US2359032A - Remote visual control system - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 26, 1944. E. N. GOTT REMOTE VISUAL CONTROL SYSTEM Filed April 26, 1939 /M/A/TOA 0 6,4 R /V. 6 orr HARP/.5 /m-:cfg Fos TEAMS HA @IQ/5 0. OA 7745 HPM A rro PA@ Ks.

Fatented Sept. 2d, ldd

rr star REMOTE VISUAL CGNTRUL SYSTEM Edgar N. Gott, San Diegmlalit.

application April 26, i939, Serial No. 270,189

(Cl. 89u41) 6 Claims.

'nection with one of such uses, but it should be understood that rny invention is not limited to its military uses "out may oe applied in industrial or other fields in which visual control .of remote apparatus lsjimportant.

It is an objectof this invention to provide a system for the control by an operator of an apparatus at a remote location to permit the operator to control the operation of the apparatus in accordance with the scene presented at the remote location.

Another object is to provide a remote visual control system which provides means for con trolling the operation of a remote apparatus and in which a television image of the environment of the remote apparatus is provided for guidance in the control or the apparatus.

Another obj-ect is to provide a remote visual control system in which a television image of a selected remote scene is presented and means are provided for remote control of the-television device to vary the selted scene .a further object is to provide remote rdsual control system which permits control or an ap paratus at a remote location, presents a television image of a scene at the remote location, and varies the televised scene in a manner definitely related to the operation or" the apparatus.

Still another object is to provide a remote visual control system for a gun which presentsa television image of the region in line with the gun and permits aiming and :tiring of the gun by remote control.

These and other apparent objects are `at tained in a manner which will be clear from consideration of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

vals along a military front line, and the guns contained therein may be unattended and may be operated from one or more control stations located safely in the rear. Thus. the ollcer cornxnanding that sector can coordinate fire from all of the individual gun stations and can observey the detailed condition of the entire front without endangering his own life or that'of any of his men.

In the drawing, the numeral l@ designates a protective enclosure or pill box, showin in hemispherical shape and provided withl a horizontal slot li. Within the enclosure l0 is a machine gun l2 with its muzzle directed through the slot ll, the machine gun l2 being mounted upon a pedestal E3 which is adapted to be rotated by a reversible electric motor l through worm gearing l5. It will be apparent that rotation of the motor lil in one directioncauses the Y machine gun l2 to rotate in a horizontal plane in a clockwise direction, while rotation of the motor ll in the opposite direction results in rotationiof the machine gun l2 in a counter-clockwise direction, and that by controlling` the rotation of the motor ifi the machine gun I2 may be directed at any desired angle. tation with the machine gun l2 is a television lnder or camera l provided with electrical .means ll, well known in the art, for transmit.- Ating television signals over conductors i8, the

mounting means preferably comprising a pair of supporting posts l and ida. The machine gun l2 A. is equipped with a trigger 2@ adapted to be 0111-' erated upon energization of an electromagnet 2l. In the present embodiment, the television finder it is directed in the same direction as the machine gun l2 by the posts l9 and l9a in such manner that the television transmitting means transmits an image of the scene 22 toward which4 to a television receiver 2d, which may be of any construction Well known in the art, and which is provided with a screen 25, the television transmitting means i6 and il and the television re celving means 2t and 25 being adapted to repro- Mounted for roduce on the screen an image of the scene 22 toward which the television inder I6 and the machine gun I2 are directed. Means are preferablyk provided for indicating the direction in which the machine gun I2 is aimed relative to the scene 22. This means may take the form of cross hairs 23 located adjacent the screen 25 and intersecting at a point located on the image on the screen 25 corresponding to the point in the scene 22 at which the machine gun I2 is aimed. If desired. the indicating cross hairs may, instead, be suitably located on or in front of the television iinder I6 to accomplish the same purpose.

