US2516435A - Apparatus for alignment of guns and gun sights - Google Patents

Description

July 25, 1950 c. e. TRIMBACH ETAL 2,516,435

APPARATUS FOR ALIGNMENT OF GUNS AND GUN SIGHTS.

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 1, 1944 INVENTOR. CLEM G. TRIMBAOH JOHN G. PARKIN ATTORNEY y 1950 c. G. TRIMBACH EI'AL 2,516,435

APPARATUS FOR ALIGNMENT OF GUNS AND GUN SIGHTS Filed Feb. 1, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 6

IN VEN TOR. CLEM G. TRIMBAOH JOHN C. PARKIN ATTORNEY APPARATUS FOR ALIGNMENT OF GUNS AND GUN SIGHTS Filed Feb. 1, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 44 INVENTOR. CLEM e. TRIMBACH 132 JOHN c. PARKIN A \m BY ATTORNEY Patented July 25, 195 v,;,;;= -,i

, I 2 51 i l APPARATUS FOR ALIGNMENT OF. GUNS," AND GUN SIGHTS.

Clem G. Trimbach;-Eggertsville,' and John C. Parukin, Buffalo, N.- i 56., assig'nors tov Curtiss-Wrighta] Corporation, acorporation ofDelaware l Application February 1, 1944, Serial No. 520,682

. 'fi'Claims. ,r it 1; .o. if, .JJ. This invention relates to thealignrnent or guns and Sights therefor, of the type wherein the sights are not directly attached to the guns inconnection with which they are used More particularly the invention relates to apparatus f o aliglning ,separately mounted guns andsights' therefor on a vehicle, such as anairplane. I I II I In the production ofniodern militaryaircraft, particularly of the fighter type, it haslbeencustomary to install the gun'sjin' the wingsand 'on a other places distant from-the operator. of the'guns and to sight and 'opera te the guns'byrrnote controh In such an ins tallation it is iinpossibleto ,employ the conyentional Itype of" gun in which the-sightis directlymounted on the barrel and substantially in line therewith. For such aircraft,

, therefore, it is custo m'a'ry' td mount the'jsight's inthe cockpit andthe gunsin thewin'gsor elsewhere withno direct connection-between thetwo except through the airplane structure itself jl ihe' co nventional wmetho'd of aligning such guns and sights, in an arrangement Toflthis sort, 'is toIinount ,I the airplane in'fi'ring posi I and'then to factuallyrline up both guns" andsights 'o'n a target. Ilhis niethod is rather cumbersome and consumes a considerable amount ,'ofitirne,sincefthe gtail 1 or gth'e airplane r'nu'stb'e lifted 'i'ntoflfiying "pfosi- {than before the gunfsights ican'b iri'ed' open a t a 'It is therefore-an obje cti-of'this inventionjto I provide. apparatus 'fo'r'f ali'g iil g'gunsfiand gun sightson'an aircraft or, ther'veiii'clejwithout re- I quiring that; both guns and'si'ghts must be lined I up on an actual target; Itlis anther obj ctto -pjroyide apparatus whih will considerably 'df'ice the time hitherto required for'angning :sights on miliary aircraft. It is f appear" hereinafter; 1 f 1 These ob'e'ct's' arefaccorn'plished, 'accordingfjto the present invention; by \niounting'jori the air- "eraft or other .yehic1etwofor mere sep rate, fix- '.'t'iires,hereinafter descrilq'eciiinor dtai l ii'ch 1.2m lined us with respect to e'rtain ocu atel "jigged parts o'fthebasic' airplane structur I least one of .such fixtures ig'a o cia'ted with gun sight, and at least one othe' ofsuch fixtures .is associated with a gun; TheQs ights-and} guns are" then aligned by means o'f't e'.,fixtures"associated therewith, .asihereinaiteridescribed;

