An Improved Electric Photographic Time and Position Recorder, Specially Useful for Races.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 10th July, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Electric Photographic Time and Position Recorder,
Specially Useful for Races.
I, JOSEPH GAUT, lately of Hastings, in the Colony of New Zealand, but now of
Renwick Street, Leichhardt, near Sydney, in the colony of New South Wales,
Artist, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "An improved electric
photographic time and position recorder, specially useful for races," and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
This invention has reference to an electric photographic recorder which I have
termed Gaut's Dromograph and it has been specially devised for recording the
time and photographing the finish of a race as well as notifying the start of the race
and though specially devised for such purposes it may be used for obtaining a
photograph of the time and the position of any athlete or athletes or moving body
or bodies which are adapted by their movement to break a thiu 'cord or thread.
By this invention the start of a race or contest is announced by the ringing of an
electric bell and at the same time a chronograph is started and when the contestants
break a cord or thread stretching across the course or an arena electrical connection
will be made which will cause the stoppage of the chronograph and the exposure
of a sensitive plate or film behind a camera lens or lenses so as to photograph the
contestants or other objects and if desired to also photograph the reflection of the
stopped chronograph.
This improved electric photographic time and position recorder specially useful
for races consists of the improved apparatus with its distinctive features of particu-
lar combinations and arrangement of mechanical and electrical parts therein and
of particular constructions of some of the parts all as hereinafter claimed and as
more particularly described with reference to the drawings.
Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved electrical
photographic time and position recorder specially useful for races Figure 2 is a
plan of the same Figure 3 is a plan of two batteries which for convenience form
part of same. Figure 4 is a side elevation from the right-hand side of Figure 1
Figure 5 is a similar view from the left-hand-side showing the camera with its back
end elevated as when the recorder is used on an elevation. Figure 6 is a
diagramatic plan view of the electrical connections used in the recorder Figure 7
an elevation of the electro magnet and armature for operating the chronograph.
Figure 8 is a perspective view of the electro magnet armature and lever for
operating the pawl stop of a focal plane shutter affixed to the camera. Figure 9 is
a perspective elevation of the stationary part of the electrical connection made by
the breaking of the thread. Figure 10 is perspective view showing the moving or
active part of the said electrical connection and Figure 11 is another perspective
view of the same. Figure 12 is a plan view of the operating switch.
The main parts of this improved electric photographic time and position
recorder specially useful for races are an electric starting bell A and a chrono-
graph B which are operated at the start of the race a camera C which preferably is

page_text: of peculiar construction having within the main camera a subsidiary camera with
a subsidiary lens C adapted to throw an image on to one corner of the exposed
plate.
plate. In front of said subsidiary lens C is an adjustable mirror D so placed as to
be fixed as required to throw a reflection of the face on the chronograph B into said
lens C which lens is adapted to be focussed from the front. The other main parts
are electro-magnets electric batteries electric, wires and "finish" electrical con-
nections adapted to be operated by the breaking of a thread stretched across a race
course or in an arena at or near the winning or, finishing post and adapted to
operate the chronograph stop and the camera shutter. The starting hell is fixed
in any convenient position and may be close to or at any distance from the
recorder and it may have instead of a battery incorporated with the recorder as
shown an independent battery or other current producer so long as the connections
for closing circuit form part of the recorder. Chronograph B.is fitted upon an
upright part of the frame of the recorder with its front facing in the same
direction as the lens of the camera C which camera is fitted upon a base board on
a frame N of convenient height. The lower part of such frame makes a convenient
receptacle N' for the batteries. This camera C has a back screw C³ for elevating
the back so that it will take in a lower-view and in front it is provided with a hood
or sunshade C adjustably pinned to the frame N so as to preserve the lens from
direct sun rays. The camera C as before stated contains within itself a subsidiary
camera having the lens C2 said lens and subsidiary camera being so fixed that the
image thrown by said lens C will be full upon a lower corner of the exposed plate
and appear on the upper corner of a positive therefrom. The camera is fitted with
an instantaneous or other shutter preferably a "Thornton Pickard" focal plane
shutter which is operated by means of an electric current, electro magnet L being
fitted on the side of the camera and having its armature L³ connected with a
lever L having an inturn L to take under the release lever or pawl L6 of the
roller of such shutter so that upon a current passing through the electro magnet
the inturn L will lift the pawl L from the ratchet of said shutter and allow the
plate in the camera to be exposed. Instead however of 'the pawl Le being released
by an electric current it may be released in the ordinary way by a pneumatic tube
in which case the bulb of such tuhe would he contracted by means of the hinged
piece J (Figures 10 and 11) having a spring P assisted if necessary by an elastic
band P which hinged piece Jis supported by another hinge support I held in its
place by the tension of the cord or thread stretched across the course or arena and
which when broken will complete an electric circuit as 'hereinafter described and
will allow the hinge flap J to contract bulb J5 of the pneumatic tube of the focal
plane shutter. Besides the parts described there is a second electro-magnetio
bell G in a convenient place upon the recorder for ringing within the judges box
or other place where the recorder is used. There is an electro-maguet F for
operating the stop pin of the chronograph.
