Improvements in Starting Machines for Horse Races and the like
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
"Improvements in Starting Machines for Horse Races and the
like."
I, ROBERT WILSON of Ballarat Race Course, Miner's Rest, near Ballarat, in the
Colony of Victoria, Race-course Ranger, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows;-
The object of this invention is to provide a machine or gate for starting horse
races and the like having improvements over those at present in use and at the
same time being simple and inexpensive.
The machine consists of two vertical strutted standards (preferably formed out of
6" x 6" timber) about 90 feet apart and securely fixed in the ground. For the
purpose of holding the standards in a true position they are preferably stayed with
wire rope which is connected to the end of the bottom strut plate secured to one of
the standards and passes to the top of said standard, thence to the top of the other
standard and down to the end of a strut sole plate secured to the bottom thereof.
Each of these vertical standards are formed with a narrow longitudinal groove, which
starts about one fourth their length from the ground level and is continued to the
top, this groove about the centre of the cross section of each standard being
rabbeted or increased in area.
A plate is set within this larger portion of each of the standards and has
secured thereto and stretching from the plate of one of the standards to that of
the other a screen which is preferably formed of wire netting. The screen may
be secured to iron tubes arranged outside the standards and from each of the said
tubes a plate may pass into the narrrow groove and be secured to each sliding plate.
The sliding plates are provided with antifriction wheels whose tyres are preferably
made of indiarubber.
The plates with the screen attached are arranged to slide up and down the
grooved standards as hereinafter described. The length of the plates and the width
of the wire attached is preferably about four feet.
The back of each standard is preferably closed in by a cover board so that a box is
formed for the sliding plates.
To the top of each sliding plate is secured a cord, the cord from one of these
sliding plates passes over a pulley mounted at the top of its standard and thence to
and over a pulley mounted on or near the top of the opposite standard from which it
passes down the side of said standard and is secured to a metal or other weight.
The cord secured to the opposite sliding plate passes over a pulley mounted beside
the pulley referred to at the top of the standard beside which the weight hangs.
The cord passes down and is secured to the said weight. A third or hand cord is
secured to the weight and passes up to and over a pulley preferably mounted on the
op of a box which forms an enclosure for the weight against the standard.
cord passes to a spring catch or fastening of any approved pattern to which it may
be secured in such a manner as to be immediately released on a slight pull of the
said hand cord or by the pull of a trigger or such analogous freeing mechanisın.
This
The machine is operated in the following manner-Assume it to be in its raised
position when not in use; The weight is drawn up to its top position by a pull of

page_text: the hand-cord and when in this position the said cord is secured to the spring catch.
During this operation the weight being released from the slide plate and screen
attached, this latter will slide down to its position for use when starting a race.
With the signal to start the hand cord will be released by a pull at the spring catch or
by operating a trigger, as provided, when the weight will immediately fall drawing the
cords attached over their respective pulleys and quickly raising or drawing up the
screen to its top position thus removing the barrier when the horses will be free
to start.
5
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
"Improvements in Starting Machines for Horse Races and the
like."
I, ROBERT WILSON of Ballarat Race Course, Miner's Rest, near Ballarat, in the
Colony of Victoria, Race-Course Ranger, 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 object of this invention is to provide a machine or gate for starting horse races
and the like having improvements over those at present in use and at the same time
being simple and inexpensive.
In order that my invention may be the better understood reference may be made
to the accompanying drawings in which-
Figure 1 is an elevation shewing the barrier hereinafter to be referred to in its
raised and lowered positions respectively, whilst
Figure 2 is a sectional plan, to an enlarged scale, of the uprights on the lines
"X--X" and "Z - -Z"
In these drawings "A" and "B" are two vertical strutted standards [preferably
formed out of 6" x 6" timber] set about 90 feet apart and securely fixed in the
ground. For the purpose of holding the said strutted standards in a true and firm
position they are preferably stayed with a wire rope "C" which is connected to the
end of the bottom strut plate "C" of one of the standards and passes to the top of
said standard, thence to the top of the other standard and down to the end of the
strut plate "C" secured to the bottom thereof. Each of the vertical standards "A"
and "B" are formed with a narrow longitudinal groove, which starts about one
fourth their length from the ground level and is continued to the top, this groove,
about the centre of the cross section of each standard, being rebated or increased in
area [see Fig. 2].
A plate of metal or other strong material "D" is set within the enlarged portion of
each of the standards "A" and "B" and has secured thereto and stretching from
the plate of one of the standards to that of the other a screen "E" which is prefer-
ably formed of wire netting. The screen may be secured to iron tubes "F" arranged
outside the standards "A and "B" and from each of the said tubes connecting
plates may pass into the narrow grooves "A1" and "B₁" and be secured to
each sliding plate.
66
F1"
The plates "F" to which the screen "E" is attached are arranged to slide up and
down the grooved standards "A" and "B" as hereinafter described. The length of
the plates "D" and the width of the wire screen "E" is preferably about four feet.
The back of each standard " or "B" may be closed in to formn a dust tight case
for the sliding plates "D."
"

