US3772960A

US3772960A - Device for a sight

Info

Publication number: US3772960A
Application number: US00113964A
Authority: US
Inventors: A Johansson
Original assignee: Bofors AB
Current assignee: Saab Bofors AB
Priority date: 1970-02-13
Filing date: 1971-02-09
Publication date: 1973-11-20
Anticipated expiration: 1990-11-20
Also published as: DE2106934B2; NO128505B; SE340062B; FR2078498A5; DE2106934C3; GB1351257A; CH541795A; DE2106934A1

Abstract

There is disclosed a compensating device for correcting errors in the traversing or elevating angles of the barrel of a gun emplaced on an uneven supporting surface. The device comprises a suspension for the gun barrel permitting traversing and elevating of the gun. The device further comprises a sight supported by a gimbal suspension which in turn is coupled to the gun barrel and the carriage therefor so that the gimbal will be in a horizontal position independent of turning of the gun barrel. The sight is further so arranged that its optical objective remains locked on to a selected reference point independent of elevating or traversing the gun barrel.

Description

United States Patent 1 Johansson DEVICE FOR A SIGHT [75] Inventor: Arnold Johannes .lohansson,

Karlskoga, Sweden [73] Assignee: Aktiebolaget Boiors, Bofors, Sweden [22] Filed: Feb. 9, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 113,964

. [30] Foreign Application Priority Data FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 377,575 9/1939 Italy 89/41 T Primary Examiner-Stephen C. Bentley Attorney-Hana, Baxley & Spiecens [5 7] ABSTRACT There is disclosed a compensating device for correcting errors in the traversing or elevating angles of the barrel of a gun emplaced on an uneven supporting surface. The device comprises a suspension for the gun barrel permitting traversing and elevating of the gun. The device further comprises a sight supported by a gimbal suspension which in turn is coupled to the gun barrel and the carriage therefor so that the gimbal will be in a horizontal position independent of turning of the gun barrel. The sight is further so arranged that its optical objective remains locked on to a selected reference point independent of elevating or traversing the gun barrel.

7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PAIENTEUuuvzo ms 3772.960

I Z FIGI k r I I INVENTOR. ARNOLD JOfi/ANNES JOHANSSON A T TOENE Ys DEVICE FOR A srcnr The following invention relates to a sight for a field artillery gun or corresponding materiel, which has a gimbal suspension on an axle arranged parallel with or coinciding with an axis of symmetry of a gun barrel, the gun also being provided with trunnion suspension and pivot-shaft suspension for setting the angles of elevation and traverse of the barrel.

A prominent object for a gun of this kind is that it should be possible to use it for firing even if it is emplaced on a sloping or uneven base, without therefore having to re-calculate the set gun data for each and every different inclination of the gun.

In order to solve this problem, it is necessary to provide the gun with a transformation system which allows the aiming movement of the gun to be read off in a vertical-horizontal coordinate system. It is then appropriate to arrange the sight to be in a vertical-horizontal position regardless of how the gun is inclined or the barrel is turned around its pivot-shaft suspension. It is thus previously known to utilize transformation systems for sights and guns as above, but the hitherto known designs have in common that either a new manual horizontal setting of the sight is required for each traversing movement of the gun, or technically comparatively complicated devices are required which automatically perform such setting for each traversing movement. Thus, for instance, in several cases it has been proposed to utilize a pendulum or a corresponding device which with the aid of electrical servos sets the sight horizontally, which involves the extremely great drawback that the gun will be dependent on an electric power supply.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problem in that it relates to a mechanical design which also has an extremely simple construction. The feature that can primarily be considered to characterize a de vice according to the invention is that the sight, in addition to having a gimbal suspension on an axle parallel with or coinciding with an axis of symmetry of the bar rel of the gun is also connected with a control member arranged in such a way that the centering line for this and the pivot-shaft suspension either coincide or are parallel, in which latter case the control member which is thus at a predetermined radial distance from the pivot-shaft suspension also follows the angular movement of the barrel around the pivot-shaft suspension. The control member is also given such a relative counterrotation around its centering line in relation to the angular movement of the barrel around the pivot-shaft suspension and is fastened in such a way in the sight that this, at a given inclination of the pivot-shaft suspension in relation to a vertical plane, is set horizontally independent of the turning of the barrel around the pivot-shaft suspension. In addition the control member and/or its fastening means in the sight are adjustable for setting the sight horizontally for different inclinations of the pivot-shaft suspension.

