Patent GB-278015-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to torpedoes and the control thereof
IPC: F42B19/10
Filed: 1927-09-26
Abstract: 278,015. Marmonier, L. Sept. 24, 1926, [Convention date]. Selective distant control systems; tell-tale apparatus.-Relates to torpedoes controlled from a distance by means of a cable paid out from the torpedo as the torpedo proceeds on its way, and consists mainly in the provision of a group of gyroscopes producing equilibrium in two planes at right angles to each other and serving to control the horizontal and vertical rudders and the vanes for stabilizing the torpedo about its longitudinal axis. A chart table is provided at the control station with pointers to trace the courses of the enemy ship, the torpedo, and the control station if this is on a torpedo boat. The speed and direction of these moving bodies are determined in any suitable way, as well as their relative positions initially. The mechanisms of the chart table are set according to these data, and then automatically traces the further movements of these bodies on the reduced scale of the chart. Close to the chart, a control board is provided with instruments for indicating the direction and depth of the torpedo and the direction and extent of its drift, switches and keys for steering the torpedo and varying its depth, a rheostat to determine the correction for the drift of the torpedo, and voltmeters for indicating the neutral positions of the steering and depth keeping controls of the torpedo. The torpedo is provided with a wireless receiving device by means of which an aircraft provided with a wireless transmitter can take control of the movements of the torpedo, this being intended to be done when the torpedo is nearing the enemy ship. The torpedo contains a group of gyroscopes, which in the form shown in Figs. 13, 18, comprises four gyroscopes 200 - - 203 mounted in gymbals controlled by springs 215, 368 and carried by forked arms 205 projecting from a central frame 204, which is mounted by a universal joint 216 on a pillar 206 and is also oonnected by a universal joint 507 to an up. wardly projecting post 290. The vertical rudders for lateral steering are worked by a servomotor device controlled by a contact device 296 situated above the group of gyroscopes, the roller 293 of this contact device being carried by an arm 291, which partakes of the rotary movement of the post 290. Means are provided, however, for superimposing on the gyroscope control a control from the torpedo boat and also a control from an aircraft. For the first purpose, the contact device 296 is mounted on a drum 336 provided with two sets of internal ratchet teeth 307, 315 co-operating respectively with pawls 300, 311, Fig. 15. The pawl 300 is pivoted at 340 on a lever 307, and is controlled by a spring 305 and by the armature 304 of a solenoid 303; and the lever 307, which is pivoted at 542 and carries the solenoid 303. is controlled by a spring 306 and the armature 302 of a solenoid 298. The other pawl 311 is similarly arranged and controlled by means of two solenoids 299, 313. When a circuit is closed in one direction or the other at the control station, the solenoid 303 or 313 is energized and withdraws the pawl 301 or 311 out of action. If then a key is pressed at the control station, the solenoid 299 or 298 works the pawl 311 or 301 and rotates the drum 336 one step in one direction or the other. Thus the direction of the torpedo is changed to the right or to the left by first closing a circuit in one direction or the other and then pressing a key down one or more times according to the extent of the change desired. Control by an aircraft is superimposed in a similar way by solenoid operated ratchet gears imparting a step rotation in one direction or the other to a drum 34 relatively to the post 290, the arm 391 commanding the roller 293 being carried by the drum 34. In addition to the gyroscopic controls, the torpedo is provided with an hydrostatic device to vary its buoyancy to maintain the desired depth of submersion. A change of normal depth may be imparted from the control station by a solenoid operated ratchet mechanism 550, Fig. 29, similar to the steering mechanism. This control is adapted to lengthen or shorten the effective length of the stem 421, 429 by rotating in one direction or the other a toothed sector 490, Fig. 22, carried by one part 429 of the stem and engaging with a rack on the other part 421 of the stem. In this way. the control from the control station is superimposed over the action of the hydrostat without interfering with it. An aircraft may also control the depth by means of a similar solenoid operated ratchet mechanism 551 operating a similar device 552 for varying the effective length of the stem 429. The control board, Fig. 11, at the control station has a pointer 360 carried by a rotatable disc 334 and movable over a dial 364 for indicating the direction of the torpedo. The disc 334 carrying the pointer is operated by the devices which control the course of the torpedo. A pair of pawls 351, 356 are worked b electromagnets 349, 361, 350, 355 in one direction or the other by the same current that works the corresponding steering device on the torpedo. The switch 343 pivoted at 362 on the control board serves to close the steering control circuit in one direction over a contact 344 or in the other direction over a contact 346. After this, a key 347 is depressed one or more times to work the steering gear and the indicator simultaneously one or more steps in one direction or the other. Before the torpedo is launched, it is necessary to ascertain the position of the steering contact roller on the contact device over which it rides. For this purpose, the contact roller 293, Fig. 12<a>, is connected through a voltmeter 367 to the mid point of a battery 368, the outer ends of which are connected to the contacts 294, 295. The voltmeter 367 is placed on the control board. It is also necessary to know the direction of the torpedo, and, for this purpose, a pointer 361 is provided on the dial 364 of the control board, and is made to follow the direction of the torpedo launching apparatus. The disc 334 can be disconnected from .its ratchet drive by means of a -manually operated knob 369 to permit initial adjustment. The drift of the torpedo is determined by observation and its speed and direction are indicated on the control board by pointers 397, 399 respectively, in conjunction with a motor and differential mechanism at the chart table. The drift thus determined is superimposed on the normal speed control of the torpedo pointer on the table. A rheostat 402 is provided on the control board, Fig. 11, to adjust the speed of the aforesaid motor. The control board is also provided with a pointer 463 for indicating the depth of the torpedo. This pointer moves over a dial 464 and is worked by ratchet mechanism, like that for the pointer 360, under the control of a switch 465 and a key 466, and in conjunction with a voltmeter 469.