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4.

engine. Experiments will be described below which show that this is true to a surprising degree.

By the application of several new principles, an efficiency many fold greater than that of the ordinary rocket is possible; experimental demonstrations of which will also be described below. Inasmuch as these principles are of some value for military purposes, the writer has protected himself, as well as aerological science in America, by certain United States Letters Patent; of which the following have already been issued: 

1,102,654
1,103,503
1,191,299
1,194,496.

The principles concerning efficiency are essentially three in number. The first concerns thermodynamic efficiency, and is the use of a smooth nozzle, of proper length and taper, through which the gaseous products of combustion are discharged. By this means the work of expansion of the gases is obtained as kinetic energy, and also complete combustion is ensured.

The second principle is embodied in a reloading device, whereby a large mass of explosive material is used, a little at a time, in a small, strong, combustion chamber. This enables high chamber pressures to be employed, impossible in an ordinary paper rocket, and also permits most of the mass of the rocket to consist of propellant material.

The third principle consists in the employment of a primary and secondary rocket apparatus, the secondary (a copy in miniature of the primary) being fired when the primary has reached the upper limit of its flight. This is the most clearly shown, in principle, in United States Patent No. 1,102,653.