Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Registering the Time of Departure and Arrival of Carrier-pigeons.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Dec., 1892-Accepted, 22nd Mar., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Registering the
Time of Departure and Arrival of Carrier-pigeons.
I, LÉON LEFEBVRE, of Tourcoing, in the Republic of France, Landlord, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
For several years there has been a demand for a simple inexpensive, reliable
apparatus for registering the time of arrival of carrier-pigeons. Up to the present
time the registration has been obtained only by means of apparatus of such a high
price that their employment has not become general.
My improved apparatus on the contrary is simple, practical and can be used
with great convenience and facility. For registering the time of arrival of a
pigeon it is sufficient simply to put the small india-rubber tube, which it carried
at its foot, into a cap in the form of a cartridge base, to slide this cap into the
apparatus and to give a turn to a crank for registering the day, hour, minute
and second of its return.
This apparatus comprises an outer box in which is placed a second box containing
a clockwork and the several registering devices. The inner box is closed by a
metallic lid the middle part of which is provided with a glass plate through which
the operation of the apparatus may be controlled. In front of the inner box is a
metallic casing the upper part of which projects upon the said lid. This lid is
held on the other side by two hooks secured to the interior of the inner box. 'The
latter is closed on the side opposite the casing by a plate held by the said lid and
casing and in which a hole is pierced for the purpose. This hook passes through
an eye fixed in the interior of the inner box. The eye traverses the lid and
casing.
The registering mechanism comprises :-
(1) A toothed wheel placed on the outside of the inner box and under the
aforesaid casing upon which are secured a certain number of tubes (say thirty-six)
designed to receive (except two) the caps in which are put the small indiarubber
rings the duplicate of which is attached to the foot of the pigeon. The indiarubber
ring bears interiorly two like figures or signs so that by breaking this ring into
two equal parts each piece forms a ring bearing the duplicate of what is inscribed
upon the other.
For facilitating this separation into two sections the ring is
perforated in the middle. One half is put on the foot of the pigeon and the other
in the tube which presents itself at the aperture of the box.
(2) A clockwork having four dials indicating respectively the day (morning
or evening) hour, minute and second. The hands of these dials carry points
designed to perforate a band of paper which passes between two metallic
sheets.
(3) A disengaging device composed of a cam acting upon a bell-crank lever
which operates a plate to which is attached a similar metallic sheet above the
clockwork but the dials of which are cut out for permitting the passages of the
points on the hands of the clockwork. Upon this sheet is a second sheet similar
to the one above referred to and between the two passes a band of paper coming
from a roller.
(4) A barrel containing a spiral spring connected to the said cam by means of
a hook of iron wire and a cord of cat-gut.
(5) A hollow cylinder adapted to turn only in one direction and upon which is
wound the paper given out by a roller which has been perforated by the points on
the hands of the clockwork.

page_text: Excepting the clockwork which is wound up for a certain period of time, all the
other devices of the apparatus are actuated by a crank. This crank causes a
hollow axis to turn in one direction. To this axis are fixed an eccentric and a
pinion which has three teeth projecting beyond the others.
In the hollow part of the axis is placed a second axis which may be caused to
turn freely in the first axis and held therein in the longitudinal direction by a pin
which engages with the groove in the second axis. To the latter is secured a part
made in one piece with the above-mentioned cam.
The pinion actuates a toothed wheel, carrying the aforesaid tubes, by means of a
toothed wheel and a pinion, this mechanism being so arranged that in each turn of
the said crank the toothed wheel will present another tube before the aperture
formed in the casing and leaving only one tube open at a time; and it also actuates
the said cam by means of teeth, the cam being constructed so as to present a
projection before the said teeth. Against this projection the teeth are caused to
bear for compelling the cam to turn. The teeth of the pinion and the projection
on the cam are arranged so that the latter can make somewhat more than half a
turn forwards without the pinion turning, because the axis which carries the cam
can turn freely in the hollow axis of the pinion.
I provide an eccentric for actuating a lever connected therewith the use of which
will hereinafter be described.
