Improvements in or relating to Combined Targets and Electrical Indicating Apparatus.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 28th Apr., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Combined Targets and Electrical
Indicating Apparatus.
We, GEORGE HENRY COLLINS, of Dartmouth, in the County of Devon,
Merchant, and CHARLES STUART JONES, of 3 Union Street, Dartmouth,
aforesaid, Boot and Shoe Maker, 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 has reference to improvements in or relating to combined sectional
targets and electrical apparatus for automatically indicating at the firing-station the
value obtained for each shot fired and also the approximate position of the portion
of the target struck.
And in order that the nature of the invention and the manner in which the same
is to be performed may be clearly understood, we will proceed to describe the same
with the aid of the accompanying drawings in which,
Fig. 1 is a front elevation showing in full lines one division of the improved
sectional target and in dotted lines the adjacent portions of said target.
Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively a sectional side elevation and a plan showing the
circuit-closing devices for the several sections of the division shown in Fig. 1,
the casing enclosing the electrical apparatus at the back of the target being
removed.
Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively a sectional side elevation and a plan, to a larger
scale, showing the circuit-closing device for the bull's-eye;
Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view to a still larger scale showing an electrical
indicator that is placed at the firing-station, and its connection to the battery, the
front wall of the indicator case being removed.
Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive are detail views hereinafter referred to.
Fig. 11 is a front elevation of the complete target; and
Fig. 12 is a side elevation showing the target, the indicator, and their
connections.
The
The target (see Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 11) comprises a number of separate plates
or sections b₁ C d, the plate a being arranged to form the bull's-eye the plates b
the "inner," the plates c the "magpie," and the plates d the "outer."
sections b, c, d, are arranged to divide the whole of the target except the bull's-
eye a into radial divisions 1, 2, 3 . . . . . 12 bounded by radial lines and each of
which contains three sections b, c, and d. The bull's-eye a and all the sections b, c, d,
of the target are mounted on a fixed vertical plate 13 by means of horizontal
rods 14 which are fixed to the bull's-eye and the said sections and are capable of
sliding freely in suitable holes in the plate 13.
To the inner ends of the rods 14 of the bull's-eye a is secured a cross-bar 15
(Figs. 4 and 5) to which guide rods 16 are fixed in any suitable manner as by
uts 17. These guide rods 16 pass freely through suitable guiding holes in a
cross-bar 18 which is secured to the vertical plate 13 by rods 19. Springs 16* on.
the rods 16 press the bull's-eye outwards and normally keep shoulders 14* on the
rods 14 pressed against the vertical plate 13 so as to hold the bull's-eye in its
forward position, as in the arrangement of combined sectional target and signalling
apparatus described in the Specification of another application for Letters Patent
iled by one of us dated 10 March 1893 No. 5196.

page_text: To a support 20 of wood or other suitable bad conductor of electricity secured
to the cross-bar 18, is fixed a bracket 21 in which is pivoted at 22 a weighted
pendulum or contact-maker 23. There is also fixed to the support 20 another
bracket 24 provided with a rear transverse contact piece 25, and it may be with a
forward transverse contact piece 26. In its normal position the pendulum 23 hangs
with its lower part between the two transverse contact pieces 25 and 26 and
preferably slightly nearer to the piece 25 than to the piece 26, and with its upper
part 27 behind, and near to a piece 28 of electrically insulating material fixed to
the back of the cross bar 15 or surrounding it as shown in Fig. 4. As will be seen
the arrangement is such that when the cross bar 15 is suddenly pushed back as
hereinafter explained it will swing the contact maker 23 on its pivot so that its
weighted lower end will move forward and if the forward transverse contact
piece 26 be employed it will make contact therewith and its forward movement be
limited, and when the cross bar moves forward under the action of its springs 16,
the pivotted contact will be released and allowed to swing in the opposite direction
and that its lower end will then come into electrical connection with rear contact
piece 25 thereby enabling the circuit of an electrical indicating device to be
effectively closed. Furthermore as the pivotted contact maker will be then free to
oscillate about its fulcrum when released, it can make contact with the rear contact
piece 25 more than once. By this means all liability of failure to complete the
electric current, such as obtains when the circuit is arranged to be made by and
during the rapid moving back of a section of the target under the action of a
projectile thereon, is obviated. 29 and 30 are wires connected to the brackets 21
and 24 respectively and serving for the passage of the electric current the course
of which will be hereinafter described.
