Improvements in Life Saving Apparatus.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 5th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 4th Mar., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Life Saving Apparatus.
JAMES WILLIAM FROST Royal Terrace St. Davids South Wales Station
Officer H.M. Coast Guard do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
According to my invention the rocket will be fitted as follows for Long Ranges
a three pronged steel grapnel fitted to rocket by a steel collar having hinge and
secured by screw bolt outside rocket stick a steel wire pendant with swivel block
on lower end for whip. A parachute made of double rubber cloth, the underside
to have a nonreturn valve and eyelet holes to lace to grapnel. Cleets on grapnel to
spread cover, a drop ring and drop line to open grapnel in air drop line to be made
fast to becket in wire pendant.
Short Range Grapnel to have collar with hinge and clamp screw bolt but
only two steel prongs that works freely like pendlum of clock to an angle of 45°
either way a portfire and blue light to be attached by night an oil bag when
getting life boat out through surf one line to be secured to life boat the other line
on shore to haul out in oil channel.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Life Saving Apparatus.
I JAMES WILLIAM FROST of Royal Terrace St. Davids in the County of
Pembrokeshire Station Officer of H.M. Coast Guard do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
This invention relates-to-rockets carrying grapnels and a double rocket line from
one place to another thereby effecting communication with that particular place
desired by means of either " Archangel flax line or 14" whip.
According to this invention a rocket J will be fitted as follows for "Long Ranges'
with a grapnel K having three metal arms d length 18 inches x 3 inch and secured
to rocket by a metal collar G immediately under upper band on rocket case depth
of collar 3 inches x inch having hinge and clamp screw-clamp to meet and be
secured by screw outside rocket stick-a metal stay E diameter of " hinged from
each arm to dropring-dropring F to be in two parts and secured to rocket by
clamp screw-clamp screw to be on opposit side to rocket stick and on opposit
side to clamp on collar G-other two parts of dropring to be near to but not
touching rocket stick and so made as to travel up and down rocket freely
between collar and screw heads on rocket case-a metal wire pendant L with
swivel block for 11 whip at lower end-a screw thread and nut and washers
at upper end-a parachute « made of double rubber cloth-the lower side
having a nonreturn valve c and beckets bbb to secure cover to arms of grapnel.
Cleets, I, on each arm of grapnel to spread cover-a droping line, H, made fast
to a becket in wire pendant and from thence to dropring-rocket line to be of
Archangel flax inch diameter.
For Short Ranges" or against the wind rocket to be fitted with a two pronged
grapnel as Figures 1 to 5 this grapnel consists of a metal collar, J, depth 3 inches
by inch fitted with hinge, a, cheek and cheek piu, b, and secured to rocket
immediatly under upper band on rocket-by clamp screw, d, clamp screw to join on

page_text: rocket outside rocket stick-each grapnel has two metal prongs or arms, c, and is
in two sizes viz. first size length 18 inches by inch-second size length 12 inches
by inch the prongs or arms to oscillate freely to an angle of 45° either way, and
is so fitted that the arms bear against lower part of metal cheek so that the arms
cannot go any further, these cheeks are revited to inside of collar, and has a metal
bolt or pin inch diameter revited on inside of collar and outside of cheek-the upper
part of arm of grapnel is freely suspended from collar by cheek bolt or pin revited
as hereiubefore mentioned, in centre of cheek or collar, all hereinbefore mentioned
metal to be made of aluminium tempered with steel.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
With reference to Figures 1 to 8,
Figure 1 is a two pronged grapnel. a, metal collar and hinge. B, check or cheek
pin. c, arm of grapnel. d, clamp.
Figure 2. Extent of swing of the two pronged grapnel. J, metal collar secured
to rocket. F, lead for wire pendant, in case rocket stick breaks, thereby preventing
grapnel from turning over and being hauled home again. E wire pendant. G swivel
block and double rocket line.
Figure 3. Two pronged grapnel fitted to rocket and ready for firing H double
rocket line.
