The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1915-08-10

cold. In this chamber is also a re-
ducing valve which automatically de-
livers the air to the engine at a pres
sure of about 100 pounds to the square
inch, no matter Wat the pressure may
be in the reservoir
We have now explained how tor
pedo is discharged and afterWard pro-
PEELED on its errand of destruction;
but We still have to provide for steer
ing it On straight course and keep
ing it at the right depth below the
surface. For these purposes there are
vertical and horizontal rudders in the
tail. The horizontal rudders are worked
by compressed air under the control
of a pendulum in such wey that the
slightest movement of the last named
puts in operation powerful gear for
working the rudders. Merely keeping
tie torpedo level, however, is not suf-
flcient. 1t must also be kept at GER
tain depth under the surface, so as to
strike a ship below her armor plating
without any risk of passing quite clear
beneath the ship. The pressure Of
water upon any object immersed in it
varies with the depth, and amounts
roughly to one pound upon every
square inch of surface for each two
and half feet. Thus at a depth of %
feet the pressure is about 10 pounds
to the square inch. A device based
upon this is used for keeping torpedo
at tie right level, and if it dives be-
low or rises above the proper depth
this device acts upon the rudder-gear
and steers the torpedo up or down as
required.
A torpedo is kept on a straight
course after leaving the tube by the
vertical runners, which are moved by
compressed air under the control of a
gyroscope. AS in the case of the pen
dulum and the horizontal rudders, the
compressed air does the work, and only
a very small effort is exerted by the
controlling device. The popularity
of the gyroscope, excepting the special
type used in the gyroscopic compass,
is ucat when it is spun its axis will
continue to point in one direction, and
it can not be moved without consider
able force. This feature applies only to
the direction of the axis, and so long
as this remains the same the gyro-
scope offers no resistance to being
moved bodily. In other words, you can
move it about, but you can not twist
it about. The gyroscope in torpedo
is set spinning by a spring which is
released at tie moment of discharge,
and it is connected to little valve for
admitting compressed air to one side
or the other of piston which works
the rudders.
Such are the main features Of the
modern torpedo, but there are many
other small devices for insuring safe
ty or greater effectiveness. OF these
tie delay valve and the net cutters
are, perhaps worthy of mention. TIE
delay valve holds back the compressed
air from the engine until the torpedo
is discharged. II this were not done
the engine would race" in the tube
and damage itself. TIE net cutters are
for cutting through the wire nets
hung around battle ships as a protec-
ton against torpedoes.
Torpedoes cost over 1000 pounds
eacn, consequently they are not dis
charged unless there is fair chance
Of hitting The object aimed at So far
the vessels hit by torpedoes have been
stationary or only moving slowly; but
1t is probable that as the crews Of
submarines become more expert they
will be able to hit a warship occasion
ally when she is moving at high
speed.