IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CON- NECTED WITH ROCKETS TO BE USED FOR WAR, LIFE-SAVING, AND ILLUMINATING PURPOSES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Burridge, of Great Portland Street, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CON-
NECTED WITH ROCKETS TO BE USED FOR WAR, LIFE-SAVING, AND ILLUMINATING
PURPOSES."
Sealed the 14th February 1879, and dated the 12th December 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Burridge at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th December 1878.
"
JOSEPH BURRIDGE, of Great Portland Street, in the County of Middlesex;
Gentleman. IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH ROCKETS TO BE USED FOR
WAR, LIFE-SAVING, AND ILLUMINATING PURPOSES."
This Invention relates to and consists in the application (and use) of an additional
or external case, body, or jacket, to rockets as at present in use for war, life-saving,
and illuminating purposes, the object being the obtainment of an additional or
increased area or space in which to contain the charge or explosive or illuminating
part of the rocket.
This case, body, or jacket, I propose to make of metal or of other suitably strong
material, and somewhat in the shape of a hollow cylinder, or of any other required
form, according to the shape or form of the rocket that the case is intended for, and
the case is to be so constructed as to entirely (or partially) cover the whole or main
part of that portion of the rocket containing the firing charge.
For war purposes the case is intended to contain either a charge of gun cotton or
of other explosive material or substance, or it may contain whatever else of a
projectile nature that may be required for attacking purposes in war.
For life-saving purposes the case may be made to contain either the composition
causing the flight of the rocket in addition to the ordinary firing charge, or other
explosive or illuminating substance or material, or anything portable that may be
I Price 6d21

page_text: required for the purpose of aiding in saving life in case of shipwreck or other-
wise.
And for illuminating purposes the case is adapted to hold or may be filled with
the firework composition contained in the rocket, or it may contain whatever else
is required to increase or magnify the illuminating effect.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph Burridge in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th June
1879.
JOSEPH BURRIDGE, of Great Portland Street, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH ROCKETS TO BE USED FOR
WAR, LIFE-SAVING, AND ILLUMINATING PURPOSES."
This Invention relates to certain improvements in war, life-saving, and illumina-
ting or signal rockets, whereby the efficiency of the rockets for their respective uses
is very materially increased, the special objects of the Invention being to obtain
with respect to war-rockets, a much greater capacity for the propelling composition
and consequently a greatly increased range or flight, a much greater capacity
for the gun-cotton or other destructive charge or composition, and consequently
an increased destructive effect upon the object aimed at or hit, with a greater
certainty of the desired effect being obtained, as hereinafter described, and a
much freer escape at the rear for the gas, so as to prevent the possibility of the
rockets bursting, as with the present methods of construction is so frequently the
case; and with respect to life-saving rockets, a greatly increased capacity for the
propelling composition and an increased range, so that many vessels in distress for
some distance beyond the range of the most perfect rockets, as at present made,
may be reached and be within the range of my improved rockets, and a longer line
may be carried than at present; and with respect to illuminating or signalling
rockets, besides a similar increase in the range and time of flight, a greatly increased
capacity for the illuminating or signalling composition is obtained, whereby the
illuminating or signalling is extended over a much longer period than at present with
the usual rockets, consequently enabling observations to be more perfectly made, and
to be more certain of attracting observation or attention in signalling or in distress.
The Invention consists mainly in constructing such rockets with an additional
case or chamber, surrounding the one with which they are at present formed, for
the purpose of attaining the additional or increased area or space necessary for
an increased charge of the propelling, explosive, illuminating, or signalling com-
position.
Such being the nature and object of my said Invention, I will now proceed to
describe more in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed
or carried into practical effect, and in order that such description may be clearly

page_text: understood, I have annexed hereunto two Sheets of Drawings illustative thereof,
and have marked the same with figures of reference corresponding with those in
the following description thereof.
