Improvements in Mechanism for Operating Targets used in Rifle- shooting Practice.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Feb., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 20th Nov., 1899-Accepted, 17th Feb.,
1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFION
Improvements in Mechanism for Operating Targets used in Rifle-
shooting Practice.
We, THOMAS HARRIS, of 144, City Road, Bristol, Joiner, and ALBERT EDWIN
NUTE, of Southsea House, Colston Road, Bristol, Fitter, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to balanced targets for rifle-shooting practice and con-
sists in improvements in mechanism for operating such targets. By the means
which constitute this invention, the targets are released from the locked positions
either raised or lowered--and operated by actuating one and the same handle
only.
For convenience in description the invention will be set forth as applied
to a usual case where one target and a dummy, or score value indicator, are
used and arranged to act in co-operation and conjunction.
According to this invention, under one method of carrying it into effect, the
target carrier is adapted to turn about a spindle as a pivot, the spindle being,
in the case of targets for trenches, supported on a girder resting on buttresses,
or on a suitable stand. The carrier which carries the dummy is similarly
arranged on a spindle situated at the opposite side to that at which the target-
carrier spindle is situated. The target and dummy may be of such relative
weight as to approximately balance each other at any point in their range of
movement. When this is not so, the balance, or approximate balance, for the
larger size target, is obtained by a counterweight adjustable on the carrier of
the dummy. The target carrier and the dummy carrier are connected together
by a connecting rod, one end of which is pivotted to an arm secured to the
target carrier and fixed at an angle of, approximately, 45 degrees with respect
to the horizontal members of the carrier. The other end of the connecting
rod is in like manner pivotted to a link similarly fixed with respect to the
horizontal member of the dummy carrier.
On the spindle of the target carrier is fixed the handle by operating which
the target and dummy are worked. This handle is jointed and so arranged that
the part carried by the pivot pin has a limited range of movement independently
of the other part. The joint pin is extended at the back of the handle through
a slotted arm which is pivotted to a suitable support. That part of the handle
which is carried on the joint pin is shaped to act as a pawl in relation to lugs
provided on the slotted arm. For the slotted arm may be substituted catches
suitably attached to the girder or stand aforesaid. By moving the said part
of the handle to a sufficient extent the joint pin is freed from engagement with
a part of the slot or the catches, and the two parts of the handle move together
causing also the target and dummy to move. As is usual, the dummy descends

page_text: when the target ascends, and rice versa. No other operation is required to
actuate the target and dummy which, by virtue of the angular arrangement of
the arms aforesaid are enabled to be easily swung and moved to their positions
about their respective spindles. The pawl carried by the handle locks the target
and dummy when swung up or down, the slotted arm in which the joint pin works
turning on its pivot to the necessary extent.
As hitherto, instead of a target and a dummy, two targets may be used.
Under another arrangement, both carriers are arranged on a spindle common
to both. Under this arrangement, in which arms fixed to the carriers and set
at an angle of 45 degrees, or approximately so, as above described, are also
employed, the carriers are made to act in conjunction with each other by variable
means.. Action in conjunction may be effected by a chain attached at one
end to one of the carriers and passed over a pulley centred on a spindle at the
opposite side, or otherwise conveniently situated. Or the connection may be
made and co-operation obtained by means of rods connected to a whipple-tree
lever pivotted in a suitable support. The connection may be made in various
ways.
For the arms connecting the carriers may be substituted pulleys and chains or
cords arranged to give the required motion.
Dated this 17th day of tishunam 1000
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Chartered Patent Agent, Bristol.
Improvements in Mechanism for Operating Targets used in Rifle-
shooting Practice.
We, THOMAS HARRIS, of 144, City Road, Bristol, Joiner, and ALBERT EDWIN
NUTE, formerly of Southsea House, Colston Road, Bristol, and now of 44, Roma
Road, Kensington, Liverpool, Fitter, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion, 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 balanced targets for rifle-shooting practice, and con-
sists in improvements in means for operating the same.
In our Provisional Specification the targets are referred to as being locked in
the raised and lowered positions and as being released from the same by actuating
one and the same handle only. It has been found that locking and releasing
devices may be dispensed with and, accordingly, we desire to have it understood
that we do not include such devices as comprising part of this invention, but
confine the same to that part of the mechanism which constitutes the means for
connecting the targets together and causing them to operate together, that is
to say, move from the raised to the lowered positions and rice versa as stated in
our said Provisional Specification.
