Improvements in Targets for Rifle Practice.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Nov., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 12th Aug., 1892-Accepted, 24th Sept., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Targets for Rifle Practice.
retired
We, WALTER CARR MACKINNON of 12, Pall Mall East, London, W.,
Colonel, and FRANCIS CLARKE of Dane John Works, Canterbury, in the
County of Kent, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in moving targets for rifle practice of the
kind described in the Specification of former Letters Patent granted to the said
Francis Clarke dated the 6th day of March 1883, No. 1211, and it has for its
object, first, to simplify the driving gear so as to enable the targets to be worked
with less loss of power in transmission and to so arrange the track that the target
may be brought after every shot, to the marker stationed under cover to one side
of the line of fire and considerably nearer the firing point.
With these objects, the improvements consist in driving the chain wheel around
which runs the endless chain to which the target carriages are attached, by a
vertical spindle and hand wheel geared by bevel gear so as to apply the power
directly to the chain of targets instead of driving them through an endless chain
operated from a distant point, and, instead of a straight track for the target
carriages to run on, a track of quadrant form is provided, the track being so placed
that the targets come into the line of fire on approaching or reaching the one end
of the track whilst the marker or person operating them is stationed at the
opposite end under cover of a mantlet so as to be situated out of the line of fire
and considerably nearer to the firing point than the target when in firing position.
The track would be double and the endless chain, to which the carriages
are connected would be guided by sheaves placed at intervals between the rails of
each track.
The invention also relates to means of obtaining a record of the shots passing
through the targets (when used as stationary targets) so that in case of doubt as to
whether a shot has passed through a hole made by a previous shot, the question
can be settled by referring to the record. This is formed by a continuous sheet of
paper, canvas, or other material, extended immediately in rear of the target and
which is unwound from one roller and wound on to another by a progressive motion
imparted after each shot by ratchet, worm, or other gear or by spring power
operated or controlled either from the marking or firing point, so that, any
shot passing through the target will also pass through the moving record sheet.
The improvements also relate to a target adapted to be swung round on a centre
so as to bring it under cover of a mantlet for the purpose of being patched after
every shot, by the marker and it consists of a horizontal frame adapted to work at
one end upon a vertical spindle mounted in suitable bearings, the frame being
supported at the other end upon a wheel or wheels running on a rail in the form of
a semi-circle described about such spindle as a centre.
The spindle is operated by a crank handle and bevel gear for the purpose of
swinging the target to firing position or to one side where under cover of a mantlet
protecting the marker or operator, the shot may be recorded and the target may be
repaired. This is done by applying patches to the rear side of the target which is
presented towards the marker by swinging the target round through a semi-circle
and which is marked with the bullseye and rings exactly coinciding with those
marked on the face of the target to enable the value of the shot to be ascertained
without looking at the front of the target.
Both forms of target herein described are constructed of canvas or paper covered
frames and the base frame or carriage is provided with sockets in which the legs of

page_text: frames of different sizes of target may be placed this base frame being, in all cases,
protected from injury by a fender.
Dated this 12th day of November 1891.
W. C. MACKINNON,
F. CLARKE,
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
hancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.
W. C. MACKINNON,
F. CLARKE,
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Targets for Rifle Practice.
We, WALTER CARR MACKINNON of 12 Pall Mall East, London, W., retired
Colonel, and FRANCIS CLARKE, of Dane-John Works, Canterbury, in the
County of Kent, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particulariy described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Our invention relates to improvements in moving targets for rifle practice, of the
kind described in the Specification of former Letters Patent granted to the said
Francis Clarke, dated the 6th day of March 1883, No. 1211, and has for its object,
First To simplify the driving gear, so as to enable the targets to be worked with
less loss of power in transmission, and Second-To arrange the tracks so that the
targets may be brought after every shot, to the marker to be repaired, he being
stationed under cover at one side of the line of fire.
