An Improved Method of Raising and Lowering Targets for Practice with Fire-arms.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Sept., 1891-Accepted, 3rd Oct., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Raising and Lowering Targets for Practice
with Fire-arms.
I LANGRISHE FYERS BANKS Secretary of the Royal Hospital Kilmainham
Dublin, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to raising and lowering targets, by applying the principle
of the parallel-beam balance action. According to this invention, targets, (by
preference those of paper or other light material,) are fixed in a suitable manner
to an upright metal frame hinged near its base to a horizontal metal frame,
balanced near its centre, (or elsewhere). A. counterpoise weight, fixed or movable,
on the opposite side, being so placed, that the raising or lowering of the target
may be controlled by a hand lever, or other simple suitable appliance. The said
upright metal frame, being held in the required erect position, by a parallel arm
or radius-rod, (or rods), connected below. The target being thus raised above the
shelter mantlet when required, or lowered to a position behind it.
Dated this Second day of December 1890.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Raising and Lowering Targets for Practice
with Fire-arms.
I LANGRISHE FYERS BANKS, of the Royal Hospital at Kilmainham in the
City of Dublin, Secretary of the said Royal Hospital 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 :-
This invention relates to raising and lowering targets for the purpose of practice
with fire arms by applying the principle of the parallel-beam balance action, that
is to say according to this invention targets by preference those of light material,
(such as canvas stretched on a wooden frame and covered with paper) are kept in
a vertical position while they are being raised above the marker's safety shelter-
mantlet, or lowered to a position behind it, by being fixed to an upright frame which
is carried at the end of another frame balanced on a horizontal axis on suitable
supports, said upright frame being kept in a vertical position by one or more
parallel arms or radius rods attached thereto and working on the principle of the
parallel beam balance action, and friction being thus reduced to a minimum the
targets may be raised or lowered by hand alone, or by hand lever if preferred.
The mode of carrying out my invention is shewn in the accompanying drawings.
Figure I. being a side elevation.
Figure II. a rear elevation, in which is shewn a frame X. Y. balanced on a
horizontal axis A. A' on suitable supports, at one end of said frame X. Y. X' Y₁
is carried at points B. B' an upright frame to which the target is attached and
which is kept in a vertical position by one or more parallel arms or radius rods,
whose length from centre to centre shall be equal to the distance between the
points A. and B. on the said balanced frame X. Y. X¹ Y' and having the fixed
centres A. and D. on the said supports and the centres B. and C. on the said
upright frame, respectively, equidistant, so as to form a parallelogram A. B. C. D.;
such counterpoise weight being placed at the opposite end as may be necessary
to counterbalance the weight of the target &c., on the other end, and a paul P,
(controlled by a cord,) so placed as to retain the target at its proper elevation.

page_text: As the points A. A' and D. D¹ are fixed and placed vertically the one over the
other, it follows that the upright or target frame, will always be kept in a vertical
position by the radius rods whether it is.elevated or depressed, thus working on the
principle of the parallel beam balance action."
A weight W. is also placed on the balanced frame in a position, or suspended to
a point, over the horizontal axis A. A¹ hereinbefore described, in such a manner
that its centre of gravity passing over from side to side of such horizontal axis,
causes the target to rise or fall according as it is above or below the level of even-
beam, thus facilitating the working of the apparatus.
:
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed,-I declare that what I
claim is
:
I. For applying the principle of the parallel beam balance action to the raising
and lowering of targets for the purpose of practice with fire arms as hereinbefore
described.
'
II. For so placing the counterpoise weights in the manner hereinbefore described
as to facilitate the working of the apparatus.
Dated this 1st day of September 1891.