IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR USE IN CASE OF SHIPWRECK TO EFFECT COMMU- NICATION BETWEEN THE WRECK AND THE SHORE, AND FOR OTHER LIKE PUR- POSES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Willian Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR USE IN CASE OF SHIPWRECK TO EFFECT COMMU-
NICATION BETWEEN THE WRECK AND THE SHORE, AND FOR OTHER LIKE PUR-
POSES." A communication from abroad by Edmund S. Hunt, of Weymouth,
Massachusetts, United States of America.
Sealed the 19th July 1878, and dated the 22nd May 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd May 1878.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR USE IN CASE OF
SHIPWRECK TO EFFECT COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE WRECK AND THE SHORE,
AND FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES." [A communication from abroad by Edmund
S. Hunt, of Weymouth, Massachusetts, United States of America.]
This Invention is more especially designed to provide improved means for
throwing a line from the shore to a wreck or from a wreck to the shore, but may
also be adapted to other uses.
The distinguishing characteristic of this Invention is a projectile, which comprises
a shot, a coil of line, and a coil case, the novelty being that the line is paid out
from the projectile during its flight, in lieu of being dragged or pulled out from a
stationary coil. In this manner the strain upon the line, and also the retardation
of the shot are reduced very greatly, all danger of breaking the line is practically
obviated, and the distance to which the line can be accurately thrown is very greatly
increased.
The minor features of the said Invention comprise the mode of coiling the line,
and the mode of holding it, and of preventing injury to it from the gases which
escape from the mouth of the gun.

page_text: In carrying the said Invention into practice I form a projectile comprising a shot,
a coil case, and a coil; a wooden mouth-piece is attached to the said coil case in
order to ensure that the sharp edge of the said case shall not injure the line. I
also provide wings (usually four in number) attached to the rear end of the coil
case to make its flight more direct. To the end of the line I attach a short piece
of stouter line, the stout line being less likely to be injured by the escaping gases
or the like near the mouth of the gun when fired. For a like reason the said
length of stout line is supported by a supporting piece, which prevents it from
lying directly across the mouth of the gun, that being the most unfavorable position
for it.
The coil is formed by winding the line upon a mandrel, the line passing through
a vessel containing melted paraffine or other like substance, and also passing
through suitable tension mechanism to make the coil compact. A single coil is
first wound of the desired length, then a second coil over, but along the course of
the first; then a third like the first, but over the second; then a fourth like the
second, but over the third, and so on forming a compact cylindrical coil containing
the desired length of line, the size of coil varying with the length and size of the
line; a hand coil is made in the same way. After the coil is put in the case a
small amount of melted paraffine is applied between it and the case, and it is thus
held securely in the case.
It is proposed in practice to make the hand coil of considerably heavier line than
the shot coil.
The said improved apparatus is prepared by putting the hand coil and shot coil
mouth to mouth, and covering the joint with a short motal cylinder, making the
whole water-tight by a suitable covering.
To use the apparatus I separate the hand coil from the projectile, load the pro-
jectile mouth outwards, place the length of stout line over the supporter, and hold
the hand coil in the hand, its mouth in the same direction as the mouth of the gun.
When the gun is fired only a small portion of the line from the hand coil will be
drawn out; the length of coil in the shot should be considerably in excess of the
range of theshot, which will depend upon well-known principles.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st
November 1878.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltino, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR USE IN CASE OF
SHIPWRECK TO EFFECT COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE WRECK AND THE SHORE,
AND FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by Edmund
S. Hunt, of Weymouth, Massachusetts, United States of America.
This Invention is more especially designed to provide apparatus or means for
throwing a line from the shore to a wreck, or from a wreck to the shore, but may
also be adapted to other uses.
The distinguishing characteristic of this Invention is a projectile which comprises
a shot, a coil of line, and a coil case, the said line being paid out from the projectile
during its flight, in lieu of being dragged or pulled out from a stationary coil. In
this manner the strain upon the line, and also the retardation of the shot, are
reduced very greatly, all danger of breaking the line is practically obviated, and the
distance to which the said line can be accurately thrown is very greatly increased.
The minor features of the said Invention comprise the mode of coiling the lino,
and the mode of holding the same, and of preventing injury to it from the gases
which escape from the mouth of the gun.
The said apparatus is illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, which show the
shot having the coil case applied to it, also one of the hand coil cases, and a line
support attached to the gun, as herein-after described.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the said projectile; Figure 2 is a side view
of the same and apparatus connected therewith.
In the projectile shown in the Drawing A is the powder; B, the shot; C, the
coil case, and D, the coil; E is a wooden mouth-piece attached to the caso C to
prevent injury to the line by the sharp edge of the coil case C; and I, I, are wings
(usually four in number) attached to the rear end of the coil case to make its flight
more direct. The end of the line D, where a light line is used, is attachod to a
short piece of stouter line D³, the line D2 being less likely to be injured than a
lighter line by the escaping gases or other matters near the mouth of the gun when
fixed. For a like reason the line D is supported, as shewn in Figure 2, by the
supporting piece G, which prevents its lying directly across the mouth of the gun,
that being the most unfavorable position for the same.
The coil is formed by winding the line upon a mandrel, the line passing through
a vessel containing melted paraffin or other like substance, and also through
suitable tension mechanism to make the coil compact. A single coil is first wound
of the desired length; then a second coil over, but along the course of the first coil;
then a third coil like the first, but over the second; then a fourth coil like the
second, but over the third, and so on, forming a compact cylindrical coil, containing
the desired length of line, the size of coil varying with the length and size of the
line; the hand coil is made in the same manner. After the coil is put in the case a
small quantity of melted paraffine is applied between it and the case, and it is thus
held securely in the said case.
It is proposed in practice to make the hand coil of considerably heavier line than
the shot coil, using for the hand coil the line D².
The said improved apparatus is prepared by putting the hand coil and shot coil
mouth to mouth, and covering the joint with a short metal cylinder, making the
whole water-tight by a suitable covering.
In using the said apparatus I separate the hand coil from the projectile, load the
said projectile mouth outwards, place the line D2 over the supporter G, as shown
in Figure 2, and hold the hand coil in the hand with its mouth in the same
direction as the mouth of the gun H. When the gun is fired only a small portion

page_text: of the line from the hand coil will be drawn out; the length of coil in the shot
should be considerably in excess of the range of the shot.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. The projectile, consisting of the shot, the coil, and the coil case or holder,
the said coil holder forming a part of and travelling with the shot, all as above
described, and for the purposes specified.
Second. The coil composed of a series of coils packed with paraffine or equivalent
material, as above described.
Third. The supporter in combination with the gun, as and for the purpose
specified.
Fourth. The projectile made up of the shot and its coil, in combination with the
hand coil, the two coils being joined at their contiguous ends, as above specified and
shown.
.
-
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
WM RORT LAKE