The feed of the paper is obtained by the aid of the ratchet wheel fixed to the
barrel and a pawl fixed to the hollow cylinder above referred to.
Suppose a pigeon to have returned and the metallic cap containing the india-
rubber tube placed in the tube which is in front of the aperture made in the casing
the movements which take place during the first half turn of the crank are as
follows: The cam carries a knob having attached to it a hook connected to the
cat-gut cord which is wound upon the said barrel.
During the first half-turn this knob moves away from the barrel until it arrives
in the diametrically opposite position, that is to say at the dead point. The barrel
as it turns carries with it the hollow cylinder, to which the continuous band of
paper is attached, by means of the ratchet wheel and the pawl fixed to the cylinder.
This pawl held by a stop cannot pass above the teeth of the ratchet wheel when
the barrel turns backwards, and thus forms a coupling device.
The diameter of the hollow cylinder is such that in every revolution, that is to
say during the first half-turn of the crank it winds up a band of paper equal to the
length of the aforesaid metallic sheets namely a diagram. If on arrival at the
dead point I continue to turn the crank a little the cam actuated by the spring of
the barrel not being retained on the other side by the teeth, is pulled and caused
to return to the first position by reason of the expansion of the spring, this being
the period of uncoupling.
During this period the outer periphery of the cam comes against a knob on the
bell-crank lever and causes it to oscillate upon its axis. The bell-crank lever
bears with its other extremity upon a knob fixed to the above mentioned plate and
compels the latter to descend and also the metallic sheet to which it is connected
by uprights. The metallic sheet pushes the sheet and the band of paper which
passes between them. It is during this descending movement that the sheet of
paper is perforated by the points on the hands of the clockwork and the four other
points. These latter serve as marks for putting the diagrams on a dial similar to
that of the clockwork or on that for reading what the hands have marked. It is
also during this period that the pawl moves on to the teeth of the ratchet wheels
and that the cylinder held by a second ratchet wheel and a spring cannot move
rearwards.
In order that the cam shall not by reason of the velocity acquired pass beyond
its proper position on the passage of the knob I provide the bent lever against
which it will butt. I then continue to turn the crank for putting the aforesaid
teeth in contact with the projection. It is during this second half turn of the
crank that the eccentric carries the lever back to its first position which lever will

page_text: disengage the knob and the wheel will present another tube in front of the aper-
ture of the casing.
For preventing the rear movement I provide on the above-mentioned tube a
nose which butts against a stop whose lower part bears upon the bottom of the
box. If the mechanism were turned back when the apparatus has already
operated, the teeth would cause the cam to turn in the opposite direction, the
cylinder would wind up a diagram, but the periphery of the cam would encounter
the knob of the said lever on the other side so that this lever, instead of lowering
the above-mentioned plate would move in the opposite direction and the band of
paper would not be perforated. This plate and the two sheets are moved back
to their first position after the disengagement of the cam by four spiral springs.
The two sheets are guided by two uprights and in order that they shall not
touch the bands I place on the top of the clockwork two picces extending a
little beyond them. For reading the diagrams after they have been removed
from the apparatus they are placed upon a dial similar to that of the clockwork
by means of the four points and it is ascertained to which divisions the holes
made by the points on the hands of the clockwork correspond.
In order to prevent fraud I provide my apparatus with a bell crank lever which
is placed at the lower part upon a stop and passes into a recess provided in the
raised portion of the casing. This lever prevents the withdrawal from the tubes
of the caps which are there already, I use moreover a small mechanism for
registering the shocks which the box may receive. This small mechanism, which
I name a dolometer, may be fixed in the apparatus upon the aforesaid plate.
