RIFLED TORP
Year: 1884

page_text: We WILLIAM JEREMIAH MURPHY of Richmond, Cork, Ireland, Brewer, and JOHN
RAFFRAY FOSTER of Richmond, Cork, Ireland, Lieutenant, Royal Artillery, do
hereby declare that we are in possession of an Invention for a "RIFLED TORPEDO"
to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in the construction of a Rifled Torpedo, cylindrical in
form, tapered at both ends, the length so proportioned to the diameter as to secure
the least resistance when being propelled under water.
Along the outer surface of the exterior case several feathers or fins are so placed
as to impart rotation along the longer axis of the torpedo when being propelled
under water.
The propulsion may be effected by various means but by preference the following
mode is adopted, some composition is placed in a compartment at the after or stern
end of the torpedo which when ignited generates and discharges gas through one or
more holes so placed in the stern as to propel the torpedo forward The compart-
ment into which the cartridge or tube containing the propelling power is placed is
also cylindrical in form and concentric with the outer case of the torpedo to which
it is securely fastened. Between this compartment and the outer case is an annular
space which when the torpedo is in motion would gradually become filled with
water through holes suitably placed in the outer case and so regulated in size that
the admission of water would compensate for the loss in weight due to the con-
version of the composition into gas for the propelling power, and the water so
admitted, would be set back towards the stern end of the water chamber by inertia,
and at the same time be evenly distributed by the centrifugal force, caused by the
rotation of the torpedo; the centre of gravity and equilibrium of the torpedo being
thus preserved.
The cartridge or tube containing the propelling composition is made smaller in
diameter, than the compartment into which it is placed, so as to allow of its being
surrounded by water, to prevent the overheating of the case forming the propelling
compartment; suitable outlets being made at the stern end for the escape of steam
which would be generated by the heat of combustion.
The explosive substance or charge is placed in a compartment at the fore part of
the torpedo and may be detonated in a similar manner to that employed in the

page_text: Whitehead or Woolwich Torpedo viz; by a percussion cap connected by a pin or
bolt with the nose of the torpedo. To ensure the discharge should the torpedo miss
its object, a Bickfords or other equivalent fuze is connected to the extremity of the
propelling composition, by means of its match, and this match can be made of any
length. so as to act as a time fuze.
The air chamber or compartment is placed between the propelling compartment
and the compartment containing the explosive charge, this air chamber or compart-
ment being so regulated as to float the torpedo as required, a smaller air chamber
is also provided at the forward extremity of the torpedo for use in adjusting and
balancing the torpedo if necessary.
Dated thin Telfth ave of Contamhru 7001

page_text: We WILLIAM JEREMIAH MURPHY of Richmond Cork, Ireland, Brewer, and
JOHN RAFFRAY FOSTER, of Richmond; Cork, Ireland, Lieutenant Royal Artillery,
do hereby declare the nature of our Invention for a "RIFLED TORPEDO" and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This Invention, consists in the construction of a Rifled Torpedo, cylindrical in
form, tapered at both ends, the length so proportioned to the diameter as to secure
the least resistance when being propelled under water.
Along the outer surface of the exterior case several feathers or fins are so placed
as to impart rotation along the longer axis of the Torpedo when being propelled
under water.
The propulsion may be effected by various means but by preference the following
mode is adopted, some composition is placed in a compartment at the after or stern
end of the Torpedo, which when ignited" generates and discharges gas through one
or more holes so placed in the stern as to propel the Torpedo forward.
The compartment into which the cartridge or tube containing the propelling
power is placed, is also cylindrical in form and concentric with the outer case of the
Torpedo to which it is securely fastened. Between this compartment and the outer
case is an annular space which, when the Torpedo is in motion, would gradually
become filled with water through holes suitably placed in the outer case and so
regulated in size, that the admission of water would compensate for the loss in
weight due to the conversion of the composition, into gas for the propelling power,
and the water so admitted would be set back towards the stern end of the water.
chamber by inertia, and at the same time be evenly distributed by the centrifugal
force, caused by the rotation of the Torpedo; the centre of gravity and equilibrium
of the Torpedo being thus preserved.
The cartridge or tube containing the propelling composition is made smaller in
diameter, than the compartment into which it is placed, so as to allow of its being
surrounded by water, to prevent the overheating of the case forming the propelling
compartment; suitable outlets being made at the stern end for the escape
which would be generated by the heat of combustion..
of steam
The explosive substance or charge is placed in a compartment at the fore part of
the Torpedo and may be detonated in a similar manner to that employed in the
Whitehead or Woolwich Torpedo; namely, by a percussion cap connected by a pin
.or bolt with the nose of the Torpedo. To ensure the discharge should the Torpedo
miss its object, a Bickfords, or other equivalent fuze is connected to the extremity
of the propelling composition, by means of its match, and this match can be made
any length so as to act.as a time Fuze.
of
The air chamber or compartment is placed between the propelling compartment
and the compartment containing the explosive charge this air chamber or compart-
ment being so regulated as to float the Torpedo as required, a smaller air chamber
is also provided at the forward extremity of the Torpedo for use in adjusting and
.balancing the Torpedo if necessary.

