Anti-Aircraft Fire Control Device (1937)

8/22/2019 Anti-Aircraft Fire Control Device (1937)

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D e c . 6 , 1 9 3 8 . F _ RHQUSE 2,139,636NOCTURNAL ANTIAIRCRAFT FIRE CONTROL DEVICE

F i l e d May 2 1 , 1 9 5 7 5 S h e e t s - S h e e t 1

' " INVENTORf g g m v n f l . H o u s E


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Dec. 6 , 1938. _ F , R HOUSE - 2,139,636NOGTURNAL ANTIAIRCRAFT FIRE CONTROL DEVICE

Filed M a y 2 1 , 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 .

I n0 0 .mo )

INVENTORFRANK R . H a u s EHIS


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D e c . 6 , 1 9 3 8 . F _ R . HOUSE 2 , 1 3 9 , 6 3 6> NOCTURNAL ANTIAIRCRAFT FIRE CONTROL DEVICE I -

Filed M a y 2 1 , 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 31 9 / 1 ? 5/9550

47 55* 49Anal-v. . . 5 ' 5

4 4 2 / / , / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / I / / I IN\_IENTORf g n l v n H . H o t / 8 E

ORNE


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Dec. 6 , 1938. F , R , HOUSE 2,139,636 NOCTURNAL ANTIAIRCRAFT FIRE CONTROL DEVICE

Filed M a y 2 1 , 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 4

HIS ATTORNEY


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D e c - 6 , 1938- F . R . HOUSE 2,139,636NOCTURNAL ANTIAIRCRAFT FIRE CONTROL DEVICE

Filed M a y 2 1 , 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 5

i

V NTORIN\ ? g g w n . h o u s E2 MJR/TTORNEY


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P a t e n t e d D e c . 6 , 1938

2 , 1 3 9 , 6 3 6NOCTURNAL ANTIAIRCRAFT FIRE CON

TROLDEVICE YFrank R . H o u s e , Baldwin H a r b o r , N . Y . , a s s i g n o rt o S p e r r y G y r o s c o p e Company, I n c . , B r o o k l y n ,N. Y . , a corporation o f New York

A p p l i c a t i o n May 1 , 1 9 3 7 , S e r i a l N o . 1 4 4 , 0 1 81 0 C l a i m s . ( 0 1 . 33-46)

T h i s i n v e n t i o n r e l a t e s t o n o c t u r n a l a n t i - a i r - F i g . 8 i s a diagram i l l u s t r a t i n g t h e p r i n c i p l e sc r a f t ?re c o n t r o l d e v i c e s , e s p e c i a l l y t o t h e t y p e i n involved i n t h e P a r a l l a x mechanismwhich sound l o c a t o r s are employed t o l o c a t e th e F i g . 8 A i s a dia g r a m showing th e b i n o c u l a r sc r a f t a t night with o r without the use o f search- m o u n t e d adjacent th e f a l s e t a r g e t s i g h t5 l i g h t s . My n v e n t i o n a l s o has more g e n e r a l a p- F i g . 9 i s a t r a n s v e r s e s e c t i o n a l view s i m i l a r t o 5p l i c a t i o n t o ?re c o n t r o l a g a i n s t a ny r a p i d l y m o v - F i g - 5 , but Showing a modi?ed form o f t h e i ni ng target, even for d a y l i g h t use. . vention.M o r e p a r t i c u l a r l y , my nvention i s a n improve- F i g - 1 0 i s a S i d e View O f t h i s for mm e n t on t h e t y p e o f nocturnal ?re c o n t r o l d e v i c e F i g - 1 1 i s a diagram showing t h e problem i n1 0 s h o w n i n my p r i o r a p p l i c a t i o n ; f o r Universal v o l v e d , being a h o r i z o n t a l p r o j e c t io n o f th e t a r - 1 oa n t i - a i r c r a f t s i g h t , S e r i a l No. 8 8 , 0 8 2 , ?led June g e t s Course3 0 , 1 9 3 6 . According t o t h i s s y s t e m , a f a l s e t a r g e t R e f e r r i n g ? r s t t o F i g - 1 , t h e c o n v e n t i o n a l Soundi s d i s p l a c e d i n a h o r i z o n t a l plane i n a d i r e c t i o n r e c e i v i n g horns a r e S h o w n a t I , 2 a nd 3 , Whichdetermined b y th e m o ve m ents o f th e sound 1 0 - may b e constructed a nd arranged so m e wh at as

