US1638283A - Target-throwing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

A 1927. v 1,638,283 E. F. BAHL MANN TARGET ,THROWING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 24, 1921 5 ShegtS-Sheet 2 fzzverzior A Zzforn e9 Aug. 9,1927. I

E. F. BAHLMANN TARGET THROWING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed 001:. 24. 1921 Patented Aug. 9, 1927.

UNlTED STAES ERWIN F. BAHLMANN, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

TARGET-THROWING APPARATUS.

Application filed October 2-4, 1921. Serial No. 509,986.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in target traps and has for one of its objects to provide an appara tus suitable and convenient for use in a gallery or field.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus of the character described which is capable of throwing targets in conformance with any desirable trajectory.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for throwing targets which are supplied by magazine feed means and so arranged that the release of a targetmay be operated partially or entire- 1 ly from a safe, convenient and remote point.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for discharging targets which is operated by a rotary element whereby mechanically operating means, such as a motor, may be readily applied thereto, and

rate of fire accurately timed.

This invention has for a further object to provide a target throwing apparatus so designed and constructed as to insure the throwing of targets accurately at desirable heights for rifle shooting.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an apparatus for throwing targets at the call of the shooter or at regulated Ill) tinied intervals.

A further object of this invention is to provide a target throwing apparatus in which the target supporting face of its curved race or guide imposes suflicient friction on the material used for the t rget at the point of contact therewith whereby the proper spin is imparted thereto as the same is thrown by the actuating means.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a magazine device for permitting the rapid throwing of targets for trap shooting, which, while especially adapted for use with flat targets which will not nest. may be used for any type of target.

lVith the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention, and a modification thereof, constructed according to the best mode I have so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure l is an end View illustrating a targetthrowing apparatus embodying my invention Figure 2 is a side view of my target throwing apparatus, said view being taken looking on the plane of line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 'is a fragmentary view looking at the magazine end of my apparatus also in the plane of line 2-2 of Figure 1, said "iew illustrating a design of magazine other than that illustrated in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4; is a fragmentary detail view part in sect on and part in elevation illustrating the feeding mechanismof that form of magazine illustrated in Figure 3, said view being taken on the plane of line 4-l of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view of the feed plunger actuating arm and carrying collar therefor;

Figure 6 is a top plan view thereof;

Figure 7 is a sectional view illustrating the construction of the inner discharge end of the magazine trough, said view being taken on the plane of line 7-7 of Figure 3;

Figure 8 is a side elevational view of the stop or target holding plunger which coacts with the target feeding plunger to hold a target in position to be ejected by the throwing arm, and

Figure 9 is a view of the outer end of said holding plunger.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views:

The apparatus consists of two spaced guide plates 11 and 12 held in spaced relation by pairs of spreader washers 13 mounted 011 suitable fastening bolts and a curved race or track 14 positioned centrally with respect to the two guide plates by means of the spreader washers. The race 14 is preferably constructed of material. having a high coetlicient of friction with reference to the material employed for the targets 15. lVhen wood discs are employed as targets, this high coefficient of friction is provided by the provision of saw teeth or serrations 16 on the inner edge of the race.

The inner periphery of the race 14 has a major portion thereof struck on an are using the axis of a shaft 17 as its center and has its portion outwardly of said curved part on a substantially straight line. The guide structure just described is preferably sup ported by a bracket casting 18 secured to plate 11 by suitable fastening members, which casting is adjustably mounted on a supporting base 19. The bracket 18 formed with two axially aligned bearings 20 and 21 in which are jo llGCl the shaft 1'? and a shaft 22 respectively, said shafts having discs 23 mounted on their inner ends which are provided with projections 2% whereby a rotation of shaft 22 will impart a rotary movement to shaft 17.

