An Improved Alarm or Signal Gun or Apparatus for Indicating the Presence of Poachers in Game Preserves and for other Purposes.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Aug.. 1887
Complete Left, 24th May, 1888
Complete Accepted, 29th June, 1888
An Improved Alarm or Signal Gun or Apparatus for Indicating the
Presence of Poachers in Game Preserves and for other Purposes.
I, EDWARD DRINKWATER, of Cholmondeley Park, Malpas, in the County of
Chester, Head Park and Game Keeper, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
Alarm or signal guns as heretofore constructed are adapted to fire only a single
shot. The disadvantage of such guns is that if they explode on a windy night it is
difficult for a gamekeeper or other person to discover from what quarter the sound
proceeded.
The object of my invention is to provide a gun which will fire a series of successive
charges at intervals, so that when a person is attracted by a shot he may by listening
for succeeding shots ascertain the point at which they are being discharged.
My improved apparatus comprises a metal box or case having at one side a series
of chambers at the inner ends of which are holes communicating with the interior of
the said box.
These chambers are adapted to be charged with gunpowder or other explosive, and
to be fired successively.
For this purpose I employ a continuous fuse which is designed to be ignited by the
explosion of a cap or the like. The said fuse is mounted upon a bar which has a
series of arms or projections adapted to enter the said communicating holes. At the
end of each arm the fuse is slit longitudinally so that when it is ignited it will fire
the charge with which it is in connection. Between each two arms the fuse is drawn
back in proximity to the bar, so as to obtain a sufficient length of fuse between each
two chambers to prevent the successive charges from being fired too rapidly.
The bar carrying the said arms is made removable, so that after the apparatus has
been fired a new fuse may be readily inserted therein.
The end of the fuse which is to be ignited is located in a small box upon which is
a nipple for carrying a cap or other detonator. In proximity to the end of the fuse
in the box I place a small quantity of gunpowder, so that when the detonator is fired
the fire will pass through the centre of the nipple and ignite the powder, which in its
turn will light the fuse.

page_text: The detonator is adapted to be fired by means of a hammer which is normally held
in an elevated position by means of a plate or the like which is supported by a catch
attached to a wire or string adapted to be drawn around the part protected. When
the string is pulled either by a person walking against the same or from any other
cause the catch is released together with the plate, whereby the hammer is allowed
to fall.
It is to be understood that any desirable form of hammer and any suitable means
for releasing the same may be employed.
It is also to be understood that the apparatus may be provided with any desired
number of chambers all or part of which may be charged.
In order to prevent the interior of the apparatus from being damaged by moisture
I preferably provide the box or case with a cover which is adapted to be closed
against an india rubber or other joint, and with a movable tin case which will cover
the whole of the apparatus and, projecting a few inches, be open at the front to allow
of the explosion taking place.
Dated the 24th ...
1007
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Alarm or Signal Gun or Apparatus for Indicating the
Presence of Poachers in Game Preserves and for other Purposes.
I, EDWARD DRINKWATER, of Cholmondeley Park, Malpas, in the County of Chester,
Head Game and Park Keeper, 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 :—
Alarm or signal guns as generally heretofore constructed are adapted to fire only
a single shot. The disadvantage of such guns is that if they explode on a windy
night it is difficult for a gamekeeper or other person to discover from what quarter
the sound proceeded.
The object of my invention is to provide a gun which will fire a series of successive
charges at intervals, without the employment of springs or clockwork so that when a
person is attracted by a shot he may by listening for succeeding shots ascertain the
point at which they are being discharged.
My improved apparatus comprises a metal box or case having at one side a series
of chambers at the inner ends of which are holes communicating with the interior of
the said box.

page_text: The chambers are adapted to be charged with gunpowder or other explosive, and to
be fired successively.
