Improvements in and relating to Submarine Mines.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Sept., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 14 h June, 1894-Accepted, 25th Aug., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Submarine Mines.
WILLIAM MARSHALL HUSKISSON, 127 Ladbroke Grove W. London, W. in
the County of Middlesex Civil Engineer du hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
A submarine mine which shall explode automatically when an enemy's ship
comes within a predetermined distance of it, say within a radius of 15 feet or less;
that is to say, it does not require an operator on shore or on another ship to fire it,
nor does it require to be struck by the enemy's ship.
Submarine mines at present in use being either electrically fired by operators on
shore, or, combined mines electrically fired by operators on shore, but also having
gear which will close. an electric circuit & explode them on being struck by a
passing ship, or,-mechanical mines, hence requiring skilled operators using range &
position finders, closing electrical circuits, etc., etc., etc., before the mines can be
fired, or, if they depend upon the ship striking them, in order to explode them,
then, a ship passing one foot clear of them is perfectly safe.
my
Thus mines at present in use possess the abovementioned & many other
disadvantages, which invention eliminates. To accomplish this, I use an
apparatus know as the Hughes' induction balance, together with a case of
explosive, moored at sea; & in connection with it an automatic switching
device, on shore, or, aboard ship; which controlled by the secondary of the
Hughes' induction balance, for switching a current from a dynamo, or, other
suitable source for supplying electric currents, on to the secondary of the Hughes'
induction balance; when the balance is destroyed by a passing ship; as the
secondary lead is in series with a fuse in the detonator in the case of explosive,
it blows this fuse & explodes the mine.
&
The Hughes' induction balance may be of the type having two primary coils,
inducing currents in two secondary coils, the leads of which are coupled up
the coils adjusted in relation to one another, so that the induced currents from
the one coil, shall neutralize the induced currents from the other coil & perfect
balance shall be obtained; in this case, there can be either two mines each
having a pair of coils & they must be moored at some distance away from one
another, & in the course that the hostile ship is likely to steer, or one mine
only with one pair of coils sunk at sea or ashore; or the Hughes' induction
balance may be of type having one primary coil & a secondary coil in a
conjugate position in relation to it; the coils of the Hughes' induction balance
must be of such proportions, with regard to current, diameter, etc., so that the
balance shall be destroyed when a ship passes within the predetermined effective
radius of the mine; which. proportions I have discovered by many experiments;
such an apparatus is to be moored in the waters to be protected from hostile
ships.
The primary leads from the coils at sea are run to the shore or ship & then
connected to the terminals of a polyphase dynamo, an alternating dynamo, or other
suitable source for supplying electric currents; the secondary leads being in
series with a fuse in a detonator in the mine at sea, then led away to the shore or a
ship & then coupled up in series with an automatic switching device, which is also
in connection with the terminals of the polypbase dynamo, alternating dynamo, or
other suitable source for supplying electric currents; when the balance is perfect,
then the automatic switching device is in such a position, that the circuit from
the dynamo through it, is broken, but when the balance is destroyed, the instrument

page_text: is operated, by currents coming along the secondary lead & places itself in such a
position that the circuit from the dynamo is completed, that is to say, that the
primary current from the dynamo has gone on to the secondary coil, blowing the
fuse of the detonator of the mine (which is in series with the secondary lead)
& exploding the mine. Preferably for shore use, this automatic switching device
is a Siemens dynamometer of special construction, having a lug or piece of metal
solid with the revolving coil; & one of the mercury cups into which one of the
ends of this coil dips, being in electrical connection with one terminal of the poly-
phase dynamo, alternating dynamo or other suitable source for supplying electric
currents; an electro magnet having limbs hinged at one end & poles vis-à-vis with
one another at the other end, is mounted in such a position, that the lug or piece of
metal on the revolving coil is between these poles, the revolving coil can only
revolve a short part of a
revolution, its path being arrested by the lug or piece of
metal on it, striking against one of the vis-à-vis poles; the one terminal wire of
the winding of this electro-magnet, is in electrical connection with its iron core,
the other terminal of the winding being in electrical connection with the other
terminal of the polyphase dynamo, alternating dynamo, or other suitable means
for supplying electric currents, the coils of this Siemens dynamometer being in
series with the secondary or secondaries of the Hughes' induction balance,
at sea.
