Improvements in Means for Firing Rockets and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: This Print is in accordance with the Original Specification as it stands after
Amendment (under Section 11 of the Patents, &c. Act, 1883) as required by
the decision of the Comptroller General of the 24th day of July 1896.
Date of Application, 28th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 28th Mar., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (AMENDED).
Improvements in Means for Firing Rockets and the like.
We EDWARD BEADLE, of 5 Sandown Villas, Grove Road, Upper Mitcham,.
in the County of Surrey, Engineer, and RICHARD WHITE, Pyrotechnist, of
6 Grove Road, Upper Mitcham, in the County of Surrey, 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 means for firing rockets and the like and has for its
object to provide a simple and reliable ignition device in or attached to the rocket
case itself and thereby dispense with the use of matches and portfires.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a rocket case with ignition device constructed.
according to this invention.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation, and
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same with a part removed to show the fuse and.
ignition cap.
Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views showing the ignition device.
On the ordinary rocket case a is secured a fuse b one end of which passes
through the case into the combustible material while the other end is terininated
by a cap or head c of suitable firing composition, similar to the ordinary safety
match head. The fuse b is ignited by means of a preparation of rubbing material d,
preferably of the kind used for the striking composition of safety match boxes,
affixed to a tape e of woven elastic material (Figs. 4 and 5) one end of which is
secured to a strip of cardboard the flap g of which is folded to cover and project
a short distance beyond the preparation d and lastly the flaps h, h of a second
piece of paper which is affixed to the back of strip fare folded over and secured
together and to the flap g the whole forming a protective sheath to the rubbing
preparation d. The ignition rubber sheath so formed is placed in and secured to a
pocket or casing i in such a position that the end of the flap g is in contact with
the cap or head c. On pulling the elastic tape e the rubbing surface d is drawn
across the head c and the fuse b thereby ignited.
We are aware that it has been previously proposed to make igniting devices in
which the igniting tape or string is non-elastic but in our invention the use of an
elastic tape is an essential feature.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :
1.. An igniting device for firing rockets and the like comprising a preparation of

page_text: rubbing composition affixed to an elastic tape and encased by a protective sheath
substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
2. In a means for firing rockets and the like an elastic material carrying
a suitable rubbing composition in combination with a fuse having a cap or
head of firing composition substantially as described and for the purpose set
forth.
3. An improved means for firing rockets and the like the whole arranged,
constructed and operating substantially as described in the foregoing Specification
and illustrated in the drawings hereunto annexed.
Dated this 28th day of February 1896.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.