Improvements in Reversing Gear for Moving Targets and other Apparatus.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Aug., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 8th Oot., 1896-Accepted, 18th Dec., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Reversing Gear for Moving Targets and other
Apparatus.
I JAMES RIGG, retired Major and Lieutenant-Colonel First Cheshire and
Carnarvonshire Volunteor Artillery and an Engineer of No. 11 Queen Victoria
Street in the City of London do hereby declare the nature of this invention' to
be as follows:-
In order to avoid the expense and labor entailed in the construction of two
mantlets viz.: one at each end of the track of a target moving across a line of rifle
or artillery fire and the employment of one or more men in each of these mantlets
to receive reverse and restart them as well as to reduce risk I operate & reverse
them in the manner hereinafter described.
The reversal is primarily intended to be applied to a so-called "running-deer"
or "running-man" target but such cams as are described hereafter for this purpose
may be used with any other carriage or piece of machinery in which such a motion
would accomplish the object desired.
In its application as an example to a running-deer the target is attached to
a central pivot or shaft capable of turning to the extent of a semi-circle in
a suitable bearing or bearings supported "npon the framework of a travelling
carriage preferably moving upon a tramroad which should be either protected by
a sufficient embankment against injury from the effect of shot or it may be sunk
for this purpose.
The tramroad may be either on double inclines or level and in the latter case
the target would be moved by manual, horse or other power. Upon the central
pivot or shaft I key or otherwise firmly attach a cam formed to cause the target to
reverse from rear to front or otherwise in the manner described below and illustrated
in the accompanying diagrams Figs. 1 to 4. Sheet 1.
A symetrical cam as A in Fige. 1 and 2 is of such a form that if keyed to a
shaft B and having two flexible connections I. s. and r. w. attached to the cam at C
tension applied at the point to will cause the cam to revolve to the extent permitted
by the stop D and similarly tension then applied at will cause it to return to the
stop E.
In Figs. 3 plan and 4 elevation I attain the same object by the employment of
an eccentric G having a projection or lug H preferably cast in cne pieco with the
eccentric in the marner shewn tension applied at to turning the eccentric or cam G
to the position shewn by the dotted lines K when the projection or lug H comes
into contact with the stop M and the operation may be similarly reversed.
I also employ the above-mentioned cams and eccentrics with one flexible
attachment actuated by a spring or weight for use with targets gravitating on
inclines. The cam is held in position by a latch which at the end of the track
distant from the mantlet comes into contact with a stop fixed in the tramroad and
on the latch being thus released the target is reversed and returns down the
incline. On the target thus automatically returning the marker examines and
signals the shots roverses and in so doing latches it ready to restart across the
track.
For targets actuated by power I attach the two ends of a wire rope to the cam
upon the vertical pivot carrving the target. Both ropes pass over guide rollers

page_text: one of them having been led round a pulley at the end of the track distant from
the mantlet. Within the mantlet a friction or hauling winch is provided for
actuating the rope and this winch may be driven by horse manual or other power
as may be most suitable having regard to the weight of the target employed and
the pace at which it is desired it shall travel. On the "running-decr" entering
the winch mantlet or arriving at the opposite end, head to the front, the direction
of the revolution of the winch changes either with or without the intervention of a
clutch and the end of the rope which was taut becomes slack and the opposite end
becoming correspondingly taut operates on the can thus turning the head of the
deer in the opposite direction ready to recross the line of fire and then the rope in
tension commences to draw the carriage & so on.
For such purposes as artillery practice with shrapnel as at moving bodies of
troops as well as for rifle practice by squads or companies and for practice with
machine guns, I connect a number of dummies representing men to one or more
cams on the carriage or carriages.
For use in saloon rifle practice I employ miniature targets representing deer or
other animals or objects and for public rifle shooting gallories to drive these targets
I employ preferably engines so geared that at either end of the track the pull on
the ends of the rope shall be automatically reversed.
This invention may also be employed in conjunction with a carriage that is
suspended.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Reversing Gear for Moving Targets and other
Apparatus.
I, JAMES RIGG retired Major and Lieutenant-Colonel First Cheshire and
Carnarvonshire Volunteer Artillery and an Engineer of No. 11 Queen Victoria
Street in the City of London, do horeby 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 :-
In order to avoid the expense and labor entailed in the construction of two
mantlets, viz, one at each end of the track of a target moving across a line of
rifle or artillery fire, and the employment of one or more men in each of these
mantlets to receive, reverse and restart them as well as to reduce risk, I operate &
reverse them in the manner hereinafter described.
