IMPROVE- MENTS IN ROCKETS AND PROJECTILES WITH EXPLOSIVE CHARGES FOR SIGNALLING, MILITARY, NAVAL, AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Joseph Mackie, of 23, Southampton Buildings,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN ROCKETS AND PROJECTILES WITH EXPLOSIVE CHARGES FOR
SIGNALLING, MILITARY, NAVAL, AND OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 20th December 1878, and dated the 2nd October 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Joseph Mackie at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd October 1878.
SAMUEL JOSEPH MACKIE, of 23, Southampton Buildings, in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROCKETS AND PROJECTILES WITH
EXPLOSIVE CHARGES FOR SIGNALLING, MILITARY, NAVAL, AND OTHER PURPOSES."
The use of violent explosives, such as gun cotton, cotton powder, dynamite, litho-
fracteur, Horsley's and Muschainp's powders, and others, for projectiles fired from
guns, in rockets, as signals, and in bombs and grenades and other projectiles, has
been greatly restricted for military, naval, and signalling purposes, on account of
the danger of premature explosion, and in the former case has been heretofore im-
practicable. One chief cause amongst others appertaining to the particular explosives
respectively employed, being the sensitiveness of the detonator or fulminating cap
required for the detonation of the explosive charge.
According to my Invention, in order to avoid the danger thus arising and to
render it safe to fire any properly constituted explosive, I place within the detonator
cap a small fuze about inch in length for ordinary size detonators, and I then
close the cap end with compressed gunpowder, amorphous phosphorus, or some
other combustible compound; or I allow the end of the fuze to protrude and open
it out into a mop which I steep in nitre, chlorate of potash, turpentine, or any
readily ignitable material.
The purpose primarily served by the fuze is, that in the case of a premature
ignition of the explosive charge by fire, friction, or concussion, or of the cap by fire
in the discharge from the gun, as in the case of shells containing gun cotton, cotton
Prine G21

page_text: powder, dynamite, or other explosive charge or explosive bullets or charges from
rifles or small arms; or the premature breaking up of a shell in the bore of a gun,
or the premature burning through or explosion of a rocket on being lit; the
detonator in the explosive charge will be thrown some distance away from the gun
or other instrument, or from the operator before detonation takes place, a distance
sufficient to prevent damage to the gun or mortar, and injury to the person of the
operator.
In loading rockets and explosive projectiles, such as shells and bombs for the
purpose of being discharged from guns, howitzers, mortars, or other projectile
instruments in order to prevent ignition of the explosive charge itself by the
concussion on the starting of the projectile, I load the projectile by hydraulic,
pneumatic, or mechanical pressure, and so compress it into a solid mass; or I fill by
building up with the explosive compressed solid into the form of segments of the
cavity, discs, cubes, or in other suitable shapes, filling up the interstices with rosin,
pitch, paraffin or the like, or with some non-sensitive explosive, or with plaster of
Paris, clay, or other inert material, so as to prevent any dangerous set back of the
explosive material on the discharge of the gun. I also sometimes place a flannel or
felt wad, india-rubber washer, or other yielding material at the rear of the explosive
charge.
Substances, such as iron or steel external to an explosive are, on its being
exploded, disrupted into the finest fragments; but such substances if enveloped in
the explosive are not disrupted in the same way. In order therefore to increase the
destructive effects of shells, bombs, bullets, grenades, rockets, and other projectiles,
I load them with smaller shells, bombs, bullets, fragments of iron, steel, and other
material, and fill up the cavities between them and surround them with the
explosive bursting charge, so that when the projectile is exploded, these missiles are
scattered and add to the destructive effects.
I form rocket cases of metal foil soldered or cemented, or of metal foil or thin
sheet metal backed with paper, linen, or other suitable material, and I form the case
either in one piece, or the rocket composition and the explosive charge can each be
in a separate case, the one to slide over the other.
When the rocket case is made in two parts, I place a layer of preferably com-
pressed gunpowder between the clay or other diaphragm and the explosive charge
for the purpose of blowing the head of the rocket with the explosive charge away
from the other part of case.
