R. V. MORSE. TRACER SYSTEM OF FIRE CONTROL. APPHCATION HLED MAY 10, 1920. Patented Oct. 19, 192.0.

TRAVEL EITHER WAY —-—-———-P \NVENTOR W4 R. V. MORSE. TRACER‘ SYSETEM OF FIRE CONTROL. APPL IIIIIIIIIIII mu 111111 0. 1,355,841. " Patenmd Oct. 19,1920. 3 EEEEEEEEEEEE 2.‘

TRAVEL EITHER W4Y————— F”$E$_ ‘ 60”” @WEWEWEWEWE 4 FUSES- I FIG. 5 ‘cu/v *2 g INVENTOR FU6‘E5‘— 42 2 METHWEMEWBWTEEYM 1 --—'# TRAVEL EITHER ‘WAY --—-' R. V. MORSE. TRACER SYSTEM OF HRE CONTROL. APPUCAHON mu) MM‘ 10, I920. 1,355,841 , Patented Oct. 19, 1920. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3,

/ FIG. 6

“ INVE'NTOR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT V. MORSE, OF I'I‘HAGA, NEW YORK. mimosa SYSTEM or FIRE ‘oon'rnon

1,355,841. Speci?cation of Letters Patent. Patented Oct. 19, 1920. Application ?led May 10, 1920., Serial No. 380,259.

To all whom it may concern: , the stream is shown by the substantially si Be it known that 1, ROBERT V; Mon'sn, a multaneous indication of a number of citizenv of the United States, residin r at points; . Ithaca, in the county of Tompkins and .tate Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 60 of New York, have invented a new and use shows the general operation of the system.— ful Tracer System of Fire Control, of which the heavy broken line following the stream. the following, taken with the accompanying and portions of the individual trajectories drawings, is a speci?cation. being indicated by the lighter broken cross This invention relates to anti-aircraft ar lines. Fig. 2 shows the belt for 65 tillery and in particular to‘a means for trac~ Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows a modi?cation in 10 ing the ?re of machine guns of the pom-pom which more than one gun is used. Fig. 4 type or in general any type of shows the ammunition belts for a two gun ?ring an explosive projectile. It has hereto Fig. 5 shows the ammunition belts Tor fore been customary to trace the ?re by in— a three gun set. Fig. 6 shows a modification 70 sorting in the machine gun belts bullets or for short range combat_'work of airplanes._ ~ projectiles containing a smoke emitting cont Fig. 7 shows the ammunition belt for Fig. pound which was ignited by the discharge of 6; and Fig. 8 shows a type of projectile the gun and left a trail of smoke behind the 'which vmay be employed. ~' projectile as it passed through the air, thus In Fig. 1 of the drawings, the machine 75 tracing the trajectory of the projectile. ‘gun I is pivotally mounted on the arm 2, With such tracers it is di?icult to get suffi which in turn isrotatably mounted on the cient visibility when using small bul pedestal}. The machine gun I is of the lets, especially at fairly long ranges; and the pom-pom or other suitable type capable of methdd was also open to thedi?iculty that shooting explosive projectiles having time 80 fuses. The gun I is fed by the ammunition 25 when the target was rapidly moving the smoke trails did not give a de?nite path or belt 4, one form of which is illustrated on a stream line, like water emitted from a mov larger scale in Fig. 2, where the belt 4 is ing hose, but gave instead a fan shaped ag shown carrying the cartridges 5, having the gregation of-smoke trails. This was due to explosive shells 6 for example. These shells 85 6 are set with various fuse lengths repeating 30 the fact that the smoke trails had a certain permanence, and that each trail traced the periodically in a. de?niteinannenwfor ‘ex path of sin individual bullet, withoiit regard ample. as shown in Fig. 2, beginning we will to the instantaneous relative locations of the say with a fuse setting of 3 and coming other bullets in the stream. down in five successive steps to a setting of 90 =}ths, and repeating the same group of ?ve 85 It is a somewhat wide-spread pular falx lacy that as a stream of water mm a hose successively over and over again throughout is swung sidewise, the individual particles the'length of the belt; or the steps can be of Water follow the laterally curved path of run in'the other direction. beginning with the stream. in other words, that the path of {éths for example, and following with set 95 40 ‘the particles is the path of the stream. On tings of 1, 1%, 21}, 3, and then starting again analysis it will be seen however that the with gths. 1, 1%, and so on: these values are path of such a stream at each instant is de illustrative by way of examp'le.-the gen termined by the relative locations of the va eral principle being that the length of the rious particles, each of which is foliowing a group should be adapted to the rate of ?re 100 45 different individual path. It will thus. be of the gun. or rate oftravel of the belt 4. seen that the path ‘of the stream is di?’erent in such a manner that a group will feed from the path of the individual bullets, when through the gun in a period of time about directed against‘ a moving target.’ Owing to equal to the longestafuse setting. This as— the time intervals involved, ‘it-is the ath sures that successive groups. shall appear to 105 50 of the stream, not the paths of the bullets, the eye distinct-from each other. which we really desire to 'know in‘ order to In Fig. 3 two machine guns land 1’ are direct the bullets on a moving target. ‘ shown on ccted together so as to operate as By this invention there is periodically pre a single ring unit. . The feeding mecha‘ sented to the‘eye the instantaneous relative nisms are geared together so as to run in 110 55 locations of a‘ number of projectiles in a. synchronism, and thecartridge belts are ar stream, in other words the‘ true curvature of ranged as shown for example, in Fig. 4, in 1,855,841

