AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING, DISABLING, OR DESTROYING TORPEDOES AND OTHER: DANGEROUS OR DESTRUCTIVE OBJECTS PLACED IN HARBOURS, RIVERS, CHAN NELS, AND OTHER WATERS, WHICH INVENTION IS PARTLY APPLICABLE TO ROCKET APPARATUS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Sholl, of Cranworth Street, Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND
APPARATUS FOR REMOVING, DISABLING, OR DESTROYING TORPEDOES AND OTHER:
DANGEROUS OR DESTRUCTIVE OBJECTS PLACED IN HARBOURS, RIVERS, CHAN
NELS, AND OTHER WATERS, WHICH INVENTION IS PARTLY APPLICABLE TO
ROCKET APPARATUS."
ealed the 16th November 1877, and dated the 23rd May 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Sholl at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd May 1877.
#{
CHARLES SHOLL, of Cranworth Street, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster.
AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING, DISABLING, OR
DESTROYING TORPEDOES AND OTHER DANGEROUS OR DESTRUCTIVE OBJECTS PLACED
IN HARBOURS, RIVERS, CHANNELS, AND OTHER WATERS, WHICH INVENTION IS
PARTLY APPLICABLE TO ROCKET APPARATUS."
The main objects of this Invention are to provide means for the destruction of the
shore connections with fixed torpedoes, and to clear or open the way for a vessel
or fleet of vessels by removing any obstructions that may be placed in a channel,
harbour, or river through which the said vessel or vessels may have to pass.
The said Invention comprises a double mortar, or two mortars on one base, fixed
on the deck of a swift light draft steam vessel, and placed at such an angle that a
steel wire rope armed with grapnels or hooks (and fastened to two round or conical
shots) shall be stretched to its full length when the said shots have been fired from
the mortars and are about to take the water. Two strong tow lines are also fastened
to the said shots, which lines having reached the bottom of the water are drawn
towards the steamer by a winding drum or other suitable apparatus operated by a
steam engine on the said vessel. Or should the said steam vessel be under weigh,
by causing her to back water the lines will be steadily drawn in, and the object
grappled or secured by them will be brought to the surface. The said mortars are
simultaneously discharged by the action of a suitable electric battery. Should it
be necessary to operate at night, compressed air might be substituted for gunpowder
in the said mortars.

page_text: The track of locomotive torpedoes propelled by compressed air can be traced by
a float carrying an exhaust tube, and swift skirmishing steamers armed with my
apparatus will be enabled to "lasso" these engines of destruction in deep water
with an extended steel wire net attached to the aforesaid shots, and destroy or
disable them, or draw them from the course they are designed to follow.
Another object of my Invention is to provide advantageous means for working a
rocket apparatus. For this purpose I discharge from the said mortars ropes or lines
over or upon the rigging or spars of ships in distress. By means of these ropes
or lines "life ropes" may be drawn on board the said ships, and the crew and
passengers thereby rescued by the means usually employed in such einergencies.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Sholl in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd November
1877.
CHARLES SHOLL, of Cranworth Street, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster.
"AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING, DISABLING, OR
DESTROYING TORPEDOES AND OTHER DANGEROUS OR DESTRUCTIVE OBJECTS PLACED
IN HARBOURS, RIVERS, CHANNELS, AND OTHER WATERS, WHICH INVENTION IS
PARTLY APPLICABLE TO ROCKET APPARATUS."
My Invention relates to a novel method of removing, disabling, or destroying
torpedoes and other dangerous or destructive objects, lying or fixed, in harbours,
rivers, channels, and other water ways or spaces, and to apparatus for carrying
the same into effect, which method and apparatus may also be advantageously used
in place of the ordinary rocket apparatus for saving life at sea in cases of shipwreck,
or in other emergencies.
The said Invention is chiefly designed for cutting out or destroying and dredging
for sunken connections and electrical wires attached to submarine torpedoes, thereby
exploding them or rendering them useless, and opening a way for a fleet of ships in
an enemy's harbour or river.
The apparatus I employ for carrying my Invention into effect comprises three or
more mortars or guns placed radially on the deck of a steamboat, and which should
be charged or loaded with exactly the same amount and quality of powder. In each
of these mortars are placed shot or projectiles partially hollow, taper, and armed
with grapnels at the end for intersecting the wires and other obstructions to be
removed or destroyed. The said guns or mortars are simultaneously discharged by
electricity, or by other suitable means.
The shot or projectiles in the three guns are joined together with a strong rope
or line, which I call a "breast rope," and which (on firing at an angle of 45°)
becomes tightened as soon as the shot or projectiles reach the point where they
come under the influence of gravitation, and this rope or line falls with the shot to
the bottom of the river, harbour, or other water. Attached to these shot or pro-
jectiles are three lines, which I call towing lines, and as soon as the shot have
reached the bottom, these lines are immediately hauled in, bringing the shot and
breast rope with them, and intercepting and bringing in everything between the
three shots and the vessel carrying the apparatus. This operation is continued or

page_text: repeated at any part or position of the harbour or other space, until this part or
position is cleared of any obstructions that may have been fixed or laid down therein.
In the accompanying Drawing I have illustrated the manner of carrying my
Invention into practice with a set of three mortars.
Figure 1 is a plan of the said apparatus shewing the three mortars charged and
ready for firing, and the breast ropes and towing lines coiled on the deck of the
steamboat. Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of one of the said mortars with the
charge in the same.
Figure 3 is a plan drawn to a reduced scale shewing in full lines the position of
the breast ropes, towing lines, and projectiles after the mortars have been discharged,
and in dotted lines the positions assumed by the said breast ropes and towing lines
while being hauled on board the said steamboat.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawings.
A, A, A, are the mortars; B, B, B, are the towing lines; C, C, are the breast ropes;
D, D, D, are the projectiles; E, E, represent sunken torpedoes; and F, F are the
wires connecting them with stations.
In using this Invention in place of the ordinary rocket apparatus the inertia
of the three shots or projectiles will carry a line much farther than has heretofore
been practicable, and in cases where the wrecked or endangered ship is out of the
range of such ordinary apparatus this Invention may be used with very great
advantage, and afford the means of saving lives which would otherwise be lost.
The number of guns or mortars and projectiles employed for the above purposes
must be determined by the circumstances of each particular case.
Having thus fully described my said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I wish it understood that I claim the improved method of removing,
destroying, or disabling torpedoes and other objects placed in harbours, rivers, or
other water, and for saving life in cases of shipwreck, or other emergencies, by the
use of the apparatus herein described in the manner specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Sholl, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Nineteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
аттотт
CHARLES SHOLL. (L.S.)