Patent GB-539224-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to the remote control of moving objects by means of radiant energy
IPC: F41G7/22
Filed: 1939-11-27
Abstract: 539,224. Aerials. WALTON, G. W. Nov. 27, 1939, No. 30870. [Class 40 (v)] [Also in Groups XXXV, XXIX and XXXVIII] Steering.-A self-propelled object such as a torpedo, aircraft, ship tank or vehicle is controlled by a beam of radiant energy and comprises a mechanism acting in response to deviation of its axis from the direction of received energy whereby fluid valves are differentially actuated to adjust the steering by unbalanced electric currents derived from a system of detectors of the radiation which is carried by the object. The transmitter comprises means for generating and refracting the wavelengths employed in the beam and is adjustable in azimuth and elevation. The object may, for example, be maintained in the beam by one wavelength until near its target when a change in wavelength is used to render it controllable by radiation reflected from the target of the same or a different wavelength. Other wavelengths may be switched on or off to steer the object should it leave the beam or to change the speed. As detector, antennae, photo-cells, bolometers or thermocouples may be used but the preferred arrangement employs wavelengths between 200 microns and one metre with antennae having directional response characteristics provided by reflectors, shields, lenses, apertures, &c. A valve-actuating member 7 is gimbal-mounted about the axis of a torpedo and operates on a series of valves controlling the admission of fluid (including pulverised fuel) to independent power units so that diametrically opposite ones are differentially controlled to provide a steering torque. The member 7 is electromagnetically controlled by windings on a magnetic member 11 which is fixed about the longitudinal axis of the torpedo and may have salient poles or a distributed polyphase winding whereby unbalanced excitation of three or more windings will cause a tilt of the member 7. Fig. 4 shows arrangements of antennae on the tank or nose of a torpedo. Figs. 4c and 4d employ three antennae 34 back tilted with respect to the axis of one torpedo and rendered directional also by reflectors 45 or a cylindrical shield 48 with pins 49 between the antennae and a lens 50 forming a rough image of the source of radiation lying normally on the axis of the torpedo. The torpedo may be spinning on its axis, or not. In either case the arrangement of three detectors 34, 35, 36 with rectifiers shown in Fig. 6 in association with three phase windings 14 on the member 7 and a current source such as a battery or an alternator 55 supplying filament heating circuits and plate current through a rectifier 56 and smoothing condenser 58, will, when the torpedo deviates, furnish a magnetic field, oppositely rotating with the frequency of spinwhich may be zero whereby the member 7 may be tilted to an angle according to the deviation from course and is fixed in space in all conditions. The valves are thereby sequentially operated if the torpedo spins as requisite 'to maintain the direction of target required for correcting course. As shown in Fig. 2, each valve is adjusted by a screwed sleeve turned about the valve spindle by a crank 24 engaging a groove in the member 7 and to permit simultaneous adjustment of all valves each spindle engages its sleeve by a screw of different pitch or hand and carries a gear 21 engaging a common rack (not shown). The arrangement shown in Fig. 6 includes a relay responsive to a beam of a second wavelength employed for reflector control from the target ; the relay charges the antennae connected to the control circuits so that the torpedo is responsible to radiation from ahead. Specification 537,473, [Group XXXIII], is referred to. The Provisional Specification states that naval torpedoes, ships, vehicles, tanks, &c. may have masts carrying the detecting means.