Improvements in Automatic Steering-dévices for Correcting Lateral Deviations of Fish-torpedoes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 6th Sept.,, 1897-Accepted, 27th Nov., 1897
Improvements in Automatic Steering-dévices for Correcting
Lateral Deviations of Fish-torpedoes.
I, EMIL KASELOWSKY, residing at 17/18 Chaussee Strasse of Berlin, Kingdom of
Prussia, German Empire, Counsellor of Commerce do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention refers to torpedo steering devices of the kind in which is made use
of a gyroscopic disk or wheel, i.e. a disk or wheel that is arranged in such a manner
as to be able to rotate around its axis proper, as well as to revolve around another axis
laying rectangularly to said first mentioned one. A disk or wheel arranged in such a
manuer tends to constantly maintain its plane of rotation, and the relative displace-
ments of said wheel or disk and the torpedo occurring on the latter getting deviated
may well be, and have been, used for suitably operating the rudder of the latter, and
causing the torpedo to be led back into its proper straight path.
The success with which the steering devices referred to have met up to now is a
rather questionable one, especially what concerns torpedoes launched from a broad-
side-tube. The purpose of my invention therefore is to make said steering-devices
better suited for broadside torpedoes, and I attain that object by arranging the
gyroscopic disk or wheel in such a way, that the plane of rotation is vertical, and is
situated, or stands, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the torpedo. Besides this main
feature of my improved steering-device other important features relate to the means
for driving the wheel or disk, and to means for uncoupling the latter from said former
means, as will all be fully described hereinafter.
Referring to Figure 2, the shaft of the gyroscopic wheel a is arranged in the
horizontal frame c. The latter is carried by the vertical frame c' which is held by the
frame c²; the frame c¹ may he rotated in the frame c² around a vertical axis. It is
distinctly to be seen from the Figures 1-3, that the plane of rotation of the wheel a
stands parallel to the longitudinal axis of the torpedo."
During the time of its rest as well as during the time of being driven, the shaft a¹
of the wheel a is connected with a shaft a2 (Figures 2-5) by means of a coupling i ;
the shaft a² is arranged co-axially with the shaft a'. The shaft a¹ carries the inovable
part of said coupling, and may be lengthwise displaced, and is provided with a cog-
wheel n which meshes with a rack n'. The latter is secured to a hollow cylinder d
arranged within, and guided by, a casing d. A spring 2 situated within the
cylinder d tends constantly to move this latter (together with the rack n¹) outwards,
or in the direction to the cog-wheel n respectively; in the position shown in Figure 1
said spring is strained, or in its working-position respectively. The cylinder d is
retained, however, by a pawl o, and is kept retained by said pawl until the torpedo is
launched. In the moment of launching, any suitable relieving device lifts the
pawl o by the mediation of the lever o2 and the rod ol, and the rack n¹ is then quickly
moved along below, and together with, the cog-wheel n. In consequence of the
shaft a' of the disk a being connected with the shaft a² of the cog-wheel n, the quick
rotation of this latter causes a quick rotation of said disk a. When the rack n¹ has
finished its movement a recess n² (Fig. 1) has arrived below the cog-wheel n; the

page_text: latter may thus turn free of the rack, or the rack cannot impede the quick rotation
of the disk a respectively. The effect of the device, or, more precisely, the degree of
effect, depends on the disk a being kept free of any impediment.
The shaft a with the cog-wheel n form also impediments after the disk a has been
put into rotation. To uncouple said shaft from the shaft a¹ there is provided a bell-
crank lever (Figs. 2 & 4), which may act with an arm against a knob-like projec-
tion a³ arranged at an end of the shaft a². Said action is affected by the corner or
point ns (Fig. 1) of the rack or rod n¹ pushing upon the other arm of said lever; the
shaft a² is thereby lengthwise displaced, in such a direction, that the two parts i i¹
of the coupling are disconnected, as shown in Figures 4 & 5. This occurs obviously
instantly after the actuation of the disk a, which may thus freely rotate, as well as
revolve.
