GB572824A - Improvements in or relating to apparatus for the training of personnel in the identification and study of planes, tanks and ships; also to train personnel in the observation of tracer shells, estimation of range, angular change and factors affecting firecontrol - Google Patents

Abstract

572,824. Apparatus for teaching aircraft &c. recognition. HUNT, G. V. Feb. 16, 1942, No. 2044. [Class 146 (ii)] [Also in Group XXI] An apparatus for training personnel in the recognition of aircraft, tanks and ships comprises in combination a model of the aircraft &c. mounted on a rotatable vertically-arranged member and a longitudinally movable mirror in which an image of the model can be seen undergoing variations in the angle of sight, course angle, height and slant range. Two examples are described: (1) (Figs. 1, 5, 6 and 7). Graduated height bars 2, movable along side members 1, adjustably support a flight bar 3 graduated to represent seconds of time. On a fixed column 6 is rotatably mounted a tube 8 slotted at 8a to receive a graduated slant range bar 10 pivoted to the tube 8 by pins 10a. Within the tube 8 is a second tube 11, 'the bifurcated lower end of which is secured to the bar 10 and the reduced upper part of which is enclosed in a " Cellophane " (Registered Trade Mark) tube 12 and is connected to one part 13 of a bell-crank lever pivoted at 13a in the tube 12, the other part of the lever comprising two arms 14 which support a model aircraft 15. The bar 10 rests on the bar 3, and by raising and lowering the latter, the model is tilted. The tube 8 carries a pointer 9 which moves over a fixed protractor dial 7. The mirror 16 is mounted in a frame moved towards and away from the personnel by means of a hand wheel 20 and ropes 21. Cloud and night and day effects are obtained by arranging material of varying opacity on a movable glass sheet 23 arranged behind the model, liglits 24 being arranged to shine through the sheet and on t another mirror 25. To give the effect of an infinity of space, a cyclor may be' arranged behind the model. An arm 26 carried by the tube 8 may control the cloud effect. (2) (Figs. 11 and 14). The model 15 is mounted on a spindle 28 turned by a chain-and-sprocket wheel 31. Removable boards 33 of differing height or fitted in alternative holes in the base 29 form supports for a rod 34 secured to the spindle 28. Coloured slides at 35, 37 are illuminated. The mirror 16a runs on track 38. To simulate the effect of tracer bullets, a large number of very small holes are made in the reflecting back surface of the mirror and a torch 41 having a red bulb is positioned therebehind, the circuit of the torch 'being completed by making a contact between the zinc casing of the torch and a perforated zinc mirrorbacking 39 connected to a dry battery 40.