New or Improved Electrical Contact Apparatus for Automatic Signalling.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Electrical Contact Apparatus for Automatic
Signalling.
We, EUGÈNE CADET, Mechanician, of Peronne, and CHARLES CHEVALLIER,
Captain, of St. Quentin, both in the Republic of France, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
The object of the present invention in an electrical contact apparatus in which
a screw with a long drawn thread is used in connection with the apparatus the
movement of which it is desired to signalize at a distance. This system is
specially adapted to shooting targets with automatic indicators, but can also be
applied to carriage and other gates the opening of which it is desired to announce
at a distance, and also to all similar purposes.
When applied to a target the apparatus consists of metal plates forming in
the shape of concentric circles the surface of the target. One circle overlaps to
a certain extent the next circle, so as to present an entirely solid surface. Behind
each circle of plates is fixed a disc. To the plates are fixed pins which pass
through holes in the discs and rest on supports fixed to the latter. There may
be rollers in the supports to facilitate the passing through of the pins when a
projectile strikes one of the plates. Between the plates and the discs are india-
rubber bands which serve to draw the plates forward again after they have been
struck by a projectile. Spiral springs fixed to the pins will serve the same
purpose.
Opposite each of the pins behind the disc is provided one of the contacts to
which this invention relates. These consist of an upright screw with a long
drawn thread turning in a socket fixed to the disc. The upper part of the screw
is provided with arms terminating in heavy balls forming a kind of fly-wheel.
The lower end of the screw touches a movable horizontal plate moving along
two guide pins and pressed against the screw by two spiral springs rolled round
the said pins. Above the plate resting upon supports which at the same time
serve to guide the screw is an electrically insulated disc.
The several insulated discs corresponding to the plates are connected together
by conducting wires. These wires which are in number equal to those of the
plates may be connected together in a cable going to the indicator. There the
wires are connected with one of the poles of a battery. On the other hand all
the plates are in connection with the metal foot of the target and can be connected
with the other pole of the battery, either by wire or earth circuit. When a
projectile strikes one of the plates the shock causes one or more of the springs
to relax, the corresponding pin or pins are forced sharply backwards through the
hole in the disc and strike the arm of the corresponding contact or contacts.
The rotary movement thus given to the screw or screws causes the said screw
or screws to ascend, thus permitting the plate to ascend also and come into
contact with the disc.
The circuit is thus closed, the current from the battery passes through and

page_text: acts upon the indicator. Immediately after the screw descends again, pressed
down by its own weight, the plate is thereby forced back to its natural position,
and the current interrupted.
The indicator is simply one, the face of which is divided into as many segments
as the face of the target. In each segment is a hole at which a disc or such like
will appear each time a corresponding electro-magnet is energized by the current.
The indicator is provided with a button to cause the disc to disappear like
ordinary indicators.
In another form of apparatus the circuit is closed by the threads of the screw
itself. For this purpose the thread of the screw is interrupted for about the
length of one centimetre. An insulated plate with thread corresponding to that
of the screw is so arranged that when the screw is at rest the plate is opposite
the space left in the thread of the screw, while when the screw ascends its thread
engages with that of the plate and completes the circuit.
In another form the apparatus can be applied to a door to signalize the opening
of the latter at a distance by means of a bell. This differs from those described
above in the manner of closing the circuit and of causing the screw to revolve.
The screw is furnished with a horizontal arm ending in a bolt and its support is
fixed to the 'door-case. The screw can neither descend or ascend, but moves
a nut up and down to which nut is attached the contact disc. The said horizontal
arm is pressed against the door by means of a spiral spring. When the door is
opened the screw which rotates in the same direction causes the nut to descend
and thus closes the circuit at the plate and the disc causing an electric bell to
ring until the circuit is again interrupted by the door being closed. With the
same effect the support can be fixed to the door and the arm pressed against the
doorcase or any other stationary surface.
Dated this 22nd day of Decemhor
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Electrical Contact Apparatus for Automatic
°
Signalling.
►
We, EUGENE CADET, Mechanician, of Peronne, and CHARLES CHEVALLIER,
Captain, of St. Quentin, both in the Republic of France, 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 the present invention is an electrical contact apparatus in which
a screw with a long drawn thread is used in connection with the apparatus the
movement of which it is desired to signalize at a distance. This system is
specially to shooting targets with automatic indicators, but can also be
applied to carriage and other gates the opening of which it is desired to announce
at a distance, and also to all similar purposes.
When applied to a target the apparatus consists of metal plates forming in.
the shape of concentric circles the surface of the target. One circle overlaps to
a certain extent the next circle, so as to present an entirely solid surface. Behind
each circle of plates is fixed a disc. To the plates are fixed pins which pass
through holes in the discs and rest on supports fixed to the latter. There may
be rollers in the supports to facilitate the passing through of the pins when a
projectile strikes one of the plates. Between the plates and the discs are india-

