US175360A - Improvement in pyrotechnic stars - Google Patents

Description

E. F. LINTON.

PYRoTEcHNIc STAR.

No.175,360. Patenzea mmh 28,1876.

NAFETERS, PHOTU-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D4 C. v

Allawi?.

A'rniv'r lEDWARD F. LINTON, on EAST New YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN PVRO'TECHNIC STARS.

Specification forming part 0f Letters Patent No. 175,360, dated March 28, 1876; application filed March 1e, 1876.

thereon, making part ofihis specification, in l which- Figures 1 and '2 are side views of the star.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the star with chambers for the reception of the quick-match. Fig. 4 is a vert-ical sectional view of thesta-r. Figs. 5 and 6 'are side and sectional views of the star with quick-matches inserted in the grooves or channels.

The nature of my invention is essentially a new article of manufacture, and consists in constructing a pyrotechnic star in the form of a sphere or ball, and, as in the case of the star described and claimed in anapplication for Letters Patent of the United States, filed by me February 14, 1876, and which was ordered to issue February 19, 1876, I dispense with the central' groove orchaunel extending through the composition, as is the invariable practice in molding or forming the pyrotechnic stars of the ordinary. Roman candle, and thereby avoid the weakening of the star at its center and at the point where itis desirable to concentrate the greatest explosive force of the powder to project the star, and which weakening of the same at this point constantly endangers the disintegration or breaking np of the mass of composition that composes the star, when the same is projected with force, and which liability of the sta-r being scattered in fragments has hitherto rendered impracticable all attempts successfully to utilize and render positively reliable the principle of the Roman candle for the purpose of night signaling with different colored lights, as the sudden extnguishment of either of the succession of stars through its breaking 4up or going to .pieces at the instant of its being projected would render the signal worse than useless, as it would either be entirely unintel` ligible or speak a meaning entirely different from that intended. Owing to the form of the star which constitutes my present invention it is impossible to'adhcre to the form of vthe lateral groovesfor ig-niting the powder in the chamberA below, as inthe star claimed in 4my application hereinbefore referred to, yet I adhere ltothe principle of these lateral vgrooves ion the surface by moldingor formingtho round or spherical star Withone or more belt grooves or channels, which completely girdle the same.

Another valuable. feature claimed' in connection with the stardescribed in my applicaltion hereinbefore referred to,.and which is .the star` with narrow socket-chambers, which extend fromthe surface into the body of the composition to a depth, say, of -a quarter or halt inch, and-whichr chambers receive tire from the time fuse or other source, and insure the ignition` of the mass-of composition that vcomposes thev star andwithin the body ofthe same, in such manner as to insure of its being sothoroughly lighted as not to be extinguished and at such points as the judgment of the manufacturer may deem most desirable.

I have in this recital of invention stated fully in what my presentimprovement consists, and enumerated the features of construction which were common tothe stars embraced in this and my application hereinbefore referred to, and I Will now brieljy allude to some ofthe prominent advantages which this round or spherical star possesses over and above the cylindrical star of the ordinary Roman candle, and which form or outline of star I substantially adhered to inmy application hereinbefore referred to. y I

In the constructionofsignals and other similar pyrotechnic devices it is desirable that the least possible quantity of powder that will propel the star to lthe desired altitude or distance should be used, as in the degreethe quantity of powder which constitutes the charge is reduced, the danger of the bursting of the case through its explosion is lessened; and it is also desirable in order that the case, acting, as it were, as a barrel, should give propel' direction to the star, that ,rr-ron.

the same should tit closely or snugly within its chamber. Now these conditionshave only to be named to cause, in a certain degree at least, their necessary antagonism to be recognized.

.The star cannot impingc against the wall of the case without, through its contact therewith, engendering a certain frictional resistance, and in overcoming which a certain portion of the force of the charge is necessarily to be spent. In stars of the form of those used in the Roman candle, and which have a tendency to hug the wall of the case throughout their entire length, the degree of frictional vrresistance thus produced is far from being insignicant. And, again, the flat-headed cylindricaLstar now invariably usedowing to its form, invites the greatest atmospheric resistance .to its passage through the air.

In niy present improvement, if these difficulties are. not entirely obviated, they are at least lso;flessened las to insure great advantages in connection with thc use of around or spherical star, as it is impossible, in being projected, that it should touch the case at but one. or the other of its diametrical points, the surface of contact being necessarily so small, the degree of resistance produced thereby is proportionately small; and, again, the round or spherical form offers far less surface of resistance to the atmosphere, and, consequently,

' the full force of the powder is utilized in the utmost degree to the direct propulsion of the star, and in the degree the resistance to be overcomeis lessened in the same degree may the quantity of the charge be reduced; and another most important advantage which the round or spherical star possesses over the fiathead cylindrical star of the Roman candle, and over the star of the form shown in my application, hereinbefore referred to, is that it is so much less liable of being constantly inverted or turned over while being projected, and which always has a tendency to endanger its extinguishment.

The construction and operation of my invention are as follows:

In the accompanying drawing, as my present invention is conned entirely to the star, this feature alone is illustrated. In manufacturing the star Gr the composition is molded into the forni of a round ball or sphere, having a belt groove or channel, g, as shown in Figs. l and 3, and which girdles or encircles the star; or the star may be formed with two or more of said grooves or channels, g g, running or extending in opposite directions, as

shown in Fig. 2. In these grooves or channels may be inserted and secured quick-m atches g g', the ends of the quick -inatch being left free, as4 shown in Fig. 6, or the match drawn so as to entirely till the groove, and its ends then twisted so as to form, as it were, a center wick, as shown in Fig. 5. The object of the groove or grooves g (of course, either with or without the quick -match g) is to secure the ignition of the powder in a chamber below the star, through the lire which the burning of the time-fuse above produces. The star or stars G are also formed or molded with -chambers 7L h, the saine being countersunk or socket-shaped, and which are in form and function similar to the chamber in the upper surface of the star described in my applicaltion hereinbefore referred to.

There maybe one or more of these chambers in each star. When several are employed, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, they may be scattered orinterspersed at intervals around 'the circumferential surface of the star, and at such points thereon as the judgment of the' mannfacturin g pyrotechnist may'deem best to insure the ignition of the composition which" composes the star within the body of the mass, and in a manner the most thoroughly to insure the proper burning of the same.

These chambers h h, if desired, may be provided with quick-matches t' z', secured therein with any mucilage or paste suited to the. purpose, as shown in-Fig. et.

While this star G is admirably adapted forv signals and other pyrotechnic devices, con-v structed or molded in the form-of a sphere, and having one or more annular or belt grooves, g,

encircling the same, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The star or stars G, molded in the form of a sphere, and having one or more beltgrooves, g, and one or more chambers, h, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to this speciiication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD F. LINTON. Witnesses: l

CHAs. NELsoN, RICHD. PICKERING.

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