I x nns} invention may he ino'ref easily understood ;by reference tothe accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1 is a perspectivfeyiew, withp'arts lo1 olrerr away for I convenience in: 'i1 1ustration,-' of a general arrangement according gtnapfesent -invention,-mounted en an airplane type. Figure -2 is an enlargeddetailyiiew of; a

portion of Figure 1-,, with the-". airplanestructure i *omitted. Figure 3 is a transverse section or- 1 an I enlarged scale, through the wing o f the, airplane taken a1 e th 3:: eilli e ratl..-.-lf i e heifighter,

he is iem ekenz l he in .47 of Figure 3, with the a an inastru e m tted- (Eisure 5 s a v t o fr nd n o re emf a emhodiment employing a, modified form QfgflX- 5 I tune. I Figure; 6 is a yiew taken along the line 5+6 of Figure 5. Figure 'Z i s a, side view, on-ali enlarged scale, taken along the line l l, .of;E?ig1 J,re I 1, with parts. of -.the airplane omitted for vconyenience inillustration. Fi gure 8 is, a view taken along the 1 ine 3-8 ofFigure Figure ais: a detail yiew, in perspectiveipf a portio n o f flthe I structure illustrated, in Figures .7Ifand 8Q. Figure I leis aview, orra still larger scalhtake fal'eng the line Iii-7i n qr ,Fighref' z; Figure 11. isi'ailfenlarged yiew, on the saniescfale asl igure 10:,of a portionfof Figure 8, with sorneparts' in cross section for, conyeniencef in" illustration; Figure 1.12 I is an enlarged longitudinal tress -section of; a

(prise-346) 1 'dica e'd ge'riei I zfcat'ed in t e drawingsrthe arr n! Q'rjth' ,"eun dbesnot pass thi'oiig'fithe lie'adingfedge 'lo the wine; In,

leadiijig'ede mam eageierrt "jili L the I W a'l hrou h the 'blaSt' jtube orffg' un'f ba' YreIi p assesjfis 'f ffilled upuexcept "for the 'space' occupied I I 0; threa ded hol e's. l1.1""Both"blas t tubejandi are removed for aligning the, guns, a' cco'r II to Q thejpresent 'nvention,'and their" plfac s taken by ali mng xture I'Battached'fftp the leading edge of the" wing; b0th as hereinafter 'describ itlt'S. and," efsight fizg m1 bead, sight.63j aligned throughitube'l 1. ,xrhe 'ritirefizitur removedias'inthercase of borebar 2,2Ian'd L8, afterth'eali'gnnientjis comiileted,"" nd'i'the and sights, arelth n,readyirofuse;,. I e'ferr'ing no'wftoi Figures ot r iened wine:

'. by a second plate member 49. The latter is held inplace by means of bolts 52 fixed in holes in plate 48 and passing through slots 5| in plate 49. The plate 49 is then moved vertically until the alignment marks 53 on plate 48 are in portion of either plate or bore bar. The term 1 fimark is understood to include such alternative forms of marking.

Referring now to Figures 1, '7, 8 and 9, the gun vertical tubular braces 81 and 96. At opposite ends of the cross piece 91 are journaled two tubular legs IN and I02, provided with cross braces I03. At the upper end of legs I04 and I02 there 5 is rigidly mounted a support I04 for a tubular line with the corresponding alignment marks 54 sight I05. A third tubular leg III is journaled on plate 49. When this adjustment is made the at-its lower en'don cross brace 89, and is welded plate 49 is fastened securely in place by tightennear its upper end to a diagonal member I I2.. A

; ing the wing nuts 55 on bolts 52. The alignment I'second support '4 for a second tubular sight is then accomplished, as in the case of the em- H5 is adjustably and removably mounted near bodiment of the invention shown in Figure 2, a the upper end of tubular members III and H2. except that the front end of the bore bar has Figures and 11 illustrate the mounting for a horizontal alignment mark 59 and a vertical sight supports I04 and H4, and also the method mark 58 to be put in line with the correspondof connecting'leg IIII to leg III. The means for ing alignment marks 50 and 51 respectively on 15 mounting sight support I04 is simple, and conthe plate 49. sists merelyof a member I06 welded to legs MI The marks shown on the plates and bore bars and I02 and sight support I04. The mounting for of the embodiments shown in Figures 4 and 5 support II4, however, consists of a bracket IIG may be of any convenient type, such as paint welded at the ends of the upper arm II'I along markings, grooves, ridges, etc., or may be an edge the length of support H4. The angle of the bracket is pivotally mounted in bearing pillows provided at the fore and aft ends of a plate I20. Welded to plate I is a bolt I I8 which also passes through a second plate I23 which is welded to sight aligning device l0 consists of a triangular members III and H2. Plate-I20 is oriented with support mounted on a frame, the apparatus berespect to plate I23by means of two studs I2I lng placed in the cockpit [5 of the airplane. The and I22 welded to plate I20 and passing through frame comprises two longitudinallyextending plate I23. Plates I20and I23 are held together base bars II and i2 and a transversely extendby means of wing nut II9 threaded on bolt II8. ing base bar I3. The transverse bar i3 is at-:- 3Q Stud I22 is elongated, and has loosely fitted over tached to two leveling pads l4 and I5 which its shank, in order, a spring I24, hemispherical serve to level the device about the longitudinal element I25, a slot in lower arm I26 of bracket axis of the fuselage I4. These leveling pads are H6, and a knurled adjusting nut I21. It is easrested on lugs 16 and I1, respectively, attached ily seen that movement of the sight II4 through to longerons I8 and 79, respectively, of the air-1'1 5 an are at right angles to the line of sight may be plane fuselage I4. The positions and orientaeffected by manipulation of nut I21. In addition, tions of longerons I8 and 10 are basic reference the entire sight II5, together with its support and points or jigging points in the construction of adjusting mechanism, and plate I20, may berethe fuselage I4. Thus, it is very accurately moved from fixture 10 by merely removing wing located with respect to the center line of the! 40 nut H9.