1 5 c a t o r i n azimuth a nd e l e v a t i o n , a nd t h e a m o u n t s h o w n i n t h e a f o r e s a i d D r i e r a p p l i c a t i o n 8 8 , 0 3 2 1 5o f such displacement i s made proportional t o the a nd in greater d e t a i l i n my P r i o r a p p l i c a t i o nr a t i o o f t h e speed o f sound t o t h e estimated S e r i a l N o . 6 6 , 1 5 8 , f o r Sound l o c a t o r r e c e i v e r s ,speed o f t h e t a r g e t , s o t h a t t h e a n g l e between t h e ? l e d February 2 3 , 1 9 3 6 - According t o t h i s S y sl i n e o f s i g h t a s i n d i c a t e d b y th e sound l o c a t o r tem. the s e v e r a l horns a r e mounted f o r t u r n i n g20 a nd th e l i n e o f s i g h t o n th e f a l s e t a r g e t i s the together i n a z i muth 0 h f r a m e w o r k supported 20sound l a g e r r o r a n g l e . from r o t a t a b l e graduated b a s e - r i n g 4 , a nd a l s oIn such a d e v i c e , t h e S e a r c h l i g h t may be 1 0 - f o r r o t a t i o n i n e l e va t i o n o n a common supportc a t e d a t some d i s t a n c e from t h e sound l o c a t o r , in g h0110W S h a f t 5 jourhaled i n b e a r i n g s 5 a nd 5 's o that a parallax c o r r e c t i o n i s n e c e s s a r y , a n d o n the fr a mewor k ( s e e F i g . 3 ) . Scale H5 shows25 i t i s one o f the o b j e c t s o f t h i s invention to i n t r o - the e l e v a t i o n angle when read 0 1 1 index 5 ( F i g - 25duce such a p a r a l l a x c o r r e c t i o n i n a simple man- 3 ) , While s e t t l e I H h o w - 1 th e bearingangle ( F i gner a nd so that when once introduced, the cor- 1 ) . Fo r rotating the Sound loeator in azimuth.r e c t i o n w i l l b e varied as th e sound l o c a t o r i s I s h o w a h and w h e e l 7 , the Operator o f Whi c hturned i n a l l p l a n e s , s o that such c o r r e c t i o n i s wears helmet phones 8 a nd 9 connected t o horns3 0 a p p l i e d properly both as a n azimuth a nd a n e l e - I a nd 2 through tubes H0 a nd I l l . S i m i l a r l y , 3 0vation c o r r e c t i o n i n a l l p o s i t i o n s o f the t a r g e t . the horns are turned i n e l e v a t i o n fr om h a n dOther o b j e c t s o f t h e i n v e n t i o n a r e t o s i m p l i f y wheel I D , t h e operator o f which wears helmeta nd improve u p o n th e m e c h a n i s m o f th e p r i o r e a r phones I I a nd I 2 connected through s u i ta p p l i c a t i o n , p a r t i c u l a r l y a s t o th e c o n s t r u c t i o n a b l e sound track t u b e s ll2~and H3 t o horns 2

3 5 a nd o p e r a t i o n o f t h e s i g h t i t s e l f . a nd 3 , th e sound t r a c k from th e horn 2 being 3 5Referring t o t h e d r a w i n g s , showing one form d i v i d e d , a s s h o w n i n my a f o r e s a i d p r i o r a p p l i ~my nvention may ssume. cation No . 6 6 , 1 5 8 .F i g . 1 i s a diagram i l l u s t r a t i n g my complete As s h o w n i n F i g . 1 , t h e r o t a t i o n o f t h e h a n d

a n t i - a i r c r a f t d e v i c e . wheel t u r n s t h e r i n g o r platform 4 through b e v e l40 F i g . 2 i s a d e t a i l e d s i d e view showing the par- gears l 3 a nd pinion I 4 , meshing with a n i n t e r n a l 4 Qa l l e l l i n k a g e mounting o f th e b ox on which the gear [ 5 i n s a i d r i n g . The r o t a t i o n o f th e p l a tf a l s e t a r g e t i s mounted. form i n azimuth c a r r i e s with i t , b y m e a n s o fF i g . 3 i s a plan view o f the c e n t r a l p o r t i o n o f arm I S , th e s i g h t i n g m e a n s proper H. In t h i sth e d e v i c e ( n o t showing t h e sound l o c a t i n g c a s e , the s i g h t i s s h o w n a s i n th e form o f a ? x e d

45 horns). ey e piece I 8 a n d a re?ecting mirror or prism 4 5F i g - 4 i s a v e r t i c a l s e c t i o n through the con- I ! ) m o u n t e d f o r m o v e m e n t i n e l e v a t i o n o n horit r o l b OX f o r t h e f a l s e t a r g e t , taken on l i n e 4-4 z o n t a l trunnions 2 0 a nd 2 0 ' . Said mirror p r e fo f F i g . 5 . e r a b l y ha s s u i t a b l e c r o s s h a i r s 2 | a t th e c e n t e rF i g . 5 i s a h o r i z o n t a l s e c t i o n through th e t h e r e o f , which t h e o p e r a t o r b r i n g s i n t o c o i n c i

5 0 same,~showing t h e d r i v e f o r t h e r o l l e r s w hi ch dence with th e f a l s e t a r g e t b a l l 2 2 b y m o ving 5 0r e v o l v e th e b a l l . u n i v e r s a l c o n t r o l handle 8 5 .F i g . 6 i s a d e t a i l , p a r t l y i n s e c t i o n , o f the par- The o p e r a t i o n o f t h e handwheel 1 a l s o t u r n s ,

a l l a x mechanism. through b e v e l g e a r s 2 3 , a s h a f t 2 4 which t u r n sF i g . ' 7 i s a plan view o f th e same, p a r t l y i n one arm f a d i ? e r e n t i a l 2 5 f o r the purpose here

55 s e c t i o n , inafter s t a t e d . H a n d w h e e l i a l s o operates the 55


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sound l a g a n g l e d e t e r m i n i n g d e v i c e i n b ox 5 6 .This i s s h o w n a s accomplished through sprocket2 6 a nd chain 2 1 , th e l a t t e r passing around i d l e r s2 1 ' t o drive a sprocket wheel 2 8 on the sames l e e v e with a second sprocket wheel 2 9 gearedthrough chain 3 0 t o sprocket wheel 3 | o n shaft3 2 . This d r i v e r o t a t e s the sphere 3 3 in one planethrough b e v e l g e a r s 3 4 , s h a f t 35 a nd f r i c t i o n d r i v ed i s c 3 6 .

