US2345363A

US2345363A - Gun sight and mounting

Info

Publication number: US2345363A
Application number: US460056A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frank M Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1942-07-02
Filing date: 1942-09-29
Publication date: 1944-03-28
Anticipated expiration: 1961-03-28

Description

33-252. OR 2;.3459363 SR March 28, 1944.

F. M. SMITH GUN SIGHT AND MOUNTING Filed Sept. 29, 1942 Search Rem Kay. 4.

( 8% y (L rorflq'y' Patented Mar. 28, 1944 I Search teem GUN SIGHT AND MOUNTING Frank M. Smith, Lynn, Mass.

Application September 29, 1942, Serial No. 460,056 In Canada July 2, 1942 Claims.

My present invention relates to guns and more particularly to gun sights. It is a well recognized fact in modern warfare that it is very difficult for a gunner to make hits on fast moving targets in the air which are continuously changnot only necessary to make allowances for speed 3' with respect to time but also to accurately figure the angle of approach of the plane and furthermore, the gunner must make allowances for speed and time. In other words, the gunner must determine the angle of approach of the plane and actually shoot a predetermined distance in front of the plate if he is to score a hit.

The most difiicult operation is to accurately gauge the angle of approach because unless the gunner is shooting at a point intercepting this line of travel of the plane he is either overshooting, undershooting, or otherwise missing the plane altogether. On the other hand, if the gunner is shooting on a line which will intercept the plane he is quite likely to hit it even though some of his shots are a bit too far in advance.

In all such instances, it is to be assumed that the gunner is using a rapid fire gun such as large caliber machine guns and the like which are capable of discharging a large number of bullets or shells per minute. Of course in the case of timed shells which are set to explode at a predetermined distance from the gun, a large rate of discharge per minute is not so important but the distance from the target is important and introduces another factor not specifically concerned with my invention. However, I wish to make it clear that my invention may also be applied to larger caliber guns than those falling within the range of, so called, machine guns.

In my present invention, I have designed a gun sight for machine guns and the like which enables the gunner to determine the angle of approach of the plane so that he can operate his machine gun on the angle of approach whether or not it be in a vertical plane or at any angle to the vertical by the simple manipulation of the sight mounted on the gun barrel.

The principal object of my invention is an improved gun sight.

Another object is an improved gun sight which may be mounted on the gun barrel of a machine gun which is fixed against rotation with respect to the major axis of the barrel or, it may be mounted on an infantry arm such as a rifle either of the single shot, semi-automatic, or full automatic type.

Still another object is an improved gun sight which may be rotated about the center of the major axis of the gun barrel, either to the right or left, as the case may be, so that the angle of approach of the plane may be graphically determined and at the same time estimate the speed of the plane so that the gunner will have a close estimate of the point to start shooting at in order to intercept the plane when it arrives at that position, and

Other objects and novel features comprising the construction and operation of my invention will be apparent as the description of the same progresses.

In the drawing illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine gun, the gun proper being somewhat in diagrammatic form but showing the gun sight and operating mechanism mounted on the gun barrel;

Fig. 2 is a partial cross-section and rear elevation of the gun sight, as viewed from the gunners position, the scale being greatly enlarged, and the position of the cross-section being indicated by the numerals 2--2, as indicated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partial cross-section and elevation taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is an extreme rear elevation of the rear sight and the control knob of the front sight,

. the lower portions of the gun being broken away.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, l0 indicates a machine gun mounted on any suitable gun mounting such that the gun barrel I2 may be pivoted up or down or swung from right to left, as conditions might require.

On the breech end of the gun I0 is fixed a rear sight member l3 which is provided with a peep hole l4 through which the gunner looks when he is bringing the front sight into alignment with the particular spot at which he intends to shoot.

0n the front end of the gun barrel I2 is mounted my improved gun sight, a portion of which is rotatably controlled by means of the hand wheel l5 and shaft I 6.

The forward gun sight comprises a stationary ring portion II, the lowermost portion of which is provided with a split collar portion I 8 through which is inserted the end of the gun barrel II, the collar portion l8 being securely clamped to the barrel I2 by means of the screw bolt I9. To prevent the ring portion H from rotating on the barrel I2 I have milled a round groove on the under side of the barrel which is engaged by the body of the bolt I9 thereby preventing any rotatable motion between the ring IT and the barrel I2.

