IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN CONNECTION WITH TORPEDOES OR SUBMARINE MINES to be as follows
Year: 1884

page_text: I CHARLES AMBROSE M°EVOY of 18 Adam Street Adelphi in the County
of Middlesex, Electrical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN CONNECTION WITH TORPEDOES OR
SUBMARINE MINES to be as follows:-
"
The object of the invention is to provide a convenient arrangement of apparatus
by means of which the electrical firing mechanism of any one or other of a number
of torpedoes or submarine mines can at any time be tested and by means of which
also any one or other of a number of torpedoes would be caused to be fired if such
torpedo were struck by a passing vessel and also by means of which a signal would
at the same time be displayed to shew which torpedo had been fired-and also a
bell started to ring continuously to call attention to the fact of one of the torpedoes
having been fired,
For the purpose of testing the electrical mechanism used with any or other of
the torpedoes I mount a galvanometer in proximity to and preferably upon the
top of the box or casing which contains the signalling and firing apparatus. One
end of the galvanometer coil I connect to one pole of the battery which is to be
used for testing and signalling purposes and the other end of the galvanometer
coil to a bar or wire to which the electro magnet coils of the signalling apparatus
belonging to each of the torpedoes is also connected. I also provide means by
which the other end of each of these electro magnet coils can be coupled to one
or other of the insulated wires coming from each of the torpedoes.
At the time when the electrical firing mechanism of the torpedoes is being tested
the circuit of the testing battery is only completed to one torpedo at a time.
When the resistance of the circuit to each torpedo has been ascertained the
galvanometer is short circuited by the insertion of a pin or key or otherwise and
the circuit is then completed from the battery direct through all the torpedoes.
In each torpedo the circuit is normally completed through a high resistance but
if the torpedo is struck this resistance is caused to be short circuited as is usual so
that the battery current passes freely through the circuit of that torpedo.
When

page_text: this takes place the electro magnet of the signalling apparatus of that torpedo
becomes of sufficient strength to attract its armature. The movement of the
armature releases a catch and allows a screen or shutter to drop to expose a
signal.
As the screen or shutter drops it enters between two spring plates and thereby
completes a circuit from the firing battery to the torpedo and so fires the
torpedo fuse.
At the same time it also completes the circuit of a local battery in a bell
circuit and sets the bell ringing and the bell continues to sound until stopped by
the person in charge. The same bell serves for all the torpedoes.
T
1
CT
1007
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I CHARLES AMBROSE M°EVOY of 18 Adam Street Adelphi in the County of
Middlesex Electrical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN CONNECTION WITH TORPEDOES OR
SUBMARINE MINES and in what manner the same to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
"
The object of the invention is to provide a convenient arrangement of apparatus
by means of which the electrical firing mechanism of any one or other of a number
of torpedoes or submarine mines can at any time be tested and by means of which
also any one or other of a number of torpedoes would be caused to be fired if such
torpedo were struck by a passing vessel and also by means of which a signal would
at the same time be displayed to shew which torpedo had been fired--and also a
bell started to ring continuously to call attention to the fact of one of the torpedoes
having been fired.
For the purpose of testing the electrical mechanism used with any or other of.
the torpedoes I mount a galvanometer in proximity to and preferably upon the
top of the box or casing which contains the signalling and firing apparatus.-One
end of the galvanometer coil I connect to one pole of the battery which is to be
used for testing and signalling purposes and the other end of the galvanometer
coil to a bar or wire to which the electro magnet coils of the signalling apparatus
belonging to each of the torpedoes is also connected. I also provide means by
which the other end of each of these electro magnet coils can be coupled to one or
other of the insulated wires coming from each of the torpedoes.
At the time when the electrical firing mechanism of the torpedoes is being
tested the circuit of the testing battery is only completed to one torpedo at a
time. When the resistance of the circuit to each torpedo has been ascertained
the galvanometer is short circuited by the insertion of a pin or key or otherwise
and the circuit is then completed from the battery direct through all the
torpedoes.
In each torpedo the circuit is normally completed through a high resistance
but if the torpedo is struck this resistance is caused to be short circuited as is
usual so that the battery current passes freely through the circuit of that torpedo.
When this takes place the electro magnet of the signalling apparatus of that
torpedo becomes of sufficient strength to attract its armature. The movement of
the armature releases a catch and allows a screen or shutter to drop to expose
a signal.
As the screen or shutter drops it enters between two spring plates and thereby
completes a circuit from the firing battery to the torpedo and so fires the
torpedo fuse.
At the same time it also completes the circuit of a local battery in a bell circuit
and sets the bell ringing and the bell continues to sound until stopped by the
person in charge. The same bell serves for all the torpedoes.
The drawing hereunto annexed shows apparatus constructed as above described.
In the drawing the front face of the box or casing is removed. A is the box or
casing, B a galvanometer mounted on the top thereof. C is a battery used for
testing and signalling purposes. One pole of this battery is by a wire O₁ connected
with one end of the coil of the galvanometer; the other end of this coil is connected
to a bar or wire D. E E are electro magnets one for each torpedo or submarine
mine with which the apparatus is used.

