IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR ELEVATING TO AND DISCHARGING PROJECTILES FROM A HEIGHT
Year: 1884

page_text: I ROBERT LOW DUFF, of Chowbent, in the County of Lancaster, Grocer do
hereby declare the nature of my said invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR ELEVATING TO AND DISCHARGING PROJECTILES FROM A HEIGHT to be as
follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide improved means or apparatus for use
in the defence or attack of fortifications, ships or other places, by which projectiles
can be easily and quickly thrown or dropped at a given or measured distance.
To a captive balloon, kite or other similar contrivance, though I prefer a balloon,
I attach by means of a block and pulley an endless rope which carries a second
block and pulley, one end of the rope being carried to a windlass and within reach
of the operator. The balloon in the first place can be allowed to fly, at any
required distance, and by means of the block and pulley attached to it the second
block and pulley can be adjusted in its distance from the balloon. Over this
second block and pulley another endless rope is passed which is also in connection
with a windlass or winding apparatus. At intervals along this rope are secured
short lengths of rope. The endless rope passes over a grooved or flanged pulley on
the windlass to prevent it slipping from its position thereon.
To the short lengths of rope fixed to the endless rope are attached projectiles,
shells or other similar articles used in warfare. These are carried up by this rope
until they reach the second block and, pulley before described, and on coming into
contact therewith are detached and allowed to fall coming with great force to the
ground. The number of projectiles thus discharged in a given time of course can
be regulated by the distance at which the ropes are attached to the endless rope
or by the number attached to the ropes or by the speed at which the windlass is
worked etcetera. Where an explosive bomb or shell is used a percussion cap can
be placed in one end and the projectile so weighted or balanced in any manner at
present known which would ensure that part first striking the ground. The
projectiles may of course be attached to the rope in any convenient manner or by
any suitable connection that will allow of their becoming disconnected on coming
in contact with the second named block and pulley or apparatus fixed thereto.
Dithin 9th doir of February 1884
;

page_text: I ROBERT Low DUFF of Chowbent in the county of Lancaster, Grocer do
hereby declare the nature of my said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR ELEVATING TO AND DISCHARGING PROJECTILES FROM A HEIGHT" and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
The object of this invention is to provide improved means or apparatus for use
in the defence or attack of fortifications, ships, or other places, by which projectiles
can be easily and quickly thrown or dropped at a given or measured distance.
To a captive balloon, kite, or other similar contrivance, by means of a rope
attached to a windlass on the ground and carried by the balloon or kite, the
projectiles are raised and allowed to fall at the required distance.
Keferring to the drawings:
Figure 1. shows a general view of my invention..
Figure 2. a plan on an enlarged scale of a frame carried by the balloon round
which the endless rope passes.
Figure 8 side elevation of frame shown in Figure 2.
A is a balloon or kite attached to a frame B by means of a rope C which is
arranged so that its length may be increased at pleasure for removing the balloon
or kite from the range of the enemy's fire. The rope C is securely attached to the
frame B and the balloon is held captive by the endless rope D which passes over
the grooved pulleys E on the end of a drum of a windlass F; which is attached to
a bogey For other carriage which can be weighted to resist any drag from the
balloon or kite, and by moving the bogey or carriage backwards or forwards or to
the right or left, the required direction and line of fire can be given to the projectile.
The windlass is fitted with a suitable brake. The frame B has fitted to it sheaves
or pulleys e round which an endless rope D is passed. The pulleys e are fitted in
like the sheaves of a pulley-block, so that the rope D cannot over ride them and
get fastened in between the said pulleys and the sides of the frame. The frame B
is preferably made of the shape shown as the best calculated to prevent it canting
to one side. At the bottom corners guide pulleys e¹ are placed to prevent the
rope D swinging away from it and leaving its proper position. The endless rope D
passes round the frame B and round a grooved pulley E on the drum of the
windlass F. A strap fork e guides it on to the pulley E to prevent its being
carried to one side by the swaying of the balloon, or the force of the wind, or other
similar cause.
At intervals along the rope D are attached short lengths of rope d.
To the short lengths of rope d fixed to the endless rope D, are attached projectiles,
shells, or other similar articles G, used in warfare by means of ropes g attached to
the projectile. To the ends of the ropes g is attached a cross piece g¹, or a large
knot or other obstruction which will prevent the end passing between the
pulleys e e¹ on the frame B. The two ropes d and g are then tied together with
a running noose or slip knot, so that when the obstruction piece g comes in contact
with the frame B, the knot is pulled asunder and the projectile G released and
thus discharged. The projectiles are carried up to the frame B by the motion of
the rope D, and are each released as the tying opes come in contact with the
frame.
The number of projectiles thus discharged in a given time of course can be
regulated by the distance at which the ropes are attached to the endless rope, or
by the number attached to the ropes, or by the speed at which the windlass is
worked etcetera. Where an explosive bomb or shell is used, a percussion cap can

page_text: be placed in one end and the projectile so weighted or balanced in any manner at
present known which would ensure that part first striking the ground. The
projectiles may of course be attached to the rope in any convenient manner, or
by any suitable connection that will allow of their becoming disconnected on
coming in contact with the block and pulley or apparatus fixed thereto.
Although a balloon of ordinary construction is shown in the drawings, the
invention is not confined to such, as in some situations a kite might be found
equally or more convenient, or the balloon might be made of another shape, such
as cigar shaped or angular, so as to offer less resistance to the wind.
Instead of having the frame B rigidly attached at or near the balloon, though
by such arrangement less ropes are required, a pulley block might be attached
thereto, and the distance of the frame from the place of operation be controlled
thereby.
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
.
1st The use of a captive balloon or similar contrivance in combination with an
endless rope, for raising projectiles and discharging them from a fixed height or
distance, for the defence or attack of fortifications, ships, or other places during
warlike operations.
2nd The apparatus herein described and shown for raising and discharging
projectiles for use in warfare.