US1554065A

US1554065A - Aerial fireworks

Info

Publication number: US1554065A
Application number: US79903A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert S Blair
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1916-02-23
Filing date: 1916-02-23
Publication date: 1925-09-15
Anticipated expiration: 1942-09-15

Description

Sef'pt. 15, 1925. 1,554,065

v R. s. BLAIR AERIAL FIREWORKS Original Fild Feb. 23, 1916 used in its broadest sense. These jets 8,

Patented Sept. 15, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT S. BLAIR, OF SOUND BEACH, CONNECTICUT.

, W I AERIAL FIREWORKS.

Application filed February 23, 1916, Serial N'o. 79,903. Renewed July 6, 1928.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that. I, ROBERT S. BLAIR, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Sound Beach, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aerial Fireworks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to aerial devices, and with regard to the more specific features thereof, to aerial fireworks. One of .the objects thereof is to provide a practical aerial device of simple construction and eflicient and reliable action. Another object is to provide a firework of unique appearance, which shall be visible over a wide range. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the structure hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing in which is shown one of the various possible embodiments of this invention:

4 at their outer ends are mounted the devices 5. These devices are positioned tangentially with respect to the axis of the propeller, and are each formed of an outer tube 6, provided with a suitable slow-burning fillmg, such as for example that of rockets or pin-wheels. The devices 5 are placed with their discharge ends 7 facing in opposite directions, and tend to throw outwardly the jet of burning gas 8, the. latter term being v being oppositely faced. and mounted, as

shown, would, by their-reaction upon the air tend to rotate the propeller 1, about its axis, and the vanes or blades 4 are so inclined with respect to the direction of these ets that the rotation occasioned by the latter would have a lifting tendency. The two devices 5 are preferably connected by fuse portions 9, which join at the point 10, at which they may be ignited, thus resulting in the simultaneous action of both jets 8. The latter feature tends to insure a purely rotary movement to the propeller, although j a single one of these devices might be used, especlally upon the outer ends'of the fans. The use of a plurality of simultaneously and oppositely directed jets is, however, highly advantageous.

Also mounted for rotary movement upon the pin 2 and held in place as by the cap 11, is an upper propeller 12, intended to rotate in an opposite direction with respect to the propeller 1, and having its vanes 13 inclined in an opposite direction so that this propeller as rotated will also have a lifting effect. Upon each propeller blade 13 is a downwardly directed lug 14, which is so positioned as to be exposed to the jets 8. These lugs follow substantially the dotted line 15, in Fig. 3 of the drawings, slightly further from the axis than the fire tube 5, but due to the tangential direction of the jets they are exposed thereto, and are so disposed, as

indicated by the dotted lines '16, as to be struck squarely by the heated gas and get the full reaction therefrom. The upper propeller 12 is thus forcibly rotated, and the lower propeller 4 gets an increased force of rotation, due to the resistance of the lugs 14, against which the jets impinge.

The lower end of the stick 3 is preferably provided with a guiding vane 17, and there may be mounted upon the stick below the propellers a rocket tube, 18, throwing its jet 19 downwardly for the purpose of giving the device a strong upward movement in starting. This rocket tube need not be of large size, and its fuse 20 may be connected as shown upwardly to the point 10, so that 160 1 the entire device may be lighted at a single point. v p

The pitch or inclination of the vanes 4 is.

preferably sharper than that of the vanes 13. The propellers may, if desired, be made of thin sheet aluminum, and the stick?) may be of wood and of sufficient length tov tend to hold itself in a vertical position when the device is in use.

In the use of the device it is ignited 8.15.

the lower end or 13116 rocket tube, if the latter be employed, or otherwise at the point 10. The fire travels quickly through the fuse portion 9, to the devices 5, and the latter act simultaneously to rotate the propeller L at high speed in one direction, and by the reaction of the jets, to rotate the upper propeller in the opposite direction. Both propellers thus exert a strong lifting effect, and the entire device rises, its initial movement being expedited if the small rocket tube is employed. The devices 5, being efficiently used, act for a considerable time, and the device not only rises to a great height, but remains aloft for a considerable period. The rotating jets have a striking appearance, and the devices are suited as a firework, the latter term, of course, being broadly used and including signal rockets.

The fuse 20 may be extended downwardlyif desired, as at 21, and terminate in some supplementary form of fireworks at 22, which is ignited after the device has ascended.

It will thus be seen that there is provided apparatus in which the several objects of this invention are achieved.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention and as the above embodiments might be altered in various particulars, without departing from the scope of this invention, it is intended that all matter herein described or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described this invention, I claim 1. In an aerial device, in combination, a member mounted for rotation and comprising a propeller blade, a device comprising a combustible charge adapted upon said charge burning to project a jet of gas and means mounting said device and connected with said member adapted to utilize the reaction from said jet to rotate said first member.

2. In an aerial device, in combination, a member mounted for rotation and comprising a propeller blade, a pair of devices, each comprising a combustible charge and each adapted upon said charge burning to project a jet of gas, means mounting said device to project said jets in different directions, and connecting said devices with said propeller, to utilize the reaction from both of said jets in rotating said member.

3. In an aerial device, in combination, a member mounted for rotation and comprising a propeller blade, a pair of devices each comprising a combustible charge and each adapted upon said charge burning to project a jet of gas, means mounting said device to project said jets in different directions and connecting said deviceswith said propeller to utilize the reaction from both of said jets in rotating said member, and means adapted to ignite said devices substantially simultaneously.

4:. In an aerial device, in combination, a

pair of independently rotatable members coaxially mounted for rotation on a common support, and a combustible charge mounted upon one of said members and adapted upon burning to rotate said two members in opposite directions by discharging gases in a non-radial direction and against parts of the other of said members.