page_text: To the top of each sliding plate "D" is secured a cord "G" and "H" the former
cord passes over a pulley mounted at the top of the standard "B" and thence to
and over a pulley mounted on or near the top of the opposite standard "A" from
which it passes down the side of said standard and is secured to a weight "I." The
cord "H" passed over a pulley mounted beside the pulley referred to at the top of
the standard "A" besides which the weight "I" hangs. The cord "H" passes down
and is secured to the said weight.
A third or hand cord "K" is secured to the weight "I" and passes up to and over
a pulley "L" preferably mounted on the top of a box "M" which forms an enclosure
for the weight "I" against the standard "Ā."
The cord "K" passes through a spring catch or fastening "N" of any approved
pattern to which it may be secured in such a manner as to be immediately released
on a slight pull of the said hand cord at "K¹" or by a trigger or such analogous
freeing mechanism at "N."
A small windlass may, if desired, be used in connection with "K¹"care being taken
that "K" is not made fast to such windlass in any way that might impede the
running of "K¹" when it is to be released as hereinafter described.
The plates "D" may, if preferred, be provided with antifrictional or rubber tyred
wheels to facilitate their working in the slotted grooves.
The modus operandi of this form of my invention is as follows:-
Assume "E" to be in its raised position when not in use; the weight "I" is
drawn up to its top position by the hand-cord "K" at "K" and when in this
position the said cord "K" is secured in the catch "N". During this operation the
slide plates "D" and screen "E" attached thereto, being freed from the weight of
"I", will slide down to their lower position for use when starting the race.
When the signal to start the race is given the hand cord "K₁" will be released by
pulling the spring catch "N" or operating its trigger, when the weight "I" will
immediately and rapidly fall drawing the cords "G" and "H" over their respective
pulleys and quickly raise or draw up the screen "E" to its top position and thus
remove the barrier so that the horses may freely pass away.
Figure 3 shews an alternate construction of the appliance in which the
barrier "E" is steadied in its movement by cord "P" which latter is secured to the
plate "D" or otherwise to the framing of the barrier. This cord passes over
pulleys "P1, P2" mounted on the standards "B" and "A" near their tops and down
to a pulley "P" set in the standards beneath the level of the lowest position of the
gate. The cord thence passes up and is connected to the barrier frame at its bottom.
The barrier is raised by means of cords "T, T" secured to the framing at its top and
passes over pulleys "T₁" "T" secured at the top of the standards and carry
weights "V" which should be sufficiently heavy to draw the barrier up rapidly.
The metal plate "D" described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 may be provided
with antifriction rollers "Q" or such rollers may be employed in lieu of "D" and
arranged to rotate within the recess of the rebated standards and be connected to the
plates "F" Lever "R" is provided which is arranged to operate any suitable form
of catch which will hold the barrier in its lowered position so as to release said
barrier rapidly when desired. The barrier is drawn down from its raised position by
incans of a cord "S" secured to its frame which passes over and is wound upon a
windlass "S". The gate is drawn down in this manner until held by the lever
catch. The rollers "Q" aforesaid are preferably provided with rubber tyres and are
arranged so as to cause the barrier to travel with as little friction as possible. The
windlass is unwound before releasing the lever catch on the start of the race.
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―
1. In starting machines for horse races and the like-
In combination strutted or stayed uprights as "A" and "B", plates as "D" to
which a barrier or gate as "E" is attached, operating cords as "K" and weight
as "I" substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

page_text: 2. In starting machines for horse races and the like-
In combination strutted or stayed uprights as "A" and "B" having recesses or
rebates therein sliding plates as "D" to which a barrier or gate as
"E" is
attached, operating cord as "K," weight as "I", pull cord and spring catch as " K1"
and "N" and pulley as "L" substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3. In starting machines for horse races and the like-
The general combination and arrangement of the several parts forming a complete
machine snbstantially as and for the purposes set forth and as illustrated on Figures 1
and 2 on the accompanying drawings.
4. In starting machines for horse races and the like-
The general combination and arrangement of the parts substantially as illustrated
on Figure 3 on the accompanying drawings and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 22nd day of
100%
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C. and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham. Agents.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C. and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham. Agents.