounted in a cylindrical IOL member 77 which is, in turn, connected by a i universal -joint 78 to shaft 79 of a follow-up motor '80.1 A key 81 fixed `to member 76 slides in the slot 82 of member 77 to prevent relative rotation of

members

76 and 77. The follow-up motor is suitably bolted to the standard 83 which, with standard 84, forms the means for pivotally supporting the gimbal ring 7l. Trunnions 85 and 86 extend from the ring 75 through suitable bearings in said

standards

83 and 84 in the usual gimbal ring construction. The trunnion 85 has a bevel gear 87 secured thereto and meshing with a similar bevel gear 88 fixed to the end of the follow-up motor shaft 79.

A trunnion 89 cooperates with trunnion 74 in pivotally connecting the intermediate gimbal ring 90 to the ring 71. Trunnions 91 and 92 pivotally connect another inner gimbal ring 9.3 to the ring 90; and trunnions 9e and 95 serve to support the gyro 96 rotatably in the said gimbal ring 93.

A two part commutator 97 fixed to the inner ring 90, cooperates with a conduct-ing wheel 98 rotatably mounted on the lower end of an arm 99 to control the operation of the follow-up motor 80 in the well known manner. The arm 99 is fixed to the trunnion 91, and is rotated Jthereby. A two part commutator 100 is fixed to the ring 93 to cooperate with a conducting trolley wheel 101, 4rotatably mounted on the lower end of an arm 102 depending from and fixed to the trunnion 95, in

controlling the operation of the follow-up motor 59 in the corrector part of the director.

Yhere is nothing novel. in these followup mechanisms, Ithe wiring connections of which are shown diagrammatica-lly in Figure 10.

'lfhe target sights 10B-1041 are mounted on a 'trunnion member 105 pivoted at its opposite ends .in the

sight standards

106 and 107 carried by the intermediate gimbal ring 90. Spirit levels 108a-nd 109 are mounted on the ring 90 for use in checking up the movements of the gyro, and to lindicate the corrections necessary to 'restore the ring 90 to horizontal position when moved therefrom either by wandering of the gyro or other cause.

Any suitable levelling sight L and cross levelling horizon sight CL 'may be suitably supported on the vring 90 to serve the same purpose as the

spirit levels

108 and 109 whencvcr it is possible to sight on the horizon or distant objects. The ring' 93 and gyro 96 may bereplaced by a weight suitably fixed to the ring 90. The absolutely essential require-l ment in this system is the maintenance of the ring 90 horizontal in the direction of the axis of

trunnions

85 and 86 and also in the direction of the axis of

trunnions

74 and 89. l/Vhether this be effected by a common pendulum,. ajgyroscopic pendulum, horizon sights,

or spirit levels,or all of these well known levelling devices is immaterial so far as the principle of this invention is concerned.

Figure 11' illustrates diagrammatically the type of gun adaptedto be controlled by the director system disclosed herein. The gun 110 is mounted by its trunnions 111 112 to rotate about its elevation axis in the stand ards 113 and 114 extending up from the training table 115.

The table 115 is mounted to rotate on the support 116 suitably secured to the deck or unstable platform. A repeater 'llBL repeats the movements of the director train transmitter T-T modified., when necessary, by operation of the electrical dierential trans former 35. A follow-up motor Tlf. may be controlled by this repeater T-R to rai the table 115 through gearing 117 118 c 'meeted respectively to the rotor shaft of' 5 eter T-M and the table 115.

