Improvements in Torpedoes.
Year: 1894

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Torpedoes.
I ROBERT PARRY of 14 Newry Street Holyhead in the County of Anglesey
Mechanic do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention is on a projectile principle and the missile is fired out of a
smooth bore ordnance without spiral motion by an explosive charge i.e. in the same
manner as a projectile is fired out of an ordinary gun.
The distance which would be traversed by the projectile would be greater than
the distance which the torpedo is capable of travelling before explosion and would
be capable of destroying any object at a greater distance than would the torpedo.
The cost of construction would be about one tenth of that of the torpedo. The
length to be about 4 feet 8 inches long and ten inches in diameter at the middle for
a length of about six or seven inches, then tapering gradually down to a semi-
elliptical point at its head and towards the tail end to about one inch in diameter.
My principal novelties are in the expansion rings which are placed about the
midway of the projectile for the purpose of preventing the escape of explosive gas
and friction. At the head of the projectile there are two parallel steel cutters to
destroy torpedo netting; and also an explosive tricker which when it strikes an
object is the means by which the missile takes effect.
At the tail end there are two parallel fins to regulate the plunging and two
vertical fins to direct the course. The projectile is to plunge into the sea at a
certain distance from the point at which it is fired and to rise at a certain distance
from where it plunges and to be so directed as to strike the bottom of a vessel or
any other object at a given distance.
Dated this 3rd day of November 1894.
ROBERT PARRY.
1, ROBERT PARRY of 14 Newry Street Holyhead in the County of Anglesey
Mechanic 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 :-
The invention is on a projectile principle, the missile is fired out of a smooth
bore ordnance without spiral motion by an explosive charge, i.e. in the same manner
as a projectile is fired out of an ordinary gun.
The distance which would be traversed by the projectile would be greater than
the distance which the torpedo is capable of travelling before explosion and would
be capable of destroying any object at a greater distance than would the torpedo.
The construction would be about one tenth of that of the torpedo. The model is
on the scale of of an inch to one inch. The length of the model is 7 inch long.
The middle part (A) is 1 inch in diameter and 1 inch long (B) towards the head
in parallel line; then the head forms itself into a semi-elliptical shape as a
proiectile

page_text: At the middle part the diameter is abruptly reduced by a fall from 1 inch (A)
to 1 inch (C) from thence it tapers evenly to of an inch at the tail end (D).
At a distance of of an inch from the said fall, towards the head, two expansion
rings are placed (E) in grooves 16 inch apart. These rings are of an inch in
breadth and depth and may be made either of brass or other metal. Within the
said fall (C) there are three inlets (F) at equal distance from each other these
are 6 inch in depth and inch breadth and reach under the expansion rings (E)
causing them to expand and so prevent the escape of gas and avoid friction. On
each side of the head there is a fin (G) 1 inch long and inch broad at the
bottom end, tapering upward to a point and reaching to within of an inch of the
explosive trigger. The said fins have a gliding scale (H) at the upper end to find
the elevation. When the elevation is decided upon, they are permanently fixed. The
said fins (G) are made of hardened steel in order to destroy torpedo netting. On the.
tail end within of an inch to (D) there are two parallel fins (I) 1 inch long
and inch broad tapering towards the fall,.these fins are to regulate the plunging.
There are also two vertical fins (J&K) on the tail within inch of the tail
end (D). The said fins are 22 inch long and 3 inch broad at the tail end, then
taper upward to 16 inch at the aforesaid full (C) these fins are to direct the
The top fin (K) is to be painted red, to guide the gunuer when placing it
course.
in the gun.
The projectile is in two parts for the purpose of putting the explosive charge in
and is joined together at the fall by screwing (L) to (F) the tail part to the
body part.
The explosive trigger is on the same principle as the present torpedoes: The
mode of working the projectile is as follows. It is placed into a smooth bore
breech-loading gun, with a certain quantity of powder to force it to the required
object. The charge to be regulated by the distance. The powder is to be in bags
of various quantities, according to the distance which it is desired to direct the
projectile, and each bag to be numbered for instance, No. 6. means sufficient
quantity of powder to force the projectile 600 yards although by elevating the
gun another 100 yards may be gained and with all the charges so prepared.
The plunging of the projectile should be within 20 yards of the object or
thereabouts.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what 1
claim is
1st. The expansion rings and their mode of working as stated above.
2nd. The four elevating fins and the two vertical fins, as stated above.
ROBERT PARRY.