Improvements in or relating to Traps for Throwing Frangible Targets or Artificial Birds
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Traps for Throwing Frangible Targets
or Artificial Birds."
好看
A communication from THE CLEVELAND TARGET COMPANY, of Cleveland, Ohio,
United States of America, an Ohio Corporation having its principal place
of business at Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 111, Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows: —
The invention relates to a target trap having a throwing arm adapted to be
continuously rotated, and means for delivering targets one by one to said
throwing arm, said trap being adapted to throw disk-shaped frangible targets,
or "artificial birds" as they are sometimes called.
The invention relates particularly to mechanism for rotating said throwing
arm, and to the means for releasing a target from said throwing arm and for
delivering another target to said throwing arm from a magazine in which said
targets are stored, and also to the means by which the speed of the throwing
arm may be properly regulated.
The machine or trap constructed in accordance with my invention has a suit-
able base supported on legs, said base and legs constituting the frame of the
machine. AU-shaped frame has the forward end of its lower leg pivotally
supported on a horizontal journal pin which extends into lugs on the base.
The rear closed end of this U-shaped frame is secured to the base at any
desired height relative thereto, by means of a bar which is pivotally connected
with the U-shaped frame and may be fastened at various points in its length
to said base. Journalled in the forward end of this U-shaped frame is an
approximately vertical shaft, to which the throwing arm is fastened in such
manner that, in its rotation, it passes between the upper and lower legs of said
U-shaped frame.
This throwing arm is a flat plate having flanges at its rear end and sides, but
being open at its front end to permit the targets to pass out of it. A target
magazine is carried by the upper forward end of the U-shaped frame in such
position that it may drop the targets one by one into the throwing arm and
substantially in line with its axis of rotation. Latch mechanism is provided at
the bottom of said magazine whereby the targets are held in said magazine and
released singly therefrom.
!
The target arm is rotated by the following mechanism: On the target arm
shaft, near its lower end, is secured a bevelled pinion which meshes with a
bevelled gear loosely mounted on the journal pin which supports the U-shaped
frame. A sprocket wheel is made fast to this bevelled gear; a sprocket chain
connects said sprocket wheel with another sprocket wheel on a crank shaft which
is journalled in a hanger, said hanger is loosely mounted on the same journal
pin which supports the upper sprocket wheel.
The crank shaft is provided with cranks and pedals like those employed in a

page_text: bicycle. The hanger referred to is adjustably secured to the trap frame. A
saddle is secured to the trap frame at a convenient elevation, and the lower
sprocket wheel and crank shaft are by the adjustment of the hanger, moved
toward and from this saddle to suit different operators, the hanger swinging
upon the journal pin to effect this adjustment. This saddle is so placed that
the operator sitting thereon is able to conveniently put the targets into the
magazine to supply those thrown by the trap.
The throwing arm carries a speed signal which is a bell movably mounted on
a rearward extension of the throwing arm, which rearward extension is pre-
ferably of such weight as to practically balance the weight of the throwing
arm in its rotation. This bell is secured to an arm which is pivoted to the
underside of this rearward extension. The bell arm is capable of oscillating a
short distance about its pivot and between stops. A spring acts to draw this
arm inward, that is, toward the axis of rotation of the throwing arm, while
the centrifugal force generated by said revolution tends to move the arm out-
ward in opposition to this spring. A stationary hammer is secured to the frame
of the machine in such position that it may be struck by the said bell if the
bell has been moved by centrifugal force far enough from the axis of rotation.
The tension of the spring resisting this outward movement of the bell carrying
arm may be adjusted so that the bell will just strike the stationary hammer
when the throwing arm is being rotated at the desired speed. Thus when the
arm is rotating at the proper speed the bell will hit the hammer every revolu-
tion and produce a low singing noise which will increase or diminish as the
speed varies, the operator is thus able to keep the target arm rotating at just
the desired speed.
