New or Improved Means of Throwing Life-lines or Ropes to Distressed Ships, and for like purposes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Apr., 1898-Accepted, 7th May, 1898
New or Improved Means of Throwing Life-lines or Ropes to
Distressed Ships, and for like purposes.
We, HARRY. HERBERT FLETCHER, of Yates Street, Blackpool, File Setter, and
BERTRAM BROWN, of South Shore Hotel, South Shore, Blackpool, Gentleman,
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 :-
Our said invention has for its object to enable a life-line to be thrown to a ship in
distress, say from the shore, or from another ship, with sufficient force to overcome the
resistance of the wind, also to enable the line to be directed more accurately, and, by
the aid of a time-fuse, caused to drop at various distances, or to run out to various
lengths, according to the distance of the ship from the shore.
To that end our invention consists in the use of a mortar as at present used for
discharging or firing "shrapnell" and like shot, and a novel form of projectile
discharged by said mortar, and, by the aid of suitable connections, serving to carry a
line of cotton or like rope. The said projectile consists, by preference, of a cartridge-
like case composed of papier-machè or pulp, containing a charge of gun-cotton and
powder, with a slight admixture of methylated spirits, and covered with an outer
casing of thin brass, with the end closed by a steel or brass cap. Through this cap a
"time fuse" projects, which varies in composition according to the distance the
projectile has to travel, and which is fired by a fulminated cap in the mortar.
To the nose or forward end of the projectile we connect a shackle or link and to such
shackle we connect a wire rope, some three feet long. To such wire rope we connect,
in turn, the life-line, with sufficient length to allow of its being run out to the
maximum distance it is likely to be thrown.
And in order that our said invention may be more readily understood and carried
into practical effect we have hereunto annexed a sheet of drawings and will now
proceed to describe the same with the various figures and letters of reference
marked thereon.
In accordance with our invention (A) is the mortar, or piece of ordnance,
and (B) the projectile for carrying the life-line, or length of rope (C). As illus-
trated, the projectile is composed of a shell of papier-machè (D), an outer covering
of brass (E), and end cap (F), through which the "time-fuse" (G) projects. The
shell is filled with gun-cotton and powder, slightly damped with spirits for the
better ignition of the explosive substances.
To the forward end, or nose, of said projectile we connect the shackle (H), and
to such shackle the short wire-rope or rod (I), with facilities of connection to the
life-line (C).
It will be obvious that by utilising the great force obtainable with a mortar
that the projectile will be able to travel against the wind, and to be sent great
distances with considerable accuracy, not obtainable with the ordinary rocket or life
line throwing apparatus. Also, that by using an explosive projectile under the
control of a 66
time-fuse" it can be caused to drop at any given distance less than
the maximum distance and with the charge of a moderate character no harm can be

page_text: done if the projectile should explode on board the ship. We may use a rocket for
short distances, fitted with shackle and rod, and fired from the mortar.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1-In means for throwing life-lines, the combination of an explosive projectile, with
shackle and rope, and a mortar or like piece of ordnance for projecting same, as
set forth.
2:-A projectile for use in throwing or carrying the end of a life-line, composed
of a shell of papier-machè, covered with sheet metal, containing explosive substances,
and provided with shackle or like connection at one end, and a "time-fuse" at the
other end, as set forth.