Patent GB-191517300-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to Method of and Apparatus for Controlling Torpedo-Firing.
Inventor: HAMMOND JOHN HAYS
IPC: F41G9/00
Filed: 1915-12-09
Abstract: 17,300. Hammond, J. H. Dec. 9. Gyroscopic apparatus. -Relates to devices for training a steering gyroscope independence on the training of a sighting device, in order that the torpedo when launched shall steer towards the object in the direction of which the sighting device is pointed. According to the invention, (1) the training transmitted to the gyroscope is modified, i.e., the setting of the gyroscope is deviated from the line of sight, in order to allow for the speed of the torpedo, and other factors, and (2) the apparatus connecting the gyroscope to the sighting device comprises electric transmitters actuated by the sighting device and connected to receivers for setting the gyroscope in azimuth. In the form shown in Fig. 8, the fly-wheel 13<1> of the gyroscope is set in azimuth before launching by the sighting device 1<1> through gearing 5<1>, 6<1>, transmitter 8', cable 9<1>, receiver 10', and gearing 12', 37<1>. At the moment of launching, the fly-wheel is spun up by.the spindle 17' through gearing 19<1>, 20<1>, 28<11>. When the fly-wheel has attained the desired speed, the gyroscope is disconnected from the receiver 10' by a solenoid 43<1> which withdraws the pinion 12<1> from the gear-wheel 37<1>, and the pinion 28<11> of the driving-gear is withdrawn from the gear ring 20<1> by an electromagnet 34<1> which simultaneously frees the flywheel by removing a pin 45<1> from a groove 46<1> in a fixed ring 47'. Finally, when the torpedo leaves the launching apparatus, a disconnectible plug in the cable 9' breaks connexion between the torpedo and the sighting device. During the run, a contact arm 35<1> on the gyroscope rides opposite a fixed azimuth ring 39<1> having two insulated halves controlling the steering- gear to port and starboard respectively. In other forms, the gyroscope is made like a threephase electric motor and is driven continuously before launching. The training is then transmitted to the gyroscope while it is spinning by a pair of electromagnets arranged to cause precession or by a powerful reversible electric motor controlled by a contact arm forming a hunting switch with an azimuth ring actuated by the receiver in dependence on the sighting device. In some modifications, however, the training is transmitted to the azimuth steering ring instead of to the gyroscope. The gyroscope is then held fixed in azimuth until discharge; or the gyroscope is free and is connected to the contact arm a.t the moment of discharge only, the contact arm being meanwhile held fixed until connected to the gyroscope. The modifications or deviations of the setting from the line of sight are imparted by disconnecting the gyroscope from the sighting device and imparting to the gyroscope further settings, or by providing superposed mechanical gears or superposed receivers, whereby the main setting and the various modifications can be imparted to the gyroscope, without interfering with each other. In Fig. 30, a triangulating mechanism is shown for modifiying the setting imparted by the device to allow for speed and course of enemy and speed of torpedo. The arm 209<a> is pointed to the target by the sighting device, the arm 197<a> is set parallel to the course of the enemy and its length adjusted proportionally to the enemy speed by means of transmitters 186<a>, 201<a> with indicators 188<a>, 203<a>, and the arm 189<a> is adjusted in length proportionally to the speed of the torpedo by a transmitter 193<a> with indicator 195<a>. The direction of the arm 189<a> is then the correct direction for the travel of the torpedo and is imparted to the gyroscope A<Î>. This Figure also shows a gyroscopic compass 220<a> with a transmitter 223<a> which may be switched on in place of the transmitter of the sighting device in order to maintain the setting once imparted by the sighting device. Several torpedoes may have their gyroscopes set simultaneously by one sighting device. For example, in the form shown diagrammatically in Fig. 21, the sighting device 5<a> sets the gyroscope A<Î> of a torpedo 2<a> and also an arm 21<a>; and this arm is linked to other arms 32<a>, 22<a> in the manner shown, which arms in their turn set the gyroscopes B<Î>, C<Î> of torpedoes 3<a>, 4<a>. The three torpedoes may thus be discharged simultaneously towards the same target. In a modification of this, the several arms are so connected that their directions may be modified to cause the several torpedoes to steer towards different points. For example, the paths of the torpedoes are made to diverge so that on reaching the enemy ship their distance from each other is approximately equal to the length of the enemy ship, this dispersion increasing the chances of a hit. A telescopic sighting device provided with means for imparting such dispersion is shown in Figs. 34 and 35. In addition to the usual cross hair lines 245<a>, 246<a>, two vertical hair lines 247<a>, 248<a> are provided on frames 249<a>, 250<a> adjustable laterally by a right and left handed screw 251<a> to bring these lines on the ends of the target; and one of these frames is connected by a finger 255<a> to a lever 258<a> working a transmitter 261<a> coupled to a receiver for imparting the dispersion to the gyroscopes through suitable mechanism. A panoramic sighting device is also described provided with radial lines adjustable to the ends of the target for determining such dispersion.