IMPROVEMENTS IN TORPEDOES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thorsten Nordenfelt of 53 Parliament Street Westminster
London S.W. Civil Engineer for an Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN
TORPEDOES
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thorsten Nordenfelt at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th September 1883.
THORSTEN NORDENFELT of 53 Parliament Street, Westminster London. S.W.
Civil Engineer,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TORPEDOES"
These improvements relate to moveable submarine torpedoes which can be
controlled from the shore, a ship boat or other point, whether fixed or not.
These torpedoes are adapted to float at or near the surface of the water, they are
provided with propelling screws, rudders by which they can be directed and sight
or guide rods capable if required, of being elevated at the pleasure of the operator,
to indicate the position and course, and also with propellers or rudders to submerge
them.
The power for driving the motor which actuates the screw, or screws, and for
operating the guide rods, that is raising and lowering them, and for operating the
rudder and submerging apparatus is an electric current derived from a storage or
other battery carried in the torpedo itself.
The whole of the electric current from the battery contained in the torpedo is
utilized to drive the motor, except when a small portion is diverted for the
performance of either of the other functions, such as lighting the electric lamps,
operating the guide rods, or the rudder, or for submerging the torpedo by means of
propellers or rudders.
Guide lights are provided for night runs they are incandescent electric lights, the
electric current for which is derived from the battery contained in the torpedo.
The incandescent lamps will only be lighted when the guide rods are raised, as the
lamps are put in and out of circuit by the movement of the guide rods.
The controlling arrangements of the torpedo consist of one or more electric cables,
and a small battery at the directing point. The electric current from the battery
ר....מ

page_text: at the directing point controls circuit closers in the torpedo and brings the electric
power contained in the torpedo into play, exciting solenoids, or other electro
magnetic arrangements for performing all the functions at starting and stopping
the motor, raising and lowering the guide rods, lighting the incandescent lamps,
moving the rudder to one side or the other, and for operating the submerging
apparatus and for firing the fuze in the charge.
The electric cable is so placed in the torpedo that during the run it will pay out
without any appreciable drag, and may be stopped from running out when the
torpedo ceases to travel.
The magazine containing the explosive charge may be arranged to be submerged
to a greater extent than the torpedo itself on contact with a ship or other heavy
object, or at will by increased submersion controllable from the directing point.
The charge may be arranged to be fired electrically or mechanically.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thorsten Nordenfelt in the Patent Office on the 20th March
1884.
THORSTEN NORDENFELT of 53 Parliament Street Westminster London S.W.
Civil Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN TORPEDOES'
33
These improvements relate to moveable submarine torpedoes which can be
controlled from the shore a ship boat or other point whether fixed or not.
These torpedoes are adapted to float at or near the surface of the water, they are
provided with propelling screws, rudders by which they can be directed and sight
or guide rods capable, if required, of being elevated at the pleasure of the operator
to indicate the position and course.
The power for driving the motor which actuates the screw or screws and for
operating the guide rods that is raising and lowering them, and for operating the
rudder, is an electric current derived from a storage or other battery carried in the
torpedo itself.
The whole of the electric current from the battery contained in the torpedo
is utilized to drive the motor except when a small portion is diverted for the
performance of either of the other functions such as lighting the electric lamps
operating the guide rods or the rudder.
Guide lights are provided for night runs, they are incandescent electric lights,
the electric current for which is derived from the battery contained in the torpedo.
The incandescent lamps will only be lighted when the guide rods are raised as the
lamps are put in and out of circuit by the movement of the guide rods.
The controlling arrangements of the torpedo consist of one or more electric cables
and a small battery at the directing point. The electric current from the battery
at the directing point controls circuit closers in the torpedo and brings the electric
power contained in the torpedo into play exciting solenoids or other electro
magnetic arrangements for performing all the functions of starting and stopping
the motor raising and lowering the guide rods, lighting the incandescent lamps,
moving the rudder to one side or the other and for firing the fuze in the charge.
The electric cable is so placed in the torpedo that during the run it will pay out
without any appreciable drag and may be stopped from running out when the
torpedo ceases to travel.
The charge may be arranged to be fired electrically or mechanically.
In order that my said invention may be most fully understood and readily carried
into effect I will proceed to describe the Drawing hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The annexed Drawing (Figure 1) shows a longitudinal section of an electric
locomotive torpedo constructed according to my invention; its dimensions are such

