Patent GB-190414636-A (GB)
Title: Improvement in Target Practice Apparatus
Inventor: CUMMINGS HENRY HAVELOCK
Filed: 1904-06-29
Granted: 1904-08-11
Abstract: 14,636. Cummings, H. H. July 10, A.D. 1903, [date applied for under Patents Act, A.D. 1901]. Rifle and gunnery practice, teachi n g.-Relates to improvements in the target practice apparatus described i n Specification No. 745, A.D. 1903, in which a record of the aim is taken without the use of projectiles. Fig. 1 is a rear elevation, Fig. 3 a longitudinal sectional elevation of the upper part of the apparatus, and Fig. 17 a perspective view. The rifle E is suspended from a frame D' pivoted to a frame D on a gyratory rod C, which is supported by a universal bearing c<1> in a bracket c formed on the end of a tubular beam B, pivoted to a transverse pin b and adjusted vertically by screws b<1>, b<6>, and laterally by screws b<3>, b<5> bearing upon a depending arm b<4>. The pivot pin b<14> and screws b<1>, b<3>, b<5> screw into the standard A, which is provided with similar fittings at different levels, (the intermediate position being shown at the bottom of Fig. 1), for kneeling and reclining positions. The rod U is connected by a yoke f<4>, to a needle f, carried by a ball f<1> pressed against a bearing f<2> by a spring f<7> which also forces the ball f into the bearing f<5> of the yoke. Any movement of the rod C is therefore imparted to, and magnified by, the needle f, the point of which is opposite a " sub-target " T, in a holder h. The holder h is sprung forward by the spring h<6> when the rod h<9> is released from a detent h<11> by the attraction of the armature k of the electromagnet, when the latter is excited by a current from the dry batteries k<1> on the circuit being made by a pull on the trigger of the gun. In the preliminary adjustment, a collar c<2> on the rod C is moved into a recess in the bracket c<3>, thereby fixing the rod, and the gun is pointed on a distant target, which for economy of space may be the reflected image of a target t in a distant mirror ; the target may be transparent and illuminated by an incandescent lamp i<3>. When the sight line is brought on to the target by the adjusting-screws, the needle f is set to point directly at the centre of the "sub-target" ; any movement of the gun after the collar c<2> is released is accurately magnified by the needle. The ratio of the movements of the rod C and needle is adjusted by altering the position of the yoke f<4> after releasing the screw f<8>, a small scale indicating the divergence. At each pull of the trigger, the card T is pricked by the needle ; a rod h<13> with knob h<14> replaces the parts ready for the next "shot." After the apparatus has been set, vertical adjustments to correct any optical deficiency of the marksman may be made by the screw b<6> and lateral adjustments by the pin which screws into a yoke b<8>, the amount being indicated by scales b<17>, b<10> respectively. The longitudinal axes of the frames D, D', (the weight of which is balanced by weights W, W<1>), converge to a point at which the target is placed, so that the gun may be held in various positions to suit the height of the marksman, without affecting the accuracy of the indica tions. For different ranges, the inclination of the axes is altered by the screws n' in the frames D, D<1>. Ball bearings are used in the joints of the frame, and the gun carrier e is provided at one end with a flexible cone, for purposes of insertion and removal.