The mechanism for releasing the target in the throwing arm so that it will
be thrown from said arm is operated electrically from any desired point. The
target when it first enters the throwing arm moves out from the axis of rota-
tion against one or more rubber posts and a movable holding shoe attached to
an arm which is pivoted to the throwing arm. A trigger pivoted to the under
side of the throwing arm, and this trigger is drawn by a spring against the
arm which carries the shoe, whereby the shoe is held in a position whereby it
prevents the target from escaping.
When in the operation of the trap as hereinafter described this trigger is
moved in opposition to its spring, the holding shoe is released, whereby the
centrifugal force acting upon the target forces it off of the throwing arm in
which movement it pushes back this holding shoe. This holding shoe may
however, be so constructed that centrifugal force will move it outward inde-
pendently of any pressure from the target itself.
The throwing arm shaft carries a pinion which meshes with a gear journalled
on a parallel stud which is secured to the U-shaped frame. This gear wheel is
continuously rotated when the throwing arm is being rotated. Surrounding
this stud beneath the gear wheel is an eccentric which is normally stationary,
but which may be caused to revolve with the gear wheel by the following
mechanism: In a radial slot in the eccentric is pivoted a pawl which is con-
stantly pressed upward by a spring. The pawl projects up through the eccentric
and may engage with the gear or with one of the spokes thereof. The ten-
dency of the pawl to move upward is prevented however by the nose of an
armature lever which engages with a lip on the lower end of the pawl. This
nose and this lip are bevelled so that they automatically engage each other,
whereby the pawl is drawn downward, if at the time of said engagement it is
in engagement with the gear. The armature on this lever is adjacent to the
end of an electro-magnet. When the circuit of this magnet is closed, the
armature lever is moved so as to release the pawl, which thereupon moves
upward under the influence of its spring. One of the spokes of the gear strikes
the upper end of the pawl and causes the eccentric to rotate with the gear.
When one revolution of the eccentric is completed however, the nose of the

page_text: armature lever engages the lip of the pawl and draws the pawl downward, and
thereby disconnects the eccentric from the gear.
Surrounding the eccentric is a strap, and fastened to this strap is a rear-
wardly extended arm, the rear end of which engages with the lower end of a
substantially vertical rocking lever, wherefore the revolution of the eccentric
causes the lever to rock. The upper end of this lever is suitably connected
with the latch which controls the releasing of the targets, whereby when the
lever rocks, a target is released and falls into the throwing arm.
Surrounding the throwing arm shaft is a sleeve having a crank arm to which
is pivotally connected a pitman, and the other end of this pitman is connected
Thus this
with the gear last referred to by which the eccentric 18 rotated.
sleeve is being constantly oscillated through about one fourth of a revolution.
This sleeve is capable of vertical movement, and on its upper end it has a lug
which when the sleeve is moved vertically gets into the path of the trigger on
the throwing arm, whereby the trigger strikes it and is operated by it with
the result before mentioned of permitting the holding shoe to be withdrawn
from engagement with the target, whereby the target is thrown. This sleeve
is moved by means of a pivoted lever whose forward end enters a circumferential
groove in this sleeve. The rear end of the lever enters a horizontal slot in a
forwardly projecting arm on the lever which is operated by the eccentric. Thus
the operation of the eccentric not only causes the release of a target from the
magazine, but it also causes the vertical movement of this sleeve, whereby
through the mechanism described the target in the throwing arm is released
therefrom.
It is apparent from the foregoing description that inasmuch as the sleeve is
constantly oscillating it may be moved upward during any part of its oscilla-
tory movement, that is, at one extreme or the other, or at any point between
these two extremes. It operates the trigger of the throwing arm when it is so
moved up, and the target is immediately thrown when the trigger is operated.
It is clear therefore that no one can know at what point in the revolution of
the throwing arm the target will be released, and consequently that one can
not know in what direction the target will be thrown. The parts are
arranged however, that although the exact direction in which the target will be
thrown is unknown, it will nevertheless be thrown in front of the trap, so to
say, and in any direction included in a quadrant of a circle more or less.
SO
In the use of the described target it is placed in a pit and a shield erected
behind it to protect the operator. The operator sits on the saddle and revolves
the target arm at the desired speed. An electric button which is preferably
located near the marksman, is pressed whenever desired, and this completes the
circuit of the electro-magnet by which the armature lever is operated. This
causes the operation of the mechanism described whereby a target is thrown
from the throwing arm.
