Communicating with vessels in Distress.
Year: 1886

page_text: Communicating with vessels in Distress.
I HENRY MORDEN BENNETT of Belvedere, Bournemouth in the County of
Hants Clerk in Holy Orders do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object to provide a means of communicating with, and
of conveying a line, provisions, and life saving apparatus to, a ship in distress.
The Invention consists in the employment, for the purpose of establishing
telephonic communication with, and of conveying a life line, provisions, and life
saving jackets, etc to a ship, of a fish torpedo, similar to those used in naval
warfare, except that it carries no explosive charge, the telephonic and life saving
lines being towed by the torpedo, and the provisions, and other articles to be
conveyed, being stowed within the torpedo in the chamber generally reserved for
the explosive charge.
The Invention consists further in electrically controlled steering gear actuated by
the propelling engines of the torpedo; the said gear being controlled by electric
currents transmitted through a conductor towed by the torpedo; such gear being
specially designed for use in existing torpedoes, such as the Whitehead, which are
not controllable from a distance.
The Invention further consists in a means whereby the electric steering
mechanism may be readily applied to existing torpedoes without alteration in
the internal arrangements of the latter.
The Invention further consists in a means of automatically stopping the pro-
pelling engines of a torpedo upon the torpedo striking a ship, so as to enable
the torpedo to be handled, and access to be had to the interior, without danger of
injury from the propellers.
The life line may be attached to a ring on the head of the torpedo in a position
convenient for picking up by the ship-wrecked crew, and may be hitched over a
hook on the side of the torpedo amidships, and over a second book at the bottom
of the torpedo near the stern, in order to prevent the strain of the line diverting
the torpedo from its course. This line is paid out as the torpedo travels through
the water by any convenient arrangement on shore and by its means a cable
attached thereto may be conveyed between the shore and the ship for the purpose

page_text: of saving life in the ordinary way. The torpedo may be hauled back to the shore
or the vessel from which it was discharged by a second cable attached to the ring
on the torpedo by the shipwrecked crew.
To the telephonic line or cable, the usual instruments are attached, one set being
contained in a chamber at the head of the torpedo, to which access is had by a door
in the shell of the torpedo. This telephonic line or cable may also be hitched
round the same hooks, and be paid out by any convenient arrangement on shore.
The electrically controlled steering gear of this Invention comprises reversing
mechanism, worm gear and a sort of differential bevel gear with a rudder shaft or
with a tiller shaft in direct communication with the tiller of the rudder; the
reversing mechanism being under the control of electro magnets, whereby the
rudder is moved in one or other direction as required, the motion of the mechanism
and the travel of the rudder in either direction being limited by automatic dis-
engaging gear, all as hereinafter more fully described.
The propeller-shaft gears with a shaft mounted to revolve and slide longitudinally
and carrying a pair of opposite friction cones, turning with said shaft and a corre-
sponding pair of coned shells in one with bevel pinions loose on the shaft. The
cones and the bevel pinions constitute the reversing gear With these two opposite
bevel pinions gears a bevel-wheel fast on a worm shaft which gears with a worm
pinion on a second worm shaft which gears with a ring of worm teeth on the
periphery of one of a pair of oppositely bevelled wheels loose on the tiller or
rudder shaft. The other one of these wheels is also provided with a peripheral
ring of teeth with which an electrically controlled pawl engages to hold said wheel
stationary. A radial bevel pinion gears with both bevel wheels, and is carried by
the tiller or rudder shaft; Said shaft carries two tappets between and in the path
of which projects a lever arm on a shaft to which is fixed a lever carrying the
armatures of the electro-magnets by which the reversing gear is controlled. On
the said lever is a lug engaging with a sleeve on the friction clutch shaft whereby
angular motion of the lever is caused to act on the reversing gear in one of the
ways hereafter described, according as the lever is operated electrically by the
electro magnets, or mechanically by the steering mechanism itself.
The tiller shaft passes through a stuffing box in the shell of the torpedo, and is
provided, externally of the torpedo, with a tiller or double armed lever whose ends
are connected by two wires with the ends of the tiller proper of the rudder. Or
instead of the tiller, the shaft may carry a rudder blade or blades.
The electro magnets controlling the reversing gear are in separate shunt circuits
controlled by a pair of electro-magnets and a polarized armature between them,
and suitable contacts respectively connected with the two shunt circuits in which
are placed the first mentioned electro magnets, so that one or other of these
magnets will be thrown out of action according as one or other contact is broken.
