IMPROVEMENTS IN PUTTING INTO MOTION SMALL ENGINES, SUBMARINE VESSELS, AND TORPEDOS BY MEANS OF LIQUID SULPHUROUS ACID
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Carl Kesseler, of 63, Mohrenstrasse, Berlin, W., in the
.
Empire of Germany, Civil Engineer and Patent Solicitor, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PUTTING INTO MOTION SMALL ENGINES, SUBMARINE
VESSELS, AND TORPEDOS BY MEANS OF LIQUID SULPHUROUS ACID." A
communication from Doctor Paul Friese and Doctor Carl Scheibler, Chemists,
of Berlin. Prussia, in the Empire of Germany.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Carl Kesseler at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th August 1878.
CARL KESSELER, of 63, Mohrenstrasse, Berlin, W. in the Empire of Germany,
Civil Engineer and Patent Solicitor. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PUTTING INTO MOTION
SMALL ENGINES, SUBMARINE VESSELS, AND TORPEDOES BY MEANS OF LIQUID
SULPHUROUS ACID." [A communication from Doctor Paul Friese and Doctor
Carl Scheibler, Chemists, of Berlin, Prussia, in the Empire of Germany.]
Since several years already efforts have been made to use compressed gases instead
of steam as motive power for small machines, especially for submarine torpedoes,
special attention has been drawn to the effect of using condensed carbonic acid,
and in fact in America and in England torpedoes have been set in motion by these
means. The difficult and dangerous production of compressed carbonic acid, as well
as the enormous pressure (circa 70 atmospheres at the ordinary temperature) made
it necessary to have receptacles or vessels able to stand it. Those receptacles or
reservoirs increased consequently the weight of the torpedoes in such a manner that
the application of carbonic acid for such purposes is probably already abandoned in
practice. Compressed air is now used instead of it for the fish torpedoes, which
under a pressure of 25 atmospheres is pressed into receptacles constructed especially

page_text: for that purpose. Those receptacles serve at the same time as boilers for the
machines. In spite that by those means the thickness and the weight of the
boiler plates could be considerably reduced; nevertheless many disadvantages
rested attached to this method of putting in motion.
The following disadvantages are the most important:-
1. As the filling of the torpedoes only takes place a short time before they are
used, this method therefore requires everywhere special machines to fill the recep-
tacles with air of such a pressure.
2. As by such a pressure and by the application of air the boiler has still to be
of large size and of great strength, it will be still very heavy; this is a very great
disadvantage, and prevents the easy motion of the submarine vessels or con-
veyances.
3. The speed of the torpedoes decreases through the gradual decrease of the
pressure which takes place during the outflow of the air. As there is no momentum
to keep up the former original pressure of the air which has been pressed in, the
final velocity becomes so reduced that torpedoes of this kind can be fished with
ordinary nets.
4. The course of the torpedo can be traced by the enemy by the line of air
bubbles appearing on the surface of the water, and its action can therefore be easily
prevented.
As to the other questions which are to be considered concerning the steering, the
machines, the flow under water of the torpedoes, they have already been sufficiently
solved.
What now remains to be done is to diminish, or rather to prevent, the above
enumerated disadvantages, which by the following method will probably be entirely
avoided -The motive power used is the liquid sulphureous acid, condensed by one
atmosphere, and by (-8°) degree centesimal (C.), its pressure at the ordinary
temperature being circa three atmospheres. Its qualities are that it can be easily
and cheaply produced, as it is already manufactured in great quantities for the pro-
duction of ice. In consequence of its comparative low pressure there is no danger
either in its production nor transport. It can also be easily transported, as it does
not attack receptacles which are tinned out, and when used serves even as a lubri-
cating material for the machines.
The boilers are not required to be of larger size than when carbonic acid is used,
nor the plates to be of greater thickness than if compressed air is used. It unites
therefore the advantages offered of both of these motive powers by avoiding the
disadvantages they offer.
Another advantage offered is that the liquid sulphurous acid can be stored in any
quantity, and can be exported everywhere without requiring special machines for
filling the torpedoes.