For conveniently and safely igniting rockets, I place at the rear end of the rocket
case within the cavity, quick match or other igniting composition, and I ignite the
same by a match driven in between friction surfaces, or by a patch of fulminate
composition at end of case ignited by a pin or striker.
The head of a rocket I also fill with one or more explosive charges for signalling
or military purposes, or with explosive commingled with fragments of iron, bullets,
explosive bullets, or shells, or other destructive missiles; and when loading rockets,
shells, bombs, bullets, grenades, and other projectiles with such explosive charges or
missiles for such purpose, I preferably provide each of such charges or missiles with
a safety fuze detonator as before described with respect to the explosive charges of
rockets, shells, and other signalling or destructive missiles.
For regulating the time of explosion of a rocket, shell, or other destructive or
signalling explosive, I use a small time fuze marked with index to indicate seconds
and portions of seconds of time, and I adjust this fuse by cutting it to the length
required; it is placed in the rear end of the detonating cap in contact with powder
or other explosive, which in its turn communicates fire to the safety fuze before
mentioned.
For the purpose of steadying and giving direct flight to the rocket, I fix to the
head thereof wings or fins of light material, and of suitable form.
Winged rockets of this kind can be used on or under water for torpedo purposes,
and against ships' boats, or for other purposes.

page_text: For signalling purposes the head of rocket herein described may be used as a
shell without the rocket composition, and be fired from a gun or from small arms,
or it may be projected in any convenient manner, in which case I protect the rear
end by a metal or other cap with or without a paper or other shoe.
It may also be made up with propelling charge at the rear end thereof to be fired
from a gun, mortar, or small arm, or it may be provided with a protected fuze
extending from the front end through the body of the shell to the propelling charge,
said fuze being ignited from the front end thereby, enabling me to fire such
signalling shells from a tube plugged at the end, or from a chamber bored in a mass
of metal.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Samuel Joseph Mackie in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd
April 1879.
SAMUEL JOSEPH MACKIE, of 23, Southampton Buildings, in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROCKETS AND PROJECTILES WITH
EXPLOSIVE CHARGES FOR SIGNALLING, MILITARY, NAVAL, AND OTHER PURPOSES."
The use of violent explosives such as gun cotton, cotton powder, dynamite, litho-
fracteur, Horsley's and Muschamp's powders and others, for projectiles fired from
guns in rockets, as signals, and in bombs and grenades and other projectiles has
been greatly restricted for military, naval, and signalling purposes on account of
the danger of premature explosion, and in the former case has been heretofore
impracticable. One chief cause amongst others appertaining to the particular
explosives respectively employed being the sensitiveness of the detonator or fulmi-
nating cap required for the detonation of the explosive charge.
According to my Invention in order to avoid the danger thus arising and to
render it safe to fire any properly constituted explosive I place within the detonator
cap a small fuse about 1 inch in length for ordinary size detonators, and I then
close the cap end with compressed gunpowder, amorphous phosphorus, or somo
other combustible compound, or I allow the end of the fuse to protrude and open it
out into a mop which I steep in nitre, chlorate of potash, turpentine, or any readily
ignitable material.
The purpose primarily served by the fuse is, that in the case of a premature
ignition of the explosive charge by fire, friction, or concussion, or of the cap by fire
in the discharge from the gun, as in the case of shells containing gun cotton, cotton
powder, dynamite, or other explosive charge, or explosive bullets, or charges from
rifles or small-arms, or the premature breaking up of a shell in the bore of a gun, or
the premature burning through or explosion of a rocket on being lit the detonator
in the explosive charge will be thrown some distance away from the gun or other
instrument, or from the operator, before detonation takes place, a distance sufficient
to prevent damage to the gun or mortar and injury to the person of the operator.

page_text: In loading rockets and explosive projectiles such as shells and bombs for the
purpose of being discharged from guns, howitzers, mortars, or other projectile instru-
iments, in order to prevent ignition of the explosive charge itself by the concussion
on the starting of the projectile, I load the projectile by hydraulic, pneumatic, or
mechanical pressure, and so compress it into a solid mass, or I fill by building up
with the explosive compressed solid into the form of segments of the cavity, discs,
cubes, or in other suitable shapes, filling up the interstices with rosin, pitch, paraffin
or the like, or with some non-sensitive explosive, or with plaster of Paris, clay, or
other inert material so as to prevent any dangerous set back of the explosive
material on the discharge of the gun. I also sometimes place a flannel or felt wad,
india-rubber washer, or other yielding material at the rear of the explosive charge.