which two belts 4 and 4' are used to repeat neous as will make the string of bursts the eriodic groups; thus a given group can a parently ripple out from the gun, or rip be’ red more rapidly, or conversely, the pe back toward the gun he 'nning at the groups can be made longer, giving a greater arthermost burst-as per ectly de?nite number of di?’erent settings in a group. The strings then periodically meet the eye. 70 same principle may be extended of course In ?re against a movin target, such as to three or more machine guns working as a an airplane, the gun shoul be moved stead— unit, as shown for example in Fi . 5, and it ily and evenly in the endeavor to direct the will be noted that the groups need: not neces string of bursts through the target. It is 10 sarily always begin on the same bclt,—some~ important that the motion be steady and 75 times beginning on the belt 4, sometimes on even, or else the curvature of successive the belt 4,’, and sometimes on the belt 4". strings will vary so widely as to afford but In combats at very close range, such as be— little aid in the pointing of the gun. It is tween the ?ghtingairplanes 8and 9, in Fig. like trying to touch a moving object with a 15 6, a sin le indicating pointmay be used in; long and very ?exible ole, where the tip 80 stead o a string of points. In that case the does not respond immediately to the motion belt 4 as shown in Fig. 7 is of the butt. Owing to the motion of the equipped with small shells, (that is, explo target during the time of ?ight of the bullet, sive bulletsihaving time fuses), only‘at in» we are in fact‘v trying to aim at the point 20 tervals in the’ belt, with groups of ordinary which the moving target will reach at the 85 bullets 10 between. time the bullet gets there_.—‘~which operation ' In Fig. 8 there is shown, partly in necessarily involves a prediction of the fu~ cross-section. a cartridge 5 having a shell or ture motion of the target; and inorder to explosive bullet 6, containing an explosive make such a prediction, by any optical or. 25 charge 11, and equipped with a short fuse mechanical means, a certain steadiness of 90 12, which is. ignited by the propelling motion is necessary. Under this invention . charge of the cartridge. The length of the we create the optical illusion of a stream of fuse 12 is made according to the burning shells in order to uide the gun pointers in time desired. This simple type‘ of fusecan directing the ?re t irough the advance point 80 be used with small caliber projectiles, where of aim. It will be noted that, with the ?re 95 it is diilicult ‘to construct a satisfactory ade on a moving target, the string of bursts does justable fuse. With larger projectiles, such not indicate a trajectory, that is, the indi as the one pound shell ?red by the pom vidual shells do not follow the path indi- - pom type 0 gun, adjustable fuses may be cated by strin of bursts. What is indi 35 employed. cated is ‘the re ative locations of successive 100 The operation is as follows: the cartridges shells, ‘as affected by their relative time of 5 having shells 6 equipped with time fuses burst and the motion of the gun; this gives are arranged in advance in the machine gun the illusion of astream of projectiles fol belts 4 in the mariner described,—with the lowing a fairly de?nite form of path, and 40 fuse settings arranged to give a fairly simul as a practical matter when an apparent 105 taneous string of bursts, and the groups or stream can be placed through the target, the strings arranged in roper relation to the target will be hit by the projectiles. Each normal rate of ?re o the gun 1 so that‘the projectile follows its own trajectory, as in successive strings will appear distincttothe 45 dicated by the dotted cross-lines, Fig. 1, eye. When the gun is trained on a ?xed crossing t e line indicated by the string of 110 target and ?re opened, the trajectory ‘of the bursts 13, 13,——the successive strings being in- ' shells is shown by a string of bursts, con? dicated by the letters a, b, and 0.. The curva tinually renewed. If the fuse settings have ture of an apparent stream a varies not only been carefully ‘determined, with‘ regard to with the rate of motion of the gun as it 50 the‘intervals at which.the gun fires, the sweeps around, but also varies according‘ 'as 115 bursts of a whole-group or string can be the bursts of a string armsimultaneous" or made to occur simultaneously, the farther non-simultaneous.’ If si-mii taneous, the illu-‘ most shells having 'had time to travel to sion is analogous to that presented by a their point of burst while the ones with stream of water from a hose swung later; 55 shorter fuse settings are being fed through a1ly,—where ‘the relative locations of the 120’ the gun. If the belt is arranged with the particles are presented simultaneously to the fuse settings occurring in the reverse order eye. But if the bursts at one portion of the the bursts are! more irregular, so that the string occur at slightly different time‘from string is not so clear and de?nite, though other bursts of t 60 at string, the apiparent ‘ the periodic repetitipn facilitates the fire curvature'presentedto the eye is di erent. 125 control to a certain extent. The clearest in We are in fact dealing with an optical illu dication is generally given when the fuses sion, so .far' as a stream of successive ‘shells are so timed as to make the bursts of a strin following a de?nite path is concerned,—ex occur substantially simultaneously, or wit cept where the tar et is stationary. But re only such slight variations from simulta gardless-of how t e curvature is distorted . 180 1,865,841