We will now proceed to describe the arrangements for automatically closing an
electric circuit when either of the sections b, c, d, is struck by a projectile and for
this purpose will describe in detail the parts corresponding to the sections b c d of
the division 8 and which are clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. These three
sections may conveniently be carried by one, two and four rods 14 respectively
mounted to slide in holes in the plate 13. The rod 14 of the section b, is provided
with a collar 31° and with an extension 14b; the two rods 14 of the section c are
connected together by a plate 31 and two of the four rods 13 of the section d are
connected together by a plate 31d. Immediately behind the end of the extension 14b
of the rod 14 of the sections b, is situate an annular plate or ring 32 carried by
rods 33 that fit loosely in suitable guiding holes in a vertical fixed plate 34. Å
contact maker 23° is mounted behind the ring 32°; this contact maker and its
appurtenances being precisely similar to the hereinbefore described contact
maker 23 and its appurtenances (Figs. 4 and 5) appertaining to the bull's-eye a.
The springs 16 of the ring 32 normally keep the latter close to but not in contact
with the extremity of the extension 14b the ring 32b being prevented from advancing
too far by means of shoulders 16* on the rods 33. Secured perpendicularly to the
plate 31 carried by the rods 14 of the section c is a rod 14° which is normally close
in front of but not in contact with a ring 32°. This ring 32 is arranged similarly
to and provided with a contact maker 23 and its appurtenances similarly to the
ring 32. The plate 31ª carried by two of the rods 14 of the section d, is similarly
provided with a rod 14ª a ring 32 and a contact maker 23d and its appurtenances.
Behind the collar 31b, plates 31%, and 31 is arranged a bar 37 which is carried
by two guide-rods 38 and has fixed to it a rod 39 on the end of which is a piece of
electrically insulating material 40 which is placed in the same relative position to a
contact-maker 23* as the insulating piece 28 (Figs. 4 and 5) is to the contact-
maker 23. The contact-maker 23* is similar to that shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and
operates in the same way. A spring 41 keeps the plate 37 against the collar 31,
and plates 31, and 31d and also presses forward the sections b, c, d, which are
prevented from advancing too far by shoulders 14* on the rods 14 carrying these
sections. Fixed cross bars 18" 18" 18d serve as supports for the contact-makers 23b,
23, and 23d respectively and their appurtenances, these cross bars being carried by

page_text: rods 19° 19° and 19d respectively which are secured to fixed plates 34 and 42 as
shown. These plates 34 and 42 together with a third plate 43 are provided with
suitable guiding holes for the several horizontally movable rods as shown. In the
case of large targets, the said horizontally movable rods may be further supported
by antifriction rollers and bearings or guides as in the arrangement of combined
sectional target and signalling apparatus described in the said former Specification.
Each of the other divisions 1, 2, &c. of the target are furnished with a contact-
maker similar to 23* and with operating devices similar to those herein before
described for the sections b, c, d, of division 8, it being understood that each of the
contact-makers 23b 23 and 23d and its appurtenances is common to all the
sections b c and d respectively.
The whole of the mechanism hereinbefore described is enclosed in a suitable
casing 35, (Fig. 12) which is provided with a door 36 for purposes of inspection
and the like.
The electrical indicator placed at the firing-station comprises a case on the
vertical back-board 44 (Fig. 6) of which are pivotted a number of shutters 45, 45*.
The upper row of shutters 45 are marked with the numerals, 5, 4, 3, and 2 which
represent the value of the bull's-eye, the inner, the magpie, and the outer portions
of the target respectively, and the remaining shutters 45 are marked with the
numerals 1, 2, 3, . .
12 which represent the divisions 1, 2, 3 .
12
respectively of the target. The front of the indicator consists of a board that may
be divided into an upper and a lower portion 46 and 46ª respectively as shown. In
the upper portion 46 are four windows 47 behind which the numerals on the
shutters 45 are arranged to appear when the corresponding portions of the target
are struck by a projectile. The lower portion 46 is as shown marked out into a
bull's-eye, an inner, magpie, and outer portions and also into divisions similar to
those of the target.