page_text: The object of our Invention as may be seen from the foregoing specification is to
secure a more accurate aim by preventing the Torpedo from deviating from the
course in which it is directed, by imparting to it a rotary motion in the manner
herein described.
i
The nature of our Invention will be better understood on reference to the
accompanying sheet of Drawings in which
Fig. 1, Is a side elevation of the Torpedo ready for use.
Fig. 2, Is a plan looking on the top of the same.
Fig. 3, Is
Longitudinal elevation in section.
Fig. 4, Is an end elevation looking at the stern.
Fig. 5, Is an end elevation looking at the head or bow.
Fig. 6, Is a transverse section through the air chamber or compartment on the
line A B looking aft.
Fig. 7 Is a transverse section through the propelling chamber or compartment on
the line C. D. looking forward.
Fig. 8, Is a transverse section through the Mine Chamber or compartment on the
line E. F. looking aft.
Fig. 9, Is a longitudinal elevation in section shewing the fore part of the
Torpedo containing the mine chamber made separate from and telescoped on to
the after part of the Torpedo which contains the air and propelling chamber or
'compartments.
The same letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
a, Is an air chamber or compartment which separates the propelling chamber or
compartment from the Mine chamber, the capacity of which is regulated according
to the size and weight of the Torpedo when ready for use.
b. Is an air, and water tight screw plug fitting into an orifice in the air
Chamber, which may be used for the introduction of Ballast, to regulate the
'buoyancy of the Torpedo.
c. Is a second air chamber placed in the head or bow of the Torpedo, which may
be fitted with a screw plug in the same manner, and for a similar purpose to that
last described under the letter b.
d, Is the mine chamber or compartment into which is placed the explosive
charge. In some cases as shewn in Fig. 9, this portion of the Torpedo may be
made separate so as to telescope over the midship or after part of the air tight
chamber, so that the fore-part may be drawn off to receive the explosive charge
which may be placed loosely into the mine chamber with a water and air tight
plug to close the same, or the explosive charge may be inserted in the form of a
waterproof-cartridge,-by-this-arrangement-the-explosive-charge_need_not_be
inserted until immediately before the Torpedo is required to be used, or the fore
part of the Torpedo can be charged ready for use, and be placed in a magazine
-until required.
e, Is an Annular water space which surrounds the propelling chamber,
f.f. Are holes or apertures in the fore part of the same and
g. g: Are holes or apertures in the after part of the same.
When the Torpedo is in motion, water flows through the holes or apertures ff
into the annular water space e and a portion escapes either in the form of water or
steam through the outlets g. g. at the after end of the Torpedo as previously
described, by this circulation of water, the case or chamber which receives the
propelling charge or cartridge is kept cool, and at the same time the loss in weight
due to the conversion of the propelling composition into gas may be compensated
for, by so regulating the size of the holes or apertures for the admission and outlet
of water into and out of this space that the centre of gravity and equilibrium of
the Torpedo may be preserved, if necessary self acting regulating valves may be
fixed to these inlets and outlets.
h. Is the case or cartridge tube containing the propelling composition which may
be screwed by the nut O or otherwise inserted into the space formed by the
aunular water space or compartment last referred to, This case or cartridge tube

page_text: nay be water proof and may be made of less Diameter than the chamber into
which it is inserted so as to allow the intervening space to be filled with water as
n additional means of protecting the annular space and likewise the case or
artridge tube from the heat of the propelling charge, suitable inlets and outlets
being provided for the water and for the escape of steam which may be generated.
The sectional lines represent the propelling charge within the cartridge case or
tube.
This cartridge or propelling charge may be removed from the Torpedo, and
treated in like manner to that described for the Mine or explosive charge.
p. Is a screw plug for closing the cartridge until required for action.
j. Represents the Bickfords fuze or other equivalent appliance for discharging the
mine and
k, Is the match or other medium for communicating ignition to the fuze.
Is the detonating pin or bolt which passes through an air, and water tight
tube in the air chamber C to the detonating cap m or other medium within the
mine or explosive charge in the chamber d, and which is the means of exploding
the charge by impact, on coming in contact with the object against which it is
directed.
n, Represents the feathers, or fins, so placed on the exterior case as to impart
rotation along the longer axis of the Torpedo when being propelled under water
and which constitutes the essential feature of our Invention.
These spiral feathers or fins may vary in number, length, depth and thickness
and they may also vary in the pitch of the thread or rifling They may be placed
either along the whole length of the Torpedo case or along part only, they may be
placed either at the fore or after ends or both or they may be placed amidships, or
at intervals along the whole or part of the length of the outer case of the Torpedo
such variations being made to meet the requirements of the Torpedo as to size,
weight, speed, and distance, to bé propelled.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we claim is
1. Constructing a submarine torpedo cylindrical in form, with spiral feathers, or
fins along the outer surface of the exterior case, so as to impart rotation along the
longer axis of the torpedo when being propelled under water, substantially as
herein described and set forth.