IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SELF-IGNITING AND INEXTINGUISHABLE DANGER SIGNAL LIGHTS FOR MAGING AND OTHER PURPOSES.
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Nathaniel John Holmes, of the Hall, Primrose
Hill Road, Regent's Park, London, Middlesex, Gentleman, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SELF-IGNITING AND
INEXTINGUISHABLE DANGER SIGNAL LIGHTS FOR
MAGING AND OTHER
PURPOSES.'
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Nathaniel John Holmes
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 17th April 1874.
I, NATHANIEL JOHN HOLMES, of the Hall, Primrose Hill. Road,
Regent's Park, London, Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
SELF-IGNITING AND INEXTINGUISHABLE DANGER SIGNAL LIGHTS FOR MARINE AND
OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
In these improvements, for the purpose of producing the light, I make
use of the well known properties of the spontaneous combustion of phos-
phuretted hydrogen gas, or of phosphuret of calcium when brought into
contact with water.

page_text: In the Specification of former Letters Patent dated February 2nd
1870 I have described modes in which the properties above referred to
are made available.
According to my Invention simpler means of effecting a similar object
are provided, and the first of my present improvements relates to an
improved mode of constructing life buoy or danger signals, which I term
rescue signals. For this purpose I make use of a compound chamber
usually made of metal consisting of two or more parts. One of the
chambers I use as the receptical for the chemical ingredient furnished
with the necessary mechanical parts, as hereafter described, for the
automatic admission of water and emission of the light; the other
chamber I use as an air chamber with sufficient displacement to ensure
the requisite flotation of the rescue signal.
In external form this rescue signal may be described to be that of a
metal cylinder closed at both ends with a sealed tube projecting slightly
from the centre of the ends of the cylinder. Internally the arrangement
consists of a conical chamber, the base of which represents the diameter
of the cylinder, and the apex of the cone the height of the cylinder. In
this chamber phosphuret of calcium is placed. The apex of the conc is
perforated so as to form a hole about one quarter of an inch diameter,
more or less, according to the volume of flame to be emitted from the
chemical ingredient within the chamber. Through the centre of the
base of this conical chamber a metal tube is inserted, which rises in the
interior to within about a quarter of an inch or so of the sides of the apex
of the cone, and which tube is perforated with holes for the purpose of
admitting water into contact with the phosphuret of calcium within the
chamber when the signal is brought into use. The outer case or air
chamber is in the form of a cylinder, the bottom of which is formed by
the base of the conical chamber before described, and through the centre
of the top end the apex of the cone projects. Both these chambers are
securely soldered or otherwise fastened together by means of the top and
bottom ends, so as to form an air and water-tight vessel. By this
arrangement the proper position of the signal on falling into the water is
secured, the apex of the cone for the emission of the light being upper-
most. Over the opening at the apex of the cone which projects through
the top end of the cylinder and the hole at the end of the tube projecting
beyond the base of the cone or bottom of the cylinder a metal strip is
soldered, closing the hole in a secure and air-tight manner. The end of

