Cartridge for Signalling, and Arrangement for Firing.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Sept., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 13th June, 1894-Accepted, 28th July, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Cartridge for Signalling, and Arrangement for Firing.
A communication from JURGEN MAHLMANN, Little Gartnerstrasse, No. 13,
Ottensen, Altona, and Captain CHRISTIAN WRAA, 2, Rainville Terrasse,
Ottensen, Altona, Germany.
CHARLES SERGEL Agent 212 The Grove, Hammersmith, in the County of
Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide for land and sea service a handy
ignalling apparatus. It consists of a pistol or revolver shaped handle with a
barrel, the upper part of which is open in the middle or cut away so that the
cartridge is only enclosed or covered by the under part of the barrel. The barrel
s also closed at the fore end in order to secure the cartridge and to increase the
Hash. The cartridge is loaded from behind and can, when fired, be removed from
the barrel by an extractor, which is connected with the hind end of the barrel..
The barrel is hinged to the fore part of the handle of the pistol and is fastened
n the middle to the handle by a spring, which connection can be loosened by
pulling the trigger hoop. When the pistol is to be loaded, the trigger hoop has
to be pulled back, by which the hind end of the barrel rises, so that the cartridge
can easily be put in. When the cartridge is in, the barrel is pushed down and
closed from behind by the shutter. In the middle of the shutter is a needle by
which, when struck by the hammer (cock) the cartridge is fired. The cartridge,.
which is like the barrel, also cut open in the middle is filled with a mixture of
magnesium and different chemicals and the flash produced can be seen for many
miles. The flash can be given in any color and with or without report.
Dated this 14th day of September 1893.
CHARLES SERGEL.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Cartridge for Signalling, and Arrangement for Firing.
A communication from JURGEN MAHLMANN, Little Gartnerstrasse, No. 13,
Ottensen, Altona, Germany, and Captain CHRISTIAN WRAA, 2, Rainville
Terrasse, Ottensen, Altona, Germany.
I, CHARLES SERGEL, of 212, The Grove, Hammersmith, Middlesex do hereby
leclare 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:-
The subject of the present invention is the letting-off of light signals for great
distances. The invention consists of a peculiarly constructed cartridge together
with an arrangement in the form of a pistol, for firing the same.
In the accompanying drawing
Fig. 1 shews a side view of the cartridge; Fig. 2 is an end view of the
same, and
Fig. 3 a view of the firing mechanism, the stock being partly broken away.
The present cartridge differs from those hitherto in use in that the paper or
metal case, forming the cylinder, has an opening a, which opening is pasted over
with thin paper.

page_text: The front end is closed by a plug whilst a percussion or detonating cap effects
closing of the rear end. The charge consists of a mixture of magnesium,
sulphide of antimony, and chlorate of potassium. For coloured signals instead
of sulphide of antimony, the mixture contains sulphate of copper, nitrate of barium
or nitrate of strontium!
The mechanism for firing the cartridge outwardly resembles a pistol, but differs
essentially from it in the construction of the barrel. Upon the top side of the
barrel d which is closed in front and connected here with the stock b by a hinge c,
is an opening a similar to and of the size of the opening a in the cartridge case.
The breach of the barrel is open and serves for inserting the cartridge. An
ejector e, worked by hand; serves for throwing out the empty cartridge case.
The barrel opens upwards on the hinge c, as shewn by broken lines, Fig. 3.
A catch into which a spring snap clasps, holds the turned down barrel
securely in its place: On the other hand by pressing upon the button i the
spap g is. released, and the breach of the barrel flies upwards through action of
the spring h.
To discharge a cartridge it is placed in the breach of the barrel so that
the openings a and a coincide with each other. After the turned down barrel
has been secured in the above described manner, on pulling the trigger the
percussion cap is exploded and the illuminating mass in the cartridge ignited
through the stroke of the hammer by means of a striking pin. An extremely
intense light issuing from the opening of the barrel is the immediate result:
According to the requirement an electrical effect or burning for a few seconds
duration can be attained by altering the mixed proportions of the illuminating
substance. The illuminating power is so great that it can be seen at a distance
of 20 kilometres and more.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The cartridge for signalling (Figs. 1 and 2) consisting of a cylindrical metal
or paper case closed in front end by a plug and at the rear end by a percussion or
detonating cap, and having on its upper side an opening (a) pasted over with thin
paper, which case contains the charge, consisting of sulphide of antimony,
magnesium and chlorate of potassium, or sulphate of copper or nitrate of barium or
nitrate of strontium, magnesium and chlorate of potassium all substantially as and
for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.
2. The arrangement (Fig. 3) for firing signal cartridges, consisting of a pistol
stock (6) in combination with a barrel (d) having an opening (a2) on its top side
corresponding to an opening in the top side of the cartridge, which barrel is closed
in front and connected with the stock (6) by a hinge (c) and behind by a clasp (f),
and opens upwards under action of a spring (4), in combination with the ejector (e),
all substantially as aud for the purposes herein before set forth.
'13th of June 1894.
CHARLES SERGEL.