Support Means For Optical Sighting Instrument

Abstract

An optical aiming device comprises a sight mounted on a support so as to be adapted to perform movements in elevation and azimuth with respect to the support which is in turn movable vertically and rotatable horizontally about a fixed axis. The aiming device is based on the principle of bringing the sight on to the sighting line between the eye and the target instead of the principle used in known optical aiming devices of bringing the eye on to the sighting line between the sight of the aiming device and the target. Thus the operator, in order to aim at a moving target, need not move his body in order to bring his eye on to the sighting line between the sight of the aiming device and the target. He has just to follow the target with his eye and move the sight of the aiming device until it coincides with the sighting line between the eye and the target.

Description

The present invention relates to optical aiming devices intended for acquiring the data of a target and transferring them to a computer associated to the aiming device.

For the purpose of aiming at a target with known optical aiming devices, the operator has to move his own body in order to bring his eye on to the sighting line between the sight of the aiming device and the target. This has the consequence that a single position of the operator corresponds to each position of the target. A moving target therefore makes it necessary for the operator to change the position of this eye, and consequently of his body, continuously.

The present invention proposes to facilitate the aiming operation by making it similar to that of a normal pistol so as to obtain quicker, easier, and above all more instinctive movements.

For this purpose the optical aiming device forming the object of the invention is based on the principle of bringing the sight of the aiming device on to the sighting line between the eye and the target instead of the principle used in known optical aiming devices of bringing the eye on to the slighting line between the sight of the aiming device and the target.

More particularly, the optical aiming device according to the invention is characterized by the fact that the sight, which is adapted to perform the usual movements of elevation and direction is carried by a support movable vertically and rotatable horizontally about a fixed axis.

In order to aim at a moving target the operator, remaining in the same position, thus simply has to continue to follow the target with his eye and move the sight of the aiming device until it coincides with the sighting line between the eye and the target.

This is not possible in known optical aiming devices, because in the latter the parts performing movements of elevation and direction are carried by a fixed support.

The invention will be better understood from the following detailed description, given merely by way of example and therefore is no limiting sense, of one embodiment thereof, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates diagrammatically the optical aiming device according to the invention in a vertical section with some parts in elevation;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section, with some parts in elevation, of a detail of FIG. 1, on a larger scale with respect to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section, with some parts in elevation, of another detail of FIG. 1, likewise on a larger scale with respect to FIG. 1, and

FIG. 4 is a view of a detail of FIG. 1, in a position turned through 90.degree. with respect to the position shown in FIG. 1, and on a larger scale with respect to FIG. 1.

Referring first to FIG. 1, it is seen that the optical aiming device illustrated therein comprises a fixed base 1 constituted by two coaxial tubular elements 2, 3 connected together by means of an annular plate 4. The internal tubular element 3 projects from the external tubular element 2 and carries the axial sliding bearings 5 and 6 within which a column 7 carrying at the top a platform 8 moves along the axis of said tubular elements. A rope 10 fixed at one end to a counterweight 11 and connected at the other end at 12 to the bottom part of the column 7 runs over a pulley 9 supported by the base, passing through an axial hole 13 provided in the internal tubular element 3 of the base. The elements 9, 10, 11 constitute a counterweight balancing system enabling the column 7 to be moved with extreme ease and smoothness. Other balancing systems, for example hydraulic or pneumatic systems, may also be provided for this purpose. In a suitable position the internal tubular element 3 is also provided with a second axial aperture 14 cooperating with a projection 15 carried by the column 7 and serving as a guide and a stop for the end of the movements of the column. The end of a bellows 16 is fastened to the platform 8, its other end being fixed to a ring 17 on the annular plate 4. Said bellows provides a seal for the slidable part.

A movable unit 19 is supported on the column 7 and rotatable on a bearing 18, said unit comprising a training synchro box 20 connected by means of an arm 21 to an auxiliary training synchro box 22 on which there is mounted an assembly comprising the elevation synchro box 23 and the support 24 for an operating element 25 in the form of a pistol carrying a finder sight 26.

As can be better seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, the assembly comprising the elevation synchro box 23 and the support 24 is mounted on the auxiliary training synchro box 22 which is rotatable on bearings 27, 28. The support 24 carries a rotatable shaft 29 on which there is keyed the operating element 25 in the form of a pistol, which is shown in side view in FIG. 4. This element carries a finder sight.

The optical aiming device described forms an integral part of a firing station for conventional and/or teleguided weapons. It has the function of permitting the rapid finding of a target making use of optical means only.

The operation of the optical aiming device described is as follows. On detecting a target, the operator grips the pistol type operating element 25 and points it towards the target. In order to do this, he does not need to take his eye off the target or to make any movement of the head to track the target because, since the sight support can be moved either vertically or horizontally, he can raise the column 7 to the desired height and rotate the movable unit 19-21-22 on the column around the principal training axis A until he brings the sight 26 on the sighting line between eye and target, the precise acquisition of the target being effected by rotating the pistol 25 around the auxiliary training axis B and around the elevation axis C. The set of synchros 20, 22 and 23 automatically transfers the angular coordinates of the target sighted to a computer (not illustrated) which forms part of the firing station.

The aiming device according to the invention is capable of various applications: on land, in the air, and at sea. It is particularly useful when installed on board a ship, because during the aiming the operator can always keep his eyes fixed on the target and, since he does not have to move them in order to effect the movements of the sight, the rolling and the pitching of the ship has less effect on him.

Although but a single embodiment of the invention has been described, it is obvious that a number of changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

We claim:

1. An optical aiming device, characterized in that the sight is carried by an arm mounted on a rigid support column for rotatable movement about the axis of said support column, said arm extending laterally of said column and provided with an end portion, said support column being mounted in a rigid upstanding base member for reciprocable movement jointly with said arm longitudinally of said base member along a fixed direction, said support column having guide means cooperating with guide means in said base member and being connected to a balancing system, said sight being mounted on a manually operable control element which is mounted on said end portion of said arm for rotatable movement both about an axis parallel to and laterally spaced from the axis of said support column and about an axis perpendicular to the axis of said support column.