US913493A - Alarm device for gun-turrets. - Google Patents

Description

J. L. HALL.

ALARM DEVICE FOR GUN TURRETS.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 20,1908.

. Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

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' Fig. l H I H I I I I a; at 5: A C C A i r: g FJLARIZED FULARZZED INYENTUH JUHN L. HALL.

j BY M 1% J. L. HALL. ALARM DEVICE FOR GUN TURRBTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20,1908. 91 3 ,493 Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

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INS/ENTER JUHN L. HELL.

BY W

QIAZEZ'NESSES: X

' ATTY JOHN .L. HALL, or

SOHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR'TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

AIVJARM DEVICE FOR GUK-TURRETS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patentedlfieb. 28, '1909.

Application filed Bay 20, 1906. Serial No. 488,874:-

Gun-Turrets, of which the :following is aspecification.

My invention relates to alarm devices for gun turrets and its object is to provide simple and reliable means for giving an alarm when two ad'acent gun-turrets on a battleship are traine at such angles that the fire of one will The limit forthe permissible movement of the guns of one turret toward the other turret depends upon the direction in which that other turret is trained. The alarm should therefore be-so arranged that it is controlled by the move lnents of bothturrets, and is operated only when the turrets are moved into certain relative positions. By providing such an alarm, it makes it possible to control each turret freely at an time, throughout the range consistent wlth the position of the other turret at that time; while, if either turret is moved so that the fire from either may affect the other, the alarm is automaticaly given. To obtain in a simple manner the joint control by both turrets, I employ a connection, somewhat similar to that of a Wheatstone brid e.

My invention will best he understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 shows dia rammatically a pair of gun-turrets provide with an alarm device arranged in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram; Fig. 3 shows a modification adapted for turrets at diilerentelevations; Fi 4 is a diagrammatic view of contacts contro led by the gun elevations Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of contacts controlled by the gun elevation; and Fig. 5 shows a pair of turrets at different elevations.

In Fig. 1, A' A represent diagrammatically a .pair of adjacent gun-turrets on a battlesh1p.. B B represent a pair of contactbrushes control ed by the movement of the two turrets, respectively. The operative connections between the turrets and these contacts may be arranged in any suitable manner. For the sake of simplicity, I have shown these contacts mounted directly on the turrets themselves. C C re meant a pair of-resistances, each provided with a series-of stationary contacts over which the brushes B B move. These resistances'O O are connected in parallel to a supply-circuit D. The brushes B B are connected to each other through a circuit which includes'themagnet windings'of a pair of polarized-relays E, :the contacts of which control the circuits of signal lamps or the operating magnets of a pair of bells or other alarm devices F lF which are placed one in 'each turret. The guns are represented by H H.

With the turrets in the positions shown the brushes B B contact with'e uipotentiai points on the two resistances, an no current flows through the magnet windings of relays E E. If, however, either turret is moved, the brushes B'B will no longer bear on equipotential points of the resistances, and a current will-flow throu h the circuit connecting them. This will best e understood by reference to Fig. 2, which shows a simplified dia ram of the connections. It is seen from t is diagram that the connections are in effect those of aWheatstone bridge. If thebrushesB are relatively displaced in one direction, a ourrent flows through relays E E in one direction, while if the relative brush displacement is in the opposite direction, acurrent flows through the relays in the opposite direction. The connections of the relay are so made that if either turret is moved, so as to train its guns away from the other turret, the current that flows through the relays E E is in such a direction as merely to hold-the armatures more firmly against their back-stops. If, however, the ns of either turret are moved toward the ot er turret, the'current, which flows through the relays E E, will shift their armatures and actuate the alarm bells F F. The alarm bells will stop ringing either when the first turret is returned to its first position, or when the second turret is moved so as to train its guns farther away from the first turret. The described arrangement automatically extends the angle over which each turret may be moved, whenever the other turret is moved so as to render that extension of the an le of the first turret ermissible.