S i m i l a r l y , the e l e v a t i o n handwheel H I turnsthe horns i n e l e v a t i o n through shaft l 0 , b e v e lg e a r s 3 1 , s h a f t 3 8 a nd p i n i o n 3 9 , which mesheswith a large gear sector 40 w h i c h turns the hornsin e l e v a t i o n . At the s a m e time the shaft i l l o f h and w h e e l I l l revolves a chain 4 | throug hs p r o c k e t wheel 4 2 , s a i d chain r e v o l v i n g s p r o c k e twheel 4 3 on s h a f t 4 4 , the shaft 4 4 a n d the s l e e v e 2 8 being c o a x i a l with the a x i s o f r o t a t i o n o fhousing 5 0 . The shaft 44 i s s h o w n as having asecond sprocket 45 thereon w hi ch d r i v e s , throughchain 4 6 , a sprocket 41 o n the s a m e s l e e v e 48 witha f r i c t i o n d i s c 4 9 p o s i t i o n e d a t r i g h t angles to thed i s c 3 6 , which a l s o d r i v e s the sphere 3 3 .The hains 30 a n d 46 are shown a s h o u s e d within an arm or housing 50 journaled o n the side ofthe m a i n b o x 5 2 a t a p o i n t 5 3 spaced from th ea x i s o f rotation o f hollow shaft o r tube 5 , to w h i c htube i s secured bracket 55 w h i c h i s f o r m e d as afork a t i t s outer e nd a n d within w h i c h the b o x5 6 , c o n t a i n i n g t h e b a l l 3 3 a nd t s d r i v i n g m e c h anism, i s journaled o n h o r i z o n t a l trunnions 5 1 'a nd 5 1 ' . By m e a n s o f t h i s p a r a l l e l l i n k a g e , theb o x 5 6 i s maintained horizontal as i t i s b o d i l yrevo lved in elevation a b o u t the center of holl o wshaft 5 , arm 0 being pivoted t h e r e t o a t 5 3 ' .On top o f said b o x 56 i s mounted the panto- ~gr a ph linkage 5 8 w hi ch c a r r i e s the f a l s e t a r g e t orb a l l 2 2 . As e x p l a i n e d i n my p r i o r a p p l i c a t i o n ,th e inner m o v a bl e point 5 9 o f s a i d linkage i sd i s p l a c e d from i ts n e u t r a l c e n t e r l i n e d i r e c t l yover the center of sphere 3 3 an amount p r o p o rt i o n a l t o t h e estimated a i r speed o f th e t a r g e t ,while the d i r e c t i o n or p a th o f the displacementi s determined b y t h e p o s i t i o n o f the r o l l e r 6 0 ,w hi ch s driven from th e b a l l 3 3 , a nd i s c a r r i e d b yt h e v e r t i c a l s h a f t 6 i v w hi ch i s perpendicular t oboth s h a f t 3 5 a n d s l e e v e 4 8 . Shaft 6 | c a r r i e s a ti t s to p a U-shaped bearing fr a me 6 2 , w h i c h mayb e made in the form o f a miniature airplane 63a nd within w hi ch i s journaled threaded shaft6 4 . T h r e a d e d o n said shaft i s a nut 6 6 whichc a r r i e s pin 5 9 s w i v e l l e d t o the inner end o f thepantograph. A knurled t hu m b p i e c e 6 1 r o t a t e ss h a f t 6 4 t o ' p o s i t i o n pin 5 9 f o r the estimateda i r - s p e e d , a s s h o w n b y s c a l e 6 8 , a n d the movem ents o f th e sound l o c a t o r w i l l r o t a t e the fram e6 2 and, with i t , th e miniature a i r p l a n e , s o thatthe miniature a i r p l a n e always p o i n t s i n the d ir e c t i o n t h a t the t a r g e t i s ? y i n g , i . e . , th e p atho r plane o f displacement o f pin 5 9 i s determinedt h e r e b y .

I t may e s h o w n mathematically that the gearr a t i o s b etween the e l e v a t i o n d r i v e to r o l l e r 43a nd between th e a z imuth d r i v e t o r o l l e r 36 shouldnot b e th e s a m e and, in f a c t , f o r t h e o r e t i c a l lyp e r f e c t r e s u l t s , a t l e a s t o ne d r i v e , i . e . , th e r a t i oof the tw o d r i v e s , should b e varied with a funct i o n o f the angular e l e v a t i o n cos 9 ? ) s i n . Fo rp r a c t i c a l p u r p o s e s , however, due t o v a r i o u s fa ct o r s such as soun d r e f r a c t i o n at low elevationa n g l e s a nd d i ? i c u l t y o f o p e r a t i o n a t high e l e v at i o n a n g l e s , the u s e f u l operating range o f thesound l o c a t o r i s in the region o f about 1 5 t o 75d e g r e e s e l e v a t i o n . For s i m p l i c i t y i n d e s i g n ,t h e r e f o r e , i n the p r e f e r r e d em bodiment o f my n

2 , 1 8 0 , 8 8 6v e n t i o n I take a m e a n y a ' m e o f c o s { 2 ) s i n Q ) a s. 4 a nd make the gear r a t i o s such that the speedo f r o l l e r s 3 6 i s . 4 t h a t o f the speed o f r o l l e r 4 9fo r the s a m e angular v e l o c i t i e s o f the sound 1 0c a t o r i n azimuth a nd e l e v a t i o n , i . e . , r o l l e r 4 9 i sdesigned to rotate 2 . 5 times a s f a s t a s the r o l l e r 3 6 .

