Improved Method of and Means for Controlling the Firing of Guns on Warships.

摘要

122,199. Clague, F. April 5, 1917. Gyroscopic apparatus. - Relates to apparatus adapted to close an electric firing circuit of a naval gun when the ship has moved through the full extent of its roll in an upward direction, or when the roll has reached a predetermined angle, of the kind in which a pendulum, which may be combined with a gyroscope, is supported on a universal joint and is connected to one contact of a switch the other contact of which moves with the ship. According to the invention the contact controlled by the pendulum is mounted on the intermediate member of the universal joint on which the pen. dulum is mounted and the frame of the instrument is rotatable about a vertical axis so that the axis of the intermediate member can be trained to lie perpendicular to the vertical plane passing through the gun and the target. In the construction shown, the pendulum M, which is combined with a gyroscope 0, is mounted by a knuckle joint N to a shaft L. The movable contact 19 is carried at the end of a pointer U carried by a shaft R geared to the shaft L by multiplying gearing comprising a toothed sector P on the shaft L, and a pinion Q on the shaft R. The contact 19 coacts with a contact 18 carried hy an arm 5 on an adjustable wheel 6 which can be set to the desired angular position by means of a hand-wheel 10 and suitable gearing. A second switch device in the circuit comprises a small insulated sector 23, Fig. 1, moving with the pendulum and engaged by two adjacent brushes 21, 22. When the pendulum swings to the right, Fig. 1, the circuit is immediately broken but when the pendulum swings to the left the switch 21, 22, 23, remains closed for about 17 degrees. The gyroscope 0 has its axis perpendicular and is driven by an air jet acting on its periphery which is formed with a series of pockets or recesses. The air under pressure is supplied to the jet through the pendulum rod and shaft L. A catch 28 operated by a lever 31 is provided for locking the pendulum in its central position.