Improvements in or relating to Targets and Electrical Indicators therefor.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Dec., 1894-Accepted, 2nd Feb., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Targets and Electrical Indicators
therefor.
We, ALFRED MANTEL-RIETER Engineer and EMANUEL MEYER Merchant of
Metropol III, in Zurich I, in the Republic of Switzerland, 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 shooting-target with automatic electric indicator and
recorder applicable either to shooting-galleries or field ranges having for its object
on the one hand without the assistance of attendants to communicate to the shooter
directly after the shot the result obtained and mark the same on a special card,
and on the other to provide for the intense penetrative power of the shots, an
absolutely solid and competently-resisting disc, and to obviate the dangers of the
hitherto unreliable and dangerous mode of indicating the results, so as to remedy a
long-felt evil.
The accompanying drawings show the necessary apparatus for the shooting-
target, in one of its forms, in Figs. 1 to 8; the requisite conducting wires and
battery are shown in diagram in Figures 6, 7 and 9 and for the sake of clearness,
the shooting target and connections are shown again in Figure 9.
The new shooting target comprises the following individual parts ;-
1. The disc or target proper (Figs. 1, 2 and 2^);
2. The enumerator or, as it is hereinafter termed, the indicator (Figures 3 and 7);
3. The apparatus for stamping and rotating the recording card or chart
(Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8); all as hereinafter described.
1. The disc or target properly so-called.
This is divided into any number of fields or parts a, a (herein termed target-
segments) according to the requirements as to size and shape in each case, and shows
by way of example, in Figure 1, the numbers I-V.
On a stand A of corresponding strength, are placed the target-segments a
already mentioned, provided according to size and thickness on their rear sides
with one or more guide-bars working in single or multiple guides f³, while
springs encircling the guide-bars f keep the target-segments in their original or
normal positions.
For the purpose of depriving the projectile on impact as quickly as possible of
its force, the target-segments are ribbed on their outer side, and further to prevent
the bullet from entering between any two fields a-which would allow two numbers
to spring forwards-the edges thereof overlap as shown in Figure 2.
Behind on the supports f³ are strike-contacts f¹ (Fig. 2A) which by means of
conductors are in electrical connection with the indicator located at the firing
point.
When a shot strikes one of the target-segments a a metallic contact is established
by reason of said target segment a with its guide-rod or rods f being driven back so
that the latter for a moment touches the striking contact. By these means the
electric circuit is closed which causes the result of the shot to be automatically
made known upon the indicator C, in the following manner.
2. The indicator box C (Figure 7) is erected near the firing point and is in
electrical communication with the target. It reproduces the target at one-quarter
of the real size approximately, and with the same or nearly the same subdivision,

page_text: while the openings a', a¹ of the indicator correspond to the target-segments a or
to individual groups thereof, which openings or fields are distinguished by the
numbers I to V.
Behind each opening a¹ arranged on the covering plate C¹ there is in the indicator
box Ca preferably glazed number actuating device consisting of an electro
magnet En, mounted on a plate, an indicating plate or tablet with the contact-
stud secured to the lever c. and the contact-spring d with the contact-stud d', and
the regulating screw e.
On end of the coil of each electro magnet En is connected with the line
proceeding from the corresponding target-contact (Figs. 6, 7 and 9), while the
other end is connected with the negative pole of the battery B.
The plate is in electrical connection with the positive pole of the battery B,
and as the lever C, to which the indicating plate c¹ of the apparatus is affixed, is
also electrically connected with the plate b, its contact c² is so also. The contact
spring d is insulated by a piece of ebonite or equivalent to which it is secured, from
the plate b, and is connected with one end of the coil of an electro magnet Est in
the special stamping apparatus, by which last the stamping apparatus corresponding
to the number is set in motion.
By the regulating screw e the distance between the contact studs c² and d¹ can
be adjusted. Now if a bullet has struck the target, e.g. on the target-segment in
the right lower corner (Figs. 6, 7 and 9), the consequent yielding of the target-
segment a struck, i.e. of the guide-rod f and its coming into contact with the
contact-piece f¹ closes the electric circuit. In consequence thereof the electro
magnet En becomes at once magnetised and attracts the armature and causes the
indicating tablet c¹ to appear behind the opening at and show the number I,
contained thereon, so that the person who fired the shot is immediately notified not
only of its value, but also of the place on the target which has been struck by
the shot.
By the attraction of the armature or lever c, the contacts c and d are brought
together, and consequently the electro-magnet Est in the stamping apparatus
becomes at once magnetised and immediately operates that part of the stamping
apparatus which stamps the number I.
As soon as the target-segment a, which has been struck, under the influence of
its spring returns to its former or normal position the electric circuit is once
more interrupted and the indicating tablet is brought back to its previous
position by the spring secured to the lever c.
3. The stamping and chart rotating apparatus (Figures 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8) after
every hit serves to stamp the card with the corresponding value of the shot, and at
once to turn it forwards so that it may protrude through or be presented to a slot.
This apparatus is enclosed in a box D, and the stamping apparatus is, in practice,
secured to the inside of the cover, while the chart-rotating mechanism is arranged
against the back of the box.
The stamping apparatus is arranged on a frame F, secured to the inner side of
the cover of the box D. There are in all 5 stamps, one for each of the numbers
from I to V. The mechanism for actuating each of the stamps consists of an
electro magnet Est, an armature g, a tension rod or link 4, a bell crank lever i an
adjustable helical spring k, and lastly the stamp st.
