Improvements in and relating to Targets for Rifle Practice, and in Signalling Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 13th Jan., 1890-Accepted, 15th Feb., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Targets for Rifle Practice, and in
Signalling Apparatus therefor.
I THOMAS BINNIE RALSTON, Rathillet Bothwell in the County of Lanark, Major
in the Second Lanark Rifle Volunteers, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention
to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to targets of the class described in the Specification of Letters
Patent granted to me and dated the 22nd day of August 1887 No. 11,423 and it has
for its object Improvements in the means for carrying and operating the target and for
indicating the values of the shots aimed at it.
Under the Invention the target which is preferably made of canvas is secured upon
a framing which has one of its sides projecting a back balance weight being hung
upon or attached to the extremity of the projecting arm or side. The said arm or
side of the frame is centred upon a spindle or shaft which is carried in bearings
secured to or formed on a suitable foundation. On the shaft there is keyed a lever
which at its outer end has a heel formed at right angles to the length and in con-
junction with the said lever there is provided a treadle which is centred loosely on
the spindle or shaft. On the spindle or shaft there is also keyed a spur pinion which
is geared with a like wheel secured upon another spindle or shaft, the second shaft
having an inclined rectangular frame fixed upon it and also a series of semaphores
which are differently colored or have other distinctive features whereby the value of
the shot may be recognised. The semaphores are centred loosely on the second
mentioned shaft and each of them has a catch or pawl which takes over a bar or rod
supported on side frames and by which the semaphores are held in their inoperative
position.
When the target has been struck the marker by actuating the treadle swings the
frame upwards a certain distance the counterpoise weight causing it to complete its
movement through a quadrant and the target can then be patched or the value of the
shot obliterated. At the same time the marker releases the catch or pawl of the
semaphore indicative of the value of the shot, which semaphore falling upon
the inclined rectangular frame secured to the second mentioned shaft is lowered
through an are in a direction opposite to the movement of the target and so as to
expose the value of the shot to the marksman. When these operations have been
effected the marker tilts the target downwards again and this downward movement
has the effect through the spur gearing before mentioned and the inclined rectangular
frame of returning the semaphore to normal position where it is held by its catch
or pawl.
Dated thin Tulfth day of A 1000
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Targets for Rifle Practice, and in
Signalling Apparatus therefor.
I, THOMAS BINNIE RALSTON Rathillet, Bothwell, in the County of Lanark, Major
in the Second Lanark Rifle Volunteers, 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 :-
This Invention relates to targets of the class described in the Specification of Letters
•

page_text: Patent granted to me and dated the 22nd day of Angust 1887 No. 11,423 and it has
for its object improvements in the means for carrying and operating the target and
for indicating the values of the shots aimed at it.
The invention is illustrated by the several figures on the accompanying drawings
figure 1 being a front elevation, figure 2 an end elevation at X and figure 3 a plan of
the apparatus shewing the target A in firing position. Figure 4 is a front elevation
shewing the target partially swung into marking position and figure 5 is an elevation
shewing the target in marking position.
Under the Invention the target A which is preferably made of canvas is secured
upon a framing attached to two knife edged bars B bolted to a bracket C keyed on a
shaft D back balance weights E which are sufficient to maintain the target either in
firing or marking position being hung upon or attached to the extremities of arms F
also attached to the bracket. The shaft or spindle D is carried in bearings secured to
or formed on a foundation G and on the shaft a lever I, which at its outer end has a
treadle 1', is centred loosely and operates upon a short stud to keyed on and projecting
from the shaft as more particularly seen by the detailed view figure 6. On the
spindle D there is also keyed a spur pinion J which is geared with a like wheel K
secured upon another spindle or shaft L, the shaft L having an inclined rectangular
frame M fixed upon it and it also carries a series of semaphores N which are differently
colored or have other distinctive features whereby the value of the shot may be
recognised. The semaphores N are centred loosely on the shaft and each of them has
a catch O over which a pawl P takes and holds the semaphores in their inoperative
position, the pawls being centred loosely on a spindle R which is supported in side
frames S.
When the target A has been struck the marker by depressing the treadle lever I
swings the target upwards into marking position as indicated by figure 5 the counter-
poise weights E first assisting and then preventing the target from coming in too
quickly. The marker depresses the lever with sufficient force to bring the target past
the centre as indicated by figure 4 when it swings the remaining distance by its own
weight and a check consisting of a bent iron stop y bolted to the foundation G coming
in contact with the bracket. C prevents the target from moving too far. The spot last
struck is then obliterated and patched. In the act of depressing the lever 1 the marker
at the same time releases the pawl P of the semaphore N indicative of the value
of the shot which semaphore falling upon the inclined rectangular frame M secured
to the shaft L is lowered through an arc in a direction opposite to the movement
of the target and so as to expose the value of the shot to the marksman. When
these operations have been effected the marker by hand tilts the target outwards until
it is over the centre when it swings the remaining distance by its own weight the
downward movement having the effect, through the spur gearing J, K, and the
inclined rectangular frame M, of returning the semaphore N, to normal position
where it is held by its pawl P.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is―
1. The general arrangement and combination of parts constituting the combined
target and signalling mechanism substantially as set forth with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
2. In apparatus of the class set forth the combination of a shaft D, carrying a
counterbalanced target, a treadle lever I, acting on a stud w keyed on said shaft,
a shaft L, geared with said shaft and carrying a frame M and a series of signalling
semaphores N substantially as described with reference to the drawings annexed.
Dated this Eleventh day of January 1890.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents.