at Sea, on Land, or Elsewhere. Signal Rockets or Shells and in the apparatus or means for effecting and dis charging the same
Year: 1888

page_text: at Sea, on Land, or Elsewhere.
I FREDERICK HARGRAVE of 377 Strand London W.C. in the County of Middlesex
entleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
he same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
.
By this Invention for Signalling at Sea on land or elsewhere by means of improved
Signalling Rockets or Shells and in the apparatus or means for effecting and dis-
charging the same, being a further improvement upon a Patent granted to one
William Balch in 1884. In which Rockets or Shells are provided somewhat similar
in shape and proportion to those now in use but having an outer casing or cartridge
which may be of metal or other suitable material and the end or base of which may be
so formed and provided as to act as a detonator.
This Invention will be found to overcome many or all of the difficulties for Signalling
at Sea or elsewhere in very bad weather and being very portable can in the case of a
ship be taken to any part of the mast or yard and fired with ease therefrom or from a
raft or boat cast away at sea as the water has no effect upon it. This apparatus may
also be used with considerable advantage for "alarm" signalling, in the case of
Burglars or of fire, or for naval or military outposts or Barracks and for Police use
likewise.
The discharging apparatus comprises a barrel or tube hinged or joined to a handle
or stock provided with a central firing pin; the Rocket or Shell is in the first
instance placed in at the breech end of the tube, when the hinged portion of the
breech is unlocked and opened by means of the hinge or joint and by the particular
locking appliance employed by me, that upon returning the handle or rear portion
of the apparatus back into position a slotted projection thereon engages into and

page_text: with a hinged lever fitted to and arranged upon the rear-end or breech of the tube
and so causes both to become automatically and securely locked together ready for
firing. The firing of the Rocket or Shell is effected by means of a needle or pointed
rod which is permitted to freely traverse or work through the breech end and
handle of the apparatus and having a spiral or other spring or springs around a
portion of the same so that when sharply struck or forced inwards it causes the
detonator at the base of the Rocket to be likewise struck and so ignites the
powder or other explosive compound and composition, likewise the fuzee or fuzees
contained within the rocket and causes it to ascend to a considerable altitude and
give the effect desired.
The charge within the Rocket or shell would be so arranged and suitably composed
as to give off a series of vivid sparks or stars alternately or otherwise of either
red, green or any other color that may be desired and in addition thereto to give a
distinctive loud report or reports singly
or otherwise in succession in manner wished
and provided by having the "Maroon ог "Maroons" apart in the charge and con-
nected by means of a fuzee causing them to separately explode when more than one
report is arranged to be given or desired.
37
In the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1 is a side elevation. Fig. a sectional view
of the same. Figure 3 shews another view in section with the rocket or shell in
position. Figure 4 is a side elevation of Figure 3 exhibiting the handle or breech
end open for the admission of the Rocket or shell. Figure 5 is a plan of Figures, 3
and 4, having the breech end closed. The following Figures refer to like or corre
sponding parts, A, is the metal tube or Barrel in which the Rocket or shell is
inserted at the base or rear at B; C, is the metal stock or breech to which the
handle D is secured and jointed or hinged at its lower part as at E. A hinged
or movable horizontal lever G, is fitted and provided upon the rear end of the
upper portion of the tube or barrel and of suitable diameter and breadth to
enable it to freely take radially into the open slotted portion of the projection F,
and the end of the said lever having an increase or "hub" of metal formed at its
end or head G³, which engages in and becomes locked in the slotted projection F,
and thereby securely holds and brings together that portion of the metal stock or
breech C with the rear of the tube or barrel B. In the respective views shewn, the
rear part forming the handle or stock of the apparatus is suitably bored or hollowed
out it in its length, in which a small metal rod H, having a collar H¹, formed thereon
as a guide, and sharpened or needle pointed at the inner end, terminating or leading
toward the "detonator" of the Rocket or Shell. As shewn in Figures 1 and 2,
the needle pointed end of the metal rod H may be driven into the detonating portion
of the Rocket or Shell by giving a smart blow or inward pressure at the end J of
same.
In Figures 3, 4 and 5 I have shewn another arrangement for causing the needle
pointer of the rod H to strike the detonator and ignite the explosive compound and
fusee of the Rocket or Shell, wherein it will be seen that instead of employing a knob
or button Jas in Figures 1 and 2 and before described, I may do so in an entirely
different manner by interposing a coiled or other spring or springs as at K, within a
certain portion of the handle or stock D, having a collar at the back of the said spring
for it to take or bear against when compressed, a small metal rod H, with a collar H
acting as a guide formed thereon, with a sharpened needle or pointer at one end
for causing the Rocket or Shell to explode in manner described by Figures 1 & 2,
To the other end of the said spindle or rod H I attach or connect a small lanyard L,
which when not in use may be hooked onto a small guard or stud M, on the bandle
or stock D, or in other convenient manner, so that by grasping the handle of the
apparatus firmly in one hand when in use and pulling the lanyard L backwards with
the other hand thereby compressing the spring or springs to the necessary extent,
that upon suddenly releasing the same or "letting it go "the spring or its equivalent
being released from its compression will force or cause the spindle or rod H with the
needle point connection to strike the detonator and cause the Rockets or Shell, to be

page_text: impelled with certainty and by this particular method avoiding any risk that might
occur in the case of the plan as shewn at Figures 1 and 2 whereby objection may be
raised to the knob or button protruding from the rear or base of the handle or socket,
being accidentally struck, as by the arrangements shewn in Section at Fig. 3.
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
1 claim is.―
An Improvement in the combined Apparatus or means for Rocket or shell
Signalling at Sea on Land or elsewhere substantially as herein set forth and
illustrated.