In the disclosed embodiment, the means for controlling the movement of the machine gun I2 and television nder I6 and for controlling the ilring of the machine gun I2 are shown comprising a lever 26 pivotally mounted at 21 in a housing 23 so as to be rotatable in a horizontal plane. The inner end ofthe lever 26,' located within` the housing 23, terminates in a knob which is adapted, upon clockwise rotation of the lever 26 through a horizontal plane, to engage a spring contact 30 and move it into contact with an electrical contact 3|, and which is adapted, upon counter-clockwise rotation oi the lever 26 through the horizontal plane, to engage a springcontact 32 and move it into contact with an electrical contact 33. The outer end o! the lever 26 terminates in a handle or hand grip 34 whereby an operator may, by a swinging motion,y

selectively move the inner end of the lever 26 to close either the contacts 30 and 3| or the contacts 32 and 33. Adjacent the handle 34 is a resilient trigger 35 adapted to be enclosed by the ngers of the hand gripping the handle 3'4. The trigger 35 carries an electrical contact 36 adapted to contact yan electrical contact 31 when the trigger 3l is moved toward the handle 34 by a squeezing action of the hand.

The electrical connections between the various parts are as follows: The contacts 30 and 32 are electrically connected together and through a conductor 35 tolone terminal 4II o1' a battery 4I or other suitable source of electrical current. The other terminal 42 of the battery 4I is connected to the common terminal of the electric motor I4 through conductor 43. One of the other `terminals of the reversible motor I4 is connected to the contact 33 through a conductor 44, and the third terminal of the motor I4 is connected to the contact 3| through a conductor 45. One

l terminal of the electromagnet 2| connects with the conductor 43 through a vconductor 46, and the other terminal of the electromagnet 2| connects with the contact 31 through a conductor 41. The contact 36 is connected to the terminal 46 of the battery 4I through a conductor 46 and the conductor 33.

In operation, assuming an enemy army advancing toward the pill-box III and presenting the scene 22, it will be found that the scene 22 is reproduced on the television receiver screen 25 in the control station. If the machine gun I2 is in suchva position, as indicated by the location oi' the intersection of the cross hairs 23 relative to the scene image, that the gun is aimed at an object desired to be fired upon, the machine gun I2 may berfired Vrby squeezing the trigger 35 to ward the handle 34 to make contact between the contacts 36 and 31 and energize the trigger operating electrrnagnet 2|. Releasing the trigger 35 will break the circuit through the electromagnet 2| and cause the machine gun to cease iiring.

If the machine gun I2 is not oriented in such a direction as to be aimed at the object desired to be fired upon, the gun.may be rotated inte position where it is so aimed by swinging the handle 34 of the lever 26 in either one direction or the other depending upon the direction in which the machine gun is to bemoved. The internal connections within the reversible electric motor I4 are such that when the conductors 43 and 45 arelenergized, the motor I4 rotates in such a direction as to cause the machine gun I2 to rotate in a clockwise direction as seen from above, and that when the conductors 43 and 44 are energized, the motor I4 rotates in such a direction as to cause the machine gun I2 to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction as seen from above. It will be evident then that when the lever 26 is swung in a clockwise direction about the pivotal point 21, the end of the lever 26 will move the contact 33 into electrical contact with the contact 3| and energize the motor I4 so as to cause the machine gun I2 to rotate in the samel direction in which the lever 26 is rotated, namely, in a clockwise direction as seen from above. When the lever 26 is brought back to the normal position shown in the drawing, the contacts 30 and 3| are disconnected and the machine gun I2 immediately stops rotating. Ii' the lever 26 is swung in a counter-clockwise direction, the contacts 32 and 33 are brought into connection, energizing the conductors 43 and 44 and causing rotation oi' the electricmotor I4 in such a direction as to cause the machine gun I2 te again rotate in the same direction as the lever 26, namely, in a counter-clockwise direction as seen from above.

As the machine gun I2 rotates, it carries with it the television finder I6, and the televised scene appearing on the screen 25 is continually changed, always corresponding with the scene presented in the .direction in which the machine gun I2 is aimed. Thus, by watching the screen 25 and by manipulating the handle 34 in one direction or the other, the machine gun I2 may be moved into such a position that, as indicated on the screen 25, it is aimed at the object upon which it is desired to ilre. The handle 34 may then be moved back to normal, the trigger 35 squeezed, and the gun fired. It will be apparent that I have provided means for viewing at a remote location the scene corresponding to any selected angle of view and for controlling the angle of view, as well as providing means for controlling the operation of a gun or other apparatus at a remote location in accordance with the scene presented in its environment.