The reversal is primarily intended to be applied to a so-called "running deer"
or "running man" target but such cams as are described hereafter for this purpose
may be used with any other carriage or piece of machinery in which such a motion
would accomplish the object desired.
. In its application as an example, to a running deer the target is attached to a
central pivot or shaft capable of turning to the extent of a semicircle in a suitable
bearing or bearings supported upon the framework of a travelling carriage
preferably moving upon a tramroad which should be either protected by a sufficient
embankment against injury from the effect of shot, or it may be sunk for this
purpose. The tramroad may be either on double inclines or level and in the latter
case the target would be moved by manal, horse or other power. Upon the central
pivot or shaft I key or otherwise firmly attach a cam formed to cause the target to
reverse from rear to front or otherwise in the manner described below and illustrated
in the accompanying diagrams Figs. 1 to 4 Sheet 1.
A symetrical cam as A in Figs. 1 & 2 is of such a form that if keyed to a shaft B

page_text: and having two flexible connections 1. s and r. w attached to the cam at C tension
applied at the point to will cause the cam to revolve to the extent permitted by
the stop D aud similarly tension then applied at will cause it to return to the
stop E.
In Figs. 3 plan and 4 elevation, I attain the same object by the employment of
an eccentric G having a projection or lug H preferably cast in one piece with the
eccentric in the manuer shewn tension applied at to turning the eccentric or cam G
to the position shown by the dotted lines K when the projection or lug H comes
into contact with the stop M and the operation may be similarly reversed.
I also employ the above mentioned cams and eccentrica with one flexible
attachment actuated by a spring or weight for use with targets gravitating on
inclines. The cam is held in position by a latch which at the end of the track
distant from the mantlet comes into contact with a stop fixed in the tramroad and
on the latch being thus released, the target is reversed and returns down the
incline. On the target thus automatically returning, the marker examines and
signals the shots & in so doing latches it ready to restart across the track.
For targets actuated by power I attach the two ends of a wire rope to the cam
upon the vertical pivot carrying the target. Both ropes pass over guide rollers
one of them having been led round a pulley at the end of the track distant from
the mantlet. Within the mantlet a friction or hauling winch is provided for
actuating the rope and this winch may be driven by horse, manual or other power
as may be most suitable having regard to the weight of the target employed and
the pace at which it is desired it shall travel. On the running deer entering the
winch mantlet or arriving at the opposite end, head to the front, the direction of
the revolution of the winch changes, either with or without the intervention of a
clutch and the end of the rope which was taut becomes slack and tho opposite end
becoming correspondingly taut operates on the cam thus turning the head of the
deer in the opposite direction ready to recross the line of fire and then the rope in
tension commences to draw the carriage and so on.
For such purposes as artillery practice with shrapnel as at moving bodies of
troops as well as for rifle practice by squads or companies and for practice with
machine guns, I connect a number of dummies representing men to one or more
cams on the carriage or carriages.
For uso in saloon rifle practice I employ miniature targets representing deer or
other animals or objects and for public rifle shooting galleries to drive these targets
1 employ preferably engines so geared that at either end of the track the pull co
the ends of the rope shall be automatically reversed.
This invention may also be employed in conjunction with a carriage that is
Buspended.
The method of operating my invention as applied to a running deer or other
moving target required to be reversed and travelling upon a tramroad is shewn by
the figs. on Sheets 2 & 3.
Figs. 5, 6, 7 & 8 shew its application when travelling by the force of gravity on
double inclines and Figs. 9. 10 & 11 when the target is actuated by power upon a
horizontal track.
Fig. 5 is an elevation from the front, 6 a side elevation and 7 a plan looking from
below. L is the running deer or other target requiring to be reversed attached to
the shaft B and through it to the cam A. N is the carriage provided with a
central platform O in which the pivot revolves upon a suitable bearing. In addition
to the cam A, I key or otherwise firmly fix on the vertical shaft B a plate or
forging P which is held in the position shewn in the drawing by the latch having
a preponderating weight at q and this latch is released by contact with the block R
in the tramroad as the carriage passes this poiut. The flexible connection
preferably in this instance a short chain S is attached at one end to the cam at m
and at the other to the end n of the link T pivoted at t, and the chain, consequent
on the action of the spring U, is in tension. When, therefore, the latch Qis
released in the manner above described, the cam and target are reversed through a

page_text: semicircle until the former comes into contact with the stop D. On reference to
the Fig. 8 the deor is shewn travelling down the track having started at the point V
in the mantlet Y. The limits, laterally, for firing are indicated by the flags cand o
the position of c! being a few feet short of the point to which the impetus of the
carriage causes it to travel up this inclino and the block R for actuating the latch Q
is here fixed.