With these objects in view the said improvements consist in driving the chain
wheel, around which runs the endless chain to which the target carriages are
attached, by the means of a vertical spindle and hand wheel, geared by bevel gear,
so as to apply the power directly to the chain of the targets, instead of around
sheaves or guiding pulleys, and operated from a distant point.
We may employ any of the forms of tracks described and shewn in the
Specification and drawings of the previous Patent before mentioned, or tracks
of quadrant shape if desired, in which case the target chain would be arranged to
pass over or around intermediate sheaves or pulleys acting as guides therefor, as in
the Patent referred to, but in order to simplify the description of our present
invention we have chosen to illustrate the same as applied and used in connection
with straight tracks, in which case the said intermediate sheaves or pulleys would
not be needed.
In our present invention we employ two tracks, side by side, and parallel to each
other, upon each of which runs a carriage supporting and carrying a target, and the
said carriages being connected to an endless chain operated by the marker under
cover of a shot proof mantlet at one end of the tracks, one target would be in the
line of fire at one end of one of the tracks while the other would be at the opposite
end of the other track undergoing repairs at the hands of the marker.
Our improvements also relate to a target adapted to swing round upon a centre,
so as to be brought within reach of the marker under cover of a mantlet for the
purpose of being patched, after every shot, and which will be hereinafter fully
explained.
Our present invention also comprises an improved means of obtaining a permanent
record of the number of shots fired by each marksman, whether said targets be
stationary or movable, so that in case of dispute or doubt as to whether a shot has
passed through a hole made by a previous shot, or as to the number of shots fired,
the question can be satisfactorily settled by referring to the said record, at that or
any subsequent date. We attain this by the means of a continuous sheet of paper,
canvas or other suitable material extended immediately in rear of the target when
being fired at, so that the shot after passing through the target would also pass
through the said sheet, and the holes left therein would bear witness of the number
of shots fired and to a great extent the value thereof, the said continuous sheet

page_text: being mounted upon two rollers and unwound from the one and wound upon the
other by a progressive motion imparted by the marker or other person after each
shot, or after the last round of cach marksman as may be desired.
In order that our present invention may be made clear we have appended
hereunto two sheets of drawings, in which,
Fig. 1 Sheet 1 is a front elevation of the double track system with the targets.
fixed in position upon the carriages, in combination with which we show the
medium for recording the shots.
Fig. 2 Sheet 1 is a plan view of same with the targets removed from the
carriages for the purpose of showing the slots therein for receiving the feet or legs
of the targets.
Figs. 3 and 4 Sheet 2 are front elevation and plan respectively of the swinging
target system forming part of our present invention.
Fig. 5 Sheet 1 is a front elevation of the vertical spindle or winch for operating
the endless track chain of the target carriages of the system shewn by
Figs. 1 and 2.
Figs. 6 and 7 Sheet 1 are details of the gear for operating the shot recording
apparatus to be hereinafter fully explained.
Fig. 8 Sheet 1 is a view of one of the targets as it would appear in elevation.
when detached from the carriages in Figs. 1 and 2 or from the swinging carrier in
Figs. 3 and 4.
In carrying our invention into effect in so far as regards the system shewn
by Figs. 1 and 2, we provide a curved or straight double track A and B fixed by
suitable means upon sleepers or the like C, and arranged crosswise with the line of
fire, and either placed below the level of the ground so that the tracks and carriages
may be protected from the shots, or placed level upon the ground and guarded by
an earthen mound or fender, or a metal fender such as that described and shewn in
the Specification and drawings of the before mentioned Patent No. 1211 of
A.D. 1883. Upon these tracks we mount carriages D and D' each provided with
any number of vertical slots E, preferably five, which receive and hold the feet or
legs a of the targets F, by which means the targets are retained in a vertical
position thereon. The under surface of each carriage is connected by a pin b, or
its equivalent, or by any other suitable means, to an endless chain, rope or wire G,
which passes around a guide pulley H at the firing end of the tracks, and at the
opposite end around a pulley H', forming part of a winch H". The said winch
(shewn detached from the tracks at Fig. 5) consists of a hollow standard c, the base
of which d is open at part of its circumference to permit the entrance and exit of
the chain or the like G before and after passing around H¹, mounted upon a
vertical spindle e, the upper end of which carries a bevel wheel, which gears with
a smaller bevel wheel borne by an arm h, connected to, or formed integrally
with and upon the spindle of g is mounted a handle j for rotating the same.