In each of these divisions is a window 47" and behind these windows the numerals
on the shutters 45ª of the series marked 1 to 12 inclusive are adapted to appear
when either of the movable portions of the corresponding divisions of the target
are struck. An electric bell 48 is likewise provided, which may be fixed as shown
in Fig. 12, to the casing of the indicator or be placed in any other convenient
position..
Each of the shutters 45 45* (Fig. 6 to 10) is carried by a lever 49 which is
loosely mounted on a pin 49" and is provided with a projection 49° which normally
rests against a catch 50 on an armature 50 loosely mounted on a pin 51, thus
normally keeping the shutter 45 in the position shown in Figs. 6 to 9. Immediately
below the armature 50) is arranged an electro-magnet 52 supported by a bracket 52*
from which the pins 49 and 51 project. 53 (Fig. 6) is a frame provided with
pins 54 one for each shutter, and arranged to slide laterally in bearings 55 in the
indicator case. This frame is normally retained in the position shown in Fig. 6 by
springs 56. When a shutter has fallen into the position shown in Fig. 10, so that
the numeral thereon can be seen through the corresponding window 47 or 47" the
extension 57 of the lever 49 is almost in contact with the corresponding pin 54.
The frame 53 is provided with a handle 58 that projects through the indicator case
so that it can be easily pushed inward, without opening the indicator to cause the
pins 4 to retain any shutter.
Each of the magnets 52 is connected by a wire 59 to a bar 60 which is connected
by a wire 61 to a binding piece 62 which is in connection through the bell 48 with
one pole of the battery 50. The other pole of this battery is connected by a
conductor 61 to a bar at the target similar to the bar 60, but not shown and to
which is electrically connected each of the movable contact-makers 23b, 23°, 23ª,
and 23* (Figs. 2 & 5) by means of the corresponding bracket 21 and conductor 29.
Each of the brackets 24 with its contact pieces 25 and 26 which form the
stationary portion of the contact-maker that is normally out of contact with the
movable portion thereof is separately connected by the corresponding conductor 30

page_text: with the binding piece 63 of its corresponding shutter 45 or 45ª. Each binding
piece 63 is connected to the winding of the corresponding magnet 52 by a wire 64.
65 (Fig. 12) shows the collection of wires that connect the target and the
indicator.
The operation of the improved target and indicating apparatus is as follows:-
Supposing the bull's-eye a to be struck it will be forced backward with the result
that the insulated portion of the bar 15 (Figs. 4 and 5) will strike against the
upper end 27 of the pivoted contact-maker 23 and will cause the said contact-
maker to oscillate in such a manner that it will strike the transverse contact
pieces 26 and 25 alternately. At each contact of the contact-maker 23 with the
contact pieces 25 and 26, the circuit of the battery 50 will be closed and a current
of electricity will pass therefrom through the wire 29, bracket 21 contact-maker 23,
bracket 24 and the wire 30 to the binding-piece 63 corresponding to the shutter 45
which carries the numeral 5 that denotes the value of the shot. From the
binding-piece 63 the current passes through the winding of the corresponding
electro-magnet 52 and returns to the battery 50 through the wire 59, bar 60,
wire 61, binding piece 62, and bell 48. This passage of the current through the
magnet 52 causes the armature 50 to be attracted and permit aforesaid shutter 45
with numeral 5 to drop by gravity into the position indicated by the shutter
shown in Fig. 10. The passage of the current also causes the ringing of the
bell 49, thus indicating to the marksman that the target has been struck.
If the section c of the division 8 of the target should be struck, this section will
be forced backward so that the rod 14° will be caused by the action of the bar 31°
on the bar 37 carrying such rod to strike the ring 32 and cause the contact-
maker 23° to close the circuit of the electro magnet corresponding to the shutter 45
carrying the numeral 3, and permit this shutter to drop into a position in which it
can be seen through the front of the indicator. An indication will thus be given
that one of the sections of the magpie ring of the target has been struck and also
the points obtained for the numeral 3 denoting the value assigned to striking that
ring. The backward motion of the section c will also cause the rod 39 carried by
the bar 37, to move backward and operate the contact-maker 23* which will cause
the shutter 45 bearing the numeral 8 to fall and become visible through the
window of the corresponding division of the indicator. The position at which this
numeral will appear on the indicator and also the value of that numeral, will
indicate the particular division of the target bit. There are thus shown by the
numeral appearing in the upper portion 46 of the indicator the number of points
obtained and also the particular portion (bull's-eye, inner, magpie, or outer) hit; and
by the numeral that appears in the lower portion 46" of the indicator there is shown
both the value of the shot, excepting the case of a bull's-eye, and also the
particular division of the target that has been hit. Consequently the exact
section of the target hit can be readily identified. Furthermore each time the
target is hit, the electric bell will give an audible signal. Any other section hit
will be indicated in a similar manner.