It is well known that by shaking more or less a clockwork having a cylinder or
anchor escapement it may be retarded or advanced. This kind of fraud the
dolometer is designed to render apparent. It comprises a wheel similar to those
employed in watches but much heavier. To this wheel is fixed a pawl which
follows all its movements and acts upon a ratchet wheel mounted upon the same
axis as the said wheel but independent of the latter. Upon the nave of the ratchet
wheel is held with much friction a very light hand which butts against a pin fixed
to the aforesaid wheel. Two pins placed between the arms of this wheel enable
the latter to oscillate upon its axis. The amount of these oscillations is determined
by the number of teeth of the ratchet wheel that is to say if the latter has thirty-
six teeth the oscillation of the said wheel will be only one thirty-sixth of a turn in
order to allow the ratchet wheel to advance only one tooth at a time. These
oscillations are registered by the ratchet wheel through the medium of a second
pawl. In every oscillation imparted to the apparatus and consequently to the said
wheel the latter by means of the above-mentioned pawl causes the ratchet wheel
to advance one tooth, and as this ratchet wheel can turn only in one direction
because it is retained by a pawl it follows that the shocks imparted to the
apparatus with fraudulent intent will be registered and indicated by a hand.
this hand touches a pin on the other side it may be concluded that at least thirty-
six oscillations have been imparted to the box. Now, as no club admits more
than from 25 to 30 degrees that is to say shocks they disqualify the pigeon or
pigeons with respect to which the apparatus has registered.
If
My apparatus comprises a toothed wheel to which are fixed a certain number
of tubes designed to receive the counter-mark of the pigeons, a disengaging
device making perforations, by points mounted upon the hands of a clockwork
in a band indicating the day, hour, minute and second. Use may be made of
a number of these devices, which depends upon the number of tubes carried by
the toothed wheel.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Registering the
Time of Departure and Arrival of Carrier-pigeons.
I, LEON LEFEBVRE, of Tourcoing, in the Republic of France, Landlord, 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:
For several years there has been a demand for a simple, inexpensive reliable
apparatus for registering the time of arrival of carrier pigeons. Up to the present
time however the registration has been obtained only by means of very expensive
apparatus, so that their employment has not therefore become general.
My improved apparatus is on the contrary, simple, practical and can be used
with great convenience and facility. For registering the time of arrival of a pigeon
it is sufficient, simply to put the half of the small india-rubber ring which is carried
on its foot, into a cup in the form of a cartridge base, to slide this cup into the
apparatus and to give a turn to a crank for registering the day, hour, minute and
second of its return.
4
In the accompanying drawings I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 represents a section of my improved apparatus taken on the line ab
of Figure 4, and shows the aperture through which the cup slides into the
apparatus.
Figure 1 is a section on the line cd of Figure 5 showing the registering
mechanism seen from the front and at rest.
Figure III is a front view showing the registering mechanism in the diametrically
opposite position, that is to say at the moment when the disengagement takes place
showing a diagram of the different parts composing it.
Figure IV is a plan showing the mode of closing the apparatus, the cover of the
box which contains it being previously removed.
Figure V is a plan which shows the interior arrangement of the mechanism.
Figure VI is a section on the line ef of Figure 4.
Figures VII and VIII show a small apparatus which is designed to register the
shocks which may be imparted to the apparatus for fraudulent purposes.
Figure IX represents a detail of the ring hereinafter referred to.
This apparatus comprises an outer box A in which is placed a second box B
containing a box or case C enclosing a suitable clockwork, and the several
registering devices. The box B is closed by a metallic lid E the middle part of
which is provided with a glass plate F through which the operation of the
apparatus may be seen. In front of the inner box is a metallic casing G, the
upper part of which projects upon the said lid E. This lid is held on the other'
side by two hooks H H secured to the interior of the inner box. B. The latter
is closed on the side opposite the casing G by a plate I held by the said lid E.
For sealing the apparatus the hook at the upper part of the casing G is
covered with lead and has a hole pierced in it for the purpose. This hook passes
through an eye K fixed in the interior of the inner box B. The eye K traverses
the lid E and casing G.
The registering mechanism comprises:
(1) A toothed wheel L (Figures 1, 5 and 6) placed on the outside of the inner
box 13 and under the aforesaid casing G upon which are secured a certain number
of tubes M (the drawing shows 36) all except two being designed to receive the
cups in which are placed the small india-rubber rings the duplicate, of which is
attached to the foot of the pigeon. The india-rubber ring bears interiorly two
like figures or signs so that by breaking the ring into two equal parts each piece
forms a ring bearing the duplicate of what is inscribed upon the other.

