Improved Means and Apparatus for Distributing on Rough Sea Oil or other Liquids.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Apr., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 7th Dec., 1391-Accepted, 26th Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means and Apparatus for Distributing on Rough Sea Oil
or other Liquids.
1, WILLIAM GEORGE ROTHWELL of 68 Strand Road, Bootle-cum-Linacre in
the County of Lancaster, Master Mariner do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
To smooth the sea by the aid of oil or other liquids, preparatory to, or whilst
launching life boats, and for the same purpose, while proceeding to wrecks." Also,"
for throwing oil or other liquids to windward, or seaward of ships, vessels, or
wrecks, for the purpose of saving life.
And to attain this object I encase the rocket in, or ship on to the rocket, a can
or vessel (suitable in size make and material) containing the oil or other liquid, so
that when the rocket, or projectile explodes, the oil or other liquid is dispersed on
the water.
Aril 2nd 1801
WILLIAM GEORGE ROTHWELL.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means and Apparatus for Distributing on Rough Sea Oil
or other Liquids.
I, WILLIAM GEORGE ROTHWELL of 68 Strand Road Bootle-cum-Linacre in
the County of Lancaster, Master Mariner, 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 :-
The object is to throw out and disperse oil, or other liquids to seaward of a
stranded vessel, or from the life boat station, or place of launching the life boat, by
means of a rocket, mortar, gun, or other projectile. And to attain this object I
make cans (preferably of thin metal, the outer end conical form) to contain storm
oil, say a quart, more or less, according to the size of the rocket or mortar to be
used.
I preferably construct the rocket about three inches diameter (and just where
the oil can ships over it, to about three and a half inches, by a strip of extra paper,
to allow of a large can) and containing sufficient fuseing composition to carry it a
range of about eight hundred yards, and on the side of the rocket is attached a
twin fuse containing fuseing composition in one of the tubes, and dry powder in
the other, the end of which goes into the exploding chamber, which contains
sufficient powder to explode the rocket and disperse the oil. The twin fuse is
marked off in lines at every hundred yards of range, say the oil required to be
dispersed on the water at five hundred yards range, the twin fuse is to be bored
through at the fifth line.
The rockets and apparatus which are now generally used for throwing the line
over a stranded vessel may "also " be used for throwing the oil out, the cans, or oil
containers being made suitable.
In the case of useing mortars, or-short guns at the life boat stations, larger
quantities of oil may be thrown out, the cans being made conical form with a solid
iron bottom, the exploding charge being screwed into the top of the can, with a
suitable time fuse inserted or screwed into it.
$
Also," the life boat may be fitted with a suitable rocket tube, air, or spring
'

page_text: being stratified in an isolated place su na wa
launching their own boats.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a sectional view of rocket-propelled oil-distributing apparatus under
my invention.
a is the rocket of any usual construction but made with a cap bat
the front end having a chamber c containing gunpowder or other suitable explosive
in the chamber. d is an aperture to which is connected a fuse e containing dry
powder. is a fuse containing the usual composition connected to the fuse e at g.
h stick. binding. is the oil can or container which fits over the cap band is
held in position by studs on the cap which enter slots in the can. The fuses e, f,
are connected by being pierced at such distance from the powder-chamber as will
allow the rocket to travel the required distance before the explosive in the
chamber is ignited.
C
Fig. 2 is a sectional view of apparatus under my invention suitable for being
fired from a mortar. The can is here made to fit in a socket or cup / which enters
the mouth of the mortar. Here the explosive chamber is within the oil can or
container. The mouth of the said chamber is closed by a time fuse m of the
usual construction. To ensure ignition of the fuse a train n attached to the fuse m
is rove through a hole in the cap. The containers are filled with oil through an
aperture or apertures which is or are afterwards plugged or soldered up.
If desired the fuse may contain potassium or other substance which ignites on
contact with water.
In all the views like letters denote the same parts.
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 1
claim is :-
First. Distributing oil at sea by means of an explosive container substantially as
set forth.
Second. The combination of an oil container, explosive chamber fuse and mortar
or gun substantially as set forth.
Dated the 8th day of March 1892.
D
T LINC
C
Pro J. T. KING,
J. Johnson,
Agent.