Year: 1898

page_text: FRANK CORBETT GRIMLEY, 33, Salisbury Avenue, Colchester, Civil Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:--
The object of this invention is to improve the mode of imparting motion to
moving targets.
A tramway is constructed on a machine which works as a see-saw or the beam
of a beam pumping engine, being balanced on a central fulcrum. On this
tramway a trolley carrying a target is made to run, and by the see-saw motion
(or other motion of the machine which would cause the trolley to move by
gravity) imparted to the machine by a man alternately raising and lowering
either end, the trolley will travel backwards and forwards along the tramway.
by the force of gravity.
I, FRANK CORBETT GRIMLEY, now of Sutton Bridge, in the County of Lincoln,
late of 33, Salisbury Avenue, Colchester, in the County of Essex, Civil 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 follow-
ing statement:-
This invention has reference to improvements in and relating to moving targets
of the kind which travel across a range transversely to the line of fire, and it has
for object to enable the required movement to be imparted to such targets in
an improved and more efficient manner than heretofore.
According thereto the target, which is carried by a trolley that may be of
ordinary construction, is mounted upon a track formed by or arranged upon a
beam mounted to be oscillated or rocked about an axis or fulcrum so as to be
capable of being inclined or tilted alternately in transverse directions whereby
the trolley and target carried thereby can be caused by gravity to run along or
down the said track from one end to the other according to the direction of
inclination given to the beam.
In the accompanying illustrative drawings, Figs. 1 and 2 show in front eleva-
tion and plan respectively, one example of apparatus for moving targets in
accordance with this invention.

page_text: The beam 1 which may be of wood or other material, but is shown as con-
structed of iron lattice work, is provided with trunnions 2 mounted in bearings 3
which are suitably supported on a foundation block 4 fixed on the ground the
arrangement being such that the beam can be rocked about a horizontal axis in
opposite directions. The beam is shown inclined in one direction by dotted lines
in Fig. 1. The upper side of the beam forms a track either by being provided
with a line of rails, or, as in the example shown, by arranging the upper angle
iron bars 1 of the beam so as to receive, with capability of running freely
thereon, the wheels 5 of a trolley 6 which carries the target 7.
In order to retard the speed of the moving target, which increases as the trolley
arrives near the lower end of the inclined beam, the upper side of the latter is
or may be curved upwards at its end portions, say from the point 8 towards each
end, whereby the inclination at each of these parts when lowered is reduced.
To stop the target at the end of the track, the beam 1 is provided with upwardly
turned ends 9, and in order to reduce shock between the target and the said ends,
each of the latter may he provided with a buffer 10 having a suitable spring
carried in a box 11 fixed to the beam. Similar buffers may also be provided if
required on the trolley, or on parts carried thereby. For the purpose of enabling
the target to be retained at the end of the beam to which it has travelled, so
that the marker may control its re-starting, each upwardly turned end of the beam
may be provided with a catch 12 adapted to engage automatically with an eye
or hook 13 on the target when the latter reaches the end of its travel in one or
other direction. Such catch device also serves to obviate any rebound of the
target that might otherwise be caused by the shock due to impact of the trolley
against the buffer.
The beam, which may be made of any desired length, can be tilted by various
means. In Fig. 1 there is shown, by way of example, a winch 14 adapted,
through a wire or cord 15, to incline the beam in either direction. Or two
such winches may be employed, one at each end of the beam. When employing
a single winch one man only is required to operate the target, in which case the
catch 12 at the other end of the beam is removed or put out of action.
Fig. 3 shows, in front elevation, a modified arrangement whereby the target
can be controlled or stopped at the ends of the track or at any intermediate
point. A flexible connector such as a rope or wire 15, the ends of which are
attached to the ends of the trolley or to supporting parts of the target thereon,
is passed around pulleys 16, 16 mounted at the ends of the rocking beam and
also around other pulleys 17, 17 mounted on supports 18, 18 fixed to the ground
and is passed through a grip clutch comprising fixed and movable parts 19
and 19. The arrangement is such that, when the beam is inclined in either direc-
tion and the target consequently runs down the track, the rope or wire 15 can
be gripped and held or suitably retarded by means of the clutch 19 so as to con-
trol the speed of the trolley and target to suit requirement.
In each case, the apparatus is arranged below the ground level 20 so that only
the target and mantlets 21 are visible. It will be obvious that the inclination
given to the track may be considerably varied, and that a steep inclination may
be given at the commencement of the travel, the lower end being afterwards
suitably raised when the target acquires a desired speed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. Operating a movable target by means of a beam or support that is adapted
to be inclined alternately in opposite directions and is formed or provided with
a track for supporting a trolley or carrier connected to the target, the arrange-
ment being such that the trolley or carrier with target can be caused to move by
gravity alternately in opposite directions by suitably inclining the beam or sup-
port, substantially as herein described.

page_text: 2. Apparatus for imparting motion to targets, constructed, arranged and
operating, substantially as hereinabove described with reference to and shown
in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 15th day of May 1899.
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.