IMPROVEMENTS IN GUIDING OR STEERING AND SINKING TORPEDOES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Scott, of the Infirmary, Alnwick, in the County of
Northumberland, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GUIDING OR
STEERING AND SINKING TORPEDOES."
Sealed the 19th July 1878, and dated the 20th April 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Scott at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th April 1878.
ROBERT SCOTT, of the Infirmary, Alnwick, in the County of Northumberland.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN GUIDING OR STEERING AND SINKING TORPEDOES."
My Invention has for its object the guidance or direction of fish or other self-
impelled torpedoes, in such a manner that after having been discharged their course
may be altered to any desirable extent, so as to enable them the more easily to
strike the object aimed at, or if they miss fire to bring them back again to their
original position.
This is accomplished in the following manner :-The ordinary fish or other self-
impelled torpedo, or one designed to travel on the surface of the water, has applied
to it a rudder or rudders governed by a tiller, which has at its extremity a segment
into which gears a rack or other suitable connection, through which motion is
imparted by single or double-acting rams or pistons at the sides of the tiller or by
one double-acting piston, if preferred. The rams or pistons are worked by com-
pressed air, steam, or pressure water from the reservoir in the torpedo, the cylinders
being supplied through a slide or other suitable valve, actuated so as to give motion
in one direction or the other by an electro-magnet, which is put into action by a
wire or wires coiled in the torpedo or in the place from which the torpedo was
discharged, at which latter position an electric battery is provided for producing
the electric current to act on the electro-magnets. Thus, when the torpedo is dis-
charged and during its journey it will be in connection with the place of discharge
by an electric wire or wires, which will unwind as the torpedo proceeds on its course.
Din G21

page_text: and transmit the electric current which gives any required direction to the
torpedoes.
I also apply the electric wire to open compartments in the torpedo, so as to give
a slanting direction or otherwise to the torpedo in its attack.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said. Robert. Scott in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th October
1878.
ROBERT SCOTT, of the Infirmary, Alnwick, in the County of Northumberland.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN GUIDING OR STEERING AND SINKING TORPEDOES."
My said Invention relates to improvements in the mode of (and apparatus) for
guiding or steering fish or other self-impelled torpedoes, whereby a torpedoe dis-
charged from a ship, vessel, or any convenient place, and propelled by the usual or
any suitable means, may have its course directed with precision in order better to
insure its striking the object aimed at, or should it miss fire may be brought back
again to its original position.
In carrying out my said Invention I apply to the torpedoe a rudder governed by
a tiller, which is formed with or carries at its upper extremity a toothed or friction
wheel or segment or an equivalent device, with which engages or is connected a
rack or other suitable gear in such a manner that by the motion of the said rack or
gear, say, for example, to and fro in a rectilinear direction, a partial rotatory motion
in the required direction is imparted to the rudder, whereby the torpedoe is guided
in the required course. In order to obtain this motion of the rack, or equivalent
gear, I employ a double-acting cylinder or cylinders (situate in the torpedoe), the
piston or pistons of which (driven by air, steam, water, or other fluid) is or are
connected to and thus operate the said rack or gear. The ingress of the motive
fluid to and its egress from the opposite sides of the piston or pistons are regulated
by valves, which are governed in their action by electricity or magnetism under the
control of the operator stationed on board of the ship, or vessel, or at any other
place from which the torpedo has been discharged. For this purpose an electro-
magnet is employed to operate each valve, such electro-magnets being connected by
wires, either directly with a battery at the place whence the torpedoe was dis-
charged so as to be charged with the line current, or they may be placed in
communication with such battery through the intervention of a relay and battery,
situate on the torpedoe, and connected by a wire or wires with the said battery.
In order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed
particularly to describe, by the aid of the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, several
modes of carrying the same into effect, from which examples other modifications
will readily suggest themselves to competent persons conversant with the con-

page_text: struction of apparatus of this description and with the conditions to be fulfilled in
torpedo warfare.
Figure 1 of my Drawings represents a horizontal section of an apparatus con-
structed according to my said Invention, and designed to be worked by the aid of a
relay and a battery on board the torpedoe.