The shaft 22 is driven shaft and may be either directly or indirectly connectet with rotatingmeans, in the present instance the same being illustrated as connected with a counter shaft 25 journalcd in a bearing through a gear 27, which shaft 25 is coupled through a universal joint 28 with a suitable drive shaft, which may be either manually or mechanically operated. In order to prevent retrograde movement of shaft 22, a

ratchet means 29, of any desired construction, is mounted in a bracket member 80 carried by bearing 21 and engages the teeth of the gear carried by shaft 22.

lvlounted on the outer end of shaft 17 is a substantially l.-shaped lever 31 having its long arm in alignment with the race 1 1 and extended into the space between guides 11 and 12 to a point near the inner periphery of the race. The shorter arm 33 of lever 31 :has a pin 3t mounted thereon to which one end of a contractile spring 35 is secured, the other end of said spring being adj-ustably made fast to the guide structure by means of. an eye bolt 36.

The normal direction of rotation of shaft- 22 is in the direction of the arrow in Figure 2 so that with pins 2 1 engaged a rotation of-said shaft will swing arm 32 also in the direction of the arrow storing up energy in the spring 35. When the arm 32 is swung to a position with the axis of pin 3 1 beyond an imaginary line drawn through the center of eye bolt 36 and the axis of shaft 17, the energy of spring 35 will be suddenly re leased as a result of which arn 32 will be swung with a quick snap to its position illustrated in Figure 2, the pins 24 being disengaged during this movement of arm 32 under the action of its spring.

Pin 3% and eye bolt 36 are so positioned that, when arm 82 engages the target held in theguideway, they are in alignment and the energy of spring 35 released after the arm has engaged the target. This arrangement eliminates the possibility of injury to the targets wer the throwing ar'm permitted to strike them with a sharp impact due to the energy of the spring being released prior to the engagement of the arm with the target.

Suitable means are provided for supply ing targets to the inner end of the guide formed by the sides 11 and 12 and race 14 and said means are illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 as being what may be termed the tubular magazine type. The inner ends of the plates 11 and 12 are formed with aligned apertures and registering with the aperture of plate 12 is a cylinder 87 adapted to con tain the targets and provided with a follower plunger 38 and spring which normally feed them to the space between the guides 11 and 12. A suitable detachable plug 39 projects through the opening in plate 12 which with the follower plunger 38, secures a target in position to be engaged by the arm 32.

In Figures 3 to 9 inclusive, I have illustrated the trough form of magazine feed in wh ch a target supply trough l0 terminates in register with the opening in the plate 11, a loading or feeding plunger l1 being reciprocally mounted axially of this opening to project the targets 15 into the guide way between plates 11 and 12. Plunger a1 is mounted on the inner end of a rod or shaft 1-2 slidabiy mounted in a bracket 13 and said shaft is normally yield ably urged outwardly by a spring 4-1- coiled tlIBlEErI'OiU'Uil and confined between the 7 let and an adjustable nut 15 carried by the outer end of said shaft.

The shaft 12, and with it plunger 11, is moved inwardly against the action of spring 1 1 by a bell crank lever 16 pivotally mounted at its apex between two spaced ears or lugs 1-7 formed on a collar member 48. The lever 16 has a long arm 49 and a short arm 50, the long arm having its outer end connected with the shaft 42 and the short arm having a roller 51 which tracks upon the outer periphery of the plate 23 carried by shaft 22 which is in the form of an eccentric or cam. 1th this construction it will be readily seen thatthe shaft 22 is so timed that plunger 11 will be moved through the inner end of trough 10 to position a fresh target 7 in the guide way prior to the release of the tension of spring 35 as before described.

Cooperating with the plunger ll to yieldably retain the target positioned within the Y "aidewa to be e ected b arm is a holdl Y a ing plunger 52 which pro ects through the opening in plate 12 and is mounted on the inner end of a stem 53 slidably mounted in a bracket 54, plunger 52 being yieldably urged into the guideway by a spring 55 coiled about stem 58 and confined between the plunger and the bracket 54:- The move ment of the plunger by the spring 55 isrlimitedby an adjustable nut 56 threaded on the outer end of stem 53. In order:to insure the passage over the plunger 52 of the arm 32 in the event no target is held thereby, I provide a fin 58 which has its inner face inclined, as best shown in Figures 4 and 8, fin 58 also restraining the plunger from rotation.

