IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING TORPEDOES AND FOR OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the
County of Middlesex Gentleman for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
AND APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING TORPEDOES AND FOR OTHER SIMILAR
PURPOSES A communication from abroad by Willbur F. Johnston Algernon
K. Johnston, Melville M. Johnston and William A. Johnston all of New York
State of New York United States of America
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th February 1882.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON of 47 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING TORPEDOES
AND FOR OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES A communication from abroad by Wilbur F.
Johnston, Algernon K. Johnston, Melville M. Johnston and William A. Johnston
all of New York State of New York United States of America
The
The main object of the improvements constituting this Invention is to impart to
the fluid used as a motor for torpedoes and the like (which usually is a liquifiable
gas, compressed to the extent of liquifaction) the heat needed to maintain it at such
a temperature as will cause it to exert the best effect as a motor fluid
difficulty in this kind of apparatus which when in use is submerged wholly or
almost wholly is to furnish heat to enable the gas to expand sufficiently to maintain
the proper pressure. This difficulty is overcome by the employment of a liquifiable
combustion supporting gas compressed in a suitable receiver and discharged in
gaseous form therefrom under pressure into the combustion chamber of the
apparatus so as to have contact with the ignited combustible therein. In this way
there can be stored in small compass all the gas needed to promote and sustain
proper combustion during the entire run of the torpedo even should it be necessary
for it to return to the starting point-the full propelling power being kept up
during the whole run.
The gas best adapted for this purpose is vitrous oxide gas which at 32° Fahranheit
liquifies at a pressure of fifty atmospheres and at about 75° Fahranheit gives a

page_text: pressure of about one thousand pounds to the square inch It is most effective as
a supporter of combustion and when liquified has but little bulk. It also is adapted
to serve as a motor fluid so that it can be used for a twofold purpose namely
both to drive the propelling engine and to support combustion in the heating
apparatus-
-
The following is an apparatus suited for the purposes of this Invention when the
nitrous oxide gas so used both as motor fluid and to support combustion.
A closed vessel or receptacle (preferably of steel or wrought iron) is provided for
containing the liquified nitrous oxide gas
There is also a combustion chamber containing the fuel (which may be carbon
preferably charcoal) owing to the intense heat generated in this chamber it should
be protected in some way. It is provided for this purpose, with a refractory lining
or with a water jacket, or with both. From the upper part of the liquified gas
reservoir leads a small pipe into the combustion chamber In order to guard against
any injurious or clogging action due to the cold usually produced at the point
where the gas expands there is placed directly on top of the combustion chamber a
valve chest containing a slide valve preferably balanced) which controls the opening
into the said chamber and receives heat from the highly heated shell of the said
chamber. If desired this chest may be surrounded by mercury which will still
further gather heat. The said combustion chamber is provided with an opening
through which the fuel is ignited the said opening being covered by a screw cap as
shown when the carbon is to be ignited by hand When the carbon is ignited by
a friction primer or cap the opening should be covered by a stuffing box, through
which passes the actuating rod-action being in this case simultaneous with the
opening movement of the valve in the before mentioned valve chest. From the
lower part of the combustion chamber or box leads a pipe which passes through the
lower part of the gas reservoir and through this pipe passes heated gas in sufficient
quantity to produce the amount of beat needed to evaporate the liquified gas. By
increasing the number of pipes any desired pressure can be maintained in the said
reservoir. This pipe after passing through the gas cylinder can extend to the
outside of the torpedo and open into the water or it may be lead back into the main
discharge pipe which leads the motor fluid from the combustion chamber to the
propelling engine. In the latter case it should preferably in returning pass outside
of the boat or shells of the torpedo into the water so that the gases passing through
it may be cooled down enough to prevent them from burning the packings of the
engine. A small pump is provided which is actuated from the propellor shaft or
main shaft of the engine and serves to inject water and oil in proper quantity into
the before mentioned discharge pipe. By this means not only is the gas cooled
enough to prevent it from burning the parts of the engine but the engine is
lubricated and at the same time the power is increased by the addition of the
steam into which the injected water is converted.
In the combustion chamber is a screen designed to prevent the fuel from being
blown by the gas into the discharge pipe.
Assuming the reservoir and the combustion chamber to be properly charged the
mode of operation is as follows:-
A valve or cock on the communicating pipe (the said cock serving to prevent all
leakage when the boat is not in use) is first opened. The boat is then brought
into position and the before mentioned valve is opened and at the same time a
friction primer is ignited preferably by the same mechanical device that opens the
said valve. It is best to let the friction primer ignite a slow match of cotton or
cotton cloth saturated with acetate of lead and dried. The fire thus started extends
over the whole section of the fuel where the gas enters, and as it consumes burns
everything before it towards the discharge pipe. The products of combustion (in
this case carbonic acid and nitrogen) increased one third in volume by the chemical
action and again expanded very much more by the high pressure temperature pass
partly through. the pipe supplying heat to the liquid gas in the reservoir and
partly through the discharge pipe directly to the engine.