For this purpose I employ a continuous fuse which is designed to be ignited by the
explosion of a cap or the like. The said fuse is mounted upon a bar which has a
series of arms or projections adapted to enter the said communicating holes. At the
end of each arm the fuse is slit longitudinally so that when it is ignited it will fire
the charge with which it is in connection. Between each two arms the fuse is drawn
back in proximity to the bar so as to obtain a sufficient length of fuse between each
two chambers to prevent the successive charges from being fired too rapidly.
The bar carrying the said arms is made removable so that after the apparatus has
been fired a new fuse may be readily inserted therein.
The end of the fuse which is to be ignited is located in a small box upon which is a
nipple for carrying a cap or other detonator. In proximity to the end of the fuse in
the box I place a small quantity of gunpowder so that when the detonator is fired the
fire will pass through the centre of the nipple and ignite the powder, which in its turn
will light the fuse.
The detonator is adapted to be fired by means of a hammer which is normally held
in an elevated position by means of a plate or the like which is supported by a catch
attached to a wire or string adapted to be drawn around the piece of ground to be
protected. When the string is pulled either by a person against the same or from
any other cause the catch is released together with the plate, whereby the hammer is
allowed to fall.
It is to be understood that any desirable form of hammer and any suitable means
for releasing the same may be employed.
It is also to be understood that the apparatus may be provided with any desired
number of chambers all or part of which may be charged.
In order to prevent the interior of the apparatus from being damaged by moisture I
preferably provide the box or case with a cover which is adapted to be closed against
an india rubber or other joint, and with a movable tin case which will cover the whole
of the apparatus and, projecting a few inches, be open at the front to allow of the
explosion taking place.
To enable my invention to be clearly understood I will describe to same with
reference to the accompanying drawings in which
and
Figure 1 is a front elevation of an alarm gun constructed according to my invention
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.
Figure 3 is a section on the line x, x, figure 1, and
Figure 4 is a section on the line y, y, figure 3.
a is the metal box or case having the cover b adapted to be secured by the nuts c,
and c is the piece of india-rubber or other material for forming a tight joint between
the cover and box.
d, d are the chambers or barrels which communicate with the interior of the said box
through the holes e, e and is the bar having the arms g, y for carrying the fuse in
close proximity to the holes e, e, the said bar being carried between the two plates h, h
which are adapted to slide into and out of the box.
i is the fuse which is passed around the bar and the ends of the arms g, g. The
said fuse is preferably formed of an outer tubular covering containing the inflammable
material, so that slits, have to be cut in the said covering to allow the flame to be
communicated to the charges in the chambers d, d.
jis the box in which the ignition of the fuse is effected. This box is adapted to
receive a cartridge similar to a pin fire cartridge, in such a manner that the pin k
thereof projects as shown. One end of the fuse is placed in a plug which latter is
then inserted into the aperture in the end of the box j, so that when the cartridge is
fired the fuse will be ignited.
m is the hammer which has secured to it the rod n and which is guided by rods o, o
between the plates h, h. The rod n is adapted to slide through holes in the lower of
the two plates and in the base of the box a.

page_text: is the plate which holds the hammer in its elevated position, the said plate being
hinged at and normally held in place by a thin piece of metal s hereinafter termed a
When the said catch is
catch the edge of which is located in a notch t in the lugu.
removed from the notch t owing to contact of a person with a string connected thereto
or from any other cause, the plate q drops to the position shown in dotted lines, figure 3,
so that the hammer is free to drop and strike the pin k, also as indicated by dotted lines
in figure 3. A hole v is formed in the lug u so that a lock can be applied to prevent
the firing of the charge.
It will be readily understood that when the barrels or a part of them are charged
they will be fired in succession after the fuse has been ignited.
my
said
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. An alarm or signal gun having a series of barrels or chambers which when
charged are adapted to be fired successively by means of a fuse substantially in the
manner described.
2. In an alarm or signal gun having a series of barrels, the means for carrying the
fuse, substantially as described.
