IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TORPEDO BOATS AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, &
Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TORPEDO BOATS AND IN APPARATUS
TO BE USED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH." A communication from abroad by
John Louis Lay, of Paris, France.
Sealed the 24th September 1878, and dated the 17th June 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th June 1878.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
TORPEDO BOATS AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH.'
[A communication from abroad by John Louis Lay, of Paris, France.]
"
The present Invention relates to torpedo boats of the class described in the
Specifications of my former Letters Patent, bearing date the 22nd Feb., 1878,
(No. 747) and the 2nd April, 1878 (No. 1303), and is designed to increase the
efficiency of such torpedo boats, and to facilitate the controlling and operation of
the same.
The first part of the said Invention relates to the novel construction of the hull
or body of a torpedo boat, and consists in forming the same with a main or central
portion and two side or auxiliary portions. These main and auxiliary portions may
be oval or circular in transverse section; they are constructed of thin steel or other
sheet metal, and secured together by rivetting or bolting. The side or auxiliary
[Price fid

page_text: portions form the reservoirs or chambers for containing the gas, and also contain
the propelling engines. The magazine, the chamber or compartment for containing
the cable, and the compartment containing the electrical steering and other appa-
ratus are in the main or central portion of the hull; the screws or propellers are
arranged at the stern of the said side or auxilliary portions of the hull, and are
rotated in opposite directions.
The rudder is preferably arranged at the stem of the central portion of the hull.
In some instances, in operating with my torpedo boat, it may be desirable to
totally and instantaneously submerge or sink the same to prevent her destruction
or capture by an enemy's ship or boat. And according to the second part of this
Invention I provide the said torpedo boat with means whereby the operator at the
keyboard can in any such emergency cause her immediately to sink to the bottom,
and allow her to remain there until the danger has passed, and then raise her to
the surface in a condition for immediate action. For this purpose the hull of the
torpedo boat is provided with a water chamber which has holes or apertures in the
bottom of the same, and is also provided with an air cock. In connection with this
chamber I arrange a small cylinder provided with a piston, whose rod is attached
to the lever of the said air cock. A spiral spring is provided to resist the inward
movement of the said piston. The said small cylinder is connected by a pipe with
n valve chest, in which is arranged a slide valve. The said slide valve is connected
by rods and levers with the arinature of electro-magnets which are included in the
circuit of the cable, whereby the boat is controlled from the keyboard at the shore
or other station; a pipe extends from the said valve chest to the aforesaid water
chamber.
When the operator desires to sink the torpedo boat he sends a current in one
direction through the said magnets and thereby operates the slide valve to adinit
gns to the cylinder in front of the piston, which is thus forced inward and opens the
said air cock. The opening of this cock permits the escape of the air from the
water chamber, and consequently the entrance of water through the apertures in
the bottom of the same, and the boat then immediately sinks.
When it is desired to raise the boat a current is sent in the opposite direction
through the said electro-magnets, thereby operating the said valve and piston in
such a manner as to close the air cock and open the pipe which conducts the gas
from the valve chamber into the water compartment; this gas by its pressure
expels the water from the said compartment, and the boat then having its normal
buoyancy restored immediately rises to the surface.
In the apparatus described in my said former Specifications the cable carried
in the boat, and which maintains the connection between the same and the shore
or other station from which the boat is guided and controlled, is formed of a number
or series of insulated wires, each of which performs its own especial service, that is
to say, each wire is connected with distinct and separate apparatus in the boat,
and a current may be sent through any of these wires without passing through the
other wires of the cable.
But according to another part of my present Invention I use a cable that may
consist of a single wire, through which a current is transmitted from the station
to the boat for actuating the various devices or apparatus necessary for the
operation of the torpedo boat. This wire is connected in the boat with a series
of relays or resistance coils, or a multiple or compound relay by which the currents
sent through the said wire are directed to the different apparatus to be operated
or adjusted. I prefer, however, that the said cable should consist of one wire for
performing all of the necessary operations, exclusive of the firing or exploding of
the magazine, and to employ a soperate or distinct insulated wire for this latter
purpose.
A cable consisting of not more than one wire or two wires will be more flexible,
and will permit a greater length of cable to be coiled in a given space and weight
than a cable consisting of anany wives. Moreover this improved cable permits the
ε