The rocket for war purposes is made preferably of the form illustrated on the
accompanying Sheets of Drawings in Figures 1 and 2, which are respectively a
longitudinal section and an end or rear view, but it may be made of any other
shape suitable for aërial flight.
1 represents the case of the rocket with which it is usually formed; and 2, the
usual charge of propelling composition.
3 represents the additional or external case with which I provide the rocket; and
4, the increased or additional charge of propelling composition which is arranged
within the case 3, and between it and a second case 5 surrounding the usual case 1,
but with a free or uncharged space 6 between the cases.
The cases 1, 3, and 5, and the head 7, are preferably made of Bessemer steel plate,
the point 8 of the head also being formed of steel and attached to the head by
rivetting inside (as shown in Figure 1) or by any other suitable method.
9 represents the usual cast iron socket which is rivetted to the case 1 and is
screwed internally for receiving the usual cast iron tail piece 10 which is screwed
thereinto and made fast by set screws passing through the projecting rim of the tail
piece into the socket; 11 represents the usual gas escape holes leading from the
chamber 1.
12 represents an additional tail piece which I screw upon the external surface of
the socket 9 and secure by set screws, this tail piece being provided with a series of
auxiliary gas escape holes 13 leading from the space or chamber 6 between the
cases 1 and 5.
14 represents another additional tail piece which I screw upon the external
surface of the tail piece 12 and rivet it to the case 3, this tail piece is also provided
with a series of gas escape holes 15 leading from the chamber 3.
16 represents a connecting plate, preferably of gun metal, which is rivetted to
the cases 1, 5, and is perforated with a series of gas escape holes 17 leading from the
chamber 1 to the chamber 6.
18 represents the usual hole which is drilled down the composition 2 (but hitherto
only to about three-quarters or thereabouts of its entire length) for the purpose of
facilitating the formation of the gas, the issue of which through the gas holes 11
has hitherto been the only means of causing the propulsion of the rocket.
Now it is constantly found that with this arrangement the generation of the gas is
far too rapid, and that there is not enough or sufficient escape for the gas, though
the holes 11 are of as great a collective capacity as the arrangement will allow of,
and consequently the pressure within rapidly accumulates, frequently bursting the
rocket and rendering it useless before it has reached the object intended to be
damaged or destroyed.
I remedy this defect by continuing the perforation of the central hole 18 through-
out the composition so as to communicate with the series of gas escape holes 17,
which, as above mentioned, lead from the chamber 1 to the chamber 6, the over-
pressure of the gas being thus relieved and its escape facilitated, and thus all danger
from bursting is obviated.
The space 6 is further utilized thus:-19 represents quick match leaders which
lead from the inner end of the composition 2 to the rear end of the composition 4,
they are enclosed in stout tin tubes which are secured to the cases 1 and 5 by
spinning or rivetting over inside the same projecting ends of the tubes.
The composition 2, 4, is pressed into the chambers 1, 3, at a very great pressure,
and conical holes 18, 20, are left or drilled in the charges for giving the necessary
or advantageous broad surface for the rapid formation of gas.
The provision of the quick-match leaders 19 and their connection with the
separate charges of propelling composition 2, 4, in the chambers 1 and 3 in the
manner above described, are of great advantage in lengthening the duration and

page_text: extent of the flight, thus:-When the rocket is first fired or discharged in the
ordinary way, the composition 2 within the chamber 1 is ignited by the flash of
the discharge as usual, and it burns gradually along to the end against the con-
necting plate 16, producing gas, the issue of which from the gas escape holes 11
and 13 in overcoming the resistance of the weight of the rocket and the atmo-
spheric pressure causes the propulsion of the rocket, but before the end of the
composition 2 is reached the quick matches 19 take the flash therefrom and convey
it to the tail end of the composition 4 within the chamber 3, which is thus fairly
ignited before the composition 2 within the chamber 1 is quite exhausted, and
thus the propulsion of the rocket is continued and the range or flight greatly
increased, whereas with the usual arrangement it would have ceased when the
composition 2 was exhausted, and the flight would have been much more
limited.
