Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Mar., 1889
Specification Accepted, 11th May, 1889
I, NICHOLAS JOHN HALPINE, a Lieutenant in the United States Navy, of 44, West
12th Street, in the City, County, and State of New York, United States of America,
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:
Prior to my invention, marine torpedoes of the self-propelling class, to which
class my invention relates, have been so constructed that the explosion of the
charge destroyed the torpedo hull and consequently such torpedoes have been
exceedingly expensive and experimental drills have been practically out of the
question. The main object of my invention is to so construct a torpedo that, just
prior to the explosion, the explosive will be delivered from the hull and the hull
removed from close proximity thereto. To the end named, the invention consists
essentially of a torpedo hull formed with an open mouthed chamber adapted to
receive an explosive-carrying case, a means for holding the case within the chamber,
and a tripping mechanism, all as will be hereinafter more fully explained and specifi-
cally pointed out in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specifi-
cation, in which Figure 1 is a side view of a torpedo embodying my invention.
Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view on line - figure 1. Figure 3 is an
enlarged cross-sectional view on line y y figure 1. Figure 4 is an enlarged detail
view representing a construction whereby the retaining catch of the explosive-
carrying case may be actuated by an electric current. Figure 5 is a central,
longitudinal, sectional view of the forward portion of the hull, the parts being
represented as they appear after the explosive-carrying case has left its receiving
chamber. Figure 6 is a central, longitudinal, sectional view of the forward portion
of the hull, the explosive-carrying case being represented in its position within the
chamber. Figure 7 is a side view, in partial section, of the detachable arrow-
headed stem, a portion of the explosive-carrying case being shewn in connection
therewith, the forward end of said case being shewn in section. Figure 8 is a
cross-sectional view on line - figure 7. Figure 9 is a detail view of the forward

page_text: end of the plunger to which the stem shewn in figure 7 is connected. Figure 10
is a central, longitudinal, sectional view of the rear portion of the torpedo. Figure 11
is a sectional plan view of said rear portion; and figure 12 is a plan view of a portion
of a torpedo, representing a modified construction.
Similar figures and letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the
views.
I
In the specific construction illustrated in the drawings above referred to,
10 represents a hull which is provided with side guiding fins 11 and with a heavy
keel 12. The hull 10 is formed with a chamber A which extends downward and
forward through the hull, a cover 13 being arranged to close the upper end of the
passage forming the chamber the lower end of the passage, however, being open.
Within the chamber A, I arrange a track or way 14 such track or way serving as the
support for a case B formed to receive a charge of explosive material and provided
with upwardly-extending arms 15 which carry small wheels or rollers 16 that ride
upon the track or way 14. In order that the case B may be held within the chamber A,
arrange a spring-actuated catch 17 which is normally held in position to engage a
lug 18 formed on the case, and in order that the case B may be released when the
torpedo approaches the vessel or other object to be destroyed, I mount a plunger 20,
in the manner best shewn in figures 5 and 6, said plunger being provided with a
stem 2 which, when the plunger is forced inward, as will be hereinafter explained,
will strike against the upwardly-extending arm of the catch 17 and throw said catch
out of engagement with the case lug and to the position in which it is shown in
figure 5. In order that the plunger 20 may be forced in as just described, I provide
a forwardly-extending stem 21 formed with a harpoon or arrow head, 22, the rear of
the stem fitting in a conical block 23 that is apertured to receive projections 3, that
are formed upon a piston head 24 which is carried by the plunger 20.
If vessels or objects unprotected by nets were alone to be attacked, the stem and
harpoon head would be all that would be required for a proper operation of the parts;
but as many vessels are protected by nets so that the harpoon head could not reach
the vessel's hull it becomes necessary to provide an attachment which will bear against
the net and force the stem 21 inwards. To this end, I mount a cage 25 upon the
stom 21 the cage being held to place by frictional contact with the stem and its
rearward movement being limited by a collar 26 that is rigidly connected to the
stem. To the cage proper, I secure radially-extending arms 27 which bear against
the net strands, and in order that the stem may be held by the net after the
head has passed through the net meshes, I pivotally mount arms d about the end
of the stem just to the rear of the harpoon-head and in connection with these arms.
I arrange springs 28 which tend to throw the arms to the position in which they
are shewn in figure 7, the arms, however being normally held in the position in
which they are shewn in figure 6 by the cage 25. In the conical head 6 of the
case B, I mount a drum 29 upon which there is coiled a metallic ribbon or
chain 30, the end of said ribbon or chain being carried forward in order that it.
may be connected to the cage 25 or to any other convenient point of attachment
upon the stem 21. This chain or ribbon 30 is held taut by the action of a weak
spring 31, that is arranged as shewn in figure 6.