After each indication, the frame 53 is pushed to the left by means of a handle 58
in order to return the shutters 45 45" to their normal position.
It will of course be understood that the construction of the target and the
indicating apparatus herein before described may be varied in many of their details
without departing from the essential features of the invention.
Electrical contact makers constructed and operated as herein before described
for completing the circuit of electrical indicating devices may be applied to
sectional targets of other constructions than that herein before described. Thus
the face of the target and the indicator may be divided into fewer divisions; or
it may consist only of a bull's-eye concentric and undivided inner and magpie
rings, and an outer undivided plate each of these sections being mounted and
arranged as described in the said former Specification but each arranged to operate
a pivoted contact-maker such as 23 in the manner hereinbefore described with

page_text: reference to and shown in Figs. 4 and 5. In the latter case, the indicator would
comprise only that set of indicating devices that are used for indicating the
value of the shot and inferentially the ring or equivalent of the target struck.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In a combined sectional target and electrical indicating apparatus, a contact-
making device comprising a pivoted contact-maker or pendulum 23 in connection
with one portion of the circuit to be completed and arranged to be set in swinging
motion by a movable portion of the target when the same is struck and a fixed
contact 25 in connection with another portion of the circuit to be coupled and
against which the pivoted contact-maker will come into electrical connection one
or more times upon the return of the movable portion of the target to or towards
its original position as hereinbefore described and shown in the drawings annexed.
2. In a combined sectional target and electrical indicating-apparatus a contact-
making device comprising a pivoted contact-maker or pendulum 23 and two
transverse contact pieces 25 and 26, the arrangement being such that the said
pivoted contact maker or pendulum 23 will come at least once into contact with
each of the two transverse contact pieces 25 and 26 and thus to at least twice
complete a circuit when a corresponding movable portion of the target is struck,
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 4 and 5 of the
accompanying drawings.
3. In a combined sectional target and electrical indicating apparatus, the com-
bination with a movable section of the target or a plate adapted to be actuated
from one or more movable sections of the target the guide rods fixed to the said
section or plate and connected at their rear ends by a cross rod, and springs acting
at their forward ends against said cross bar and bearing at their rear ends against
a fixed frame or support, of a contact-making device of the kind specified in
Claim 1 or in Claim 2 arranged to be actuated by the said cross bar substantially
as herein before described with reference to Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings annexed.
4. A combined sectional target and electrical indicating-apparatus in which the
target is divided into a movable bull's-eye arranged to operate a contact-making
device and into a series of concentric rings or their equivalents subdivided into
divisions each comprising several movable sections that are each adapted to operate
a contact-making device common to all the sections of a division and also another
contact-making device common to all the sections of the ring or equivalent of
which it forms a part, and in which the indicator is provided with a set of
windows or openings opposite one or other of which a numeral is caused to
appear to indicate when a bull's-eye or a section of one of the rings or equivalents
has been struck and the value of the hit, and with a series of divisions corre-
sponding to the divisions of the target each of said divisions being furnished with
a window or opening opposite one or other of which another numeral or object
will be caused to appear on the striking of the target to indicate the particular
division of the target struck substantially as herein described.
5. The combination with a sectional target and an electrical indicating-apparatus
of a number of annular plates or rings 32°, 32°, 32ª adapted to actuate contact-
making devices 23b, 23, 23d respectively and to be operated by rods 14, 14, 14ª
connected to the sections b cd respectively of the concentric rings or equivalents,
a number of contact-making devices 23* each of which is adapted to be actuated
by a rod 39 connected to a plate arranged to be moved inward by each of the
sections b c d constituting the corresponding division of the target. and electrical
connections between the said indicating-apparatus and contact-making devices
substantially as herein before described with reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the
accompanying drawings.
6. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the improved
combined sectional target and electrical indicating-apparatus constructed arranged

page_text: and operating substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in the drawings
annexed.
Bated this 8th day of March 1894.
For the Applicants,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.