The gas formed by the combustion of the composition 4 within the chamber 3
escapes through the outer series of holes 15, but if desired, in order to reduce the
bursting pressure, a few holes might be made at the inner end of the chamber 3
leading into the space 6 to allow the gas to pass out also at the series of holes 13,
these communicating holes (which are however not shown on the accompanying
Drawings) being adapted, if found necessary, with a brass washer which the gas
from the chamber 3 could force out or open, but which the gas from the chamber 1
could not force in.
The front end of the connecting plate 16 is screwed and turned, as shown in
Figure 1, for carrying a gun metal diaphragın 22 which screws thereinto and is
rivetted to the case 3, its front end being screwed for carrying the head 7 which is
screwed thereto by means of a wrought iron nut 23 attached to the head by rivets
or brazing.
A gun metal fuze 24, having delay action arrangement of composition 25, is
screwed into the projecting boss 26 of the diaphragmn 22, and is of such a construc-
tion that upon the rocket striking the object aimed at, and being thus suddenly
arrested, a leaden pellet 27 with which the fuze is fitted continues its forward
motion, shearing off two small retaining lugs with which it is provided and causes
a steel pin or point with which it is provided to pierce the cap composition, the
flash from which travels through small fire holes and ignites the quick match, and
this ignites the slow-burning fuze composition which ignites the very large charge
of gun cotton, 28, carried by the rocket, and which, now exploding, effects a
heavy destruction all round the rocket, having in the mean time, owing to this
delay action, well embedded itself within the object it struck, the destruction then
being very much greater than by the system in present use, wherein the charge of
gun cotton is exploded immediately upon impact of the rocket.
The fuze may however be of any other kind, but I prefer the arrangement shown
in Figure 1.
With reference to the war rocket I would remark that in order to obtain a still
greater capacity for the gun cotton charge, an additional case or chamber may be
attached to the case 3 circumscribing it and being screwed upon a projecting rim of
the diaphragm 22, and at the rear end rivetted to a wrought iron collar which may
be brazed or otherwise attached to the case 3. The diaphragm 22 would be also
provided with a series of fire holes communicating from the head to the said
additional chamber for the passage of the flash. The additional case being subject
to no great pressure from within might be made much thinner than the cases 1, 3,
and 5.
The rocket for life-saving purposes is made preferably of the form illustrated
in Figures 3, 4, and 5, which are respectively a longitudinal section, a rear end view,
and a side view.
In this, as in the preceding illustration of my Invention, 1 represents the case of
the rocket with which it is usually provided; 2, the usual charge of propelling com-
.position; and 10, the usual vent piece.

page_text: 3 represents the additional or external case with which I provide the rocket; and
4, the increased or additional charge of propelling composition which it carries;
and 19, the quick-matches (enclosed in stout tin tubes) which lead the flash from
the inner end of the composition 2 to the rear end of the composition 4, as above
described.
The cases 1, 3, may be made of Bessemer steel or of any other suitable metal or
material.
The head 7 is formed of wood and is attached to the case 3 by screws, as shown
in Figure 3, and the case 1 is driven into a suitable recess cut in the head, as also
shown in Figure 3.
The usual vent piece 10 is secured to the case 1 by rivets, and the outer surface
of this case is tapered to allow of an additional vent piece 14 being driven tightly
over it, and within the case 3, as shown in Figure 3, and keeps the respective
cases in their proper relative positions, small screws being put through the end of
the vent piece 10 so as to secure the parts better together, and the vent piece 14
being rivetted or suitably secured to the case 3.
29 represents the usual wrought iron bands which support the stick 30 which
carries the line 31.
A tail piece provided with vanes and a central projecting boss for swivel and line
may be substituted for the stick 30.