To eliminate all possibility of breakage should a jam occur in the feed trough, arm 49 of bell crank lever 46 has a breakable joint 59 which is normally held rigid by a spring 60. The tension of spring is sufficient to permit the breaking of the joint 59 in the event some obstacle restrains plunger 41 from movement inwardly.

It will be readily appreciated that the inner end of the trough 40 is preferably in the form of a casting 61 and the trough proper may be a member which is U-shaped in transverse section so as to permit its being led from any distant supply point without involving any expensive arrangement, as along the side wall of gallery and curved to the trap with sufficient pitch so that targets will roll by gravity from counter to machine.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the acompanying drawings it will be readily apparent that the operation of my device is substantially as follows For timed fire, the shaft 22 is rotated either manually or mechanically, as the case may be, at the desired rate and pin 24 carried by said shaft engages behind pin 24 carried by shaft 17 revolving shaft 17 in a clockwise direction to Figure 2. This revolution of shaft 17 swings arm 32 in the direction of the arrow in Figure 2 extending and storing up energy in spring 35.

If the device is being actuated at the call of the shooter, shaft 22 may be rotated to position arm 32 at a point slightly before the releas of the energy of spring 35, that is with the axis of stud 34 to the left of an imaginary line drawn through the axis of shaft 1. and eye bolt 36, with reference to Figure 2. Retrograde movement of lever 32 under action of the spring while in this position is prevented by the ratchet device 29.

With the parts in this position arm 32 may be released at the call of the shooter by rotating shaft 22 to bring the axis of the stud 34 to the right of an imaginary line drawn through the axis of shaft 17 and eye bolt 36, w th reference to Figure 2. when the energy of spring 35 will be suddenly released to snap arm 32 in the direction of the arrow. The swinging of the arm 32 under action of spring 35 causes the same to engage the target positioned in the guide way by the feed means, which target is rapidly passed along race 14 being spun or whirled in its course therethrough by reason of the race periphery having a high coefficient of friction theretoward.

As will be obvious, the moment the energy of spring 35 is released, pins 24 become disengaged to permit the quick rotation of shaft 17 and arm 32 comes to rest in the position illustrated in Figure 2 until the pins 24 again engaged and the cycle completed. In that form of magazine illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, a fresh target is fed into the guide way immediately upon the discharge of the preceding target and in that form of target feed device illustrated in Figures 3 to 9, the plunger 41 is so timed that the same will project or feed a fresh target to the guideway prior to the release of the tension of spring 35.

The throwing shaft and parts attached thereto are constructed as light as consistent with strength to eliminate oscillation of the' arm after throwing a target. This relieves pins 24 from impact when operating device rapidly. For very rapid work, one pin 24 is preferably made of resilient construction to absorb the shock due to rapid rotation of shaft 22.

IVhat I claim as my invention is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, a yieldable targetholding means, a rotary element for throwing a target held by said holding means, and means operable from said element for actuating the target holding means.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a target holding means, a continuously rotating shaft, a mechanically actuated holding means co-operating with the first mentioned target holding means, and means connected with said shaft for tl owing a target held by said holding means.