When the torpedo deviates from its straight path there occurs a turning of the
disk a relatively to the torpedo, or, more precisely, a turning of the torpedo relatively
to the disk a. An arm projecting from the frame c', and connected with the
distributing-device of a servi-motor, causes in consequence of said turning an actua-
tion of the distributing-slides or valves proper of said device. Said slides or valves
are arranged within the casing s (Figures 1, 3 & 7). Servi-motors being already known
to experts in the present time, I think I may abstain from showing and describing
the details of such a motor, and I, therefore, confine myself to remarking that said
motor is employed for operating the rudder x of the torpedo, and that it is driven by
compressed air; the latter is contained within the reservoir z, and is led to the motor
by the pipe e. The piston-rod m of the motor operates the rudder by the mediation
of the shaft m and the rod m2; the shaft m¹ is, of course, provided with crank-arma,
as is also the lower end of the shaft of the rudder.
The piston-rod m is, of course, in any case displaced in such a direction, that the
rudder (turned by this displacement in a corresponding direction) deviates the torpedo
back into its normal or straight path. Owing to the particular arrangement of the
disk a, and to freeing the latter of all disturbing influences, the correction of the
deviation takes place with an accuracy never attained heretofore.
For the sake of completeness I finally remark that putting the spring 2 under
tension is effected by means of a movable arm w (Figures 1 & 3) fixed to a shaft w¹;
the latter is supported by brackets w2 projecting from the casing . The free end of
the shaft w is formed into a prism to receive a key, as distinctly shown in Figure 3;
it is further to be seen from this figure, that to keep the parts i i', of the coupling
in proper contact a spring 6' held by an arm 62 is provided; said spring acts upon an
arm of a lever b, which in its turn presses against the broadened end of the shaft a².
Dated this 7th day of December 1896.
EMIL KASELOWSKY.
By Geo. H. Rayner,
Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in Automatic Steering-devices for Correcting
Lateral Deviations of Fish-torpedoes.
I, EMIL KASELOWSKY, residing at 17/18 Chaussee Strasse, Berlin, Kingdom of
Prussia, German Empire, Counsellor of Commerce, 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 refers to torpedo steering devices of the kind in which is made use
of a gyroscopic disc or wheel, i.e. a disc or wheel arranged in such manner that it

page_text: can rotate around its axis proper, as well as around another axis located rectangularly
to said first mentioned one. A disc or wheel so arranged tends to constantly
maintain its plane of rotation, and the relative displacements of said wheel or disc
and the torpedo occurring on the latter when devinted, may well be, and have been,
used for suitably operating the rudder of the latter, and causing the torpedo to be
led back into its proper straight path or direction.
The success with which such steering devices referred to have met with up to
now is a rather questionable one, especially as regards torpedoes launched from a
broadside tube. The purpose of my invention therefore is to make said steering-
devices better suited for broad side torpedoes, and I attain this object by arranging
the gyroscopic disc or wheel in such a manner that, the plane of rotation is vertical,
and is in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the torpedo. Besides this
main feature of my improved steering-device other important features relate to the
means for driving the wheel or disc, and io means for uncoupling the latter from said
former means, as will all be fully described hereinafter.
Referring to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawing the shaft al of the gyroscopic
wheel a is arranged in the horizontal frame c. The latter is carried by the vertical
frame c (Figure 1) which is held by the frame c; the frame et may be rotated in
the frame c around a vertical axis. It is distinctly to be seen from the Figures 1-3,
that the plane of rotation of the wheel a is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the
torpedo.
During the time of rest as well as during the time of being driven; the shaft a¹ of
the wheel a is connected with a shaft a³ (Figures 2-5) by means of a coupling is;
the shaft is arranged co-axially with the shaft al. The shaft a carries the
movable part of said coupling, and may be lengthwise displaced, and is provided
with a cog-wheel n which meshes with a rack n¹. The latter is secured to a hollow
cylinder d arranged within, and guided by, a casing d. A spring d located within
the cylinder d tends constantly to press this latter (together with the rack w¹)
outwards, or in the direction to the cog-wheel n respectively; in the position shown
in Figure 1 said spring is in tension, or in its working-position respectively. The
cylinder d is retained, however, by a pawl o and is held by said pawl until the
torpedo is launched. In the moment of launching, any suitable releasing device
lifts the pawl o by the mediation of the lever o2 and the rod ol, and the rack n¹ is
then quickly moved along below, and together with, the cog-wheel n. In consequence
of the shaft a of the disc a being connected with the shaft a2 of the cog-wheel n
the quick rotation of this latter causes a quick rotation of said disc a. When the
rack n' has finished its movement a recess 'n (Figure 1) has arrived below the
cog-wheel ; the latter may thus turn free of the rack, or the rack cannot impede.
the quick rotation of the disc a respectively. The effect of the device, or, more
precisely, the degree of effect, depends on the disc a being kept free of any
impediment.
