Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-09-24
THE HOWELL TORPEDO.
Experiments by the Government Gives Salts
faction With Its Work.

Washington, Sept. 23.-The naval au-
thorities have tested and found highly
satisfactory a big automobile torpedo, OF
American design and manufacture. The
name of the torpedo is the Howell. 1t
differs in many essentials from the ear
lier invention of the commodore OF that
compete with the Whitehead. an English
invention, which has made creditable
records in this country and abroad. Inc
earlier Howell could not fairly be COM
pared with the Whitehead. as it was
much smaller and carried Il correspond
ingly lighter charge of explosive,
This is brief description of the new
Howell invention: 1t consists of a cylin,,
drical middle body. to which is Attached
an ogiva head and an ogival after body
bearing tail The head may be either
explosive charge for use in action, or an
exercise head. containing fresh water
ballast and lead weights for use in drills.
The middle body contains Il depth regis
ter pocket a calcium phosphide pocket
and fly wheel. The stored up energy OF
the fly wheel. when set in motion by a
motor situated outside the tube from
which the torpedo is launched, is trans
United to two propellers by gears ana
gear-shafts and propeller shafts. whose
gyroscopic influence tends to stiffen the
torpedo laterally in its course.
The after body contains Il hydrostatc
piston and Il horizontal rudder pendulum
the action of which is transmitted
zontal rudder. 1t also contains the yer
teal rudder pendulum. whose action is
carried through the Impulse mechanism
to a vertical rudder by vertical tlIcI
rod. In addition, in this part of the tor
pedo. there is IA locking mechanism. az
unlocking rod and the propeller-shafts
The frame of the tail COMPRISES n tai
cone. side blades and top and bottom
blades In it are the vertical ruddcr tn,
horizontal rudder the propellers and tn,
speed regulator. The torpedo is launche,
by indirect gunpowder impulse from /;
tube above or below the Water-line of
ship. with the fly wheel revolving at
speed of about 10000 revolutions per min
ute.
Previously to its discharge the fly vince
Is spun up on the vessel from which it i:
TO be discharged. When fired in the wa
ter the revolutions of the fly wheel star
and give to the torpedo the energy which
drives it at "A rate varying. according t.
distance, from p to :3 knots. The shell
OF the torpedo is of hard rolled brass
1-16 of an inch in thickness. 1t i,
strengthened At various points by in
terror rings. The material of the insid
of the machine is bronze and aluminium
bronze. A few easily accessible parts ar,
of steel.
the Howell and other types of automobil,
torpedoes is in the method of transmit
ting driving power to the screw propei
lers, In the Whitehead and the Schwartz
kopf. which are regarded by the nava
officers as the only other successful in
pressed air is stored in a tank in the tor
pedo itself, from whence ii is fed To DOW
crful air engines, which actuate the pro
polling screws. In the Howell a turbin,
motor is attached to the launching tube
and by means of this an exceedingly
high speed of rotation is given to a heavy
steel fly wheel within the torpedo. which
drives the screws directly