1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Traps for Throwing Frangible Targets
or "Artificial Birds."
A communication from THE CLEVELAND TARGET COMPANY, of Cleveland, Ohio,
United States of America, an Ohio Corporation having its principal place
of business at Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 111, Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in

page_text: what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
"
"
-
The invention relates to a trap for throwing dish-shaped frangible targets or
artificial birds," or clay pigeons," as they are sometimes called. The trap
includes a throwing arm adapted to be continuously rotated, and means for
delivering targets one by one to said throwing arm, and means for releasing the
target at indeterminate points so that it will take a flight previously unknown to
the sportsman.
The invention relates particularly to mechanism for rotating the throwing
arm, to the means for releasing a target from said throwing arm, and the means
by which the speed of the throwing arm may be properly regulated.
The invention may be best summarized as consisting in the novel arrange-
ments and combinations of parts by which these objects are attained, substan-
tially as hereinafter described and set out in the claims.
The drawings clearly illustrate the invention. Figure 1 is a side elevation
of a target-trap, the lower portion of the driving mechanism being omitted.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the base and the driving mechanism. Figure 3
is an enlarged detail view of the crank hanger at the lower rear corner of said
base. Figure 4 is a similar view of the gears carried on the top of said base,
being a vertical section on the line 4-4 of Figure 2. Figure 5 is a top view
of the target magazine, showing the magazine-latches and a portion of the
throwing arm; Figure 6 is a bottom view of such latches; Figure 7 is a cross
section of the throwing arm being on the line 7-7 of Figure 1, and showing
a target in place. Figure 8 is a plan of a portion of the releasing mechanism,
being a substantially horizontal section on the line 8-8 of Figure 1. Figure 9
is a substantially vertical section on the line 9--9 of Figure 8 and showing the
releasing-eccentric and its pawl. Figure 10 is a bottom plan of the inner end
of the target-arm, showing the target releasing dog and the speed-signal.
Figures 11 and 12 are perspective views of the pawl for connecting the releasing-
eccentric and of the end of the armature-lever which engages with that pawl,
respectively.
Similar letters of reference designate similar parts in the several figures.
Referring to the parts by letters, A (Figs. 1 & 2) represents a horizontal base
suitably supported by legs a a and a¹. A clevis-shaped frame B for supporting
the throwing arm and releasing mechanism is pivotally supported at its lower
forward end 6 by a journal-pin b extending into lugs a², projecting upward
from the base, and at its rear end by the bar 6, adjustably bolted to said base.
Journalled in the forward end of the frame B is an approximately vertical
shaft C. This shaft carries at its upper end the target throwing arm D (Figs. 1,
5 & 10). This arm consists of two parallel bars d d joined at their rear end
by the plate d, and near the outer end by the brace . The target, which
is shown in Figure 7 and designated 0, may slide longitudinally of this arm,
the flanges of the target on one side being between the bar and the retaining
strip and on the other side between the bar d and the strip &, which latter
is spring-pressed in place by the spring do surrounding the screw bolt d. This
spring plate d³, as well as a leather facing beneath the plate ds near the inner
end of the throwing arm, operates to retard the target's flight on one side, which
gives the target a whirling motion increasing the irregularity of its flight.
The targets are carried in a magazine which consists of the partially cylin-
drical plate E (Figs. 1, 5 & 6) held to the frame B by the brackets e, and a
suitable latching mechanism for holding the targets normally above the throw-
ing arm, and allowing them to descend. This latching mechanism is as follows:
Pivoted at ee to the bracket e are a pair of latch levers el e² connected at their
rear ends by the link and having at their forward ends the blades e¹ el which
are adapted to extend below targets in the magazine and thus keep them elevated
above the throwing arm, the targets thus resting upon these blades and bearing

page_text: at the rear side of their periphery against the magazine plate E.