The winch H being situated at the opposite end of the tracks from that
at which the target would be when in a position to be fired at, is operated by the
marker under cover of a shot proof mantlet J, shewn in plan at Fig. 2, and by
dotted outline in Fig. 1.
C
The targets F may be made of canvas, cloth, paper, cardboard or other substance
easily penetrated by a bullet, and if necessary mounted upon a frame, which may be
rectangular in shape as shewn, or in outline may represent in whole or part
a human being. The said targets vary in size according to the range of fire, but
when rectangular, these are usually made in three standard sizes, the respective
widths of which are four, six and eight feet. The slots E, in the carriages D, are
arranged to accommodate the reception and holding of either size target, in
illustration of which we have shewn in Fig. 1 the middle and larger sizes, the
former upon D, the latter upon D', but this must not be taken to imply that two
targets of different sizes would be employed together upon the same range,
but simply to make clear the adaptability of the carriages to receive and hold
either.

page_text: The targets F when being fired at would occupy the end of the track farthest
from the marker, and when the shot had been fired thereat, the marker would by
operating the winch H' bring that target out of the range of fire under cover
of the mantlet J, which operation would at the same time place the second target
within the range of fire, and while this was being fired at the marker would paste
or otherwise fix over the hole made in the first target, a patch of black or white
paper according to the location of the hole, and would proceed to do the same to
the second target while the first was being fired at when again placed within the
range of fire.
In order that the number and location of the shots fired by any one marksman
may be permanently recorded to avoid fraud and settle any dispute that may arise,
we place behind the targets the recording medium constituting one of the improve-
ments of our present invention, which consists of a continuous strip of paper, canvas
or the like K, mounted upon reels Land L', upon stands M and M. The con-
struction of the stand M is shewn in detail by the part sectional elevation Fig. 6,
and the part sectional plan view Fig. 7, and consists of a vertical standard k,
mounted upon a wooden or other hollow base or table l, and provided with a
vertical spindle m, which extends downwards through I, and carries a mitre wheel n,
beneath which is a loose sleeve o, kept in position by a lock nut or the like p.
A mitre wheel gears with n, and is carried upon a horizontal spindle s, one end of
which is borne by the sleeve o, the opposite continuation thereof passes through,
and is borne by, a circumferential slot in the base or table 1, which permits
the spindles to radiate from the spindle m in any direction within the length of the
said slot t, the object of this being that may be rotated from the most convenient
point, and if necessary by some person other than the marker. The spindle
extends upwardly and carries the reel L in such a manner that the rotation of m
would rotate L, although L may be easily removed from m when required. The
standard is provided with ratchet teeth e, and a spring pawl w which will be more
clearly understood by reference to Fig. 7, which is a section of Fig. 6 taken upon
the line A B. The spindles may be extended indefinitely by the addition of
supplementary lengths in order that the same may if necessary be operated from
some distant point such for instance as the firing point, or a handle may be attached
to a short length of s and be operated by the marker.
m
The continuous sheet K would be wound upon the reel L', and extend therefrom
behind the target and be connected to the reel L. The shots when fired would
penetrate the target and the sheet K, and when the marksman had fired his allotted
rounds the marker or other person would rotate the spindle s in such direction as to
rotate k and La distance sufficient to wind K upon L enough to remove the holes
made in K beyond the target, so that the holes made in K by the next marksman
may not be confounded with, but may be distinct from those made by the first
marksman, and any distinctive marks may be made upon K in order that the work
of one marksman may be known from that of another, and the said sheet K may be
kept for future reference as an indisputable evidence thereof. The ratchets and
pawl ware to prevent the return motion of the reel L, and the reel L' may be
provided with any suitable spring or other attachment to prevent the bagging of
the sheet K as this is pulled from L' and wound upon L. The application of this
improvement as shewn in Figs. 1 and 2 will now be fully understood.
