An Improved Apparatus, Stand, or Carriage, from which Line Carrying and other Rockets may be Fired.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Sept., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 8th June, 1893-Accepted, 8th July, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus, Stand, or Carriage, from which Line
Carrying and other Rockets may be Fired.
I JAMES BLACKWOOD NOBLE, of the Crown Works, Northam, in the Town
and County of the Town of Southampton, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to line carrying, and other rockets, and the apparatus from
which the same are fired.
The main object of my said invention is to provide a simple, compact apparatus,
from which line carrying rockets may be fired for the purpose of establishing
communication between a stranded ship and the shore, or vice, versa.
My improved apparatus is so constructed that it can be readily stowed into a
small space when not in use.
In making my improved apparatus according to one form or modification of my
invention I provide a trough of a sufficient diameter and length to contain the
rocket and any fittings I may attach to same, to one end of this trough I suitably
attach a smaller trough and the latter supports the rocket stick. This device I
connect at the underside, by a hinge joint, to the head of a rod, or spindle which in
turn is inserted vertically in an upright tubular post, or standard, in such a way as
to allow of the rod being rotated at will in the said post, the latter being placed,
or fixed in any desirable position on a ship, or on the shore; thus the trough
device can be turned with the rod-the latter pivotting in the post-in any desired
horizontal direction, and elevated, or depressed-pivotting upon the hinge joint at
the head of rod-at any desired vertical angle. I arrange also that the rod can be
raised or lowered, and fixed, at any convenient vertical height in the post by simple
mechanical means.
The form of hinge joint I prefer to adopt is the following:-The large trough
is suitably attached at the underside to the head of a bolt, the shank of this bolt is
passed through an eye provided in a boss formed on the head of the vertical rod,
before mentioned, the bolt projects beyond the boss and upon the projecting part of
the bolt a screw thread is formed upon which a butterfly screw nut, wheel, or handle
is passed, when this nut, or its equivalent, is screwed up it fixes the bolt in any desired
position relative to its circular travel in the eye of the boss, and the trough is thus
fixed at any desired angle of elevation or depression, it is only necessary to slacken
the nut to allow of a more or less-as desired-free rotary motion of the bolt and
consequently of the trough device.
When the apparatus is not in use the parts forming the trough device may be
turned over into a vertical position parallel with the standard, the whole thereby
occupying a very small space, but available for almost instant use.
I may also provide upon my apparatus suitable indicating plates, and pointers,
by means of which the various angles of elevation, depression, and training will be
indicated.
Sometimes I fit a collar round the tubular post, the former being arranged to
slide up and down, and to be fixed at any desired height on the latter, and I connect
to the said collar, by hinge-joints, a series of arms these can be opened out-hinging
at the joints so as to form supports to the post thereby steadying the whole apparatus
while in use, and when not in use the arms can be folded closely, and secured to the
sides of the post.
When it is required to fire a rocket from my apparatus the former is placed in the
trough device, which is then elevated and trained so as to effect the desired flight

page_text: Many modifications may be made in the details of the apparatus without
departing from the distinctive character of the invention, for instance; in the
method of mounting the trough upon the post, and in the method of pivotting
or hinging the trough upon the rod or spindle, and in the form of the base of the
post, and the method of securing and steadying the latter on the deck of a ship, or
upon the shore.
If desired two, or more of my improved apparatus may be fitted on-one ship, and
the said apparatus can be used elsewhere than upon a ships deck.
My apparatus may be used for firing rockets of other kinds than those specially
made for carrying lines.
Dated this 7th day of September 1892.
HERBERT P. BLAKE, M.I.N.A.,
70, High Street, Southampton, Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus, Stand, or Carriage, from which Line
Carrying and other Rockets may be Fired.
I, JAMES BLACKWOOD NOBLE, of the Crown Works, Northam, in the Town
and County of the Town of Southampton, Engineer, 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:-
My invention relates to line carrying, and other rockets, and the apparatus from
which the same are fired.