Figure 2 represents a side elevation of an apparatus constructed according to my
said Invention, and intended to be worked direct by the line current without a relay
or battery on the torpedoe; and Figure 3 is a sectional plan of the same, corre-
sponding to Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a sectional plan illustrating another modification of apparatus, designed
to be operated either with or without the aid of a relay and battery on the
torpedoe.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Referring to Figure 1, A is a double-acting cylinder containing a piston B, con-
nected at one end by a rod a to a strap C, and at the other end by a continuation b
of the rod in the opposite direction to the piston c of a cataract cylinder D. The
strap C is formed with a rack d, with which engages teeth formed on a wheel E
carried by the tiller E' of a rudder, whilst the portion e of the said strap is made
plane, so as to form a bearing for the non-dentated portion di of the wheel E.
This apparatus with its appurtenances, as herein-after described, is carried on the
torpedoe. It will be obvious therefore that by the act of operating the piston B
so as to cause it to move to or towards either the fore or rear end of the cylinder,
as required, the rudder will be turned in the desired direction, and the torpedoe
will be steered or guided in the required course, the cataract D, when such is
employed, having the effect of promoting a steadiness in the movement by pro-
viding a resistance to the motion of the piston B, which resistance can only be
removed by the passage of fluid contained in the cylinder D through a restricted
aperture e in the piston c, as is well understood.
In order to obtain the requisite motion of the piston B I may employ either com-.
pressed air, steam, or water as the motive agent, the preference being however in
most cases given to the motive fluid which is used for propelling the torpedoes. In
the present example however I shall assume, for the sake of convenience, that
compressed air is the motive agent employed, and that the same is derived from a
reservoir situate in the torpedoe. In the Drawings, Figure 1,f, f¹, represent the
inlet orifices or ports for the compressed air from the said reservoir for the supply
of air to the opposite sides of the piston.
It will be observed that the ports f, f¹, debouch or open into valve chambers F, F',
fitted with valves G, G', respectively. These valves regulate the supply of the
compressed air to opposite sides of the piston through ports and passages g, g', and
also the egress of compressed air through the exhaust ports h, h, respectively. By
operating therefore either of the valves the compressed air will be partially
exhausted from one side of the piston into the atmosphere, and admitted from the
reservoir in the same proportion to the other side of the piston, and the rudder
turned accordingly.
For example, assuming that it is required to turn the rudder in the direction
indicated by the curved arrow, the valve G is to be moved in the direction indicated
by the corresponding arrow. A portion of compressed air will escape through the
exhaust port h from one side of the piston, and a proportionate quantity of com
pressed air will be admitted to the other side of the piston through the port and
passage g.. The piston will thus be caused to move in the direction indicated by
the corresponding arrow, thereby acting upon the wheel E, and turning the rudder
so as to direct the torpedoe in the required course. By operating upon the valve G¹
the reverse effect will be produced.
The valves are operated by electro-magnets H, H, which attract armatures I, II,
with which the valves G, G₁, are respectively provided, the electro-magnets being
charged through a relay by a battery carried in the torpedoe, and connected by a

page_text: wire or wires with a battery and transmitting apparatus situate at the place whence
the torpedoe was discharged. By continuing the emission of the current therefore
as long as is necessary, the piston may be caused to perform a complete stroke, or
any portion of a complete stroke, in either direction, the valves being retracted by
springs (not shewn in the Figure) as soon as the circuit is broken. Facility is thus
afforded for adjusting the position of the rudder with precision, as a small fraction
of a revolution, or any required angle of motion may be readily obtained, in lieu of
the rudder being of necessity moved to one of two extreme positions, as is the case
in apparatus heretofore designed.
It is obvious that various arrangements may be adopted for actuating the valves
direct from the line current without the employment of a relay or battery on board
the torpedo by reducing the amount of work to be performed by the electro-mag-
netic agency; for example, I may use a small subsidiary cylinder and piston for
working the main valves, the supply of the motive fluid to the said subsidiary
cylinder being controlled by a small valve operated by the electro-magnets direct
from the line current. I prefer, however, to employ an arrangement, such for
example as is shewn in Figures 2 and 3, in which a clock movement and escape-
ment is used for operating the valves, the escapement being controlled by the electro-
magnets in lieu of the valves themselves. In this case the armatures I, I', consist of
permanent magnets, and the electro-magnets H, H¹, are arranged with their poles
in the one case of the same denomination as the opposite poles of the armature, and
in the other case of the contrary denomination to the opposite poles of the arma-
ture. For example, the opposite poles of the electro-magnet and armature H, I,
are of contrary denominations, whilst the opposite poles of the electro-magnet and
armature H, I, are of the same denomination. When, therefore, a positive current
is emitted from the battery the armature of one electro-magnet will be attracted
and the armature of the other will be repelled, and vice versa when a negative
current is transmitted, as is well understood by electricians. By transmitting, there-
fore, a suitable current, according to which of the two valves it is required to
operate, the desired result will be obtained.