Fo r i n t r o d u c i n g th e p a r a l l a x c o r r e c t i o n , 1 a dj u s t a b l y f i x a second p o i n t 6 9 i n th e double pantogr ap h arr ange m e nt. At t h i s point i s a connectin g p i n 1 0 p r o j e c t i n g from a s m a l l p l a t e l l a djustably pivoted o n top o f a c i r c u l a r plate or d i s c1 2 , t h e l a t t e r b e i n g j o u r n a l e d i n b r a c k e t 1 4 , p r oj e c t i n g fro m the b o x 5 6 b y m e a n s o f stub shaft1 3 . Th e p l a t e I I i s shown a s e c c e n t r i c a l l y p i v voted a t 15 t o d i s c I 2 a n d h as a s l o t 1 6 adjacent i t sf orw a rd end so that i t may b e c l a m p e d in a n y v vp o s i t i o n b y m e a n s o f c l a m p screw 1 1 . An r b it r a r y s c a l e 1 8 ( F i g . 6 ) may e placed o n d i s c 1 2 ,o n w h i c h a reference mark 9 o n plate I I i s read.When the reference mark s o n z e r o , the pin 10l i e s d i r e c t l y over the center o f rotation o f stubshaft 1 3 , as s h o w n i n the ?gures, s o that i n t h i sp o s i t i o n n o p a r a l l a x c o r r e c t i o n i s i n t r o d u c e d . I f ,however, t h e p l a t e i s m o v e d i n th e d i r e c t i o n s h o w ni n dotted l i n e s i n F i g . 7 , a parallax c o r r e c t i o n i sintroduced f o r th e s e a r c h l i g h t l o c a t i o n . The d ir e c t i o n o f l a t e r a l displacement o f the s e a r c h l i g h ti s introduced b y turning d i s c I 2 , w hi ch ha s a irectional a r r o w 80 thereon, so that i t points d ir e c t l y at the s e a r c h l i g h t . This may b e a c c o mp l i s h e d b y t e m p o r a r i l y d e p r e s s i n g a p i n i o n Mw h i c h no rm a l l y e ng a g es a ge ar 82 secured t o d i s c1 2 a nd turning th e arrow with th e ?ngers t o t h e ,pro per p o s i t i o n , after w h i c h the gears a re reengaged. The purpose o f the gears i s t o m a i ntain the arr o w pointing a t the searchlight r eg a r d l e s s o f the subsequent m o v e m e n t s o f th esound l o c a t o r in azimuth. To t h i s e n d , the gear8 | i s driven from s h a f t 3 6 o f azimuth f r i c t i o nd i s c 3 6 , a s b y means of worm gearing o n ske wgearing 8 3 , so that the a r r o w i s turned in the reverse direction to the azimuthal m o v e m e n t s o f thesound l o c a t o r , a nd a t e q u a l s p e e d .Th e e f f e c t o f t h i s p a r a l l a x adjustment on t h esystem may e seen fr om F i g . 8 . In t h i s ?gure,f o r the sake o f s i m p l i c i t y , the point 5 9 i s a ss u m e d t o b e adjusted f o r z e r o t a r g e t speed a nd

. the target B s su p p o s e d to b e v ery n e a r the horiz o n , with t h e sound l o c a t o r a t L , the s e a r c h l i g h tat S , and the f a l s e target at B ' . Wi t h o u t a pa ra l l a x c o r r e c t i o n , t h e s e a r c h l i g h t would o b v i o u s l ybe pointed o n the dotted l i n e SC p a r a l l e l t o th el i n e LB connecting the sound l o c a t o r a nd t a r g e t .I t i s obvious that t h i s beam would not s t r i k ethe t a r g e t , so that i t i s necessary t o turn the beamb a c k w ard l y i n azimuth through a n angle 6 ' t oSB. Now r a w LA a r a l l e l t o SB nd AB a r a l l e lt o LS, a n d AB' p a r a l l e l t o AB . I t w i l l b e s e e n ,by s i m i l a r t r i a n g l e s , t h a t

. A ' B . . 1 2LB "LBwher e A'B' i s the distance i t i s necessary t o m o v ethe f a l s e target to the l e f t a n d LB a constant inthe m a chine . I t i s a l s o obvious that AB=LS r ,in other words, the base or horizontal distancebetween the sound l o c a t o r a nd s e a r c h l i g h t , which.i s k n own . LB s the s l a n t range o f the t a r g e t a t .the time i t i s expected that i t w i l l b e s i g h t e d Therefore i t i s apparent that A'B' i s p r o p o r t i o n a lto .is

rangew i t h th e d i s t a n c e LS k n o w n a n d the range e s t i


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2 , 1 8 9 , 8 8 8m a t e d , t h i s r a t i o m a y be o b t a i n e d from a t a b l ea nd s e t up on the a r b i t r a r y s c a l e 1 8 . With t h i sa d j u s t m e n t , t h e b a l l 2 2 i s m o v e d from B t o A ,where t h e t a r g e t , sound l o c a t o r a nd s e a r c h l i g h tare i n l i n e . As the sound l o c a t o r i s revolved inazimuth a nd e l e v a t i o n , t h e f a l s e t a r g e t w i l l bem o v e d around th e c i r c l e C o f r a d i u s A ' B ' . S i n c e ,h o w e v e r , t h e f a l s e t a r g e t i s o b s e r v ed o n l ythrough t h e s i g h t I 8 a nd t h e o f f s e t remains alongarrow 8 9 p o i n t e d a t t h e S e a r c h l i g h t , th e p a r a l l a xc o r r e c t i o n w i l l b e c o r r e c t l y a p p l i e d f o r a l l p o s it i o n s o f the t a r g e t , s i n c e the p o i n t s on c i r c l eC w i l l be p r o j e c t e d along a l i n e connecting theey e a nd the b a l l under a s i m i l a r theory o f operat i o n t o t h a t d e s c r i b e d i n my p r i o r a p p l i c a t i o n8 8 , 0 8 2 i n connection with the i n t r o d u c t i o n o f thesound l a g angle c o r r e c t i o n ( s e e F i g s . 8 a nd 9t h e r e o f ) . Th e r e s u l t i s that the parallax c o r r e ct i o n i s c o r r e c t l y r e s o l v e d i n t o i t s proper c o m p onents i n azimuthal a nd e l e v a t i o n a l angles f o r a l lp o s i t i o n s of th e sound l o c a t o r . There i s , o fc o u r s e , superimposed o n t h i s m oti on d ue t o p a ra l l a x c o r r e c t i o n th e sound l a g c o r r e c t i o n due t oth e displacement o f th e p o i n t 5 9 , a s above des c r i b e d a n d m o r e completely s e t forth i n my r i o ra p p l i c a t i o n .

