Improvements in Rockets for Life-saving Purposes.
Year: 1888

page_text: Improvements in Rockets for Life-saving Purposes.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltino, Lake & Co. Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates especially to devices employed for carrying lines and the like
from a fixed point, through the air to a distance, and has for its object the provision
of a self-propelling projectile, in combination with a tube adapted and arranged to
carry a coiled line therein which is simple to place in position, easy to fire, which
may be directed with great accuracy and which shall be strong and durable, and of
great power.
To attain the desired end the invention consists essentially in a head carrying the
projectile charge, in combination with a tube adapted and arranged to contain a coiled
line, and in certain novel and useful combinations or arrangements of parts, and
peculiarities of construction and operation, all of which will be hereinafter first fully
described.
In carrying the said invention into practice the body of the firing head is made
strong of metal, and screw threaded at both ends.
A metal plug is screwed into the body at the front end against a plate and a pointed
cap is then screwed into the extremity of body against the plug the edge of the said
cap being threaded for the purpose.
Another screw threaded plug, having a series of perforations, is fitted into the rear
end of the body, the said perforations being at an angle to the axis of the plug. The
said rear plug is provided with a screw-threaded projection in the centre thereof for
the reception of the connection with a carrying tube. A perforated disc or plate, the
underside of which is concave, is screwed within the body above the rear plug thus
leaving a chamber between the said plug and the firing compound, the object of this
construction being to form a chamber for the distribution of the propelling gases.

page_text: In loading the projectile for use, the perforated disc is placed in position, and a
spindle is passed into the body in the usual manner; a layer of clay or equivalent non-
conducting material is then packed upon the said disc and the firing compound is then
packed therein. The plug is screwed home below the disc and a fuse is left protruding
from one of the perforations in plug.
A cone-shaped cap screw threaded at both ends for engaging with the projection
upon plug and for engaging with a tube. A bar is arranged across the interior of cap
to which the line is attached. A perforated plug, preferably made of wood is secured
in the extremity of tube opposite to the cone shaped cap. A line is coiled in the tube
to be carried by the projectile, the end thereof being secured at the spot from which
the projectile is fired.
In assembling the parts for use, the firing composition is compressed within the
body of the projectile, above the plate upon which rests the clay or other non-conductor
of heat. A layer of clay or equivalent non-conductor of heat is also placed above the
firing compound at the forward end; the plate and plug are placed in position, and
the cap secured thereon. The rear plug is screwed home against the disc and the
fuse inserted.
In coiling the line, it is wound upon a suitable mandrel and the coil is then covered
with a layer of material which is a non-conductor of heat, such as asbestos, and placed
in the tube. The object in so encasing the coiled line, is to prevent action thereon by
the metal of which the tube is formed, and prevent burning when the projectile is fired.
After the line is put into the tube the rear plug is secured in place and the mandrel
withdrawn, the extremity of the last coil of the line is secured to the bar and the
other end of said line projects from the said rear plug. The tube is connected to
projectile by the cone-shaped portion. The device consisting of two parts viz. :—the
firing head and the carrying tube being thus united, is now ready for use and the end
of the line being secured, the projectile may be fired in any direction paying out the
line as it passes through the air to the objective point. The tube serves as a tail,
enabling the line to be carried with great accuracy and by coiling the line within the
said tube in the manner specified so as to pay the same out as the projectile progresses
in its flight, I am enabled to carry a line à greater distance than would be possible by
dragging it after the projectile.
The tube also serves to protect the line from injury by the heat generated by the
burning compound or escaping gas. The connection being conical in shape and
attached to the plug at the centre thereof, prevents the interference of the tube
with the action of the escaping gas, so as to retard the flight of the projectile.
Dated this 24th day of September 1888.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the county of Middlesex 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 :-
This invention relates especially to devices employed for carrying lines and the like
from a fixed point, through the air to a distance and has for its object the provision of
a self-propelling projectile, in combination with a tube adapted and arranged to carry
a coiled line therein, which is simple to place in position, easy to fire, which may be
directed with great accuracy and which shall be strong and durable and of great
power.
To attain the desired end the invention consists essentially in a head carrying the
projectile charge, in combination with a tube adapted and arranged to contain a coiled
line and in certain novel and useful combinations or arrangements of parts, and
peculiarities of construction and operation, all of which will be hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved self propelling projectile or rocket
and
Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof, showing the location and arrange-
ments of all the parts.
Figure 3 is a bottom view of the firing head with the line carrying tube removed.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
A is the body of the firing head made strong and of metal, and screw-threaded at a
and a¹.
B is a metal plug screwed into the body A at a' against a plate a². C is a pointed
cap screwed into the extremity of the body A the edge c of the said cap being threaded.
for the purpose.
D is another screw threaded plug, having a series of perforations d therein and
fitting into the rear end of the body, the said perforations being at an angle to the axis
of the plug as plainly shown in figure 2. The said rear plug is provided with a screw-
threaded projection E in the centre thereof, for the reception of the connection with
a carrying tube; N is a perforated dise or plate, the underside of which is concave,
and which is screwed within the body A above the rear plug D, thus leaving a.
chamber between the said plug D and the firing compound, the object of this con-
struction being to form a chamber for the distribution of the propelling gases.
In loading the projectile for use, the perforated disc N is placed in position and a
spindle is passed into the body A in the usual manner; a layer of clay M or
equivalent non-conducting material is then packed upon the said disc N and the firing
compound F is then packed therein. The plug ) is screwed home below the disc N
and a fuse fis left protruding from one of the perforations d in plug D.
G is a cone-shaped cap screw threaded at g for engaging with the projection E upon.