The clock movements (marked K, K', in my Drawings) for working the valves
consist of spring barrels k, k', which impart motion by means of gearing 1, 1, to
shafts m, m³, each carrying a crank at each end, the cranks of the shaft m being
marked n and o, and the cranks of the shaft m¹ being marked n¹ and o'.
The cranks n, n', are connected by rods p, p', with the valves G, G', respectively,
so as to impart a reciprocating motion to the said valves when the shafts m, m³,
are free to rotate under the action of the spring barrels k, k', but this motion of the
shafts is controlled by the detent and escapement apparatus next herein-after
described, and to which the cranks o, o¹, are connected.
To
The armatures I, I', are carried by levers L, L, which are pivotted at 1-2
respectively to fixed quadrants q, q¹, and are provided with detent pins or pro-
jections r, 7, 8, 81, which are adapted to apertures in the said quadrants, so that
when either of the electro-magnets is charged, and the corresponding armature is
attracted, one pin or projection will be caused to protrude through and beyond the
quadrant, and the other pin or projection will be retracted, and vice versa.
these quadrants are adapted the outer extremities of escapement levers t, t¹, which
are mounted on centres or fulcra u, u, and are connected at their opposite extremi-
ties by rods or links v, v², to the cranks o, o¹, so as to receive a partial reciprocating
rotary motion when the shafts m, m¹, are in action. As, however, one or other of
the detent pins or projections 7, 8, and 11, 81, constantly arrests the motion of the
escapement levers t, t, respectively along the quadrants q, q, it follows that the
required control over the action of the valves G, G¹, is obtained; for example,
assuming the parts to be in the position indicated in the Drawings with the electro-
magnets out of action, the escapement levers t, t¹, have been arrested in their down-
ward stroke by the detents r, r, which are protruded when the armatures are not
attracted. If, now, a current be emitted from the battery to charge the electro-

page_text: magnet H (for example) the armature I will be attracted thereby, turning the
lever L' on its centre 2, retracting the detent r¹ and forcing out the detent s', the
escapement lever t' is then free to continue its downward stroke under the action
of the clock movement, and as the crank o¹ turns the lever will commence its
upward stroke and will continue rising (turning upon its centre u¹) until its motion
is arrested by the upper detent s¹, the crank shaft m¹ will thus have moved to a
sufficient extent to effect the opening of the valve G¹, which valve will remain open
until the electric circuit is broken, when the armature will return to its former
position under the action of springs . The detent s' is thus retracted, and the
detent is protruded, the escapement lever t' completes its up stroke and returns,
and is again arrested by the detent r, the valve having been closed by the corre-
sponding movement of the crank shaft m¹.
A similar series of operations to that herein-before described also takes place
when the electro-magnet H is excited, the armature I being attracted, and by means
of the clockwork mechanisin thus released effecting the opening of the valve G,
which is again closed on the interruption of the circuit, allowing the armature I to
return to its normal position under the action of springs i.
It will be understood that the operation of the piston in actuating the rudder is
precisèly similar to that of the arrangement herein-before described with reference;
to Figure 1.
Figure 4 illustrates another modification of apparatus in which water is intended
to be used as the motive agent, the distributing valves being operated either with
or without the aid of a relay and battery on the torpedoe.
According to this arrangement I employ two pumps F2, F3, arranged one at each
side of the cylinder A, and communicating at opposite sides thereof by means of
inlet passages g, g', and outlet passages h, h¹, which last-mentioned passages are
controlled by the valves G, G', carrying armatures I, I¹, actuated by the electro-
magnets H, H¹, and springs i, i¹, as before.
The plungers G2, G3, of the pumps F2, F3, are operated by connections at w, w¹,.
with the moter, which effects the propulsion of the torpedo, the plungers being
always in action while the motor is at work, whether the valves G, G¹, are in their
open or closed position. When both of the valves G, G¹, are closed the plungers are,
reciprocated without producing any effect upon the water contained in the cylinder.
A, the piston B remaining neutral. If now one of the valves, say, for example, the
valve G, be opened, water will pass from the rear end of the cylinder through the
passage h, and a valve y into the pump barrel F2, and thence through a valve z and
the passage g, g, to the other end of the cylinder, the piston being operated
accordingly.