Through the utilization of the invention it also becomes possible, for instance, that an objective located on the sight can be given a counter-rotation in relation to the angular movement of the barrel around the pivot shaft suspension, so that, independent of such angular movement, the objective is kept directed towards the reference point used for the aiming of the gun. Thus, a great advantage is obtained in that, for instance, when setting a new angle of traverse, it is not necessary to first turn the objective in the opposite direction to an angle corresponding to said angle of traverse and thereafter, by regulating the setting members of the gun to look for the aiming point in question in the objective. This has not been possible with previously used transformation systems.

An embodiment presently proposed which has the characteristics that are significant for the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the attached drawings, in which FIG. 1 shows a horizontal view of'a gun with a sloping emplacement and on which a sight is fitted; and

FIG. 2 shows a vertical view, partly in cross section, of the gun according to FIG. 1.

In FIG. 1, is shown a gun I, with a barrel 2. In order to enable the barrel to be set at selected angles of elevation and traverse, the gun is also provided with a trunnion 3 and a pivot-shaft suspension, which is not shown in FIG. 1. If the gun is emplaced horizontally, i.e., so that its upper carriage 4 has a horizontal position, the setting of the angle of elevation will be set by turning the barrel in the trunnion, while the angle of traverse is set by turning the barrel around the pivot-shaft suspension.

Further, a sight 5 is mounted by a gimbal suspension on an axle 6 which is parallel with an axis of symmetry 7 of the barrel 2 of the gun, and a bracket having two arms 8 which is rotatable around the axis 6. The sight is also connected to a control member 9, which is fastened to the sight at one end 9a. As may be noted from the figure, that the sight has an eyepiece in the form of an ocular 10, a rotatable objective means 11 and a transmission between the control member 9. and the objective 11 in the form of a parallelogram of which links 12 and 12a are indicated. The parallelism of the axle 6 to the barrel is obtained in that it in turn is supported in a further bracket 13 which is connected to the barrel in the trunnion suspension, which, further bracket follows the turning of the barrel around the trunnions.

In FIG. 2, a journal comprised in the pivot-shaft suspension is designated 14, and a centering line of the control member 9 is designated 15. The control member 9 is arranged on the gun in such a way that centering line 15 is parallel with the pivot-shaft suspension, more particularly with the line of symmetry 16 of this suspension. The control member is placed at an appropriate radial distance from the line of symmetry 16 and the member is also arranged in such a way on the gun that it follows the angular movement of the barrel around the pivot-shaft suspension. The radial distance is predetermined in conjunction with the designing of the gun.

The fastening device between the sight and the control member has a spherical surface 17 located at end 9a of the control member 9, which csoacts with a recess in a circular part 18. This part is supported at its periphery in a groove in the sight so that it can turn around its axis of rotation. The fastening device also has a locking member of a known. kind, not shown, which clamps the spherical surface to the surface of said recess. By actuating the locking; member, it is thus possible to release the clamping and set the part 18 horizontal in case the inclination of the control member (gun) should be changed. This horizontal setting can be made with the aid of, for instance, a spirit level, not shown. Finally, the control member is fastened at its other end 9b to a transmission in the form of a parallelogram, which comprises two link arms, one of which 19 is firmly fixed in the control member 9, and the other one 20 is supported in a lower carriage of the gun which is not shown. By means of this arrangement the control member can be given such a relative counterrotation around its centering line 15 in relation to the angular movement of the barrel around the pivot-shaft suspension 14 that, together with the fastening device described between the control member and the sight, it causes the sight, if the part 18 is set horizontal for a given inclination of the pivot-shaft suspension in relation to a vertical plane, at said given inclination to remain horizontal independent of the turning of the barrel around the pivot-shaft suspension. In the example of the embodiment the actual rotation of the control member will be zero, even if the control member turns around the centering line 15 in relation to, for instance, the upper carriage 4, as this movement is directed pposite to and has the same rotating speed as the rotation of the journal 14.

From FIGS. 1 and 2 it will be noted, in accordance with the above, that, for instance, the upper surface of the sight rotates in its horizontal plane when the barrel is turned around the pivot and trunnion suspensions at the same time as the sight and the control member are rotated in relation to each other, and this latter rotation can be utilized for a device for measuring angles of traverse which is located in an appropriate place on the sight. It will also be noted from the Figures that the bracket arms 8 move in relation to the sight in dependence of how the barrel is turned around the suspensions. This rotating movement of the bracket can be utilized in a device for measuring angles of elevation, and both this measuring device and the device for measuring angles of traverse are provided with scales. It is then possible, in spite of a possible inclination of the gun, to obtain a setting of the barrel which actually corresponds to the values given in a range table for elevation and traverse, which values can thus be indicated in the sight without having to re-calculate these or having to make a new horizontal setting.

In the figures it has also been indicated symbolically that the objective 11 is actuated by the rotating movement of the part 18 which is obtained between the control member and the sight via a parallelogram of a known kind, comprising inter alia the links 12 and 120, by means of which parallelogram a counter-rotation of the objective is achieved which keeps it on the reference point A used for setting the angle of traverse of the gun even when a movement of the barrel causes the sight to turn in its horizontal plane. This gives the possibility of setting new values ordered in the sight at the same time the setting of the barrel can take place. If, again, a transmission of such a simple kind as the para]- lelogram shown is then chosen, it is advisable to make it disengageable, so that the objective can be locked on the sight when the angle of traverse desired has been set. A possibility is thereby obtained for making fine adjustments, in which the objective can be given an exact setting on the reference point.

In the figure there is also shown a circle 21. A perpendicular line through the fastening point 22 would move on the upper carriage if the gun is rotated one full turn around thepivot-shaft suspension. In every position of the barrel on the suspension the inclination of the gun can be read off in a conceived coordinate systemfor the gun, for instance, through the intersection point of the control member in the upper carriage 4. A component 23 shows the inclination in traverse and a component 24 the inclination in elevation.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown above as an example, but can be subject to modifications within the scope of the following claims.

The axle 6 on which the shaft is arranged can, for instance, be allowed to coincide with the axis of symmetry of the gun barrel, and the bracket arm 13 will then have a different extension. It is also conceivable to have the control member 9 located so that its centering line coincides with the pivot-shaft suspension and the fastening device between the sight, and the control member can very well be made differently and then have a ball joint, a universal joint or a bend in the control member at its fastening end, etc. The transmissions shown in the form of parallelograms, which can be used for guns with limited aiming movements can, of course, be replaced by, for instance, gear transmissions. Furthermore, it should also be mentioned that even if the functioning is simplified to an optimum as regards relative counter-rotation, fastening, etc., variations of this kind are within the scope of the concept of the invention.

I claim:

1. A compensating device for correcting errors in the traversing or elevating angles of the barrel of a gun emplaced on an uneven supporting surface, said device comprising: suspension means including a pivot shaft supporting the gun barrel for traversing the same, suspension means including a trunion supporting the gun barrel for elevating the same, sighting means, gimbal suspension means supporting the sighting means, a shaft disposed parallel to an axis of symmetry of the barrel supporting the gimbal means, a control bar attached at one end to said sighting means in a position such that a centering line for the sighting means and the pivot shaft is parallel in which case the control bar is held at a predetermined radial distance from the pivot shaft, said control bar following angular movements of the barrel about said pivot shaft and also performing a relative counter rotation about said centering line in relation to the angular movements of the barrel about said pivot shaft, the attachment of said one end of the control bar being such that for a given inclination of the pivot shaft relative to a vertical plane, the sighting means occupies a horizontal position independent of traversing of the barrel about said pivot shaft, said control bar being pivotal for setting the sighting means in the horizontal position for selected different inclinations of the pivot shaft.

2. The compensating device according to claim 1 and comprising adjustable fastening means for retaining the sighting means in a selected position thereof, said fastening means including a spherically curved surface at the end of the control bar supported by the sighting means and a matchingly curved recess in a member supported by the sighting means, said curved surface of the control bar being in engagement with said recess for swivelling the control bar.

3. The compensating device according to claim 2 wherein said fastening means are in the form of a ball joint at the end of the bar engaged with said recess.

4. The compensating device according to claim 1 and comprising transmission means coupling the other end of the control bar to a stationary part of a carriagefor imparting to the objective means a rotation in opposition to a pivoting of the gun barrel about the pivot shaft for maintaining the objective means in a position trained upon a selected reference point independent of elevating or traversing of the gun barrel.

7. The compensating device according to claim 6 wherein said transmission means comprise a parallelogram means coupling the objective means to the control bar.

Claims

4. The compensating device according to claim 1 and comprising transmission means coupling the other end of the control bar to a stationary part of a carriage for the gun barrel to effect said counter rotation of the control bar whereby the actual rotation of the control bar is zero.

5. The compensating device according to claim 4 wherein said transmission means comprises a parallelogram.

6. The compensating device according to claim 1 wherein said sighting means comprise a rotatable optical objective means and transmission means coupling said objective means to the control bar, said control bar imparting to the objective means a rotation in opposition to a pivoting of the gun barrel about the pivot shaft for maintaining the objective means in a position trained upon a selected reference point independent of elevating or traversing of the gun barrel.