The rocket for illuminating and signalling purposes is made preferably of the
form illustrated in Figures 6,-7, and 8, which are respectively similar views to
Figures 3, 4, and 5.
In this, as in the preceding illustrations of my Invention, 1 represents the case of
the rocket with which it is usually provided, and 2, the usual charge of propelling
composition which is "choked" and secured by string at 21 as usual; 32 represents
the usual charge of illuminating or signalling composition or stars.
3 represents the additional or external case with which I provide the rocket;
4, the increased or additional charge of propelling composition which it carries;
and 33 represents an additional charge of illuminating or signalling composition or
stars with which I provide the rocket.
The cases 1, 3, are made of stout brown paper, and I "choke "the case 3 in like
manner as the case 1 is usually done, as illustrated in Figures 6 and 8.
34 represents a stout paper washer which separates the propelling composition 4
in the chamber-3 from the additional charge of illuminating or signalling com-
position 33.
7 represents a light conical paper head which is attached by glue or otherwise to
the front end of the additional case 3* (surrounding the additional charge 33 of
illuminating or signalling composition or stars) which is in like manner attached to
the case 3.
35 represents a clay disc which separates the propelling composition 2 in the
chamber 1 from the usual charge 32 of illuminating or signalling composition or
stars, and 36 represents a hole in this disc through which the flash from the coin-
position 2 passes and ignites the signalling composition or stars 32.
19 represents the quick-matches which act, as previously described, in conveying
the flash from the inner end of the composition 2 to the rear end of the com-
position 4, which, after the composition 2 is exhausted as above described, then
burns up to its inner end and conveys the flash through holes in the washer 34 to
the signalling or illuminating composition or stars 33 in the chamber 3*, and thus
causes a second illumination or signal.
According to this arrangement therefore there are two successive signalling or
illuminating flashes or discharges,, which are far more likely to be observed than the
one discharge which the present arrangement of rocket gives.
37 represents the usual copper holder for carrying the stick.
All of the above described rockets can be fired or discharged either from a trough
or tube, as at present, or by any other suitable arrangement.
Having now described the nature and objects of my said Invention, together

page_text: war,
with the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect; I would remark in conclusion that what I claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First. The manufacture or construction of rockets (to be used for life-saving,
and illuminating or signalling purposes) with an additional case or chamber
surrounding the one with which they have hitherto been formed, with the object of
attaining an increased space for an increased charge of the propelling, and explosive
illuminating or signalling-compositions, and with or without the intervening-un-
charged-auxiliary discharge chamber, substantially as hereinabove described, and as
illustrated on the accompanying Sheets of Drawings.
Second. The adaptation and application of such an additional surrounding
charged case or chamber to existing rockets for the purposes herein-above
described.
Third. The adaptation and application of an additional surrounding uncharged
case (constituting an auxiliary discharge chamber) to existing rockets, communica-
ting in the manner described with a through hole made in the usual propelling
composition, and provided with an auxiliary series of gas escape holes, substantially
as and for the purpose hereinabove described, and as illustrated on the accompanying
Sheets of Drawings.
Fourth. The connection of the ordinary charge of propelling composition with
the additional or increased charge thereof by quick-matches, substantially in the
manner and for the purpose herein-above described.
Fifth. The provision of each additional chainber (that is, each additional charged
chamber and each additional uncharged chamber) with a separate series of gas
escape holes, the additional uncharged chamber and its series of escape holes when
the rocket is made with such, preferably acting as a common auxiliary discharge to
the usual and additional charged chambers, or to the first one only, substantially
as hereinabove described, and as illustrated on the accompanying Sheets of
Drawings.
And, Sixth. The provision of illuminating or signalling rockets with an additional
charge of illuminating or signalling composition or stars separate from the usual
charge thereof, with the object of obtaining a second or additional illuminating flash
or discharge of signalling stars, substantially as hereinabove described..
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Burridge, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.