IMPROVEMENTS IN TORPEDOES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Sydney Pitt, of Sutton, in the County of Surrey, for
an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TORPEDOES." A communication from
abroad by William H. Mallory, of the City of Bridgeport, State of Con-
necticut, United States of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Sydney Pitt at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th November 1881.
SYDNEY PITT, of Sutton, in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
TORPEDOES." A communication from abroad by William H. Mallory, of the
City of Bridgeport, State of Connecticut, United States of America.
The Invention consists in a torpedo which is arranged to be propelled by the gas
produced by the burning of some gas producing substance, and in the peculiar
construction and arrangement of the powder burning devices, and in a novel
method of compensating for the loss of weight of the torpedo due to the destruction
of the powder or other gas producing material, and that which I consider novel in
the apparatus is claimed in the claims hereto annexed.
In the Drawings similar letters refer to similar parts.
Figure 1 represents a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of the
forward half of the torpedo, and Figure 2 a similar view of the stern end of the
torpedo; Figure 3 represents a view in section of two of the cartridge holding
devices, and Figure 4 a view of one of them in perspective; Figure 5 is a section
through Figure 3 on the line x, x.
A represents generally the torpedo, which does not materially vary in external
configuration from the torpedo ordinarily employed, being cylindrical, and more
or less pointed at both ends. The stern end is provided with wings or fins W
for the purpose of turning the torpedo upon its axis as it advances through the
water.
The forward chamber V of the torpedo may be charged with any suitable
explosive to be fired in any well known way, and the novelty of the construction
will be found in the powder chamber and stern end of the torpedo.

page_text: I arrange the powder which is to propel the torpedo in a number of small
cartridges arranged to be simultaneously burned, instead of using one cartridge of
considerable extent. By this device, and by burning these cartridges simul-
taneously through a considerable length of the torpedo, I am enabled to equalize
the effect upon the torpedo of the loss of weight, and to make the burning of the
powder uniform throughout the entire extent. It is very apparent that if a
single cartridge of considerable length and weight be burned the centre of gravity
of the entire torpedo must be varied as the combustion of said powder advances,
while by dividing the powder into short sections, and also by inclining those
sections with reference to the axis of the torpedo, I avoid as far as possible the
longitudinal shifting of the centre of gravity of the torpedo boat. Further, by the
arrangement of a number of independent cartridges or charges simultaneously
burning I am enabled to burn at all times during the burning of the charge
the same quantity of powder by exposing the same area of surface for
combustion.
I prefer to arrange the charges in a number of independent cartridge holders,
which are in their general configuration hollow cones. These may be made of any
suitable material, but I find compressed papier maché to be very suitable. These
cartridge holders and the contained charges are shown in detail in Figures 3, 4,
and 5, as before referred to. The cartridge holder itself consists of a thick hollow
cone L pierced longitudinally. These cones are likewise pierced with a series of
circular cavities, whose axes are parallel to their outside surfaces. These cavities
are marked G, and may be readily seen in Figure 3. I then prepare suitable
cartridges of compressed gun powder, which are arranged to burn uniformly and
for a long enough time to enable the torpedo to complete its determined course.
I do not limit myself to compressed gunpowder, as other slow burning gas pro-
ducing bodies might be used. These compressed cartridges are then forced into
the cavities G previously described. The cartridge shells K are adapted exactly to
fill the cavities G. A suitable number of these cartridge holders having been
prepared I prefer to place them in the torpedo as follows I first slip the requisite
number of cartridge holders over a central stem or mandril, and force them loosely
together. I then fill the angles formed at the base of the cones with the fire
clay P, and then slip the combined cartridge holders and fire clay within the
inetallic shell of the torpedo. The rearmost cartridge holder is adapted to bear
against a circular support F, as shown, and the foremost cartridge holder is
confined by the screw cap N. By screwing down this screw cap N, or by drawing
the cartridge holders together on the mandril, the conical cartridge holders are
firmly forced together, and it will be found that they form a practically continuous
whole by reason of their locking against each other, and the firo clay is forced
outward and against a surrounding metallic shell, so that the completed structure
is solid, and firmly located within the metallic shell.
This metallic shell has preferably a spiral channel cut upon its surface. Sur-
rounding the central section of the torpedo and extending over so much of the
torpedo as is acted on by the powder is an elastic tube which may be made of
india rubber or other suitable material. This elastic tube or casing is arranged to
be filled with a sufficient quantity of air to exactly float the weight of powder
which is to be consumed. In other words the weight of water displaced by reason
of the presence of air within the casing should be as nearly as possible equal to the
weight of the powder to be consumed.
Suitable apparatus is provided for filling this expansible casing with air, and I
provide the spiral channel before referred to in order that the air pressure may be
simultaneously applied throughout the entire extent of this casing, although it is
not absolutely necessary in all cases.. The air chamber within the expansible
casing D connects with the air chamber E in the stern of the torpedo by means of
time orifices R. The chamber E communicates with the combustion tube by free
orifices T.
When the torpedo is charged and ready for use, these orifices T are
arranged to be closed by a plug S, which also closes the open end of the combustion