In practice it is usual to use either two targets balancing each other or approxi-
mately balancing each other, or, in place of two such targets, one target and one
dummy or score value indicator. For convenience in description the invention
will be set forth as applied to a case where one target and one dummy are used
and arranged to act in co-operation and conjunction.
The target and dummy are operated by the operator simply grasping the target
or dummy carrier or other part of the mechanism at any suitable point and moving
the same to the raised or lowered positions. To facilitate this a handle may be
fixed at any given place in the mechanism.

page_text: According to one arrangement comprised in this invention, the target carrier
is adapted to turn about a spindle as a pivot, the spindle being supported on a
beam or girder resting on buttresses or on a suitable stand or other support. The
carrier which carries the dummy is similarly arranged on a spindle situated at
the opposite side to that at which the target carrier spindle is situated. The
target and dummy are preferably of such relative weight as to approximately
balance each other at any point in their range of movement. The farget carrier
and dummy carrier are connected together by a tie rod one end of
which may be pivotted or loosely connected to all arm fixed to or'
formed on the target carrier and disposed at an angle of approximately 45
degrees with respect to the horizontal members of the carrier, the other end of
the rod being similarly arranged with respect to the horizontal member of the
dummy carrier. The tie-rod may, however, be pivotted or otherwise loosely
connected to the target and dummy carriers respectively at any other suitable
point.
As is usual, the dummy descends when the target ascends, and vice versa.
Under another arrangement, both carriers are borne on a spindle common to
both and made to act in conjunction. This action, according to one method,
is obtained by means of a chain or the like attached at one end to one of the
carriers at any suitable point, and passed over a pulley; the other end of the
chain or the like being similarly attached to the other carrier.
In lieu of a chain or the like and of a pulley or the like, a pair of tie-rods or
other ties connected to a whipple-tree lever or the like mounted in a suitable
support may be used.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, Fig, 1 is an elevation of our inven-
tion,
Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1,
Fig. is an elevation of the apparatus with the target lowered and the dummy
raised,
Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1,
Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, and
Fig. 6 is a plan view of a modification.
Referring to Figs. 1 to 5, this target is adapted for use in connection with
trenches in which the mechanism of the target is situated, and in which stands
the person who attends the target. According to this, the supporting beam or
girder is mounted in the trench and supported in any desired way. Should a
number of targets be employed, the beams may be placed end to end, as indicated
in the drawings, and supported at their abutting ends by pillars S.
Fastened rigidly in a bracket 9 carried at the left-hand portion of the girder
or beam is a shaft 10, which may be braced by rods 11 extending from the
beam and pillar as shown. Mounted on the shaft 10 is a bearing 12. adapted to
rock thereon, and having extensions 14 in which are formed sockets 15 for holding
the target, as will be fully described hereafter. The extensions 14 also have
parallel rods 16 attached thereto, the rods extending to the right (in Fig. 1),
and carrying at their free ends a vertically elongated socket or sleeve 17. The
sockets 15 and 17 serve to receive the legs 18 of the target 19, the legs being
removably yet rigidly secured by set screws 20. These parts 12, 14, 15, 16
and 17 constitute the target carrier which is thus mounted to rock on the shaft 10
downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3, and upwardly to the position
shown in Fig. 1, the carrier swinging through 456 of a circle,
or, in other words, from a horizontal to a perpendicular position, and
For holding the target carrier at its free end during the time that
the target is in position for firing, we form on the socket 17 two eyes 21 which are
adapted to engage hooks 22 fastened to the beam 7 as best shown in Fig. 5, by
which arrangement lateral movement of the target carrier at its free end is
virtually avoided. The hooks 22 form part of a bracket 28 through the medium
of which the hooks are fastened to the beam 7, and this bracket carries a guide
vice versa.

page_text: shoe 24 (see Fig. 5) for engaging the uppermost eye 21, causing the parts to
be properly locked with each other. The eyes 21 of the hooks 22 with which they
respectively engage, are out of vertical alignment with each other, as indicated
by dotted lines in Fig. 3 thus providing for the engagement of the eyes with
the proper hooks.
Mounted rigidly in a bracket 25 attached to the right-hand portion of the
girder or beam 7 is a shaft 20, which is braced by rods 27 similar to the rods 11.