The action of the apparatus is as follows;-On the passage of a current the
electrically controlled pawl is thrown into engagement with the bevel-wheel on the
tiller or rudder shaft; one or other of the shunt circuits is cut out according to
the direction of the current. The magnet in the other shunt circuit by attracting
its armature throws one of the friction clutches into gear whereby motion is
imparted through the bevel gear and worm mechanism from the propeller shaft to
the other bevel wheel on the tiller shaft which causes the radial pinion carried by
said shaft to roll round on the wheel held stationary by the electrically controlled
pawl, and thereby impart angular motion to the tiller or rudder shaft. If the
current be kept on, this motion is continued until one of the tappets carried by
said shaft forcibly overcomes the attraction of the magnet and moves the armature
in the opposite direction to that in which it was moved by the magnet, this reverse
motion disengaging the friction clutch. The rudder having been thus moved is
held by the mechanism in the extreme position but by breaking the current before
the automatic disengaging gear comes into action, the rudder is moved to a less
extent. On the cessation of the current the electric pawl is disengaged, and the
rudder, in whatever position it may then be, is at liberty to at once return to its

page_text: normal position. By reversing the current the action of the magnets and friction
clutch gear is reversed thus reversing the motion of the rudder.
In applying this electrically-controlled steering mechanism to existing torpedoes
it is contained in a supplementary chamber, preferably in the form of a miniature
torpedo. This chamber is rigidly attached to the tail end of the torpedo proper.
The main shaft of the steering mechanism passes through a stuffing box, and
bearing, at the front end and terminates in a fork whose prongs pass between the
blades of the rearmost screw-propeller of the torpedo so as to be driven thereby;
this shaft thus virtually forming a prolongation of the propeller shaft. This shaft
is geared with the rudder shaft by mechanism substantially similar to that before
described. The means of automatically stopping the engines of the torpedo upon
striking a ship consists of a rod projecting in front of the nose of the torpedo, and
jointed to a ring encircling and pivoted to, the nose of the torpedo which acts as a
rock lever, and is connected with the starting lever of the propeller engines, the
end of which projects from the torpedo so that when said rod is driven backwards
on striking an obstacle, the engines will be stopped.

page_text: Improvements in Torpedoes, and in Adapting the same for
Communicating with Vessels in Distress.
I HENRY MORDEN BENNETT of Belvedere, Bournemouth, in the County of
Hants, Clerk in Holy Orders, 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:-
My invention has for its object to provide a means of communicating with, and
of conveying a line, provisions, and life saving apparatus to, a ship in distress. And
the invention relates to the employment, for the purpose of establishing telephonic
communication with such ship, and of conveying a life-line, provisions, and life-
saving jackets etc thereto, of a fish torpedo, similar to those used in naval warfare
except that it carries no explosive charge, the telephonic, and life-saving lines being
towed by the torpedo, and the provisions and other articles to be conveyed being
stowed within the torpedo, in the chamber generally reserved for the explosive
charge.
The.invention relates further, to electrically controlled steering gear actuated by
the propelling engines of the torpedo; the said gear being controlled by electric
currents transmitted through a conductor towed by the torpedo, such gear being
specially designed for use in existing torpedoes, such as the Whitehead, which are
not controllable from a distance.
The invention further relates to a means whereby the electric steering mechanism
may be readily applied to existing torpedoes without alteration in the internal
arrangements of the latter.
The Invention further relates to a means of automatically stopping the propelling
engines of a torpedo, upon the torpedo striking a ship, so as to enable the torpedo
to be handled, and access to be had to the interior, without danger of injury from
the propellers.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this
specification; wherein Figures 1 and 2 are general views, showing in longitudinal
elevation and plan a torpedo provided with electrical steering-gear and to which a
life-line and telephone line are attached for conveyance to the ship.
Figure 3 is a detail sectional view of the head of the torpedo, containing the
telephone, provisions, life saving apparatus, etc, to be conveyed to the ship; the
head being made detachable to enable a head charged with explosive to be applied,
when the torpedo is required for war purposes.
Figure 4 is a general view, showing a supplementary chamber containing steering
mechanism as applied externally to an existing torpedo, of the class usually
unprovided with steering gear.
Figure 5 is a general view, showing a Lay torpedo as towing a life-line and
telephone line, as in the case of the torpedo shown in Figure 1.