The action of the gear is as follows:-
Say the mine has been fitted with a Hughes' induction balance, sensitive to a
ship passing at a radius of 12 feet by, or, over it. An enemy's ship passes at 10) ft.
distance from the mine, the balance is destroyed; a current flows along the
secondary lead from the apparatus at sea, to the automatic switching device ashore,
the revolving coil moves, & the lug or piece of metal which it carries, strikes one
of the vis-à-vis poles of the electro-magnet, & automatically closes a circuit from
the polyphase dynamo, alternating dynamo, or other suitable source for supplying
electric currents, the current passes from one of the dynamo terminals along the
coils of the electromagnet (thus exciting the electro-magnet, whose vis-à-vis poles
fly together, gripping the lug or piece of metal on the revolving coil firmly between
them,) thence down the iron core of the electro-magnet, then along the revolving
coil, through the mercury cup, out to sea along the secondary lead of the Hughes'
induction balance, blowing the fuse in the mine detonator & exploding the mine,
en route; returning along the other secondary lead, & automatic switching gear to
the dynamo; all this having been accomplished without the aid of skilled operators
using position & range finders, closing circuits etc., etc., etc., & without mechanical
contact of the ship & mine; switches are provided in order to switch off the
current all together from the dynamo to the apparatus at sea, so that the mine
can be laid or taken up with safety, or to enable a friendly ship to pass safely.
I propose also to use this complete apparatus, to place the secondary lead from
the Hughes' induction balance at sea, also in series with a fuse of a detonator of a
gun, which has been previously trained to cover the spot passed over by an enemy's
ship in order to fire the mine; thus when the ship passes within the effective radius
of the mine; then the mine is not only exploded, but also, the gun is fired; the
gun being elevated or depressed by means of suitable & independent mechanism,
in order to allow for a rise & fall of tide. I also propose to use a Hughes'
induction balance designed to have a large sensitive zone & moored at sea in
combination with the above described automatic switching device, which is to be
placed in a lighthouse; the automatic switching device being operated by currents
from the secondary, as before described, & the automatic switching device
operating signals from the lighthouse to the ship passing in the sensitive zone of
the Hughes' induction balance at sea.
Dated this 14th day of September 1893.

page_text: Improvements in and relating to Submarine Mines.
1, WILLIAM MARSHALL HUSKISSON of 127 Ladbroke Grove, W. London in
the County of Middlesex, Civil 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, reference being had to
the following drawings, in which
Figure 1, is a diagram illustrating the disposition, the electrical circuits &
connections of the apparatus.
Figure, 2 is a plan, part in section, of my automatic switching device.
Figure 3, is a front elevation, part in section, of my automatic switching
device.
Figure 4, is a side sectional elevation of the switch board H³.
Figure 5, is a sectional elevation of the mine at sea.
Figure 6, is a plan, part in section across coils C & C¹, of the mine at sea.
Figure 7, is a detail view illustrating method employed for making water tight
the joints of the cases D' & d' which contain the coils of the Hughes' induction
balance.
Figure, 8, is a detail view shewing in section the detonator & fuse for exploding
the mine.
Fig. 9, is an elevation showing the tub & case holding the balancing coils.
Fig. 10 is a plan of the same.
Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.