5. In an aerial device, in combination, a member mounted for rotation and comprising a propeller blade, adevice comprising a combustible charge adapted upon said charge burning to project a jet of gas, means mounting said device and connected with said member adapted to utilize the reaction from said jet to rotate said first member, and a depending member connected with said first member, and adapted to tend to hold the same in a horizontal plane of rotation.

6. In an aerial device, in combination, a member mounted for rotation and comprising a propeller blade, a pair of devices, each comprising a combustible charge and each mounted upon, said device to project said jets in different directions and connecting said devices with said propeller to utilize the reaction from both of said jets in rotating said member, means adapted to ignite said devices substantially simultaneously, and a depending member arranged substantially in the axis of said member and of substantially rigid construction adapted to tend to hold horizontal the plane of rotation of said first member. w

7. In an aerial device, in combination, a pair of superposed propellers, the blades of which are oppositely inclined, and means mounted to rotate with one of said propellers, and to rotate the other in the opposite direction by its reaction against the same.

8. In an aerial device, in combination, a rotatable device mounted for rotation about a substantially vertical \axis, combustible means mounted thereon adapted upon burning to discharge substantially tangentially and rotate said device by its reaction, combustible means adapted upon burning to discharge downwardly and propel said device upwardly through the air, combustible means independent of said last two means adapted to burn While said device is in the air, and means adapted to ignite said last combustible means after the device has ascended.

9. In an aerial device, in combination, a pair of propellers the'blades of which are oppositely inclined and one of which is provided with a series of projecting parts, and a device mounted to rotate with the other of said propellers and adapted to project a jet of gas against the projecting parts of the first propeller and tend to rotate by its reaction the two propellers in opposite directions.

10. In an aerial device, in combination, a rotatable device having parts extending outwardly substantially laterally from the axis thereof and adapted to rotate about a vertical axis, a plurality of substantially horizontal tubes having combustible charges mounted adjacent the outer ends of said lateral parts and adapted upon burning to discharge substantially tangentially and by reaction to rotate said device, and a downwardly directed rocket tube having a combustible charge independent of the charges of said first tubes and adapted upon burning by its reaction to tend to propel said device upwardly.

11. In an aerial device, in combination, a pair of propellers, the blades of which are oppositely inclined, and means mounted to rotate with one of said propellers and to rotate the other in the opposite direction by its reaction against the same, said means comprising a device having a combustible charge adapted upon said charge burning to project a jet of gas against parts connected with the other propeller, said propellers being mounted to rotate about a common axis.

12.111 an aerial device, in combination, a rotatable device having a plurality of parts extending outwardly substantially laterally and in a substantially radial direction from the axis thereof and provided with a central bearing for rotation about a vertical axis, a plurality of substantially horizontal tubes mounted adjacent the outer ends of said radial parts and provided with combustible charges adapted upon burning to discharge substantially tangentially and by reaction to rotate saiddevice about said axis, and downwardly directed rocket means extending below the plane of rotation of said rotatable device and independent of said tubes having a combustible charge adapted upon burning to tend to propel said device upwardly by its reaction.

13. In an aerial device, in combination, a rotatable device having parts extending outwardly substantially laterally from the axis thereof and adapted to rotate about a vertical axis, a plurality of substantially horizontal tubes having combustible charges mounted adjacent the outer ends of said lateral parts and adapted upon burning to discharge substantially tangentially and by reaction to rotate said device, a downwardly directed rocket tube having a combustible charge independent of the charges of said first tubes and adapted upon burning by its reaction to tend to propel said device upwardly, combustible means adapted to burn while said device is in the air, and means adapted to ignite said last combustible means after the device has ascended.

14. In an aerial device, in combination, a f

central supporting member, supporting means carried by said member and extending substantially transversely thereof, a combustible charge upon said supporting means adapted upon burning to discharge at a point spaced outwardly from said supporting member and in a direction to rotate said supporting means by its reaction, and a second combustible charge positioned to discharge downwardly and adapted upon burning to propel said supporting member upwardly.

15. In an aerial device, in combination, a rotatable device, a combustible charge connected thereto and adapted upon burnmg to rotate said device by its reaction, and means connected withsaid device and dependingcent the outer ends of said parts adapted upon burning to discharge substantially tangentially and by its reaction to rotate said device, and combustible means independent of said first means adapted upon burning by its reaction to propel said device upwardly.

17. In an aerial device, in combination, a rotatable device, a combustible charge 0- sitioned thereon and adapted upon burmng to rotate said device and propel it. upwardly and a second combustible charge connected to said device adapted upon burning to discharge downwardly to propel said device upwardly through the air by its reaction.

18. In an aerial device, in combination, a rotatable device, combustible means thereon adapted upon burning to discharge substantially tangentially and rotate said device by its reaction, means adapted to propel said device upwardly through the air, and combustible means independent of said last two means adapted to burn while said device is in the air.

19. In an aerial device, in combination, a

pair of independently rotatable members and a combustible charge connected with one of said members and adapted upon burning to rotate said two members in opposite directions.

20. In an aerial device, in combination, a'

pair of independently rotatable members mounted upon a common support and] a 21. In an aerial device, in combination, a said support adapted upon burning to dissupporting member, a propeller rotatably charge downwardly and assist said propeller mounted thereon, and a combustible charge in raising said support. 10 mounted upon said propeller adapted upon Signed at South Orange, in the county of burning to rotate said propeller by its reac- Essex and State of New Jersey, this 12th tion and thereby raise said support, and a ay Of a y 19 6- seoond combustible means mounted upon ROBERT SQ BLAIR.