page_text: The pump being put in operation, as soon as the boat starts has again increased
the volume of the gases passing to the engine by forming a large amount of steam
in the discharge pipe.
The gas which passes through pipes leading from the combustion chamber
through the reservoir heats the liquified gas in said reservoir to the requisite
degree and the said gas continuously passes, in determinate quantity and at the
desired pressure into the combustion chamber where it supports combustion and
unites with the elements thereby evolved to form a motor fluid which is supplied
to the engine.
In this way the required pressure and power is maintained throughout the run
of the torpedo so that great speed can be secured :-
The combination chamber preferably is used as a part of the conduit by which
the motor fluid is conveyed from the reservoir to the engine: it may however be
desirable under some circumstances not to so use it. In such case the pipe from
the reservoir would discharge into the combustion chamber not only the amount of
gas needed to support combustion while from the dome of the reservoir a separate
pipe, (which might pass through the combustion chamber if desired) would lead
the motor gas directly from the reservoir to the engine
I have described the Invention as applied to the propulsion of torpedoes but it
will be understood that it may be applied to the propulsion of other vessels, or the
like which can be propelled by the means described :-

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th
August 1882.
"5
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON of 47 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING TORPEDOES
AND FOR OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES " A communication from abroad by Willbur
F. Johnston, Algernon K. Johnston, Melville M. Johnston and William A. Johnston
all of New York State of New York United States of America
The main object of the improvements constituting this Invention is to impart
to the fluid used as a motor for torpedoes and the like (which usually is a liquifiable
gas compressed to the extent of liquifaction) the heat needed to maintain it at
such a temperature as will cause it to exert the best effect as a motor fluid. The
difficulty in this kind of apparatus, which when in use is submerged wholly or
almost wholly is to furnish heat to enable the gas to expand sufficiently to
maintain the proper pressure. This difficulty is overcome by the employment of a
Liquifiable combustion supporting gas, compressed in a suitable receiver and
discharged in gaseous form therefrom under pressure into the combustion chamber
of the apparatus so as to have contact with the ignited combustible therein. In
this way there can be stored in small compass all the gas needed to promote and
sustain proper combustion during the entire run of the torpedo even should it be
necessary for it to return to the starting point-the full propelling power being
kept up during the whole run. The gas best adapted for this purpose is nitrous
oxide gas which at 32° Fahrenheit liquifies at a pressure of fifty atmospheres, and
at about 75° Fahrenheit gives a pressure of about one thousand pounds to the
square inch. It is most effective as a supporter of combustion and when liquified
has but little bulk. It also is adapted to serve as a motor fluid so that it can be
used for a two fold purpose namely-both to drive the propelling engine and to
support combustion in the heating apparatus.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to
the annexed Drawing the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts
in all the Figures.
The accompanying Drawing represents in diagramatic sectional side elevation
an apparatus by means of which the said Invention may be carried into effect.
The dotted lines around the apparatus indicate the external case or shell of the
torpedo. I have not deemed it necessary to represent the engine and the various
other parts which go to make up the torpedo.
The apparatus represented in the Drawing is one embracing such parts as arc
needed when the nitrous oxide gas is used both as motor fluid and to support
combustion.
A is the closed vessel or receptacle (preferably of steel or wrought iron) which
is provided for containing the liquified nitrous oxide gas-the level of the liquid
being indicated by the dotted line i. There is also a combustion chamber B
containing the fuel (which may be carbon-preferably charcoal) Owing to the
intense heat generated in this chamber it should be protected in some way. It is
provided for this purpose with a refractory lining or with a water jacket or with
both. From the upper part of the liquified gas reservoir A leads a small pipe c
into the combustion chamber. In order to guard against any injurious or clogging
action due to the cold usually produced at the point where the gas expands there
is placed directly on top of the combustion chamber B a valve chest & containing a
slide valve (preferably balanced) which controls the opening into the said chamber

