Year: 1895

page_text: I, WILLIAM BARBOUR ARDILL, of 47 Gresham Street, London, Gentleman,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in line rockets, intended for use on board
vessels for the purpose of establishing a connection between the vessel and the
shore, or between two vessels.
Rockets constructed according to this invention are portable, self contained,
inexpensive, and are capable of being operated by one person without the aid of
any outside fixtures or machines.
In constructing the improved rocket, the subject of this invention, I provide a
wooden handle, preferably about 6 feet long, either round or square, as may be
desired, and about 1 to 2 inches in thickness. To one end of this I attach a metal
tube of about the same diameter and about 4 feet in length. This may be made of
tin or zinc or any suitable metal. At the other end of the wooden handle on one
side I attach a box of tin or other suitable material. This box I make in a circular
form, preferably about 8 inches in diameter and about 12 inches deep, but I do not
bind myself to these sizes. This box I attach to the wooden handle by 2 metal
In the top or upper
or other straps going round the box and grasping the handle.
end of the box is an aperture with porcelain or other suitable lining through which
a line may run,
Inside the box I place a coil or reel of fine twine or line of
sufficient strength to withstand the strain to which it is afterwards liable. The
coil or reel is wound in such a way as to enable it to be delivered or run off through
the above named aperture at a very high rate without risk of entanglement or
breakage. One end of the twine I attach by any suitable means to the inside of
the box so that in case of all the twine being run off one end is retained safely.
I then take an ordinary rocket of any suitable make and attach the same to a
rocket stick about 6 feet in length. I attach to the rocket by means of a loop or
ring or other suitable means a copper or iron wire which I carry partly down the
stick, or to the end of the stick if preferred. To this wire I attach one end of the
line or twine above referred tc, about 10 to 20 feet of which I treat in such a way
as to render it incombustible and so avoid the chance of it being destroyed by the
fying sparks from the rocket when exploded. The wire also will act as a protector
for the stick should it be broken by any means and will keep the broken parts
together. The rocket stick with the line attached as described, is then placed in
the metal tube attached to the wooden handle, a groove being placed in the said
metal tube to allow of the length of twine and wire attached to the rocket stick to
rest in The contrivance is then ready for use. The operator has only to ignite
the rocket and hold the wooden handle firmly pointing towards the object with
When the rocket falls on the shore
which it is intended to establish a connection.
its own weight is sufficient to keep it there.
Each apparatus is wrapped up in an air and watertight package so that the
various parts are always ready for immediate use.
Dated this 24th day of January 1895
J. E. EVANS-JACKSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Rocket Apparatus.
I, WILLIAM BARBOUR ARDILL, of 47 Gresham Street, London, Gentleman,.
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 to improvements in line rockets, for use on board vessels
for the purpose of establishing connections between the vessel and the shore, or
between two vessels.
Rockets constructed according to this invention have the advantage of being
portable, self contained, inexpensive, while they are capable of being operated by
one person without risk and without the aid of any outside fixtures or machines.
In constructing the improved rocket, the subject of this invention, I provide a
wooden handle, preferably about 6 feet long, either round or square, as may be
desired, and about 1 to 2 inches in thickness. To one end of this I attach a metal
tube of about the same diameter, and about 4 feet in length. This may be made
of tin or zinc or any suitable metal. The sizes given may be varied as found
convenient. At the other end of the wooden handle on one side I attach a box of
tin or other suitable material. This box I make in a circular form, preferably
about 8 inches in diameter and about 12 inches deep, but I. do not bind myself to
these sizes. This box I attach to the wooden handle by two metal or other straps
going round the box and grasping the handle. In the top or upper end of the box
is an aperture which may be in the form of a neck and lined with porcelain or other
suitable material through which a line may run rapidly and smoothly. Inside the
box I place a coil or reel of fine twine or line of sufficient strength to withstand
the strain to which it is afterwards. liable. The coil or reel is wound in such a way
as to enable it to be delivered or run off through the above named aperture at a
very high rate without risk of entanglement or breakage. One end of the twine
I attach by any suitable means to the inside of the box so that in case of all the
twine being run off one end is retained safely.
I then take an ordinary rocket of any suitable make and attach the same to a
rocket stick about 6 feet in length. I attach to the rocket by means of a loop or
ring or other suitable means a copper or iron wire which I carry. partly down the
stick, or to the end of the stick if preferred. To this wire I attach one end of the
line above referred to, about 10 to 20 feet of which I treat in such a way as to
render it incombustible and so avoid the chance of it being destroyed by the flying
sparks from the rocket when exploded. The wire also will act as a protector for
the stick should it be broken by any means and will keep the broken parts together.
The rocket stick with the line attached as described, is then placed in the metal
tube attached to the wooden handle, a groove being placed in the said metal tube
to allow the length of twine and wire attached to the rocket stick to rest in.
contrivance is then ready for use. The operator has only to ignite the rocket and
hold the wooden handle firmly pointing towards the object to which it is intended
to establish a connection. The rocket and stick with the line connected as described
then leave the tube, carrying the line which is allowed to run freely out of the box
before referred to. When the rocket falls on the shore its own weight is sufficient
to keep it there.
To further illustrate the invention drawings are annexed.
The
Fig. 1. represents the rocket stick E. with rocket D. attached thereto, and
shewing a metal wire E' running from the rocket down to the loop at the end of
the rocket stick E, and having the string carried therefrom.
Fig. 2. is a representation of the metal tube into which the rocket stick is
nlened

page_text: rig. 3. is a representation of the handle A. with rounded end to fit into the‍
metal tube, and having the metal twine box C. attached thereto by means of clamps
as shewn.
Fig. 4. is a representation of the rocket ready for use with the rocket stick in
position in the metal tube, and the metal tube resting over the end of the handle A.
with the string from the box C. in position.
Each apparatus is wrapped up in an air and watertight package so that the
various parts are always ready for immediate use.
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:-
A line rocket with the apparatus for discharging the same for establishing a.
connection between vessels and the shore or between any two points, substantially
as described and set forth in the foregoing Specification.
Dated this 24th day of October 1895.
J. E. EVANS-JACKSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.