US730208A - Timing device for homing pigeons. - Google Patents

Description

No. 73Q,208. PATENTED JUNE 2, 1903. V w. c. GEARY.

' V TIMING DEVICE FOR HOMING PIGBQNSf APPLIOATIOH FILED 10V. 28, 1902.

H0 IODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented June 2, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF JERSEY CITY, NElV JERSEY,

OF AMERICAN HOMING PIGEON FANOIERS,

A CORPORATION OF NElV JERSEY.

TIMING DEVICE FOR HOIVIING PIGEONS.

SPEGIFICATION forming part of Letter Application To all whmn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WARREN C. GEARY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Timing Devices for Homing Pigeons, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and X0 useful improvements in timing devices for homing pigeons of the general type shown and described in the patent to T. D. Martinez- Oardeza, No. 591,985, dated October 19,1897; and it is the prime object of the invention to provide a construction wherein the watchmovement cannot be tampered with when once set and to so mount the said movement in its box that an effort to gain an accelerated operation of the timing device bya rotary oscillation of the box will be entirely offset.

It is a well-established fact that any time. piece can be made to gain time by imparting thereto a quick rotary oscillation, and it has been found that unscrupulous persons who enter their pigeons into competition take advantage of this fact, and while the timing device is in their individual possession they cause the same to gain time in the manner stated, and thus turn in a false and unfair report.

As before stated, it is the prime object of this invention to overcome the objection referred to, and this is accomplished by rotatably mounting the watch-movement in the box in such a manner that the said movement will remain at rest while the box is being oscillated. Hence any attempt to cause the movement to gain time by impartinga rotary oscillation to the box will be unsuc- 4o cessful.

The invention has for its further object to provide novel and simple means for pivotally mounting the watch-movement within the box and for holding the same against rotation and stopped and for automatically releasing the said holding and stopping means when the closure for the identification-band compartment is moved over its opening.

To these and other ends the invention com prises the features of construction and novel rangement of parts herecombinations and ar s Patent No. 730,208, dated June 2, 1903.

filed November 28, 1902- Serial No- 133,051. (No model.)

inafter referred to and then more definitely pointed out in the claims.

make, and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe the same, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a top plan view of a box containing two watch-movements, the cover of the box being removed. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, the cover being shown in position. Fig. Sis a detail perspective view looking down into one of the watch-movement compartments and showing the shooting bolt, sliding plate, and the lower pivot for the watch-movement. Fig. at is an end elevation of the box, showing the cover in locked position thereon. Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of one of the watch-movements, showing the under pivot-bearing bracket and alsothestoppingdevice. Fig.6isasideelevation of one of the watch-movements, showing the upper and lower pivot-bearing brackets.

Referring to the drawing Fig. 1, the reference-numeral 1 indicates a box divided centrally by a transverse partition 2 to provide two separate compartments for the timing devices and by a longitudinal partition 3 to provide two band-retaining compartments. In each end of the boXis an opening t, which leads into the band-retaining compartments and through whichthe identification-bands may be passed. These openings are each closed or covered by means of a slide or closure plate 5, one of which is arranged at each end of the box. Connected to each of said slide-plates and arranged within the box is an inner slide-plate 6, having a recess or opening 7 therein, the purpose of which will be presently explained. Arranged within each of the timing-device compartments adjacent to the longitudinal partition 3 is a spring-actuated locking-bolt 8, the forward end 9 of which is adapted to be projected into the recess 7'in the inner slide-plate 6. The said bolt 8 is normally pressed toward the plate 6 by means of a spring 10, one end of which is secured to the bolt 8 and the other end of which is secured to the partition 3. The said spring 10 is coiled intermediate its'ends about a pin 12, and it will thus be seen that when In order to enable others to understand, I

' portion 7 of said plate arrives at a the closure-plate 5 is moved forward to close the opening4 the inner slide-plate 6 will'likewise be moved, and as soon as the recessed point opposite the end 9 of. the locking-bolt 8 said end will, through the medium of spring 10, be forced into said recess, and thus hold the closure-plate5againstwithdrawal. Thelocking-bolt 8 is also provided with a laterallyprojecting pin 13, and the partition 3 is 1ikewise provided with an outwardly-extending pin 14, the'purpose of which pins will be hereinafter made apparent. Attached to the bottom of the box in each timing-device compartment is a stepped bracket 15, the higher portion of which is provided with a journalpin 16 and the lower portion of which carries a headed pin 1'7, which supports the coiled portion of the spring 10. Extending transversely across the top of the box and centrally thereof is a bar 18, carrying on its underside two journal-pins 19, one of said pins being located in each timing-device compartment.