Figure 6. is a longitudinal elevation, partly in section.
Figure 7. is a cross-section on line 1-1. Figure 6.
Figure 8 is a sectional plan on line 2-2 Figure 6.

page_text: Figure 9. a cross section on line 3-3. Figure 6. of the electrically controlled
steering mechanism as designed to be disposed within the body of the torpedo as
in Figure 1.
Figure 10 is a plan of one set and Figure 11. an elevation of another set of
electro-magnets, through which the steering mechanism is controlled.
Figure 12 is a longitudinal vertical central section, and Figure 13. a part
horizontal sectional plan of the supplementary chamber to contain electrically
controlled mechanism, and to be attached to the stem of an existing non-steering
torpedo in the manner shown in Figure 4.
Figures 14 and 15 are cross-sectional elevations on lines 4-4, and 5-5,
Figure 12: respectively.
Figure 16 is an end elevation of the electro-magnets by means whereof the
steering gear is controlled.
The same letters of reference indicate the same, or similar, parts in all the
Figures.
Referring to Figure 1. a is a life-line attached to a ring on the head of the
torpedo in a position convenient for picking up by the shipwrecked crew. The
said line is hitched over a hook b on the side of the torpedo, amidships, and over a
second hook c at the bottom of the torpedo near the stern in order to prevent the
strain of the line diverting the torpedo from its course. This line is paid out as
the torpedo travels through the water by any convenient arrangement on shore,
and by its means a cable to be attached thereto after the torpedo has reached the
ship, may be conveyed between the shore and the ship for the purpose of saving
life in the ordinary way. The torpedo may be hauled back to the shore or the
vessel from which it was discharged by a second cable conveyed by the other, to be
attached to the ring on the torpedo by the shipwrecked crew. d is a telephonic
line or cable to which the usual instruments are attached, one set being contained
in a chamber at the head of the torpedo to which access is had by a watertight
door in the shell of the torpedo. This telephonic line or cable is also hitched round
the books bc, and is also paid out by any convenient arrangement on shore The
steering mechanism employed in the torpedo as represented in Figures 1. and 2
may be of any suitable kind, but preferably that hereafter described in reference
to Figures 6. to 11. The torpedo shown in Figure 5 is an ordinary Lay torpedo,
and needs no description.
Figures 6. to 11. represent electrically-controlled steering gear actuated by
power derived from the propelling engines instead of from a separate motor. e is
the propeller shaft gearing through reversing mechanism worm-gear, and a sort of
differential bevel-gear with a tiller shaft in direct connection with the tiller of the
rudder, the reversing mechanism being under the control of electro magnets shown
in Figures 10, 11, 12 and 13. whereby the rudder is moved in one or other direction
as required, the motion of the mechanism and the travel of the rudder in either
direction being limited by automatic disengaging gear, all as hereinafter more
fully described.
The shaft e has a spur wheel e¹ keyed on it which gears with a second wheel e²
keyed on a shaft f mounted to revolve and slide longitudinally in suitable bearings.
ff are a pair of opposite friction cones, turning with shaft f and f³ f* are
a corresponding pair of coned shells in one with bevel pinions g¹ g³ loose on
the shaft. The cones f f f f and the bevel pinions g¹ g² constitute the
reversing gear. With these two opposite bevel pinions g¹g gears a bevel-wheel g
fast on a shaft g³ mounted in a bearing g' and provided with a worm h which gears
with a worm pinion i on a shaft i¹ provided with a worm k which gears with a
ring of worm teeth ¹ on the periphery of the one 7 of a pair of oppositely bevelled
wheels m loose on the tiller shaft n. Wheel m is also provided with a peripheral
ring of teeth m¹ with which an electrically controlled pawl m³ engages to hold
said wheel stationary n is a bevel pinion gearing with both bevel wheels m
and carried by a radial arm n¹ fixed to shaft n³, said arm being in one with
à quadrant o¹ having two tappets o between and in the path of which projects a

page_text: lever arm p on a shaft p¹ to which is fixed a lever q carrying the armatures of the
electro-magnets by which the reversing gear f¹ f¹ ƒ³ f¹ and g¹ g² is controlled.
The shaft n passes through a stuffing-box in the shell of the torpedo, and is
provided externally of the torpedo with a tiller, or double armed lever n³ whose
ends are connected, by two wires, with the ends of the tiller proper of the rudder.
Or instead of the tiller, the shaft may carry a rudder blade or blades.
On the
lever q is a lug q' engaging with a sleeve q¹ loose on shaft f and confined between
collars thereon whereby angular motion of lever q is caused to slide shaft f
longitudinally in its bearings and so act on the reversing gear in one of the ways
hereafter described, according as the lever q is operated electrically by the electro
magnets, or mechanically by the steering mechanism itself.
that
A. A¹ are a pair of electro magnets, to which are presented armatures r
are carried by the lever q as before inentioned. These magnets are in separate
shunt circuits controlled by a pair of horse-shoe electro-magnets B. B. and an
armature 8 between them. This armature s is a permanent magnet and is carried
by a central guide bar s¹. To this armature is attached a contact piece t in
electrical connection with the coils of the magnets B. At either side of the contact
piece t, is an insulated contact spring u, which springs both press against the
contact when in its central position, but upon the armature being attracted
towards one or the other of magnets B by the passage of a current the contact
with one of the springs u is broken. These springs u are respectively connected
with the two shunt circuits in which are placed the two electro-magnets A A² 60
that one or other of these magnets will be thrown out of action according as contact
is broken with one or other spring u. The terminals v of the magnet coils A are
to earth through the skin of the torpedo and the water. The magnets B are in
circuit with the line wire C through a horseshoe electro-magnet D, whose
armature m³ is one arm of a bell crank lever, whose other arm is the pawl m².
The action of the apparatus is as follows;-
On the passage of a current the electro magnet D attracts its armature, and
throws pawl m³ into engagement with the peripheral ring of teeth m¹ on wheel m
which is thus held stationary; the magnetised armature s of magnets B. B. is
attracted to one side or the other according to the direction of the current, and
contact broken with one of springs u thus leaving only one of the magnets A A¹
in action This magnet by attracting its armature, swings lever q which, through
sleeve q¹ and shaft f throws one of the friction clutches into gear. Motion is then
imparted through the bevel gear and worm mechanism from shaft e to wheel
which causes the pinion n to roll round on the stationary wheel m, and thereby
imparting angular motion to the arm n¹ and shaft n. If the current be kept on,
this motion is continued until one of the tappets o moves the lever arm p and
thereby forcibly overcomes the attraction of the magnet A and moves lever
in the
opposite direction to that in which it was moved by the magnet, this reverse
motion disengaging the friction clutch. The rudder having been thus moved is
held by the mechanism in the extreme position so long as the current is maintained
and by breaking the current before the automatic disengaging gear comes into
action, the rudder is moved to a less extent. On the cessation of the current the
pawl m² is disengaged by a spring (not shown) and the wheel m being free, the
rudder, in whatever position it may then be, is at liberty to at once return to its
normal position By reversing the current the action of magnets B. on their
armature is reversed and the other magnet A or A¹, and consequently the other
friction clutch is brought into action, thus reversing the motion of the rudder.
Referring to Figure 4 and Figures 12. to 16. the electrically controlled steering
mechanism is very similar to that before described, and the letters of reference
indicate in these Figures similar parts, or parts fulfilling the same functions as those
similarly lettered in the Figures already described, so that it will be unnecessary to
repeat the description thereof.
E. is a supplementary chamber, preferably in the form of a miniature torpedo
This chamber is rigidly attached to the tail end of the torpedo proper by four flat

page_text: arms e is the main shaft, mounted longitudinally in casing E, and passing
through a stuffing box and bearing at the front end and terminating in a fork e³
whose prongs pass between the blades of the rearmost screw propeller of the torpedo
so as to be driven thereby, this shaft e-thus virtually forming a prolongation of
the propeller shaft This shaft is geared with the vertical shaft n", which corre-
sponds to the yoke shaft before described, by mechanism which is precisely similar
to that before described, and to which the same description and letters of reference
equally apply; except that the shaft p¹ and arm p are dispensed with and the
tappets o act directly on the sleeve q¹. This shaft n² in the present case passes
through stuffing boxes and bearings in both the top and bottom of the chamber E.
and carries rudders y, which act together as one for the purpose of steering the
torpedo. The arrangement of the electro-magnets differs from that before described
but they fulfil the same functions, that is to say, the magnet D, acts on pawl m³ as,
and for the purpose, before described; the magnets B and polarized armature s
throw one or other of the magnets A. A¹ out of circuit, and the one of them which
is left in circuit actuates the friction gear, all in the manner previously set forth,
the action of the whole mechanism being precisely the same.
In Figures 1 and 2 is shewn a means of automatically stopping the engines of
the torpedo upon striking a ship. 2 is a rod projecting in front of the nose of the
torpedo and sliding in an eye z¹. It is jointed to a ring 22 encircling, and pivoted
to, the nose of the torpedo at 3. This ring acts as a rock lever, and is connected
at 2, by a wire 25, with the starting lever 20 of the propeller engines, (the end of
which projects from the torpedo) so that when rod z is driven backwards on
striking an obstacle, the engines will be stopped.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention; and in what manner the same is to be performed; I declare that what
I claim is
1st. The employment for the purpose of establishing oral communication
between the shore and a ship in distress, of a fish torpedo, in combination with a
telephonic circuit and instruments, the line being towed by the torpedo as
described.
2nd. The employment for the purpose of establishing a means of transit between
the shore and a ship in distress of a fish torpedo in combination with a life-line
towed by the torpedo, in the manner, and for the purpose specified.
3rd. In a fish torpedo the combination with the propeller shaft of the torpedo of
electrically controlled steering gear constructed and operating substantially as
herein-described whereby the power to actuate the gear and rudder is derived from
the propelling shaft, the steering gear being controlled by electro-magnets through
an electric conductor towed by the torpedo, as described.
4th. The combination with a fish torpedo, of a supplementary chamber con-
taining electrically controlled steering gear constructed and operating substantially
as herein described, the chamber being rigidly attached to the tail of the torpedo
proper, and the steering gear being actuated by the propeller of the torpedo under
the control of electric currents transmitted through a cable towed by the torpedo,
substantially as specified.
5th. A torpedo steering gear consisting in the combination of the friction clutch
reversing gear f. f¹ f' f³ f* g, g¹g worm gear hikk¹ differential gear 1 m m³ m³n
tiller or rudder shaft n², all combined and arranged for operation substantially as
described and represented in the drawings.
6th. A torpedo steering gear consisting in the combination of the friction clutch
reversing gear fƒ³ ƒ³ ƒ³ ƒ* g, g³, g worm gear hikk¹ differential gear 1 m m¹m³n,
tiller or rudder shaft n³, stop-mechanism o p q q¹ q³ acting on the clutches of the
reversing gear, all combined and arranged for operation substantially as described,
and represented in the drawings.
7th. The combination with a torpedo steering gear to be actuated by a constantly
revolving shaft and consisting of the friction clutch reversing gear f to f'g to g³

page_text: worm gear hik ke differential gear I m m¹ m² n and stop mechanism o p q q¹ qª
acting on the clutches of the reversing gear, of electro magnets C. B. A. and their
armatures combined and arranged as described, the said magnets acting respectively
the magnet C to throw pawl m² into engagement with wheel m, the magnets B to
control the shunt circuits in which magnets A. A' are placed, and the magnets A A¹
to actuate the friction clutch reversing gear through lever q, q¹ q² all these magnets
being arranged in the circuit of an electric cable towed by the torpedo, all as
specified.
8th. The combination substantially as specified with a fish torpedo, of a fish
shaped supplementary chamber rigidly, but detachably attached to the tail of the
torpedo proper, and having a shaft mounted in it which engages with and is
rotated by the propeller or propeller shaft of the torpedo, for the purpose of
actuating any suitable arrangement of steering gear contained within said supple-
mentary chamber and controlled by electric currents transmitted through a cable
towed by the torpedo, whereby a non-steering torpedo may be readily converted
into a steering torpedo.
9th. The combination with a fish torpedo of a fish shaped supplementary
chamber rigidly but detachably connected to the tail of the torpedo proper of a
longitudinal shaft mounted in said chamber which engages with and is rotated by
the propeller or propeller shaft of the torpedo, and of electrically controlled steering
gear, contained within said supplementary chamber and consisting of friction
clutch reversing gear, worm gear, differential gear, tiller or rudder shaft and stop
mechanism acting on the clutches of the reversing gear, electro-magnets and their
armatures for throwing the pawl of the differential gear into action, for controlling
the shunt circuits, and for actuating the friction clutch reversing gear all sub-
stantially as herein specified, the said magnets being arranged in the circuit of an
electric cable towed by the supplemental chamber.