IMPROVEMENTS IN COMBUSTIBLE COMPOSITIONS, AND IN THEIR MODE OF APPLICATION FOR SIGNALLING AND ILLUMINATING PURPOSES
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn
Fields, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN COMBUSTIBLE COMPOSITIONS, AND IN THEIR MODE OF
APPLICATION FOR SIGNALLING AND ILLUMINATING PURPOSES."-A communi-
cation from abroad by Emile Aime Alexandre Lamarre, of Paris, in
the Republic of France.
Scaled the 9th April 1874, and dated the 16th January 1874.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County
5 of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN COMBUSTIBLE COMPOSITIONS. AND IN THEIR

page_text: nication to me from abroad by Emile Aime Alexandre Lamarre, of
Paris, in the Republic of France, to be as follows :—
"
This Invention relates to certain combustible compositions suitable for
burning as signals, or for illuminating purposes, whereby a brilliancy,
duration, and intensity is imparted to what are known as "Bengal
lights, torches for signalling or illuminating purposes, and pryrotechnic
displays not hitherto attainable. Also to certain peculiar envelopes or
cases for the said compositions when used as torches. Whatever may
be the color of the flame decided upon, the basis of the composition,
according to this Invention, consists of boiled linseed oil and a suitable
proportion of non-drying oil, such for example as olive oil or colza oil
combined with a chorate and a coloring matter, as will be seen on
referring to the following examples of different colored lights.
For a White Flame the following ingredients in about the proportions
given may be used with advantage:
Chlorate of potash
Carbonate of baryta
Boiled linseed oil
Colza oil
-
1,000 parts by weight.
-
500
"
"
150
"
"
"
30
دو
"
"

page_text: In some cases the boiled oil and non-drying oil may be replaced by
fatty turpentines, or by resins partly dissolved in oil, fatty matter,
alcohol, or essential oils.
The charging of these compositions when required as Bengal lights
may be effected in cases of paper, cloth, wood, or cardboard, or the said
compositions may be burnt alone without any casing in the form of
balls or cylinders for example.
When used as torches the charging of the composition may be also
effected in tubular cases, or of paper cardboard, fusible metal (such as
lead or zinc), but it is preferred to use envelopes of woven fabric, such
as wool, cotton, silk, and the like, as they possess greater solidity and
are bad conductors of heat.
For preserving these torches the composition should be introduced
into a long envelope of cloth coated with india-rubber cloth, and the
exterior fabric is to be coated with varnish of glue, paste, or gum arabic.
These torches may be furnished with primers, whereby they may be
ignited by percussion or by friction. They may be burned either alone
or in a reflecting apparatus, and be used as signals on railways, and for
marine and military purposes, lighthouses, and all other cases where a
brilliant, powerful, and durable light is required.
The said compositions may also be made up in such a form as to be
capable of being discharged from fire-arms, mortars, and the like, or
displayed from balloons.
If desired the Bengal lights and torches may be so charged as to cause
the color of the flame to change at determined intervals.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-seventh
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said John Henry Johnson, Her special license
that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Henry Johnson,
my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN COMBUSTIBLE COMPOSITIONS, AND IN THEIR MODE OF APPLICATION FOR SIGNALLING
AND ILLUMINATING PURPOSES," a communication to me from abroad by
Emile Aime Alexandre Lemarre, of Paris, in the Republic of France,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Henry
Johnson, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing,
under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date

page_text: of these compositions), may be replaced by fatty turpentines or by resins
partly dissolved in oil, fatty matter, alcohol, or essential oils, but the
before-mentioned oils are preferred.
The charging of these compositions when required as Bengal lights
may be effected in cases of paper, cloth, wood, or cardboard, or the said
compositions may be burnt alone without any casing in the form of balls
or cylinders for example.
When used as torches the changing of the composition may be also
effected in tubular cases of paper, cardboard, fusible metal (such as lead
or zinc) but it is preferred to use envelopes of woven fabric, such as
wool, cotton, silk, and the like, as they possess greater solidity and are
bad conductors of heat.
For preserving these torches the composition should be introduced into
a long envelope of cloth coated with india-rubber, and the exterior fabric
is to be coated either with a varnish, or with paste, or with gum arabic.
These torches may be furnished with a fuse or other primer, whereby
they may be ignited by percussion or by friction. They may be burned
either alone or in a reflecting apparatus and be used as signals on
railways, and for marine and military purposes, lighthouses, and in all
other cases where a brilliant, powerful, and durable light is required.
The said compositions may also be made up in a star or lozenge or
other suitable shape, so as to be capable of being projected by the aid of
fire-arms, rockets, shells, and the like, or displayed from balloons.
If desired the Bengal lights and torches may be so charged as to
cause the color of the flame to change at determined intervals.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider
to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent
is,-
First. The application and use of combustible compositions consisting
of boiled linseed oil, and of drying oil or their equivalents, combined
with a chlorate and (with a substance orcompound capable, when burnt,
of producing the desired color for signalling or illuminating purposes,
and for pyrotechnic displays, substantially as herein-before described.

page_text: Secondly. Forming torches and other like illuminating or signalling
arrangements of combustible compositions enclosed in tubular cases or
bags of woven fabric or other suitable material, the same, if desired,
being rendered impervious as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to
this my Specification set my hand and seal, the Tenth day of
July One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)