page_text: the metal strip, which in each case projects beyond the hole, is after-
wards bent down and remains in that position until the signal is brought
into use, when either by attaching a cord to the end of each strip or
otherwise employing tension the strips are pulled away from the chamber
and their soldered ends are removed, and openings are thereby made, one
for the admission of water and the other for emission of flame when the
signal is dropped into water.
In another form of arrangement employed to produce the same
automatic opening of the orifices in the chamber of the rescue signal I
use a soft metal capsule soldered down air-tight over the orifice. A hard
metal or other stop is placed inside and carried through the capsule in
the form of an external wire book or eye. On a cord being attached
to this cyc, or the external stop being otherwise pulled, it is drawn
through the soft metal capsule, and an opening is thereby made of the
proper dimension for the ignition of the signal light on being placed in
the water. Other analagous methods of arranging metallic coverings
used for hermetically sealing the orifices of the chamber of the rescue
signal, and providing for their removal by tension or by the depression
of plugs or studs may be employed.
Another improvement relates to an improved construction of the
phosphuret of calcium signal light or rescue signal as applied to ship-
wreck distress signals where a very powerful light is required. In this
improvement the case containing the phosphuret of calcium is divided
into two or more distinct and water-tight compartments according to
the power of the flare required, forming thereby a compound rescue
signal. Each compartment is provided with its special internal tube and
orifice for the admission of the water and egress of the light, as before
described. The diameter of the water tube is about one and a half
inches, and that of the exit tube for the flame about three quarters of
an inch for each compartment. These dimensions are necessarily varied
according to the required power of the signal. These several openings
are all hermetically closed by means of metallic capsules or metal strip
arrangements such as are above described, or by other means if desired.
2
Another improvement relates to the application of the phosphuret of
calcium signal light as a shell to be fired from a bomb or mortar, either
attached to a line or as a signal independent of any connection with the
line and rocket apparatus. For this purpose I construct the signal light

page_text: in the form of an elongated cylinder shot slightly conical in form at the
end where the water tube is placed. The orifices top and bottom are
closed with the metallic capsules or metal strips before described.
•
Before the signal is placed in the mortar the holes for the admission
of the water and exit of the flame are opened by the removal of the
metal coverings. This signal shell may either be constructed with an
air chamber to give the necessary flotation when projected into the
water, or may be surrounded with a cork casing of the requisite
buoyancy. The signal shell is provided with a loose shoe, which, while
it protects the signal from the destructive effects of the percussion of
the charge in firing the mortar, becomes detached from the signal light
on its projection from the mortar.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Nathaniel John Holmes in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 16th October 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, NATHANIEL
JOHN HOLMES, of the Hall, Primrose Hill Road, Regent's Park, London,
Middlesex, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Nathaniel John Holmes, Her special
licence that I, the said Nathaniel John Holmes, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Nathaniel John
Holmes, my exccutors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SELF-IGNITING AND INEXTINGUISHABLE
DANGER SIGNAL LIGHTS FOR MARINE AND OTHER PURPOSES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Nathaniel John Holmes, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or

page_text: one of their hands and scals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar monthis next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Nathaniel John Holmes, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
In these improvements, for the purpose of producing the light, I
make use of the well known properties of the spontaneous combustion
of phosphuretted hydrogen gas or of phosphuret of calcium when brought
into contact with water.
In the specification of former Letters Patent dated Feb. 2nd 1870
I have described modes in which the properties above referred to are
made available.
According to my present Invention simpler means of effecting a
similar object are provided, and the first of my present improvements.
relates to an improved mode of constructing life buoys or danger signals,
which I term rescue signals. For this purpose I make use of a
compound chamber usually made of metal, consisting of two or more
parts. One of the chambers I use as the receptical for the chemical
ingredient furnished with the necessary mechanical parts as hereafter
described for the automatic admission of water and emission of the light.
The other chamber I use as an air chamber with sufficient displacement
to ensure the requisite flotation of the rescue signal.
In external form this rescue signal may be described to be that of a
metal cylinder closed at both ends with a scaled tube projecting slightly
from the centre of the ends of the cylinder. Internally the arrangement
O consists of a conical chamber, the base of which represents the diameter
of the cylinder, and the apex of the cone the height of the cylinder. In
this chamber phosphuret of calcium is placed. The apex of the cone is
perforated so as to form a hole about one quarter of an inch diameter,
more or less, according to the volume of flame to be emitted from the
chemical ingredient within the chamber. Through the centre of the
base of this conical chamber a metal tube is inserted, which rises in thic

