GB165478A - Improvements in or relating to projectiles for use in catching whales and other mammals - Google Patents

Abstract

165,478. Henkes, A. Dec. 31, 1919. Projectiles.-A whaling projectile comprises means for liberating a non-inflammable gas in a non-explosive manner from a container to inflate a whale or other mammal, and a plug member adapted to be separated from the container and plug the entry hole. In one form, as shown in Fig. 1, a thin metal sleeve 9 is adapted to be stripped off the projectile on entering the whale, thereby allowing a gas, such as carbon dioxide, to escape through holes 12 from a chamber 11, enclosed by a head 1, a body part 2 and a bottom part 3 of a projectile, and releasing spring-blades 6, secured to a plugging-member 4 and normally held in recesses 8. The spring blades then spread out and grip the whale body, thereby stopping the member 4, which plugs the entry hole and stops the body of the projectile after stretching a spirally wound connecting-rod 5. A pin 14 may be secured to a spring-controlled plunger, having a pin adapted to enter the chamber 11 and start the liberation or production of gas. In a second form, as shown in Fig. 3, the projectile is stopped in the whale by the explosion of a charge in the head 1, which may be started by means of claws 21 being turned inwardly against springs 23. This motion may also be utilized for piercing a wall of a chamber containing compressed gas, or for starting a chemical action to produce gas, which escapes through openings 22. The plugging-member 4 is detachably connected with the body 3 by means of barbed spring-blades 15, secured in undercut recesses 16 of the body, and is provided with pivoted-wings 19, which are forced outwards by springs 20, on firing the projectile, and so prevent the member 4 from entering the whale. In a third form, the plugging-member 4 is provided with a plurality of projections. In a fourth form, similar projections are provided on pivoted wings which swing outwards on leaving the gun, and a rubber sleeve is stripped off the bottom piece to assist in closing the entry hole. In a fifth form, as shown in Fig. 7, the body 3, the bottom-piece 2, and the plugging-member 4 are provided with grooves 31. A disc 32, having screw blades 33, has projections which engage the grooves 31 and, on the projection penetrating the whale, slides along the grooves and detaches the member 4. In a sixth form, the projectile is composed of a head in the form of a shell, an intermediate piece, having spring-loaded folding barbs, a steel body filled with liquid carbon dioxide, and a plugging- member, having spring-loaded L-shaped folding barbs, which swing out to an intermediate position on leaving the gun and to their full extent on striking the whale.