The main object of my said invention is to provide a simple compact, apparatus
from which line carrying rockets may be fired for the purpose more especially of
establishing communication between a stranded ship and the shore, or vice, versa.
My improved apparatus is so constructed that it can be readily stowed into a small
space when not in use.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1, is a longitudinal elevation of the apparatus constructed according to one
form or modification of my invention, and adapted for use on a ship's deck.
Fig. 2, is a plan view on top of Fig. 1, and
Fig. 3, an end view.
a, is a trough made of a sufficient diameter and length to contain a rocket and
any devices may attach to same, b, is a smaller trough-for taking the rocket
stick attached to the trough a, by means of the fitting c.
The bracket d, and attached bolt or spindle e, is suitably secured to the underside
of the trough a; f, is a hollow vertical post or standard with a base plate p, which
is firmly secured to the ships deck; in the top of the standard I fit a screw threaded
spindle, the head of the spindle is formed with a boss h, and in mounting the
trough device upon the standard, the spindle e, is passed through an eye provided
in the boss, the said spindle projects beyond the boss and upon the projecting part
a screw thread is provided upon which a screw nut h',-formed with a wheel, or
handles i, i, is passed.
The trough device is arranged to pivot with the spindle e in the eye of the boss ki
and it (the trough device) can be fixed, at any desired angle of elevation or depression
by screwing the nut ', close up to the boss h, whereby the spindle e is prevented
from turning in same. When the apparatus. is not in, use, the, parts forming the
trough device may be turned over into a vertical position parallel with the
standard, the whole thereby occupying a very small space. but available for almost
instant use.
When it is desired to train, the, trough. device. horizontally, the, screw nut j, is
alacked up, the spindle.g,,is then free to rotate with the trough device in the head,
of standard, and to fix the spindle and consequently the trough device in the desired,

page_text: position, in relation to its circular travel, the nut j, is screwed down hard upon the
fixed collar A.
I provide upon my apparatus suitable indicating plates and pointers such as 7,
and 1, by means of which the various angles of elevation and depression of the
trough device will be shewn. I may also provide similar devices for indicating the
various angles of horizontal training.
The spindle -and consequently the trough device-may be raised and lowered
vertically in the standard by screwing or unscrewing the spindle, and fixed at any
desired height by means of the nut j.
I may sometimes fit a loose collar m, round the standard, arranged to slide up
and down upon same, and to be fixed at any desired height on the standard by
means of a set screw m', or other suitable contrivance, and I connect to the said
collar, by hinge joints m2, three or more arms or stays n, n, these can be opened out
at the bottom, hinging at the joints, so as to form supports to the standard thereby
steadying the whole apparatus when in use, and when not in use the arms can be
folded close, and suitably secured, to the sides of the standard.
When it is desired to fire a rocket from my apparatus it is placed in the trough
device which is then elevated and trained so as to effect the desired flight of the
rocket when fired.
My apparatus is specially designed as a stand for "Boxer," line carrying rockets,
and any devices I may attach to same, the rocket being fired from the stand-
fixed on board of a ship-to the shore for life saving purposes, but the apparatus
may also be used upon the shore for firing rockets to a ship, or upon the shore, or
a ship, for firing rockets into the sea, it may also be used for firing other rockets
from, including signal rockets, the latter would probably be fired from the smaller
trough, b.
Many modifications may be made in the details without departing from the
distinctive character of my invention, for instance, the form of the base p, of
standard, when the apparatus is used elsewhere than upon a ships deck, may be
other than that shewn in the accompanying drawing, when the apparatus is
used upon the shore the heel of standard may be made of a pointed form
convenient for insertion in the ground to a limited depth so as to firmly secure
it in position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
-
The improved stand or carriage specially adapted for firing line carrying and
other rockets from, comprising the trough device a, b, mounted upon the standard f,
and other devices, all constructed and combined substantially as described with
reference to accompanying drawings, and operating as and for the purpose above
specified.
UDD LVA
JAMES BLACKWOOD NOBLE.
Herbert P. Blake, M.I.N.A.,
70, High Street, Southampton, Agent for the Applicant.