US3800775A

US3800775A - Target throwing arm with target detent mechanism

Info

Publication number: US3800775A
Application number: US00343636A
Authority: US
Inventors: G Darrell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-03-22
Filing date: 1973-03-22
Publication date: 1974-04-02
Anticipated expiration: 1991-04-02

Abstract

An eccentrically disposed target on a rotating platform is released by a mechanism which includes a detent carried by the platform and engaging a forward edge of the target whereby the target is restrained from moving along the surface of the platform under the influence of the centrifugal forces exerted on the target by the rotation of the platform. In order to release the target the detent, which is mounted on a rotatable shaft, is moved out of the path of motion of the target by rotation of the shaft at such a speed that the portion of the detent which had engaged the target moves away from the target with a horizontal component of velocity, along the path of travel of the target, greater then the velocity at which the target moves along the surface of the platform under the influence of the centrifugal forces. A bent shaft with a resilient sleeve on the free end that engages a target may be used as a detent.

Description

United States Patent 11 1 Darrell TARGET THROWING ARM WITH TARGET DETENT MECHANISM [76] Inventor: George H. Darrell, 25 Chestnut,

Dedham, Mass. 02026 [22] Filed: Mar. 22, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 343,636

Italy 124 6 Primary Exqminer--Richard C. Pinkham Assistant ExaminerWilliam R. Browne Attorney, Agent, or FirmElmer J. Gorn [57] ABSTRACT An eccentrically disposed target on a rotating platform is released by a mechanism which includes a de tent carried by the platform and engaging a forward edge of the target whereby the target is restrained from moving along the surface of the platform under the influence of the centrifugal forces exerted on the target by the rotation of the platform. In order to release the target the detent, which is mounted on a rotatable shaft, is moved out of the path of motion of the target by rotation of the shaft at such a speed that the portion of the detent which had engaged the target moves away from the target with a horizontal component of velocity, along the path of travel of the target, greater then the velocity at which the target moves along the surface of the platform under the influence of the centrifugal forces. A bent shaft with a resilient sleeve on the free end that engages a target may be used as a detent.

7 9 5991, Drawin .F FEEL? was TARGET THROWING ARM WITH TARGET DETENT MECHANISM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to target throwing traps and, more particularly, to a release mechanism for the target that is eccentrically disposed on a rotating platform prior to release.

In one type of known target throwing trap, a target is disposed eccentrically onto the surface of a rotating platform and is held in this position by a release mechanism until the target is released. When the target is released, the forces acting on the target throw the target away from the platform.

Target throwing traps are more effective when the line of flight of the target upon release is predictable. Also, while the targets are made of a fragile material, the trap should not break the targets at release.

A target throwing trap is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,108,582 to the same inventor as in the present invention. The targets are located above a box-shaped, rotating platform. A disc lowers one of the targets onto the rotating platformso that the target is concentrically disposed thereon. A device then pushes the target a distance across the rotating platform whereby the target becomes eccentrically disposed on the rotating platform. A release mechanism and an arrangement of guiderails prevent further motion of the target across the surface of the platform until the target is released.

When the release mechanism is activated, the target is no longer restrained, and the centrifugal forces cause the target to pass through the guiderails and to undergo flight. A vertical shaft is rotatably mounted through the upper and lower surfaces of the rotating platfonn. When a cam mechanism which is associated with the lower, end of this shaft is activated, the shaft rotates through an arc. The vertical shaft then rotates a crank arm that imparts longitudinal motion to a trigger block. The block which originally contacted the target moves away from the target in a direction generally transverse to the flight path of the target.

' While the release mechanism disclosed in U.S. Pat.

No. 3,108,582 has been generally successful, it was disfor translating a rotation of the vertical shaft to a rotation of the horizontal shaft. Preferably, the gear assembly has a 2 to 1 transmission ratio to permit the release member to rotate 90 for a 45- rotation of the vertical shaft. Also, it is preferably to pad the release detent with a resilient material to cushion the contact between the release detent and the target. The release detent may be a tab affixed to the end of the horizontal shaft or the horizontal shaft may be formed with a bend so that the end portion of the shaft may form the release detent.

The primary advantage of the present invention resides in moving the release detent parallel to the flight path as opposed to the transverse movement of the trigger block in U.S. Pat. No. 3,108,582. When the release detent such as the trigger block, moves transversely,

the release detent and the target are in contact for the 7 duration of movement of the detent. Thus, friction is covered that the flight path of the target varied within SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION There is provided in accordance with the present increated which results in accuracy errors and target breakage. When the release detent moves parallel to the flight path, friction is reduced because once the release detent starts to rotate, the target no longer contacts the release detent.

Another feature of the invention includes an arrangement for adjusting the location of the release detent to establish an optimum initial target location.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE-DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of the rotating platform showing its relation to the target and the release mechanism;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view in partial section of the improved release mechanism according to the present invention; i v

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the release mechanism at the time of release with portions of the mechanism removed;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a modified form of release mechanism.