The plunger 20 is provided with a laterally extending arm to which there is
connected a rearwardly extending rod 32, said rod being connected to a reversing
lever 33 and being provided with a cam face 34 which acts upon a trigger 35 (see
figure 3) said trigger being arranged to release the firing pin 36 and the parts being
so timed that the firing pin will be released and forced forward by its spring against
a primer 37 which is arranged in connection with a conical fuse chamber 38 that is
carried at the rear end of the case B, just prior to the time when the stem 21 of the
plunger acts to throw the catch 17 and thus release the case B.
It is intended that the torpedo above described shall be driven by means of a screw-
propeller 40 actuated by a compressed air, electric, or any proper form of, motor (not.
shewn in the drawings) and it is intended that the torpedo should be controlled by
means of a current and proper coils located in connection with the various actuating

page_text: mechanisms carried by the torpedo: To convey the current to the torpedo, I mount
a reel 50 within a proper casing, arranged as best shewn in figures 3 and 10, and
upon the reel I wind a proper conductor which is paid out as the torpedo advances the
various connections between the conductor and the operating magnets being established
as may be deemed advisable.
In attacking a vessel or other object unprotected by nets, the harpoon head upon
striking the vessel's hull will become embedded therein, and the stem 21 acting upon
the plunger 20 will force said plunger to the rear; the firing pin will be tripped; the
catch 17 thrown; the case B freed; and the motor reversed. Immediately after the
tripping of the catch 17, the case B will move downward and forward, the reel or
drum 29 will pay out, and the case B drop to a position below the vessel, thus
reaching a more vulnerable point of attack, the fuse being so timed as to provide for
this downward movement of the case. If a vessel protected by nets is to be attacked,
the harpoon head will pass through such netting, the arms 27 will bear against the
meshes of the net and the case 25 will be forced against the collar 26, thus releasing
the arms d and permitting their springs 28 to throw them to the position in which
they are shewn in figure 7, in which position they are held against any movement in
the direction of the arrow, shewn in figure 7, by shoulders e, as will be readily under-
stood. In case of an armor-protected vessel, the torpedo-hull would be guided so as
to strike the vessel well forward near the cut-water, so that the explosive charge will
pass under the vessel in a fore-and-aft line, the fuse being timed so that the charge
will explode when in the most effective position; and at this point I desire to state that
the explosion may be brought about by means of time, electric, contact, or immersion
fuses.
The construction hereinhefore described produces an exceedingly safe torpedo, as
the loading need not be brought about until just before the torpedo is to be started
and such loading can always be under the direct supervision of a torpedo expert, and
in practice the case B would probably be so constructed that the fuse cap would be
made to screw upon or be otherwise fitted to the cage proper. The cover 13 is
provided with turn buttons or other fastening devices, which may be quickly manipu
lated so that after the case B has been adjusted to the position in which it is shewn in
Figure 6 the cover may be quickly applied to the hull to close the opening at the
upper end of the passage forming the chamber A. One of the greatest advantages of
this construction is that as the hull is not destroyed when the explosion takes place,
the torpedo corps may be thoroughly familiarized with the use of this particular form
of torpedo which would be a great advantage in case of actual hostilities.
As before stated, any form of motor may be employed to drive the torpedo and
such motor may be coupled with a single propeller 40, as shewn in the main figures
of the drawings, or the motor may be coupled with two propellers 40 and 40%, as
shewn in Figure 12; and although any form of steering mechanism might be
employed, I prefer such mechanism as is shewn in figures 10 and 11 wherein 70
represents a cylinder in which there is arranged a piston 73 that is connected to a
frame 72 by its rods, said frame being slotted to receive the tiller 71. Compressed
air is led to the cylinder through a pipe o and admitted as desired through a valve 75
that is controlled by electro-magnets 76 and 77, the exhaust being through the
pipe 74. An inspection of the figures last referred to will shew that, by charging the
proper one of the magnets 76 or 77, the tiller may be moved as desired. In order
that the buoyancy of the torpedo hull may be within control of the operator, I provide.
a series of compartments 60 that are separated by perforated partitions, as shewn in
figures 6 and 10, the amount of water admitted to these compartments being regulated
by a valve 61 that is controlled by opposing electro-magnets, as indicated, the valve
admitting a supply of compressed air when moved in one direction and water when
moved in another direction, as will be readily understood.
