Improvements in Signal Lights, Rockets, or other Fireworks for Marine and other Purposes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Sept., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 19th May, 1893-Accepted, 24th June, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Signal Lights, Rockets, or other Fireworks for
Marine and other Purposes.
I, JAMES PAIN of 121 Walworth Road in the County of London, and
9 St. Mary Axe in the City of London, Pyrotechnist, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to fireworks of the character of ships' signal lights rockets
or the like (such as "red flares" for fishing and other vessels) and the object of
this invention is to produce such fireworks of a thoroughly safe and damp proof
character and so that should the igniting cap (or detachable part carrying the
ignition surface) accidentally become detached while stored the ignition surface
thereon will remain covered and protected and thereby prevent the accidental
rubbing therewith of the other ignition part on the firework.
For this purpose my present invention is as follows:-
The charge is contained in any suitable case or holder and on the outer end
thereof has igniting composition advantageously of a "safety "character such as on
the Bryant & May matches.
"
Over this I place a removable cap or covering and then this outer end is entirely
covered in by a "capsule or covering advantageously of tin foil or the like and a
tape string or the like laid in under same to facilitate the tearing off of this
capsule.
Or the said removable cap may be dispensed with and the capsule placed directly
over the outer end of the firework; the object being in either arrangement to
provide a damp proof covering.
The other part of the chemical composition required to cause ignition by friction
is placed on a separate detachable cap or cover which is arranged and 'mounted
(to either slide or screw) on to the back end or handle of the firework.
Having placed this tubular cap (having the said ignition surface outermost
thereon) over the back end or handle of the firework I then also securely capsule
and entirely enclose the back end in a tin foil or other covering tightly compressed
around same (and may also lay in a tape etcetera to facilitate removal thereof) and
thus the two igniting compositions are not only entirely separated but are also both
capsuled and rendered damp proof at each end.
The double capsuled firework i.e. the two capsuled ends thereof may be varnished
or otherwise treated to further render same damp proof.
In some cases I form a depression or a shoulder all round towards the back end
of the handle to assist in retaining the capsule (and the detachable cap) on the back
of the firework.
Dated this 9th day of September 1892.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Signal Lights, Rockets, or other Fireworks for
Marine and other Purposes.
I, JAMES PAIN of 121 Walworth Road in the County of London and
9 St. Mary Axe in the City of London, Pyrotechnist, 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 :-
This invention relates to fireworks of the character of ships' signal lights rockets
or the like (such as "red flares" for fishing and other vessels) and the object of
this invention is to produce such fireworks of a thoroughly safe and damp-proof
character and so that should the igniting cap (or detachable part carrying the
ignition surface) accidentally become detached while stored the ignition surface
thereon will remain covered and protected and thereby prevent the accidental
rubbing therewith of the other ignition part on the firework.
--
For this purpose my present invention is as follows:-
The charge is contained in any suitable case or holder and on the outer end
thereof has igniting composition advantageously of a "safety" character such as
on the Bryant & May matches.
66
39
Over this I place a removable cap or covering and then this outer end is
entirely covered in by a capsule or covering advantageously of tin foil or the
like and a tape string or the like laid in under same to facilitate the tearing off
of this capsule.
Or the said removable cap may be dispensed with and the capsule placed
directly over the outer end of the firework (with a tape or the like laid under
to facilitate tearing off) the object being in either arrangement to provide a damp
proof covering.
The other part of the chemical composition required to cause ignition by
friction is placed on a separate detachable cap or cover which is arranged and
mounted (to either slide or screw) on to the other end or handle or other convenient
part of the firework.
Having placed this tubular cap (having the said ignition surface outermost
thereon) over the handle or other end or part separate from the ignition end of
the firework then also securely capsule and entirely enclose the back end in a
tin foil or other covering tightly compressed around same (and may also lay in a
tape etcetera to facilitate removal thereof) and thus the two separate igniting com-
positions are not only entirely isolated but are also both capsuled and rendered
damp proof at each end.
The double capsuled firework i.e. the two capsuled ends thereof may be varnished
or otherwise treated to further render same damp proof.
In some cases I form a depression or a shoulder all round towards the back end
of the handle to assist in retaining the capsule (and the detachable cap) on the back
of the firework.
And in order that my present invention may be the more easily understood and
readily carried into practice I will proceed to further describe same with reference
to the drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of a firework (ciz. a "flare" or signal such as used
on fishing and other vessels) having my present improvements applied thereto.
Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of same.
Fig. 3 shows a rocket (without the stick thereof) having my present improvements
applied thereto.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2:-
a is the handle.

page_text: the combustible material with ignition material d thercon all of which are old
and well understood.
e is protecting cover or cap slid (or screwed) onto b.
fis tin foil capsule and
g tape or the like laid in between e and f.
his second cap on the other end of the firework remote from d-this cap h
having the other part of the ignition material on the outer end thereof, which
when rubbed smartly against d will cause ignition.
iis tin foil capsule over h.
jis a tape or the like laid in between h and i.
The operation is as follows:-
The capsule is torn off by means of the tape g and the cover e removed and
thrown away. The capsule i is next torn off by means of the tape j and the
friction cap is then removed and the outer end thereof applied to d and ignition
is thereby caused.
Referring now to Fig. 3.
d is the fuse leading to the combustible material in the rocket k.
is a capsule of tin foil forming a protecting cover to the ignition end of
such fuse.
is
a tape laid in between d and to tear off the latter when required.
The friction cap or detached part carrying the other part of the igniting
composition is screwed onto the block or end m of the rocket.
Over this cap is placed an outer cover in the form of a second screw cap n
(advantageously of thin metal) which thereby completely isolates h-or instead
of having a screw cap covering such as n I may capsule h by a tin foil covering as
in Fig. 2.
It will thus be readily seen that should any of the friction caps become
detached in storing or transit the frictional surface thereon will remain capsuled
or covered in so that even if the other frictional surfaces d became uncovered
there would be no fear of accidental ignition being caused.
Safety, therefore, is the especial aim and object attained by my present
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I would remark that I am
fully aware of the state of the art and have myself received already the grant
(inter alia) of two Patents Nos. 1031 and 2723 both of 1888 in which is shown
a single capsule or protecting cover and I therefore make no claim herein separately
to any part or parts which are old and well known but what I do claim and
claim only is :-
1. In signal lights rockets or the like fireworks the combination of an ignition
cap or detached part carrying one part of the ignition material isolated and
separately mounted on the firework remote from the ignition surface on the com-
bustible material with a separate capsule or cover for protecting such separated
cap or part and means to easily remove said capsules or cover substantially in the
manner and for the purposes herein before set forth.
2. I claim a double capsuled ship signal light rocket or the like firework
arranged constructed combined and acting substantially in the manner and for the
purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated in the drawings hereunto annexed.
Dated this 19th day of May 1893.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.