A Mechanical Apparatus to be Attached to Targets for Night Firing purposes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Mar., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 20th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 14th Mar., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Mechanical Apparatus to be Attached to Targets for Night Firing
purposes.
We, Private LEWIS ALFRED HASLEWOOD, No. 5083 G. Company, 1st
Battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corps, Aldershot, and JAMES BORLAND, of
7, Stratheden Villas, East Dulwich Road, in the County of London, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
An apparatus to be attached to any ordinary target for the purpose of training
troops in night attacks upon an enemy's position.
The invention consists of a revolving cylinder attached to a stand (which is fixed
to the back of the target). This cylinder is drilled to receive 20 or more blank
cartridges inside the cylinder a set of cogs causes a striker to explode each
cartridge in turn as it is brought opposite the barrel (which is fixed to the stand
and goes partially through a hole in the target which has been drilled for the
purpose).
The revolution of the cylinder is obtained by means of a ratchet attachment
(which is fixed to the stand) acting on a set of cogs that are fixed to the side of
the cylinder the ratchet is worked by means of a connecting line attached to a
small lever in the mantlett & is directly under the control of the marker.
The object of the invention is to give practical instruction in the attack upon an
enemy's position at night.
The flash, caused by the explosion of the blank cartridge in the cylinder escapes
by the barrel & thus through the target, is visible to the attacking party.
A number of targets (with this apparatus fixed to them) would represent an
enemy defending a position.
The attacking party uses its own means of judging the distance from the firing
point to the flash, and fire upon what they conceive to be the enemy's position;
the hits being registered on the targets could be counted by the marker & checked
by the officer in charge of the attacking party when the practice is finished.
Dated this Sixth day of Ma 1890
LEWIS A. HASLEWOOD.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Mechanical Apparatus to be Attached to Targets for Night Firing
purposes.
We, Private LEWIS ALFRED HASLEWOOD, No. 5083 G. Company, 1st
Battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corps, Aldershot, and JAMES BORLAND, of
7, Stratheden Villas, East Dulwich Road, in the County of London, Engineer,
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 this invention is to provide means for giving practical instruction
in the attack upon an enemy's position at night and in such manner that the
apparatus can be applied to any ordinary target for the purpose of training troops
in night attacks upon an enemy's position.
The apparatus is composed of a revolving magazine cylinder mounted in a stand
the latter being fixed to the back of the target. This cylinder is drilled round its
periphery to receive say twenty or more blank cartridges and in the interior of
the cylinder there is a ratchet which as the cylinder revolves causes
037
striker

page_text: to act and to explode each cartridge as the corresponding aperture in the cylinder
is brought opposite a barrel which is fixed to the stand and enters the target
which latter is drilled with a hole for that purpose. The cylinder is rotated
step by step by a ratchet lever and pawl the latter operating a ratchet secured
to the face of the cylinder. The ratchet lever is operated by means of a line 5
communicating with the marker in mantlet and at the same time works a cap
which opens and closes the aperture in the target.
In order that the invention may be fully understood we will now further describe
same with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of an apparatus made according to 1
this invention.
Figure 2 is a back elevation.
Figure 3 is a vertical cross section of the rotating magazine cylinder and parts
connected therewith drawn to a larger scale than the previous figures.
Figure 4 is a sectional elevation taken on the line e y of Figure 3 also showing
the enclosing case and
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the striker.
Similar letters of reference refer to like parts in all the figures.
A is the magazine cylinder having holes B drilled radially to receive the blank
cartridges which are inserted from the interior of the cylinder which is bored out
as shown at C Figures 3 and 4. The cylinder A is mounted in a spindle D fixed
to the case E which in its turn is fixed by the base E¹ to the target F. The
striking mechanism best seen at Figures 3, 4 and 5 consists of a striker G mounted
in two bearings G¹ and G² This striker is curved so as to pass the fixed
spindle D and so that it may reciprocate in a diametrical direction within the
cylinder A.
