Improvement in Shells and Apparatus for Discharging the same for Signalling at Sea or for other Purposes.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 3rd July, 1889-Accepted, 6th Sept., 1889
TRUVIDIONAL DUTIVATION,
Improvement in Shells and Apparatus for Discharging the same for
Signalling at Sea or for other Purposes.
I, WILLIAM BALCH Pensioner R.N. 51, Chatsworth Road Clapton Park E.
London, E. in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an Improvment in signal shells, for signaling at sea and
for other purposes, and having for its object when thrown or fired in the air to make
a loud report and to show a number of stars the report to call attention to the lights
or stars at the same time clearing away any mist or fog's and to be practically free
from Accidental Firing or from Premature Explosion which under the present system
of Firing Signals are most dangerious. In carrying out my Invention, I manufacture
the stars of useual compositions & placed into a case entirly made of metal where also
is placed a maroon loaded with a strong detonating composition & then fused to allow
the stars to get well clear before it explode.
They may be also used for avoiding collisions at sea, etc.
The top of the shell is closed in by a metal cap or wedged into the most convenient
part. The lower part of the shell will be slightly smaller than the upper part with a
bottom projecting for fitting the cartridge, and at the bottom is placed a metal or
other Fuse, thus entirely superseding the old system of wood Fuses, which is very
liable to and very often split thus causing premature explosions and fatal accidients.
The object of the bottom being smaller is to allow the shell to fit into the cartridge so
that I require no cartridge chamber in the discharger. I also place a shield made of
the most suitable material or metal between the powder for firing and the bottom of
the shell & fuse. The fuse is for carrying the shell into the air.
The cartridge is off the well know centre firing principle, & when the electric
current is used I supersede the cap by a peice of rubber or other suitable material
with connecting wires led from the powder to the outside and at the most suitable
place for making the connections to the battery lanyard or button for making the
connections for firing.
The apparatus I employ for firing may be off the dropdown centre firing gun
principle or the barrell may be pivoted to the handle & the firing arrangments is
placed in the centre & upper part of the handle it consists of a rebounding or other
spring with the needle pin placed on the top and worked with a lever or a drawback
and catch, or when the tube is used for electric firing it is fixed on a ship's tafrail or
handle of tube or other convenient place and may be either loaded at the breech or
muzzel. And at the bottom of the tube where the base of the shell will rest on when
loaded is a button arranged for the connecting wires of the shell to rest on for firing
the same.
D
1000

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in Shells and Apparatus for Discharging the same for
Signalling at Sea or for other Purposes.
J, WILLIAM BALCH, of 34 Blurton Road, Clapton Park, E. late of 51 Chatsworth
Road, Clapton Park, E., in the County of Middlesex, Pensioner, R.N. do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and, by, the following
statement:-
My Invention relates to 'an improvement in signal shells for signalling 'at sea and
for other purposes, and having for its object when thrown, or fired in the air, by its
discharge to make a loud report and to show a number of stars. The report is
intended to call attention to the lights or stars, and at the same time clearing away
any mist, or fog; and by its construction to be practically free from accidental firing,
or from premature explosion,. which, under the present system of firing signals are
most dangerous.
In carrying out my Invention, Imanufacture the stars, of the usual compositions and
placed into a case entirely made of metal, where also is placed a maroon loaded with
a strong detonating composition, and then, fused to allow the stars, to get well clear
before it explodes.
This shell may be used for avoiding collisions at sea or for any other purposes.
The top of the shell is closed in by a metal cap of the most convenient shape.
The detonating composition may also be placed in the cap or wedged into the most
convenient place.
The lower part of the shell will be slightly smaller, than the upper part with a
bottom, projecting for fitting the cartridge, and at the bottom. is placed a metal or
other fuse, thus entirely superseding the old system of wood fuses which are very
liable to, and very often split, thus causing premature explosions and fatel accidients.
The object of the bottom being smaller is to allow the shell to fit into the cartridge
case, so that I require, no cartridge, chamber in, the discharger. I also-place a shield
made of the most suitable material, or metal. between the powder, for firing and the
bottom of the shell, and fuse, the. fuse is intended for carrying the, shell into the
air.
The cartridge is of the well known centre pin firing principle-but when the
electric current is used for the purpose of igniting the explosive compound, the cap
is removed and an electrical connection formed, by a peice of india rubber or other
suitable, material with a connecting wire of platinum, leading from the powder to the
outside peices of copper at, the most convenient place, and connected with or switched
on to a battery for the purpose of, firing.
The apparatus I employ for firing may be from a gun barrelsofther drop down
centre principle, or the barrel may be pivoted to the handle or stock, the firing
mechanism being placed. in the centre or upper part of, the, handle or breech part, and
consists of rebounding or other spring such as steel or rubber, with the needle: pin
placed on the top and worked by a lever or a catch, to lock the barrel in the breech.
When the barrel is used for electric firing, it is fixed on a ships taffrail or to a handle
for the tube, or other convenient place, and may be either loaded at the breech or
muzzle, and at the bottom of the tube where the base of the shell will rest on when
loaded is placed a switch, arranged for the transition of the current to fire the shell at
any desired moment. When the electric current is not used a lanyard may be used
for firing the needle and cap. One or more extractors may be used for the purpose
of removing the empty cartridge case after the gun is fired. And in order that
my Invention may be thoroughly understood I now proceed to describe the accom-
paning drawings thereof, reference being had to letters and figuers marked
thereon.
•
Figure 1. represents the elevation of the shell marked A with the cap C. at the
head of the shell, fitted into the cartridge case B.

page_text: Figure 2. denotes a longitudinal section of the shell fitted into the cartridge
case B, with the shell A, fitted into the case B. and seating on the shield F. with
holes in the centre to permit of igniting the fuse G when the explosion of the
powder E takes place; which said fuse ignites the quick match H. to throw out
the stars I. in its ascent, until the match burns to its end and explode the powder J,
in the head of the shell. A wood plug K is inserted beneath the head of the
shell, with a metal tine fuse L.
Figure 3, is an enlarged view of the back part of the cartridge case B, with
the cap D.
Figure represents the back part of the cartridge case fitted for electrical
induction O. being a vulcanite ring with an india rubber or vulcanite plug in the
centre P with copper divisions Q each being connected with the ends of the
platinum wire to complete the circuit when the current is switched on.
Figure 5 is a section of Figure 4 showing the platinum wire P in the powder
chamber E.
Figure 6 represents a section of the gun or apparatus for firing the shell, the
gun being of the ordinary centre pin fire principle. The breech is opened by
releasing the stop lever pin pivoted at the top of the barrel, and canted upwards
to enable the operator to insert the shell in the barrel, the breech being then
pressed downwards and locked by the lever bar at the top. The centre pin is
pulled downwards or if a trigger is used it is half cocked to enable the ratchet to
catch on the teeth of the trigger check for the purpose of full cocking the trigger.
The gun is discharged by pressing the trigger V upwards by which means the pin is
released and forced by the spring against the cap of the cartridge case and thereby
discharging the shell by the force of the stricker against the cap.
Figure 7 is the outside view of Figure 6. Figure 8 is the stop lever pin for
locking the breech. Figure 9 represents the gun fitted to the talfrail of a ship.
Figure 10. is the mode of attaching the cases together.
Like letters refer to like parts in each of the figures. A shell case, B. cartridge
case, C. head of shell, D. cap, E discharging powder F shield G metal time fuse,
H. match I. stars J explosive powder in the head of shell, K wood plug, L. fuse,
M. base of chamber J. N case, O. vulcanite ring, P. india rubber plug, P₁ platinum
wire, Q, cooper pieces, R. gun barrel, U. stock V trigger g pull to central fire pin
stricker, a. lever catch b spindle, e pivot pin d. racket on stricker e stricker f. spring
h spring i. plug j. catch pink ejector or extractor, I knob, m lever n catch o breech
support, spring y pivot ŕ lanyard, staffrail. B¹, the joint, j¹ the position where the
case butt togeather.
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.
First The combination of the signal shell, for the purpose of being discharged or
fired into the air for signalling at sea and for other purposes and by its discharge to
make a loud report and to throw out a number of stars, substantially as herein
described and according to the accompanying drawings.
:
Secondly The combination of the shell fitted into the case B and discharged by
the cap D, and the powder E with the shield F and the metal fuse G to ignite the
quick match H to discharge the stars I, and to explode the powder J at the head of
the shell, to be constructed in any size or of any description of material substantially
as herin described and according to the accompanying drawings.
:
Thirdly The combination in the cartridge case B, of the vulcanite ring O, and the
rubber P with the cooper peices Q connected to a platinum wire P¹ inserted in the
powder chamber E, for the purpose of switching the electrical currant for exploding the
powder E substantially as herin described and according to the accompaning drawings.
Fourthly The combination of the gun or apparatus for discharging the shell, and
the mechanism for the locking and unlocking the breech, arranged in and after the
manner herein contained, constructed of any size, substantially as herein described
and according to the accompaning drawings.
:

page_text: :
Fifthly I claim the mechanism of the striker and the trigger, with the racket by
the pull down to catch in the teeth of the trigger catch, and the mode of releasing
the racket to force the striker by means of the spring to strike the cap, and explode
the powder to discharge the signal shell, substantially as herin described and according
to the accompaning drawings.
:
Sixthly I claim the apparatus fixed on a ships taffrail or any other convenient
place to be fired by being placed above a switch, arranged for the transition of the
currant to fire the shell substantially as herein described or when the electric currant
is not used the shell is fired by the centre fire principle by means of a lever hammer
or other arrangment.
Dated this 7th day of June 1930
J. P. BAYLY,
18, Fulham Place, W., Agent for the Applicant.