Means or Apparatus for Holding and Releasing (for Starting) Race-horses.
Year: 1888

page_text: 1 ...
Date of Application, 5th Dec., 1888
:
Complete Specification Left, 5th Sept., 1889-Accepted, 5th Dec., 1889.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Means or Apparatus for Holding and Releasing (for Starting)
Race-horses.
I GASTON VULLIET-DURAND, of 32 Boulevard du Montparnasse Paris, France,
Architect, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The usual manner of starting horses at race meetings often gives rise to serious
disadvantages due usually to false starts of the horses intended to run and which
before the race go to the starting point and there await the signal of the starter.
Thus it frequently happens that one (or more) of the horses, through restiveness or
through being purposely excited, passes either beyond or to the rear of the starting
post, thereby travelling through a greater or less distance before it is again brought
back to the starting post. The horse is consequently partly exhausted before the
start takes place, or is behind in starting, in either case being in a position of
inferiority with reference to the other horses that have not left the starting place. It
further happens that when a start is made solely by a starter in the usual manner,
one or more of the horses may be favoured, with or without the knowledge of the
jockey or jockeys thereon, to the disadvantage of the other horses.
This invention has for its object to prevent false starts by limiting the action of the
starter to effecting a simple mechanical operation, and to invariably maintain the
horses in their respective places notwithstanding any dishonest intention on the part
of either of the jockeys so that each horse may start under identical conditions and
a fair start be thereby ensured.
All the horses classed in lots in the usual manner, are according to this invention
held by a barrier or barriers at the starting line or lines to await the starting signal,
so that neither the jockeys nor the starter can unfairly influence the running of any
of the horses, the starting being effected at the required time, by simultaneously
breaking the connection between the barrier and each horse and removing the
barrier or causing it to collapse by operating a mechanical device so that all the
horses are instantaneously freed thereby preventing false and unfair starts and giving
a fair chance for the goal to be reached by the best horse and the most skilful
jockey.
The barrier (or each barrier if there be more than one) and the means or con-
nections for attaching the horses thereto may be made and broken or collapsed
through the
of any suitable
agency
such as electricity, compressed or rarified air
power
or by mechanical means, provided the automatic breaking or collapsing of the barrier
and of the said connections is beyond the will of the jockeys and the caprice of
the starter.
In an arrangeinent of apparatus according to this invention in which electricity
is used as tlie motive power for the purposes hereinbefore stated, the starting
posts (or each pair of them if there be more than one pair) are connected by
barrier composed of lengths of cable between the adjacent parts of which are inter-
posed electro magnetic devices hereinafter described.
The electric current is supplied from any suitable source such as one or more
balteries or dynamos the electric circuit being closed through the cables and
interposed electro magnetic devices.
These devices each comprise a box containing two electro magnets (hereinafter
referred to as the first and second electro magnets) and a hinged or jointed latch
or catch (bereinafter called a catch).
:
In the first electro magnet are formed two recesses designed to receive two
conductors which are connected either to the curb or to extensions of the bit of the
horse to be attached to the box.