There are also the batteries X, Y, and Z, switch E, electrical connections J3 and K³
and a push a while a second push O may if desired be also used to operate the
recorder (instead of the electrical connections J3 K³) and thread. I at the finish of
a race or the like. And in addition to these parts there are also ordinary electric
relays U and V. All the above mentioned parts are except where 'specifically set
forth in the claiming clauses at the end hereof of ordinary construction and the
best of their kind and they will be more fully understood by the description here
following of the operation of this improved electric photographic time and position
recorder specially useful for races.
A supply of cord or thread I is s maintained for convenience on a spool on a
holder and this is used stretched across the course or arena and kept in tension
by being fastened to pius J¹ or connection J³.
In operation upon the starting of a race contact is made by means of push or
spring a attached to any race starting or like machine or operated by hand or
the breakage of a thread stretched across the course. Immediately thereon an
by
electric current flows from pole of battery Z.uear the starting point to terminal a
112 Y

page_text: on recorder frame thence to terminal a of relay through coils of relay, Fand
terminal to terminal at and thence to earth or by return wire to the other pole of
battery Z. Contact is thus made in circuit of local battery Y the current flowing
from pole of said battery Y to terminal thence to terminal 62 of relay V. thence
through terminal b³ to pin bi of switch E across lever of said switch and dividing
at pius c, d and e. From pin c one current flows to coils of electro magnet T in
connection with chronograph B thence to terminal c¹ and to other pole of battery Y:
The armature of the electro maguet F is now drawn down and pulls down
rod F and causes the lever F3 to depress the stop pin B of the chronograph
thus starting the chronograph B. The second current flows from pin 'd of switch E
to terminal d' of electro magnet'G' of bell G through coils of said electro magnet G¹
and terminal da to terminal c' to pole battery Y thus operating bell G. The third
current from pin e of switch E flows to terminal e' of relay through relay and
terminal e to terminal c¹ and pole of battery Y. Contact is made through relay U
in the circuit of battery X the current flowing from pole of battery X to terminal f
thence to terminal 2 of relay U to terminal to terminal fi thence to terminal f
of electro magnet A of bell A through electro magnet A' to terminal fa tö
terminals and f to the other pole of battery X thus operating the bell A. By
moving switch E from pin 6 contact is broken and thus shutting off the currents
from electro magnet F of chronograph B the armature F is cased and the pressure
of lever on starting pin B is released while at the same time the action or
ringing of the bells G and A is arrested. The thread I stretched across the course
or arena at the winning posts or other stations and tied to or wound on pins Jon
hinged support J holds said hinged support J upright against the action of the
spring J. When said thread I is broken by the passing of the first competitor or
by other desired movements the hinged support J falls back causing the chopper
terminal J³ to enter gutter terminal K³ and thus to complete an electrical circuit
of the battery Y from between terminals 6' and be through terminals J K³ to
terminals of electro.magnet L through said electro magnet L and its other
terminals to the conductor between electro magnet F and terminal e of switch E.