Th e introduction o f e i t h e r o r both o f these corr e c t i o n s r e s u l t s i n a displacement o f the f a l s et a r g e t 2 2 s o that the l i n e o f s i g h t must be readJusted t o s i g h t o n the s a m e f ro m the p o s i t i o ni n d i c a t e d b y th e sound l o c a t o r s . This r e a d j u s tment s e f f e c t e d , i n t h i s form o f t h e i n v e n t i o n , b ymeans of a crank-knob 8 5 . This device may b eb o d i l y r e v o l v e d i n azimuth t o turn s l e e v e 8 6 ,r o t a t a b l y mounted i n th e bottom o f th e housing8 1 , o n w h i c h the s i g h t proper i s mounted. Saids l e e v e i s s h o w n as having a n arm 9 6 extendingt h e r e f r o m , i n which s h a f t 9 5 o f kno b 8 5 i s j o u rn a l e d . M o u n t e d o n said s l e e v e i s a gear 88 w h i c hdrives a g ear 8 9 o n shaft 9 9 . On said shaft i s apinion 9 | which meshes with a gear 9 2 secured t othe base of the s i g h t proper. S a i d shaft a l s oturns the opposite arm f the d i f f e r e n t i a l 25 t o thed r i v e fr om th e handwheel 1 through s h a f t 2 4 .The planetary a r m o f s a i d d i f f e r e n t i a l o p e r a t e sshaft 9 3 so that the transmitter 94 w h i c h transm i t s t h e azimuth r e a d i n g s t o t h e s e a r c h l i g h ttransmits b o t h the azimuth m o v e m e n t s o f the

- s o u n d locator and the a z i m u t h corrections as ap50

55

8 0

65

7 5

p l i e d from th e s i g h t .Th e e l e v a t i o n c o r r e c t i o n s a re introduced b yr o t a t i n g knob 8 5 t o t u r n s h a f t 9 5 , j o u r n a l e d withi n arm 6 . The rotation o f shaft 95 lowers a nde l e v a t e s a short v e r t i c a l shaft 9 8 b y m e a n s o f apinion 9 9 , th e t e e t h o f w h i c h engage c i r c u l a r teethI 9 9 cut a round said s h a f t . The v e r t i c a l movem e n t o f s a i d s h a f t i s transmitted through s i m i l a rteeth t o a pinion IM a n d thence t o a n arm ofthe d i f f e r e n t i a l 2 5 ' o p p o s i t e t o the arm actuatedthrough s h a f t I 9 2 from e l e v a t i o n handwheel I 9 .The hird arm f said d i f f e r e n t i a l actuates a shaftI 9 3 which not only a c t u a t e s th e e l e v a t i o n t r a n smitter I 9 4 f o r c o n t r o l l i n g th e s e a r c h l i g h t , b utalso moves up and down a vertical shaft I9 5through pinion I 9 6 t o m o v e the mirror I 9 i n e l e v at i o n about i ts trunnion a x i s 2 9 . Th e d i f f e r e n c ein the d r i v e s from th e tw o d i ? e r e n t i a l s i s due t othe f a c t that th e s i g h t i s rotated i n v azimuthwith the sound l o c a t o r s , but not in e l e v a t i o n , s othat i t i s necessary to impart t o the mirror onehalf th e e n t i r e e l e v a t i o n a l m o v e m e n t o f both th esound l o c a t o r s a n d the c o r r e c t i o n . The movements o f s h a f t I 9 5 r o t a t e the mirror about trunn i o n 2 9 through p i n i o n I 9 1 , g e a r s I 9 9 a nd g e a r

s e c t o r I I 9 s e c u r e d t o t h e under p a r t o f t h e m i r r o rsupport. .

As h e r e i n b e f o r e s t a t e d , f o r a p r e c i s e p o s i t i o nin g o f the f o l l o w i n g r o l l e r 6 9 a t th e t r u e c o u r s ea n g l e 9 , t h a t i s , th e a n g l e between the l i n e conn e c t i n g t h e sound o c a t o r a nd t a r g e t a nd t h e h o r iz o n t a l p r o j e c t i o n o f t h e t a r g e t c o u r s e ( s e e F i g .1 1 ) the r e l a t i o n i s as fo llo w s:

G - t a n 1 %where Va r e p r e s e n t s t h e h o r i z o n t a l componento f t h e t a r g e t s v e l o c i t y ( V T ) i n t h e l i s t e n i n g p l a n ea nd V 1 . t h e h o r i z o n t a l c o m p onent normal t o th el i s t e n i n g p l a n e . I f t h e d r i v i n g r o l l e r s 4 9 a nd 3 6be driven a t the s a m e a nd constant r a t i o from thea n g u l a r v e l o c i t y o f t h e sound l o c a t o r ( m g f o ra z i m u t h and 0 : 4 , fo r elevation), t h e n

w; ' 7 iI t c a n be sho wn mathematically, however, thatt h i s i s n o t t r u l y c o r r e c t , t h a t i s , t h a t tan

