The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-05-30

shv.' uissenOo and provided with an opening
IN the slde 1t the point where the perforation
termlna' ,es. tubular rope, half an inch in
ulsn .ster, composed of hemp and vulcanized
rrober, is connected with this opening, and
then coiled around the reel certain number
of times, and lastly, connected with the
rear end of the torpedo. The air-vessel
into which the perforated axle of the wheel
enters being charged with compressed air
(by means of force pumps worked by
steam-power), it will readily be under
stood that the compressed air will pass
through the axle, then through the several
coils of tubular rope wound round the reel
and ultimately reach the rear end of the
torpedo, where the rope is attached to the
rotary engine which actuates the propellers
Accordingly the propulsion of the torpedo
may be regulated by simply opening or clos
ing the aperture of the perforated shaft
within the air vessel. The rotation of the
reel, consequent on the onward movement of
the torpedo, obviously cannot interrupt the
passage of the compressed air through the
coils of the tubular rope; hence the supply
of motive force will continue undiminished
during the onward movement. The tubular
rope being one-half inch in diameter in the
bore, it will be found by calculation that
quantity of compressed air, sufficient to
develop at least 10-horse power, may be
transmitted through it during the progress of
the torpedo, whether far off or near the ag-
gressive vessel. The arrangement thus de-
scribed being sufficiently simple to be COM
pretended without entering into detail it
will only be necessary to state that the tubu-
lar rope, after leaving the reel under the
deck, is made to descend through q vertical
tube into the torpedo chamber, in order to
prevent an entrance of water at the point
where the rope passes out. Also, that two
propellers are employed, revolving in oppo-
site directions round common centre-in-
dispensable to prevent the torpedo itself
from rotating when subjected to the power
full torsion produced by single propeller
actuated by the motive force which NAV
be transmitted through tubular rope of half
inch bore.
l will now proceed to describe my method
of guiding the torpedo, promising that the
external casing which contains the mechanism
and explosive compound is heavier at the
bottom than at the top, in order to preserve
vertical position; and that, in addition to
the fins for regulating the draught, the tor
pedo is provided with a vertical balance
rudder for directing the lateral course. The
reel being 20 feet in circumference it will be
seen that the tubular rope need only be coiled
around it seventy-five times to admit of attack
at distance of 1900 feet, probably far enough,
since the position of the aggressive vessel
may be changed at all times with desirable
rapidity.
The apparently absurd proposition to direct
and change the course of the torpedo at will,
on board of the aggressive vessel, without
external aid, is solved by the following SIM
pie eXpedient--A small elastic bag connect
ing the tubular rope with the induction pipe
of the rotary engine, is attached to the side
of the tiller of the torpedo's balance rudder.
AS the compressed air during its passage to
the motor must pass through the elastic bag,
the latter will expand and contract with every
change of internal pressure. And as such
change will depend on the quantity of COM
pressed air admitted into the tubular rope,
the expansion and contraction of the bag are
evidently under perfect control. Now
the power of this bag to resist
internal pressure may be so pro-
portioned that, when maximum pressure
is admitted, the swelling of the bag will
cause the tiller to move 20 deg. to port; and
when the pressure is reduced 20 per cent,
the accompanying contraction will move the
tiller 20 deg. to starboard. Thus by admit
ting more or less compressed air into the
tubular rope, thereby changing the dimen-
sions of the bag, the tiller will assume any
desirable angle within 20 deg on either side
of the torpedo's centre line.
Accordingly, the direction of the torpedo
will be as completely under the contrel of the
hand which admits the compressed air to the
tubular rope, as if an intelligent directing
power resided within the torpedo itself. Pro-
badly, no greater mechanical feat than this can
beinstanced. In smooth water, the telescope will
enable the operator to trace the course of the
torpedo by the copious formation of air bub-
bles on the surface Of the sea. At other
times, small float attached by string will
clearly indicate the positions while at night,
small light in the float seen only from the
aggressive vessel, will inform the operator if
the missile is on the right road to the in
tended point. 1t need scarcely be observed
that the explosion of the torpedo will sever
the connection with the tubular rope, which
thus may be hauled in by turning the reel.
Should the intended object not be reached,
the admission of compressed air to the tubu-
lar rope will be shut off, and the torpedo
hauled in, or sent out on a new Grand
The scope of the device, thus described, is.
of course, limited; yet, had the Italians pos
sessed it, the result at Lissa would unques-
tionably have been reversed. No harbor can
be entered which is protected by it; nor would
any amount of vigilance save vessels from
destruction on an enemy's coast defended by
it; the Hercules and Rupert, with their pom
derous armor, would be as easily destroyed
as the unarmored Inconstant
In my recent letter to the editor of En-
gsneeT11ag, 1t was admitted that the Devasta-
tion and Consort could steam up the Hudson
in spite of batteries and monitors. But small
iron-clads of the monitor type without tur-
rets, provided with the reel tubular rope, and
torpedoes charged with 500 lbs. of dynamite,
could sink Mr.. Reeds breastwork monitors
before reaching the Hudson.
AS stated, the scope of this mechanical de-
vice is but limited. Fully impressed with
this fact, my labors were early devoted to
plans for carrying on submarine attacks by
means of which the contest might be removed