Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Dec., 1886.
Complete Left, 10th Dec., 1886.
Complete Accepted, 1st Mar., 1887.
WILLIAM BURGESS Berry Lodge Hanley Castle Malvern Wells in the county of
Worcester patentee of Alarm guns rabbit and vermin traps do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:
The alarm gun is made in any kind of gun or other metal bored and concaved to fit
central fire cartridge after placing the cartridge in its receptile a plug or plunger with
waterproof cap or shield is placed in the breech of gun on the cartridge. Attached to
the plug or plunger is a rod which runs through two ears or lugs which is fixed on the
one side of gun and fastened with a clet the two ears or lugs also has another two holes
in them for the purpose of fixing the gun on the main rod which stands in a upright
position the gun is then made stationary with muzzle downward with cotter pins or
wedges being put through upright rod and fixed underneath lugs or ears of gun the
rod is fixed in the ground or floor to keep it upright.
The rocket gun or tube can be made of gun or other metal with a moveable or
stationary breech with a nipple inserted in same the rocket gun or tube as two lugs or
ears with two holes the same is placed on upright rod above and in a line with alarm
gun which is fixed on rod as before mentioned. The rocket gun or tube is loaded
with a perforated metal rocket, the rocket gun or tube is kept at the top of rod by
means of a thin metal wedge or trigger with wires or lines attached a waterproof cap
or shield in a slot in the top of rod with pin through the stem of cap or shield thus
forming a loose hinge the wires or lines attached to the thin metal wedge being
touched this releases the rocket gun which falls on the waterproof cap of alarm gun
and fulminates both charges the alarm gun firing downward & the rocket upward.
When the thin metal wedge releases the rocket gun it also releases the waterproof
cap on top of rod which instantly drops down the side of rod thus causing no
impediment to the upward flight of rocket When the rocket gun is not wanted in use
the same can be made into an alarm gun by placing it on another rod which is
supplied for the purpose the upright rod being cranked or in elbow shape this forms a
anvil for the gun to drop upon the gun being set as herein before stated when the

page_text: rocket gun is taken from the rod of alarm gun the same is substituted by a square
anvil or hammer which is released in the usual way as the former which slides down
the rod strikes the waterproof cap and fulminates the charge when the gun is brought
into use for railways as a communication between passengers engine driver and guard
a gun is fixed to the tender or engine by means of a bracket to support the rod in a
upright position a rod with a weight fixed on and under the hammer or anvil this acts
as a lever to prevent the ossicalition of the train from giving alarm when not needful
in the guards compartment at the other end of wires or lines another gun is fixed, in
each passengers compartment is placed a handle or bell pull so the passengers can
communicate by pulling the same without putting their head out of the window every
compartment having its own line or wire the same can be detached or attached in a
few seconds. The gun with rocket can be placed in any part of a ship for sending up
different colour rocket in case of distress.

page_text: WILLIAM BURGESS Berry Lodge Hanley Castle Malvern Wells in the county of
Worcester patentee of Alarm guns rabbit and vermin traps do hereby declare the
nature of my invention for AN IMPROVED ALARM SIGNAL AND ROCKET GUN 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 an improved alarm signal and rocket gun for giving
warning of the presence of burglars poachers and other thieves or trespassers and
wild animals applicable for scaring birds and animals and for giving distress and
other signals at sea and for giving alarm by military and police outposts also for a
communication between passengers engine driver and guard.
The alarm gun is made in any kind of gun or other metal bored and concaved to fit
central fire cartridge after placing the cartridge in its receptile a plug or plunger with
waterproof cap or shield is placed in the breech of gun on the cartridge. Attached
to the plug or plunger is a rod which runs through two lugs or ears which is fixed on
the one side of gun and fastened with a clet the two ears or lugs also has another
two holes in them for the purpose of fixing the gun on the main rod which stands in
a upright position the gun is then made stationary with muzzle downward with cotter
pins or wedges being put through upright rod and fixed underneath lugs or ears of
gun the rod is fixed in the ground or floor to keep it upright The rocket gun or tube
can be made of gun or other metal with a moveable or stationary breech with a nipple
inserted in same the rocket gun or tube as two lugs or ears with two holes the same is
placed on upright rod above and in a line with alarm gun which is fixed on rod as
before mentioned the rocket gun or tube is loaded with a peforated metal rocket, the
rocket being charged with ordinary rocket Fuze or other composition a charge of powder
is placed in the gun the rocket is then rammed down tight on the powder a percussion
cap is fixed on the nipple the gun is then loaded ready for firing the rocket
gun or
tube is kept at the top of rod by means of a thin metal wedge or trigger with wires or
lines attached a waterproof cap or shield in a slot at top of rod with a pin through the
stem of cap or shield this forms a loose hinge the wires or lines attached to the thin
metal wedge being touched this releases the rocket gun which falls on the waterproof
cap of alarm gun and fulminates both charges the alarm gun firing downwards and
the rocket upward when the thin metal wedge releases the rocket gun it also releases
the waterproof cap on top of rod which instantly drops down the side of rod thus
causing no impediment to the upward flight of rocket when the rocket gun is not
wanted in use the same can be inade into a alarm gun by placing it on another rod
which is supplied for the purpose the upright rod being cranked or in elbow shape
this forms an anvil for the gun to drop upon the gun being set as herein before stated
when the rocket gun is taken from the rol of alarm gun the same is subsituted by a
square anvil or hammer which is released in the usual way as the former which slides

page_text: down the rod strikes the waterproof cap and fulminates the charge When the gun is
brought into use for railways as a communication between passengers engine driver
and guard a gun is fixed to the tender or engine by means of a bracket to support the
rod in a upright position a rod with a weight fixed on and under the hammer or anvil
this acts as a lever to prevent the ossicilation of the train from giving alarm when not
needful. In the guards compartment at the other end of wires or lines another gun is
fixed. In each passengers compartment is placed a handle or bell pull so the
passengers can communicate by pulling the same without putting their head out of
the window every compartment having its own line or wire the same can be attached
or detached in a few seconds.
The gun with rocket can be placed in any part of a ship for sending up different
colour rockets in case of distress In order that the invention may be more readily
understood I have illustrated it in the accompanying drawings and will proceed to
describe it with reference thereto.
G is bottom gun fixed on rod S the striker plug or plunger with waterproof shield
and side rod & cotter pin I fixed on side rod T the rocket gun with damproof
cover C on nozzle the same will be seen C removed W wire with trigger plate
attached the rod with wedge N placed through the hole of O. underloop or ear
of G the apperatus is now ready for firing R the perforated metal rocket T the
rocket tube shown in two halves with nipple and cap X. E the lower gun showing
interior as devided in two the ordinary cartridge case as used in G. H the two
hammers or anvils B B lever and two balance weights with wires or lines attached
when applied to railway trains or ships.
M rod with elbow which acts as a anvil for the rocket gun to fulminate on when
the two guns are seperated.
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 rocket gun or tube with perforated rocket the alarm gun with waterproof
shield plug and plunger and means for guiding retaining it in position in the breech
all constructed also waterproof shield top of rod and everything connected with the
alarm gun and rocket tube substantially as herein before described.
WILLIAM BURGESS.