Substances, such as iron or steel external to an explosive are on its being exploded
disrupted into the finest fragments, but such substances if enveloped in the explosive
are not disrupted in the same way.
In order therefore to increase the destructive effects of shells, bombs, bullets,
grenades, rockets, and other projectiles I load them with smaller shells, bombs, bullets,
fragments of iron, steel, and other material, and fill up the cavities between them
and surround them with the explosive bursting charge, so that when the projectile
is exploded these inissiles are scattered and add to the destructive effects.
I form rocket cases of metal foil soldered or cemented, or of metal foil or thin
sheet metal backed with paper, linen, or other suitable amterial, and I form the case
either in one piece, or the rocket composition and the explosive charge can each be
in a separate case, the one to slide over the other.
When the rocket case is made in two parts I place a layer of preferably com-
pressed gunpowder between the clay or other diaphragm and the explosive charge
for the purpose of blowing the head of the rocket with the explosive charge away
from the other part of case.
For conveniently and safely igniting rockets I place at the rear end of the rocket
case within the cavity quick match or other igniting composition, and I ignite the
same by a match driven in between friction surfaces, or by a patch of fulminate
composition at end of case ignited by a pin or striker.
The head of a rocket I also fill with one or more explosive charges for signalling
or military purposes, or with explosive commingled with fragments of iron, bullets,
explosive bullets, or shells or other destructive missiles, and when loading rockets,
shells, bombs, bullets, grenades and other projectiles with such explosive charges, or
missiles for such purpose, I preferably provide cach of such charges or missiles with
a safety fuse detonator as before described with respect to the explosive charges of
rockets, shells, and other signalling or destructive missilves.
For regulating the time of explosion of a rocket, shell, or other destructive or
signalling explosive, I use a small time fuse marked with index to indicate seconds
and portions of seconds of time, and I adjust this fuse by cutting it to the length
required, it is placed in the rear end of the detonating cap in contact with powder
or other explosive which in its turn communicates fire to the safety fuse before-
mentioned.
For the purpose of steadying and giving direct flight to the rocket I fix to the
hend thereof, wings or fins of light material and of suitable form.
Winged rockets of this kind can be used on or under water for torpedo purposes
and against ships' boats or for other purposes.
For signalling purposes the head of rocket herein described may be used as a
shell without the rocket composition, and be fired from a gun or from small-arms, or
it may be projected in any convenient manner, in which case I protect the rear end
by a metal or other cap with or without a paper or other shoe.
It may also be made up with propelling charge at the rear end thereof to be fired
from a gun, mortar, or small arm, or it may be provided with a protected fuse
extending from the front end through the body of the shell to the propelling charge,
said fuse being ignited from the front end, thereby enabling me to fire such

page_text: signalling shells from a tube plugged at the end or from a chamber bored in a mass
of inetal.
And in order that my said Invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying Drawings, more fully
to describe the same.

page_text: in the explosive charge E for the subsequent introduction of the detonator when
the rocket is about to he fired, so that the rocket may be safely stored; but if
desired the safety fuse detonator may be inserted and pressed up in the charge, in
which latter case proper precautionary means must be adopted, such for instance as
pressing up the charge sufficiently wet, to prevent the heat generated by the pressure
from igniting the fulminate.
Behind the explosive charge the light or other signal S is inserted with a small
powder charge P for blowing it free from the rocket. The clay diaphragm V is
then placed in position, and the rocket composition compressed into segments or
discs m, n, shown separately at Figures 9 and 10, is packed in behind it according
to the height or distance it is desired to drive the rocket, or the rocket composition
can be pressed in solid by mechanical or hydraulic power if desired.