' airplane and to the points of attachment of the In member I06 there is provided a cylindrical fuselage to the wing l6, and with respect to the socket I0I. Into this socket there is fitted an exgeneral aspect of the airplane during flight. tension I09 of member III. The two legs IOI and The base bar II is connected to base bar I2 III are held in place by means of a set screw I08 through parallel links 80 and an adjustable link seating into a depression on extension I09. Mem- 8I'. After the device is rested on lugs l6 and hers I02 and H2 are held together by, similar 7 11, the base bar 12 is allowed to drop until it means. I

" rests on lugs 82 attached to longeron 18. The Referring nowto Figures ,12 and 13, the tubuwing nut 85 is then tightened to maintain the rellar sight I05, to, which sight H5 is similar, is ative positions of base bars H and I2. Finally, composed of apeep-opening I3I and alens I32, on

" the aligning device I0 is moved as a whole, to s which are mounted cross-hairs I33. Alignment "the right (Figure 8) until pad 83 and plate 84, of optical sight 6| is eifected by looking through "situated at opposite ends of base bar 72, rest the peep-opening I3I towards the lens I32, and

against inner edge 80 of longeron I8. This serves then adjusting the position of the optical sight to level. the device about the transverse axis of SI until its cross-hairs coincide with the crossthe fuselage I4, and also orients it correctly about hairs I33. Similarly, alignment of ring sight 62 I the vertical axis of the fuselage. The device is and bead sight 63 is effected by means of the secf-"tnen in line with the center line of the airplane. 0nd tubular sight II5, until the ring and bead Transverse base bar F3 is tubular in structure, sights coincide with the cross-hairs I33 ofsight and is strengthened by means of parallel tubular G0 I I5. transverse bar 90, to which it is connected by It is seen that sight II5, its support and mounttubular cross-braces 8?, 88 and 09. Bars l3 and ing may be removed entirely from the apparatus 90 are welded to plate 84, and all connections beby merely removing wing nut II9 andv then lifttween tubular elements I3, Bl, 80, 89 and 90 are ing the sight. and mounting. This is desirable also welded. Longitudinal base bar H is also con- 05 because in some varieties of planes only a single nected to plate 34, but the latter connection is sight is provided. The gun sight aligning device detachable. It is effected by two studs 9| and a itself, when removed from the airplane, maybe third threaded stud 92 welded to plate 84 and collapsed and stowed in a small space. This may passing through holes in bar ii. The assembe accomplished by loosening set screw I08, lift- }.blage is held together by means of wing nut 93 ing legs IOI and I02 from members III and H2,

on threaded stud 92. Transverse rigidity is se- ,1..cured 'bytwo short horizontal tubular braces 04 ftgand-95, welded at their opposite ends to plate @194 andto a short vertical tubular brace 96.

A horizontal c'ro'ss piece9l is welded to the two and then collapsing all three legs downwards about their lower pivoted ends. Longitudinal base bars II and Rare then separated from'the remainder of the apparatus by removing wing nut 93.

11; 7 The gun sight aligning'd'evice sinceit aligns the sights with-respect: to the center line of the airplane, may be used'on any airplane on which unalig nmg fixtures 8 are used. Itis not necesary'to provide different devicesqfl' for difierent "sub-varieties of airplane.