page_text: For facilitating this separation into two sections the ring is perforated in the
middle. One half is put on the foot of the pigeon to identify the same and the
other in the tube M which presents itself at the aperture of the box, in order to
register the time of departure of the pigeon.
(2) A clockwork C having four dials N O P Q indicating respectively the day
(morning or evening) hour, minute and second. The hands of these dials carry
points op designed to perforate a band of paper which passes between two
metallic sheets U and A'.
(3) A disengaging device composed of a cam R acting upon a bell-crank lever S
which operates a plate T to which is attached a metallic plate or sheet U above
the clockwork, but the dials of which are cut out for permitting the passage of "
the points on the hands of the clockwork. Below this sheet is a second sheet A¹
similar to U and between the two passes a band of paper from a suitable
roller Z.
'
(4) A barrel V containing a spiral spring connected to the said cam R by means
of a hook of iron wire W and a cord of cat-gut X.
(5) A hollow cylinder Y adapted to turn only in one direction and upon which
is wound the paper given out by a roller Z, which has been perforated by the
points on the hands of the clockwork.
Excepting the clockwork which is wound up for a certain period of time, all the
other devices of the apparatus are actuated by a crank B₁ represented in Figure 6.
This crank causes a hollow axis C¹ to turn in one direction indicated by the arrow
Figure 3. To this axis are fixed an eccentric D' and a pinion E' which has three
teeth F projecting beyond the others, (Figures 2, 3, 5 and 6).
In the hollow part of the axis C₁is placed a second axis G' which may be
caused to turn freely in the first axis and held therein in the longitudinal
direction by a pin H' which engages with the groove I' in the second axis G
(Figure 6). To the latter is secured a plate J', made in one piece with the above-
mentioned cam R.
The pinion E actuates a toothed wheel L carrying the aforesaid tubes M by
means of a toothed wheel K' and a pinion L', this mechanism being so arranged
that in each turn of the said crank B' the toothed wheel L will present another
tube before the aperture M' formed in the casing G (Figures 1 and 6), and leaving
only one tube open at a time the said pinion also actuates the said cam R by
means of elongated teeth F', which engage with a projection N¹ formed by
recessing the said cam as shown in Figure 3.
Against this projection the teeth are caused to bear for compelling the cam to
turn. The teeth F of the pinion E' and the projection N¹ on the cam R are
arranged so that the pinion E¹ can make somewhat more than half a turn forwards
before operating the cam R the axis G' which carries the cam turning freely in
the hollow axis C₁ of the pinion.
I provide an eccentric D' for actuating a lever O' connected therewith, the use.
of which will hereinafter be described.
The feed of the paper is effected by the aid of the ratchet wheel P¹ fixed to the
barrel and a pawl Qfixed to the hollow cylinder Y above referred to.
Suppose a pigeon to have returned and after the metallic cup R' containing the
indiarubber tube S₁ has been placed in the tube M which is in front of the
aperture M made in the casing G as represented in Figure 6, the movements
which take place during the first half-turn of the crank B' (the several parts
occupying the position indicated in Figure 2,) are as follows:-
The cam R carries a pin having attached to it a hook W connected to the cat-
gut cord X which is wound upon the spring barrel V.
During the first half-turn this pin moves away from the barrel V until it.
arrives in the diametrically opposite position, represented in Figure 3, that is to
say at the dead point. The barrel V as it turns carries with it the hollow
cylinder Y to which the continuous band of paper is attached, by means of the
ratchet wheel P and the pawl Q¹ fixed to the cylinder. This pawl Q' is held by

page_text: a spring or stop so that it cannot pass above the teeth of the ratchet wheel P1
when the barrel turns in the direction of the arrow, Figure 2, and it thus forms a
coupling device between the barrel V and the cylinder Y.