On the return of the running deer to the entrance of the mantlet at W, head to
the front, it is received by the marker who pushes it up that part of the incline
that is within the mantlet beyond the point V on the short level portion of the
track X where he reverses it and, before again starting it across the track, be
signals the effect of the two preceding shots, one on each side of the target.
The method of operating my invention when applied to moving targets actuated
by power and upon a horizontal track is shown on Sheet 3. Figs. 9. 10 & 11.
A plan of the carriage as seen from below is given in Fig. 9, and Fig. 10 is a
plan of the general arrangement shewing mantlet, track & butt; Fig. 11. being
partly a longitudinal section and partly an elevation of the same as seen from the
firing point.
The running deer, vertical shaft and cam A are constructed generally as described
with reference to that drawn on Sheet 2.
To the cam A I attach two flexible connections 1. s. & r. w. preferably by shackles
and short chains to the two ends of a wire rope. This rope at-l is led over flanged
rollers fixed in the track to the grooved pulley a and returns over another set of
rollers also in the track to the rope pulley b forming a portion of the gearing
composing the winch c. In this winch a friction reversing motion d is placed, by
links and levers, under control of the marker at e. This winch may be driven by
any availablo power and in this instance a pony gear is shewn for the purpose.
When the running deer L is travolling in the direction of the mantlet as shewn in
Figs. 10 & 11 the rope is taut at ! (Figs. 9 & 10) and having arrived in the mantlet
the marker at e, by means of the lever g, throws the winch out of gear, notes and
signals the effect of the two shots, oue on cach side of the deer and then with his
lever, puts the other clutch into operation, and by causing the rope at w to become
taut and the other end of it at correspondingly slack, the target is reversed and on
.the cam striking the stop D it proceeds on its next journey across the track,
the above operation being repeated from the mantlet on its arrival at the
distant end.
The cam or eccentric (G) Figs. 3 & 4 Sheet 1 may be substituted for the
symetrical cam A shewn in conjunction with either of the targets on Sheets 2 & 3.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said.
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declaro that what I
'claim is :-
1. The employment of symetrical cams so formed that on tension being applied
at the flexible connections 1. s or r. to Figs. 1 & 2 Sheet 1 or the like the shaft to
which such cam is attached will be caused to turn through a semicircle or any less
aro in either direction to & fro.
2. The employment of eccentrics as cams and having lugs or projections attached
to them in such a manner that on tension being applied to the flexible connections 1. s.
or r. 1o. Figs. 3 & 4 Sheet 1 the shaft to which such cams are attached will be
caused to turn through a semi-circle or any less arc in either direction to & fro.
3. The combination of parts substantially as herein before described and shown
in the accompanying Figs. 5. 6. 7 & 8 Sheet 2 as applied to a target gravitating on
inclines.
4. The combination of parts substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn
on the accompanying Figs. 5. 6. 7 & 8 Sheet 2 and having the eccentric with lugs
or projections Figs. 3 & 4 Sheet 1 substituted for the symetrical cam as applied to
a target gravitating on inclines.
5. The combination of parts substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn

page_text: in the accompanying Figs. 9. 10 & 11 Sheet 3 as applied to a target travelling on
a level track.
6. The combination of parts substantially as herein before described and shewn
in the accompanying Figs. 9. 10 & 11 Sheet 3 and having an eccentric with lugs or
projections Figs. 3 & 4 Sheet 1. substituted for the symetrical cam as applied to a
target travelling on a level track.
7. The employment of symetrical cams as shewn in Figs. 1 & 2 Sheet 1, in any
machinery to obtain the reversing motion described.
8. The employment of eccentrics with lugs or projections as shewn in
Figs. 3 & 4 Sheet 1 in any machinery to obtain the reversing motion
described.
1000
JAMES RIGG.