Improvements in and connected with Gun-harpoons.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 9th July, 1892-Accepted, 3rd Sept., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Gun-harpoons.
I, ABEL NORMAN, of Lister Fyr pr Vanse, in the Kingdom of Norway,
Lighthouse-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 :-
My invention relates to a gun-harpoon which is chiefly designed for securing the
shore end of a rope for establishing communication between a stranded vessel and
the land but which is also applicable for harpooning whales and for similar
purposes.
My invention also relates to an arrangement of a line or cord for use in
connection with my gun-harpoon, the object of this part of my invention being to
arrange for regulating the length of the said line or cord and to afford security
against breakage.
In the accompanying drawing:
Figure 1 shows the harpoon folded up ready for firing from a gun or musket ;.
and
Figure 2 shows the position of the parts after discharge.
Figure 3 shows the arrangement of the line in connection with the harpoon.
a is a strap or stirrup the outer sides of which are turned to fit the barrel of
the gun from which the harpoon is to be fired. To the connected end of the
stirrup the line is attached and between the arms of the said stirrup the bar d is
pivotted upon the pin c.
To the free end of the bar d the barbs e, e of the harpoon are pivotted upon the
pins f,f, blade springs 9, 9 serving to press them outwardly.
When the projectile is in the barrel the bar d is turned into the stirrup a and the
barbs e, e with their springs g, y are folded together as shown in Figure 1. As
soon as the projectile has left the gun the stirrup a will turn by reason of the pull
of the line thereon while the bar carrying the barbs will proceed in the same
direction as it left the barrel, the barbs e, e being acted upon by the springs g, g at.
once flying out to the position shewn in Figure 2 so that they will be in position to
retain the harpoon when it strikes.
The compound line, fastened to the harpoon, is shown in Figure 3 and it consists
of a slender but strong hemp-rope and a thinner steel-wire rope the two being
bound together in such a manner that one is slack when the other is taut, so that
the length can be regulated by giving a greater or less amount of slack to one
rope. With this arrangement also in case one line break the other will take the
strain.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
(1.) In a gun-harpoon the use of a strap or stirrup a in which a bar d having
spring barbs e, e is pivotted substantially as shown and described for the purpose
specified.
(2.) The use in combination with a gun-harpoon of the kind described in the
preceding claiming clause of a line, consisting of a hemp-rope and a steel-wire rope
bound together substantially as shown and described for the purposes specified.
Doted the 0th day of Jul. 1800
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.