The shaft a with the cog-wheel n form impediments after the disc a has been put
into rotation. To uncouple said shaft from the shaft at a bell-crank lever
(Figures 2&4) is provided, which may act with an arm against a knob-like
projection a³ arranged at one end of the shaft a. Said action is effected by the
corner or point ns (Figure 1) of the rack or rod n¹ pushing upon the other arm of
said lever; the shaft a is thereby lengthwise displaced, in such direction, that the
two parts of the coupling are disconnected, as shown in Figures 4 & 5. This
occurs obviously instantly after the actuation of the disc a, which may thus freely
rotate, as well as revolve.
When the torpedo deviates from its straight path a turning of the disc a relatively
to the torpedo takes place, or, more precisely, a turning of the torpedo relatively to
the disc a. An arm c3 projecting from the frame c¹, and connected with the
distributing-device of a servi-motor, causes in consequence of said turning an
actuation of the distributing-slides or valves proper of said device. Said slides or
valves are arranged within the casing a (Figures 1, 3 & 7). Servi-motors being
already known to experts in the present time, I think I may abstain from illustrating

page_text: and describing the details of such a notor, and I, therefore, confine myself to
remarking that said motor is employed for operating the rudder of the torpedo,
and that it is driven by compressed air; the latter is contained within the reservoir z
and is conducted to the motor by the pipe e. The piston-rod m of the motor
operates the rudder by the mediation of the shaft m³ (Figure 7) and the rod m²; the
shaft m¹ is, of course, provided with crank-arms, as is also the lower end of the shaft
of the rudder.
The piston-rod m is, of course, in any case displaced in such a direction, that the
rudder (turned by this displacement in a corresponding direction) deviates the
torpedo back into its norinal or straight path. Owing to the particular arrangement.
of the disc a, and to freeing the latter of all disturbing influences, the correction of
the deviation takes place with an accuracy never attained heretofore.
For the sake of completeness I finally remark that putting the spring d under
tension is effected by means of a movable arm w (Figures 1 & 3) fixed to a shaft w;
the latter is supported by brackets 2 projecting from the casing d (Figure 1). The
free end of the shaft w is formed into a prism to receive a key, as distinctly shown
in Figure 3; further, as shown in this figure, a spring b¹ held by the arm b2 is
provided for the purpose of retaining the parts i of the coupling in proper contact,
said spring acting upon an arm of a lever b, which in this turn presses against the
broadened end of the shaft a².
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 :-
1. A fish torpedo having a gyroscopic.disc or wheel adapted to rotate around a
horizontal axis and to revolve around a vertical one, said disc or wheel being so
arranged so as to have its plane of rotation stand parallel to the longitudinal axis of
the torpedo, for the purpose as described.
2. In a fish torpedo, the combination of a gyroscopic wheel with a cog-wheel n
located upon an axle a², the latter being co-axially displaceable and adapted to
be coupled with the axle a¹ of the gyroscopic wheel a; and with a rack n
engaging or meshing with said cog-wheeel n, and secured to a hollow cylinder d,
said cylinder being inovable within the casing b¹; and with a spring d pressing
the rack n outwards and thus rotating the cog-wheel n; the said gyroscopic
wheel a, and the bell-crank lever or the like, serving for the purpose of
uncoupling the axles a¹, a2, as set forth.
3. In a fish torpedo, the combination of the frame c¹ of the gyroscopic wheel a,
with the arm or projection c3 extending from the frame c¹, said projection c³
connecting with the distributing device of a servi-motor for operating the rudder, as
set forth.
Dated this 4th day of Sentember 1807
EMIL KASELOWSKY.
By Geo. H. Rayner,
37 Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.
EMIL KASELOWSKY.
By Geo. H. Rayner,
37 Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.