or modi?ed by the relative time intervals in group will burst so'that the group will burst which the bursts in'a string occur, the fact su?iclently simultaneously in the air to that similarly curved strings are periodi have their relative locations of burst ob cally presented enables the device to func served, whereby there may be presented to 65 tion as an instrument for directing a pro the e e the successive locations of appar- , jectile at the proper point of aim for a mov ently de?nite streams of ?re, to aid in the mg target,-—since when any apparent pointing of the gun. stream, regardless of its curvature, is located 3. In an automatic aiming apparatus for on the target, the proper lead will have been ordnance, the combination of a machine 70 10 arrived at, and the moving tar at will be hit. gun, an ammunition belt for said gun, car The operation of the modi cations illus- ~ tridges in said belt, explosive projectiles in trated in Figs. 3, 4, and 5 issimilar to that the cartrid es, time fuses set for various of Fig. 1, the only di?'erence being that by lengths in t e pro'ectiles, the settings being employing a group of machine guns ‘as a ?xed in the same e?nite order in successive 75 15 ?ring unit the number of bursts in a single repeating groups in the belt, whereby the string can be increased, since a group of car ?re can be observed by means of periodic tridges can be dischar ed faster. In the rapidly repeating strings of bursts having modi?cation shown in ig. 6 there is no the same relative time intervals between the illusion of a stream of bursts, the gunner’s individual bursts in each string. 80 20 eye and the single point of burst 13 deter 4. In an automatic aiming apparatus for . ‘ mining the line of aim; these single points ordnance, the combination of a machine are presented in rapid succession, and have gun, an ammunition belt for said gun, car the advantage of good visibility. ‘ ‘ tridges in said belt, explosive projectiles in It will be understood that-the fuse set the cartrid es, time fuses set for various at 25 tings and groupings mentioned in the fore lengths in t e pro'ectiles, the settings being going are merely y way of example, and ?xed in the same e?nite order in succemive that they may have various values accord repeating groups in the belt, and the length ing to the type of gun, and ammunition, as of each group being proportioned to the rate well as the characteristics desired in the of ?re of the gun so that a group will feed 90 30 periodic apparent streams. Man other . through the gun in a period of time ap variations and adaptations within t e scope proximately equal to the longest fuse setting of the invention as covered by the follow of the group, whereby the ?re can be ‘ob ing claims will be apparent to those skilled served by means of definite rapidly repeat ing periodic strings. of bursts having the 95 in the art: 7 v V 85 1. In an automatic aiming mechanism for same relative time intervals between the ordnance, the combination of a machine individual bursts in each string. ' ' gun capable of ?ring projectiles in rapid 5. In an automatic aiming apparatus for ordnance, the combination of a machine succession,‘ means for resenting in‘ space ‘100 ’ the relative locations 0 a group of succes gun, an ammunition belt for said gun, car 40 sive projectiles according to a certain time tridges in' said belt, explosive projectiles relation, said relative locations being pres arranged at intervals in the belt, time fuses sented su?iciently simultaneously to ap in said projectiles, said fuses having such pear to the' eye as a- de?nitegroup, and values that the same fuse timing will be re means for rapidl andv periodically repeat peated periodically when the gun is ?red, 105 45 in said group, t ‘e same said time relation whereby the line of ?re can be judged by being maintained, within the repeating rapidly repeating periodic bursts. groups, whereby the gun maybe directed on 6. In an automatic aiming apparatus for the proper line of ?re through observation ordnance, the combination of a_ machine of the streams of ?re apparently indicated gun, an ammunition belt for said gun, car 110 50 by the strings of points comprising the pe— tridges in said belt, explosive projectiles in riodic groups. said cartridges, ?xed timing fuses of vari 2. In an automatic aiming mechanism for ous lengths arranged in the projectiles in a ordnance, the combination of a machine de?nite periodic order‘. in the belt, whereby gun, an ammunition belt for said gun, car de?nite strings of bursts will be periodically 115 56 tridges in said belt, explosive projectiles in presented to the eye when the gun is ?red. said belt having time fuses of various set In witness whereof I have hereunto set tings arranged in successive groups in my hand this 7th da of Ma , 1920. which the time fuse settings are repeated, adnna v. MORSE. the time fuses in each group-being set with Witnesses: 60 regard to the rate of ?re of the gun and the MARGARET SUMynn Moms, times at which the various projectiles of the Ersrn B. Monsn.