page_text: In these respects the torpedo is constructed in accordance with another Patent
granted to me N° 488788
In place of using a fin other means may be resorted to for maintaining the
torpedo in the desired position in the water.
C is a screw propellor which drives the torpedo.
D is a dynamo electric machine or electro motor giving motion to the propellor.
E are the secondary or other battery cells from which the electric energy to put
in motion the dynamo-electric machine and the propellor is obtained.
Fis a tank containing an electric cable with four or it might be other number
of conductors.
G is a tube through which the electric cable passes out from the tank as the
torpedo advances through the water.
The arrangements in respect to the paying out of this cable are such as have
been made in other torpedoes which throughout their run remain electrically
connected with the controlling station.
I is the rudder. The tiller is connected by chains with the armatures of the
electro magnets or solenoids K as a somewhat long stroke is required these may
advantageously be constructed in the manner described in the specification
No 3712 in the year 1882.
L is a polarized relay of ordinary construction.
M is a local battery which supplies the power requisite for steering the torpedo.
There are several such batteries represented in the Drawing each to perform
a separate function as hereinafter described. In practice it would usually, be
preferable to employ one battery to perform all the internal work of the torpedo
with the exception of driving the screw propellor.
One of the conducting wires of the electric cable is connected with the coils of
the relay L and through these coils with the skin of the torpedo which is
equivalent to an earth connection. Hence when at the station from which the
torpedo is directed an electric current is sent through this wire of the cable, the
polarized relay L being rendered active the circuit of the local battery M is closed
by it through one. or other of the magnets or solenoids K. The corresponding
armature is then attracted and drawn down and the rudder is thus put over to port
or starboard as the case may be. Whether one or other solenoid is excited and the
helm put to port or starboard is dependent upon the direction of the current
transmitted to the polarized relay L.
In place of steering by electro magnets or solenoids an electro-motor may be
employed. The motor may rotate a screw on which is a nut and the nut which is
thus caused to traverse on the screw is connected with the tiller by links. By
means of the polarized relay the current can be sent through this steering motor in
either direction and the steering nut traversed either way on the screw.
Another of the conductors in the cable is in like manner connected with an electro
magnet N and through the coils of this magnet with the skin of the torpedo.
When a current of either polarity is transmitted through this wire the magnet
attracts its armature and in so doing either directly closes the circuit of the main
battery through the dynamo electric machine or it may perform this function
through the intervention of another electro magnet in a local circuit as the
Drawing indicates. When the current in the cable wire ceases the circuit of the
battery E is opened and the torpedo ceases to be propelled.
A third wire in the electric cable is connected with the coils of the polarized
relay and so to earth and this relay serves to close the circuit of the local
battery P either through the coils of the electro magnet Q or through those of
another similar magnet Q¹ according to the direction of the current transmitted
through the cable to the relay O. The magnets Qor Q¹ when thus excited give
partial rotary motion to the axis R which is linked with their armatures as the
Drawing indicates and by levers and links indicated in the Drawing the movement
of the axis R is transmitted to the sight rods S. S.

page_text: When the magnet Q is excited it raises the sight rods to the position in; which
they are represented in full lines in the Drawing causing them to rotate about the
pins or studs S¹ upon which they are mounted. On the other hand when the
magnet Q is excited it causes the sight rods to be drawn down to the position,
indicated in the Drawing by dotted lines. The sight rods are thus raised when it
is desired to observe accurately from the .controlling station the direction the
torpedo is taking; at other 'times the sight rods are folded down to conceal them
from the enemy.
.1
In order that the torpedo may be employed at night each of the sight rods is
provided at its upper end with an incandescent lamp, and these lamps are supplied
with current from the battery T so long as the sight rods remain raised. The
movement of the vertical axis R at this time closing the battery circuit through
the lamps in the manner indicated by the Drawing.
A fourth conductor shewn within the electric cable is connected with the skin of
the torpedo through the coils of the electro magnet U and when a current is
transmitted through this wire from the controlling station the armature of the
magnet is attracted; this closes a gap previously open in the circuit of the firing
battery V but it does not complete the circuit because there is a second gap under
the control of the circuit closer W.
This circuit closer is of a well known construction such as is commonly employed
in torpedoes which are intended to be fired on collision with a passing ship or
vessel; a weight in the circuit closer is overturned on the collision taking place and
in its movement the weight closes the gap in the circuit of the firing battery which
is under the control of the circuit closer W.
X is an electric fuse in the circuit of the firing battery V. This fuse is fired on
collision provided that an electric current is at the same time being transmitted to
the torpedo by the wire connected with the magnet U.
Y is the chamber containing the bursting charge which is fired by the ignition
of the fuse.
The propelling battery should for a torpedo of these dimensions be capable of
delivering a current equivalent to about 30 horse power and of maintaining the
same during the run.
The auxiliary or steering battery should be capable of delivering a current of
about 30 Volts.
It is not essential that the cable connecting the torpedo with the controlling
station should contain more than a single wire. By well known mechanism which
it is now unnecessary for me to describe the one wire may be made to perform all
the duties of the several wires to which reference has already been made. This
however would involve the use of comparatively complicated mechanism both at
the controlling station and within the torpedo itself which can be avoided if there
be several insulated conductors in the connecting cable.
Having thus described the nature of my said invention and the manner of
performing the same I would have it understood that I claim
First An electric locomotive torpedo propelled by means of electric energy
drawn from a battery within the torpedo itself and controlled by means of electric
currents transmitted through an electric cable to the torpedo from a controlling
station substantially as described.
Second I also claim the construction of locomotive torpedoes in such manner
that the same may be steered by electric energy derived from a battery within the
torpedo and applied by means of electric currents transmitted from a controlling
station through an electric cable substantially as described.
Third The construction of a locomotive torpedo with sight rods capable of
being raised and lowered by electric energy derived from a battery within the
torpedo and controlled by currents transmitted from a controlling station through
an electric cable substantially as described.

page_text: Fourth-The employment with a locomotive torpedo of electric lamps connected
with a battery within the torpedo together with a circuit closer controlling the
lamp circuit in accordance with currents transmitted from a controlling station
substantially as described.
In witness whereof I the said Thorsten Nordenfelt have hereunto set my hand
and seal this fifteenth day of March in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty four.
THORSTEN NORDENFELT (L.S.)