page_text: rubber bands which serve to draw the plates forward again after they have been
struck by a projectile. Spiral springs fixed to the pins will serve the same
purpose.
Opposite each of the pins behind the disc is provided one of the contacts to
which this invention relates. These consist of an upright screw with a long
drawn thread turning in a socket fixed to the disc. The upper part of the screw
is provided with arms terminating in heavy balls forming a kind of fly-wheel.
The lower end of the screw touches a movable horizontal plate moving along
two guide pins and pressed against the screw by two spiral springs rolled round
the said pins. Above the plate resting upon supports which at the same time
serve to guide the screw is an electrically insulated disc.
The several insulated discs corresponding to the plates are connected together
by conducting wires. These wires which are in number equal to those of the
plates may be connected together in a cable going to the indicator. There the
wires are connected with one of the poles of a battery. On the other hand all
the plates are in connection with the metal foot of the target and can be connected
with the other pole of the battery, either by wire or earth circuit. When a
projectile strikes one of the plates the shock causes one or more of the springs
to relax, the corresponding pin or pins are forced sharply backwards through the
hole in the disc and strike the arms of the corresponding contact or contacts.
The rotary movement thus given to the screw or screws causes the said screw
or screws to ascend, thus permitting the plate to ascend also and come into
contact with the disc.
The circuit is thus closed, the current from the battery passes through and
acts upon the indicator. Immediately after the screw descends again, pressed
down by its own weight, the plate is thereby forced back to its natural position,
and the current interrupted.
The indicator is simply one, the face of which is divided into as many segments
as the face of the target. In each segment is a hole at which a disc or such like
will appear each time a corresponding electro-magnet is energized by the current.
The indicator is provided with a button to cause the disc to disappear like
ordinary indicators.
In another form of apparatus the circuit is closed by the threads of the screw
itself. For this purpose the threads of the screw is interrupted for about the
length of one centimetre. An insulated plate with thread corresponding to that
of the screw is so arranged that when the screw is at rest the plate is opposite
the space left in the thread of the screw, while when the screw ascends its thread
engages with that of the plate and completes the circuit.
In another form the apparatus can be applied to a door to signalise the opening
of the latter at a distance by means of a bell. This differs from those described
above in the manner of closing the circuit and of causing the screw to revolve.
The screw is furnished with a horizontal arm ending in a bolt and its support is
fixed to the door-case. The screw can neither descend or ascend, but moves
a nut up and down to which nut is attached the contact disc. The said horizontal
arm is pressed against the door by means of a spiral spring. When the door is
opened the screw which rotates in the same direction causes the nut to descend
and thus closes the circuit at the plate and the disc causing an electric bell to
ring until the circuit is again interrupted by the door being closed. With the
same effect the support can be fixed to the door and the arm pressed against the
doorcase or any other stationary surface.
The drawings attached show several variations of the system:
Fig. 1 is a front view of a military target, of which half the surface is supposed
to have been removed.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the target.
Fig. 3 is an indicating board.
Figs. 4 and 5 represent the contact apparatus in detail.
I the ontent ennaratua

page_text: Figs. 7 and 8 are a bird's eye and a side view of the apparatus as applied to
a door.
When applied to a target in Figs. and 2 the apparatus consists of metal
plates a a bb, forming in the shape of concentric circles the surface of the target.
Une circle a overlaps to a certain extent the next circle b, so as to present an
entirely solid surface. Behind each circle of plates is fixed a disc c or d. To
the plates are fixed pins e which pass through holes in the discs c and d, and
rest on supports f fixed to the latter. There may be rollers in the supports f,
to facilitate the passing through of the pins e when a projectile strikes one of
the plates a b. Between the plates a b and the discs c d are indiarubber bands
which serve to draw the plates forward again after they have been struck by a
projectile. Spiral springs fixed to the pins e will serve the same purpose.
Opposite each of the pins e behind the disc (d) is provided one of the contacts
to which this invention relates.
As shown in detail in Figs. 4 and 5, these consist of an upright screw with
long-drawn thread h turning a socket i fixed to the disc d. The upper part of
the screw is provided with arms terminating in heavy balls j, forming a kind of
fly-wheel. The lower end of the screw touches a movable horizontal plate k
moving along two guide pins m and pressed against the screw by two spiral
springs rolled round the said pins m. Above the plate k, resting upon supports
which at the same time serve to guide the screw h, is an electrically insulated
disc v.
F
The several discs o corresponding to the plates ab are connected together by
conducting wires p. These wires 2, which there are in number equal to those
of the plates a and b may be connected together in a cable g going to the indicator
(Fig. 3). There the wires are connected with one of the poles of a battery r.
On the other hand all the plates are in connection with the metal foot of the
target and can be connected with the other pole of the battery r, either by wire
or earth circuit. When a projectile strikes one of the plates ab the shock causes
one or more of the springs g to relax, the corresponding pin or pins e are forced
sharply backwards through the hole in disc d, and strike the arm of.the corre-
sponding contact or contacts.
The rotary movement thus given to the screw or screws h causes the said screw
or screws to ascend, thus permitting the plate to ascend also and come into
contact with the disc o.
The circuit is thus closed, the current from the battery r passes through and
acts upon the indicator. Immediately after the screw h descends again, pressed
down by its own weight, the plate is thereby forced back to its natural position
and the current interrupted.
The indicator in Fig. 3 is simply one, the face of which is divided into as
many segments as the face of the target.
In each segment is a hole at which a disc s or such like, will appear each time
a corresponding electro-magnet is energized by the current.
The indicator is provided with a button t to cause the disc s to disappear like
ordinary indicators.
In another form of apparatus the circuit is closed by the threads of the screw
itself. For this purpose the thread of the screw h (Fig. 6) is interrupted for
about the length of one centimetre. An insulated plate k, with thread corre-
sponding to that of the screw h, is so arranged that when the screw is at rest the
plate is opposite the space left in the thread of the screw, while the screw ascends
its thread engages with that of the plate and completes the circuit.
In another form the apparatus can be applied to a door to signalise the opening
of the latter at a distance, by means of a bell. This differs from those described
above in the manner of closing the circuit and of causing the screw to revolve.
The screw (Figs. 7 and 8), is furnished with a horizontal arm u ending in
a pulley and its support æ is fixed to the door-case. The screw can neither
descend or ascend, but moves up and down a nut i to which is attached the contact