An arm e pro-
jects from the latch lever e¹ and to this arm is attached a link u operated as
hereinafter described. When this link is drawn in the direction of the arrow,
the blades eels are withdrawn from beneath the targets. Before their with-
drawal is complete however, a lug e on the latch lever e withdraws from engage-
ment with the toe of a clamping lever e pivoted at e¹, and thereupon a
protrusile spring e" forces the clamping lever inward to clamp the next to the
lowest target between the lever and the pivoted block e on the opposite side
of the magazine. This locks all the targets but the bottom one, and the com-
pletion of the withdrawal of the blades e els allows this bottom target to drop
onto the throwing arm through the opening in the plate e12 which is secured to
and braces the magazine plate E. When the link u returns to its normal
position the lug e impinging against the toe withdraws the clamping lever e³
and this allows the targets to descend onto the blades el e15.
The mechanism by which the target-arm is rotated is as follows (Figs. 1,
2, 3 & 4): On the shaft C, near its lower end is secured the bevel-pinion c, which
meshes with the vertical bevel-gear F journalled on the said journal-pin b. A
sprocket-wheel G is also journalled on this pin and is rigidly connected with
the bevel-gear. A sprocket-chain H connects the wheel G with a sprocket-
wheel I, secured to the crank-shaft i, which is journalled in a hanger J.
Cranks and pedals furnish means for driving the sprocket by a bicycle
movement.
The hanger J (Fig. 3) has the sleeves and j', which surround a brace-rod K,
the other end of which terminates in a sleeve k, surrounding the journal-pin b¹.
Nuts and 2, on opposite sides of the sleeve j', provide means for adjusting
the tension on the sprocket-chain by moving the hanger, and with it the crank-
shaft, toward or from the pin 6. Near the lower end of the hanger is formed
a slot 2, which lies across a slot a³, formed in a bracket at, extending, prefer-
ably integrally, from the leg a¹ and having attached to it the braces The
slot a³ is made in the arc of a circle about the journal-pin as a center. A
bolt clamps the hanger to the bracket at. By this means the hanger and
crank-shaft may be adjusted toward or from the saddle L, on which the operator
sits, without altering the tension on the chain. This saddle is secured upon a
horizontal bracket a", which is secured to or formed as a part of the base A.
The speed signal and its method of operation will now be described (Figs. 1
& 10). Secured by an arm m to the inner end of the target-arm and extending
in the opposite direction to the arm is the plate M, which is preferably of such
weight as to balance the arm in its rotation. An arm N is pivoted at one end
to the under side of this plate and carries at the other end the gong n. The
arm N is capable of oscillating a short distance about its pivot between the faces
of the blocks n' and n², rigid with the plate M. A hole extends through the
block n², in which lies the compression-spring ³, which bears against the arm N
and is adjusted by the screw n³. A stationary hammer in the form of a bracket-
lug is secured to the frame B in such position that as the target-arm rotates
and the plate M comes around the gong n, if in one of its extreme positions, would
strike the bracket-lug, but if in the other extreme position would clear it. The
gong tends under the action of centrifugal force to move away from the shaft C
and into position to strike the said bracket-lug, and this tendency is counter-
acted by the spring n³. It is thus apparent that by adjusting the spring n³ the
gong may be made to strike against the bracket-lug when a given speed of rota-
tion of the shaft C is attained. In practice the gong will just barely touch at
the desired speed of rotation and will produce a low singing noise, which will
increase or diminish if the speed varies. The operator is thus enabled to keep
the target-arm rotating at just the desired speed.
The mechanism for releasing the target is set in operation electrically from
any desired point and operates to cause the release of the target from an inter-
mediate position of the arm. The target, when fed to the target-arm D (Figs. 1

page_text: & 10) is held in place on the plate d against rubber posts by the shoe P.
This shoe is rigidly attached to the rock-shaft p, extending through the bottom
of the target-arm, and on the lower end of which is the arm 7. This arm
terminates in the barrel p2, which incloses the spring p3 and has projecting from
one end the buffer-head p, pressed outward by the spring 3, and limited
in its movement by the pin 25, projecting from it into the slot 76 in the barrel.