Having in my Provisional Specification described the general principles under-
lying my said apparatus I now more specifically refer to its construction. Referring
first to Figs. 5 & 6, A is the outside casing of the mine (preferably composed of
non magnetic material) fitted with grappling hooks A', a movable cover A², and a
mooring ring A³, and enclosing a lower compartment B for holding the explosive,
divided by the diaphragm B with its movable cover B from the upper compart-
ment containing a case D', secured to the walls of the mine by the wooden
chocks D; this case D' (which may be of porcelain, stoneware or other non-
magnetic material) contains two insulated wire coils, C the primary & C¹ the
secondary coils of one part of a Hughes' induction balance; these coils are
wound on a former D (composed of insulating material) & afterwards fitted into
the case D', the leads are passed through stuffing boxes & glands which form part
of D', e. primary lead 15, through E & 14 through E, secondary lead 13,
through E³, & 20 through Es; a cover E (composed of the same material as D',)
flanged up at its edge is bolted on to D' by the bolts E Fig. 7, the cavity D³
being afterwards grouted in with bitumen or cement or other suitable composition
for making a good joint; the coils C & C do not entirely fill up the interior of
the case D', and resin oil is poured in through the plug hole E & entirely fills up
the vacant space, a plug is afterwards screwed in and sealed, all this being done to
reduce the chances of electrical leakage occurring.
The primary & secondary leads 15, 14, 13, 20, are led down the walls of the
mine to which they are cleated at intervals (13 being broken on passing through G.)
and are made up into one cable 19 which is passed through a stuffing box &
gland F to the outside of the mine, where it is armoured with lead or some high
resistance & non magnetic material for several feet in proximity to the mine, it is
lashed to the mooring rope & from thence it is led away to the shore, the secondary
lead 13 is passed through the socket G (made of insulating material) & broken,
the ends being soldered to two aluminium rings G & G which are insulated from
one another & embedded in the socket G, a round fuse having two rings K¹
& K2, insulated from one another on its barrel fits in the hole in the centre of G,

page_text: •
K' fitting tightly in G¹ & K' in G³, these rings have two pins projecting inside
the fuse rivetted to them, the latter are electrically connected by the fine fuse
wire K³, around which is a mixture of fine mealed powder & guncotton the rest
of the fuse containing mercurial fulminate, the fuse K is forced home by the
grummet L' screwed against it by the plug L, a second plug L³ squeezing a
grummet L against L, L³ being prevented from slacking back by the screwed
set L, one end of a tube N is screwed into G & the cavity G³ is filled up with
bitumen or other insulating material, N is then filled up with a detonating charge
& the top is closed by the plug cap N' and the washer N2. After the socket G
has been fitted into the mine & the cable 19 has been tightened up in the stuffing
box F, then the bottom of the mine is filled up with bitumen or other insulating
material at F, so that electrical & mechanical joints are in one solid block of
bitumen. The case d¹ covered by e (see Figs. 9 & 10) enclose similar coils,
similarly disposed with regard to one another as those enclosed by D' and E. & is
the other part of the balancing coils of the Hughes" induction balance, primary
leads 18 & 17 passing through stuffing boxes & glands and e, secondary leads 16
and 12 through e³ & e respectively, the case d' being supported on chock M¹
in the tub of resin oil M.
The automatic switching device illustrated by Figures 2, 3 & 4 is a dynamometer
with the fine wire floating coil p, in two parts the winding (Fig. 1) being similar to that
of Amperes astatic rectangles in order to neutralize terrestrial effects, they are wound
on a former of the shape shewn, in some hot insulating composition which sets solid
when cold, the former is removed leaving the solid coils, these are placed within
the stationary ring coil P, so as to be unaffected by external influences, they are
rigidly connected to the aluminium blade R, to which one of their terminal wires
is soldered, the other terminal wire, 1, dipping into the mercury cup n, a wire i
soldered to R dips into the mercury cup, m, these mercury cups are in electrical
connection with the binding screws 0 and 02 which are coupled up to the
secondary leads 16 and 20. of the Hughes' induction balance, m being also in
electrical connection with O³ which is coupled up to the terminal 10 of the exciter
or local battery 8 (Fig. 1). The blade R is suspended at R₁ by the thread T,
secured to the eyebolt S2 & adjusted by the thumb nut S', carried by the porcelain
column S, which is secured to Q2 by the screws s. (Fig. 2), one end of R floats
between the vis à-vis poles of the electro magnet, a, being balanced by the
adjustable balance weight R² which screws on to the opposite end, the fixed
coils wound on a former Q to which is fitted a small tube y, allow coil p to
have a slight movement, without touching this winding, the shape of the outside
coil P is as nearly as practical considerations will allow a closed ring, of the
section shewn, for convenience of winding, (the coil p would be one hollow ring if
it could be made) this apparatus being so constructed in order to give the greatest
turning moment with the least inertia, the terminal wires of this coil P, being
connected to the binding screws O and O' which are coupled to lead 17 of the
Hughes' induction balance and contact clip V (Fig. 1) respectively, the wires
being twisted round one another for some distance near the instrument which is
built up of the several insulating pieces Q, Q' & QQ, & mounted on the slab H,
and levelled by the four screws, J, which are free to turn in sockets embedded in
the foundation I.