The diameter of the hollow cylinder Y is such that in every revolution, that is
to say, during the first half turn of the crank, it winds up a band of paper equal to
the length of the aforesaid metallic sheets U and A', that is to say, the length
necessary for one diagram. If on arrival at the dead point the crank B' is turned
still further the cam R, actuated by the winding up of the cord X on the spring
barrel V, will be pulled over until the pin is stopped by the hooked part of the
bent lever O the pinion being stationary. during this movement. During this
return movement of the cam the cylinder or drum Y will be held stationary by the
spring pawl X engaging with the teeth of a ratchet wheel W attached to the
said cylinder Y.
During this movement of the cam R the outer periphery of the same engages
with a pin s ou one arm of the bell-crank lever S and causes it to oscillate upon its
axis U as will be seen from Figure 3. The bell crank lever S bears with its
other extremity upon a pint fixed to the above mentioned plate T hinged at T
'and compels the latter to descend and also the metallic sheet U to which it is
connected by uprights uu. The metallic sheet U thus pushes the sheet A' down
and the band of paper which passes between them into the position shown in
dotted lines in Figure 3.
It is during this descending movement that the sheet of paper is perforated by
the points no pg on the hands of the clockwork and the four other points V¹ Vi
V₁ V. These latter serve as guide marks for putting the diagrams on a dial
similar to that of the clockwork so as to enable the reading of the diagram. It is also
during this period that the ratchet wheel P¹ moves under the pawl Q the cylinder Y
being held by the ratchet wheel W' and a spring pawl X' Figures 2 and 5.
In order that the cam R shall not, by reason of the velocity required, pass
beyond its initial position (Figure 2) at the moment of the disengagement, the
eccentric D' during the passage of the pin moves the bent lever O into such a
position that the said pin will engage with said lever O as will be seen from
Figure 3 and the cam R will be thereby stopped; I then continue to turn the
crank B so that the aforesaid teeth F1 engages with the projection N¹. It is
during this second half turn of the crank that the eccentric D' moves the lever O¹,
Figure 2 back to its first position thus disengaging the pin and the wheel will
then present another tube in front of the aperture M' of the casing G.
I provide the above-mentioned circle of tubes M, Figures 1 and 6 with a nose Y¹
which is adapted to engage against a stop Z' the lower part 72 of which bears
upon the bottom of the box A. To prevent the mechanism from being turned
back after the apparatus has already been operated I secure to the bent lever O' a
spring stop O which will allow the cam to pass the same when moving in the
direction of the arrow in Figure III but when the said cam is moved in the opposite
direction the flat part thereof will engage the end of the said spring stop O² and
prevent the further movement of the mechanism.
The plate T and the two sheets U and A' are moved up to their first position
after the disengagement of the cam, by spiral springs A Figures 2, 5 and 6 and
the said sheets U and A' are guided by two uprights B2 B2, and in order that they
shall not touch the handle of the dials I place on the top of the face of the clock-
work, two stop pieces C2 C3 extending a little beyond the said hands. For reading
the diagrams after they have been removed from the apparatus, they are placed
upon a dial similar to that of the clockwork the position being fixed by means of
the four points VIV₁₁₁ when it may be ascertained to which divisions the
holes made by the points n o p q correspond. In Figure 5 these perforations
indicate that the pigeon has returned on the first day exactly at noon.
In order to prevent fraud I provide my apparatus with a bell crank lever D²
pivoted to the casing G Figures 1 and 4 one end of the said lever resting on the
top of the shaft C₁ while the other arm fits into a recess E' provided in the bent

page_text: out portion of the casing and effectually prevents the withdrawal of the cups
from the tubes M.
I use moreover a small mechanism for registering the shocks which the box may
receive. This small mechanism which I name a "dolometer," is represented in
detail in Figures 7 and S, Figure 4 shows the same fixed to the aforesaid plate
cover E.