page_text: use of a thicker coat of insulating material, and consequently is more perfectly pro-
tected against leakage and is cheaper to manufacture than the cable described in
my said former Specifications.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th
December 1878.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
TORPEDO BOATS AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN CONNECTION, THEREWITH."
A communication from abroad by John Louis Lay, of Paris, France.
The present Invention relates to torpedo boats of the class described in the
Specifications of my former Letters Patent bearing date the 22nd February, 1878,
(No. 747), and the 2nd April, 1878 (No. 1303), and is designed to increase the
efficiency of such torpedo boats, and to facilitate the controlling and operation of
the same.
The first part of the said Invention relates to the novel construction of the hull
or body of a torpedo boat, and consists in forming the same with a main or central
portion and two side or auxiliary portions to increase the stability of the boat and
to provide better accomodation for the cable and other parts.
This part of my Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, in which
Figure 1 is a plan or top view of a torpedo boat; Figure 2 is a side elevation of
the same; Figure 3 is a midship section on the line, ¤, Figure 1.
A is the hull of the boat; a is the main or central portion of the said hull; b, b,
are side or auxiliary portions of the same. These parts a and b may be oval or
circular in transverse section; they are constructed of thin steel or other suitable
sheet metal, and secured together by rivetting or bolting. The side or auxiliary
portion b form the reservoirs or chambers for the gas; they also serve to contain the
propelling engines. c is the magazine; d, the chamber or compartment for con-
taining the coiled cable; e is the compartment containing the electrical steering and
other apparatus; fis the firing rod or pin; g is the water ballast chamber; his
the cable; i, the paying out tube; j, j, are the screws or propellers which rotate
in opposite directions; k, k, are the sight or guiding rods.
The parts of the apparatus or mechanisın, whereby the various operations of the
torpedo boat are effected, are connected to the cable and controlled by electric
currents transmitted from the station through the cable, as described in the said
former Specifications, or in any other suitable manner.
In some instances in operating with my torpedo boat it may be desirable to
totally and instantaneously submerge or sink the same to prevent her destruction
or capture by an enemy's ship or boat. And according to the second part of this

page_text: .Invention I provide the said torpedo boat with means whereby the operator at the
shore or.other station can in any such emergency cause her immediately to sink to
the bottom of the water, and allow her to remain there until the danger has passed
and then raise her to the surface in a condition for immediate action.
This part of my Invention is illustrated in Figure 4, which is a longitudinal
section of a portion of a torpedo boat. The hull A of the torpedo boat is provided
with a water chamber l, which has holes or apertures in the bottom of the same, and
is also provided with an air cock at 2. In connection with this chamber I arrange
a small cylinder m, provided with a piston m², whose rod m³ is attached to the
lever of the said cock. A spiral spring m³ is provided to resist the inward move-
ment of the said piston. The said small cylinder m is connected by a pipe m² with
a valve chest, in which is arranged a slide valve m³. The said slide valve is con-
nected by a rod or rods to the lever or levers me, whose fulcrum is at m*, and the
said levers are connected by the links or rods m7 with the armatures of electro-
magnets n, which are included in the circuit of the cable, whereby the boat is
controlled from the keyboard at the station; o is a pipe extending from the said
valve chest to the aforesaid water chamber ; p is a feed pipe by which gas is
conducted from the reservoir or generator to the valve chamber.
When the operator desires to sink the torpedo boat he sends a current in one
direction through the said magnets, and thereby operates the slide valve to admit
'gas to the cylinder m in front of the piston m³, which is thus forced inward and.
opens the air cock 2. The opening of this cock permits the escape of the air from
the water chamber L, and consequently the entrance of water through the
apertures, and the boat then immediately sinks.
When it is desired to raise the boat a current is sent in the opposite direction
through the said electro-magnets, thereby operating the said valvo and piston in
such a manner as to close the cock and open the port o' and the pipe o, thereby
allowing the gas to pass from the valve chamber into the compartment ; this gas
by its pressure expels the water from the said compartiment, and the boat then
having its normal buoyancy restored immediately rises to the surface.
This part of my Invention is applicable to boats with their hulls constructed as
above described, or of one cylindrical piece in the ordinary manner.
In the apparatus described in my said former Specifications the cable carried in
the boat, and which maintains the connection between the same and the shore or
other station from which the boat is guided and controlled, is formed of a number
or series of insulated wires, each of which perforins its own especial service, that is
to say, each wire is connected with distinct and separate apparatus in the boat,
and a current may be sent through any of these wires without passing through the
other wires of the cable.
But according to another part of my present Invention I use a cable that may
consist of a single wire, through which a current is transmitted from the station to
the boat for actuating the various devices or apparatus necessary for the operation
of the said boat. This wire is connected in the boat with a series of relays or
resistance coils, or a multiple or compound relay by which the currents sent
through the said wire are directed to the different apparatus to be operated or
adjusted. I prefer, however, that the said cable should consist of one wire for
performing all of the necessary operations, exclusive of the firing or exploding of
"the magazine, and to employ a separate or distinct insulated wire for this latter
purpose.
A cable consisting of not more than one wire or two wires will be more flexible,
and will permit a greater length of cable to he coiled in a given space and in
proportion to its weight, than a cable consisting of many wires. Moreover this
improved cable permits the use of a thicker coat of insulating material, and con-
sequently is more perfectly protected against leakage and is cheaper to manufacture
than the cable described in my said former Specifications.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my

