Projectiles with Lines Attached or otherwise.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 5th May, 1887
Complete Left, 2nd Jan., 1888
Complete Accepted, 3rd Feb., 1888
Projectiles with Lines Attached or otherwise.
ROBERT Low Engineer Albert Machine Works 146 Overgate Dundee I do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
I bore the gun at the breech end to suit an ordinary fowling piece cartridge such
as No. 12.
The length of part bored this size to be exactly what will hold the cartridge
containing the necessary quantity of powder to throw the projectile the distance
wanted.
The remainder of the barrel is bored to a size to give the required weight &
substance for the projectile which may be made of wood or other floatable material
as a preference but can be made of any metal-hollow or solid. In loading the breech
is opened in the ordinary way & the cartridge containing powder only is inserted in
small part of gun barrel the breech is then closed for firing. A wad is then inserted
at the muzzle & rammed hard down to small part of barrel the projectile is then
introduced & rammed in the same way to the wad when the gun is ready for firing.
Dad this Faneth day of Mo 1887

page_text: Projectiles with Lines Attached or otherwise.
ROBERT Low Engineer Albert Machine Works 146 Overgate Dundee, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN GUNS FOR THROWING
PROJECTILES and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
1 bore the gun at the breech end of such a diameter, as to suit an ordinary fowling
piece cartridge such as for instance No. 12 and make this bored portion of such a
length as just to hold the cartridge containing the necessary quantity of powder to
throw the projectile the distance wanted.
The remainder of the barrel is bored to a size, so as to give the required weight
of matter to the projectile, which may be made of wood or other floatable material as
a preference but can be made of any metal hollow or solid in accordance with my
Specification No. 4796 A.D. 1887.
In loading, the breech is opened in the ordinary way; as in a Martini-Henry rifle.
I do not bind myself to adhere to the above method of breech-loading and cite it
merely as an illustration showing one method of carrying out my Invention.
The waterproof cartridge containing powder only, is inserted at rear end of gun
barrel and the breech is then closed. A wad of vulcanized fibre is then inserted at
the muzzle and rammed hard down, until it touches the cartridge. It is absolutely
necessary to use the wad of vulcanized fibre, so as to prevent the line attached to
projectile being burned when powder is ignited. The same wad may be used again
and again, if recovered.
The projectile with line attached is then introduced in a similar manner, until its
rear end touches the wad.
The gun is now ready for being fired off.
I append some illustrations for the purpose of showing how my gun may be
utilized.
For saving life at sea, it may be employed to throw a line from either a lifeboat to
a ship or vice-versa.
The cartridge being waterproof, the gun can be loaded and fired from the lifeboat,
even should a very heavy sea be running.
Again, should a man fall overboard in the dark, and it is known in what direction
he is; a floatable projectile with light could be fired so as to fall near him, and he
might be able to secure himself to the line with little exertion.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1. represents a longitudinal section of the gun, with projectile in position ready
for being fired off.

page_text: Specification No. 4796 A.D. 1887, may be coiled alongside of gun in any convenient
manner, so that it may uncoil as freely as possible when projectile is fired off. To
the front part of projectile is fixed a bolder B for carrying a light which is ignited
by means of a friction fuse actuated by a cord C; shewn in Fig. 2. when projectile
is leaving the gun.
E. is the breech part, bored to suit a waterproof cartridge.
F. is bored to suit projectile and may be larger, smaller, or equal in diameter to
part E. I prefer to bore F to the larger diameter.
G. is the vulcanized fibre wad.
Fig. 2. represents a side view of gun with breech open, for the insertion of the
cartridge.
Fig. 3. represents a longitudinal section of wooden projectile showing how line
may be attached.
The projectile may be made of either beech, plane-tree, lignum-vitae or boxwood.
I find it perfectly suitable to make it of either beech or plane-tree, when used to
throw a line to a drowning person as being more buoyant. If it is found necessary
to throw projectile from a lifeboat against a gale, it is preferable to use lignum-vitae,
boxwood or even metal; so as to give it the requisite weight.
Fig. 4. represents a rear end view of same.
Fig. 5. represents a longitudinal section of metal projectile, showing how line is
attached and with end screwed into position.
Fig. 6 is a section of same at D. D.
Figs. 7 and 8. represent a longitudinal section of metal projectile with end unscrewed,
ready for receiving line.
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 combination of a breech and muzzle loading gun, for throwing projectiles
with lines attached or otherwise; substantially as herein before described.
Dated this Twenty-ninth day of December 1887.