A set-screw at the other end of the barrel adjusts the spring. On the under
side of the target-arm, pivoted at g, is the trigger Q. This trigger has a lug q',
projecting upward from it, which stands between the lugs do and d", depending
from the bottom d of the target-arm. These lugs cooperate to limit the oscilla-
tion of the trigger. This trigger has a balance-weight q² at one end and a
shoulder upon its upper side, adapted to engage the buffer-head 24.
spring tends to draw the trigger into the position shown in the drawings,
where the shoulder q' engages with the buffer-head and holds the shoe P against
the target on the arm. In the operation of the trap, when mechanism, herein-
after described, causes the end 5 of the trigger Q to be forced away from the
shaft C, the shoulder q releases the buffer-head, and the shoe P is free to be
swung aside by centrifugal force.
A
Secured to the shaft C (Figs. 1, 8 & 9) is the gear-pinion c¹, which meshes
with the gear-wheel R, journalled on the stud 64, which projects from the frame B.
This gear-wheel is continuously revolved in the direction of the arrow (Fig, 8).
Surrounding the stud beneath the gear-wheel is the eccentric S, which nor-
mally is stationary, but which may be caused to revolve with the gear-wheel R
by the following mechanism: In a radial slot s in the eccentric is pivoted at s¹
the pawl s2, shown detached in Fig. 11. A springs, contained in a recess in
the end of the pawl and bearing against the end of the slot, tends to force the
nose of the pawl into one of the spaces between the spokes of the gear-
wheel R, and thereby compel the eccentric to rotate with the gear-wheel. Such
tendency is normally prevented by the nose of the armature-lever t (shown
detached in Fig. 12) engaging with the lip on the end of the pawl. When,
however, the electromagnet T is energized, it attracts the armature t2, and this
swings the levert slightly and withdraws the nose from the lip 5, whereupon
the spring causes the pawl-nose to project into one of the spaces r¹, and, a
spoke of the gear-wheel impinging against the side of the pawl-nose, the
eccentric is caused to rotate with the gear.
In operation the electric current through the magnet ceases shortly after the
lip has cleared the nose t¹ of the armature-lever, and therefore the eccentric
makes a complete revolution with the gear-wheel. At the end of the revolu-
tion the bevelled lip comes under the nose of the armature lever and with-
draws the pawl from the wheel and releases the eccentric, which comes to rest.
The face of the pawl-nose is bevelled, as shown, on its under side, while
the under side of the spokes r are bevelled on their rear sides,-i.e., the side from
which they normally rotate. These bevels cooperate to allow the gear-wheel to
rotate in the reverse direction without operating the eccentric, whereby no
releasing can take place if the operator should happen to drive the machine in
the wrong direction.
!
Surrounding the eccentric S is the strap so, from which leads a rod s (Fig. 1,)
which is connected with a T-lever U. This T-lever is pivoted to the frame B
and is connected at its upper end with the latch lever e¹ of the magazine
mechanism by means of the rod u, whereby a revolution of the eccentric S
allows a target to descend from the magazine, as heretofore explained.
The end of the lever U engages with one end of the lever u, pivoted to the
frame B, the other end of which extends into a segmental groove v, contained
in a vertically-slidable sleeve V, which surrounds the shaft C. This sleeve and
its attached parts constitute the tripping mechanism for operating the releasing
trigger herein before described. An outward movement of the lower end of the
lever U, under the action of the eccentric causes the lever u¹ to raise the sleeve V.

page_text: This sleeve carries at its upper end a boss or lug v¹, which when the sleeve is
raised comes into the path of the end 5 of the trigger Q and in the rotation of
the arm 1 forces the said end away from the shaft C and releases the shoe P,
as herein before explained. A spring W, connected to the lever U and to the
frame, as shown, steadies the operation of said lever.
To prevent damage, in case the lug v¹ should be directly beneath the trigger Q
when it rose and should strike the bottom face of that trigger, the connection
between the rod st and the T-lever is made yielding. This is accomplished by
the following arrangement. A yoke u is pivoted to said T-lever at its lower
end, and through the arms u³ and u of this yoke the rod s7 passes. A helical
spring surrounds the rod between the arms of the yoke and bears at one end
against the arm and at the other against the nuts 5, which are adjustably
secured to the rod s and the other side of which normally bears against the
arm u³.