It is well known that by shaking more or less a clockwork having a cylinder or
anchor escapement it may be retarded or advanced. This kind of fraud the
dolometer is designed to render apparent. It comprises a wheel F Figures 7 & 8
similar to those employed in watches but much heavier. To this wheel is fixed a
pawl G which follows all its movements and acts upon a ratchet wheel H' mounted
upon the same axis as the said wheel F2 but independent of the latter. Upon the
nave of the ratchet wheel H is held with much friction a very light hand I which
butts against a pin J2 fixed to the aforesaid wheel F.
Two pins K2 K2 placed between the arms of this wheel F limit the movement of
the latter upon its axis. The amount of oscillation of the ratchet wheel H² is
determined by the number of teeth, that is to say if the latter has thirty-six teeth
as in the drawing the oscillation of the said wheel F will be only one thirty-sixth
of a turn in order to allow the ratchet wheel H to advance only one tooth at a
time. These oscillations are registered by the ratchet wheel H2 through the
medium of a second pawl L² fixed to the piece M2 and the hand or pointer I. In
every oscillation imparted to the apparatus and consequently to the said wheel F
the latter by means of the above-mentioned pawl G2 causes the ratchet wheel H² to
advance one tooth, and as this ratchet wheel H' can turn only in one direction
indicated by the arrow because it is retained by a pawl L' it follows that the
shocks imparted to the apparatus with fraudulent intent will be registered and
indicated by the hand I' When this hand 12 touches the pin J2 on the other side
it may be concluded that at least thirty-six oscillations have been imparted to the
box. Now, as no club admits more than from 25 to 30 degrees, that is to say
shocks, they disqualify the pigeon or pigeons with respect to which the apparatus
has registered more than this number.
My apparatus comprises a toothed wheel to which are fixed a certain number of
tubes designed to receive the counter-mark of the pigeons, a disengaging device
making perforations, by points mounted upon the hands of a clockwork on a band
indicating the day, hour, minute and second. Use may be made of a number of
these devices which depends upon the number of tubes carried by the toothed
wheel.
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 :-
First. In an apparatus designed for registering the time of arrival of carrier
pigeons, the employment of a toothed wheel to which are secured a certain number
of tubes designed to receive the mark of the pigeons, the said wheel being actuated
by a crank and presenting at each turn of the latter, in front of the opening of a
metallic casing below which it is concealed, another tube, substantially as herein-
before described and for the purpose specified.
Second. In the above described apparatus the disengaging movement, comprising
a cam acting upon a bent lever which lowers a plate connected to a metallic sheet
which pushes another and between which passes a strip of paper from a continuous
roller, the metallic sheet having their dials cut in order to allow the passage of the
points fixed to the hands of a clockwork, and the said points perforating the strip
of paper for indicating the date, hour, minute and second when the crank has been
turned as above described.
Third. In the above described apparatus the arrangement of the pawls of the
cylinder winding up the paper in order that it may turn only in one direction.
Fourth. In the above described apparatus, the employment of a box containing

page_text: a spiral spring which produces the movement of the cam during the second half
turn of the crank.
Fifth. In the above described apparatus the combination of the pinion acting
upon the cam so as to leave the latter free for a little more than a half turn in
order that it may not be retained when it has passed a little beyond the dead point;
that is to say, the first half-turn which has been given to the crank, and that, being
actuated by the spring of a box to which it is attached by means of a hook and
catgut wound upon the latter it may escape and produce the movement above
described and with the object set forth.
Sixth. In the above described apparatus the device for closing the apparatus as
set forth.
Seventh. In the above described apparatus the employment of an apparatus for
registering the shocks fraudulently imparted to the apparatus with the object of
advancing or retarding the clockwork which it contains.
Eighth. The hereinbefore described apparatus constructed and arranged substan-
tially as above specified and for the purpose set forth.
Ninth. In combination with the apparatus hereinbefore described the system of
check ticket ring carrying interiorly one or more original signals designed to be
separated into two parts one of which is carried by the pigeon and the other placed
in one of the tubes M, as a means for controlling and identifying the pigeon with
regard to the hour and date of its departure.
Dated this 22nd day of December 1892.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.