An Improved Scoring Device for Rifle Shooting and similar Purposes.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Nov., 1887
Specification Accepted, 6th Jan., 1888
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Scoring Device for Rifle Shooting and similar
Purposes.
We JAMES MCHARDY of Dollar N.B. Scientific Expert and JOHN LIVINGSTONE of
West Grange, Bogside, Alloa N.B. Keeper 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 which relates to Shooting, Rifle Practice &c. has for its object the
recording with facility, of the number of shots fired, and of the number of head of game
killed in shooting; or the number of shots, and the score resulting therefrom in
Rifle Practice; or the scoring of points in any circumstances, accompanied by the
sound of a Bell, Vibrator, or musical Box, which shall make the operator doubly
certain that he shall have scored correctly.
In carrying this Invention into practice, we construct a disc or discs suitably.
numbered at convenient points, and with or without a kind of clock, or watch-work,
so that by appropriate movements certain numbers may be presented to view.
If it be desirable to record a limited number of points this Invention will be suitable
in its simplest form, as presently described.
A dial with a given number of figures upon its outer edge being set in a suitable
case, shall be covered by a revolving lid, provided with an aperture through which
only one of the numbers, on the edge of the dial, shall be visible; so that the operator,
by causing the lid to revolve, shall be able to mark any desired number upon the
said dial. In this case the alarm may be of a radial form fixed to the lid on the
inside, and giving a sound at each point scored, by one or other of its radial points
coming against a suitable stop. The aperture in the lid may be filled in with glass if
necessary, or the lid may be entirely of glass.
Or, the numbered dial being set in a case and provided with an axle, may be made
to revolve by a suitable extension of the axle to the outer side or sides of the case.
The dial thus revolving instead of the lid, may be made to record any number, to
which the figures upon its outside edge, correspond, the aforesaid aperture remaining
stationary and the radial or other alarm working as abovementioned.
it may be
In these forms the instrument may be made as a watch-chain pendant or,
of any convenient size, or, it may be inlaid upon a gun-stock, and will be sufficient
for those who do not require to score large numbers.

page_text: Thus,
In order to record high numbers we use two or more similar dials of various
diameters, centered upon compound axles and actuated by suitable cog and pinion
wheels, so that one dial shall revolve ten times while another revolves once.
in order to produce the contrivance so as to score up to one hundred, one dial may be
fixed upon a hollow axle, which in turn shall form an axle for another dial revolving
loosely upon it. The said hollow axle shall revolve upon a rigid spindle, and the
loose dial shall be of greater diameter than the dial which is fixed upon the hollow
axle. The loose dial shall be provided with a cog wheel attached to it on the side
opposite the smaller dial. Geared with the said cog, a pinion wheel of twice the
diameter of the cog, shall be centred upon a spindle for the purpose. Again, a cog
shall be attached to the said pinion, geared with and acting upon a second pinion of
five times its diameter, and rigid with the before mentioned hollow axle and the smaller
dial. If the larger dial be caused to revolve, it will carry with it the firstmentioned
pinion, in an opposite direction and at half its own speed. The cog upon this latter,
will, at the same time, carry with it the pinion attached to the hollow axle at one fifth
of its own speed. But as the smaller dial must revolve with the hollow axle, it will
do so ten times slower than the larger dial. Therefore if one dial be marked at its
outer edge with the figures 1234567890 and the other, similarly with the
numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9, 10; and if an aperture be provided in the lid, on a line
with the respective numbers, one dial will show the units while the other shows
the tens.
The larger disc or dial may be actuated by a ratchet attachment or other suitable
means; and it may be provided with a stop to prevent its turning by accident; or in
all cases the bearings may be so pressed upon by a spring or elastic washer, that it
shall take some force to actuate the parts. In all cases likewise, a bell, vibrator or
musical box, which shall sound at each number recorded, may be added. The said
bell being rung by the action of the stop ratch, or the return of the actuating appliance,
or, as before-described.
This form of the Invention will be particularly suitable for shooting purposes, and
may be applied as follows. The gun stock being bored (say at the side near the end
of the thick part of the stock) to a depth sufficient to admit the instrument, and
another hole, entering from the end of the stock, and at right angles to the axes of the
instrument, being produced, capable of containing a connecting rod, to communicate
with the instrument, a small spiral spring, to thrust back the said connecting rod, and
a knob or disc upon the outer end of the connecting rod, it will be possible for the
.sportsman to press the said knob or disc (which may form apparently part of the
stock) and record upon the dials the number of hits; or, for the rifleman to mark his
own score.
The whole apparatus may be laid into the stock, so as in no way to alter its original
shape.
The complete form of the Invention includes the last mentioned arrangement of
parts upon one side of the gun and the same upon the other side with this exception;
that, instead of the dials being actuated by the hand, they are actuated by the
complete fall of the hammer of the gun. In the first case the score may be marked
at pleasure, and in the second, every shot that is fired will be recorded, so that a
rifleman may compare his hits and misses. In the scorer, the ratchet wheel will work
best by the thrust of the connecting rod, but in the automatic recorder which works
by the fall of the hammer, the draw-action of a suitable connecting rod (hidden in
the stock) will be most effective.
It is obvious that by means of compound axles and spindles we may use three, or
any number of dials, acting in the manner described, to produce a scorer, capable of
marking up to 1,000 (with three dials) 10,000 (with four dials) &c. and yet confined
within a very small space; equally capable of being, laid into the stock of a gun, or,
carried at the watch chain-of recording a seasons shooting, or marking a particular
date.
We
e may mark our dial, or dials, with any numbers suitable to particular purposes,
and by the addition of an extra cog wheel, acting upon any of the before mentioned

page_text: pinions, we may provide a means for rapidly winding the instrument back to Zero;
or a spring may be made to do so.
Fig. I The simplest form of the scorer marking up to 10 or any number to
which the dial is graduated. The outer circle represents the case,
the bottom of which forms the dial. The second circle shows a
ledge which retains the lid (one half of the lid is suggested by the
shading lines). The unshaded half of the disc shows the inside of
the case, numbered as required. The radiating lines represent the
vibrator beforementioned. If we vary the lengths of the vibrating
points according to the pitch of sound required, the vibrator will
play an air; so that the instrument may be used as a musical
box.
a = An aperture in a revolving lid, as in first modification.
Fig II
=
Second modification, similarly illustrated.
a = The aperture.
b
Fig. III
A revolving dial inside the case, centred upon, and revolving with
a spindle which extends outwards through the lid, and is also rigid
with
ca friction-disc or other appliance by which the said dial may be
caused to revolve.
-
a=
=
- A modification with two dials, as seen by the circular rows of figures.
The smaller dial revolves once for every ten revolutions of the
larger one, by means of cogs and pinions behind, as shown in
Figures IV and V.
Apertures opposite the respective rows of figures.
End of the hollow axle upon which the smaller outer dial is fixed.
The larger dial revolves loosely upon this said axle and, as may be
seen in the drawing, forms a ratchet wheel worked by
ca suitable pawl upon
da hinged handle, the projecting end of which may be folded down
out of the way.
The said handle may work in a slot hole in the side of the case. A second
independent pawl may be provided, to prevent the backward turning of the instrument,
and the action of one or other of the pawls may be made to actuate the vibrator or
ring a bell. If this modification be inserted in a gun stock, the projecting handle
may be suitably fitted to the gun, or it may be discarded for the connecting-rod-
action, before mentioned and hereinafter more fully described by the drawings.
Fig. IV The back of the larger dial, in which the continuous lines represent
the ratchet-wheel, and the cog and pinion action, as follows.
=
a = A centre spindle, rigid with the case and upon which the hollow axle
revolves.
b = The end view of said hollow axle, represented by circle surround-
ing a-
c=a cog wheel revolving with the larger dial (shown as a circle
d
Fig. V
-
e=
=
surrounding a and b).
A pinion wheel of twice the diameter of c, by which it is driven.
A cog attached to the pinion (d) which revolves with it, upon a
spindle rigid with the case. The dotted circles represent the parts
which are rigid with the hollow axle (see Fig. V.)
Similar view of the smaller dial and actuating parts.
a = The centre spindle as in Fig. IV.
b
=
C=
d
=
e=
End of hollow axle as in Fig. IV.
Suggestion of cog attached to the larger dial (dotted lines).
Pinion, as in Fig. IV, revolving with
the cog which drives
= a pinion of five times its diameter. This pinion is rigid with the
•

page_text: Fig. VI
A side view of the instrument, (upon a larger scale) the outside lines
representing the case.
a= The smaller dial outside,
=
the larger dial, to which is attached
ca cog wheel that drives
d
a pinion of twice its diameter.
e = A second cog wheel, revolving with d upon a pivot-spindle fixed
into the back of the case.
=
A second pinion fixed, together with the smaller dial, upon the
hollow axle, upon which the larger dial, with the cog, revolves.
The handle extending from the centre outwards, with
=a hinge for folding the end out of the way; say into
y= a flat position.
k
2 =
A pawl centred upon the handle, and pressed into gear with the
ratchet edge of the larger dial, by
= a suitable spring.
jA curve-handled bell-hammer, moving with the pawl, and so actuated
by the same spring as to ring a bell or vibrator, when a point is
=
scored.
A cog with an axle, capable of being turned by a key, so as to wind
the instrument to Zero.
Now as the handle works in a slot, which gives it sufficient play to turn the larger
dial one tenth of its circumference, and as it shall be supplied with a spring, to bring
it back into its normal position, it follows that, the instrument may be made to
indicate numbers in the manner we have suggested: For; as the handle turns the
larger dial to a new figure, or one tenth of a revolution, the cog, c, will turn the
pinion, d, one twentieth of a revolution; but, d carries with it the cog, e, which will
turn, (and along with f, the smaller dial) one hundredth of a revolution. It follows
likewise that by using two hollow spindles instead of one, revolving upon an axis
fixed in the centre of the case, and by adding a third and still smaller dial, with a
second set of gearing wheels, we may construct the instrument, to record any number
up to one thousand; or by still another such addition, ten thousands may be scored.
We do not, therefore, confine ourselves to any number of dials and compound axles,
as it may be desirable to keep a record of, say, a whole season's shooting.
Fig. VIIA method of inserting the instrument in a gun stock. The handle,
as in Fig. VI may be retained, and assume the form of a small
slide, similar to the safe and ready of the hammerless gun; but,
as here represented, the handle is discarded, in favour of a con-
necting rod.
a
d
=
The instrument, countersunk in the stock.
The end of rod, acting as a paul, or connected with the handle before
mentioned without the extremity beyond the hinge.
c= A spring which replaces the connecting rod in its normal position.
A hollow, into which
-
e=
Fig. VIII-
a
b
=
====
the inlaid finger knob may be forced, so as to cause the dial to turn
to another number. The rod is fixed into the finger knob, and is
supplied with a piston-like stop for the spring, which in turn is
stopped by the bottom of the hollow (d) through which, the rod
slides in a suitable bearing. Thus, the number of kills may be
recorded.
The instrument, applied so as to record the number of shots fired.
The instrument, with the ratchet reversed.
An inlaid connecting rod, worked by the action of the lock of the gun
c = A pawl on the said rod, showing the draw-instead of the thrust-
action.
It is obvious that, we may apply our invention wherever possible by altering the
arrangement of the figures upon the dials; or, we may combine two such instru-

page_text: ments, back to back, or any number of them, for the purpose of keeping separate
scores.
Having now, particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare, that, what we
claim is;
(1) The combined Dial-indicator and alarm or musical-box, with a revolving lid.
(2) The combined Dial-indicator and alarm or musical-box, with a revolving dial.
(3) The combined Dial-indicator and alarm or musical-box, with two or more
dials, so arranged and geared, as to make it possible to score very high numbers
without increasing the diameter of the instrument; especially as herein described and
more particularly set forth in the drawings.
(4) The combination of such dials or indicators with, the stock of a gun, or any
part of it.
(5) The construction of such dials or indicators as may be either carried as lockets
or laid into the wooden part of a gun.
(6) The connecting-rod action as applied for actuating such Indicators in the stock
of a gun, or in any circumstances in which our Invention may be applied-whither in
the scorer or automatic recorder-with all the parts herein described.
(7) The combination of our Invention, by inlaying, or otherwise, with any article
to which it is applicable.
Dated this Fifteenth day of November 1887
JAMES MCHARDY.
JOHN LIVINGSTONE.