The only disadvantage the liquid phosphorous acid seems to offer is its low
pressure, a drawback for moving the machines, but this disadvantage is entirely
removed in the following simple and most peculiar manner :- -The boiler containing
the sulphurous acid is provided with a jacket, of which the air is pumped out, and
is half filled with a concentrated solution of an etching alkali. The sulphurous acid
exercises a low pressure, but which is sufficiently great to put the vessel in motion
at first. It flows, after having set the machine in motion, into the vacuum of the
annular casing or jacket, where it becomes absorbed by the alkali by the develop-
ment of heat. A threefold result is hereby obtained,―-
1. The piston becomes unloaded or relieved at its back, as in the case of con-
densing engines, because the sulphurous acid becomes latent. In a depth of five
meters it corresponds to about one and a half atmospheres.
2. The heat which develops itself by the absorption is transmitted to the boiler
containing the sulphurous acid, and develops a steady increasing tension in the
sulphurous acid, effecting hereby an increase in the speed of the machine.
3. The apparition of air bubbles at the surface of the water, which would betray
the course of the torpedo, is entirely avoided.

page_text: Another special advantage of the present described method of moving the tor-
pedoes which has to be considered is, that the absolute total weight of the running
torpedoes of this system is not in the slightest altered during its whole course,
while the absolute weight of the atmospheric or carbonic acid torpedoes in the
same measure as the carbonic acid (respectively the air) flows out is constantly
reduced.
Having thus described the nature of the Invention and the manner of performing
the same, it will be understood that the improvements upon which the claims are
principally based consists,-
1. In the use of liquid sulphurous acid as materials or means used to work machines,
especially submarine vessels or conveyances.
2. In making the liquid sulphurous acid disappear by means of absorption after
having been used, in order to hide the course of the vessel or conveyance.
3. In the development of the heat produced by the absorption of the liquid sul-
phurous acid by means of the alkali, in order to accelerate the speed of such vessel
or conveyance.
4. In the relieving or unloading of the piston of the machine through the absorp-
tion of the liquid sulphurous acid, transforming therefore the machine into one of
condensation, with all the advantages connected to such, instead of being an exhausting
machine.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Carl Kesseler in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st February
1879.
CARL KESSELER, of 63, Mohrenstrasse, Berlin, W., in the Empire of Germany,
Civil Engineer and Patent Solicitor. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PUTTING INTO MOTION
SMALL ENGINES, SUBMARINE VESSELS, AND TORPEDOS BY MEANS OF LIQUID
SULPHUROUS ACID." A communication from Doctor Paul Frieser and Doctor
Carl Scheibler, Chemists, of Berlin, Prussia, in the Empire of Germany.
Since several years already efforts have been made to use compressed gases instead
of steam as motive power for small machines, especially for submarine torpedos,
special attention has been drawn to the effect of using condensed carbonic acid,
and in fact in America and in England torpedos have been set in motion by these
means. The difficult and dangerous production of compressed carbonic acid, as well
as the enormous pressure (circa 70 atmospheres at the ordinary temperature) mado
it necessary to have receptacles or vessels able to stand it. Those receptacles or
reservoirs increased consequently the weight of the torpedos in such a manner that
the application of carbonic acid for such purposes is probably already abandoned in
practice. Compressed air is now used instead of it for the fish torpedos, which under a
pressure of 25 atmospheres is pressed into receptacles constructed especially for that
purpose. Those receptacles serve at the same time as boilers for the machines. In
spite that by those means the thickness and the weight of the boiler plates could
be considerably reduced; nevertheless many disadvantages rested attached to this
method of putting in motion.
The following disadvantages are the most important
1. As the filling of the torpedos only takes place a short time before they are used,
this method therefore requires everywhere special machines to fill the receptacles
with air at such a pressure.
2. As by such a pressure and by the application of air the boiler has still to be of
large size and of great strength, it will be still very heavy; this is a very great
disadvantage, and prevents the easy motion of the submarine vessels or con-
veyances.
