Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Mar., 1887.
Specification Accepted, 7th Apr., 1887.
We SID HUGH NEALY, Gentleman, and LEE HUTCHINS, Journalist, both citizens of
the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, U.S.A.,
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:-
The invention relates to self-propelling torpedoes which have heretofore been.
constructed in various ways. Some have been provided with ordinary propelling
blades actuated from a motor within the shell or spindle of the torpedo, and in some
instances in connection with such propellers it has been proposed to cause the shell of
the torpedo to revolve by reaction between the propeller and casing. In all such cases
however the revolution of the shell has been a minor consideration and merely intended
to cause the torpedo to travel in a straight line.
This invention consists of an organization in which a motor-shaft unprovided with
propelling devices is held against rotation in the direction in which the motor tends to
turn it; thus producing a reaction which causes the rotation of the motor itself, and
consequently of the shell to which the motor is secured, the shell being provided with
a suitable screw or propeller-blade upon its outside.
In the preferred construction.they dispense with propeller-blades on the motor-shaft
and substitute therefor straight guiding and holding plates preferably mounted upon
a shaft projecting from the rear of the torpedo. The faces of these plates are
arranged parallel with the direction of travel and act as a fulcrum or abutment against
the water, so that a rotary motion of the shell is set up, but no forward movement of
the shell is produced by the blades themselves.
This method of operation, as well as the preferred details of construction, is shown
n the accompanying drawing as embodied in one apparatus in the manner deemed
most suitable for the purpose. The details and general plan may, however, be varied
vithout departing from the invention.
In the accompanying drawings-
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the torpedo represented in the water.
י

page_text: Fig. 3, a detail view illustrating the connecting and detaeming devices
forward ends of the float and torpedo.
Fig. 4, a transverse view partly in section, illustrating the same features.
Fig. 5, a detail elevation partly in section showing the connecting and detaching
devices between the rear of the float and torpedo ; and
Figs. 6 and 7 are transverse sectional detail views illustrating the same matter.
The torpedo-shell shown is of the ordinary double-cone or cigar shape.
Screw or propeller blades a are shown as extending spirally from end to end of the
torpedo. Of course a single blade could be used.
may
5
be a
1
At any suitable point within, the torpedo shell is located a motor which
spring-motor of suitable power, or any other well known form of motor which
may derive its power either from the shore or from a source within the shell-for
instance, an electric, or compressed-air, motor.
A shaft, preferably projecting from the end of the torpedo in an axial line, is
connected or geared to the motor and carries upon its outer end one or more blades c,
the surfaces of which are arranged in planes parallel with the axis of the torpedo and
its line of travel. If the front and rear connections X and Y were both swivel or
journal connections, as they might be or, assuming that the torpedo is traveling
through or on the water independently of any connection with the float, then, instead
of tending in any manner to propel the torpedo, these blades bear upon the water and
form a fulcrum, abutment, or purchase for the power developed by the motor, and the
shell or body of the torpedo is therefore caused to rotate with reference to the blades
and their shaft. The screw-blades or spiral feathers a arranged upon the outside of
the torpedo draw it through the water in a straight line with a uniform motion and
high velocity, the blades c serving to keep it correctly aligned.
The float D, which may be of any suitable material, is provided at front and rear
with the depending connections X, Y, which support the torpedo. In the organization
shown the front connection is a swivel or journal bearing in which the nose of the
torpedo freely turns while the rear bearing between the connecting devices Y and
the end of the motor-shaft which extends beyond the holding-blades a is a rigid one.
With such a construction the motor-shaft is held positively against turning
independently of any action of the blades which then serve to insure the rectilinear
travel of the torpedo; but, when the torpedo is released, as presently described, the
holding-blades then act as above set forth and insure the continued travel of the
torpedo.
The front connecting devices X and their manner of operation are shown in detail
in Figs. 3 and 4.
The upper face of the float is near its forward end formed with a cavity or
chamber, and there is an opening a which extends from this chamber downward
through the bottom of the float, as clearly seen in Fig. 4. Near the bottom of this
opening are pivoted the two arms X, each of which at its lower end is formed with a
half socket to embrace the nose of the torpedo. They are normally held in the
closed position indicated by full lines, Fig. 4, by a cross-piece v on an endwise-moving
detaching rod V which slides in bearings in the float and projects a suitable distanc
beyond its front or bow. Should this rod V meet an obstruction, as for instance th
torpedo-guard of a ship, the rod would be forced back, the cross-piece v thrown from
between the upper ends of the arms X, and the latter would at once be throw
together at the top by suitable springs, 3, thus throwing the lower ends of the arm
apart, as indicated by the dotted lines, Fig. 4. The torpedo will therefore at the fro
be immediately disconnected from the float. When the float is checked by a
obstruction, as just mentioned, and the torpedo detached, the latter in its forwar
movement might foul the arms X; and to guard against such a possibility w
provide the following arrangement
-
A knee-piece, bracket, or brace W is secured upon the bottom of the float and form
a stop against which the arms X are held against the forward strain caused by t
draft of the torpedo. Each arm X is formed in two parts and jointed at X
long as the arms are held together, as indicated by the full lines, the knee-piece