The gun may be rotated in elevation by gearing 119, 120 connecting the gunt-o the shaft of a follow-up motor E-li/i un` r the control of the elevation repeater E is electrically connected to the elev. mitter E-T of the director. lThe den follow-up mechanism are merely inc the drawing, since the invention cerned with any particular mecha training or elevating the gun. Ai well known follow-the-pointer. ing or follow-up train and elev anisms may be used to control the and train movements of the gun or The train transmitter is connecte cally through wiring indicated g -the reference numeral 121 to ti transformer 35; and wiring 122 c sclsyn7 transformer 35 to the tran T-R at the gun. rll`his train repeateia follow-up train motor 'iT-M through I ing 123 to operate the .gearing 117 18 or rotating the gun in train. A two-part comm mutator (not shown) is fixed to the gear 121 of the train repeater and a pointer 125 rotatably over this commutator operates control the direction of rotation of the shaft of the follow-up motor T-M. This method of follow-up control is old and well. known in the art and is quite similar to that illustrated in Figure 10 of the drawings. The elevation correction Ec is transmitted from the elevation transmitter ET through the wiring 124-. to the elevation repeater E-R at the gun. The elevation repeater controls .a follow-up motor E-M in the usual manner to operate the elevationgearing 1197 119 and 120 and rotate the gun 110 in elevation aboutits trunnion axes 111 and 112.

The invention is not concerned with any particular wiring system and a direct cur.-

rent system of transmission may be used intion as is performed by the repeater R-33and transmitter T-4, in my 4United States Patent No. 1,733,531. A single transmitter may be substituted for the

transformer

35, and 5 the train transmitter may transmit the change of bearing of the target directly to the train repeater at the gun. In this case, however, it will be necessary to interpose a diiferential between the .transmitter substituted for the transformer 35 in order that the train correction may be added algebra-l ically to the train correction caused by change of bearing between the gun and target transmitted to the train repeater through the same diiferential.

The corrector mechanism shown in Figures 5 and 6 operatesas a mechanicalcomputer to solve the Equations (l), (2), (3) and (4) and may be used separately from any particular direction finder to determine the corrections necessary to eliminate trunnion tilt errors in any gun of the type shown in Figure 11 and mounted on anunstable platform.

The elements of the corrector mechanism corresponding to the vectors shown in Figures 2 and 4 have the same reference numerals as these vectors but without underscoring. For example, the arcuate member,13, shown in Figures 5 and 6 corresponds to the vector E- indicated in Figures 2, 3 and 4 by the reference numeral 13. The axis of roll RR in the vector diagramsis duplicated in the corrector by the common axis 9-10 of the

trunnions

9 and 10. The gimbal ring 5 in the corrector mechanism is represented in Figures 2, 3 and 4 by the arcuate line 5; and the gimbal ring 8 is represented in the vector diagrams by the numeral 8. The vector Ec ofthe vector diagrams 2, 3 and 4 represents the' position of the member 13 of the corrector after the ring 5 has been pitched downwardly fromthe horizontal through the angle P, and after the ring 8 has been rotated about the axis of

trunnions

9 and 10 through the angle R.

It Will' be seen from comparison of the vector diagrams with the mechanism illus- -f trated in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawing, that the member 13 ,rotates` about the axis lof rod 16 in the same manner as the vector E0 rotates about the point b in Figures 2 or 3, and about the point ab indicated' in Figure 4, and that the member 13 or vector Ec coincides with the intersection of the axis of the roller 15 with the center line of the member 13. The ring 5 rotates about the gun axis of the trunnions 6 and 7, which is indicated in Figure 4 by a line to which the numeral 6-7 is applied. It will be,\apparent from comparison of Figures 2, 3 and 4 with the other Iigures of the drawing that the corrector showninthese other figures is a. mechanical replica 05 of the vectors shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4,

`tem composed of the rings this point of rotation of and that this corrector will solve with mathematical accuracy all the problems of trunnion tilt correction which may bp represented by vectors, as illustrated in the drawings.

The fire control mechanism illustrated in Figures 5, 8 and 9 is of peculiar importance in this system inasmuch as the contact 45 is moved laterally along with the deflection table 23 so that it can'be set along the scale 125 to control the angle of elevation in the vertical plane of fire at which the gun may be red. Since the contact 45 moves lateral# ly around the gimbal ring 5, it is necessary that the cooperating contact 44 on the ring 5 be extended around said ring on opposite sides of the trunnion axis 10, in order that the contact may be made with contact 45 to control the instant of fire at any deflection setting of the gun.