-DESCRIPT ION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention is herein shown as embodied in a target throwing machine of the general type disclosed in my prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,108,582, issued Oct. 29, 1963, to which reference may be had for details not herein illustrated. In addition, the following description of the operation of the target throwing trap disclosed in this patent isintended to supplement the understanding of the structure to which the present invention is in cooperative relationship.

A box-shaped rotating platform 12 is provided which 1 serves as the base from which a target 10 is given an inivention an improvement in a target throwing trap which overcomes the problems previously mentioned. In the release mechanism of the present invention, means are provided for rotating a release detent, which initially holds the target, about a horizontal axis. As the release dentent is rotated, it moves parallel to the flight path of the target and above the top of the target. The release detent moves away from the target faster than the initial speed of the target. Accuracy errors and'target breakage have decreased because the friction between the target and the release detent is substantially decreased due to the speed with which the detent moves out of the flight path of the target.

The release mechanism includes a horizontal shaft that is parallel to the platform, a release detent located at the end of the horizontal shaft and a gear assembly tial rotation prior to entering flight. The targets are stacked above the center of rotation 11 of the platform, and means such as a concentric, movable disc, are provided to engage the target and lower it concentrically onto the rotating platform. A device then moves the target across the platform so that it is centered above a point 13 eccentrically located. A release mechanism 14 and a guiderail 15 hold the target until release.

In an exemplary embodiment of the improved release mechanism arranged according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, a target, represented generally by the reference numeral 10, is mounted on a boxshaped,'rotating platform 12 and held in position by the release mechanism 14. The target 10 moves in a direction normal to the plane of FIG. 1. A vertical shaft 16, which was referred to in the reference to U.S. Pat. No.

3,108,582, extends upwardly through a lower portion 18 of the rotating platform 12 and through a top surface of the rotating platform. An arm (shown only partially at 19 in FIG. 2 but disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,108,582) is mounted on the lower portion of the shaft 16 and is rocked in a plane at right angles to the axis of shaft 16 for imparting a rotation in an arc of approxi- I mately 45 in response to a command to release the target.

The release mechanism 14 includes a support structure 20, a horizontal shaft 22 that is parallel to the platform 12, a gear assembly 24, and a trigger detent 26. The trigger detent is preferably padded with a resilient material 29 (see FIG. 3), such as rubber, to cushion the contact of the detent with the target 10. The support structure 20 includes a pair of upwardly extending

arms

28 and 30 having openings to receive the parallel shaft 22. The support structure 20 also has an opening to receive the shaft 16. A series of

bushings

17, 21 and 23 are provided to permit the shaft 16 to be rotatively held in its position.

The release mechanism 14 is mounted on the rotating platform 12. A lower support base 32, located on the underside of the rotating platform 12, is rigidly secured to the rotating platform 12 by a fastener 34 that is positioned in openings in both members. The support 20 is then secured to an upper base plate 36 by a fastener 40. The upper base plate 36 is then secured to the lower support base 32 by a fastener. 38. The fastener 38, as shown more clearly in reference to FIG. 3 is mounted in a slotted track to permit angular adjustment of the release machanism about the axis of the vertical shaft 16.

The vertical shaft 16 has mounted on its upper end a gear 42 that is adapted to engage the teeth of a gear 44 mounted around the shaft 22. Preferably, the gear assembly 24 has a 2 to 1 transmission ratio,such that a 45 arc in the vertical shaft 16 induces a 90 arc in the horizontal shaft 22. A pair of

bushings

25 and 27 are located around the shaft 22 and within the openings in the structure 20. The outermost end of the shaft 22 has a pair of

fasteners

46 and 48 that secure the trigger detent 26 to the horizontal shaft 22. The trigger detent 26 holds the target 10 stationary by contacting the circumference at a recessed rim 50 on the target 10.

The trigger detent 26 in FIG. 2 is shown after is has rotated 90, thereby releasing the target. The position of the detent 26 prior to rotation is shown by the broken lines at 35.

In operation, the trigger detent 26 rotates from the vertical position, shown in FIG. 2 by the broken lines at 35 to the horizontal position shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. During this motion, there is no contact of the detent 26 with the target 10 at the recessed rim 50 due to the speed at which the shaft 22 rotates and due to the motion of the detent 26 in moving outwardly and upwardly from the flight path. Thus, friction between target 10 and trigger detent 26 is reduced to zero which in turn reduces flight path error and pre-flight target breakage.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the support base 36 is shown with a slotted track 52. The plate 36 may be adjusted by loosening the fastener 38 and rotating the plate 36 about the shaft 16. FIG. 3 indicates the position of the trigger detent 26 at the moment of release of the target wherein the detent 26 rotates 90.

There is an optimum positioning of the target 10 that provides a vector balance at a particular point on the rotating platform to give optimum accuracy of flight. A dotted line 56 indicates, as an example, the positioning of the target where the release mechanism 14 is rotated inwardly as shown by an arrow 58.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a modification of the structure of the release mechanism 14 is shown. The horizontal shaft 22a is formed with a bend at 60 to form an end portion 62 of the shaft 22a. The end portion 62 serves the same purpose as the trigger detent 26 in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. In FIG. 3 the shaft 22a is shown at the time of release wherein the shaft 22a has rotated 90". A replaceable rubber sleeve 64, secured to the end portion 62 by a washer 66 and fastener 68, cushions the contact between the end portion 62 and the target 10.