page_text: plug D and at g for engaging with a tube H. G¹ is a bar arranged across the interior
of cap G to which the line is attached, as hereinafter described. K is a plug preferably
made of wood, the said plug being perforated at and secured in the extremity of
tube H opposite to the cone-shaped cap G. L is a line coiled in the tube H to be
carried by the projectile the end 7 thereof being secured at the spot from which the
projectile is fired.
In assembling the parts for use, the firing composition is compressed within the
body of the projectile, above the plate upon which rests the clay or other non-conductor
of heat. A layer of clay M¹ or equivalent non-conductor of heat is also placed above
the firing compound at the forward end, the plate a² and plug B are placed in position
and the cap C secured thereon. The rear plug D is screwed home against the disc N,
and the fuse inserted.
In coiling the line, it is wound upon a suitable mandrel, and the coil is then covered
with a layer of material R which is a non-conductor of heat, such as asbestos, and
placed in tube H. The object in so encasing the coiled line, is to prevent action
thereon by the metal of which the tube is formed, and prevent burning when the pro-
jectile is fired. After the line is put into tube H the rear plug K is secured in place
and the mandrel withdrawn; the extremity of the last coil of the line is secured to
bar Gand the other end of said line projects from the said rear plug K as at 7. The
tube H is connected to projectile A by the cone-shaped portion G. The device con-
sisting of two parts, viz. the firing head and the carrying tube being thus united, is
now ready for use, and the end 7 of the line being secured, the projectile may be fired
in any direction, paying out the line as it passes through the air to the objective point.
The tube H, serves as a tail, enabling the line to be carried with great accuracy; and
by coiling the line within the said tube in the manner specified, so as to pay the same
out as the projectile progresses in its flight, I am enabled to carry a lino a greater
distance than would be possible by dragging it after the projectile.
The tube also serves to protect the line from injury by the heat generated by the
burning compound or escaping gas. The connection G being conical in shape, and
attached to the plug D at the centre, thereof, prevents the interference of the tube H
with the action of the escaping gas, so as to retard the flight of the projectile.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
First. The combination with a self propelling projectile, of a tube adapted and
arranged to carry a coiled line, substantially as shown and described.
Second. The combination with the charge carrying tube of a rocket, of a line
carrying tube attached to and supported by the base of the same, said line carrying
tube tapering at the forward end towards the point of connection as set forth.
Third. The combination of a metal rocket case a metal disc N, metal plug D, having
a vertical conical deflector d¹ formed integral with said plug, and a series of diverging
vents & opening on the rear surface of said plug, for the purpose set forth, substantially
as described.
Fourth. A carrying rocket consisting of a head containing the rocket charge, the
base of the head being provided with an external screw threaded projection, in com-
bination with a carrying tube having a tapering head, engaging with said screw
threaded projection as set forth, and containing a coiled line to be paid out as the
rocket passes through the air, substantially as shown and described.
Fifth. The combination with a rocket head containing a firing charge, of a tube
carrying a coiled line, and forming the tail of the rocket, substantially as shown and
described.
Sixth. The combination with the firing head of a hollow carrying tube, said tube
being substantially the same diameter as the head, and being connected with said head
at the centre of the base, thereof, the extremity of the carrying tube next to the firing
head tapering at an angle nearly coincident with the vents for the propelling gases in
the base of said head, substantially as shown and described.

page_text: Seventh. In a rocket of the character herein specified, a hollow carrying tube,
forming the tail of the rocket, said tube consisting of a body H screw threaded at gi
for engaging with a tapering cap G, provided with internal cross bar G¹, said cap
having a screw threaded perforation therein for engaging with the projection from the
base of the head carrying the firing charge, substantially as shown and described.
Eighth. The combination with the body A, carrying the firing charge of the plug D,
having perforations d, passing there-through, at an angle to its axis, and external
screw threaded projection E for engaging with the carrying tube, substantially as
shown and described.
Ninth. The combination with the explosive carrying tube provided with a perforated
disc, at its rear end of a line carrying tube, attached to said disc, and entirely in the
rear of the same, substantially as set forth.
Tenth. The combination of an explosive carrying tube, a line carrying tube attached
thereto, a line located within said latter tube, and a non-conducting jacket, or casing
between said 'line carrying tube, and said line, for the purpose set forth.
D
11
1009
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.