page_text: chamber and protects the charge. By this arrangement of collapsing the air casing
I am enabled to exactly compensate for the loss of weight in the torpedo due to
the burning of the powder, and to simultaneously and equally compensate for this
loss of weight throughout the entire length of the torpedo within which the charge
is being consumed.
It is plain that the expanding diaphragm D might be arranged in several ways,
so as to produce the same result and in the same way. For instance, it might be
located within the exterior metallic casing of the torpedo, or two chambers might
be provided one at either end of the cartridge chamber, and by freely connecting
the same and allowing the contained air to escape the same result might bo
accomplished.
It will be found that an apparatus constructed like the one before described will
owing to the natural laws governing the flow of gases under varying pressures
operate to reduce the displacement of the expansible diaphragm uniformly during
the same periods of time until the air has been entirely driven out, and I make
use of this law to uniformly and equally compensate for the burning of the powder,
so that it will be found that the torpedo as a whole will have the same specific
gravity at all times during the combustion of the powder and the escape of
the air.
The operation of the torpedo will now be readily understood. The metallic shell
having been properly charged with cartridges, as previously explained, I proceed
to inflate the diaphragm D, which may be done by any suitable valve, the plug S
having been previously driven into the end of the combustion chamber, as shown.
The plug is to be provided with a similar exploder, the one I prefer being an
apparatus to fire a charge of loose powder through and to the end of the central
opening around which the cartridges are placed, thereby simultaneously firing all
the cartridges. This exploder may be ignited by electricity or in any other
suitable way.
The torpedo having been placed in position in the water and properly directed
to strike the desired object, the exploder is fired and the explosion immediately
drives out the plug S, then the powder burning regularly by its reaction forces the
torpedo forward at a high velocity, at the same time the air within the diaphragm
being released flows out through the time orifices R and the free openings T and
escapes with the products of combustion, and thereby, as before explained, the
specific gravity of the torpedo remains unaltered and it pursues the same direction
in which it was originally aimed. The fins W by rotating the torpedo on its axis
cause it to pursue a straight line in its forward motion.
What I claim as my Invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-
First. A rocket torpedo provided with a number of independent radially arranged
propelling charges, and means, substantially as described, whereby said charges may
be simultaneously fired.
Second. A rocket torpedo provided with a number of independent charges located
at different points in the length of the vessel, and means, substantially as described,
whereby said charges may be simultaneously fired to burn at the same time without
affecting the centre of gravity of the vessel, as set forth.
Third. A rocket torpedo in which separate powder receptacles are arranged in
diverging lines from the axis of the torpedo outwards with their mouths towards
the centre, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Fourth. A rocket torpedo in which the charge is subdivided into separate
cartridges radially arranged each of uniform diameter, substantially as described.
Fifth. A rocket torpedo provided with a compensating collapsing diaphragm or
chamber having a time discharge orifice, substantially as described.
Sixth. A rocket torpedo provided with a compensating collapsing diaphragm or
chamber having a time orifice relatively proportioned to the propelling charge,
substantially as described.
Seventh. The combination in a rocket torpedo of a series of independent

page_text: cartridges adapted to be simultaneously fired and the collapsing diaphragm having
a time discharge orifice, substantially as described.
Eighth. A rocket torpedo provided with a number of annular or conical cartridge
holders adapted to be charged and subsequently placed in position in the torpedo,
substantially as described.
Ninth. In a rocket torpedo the combination of a collapsing compensating
diaphragm with a plug confining the air within the diaphragm chamber and
adapted to be driven from the torpedo, thereby releasing the air by the explosion
of the powder, substantially as described.
Tenth. A rocket torpedo in which the propelling charge is arranged within a
series of separate independent pockets radially arranged and all communicating
with a central chamber open towards the rear, substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Sydney Pitt, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty second day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.