Explosive HarpoonIn 1844, a U.S. patent for "a new and Improved Harpoon for the Destruction and Taking of Whales" was issued to Albert Moor of Hampden Maine (No. 3490). In his design for an explosive harpoon, the fluke of the harpoon pivoted on the shank, held in place by a wooden pin. A small vial of explosive powder was placed in the fluke and under the end of the shank of the harpoon. It was arranged so that the power of the whale pulling upon the tow-line attached to the harpoon would break the wooden pin allowing the fluke of the harpoon to turn, crush the vial, and cause the powder to explode to destroy the whale.[At the time of writing, this is the earliest patent listed in the 102/371 "Bomb Lance" classification at the U.S. Patents and Trademarks Office web site.] |