Figure 4. Moveable flange and set screw, to be secured to lower part of arm
when required to anchor in soft ground or sand.
Figure 5. Double rubber parachute. bbbbeckets to secure cover to arms of
grapnel. e, nonreturn valve on lower side of cover, observing that immediatly the
parachute opens the air acts upon this valve and fills the double rubber cover.
Figure 6. The Long Ranged" three pronged grapnel opened in the air by
reason of the weight of rocket line coming direct upon dropring, and the decrease
of the external air pressure caused by flight of rocket. d, arin of three pronged
grapnel. E, metal stays hinged between arm and dropring. F, dropring. G, collar.
H, droping line from dropring and secured to becket fitted in wire pendant. When
dropring is down grapnel is open, the weight of the rocket line then comes on screw
and washers on head of rocket stick, or this grapnel will open automatic on being
hauled along ground by rocket line fitted as in Figures 6 and 7.
Figure 7. J, rocket. K, three pronged grapnel fitted to rocket and ready for
firing.
Figure 8 is a two pronged grapnel at work in a mine field destroying electric
cables and defensive torpedoes and appliances in general by facilitating a way to
convey a charge of explosive substance (and the grapnel is then turned into a
cutter) to any desired object. «, water line., war ship or boat. c, fort. d, insulated
electric wires. E, 14 inch whip. F, lead on end of rocket stick for hauling part of
whip. G, G, earth plates. H, charge of guncotton on end of spar secured to whip
being hauled out. I, small buoy when required. J, swivel block on end of wire
pendant. K, mine field. L, electric cables and junction box.
General description-In using these grapnels the three pronged one fitted with
parachute is used only when distance is great, and the wind travelling towards
object to be caught by grapnel, Figures 5 to 7. When ready fire nearly perpen-
dicular when rocket composition has expended its power the parachute opens
automaticly and is carried by the wind until checked by lines, when fallen
reeve 1 inch whip using rocket line as reeving line-during descent of parachute
air acts on nonreturn valve and fill the double rubber cover with air, so, that if it
falls into water it is a life buoy.
To fire against the wind or within range of rocket use the first or second sized
two pronged grapnel as shown in Figures 1 to 4 and Figure 8.
When the object
for which it is aimed at is caught reeve 14 inch whip using inch Archangel flax
rocket line as hereinbefore stated as reeving line then haul off man, etcetera, to or
from the shore or ship or place required-or in the case of destroying--boom

page_text: defences or forts-or ships-or clearing mine field of electrict cables--torpedoes
etcetera and for general offensive purposes in warfare-haul off guncotton and fire
by electricity using either earth or complete metalic circuit to know that the
charge is immediatly over the grapnel have three marks on whip at equal distances
apart marry the two inboard ends or marks immediatly the whip is rove haul
on both parts of whip when the third mark comes in swivel block when grapnel
has caught secure spar to whip haul on hauling part until centre mark comes to
hand.
In conclusion it must be fully understood that I do not limit or confine myself to
the precise details described herein as the same may be modified without departing
from the nature of my said invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed-1 declare that what I
claim is :-
First: The construction and arrangements of attaching a three pronged grapnel
and automatic parachute, to a rocket as herein before described in the manner and
for the purpose specified, or any mere modification thereon.
Second: The construction and arrangement of attaching a two pronged grapnel
size according to strength or sensitiveness required-as herein before described also
a moveable flange to be used to anchor in soft ground or sand-secured to arm by
set screw or any mere modification thereon.
Third: To carry and securely fix a swivel metal block of size to take 1 inch
whip--and double rocket line-near to any object or place offering resistance to
grapnel being hauled home-as hereinbefore described either on land, or on the
water or under the water.
Fourth: All metal herein before mentioned to be made of steel tempered with
aluminium.
Fifth Rocket lines to be made of inch Archangel flax.
Sixth Wire strop at base of rocket for wire pendant to reeve through.
Dated this 6th 12h 1002
JAMES WILLIAM FROST.