In Figs. 2 and 3, I have shown the forward gun barrel sight in detail, and by an inspection of Fig. 3 it will be noted that within the ring I! I have located a second ring 26. This ring 20 is held in place, as shown in Fig. 3, within the apparatus by an outer flange member 2I which is secured to the permanent ring II by any suitable means, as the rivets 22. The ring 20 is rotatable and for the purpose of controlling the rotation thereof, I have provided an annular rack 23 comprising a part of the ring 20 with which is engaged a pinion 24 which is fixed to the shaft I6. It will thus be apparent that when the shaft I6 is rotated by the gunner, the ring 20 may be rotated in the ring IT.

The ring I1 is further provided with a series of horizontally spaced wires 25. The graduations of the spacing of these wires 25 may be fixed as desired.

Within the rotatable ring 20 I have also provided a series of spaced wires 26. In both sets of

wires

25 and 26, it will be observed that I have provided a small wire ring 25a and 26a both of which are in alignment with the peep hole I4 of the rear sight I 3, and an axial line drawn through these openings is parallel with the longitudinal axis of the gun barrel I2.

It will be apparent that when the gunner rotates the shaft I6 the ring 20 will rotate within the rin I! causing the wires 26 to assume various angles, as shown in dot-and-dash lines, in Fig. 2, the openings in the little wire rings 25a and 26a always being in alignment with the peep opening I4 in the rear sight I3.

The purpose of the wires 26 in the rotatable ring 20 is for aligning the angle of approach of an airplane approaching the vicinity of the gunner so that he can automatically obtain the correct angle of approach of the plane and can shoot at a spot in advance which will intercept the plane.

The wires 25 are used as a gauge in estimating the amount of lead to allow for the speed of the airplane as it travels along one of the wires 26. If the airplane is estimated to be a certain number of yards away and traveling a certain speed it will cross one of the spaces between two of the wires 26 in a certain number of seconds thereby giving the gunner a rough estimate of how many spaces to allow in order to be sure to intercept the said airplane.

It will be apparent that the gunner may vary the angle of the wires 26 at will as he follows the line of travel of the plane and when the plane is within range of his gun he starts shooting at a spot in advance of the plane but on an angle which will intercept the plane and even although his estimate of distance is inaccurate if he holds the target on the proper angle and continues to fire he is very sure of intercepting the airplane.

It will thus be apparent that although I have disclosed my invention in connection with machine guns its application to guns of higher caliber, such as anti-aircraft guns is just as applicable, and whereas I have shown the apparatus somewhat in detail as to parts, it is to be assumed that I may vary the shape and proportions, or I may substitute equivalent means of operation to properly carry the invention into operation well within the spirit of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new is:

1. An improved gun'sight for guns, rifles and the like comprising in combination, a front sight comprising an aperture having a plurality of fixed vertical lines, the said aperture being fixed to the said gun, a second aperture having a plu rality of rotatable parallel lines located concentric with the first aperture, and means controlled from the breech end of the gun for rotating said second aperture and parallel lines to present varying angles with the vertical lines on the fixed aperture.

2. An improved gun sight for gun barrels and the like comprising in combination, a front sight unit comprising an annular ring fixed to the front end of said gun barrel and having a plurality of fixed vertical and parallel lines extending across the internal diameter of said fixed ring, a second ring mounted adjacent said first ring having a plurality of fixed horizontal lines extending across the said second ring, and means for rotating said second ring relatively to said first ring, said second ring being operated from the breech end of said gun.

.3. In a gun sight for machine guns, rifles and anti-aircraft guns, a ring having a plurality of vertical lines permanently fixed on theforward end of a. barrel of said gun, a rotatable ring mounted adjacent the first said ring and having a plurality of parallel lines rotatably movable with respect to the parallel lines in said first ring, means connected with the breech end of said gun for rotating the second ring and lines against the fixed lines in said first ring.

4. In a gun sight for machine guns, rifles and other guns, a fixed ring mounted on the forward end of the said gun having a plurality of fixed spaced vertical lines and a central sight aperture, a second ring mounted adjacent to the said first ring also having a central sight aperture and parallel lines, means for rotating said second ring against first lines in said first ring, said means operated from the breech end of said gun for rotating said second ring.

5. In a gun sight for gun barrels and the like, the combination with a gun barrel, comprising a forward open ring fixed to said barrel having a central aperture with parallel spaced wires, a rotatable open ring mounted adjacent and concentric with said first ring and having a second concentric central aperture and parallel spaced wires,- said second ring being rotatable relatively to said first ring and having an attachment located adjacent the breech end of the gun for rotating