3. The manufacture and use of the improved gun hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
1000
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: This Specification was, upon the 29th day of January 1889, Amended under
Sections 18 to 21 of the Patents, Designs, and Trade Marks Act, 1883.
An Improved Alarm or Signal Gun or Apparatus for Indicating the
Presence of Poachers in Game Preserves and for other Purposes.
I, EDWARD DRINKWATER, of Cholmondeley Park, Malpas, in the County of
Chester, Head Park and Game Keeper, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows :-
Alarm or signal guns as heretofore constructed are adapted to fire only a single
shot. The disadvantage of such guns is that if they explode on a windy night it is
difficult for a gamekeeper or other person to discover from what. quarter the sound
proceeded.
The object of my invention is to provide a gun which will fire a series of successive
charges at intervals, so that when a person is attracted by a shot he may by listening
for succeeding shots ascertain the point at which they are being discharged.
My improved apparatus comprises a metal box or case having at one side a series
of chambers at the inner ends of which are holes communicating with the interior of
the said box.
These chambers are adapted to be charged with gunpowder or other explosive, and
to be fired successively.
For this purpose I employ a continuous fuse which is designed to be ignited by the
explosion of a cap or the like. The said fuse is mounted upon a bar which has a
series of arms or projections adapted to enter the said communicating holes. At the
end of each arm the fuse is slit longitudinally so that when it is ignited it will fire
the charge with which it is in connection. Between each two arms the fuse is drawn
back in proximity to the bar, so as to obtain a sufficient length of fuse between each
two chambers to prevent the successive charges from being fired too rapidly.
The bar carrying the said arms is made removable, so that after the apparatus has
been fired a new fuse may be readily inserted therein.
The end of the fuse which is be to ignited is located in a small box upon which is
a nipple for carrying a cap or other detonator. In proximity to the end of the fuse
in the box I place a small quantity of gunpowder, so that when the detonator is fired
the fire will pass through the centre of the nipple and ignite the powder, which in its
turn will light the fuse.

page_text: The detonator is adapted to be fired by means of a hammer which is normally held
in an elevated position by means of a plate or the like which is supported by a catch
attached to a wire or string adapted to be drawn around the part protected. When
the string is pulled either by a person walking against the same or from any other
cause the catch is released together with the plate, whereby the hammer is allowed
to fall.
It is to be understood that any desirable form of hammer and any suitable means
for releasing the same may be employed.
It is also to be understood that the apparatus may be provided with any desired
number of chambers all or part of which may be charged.
In order to prevent the interior of the apparatus from being damaged by moisture
I preferably provide the box or case with a cover which is adapted to be closed
against an india rubber or other joint, and with a movable fin case which will cover
the whole of the apparatus and, projecting a few inches, be open at the front to allow
of the explosion taking place.
Dated the 24th day of August 1887.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agents for the Applicant.
Αρναιαυτό 101
UC
Presence of Poachers in Game Preserves and for other Purposes.
I, EDWARD DRINKWATER, of Cholmondeley Park, Malpas, in the County of Chester,
Head Game and Park Keeper, 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 :-
Alarm or signal guns as generally heretofore constructed are adapted to fire only
a single-shot. The disadvantage of such guns is that if they explode on a windy
night it is difficult for a gamekeeper or other person to discover from what quarter
the sound proceeded.
The object of my invention is to provide a gun-which will an improved alarm or
signal gun or apparatus adapted to fire a series of successive charges at intervals,
without the employment of springs or clockwork so that when a person is attracted
by a shot he may by listening for succeeding shots ascertain the point at which they
are being discharged.
My improved apparatus comprises a metal box or case having at one side a series
of chambers at the inner ends of which are holes communicating with the interior of
the said box.

page_text: The chambers are adapted to be charged with gunpowder or other explosive, and to
be fired successively.
