Improvements in Rapidly Moving Targets, such as Flying Birds or Running Rabbits, for Use with Shot Guns.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Oct., 1995
Complete Specification Left. 15th July, 1896-Accepted, 15th Aug.,
1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rapidly Moving Targets, such as Flying Birds or
Running Rabbits, for Use with Shot Guns.
We HENRY JOSEPH HARRISS, 10 Pall Mall S.W. Gunmaker (trading as Joseph
Lang & Son) and THOMAS TOMLINSON 10 Pall Mall S. W. Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
If
We provide a light wheel (or wheels) of suitable diameter with grooved rim
geared to and driven by any suitable motive power. We prefer ordinary cycle
pedals & gear chains for a small number of wheels and intermittent use.
steadiness of motion be desired we use a flywheel, if great sensitiveness and rapid
changes of speed be desired we omit it.
We erect a light wheel (or wheels) in line with the first wheel (or wheels) and
we place an endlessly jointed wire (or wires) of steel, phosphor bronze or other
suitable material, in the grooves of corresponding pairs of wheels. Upon starting
the power these wires are set in motion at a speed which may be made slow or
fast increasing or decreasing as desired and to these moving wires we attach when
desired suitable "marks" or targets of any suitable material & in auy desired
shape. The speed of these "marks" at any instant is ascertained by reference to
a speed indicator driven from the spindle of the first wheels & in full view of the
man controlling the flight of the "marks" or targets.
In order to attain high speeds and at the same time avoid the loss of time &
power involved in bringing the whole mechanism to full speed and stopping it
again within the time of flight of the "mark." We provide for the continuous
rotation of the wheels and so for a continuous motion of the wire (or wires) and we
arrange that the mark shall be attached to and be taken from the wire (or wires)
while the wire (or wires) is in motion. For this purpose we have at the
beginning and end of the flight what may be called "points": corresponding to the
'points" on a railway line and fulfilling the same functions.
$6
"
If the "mark" or target be heavy it may be necessary, in order to avoid undue
strain on the moving wire & so to keep it of small cross section and invisible at
the usual ranges, to start the "mark" down towards the "point" where it joins
the moving wire by means of the release of a compressed or extended spring so
that the speed of the "mark and of the moving wire may be the same or nearly
so at the starting point also when the "mark" is heavy we may arrange a spring
buffer to bring it to rest after passing the "point" at which it leaves the moving
wire: Or we may when the mark is flown in front of targets continue the
"points" round in circular curves joined by a straight line behind the target and
Bo bring the "mark" back to the starting point by its own momentum.
"
When the "mark" is flown in front of targets it is generally desirable to be
able to indicate its position at the instant of firing: To do this we may place at
the back of the "mark In very small pistol which discharges a pellet against the
face of the target when an electric circuit is closed: "We close this circuit
preferably by the motion of pulling the trigger of the gun. A second wire is fixed
below the moving wire and insulated from it and from this wire and the moving
wire the current discharging the pistol is collected.
If it be desired to indicate the position of the "mark" for both barrels a third
wire and second pistol must be added.

page_text: We may also for the same purpose make use of a photographic camera with a
shutter electrically controlled by a circuit closed by the pull of either trigger or
by the discharge of the gun coupled with a seale painted upon the front of the
target: This method we prefer.
Dated this 14th day of October 1895.
HENRY JOSEPH HARRISS.
THOMAS
TOMLINSON.
Improvements in Rapidly Moving Targets, such as Flying Birds or
Running Rabbits, for Use with Shot Guns.
ns
We, HENRY JOSEPH HARRISS 10 Pall Mall S.W. Gunnaker trading
Joseph Lang & Son and THOMAS TOMLINSON 10 Pall Mall S.W. Engineer
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
stateinent :-
Our invention will be best understood with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which
Fig. 1 shows the general arrangement for the horizontal flight of a single bird in
front of a target and
Fig. 2 shows the dying mark (or bird).
In Fig. 1A & B are a pair of bicycle wheels one of which is driven either by a
pair of cycle pedals & chain gearing or by any suitable reversible motor--round
these wheels & lying in the grooves is the endless wire : This wire passes in
front of the target T forming a background against which the mark (K) is
displayed. Mantlets (M & M₁) (not shown in the elevation only in plan) protect
the operators.
Across the target midway between the two wires is a scule-as shown-with
reference to which the position of the mark (K) is determined & if desired
recorded.
In order to attain high speeds & at the same time avoid the loss of time & power
involved in bringing the whole mechanism to full speed and stopping it again
within the time of flight of the mark, we provide for a continuous motion of the
wire & we arrange that the mark shall be attached to and be taken from the wire
while it is in motion.
For this purpose we have at each end of the target what may be called
"points" corresponding to the "points" on a railway line & fulfilling the same
functions. These points are shown at P P, & consist (in this case) of iron rods
bent to semi circles one end of each carried in bearings C C₁ so that they can be
raised up out of the way if not required.
The mark shown in Figure 2 consists essentially of a fraine E provided with
clips H, H, H, for carrying a disc (or any other shape if preferred) of breakable
or penetrable material so as to show when hit: it is provided with a hook G for
fixing it to the wire & with a ring or hook F of light wire which engages with the
point" (or P₁) which lifts the "mark" from the running wire.
21
If it be desired to use a heavy "mark" levers D D, with springs SS, are
provided for the purpose of shooting the "mark" on to the wire with an initial
velocity & to absorb the energy stored up in the "mark" when it leaves the wire
travelling at a high speed: "If the mark be light the levers & springs are not
required.
The position of the "mark" at the instant of firing is determined by its position
with reference to the scale either visually for ordinary instructional purposes or by

page_text: photographic registration the "shutter" being operated by an electric current
closed by the pulling of the trigger.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion & in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is.
→
(1.) The general arrangement as set forth in the foregoing specification.
"
(2.) The use of a continually moving wire with arrangements (called " points
in the specification) enabling us to put on and take off "marks" without stopping
the wire.
(3.) The particular design of mark above described with its ring or hook.
Dated thin 15th L.L. 1900
HENRY JOSEPH HARRISS.
THOMAS
TOMLINSON.