provements in Torpedo Indicating Light Gear.
Year: 1887

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Improvements in Torpedo Indicating Light Gear.
1 JOHN SMITH COMRIE Civil Engineer of 8 Great Winchester Street, London, E.U.
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In place of fixing the torpedo Indicating Light outside of Whitehead or other
locomotive torpedo, I construct same so that its greatest bulk is embodied in weapon &
this I do by hollowing or recessing nozzle block to contain same in a suitable manner
and I at same time obviate the use of fins usually fixed on Torpedo Indicating lights by
casting same in nozzle block and by my arrangement it is not necessary to supply a
nozzle block with each Indicating Light, one being sufficient for many. I also take
efficient means of fixing Indicating Lights to nozzle so that it can be quickly placed
in position & removed.
1 JOHN SMITH COMRIE Civil Engineer of 8 Great Winchester Street, London, E.U.
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
In place of fixing the torpedo Indicating Light outside of Whitehead or other
locomotive torpedo, I construct same so that its greatest bulk is embodied in weapon &
this I do by hollowing or recessing nozzle block to contain same in a suitable manner
and I at same time obviate the use of fins usually fixed on Torpedo Indicating lights by
casting same in nozzle block and by my arrangement it is not necessary to supply a
nozzle block with each Indicating Light, one being sufficient for many. I also take
efficient means of fixing Indicating Lights to nozzle so that it can be quickly placed
in position & removed.

page_text: Improvements in Torpedo Indicating Light "Gear."
I JOHN SMITH COMRIE Civil Engineer of 8 Great Winchester Street London E.C.
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:-
Instead of fixing the Torpedo indicating light on the outside of a Whitehead or
other locomotive torpedo I construct the same so that its greatest bulk is embodied in
the weapon-For this purpose a hollow nozzle block is provided for the reception of
the light. The Fins on the torpedo indicating light heretofore used may also be
dispensed with and cast upon the hollow or recessed nozzle block. It is not necessary
according to my invention to supply a separate nozzle block for each indicating light
as one block may successively receive numerous lights. I also provide suitable means
for fixing or attaching the indicating light so that it may readily be attached or
exchanged.
In order to enable this invention to be more readily understood I have illustrated
the same in the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1. is a plan of the indicator light and of the nozzle block hollowed out for
its reception as indicated by the dotted lines.
Fig. 2. is a side elevation and Fig. 2 an end view of the indicator and of a device
for re-opening the flame hole of the indicator.
Figs. 3 and 3 are respectively a side and end elevation of a slightly modified form
of the nozzle block.
My improvements relate to Torpedo Indicator Lights like those already in use and
which are hollow casings of suitable shape (preferably that of an elongated cone) and
containing a material very generally phosphide of calcium which when coming in
contact with the water after the torpedo is launched emits vapour or smoke and flame
thus shewing the path or course of the projectile.
According to the present invention a nozzle block A is provided and preferably
extends within the torpedo in this block is a hollow space into which the long
cylindrical portion of the Indicator B fits.
The nozzle block is attached to the Torpedo in any convenient manner say (if a
Whitehead torpedo) by the screw thread A¹ Fig. 1 fitting a correspondingly threaded
aperture in the projectile or weapon or where more convenient by means of a bayonet
joint the slot of which is indicated at A Fig. 3 and slips over a pin on the torpedo.
A hole c is provided for inserting the point of any instrument which may serve to
facilitate the turning round of the nozzle block when it is being affixed to the Torpedo.
It has hitherto been usual to provide wings or fins on the indicator lights but I
dispense with these, providing instead thereof the wings a a (figs. 1 and 3) on the
nozzle blocks. In these wings are holes b. b through which the wire or the like used
for attaching the light B to the nozzle A may pass.
C is the flame-hole of the indicator light through which the water obtains access to

page_text: the phosphide of calcium or the like contained within and through which also the
flame smoke or vapour issues when the light is operating. This hole it is usual to
keep covered with, say, a strip of tin until the light is to be used. In torpedoes
discharged from deck no further provision is necessary; in submerged torpedoes
however it is requisite to remove the permanent covering from the flame hole and yet
to prevent the entrance of the water until the torpedo is launched.
In the Specification of Letters Patent No. 153785 granted to me I have described
certain devices for this purpose but will now proceed to specify an improvement
thereon by reference thereto and to figs. 2 and 2ª of the drawings.
This improved device consists essentially of a disc, plate or the like having at its
lower part a piece of India-rubber or other convenient material pressed upon the flame
hole so as to close the same.
When the torpedo is propelled through the water the pressure of the latter pushes
the disc over or aside and the hole is uncovered. This may be carried out in various
ways but that shewn in the drawings is simple and convenient. The arrangement as
illustrated consists of 2 eyelets e. e fixed upon the indicator-light. The eyelets serve
as a hinge for a strap or bow d to swing upon. D is the disc which may be of cork,
or wood or other suitable material with a piece of India-rubber f fixed thereon.
The operation of these arrangements will clearly appear from what has been herein-
before stated and by reference to the accompanying drawings.
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
1. A nozzleblock, substantially as hereinbefore specified and shewn in the accom-
panying drawings, serving for the reception of torpedo indicator lights and allowing
the latter to be readily fixed or detached.
2. The use of torpedo indicator lights adapted to nozzle blocks such as shewn in
the accompanying drawings and readily affixed to or detached from the same, the
flamehole of such indicator-lights being, when required covered or protected by the
device hereinabove specified and illustrated in Figs. 2 and 2ª all substantially as and
for the purposes hereinabove set forth.
Dated this 9th day of December 1887.
BERNHARD DUKES,
226, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.