Improvements in Pyrotechnic Signals for Naval, Military, and other Purposes.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Apr., 1883.
Complete Left, 7th June, 1888
Complete Accepted, 27th July, 1888
Improvements in Pyrotechnic Signals for Naval, Military, and other
Purposes.
We, FREDERICK WILLIAM PLEYDELL BOUVERIE of 30 Longridge Road, South
Kensington in the County of Middlesex, Vice Admiral, and WILLIAM BALCH of
51 Chatsworth Road, Clapton Park, in the County of Essex, Pensioner Royal Navy, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to pyrotechnic signals of that class usually known as shells or
rockets, and which are specially intended for naval, marine, and military signalling.
According to our said invention we provide a cylindrical case or tube of metal
or other suitable material, one end of which is closed by a flanged metal partition
secured a short distance within the tube, the flanges serving to thicken and strengthen
the metal of the portions of the case to which they are adjacent.
On one side of the said partition in the longer end of the tube is placed a small
chamber containing a detonating composition, the said composition being ignited by
means of a fuse in the manner hereinafter described.
The remaining portion of the long end of the case above the said chamber is filled
with balls or pieces of material adapted to show stars of fire when discharged, the
adjacent end of the case being hermetically closed by a cap.
The other end of the case is fitted within a metal cylinder closed at one end and
having a percussion cap of novel construction or a number of separate percussion caps
fitted therein.
In the short end of the case or tube below the partition is a plug of wood or other
suitable material having passing through it in an inclined direction a fuse for
communicating fire from below the plug to an opening formed in the said partition
and thence by means of quick-match to the fuse of the chamber containing the
detonator.
A train of quick-match is also placed through that portion of the case or tube
containing the balls.
Within the cylinder at its base is placed a charge of gunpowder or its equivalent
for projecting the tube and its contents, a wad being placed between the charge and

page_text: the said plug so that the force of the explosion does not blow out the fuse in the
latter this is further prevented by forming the hole for the fuse in an inclined
position as herein before described.
A piece of quick-match is placed in the wad to communicate fire to the fuse in
the plug.
As hereinbefore stated we prefer to employ a percussion cap of novel construction.
This novel construction consists essentially in forming the same with a series
of compartments or in a number of sections each of which is capable of igniting the
charge independently of the others.
The advantage of this arrangement is that in case one section of the percussion cap
misses fire another may still serve to fire the charge.
A hammer having several pins is used in conjunction with this cap.
G. F. REDFERN & Co., '
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in Pyrotechnic Signals for Naval, Military, and other
Purposes.
We, FREDERICK WILLIAM PLEYDELL BOUVERIE, of 30 Longridge Road, South
Kensington, in the County of Middlesex, Vice Admiral, and WILLIAM BALCH, of
51, Chatsworth Road, Clapton Park, in the said County of Middlesex, Pensioner
Royal Navy, 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 :-
Our invention relates to pyrotechnic signals which are specially intended for naval,
marine, and military signalling and it comprises the improvements hereinafter
described.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is an elevation of a rocket constructed according to our invention and
adapted to be discharged from a gun.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the same, and,
Figure 3 is a transverse section.
Figure 4 is an elevation of a hand light provided with our improvements.
Figure 5 is a vertical section of the same, and
Figure 6 is a plan, certain parts being removed.
In constructing a rocket according to our said invention we provide a cylindrical
case or tube a of metal or other suitable material, near one end of which is secured a
flanged metal partition b, the flanges serving to thicken and strengthen the metal of
the portions of the case to which they are adjacent.
On one side of the said partition in the longer end of the tube is placed a small
chamber e containing a detonating composition, the said composition being ignited by
means of a fuse in the manner hereinafter described.
The remaining portion of the long end of the case above the said chamber is filled
with balls or pieces g of material adapted to show stars of fire of various colours when
discharged, the adjacent end of the case being hermetically closed by a cap h.
The other end of the case is fitted within a metal cylinder i closed at one end and
having a percussion cap j of novel construction, or a number of separate percussion
caps fitted therein. Or instead of arranging the cylinder i outside the case a it may
be constructed to fit within the latter.
In the short end of the case or tube below the partition b is a plug k of wood
or other suitable material, through which the fuse f passes in an inclined direction, the
said fuse also passing through an opening formed in the said partition.
A train m of quick-match is placed through that portion of the case or tube
containing the balls hereinbefore referred to.
Within the cylinder at its base is a charge n of gunpowder or its equivalent
for projecting the tube and its contents, a wad o being placed between the charge and

page_text: the said plug so that the force of the explosion does not blow out the fuse in the
latter; this is further prevented by forming the hole for the fuse in an inclined
position as herein before described.
A piece of quick-match can if desired be placed in the wad to communicate fire
to the fuse.
When the improved rocket or shell is placed in a gun and the percussion cap struck
the charge of gunpowder or the like is ignited whereby the case with its contents is
projected into the air, the fuse being at the same time lighted. The burning of the
fuse is so timed that when the rocket has travelled a certain distance, the quick-match
will be ignited, whereby the balls will be also ignited and discharged, and that
the explosion of the detonating composition shall take place almost immediately
afterwards.
As hereinbefore stated we prefer to employ a percussion cap of novel construction.
This novel construction consists essentially in forming the same with a series of
compartments or in a number of sections each of which is capable of igniting the
charge independently of the others.
The advantage of this arrangement is that in case one section of the percussion cap
misses fire another may still serve to fire the charge.
A hammer having several pins may be used in conjunction with this cap.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 show the application of our improvements relating to percussion
caps to a hand signal. This hand signal comprises a metal case p filled with suitable
composition, the said case being preferably composed of lead so that it will melt down
as the composition burns.
q is a plate which rests upon the composition and carries three caps upon three
anvils secured to the said plate.
s is a plate inserted into the top of the case and serving as a hard surface to fire the
caps when the end of the light is struck against the sides of a ship or the like.
t is a cap which protects the composition from damp, a wad u being placed between
it and the plates to prevent the light from being ignited inadvertently.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of
our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. The improvements in pyrotechnic signals, substantially as hereinbefore described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In a pyrotechnic signal the employment of a percussion cap of the kind
hereinbefore described, or of a series of percussion caps, substantially as setforth.
Dated the 7th day of June 1888.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agents for the Applicants.