page_text: the other
The electro magnet at the right hand end of the row of magnets is shown
in side view so that the parts with which it works may be seen more clearly.
One end of the coil of each electro-magnet is connected to the bar D;
end is connected to the joint upon which the armature F of the magnet swings.
GG are shutters capable of moving up or down in vertical guides below the
electro magnets, each shutter is held up as shown by a catch formed at the lower
end of the magnet's armature. The guides or ways in which it can move up and
down are of metal and these guides or ways are by a wire G' put into electrical
connection with a metallic block G. G³ is another metallic block which can be put
into electrical connection with the block G by means of a metallic pin inserted
between them. From the block G³ an insulated wire passes on to the torpedo or
submarine mine and the circuit of the testing and signal battery is then complete
through the torpedo and so to earth. Ordinarily the resistance of the firing
mechanism in the torpedo prevents sufficient current passing through the coils of
the electro magnets E to enable them to attract their armatures and the shutters G
are therefore held up by the armatures. Should however the torpedo be struck
the resistance of the firing mechanism in the torpedo is short circuited in any well
known manner and then sufficient current passes through the coils of the magnet E
to cause it to attract its armature; the shutter G which was previously held up by
it then drops and a metallic blade G* at its lower end enters between two metal
blades H H and thereby completes a circuit through the firing mechanism of the
torpedo from a powerful battery I and causes the torpedo fuse to be fired.
JJ are two metallic blocks in the circuit of the battery I between which a
metal safety plug can be placed-this plug can be withdrawn during the time that
the torpedoes are being tested or at any other time when it is desired to insure
that none of the torpedoes shall be fired."
M' is a small battery for causing a bell to ring whenever any one or other of
the shutters G is dropped. A wire from one pole of this battery passes to a
spring K and whenever a shutter G drops it comes against a spring blade L and
presses this blade into contact with the spring K. The blade L is connected by a
wire L' with one end of the coil of the electro magnet of an electric bell M. The
other end of the coil is. connected to a terminal L with which an arm L³ connected
When one of the
to the other pole of the battery can be brought into contact.
shutters drops so as to put the spring blade L into contact with the spring K
the circuit through the bell ringing mechanism will be completed and the bell
will continue to ring until the arm L³ is moved away from the terminal L² or
the shutter G lifted so that it may be upheld by the armature F.
When the apparatus is to be used for testing the firing mechanism of the several
torpedoes the plugs are removed from between all of the blocks G2 G3 and the
safety plug is also removed from between the blocks J. The galvanometer coil B
can also be cut out from the circuit of the testing and signal battery C by inserting
a plug between two metal plates N so as to put the wire O¹ into contact with the
bar D before it comes to the galvanometer coil.
When the resistance of the galvanometer is removed by thus placing a metallic
pin between the plates N N and the resistance of the firing mechanism in the
torpedoes is also cut out by connecting the wires from the blocks G³ directly to
earth then if a metallic plug be placed between any one or other of the pairs
of metallic blocks G G the battery current should be of sufficient strength to
cause the magnet in the circuit so completed to attract its armature and set the
shutter which was previously upheld by that armature free to drop. The shutter G
should then drop and put the metallic blades H¹ H2 into electrical connection with
one another it should also at the same time cause the spring blade L to come into
contact with the spring K and so complete the circuit of the battery M¹ through
the bell ringing mechanism and cause the bell to ring.
In this way each of the magnets E can be tested separately in succession.
When the metallic plug is removed from between the plates N N and the circuit
is so caused to be completed through the galvanometer coil and when the wires

page_text: from the blocks G³ are disconnected directly from earth and the circuit is
completed through the firing mechanism in each torpedo the resistance of the
firing mechanism in the torpedo can be ascertained by the deflection of the
galvanometer needle. Each one being tested separately.
When all have been tested and found in proper order the metallic plug should
be replaced between the plates N all of the plugs should also be replaced between
the blocks G G and also the safety plug between the blocks J J.
The apparatus is then in order and would cause any one or other of the torpedoes
to be fired should it be struck by a passing vessel. Or any one or other of the
torpedoes might be fired by pressing back the armature F of the magnet in the
circuit passing to that torpedo. Press buttons passing through the front of
the case may be provided to admit of this being done.
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 claim is :-
First. The combination of the signalling and testing battery the circuit from
which is carried through the coils of a series of electro magnets, through their
armatures, through drop shutters upheld by these armatures and through the
firing mechanism of the torpedoes such drop shutters when dropped causing a
bell to be rung and completing a circuit to one of the torpedoes from a battery
of sufficient strength to fire the fuse in the torpedo substantially as herein before
described and illustrated in the drawing annexed-I also claim the combination
with such apparatus of a galvanometer which can be put in or out of circuit with
the electro magnets substantially as described.
Second. The combination of apparatus to be used in connection with torpedoes
or submarine mines substantially as herein before described.
Dated this 29th day of October 1884.