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Aviation History
1914
1914 - 0369.PDF
APRIL 4, 1914. I/O GHT A BOMB-SIGHTING DEVICE. OK the stand of the Aircraft Manufacturing Co. at Olympia a extremely ingenious device was exhibited, the Coursin Bomb Sighting apparatus. Its greatest claim upon our attention does not rest upon its ingenuity, but upon the simplicity with which it can be employed, as the observer, after setting the mechanism for the height at which the aircraft may be above the ground and adjusting it for the speed relative to the eaith, has only to wait until the object aimed at is in line with a pointer within the box and then to drop the bomb over the side of the nacelle or fuselage. The general appearance of the apparatus is shown in the accom panying photograph ; and will be seen to consist of a box, within which the controlling mechanism is placed, surmounted by a pyra midal shaped cover. On the outside of the box is a casing containing a small electric motor which is driven by current from an accumulator. This motor drives a vertical shaft within the box by means of gearing. To the right of the casing is seen a circular wheel having two diameters, which is con nected by mechanism to a rubber-covered wheel mounted upon the vertical shaft driven by the motor so that the rotation of the hand-wheel causes the rubber-covered wheel to move radially over a circular disc, mounted on a horizontal axis, against which it presses. The larger diameter of the hand wheel is graduated to a suitable scale for the adjustment of the mechanism for height above the ground, hence, as the aeroplane rises, the observer sets the wheel to the corresponding height, and in so doing moves the rubber-covered wheel within the box nearer to the centre of the circular disc. The latter is con nected to another and similar disc on the opposite side of the box against which a second rubber- covered wheel is pressed. This rubber-covered wheel drives a small drum, around which an endless thread, knotted at regular intervals, is wound, the thread being taken to the extreme ends of the box and, passing over fair-leads, is taken along the centre line near the upper edge of the box. The location of the second rubber-covered wheel on its disc is determined by mechanism operated by the small knob seen at the end of the box, as well as by the height-adjusting gear, which is inter-connected with it, and a steel band, carrying a pointer, is con nected therewith, so that when the knob is rotated, the rubber wheel is caused to move radially inwards or outwards, and the pointer carried by the steel band to move along the length of the box. We therefore see that the endless thread is caused to move by the electric motor, its speed being determined by the radial position of the two rubber-covered wheels on their respective discs. In the bottom of the box is a slide, carrying a lens which projects an image of the groundjover which the aeroplane is passing upon a ground glass screen in the bottom of the tapered cover. Thus an observer looking through the eyepiece at the top sees a projected view of the country beneath upon which is also shown the shadow cast by the endless thread down the centre of the box and the pointer carried by the steel band. The position of the lens is varied by the rotation of the handwheel used for making the adjustment for height. ® ® AERONAUTICAL SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN. Official Notices. 1. Election.—Member: A. Klemin Schmidt. 2. Meeting. —The eleventh meeting of the present session will be held on Wednesday, April 15th, at 8.30 p.m., when Brigadier- General D. Henderson, C.B., D.S.O., will preside. Mr. Griffith Brewer, A.F.Ae.S., and Lieut. J. N. Fletcher, R.E., will read a paper, to be followed by a discussion, on " The Value of Ballooning as a Training for Flying." Tickets for visitors, not introduced, may be obtained from the Secretary, 11, Adam Street, Adelphi, W.C. B. G. COOPER, Secretary. To sight the apparatus, the observer rotates the hand wheel until the graduation corresponding to the elevation at which the machine is flying is opposite the index pointer, and adjusts the speed correction knob, so that the speed of the thread over the ground glass screen is the same as the speed of movement of the earth projected on the same screen. The pointer inside the box and the line are now in certain positions, and the image of the former and of the earth is seen by the observer, and when the object and the pointer come into line, the bomb is dropped. A spirit level is attached to the side of the box with a movable balance weight for keeping the apparatus horixontal, and means are provided for moving the apparatus so as to compensate for the angle "Flight" Copyright. View of the Coursin bomb-dropping apparatus from the motor side, showing adjusting handles. BIRMINGHAM AERO CLUB THE past month has been rather quiet partly owing to the bad weather, and Messrs. Lowy and Swingler have again experienced bad luck with their monoplane. First the engine shaft screwed out of the flywheel whilst the engine was being tested and a week later a wind damaged the tent in which the machine was of inclination of the machine with the direction of flight. This apparatus was used in the Michelin bomb-dropping competition, when the first and second prizes were won on Maurice Farman aeroplanes. The bomb exhibited on this stand also calls for notice. It is torpedo shaped and provided with fins near the tail, so that as it passes through the air the bomb is caused to rotate. This rotation is necessary first of all for directive purposes, and secondly to render the bomb " live." In the nose of the shell there is a safety fuze, the detonator cap being incapable of moving forward against the striker until the spring-locking gear is disengaged by the action of centrifugal force. As the bomb falls through the air, these locking springs are thrown radially outwards, and on striking the ground the detonator cap is impelled upon the striker, thus firing the bomb. ® ® sheltering and at the same time damaging the monoplane. However, the damages are now being put right and the aeroplane should be quite ready for the tests again in a fortnight's time. During this weekend Messrs. Trykle and Baker have completed their propeller which Mr. Prosser will be trying and testing on his Caudron biplane. On several occasions Mr. Prosser has started out alone from the club aerodrome. Taking the shutters of the hangar down, wheeling out the aeroplane, starting the engine and starting off have all been accomplished without a single person near at hand. The Anzani engine has now been running very beautifully, it being possible to throttle it down to less than 200 r.p.m., the propeller almost being seen as it is rotating. ® ® ® ® PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED. The Brooklands Year-Book, 1914. The Brooklands Automobile Racing Club, Carlton House, Regent Street, S.VV, "7 he Age of Risks." Burroughs.WellcomeandCo., London, E.C. Animal Flight: a Record of Observation. By Dr. E. H. Hankin. London: Iliffe and Sons, Ltd. Price \zs. 6d. 369
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