The timing device or devices comprises a watch movement or movements, as shown in Fig. 1, said movements being each mounted or supported in a circular ring or band 20. Attached to said band and extending across the face of each watch-movement is a bar 21, having a centrally-arranged opening into which the journal-pin l9 freely fits. Secured to the under side of each watch-movement is a three-armed bracket 22, said bracket being provided with a central aperture 23, into which the journal-pin 16 freely fits. As will be seen by referring to Fig. 6, the three-armed bracket is offset and lies in a plane slightly removed from the bottom of the watch-movement. Pivoted at 22 to the said bracket 22 is an elbow-shaped stopping device 24, one end 25 of whichis bent upward and carries a flexible tip 26, of rubber, leather, parchment, or other suitable flexible material, which is adapted to be brought into contact with the balance-wheel 27 of the watchmovement and stop the watch, all as more clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The said elbow-shaped stopping device 24 is provided with an extension 28, which is adapted to cooperate with the pin 14 on the partition 3 in a manner presently to be made apparent. The band or ring 20, that carries the watchmovement, is provided with a recess 29, Fig. 6, into which the pin 13, carried by the locking-bolt, passes, the purpose of said pin being to hold the watch-movement against rotation when said movement is stopped. It will now be apparent that by mounting the watch-movement upon the journal- pins 16 and 19 the same will be freely supported thereby, and any attempt to cause the watchmovement to gain time by oscillating the box -1, which contains the movement, will be unsuccessful, for by reason of the pivotal mounting of said movement the latter will remain at rest and not be affected by oscillations of the box.

When the watch-movement is set for operation, the same is pivotally supported within the box as described, the bolt 8 being in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, with pin 13 projecting into the recess 29 in the band 20, as shown in the left-hand side ofFig. 1, which holds the movement against rotation. The extension 28 of the stopping device projects outward from the periphery of the band 20 and in line with the pin 14, and the flexible tip 26 of said stopping device lies in contact with the balance-wheel 27 of the watch-movement. Assuming the parts to be in this position, it will be seen that the watch-movement is held against rotation and stopped, and at the same time the closure-plate 5 is held back away from the opening 4, leading to the band-retaining compartment. When a pigeon arrives at its left, the band is removed from its leg and inserted through the opening 4 into the band-retaining compartment. The closure-plate 5 is then moved over the opening 4, and the locking-bolt 8 is automatically pressed forward by the spring 10 forcing the end 9 into the recess 7 of the inner plate 6, thus locking the. closure-plate 5 over the opening 4. As the locking-bolt is shot forward, the pin 13 being in engagement with the watch-movement as described will impart a quick rotary movement or spin to the watch, and at the same time the extension 28 of the stop device by coming into contact with the pin 14 will throw the end 26 of said stop device out of engagement with the balance-wheel of the watchmovement, and thus permit said movement to start, or, in other words, permit the watch to indicate time, this indicating of time commencing immediately the closure-plate 5 is moved over the opening 4 after the insertion of the identification-band into the compartment provided therefor.

By the construction shown and described it will be seen that the watch-movement is held stopped and against rotation when the closure-plate 5 is open; but immediately said closure-plate is closed the stopping device will be released, thus allowing the watch to indicate time. The watch-movement is at the same time freed and held supported upon its journal-bearings only. Thus any attempt to cause the watch to gain time after it has once started by oscillating the box will be unsuccessful.

The open top of the box is protected by a cover 30, having end flanges 31, which extend down below the bottom of the box, the lower extremities of said end flanges 31 being provided with openings for the passage of a headed pin 32, the withdrawal of said pin being prevented by means of a padlock 33, which passes through an opening in the end of said bolt, all as well understood in this class of devices.

.I prefer to provide each identification-band chamber with a tube 34,0f aluminium or other material, said tube having its open end disposed directly opposite the band-opening 4 in such manner that the band when passed through said opening Willenter and be con fined within the tube. The object of the tube is to preventafine Wire beinginserted through the opening 4 for the purpose of getting between the cover 30 and box and tampering with the watch-movement, thus causing the same to indicate time before the identification-band is inserted or, in other words, before the pigeon has arrived at its loft.

While I have herein shown and described a box having two watch-movement compartments, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to this number, for obviously I may use a box containingonly a single watchmovement or one containing more than two movements. Neither-do I wish to be understood as limiting my invention to the precise construction of box herein shown and described, for it will be obvious that I may apply my rotatably-mounted timing device to boxes constructed diiferently from the one shown herein. Likewise, I do not wish to limit myself to the precise means shown and described for pivotally mounting the timing device, as other means than thatherein shown may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim is 1. In a device of the class described, a case, a timing device freely mounted therein so that a rapid to-and-fro movement of the case will not affect the registering mechanism of the timing device, means for holding the timing device against rotation, a stop device adapted to be brought into engagement with the balance-wheel of the timing device, and means for releasing said holding means and for simultaneously moving the stop device out of engagement with the balance-wheel.