page_text: disc o.
An arm u is pressed against the door by means of a spiral spring z.
When
the door is opened the screw, which rotates in the same direction causes the nut i
to descend and thus closes the circuit at the plate k and the disc o; causing an
electric bell to ring until the circuit is again interrupted by the door being
closed. With the same effect the support can be fixed to the door and the
arm u pressed against the doorcase or any other stationary surface.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. An electrical contact apparatus destined to close automatically and instan-
taneously by the displacement of a suitable device, a circuit connected with an
apparatus placed at a certain distance, consisting of a screw with a long-drawn
thread connected with a mechanism in such a manner as to be put into rotation
by the displacement of the latter, this screw being combined with a stationary
bearer connected with a part of the electric circuit, and an insulated plate
connected with the other part of the circuit, means for putting this plate into
communication with the body of the bearer by the rotation of the screw, and
means for automatically bringing the said screw back into its original position.
2. An electrical contact apparatus according to the preceding claim com-
prising a vertical screw with a long-drawn thread revolving in a fixed support
and of which the head carries arms terminating in heavy masses destined to
receive the shock of a percussion organ, the inferior part of the said screw,
resting upon an insulated plate pressed upwards by springs and connected with
a part of the electric circuit whilst the mass of the support is connected with the
other part of the circuit and the screw returning to its position by the action of
the gravity.
3. A contact apparatus according to Claim 1 comprising a sliding pin connected
with one of the movable plates of a target and arranged so as to strike at the
shock of a projectile one of the arms fixed on the head of the screw with long-
drawn thread in combination with an indicator placed at a distance from the
target provided with dises which appear when the circuit corresponding to the
touched plate is immediately closed by the contact arrangement.
4. An electrical contact apparatus comprising a vertical screw with long-drawn
thread revolving in a fixed support and of which the head provided with arms
terminating in heavy balls, a part of the threads of this screw being removed
opposite an insulated and tapped plate connected with a part of an electric circuit
whilst the mass of the support is connected with the other part of the circuit the
screw returning to its position by the action of the gravity.
5. An electrical contact apparatus comprising a screw with long-drawn thread
revolving in a nut which can slide but not revolve and which is provided with
a contact disc, the head of the said screw being provided with an arm the upper
end of which provided with a pulley is destined to be displaced by any movable
organ, in combination with a fixed insulated plate connected with a part of an
electric circuit whilst the support of the screw is connected with the other part
of the circuit and the screw returning to its position by the action of a spring.
6. The combination of a vertical screw with long-drawn thread, a cross bar or
bearer in which the said screw revolves, arms provided with heavy balls and
carried by the said screw, a contact plate operated by the said screw, a spring
pressing the said plate upwards a contact piece placed above the said plate, an
arrangement movable horizontally destined to strike one of the arms carried by
the screw and a registering circuit connected with the said contact piece and
plate.
7. An electrical contact apparatus, comprising contact pieces movable with
regard to each other a screw acting upon the movable contact piece and provided
with an arm carrying a heavy mass and a movable organ acting upon the said
arm in such a manner as to cause the screw to revolve."

page_text: 8. A target comprising a series of plates movable independently of each other,
each plate carrying a disc or percussion piece, vertical screws each of which is
provided with an arm carrying a heavy mass and placed in the way of one of the
percussion pieces, a support to each screw, the said screws having a thread and.
weight so that they descend automatically in the said bearers and current inter-
rupters operated by the said screws.
ديم
1000
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to Applicants, 18, Buckingham Street, Strand, W.C., London.