On this shaft 26 is mounted a bearing 28, which carries a bracket 29, at the
free portion of which is a socket 30 receiving one of the legs 31 of the dummy
or indicator 33. Carried by and projecting from the bracket 29 is an arm 34
the end of which is bent transversely and fastened to the other leg 32 of the
dummy or indicator 33. These parts 28, 29, 30 and 34 constitute the dummy
carrier which is thus mounted to rock on the shaft 26.
The target carrier and dummy carrier are connected with each other by means
of a rod 35, formed in two sections joined removably by a pin 36. This rod 35
is pivotted at one end to the target carrier by means of a pivot 37 provided
on an arm 38 carried by the bearing 12. At the other end the rod 35 is pivotted to
the dummy carrier by means of a pivot 39 provided on the bracket 29. The said
rod 35 causes the respective carriers to rock in unison, thus raising the target as the
dummy is lowered and vice versa. The connections between the target and dummy
carriers should be such as to cause these parts to move in the relative manner
explained, which arrangement is shown in the drawings. In practice we purpose,
when mounting the target and dummy carriers, to cause them to approximately
balance each other so that the apparatus will rest in the raised or lowered position
and, accordingly, it will not be strictly necessary to provide means for locking
the parts. But, if so desired, locking devices may be employed.
If desired, the pin 36 may be removed to disconnect the sections of the rod 35,
thus permitting both the target and the dummy to be brought down, which may
be desirable when the apparatus is out of use.
In lieu of a rod such as 35 or the like for connecting the carriers, a chain, rope,
or the like may be employed.
The dummy or indicator 33 should be provided with suitable means for indi-
cating the position of the shot on the target. We have not shown these means
in the drawings, since they constitute no part of this invention.
Instead of being on opposite sides of the beam or girder 7, the target and
dummy and their respective carriers may be arranged on the same side. Instead
of a beam or girder such as 7, other kinds of supports may be adopted.
Under another arrangement, the target and dummy carriers are mounted on
a common axis, as shown in Fig. 6. In this view, the beam or girder 7 carries
rigidly a shaft 40 which projects beyond either side of the girder and carries at
one end a bearing 283 and at the other end a bearing 12ª. The bearng 28ª
carries the aummy 33 and the bearing 12ª carries the target 19. These two
bearings 28 and 12ª are connected at suitable points corresponding to 37 and 39
in Figs. 1 to 5 with the rope, chain, or the like 41 which passes around a sheave,
pulley, or the like, mounted on the girder or beam 7. The target and dummy
are relatively disposed the same as in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and the connection of
the rope or chain 41 is such as to cause the targets to operate in this relative
manner as explained. In lieu of a chain such as 41 or the like and of the
sheave pulley 42 or its equivalent, a pair of tie-rods or their equivalents connected
to a whipple-tree lever or the like mounted in the beam 7ª may be used.
In respect of this modification (Fig. 6) it is not necessary that the carriers
should be on a common shaft. They may be on separate shafts. In place of
the shaft 40 common to both carriers, two shafts may be employed, one to carry
the target carrier and one to carry the dummy carrier, these shafts being supported
at convenient points upon the stand.
If desired, both of the carriers may be made to support targets, instead of one
supporting a target and the other a target dummy or score value indicator,

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. The combination of a target carrier mounted to rock on a suitable support,
a dummy, or second target, carrier similarly mounted, and a tie-rod, rope, chain,
or the like connecting the carriers, constructed, arranged and operating sub-
stantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive of
the accompanying drawings.
2. The combination of a target carrier composed of parts such as 12, 14, 15,
16, 17, 20, 21, 37 and 38 mounted to rock on a suitable support, a dummy or second
target carrier composed of parts such as 28, 29, 30, 34 and 39, similarly mounted,
and a tie-rod such as 35, 36 pivotted or otherwise suitable connected to the
carriers at points such as 37 and 39, the parts being constructed, arranged and
operating substantially as hereinabove described and shown in the accompanying
drawings.
3. The combination of a target carrier mounted to rock on a suitable support,
a dummy or second target carrier similarly mounted, and a rope, chain, or the
like passed round a pulley or the like connecting the carriers, the parts being
constructed, arranged and operating substantially as hereinabove described with
reference to Fig. 6 of the accompanying drawings.
4. The combination of a target carrier mounted to rock on a suitable support,
a dummy or second target carrier similarly mounted, and a whipple-tree lever or
the like and tie-rods, ropes, chains, or the like connecting the carriers, substantially
as hereinbefore set forth.
Total this 19th dor of Navamhan 1800
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Chartered Patent Agent, Bristol.