KgVad o e s n o t a l w a y s e q u a l

6= a n - 1

but that th e t r u e equation s9 = t a n q ? c o s si n q t

I twhere w s t h e e l e v a t i o n a n g l e . Therefore I prop o s e , as s h o w n i n F i g . 9 , t o i n s e r t i n the d r i v econnecting th e azimuth d r i v i n g r o l l e r 3 6 t o th ea z i m u t h m o v e m e n t s of the sound locator a v a r ia b l e speed d r i v e o f speed r a t i o c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s c o s5 5 s i n 5 3 , w h i c h may l s o be written 1 / 2 s i n 2 2 ) .For t h i s purpose I h a ve Jaused the shaft 3 2 inF i g . 9 , which i s driven from the azimuth m o v em e nt s o f the sound l o c a t o r through a sprocket3 | , a s b e f o r e , t o d r i v e a f r i c t i o n d i s c I 3 9 withwhich engages a r a d i a l l y a d j u s t a b l e f r i c t i o nr o l l e r I 3 I . Said r o l l e r i s s h o w n a s s p l i n e d onthe shaft I 3 2 a n d h a v i ng secured thereto a c o l l a rI 3 3 , s o that s a i d r o l l e r i s r a d i a l l y adjusted from afork I 3 4 w h i c h engages th e c o l l a r a nd i s m o u n t e do n a cam pin s l i d e r I 3 5 . Said pin i s s h o w n ashaving a squared s e c t i o n s l i d a b l y mounted i nh o r i z o n t a l s l o t I 3 6 i n th e c a s i n g 5 6 ' . Th e pinportion I 3 5 extends outwardly a n d engages acurved s l o t I 3 1 formed i n extension I 3 9 from th eforked arm 5 5 ' w h i c h p i v o t a l l y c a r r i e s th e b o x5 6 ' , a s i n th e m a i n for m o f th e i n v e n t i o n . Th ecurved s l o t I 3 1 i s s o sh a p ed that the pin I 3 5 i sh e l d i n i t s innermost p o s i t i o n w h e n t h e a r m 5 5 'i s a t 4 5 , i n which p o s i t i o n th e r o l l e r I 3 I i s d r i v e na t i t s maximum speed ( s i n c e th e s i n e o f t w i c e4 5 i s 1 ) . The s l o t curves symmetrically a w a yfrom p i v o t p o i n t 5 1 above a nd below t h e h o r iz o n t a l plane thereof s o that the speed o f th er o l l e r I 3 I , a s driven from d i s c I 3 0 , i s diminishedb y being m u l t i p l i e d b y a f a c t o r 1 / 2 s i n e 2%0n the shaft I 3 2 i s s h o w n a pinion I 3 9 whi chd r i v e s a gear I 4 9 secured t o the d r i v i n g r o l l e r3 6 " , s a i d gear a nd r o l l e r b e i n g r o t a t a b l y mountedon th e shaft 3 5 ' which d r i v e s the gearing 8 3 f o rt h e p a r a l l a x mechanism, t h e s h a f t 3 5 b e i n gs h o w n a s d r i v e n through b e v e l g e a r s 3 4 d i r e c t l yfrom the s h a f t 3 2 , s o t h a t th e v a r i a b l e speed d r i v edoes n o t a f f e c t the p ar allax m e c h a n i s m . 'From the f o r e g o i n g the operation o f my nven

t i o n s h o u l d b e a p p a r e n t . The o b s e r v e r s ? r s t s e tt h e arrow 8 9 t o p o i n t toward t h e s e a r c h l i g h t ,

1 0

1 5

20

2 5

s o '

35

40

45

50

55

60

65

7 0

7 5


9/10

10

20

2 5

3 0

4 . . .f e c t i n g t h e i l l u m i n a t i n g range o f s e a r c h l i g h t sa nd t h e type o f t h e a t t a c k i n g bombers e s t i m a t eth e range L E a nd s p e e d . Th e proper v a l u e sa re then s e t up o n arbitrary scale 18 fo r theparallax c o r r e c t i o n a nd on speed s c a l e 6 8 , a ndas s o o n a s the a tta cking pl ane i s heard, the l i steners s t a r t operating the azimuth a nd e l e v a t i o nhandwheels I a n d I I I t o f o l l o w the t a r g e t with thesound l o c a t o r s , w h i c h , a s e x p l a i n e d , w i l l p o s i t i o nth e f a l s e t a r g e t 2 2 in l i n e with th e t a r g e t . Th eobserver through ey e p i e c e l 8 maintains the l i n eo f s i g h t on th e f a l s e t a r g e t , b y w hi ch th e properangles in a z i muth a n d elevation are transmittedfrom t r a n s m i t t e r s 9 4 a nd H 1 4 t o the s e a r c h l i g h to r , preferably, to a n intermediate or c o m p a r a t o rs t a t i o n a t w h i c h the binoculars are l o c a t e d a n dwhich r e t r a n s m i t s t h e h e a r i n g s t o t h e s e a r c h l i g h t ,i n accordance with the system s h o w n i n my r i o rj o i n t p a t e n t with P r e s t o n R . B a s s e t t $ 2 5 2 , 0 0 3 , 6 6 1 ,dated June 4 , 1 9 3 5 , f o r S e a r c h l i g h t d i r e c t o r s . Assoon a s the binocular observer s i g h t s the t a r g e t ,he a ssu mes control o f the transmission o f anglest o th e s e a r c h l i g h t .

