IMPROVEMENTS IN PROJECTILES OR IGNITION MISSILES
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Norton, of Bray, in the County of Wicklow,
Ireland, Esquire, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PROJECTILES OR
IGNITION MISSILES."
Sealed the 21st August 1868, and dated the 26th March 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Norton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 26th
March 1863.
I, JOHN NORTON, of Bray, in the County of Wicklow, Ireland, Esquire,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRO-
JECTILES OR IGNITION MISSILES," to be as follows, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to the arrangement and construction of projectiles
or ignition missiles suitable for igniting any inflammable body with which they
may be brought in contact.
Under one modification or system of arrangement, the shell which is made
of any suitable figure externally, is charged with liquid phosphorus. This
solution is prepared by dissolving phosphorus in a suitable quantity of the
bisulphide of carbon, and to this solution may be added if required a propor-
tion of benzole for the purpose of increasing the inflammability of the solution.
The front end of the shell is made so that it may be pierced in its passago.
from the gun. This may be done by placing a plug in the muzzle of the gun,
the inner end of this plug is pointed, or made with a piercer that will per-
forate the shell. On the gun being fired the shell is impelled against the

page_text: pointed part of the plug, which is driven out by the force of the blow, and
does not further impede the flight of the shell. In the passage of the shell
the liquid phosphorus slowly escapes from the aperture, and ignites on coming
in contact with the atmosphere, and continues burning until the whole of the
liquid is consumed.
Another mode of arranging these shells is to fit the backward end of the
shell which is placed next the charge in the gun with a cap which is made
with a piercer on the inner side. This cap is so arranged that when the gun is
fired the cap is driven forward a sufficient distance for the piercer to penetrate
the shell, and on its leaving the gun the cap falls off owing to the ignition of
the combustible material within the shell as it escapes from the perforation.
Shells of this kind are eminently useful in warfare either on sca or land, as
when fired with a comparatively small charge of powder, they may be fired
against the sails of vessels, the resistance of which is sufficient to check the
flight of the projectile, and cause the ignition of the canvas. And with
properly graduated charges of powder these missiles may be used with great
effect on buildings, stores, and other similar property which the exigencies of
warfare may render it desirable to destroy. A highly important advantago
attending the use of these shells in warfare is that if the stream of flame
issuing from the orifice of the shell be extinguished by means of water, the
extinction of the flame lasts only so long as the water covers the aperture, on
its running off the flame bursts out again.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Norton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th
September 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
NORTON, of Bray, in the County of Wicklow, Ireland, Esquire, send greeting.
WHEREAS IIer most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Norton, Her special license that I, the said John Norton,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
John Norton, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,

page_text: use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN PROJECTILES OR IGNITION MISSILES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said John Norton, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, or under the hand and seal
of one of them, 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
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Norton, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
My said Invention relates to the arrangement and construction of pro-
jectiles or ignition missiles suitable for igniting any inflammable body with
which they may be brought in contact.
Under one modification or system of arrangement, the shell which is made
of any suitable figure externally, is charged with liquid phosphorus. This
solution is prepared by dissolving phosphorus in a suitable quantity of the
bisulphide of carbon, and to this solution may be added if required a propor-
tion of benzole for the purpose of increasing the inflammability of the solu-
tion. The front end of the shell is made so that it may be pierced in its
passage from the gun. This may be done by placing a plug in the muzzle
of the
gun,
the inner end of this plug is pointed or made with a piercer, that
will perforate the shell. On the gun being fired, the shell is impelled against
the pointed part of the plug, which is driven out by the force of the blow, and
does not further impede the flight of the shell. In the passage of the shell
the liquid phosphorus slowly escapes from the aperture, and ignites on coming
in contact with the atmosphere, and continues burning until the whole of the
liquid is consumed.
Another mode of arranging these shells is to fit the backward end of the
shell which is placed next the charge in the gun with a cap, which is made
with a piercer on the inner side. This cap is so arranged that when the gun
is fired, the cap is driven forward a sufficient distance for the piercer to pene.
trate the shell, and on its leaving the gun the cap falls off owing to the
ignition of the combustible material within the shell as it escapes from the
perforation.
Shells of this kind are eminently useful in warfare, either on sea or land,

page_text: as when fired with a comparatively small charge of powder they may be fired
against the sails of vessels, the resistance of which is sufficient to check the
flight of the projectile, and cause the ignition of the canvas; and with
properly graduated charges of powder, these missiles may be used with great
effect on buildings, stores, and other similar property which the exigencies of
warfare may render it desirable to destroy. A highly important advantage
attending the use of these shells in warfare is, that if the stream of flame
issuing from the orifice of the shell be extinguished by means of water, the
extinction of the flame lasts only so long as the water covers the aperture, on
its running off the flame bursts out again.
And in order that my said Invention of "Improvements in Projectiles or
Ignition Missiles" may be properly understood, I shall now proceed to describe
the several Figures on the explanatory Sheet of Drawings, which I have
hereunto appended for the purpose of showing certain modifications under
which my improvements may be judiciously carried out in practice, that is
to say:
Figure 1 on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings is a longitudinal section
of one modification of my improved projectiles or ignition missiles, and
Figure 2 is an elevation of the same.
In this arrangement the front part of the projectile is formed of one of my
steel or other metal bolts A, which are flat-ended, or are slightly concave at
the striking end. Behind this bolt is arranged a small chamber or vessel B,
formed by preference of thin metal; this chamber is filled with a solution of
phosphorus, which ignites on the air coming in contact with it. This solu-
tion is prepared by dissolving phosphorus in the bisulphide of carbon, to
which may be added a proportion of benzole, with the view of increasing the
inflammability of the contents of the projectile. The chamber B is filled with
the solution in such manner as to provent the fluid from becoming ignited
during the filling and sealing operations. It is then placed in contact with the
bolt A, and covered by the external envelope C; this envelope is formed of
paper, parchment, thiu metal, or other suitable flexible material. If formed
of paper or of parchment, the material is placed when in a damp state on a
mould of a suitable figure, and is allowed to dry and harden, in this state it
retains the form of the moulds. If the envelope is made of thin metal as, for
example, tin foil, the sheet metal is pressed over the surface of the mould to
cause it to take the required form. Or this part of the projectile may be
made in metal, in manner similar to the manufacture of metallic capsules, or
of the tubes used for containing colours, and known as Rhand's tubes. The
envelope C has formed on it the projecting ribs D, which fit the grooves of

