IMPROVE- MENTS IN MARINE TORPEDOES
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th September 1878.
A communication from abroad by James Henry McLean, of St. Louis, in the
State of Missouri, and United States of America, Doctor of Medicine.
BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of the Firm of Harris and Mills, of 23,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MARINE TORPEDOES." A communication from abroad by James Henry
McLean, of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, and United States of America, Doctor
of Medicine.
The Invention has for its object improvements in marine torpedoes, and
consists,-
Firstly. In providing torpedoes, whether adapted for automatic propulsion or
used as projectiles, with magnetic appliances, by which they will attach themselves
to an iron vessel which they may approach.
Secondly. In providing a torpedo with a magnetic appliance to adapt it to attach
itself to an iron structure, and a time firing mechanism to cause its explosion after
a proper period, and when it has become effectually attached.
Thirdly. In providing a torpedo with a propelling apparatus to cause it to
approach an enemy, and a magnetic appliance to cause it to attach itself auto-
matically to an iron body.
Fourthly. In providing a torpedo with magnets mounted on pivots, so that they
will assume positions in line with each other and with the motion of the torpedo
while it is passing through the water, and on approaching an iron structure will
turn so as to draw and securely attach the torpedo thereto.
Fifthly. In connecting self-propelling magnetic torpedoes together in pairs by
hinged couplings in such a manner that the pair of torpedoes may be held in
parallel position while passing through the water, and on appoaching an iron body
will by the force of the magnets swing on the hinged couplings to a horizontal
position and face each other, so that the unexpended force of the propellers of the
respective torpedoes may be mutually counteracted each by the other.

page_text: Sixthly. In providing torpedoes with numerous small floats preferably consisting
of rubber balls which will be difficult to discover or disable, and by being attached
adjustably to the torpedo by chains or cords of variable length will sustain it at
any desired depth of immersion to cause it to pass under the bottom of a vessel
and there lodge.
The propellers of the self-propelling torpedoes may be operated either by
generated power, or for example, electro-inagnetism, or gas evolved from liquid, or
solid bodies, or by deposited power, such as springs, or compressed air, or other
gas.
The Invention further consists in applying magnets to projectile torpedoes. In
carrying out this part of the Invention the torpedo is preferably made with a
front chamber containing the explosive charge, and a rear chamber containing air
for flotation, and one or more zones of magnets between them, a second air
chamber being interposed between the magnetic zones, where two such zones or
clusters of magnets are used. The magnets are fixed in radial position with their
poles presented outward, and are arranged in single circumferential tiers extending
around the waist of the projectile; the said tiers being separated by wooden discs
firmly bolted together, so as to form a nearly solid cylindrical body. The explosive
agent preferred is nitro-glycerine introduced within numerous rubber balls partially
filled and separated by discs of rubber, so as to prevent explosion by the concussion
of firing the torpedo from the gun. The space between the rubber balls is occupied
by gunpowder to cause the explosion of the nitro-glycerine, the powder being
ignited at the proper moment by a time fuse.
The projectile being fired from a suitable smooth bore cannon will be made to
plunge into the water near an enemy's vessel, and will sink to a moderate depth by
the momentum of its fall, after which it will be raised by its flotation chamber,
and will be drawn into close contact with the vessel by its magnets.