In order that it may be impossible to calculate the position of the arm Dat
the time of release of the target and so estimate the course the target will take,
the sleeve is given an oscillation which causes the releasing lug to occupy
varying positions as it rises and impinges against the side of the trigger Q.
This oscillation is imparted by means of the pitman Y (Figs. 1 & 8), which
connects a crank-pin on the wheel R with an arm 23, which is journalled on
the shaft C and is rigidly connected with the lug, depending from the
sleeve V. The distance from the axis of the sleeve to the point 4, where the
pitman is pivoted to the arm, being greater than the distance from the center
of the wheel R to the crank-pin 2, as shown, the wheel end of the pitman will
travel in a circular path with the wheel R, and the other end and the arm will
oscillate back and forth. The amount of oscillation will depend upon the rela-
tive proportion of the two distances mentioned. There is sufficient play at the
two pivots of the pitman Y to allow the sleeve V to rise the required distance
without binding.
In practice the target-trap is placed in a pit and a shield erected to protect
the operator. The operator sits on the saddle and revolves the target-arm at
the desired speed. In this position he can easily reach the target-magazine
with his hands, and thus keep it supplied with targets, which are conveniently
disposed about him. An upward extension is preferably secured to the target
magazine, or the plate E itself elongated, to increase the capacity of the
magazine.
An electric button, which may be located near the marksman, is pressed when
desired, and when the target-arm comes around to the front the target is thrown,
the position of the arm, and hence the course of the target's flight, being unde-
termined, depending upon the position which the lug v¹ happens to occupy when
it acts upon the trigger Q.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what claim is:-
1. The adjustable driving. mechanism, substantially as herein shown and
described.
2. In a target trap, the combination of a suitable base, a journal-pin carried
thereby, a frame, a sprocket-wheel and a bevel gear, all on said journal-pin,
said sprocket-wheel and bevel-gear being connected to revolve together, and said
frame being independently adjustable about said pin, a substantially vertical
shaft journalled in said frame and having at its lower end a bevel-gear meshing
with the bevel-gear on the journal-pin, a target-arm connected with said shaft,
a second suitably-journalled sprocket-wheel, means for driving the same, and a
sprocket-chain connecting said two sprocket-wheels, substantially as described.
3. In a target-trap, the combination of a suitable base, a journal-pin carried
thereby, a frame, a sprocket-wheel, a bevel-gear and a sleeve, all on said pin,

page_text: said sleeve, frame and sprocket-wheel being each adapted to be turned on said
journal-pin independently of the other, and said bevel-gear and sprocket-wheel
being connected to revolve together, a rod extending from said sleeve and con-
nected at its other end with a hanger, a second or driving sprocket-wheel carried
by said hanger, means for driving said second sprocket-wheel, a sprocket-chain
connecting said two sprocket-wheels, a substantially vertical shaft carried by
said frame and having at its lower end a bevel-gear meshing with the bevel-
gear on the journal-pin, and a target-arm secured to said shaft, whereby the
position of the target-arm or the position of the driving-sprocket or both may
be changed while preserving the driving connection between said sprocket and
the target-arm, substantially as described.
1
4. In a target-trap, the combination of a supporting, base consisting of a
plate and legs therefor, a sprocket-wheel G rotatably supported by said plate, a
brace rod K pivoted concentrically with said sprocket-wheel, a hanger J secured
to said brace-rod at its free end and being adjustable to and from its pivot, a
bracket carried by one of the legs of said frame, a bolt adapted to clamp the
hanger to the bracket in adjustable position, a sprocket-wheel I carried by said
hanger, and a sprocket-chain H connecting the sprocket-wheels I G, substan-
tially as specified.