To the outside of the rocket I attach wings or fins o; if the rocket stick j bo
placed at the side as in the ordinary rocket, I prefer to use three flat wings set at
angles to each other, or radiating from the axis of the rocket as in Figures 11 and 12;
but if the stick or tail j be made central as shown in Figures 8, 13, and 14, I
prefer to twist the wings around the rocket in a similar manner to the threads of
a screw.
When using rockets for firing into or under water I preferably form the body of
the rocket in a twisted polygonal form as represented at Figure 14. This form is
also useful for rockets to be projected high into the air, the other forms above
mentioned may however be used for rockets to go over or through water. The
quick match q, and the friction points or surfuces 1, 2, for igniting the friction
match on the insertion of the latter between them are shown in position in
Figure 8.
The tail of the rocket I form of wires or strips of metal secured to the case a,
and twisted together in the manner represented sufficiently to the rear of the
rocket to prevent its interfering with the escape of gases from the burning
composition.
Figures 15 and 16 represent explosive charges E attached to rockets, and fitted
with my safety fuse detonators. In Figure 15 the rocket case a with the head a'
containing the explosive E is made entire in one cylinder. In Figure 16 the
explosive charge is represented as contained in a hood a formed similarly to the
rocket case of metal foil or thin sheet metal which is passed over the rocket case a,
which it closely fits.
Figures 17 and 18 represent signal shells for firing from guns constructed in a
similar manner to the rocket heads before described; they are represented with
ogival pointed metal heads h, but other forms of heads from flat to hemispherical
can be employed as desired, but I prefer the ogival for the better traversing of the
air, and the better balancing of the projectiles. The case is built up of metal foil
or thin sheet metal, preferably lined with paper, as before described, for the rocket
cases; the rear ends of such projectiles are secured by a cap or washer w.
The
safety fuse detonator is shown at d, and the safety fuse at f
Figure 17 represents a sound signal or explosive shell; Figure 18 carries a light
signal S, preferably of magnesium, which is liberated by the powder charge P
during the flight of the shell. In both these Figures there is an outer case b of soft
metal to enable the shell to take the rifling of rifled guns, so that the highest range
of projection and velocity can be obtained. The tube prevents the entrace of fire
or hot gas to the explosive charge E from the discharge of the gun.
When the shell or rocket head is loaded the whole is by preference subjected to
pressure to set all joints close, and all the parts compact.
Figure 19 represents the application of the safety fuse detonator and time fuse to
a military shell, which is packed according to my Invention with explosive E
moulded or pressed into convenient form, and the joints or interspaces of which
may be filled in with rosin, bitumen, paraffin, plaster of Paris, or other material,
which will pack the joints and keep the charge solidly in its position; or such
charge may be packed close by hydraulic or other power, when the explosive

page_text: employed therein is of such a character as to be capable of enduring such pressure
safely, such for instance as compounds of gun cotton, but in such latter case the
interior of the shell when formed of iron must be suitably lubricated to prevent
friction along its sides. This shell is expressly constructed for maintaining such
solidity by the screwing in of the rear end plug p, between which and the end of
the explosive charge E are placed washers w of lead, papier maché, or other suitable
material for ensuring the absence of any set back of the contents of the projectile
on the impact of the discharge of the gun or other instrument of projection.
Such packing by washers of the rear ends of projectiles also prevents the
intrusion of fire and hot gases from the combustion of the projecting charge.
For explosive shells, sound signals, light signals, and in all cases of projection of
missiles from guns, I prefer to use a safety tube which serves the double purpose
of preventing any fire or hot gases from the discharge of the gun getting into the
explosive charge of the missile, and of permitting the storage of the missiles, signals,
and projectiles without the insertion of the detonator, which constitutes the
initiation of the explosion of the explosive charge in the case of gun cotton,
dynamite, cotton powder, and other similar explosives.
I prefer to use a coating i of gunpowder or other combustible substance over the
safety fuse in the detonator for facilitating and ensuring its ignition, but the fuse
could be used without such coating, risk of occasional failure of ignition would
however be incurred by omitting the use of the coating of combustible substance.
In military shells, rocket signals, and other articles, my safety fuse detonator, as
also the time fuse and other arrangements can be introduced at the rear end, as
represented at Figures 8, 16, 17, 18, and 10, or they may be introduced at the side
of the explosive charge of the article as inay be desired.