In t e drawings, I have s own the brushes B B so arranged that they lie on equipotential points on the two resistances when the guns on the'two turretsare trainedin parallel vice. should be operative at all times.

two turrets can interfere only when the guns in the left-hand turretare trained above the horizontal plane, while the guns in the righthand turret are trained below the horizontal plane, or at angles where the blast from the guns of oneturret would injure those on the other turret. Accordingly, for such an arrangement of turrets I prefer to modify the control of the alarm device, as shown'in Fig. 3. In this figure, the circuit of contacts B B is'led through contacts G G controlled by the elevation of the guns. These contacts;

are so arranged as to open the circuit of contacts B B, and thereb to render the alarm devices ino erative w enever the elevation of the guns is such that the fire from the two turrets can produce no interference. The

arrangement of contacts G G is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 4, which-shows the ar-' ra ement for the lower of two turrets. -The lea s 12, leading to contacts B Bin Fig. 3,, are connected tostationaify contacts, which are arranged to be bridged when the gun. His elevated. When the gunis depressed, the circuit of-leads lg is open. automatically renders the alarm device inoperative, except when it is needed.

I do not desire to limit myself to the particularconstruction and arrangement of parts here shown, but aim in the appended claims to cover all modifications w uch are within the scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,-

1. In combination with a pair of gun-turrets, a supply-circuit, a pair of res1stances connected in "parallel to said circuit, each provided with a series of contacts, a pair of.

contacts adapted for relative movement over said two series of contacts respectively, the

relative movements of the two contacts, be-

ing controlled respectively by the movements of said turrets, a circu t connectin said movable contacts, an alarm device, ant controlling means for said device included in the last-mentloned c1rcu1t.

2. In combination with a pair of gun-tun,

rets, a supply circuit, a pair of resistances connected in parallel to said circuit, each prov1ded with a series of contacts, a pairof contacts adapted for relative movement over said two series of contacts respectively, the relative movement of the contacts being controlled respectively by the movements of said turrets,

a circuit connectingsaid movable contacts,

evice may This modificationan alarm device, an operating ma net for 65.:

rets, a supply circuit, a pair of resistances connected in parallel to said circuit, each provided with a series of contacts, a' pair of movableicontacts adapted to move over said two series of contacts res ectively and controlled respectively by t e movements of said turrets, a circuit connecting said movable contacts, an alarm device, andcontrolling means for-said device included .in the last-mentioned circuit and responsive to a current therein in one direction only.

7 4. In combination witha pair of gun-turrets, a supply circuit, a pair of reslstances connected in parallel to said circuit, each provided with a series of contacts, a pair of contacts adapted for relative movement over said two series of contacts respectively, the

conibmation with a pair ofg unturrelativemovement of the contacts being controlled respectively by the movements of said turrets, a circuit connecting said mov-f able contacts, an alarm device, controlling means for said device included in the last- 'mentioned circuit, and means for rendering 'the alarm device inoperative in certain relative positions ol' the gun.

5. In combmation with a pa1r of gun-turrets, a supply circuit, a pair of reslstances connected in parallel to said circuit, each provided with a series of contacts, a pair of contacts adapted for relative movement over said two-series of cpntacts respectively, the relative movement of the contacts being controlled respectively by the movements of said turrets, a circuit connecting said movable contacts, an alarm device, controlling means for said device included in the last- 1015 mentioned circuit, and contacts controlled by the elevation of the guns controlling the a arm device.

6. In combination with a pair of gun-turrets, a supply-circuit, a pair of resistances connected in parallel to said circuit, each provided with a series of contacts, a pair of movable contacts adapted to move over said two series of contacts res ectively and controlled respectively by t 1e movements of said turrets, a circuit connecting said movable contacts, an alarm' device, controlling means for said device included in the lastmentioned circuit, and contacts controlled by the elevation of the guns included in said last mentioned circuit. 7

In witness whereof, I have hereunto. set my hand this 19 day of May, 1908. Y 5

JOHN L. HALLZ,

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