It will be observed that the'various arcuate members of the corrector mechanism are really segments of skeleton spheres having their center at the center of the gimbal sys- 5 and 8 supported upon the standards' and 4. The sight or direction finding part of the system is supported upon frame work 2 rigidly connected with the training table 2 and parallel to said table. It is not essential that the corrector part of the director be mounted so that the train and elevation axes of the ideal gun be perpendicular and parallel, respectively, to the deck: The corrector is in .reality a computer which may be located in any position in space so long as the pitch and cross roll of the gun platform are properly applied to the respective axes 6 7, 9-10 in the corrector. The corrector may be` placed side by side with the direction finding parts of the director, connected in tandem therewith, or located at a distance therefrom and operated by any suitable type of electrical transmission-z- From 'a mechanical. standpoint, it

1s most convenient to connect it to the direction finder as shown inthe drawings.

What I claim is: 1. An unstable platform, a sight, means or mounting said sight to pivot universally on said platform, a gun rota-table about train and elevation axes on said platform, means for. simultaneously determining the pitch of 'the platform in the vertical plane of sight to the target and the roll of the platform in a plane perpendicular to said plzuie of sight and perpendicular to said pl angles of pitch, means for ini placements of the gun from te s d vertical plane of sight and from a hoi ital referen'ee plane, and mechanism operahie by both ros Of said means for calculating and applying 2. Apparatus set forth in claim 1 in comf bination with means for determining the pitch of the platform in the vertical plane of lire throughout all angular movements of the platform and at any angle of angular displacement of the gun relative to the vertical plane of sight.

3. In a 'lire control system; an unstable platform; a gun mounted to rotate thereon about train and elevation axes; a director rolOtatably mounted on said platform to control andcorrect the movements of thegun about said axes, and including means for simultaneously determining the pitch of the platform in the vertical plane of sight to the perpendicular to said vertical plane of sight and perpendicular to said platform at all angles of pitch, Aa computer, settable about mutually perpendicular axes and operably connected to said means, for solving the equations:

tan .T =tan E sin-R sin Ec=sin E cos R;

Where T is the angle of correction in gun train, E@ the corrected setting in gun elevation, R the angle of cross roll, and E the angle of elevation of the gun relativetothe platform uncorrected for cross roll R; and means for transmitting the computed angles T and Ec to the gun to correct the movements of the gun about said axes for pitch and roll of the platform.

4. In a lire control system; an unstable platform; a gun mounted to rotate thereon about train and elevation axes; a director rotatably mounted on said platform to control and correct the movements ofthe gun about said axes, and including means for simultaneously determining the pitch of the platform in the vertical plane of sight to the target and the roll of the platform in a plane perpendicular to said vertical plane of sight and perpendicular to said platform at all angles of pitch, a computer, settable about mutually perpendicular axes and operably connected to said means, for solving the equations: v

tan T=tan E sin R+ sec E tan Dg cos R' sin E0=sin E cos Dg cos R-sin Dg sin R;

Where T is the angle of correction in gunV train, Ec-the corrected setting in gun elevation, R the angle of cross roll; E the elevation of the gun relative to the platform uncorrected for cross roll, and Dg the angle of llateral deflection of the gun bore axis relative to the vertical plane of sight to the target; and means for transmitting the com` Clputed angles T and Ec to the gun to correct the movements ofthe gun about said axes for pitch and roll of the platform. 5. A gun, Aa platform on which the gun is adjustable about elevation and train axes 55 which vary in angular position with variatarget and the roll of the platform 1n a plane tions in the angular position of said platform; and means mounted to rotate on said platform about an axis Iixed perpendicular thereto and settable in planes parallel to said train and elevation axes and with reference v on which the gun is adjustable about a set 0f relatively fixed mutually perpendicular axes which vary in angular position with variations in the angular position of said platform and means mounted to rotate about an axis fixed perpendicular to said platform and vadapted to have corrections applied ythereto in planes parallel to said axes and with reference to horizontal and vertical planes, for automatically generating, from` said applied corrections, corrections inI the movements of the gun about sald axes, and for subsequently varying said generated corrections to compensate -themovements of the gun about said axes for changes in the angular positions of said axes due to` angular movements of said platform.