'I'he vcontrol apparatus disclosed is for illustrative purposes only, and it will be understood that other and different control apparatus may be employed to control the apparatus at a remote location, all within the spirit of the invention. While I have shown a machine gun mounted to be moved only in a horizontal plane, it is obvious that the machine gun might be mounted so as to also be tilted at angles to the horizontal, and that similar control apparatus may be provided for controlling the'vertical movement of the gun in such a manner that the gun may be turned in any desired direction by manipulating the controls at the remote controlling station,

My invention also contemplates the transmission of the television image from the gun station to the control station through the medium of radio waves and by the use of apparatus well known in the art. The control of the apparatus at the gun station may likewise be eected by radio and suitable controls at the controlling station. My invention is not limited to the employ ment of any particular: type of television transmitting or receiving apparatus, and any such apparatus suitable for the purposes of the invention may be used.

It will be understood that the disclosure herein of apparatus for control of a machine gun in pill box is for illustrative purposes only, for my invention may be applied in many other situations and be put to many different uses.

These uses are only a few to which my invention may be put, it being contemplated that there are many industrial applications to which the advantageous control features of my invention particularly adapt it. It will be understood that in adapting my invention to its many uses, a wide variety of changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

' 1. In combination: a gun located at a gun station; means at said gun station for moving said gun to change the line of re; television transmitting means at said first location, including a nder disposed with its line of vision substantially the same as said line of fire, and adapted to move in correspondence with said gun; television receiving means at a control station, said television transmitting and receiving means being adapted to reproduce at said control station the scene presented to said nnder, and said gun and said finder being mechanically separate from said control station; and remote control means for controlling from said control station the operation of said rst-mentioned means.

2. In combination: a movable gun mounted at a gun station; means at said gun station for moving said gun to change the direction in which said gun is aimed; means at said gun station for iiring said gun; television transmitting means at said gun station, including a finder adapted to move in correspondence with said gun; television receiving means at a control station, said television transmitting and receiving means being adapted to reproduce at said control station the scene presented to said nnder, and said gun and said iinder being mechanically separate from said control station; means cooperating with said television transmitting and receiving means for indicating at said control station the direction in which said gun is aimed relative to the scene pre sented; and remote control means for controlling from said control station the operation of said gun moving means and said gun iii-lng means.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of: an apparatus located at a first location and designed to operate to perform a function of directional character; actuating means at said iirst location for changing the d1- rection of said apparatus; control means at a second location; electric wiring electrically connecting said control means and said actuating means whereby said control means may be operated to electrically energize said actuating means; television transmitting means at said rst location, including a nder; television receiving means at said second location, said television transmitting and receiving means being adapted to reproduce at said second location the scene presented at said rst location; and means maintaining the direction of vision of said nder in substantial parallelism to said direction of operation of sa'id apparatus.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of: an apparatus located at a rst location and designed t0 operate to perform a function of directional character; actuating means at said first location for changing the direction of said apparatus; control means at a second location; electric wiring electrically connecting said control means and said actuating means whereby said control means may be oper-'- ated to electrically energize said actuating means; television transmitting means at said iirst location, including a nder; television receivingr means at said second location; electric wiring electrically connecting said transmitting means and said receiving means whereby said receiving means is adapted to reproduce at said second lo cation the scene presented at said ilrst location; and means maintaining the direction of vision of said ilnder in substantial parallelism to said direction of operation of said apparatus.

5. 'In a device of the character described, the combination of a supporting member positioned at a first location; a device movably mounted on said supporting member and adapted to move relative thereto; actuating means associated with said device and adapted to be electrically actuated to move said device relative to said supporting member; control means at a. second location remote from said iirst location; electrical connecting means connecting said control means and said actuating means, whereby said control means is operable to attuate said actuating means; television transmitting means, including a' finder, associated withv said device and adapted to move therewith; and television receiving means at said second location, said transmitting and receiving means being adapted to reproduce at said second location the scene presented at said first location so as to assist an operator at said second location to operate said control means.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of: a supporting member positioned at a first location; a device movably mounted on said supporting member and adapted to move relative thereto; actuating means associated with said device and adapted to be electrically actuated to move said device relative to said supporting member; control means at a second location remote from said first location; electric wiring electrically connecting said control means and said actuating means, whereby said control means is operable to actuate said actuating means; television transmitting means, including a finder, associated with said device and adapted to move therewith; television receiving means at said second location; andelectrical wiring electrically connecting said transmitting means and said receiving means, said transmitting and receiving means being adapted to reproduce at said second location the scene presented at said rst location so as to assist an operator at said second location to operate said control means.

EDGAR N. GOT'I'.

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