Year: 1886

page_text: I, EMIL KASELOWSKY of Chausséestrasse 17/18, Berlin in the Empire of Germany
Director of Works 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 :-
In operating with torpedoes, it is required to hold the torpedo by means of a brake
apparatus in the launching tube so that it cannot pass out of the open end thereof
until the required moment; and this brake requires to be released at the moment when
or slightly before the torpedo is to be projected.
The projection of the torpedo is effected either by compressed air or other gases, or
by expansion of combustion gases produced by firing a combustible charge.
My invention relates to the construction of apparatus wherein the brake holding the
torpedo is automatically released by the gases that effect the projection of the torpedo
so that the latter is free to yield to the inpulse imparted to it by such gases.
The construction and action of such apparatus will be readily understood on reference
to the accompanying drawings, in which Figs. 1 and 2 shew respectively a side view
and plan of the general arrangement of the apparatus, Fig. 3 shows a section of the
automatic releasing apparatus, Figs. 4, 5 and 6 shew brakes such as are commonly
used, Fig. 4 shewing a band brake that is tightened or loosened by a lever d and an
eccentric stud e, while Figs. 5 and 6 shew a block brake, that is pressed down upon
the torpedo or made to release the same by means of a lever.
In the arrangement at Figs. 1 and 2 the band brake is shewn applied at d at the
forward part of the launching tube, while the automatic releasing gear a is applied at
the rear end of the tube. As shewn at Fig. 3, the releasing apparatus consists of a
cylinder a that communicates at 1 with the interior of the launching tube. In this
cylinder is a piston b against which presses a strong spring / that bears with its other
end against the cylinder cover i so as to tend to force the piston b and its rod c into
the backward position shewn, and thus to keep the brake at d applied to the torpedo
by its connection with the extension of the piston rod c. As soon as the air or gases
under pressure are admitted to the launching tube for the projection of the torpedo
they pass into the cylinder a through the hole and in forcing the piston forward
against the pressure of the spring, cause the rod c to release the brake. The brake is
CD

page_text: maintained out of gear and is put in action again when required by the agency of the
hand lever g, which has ratchet teeth at its upper end, into which gears a spring
pawl k carried by the cylinder a. This lever has its fulcrum on the launching tube
and is connected to the rod c by a pin in a slotted hole, so that on the release of the
brake as above described, the upper end of the lever g will move forward with the
rod c the ratchet teeth sliding under the pawl, and on the impulse of the gases ceasing,
the pawl taking into the ratchet teeth of the lever will prevent the spring from
forcing the piston back again, and will thus keep the brake off, until, by pressing the
pawl out of gear with the ratchet teeth, the rod c is free to be forced back by the
spring. The hand lever g may also be employed alone without the aid of the spring h
for putting the brake in action by pushing the piston 6 into the backward position.
C
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The use in combination with brake apparatus for torpedo launching tubes, of an
automatic device for releasing the brake at the required moment, such device being
put in action by the pressure of the air or gas employed for projecting the torpedo
from the tube substantially as herein described.
2. The use in combination with torpedo launching tubes of brake apparatus wherein
the brake is applied to the torpedo by means of a hand lever either alone or in
connection with a strong spring or other suitable mechanism for operating the lever
more easily, this lever being combined with a suitable device for automatically releasing
the brake on the launching of the torpedo, substantially as herein described.
3. The use in combination with launching apparatus for torpedoes, of automatic
brake apparatus wherein the brake is applied to the torpedo by means of a spring
acting on a piston connected with the brake by a rod, the brake being automatically
released on the launching of the torpedo by causing the gases under pressure that effect
the launching to counteract the pressure of the spring upon the brake, substantially as
herein described.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.