The electro magnet, u, before referred to is mounted on the slab H' by means of
the bracket, e, & the lug (Fig. 2 & 4) one pole a¹ is fixed, the other a², swings off
the pivots, b, the terminal wire of one end of the winding of, a, being soldered
to the core, a², the other end to the binding screw, which is coupled to the other
terminal 9, of the exciter 8, a small snug is on, a², on which rests the end of a
lever,, which has a fulcrum h¹, the other end of it arresting the lever W2,
controlled by a flat coil spring W wound on the spindle W' & mounted on the
slab H¹, when released it will fly round off the centre W', striking the insulating
bridge of the switch V which it will carry with it, V is a double pole blade switch,
working off the pivots V', which are in electrical communication with the contact

page_text: .
•
clips Y& closing the circuits through the clips V2 & V2 and Z' and Z in one
position, or breaking these & closing those through V3 in the other position
(see Fig. 1).
Y is a double pole switch, swinging off the pivots Y' & engaging the clips Y* &
is used for switching off the dynamo from the apparatus.
X is a double pole safety switch, breaking the circuit from contact clips V³, V3.
to the leads 20, 13 when not engaging the clips X'X'.
A small indicator U is provided as a gauge for the position of R.
The circuits may be readily traced by the aid of the diagram (Fig. 1) where
the plumed arrows indicate the course of the main current from the alternator 5,
the naked arrows that of the induced currents & the dotted arrows that of the
auxiliary or exciter circuit.
In order to adjust the coils accurately a telephone is inserted between the
leads 20 and 16 and a zero or noiseless position obtained, then the telephone is
replaced by the instrument operating the switching device which is coupled up so
that when the induced currents from the mine at sea, or rather the secondary coil
at sea overpower those from the secondary coil ashore then the coil p will turn on
the thread T.
The action of the gear is as follows:-
-
Assume that the alternator, 5, has been started, the operator then closes the
switch Y, which puts the main current from the alternator, 5, through the primary
coils and also through the coils P of the instrument (Fig. 1), he now looks to see
that the blade R is directly under the pointer, U, that being so he knows that the
insulation of the whole apparatus is all right, so he at once closes the switch X
which places the secondary leads 20 & 13 in communication with the contact
clips V & V³. Say the induction balance is of the size etc. to have a sensitive zone
of 10' ft. Now a ship passes within 6' ft. of it. At once the induced currents from:
the secondary coil Cat sea, overpower those from the secondary coil ashore the
former cause the coil p (Fig. 1. 2. 3.) to turn on T, so that the blade, R, strikes.
one of the vis-à-vis poles of the magnet, u, this at once closes a circuit which may
be traced, from exciter 8, lead 10, mercury cup m, blade R, pole piece a', coils a,.