2. In a device of the class described, a case, and a timing device pivotally mounted to rotate therein in a plane perpendicular to the pivots so that a rapid to-and-fro movement of the case will not affect the registering mechanism of the timing device.

3. In a device of the class described, a case, a timing device freely mounted therein,so that a rapid to-and-fro movement of the case will not affect the registering mechanism of the timing device, and means for holding said timing device against rotation.

4. In a device of the class described, a case, a timing device pivotally mounted to rotate therein in a plane perpendicular to the pivots, and means for holding the timing device against rotation.

5. In a device of the class described, a case, a timing device pivotally mounted to rotate therein in a plane perpendicular to the pivots, means for holding the timing device against rotation, and means for releasing said holding means. i

6. In a device of the class described, a box, a timingdevice rotatably mounted therein, a stop device adapted to be brought into contact with the balance-wheel of the timing device, means for holding the timing device against rotation, means for releasing said holding means, and means for moving the stop device out of contact with the balance-wheel when the said holding means is released from engagement with the timing device.

7. In a device of the class described, a box having an opening, a closure for said opening, a lock for said closure, a timing device rotatably mounted in said box, and means controlled by said lock for holding said timing device against rotation.

S. In a device of the class described, a box having an opening, a closure for said opening, a lock for said closure, a timing device pivotally supported within the box, and means controlled by said lock forholding the timing device against rotation.

9. In a device of the class described, a box having an opening, a closure for said opening, a timing device rotatably mounted Within said box, a spring-actuated locking-bolt for said closure, and means actuated by said locking-bolt for imparting a rotary movement to the timing device.

10. In a device of the character described, a box having an opening in one end, a closure for said opening, a spring actuated locking-bolt for said closure, a timing device rotatably mounted within the box, and a pin carried by the said bolt and serving to hold the timing device against rotation when the bolt is retracted.

11. In a device of the class described, a box having an opening in one end, a closure for said opening,'a locking-bolt for said closure,

a timing device rotatably mounted within the box, and a pin carried by the said bolt and serving to hold the timing device against rotation when the bolt is retracted and to free the timing device'when the bolt is moved to locking position.

12. In a device of the character described, a box having an opening in one end, a closure for said opening, a locking-bolt for said closure, a timing device rotatably mounted within the box, means for causing the timing device to rotate when the bolt is moved to locking position, a stop device arranged to engage the balance-wheel of the timing device, and means for disengaging the said stop device when the timing device is rotated.

13. In a device of the character described, a box having an openingin one end, a closure for said opening, a looking-bolt for said closure, a timing device rotatably mounted within the box, means for causing the timing de- Vice to rotate when the boltis moved to locking position, a pivoted stop device arranged to engage the balance-wheel of the timing device, and means for disengaging the said stop device when the timing device is rotated.

14. In a device of the character described, a box having an opening in one end, a closure for said opening, a locking-bolt for said closure, a timingdevice rotatably mounted within the box,means for causing the timing device to rotate when the bolt is moved to looking position, a stop pivoted to the timing device and arranged to engage the balance- Wheel thereof, and means for disenaging the said stop when the timing device is rotated.

15. In a device of the character described, a box having an opening in one end, a closure for said opening, journal-pins carried by said box, a timing device having brackets secured thereto provided with journal-pin openings into which the said journal-pins freely enter, means for holding the timing device against rotation, and means for releasing said holdin" means to permit the timing device to 1'0- tate on its pivots.

10. In a device of the character described, a box having an opening in one end, a ciosnre for said opening, a bracket secured within the box and carrying a journal-pin, abarextending across the top of the box and carry ing a similar journal-pin, a timing device arranged within the box and provided with pins freely pass, a stop device pivoted to the timing device and arranged to engage the balance-wheel of the latter, means for holding the timing device against rotation on its pivots, and means for releasing said holding means and for automatically moving the stop device out of contact with the balance-wheel.

17. In a device of the class described, the combination with a box having an opening in one end, of a tube located within the box and having its open end disposed opposite the opening in the box, and a timing device mounted within the box.

18. In a device of the character described, the combination with a box having a partition therein near one side dividing the box into two compartments, said box having an opening in one end leading into one of saidcompartments, a tube in said compartment having its open end disposed opposite said opening, and a timing device in the other compartment.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WARREN C. GEARY.

Witnesses:

EDWARD M. MoLL, HARRY H. STODDART.

journal-pin openings into which said journal-

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