page_text: When these conductors are placed in the electro magnet, the electric current
maintains the connection and prevents movement of the horses head, but as soon as
the circuit is broken the conductors are released and the horse can move its head
freely.
The second electro-magnet of each device serves to maintain for the time being,
the formation of the chain or barrier. This second electro-magnet is arranged to
act upon a plunger or piston upon which rests one arm of the catch, the other arm of
which is arranged to hook on to the adjacent length of cable. The locking or
catching is effected by hand the plunger or piston being operated by means of a
suitable ring and connection.
The unlocking or release of the lengths of cable and consequent collapse of the
barrier may be effected by interrupting the current in the second electro-magnet of
each of the electro-magnetic devices, the effect of which is to operate the plunger or
piston and cause the overbalancing of the corresponding catch.
For controlling the circuits of the electro-magnets, commutators may be employed.
In one arrangement there are two similar commutators with similarly arranged
contact pieces the handles or levers for making and breaking connexion being
connected so as to move together. By suitably operating the handles or levers an
electric current may be caused to pass through the first and then through the second
electro magnets of the boxes and finally through a circuit for operating one or more
electric bells arranged on one or both of the starting posts.
The same source of electricity may be employed for each of the circuits, but it is
preferred to employ one battery for the circuits of the electro-magnetic devices and
another for the bells.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows. The barrier is first formed by hooking
the lengths of cable to the catches of the boxes by hand; the chain thus formed and
composed of any suitable number of parts is then stretched as required by any
suitable means such as a screw and handwheel. By then operating the levers of the
commutators, an electric current may be caused to pass through the circuit of the first
electro magnets.
When the horses are ready to start and are in their allotted positions they are
attached to the barrier. When the signal for starting is given the commutator levers
are operated in such a manner as to break the current in the first electro magnets and
release the horses, then the current through the second electro magnets is broken,
and the catches unlocked or released, causing the barrier to fall or collapse, and finally
by a further movement of the commutator levers, the electric bell circuit is closed and
the signal bells operated.
As these several actions due to the movement of the commutator levers are nearly
instantaneous it will be seen that the release of the horses, the collapse of the barrier,
and the ringing of the bells are effected practically simultaneously.
The barrier may be provided with vertical supports between the starting posts.
The electric current may pass through the chain or barrier from end to end but
when intermediate supports are used it may be distributed in each of these supports.
For this purpose there are firmly fixed in tho. ground, other supports in which
the vertical supports rest and with which the latter supports engages by means of a
catch.
The vertical supports are provided with contact pieces that are caused by the action
of springs to make contact with other contact pieces. In order to remove the vertical
supports from the ground supports, means are provided for withdrawing the catch
that connects the two. The electric current flows through wires situated in the
standards or vertical supports down to the ground where the said wires are provided
with rings or hooks for making connection with the conducting wires of each of the
lengths of cables and the interposed electro magnetic devices.
Doulle cases or boxes may be provided each having à valve, for closing an orifice
through which passes part of the chain or the vertical conducting wires. The cover
of this case or box inay form part of the movable support; the cover may be closed
by means of two hooks.

page_text: The ground at the starting place should be of such a nature as not to be cut up by
the pawing and stamping of the horses whilst offering to them a relatively soft
surface.
This part of the course may after a race be protected by a coverlet or covering.
Dated this 5th day of December 1888.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Means or Apparatus for Holding and Releasing (for Starting)
Race-horses.
I, GASTON VULLIET-DURAND, of 32 Boulevard du Montparnasse Paris, France,
Architect, 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 :-
The usual manner of starting horses at race meetings often gives rise to serious
disadvantages due usually to false starts of the horses intended to run and which
before the race go to the starting point and there await the signal of the starter.
Thus it frequently happens that one (or more) of the horses, through restiveness or
through being purposely excited, passes either beyond or to the rear of the starting
post, thereby travelling through a greater or less distance before it is again brought
back to the starting post. The horse is consequently partly exhausted before the
start takes place, or is behind in starting, in either case being in a position of
inferiority with reference to the other horses that have not left the starting place.
It further happens that when a start is made solely by a starter in the usual manner,
one or more of the horses may be favoured with or without the knowledge of the
jockey or jockeys thereon, to the disadvantage of the other horses.
This invention has for its object to prevent false starts by limiting the action of the
starter to effecting a simple mechanical operation, and to invariably maintain the
horses in their respective places notwithstanding any dishonest intention on the part
of either of the jockeys so that each horse may start under identical conditions and a
fair start be thereby ensured.
All the horses classed in lots in the usual manner, are according to this invention
held by a barrier or barriers at the starting line or lines to await the starting signal,
so that neither the jockeys nor the starter can unfairly influence the running of any of
the horses, the starting being effected at the required time, by simultaneously breaking
the connection between the barrier and each horse.
The whole arrangement of the system, with the improved parts, is illustrated in the
annexed sheet of drawings but only by way of illustration. These drawings also
comprise the principal typical application which the invention is capable of receiving.
My invention is illustrated as adapted for use with electricity as the motive agent.
Fig. 1 illustrates the arrangement of my system upon a race course the track of
which has for instance three starting points.
Fig. 2 is a diagram of the whole arrangement of the system.
Fig. 3 illustrates the whole arrangement of the electric chain which forms the
starting barrier and which collapses instantaneously on the breaking of the current.
Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate in elevation and in section respectively two of the con-
secutive elements of the chain serving to retain momentarily the horse by each side
of the bit; these elements are shewn in the position they occupy when the horse is
being held before the start.
Fig. 6 shews the position of one of the elements at the start, the attachment of the
horse being disengaged and the chain broken.
Fig. 7 illustrates the arrangement of the board indicating the passage of the current
in the several circuits.