3. The speed of the torpedo decreases through the gradual decrease of the pressure
which takes place during the outflow of the air. As there is no momentum to keep
up the former original pressure of the air which has been pressed in, the final
velocity becomes so reduced that torpedos of this kind can be fished with ordinary:
nets.
4. The course of the torpedo can be traced by the enemy by the line of air
bubbles appearing on the surface of the water, and its action can therefore be easily
prevented.
As to other questions which are to be considered concerning the steering, the
machines, the flow under water of the torpedos, they have already been sufficiently
solved.
What now remains to be done is to diminish, or rather to prevent, the above
enumerated disadvantages, which by the following method will probably be entirely
avoided-The motive power used is the liquid sulphurous acid, condensed by one
atmosphere and by eight degree centesimal (8° C.), its pressure at the ordinary
temperature being circa three atmospheres. Its qualities are that it can be easily
and cheaply produced, as it is already manufactured in great quantities for the pro-
duction of ice. In consequence of its comparative low pressure, there is no danger
either in its production nor transport. It can also be easily transported, as it does
not attack the receptacles which are tinned out. When used it serves even as
lubricating material for the machines.
The boilers are not required to be of larger size than when carbonic acid is used,
nor the plates to be of greater thickness than if compressed air is used. It unites

page_text: therefore the advantages offered of both of these motive powers by avoiding the
disadvantages they offer.
Another advantage offered is that the liquid sulphureous acid can be stored in
any quantity, and can be exported everywhere without requiring special machines
for filling the torpedos.
The only disadvantage the liquid sulphurous acid seems to offer is its low pressure,
a drawback for moving the machines, but this disadvantage is entirely removed in
the following simple and most peculiar manner:-The boiler containing the sul-
phurous acid is provided with a jacket, of which the air is pumped out, and is half
filled with a concentrated solution of an etching alkali. The sulphurous acid
exercises a low pressure, but which is sufficiently great to put the vessel in motion
at first. It flows, after having set the machine in motion, into the vacuum of the
annular casing or jacket, where it becomes absorbed by the alkali by the develop-
ment of heat. A threefold result is hereby obtained,
1. The piston becomes unloaded or relieved at its back, as in the case of con-
densing engines, because the sulphurous acid becomes latent. In a depth of five
metres it corresponds to about one and a half atmospheres.
2. The heat which develops itself by the absorption is transmitted to the boiler
containing the sulphurous acid, and develops a steady increasing tension in the
sulphurous acid, effecting hereby an increase in the speed of the machine.
3. The apparition of air bubbles at the surface of the water, which would betray
the course of the torpedo, is entirely avoided.
Another special advantage of the present described method of moving the tor-
pedos which has to be considered is, that the absolute total weight of the running
torpedos of this system is not in the slightest altered during its whole course, while
the absolute weight of the atmospheric or carbonic acid torpedos in the same measure
as the carbonic acid (respectively air) flows out is constantly reduced.
Instead of the condensed sulphurous acid the liquid ammonia is also used for the
purpose of driving the machines and for condensing, instead of the alkali so used by
the sulphurous acid of any acid.
Having thus herein substantially described the nature of the Invention, and the
manner of performing the same, it will be understood that the improvements upon
which the claims are principally based consist,-
1. In the use of liquid sulphurous acid, by preference in droping conditions,
respectively the liquid ammonia, also in droping conditions, as material or means
used to work machines, especially submarine vessels or conveyances.
2. In making the liquid sulphurous acid, respectively the ammonia, disappear by
means of absorption after having been used, in order to hide the course of the vessel
or conveyance.
3. In the use of the development of the heat produced by the absorption of the
liquid sulphurous acid, respectively the ammonia, by means of the alkali for the
former, and by an acid for the latter, in order to accelerate the speed of such vessel
or conveyance.
4. In the relieving or unloading of the piston of the machine through the absorp-
tion of the liquid sulphurous acid, or respectively the ammonia, transferring there-
fore the machine into one of condensation, with all the advantages connected to
such, instead of being an exhausting machine.
In witness whereof, I, the said Carl Kesseler, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Second day of February, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-nine.