Improvements in Time Measuring Apparatus for Race Courses
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 4th July, 1899-Accepted, 13th Jan., 1900'
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Time Measuring Apparatus for Race Courses:
1, CHARLES AXEL DE CHAPEAUROUGE, of 63, Rotherbaumchaussee, Hamburg,
in the German Empire, Doctor of Medicine, 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 a time measuring apparatus, which is especially
suitable for horse races, and is designed to obtain an exact check regard-
ing the running of the horses.
Apparatus as used for this purpose at present, generally in the form of a stop
wateli, has the disadvantage-even when a double stop hand is provided--that the
person measuring the time during a race is compelled to glance from the watch to
This disad-
the course and vice versa, which is of course, a double source of error.
vantage is avoided in my invention by the automatic registering of the time,
without taking the eye off the course, thus obviating the overlooking or inaccurate
observation of the distance posts.
In order that this invention may be better understood, I now proceed to describe
how it may be carried into effect, reference being had to the accompanying draw-
ings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, like letters referring to like
parts in the various figures.
Figure 1 is a sectional front view.
Figure 2 is a plan and Figure 3 is a sectional side view on the line of
Figure 1.
'
The construction of the apparatus is very simple, and the various parts are
arranged in a box a which may be provided with a lock. A disc b is pivotted
in the centre of the box and is rotated by a clockwork c. On the disc b are pro-
vided raised numbers which run from 1-60 in the apparatus illustrated, see
Figure 2. The rotation of the disc is regulated so that the latter advances in
oue second à distance which is exactly the same as the distance between the num-
hers. A bridge d arranged in the box a carries a spring e situated across the
disc band which is generally in tension. The spring e is held up by a recess in
an angular lever f, and is guided by a bar g. A strip of paper h, wound on
a roller passes up on one side of the box and along one side of the top of the
box a, so that the centre of the strip passes over the numbers of the disc which
are situated or pass near the middle of the front of the box. The strip is held
in moderate tension by a weight.
The numbers of the disc bindicate and register the time, which a horse or other
object has run, in the following manner. The whole course, as seen by the
observer, is divided into equal distances and distance posts are provided to indicate
auch distances. When the horse. starts, the person measuring the time and
conveniently situated at a raised point presses on an india rubber ball of the
apparatus the compressed air passes from a tube k into a bellows which is
expanded downwards by the air and thus presses the lower limb of the lever falso

page_text: downwards by means of a rod m, so that the recess in the upper limb of the lever f
moves away from the spring e so that an elastically mounted plate el presses the
paper strip on to the numbers of the disc c to print the numbers on the strip.
The spring e is lifted sufficiently off the disc immediately after this function, by
its own resilience, the downward momentum being sufficient to carry it over its
set position of rest so that the spring e after striking does not interfere with the
rotation of the dise b. In order to obviate any possible failure in, the operation of
the disc b, the latter is loose on its axle and is compelled to follow the action
of the clockwork by springs N N' fixed to the disc and hearing against pins.
Therefore should the dise 6 be momentarily stopped, the clock work may continue
in its motion. Pins are provided on the disc 6 between the numbers and the
periphery of the disc b at distances equal to the correct distances between the
centres of the numbers so as to indicate exactly the accurate distances between
theoretically correct centres of the numbers so as to show the seconds with cer-
tainty and accuracy. A fixed pin is situated on the bridge d and indicates
exactly the centre of the spring e when the latter strikes down, so that the frac-
tions of seconds can be easily read from the strip of paper. In the apparatus.as
shown in the drawings the spring e may be raised into its original position by
hand.
It will be easily seen that the whole apparatus may be arranged automatically
so that the person measuring the time need' only press the ball when the horse
passes tlie distance posts, the spring being returned automatically after the regis-
tering of the time, and the advance of the strip of paper being also effected auto-
matically, thus the progress of a race may be registered by any observer without
interruption.
The apparatus may comprise several striking springs and several strips of paper
so that several persons may simultaneously register the running of different race
horses.
The registering may be done in ink or colour by the use of ink or colour ribbons,
and by transferring the differences of the numbers registered on the strip to
squared paper, diagrams may be produced which show the progress of the race
at a glance.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
A device for measuring time at races consisting of a box a containing the
apparatus consisting in combination of a disc b having raised numbers at certain
'distances apart, so that at the rotation of the disc b for a second, it is moved a
distance, corresponding exactly to the distance between the numbers; one or
more striking springs e effecting the registering of the time by its or their disen-
gagement and which by its or their descent press a paper strip on to the disc b
and thus print the time; a clockwork e driving the disc which is adapted to con-
tinue uniformly the time measuring operation, even if the dise & be momentarily
stopped, by the spring e, by reason of springs n n³, which, connecting the disc
to its axle, can yield, and the disc when liberated can come up with the axle; a
fixed striking pin p allowing fractions of seconds to be read; and means for the
re-lifting of the spring e after striking and for the advance of the paper strip h
being effected by hand, substantially as described.
Dated this 4th day of July 1899.
FELL & JAMES,
Agents for the Applicant.