page_text: interior to within about a quarter of an inch or so of the sides of the
apex of the cone, and which tube is perforated with holes for the purpose
of admitting water into contact with the phosphuret of calcium within
the chamber when the signal is brought into use. The outer casc or
air chamber is in the form of a cylinder, the bottom of which is formed
by the base of the conical chamber before described, and thro' the centre
of the top end the apex of the cone projects. Both these chambers are
securely soldered or otherwise fastened together by means of the top and
bottom ends so as to form an air and water-tight vessel. By this
arrangement the proper position of the signal on falling into the water
is secured, the apex of the cone for the emission of the light being upper-
most. Over the opening at the apex of the cone which projects thro'
the top end of the cylinder and the hole at the end of the tube projecting
beyond the base of the conc or bottom of the cylinder a metal strip is
soldered closing the hole in a secure and air-tight manner. The end of
the metal strip, which in cach case projects beyond the hole, is afterwards
bent down and remains in that position until the signal is brought into
use, when either by attaching a cord to the end of each strip or otherwise
employing tension the strips are pulled away from the chamber, and
their soldered ends are removed and openings are thereby made, one for
the admission of water and the other for emission of flame when the
signal is dropped into water.
In another form of arrangement employed to produce the same
automatic opening of the orifices in the chamber of the rescue signal I
use a soft metal capsule soldered down air-tight over the orifice. A hard
metal or other stop is placed inside and carried through the capsule
in the form of an external wire hook or cyc. On a cord being attached
to this eye, or the internal stop being otherwise pulled, it is drawn
through the soft metal capsule, and an opening is thereby made of the
proper dimension for the ignition of the signal light on being placed in
the water. Other analagous methods of arranging metallic coverings
used for hermetically sealing the orifices of the chamber of the rescue
signal, and providing for the removal by tension or by the depression of
plugs or studs may be employed.
Another improvement relates to an improved construction of the phos-
phuret of calcium signal light or rescue signal as applied to shipwreck
distress signals where a very powerful light is required. In this
improvement the case containing the phosphuret of calcium is divided

page_text: into two or more distinct and water-tight compartments, according to
the power of the flame required, forming thereby a compound recue
signal. Each compartment is provided with its special internal tube
and orifice for the admission of the water and egress of the light, as
before described. The diameter of the water tube is about one and a
half inches, and that of the exit tube for the flame about three-quarters
of an inch for each compartment. These dimensions are necessarily
varied according to the required power of the signal. These several
openings are all hermetically closed by means of metallic capsules or
metal strip arrangements such as are above described, or by other means
if desired.
Another improvement relates to the application of the phosphuret of
calcium signal light as a shell to be fired from a bomb or mortar, either
attached to a line or as a signal independent of any connection with the
line and rocket apparatus. For this purpose I construct the signal light
in the form of an elongated cylinder shot slightly conical in form at the
end where the water tube is placed. The orifices, top and bottom, are in
this case closed with the metallic capsules or metal strips such as are
above described, and which constitute a principal feature in the first part
of my improvements.
Before the signal is placed in the mortar the holes for the admission
of the water and exit of the flame are opened by the removal of the
metal covering. This signal shell may either be constructed with an
air chamber to give the necessary flotation when projected into the
water, or may be surrounded with a cork casing of the requisite buoyancy.
The signal shell is provided with a loose shoe which, while it protects the
signal from the destructive effects of the percussion of the charge in
firing the mortar, becomes detached from the signal light on its projection
from the mortar.
Having now described my Invention, and the method of carrying it
into effect, I claim,―
First. The improved life buoys or danger signals provided with
detachable strips or capsules or other equivalent detachable parts con-
structed substantially as above described.
Secondly. I claim the combination of parts forming my improved
signal light or rescue signal, wherein I employ a case divided into two
or more distinct water-tight compartments for the reception of phos-

page_text: phuret of calcium, provided with tubes and orifices conducted and
arranged substantially as above described.
Thirdly. I claim the improved signal lights adapted to be used as
shells, and constructed substantially as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Nathaniel John Holmes, have i
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of October,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.
Witness,
ALFRED JOHN TURNER,
Clerk,
8, Gt. Winchester Street,
London, E.C.
NATH. J. HOLMES. (L.S.)