The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-06-24
LIEUTENANT HALLS TORPEDO.
An Automatic Fisl-LiItc Machine of Which
Grcnt Things nrc Expected.

Lieutenant M. Z. Hall, U. S. N, who
for several years has been endeavorine
to perfect fish torpedo, has ono now
nearly perfected at the Eagle Iron Works
in Buffalo. The Courier describes it as
twelve feet long, i'll three sections, and
re-cnforccdby four longitudinal girders
To give it greater strength. In the ex-
trome bow thore is n capacity for a charge
OF seventy pounds of gunpowder. This
IS fixed by means of primer of fulmi-
nate of mercury. A plunger projects in
front, having two crossed knife edges
constructed so as to act when the torpe-
DO strikes vessel at n small angle. The
ordinary torpedo in such a case would
simply allow the projectile 20 glance off
without exploding. The plunger breaks
the screw that holds the spring-firing
apparatus, thus releasing the firing pin
which cXplodcs the charge by striking
the sensitive primer Of illuminate of mer-
curry. On the bow there are two auto
matte fins used for steering. The gen
orator is composed of a series of tubes
that hold gas and vapor at 1000 pounds
pressure. The middle section consists of
PLAIN cylinder 49, inches in diameter,
and III this the generator is contained.
The fins are worked by small engines
whose valves are automatically controlled
by power derived from the generator,
whose great pressure, 1000 pounds to
the square inch, has only been obtained
alter lncessant labor and innumcrable
experiments, many of which were fail
ureS The after section of the torpedo
contains the propelling apparatus, con-
slshng of Gartlner's patent three cylinder
engine, which works two screws by gear
ing. These screws are two-bladed and
rcvolve in opposite directions. Their
peculiar feature is that the blades of one
screw are each at right angles to those
of another, thus enabling screws of large
diameter to be used as inner blades of
the screws revolving in the same space.
Tho three different sections of the
torpedo arc screwed together SO as to
make water-tight Joints. The proiectile
rs so constructed as to dive and keep n
certain depth by means of the automnti-
cally controlled pins in the bow and The
diving rudder in the tail Two tails tend
to keep the torpedo upright and regular,
enclosing the screws to prevent their be-
ing fouled by any floating object, such
rs seawccd, etc. On the top of the death
dealing machine arc three hand holes
covered by platcS-onc giving access to
the apparatus which controls the fires at
the engine, the otLcr ntlording access to
the diving ruddcr. The ems zinc is in
closed III steel case, which slips into it's
place III the torpedo, and is there held by
three bolts, SO that it can be readily re-
moved for examination or repair if need
! be. Attached to the engine is a governor.
the invention of Mr.. Gardner, foreman
of the Eagle Works. This governor con
trolls the engine so us TO give uniform
rate of speed while working under vary
ing degrees Of pressure.
The great advantage claimed for th,
new torpedo is its straightncss of course
| The nndulating motion Of the ordinary
torpedo frequently causes the machine
to dive without striking its object. Th,
new one, it is said, can be aimed NOR,
directly and certainly at the precise spo
where it will have the greatest destructive
power. Another advantage is in the dis
tancc traverscd. The ordinary torpedo
has range of about 700 yards; the new
finny creature speeds along to the extent
OF about mile and q half, or 2,lOC
yards. The engine Is the only one made
III this country at all suitable for tho
work contemplated, and the patent fol
this part OF the apparatus is vested in the
Eagle Iron Works Company. Without
any special tests or appliances, it is
nothing short of wonderful how eflicicnt-
y the new torpedo in all it's parts has
been completed and now nearly fitted
together. 1t will shortly be put to the
test III Lake Erie. The whole apparatus
has a buoyancy Of fifteen feet, and it is
computed to be able to blow into smith
Greens the largest vessel afloat.