The armature L³ of electro magnet L being drawn down the lever L lifts the
release catch of the instantaneous shutter allowing said shutter to fall and an
exposure to be made simultaneously with the stopping of the chronograph by the
action of the armature of electro magnet l' upon lever F3. When the recorder is
not mechanically connected with the starting post or a starting machine to operate
it the relay V is cut out by having a permanent connection made between
terminals 2 and 63 the arm or lever of switch E being drawn away from pin b
Now when the race starts said arm of switch E is manually returned to pin b' and
current then flows from battery Y to terminals bt ba 63 pin b of switch E and divides
at pins c d and e in the same manner and with the same result as before described
viz: starting the chronograph and ringing the starting bells. On the switch being
drawn back the bells cease to ring and the armature of electro magnet Fis
released as before mentioned. When the thread is not used for operating machine
the electrical connections J3 and K3. are not utilized but the button of push O is
manually operated at the desired moment thus completing an electrical circuit
from battery Y from off conductor between terminals 61 and 63 to the push O to
terminal K³ to electro magnet L and back to wire between pin c and electro
magnet thus opening the shutter of camera and stopping the chronograph
synchronically substantially as before described: On the support for the gutier
terminal Ks is pivotted a guard K which is normally against pin K5 so as to bear
against hinged support J and prevent contact between terminals J³ and K³ until
the thread I'is fixed in the "ready" position after which the guard Kis' turned
against pin K and no longer holds up supports J thus allowing contact being made
when the thread is broken.
After a stoppage of the chronograph and the dropping of the camera shutter as
before described the chronograph is "set" or brought to zero by either a slight
manual pressure on the top of armature F or electrically by a pressure on push O.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :
First. An improved electric photographic time and position recorder specially
useful for races in which synchronously a chronograph is stopped and a photo
graphic plate or film is exposed upon the breakage of a thread stretched across a
course or arena substantially as herein described and explained.
Second. An improved electric photographic time and position recorder specially
useful for races in which a chronograph is operated and bells rung synchronously
upon the starting of a race and upon the completion of said race said chronograph
is again operated synchronously with the exposure of a photograph plate or film
substantially as herein described and explained.
Third. An improved electric photographic time and position recorder specially
useful for races in which a photographic plate or film is exposed under two lenses
one casting upon said plate an image of a reflection of a chronograph substantially
as herein described and explained and 'as illustrated in the drawings.
Fourth. In a recorder, of the class set forth the combination and arrangement
with a chronograph such as B a camera such as C containing within it a subsidiary
camera and having two lenses such as O and C of an adjustable reflector or mirror
such as D in front of one said lens adapted to throw the image of a reflection of said
chronograph on to a plate or film exposed in said camera substantially as herein
described and explained and as illustrated in the drawings.
Fifth. In a recorder of the class set forth the combination and arrangement with
a camera such as C having a focal plane shutter operated by a pawl or lever such
as L of an electro magnet such as L with armature such as L³ and a lever
such as L with a bend or inturn such as L substantially as herein described and
explained and as illustrated in the drawings.
Sixth. In a recorder of the class set forth the combination and arrangement with
electrical conductors of support such as J adapted to be held upright by a thread in
tension and having a chopper terminal such as J3 and a gutter terminal such
as K adapted to receive terminal such as J3 on the break of said tensioned thread
and the falling of said support such as J substantially as herein described and
explained and as illustrated in the drawings.
Seventh. In a recorder of the class set forth the combination and arrangement
with a support such as adapted to be held upright by a thread in tension and
a hinged piece such as J adapted to be supported by said support J and upon falling
of said support to contract the bulb of a pneumatic tube in connection with the
instantaneous shutter of a camera substantially as herein described and explained
and as illustrated in the drawings.
Eighth. The combination and arrangement of mechanical and electrical parts all
together forming an improved electric photographic time and position recorder
specially useful for races. Substantially as herein described and explained and as
illustrated in the drawings.
Dated this Sixteenth
day
amber one thousand light hundred and
аци
minety simi
JOSEPH GAUT:
Jensen & Son,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.