The head of the rocket or explosive shell may be formed and applied to the
case a in any of the modes represented in the Drawings, or in any other convenient
manner for the purpose of closing the upper end of the case a, and I prefer to
employ metal in the construction of such head h.
Figure 20 represents a rocket head constructed as before described placed on a
metal pin B to be ignited by the electric fuse F or otherwise. If a powder charge
is placed between the rear end of the rocket head and the pin, the rocket head with
its safety fuse detonator will be projected some distance before explosion, but if the
powder charge be omitted the rocket head will be exploded in position on the pin
giving a report louder than an ordinary gun, or if the rocket head contain a light
signal it will remain burning on the pin.
Figure 21 represents a shell, rocket head, or other projectile containing several
explosive charges or light signals, or a combination of both; when employing
explosive signals F as shown, I provide each with a safety fuse detonator and
I place powder or other combustible P between and at the sides of each charge.
Figure 22 represents a rocket head containing broken fragments of iron, steel, or
other hard material; the head thereof may also if desired be used as an explosive
shell or other projectile.
Figure 23 represents a rocket head containing small bombs, each of which is
preferably provided with a safety fuse detonator as shown, a safety fuse detonator
being employed at the base of the explosive charge E as before described.
Shells or other projectiles may be similarly fitted with destructive appliances.
Figure 24 represents a shell provided with safety fuse detonator and time fuse t
open at rear end without any bell chamber.
Figure 25 represents explosive signal for firing from small arms provided with a
light signal in front, the rear end of the metal foil case being packed with a paper
or other shoe 8 and covered by a protective cap w.
Figures 26 and 27 represent shells or other projectiles having at their rear ends
gunpowder charges for their propulsion from guns, mortars, or the like; covering
caps for the powder are shown at v. In both these Figures the ends of the
explosive charges are secured from contact with fire or gas in the discharge of the
guns, either by paper or other shoes s pressed tight within the containing case or

page_text: cylinder itself as in Figure 26, or by completing the formation of the shell or other
projectile, and adding the powder charge externally thereto within and protected
by the cap v.
In the arrangement represented at Figure 27 a fuse t is passed entirely through
the projectile, and the safety fuse detonator is placed eccentrically in the charge.
On igniting the fuse t at the point or front end of the projectile, it will burn
through to the powder charge P, the explosion of which will discharge the
projectile from the gun or from a closed tube or orifice. The fuse t may be placed
eccentrically, and the safety fuse detonator centrally if desired.
I would here remark that the explosives used in the explosive charges herein
mentioned are violent explosives, such as gun cotton, nitro-glycerine, and others of
a similar character and not gunpowder.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the mode in which
I carry the same into effect, I would have it understood that what I claim is,-
First. The interposition of a safety fuse between the point of ignition, and the
fulminate of a detonator used to explode the explosive charge in rockets, shells,
bombs, and other projectiles, in manner and for the purpose substantially as herein
shown and described.
Second. The formation of the cases of rockets, rocket heads, shells, or other
receptacles of the explosive charge of metal foil or thin sheet metal with or
without a paper or other lining, substantially as herein shown and described.
Third. The compact filling of explosive charges in rockets, shells, bombs, or other
projectiles to prevent any dangerous set back of the explosive on the discharge
from guns or otherwise, substantially as herein described.
Fourth. The use of wings for steadying and controlling the flight of rockets
either in air or on or under water, substantially as herein shown and described.
Fifth. The intermingling of bombs and other missiles, and fragments of metal or
other hard materials in the explosive charges of rockets, shells, and other projectiles
compressed into a compact mass, substantially as herein shown and described.
Sixth. The modes of securing the heads and rear ends of rocket heads, shells, and
other projectiles, substantially as herein shown and described.
Seventh. The employment of a safety fuse detonator in all kinds of explosive
military and signalling projectiles, in combination with the arrangements for
ensuring safety in the use of such projectiles, substantially as herein shown and
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Joseph Mackie, have hereunto set iny
hand and seal, this First day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-nine
S. J. MACKIE. (L.S)