In certain instances it might be desirable to explode the primer 37 by means of an
electric current and to that end I arrange an electro-magnet in connection with. the
trigger 35, as shewn in figure 3, and I also provide for the throwing of the catch 17
by means of an electro-magnet as shewn in Figure 2. In practice it might, and

page_text: probably would, be desirable to bring about the return of the torpedo hull by forcing
it forward and turning it in its course after the primary backing from the vicinity of
the explosion had taken place, and to this end I could arrange an electro-magnet in
connection with the reversing lever, as indicated in figure 10.
In order that the plunger 20 may be held against accidental displacement, 1
provide a break-pin f which is arranged as shewn in figure 6, such pin being made
of soft metal or other material which will readily cut or break when the stem 21
is subjected to any severe shock, but the pin should be of sufficient strength to hold
the plunger against any accidental displacement.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. A torpedo hull formed with an open mouthed chamber adapted to receive an
explosive-carrying case, substantially as described.
2. A torpedo hull formed with a forwardly inclined open mouthed chamber adapted
to receive an explosive-carrying case, substantially as described.
. A torpedo hull formed with a forwardly and downwardly inclined open mouthed
chamber adapted to receive an explosive-carrying case, substantially as described.
4. A torpedo hull formed with a chamber or passage which extends through the
hull, substantially as described.
5. A torpedo hull formed with a chamber or passage which extends diagonally
through the hull, substantially as described.
6. A torpedo hull formed with a chamber or passage which extends diagonally
downward and forward through the hull, substantially as described.
7. A torpedo hull formed with an open mouthed chamber in which there is arranged
a track or way, substantially as described.
8. A torpedo hull formed with an open mouthed chamber in the upper portion of
which there is arranged a track or way, substantially as described.
9. A torpedo hull formed with a chamber adapted to receive an explosive-carrying
case and provided with a catch and plunger, in combination with a stem which bears
upon the plunger and is arranged for detachable connection with the hull, substantially
as described.
10. A torpedo hull formed with a chamber adapted to receive an explosive-carrying
case and provided with a catch and plunger, in combination with a stem which
bears upon the plunger and is arranged for detachable connection with the hull
and a connection between the explosive-carrying case and the stem, substantially
as described.
11. A torpedo hull formed with a chamber adapted to receive an explosive-carrying
case and provided with a catch and plunger, in combination with a break pin and a
stem which bears upon the plunger and is arranged for detachable connection with
the hull, substantially as described.
12. A torpedo hull formed with a chamber adapted to receive an explosive-carrying
case and provided with a catch and plunger, in combination with a stem provided
with a retaining attachment and arranged for detachable connection with the hull and
a connection, substantially as described, between the stem and the explosive-carrying
case, as and for the purpose stated.
13. A torpedo hull formed with a chamber adapted to receive an explosive-carrying
case and provided with a catch and plunger, in combination with an arrow or
harpoon headed stem which bears upon the plunger and is arranged for detachable
connection with the hull and a connection, substantially as described, between the
stem and the explosive-carrying case, as and for the purpose stated.
14. A torpedo hull formed with a chamber adapted to receive an explosive-carrying
case and provided with a catch and plunger, in combination with a stem which bears
upon the plunger and is arranged for detachable connection with the hull, a con-
nection between the explosive carrying case and the stem, a cage formed with
extending arms loosely mounted on the stem, a collar rigidly connected to the stem to

page_text: the rear of the normal position of the plunger, arms pivotally mounted upon the stem
in advance of the cage, and springs arranged in connection with the arms, sub-
stantially as described.
15. A torpedo hull formed with a chamber adapted to receive an explosive-carrying
case and provided with a catch and plunger, in combination with a rod connected
to the plunger, a reversing lever connected to the rod, a stem which bears upon the
plunger and is arranged for detachable connection with the hull, and a connection
between the stem and the explosive-carrying case, substantially as described.
16. A torpedo hull formed with a chamber adapted to receive an explosive-carrying
caso and provided with a catch and plunger, in combination with a rod provided with
a cam-faced projection and connected to the plunger, a firing pin, a trigger arranged
in connection therewith and mounted in a position to be borne upon by the cam faced
projection of the rod, a stem arranged for detachable connection with the hull, and a
connection between the stem and the explosive-carrying case, substantially as
described.
Dated this 15th day of Blarch 1889.
N. J. HALPINE.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agents.
N. J. HALPINE.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agents.