page_text: the rifle if the projectile is intended to be used with a weapon of this class.
The open end of the envelope is passed over the backward end of the bolt A,
and the envelope is fastened down with string or wire, as shown in Figure 2;
this completes the manufacture of the projectile. In using it as an ignition
missile, after putting the charge of powder into the rifle or other fire-arm a
wad is put down the barrel next the powder, and upon this is placed a sabot
or plug E, which is made with a point in the centre; the projectile is then
passed down the barrel, but not so far as to allow the point of the sabot to
penetrate the rear end of the projectile. When the gun is discharged the
sabot is driven forward, it penetrates the end of the projectile, and its contents
take fire spontaneously as the missile leaves the barrel of the piece, the sabot E
falling away at the same time. These self-igniting missiles are intended to be
used in warfare for igniting the sails of the enemy's vessels, or for firing
wooden buildings, and for other generally similar offensive or defensive pur-
poses. In firing these missiles a comparatively small charge of powder is
used, as the object is to cause the projectile to fall against the body it is fired
at, and lie in contact therewith, so as to set it on fire. In some cases, how-
ever, it may be advantageous to use larger charges of powder, with the object
of causing the missile to penetrate a building and set it on fire.
In the modification delineated in Figures 3 and 4 on the accompanying
Drawings, solid phosphorus is made use of as the igniting material; Figure 3
is a longitudinal section of the arrangement; and Figure 4 is an elevation.
The bolt or shot A is made with external ribs D, formed on it to fit the
grooves of the rifle or piece from which it is to be fired. The bolt A is cored
out inside, so as to form a chamber or receptacle, in which is placed a piece
of stick phosphorus, as shown at B, in Figure 3. The phosphorus is allowed
to project beyond the end of the bolt A, and it is protected and enclosed
by an end cap or envelope C, which is made of paper, thin metal, gutta percha,
or other suitable flexible material. The bolt or shot A is made with a groove
near the backward end to admit of the cap being securely fastened thereto
either by string or wire. This projectile is ignited in the act of firing it from
the piece by means of a pointed sabot, as described in reference to the first
modification. The friction caused by the sudden entry of the point of the
sabot into the phosphorus B causes it to ignite at the moment of leaving the
mouth of the barrel of the piece from which it is fired, and it continues to
burn with a large and very powerful flame until the whole of the phosphorus
is consumed.
Another modification of these projectiles is shown in longitudinal section in

page_text: this arrangement of the projectile a case or envelope A is moulded in paper,
thin metal, gutta percha, or other suitable material, and having on its exterior
the ribs D, which are formed to fit the grooves of the rifle or piece from which
the projectile is to be fired. The front end of the case A is closed, as shown
in the Drawing, and the backward end is left open to receive the piece of solid
phosphorus B. The phosphorus may be softened, if necessary, prior to putting
it into the case by immersing it in lukewarm water, and drying it before
placing it in the case. The end of the case is then closed in and tied up, or
it may be secured in any other equivalent or suitable manner.
As in the former modification the perforation of the pointed sabot causes
the phosphorus to inflame and ignite any combustible material with which it
may come in contact. In place of igniting these missiles by means of a
pointed sabot placed in the rear of the projectile they may be put into the
barrel of the piece in the reverse way, and ignited by means of a piercer fitted
into the end of the barrel. The point of the piercer extends into the barrel,
and it is held in its place by means of three light radial arms or other equi-
valent therefor, so as not to intercept the escape of the air from the barrel
when the charge is fired. These projectiles would be found particularly
formidable in warfare, as offering a very portable and effective means of
destroying the sails and rigging of vessels, and even of firing the vessel itself
if thrown into the hull, as well as in setting fire to buildings and other
property of a combustible nature. A peculiar advantage also attends the use
of the missiles filled with liquid phosphorus, because if water is thrown on to
the flame, or if it be covered with any non-inflammable body the extinction of
the flame is only temporary, as the moment the air has again access to the
fluid it bursts into flame, the heat of which is very intense, and consequently
highly destructive.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the system or mode of arranging, constructing, and igniting incendiary
projectiles or ignition missiles, according to the several modifications herein-
before described and shown in the accompanying Drawings, or any mere
modification of the said arrangements or equivalent therefor.
Second, the application or adaptation and use of liquid or solid phosphorus
in ignition missiles.
Third, the manufacture or production of a solution of phosphorus for the

page_text: purposes herein-before described, by dissolving solid phosphorus in bisulphide
of carbon.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Norton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of September, One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-three.
JOHN NORTON. (L.S.)
Late Captain 84th Regiment.