IMPROVEMENTS IN SUBMARINE TORPEDOES, AND IN THE MEANS FOR PROPELLING THE SAME
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Vincent Newton, of the Office for Patents, 66,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SUBMARINE TORPEDOES, AND IN THE MEANS
FOR PROPELLING THE SAME." A communication from abroad by Henry
Thomas Brown, of the City and State of New York, United States of America.
Sealed the 15th February 1878, and dated the 13th November 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Vincent Newton at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th November 1877.
ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SUBMARINE
TORPEDOES, AND IN THE MEANS FOR PROPELLING THE SAME." [A communication
from abroad by Henry Thomas Brown, of the City and State of New York, United
States of America.]
One part of the Invention relates to the external form of the submarine torpedo,.
and consists in making it in transverse section, square, or rectangular, its top and
bottom flat and parallel with each other, its sides vertical throughout their length,
and its ends sharp.
Another part of the Invention relates to the construction of the forward part or
head of the torpedo for the reception of the explosive charge, and to the provision
for igniting and exploding the charge. The forward part or head, in which there is
a cavity of sufficient capacity for the charge, and the end of which is made sharp
enough to cut netting or other impediments which may surround or be otherwise
applied to or near the ship or other body to be assailed, consists of a hollow shell of
iron or steel, of sufficient strength to resist the impact necessary for such cutting,
but may yet be capable of being crushed or split by striking against the body
assailed. In the front part of this head there is a fulminate priming, and a steel
rod applied to operate like the firing needle of a needle gun. This rod is locked by
a spring guard in such a position that it cannot reach the fulminate priming until
the shell of the head or that portion of the latter which covers the forward end of

page_text: •
the steel firing rod is crushed or split by striking the ship or body assailed, when
by such crushing or splitting the point of the steel rod and the priming are per-
mitted to be brought sharply into contact with each other, and by the consequent
ignition of the priming the charge is exploded. The front extremity of the head
may be composed of a separate cap of hardened steel, and applied to cover the end
of the steel firing rod, and made capable of cutting a way for the torpedo through
netting and yet of being crushed or broken to permit or produce the operation of
the firing rod without necessitating the crushing or splitting of that part of the
head which contains the exploding charge.
That part of the Invention which relates to the propulsion of the torpedo consists,
principally, in a cylindrical guide tube applied under water, and through which the
square torpedo is pushed by means of a detached piston which fits said tube, and is
actuated by the pressure of steam, air, or other elastic medium of high tension, but
which through being projected from the guide tube behind the projectile is retarded
and stopped by the resistance of the water after leaving the guide tube, while the
torpedo continues its onward course. The guide tube may have an internal
diameter equal to the angular distance between opposite angles of the square
torpedo, in which case the square, torpedo will be guided by its angles working in
contact with the internal circumference of the guide tube, but the guide tube and
its detached piston may be made of a diameter much larger than the said angular
distance, in which case it will be necessary to attach longitudinal guide pieces to
the torpedo to fit the guide tube, in order to ensure its ejection in a line coinciding
with the axis of the guide tube. This method of pushing out the torpedo by a
detached piston admits of imparting to it an indefinite amount of energy, irrespective
of the tension of the actuating medium, since the guide tube and the piston may be
of many times greater area than that of the torpedo.
The guide tube may be applied in various ways. It may be applied in connec-
tion with stationary water batteries for defending harbors, it may be suspended by
the side of a vessel or between twin boats, or it may be applied under the bottom
of a ship or within the same, protruding through a suitable opening in the side or
stem thereof.
Being applied under the surface of the water the guide tube must be provided
with means for preventing the entrance of the water into the end from which the
torpedo is to be ejected. This may be done by an ordinary sliding sluice valve, but
such valve cannot be opened instantaneously at the moment when the forward
point of the torpedo reaches it, and of course the end of the guide tube must not
be opened before that moment, otherwise water would enter the guide tube and
seriously retard the ejection of the torpedo. To overcome this difficulty one feature
of this Invention consists in a stationary valve, composed of a disc of some water-tight
textile fabric, held in position by two metallic rings and inserted within the guide tube,
inside of the sluice valve. This disc valve admits of opening the sluice valve before
commencing to push out the torpedo, which latter on reaching the stationary disc
valve perforates the same, and passes through it during its outward course. On
closing the slide valve after the piston has pushed out the torpedo another disc
valve may be introduced through an opening provided in the top or side of the
guide tube, the said opening being furnished with a water-tight cover, which has
to be removed for the insertion of the disc valve.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alfred Vincent Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th
May 1878.
ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SUBMARINE
TORPEDOES, AND IN THE MEANS FOR PROPELLING THE SAME." A communication
from abroad by Henry Thomas Brown, of the City and State of New York,
United States of America.
This Invention relates, firstly, to the external form of the submarine torpedo, and
consists in making it in transverse section, square, or rectangular, its top and
bottom flat and parallel with each other, its sides vertical throughout their length,
and its ends sharp.
Another part of the Invention relates to the construction of the forward part or
head of the torpedo, for the reception of the explosive charge, and to the provision
for igniting and exploding the charge. The forward part or head, in which there
is a cavity of sufficient capacity for the charge, and the end of which is made sharp
enough to cut netting or other impediments which may surround or be otherwise
applied to or near the ship or other body to be assailed, consists of a hollow shell
of iron or steel, of sufficient strength to resist the impact necessary for such cutting,
but may yet be capable of being crushed or split by striking against the body
assailed. In the front part of this head there is a fulminate priming, and a steel
rod applied to operate like the firing needle of a needle gun. This rod is locked by
a spring guard in such a position that it cannot reach the fulminate priming until
the shell of the head or that portion of the latter which covers the forward end of
the steel firing rod is crushed or split by striking the ship or body assailed, when
by such crushing or splitting the point of the steel rod and the priming are per-
mitted to be brought sharply into contact with each other, and by the consequent
ignition of the priming the charge is exploded. The front extremity of the head
may be composed of a cap of hardened steel, and applied to cover the end of the
steel firing rod, and made capable of cutting a way for the torpedo through netting
and yet of being crushed or broken to permit of the action of the firing rod without
necessitating the crushing or splitting of that part of the head which contains the
exploding charge.
That part of the Invention which relates to the propulsion of the torpedo consists,
principally, in a cylindrical guide tube applied under water, and through which
the torpedo is pushed by means of a detached piston which fits said tube, and is
actuated by the pressure of steam, air, or other elastic medium of high tension,
but which though being projected from the guide tube behind the projectile is
retarded and stopped by the resistance of the water after leaving the guide tube,
while the torpedo continues its onward course. The guide tube may have an
internal diameter equal to the angular distance between opposite angles of the
square torpedo, in which case the square torpedo will be guided by its angles
working in contact with the internal circumference of the guide tube; but the
guide tube and its detached piston may be made of a diameter much larger than
the said angular distance, in which case it will be necessary to attach longitudinal
guide pieces to the torpedo to fit the guide tube, in order to insure its ejection in a
line coinciding with the axis of the guide tube. This method of pushing out the
torpedo by a detached piston admits of imparting to it an indefinite amount of
energy, irrespective of the tension of the actuating medium, since the guide tube
and its piston may be of many times greater area than that of the torpedo.
The guide tube may be applied in various ways. It may be applied in connec-
tion with stationary water batteries for defending harbors, it may be suspended
from the side of a vessel or between twin boats, or it may be applied under the
bottom of a ship or within the same, protruding through a suitable opening in the
side or stern thereof.

page_text: F
Being applied under the surface of the water the guido tube must be provided
with means for preventing the entrance of the water into the end from which the
torpedo is to be ejected. This may be done by an ordinary sliding sluice valve, but
such valve cannot be opened instantaneously at the moment when the forward
point of the torpedo reaches it, and of course the end of the guide tube must not
be opened before that moment, otherwise, water would enter the guide tube and
seriously retard the ejection of the torpedo. To overcome this difficulty one feature
of this Invention consists in a stationary valve, composed of a disc of some water-
tight textile fabric, held in position by two metallic rings, and inserted within the
guide tube inside of the sluice valve. This disc valve admits of opening the sluice
valve before commencing to push out the torpedo, which latter on reaching the
stationary disc valve perforates the same and passes through it during its onward
course. On closing the slide valve after the piston has pushed out the torpedo
another disc valve may be introduced through an opening provided in the top or
'side of the guide tube, the said opening being furnished with a water-tight cover,
which has to be removed for the insertion of the disc valve.
