Improved Apparatus for Timing Pigeons.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Feb., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 25th Nov., 1891-Accented, 9th Jan., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Timing Pigeons.
We, JAMES KITSON, Mill Hand, Yeadon, Yorkshire, and JOHN BULMER,
Mill Hand, West Field House, Guiseley, Yorkshire, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
The apparatus forming the subject of our invention is intended to be employed
as a means for timing arrivals of carrier pigeons or other birds.
The invention provides for the ready apprisal to the owners, of the exact time of
the pigeons' entry into their cotes; a great advantage both to the trainer and when
the birds are employed for transmitting messages.
The attainment of this object is accomplished by the application of swinging or
bob" wires to the inside of the entrance holes of the pigeon-cotes; the said
"bob" wires being pushed back on the entry of the birds cause the mechanism
hereinafter specified to stop the motion or going of a clock or other time
indicating appliance and maintain same in a state of rest until the apparatus is
reset.
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At a convenient distance above the pigeon-holes or entrances a light steel or
other metal wire shaft is arranged longitudinally the whole or part of the length of
the cote and inside same. This shaft is held in position by staples for instance and
works loosely therein, vertical hanging rods being attached thereto in such a
manner that they hang with their ends reaching a short distance below the tops of
the pigeon-holes. The "bob" wires are provided with cross-pieces against which
the vertical rods are in hanging contact. At one of the ends of the shaft a vertical
elbow rod is also fastened, the elbow of which is contiguous to a swing rod also
elbowed and swinging on a pin fixed to the wall or building in which the time-piece
is located. The swing rod is so arranged, with its elbow at right angles to the
vertical elbowed rod, that a movement of the latter shall cause the former to swing
back a short distance. A brake, made from a flat piece of metal, at one of its
ends encircles and moves loosely on one of the spacing pillars of the standards of
the clock or time-piece. This brake is bent, near the middle, to a curve suitable to
take onto the balance-wheel of the clock, over the periphery of which it is situated,
but is normally prevented from coming into contact therewith by causing the other
end of the brake, which is made to project through an opening in the clock-case,
to rest on the elbow of the before-mentioned swing rod.
The pigeon on entering the pigeon-hole is compelled to push back the "bob"
wires, the cross-pieces of which forcing back the vertical rods produce a partial
rotation of the shaft, thus causing the vertical elbowed rod to disengage the swing
rod from the brake, which latter dropping down onto the periphery of the balance-
wheel immediately stops the clock and shows the time of entry.
The
By a modification, we construct a brake for stopping the clock in the form of a
lever working on a fulcrum on one of the standards of the clock. One end of this
lever projects through the casing of the clock, the other end having a short piece
cf springy material, such as a portion of a clock spring, attached thereto.
above mentioned swing-rod may, in this case, conveniently be situated on the
outer side of the clock case or cover close to the opening through which the end of
the brake protrudes. The brake is so situated in relation to the balance-wheel that
when its outer end rests on the elbow of the swing rod the tip of the spring end is
just under part of the periphery of the balance-wheel. Now, when the brake is
released from the elbow of the swing rod, by the action of the before named vertical
elbowed rod (through the medium of the bird in entering) the weight of the

page_text: protruding part of the brake will cause that end to drop and the spring end to
consequently rise into contact with the balance-wheel, thereby stopping the clock.
Dated this 24th day of February 1891.
CROSSLEY & Co.,
72, New Market Street, Bradford, Yorks., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Timing Pigeons.
We, JAMES KITSON, Mill Hand, Yeadon, Yorkshire, and Jonx BULMER,
Mill Hand, West Field House, Guiseley, Yorkshire, 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 apparatus forming the subject of our invention is intended to be employed
as a means for timing arrivals of carrier pigeons or other birds.
The invention provides for the ready apprisal, to the owners, of the exact time
of the pigeons entry into their cotes; a great advantage both to the trainer and
when the birds are employed for transmitting messages.
The attainment of this object is accomplished by the application of swinging or
"bob" wires to the inside of the entrance holes of the pigeon-cotes, whereby, on
the entry of the bird, the said wires are caused to oscillate, and through the medium
of certain levers and rods in connection therewith, stop the motion or "going" of
a clock or other time indicating appliance and maintain same in a state of rest
until reset.
The invention may be understood with greater facility by a description of same
with reference to thic accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, showing our improved apparatus
connected with a clock and a pigeon cote.
Figs. 2 and 3 are details of parts of the apparatus.
Fig. 4 is a front elevation drawn to a larger scale and partly in section showing
part of a clock, with the face removed, having a modified form of part of the
apparatus applied thereto.
Fig. 5 is a portion of the outside of the last mentioned clock showing a side view
of the mechanism represented in Fig. 4.
of part
Fig. 6 is a part plan of Fig. 4.
Referring to Figs. 1 to 3-
A is a clock, which may be of the ordinary American or other type, provided it
contains an oscillating balance-wheel such as a.
B is a "drop"-brake made from
a piece of flat metal bent to a curve near one end and formed with a hook as at b
Fig. 2.
This brake is adjusted over the clock, so that its flat curved end shall rest
on the balance-wheel a, while its hooked end partly encircles one of the spacing
pillars of the standards of the clock. A pair of pliers may now be used to bend
the hook into the form of an eye, taking care that the eye be not too small to
allow of the easy up and down movement of the brake. Pins may now be driven
into the clock pillar on either side of the brake eye to keep it in place. Instead of
attaching the brake B to a pillar of the clock it may be connected to the clock-
case or standard if desired. C is a swing-rod provided with an elbow at one end
and a sleeve at the other, and movable loosely on a pin or staple D fixed to the
wall or other part of the building in which the clock or other time indicating
appliance may be located. The clock A is sustained in proximity to the swing
rod C on a bracket, shelf or other convenient support and the end of the brake B
is allowed to rest on the elbow of the said swinging lever. Presuming the pigeon-
cote is disposed with one of its sides juxtaposited to the wall or other portion of the
building carrying the swing rod C, a slit or aperture is cut right through that side
of the cote and the wall, at about the position indicated at E. At a convenient