The principal objectives of this invention may be achieved as long as the surface of the detent, which engages the target in its position of rest, moves away from the target, with a component of velocity in the direction along which the target travels, which component is greater then the velocity at which the target moves out of its position of rest under the influence of the centrifugal forces acting upon it. Under these conditions when the detent is moved so as to release the target, the target will move from its position of rest on the platform surface with no interference from the detent. Therefore it is to be understood that the detent 26 may be given other types of motion than that heretofore illustrated. For example, the shaft 22 might be disposed below the target and rotated so as to rotate the detent 26 downwardly through an opening in the platform 12. Alternatively the shaft 22 might be disposed to one side of the target 10 with its axis vertically disposed so as to move the detent 26 in a horizontal path away from the target. Likewise other means for moving the detent in the required manner may be devised.

I claim:

1. A target throwing arm comprising:

a. a target b. a throwing arm having a free path surface of travel for a target, said throwing arm being adapted to be continuously rotated and to support a target at a position on its surface eccentrically disposed with respect to the axis of rotation of said throwing arm, whereby said target is impelled to move along said free path along said surface of the under the influence of the centrifugal forces generated by the rotation of said throwing arm;

0. detent means carried by said throwing arm and adapted to engage a forward edge of said target to restrain the target's movement along the free path surface of the throwing arm said throwing arm having a means connected thereto for operating said detent means, said last mentioned means including a shaft; and

d. means connected to the shaft for moving said detent means away from said target in response to rotation of said shaft so as to give the detent means a horizontal component of velocity substantially paralleling said free path and of a greater value than the velocity at which said target is impelled to move along said free path of said throwing arm.

2. A target throwing trap as in claim 1 in which said detent is covered with a resilient pad on the target contacting surface.

3. A target throwing trap as in claim 1 in which said shaft is mounted on said platform with its axis disposed outside the path of motion of said target, said detent being mounted on said shaft and projecting therefrom into a position to contact said forward edge of said target in one position of said shaft, said shaft being adapted to rotate through an arc, in response to release of said target, the rotation of said shaft being sufficient to move said detent out of the path of said target.

4. A target throwing trap as in claim 1 in which the axis of said shaft is disposed above said throwing arm and, whereby said shaft moves said detent upwardly in a plane perpendicular to the plane formed by the free path surface.

5. A target throwing trap as in claim 4 further including a rotatable second shaft extending through said throwing arm which is operatively connected to said first named shaft to rotate said first named shaft in respect to the target at release.

v Q j UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE V V i 5 CERTIFICATE CORRECTION Patent No. :1 8nn;775 Dated April 2 4 Inventor(s) George H. Darrell 7 his certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:-

' column 4, line 48, in line 1 of claim 1, after ."surface of the" insert throwing arm ,Column- 4, line 65, in line 1 of claim' 2, cancel "trap" and substitute arm I Column 5, line 1, in line 1 of claim 3-, cancel "trap" and substitute arm Column 5, line 10, in line 1 of claim 4-, cancel vColumn 5 line 10, "trap" should read arm Column 6, line 1, in line 1 of claim S, cancel "trap" and substitute arm Column 6, line 6, in line 1 of claim 6, cancel "trap" and substitute arm 7 Column 6, line 11, in line 1 of claim 7, cancel "trap" and substitute arm I Signed and sealed this 29th day of October 1974.

(SEAL) Attest V M cCOY M. GIBSON JR. (2. MARSHALL DANN Att'esting Officer I Commissioner of Patents FORM PO-JQSOHO-SS) x USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 U.5. G OVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I969 0-366-334

Claims

1. A target throwing arm comprising: a. a target b. a throwing arm having a free path surface of travel for a target, said throwing arm being adapted to be continuously rotated and to support a target at a position on its surface eccentrically disposed with respect to the axis of rotation of said throwing arm, whereby said target is impelled to move along said free path along said surface of the under the influence of the centrifugal forces generated by the rotation of said throwing arm; c. detent means carried by said throwing arm and adapted to engage a forward edge of said target to restrain the target''s movement along the free path surface of the throwing arm said throwing arm having a means connected thereto for operating said detent means, said last mentioned means including a shaft; and d. means connected to the shaft for moving said detent means away from said target in response to rotation of said shaft so as to give the detent means a horizontal component of velocity substantially paralleling said free path and of a greater value than the velocity at which said target is impelled to move along said free path of said throwing arm.

5. A target throwing trap as in claim 4 further including a rotatable second shaft extending through said throwing arm which is operatively connected to said first named shaft to rotate said first named shaft in response to rotation of said second shaft.

6. A target throwing trap as in claim 4 in which the detent rotates through an arc of approximately 90*, the portion of the detent contracting the rotating target moving upwardly and outwardly aWay from the target during release.

7. A target throwing trap as in claim 1 including means for adjusting the position of the detent with respect to the target at release.