Improved Apparatus for Launching Torpedoes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Nov., 1892
Complete Specification Left. 15th Aug., 1893-Accepted, 23rd Sept., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by JEAN BAPTISTE GUSTAVE ADOLPHE CANET, of
91, Avenue Malakoff, Paris, in the Republic of France, Civil Engineer.]
Improved Apparatus for Launching Torpedoes.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improved apparatus for launching torpedoes under water
or generally in any medium under conditions wherein there is a tendency to divert
the vessel or body from its primitive course.
The apparatus hitherto usually employed for launching torpedoes have guide
beams with flat sides which hold and guide the torpedo outside of the ship for
example until the moment when it can be completely released.
These guide beams are housed in tubes or cases distinct from those for containing
the torpedo and are operated by mechanical or other means.
According to my invention I use a guide or guide-beam which is tubular or
hollow and may or may not have a portion of its sides or walls cut away. It is'
constructed to permit the liquid currents to act simultaneously on all parts of the
torpedo. In some of the examples of my invention herein described the guide is
actually the launching tube or forms part of the same and it may be constructed to
act either as a movable cylinder relatively to a fixed piston or may be provided
with a piston and be movable therewith in a fixed cylinder.
Moreover in launching the torpedo, the guide beam can be arranged to move
either with or independently of the latter.
According to my invention I also provide apparatus which is to be used in com-
bination with the launching tubes for the delivery of water under pueumatic or
steam pressure as hereinafter explained.
The launching tube which is of the proper form and size to receive the torpedo
has according to one construction one side that communicates by an opening with a
chamber in which the torpedo guide works. The said guide is made hollow and
has fitted within it a piston the rod of which is securely fixed in the rear or inner
end of the aforesaid chamber. Another piston is fixed in the rear end of the
tubular guide and fits closely on the piston rod. The guide serves as a hydraulic
cylinder movable relatively to a stationary piston. The piston rod has small
passages extending through it for a purpose hereinafter specified. The said guide
is so formed and placed in the chamber beforementioned that when the guide is
within its chamber one side of it closes the aforementioned opening in the side of
the launching tube. This side of the guide is formed with dovetail grooves, and
the side of the tube opposite thereto is formed with similar grooves. These grooves
receive projections or fins formed on the torpedo and thereby guide and sustain the
latter firmly until the moment its body is clear of the ship. A water-tight door is.
provided at the rear end of the launching tube, and a valve is provided for closing
the forward end of the said tube and preventing the entry of sea water when the
said door is opened for placing the torpedo in the tube. A drain cock or valve is
also provided for draining the tube before re-charging the same with a torpedo.
In using this apparatus, the torpedo being in place in the launching tube, and
the aforementioned door and valve being closed, the said valve is first opened to
admit water which flows from the sea into the tube, then air or water under
pressure is admitted through one of the aforementioned passages into the piston rod
to the space forward of the piston in the guide chamber. This water presses upon
the head of the guide and forces the guide to project out of the chamber. Then air

page_text: or water under pressure is admitted behind the torpedo, and the latter is thereby
driven out of the tube, its fins being guided by the grooves in the guide. Then the
passage of the piston previously open to exhaust is opened for the admission and
the tube previously open to admission is opened for the exhaust of the air or water
and the guide is thereby caused to re-enter its chamber.
In a modification of my invention wherein the operations of forcing out the guide
and launching the torpedo are simultaneously performed, the launching tube
terminates at its outer end in the guide which is made hollow aud of such a shape
as to facilitate the action of the water upon the entire surface of the torpedo. The
said tube is formed at its rear end with a flange which acts as a piston in an outer
tube or cylinder. And at the same end the said tube is provided with a watertight
door or cover. The launching tube has on opposite sides of its bore two longitudinal
grooves which serve as guide grooves for the fins or tenons on the torpedo. The
outer tube or cylinder consists preferably of two parts of different diameter, the
large part serving as the cylinder in which works the piston on the launching tube,
and the small part serving as a guide to the launching tube. The said tube is
provided at its forward or outer end with a valve and its rear end is closed by a
water-tight door. Apertures in the tube permit communication between the
interior of the same, and the annular space around it within the cylinder.
The launching of the torpedo is effected as follows, that is to say :-The torpedo
being within the launching tube and the water-tight doors being properly closed,
the valve at the forward end of the tube is opened, the sea water then flows into the
tube and through the apertures beforementioned into the annular space surrounding
the said tube in front of the annular piston. Then by admitting air or water under
pressure behind the said piston the tube is forced out of the cylinder. As the tube
moves outward the water enclosed in the aforesaid annular space is forced through
the apertures into the launching tube and acts upon the rear of the torpedo
imparting to it a speed of outward movement in excess of that of the tube and
consequently a resultant speed which considerably accelerates the launching.