page_text: distance above the pigeon-holes or entrances a light steel or other metal wire-shaft
or rod F is arranged longitudinally the whole or part of the length of the cote.
This shaft or rod is held in position by staples or other holdfasts ff, working loosely
therein and carrying vertical hanging rods G, fixed thereon, by screws g for
instance; the end of shaft F, near the aperture E, also carrying a vertical hanging
rod H having an elbow H¹ bent at right angles thereto; the said rod H being
attached to the shaft F, by a screw for example. The bob wires K are as usual,
swinging in staples, attached to the inside of the cote and intercepting the pigeon-
holes, but are, provided with a cross-piece or wire K' which besides giving rigidity
is employed as a medium for actuating our apparatus. The rols Gare arranged
about midway of the cross pieces and are in hanging contact therewith, at the
back of the bob wires K, as seen better in the reverse elevation Fig. 3.
The pigeon on returning to the cote in entering the pigeon-hole, necessarily
pushes back the bob wires K which, by means of cross pieces K, produces a back-
ward motion of the vertical rod G, partly rotating the shaft and thus causing the
elbow to disengage the swing rod C from the brake B, which latter drops down
on the balance wheel and immediately stops the clock the whole action being
almost simultaneous. If necessary in larger makes of clocks, the brake B may be
weighted at its end b'.
In Figs. 4, 5 and 6, we have shown a modified form of brake, applied to a
different clock. In this case we have attached the brake to a standard, instead of
to one of the spacing pillars by means of a bearing bracket or carrier L provided
with a spindle and fixed by a screw l¹. The braking medium M is here preferably
a piece of springy material such as a portion of a clock spring, at one end sandwiched
between two pieces of metal, brass for instance m, m', and rivetted together. The
other portion of the brake consists of a lever N passing through a slit in the clock
case, fulcrumined on the spindle 1, and having a sleeve n to steady it and a pin in the
end of the said spindle to prevent it from working off; it also carries the jaws n'
into which the sandwiched end m, m', of the braking medium M is placed, and a
pin n² is passed right through the said jaws so as to allow of the spring M turning
either to the left or right thereon, to facilitate adjustment to the balance-wheel a.
The swing rod C, in this instance, is connected to the clock-case, its pin D being
carried by the bracket D'.
The
On the entry of the pigeon into the cote the elbow H' pushing back the swing
rod C disengages the brake lever N, which dropping by its own weight, causes the
spring M to make contact with the balance wheel a and immediately stops the
clock. The time having been noted, a slight pressure of ones finger on the lever N
(by reason of the springy nature of the part M) will restart the clock and the brake
will now have assumed the position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 4.
brake may then be reset by lifting up the lever N or, if desired may be put out of
action by covering up the slit in the side of the clock-case by means of the metal
strip O, having previously lifted the lever N to. the top of the slit, as indicated by
the dotted lines in Fig. 5. A similar device to that indicated at O may also be
employed to cover the aperture E, Fig. 1, if desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what we
claim is
Firstly. The improved apparatus for timing the arrival of pigeons or other birds
at their cotes, substantially as described and shown on the drawings.
Secondly. The brake, B b, b, as described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, for
application to the balance-wheels of clocks or other time indicating appliances when
employed for stopping the "going" or working of same and used in conjunction
with the rest of the apparatus constituting our invention or any mere modification
of same.
Thirdly. The braking arrangement shown and specified with reference to Figs. 4

page_text: to 6 and lettered N, n, n², n², M, m, m', or any merc modification thereof, when
employed for the purpose and used in the manner set forth in Claim 2.
Fourthly. The arrangement of shaft or rod F with its appendages the hanging
rods G and elbow rod H, H' actuated, on the entry of a bird into the cote, by the
cross-pieces K on the swing or "bob wires K, or any mere modification of same,
for the purposes specified.
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Fifthly. The combination of the "bob wires K, K, and the shaft F and its
appendages the rods G and the rod H, H' with the swing rod C whether attached
to a wall or other part of a building or to a clock or other time indicating appliance
substantially as described and shown on the drawings.
Sixthly. The combination of the apparatus claimed in Claim with a brake
connected to a clock or other time indicating appliance whether the said brake is
of the construction or any mere modification of same, shown in Figs. 1 and 2 or in
Figs. 4 to 6, for the purposes specified.
Dated this 24th day of November 1891
CROSSLEY & Co.,
72, New Market Street, Bradford, Yorks., Agents.