In the accompanying Drawing-
Fig. 1 shows a side view, partly in vertical section, of the torpedo, and a central
longitudinal section of the guide tube containing the torpedo.
Fig. 2 is a top view, corresponding with Fig. 1, showing parts of the guide tube
and torpedo in horizontal section..
Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the torpedo and guide tube.
Fig. 4 is a face view of the disc of waterproof textile fabric.
And Fig. 5 exhibits in detail, on a larger scale than the other Figures, the device
for locking the firing pin out of contact with the fulminate priming.
A is the body of the torpedo, which may be of wood or other material; B is the
hollow head, of iron or steel, in which is the cavity a for the exploding charge; B¹
is a hollow steel cap, forming the forward extremity of the head. A heavy weight E
is inserted into the bottom of, the body, near the after end, in order to balance the
explosive charge in the head, and to maintain the position both vertically and bori-
zontally of the torpedo. C is a fixed tube containing fulminate priming; D is the
firing rod, arranged opposite the priming, and fitted to slide in a guide & provided
in the head (see Fig. 5). This rod D is made with a collar to engage with the
spring locking guard b, which is firmly secured within the head, and which holds
the rod out of contact with the fulminate priming until the head or the cap B¹ is
crushed or split, and thereby insures the prevention of premature explosion. Fis
the guide tube; G is the detached piston fitted to said tube; H is a sliding sluice
valve applied to the end of the tube from which the torpedo is to be ejected; I is
the disc valve of waterproof textile fabric for closing the tube inside of the valve H;
and c, c, are two metallic rings, between which the said disc is clamped by suitable
screws, and by which it is kept extended. The end disc and rings are represented
as inserted into a water-tight box J, which is attached to the mouth of the guide
tube, and which is provided with an opening in the top, and has a removable cover K
applied to said opening to permit the introduction of the disc and rings, and the
removal of the rings after the disc has been perforated by the passage of the torpedo
through it. At the other end of the guide tube any suitable valve L is provided
for the admission into the said tube behind the piston of the compressed air, steam,
or other elastic medium, which is to be employed for the propulsion of the torpedo,
and which is supplied by a pipe M. from any suitable reservoir, generator, or com-
pressing apparatus.
The torpedo may be inserted into the guide tube from either end, and if any
water has been allowed to enter the guide tube during the act of insertion such
water must after closing the sluice valve H and inserting the disc I be removed by
suitable meaus.. Previously to opening the valve L to admit the propelling medium
behind the piston the sluice valve H is opened. When the propelling medium
enters the guide tube behind the piston the latter is pushed forward and propels the
torpedo before it through the guide tube, and through the disc I, and through the

page_text: water outside with great velocity, until the forward end of the torpedo strikes
the ship or body assailed. The result of this shock will be to crush or break the
hollow shell-like head B, or cap B', thereby to bend or break the spring locking
guard b, and thus to bring the rod D and fulminate priming sharply into contact
with each other, ignite the priming, and explode the charge. The piston follows
the torpedo through the mouth of the tube, cutting out the perforated disc I from
the interiors of the rings c, c, in its passage, but it is instantly left behind by the
torpedo, and floats or sinks, according to the material of which it is made.
Having now set forth the nature of the Invention of "Improvements in Sub-
marine Torpedoes, and in the Means for Propelling the same," as communicated to
be from abroad, I wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited
Letters Patent I claim,-
First. A submarine torpedo having its transverse section square or rectangular,
its top and bottom flat and parallel, its sides vertical throughout their length, and
its ends sharp, substantially as herein described.
Second. In a submarine torpedo, having inclosed within it a firing pin for igniting
fulminate priming to produce the explosion of the charge, I claim, a hollow head or
cap having a sharp cutting edge, and capable of being broken or split by striking
the vessel or body assailed.
Third. The combination with the firing rod D and the head B, or cap B¹, of the
spring locking guard b for locking the firing pin, substantially as herein described.
Fourth. The guide tube, having an internal transverse sectional area larger than
the transverse sectional area of the torpedo in combination with the torpedo and
detached piston, substantially as herein described.
Fifth. The combination with the guide tube and an outer valve for closing the
end of the same, of an inner stationary valve composed of a disc of waterproof
textile fabric, held between two metallic rings, substantially as and for the purpose
herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
A. V. NEWTON. (L.S.)