page_text: In the Matter of Letters Patent granted to William Robert Lake, of
the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton
Buildings, London for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CONSTRUCTION OF TORPEDO BOATS AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN
THE
CONNECTION THEREWITH" a communication from abroad by John Louis
Lay of Paris, France dated the 17th June 1878 No. 2408 which Letters
Patent have been assigned to and are now vested in the said John
Louis Lay.
DISCLAIMER AND MEMORANDUM OF ALTERATION proposed to be
filed by the said John Louis Lay.
•
WHEREAS Her Most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria by Her Royal Letters
Patent bearing date the seventeenth day of June in the year of Our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy eight in the forty first year of Her
reign did for herself her heirs and successors give and grant unto the said
William Robert Lake his executors administrators and assigns the sole privilege
of making, using, exercising, and vending, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, the said Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TORPEDO BOATS AND IN APPARATUS
TO BE USED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH," a specification of which invention was
duly filed in the Great Seal Patent Office in pursuance of one of the provisoes in
the said Letters Patent.
And whereas by an assignment dated twentieth of March in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine and duly recorded in the
Great Seal Patent Office aforesaid the said Letters Patent and all right title and

page_text: '
interest in and to the same have been assigned to and are now vested in me the
said John Louis Lay.
And whereas since the said assignment was made and recorded it has been
ascertained that having regard to what was known previous to the date of my
Patent the claims made in my said specification were too wide and I am desirous
of limiting the same in the manner hereinafter appearing.
NOW KNOW YE therefore that I the said John Louis Lay by and with the
consent of Her Majesty's Solicitor General do alter and amend the said specification
as follows: that is to say referring to the Queens Printers Copy of the said
specification and to page 4 thereof I strike out of line 40 the words "according to
another part of my present invention" and insert the word "sometimes" before
the words "use a cable" and I strike out the words " that may" at the end of
the line. And in line 41 I alter the word "consist to "consisting" and on
page 5 I strike out the whole of the matter from the commencement of the 8th to
the end of the 12th line constituting the third claiming clause
"
And in order that the effect of the said disclaimer and memorandum of alteration
may be fully understood 1 annex a copy of the said specification (omitting the
introductory and concluding clauses thereof) as it will appear after the above
specified alterations have been made therein.
св
"The present Invention relates to torpedo boats of the class described in the
Specifications of my former Letters Patent bearing date the 22nd February
"1878 (No 747) and the 2nd April 1878 (No 1303) and is designed to increase
the efficiency of such torpedo boats, and to facilitate the controlling and operation
"of the same.
"
{{
#
"
"The first part of the said Invention relates to the novel construction of the
"bull or body of a torpedo boat, and consists in forming the same with a main
or central portion and two side or auxiliary portions to increase the stability
" of the boat and to provide better accommodation for the cable and other parts.
"This part of my Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, in
"which Figure 1 is a plan or top view of a torpedo boat; Figure 2 is a side
"elevation of the same; Figure 3 is a midship section on the line a, a, Figure 1.
"A is the hull of the boat, a is the main or central portion of the said hull ;
b, b, are side or auxiliary portions of the same- -These parts a and b may be oval
or circular in transverse section; they are constructed of thin steel or other
suitable sheet metal, and secured together by rivetting or bolting-The side or
auxiliary portion b form the reservoirs or chambers for the gas; they also serve
to contain the propelling engines. is the magazine; d, the chamber or com-
partment for containing the coiled cable; e is the compartment containing the
" electrical steering and other apparatus; ƒ is the firing rod or pin; g is the water
"ballast chamber; is the cable; i, the paying out tube; j, j are the screws or
propellers which rotate in opposite directions; k k are the sight or guiding rods.
"The parts of the apparatus or mechanism, whereby the various operations of
"the torpedo boat are effected, are connected to the cable and controlled by
"electric currents transmitted from the station through the cable, as described in
" the said former Specifications, or in any other suitable manner.
"
"
Ef
"
"
16
.
"In some instances in operating with my torpedo boat it may be desirable to
totally and instantaneously submerge or sink the same to prevent her destruction
or capture by an enemy's ship or boat-And according to the second part of
"this Invention I provide the said torpedo bont with means whereby the operator
" at the shore or other station can in any such emergency cause her immediately
"to sink to the bottom of the water, and allow her to remain there until the
danger has passed and then raise her to the surface in a condition for immediate
"action.
"
"This part of my Invention is illustrated in Figure 4, which is a longitudinal
"section of a portion of a torpedo boat—The hull A'of the torpedo boat is provided

