Improvements in Torpedoes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 15th June, 1898--Accepted, 10th June, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Torpedoes.
I, CARL MÖLLER, of Christiania, Norway, at present residing at 10, Sedanstrasse,
Berlin-Schoneberg, Germany, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
=
This invention relates to an improved construction of torpedo which, when dis-
charged, is capable of rising automatically through the water and adhering to the
structure to be destroyed by means of suction. It can also be arranged to explode
at a pre-determined time.
And in order that my said invention may be properly understood I have hereunto
appended an explanatory sheet of drawings, whereon,
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the torpedo.
Figs. 2 and 3 are detail views.
Referring to the drawings:-
The torpedo consists of a cylindrical body with a funnel shaped point and is
provided at its upper end with an elastic ring or the like a. The torpedo A is
divided into several chambers. The lowest chamber b contains the dynamite or
other explosive. The middle one e forms a vacuum chamber whilst the upper one d
serves to contain the timing mechanism e with the releasing apparatus of the
electric priming. Above the timing mechanism e a cog wheel f is placed and gears
with the teeth formed on the metal bars g, g'. When the cog wheel is revolved the
bars g, gl are moved in opposite directions. The upper end of the bar gl fits into
a projecting part or sleeve i made for the reception of the pin h, the use of
which will be subsequently explained. The lower end of the bar gl has a double
arm bent in the form of a knee and joint k, (see Fig. 3). The joint k ends in a
forked part which partially surrounds the ball valve m which latter serves to shut
off the vacuum chamber C from the chamber d.
n is a receptacle for the ball valve m when pushed off its seat.
When the torpedo is to be discharged the operator first inserts the pin h into the
sleeve i of the torpedo. When the torpedo is discharged it rises or floats by its own
buoyancy and rapidly ascends through the water until it strikes the bottom of the
vessel or other structure to be torpedoed and adheres thereto by suction. The
suction is produced in the following manner; at the moment of impact the pin h
is pushed downwards in the projecting part or sleeve and causes the jointed part k
of the bar g whose end 7 partially surrounds the ball valve m to push the ball off
its seat into the receptacle n. When the bar g¹ moves downwards (see Fig. 2) the
eyelet attached thereto moves with it and the hooks of the spring is released
causing the latter to come in contact with the perforated slide plate it and move it
sideways. By this movement the perforations in the plate v and the slide
plate are made to coincide by which means a connection is made between the
chamber and the mouth of the torpedo. When the ball valve m is pushed from
its seat, q, at the moment of impact, the vacuum chamber C is put into communica-
tion with the mouth of the torpedo which, as a consequence, is caused to adhere
to the bottom of the vessel. The elastic ring a compensates for any slight

page_text: inequalities on the vessel's bottom and so enables the torpedo to attach itself more
firmly thereto. As the rod g descends, the cog wheel f is rotated and the rod g
caused to ascend. The rod g being thus brought into direct communication with the
timing mechanism e sets it free, and, when the pre-determined space of time has
expired, the electric circuit o, o', is automatically completed with the result that the
platinum wire becomes highly heated and explodes the charge of dynamite or
other explosive placed in the chamber b.
Having now 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 consider novel and desire to claim is:-
The improved torpedo which can automatically rise in the water and adhere to
the structure to be destroyed by means of suction, in which the suction is produced
at the mouth of the torpedo by the action of a pin (h) which depresses a rod g
thereby displacing the ball valve (m) of the vacuum chamber (c) and, by the
simultaneous action of the spring t shifting the plate u, putting said chamber in
communication with the mouth of the torpedo, substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to the drawings annexed.
Dated this 5th day of April 1800
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
100, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.

page_text: Date of Application, 15th June, 1898-Accepted, 13th May, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Submarine Torpedo Boats.
I, CARL MÖLLER, of Christiania, Norway, at present residing at 10, Sedanstrasse,
Berlin, Schoneberg, Germany, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to submarine torpedo boats and it consists in providing
them with an arrangement whereby an officer or other person can safely make his
exit from the vessel, when under water, in order to discharge the torpedoes which
are kept in suitable chambers at the outside of the vessel.
And in order that my said invention may be properly understood I have hereunto
appended an explanatory sheet of drawings, whereon,
Fig. is a vertical section of the arrangement as fitted in a submarine boat.
Fig. 2 is a similar section showing the operator in the act of discharging a
torpedo.
At the upper side of the boat a there are a number of torpedo chambersb
arranged in the form of a semi-circle and at the centre of the produced circle is
a cylindrical casing e, suitably connected to the shell of the vessel, which is open
at its lower end and communicates, at its upper end, with the outside by means of
a water tight cover or door d. Into the bottom of this casing is slidably fitted
a guide ringe which is suitably packed and which can be worked up and down
in the casing. To the upper side of the ring e is attached a flexible waterproof
covering having a glazed opening g. The covering f is made to fit the
upper part of the body of the operator who has to manipulate the torpedoes. The
ringe has connected to it a framework h, i, which is also connected, at its lower end,
to the platform. This ring e, framework h, i, and platform j, on which the
operator stands when he is about to make his exit at the outside of the vessel in
order to discharge the torpedoes, can be raised or lowered by means of the toothed
bark which is suitably connected to the pawl and ratchet mechanism 7, fitted on
the casing m. A water tap fitted inside the water-tight cover d serves to admit
water into the cylindrical casing e, before the party is raised up, thereby equalizing
the internal and external pressures. A water tap o is fitted in the lower part of
the casing e for the purpose of drawing off the water contained therein when the
platform is lowered and the cover & closed. A sight hole in the wall of the
cylindrical casing c allows the operator to control his chamber at any time.
There may be five or other suitable number of torpedo chambers each provided
with a torpedo 6. Each chamber is provided with a lid 72.
The torpedoes used are, preferably, suction torpedoes such as described in another
application filed by me and of even date herewith.
When it is desired to attack a vessel the torpedo-boat takes in the amount of
water ballast required and sinks to the necessary depth below the surface and is
directed under the hull of the vessel to be torpedoed. The operator having
stepped on the platform j and inserted the upper part of his body in the flexible
water covering opens the water tap n to admit water into the cylindrical casing e,
thereupon the platform f, ring e framework h, i, and watertight cover d are raised

page_text: by means of the toothed bar and pawl and ratchet mechanism 7, operated by lever
handle, until the position shown in Fig. 2 is attained. When the operator finds
himself in this position, he opens the cover 2 of one of the torpedo chambers & so
that the torpedo therein can rise or float, by its own buoyancy, which is sufficient
for the purpose, out of the chamber b. It continues rising rapidly until it strikes
against the bottom of the vessel attacked, to which it adheres by suction if the
torpedo is a suction torpedo.
After the torpedo is discharged the submarine torpedo boat withdraws and the
operator goes inside so as not to be affected by the subsequent explosion.
Having now 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 consider novel and desire to claim is:-
The arrangement whereby the diver or operator can make his exit from the
vessel, whilst under water, so as to discharge a torpedo, consisting of a cylindrical
casing in which works an adjustable frame provided with a platform for the
operator to stand upon, said frame having a metallic guide and packing ring and
a water proof cover (f) secured to it, substantially as hereinbefore described
with reference to the drawings annexed.
T1000