The return of the launching tube into the cylinder can be very readily effected
after employing the said cylinder. This operation is facilitated by the pressure
due to the head of water above the axis of the tube.
The
In a further modification of my apparatus the launching tube terminates in a
peculiarly formed guide and is provided interiorly with longitudinal guide grooves
extending along the sides of the said guide as and for the purpose above specified
with reference to the second construction. The said tube has on its lower side a rack
with which is geared a pinion which can be driven by any suitable means.
outer tube or cylinder is provided at its forward end with a valve and at its rear
end with a water-tight door as above described. The said cylinder is provided with
two automatic devices made conveniently in the form of spring bolts one of which
limits the outward movement of the tube and the other of which retains the
torpedo without exercising any restraint upon the said tube. An adjustable stop is
provided for limiting the rearward movement of the torpedo.
When this apparatus is used, the operation is as follows viz., the torpedo being
in place, the valve is opened to admit the sea water to the tube and cylinder. Then
the pinion is turned in the proper direction to move the launching tube outward
until the lower front edge of the said tube comes into contact with and is stopped
by one of the aforementioned bolts.
Then air or water under pressure, admitted at the moment when the other bolt is
raised to release the torpedo drives the latter out of the tube.
For effecting the return of the said tube into the cylinder it is only necessary to
reverse the movement of the operating pinion.
The apparatus for delivering water under pressure consists of a stationary
cylinder in which there is a movable piston formed integrally with a tubular part
which serves as a cylinder relatively to a stationary or fixed piston. Admission
valves are provided communicating with the lower and upper ends of the cylinder
respectively. Suitable outlet thoroughfares are also provided. Assuming the

page_text: cylinder to be filled with sea water and water or air under pressure be admitted to
the space above the fixed piston, the movable piston will rise, thereby discharging
the sea water above the said movable piston through one of the outlets and drawing
in sea water below the said piston through the lower admission valve.
The said outlet is connected with a suitable distributing valve arranged in
combination with the torpedo launching tube, and the sea water forced as aforesaid
through this outlet can, by means of the said distributing valve, be admitted to the
piston of the torpedo guide so as to force the said guide out as above described.
If at the end of this operation the water or air under pressure is conducted to
the space below the fixed piston and the outlet passage is opened to the exhaust
the movable piston will descend, thereby forcing the water beneath it out by the
other outlet which communicates with the launching tube. The torpedo is thereby
expelled from the said tube. At the same time the sea water again enters the
stationary cylinder through the other admission valve.
In using the said apparatus for returning or housing the guide, it is only necessary
to repeat the first part of the above described operation, that is to say, to admit air
or water under pressure and by means of the aforesaid distributing valve to admit
the water to the space in front of the guide piston of the launching apparatus
thereby forcing back the said guide into the cylinder.
Dated this 15th day of November 1892.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Launching Torpedoes.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 :-
My invention relates to improved apparatus for launching torpedoes under
water.
The apparatus hitherto usually employed for launching torpedoes have guide
beams with flat sides which hold and guide the torpedo outside of the ship until
the moment when it can be completely released.
These guide beams may be housed in tubes or cases distinct from those for
containing the torpedo and are operated by mechanical or other means.
According to my invention use, a guide or guide-beam which is tubular or
hollow and may or may not have a portion of its sides or walls cut away. It has
the form exteriorly of a solid the strength of which at any section throughout its
length is proportional to the stress, and is constructed to permit the liquid currents
to act simultaneously on all parts of the torpedo.
In some of the examples of my invention herein described the guide is actually
the launching-tube, or forms part of the same, and it may be constructed to act
either as a movable cylinder relatively to a fixed piston or may be provided with a
piston and be movable therewith in a fixed cylinder.
Moreover in launching the torpedo the guide beam can be arranged to move
either with or independently of the latter.
In the accompanying drawings I have shewn my invention applied to apparatus
for launching torpedoes.
Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section,
Figure 2 is a transverse section on the line xx Figure 1, and
Figure 3 is a horizontal longitudinal section of my apparatus wherein the guide
forms a part of one side of the launching-tube and serves as a hydraulic cylinder
the piston of which is fixed.
Figure 4 is a horizontal longitudinal section of a modification of my said

page_text: apparatus wherein the guide constitutes a launching-tube provided with a piston
which is fitted to work in an exterior envelope or cylinder.