The striker is kept forward by a spring H which may be as shown pivotted to
the stand and bearing against the spindle D and a shoulder on the striker. There
is a slanting projection G Figures 4 and 5 on the striker end which travels in a
circular ratchet J on the interior of the cylinder.
A spring catch K. Figure 4 is fitted at the upper interior part of the case and
holes K to fit the catch are made in the periphery of the cylinder so as to lock the
said cylinder each time a cartridge is in position. Slots K2 G³ are made across the
external and internal peripheries of the cylinder parallel with the axis so as to
allow the cylinder A to pass the striker G and catch K on being placed in the
stand. L is the muzzle or barrel before which the cartridge to be fired stops and
is then fired through. The muzzle L is placed through the target at the hole L'
but without its end projecting.
M is the ratchet which is fixed to the cylinder; N is the lever for turning the
cylinder and having a jointed pawl N which takes into a tooth on the ratchet
wheel M and turns same one tooth each time the said lever N is rocked.
O is the cap mounted on a spindle Oso as to close the aperture L. A
lever O2 is fulcrummed on the same spindle O'. A cord connects and communicates
motion to the lever O2 from the lever N and for this purpose passes over a
pulley 0³.
The action of the apparatus is as follows.
The cylinder A is removed and the blank cartridges are inserted in their
respective holes B. The cylinder A is then replaced in position the slots K and G³
allowing the cylinder to pass the catch K and striker G.
The lever is then pulled by means of the cord N2 attached to the same and
the pawl N catches on a tooth on the ratchet wheel M turning same and likewise
turning the cylinder. The striker G is pressed back by a tooth of the ratchet J
acting on the part G' of the striker G. As soon as the lever N has been pulled
back to its full extent (the cap O being also simultaneously moved away from the
aperture L' by the cord connected to the lever N) the spring catch K takes into a
hole thus locking the cylinder A. The striker projection G having reached
the end of the tooth on the ratchet J suddenly springs forward firing the cartridge

page_text: which, as before described, has been brought before the muzzle L. The lever N
is then let back and the piece N takes under the next tooth ready to move the
ratchet wheel M, on another pull being given to the lever, and the cap O covers the
aperture L' in the target F.
This operation of the lever N as before described may be repeated until all the
cartridges have been fired when the cylinder A would have to be again charged as
described.
The flash caused by the explosion of the blank cartridge in the cylinder escaping
by the barrel L and through the target F is visible to the attacking party. A
number of apparatus constructed according to this invention would represent an
enemy defending a position; the attacking party uses its own means of judging the
distance from the firing point to the flash and fire upon what they conceive to be
the enemy's position. The hits being registered on the targets could be counted
by the marker and checked by the officer in charge of the attacking party.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
First. An apparatus for attachment to targets for night firing purposes whereby
practical instruction can thereby be imparted to troops in the attack upon a position
at night and substantially as set forth.
Second. The apparatus for attachment to targets for night firing purposes
wherein a magazine cylinder to which a step by step motion is imparted is employed
as and for the purposes set forth.`
Third. The apparatus for attachment to targets for night firing purposes wherein
a magazine cylinder is employed to which a step by step motion is imparted by a
pawl and lever such motion operating a striker by an interior ratchet for exploding
a cartridge through a barrel inserted in an aperture in a target as and for the
purposes set forth.
Fourth. The apparatus for attachment to targets for night firing purposes
wherein a magazine cylinder is employed to which a step by step motion is imparted
by a pawl and lever such motion operating a striker by an interior ratchet for
exploding a cartridge through a barrel inserted in an aperture in the target and for
effecting simultaneously or nearly so the removal of a cover from the aperture in
the target all by the operation of a cord attached to the said lever leading from a
mantlet or other protected place, the release of the cord allowing the cap to return
and to cover the aperture in target all substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 2011 1.
aber 1800.
L. A. HASLEWOOD.
J. BORLAND.
By Brewer & Son,
33, Chancery Lane, London.