Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Dec.. 1887
Complete Left, 20th Mar., 1888
Complete Accepted, 4th May, 1888

page_text: Thieves, Birds, and Wild Animals.
WILLIAM BURGESS Berry Lodge, Hanley Castle Malvern Wells in the County of
Worcester Patentee of Alarm guns rabbit and vermin traps 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 that class of Alarm guns for scaring burglars, poachers,
thieves, birds and wild animals and operates by means of clockwork acting to fire
one or any number of gun barrels at a given time, also by means of weights and
exterior wires. When one report only is required a wedge attached to wires is
inserted in a notch in the side of the upright rod the clock in that case not being
required. The gun barrels having a slot or mortice and hollowed out to admit the
Cartridge are fixed horizontally in a box or on a block. The breech is fixed in the
slot or mortice together with a damproof shield a hole being made in the breech to
keep the pin of the cartridge in position. When the guns are used singly on a block
a waterproof shield is required but when encased in a box it is not needful. The
damproof shield breech is well adapted for sporting guns and cannons. A knuckle
joint is introduced at the top of each rod and a sliding weight placed thereon. By
means of the knuckle joint the weight is kept in a slanting position when out of
action.
The knuckle joints are set in motion by means of a wood or metal spoked roller
which rotate automatically through the action of clockwork consisting of a timepiece.
Above the roller aforesaid the said timepiece is fixed on a shelf to the spindle of which
a pulley is attached by a chain or cord to the spoked roller aforesaid.
By the action of the pulley driven by the clock the chain or cord is wound up
causing the spoked roller to elevate the knuckle joint in an upright position. This
releases the aforesaid weight which descends upon the pin of the cartridge in the
barrel and explodes the charge. When the gun is only required to discharge one
barrel without relation to time the clock is not required. The gun is then discharged
by. the means of a wedge hereinbefore mentioned, which wedge is attached to wires
fixed under the weight at the top of the rod.
When the wires is touched by anyone coming in contact with it, the weight slides
down in the manner before described and explodes the charge. In order to keep the
weight steady when the guns is in course of transmission a safety pin is introduced,
which provents them shifting from their position. This invention will be more readily
understood on reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1. The gun in case with clockwork complete and ready for firing.
A the clockwork or timepiece.
B the spoked roller with chain or cord I fixed to spindle of clockwork or timepiece.
C the resting bar for weights and top of rod above knuckle joint when the gun is
cat and roady for fining

page_text: D the weight which strikes the cartridge.
E the rod showing knuckle joint without weight.
F the rod with knuckle joint disconnected showing the joint when apart.
G the long safety pin which passes under the weights and holds them in position
and safe when the gun is in course of transmission.
M the rimless pin fire Cartridge case.
Fig. 2. The gun when set singly and ready for firing.
K the chamber or gun barrel.
L the waterproof breech block as used when one gun is used only without case as
Fig. 2.
Pthe block on which the gun is fixed.
N the screw for fixing the gun on the aforesaid block P.
R the wire attached to wedge which is fixed in the notch of rod the gun is then
ready for firing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. An improvement in alarm guns for scaring burglars, poachers thieves and wild
animals.
2. The setting and firing attachment with spoked roller, knuckle joint guns and
breech blocks and clockwork.
3. The apparatus complete substantially as hereinbefore described.
11
1011
1000
WILLIAM BURGESS.