An Improved Dynamite Rocket.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Oct., 1892-Accepted, 31st Dec., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Dynamite Rocket.
I HERBERT JOHN HADDAN of the firm of Herbert & Co., Patent Agents
of 18 Buckingham Street Strand W.C. London Civil Engineer do hereby
declare the nature of this invention a communication to me from abroad by
The American Carrier Rocket Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts, United
States of America and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:―
The invention relates especially to means and mechanism for throwing dynamite,
or other high explosives, to a distance and for causing the same to explode, either
by a time fuse, or percussion or concussion.
In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal elevation of a dynamite rocket, and
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof.
Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures.
1 is the rocket firing head, made of any approved material, and packed with
composition in the usual manner. At the apex of the head of the rocket at 2, is a
longitudinally movable pin, having a hole therein for the passage of a safety pin, 3.
This pin 3, is made of wood, or equivalent material, which will break, and permit
the pin 2 to be driven inward, when the end of the rocket strikes the ground, or
other object at the end of its flight. 4 is a passage in the upper extremity of the
rocket head, and 5 is a fulminate cap, which communicates with a charge 6, of
explosive material. 7 is a top plate, secured within the rocket head. 8 is a choke
plate, and 9 is the back plug. 10 is the fuse for firing the rocket. 11 is a fuse com-
municating with the interior of the rocket head, and with a fuse tube 12, fixed in the
tube forming the tail of the rocket. 13 is a tapering head, connected to the firing
head, and to the tail tube 20. This tube is designed to carry dynamite, and means
for exploding the same. 14 is a cross-bar or plug, within the tube 20, carrying the
fuse tube 12. 15 is a tube, mounted within tube 20, and carrying an explosive
compound 6. 16 are interior blocks provided with nipples 22, arranged to carry
fulminate caps, 5. 17, 17, are weights, arranged to slide in tube 15, but normally
held in place by breakable pins 3, as above explained for the pin 2. 18 is a closing
plate, at the extremity of the tube 20.
The operation of the device is as follows: The rocket is placed in any convenient
position for firing, and the fuse 10 ignited; the rocket starts with an easy
movement, and in such a manner as not to jar or disturb the dynamite, until the
same is carried to the point where it is desired that the explosion should take place.
As the rocket composition begins to burn, the fuse 11 is ignited, and burns a
predetermined time; at the expiration of which time, the fuse ignites the explosive
material with which it is connected causing an explosion, and this explosion fires
the dynamite or other high explosive with which its tubular tail is loaded. We do
not rely upon this means alone for exploding the dynamite, but provide three
separate and distinct independent additional means for causing the explosion by
means of percussion or concussion. The first is in the apex of the rocket head.
When said head comes in contact with soft earth, or other object, the pin 3, will
break permitting the piece 2 to be driven inward against the cap, exploding the
charge in the, apex of the rocket head. In case the rocket should strike in a
slanting direction, this means of causing the explosion might fail, and to provide for
such a contingency, I have furnished the movable weights or hammers 17. When
the rocket strikes the pins 3 in the tube 15 holding said weights in place will be
broken, and the weights released, but their momentum will cause them to be driven
forward against the fulminate caps, and thus the explosion of the material carried
by the tube forming the rocket tail is insured.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1: The combination with a self-propelling projectile or rocket, of a tube forming
the tail of the projectile, adapted and arranged to carry explosives, and a time and
percussion fuse.
2-The combination with a self-propelling projectile or rocket, of a tube forming
the tail thereof, arranged for carrying explosives, and a time fuse connected
therewith and with the rocket firing head.
3:-The combination with the rocket having a rearwardly open chamber charged
with a gradually burning propelling compound, an explosive carried in the apex of
the rocket head, and means for exploding the same operated by the arrest of the
flight of the rocket, of the tubular tail and an explosive carried thereby.
4: The combination with a self-propelling projectile or rocket having a
rearwardly open chamber charged with gradually burning propelling powder, of a
receptacle for explosives forming the tail of the rocket, and a percussion or
concussion piece or cap.
Dated 18 12th day of October 1994.
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents to Applicant.