page_text: holds them rigidly; but when they are thrown apart, as indicated by the dotted lines,
and the joints Xmove outwardly beyond the brace W, then, by the action of a
suitable spring X2, the lower sections of the arms X turn upon their bearings and are
thrown forward and upward as indicated by the dotted lines, Fig. 3, and there is no
possibility of the torpedo striking them.
The detaching-rod, by the same backward movement, operates the rear connecting
devices Y which immediately disconnect the torpedo at the rear of the float in the
following manner :
The float is formed with a chamber Y¹ near its rear end, and also with a vertical
aperture which extends from the forward part of the chamber through the bottom of
the float. Within this way or aperture is a vertically-sliding link y which, when the
torpedo is connected with the float, is held in the raised position shown in Fig. 2 by a
horizontal hook or foot on the detaching-rod which enters an eye in the link. The
lower end of the link carries a pin which engages in a horizontal elongated slot in the
forwardly-projecting end of a right-angular frame Z pivoted by means of an arm or
lug near its angle which projects into a recess formed in the under side of the float
and rocks upon a pivot-pin g. The recess is of such size (see Fig. 5) that when the
detaching-rod is disengaged from the link y the link and angular frame Z may fall
into the position indicated by the dotted lines, Fig. 5. The depending arm or portion
of the frame Z has hinged to it the torpedo connecting-devices or arms Y, each of
which is formed with an angular half-socket for the reception of the squared end of
the motor-shaft. When the parts are in the position shown by the full lines, the link y
will be held up by the foot on the detaching-rod and the arms Y will be prevented
from separating and releasing the shaft by two braces, Z, Z, which are permanently
attached to, and depend from, the bottom of the float, and rest against square
shoulders z formed on the outer sides of the arms; thus firmly holding the end of the
motor-shaft against rotation. When the detaching-rod meets an obstruction, as before.
described, the link y is released and the link and angular frame Z fall downward into
the position indicated by the dotted line, their movement being assisted by a spring y¹
interposed between the forwardly-projecting horizontal arm of the frame Z and the
bottom of the float. The effect of this movement is to draw the shoulders formed on
the outer faces of the arms Y away from the square ends of the depending braces Z³,
as clearly seen by the dotted lines, Figs. 5 and 6; and the arms are then thrown apart
by a spring y interposed between them (see dotted lines, Fig. 6), thus disconnecting
the rear end of the torpedo from the float.
The detaching-rod is normally pushed forward into the proper position by a coiled
spring seated in a suitable socket in the float, Figs. 2 and 5. When the detaching-rod
therefore meets an obstruction it is pushed back and the torpedo is disconnected from
the float both at front and rear. The front foot of the detaching-rod, being a trifle
shorter than the rear foot, the first effect will be the release of the front of the torpedo,
which will sink a little, while the rear end of the motor-shaft is still in engagement
with the arms Y, thus giving the shell, which is not so buoyant as the float, a diving
motion. We therefore provide the arrangement at the rear of the torpedo whereby
the angular frame Z is permitted to fall backwards a little so as to prevent the binding
of the squared end of the motor-shaft in its socket in the arms Y as the shell dives.
The torpedo, having been disconnected from the float at front and rear, will continue
to rotate and be drawn forward by its encircling blade, the motor-shaft now being held
against rotation by the blades a. The torpedo will, by diving, pass beneath the guards,
and strike the hull of the ship.
The float may be provided with a rudder to be controlled from the point of launching
in any well-known way.
In a recess or chamber on the upper face of the float is arranged a small motor,
preferably a spring motor, connected by a crank with one end of a rocking lever e
having its opposite end connected with a sliding collar on a horizontal rod-which
may be the detaching rod. This collar is also connected by braces with a number of
ribs which are pivoted at their forward ends, the construction being similar to that of
an umbrella frame. As the lever e is vibrated, the braces elevate and lower the ribs,

page_text: which may be covered with any suitable light flexible material colored the same tone as
the water; the inner face may be colored brightly, or when used at night coated with
phosphorescent paint. As the torpedo moves through the water the rear end of this
sight-device or hood is at regular intervals expanded and collapsed, so that the operator
may know the exact location and direction of the torpedo.
The invention obviously is not limited to submarine torpedoes, but is also applicable
to those propelled upon the surface of the water.
The supporting and detaching devices herein described are novel and practical and
represent the principles of construction which are preferred, but of course they inay
be varied without departing from the invention.
The invention also, in its broader aspect, contemplates the general operation
involving the rotation of the shell and the holding of the motor-shaft, however it may
be accomplished, and irrespective of whether the motor be located within or without
the shell, and irrespective of how it may be disposed with reference to the shell,
provided, always, the general operation is accomplished.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what is claimed is :-
1. The combination of a rotating shell having a screw-blade thereon, a motor which
accompanies and rotates said shell, a shaft unequipped with propelling devices which
the motor tends to rotate, and means for holding said shaft against rotation by the
motor, whereby a reaction is set up which causes the rotation of the shell.
.
2. The combination of a torpedo-shell, its encircling blade, a motor which
accompanies the shell and rotates it, and fulcrum or purchase plates or blades carried
by the motor-shaft and having their faces parallel with the axial line of the torpedo,
for the purpose set forth.
3. The combination of the float, the rotating torpedo-shell having a screw-blade
thereon, the motor, its shaft, a connection between the motor-shaft and float which
holds the shaft against rotation, and the connection between the torpedo and float
which permits the rotation of the shell.
4. The combination of the float, the rotating torpedo-shell having a screw-blade
thereon, the motor, its projecting shaft equipped with straight guiding and holding
blades, the connection between the motor-shaft and float, which holds the shaft
positively from rotation, and the connection between the shell and float which permits
the rotation of the shell.
5. The combination of the self-propelling rotating torpedo-shell, the float, the
depending connections, and the sliding detaching rod.
6. The combination of the torpedo-float and the collapsable and expandable hood
carried thereby.
7. The combination of a travelling torpedo or float, an intermittent signaling device
carried thereby, and a motor also carried thereby and isolated or disconnected from
the point of launching to actuate the signaling device.
Dated this Fifteenth day of January 1887 at Washington Da TT SA
ington, D
DC TTS A
SID HUGH NEALY.
LEE HUTCHINS.
Carpmael & Co.,
Agents for the Applicants.