7 A movable support, a sighting device and a gun, each rotatable on said support about elevation and train axes; and means mounted to .rotate on said support about an axis perpendicular thereto and adapted to have corrections applied thereto in planes parallel to said axes and `With reference to vertical and horizontal planes, and'operated by and in accondance with the movements of the said sighting device, for generating corrections in the movements of the gun about its said axes and for subsequently varying said generated corrections upon changes in the angular position of said axes due to movement of the support.

v8. A movable support, a gun adjustable on said supportl about elevation and train axes varyingin angular position with variations in the angular position of said support; and

means mounted to rotate on said/support about an axis perpendicular thereto and set# table in planes parallel to said axes and with reference to vertical and horizontal planes, to correct the movements of the gun about said axes, and' for generating theset correc-l tions in terms of movements of the gun about said axes in their various positions, and for subsequently varying said generated corrections in response to and in proportions to changes inthe angular position of said axes due to movement of said support. i

9. -A gun, a mount on which the gun is ad! justable about elevation and tra-in' axes, a

member maintained on said mount in a predetermined angular position in .space independently of the insligiation of the elevation llO axis of the gun, a second member, means for angularly adjusting said second member relative to said mount in accordance with the range of the gun, a driving connection between said members whereby the first member is rotated, whilemaintaincd in said position in accordance with the inclination of the trunnion axis of the gun, and means for applying the rotation of the first member to the train adjustment of the gun.

10. In a lire control system; an unstable platform; a' gun mounted to rotate thereon about train and elevation axes; a direction finder; an inner gimbal ring supporting said f der, an outergimbal ring pivotally supporting the inner ring, means for supporting the outer ring to rotate about an axis parallel to said platform; a computer including a base, a second pair of gimbal rings having the outer ring mounted to rotate about an axis parallel to said base; means operated by maintaining horizontal the inner ring of the finder during the roll and pitch of the platform for transmitting4 the rotation of the inner ring of the finder directly to the outer ring of the computer and for transmitting the rotation of the outer ring of the finder directly to the inner ring of the computer; and means cooperating with the rings of the computer and operable by the rotation thereof for determining and transmitting, to the gun, train and elevation settings corrected for roll and pitch of the platform.

11. In a fire control system; an unstable platform; a gun mounted to rotate thereon about train and elevation axes; a director rotatably mounted on said platform to controland correct the movements of the gun aboutI said axes, and including means for simultaneously determining the pitch of the platform in the vertical plane of sight to the target and the roll of the platform in a plane perpendicular to said vertical plane of sight and perpendicular to said platform at all angles of pitch, a computer, settable about mutually perpendicular aXes and operably connected to said means, for solving the equation tan T=tan E sin R; Where T is the angle of correction in gun train, R is the angle of cross roll, and E the angle of elevation of the gun relative to the platform uncorrccted for cross roll; and means for transmitting the computed angle T to the gun to correct the movements of the gun about its train axis for pitch and roll of the platform.

12. In a fire control system; an unstable platform; a gun mounted to rotate thereon about train andl elevation axes gva director rotatably mounted on said platform to control and correct the movements of the gun about said axes, and including means for simultaneously determining the pitch of the platform in the vertical plane of sight to the target and the roll of the platform in a plane perpendicular to said vertical plane of sight and perpendicular to said platform at all angles of pitch, a computer, settableabout mutually perpendicular axes and operably connected to said means, for solving the equation sin Ec=sin E cos R; Where EC is the corrected setting in gun elevation, R the angle of cross roll, and E the angle of elevation of the gun relative to the platform uncorrected for cross roll; and means for transmitting the computed angle EC to the gun to correct the movements of the gun about its elevation axis for pitch and roll of the platform.