The apparatus of the present invention is pref erably employed-in an airplane or other vehicle having astandardiZ'ed construction, thatis, in *which the-basic reference or 'jiggingpoints' are i uniformly located in allairplanes of a given'type. -'l-Ioweverfltheinvention' is 'also applicable to air- -"plaiies'or other'vehicles in which the construction is'lessstandardized,'butin which the guns, sights "for otherequipment are often removed for modificatibnf adjustment, cleaning; servicing, replacing of broken or worn parts, orother treatment. In thiscase asepa'rate'- set of fixtures is provided "for eachairplane'or othervehicle. After the guns and sights ina vehicle are initially aligned by he conventional method and the fixtures calibratedtherewith'these fixtures constitute part -of"the "eqiiipment of thatvehicle and provide a z=memoa and "means ior realign-ing'the guns and sights when they are replaced in the vehicle.

The-above discussion has been in connection *w-ith a specific forni of the invention. It is obvious-f-however'; that many changes maybe made in this form" withdutdepartingfrom the spirit of "-thiniin'tion. It is tobe understood, therefore, that the invention is not to' be limited except as "definedin theappended claims.

We claim:

*liApparatus for aligning-*agun and a gunsight separately mounted in a vehicle, the gun -*beihg-'pivotally attached to the vehicle at a' basic referen'ce point for'theconstruction of said ve- 'hiclef a bar member forslidable insertion into """thebarrelo'f said gun, a plate member mountable in a fixed position with respect to another: basic con'iprising a b'arrnember for slidable insertion j into thebarrelof" said gun, a'plate member hiouritable in a fried position with respect to another basic reference-point for the construction of said airplane at the leading edge of said wing, anopening in'said plate member for determining the alignment of said-bar member there- *'-with,-'marks on said bar member-and said plate *"mmber for -accurately determining the align- 'ment of'saidbar member andsaidplate member, a-support'mountable in the fuselage of said airplane, a tubular sight accurately mounted on said support, said support-comprising aframe having a transverse frame member and a longitudinal frame member detachable fromeach other, legs attached at one set oftheir ends to said transverse frame member andfat their-opposite ends to saidtubular sight, said-legs being detachable at one set of ends thereof and'pivotally mounted ce"point" for the construction of said airplane,

" at the-opposite ends'the'reof; and stops =on-"said --longitudinalframe member for-accurately orienting said frame v'vith'respect tothe longitudinal "center lineof "said airplane.

3. Apparatus for aligning a guntmounted in a "vehicle, said gun beingpivotedata point accu- "rately" located with'respectto a basic reference -"point'-for the construction of said vehicle-geom- "prising" a bar member for 1 slidable insertionrlnto the barrel of 'said'gun, a plate member mountable in a fixed position with respect to another 'basic reference "poi'nt for the! construction :of said Vehicle, an opening in said'plate member xfor aligning said' bar member therewith, and ,marks on said bar member and saidplate-memberb 4. Apparatus for aligning a gun mounted infthe wing of 'an airplane, said gunbeingpivoted at a I point accurately located with respect to aFbaSic reference point for the construction of said' rairplane, comprising a bar member for slidable insertion into the'barrel of saidgun, a plate-"member mountable in a fixed position with respect to another basic reference point for theconstruction of said airplane at the leading edge of-said-'wing,

opening in saidplate member for-aligning' said bar' member therewith, and marks -'on' said bar member 'andsaid plate member for "accurately adjusting the alignment of said bar member-and said plate member.

5. Apparatus for aligning a'gunsight-mou'nted in the fuselage of an airplane, comprising asupport mountable inthe fuselage of said airplane,

- a tubular sight accurately mounted-on saidsupport, said support comprising a frame-having a transverse frame member and a longitudinal frame member detachable fromeachother, legs attached at one-set of their ends to 'said'transverseframe member andat the opposite endsto said tubular sight,said legs being detachable at other at their upper ends said legs whensoconnected defining with said transverse frame member a substantially triangular support, asighting device for optically determining-the alignment of the gun-sight mounted on one of said legs near the apex-of said triangular supportgandstop means in said longitudinal frame -member--for or enting said frame with-respect to-the longitudinal axis of said airplane.

CLEM G. RI AGH'. JOHN C. PARKIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file-of-this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Date Name I "Sheppard Feb; 18,11919 Stephen July 8, fl919 Schleth beefe -[1 921 Schubert May 2211934 Falge 'Jan. 24, 1939

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