Patent GB-190404469-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Coin-freed and other Mechanical Shooting Ranges.
Inventor: ELL WILLIAM HENRY
Filed: 1904-02-23
Granted: 1904-04-14
Abstract: 4469. Ell, W. H. Feb. 23. Toy shooting-galleries; toy pistols.-Consists of improvements in the invention described in Specification No. 20,838, A.D. 1901, according to which balls shot at a target from a pivoted pistol a<3>, Fig. 1, fall to a platform a<2>, or, passing through perforations, are returned to be shot again, or, passing through the bull's eye, effect the delivery of a prize before reaching the platform. The platform a<2> slopes to a cross channel a<5>, which leads the balls into a delivery mechanism on the rear side of a partition a<1>. The apparatus is described and shown as being coin-freed, but the prepayment mechanism may be omitted. The pistol a<3>, Fig. 1, having a globular collar on its barrel, is mounted with universal movement and receives a ball through a hole in the collar. According to the ammunition delivery mechanism used, the actuating-mechanism is a draw-bar b and bell crank m, Fig. 1, the same u', u, Fig. 6, a draw-bar w<3> and ratchet lever w<4>, Fig. 8, or a modified ratchet mechanism. According to the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, the balls, being in a vertical tube k which receives them from the platform, are raised by a plunger connected to the bell crank m by a link k<2>, so that those below a spring l displace those above it into a tube o which leads them to the pistol. In a modification of this arrangement, the plunger works horizontally in a tube having two separating- springs. According to the arrangements shown in Fig. 6, a lever t, bearing a shutter b<2> for an aperture t<3> in the partition a<1>, is turned into the position shown in dotted lines, at which, the shutter being below the aperture, the lever forms a slope which directs the balls to the pistol. According to the arrangement shown in Figs. 8 and 9, a rotary disc w carries inclined cups w<1>, the lowest of which receive the balls from the floor or platform, and the highest of which discharges them through the opening w<2>. In a modification, a wheel has two diametricallyopposite pockets. An escapement mechanism operated by turning the pistol passes the balls to it one at a time. In the arrangement of Fig. 1, the coin dropped into a pocket c<2> disengages a detent b<1> from the shoulder b<3> of the draw-rod b. In the arrangement of Fig. 6, the draw-rod u<1>, having a slot to receive the coin from the shoot v, has sufficient play to make the coin lift a detent u<3> from a lug u<4>. In the arrangement of Fig. 8, the coin tilts a pendulum detent x, so that pallets x<5> on the disc can push past it. In another arrangement, the coin connects the slotted draw-rod to a slotted slide below it. The pocket c<3>, Fig. 1, being on the draw-rod, movement lets the coin drop from the detent through a short shoot d<3>, where it is supported by an arm d<1> of the draw-rod, thence falling into a channel d<4>, it is supported till the next operation by an arm d<2> and a pivoted plate e with bent edge e<1>. The displacement of the arm d<2> lets the coin fall out into a receptacle. In Fig. 6, the coin is shown removable from a shelf v. The detent x, Fig. 8, being further tilted, lets the coin pass. Tbe pivoted supporting-plate e, Fig. 1, tor the coin is jointed to a rod f, which is under the pull of a spring g<1> but is normally held by a detent g. A ball i led from the bull's eye by a passage g<2> disengages the detent, and the coin is allowed to drop as a prize from the arm d' into a returning- shoot h. The pawl and racks p, p<1>, Fig. 1, and the rack u<3>, Fig. 6, require full strokes to be given to the draw-rod. Obtaining an over-supply of balls by violent use of the draw-rod is prevented, because a pivoted cut-off u, Fig. 1, is operated by the bell crank m. To prevent release by a coin secured to a wire, string, or strip of metal, a bail j, Figs. 1 and 4, connected by a link j<2> to the detent b<1>, hangs under the coin-shoot c<11>. As the wire or string prevents the bail from going back against the partition a', the detent has too little play to be disengaged.