5. In a target-trap, the combination of a base consisting of the plate A, the
legs aa a¹, the bracket at carried by said leg a', and the braces as a leading
from said bracket to the legs a a, a journal-pin supported by said plate A, a
sprocket-wheel and bevel-gear on said journal-pin connected to revolve together,
a sleeve on said journal-pin having a brace-rod extending from it, a hanger
secured to said brace-rod and to said bracket a¹, the crank-shaft journalled in
said hanger, the sprocket-wheel and cranks secured to said shaft, a sprocket-
chain connecting said two sprocket-wheels, an approximately vertical shaft suit-
ably supported and having a bevel-gear at its lower end meshing with the bevel-
gear on the journal-pin, and a target-arm secured to said shaft, substantially as
described.
6. The speed signalling mechanism, substantially as herein shown and
described.
7. In a target-trap, the combination of a frame, a revoluble target-arm
carried thereby, a pivoted arm carried by said target-arm, a stop limiting the
movement of said pivoted arm toward the axis of the target-arm and a spring
opposing the movement of said pivoted arm away from the axis, and a stud and
gong, one carried by the frame and the other by the said pivoted arm, and the
two adapted to impinge under the action of centrifugal force when the speed of
revolution of the target-arm is a predetermined amount, substantially as
described.
8. The means for indeterminately discharging the target, substantially as
herein shown and described.
9. The mechanism substantially as described for releasing the target from the
throwing arm.
!
10. The tripping mechanism substantially as described for indeterminately
operating the mechanism which releases the target from the throwing arm.
11. The mechanism substantially as described for occasionally connecting the
driving power with target releasing mechanism.
12. In a target-trap, the combination of a target-arm, a revoluble shaft to
which said target-arm is connected, mechanism normally idle for releasing a
target on said arm, locking means for establishing connection between said
mechanism and said revoluble shaft, whereby said shaft operates said mechanism
to release a target, a spring and an electro-magnetic device, one tending to
throw said locking means into action, and the other to hold them out of action,
substantially as described.
13. In a target-trap, the combination of a target-arm, a revoluble shaft to
which said target-arm is connected, a wheel R compelled to rotate when said

page_text: shaft rotates, a loose eccentric adapted to operate mechanism to release a target
on said arm, means for locking said wheel and eccentric, a spring and a lever,
one tending to throw said locking means into action and the other to hold it out
of action, and means for operating said lever, substantially as described.
14. In a target-trap, the combination of a target-arm, a revoluble shaft to
which said target-arm is connected, a gear c¹ on said shaft meshing with a gear R,
a loose eccentric journalled concentrically with said gear R and adapted to
operate mechanism for releasing the target, mechanism for locking said eccentric
to said gear R whereby the revolution of the latter causes the release of a target,
substantially as described.
15. In a target-trap, the combination of a revoluble shaft C and a target-arm
revolved thereby, releasing mechanism on said arm and tripping mechanism
slidable upon said shaft and oscillatable about the same and adapted to trip said
releasing mechanism, a gear on said shaft meshing with a gear R on another
shaft, a pitinan connecting said gear R with said tripping mechanism, the dis-
tance from the connection of the wheel R to the center of said wheel being less
than the distance from the connection of the pitman and releasing mechanism
to the center of said shaft C, whereby rotation of said gear oscillates said trip-
ping mechanism, substantially as described.
10. In a target-trap, the combination of a revoluble shaft C and a target-
arm revolved thereby, releasing mechanism on said arm and tripping mechanism
slidable upon said shaft and oscillatable about the same and adapted to trip said
releasing mechanism, a gear on said shaft meshing with a gear R on another
shaft, a pitman connecting said gear R with said tripping mechanism, mechanism
adapted to be operated by the rotation of said wheel R for sliding said tripping
mechanism into position for engagement with said releasing mechanism and
means for connecting at will said last-mentioned mechanism with said wheel,
substantially as described.
17. In a target-trap, the combination of a throwing-arm D, a shoe P adapted
to hold a flying target in said throwing-arm, a rock-shaft p to which said shoe
is secured, an arm 2¹ secured to said rock-shaft, a spring-pressed buffer-head 7
carried by said arm, and a trigger Q having a shoulder q³ adapted to engage with
said buffer-head, substantially as described.
Datad this 22nd day of Juust 1800