In carrying our invention into effect in so far as regards Figs. 3 and 4 we provide
a semicircular single track N, seated upon sleepers C, similar to those employed in
the previous method. The base of said semicircle is arranged to face the firing
point. Upon the centre from which the said semicircle is described we mount a
winch H, which may be similar to the winch H" in the previous method, with
this difference that, the pulley H' is dispensed with, and in lieu thereof we attach
to the spindle e one end of a horizontal rod O, the opposite end being provided with
a flanged wheel O', capable of running upon the track N. Upon Owe mount, or
form, integrally therewith a frame or carrier P, provided with slots E similar
in form and number to those upon the carriages D and D' in the previous method,

page_text: which receive and carry a target F in a like manner. The target in this case is
marked alike upon both sides coincidentally so that a hole made therein by a shot
may read the same upon both sides of the target.
The marker is located within a mantlet J, situated as shewn in plan in Fig. 4
and by dotted outline in Fig. 3.
The target F being swung by the marker by means of the winch H¹¹¹, into the
position of firing as shewn in Figs. 3 and 4, is, after being fired at and penetrated
by the shot, swung by the same means out of range into the position shewn by the
dotted outline under cover of the mantlet J, with the rear side of F presented to
the marker, who after recording the score made in the usual way, pastes or other-
wise places a piece of white or black paper upon the back of the target covering
the hole, he then by the same means again swings the target into firing position,
and so on repeating the operation after each shot fired. In this system the base of
the apparatus would be protected from the bullets by a mound or fender as
described in the previous method.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is.
1st. The improvements in targets for rifle practice and the employment of the
method and means of constructing and using same, connected, combined and
operating substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth and shewn by the
accompanying drawings.
2nd. For improvements in targets for rifle practice, the construction and use of a
double crescent shaped or straight track A B, carrying carriages D and D¹
provided with vertical slots E for carrying and holding targets F. The endless
chain rope or wire G, connected to D and D' and passing around pulleys H and H
the latter contained within, and operated by, a winch H", for placing the targets
in and out of firing range, with mantlet J, and suitable mound or fender for
protecting the apparatus, in combination with the apparatus for recording the
number of shots fired the whole connected and operating substantially as and for
the purposes described and shewn by Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 8 of the appended drawings.
3rd. For improvements in targets for rifle practice the construction and use of a
semicircular track N, in combination with a winch H placed centrally thereon,
carrying one end of a horizontal rod or bar O, the opposite end being borne
by a flanged wheel O', arranged to run upon the track N, when operated by the
winch H. The frame P mounted upon, or formed integrally with O, and having
any number of slots E, for carrying and holding a double faced target F, the whole
provided with a mantlet J, and connected, combined and operating substantially as
and for the purposes stated, and shewn by Figs. 3 and 4 of the accompanying
drawings.
4th. In connection with improvements in fixed or movable targets for rifle
practice the construction and use of a shot recording apparatus, consisting of
reels L and L carrying a continuous strip of paper canvas or other suitable
material K, and mounted upon stands M and M₁ respectively, the former con--
sisting of a hollow standard k with vertical spindle m the upper end of which.
engages with L, while the lower end carries a mitre wheel 'n in gear with a
mitre wheel r, mounted upon a horizontal spindle s, borne by a sleeve o upon m and
radiating therefrom through a slot t in the base l, with ratchet and spring pawl w,
the whole connected, combined and operating substantially as and for the purposes
herein described and shewn by Figs. 1, 2, 6 and 7 of the drawings hereunto-
annexed.
11. 131 1
1003
ย
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicants.