Improvements in and connected with Moving Targets.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 13th Jan., 1894
Improvements in and connected with Moving Targets.
A communication from WILLIAM ROYSTON, of Pietermaritzburg, Natal,
Lieutenant Colonel, Staff Officer of Volunteers.
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1, ARCHIBALD HENDRY DUNNACHIE, of Glenboig House, Glenboig, in the
County of Lanark, North Britain, Manufacturer, 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 statement, that is to say :-
The said invention has for its object to construct and arrange moving targets,
their accessory parts, and apparatus for working and actuating them in a simple
and inexpensive manner, and so that the target can be made to travel quickly or
slowly or to rapidly repeat its traverses or to stop at any part of its traverse with
little trouble, the improved arrangement of parts being also such that few operating
attendants.are.required.
Apparatus as made according to the invention is shown on an accompanying
sheet of explanatory drawings, hereinafter referred to in particularly describing
the improvements, Figure, I, being a plan, and Figure, 2, a sectional side elevation,
some of the parts shown in Figure, 2, not being shown in Figure, 1, for the sake of
clearness. Figure, 3, is a sectional end elevation, Figure, 4, a side elevation of the
target carrier; and Figure, 5, is an end elevation of the driving mechanism. In
these drawings the same reference letters and numerals are used to mark the same
or like parts wherever they are repeated.
In carrying out the invention there is provided a track, A, for the target
carriage, B, to run on, which consists of two parallel lines of rails placed a little
distance apart horizontally and connected at their ends by semi-circular parts of
rails, to form an endless track. The track comprises two rails an upper one and a
lower inverted one separated vertically by wooden beams, C, (or it might be iron
girders or brackets) to which they are fixed. The track, A, which may be of any
convenient length is level and is supported by brackets, A 1, at a little distance
above the ground, and to protect it from bullets an entrenchment or wall of earth
shown by dotted lines, D, is thrown up, or if desired the space for the track may
be sunk below the ground level. At one end of the track, A, there is an excavation
in the ground, in which there is securely fixed a framework, F, carrying in suitable
bearings a horizontal shaft, G, which is provided with a crank handle, & 1, at each
end and a bevil wheel, K. The bevil wheel,, K, is loose on the shaft, G, which has
on it a sliding clutch, G 2, for putting the wheel, K, into or out of gear by a hand
lever, L, suitably placed, the clutch being pressed into gear by a spring, M, con-
nected at one end to the framework, F, and at the other end to the hand lever.
The bevil wheel, K, gears with a bevil wheel, N, fixed on a vertical shaft, N 1,
working in suitable bearings in the framework, F, and supported on a footstep
centre, N 2, on a bracket, N3, fixed to the framework, F. The shaft, N 1, has
fixed on its upper end, which is concentric with the curved end of the track, A, a
large driving pulley, P, grooved to receive an endless hauling rope, P 1, which is
connected to the carriage, B, carrying the target, B 1. On the vertical shaft, N 1,
is a friction pulley, Q, and to act upon it there is a friction brake, Q 1, connected
to the framework, F, for regulating the speed at which the target carriage, B, is
to be moved, the brake being applied when desired by means of a hand lever, Q 2,
and ordinarily kept out of contact by a spring, Q3.
The hauling rope, P 1, extends from the pulley, P, at one end of the track, A,
to and round a similar pulley, R, similarly placed at the other end the pulley, R,

page_text: being loose on a vertical stud, R 1, fixed to a carriage, R 2, movable along a short
rail or track, S, parallel to the main track, and having attached to it a rope, R3,
passing over a pulley, R 4, to a weight, R 5, which keeps the hauling rope, P 1,
sufficiently stretched. Small anti-friction rollers, T, are placed close to both
pulleys, P, and, R, so as to lead the hauling rope, P 1, evenly on to them; and in
the case of a very long track where a certain amount of sagging of the rope is
unavoidable, anti-friction rollers, T 1, are provided at intervals to keep it up off
the ground.
The target, B 1, consists of a full-sized representation of a man or of any animal
or other object which may be made of wood and covered with canvas and paper;
and it is fixed on a carriage, B, which is hauled round the track, A. The
carriage, B, consists of a framework of iron and is provided with two vertical
wheels, B 2, to run on the upper rail of the track, A, and horizontal wheels, B 3,
on each side there being two each to grip the upper and lower rails and so steady
the carriage. A small wheel, B 4, is also provided at the front of the carriage, B,
to facilitate its passing round the curved parts of the track, A. The wheels, B3,
and, B4, turn on studs, B 5, fixed in the framework of the carriage, B, and at the
upper part of the carriage there is a gripping arrangement, B 6, for holding the
target, B 1. On the inner side of the carriage, B, there is a bracket, B 7, to which
the hauling rope, P 1, is attached.
A small mantlet, D 1, for protecting the marker is placed at the end of the
track at which the actuating mechanism is situated, and a screen, D3, is fixed at
the other end to conceal the target, B 1, whilst passing round the curved part of
the track.
The apparatus is easily worked by hand by means of the crank handles, G 1, or
any convenient motive power might be applied to it. The target, B 1, is moved
face first both ways at a speed easily varied; and only one marker is required,
whilst the whole apparatus can be easily modified to suit indoor or other
ranges.
•
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said.
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
:
The construction, combination, and arrangement of parts constituting the
improved target apparatus substantially as and for the purposes herein before
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Eighteenth day of November 1893.
EDMUND HUNT,
.Applicant's Agent.