Figure 5 is a transverse section on the line y y Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a vertical longitudinal section,
Figure 7 is a horizontal longitudinal section, and
Figures 8 and 9 are transverse sections on the line zz and 2¹¹ Figures 6 and 7
respectively showing another modification of my said apparatus wherein the guide
serves as a launching-tube and is moved by mechanical means independently of the
torpedo.
Figure 10 is a vertical transverse section of an apparatus which is to be used in
combination with the launching-tubes for the delivery of water under pneumatic
or steam pressure as hereinafter described.
Like letters indicate the same or corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the torpedo which is shewn in full lines inside, and in dotted lines outside
of, the launching-tube.
In Figures 1, 2 and 3 the launching-tube B is of the proper form and size to
receive the torpedo, the said tube having one side that communicates by an
opening B with a chamber B' in which the guide C works. The said guide is
made hollow and has fitted within it a piston D the rod D¹ of which is securely.
fixed to the rear or inner end of the chamber B. C' is another piston fixed in the
rear end of the tubular guide C and fitting closely on piston rod D'. The guide
serves as a hydraulic cylinder movable relatively to a stationary piston. The
piston rod D' has small passages d d' extending through it for a purpose hereinafter
specified. The said guide is so formed and placed in the chamber B' that when
the guide is within its chamber one side of it closes the aforementioned opening B*
in the side of the tube B. This side of the guide C is formed with dovetail
grooves c and the side of the tube B opposite thereto is formed with similar grooves..
These grooves receive the projections or fins a on the torpedo and thereby guide
and sustain the latter firmly until the moment its body is clear of the ship. E is a
water-tight door at the rear end of the launching tube, and F is a valve for closing
the forward end of the said tube to prevent the entry of sea water when the door E
is opened for placing the torpedo in the tube. B³ is a drain-cock or valve for
draining the tube before re-charging same with a torpedo.
In using this apparatus, the torpedo being in place in the launching tube B and
the door E and valve F being closed, the said valve is first opened to admit water
which flows from the sea into the tube, then air or water under pressure is admitted
through the small passage d in the piston rod D¹ to the space forward of the
piston D in the guide-chamber. This water presses upon the head of the guide
and forces the guide out of the chamber into the position shewn in dotted lines.
Then air.or water under pressure is admitted behind the torpedo and the latter is
thereby driven out of the tube B, its fins a being guided by the grooves c in the
guide C Then the passage d' of the piston is opened for the admission, and the
tube d is opened for the exhaust of the air or water and the guide C is thereby
caused to re-enter its chamber B¹.
In Figures 4 and 5 I have shewn a modification of my invention wherein the.
operations of forcing out the guide and launching the torpedo are simultaneously
performed. The launching tube B terminates at its outer end in the guide C
which is made hollow and of such a shape as to facilitate the action of the water
upon the entire surface of the torpedo. The said tube is formed at its rear end
with a flange B which acts as a piston in the outer tube or cylinder B'.
And at
the same end the said tube is provided with a water-tight door or cover E. The
cylinder B has on opposite sides of its bore two longitudinal grooves 6 (see
Figure 5) which serve as guide grooves for the fins or tenons a on the torpedo.
The tube B as will be seen by reference to Figure 4 consists of two parts of
different diameter the large part serving as the cylinder of the piston B' and the
small part serving as a guide to the tube B. The said, tube B is provided at its
forward or outer end with a valve F and its rear end is closed by a water-tight

page_text: door B. Apertures in the tube B permit communication between the interior
of the same and the annular space around it within the cylinder B'.
The launching of the torpedo is effected as follows that is to say:-The torpedo
being within the launching tube B and the doors E and B being properly closed
the valve F is opened; the sea water then flows into the tube B and through the
apertures into the annular space surrounding the said tube in front of the
piston B'. Then by admitting air or water under pressure behind the said piston
the tube B is forced out of the cylinder B3 as shewn in dotted lines. As the
tube B moves outward, the water enclosed in the aforesaid annular space is forced
through the apertures and acts upon the rear of the torpedo imparting to it a
speed of outward movement in excess of that of the tube B and consequently a
resultant speed which considerably accelerates the launching.
The return of the launching-tube B into the cylinder B³ can be very readily
effected after employing the said cylinder. This operation is facilitated by the
pressure due to the head of water above the axis of the tube.
In the modification of my apparatus shown in Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 the launching-
tube B terminates in the peculiarly formed guide and is provided interiorly with
longitudinal guide grooves extending along the sides of the said guide as, and for
the purpose, above specified with reference to Figures 4 and 5. The said tube has
on its lower side a rack G with which is geared a pinion H which can be driven by
any suitable means. The outer tube or cylinder 133 is provided, at its forward end,
with a valve F and at its rear end with a water-tight door B as above described.