For this purpose I employ a continuous fuse which is designed to be ignited by the
explosion of a cap or the like. The said fuse is mounted upon a bar which has a
series of arms or projections adapted to enter the said communicating holes. At the
end of each arm the fuse is slit longitudinally so that when it is ignited it will fire
the charge with which it is in connection. Between each two arms the fuse is drawn
back in proximity to the bar so as to obtain a sufficient length of fuse between each
two chambers to prevent the successive charges from being fired too rapidly.
The bar carrying the said arms is made removable so that after the apparatus has
been fired a new fuse may be readily inserted therein.
The end of the fuse which is to be ignited is located in a small box upon which is a
nipple for carrying a cap or other detonator. In proximity to the end of the fuse in .
the box I place a small quantity of gunpowder so that when the detonator is fired the
fire will pass through the centre of the nipple and ignite the powder, which in its turn
will light the fuse.
The detonator is adapted to be fired by means of a hammer which is normally held
in an clevated position by means of a plate or the like which is supported by a catch
attached to a wire or string adapted to be drawn around the piece of ground to be
protected. When the string is pulled either by a person against the same or from
any other cause the catch is released together with the plate, whereby the hammer is
allowed to fall.
It is to be understood that any desirable form of hammer and any suitable means
for releasing the same may be employed.
It is also to be understood that the apparatus may be provided with any desired
number of chambers all or part of which may be charged.
In order to prevent the interior of the apparatus from being damaged by moisture I
preferably provide the box or case with a cover which is adapted to be closed against
an india rubber or other joint, and with a movable tin case which will cover the whole
of the apparatus and, projecting a few inches, be open at the front to allow of the
explosion taking place."
To enable my invention to be clearly understood I will describe the same with
reference to the accompanying drawings in which
and
Figure 1 is a front elevation of an alarm gun constructed according to my invention
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.
Figure 3 is à section on the line a, a, figure 1, and
Figure 4 is a section on the line y, y, figure 3.
a is the metal box or case having the cover adapted to be secured by the nuts c,
and c¹ is the piece of india-rubber or other material for forming a tight joint between
the cover and box.
d, d are the chambers or barrels which communicate with the interior of the said box
through the holes e, e and is the bar having the arms g, for carrying the fuse in
close proximity to the holes e, e. the said bar being carried between the two plates h, h
which are adapted to slide into and out of the box.
is the fuse which is passed around the bar fand the ends of the arms g, g. The
said fuse is preferably formed of an outer tubular covering containing the inflammable
material, so that slits, have to be cut in the said covering to allow the flame to be
communicated to the charges in the chambers d, d.
jis the box in which the ignition of the fuse is effected. This box is adapted to
receive a cartridge similar to a pin fire cartridge, in such a manner that the pin k
thereof projects as shown. One end of the fuse is placed in a plug which latter is
then inserted into the aperture in the end of the box j, so that when the cartridge is
fired the fuse will be ignited.
m is the hammer which has secured to it the rod and which is guided by rods 0, 0
between the plates h, h. The rod is adapted to slide through holes in the lower of
the two plates and in the base of the box a.

page_text: 9 is the plate which holds the hammer in its elevated position, the said plate being
hinged at and normally held in place by a thin piece of metal s hereinafter termed a
catch the edge of which is located in a notch t in the lug u. When the said catch is
removed from the notch t owing to contact of a person with a string connected thereto
or from any other cause, the plate q drops to the position shown in dotted lines, figuro 3,
so that the hammer is free to drop and strike the pin k, also as indicated by dotted lines
in figure 3. A hole v is formed in the lug u so that a lock can be applied to prevent
the firing of the charge.
It will be readily understood that when the barrels or a part of them are charged
they will be fired in succession after the fuse has been ignited.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. An alarm or signal gun having a series of barrels or chambers which when
charged are adapted to be fired successively by means of a fuse mounted upon a bar
having a series of arms or projections substantially in the manner and for the purpose
described.
2. In an alarm or signal gun having a series of barrels, the means for carrying the
fuse, substantially as described.
3. The manufacture and use of the improved gun hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
73
13
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agents for the Applicant.