In an apparatus of the character de scribed. a target giiide, target holding means positioned adjacent one end of the target guide, and, adapted to yieldably engage the opposite sides'of a target, and a target throwing arm rotatable to sweep the guide and throw the target held by said holding means. I

4. In an apparatus of the character described, a stationary target guide, target holding means positioned at one end of the target guide and including a pair of target engaging members adapted to yieldably secure a target with its periphery in contact with the guide, gcamj actuated means for operating one of said target engaging menr bers, and a target throwing arm rotatable to sweep the guide and throw the target held by said holding means. I

5. In an apparatus of the class described, a target holding means, a throwing shaft, a continuously rotating drive shaft, a drive connection between said shafts, a target throwing arm carried by said throwing shaft and independent of the holding means, said arm being arranged to sweep the holding means and throw a target held thereby, and means operable upon rotation of the throwing shaft a part of a cycle by said drive shatt to accentuate the speed of rotation of the throwing shaft the remainder of the cycle whereby the target held by said. holding means will be thrown into the air.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, a target- ,throwing arm, a target feed trough, and a feed member for ex" tracting targets from said trough and Pld(2 ing them in the path of said arm, means co operating with the feed member to yieldably secure an extracted target in the path of the throwing arm, and means for retracting said member after each operation of the throwing arm.

'7. In an apparatus oi the character described, a target throwing arm, a target teed trough, and a feed member for e tracting targets from said trough and placing and holding them in the path of said arm, means for rotating; said arm to throw the target held in its patl'i by said member, and means coordinated with said arm for actuating said member to {position a "fresh target in the path of the arm after each actuation of said arm.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, a target throwing arm, a target supply trough, a feed member coordinated with said arm for positioning targets in the path of said arm, and means inde pendent of the arm and coat-ting with said member for holding the targets in the throwing arms path.

'9. In an apparatus of the character described, a target throwing arm, a target supply trough, a teed member coordinated with said arm for positioning targets in the path of said arm, a holding member coacting with the feed member to hold the targets in the throwingarms path, and means preventing injury to the apparatus in the event a target is not held by said holding member.

10. In an apparatus of the character described, a target throwing arm, a target supply trough, a feed member coordinated with said arm for positioning; targets in the path of said arm, a holding member coacting with the feed member to hold the targets in the throwing arms pat-h, springn'ieans normally urging: the holding member into the throwing arms path. and means permitting of said arm by said holding member in the event a target is not in place.

11. In an apparatus of the character describee, a target throwing arm, a target supply trough. a feed member coordinate with said "arm forpositioning targets in the path thereof, a lever for operating said member, and a joint in said lever breakableupen stress thereon beyond a predetermined degree.

12. In an apparatus of the character described, a target throwing arm a target supply trough, a feed member tor positioning targets from said trough in the path of said arm, means for actuating said teed member, and means preventing injury to the apparatusin the event of a jam restrain-- ing said feed member from actuation.

13. In an apparatus of the character described, a target throwing arm, a target supply trough, a feed member coordinate with said arm for positioning targets in the path thereof, and a member for operating said teed member, said member being yield able upon stress thereon reaching a'predetermined degree to prevent actuation of said teed member.

14. 111 an apparatus of the character described, a target projecting means, comprising a rotating element, a rotatable throwing member. and means operated by the. continued rotation oi the element beyond a .predetermined point to operate the throwing member, whereby the rate of rotation of said element bears a constant ratio to the rate of ta t delievery by the throwing member.

15. In an apparatus of the character described, a target projecting means, comprising a rotating element, a throwing arm rotatable through three lnindred and sixty degrees (360), means for impelling the throwing arm rapidly from a predetermined point to another, and means operable by the continued rotation of the element to the tirstanentioned predetermined point to store energy in the impelling means adapted to be released upon continued movement ol 'the throwing member by the rotating element past the first mentioned point whereby the energy stored in the impell ing means is released to actuate the throwing member in a quick movement between said predetermined po nts, whereby the throwing member is actuated once for each complete rotationof the rotating element.

16. In an apparatus of the character described, a target guideway, a throwing arm adapted to sweep the guideway, and means for positioning a target in the guidcway in the path of said throwing arm and including a tubular magazine, a plunger member within said tubular magazn e for resiliently urging targets therein to a position within the guideway, and an adjustable stop member co-acting with said plunger to yieldably hold the innermost target in the guideway.

In testimony whereof, I my si 'nature.

ER'WIN r. BAHLMZNN.

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