page_text: tt
with a water chamber 6, which has holes or apertures in the bottom of the
same, and is also provided with an air cock at -In connection with this
"chamber I arrange a small cylinder m, provided with a piston m³, whose rod m³
" is attached to the lever of the said cock. A spiral spring m³ is provided to
"resist the inward movement of the said piston. The said small cylinder mis
"connected by a pipe m* with a valve chest, in which is arranged a slide valve m².
"The said slide valve is connected by a rod or rods to the lever or levers m³,
"whose fulcrum is at m*, and the said levers are connected by the links or rods m?
"with the armatures of electro-magnets n, which are included in the circuit of the
cable, whereby the boat is controlled from the keyboard at the station; o is a
"pipe extending from the said valve chest to the aforesaid water chamber ; p is
a feed pipe by which gas is conducted from the reservoir or generator to the valve
"chamber.
"When the operator desires to sink the torpedo boat he sends a current in one
"direction through the said magnets, and thereby operates the slide valve to
"adinit gas to the cylinder m in front of the piston m², which is thus forced
"iuward and opens the air cock -The opening of this cock permits the escape
"of the air from the water chamber L, and consequently the entrance of water
"through the apertures, and the boat then immediately sinks.
ES
"When it is desired to raise the boat a current is sent in the opposite direction
through the said electro-magnets, thereby operating the said valve and piston in
"such a manner as to close the cock 2, and open the port o¹ and the pipe o
"thereby allowing the gas to pass from the valve chamber into the compartiment ;
"this gas by its pressure expels the water from the said compartment, and the
"boat then having its normal buoyancy restored immediately rises to the surface.
"This part of my Invention is applicable to boats with their hulls constructed
as above described, or of one cylindrical piece in the ordinary manner.
"In the apparatus described in my said former Specifications the cable carried
"in the boat, and which maintains the connection between the same and the shore
or other station from which the boat is guided and controlled, is formed of a
"number or series of insulated wires, each of which performs its own especial
"service, that is to say, each wire is connected with distinct and separate apparatus
"in the boat and a current may be sent through any of these wires without passing
through the other wires of the cable
"
et
" But I sometimes use a cable consisting of a single wire through which a
"current is transmitted from the station to the boat for actuating the various
"devices or apparatus necessary for the operation of the said boat-This wire is
"connected in the boat with a series of relays or resistance coils, or a multiple or
"compound relay by which the currents sent through the said wire are directed
"to the different apparatus to be operated or adjusted-I prefer, however, that
"the said cable should consist of one wire for performing all of the necessary
operations, exclusive of the firing or exploding of the magazine, and to employ
a separate or distinct insulated wire for this latter purpose.
"A cable consisting of not more than one wire or two wires will be more
"flexible and will perinit a greater length of cable to be coiled in a given space
"and in proportion to its weight than a cable consisting of many wires-Moreover
"this improved cable permits the use of a thicker coat of insulating material, and
consequently is more perfectly protected against leakage and is cheaper to manu-
"facture than the cable described in my said former Specifications.
"
"
"t
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent and the manner of performing the same I wish it under-
stood that I claim
"First-Constructing the bull or body of a torpedo boat with a main or central
portion and two side portions, as and for the purposes specified.
* Second-Providing a torpedo boat with means whereby the same may be

page_text: "
submerged or sunk and raised by an operator at the shore or other station as
"and for the purposes specified."
In witness whereof I the said John Louis Lay have hereunto set my hand
and seal this third day of August in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.
To The Commissioners of Patents for Inventions.
The application for leave to file this Disclaimer and Memorandum of Alteration
having been advertized in accordance with my directions. I hereby grant my
Fiat giving leave to the above named John Louis Lay as Assignee and now legal
and equitable Owner of the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent to file in
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents with the Specification to which the
same relates the above written Disclaimer and Memorandum of Alteration
Dated this fifteenth day of September 1882.

page_text: foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it under-
stood that I claim,―
First. Constructing the hull or body of a torpedo boat with a main or central
portion and two sido portions, as and for the purposes specified.
Second. Providing a torpedo boat with means whereby the same may be sub-
merged or sunk and raised by an operator at the shore or other station, as and for
the purposes specified.
Third. The employment of a cable consisting of a single wire or conductor, or
two wires or conductors properly insulated, in combination with the keyboard at
the station and relays or resistance coils or other devices on board the torpedo
boat, whereby currents sent through the said cable may be directed to the different
parts of the apparatus to be operated or adjusted, as above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
WM RORT LAKE (1.8)