lead 9, back to exciter 8, this current has excited the electro-magnet a, whose
vis-a-vis pole a² swings to a gripping the blade R between them, the snug on a
leaving the lever, h, which at once releases the arm W, which flies round turning
off the centre Wi, strikes the insulating bridge of the switch V, swings it out of
gear with the contact clips V2, V2; Z & Z; and into gear with the contact
clips V3 V³; the circuits which have been closed by this action may traced as follows,
Alternator 5, lead 6, pivot Y', switch Y, clip Y, pivot V, clip V³, lead 20,.
coil C, fuse K³, (this fuse will blow with this current & the are will explode
the mine & blow up the ship) lead 13, clip V³, switch V, pivot V, clip Y.
switch Y, pivot Y', lead 7, back to alternator 5, the circuits which have been
broken may be traced as follows, Alternator 5, lead 6, Y, Y, Y, V2 & V² ;.
lead 14, coil C, leads 15, 18, main coil, lead 17, coil P, clip V, switch V, clip Y,
switch Y, pivot Y!, lead 7 to alternator 5, also Z, 12, 16, p, 20 C, 13 and Z induced
current circuit, all this having been done without any human aid. The switch Y can.
be switched off so as to allow a friendly ship to pass into harbour in safety, for
example say a blockade runner is waiting outside the mouth of a river for daylight
in order to take her bearings, & is sighted by an enemy's cruiser (before she has
been able to get into shelter) who forthwith gives chase, now the operator on shore
swings off the switch Y and lets the blockade runner pass in safety, the cruiser
seeing that the blockade runner has passed in safety conies on, the operator closes
the switch and directly the cruiser comes within the sensitive zone of the mine,.
it automatically explodes.
It is quite clear that such a mine is independent of tides.
I have only described one application of my invention, as from this description
it will be evident that the balancing coils ashore might be fitted in another mine,
or that the induction balance might be of the type having one primary coil with a

page_text: secondary coil in a conjugate position with regard to it, and it is also clear that.
the electrical circuits may be arranged in various ways.
In the case of a pair of coils of a Hughes' induction balance moored or sunk in a
nest of torpedoes, the switch V closes all the firing circuits of these torpedoes, when
operated by W2, (Fig. 1) becoming released by the action of the electro magnet, a,
etc. Again in operating signals to a ship at sea from a lighthouse ashore etc., the
switch V closes some external circuit for operating these signals, when the balance
is disturbed by a passing ship, the arrangement is too apparent to need any
further description, the arrangement for automatically firing guns
in my Provisional Specification.
fully described
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. An arrangement and apparatus substantially as herein described.
2. The automatic firing or exploding of submarine mines or torpedoes by or
through the agency of the currents induced in the secondary of a Hughes' induction
balance, moored or sunk at sea (in whole or in part), by the object to be
destroyed.
3. The automatic firing or exploding torpedoes by currents induced in the
secondary of a Hughes' induction balance, firing or heating a fuse by the object to
be destroyed.
4. The use of a Hughes' induction balance, or any modification of the same, in
conjunction with any automatic switching device, controlled by currents induced
in the secondary by a passing object & controlling currents for exploding
torpedoes or submarine mines at sea or operating signals or firing guns ashore or
at sea.
5. The use of a Hughes' induction balance or any modification of the same,
moored or sunk at sea in a nest of torpedoes & in connection with an automatic
switching device, controlled by currents induced in the secondary of the balance
at sea, & controlling currents for exploding one or all the torpedoes in that nest,
when the balance is upset by a passing object.
6. In an apparatus consisting of a Hughes' induction balance or any modification
of the same & in conjunction with any automatic switching device controlled by
the induced secondary currents, when the balance is destroyed by a passing object,
to close or open any electrical circuit for any purpose.
7. The use of a Hughes' induction balance or any modification of the same,
moored at sea in whole or in part, & in a nest of torpedoes or submarine mines
& having one of the secondary leads in series with the fuses in these torpedoes, so
that when a passing object shall destroy the balance in the secondary the induced
currents shall flow through these fuses & explode the torpedoes.,
Dated this 12th day of June 1894.
WILLIAM MARSHALL HUSKISSON.