I f d e s i r e d , th e c o m p ar at o r s t a t i o n may b eomitted a nd the a n g l e s transmitted d i r e c t l y t o thes e a r c h l i g h t . In t h i s c a s e , t h e b i n o c u l a r t e l e s c o p e sI 4 0 a r e p r e f e r a b l y mounted b y th e s i d e o f th eey e p i e c e I 8 ( F i g . 8A) a nd the mirror l 9 lengthened s o that i t may b e used both with thee y e p i e c e / a n d . t h e b i n o c u l a r s t o s i g h t t h e t a r g e t ,the binoculars being m o u n t e d o n the s a m e base9 2 a s - - _ t h e _ _ ey e piece a nd m o v a b l e t h e r e w i t h .P r e f e r a b l y , t h e b i n o c u l a r s a r e p o s i t i o n e d c l o s ee no u gh t o the eye piece s o that the observer mayl o o k with one ey e through the e y e p i e c e a nd witht h e o t h e r e y e through the adjacent e y e p i e c e o fth e b i n o c u l a r , so that a s soon as th e t a r g e t i ss i g h t e d , h e m a y , s h i f t over both eyes t o the bino c u l a r s and a ssume d i r e c t c o n t r o l thr'oughtheknob 8 5 , from which the transmiters 9 4 a nd I 0 4a re controlled. The i s t e n e r s may then continuet o o p e r a t e handwheels I a nd I D , i f d e s i r e d , a lthough t h i s may ot b e n e c e s s a r y , except that i tf a c i l i t a t e s p i c k i n g up t h e t a r g e t a g a i n i f l o s t b ythebinoculars. ' -As many changes could b e made i n th e a b o vec o n s t r u c t i o n a nd many apparently widely d i f f e rent emb odimen ts o f t h i s invention could be madewithout departing from the scope t h e r e o f , i t i sintended t h a t a l l matter contained i n the aboved e s c r i p ti o n o r s h o w n i n the a c c o m p a n y i n g d r a wings s h a l l b e interpreted a s i l l u s t r a t i v e a n d notin a imiting sense.What s claimed i s:1 . In a sound locator f o r a i r c r a f t t a r g e t s , thecombination with sound responsive r e c e i v e r sm o u n t e d f o r turning i n azimuth a nd e l e v a t i o na nd a ' s e a r c h l i g h t l o c a t e d a t a d i s t a n c e therefrom,a s i g h t m o u n t e d adjacent s a i d r e c e i v e r s f o r turni n g m o v e m e n t s i n l i k e p l a n e s , a spaced f a l s et a r g e t , a n d m e a n s f o r maintaining s a i d f a l s e ta rg e t i n the true l i n e o f s i g h t fr om s a i d s i g h t t o thea i r c r a f t , i n c l u d i n g m e a n s f o r d i s p l a c i n g s a i df a l s e target fr om the sound p o s i t i o n l i n e a s determined b y s a i d r e c e i v e r s p r o p o r t i o n a l l y t o theestimated speed of'the a i r c r a f t , m e a n s f o r determining th e d i r e c t i o n o f such displacementfrom the azimuth a nd e l e v a t i o n m o v e m e n t s o fs a i d r e c e i v e r s , a nd m e a n s f o r g i v i n g s a i d f a l s et a r g e t a n i n i t i a l l a t e r a l displacement r e s p e c t i v e l yproportional t o a nd o p p o s i t e t o th e d i s t a n c e a ndd i r e c t i o n o f the s e a r c h l i g h t fr om th e sound 1 0c a t o r , whereby t h e proper p a r a l l a x i s introducedf o r a l l p o s i t i o n s o f t h e sound l o c a t o r .

. 2,189,836a nd from t h e i r knowledge o f t h e c o n d i t i o n s a f - 2 . In a sound l o c a t o r f o r a i r c r a f t t a r g e t s ,m o u n t e d f o r r o t a t i o n i n azimuth a nd e l e v a t i o n ,a n adjacent s i g h t m o u n t e d f o r r o t a t i o n i n a z im u t h a nd e l e v a t i o n , a pantograph spaced fromthe s i g h t , m e a n s f o r m o v i n g the f r e e end thereoffrom t h e m o v e m e n t s o f s a i d sound l o c a t o r , a nddual means f o r independently adjusting the expansion o f s a i d p ant o gr ap h i n a h o r i z o n t a l planeto v a r y the position of a f a l s e target thereon o nw h i c h s a i d s i g h t i s t r a i n e d , one o f s a i d m e a n sbeing p o s i t i o n e d t o c o r r e c t f o r p a r a l l a x due t o th eremote l o c a t i o n o f th e s e a r c h l i g h t a nd the otherbeingcontrolled b y the r e l a t i v e v a r i a t i o n o f t h eangular r a t e s o f r o t a t i o n o f the sound l o c a t o r inazimuth a nd e l e v a t i o n a nd th e t a r g e t ' s s p e e d .3 . A sound l o c a t o r - s e a r c h l i g h t c o r r e c t o r a sclaimed i n c l a i m 1 , wherein t h e i n i t i a l d i s p l a c em e n t o f th e f a l s e t a r g e t i s i n l i n e with but o p p o

s i t e t o th e s e a r c h l i g h t displacement a nd o f a na m o u n t p r o p o r t i o n a l t o th e r a t i o between s a i ds e a r c h l i g h t displacement a nd the range o f th et a r g e t .4 . As a means fo r a s s i s t i n g in the positioningo f a f a l s e target i n a sighting device for use with

a n t i - a i r c r a f t soun d l o c a t o r s , a sphere mountedfor rotation in a l l planes, a d r i v e r o l l e r fo r rot a t i n g i t i n one p l a n e , d r i v e n from t h e turningo f th e sound l o c a t o r in azimuth, a second d r i v er o l l e r f o r r o t a t i n g the sphere i n a plane perpendicular to s a i d ?rst plane a nd driven from theturning o f th e sound l o c a t o r i n e l e v a t i o n , the rat i o o f th e d r i v e between th e sound l o c a t o r a n d thetw o r o l l e r s b e i n g a p p r o x i m a t e l y ' 2 . 5 , a nd m e a n sp o s i t i o n e d b y s a i d sphere f o r determining t h e r e ~s u l t a n t plane o f r o t a t i o n , s a i d f a l s e t a r g e t b e i n gp o s i t i o n e d i n p a r t b y s a i d means.

5 . As a means f o r a s s i st i n g in the positioningof a f a l s e target i n a sighting device for us e witha n t i - a i r c r a f t sound l o c a t o r s , a sphere mountedf o r rotation i n a l l p l a n e s , a d r i v e r o l l e r fo r r o t a tin g i t i n one p l a n e , driven from the turning o fthe sound locator in azimuth, a s e c o nd driver o l l e r f o r r o t a t i n g th e sphere i n a plane perpend i c u l a r t o s a i d ?rst plane a nd driven fr om theturning o f th e sound l o c a t o r i n e l e v a t i o n , 2 . vari a b l e speed device b e t ween at l e a s t o ne o f saidr o l l e r s a nd the sound l o c a t o r d r i v e , m e a n s f o rvarying t h e , speed transmitted by s a i d d e v i c e i naccordance with a function o f the angular e l evation o f th e sound l o c a t o r , a n d m e a n s positionedb y s a i d s p h e r e f o r d e t e r m i n i n g t h e r e s u l t a n t p l a n eo f r o t a t i o n , s a i d f a l s e t a r g e t b e i n g p o s i t i o n e d i npart b y s a i d means.