By opening the valve G¹ whilst the valve G remains closed water will be caused
to pass
froin the front end of the cylinder through the passage h' and a valve y' into
the pump barrel F3, and thence through a valve 21 and the passage g₁ to the rear,
end of the cylinder, thus moving the piston in the opposite direction to that of its.
motion when the valve G is actuated. The same body of water is thus caused to
reciprocate between the opposite sides of the piston so as to impart motion to the
latter, according to the required movement of the rudder for the guidance of the
torpedoe.
The clock movement, herein-before referred to, may be employed for the purpose
of throwing the pumps into and out of gear, the movement being controlled by the.
line current.
When pumps are used the cataract may be dispensed with, as in the example
illustrated.
It is obvious that when water is the motive agent adopted a double-acting
cylinder without pumps may be employed, such, for example, as is shewn in
Figures 1 and in Figures 2 and 3; and when steam is used as the motive fluid for
propulsion, water from the boiler may be employed as the motive agent for the
steering apparatus.

page_text: As a useful auxiliary to my Invention I use a beacon consisting of a visible object
of any required shape and description erected upon a pillar of a razor shape upon the
torpedoe, and connected by electrical communication with the battery or trans-
mitting apparatus at the place whence the torpedoe was discharged, so that the
beacon may be caused to descend out of sight at the required moment by es-
tablishing or breaking an electric circuit. When the torpedoe is started the
beacon is in its elevated position, and remains in that position for a sufficient length
of time to enable the operator at the said place to give the required direction to the
torpedoe, after which the circuit is formed or broken, as the case may be, and the
beacon is caused to fall beneath the surface of the water, so as to conceal
the approach of the torpedo from the enemy.
The beacon may be arranged to carry a light when it is required to attack vessels
by night.
If from any cause whatever it should be required to draw back the torpedoe
which has been discharged, this may be effected by means of my Invention, the
steering apparatus admitting of the torpedoe being turned completely round if
required.
Means may also be provided by establishing an electrical communication with
the regulator valve of the propelling moter for cutting off the steam or other
motive fluid as the torpedoe approaches the vessel or shore in its return course.
The wires for working the relay or charging the electro-magnets or other
electrical apparatus on board the torpedoe are unwound from a drum, or paid out
from a coil arranged within a sheath or casing as the torpedoe proceeds in its
traverse, and by the act of its movement the drum or sheath or casing being situate
in the torpedoe.
As the said Invention is specially intended for guiding Whitehead or submerged
torpedoes, it will be requisite to provide_means for maintaining an equilibrium in
the torpedoe as the wire is unwound. For this purpose when a drum is employed,
its rotation by the act of uncoiling the wire may be utilized for working a pump,
which shall force water into the torpedoe in sufficient quantity to compensate for the
reduction of weight by the paying out of the wire. Or when a sheath or casing is
employed to contain the coil of wire, the sheath or casing may be so situate as to
admit of the entrance of water to supply the place of the wire as it is paid out, the
wire being made of such a specific gravity that the space occupied by the wire will
be equal to the volume of an equivalent weight of water.
In ordinary cases I only use one insulated wire for the line current to control the
guiding engine, the water or earth being utilized for a return current to make the
electric circuit.
A coil of wire connected with the line wire may be carried on the ship or vessel
whence the torpedoe was discharged, so as to adinit of the ship travelling in one
direction and the torpedo in another direction whilst the torpedoe is still under
perfect control. .
It is obvious that similar arrangements of apparatus to those herein-before
described may be employed for sinking torpedoes when the Invention is applied to
the guiding of torpedoes which travel on the surface.
Two rudders may be applied to each torpedoe if found desirable. The tiller of
the rudder may also be operated by a lever fast thereon, connected at its opposite
ends by cords with the piston rod through the intervention of a pulley or pulleys.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent is, the employment for guiding or steering and sinking
torpedoes of a double-acting engine or engines controlled by valves operated
either wholly or partly by electrical communications with the place whence the
torpedoes are discharged, the said engine or engines being arranged in connection

page_text: with a rudder or rudders in such a manner as to enable any required minimum,
maximum, or intermediate angle of rotation of such rudder or rudders to be obtained
with precision, all substantially as herein-before described, and illustrated by the
accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said
set my hand and seal, this
hundred and seventy-eight.
Robert Scott, have to this my Specification
Fourth day of October, One thousand eight