IMPROVEMENTS IN TORPEDOES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Ambrose McEvoy of 18 Adam Street Adelphi
in the County of Middlesex for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
TORPEDOES
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Ambrose McEvoy
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th December
1883.
CHARLES AMBROSE M'Evoy of 18 Adam Street Adelphi in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TORPEDOES
"
This Invention has for its object improvements in torpedoes, and it relates more
especially to what are known as spar torpedoes.
Spar torpedoes as at present employed consist of a case containing an explosive
charge, and provided with firing mechanism and this is carried at the end of a spar
projecting for ward from a torpedo launch.
This torpedo requires to be actually thrust by the spar against the side of the
vessel it is intended to destroy.
Now I arrange that the spar shall carry a small locomotive or self propelled
torpedo and that the same shall be liberated on arriving within striking distance.
The torpedo is provided with a screw propellor and driving mechanism, and at
the same time that the torpedo set free from the spar the driving mechanism is
started. The screw propellor then urges the torpedo forward towards the object
against which it is directed.
I employ as the driving mechanism powerful springs within the torpedo which
have been previously wound or brought into a state of tension; or I provide
within the torpedo an electro motor and a primary battery for operating the same.
The circuit is closed, and the motor started by the act of liberating the torpedo
from the spar. Or I employ compressed air to drive the torpedo and in this case
the air is allowed to issue from the reservoir in which it is stored, and made
to propel the torpedo immediately the same is disconnected from the spar. Such
torpedoes can also by other means be carried to a position of suitable proximity to
the object of attack and then liberated.
Locomotive torpedoes to be actuated by springs previously brought into a state of
tension may also be made on a larger scale such as to be competent to reach the
object at which they are directed without the aid of a torpedo launch to carry.
them to within striking distance.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Charles Ambrose M°Evoy in the Patent Office on the 18th June
1884.
CHARLES AMBROSE M°Evoy of 18 Adam Street Adelphi in the County of
Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN TORPEDOES
"
This Invention has for its object improvements in torpedoes and it relates more
especially to what are known as spar torpedoes.
*Spar torpedoes as at present employed consist of a case containing an explosive
charge and provided with firing mechanism and this is carried at the end of a spar
projecting forward from a torpedo launch.
This torpedo requires to be actually thrust by the spar against the side of the
vessel it is intended to destroy.
Now I arrange that the spar shall carry a small locomotive or self propelled
torpedo and that the same shall be liberated on arriving within striking distance
The torpedo is provided with a screw propeller and driving mechanism and at
the same time that the torpedo is set free from the spar the driving mechanism is
started-The screw propeller then urges the torpedo forward towards the object
against which it is directed.
I employ as the driving mechanism powerful springs within the torpedo,—which
have been previously wound or brought into a state of tension-or I provide within
the torpedo an electro motor and a primary battery for operating the same The
circuit is closed and the motor started by the act of liberating the torpedo from the
spar. Or I employ compressed air to drive the torpedo, and in this case the air is
allowed to issue from the reservoir in which it is stored and made to propel the
torpedo immediately the same is disconnected from the spar-Such torpedoes can
also by other means be carried to a position of suitable proximity to the object of
attack and then liberated
Locomotive torpedoes to be actuated by springs previously brought into a state
of tension may also be made on a larger scale such as to be competent to reach the
object at which they are directed without the aid of a torpedo launch to carry
them to within striking distance.
In order that my said invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is an elevation of the fore part of a torpedo launch carrying my
improved spar torpedo
a is the bow or forward end of the launch-b is the spar with its fulcrum on the
support At its outer end the spar carries the torpedo holder d and in this holder
the locomotive torpedo e is lodged-Figure 2 is an elevation to a larger scale of the
locomotive torpedo e and Figure 3 is a section further enlarged of the fore part of
the torpedo showing the propelling mechanism-The support c is so arranged as to
admit of the spar being thrust forward and drawn back through a pivoted sleeve
or guide for placing the torpedo outboard for use and for taking it inboard-The
outer end of the spar with the parts which it carries can also be raised and lowered
and bv movement of the sunport around a vertical axis the spar may be directed

page_text: pinion can then be thrown out of gear. When the holder is thus prepared the
locomotive torpedo is placed within it and a stop within the holder prevents
the rotation of the screw.
f is a trigger with a line attached to it which when pulled releases the moveable
bottom of the torpedo holder and causes the torpedo e to be projected forward out
of the holder. At the same time the propeller of the torpedo being set free starts
into motion under the influence of the wound up spring.
The arrangement of the propelling mechanism represented by Figure 3 is as
follows:-h is a hollow axis on which a bevelled wheel his fixed and i is a pinion
gearing with the wheel h¹. To wind up the mechanism the pinion i is turned by
manual labour by means of a crank handle applied to the axis of the pinion. A
ratchet and pawl prevents the rotation of the axis of the pinion in the reverse
direction when the winding handle is removed. One end of a long ribbon spring
is attached to the hollow barrel or axis h and the other end to the interior of the
drum k. A second similar spring is attached by one end to the interior of the
drum k and its other end is secured to the hollow barrel or axis l. This barrel or
axis in turn has a third spring attached which is also connected with the drum m
and a fourth spring similarly connects the drum m with the hollow barrel or axis n.
o is a spur wheel on the barrel or axis n it gears with the pinions p. p. q. q. are
spur wheels attached to the pinion p and gearing with a pinion r which is between
them. The pinion is on the propeller shaft which passes through the hollow
axes h. l. and n.
This is a simple and convenient arrangement of spring motor and admits of a
sufficient length of spring being employed to store a considerable power and to
give it off with sufficient uniformity for the purpose in view but the arrangement
of g between the springs and the propeller shaft may be varied.
A like arrangement of spar and torpedo holder may be employed in combination
with locomotive torpedoes of other construction.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
First The combination constituting my improved spar torpedo and consisting
of a spar, a torpedo holder and a locomotive torpedo the spar serving to control the
torpedo holder and to connect it with the boat or vessel and the holder being
provided with disengaging gear by which the locomotive torpedo can be liberated
from the holder at pleasure substantially as described.
Second A locomotive torpedo propelled by a screw upon a shaft rotated by
springs substantially as described.
In witness whereof I the said Charles Ambrose M°Evoy have hereunto set my
hand and seal this seventeenth day of June in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty four.
C. A. M'EVOY (L.S.)