page_text: and receives heat from the highly heated shell of the said chamber. If desired this
chest may be surrounded by mercury which will still further gather hoat from the
said chamber. The said combustion chamber B is provided with an opening e
through which the fuel is ignited the said opening being covered by a screw cap
as shewn when the carbon is to be ignited by hand. When the carbon is ignited
by a friction primer or cap this opening should be covered by a stuffing box through
which passes the actuating rod-action being in this case simultaneous with the
opening movement of the valve in the before mentioned valve chest d. From the
lower part of the combustion chamber or box leads a pipe f which passes through
the lower part of the gas reservoir A. and through this pipe passes heated gas in
sufficient quantity to produce the amount of heat needed to evaporate the liquified
gas. By increasing the number of pipes any desired pressure can be maintained
in the said reservoir A. This pipe f after passing through the gas cylinder can
extend to the outside of the torpedo and open into the water as indicated in full
lines or it may (as indicated in dotted lines) be led back into the main discharge
pipe (answering to the steam pipe of an ordinary steam engine) which leads the
inotor fluid from the combustion chamber B to the propelling engine. In the latter
case it should preferably in returning pass outside of the boat or shell of the
torpedo into the water so that the gases passing through it may be cooled down
enough to prevent them from burning the packings of the engine. At g, is
indicated a small pump which is actuated from the propeller shaft or main shaft of
the engine and serves to inject water and oil in proper quantity, into the before
mentioned discharge pipe h. By this means, not only is the gas cooled enough to
prevent it from burning the parts of the engine but the engine is lubricated and at
the same time the power is increased by the addition of the steam into which the
injected water is converted. At j in the combustion chamber B is a screen
designed to prevent the fuel from being blown by the gas into the discharge
pipe h.
Assuming the reservoir A, and the combustion chamber to be properly charged
the mode of operation is as follows:-
A valve or cock e¹ on the communicating pipe e (the said cock serving to prevent
all leakage when the boat is not in use) is first opened. The boat is then brought
iuto position and at the word of command the valve at d is opened and at the
same time a friction primer is ignited at e preferably by the same mechanical
device that opens the said valve at d. It is best to let the friction primer ignite a
slow match of cotton or cotton cloth saturated with acetate of lead and dried.
The fire thus started at e extends over the whole section of the fuel where the
gas enters and as it consumes burns everything before it towards the discharge
pipe h. The products of combustion, (in this case, carbonic acid and nitrogen)
increased one third in volume by the chemical action, and again expanded very
much more by the high temperature pass partly through the pipe f supplying heat
to the liquid gas in the reservoir A, and partly through the discharge pipe
directly to the engine. The gas passing through ƒ may either be discharged into
the water or brought back as indicated by dotted lines into the pipe h. The
pump g was put in operation as soon as the boat started and has again increased
the volume of the gases passes to the engine by forming a large amount of steam in
the discharge pipe h.
The gas which passes through the pipe f heats the liquified gas in the reservoir A
to the requisite degree and the latter gas continuously passes in determinate
quantity and at the desired pressure into the combustion chamber B where it
supports combustion and unites with the elements thereby evolved to form a motor
fluid which is supplied to the engine.
In this way the requisite pressure and power is maintained throughout the run
of the torpedo so that great speed can be secured.
The combustion chamber preferably is used at a part of the conduit by which
the motor fluid is conveyed from the reservoir A to the engino it may however bo
desirable under some circumstances not to so use it. In such case the pipe c

page_text: would discharge, into the combustion chamber only the amount of gas needed to
support combustion while from the dome of the reservoir A a separate pipe (which
might pass through the combustion chamber if desired) would lead the motor gas
directly from the reservoir to the engine.
I have described the Invention as applied to the propulsion of torpedoes but it
will be understood that it may be applied to the propulsion of other vessels or the
like which can be propelled by the means described
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein before in part
recited Letters Patent is :-
First: The method of maintaining the combustion of the fuel employed to beat
compressed liquifiable gas used as a motor fluid on submerged torpedoes and the
like (which consists in supplying the chamber containing the ignited combustible
with gas drawn from a reservoir containing a compressed liquifiable gas such as
nitrous oxide gas which is a supporter of combustion substantially as hereinbefore
set forth.
Second-The improvement in the art of producing a motor fluid for submerged
torpedoes and like purposes which consists in conducting a liquifiable gas such
as nitrous oxide gas which is a supporter of combustion on its way to the engine
into and through a combustion chamber containing ignited carbon or other fuel
substantially as and for the purposes herein before set forth.
Third-The method of increasing the volume of the motor fluid by injecting
water or water and oil into the gas after it is heated and before it passes into the
engine substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.
Fourth-The combination of a reservoir containing a compressed liquifiable gas
such as a nitrous oxide gas which is a supporter of combustion a combustion
chamber containing carbon or other suitable fuel and pipes or connections
substantially as described whereby the products of combustion from the chamber
are caused to heat the liquified gas in the reservoir and the gas from said
reservoir is conducted both to the chamber to serve as a supporter of combustion
and to the engine to serve as a motor fluid substantially as herein before set
forth.
Fifth-The method of obtaining a motor fluid for driving the engines of submerged
torpedoes and for similar purposes consisting in acting upon ignited carbon or other
fuel with a compressed liquifiable combustion supporting gas which unites with
the products of combustion to form a highly heated gaseous motor fluid,
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.
In witness whereof I the said John Henry Johnson have to this my
Specification set my hand and scal this Fourteenth day of August One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)