Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-06-04
AN ENGINE OF A
The New Travelling Torpedo Which IL Ex-
pccted to Do Much mag

AIN EiN1llNC VT VN0s
TIE New Travelling Torpedo Which Il Ez-
pcctcd to Do Much Damage
The details of moving %torpedoes, as
regards their steering power, propul-
sion and explosive charge, have for some
time past formed a special study with
MIR. r. Panlson, who has effected what
would appear to be some important i'm
provements in these respects. Electro
magnets are the chief agents used in the
steering arrangements although their
exact construction and arrangement are
points upon which the inventor prefers
to preserve silence at present. So with
regard to his improved means of pro-
pslsion and the explosive charge; the
most that he is Just now prepared to
state publicly respecting these is that
propulsion is effected by q system differ
ing in toto from my of those at present
employed.
Broadly stated it consists in the use of
chemically generated gas, which is util-
lied either for forcing column of wa
ter direct astcrn, OF for causing it to
actuate machinery for driving a propel-
Ter. The explosive charge consists of a
species of %gun-cotton possessing fifty pcr
cent. more power than ordinary gun
safety. The steering device is that upon
which Mr.. Paulson is most COM
municative, and this is stated
to consist of two batteries, one
pole of each of which isNplaccd
in connection with the coils of tho sets
of electro-magnets. from which lea6s are
conducted to two metal pins, tixeAon
the disc Of insulating material. Both
the other poles of the batteries are place}
in communication with a balanced mag
netic needle of special construction.
The metal pins are placed on either
side of the needle, and the course of the
torpedo having been set, it is started.
Any deviation Of the torpedo from its
assigned course causes q relative move
ment of the needle, which touches one
or the other of the pins, thus establish
ing the circuit through the coils of one
or other of the magnets. An .armature
connected with rudder is attracted and
by this means tho torpedo is again
placed on it's right course. The depth
of immersion OF the weapon is also reg
ulated and maintained ina similar man
ner by a vertically balanced needle.
Another feature is that the torpedo can
be directed toward the ships, irrespcct-
i've of the predetermined course, by
means of another balanced needle.
A demonstration of the steering pow
ers of the apparatus was recently given
by the inventor at Is Cockspur street,
| Cbnvin N TrocS a ,,,olo1 t0Vy,nlo nh0,%
twelve feet six inches long and seven
inches in diameter being used. The
model was not placed in water, and it
vas clearly shown that when it dcviated
from the course upon which it had been
laid, the electromagnetic arrange
ment-which was Of course con-
cealed within the torpedo-came
into operation and restored it
to its normal course. More could not
be shown, but it was stated that a full
sized torpedo. sixteen feet in length and
fourteen inches in diameter, had been
made and successfully tried on the coast
in England. On the last occasion,
however, the torpedo had managed. to
get away from its inventor. and had
been no more seen. The material of
which Mr.. Paulson proposes to con-
struct the shell of his torpedo differs
from that hitherto used in being a
species of papier-mache of a tough and
tibrous nature. The new we aponi is to be
discharged from the shore or from any
ordinary torpedo boat. This feature
points it out as valuable for coast and
harbor defense, for which purposes it
is the opinion of several naval authori-
ties by whom it has been examined
that it is especially adapted. In view
of its apparent merits it would appear
desira bic that the Government authori-
ties, who have had the matter under
consideration for some little time past,
should lose no time in constructing a
torpedo of the proper working size
and having it practically tested. Thi $
course is the less Objectionable Sec
ing that the cost is stated to be only
about ESQ. At any rate the invention
appears to justify prompt and thorough
investigation, in order that its practical
usefulness or otherwise may be ascer-
tained.-London Times.