6 . The com bination with a sound locator f o ra i r c r a f t , o f a s i g h t a nd f a l s e t a r g e t t h e r e f o r f o r?xing th e t r u e l i n e o f s i g h t from th e i n d i c a t e ds o u nd l i n e , a co m puting device o n w h i c h said f a l s et a r g e t i s mounted, m e a n s f o r mounting s a i d dev i c e f o r r e v o l u t i o n i n azimuth a nd e l e v a t i o n withthe s o u nd l o c a t o r , means o n s a i d device f o r d i sp l a c i n g s a i d f a l s e t a r g e t from t h e i n d i c a t e d soundl i n e a n amount proportional t o the speed o f thec r a f t , m e a n s operated b y the m o v e m e n t s of thesoun d l o c a t o r in a zi m u t h a n d e l e v a t i o n f o r determining t h e d i r e c t i o n o f s a i d d i s p l a c e m e n t , a nda second means for displacing said f a l s e targetan amount fo r a parallax correction i n the o p p os i t e direction t o th e d i r e c t i o n o f searchlight d i splacement from the sound l o c a t o r .

' 7 . In a n a n t i - a i r c r a f t ?re control m e c h ani s m ,a primary d e v i c e f o r c o n t i n u o u s l y determiningb y d i r e c t o b s e r v a t i o n t h e approximate angularp o s i t i o n o f th e t a r g e t i n azimuth a nd e l e v a t i o n ,a s p h e r e , m e a n s f o r r o t a t i n g t h e sphere aboutone a x i s from th e azimuthal angular movements

1 0

2 0

25

3 0

35

40

45

50

60

6 5

7 0

7 6


10/10

10

15

2 0

2 5

2 , 1 8 9 , 8 3 6o f s a i d d e v i c e , m e a n s f o r r o t a t i n g s a i d s p h e r eabout another a x i s perpendicular t o the ?rst a x i sfrom th e e l e v a t i o n m o v e m e n t s o f s a i d d e v i c e , av a r i a b l e speed device b e t ween a t l e a s t o ne ofs a i d r o t a t i n g m e a n s a nd s a i d s p h e r e , m e a n s f o rv a r y i n g t h e s p e e d t r a n s m i t t e d b y s a i d d e v i c e i naccordance with a function o f the angular e l ev a t i o n o f th e sound l o c a t o r , a f o l l o w e r p o s i t i o n e dabout a n a x i s perpendicular t o both o f s a i d otheraxes o f r o t a t i o n in accordance with the r e s u l t a n td i r e c ti o n o f r o t a t i o n o f s a i d sphere about s a i d?rst two a x e s , a n d m e a n s p o s i t i o n e d b y s a i d f o ll o w e r , i n d i c a t i n g t h e d i r e c t i o n o f t h e path o f? i g h t o f t h e a i r c r a f t .

8 . An a i r c r a f t l o c a t i n g d e v i c e a s claimed i nc l a i m 5 , i n which s a i d v a r i a b l e s p e e d d e v i c e v a r i e st h e s p e e d o f d r i v e o f t h e azimuth d r i v i n g r o l l e rf o r t h e s p h e r e p r o p o r t i o n a l l y t o t h e s i n e o f t w i c eth e angle o f e l e v a t i o n o f s a i d l o c a t o r .9 . Th e co m b ina ti on with a s o u nd l o c a t o r f o ra i r c r a f t , o f a s i g h t a nd f a l s e t a r g e t t h e r e f o r f o r?xing the t r u e l i n e o f s i g h t from th e i n d i c a t e dsound l i n e , a computing d e v i c e f o r d i s p l ac i n g s a i df a l s e t a r g e t from the i n d i c a t e d sound l i n e a na m o u n t p r o p o r t i o n a l t o th e speed o f the c r a f t ,

5m e a n s o p e r a t e d b y th e movements o f th e soundl o c a t o r i n azimuth a nd e l e v a t i o n f o r determinin g t h e d i r e c t i o n o f s a i d d i s p l a c e m e n t , a t e l es c o p i c s i g h t adjacent s a i d other s i g h t a nd mova b l e t h e r e w i t h t o f a c i l i t a t e s i g h t i n g t h e r e a l t a rg e t w i t h o u t i n t e r f e r e n c e from t h e f a l s e t a r g e t ,a nd common m e a n s f o r transmitting th e angularmovements o f s a i d two s i g h t s t o t h e ?re c o n t r o ls t a t i o n .

1 0 . Th e combination with a sound l o c a t o r f o ra i r c r a f t , o f a s i g h t a nd f a l s e t a r g e t t h e r e f o r f o r?xing t h e t r u e l i n e o f s i g h t from t h e i n d i c a t e dsound l i n e , a computing d e v i c e f o r d i s p l a c i n g s a i df a l s e t a r g e t from the i n d i c a t e d sound l i n e a na m o u n t p r o p o r t i o n a l t o th e s p e e d o f t h e c r a f t ,m e a n s operated b y th e m o v e m e n t s o f the soundl o c a t o r i n azimuth a nd e l e v a t i o n f o r determiningt h e d i r e c ti o n o f s a i d d i s p l a c e m e n t , t r a n s m i t t i n gm e a n s a c t u a t e d from s a i d s i g h t f o r p o s i t i o n i n gt h e s e a r c h l i g h t , a nd b i n o c u l a r s i g h t s a d j a c e n ts a i d ? r s t n a m e d s i g h t a nd adapted t o actuate s a i dt r a n s m i t t i n g m e a n s w hen th e r e a l t a r g e t i ssighted. . ~

FRANK . HOUSE.

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