GB777840A - Improvements in or relating to signal rockets - Google Patents

Abstract

777,840. Signal rockets. WAECO, Ltd. May 27, 1955 [May 27, 1954], No. 15740/54. Class 9 (2). A signal rocket housed in a canister 25 containing an ejecting and igniting charge is provided with means to cause the rocket to spin about its longitudinal axis during flight. The rocket body 10 contains a propellent charge 11 held in place by a clay choke plug 12 and a clay plug 16 spaced from a perforated disc 19 beyond which is a flare candle 15 attached to a parachute 13. Within a passage through the plug 16 and between the plug and the disc 19 is a charge 18 for ejecting and igniting the flare. A stabilizer tail consists of a sheet metal collar 21 to which three anglesectioned fins 23 are attached by flanges 24. The collar, which has a fold 21a allowing adjustment of its diameter, is held in place on the rocket by tags 22 bent into a groove in the body 10. A spring-loaded firing pin 29 extending through a disc 27 and held by a toggle 30 is exposed when the canister lid 28 is removed. An ignition charge 34 is housed in a cylinder 31 also containing a delay fuze 33 and a percussion cap 32. To discharge the rocket, the cap 28 is removed and the toggle 30 broken so that the pin 29 strikes the cap 32 and thus ignites the fuze 33. Fuze 33 ignites the charge 34, which in turn ignites the charge 35. Charge 35 ejects the rocket and ignites the propellant 11. In a modification, Fig. 2, the tail unit is slidable on the rocket casing and comprises a collar 40 with sockets 42 in which fit rods 41, which may be skewed relatively to the rocket axis, so that the rods act as rifling during discharge and during flight the air pressure on the rods produces rotation of the rocket about its axis. Secured to the rocket, adjacent the choke, by a circlip 44 are three members 43 (one shown), which engage the collar 40 in flight. Each projection 43 contacts a rod 41 so that as the tail moves rearwardly the rods cause the rocket to spin.