page_text: all the horses retained thereby.
Fig. 9 is a diagram of the application of the same system to the starting of
velocipedes.
Fig. 10 is a similar view of its application to starting of boats.
In all these figures the same reference letters refer to the same or corresponding
parts.
The invention is based in principle upon the employmneut of the chain a stretcherl
between posts when all these elements are assembled together as will be seen
hereinafter.
The tension of this chain may be effected by any suitable means; it is composed
of electro-magnetic elements (Figs. 4 to 6) connected together by flexible parts
formed by the suitably insulated and covered conducting wires of the current.
C
The elements of the chain a are each formed by a metallic box d enclosing an
electro magnet e energised by the current passing through the whole arrangement of
the system. The polar extensions of this electro magnet attract an armature g
against the action of a spring g' and at right angles to which is an arm g² whose
free end forms a catch which engages with a stop or projection provided in the
jointed portion i of the box.
The box d has two of its opposite sides extended to form bearings to receive the
pins of the flexible conducting parts; one of these pins is fixed, the other k
is disengaged on the breaking of the current. The jointed portion of one of the
two extended sides of the box is hinged at and is held by the armature of the
electro-magnet and arm g² during the passage of the current as hereinabove
mentioned. Fig. 5 shews clearly this arrangement for engagement.
Each movable pin is provided with a spring snap hook 7 adapted to hook on to the
sides of the bit as shewn in Fig. 3.
In order to ensure the prompt disengagement of the spring snap hooks (the ring
of which moves with very slight friction on the pin k) I employ two springs n n
provided with parts n² n³ that normally act against the ends of the pin k. The
spring n¹ is fixed to the jointed portion of the box. With this arrangement when
the electric circuit is broken the spring g' will force the armature away from the
polar extension and disengage the catch from the stop or projection ¹, where-
upon the part 2 by the action of the spring n will force the pink from the
adjacent bearing and the jointed portion being thereby forced into the position
shewn in Fig. 6 will also become detached from the pink which will consequently fall
to the ground and the horse previously attached thereto released.
I may however employ any other equivalent arrangement with the same object.
I have shewn small clasps o for securing the arrangement shewn in Fig. 5 without
it being necessary to maintain the electric current; this device has no other object
than to allow the electric current to be employed only at the moment of starting, the
clasps o being all withdrawn at that moment.
The commutator p Fig 8 is shewn in the position it occupies during the passage of
the current; it is only necessary to push the handle toward the word START in
order to instantaneously break the circuit and effect the immediate fall to earth of all
the boxes d and consequently of the other parts of the chain, which, being broken,
disengages all the spring snap hooks l, and consequently also the horses.
The breaking of the circuit may also be utilized to effect the automatic unfolding
of a flag the spring of which is disengaged, and also to simultaneously operate an
electric bell.
The indicating board q Fig. 7 shews by the deviation of its needle, the proper
working of each of the circuits in the chain, to the cable of the stands, to the
signal apparatus.
Fig. 7 shews this clearly so that it is not necessary to minutely describe it and the
diagram 'Fig. 2 also shews clearly the complete arrangement of the whole system.
a being the chain, the commutator; q the indicating board; an electric bell; s a

page_text: flag, and t t accumulator cells with the various electrical connections between these
several parts.
It will be understood that my system may be applied to instantaneous starting other
than that of horses.
For instance Fig 9 shews that the chain a, constructed and operating as above
mentioned, can serve for starting in a velocipede race.
Similarly Fig. 10 shews how my system may be applied for starting boats.
In the example which I have explained in describing my system, the starting and
all accessory operations are determined by the breaking of the circuit; it will be
understood that the opposite effect, that is to say, the passage of a current could
produce the same results.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. An arrangement for the instantaneous starting of race horses, velocipedes,
boats, etc., consisting in the employment of a chain formed of elements connected
together but capable of being caused to separate instantaneously and simultaneously
at a given moment so as to release the horses velocipedes, and boats attached to the
elements of the said chain, as hereinabove described in principle, and for the
purpose specified.
2. In a system of chain such as referred to in claim 1, the arrangement of each
element composel of a box d enclosing an electro-magnet e whose armature acts upon
a releasing device allowing the instantaneous separation of the several elements on
the breaking of the passage of the current as described and illustrated.
3. An instantaneous electric starting device composed of a chain a the elements of
which separate simultaneously at the moment of the passage or of the breaking of a
current sent by the operation of a commutator p-of an indicating board 9 adapted
to notify the passage of the currents by the deviation of its needle, and of flags
and bells adapted to be operated simultaneously at the moment of the separation
of the elements of the chain, the whole as described hereinabove in principle with
reference to the illustrative drawings annexed.
Dated this 5th day of Santamber 1880
G. VULLIET-DURAND,
Per L. W.