13. In a lire control system; an unstable platform; a gun mounted to rotate thereon about train and elevation axes; a Vdirector rotatably mounted on said platform to control and correct the movements of the gun about said axes, and including means for simultaneously determining the pitch of the platform in the vertical plane. of sight to the v target and the roll of the platform in a plane perpendicular to said vertical plane of sight and perpendicular to said platform at all angles of pitch, a computer, settable about mutually perpendicular axes and operably connected to said means, for solving the equation: tan T=tan E sin R sec E tan Dg cos R; Where T is the angle of correction in gun train, R the angle of cross roll, E the angle of elevation of the gun relative to the platform uncorrected for cross roll, and Dg the angle of lateral deflection of the gun bore axis relative to the vertical plane of sight to the tar, get; and means for transmitting the computed angle T to the gun to correct the movements of the gun about its train axis for pitch and roll of the platform.

14. In a fire control system; an unstable platform; a gun mounted to rotate thereon about train and elevation axes; a director rotatably mounted on said platform to control and correct the movements of the gun about said aXes, and including means for simultaneously determining the pitch of lthe platform in the vertical plane of sight to the target and the roll of the vplatform in a plane perpendicular to said vertical plane of sight and perpendicular'to said' platform at all angles of pitch, a computer, settable about mutually perpendicular axesr and operably connected to said means, for solving the equation.:

sin Ec=sin E cos Dg cos R-sin Dg sin R;

Where Ec is the corrected setting in gun elevation, R the angle of cross roll, E the vangle of elevation of the gun relative to the platform uncorrected for cross roll, and Dg the angle of lateral deection of the gun bore axis relativetothe vertical plane of sight to the target; and means for transmitting the computed angle Ec to the gun to correct the movements of the gun about its elevation axis for pitch and roll o1 the platform.

15. An unstable platform, a gun mounted to rotate thereon about the usual train and elevation axes, and a fire control director mounted to rotate on said platform about an axis parallel to the train axis of the gun, said director including: means for determining the direction of a target from the intersection of said train and elevation axes; and means for simultaneously determining the inclination of the platform to the horizontal in the vertical plane through said intersection and target, and the inclination of the platform to the horizontal in the vertical plane of lire of the gun at all angles of deflection of the gun relative to the first named plane. 1;, 16. An unstable platform, a gun mounted to rotate thereon about the usual train and elevation axes, and a fire control director mounted to rotate on said platform about an axis parallel to the train axis of the gun, said director including: means for determining the direction of a target from the intersection of said train and elevation axes; and means for simultaneously determining the inclination of the platform to the horizontal 23 in the vertical plane through said intersection and target, the inclination of the platform to the horizontal in a plane passing through said intersection and perpendicular to said platform and to said vertical planel :at at all inclinations of said platform in said vertical plane, and the inclination of the platform to the horizontal in the vertical plane of fire of the gun at all angles of deiection of the gun relative to the first named plane. :sa 17. In a continuous aim lire control system, an unstable platform, a support rotatable on said platform about an axis perpendicular thereto, an outer gimbal ring mounted to rotate on said support about an axis au parallel to said platform, an inner ring mounted to rotate in the outer ring about an axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the outer ring, a target telescope mounted to rotate on said inner ring about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the inner ring in the outer ring, two telescopes arranged at a substantial angle to each other on the inner ring with their lines of sight parallel to the plane of said inner ring, and means controlled "0 by the movements of the. target telescope while held trained on a target at any location in space and by holding the two telescopes trained on the horizon or distant objects to correct all of the trunnion tilt errors in the D" train and elevation settings of a gun mounted to rotate about train and elevation axes on said platform.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

JOSEPH DUGAN.