All the electro magnets Est are connected by wires with the corresponding
contact-studs d of the number-indicators. Should any one of these be shown in
the indicator-box C, the touching of the two contact-studs c and d closes the
circuit of the electric current from the battery, which therefore passes through the
terminal K to the electro magnet Est which serves to actuate the corresponding
stamp; thence the current returns to the battery B (Figs. 6, 7, and 9).
As soon as the current passes around the particular electro magnet Est, the
corresponding armature g is attracted and the stamp st is raised; when the current
ceases, i.e. when the circuit is interrupted the armature is released and the stamp,
assisted by the power of the spring, falls upon the cardboard or chart K and

page_text: marks it with a I. Or according to the shot, a II, III of other figure is
stamped.
Each armature
of the stamping apparatus is provided with a contact-stud gl
which, so soon as the armature g is attracted by the electro magnet Est, makes
contact with a stud of a spring 1, secured to the frame F by an insulating
block m.
This contact-spring is connected with one end of the coil of the electro
magnet Es belonging to the chart rotating mechanism, while the frame F, and
therewith also the armature g, is in electrical connection with the positive pole of
battery B. If now the armature y is attracted by the electro magnet Est for the
purpose of stamping, the contacts g¹ and l' are made to touch each other, and the
current passes from the brass frame F, through the armature 9, and contact-
spring 1, to the electro magnet Es of the chart-rotating mechanism, and thence
back to the battery B (Fig. 6, 7 and 9). As soon as the current passes through
the electro-magnet Es, the latter is magnetised, attracts the armature and sets the
chart-rotating mechanism in operation.
The entire chart-rotating mechanism is secured to a plate which may advan-
tageously be arranged to slide in a frame secured to the back-wall of the box in
order that said mechanism may be better installed in relation to the stamping
apparatus.
In the plate 1 (Figs. 3 and 4) and in a bearing 2, affixed thereto, is arranged a
shaft 3, so as to rotate but not to slide in the direction of its axis. This latter (3)
carries at one end a disc 4 provided with an external flange, and between the
bearings two ratchet wheels 5 and 6, set with their 50 teeth in opposite directions.
Beneath the shaft 3 and on the augle-iron bracket 7, secured to plate 1, is the
electro magnet Es, over which is arranged the armature 8 pivoted at one extremity,
and to the opposite end of which is jointed one end of a link 9, whose other end is
pivoted to a bell-crank lever, 10 mounted on plate 1 in such manner as to turn
thereon and to operate the pawl 11 of the ratchet wheel 5. To one of the arms of
the bell-crank lever 10, to which the pawl 11 is pivoted, is connected an adjustable
spring 12 arranged, so as to tend always to keep the armature 8 removed from the
electro magnet Es. The other arm of the bell-crank lever 10 is provided with
a slideway or slot 13 wherein a pin 14 is arranged to slide, which is affixed to the
inner lever arm of the angle-shaped, catch or detent 15, acting upon the ratchet
wheel 6. This catch or detent 15, which, by the spring 16, has a constant tendency
to be held in engagement with the ratchet wheel 6, is intended to prevent the
shaft 3 from turning round to a greater extent than one tooth of the ratchet
wheel 5 at a time.
The disc 4 previously mentioned is intended to receive the chart K (Fig. 8),
which by means of the pins 17 Fig. 5 engaging in corresponding perforations 18 in
the disc, are firmly held to the disc. Between the chart K and the disc 4 a felt or
other soft ring or disc 19 may be inserted.
In front of the chart K, and within the flange ring round the disc 4, there is a
cover 20 which is so held by the carriers 21, secured to the plate 1, that the
disc 4, and with it the chart K, can rotate without contact between the chart and
the cover. The cover 20 has an opening at the middle in order that the pins 17,
projecting above the cardboard may not touch it, during the turning of the disc 4 ;
further the cover is provided with a sector-shaped opening 22 through which the
stamps, for stamping the chart, pass.
In order that the cover 20 may conveniently be opened and closed, it is provided
with hinges.
The chart shown in Fig. 8 corresponds to the number of teeth in the ratchet
wheels 5 and 6 for 50 shots certain, and is consequently divided into 50 radial
compartments, which radial compartments, by concentric circles, are subdivided
into 6 parts, whereof the innermost are numbered from one to fifty (1 to 50); and
the remainder are intended to be stamped, in order from inside to outside, with
the 5th 4th, 3rd, 2nd and 1st numbers.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is :-
1. In apparatus such as described a target-stand such as A comprising in its
construction target-segments such as a provided with one or more guide-bars (f)
and springs (f2) and arranged to work in single or multiple guides, the target
segments being ribbed in order to absorb the momentum of the shot on impact
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In apparatus such as described striking contact-devices such as f¹ arranged
each on or in connection with one of the guide-bars and electrically connected
with an indicator located at the firing-point for the purpose of effecting the closing
of the electric circuit on the impact of a shot on any of the target segments a
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In apparatus such as described one or more indicator devices such as c c' each
actuated by an electro-magnet En and after having been so actuated restored by a
spring to its normal position in combination with a contact-stud c² and contact-
spring such as d with stud a¹ substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
4. In apparatus such as described a stamping apparatus wherein each stamp
independently of the other stamps is lifted from a cardboard or equivalent chart
such as K (as required by the hit) by means of an electro magnet Est and by the
aid of a spring k is caused to strike upon K again substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
5. In apparatus such as described a chart-rotating device operated by an electro
magnet Es whereby a cardboard or equivalent disc or chart such as K fixed on a
rotating disc such as 4 and subdivided for a certain number of shots is caused after
each hit to rotate together with the disc 4 to an extent corresponding to such hit
in connection and combination with a contact-stud gl and contact-spring and l
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
6. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete target
apparatus substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
Dated this 3rd day of December 1894.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicants.