Gear for Torpedoes or other Self-propelling Vessels.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Controlling Gear for Torpedoes or other Self-propelling Vessels.
I, ROBERT BRIDGES MOLESWORTH, of 34, Victoria Street, Westminster, in
the County of London, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
I. The use of a thread or cord or wire passing round a pulley on board the
torpedo or other self-propelling vessel to be controlled, the ends of such thread or
cord or wire being wound on two drums, situated at the point whence the
controlling is to be effected, the drums being governed by friction or other brakes;
the said pulley actuating the rudder or steering apparatus of the torpedo,
vessel to be controlled, through the medium of suitable clutch and speed reducing
gear, the pulley itself being moved by the difference of tension in the two ends
of the thread or cord or wire, which is drawn off the drums as the torpedo, or other
vessel, moves. The object of the speed reducing gear is to reduce the difference
of tension necessary, in the two parts of the thread or cord or wire, in order to
actuate the rudder.'"
II. The use of a combination of a thread, or cord or wire, and drums as above
described to control the motions of the rudder or steering apparatus of the torpedo
or other self-propelling vessel to be controlled, such motions of the rudder, or
steering apparatus, being actuated by means of a force contained in the said
torpedo or other vessel.
III. The combination of a spring pull-back attachment, in conjunction with
either of the above described apparatus, so arranged as to allow of a trigger action
being employed when the tension of the two parts of the thread or cord or wire
shall exceed a certain fixed amount (such amount to be decided for each type of
vessel to be controlled, and for each description of controlling cord or wire) such
trigger action being utilised for any further controlling of the torpedo or other
vessel as may be required, such as stopping the propelling machinery, firing
explosives, releasing or actuating other attachments, and the like.
It is advisable, but not necessary, that the brakes governing the two drums be
interlocking, so that both cannot be put on together, in order to avoid any danger
of breaking the controlling cord by an excess of tension.
It is also advisable that the clutch gear between the pulley and the rudder or
steering apparatus be so designed, that it is thrown into gear when the pulley
moves and out of gear when it stops, thus allowing the rudder or steering
apparatus to return to the central position without reversing the motion of the cord
and pulley.
It is further advisable that there be a separate key for braking both the drums
when actuating the trigger action, such brake being capable of such adjustment as
never to strain the cord or wire up to the breaking point.
Dated this Third day of June 1896.
R. BRIDGES MOLESWORTH.

page_text: Controlling Gear for Torpedoes or other Self-propelling Vessels.
I, ROBERT BRIDGES MOLESWORTH of 34 Victoria Street, Westminster, in
the County of London, Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to he performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
I. The use of a thread or cord (metallic or other) passing round a pulley on
board the torpedo or other self propelling vessel to be controlled, the ends of such
thread or cord being wound on two drums situated at the point whence the
controlling is to be effected, the motion of the two drums being controlled by two
brakes of a suitable description, and the aforesaid pulley actuating the rudder or
other steering apparatus of the torpedo or other vessel to be controlled through
the medium of a suitable clutch and speed-reducing gear, the pulley being moved
by the difference in tension in the two parts of the thread or cord passing round it,
such difference in tension being caused by the action of the aforesaid brakes
controlling the drums from which the thread or cord is drawn by the motion of
the torpedo or other vessel. When the torpedo or other vessel is proceeding in
the required direction, both drums are allowed to turn freely, but when it is
desired to change this direction, the motion of one or other of the drums is retarded
or altogether stopped, thus causing the thread or cord to rotate the pulley on
the torpedo or other vessel, and actuate the steering apparatus in the required
sense.
II. The use of a thread or cord (metallic or other) with pulley, gear, drums, as
above described, to control the motions of the rudder or other steering apparatus
of the torpedo or other self propelling vessel to be controlled, the motion of the
steering apparatus being actuated by a force on the torpedo or other vessel. This
arrangement allows of the use of a much lighter thread or cord, as the difference
in tension required is only such as will control and not actuate the steering
apparatus.
III. The combination, in conjunction with either of the above described
apparatus, of a spring pull-back attachment, so arranged as to allow of a trigger
release, or other mechanism, being actuated when the tension of both parts of the
thread or cord shall exceed a certain fixed amount (such limit of tension being
determined according to the type of vessel to be controlled and the strength of the
controlling thread or cord). Such mechanism to be utilised for any further
controlling of the torpedo or other vessel as may be most advisable, such as stopping
the propelling machinery, firing explosives, dropping mines or the like.
The speed reducing gear referred to, between the pulley and the spindle or axle
actuating the steering apparatus or controlling the same, is introduced so as to
reduce to a reasonable amount the difference of tension in the two parts of the
thread or cord, necessary to obtain the required power in the above mentioned
spindle or axle.
Of the annexed diagrams which shew one suitable arrangement of this invention,
Figs. 1. 2 & 3 refer to the apparatus on the vessel to be controlled, while Figs. 4
and 5 shew the drums and brake gear at the point whence the controlling is to
be effected.
Of the former Fig. 2 is a plan, and Fig. 1 a sectional elevation. The thread or
cord is led into the vessel in a suitable manner, and is shewn at A A; it passes
round the pulley B, which on turning rotates the governor balis C C and through
the medium of the pinions and spur wheels D E; FG and H causes the large
wheel J to turn slowly. (The pitch lines only of the gearing are shewn in dotted
lines for clearness.) The wheel J runs loose on the shaft K, on the lower end of

page_text: which is keyed the pinion L which gears into the two racks M M connected by
means of the rods N N to the tiller head. O is a jaw clutch, by means of which,
the large wheel J can be locked to the shaft K, and this clutch is thrown into.
gear by the lever P, the link Q, and the bell crank lever R S, the end S of which.
is depressed when the governor balls C C fly outwards. When therefore the
tension in one side of the cord A A is greater than in the other, the pulley B will
rotate, causing the governor balls C C to fly outwards, thus throwing the clutch O
into gear, and putting the rudder over in the required direction. When the
pulley B ceases to rotate, the balls C C fall again, thus throwing the clutch O out
of gear, and allowing the pressure of water on the rudder to return it to the
central position. All the gear, with the exception of the pulley B and its direct
attachments, are carried in the frame T T, held together by the columns U U and
with suitable lugs V V on the lower plate for securing the whole. The pulley B.
and its connections are carried in a separate frame W W pivoted concentric with
the axis X, of the first motion wheel E, and having the further end connected to
an adjustable spring Y, which prevents the pulley B from moving under ordinary
circumstances.
When, however, the tension in both sides of the cord A A is increased, so.
as to exceed the resistance of the spring, the pulley B and with it the frame W W
moves back to the position shewn in Fig. 2 in dotted lines, thus giving a trigger
motion to any connection made to the evehole Z. Fig. 3 is a section on the
line a a of the lower plate of the frame T T, shewing the guides of the racks M M..
Fig. 4 is a plan and Fig. 5 an elevation of the drums on which the cord A A is
wound at the controlling point. bare the drums; ccc are the three brake
handles, the outer ones controlling the motion of the corresponding drums,.
and the centre one controlling that of both drums. Thus, by pulling one
of the side handles to the dotted positions shewn on Fig. 5 the motion of the
corresponding drum will be retarded or stopped, thus putting a greater
tension on that side of the cord, and causing the pulley B on the vessel to rotate.
On pulling the centre handle, however, the motion of both drums is retarded, the
tension in both sides of the curd A A is increased, and the spring pull back is
actuated, thus firing the torpedo or giving any other trigger action required.
dd are the slotted brake rods actuating band brakes on the brake drums e es.
and is a suitable base with lugs for fastening down if necessary.
Figs. 4 and 5 are to a scale of about one twelfth that of Figs. 1 2 and 3, but
the actual size depends entirely on the size of vessel, cord and strength requirel.
It is advisable, but not necessary, that the three handles c c c be interlocked so
that only one can be moved at a time; also that the centre one be so arranged
that a greater tension cannot be put on the cord A. A than it can safely
withstand,
The details both of the gearing and arrangement and the methods of actuating
or controlling the several portions are capable of variation to suit special circum-
stances or different conditions.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
I. The use of a single cord for controlling the motion of self propelled vessels,
the bight of the said cord passing round a pulley on the vessel, and the relative
motions of the two parts of such cord being controlled by the difference of tension
in either at the point whence the said vessel is to be controlled.
II. By suitable mechanism on the vessel, and by putting a sufficient tension on
both sides of the said cord,-the apparatus being suitably designed hereto,-a back-
ward motion can be given to the pulley on the vessel, thus actuating a trigger or
other mechanism, allowing of a controlling action other than that of steering.
III. The necessary gear being small and simple, both on the vessel and at
the controlling point, the apparatus can be easily applied to any size of vessel

page_text: containing self propelling machinery, and the controlling of comparatively large
vessels can be done from small boats, or from any desired spot, the drums and
brake gear being quite of a portable size.
Dated this 1st day of March 1897.
R. BRIDGES MOLESWORTH.