The said cylinder is provided with two automatic devices at 3 and 6. These
devices are spring bolts; the bolt 3 limits the outward movement of the tube B
and the bolt retains the torpedo without exercising any restraint upon the
said tube. is an adjustable stop for limiting the rearward movement of the
torpedo.
When this apparatus is used, the operation is as follows riz., the torpedo being
in place, the valve F is opened to admit the sea water to the tube B and cylinder B³.
Then the pinion H is turned in the proper direction to move the launching-tube
outward until the lower front edge of the said tube comes into contact with and is
stopped by the bolt 6. Then air or water under pressure admitted by the
aperture 67 at the moment when the bolt is raised to release the torpedo drives
the latter out of the tube.
For effecting the return of the said tube into the cylinder it is only necessary to
reverse the movement of the operating pinion H.
The apparatus shewn in Figure 10 consists of a stationary cylinder I in which
there is a movable piston J formed integrally with a tubular part J which serves
as a cylinder relatively to a stationary or fixed piston K. L, are admission
valves communicating with the lower and upper ends of the cylinder I respectively.
L'are outlet thoroughfares. Assuming the cylinder I to be filled with sea
water, and water or air under pressure be admitted by the small passage p to the
space above the piston K the piston J will rise thereby discharging the sea water
above the said piston J through the tube and drawing in sea water below the
piston J through the valve L.
The tube is connected with a suitable distributing valve arranged in com-
bination with the torpedo launching-tube and the sea water forced as aforesaid
through this tube by means of the said distributing valve, can be admitted to
the piston of the torpedo guide so as to force the said guide out as above
described.
If at the end of this operation the water or air under pressure is conducted by
the passage p' to the space below the piston K and the passage p is opened to the
exhaust the piston J will descend, thereby forcing the water beneath the piston J
out by the tube L' which communicates with the launching-tube. The torpedo is
thereby expelled from the said tube. At the same time the sea water again enters
the stationary cylinder I through the admission valve l.
In using the said apparatus for returning or housing the guide it is also

page_text: necessary to repeat the first part of the above described operation, that is to
say, to admit air or water under pressure through the passage p and by means
of the aforesaid distributing valve to admit the water to the space in front of
the guide piston of the launching apparatus thereby forcing back the said guide
into the cylinder.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
on and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a torpedo launching apparatus, the combination of the launching-tube, the
guide chamber or tube at the side of the same, the hollow guide, and the fixed
piston, substantially as, and for the purposes, specified.
2. In a torpedo launching apparatus, the hollow guide acting as a movable
cylinder relatively to a fixed piston, for the purpose specified.
3. The torpedo launching apparatus constructed as described with reference to
Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings and so operating that in launching a torpedo
the guide is first forced out of its chamber, and the torpedo then expelled from
the launching-tube.
4. In a torpedo launching apparatus, the combination of the launching tube,
the guide chamber, the guide sliding in the said chamber and constructed and
arranged to form one side of the launching-tube, and the longitudinal grooves in
the said guide and launching-tube, substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
5. In the said torpedo launching apparatus, the guide formed or constructed as a
part of the launching tube, substantially as set forth.
6. In a torpedo launching apparatus the launching tube which has the
peculiarly shaped guide formed thereon and which is provided with a piston
fitted to work within the outer case or cylinder, substantially as, and for the
purpose, specified.
7. In the said torpedo launching apparatus, the combination of the launching-
tube provided with a piston, and having the guide formed thereon, the outer case
or cylinder which has its fore and rear portions of different diameters, the longi-
tudinal grooves along the sides of the said tube, and the apertures through the
same, substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
8. The torpedo launching apparatus constructed as described with reference to.
Figures 4 and 5, and so operating that the guide and torpedo are forced outward
in such a manner that the speed of the torpedo is accelerated relatively to that of
the guide, for purpose specified.
9. In a torpedo launching apparatus, the guide constructed or formed on the
forward part of a launching-tube which is operated by a rack and pinion, and from
which the torpedo is expelled by fluid pressure, as above set forth.
10. The combination of the outer cylinder, the launching-tube and guide
working therein, the longitudinal grooves in the said cylinder, the apertures in
the side thereof, the rack and pinion, the stops or bolts, and the means for
admitting fluid behind the torpedo in the tube, substantially as, and for the
purpose, specified.
11. In a torpedo launching apparatus constructed in the peculiar manner herein
described with reference to either of the figures in which it is shown in the
accompanying drawings, for the purposes specified.
12. The apparatus described with reference to Figure 10 of the drawings
to be used in combination with the herein described apparatus for launching
torpedoes by means of water fluid pressure, or for other like purposes as herein
set forth.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.