IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING GUIDING FIRING AND OTHERWISE CONTROLLING OR OPERATING TORPEDO BO
Year: 1878

page_text: London, for the invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
PROPELLING GUIDING FIRING AND OTHERWISE CONTROLLING OR OPERATING
"
TORPEDO BOATS a communication from abroad by John Louis Lay of
Paris France dated 5th December 1878 No 4987, which Letters Patent
have been assigned to, and are now vested in the said John Louis Lay.
DISCLAIMER AND MEMORANDUM OF ALTERATION proposed to be
filed by the said John Louis Lay.
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WHEREAS Her Most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria by Her Royal Letters
Patent bearing date the 5th day of December in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy eight in the forty second year of Her reign
did for Herself Her heirs and successors give and grant unto the said William
Robert Lake his executors administrators and assigns the sole privilege of making'
using exercising and vending within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland the Channel Islands and Isle of Man the said Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING GUIDING FIRING AND OTHERWISE CONTROLLING
"
OR OPERATING TORPEDO BOATS a specification of which invention was duly filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office in pursuance of one of the provisoes in the said
Letters Patent.
And whereas by an assignment dated March 20th A.D. 1879 and duly recorded
in the Great Seal Patent Office aforesaid the said Letters Patent and all right title
and interest in and to the same have been assigned to and are now vested in me
the said John Louis Lay.
And whereas since the said assignment was made and recorded it has been
ascertained that having regard to what was known previous to the date of my

page_text: patent the Claims made in my specification were too wide and I am desirous of
limiting the same in the manner hereinafter appearing.
NOW KNOW YE therefore that I the said John Louis Lay by and with the
consent of Her Majesty's Attorney General do alter and amend the said specification
as follows that is to say referring to the Queen's Printers' copy of the said
specification and to page 10 thereof I strike out of line 35 the words "part of my
"invention relating" and I substitute therefor the words " employment of" and I
strike out the word "to" commencing line 36 and on page 11 1 strike out of
line 35 the words "or other suitable apparatus or mechanism operating in
substantially" and I strike out of line 36 the words "the same manner" and I
strike out the whole of the matter in the 43rd 44th 45th and 46th lines constituting
the fifth claiming clause.
"
And in order that the effect of the said disclaimer and memorandum of
alteration may be fully understood I annex a copy of the said specification
(omitting the introductory and concluding clauses thereof) as it will appear after
the above specified alterations have been made therein.
"My Invention relates to improvements in apparatus for controlling and
operating torpedo boats or torpedoes of the class described in the Specification
" of my former Letters Patent dated the 22nd day of February A.D. 1878 No. 747
" and comprises novel apparatus for heating the carbonic acid gas used as the
"motive power for driving or propelling the said torpedo boats. It also comprises
"the employment of apparatus whereby the carbonic acid gas engines are started
" and stopped as required and the other parts of the machinery are controlled
through the medium of a cable having only one or two wires connected
" with the shore or other station, so that the boat may be started and stopped,
steered, or guided in any direction fired or otherwise manipulated by the operator
" at the said station, as described in the said former Specification. The said
"Invention also comprises improved means for indicating the position of the said
torpedo boat when making a night attack.
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Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a portion of a torpedo boat provided with
means for heating the gas according to my present improvements.
Figure 2 is a transverse section of the same.
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"According to this part of my Invention I arrange in the hull A of the said boat
a series of flasks B* for the liquid carbonic acid gas and connect the said flasks
by means of suitable pipes, as shewn-Between the said flasks I arrange a metal
tank or receptacle B³ (preferably U shaped in transverse section) in which are
placed a series of connected pipes or tubes B' extending to and fro throughout
"the said receptacle, and from the top to the bottom of the same-From the lower
"extremity of this series of pipes or tubes B a pipe B5 extends to one of the
" aforesaid flasks B* and the carbonic acid gas is thus free to pass into the said
" tubes B⭑ To the other end of this series of tubes is connected the pipe D²
" which extends to the engine of the said torpedo boat. The aforesaid receptacle B³
" is partially filled with alcohol, and in connection with the same I arrange a
"suitable fuse B to be ignited by electricity sent through the cable connecting
"the torpedo-boat with the shore or other station-I prefer to use for this purpose
"a small portion of gun-cotton placed upon a platina wire, as shewn at B7, and
suitably connected with electric wires, in connection with the said cable. In
"order to maintain the combustion of the alcohol when lighted I place a series of
perforated tubes E' in the said alcohol, and in connection with these tubes I
arrange a suitable reservoir E containing compressed air. To prevent the escape
"of air into the alcohol chamber B³ when the torpedo boat is at rest I arrange a
"valve E² in the pipe E* leading from the compressed air reservoir E to the
"aforesaid perforated pipes; the said valve is operated by the rod of a piston Es
"which is moved in one direction in its cylinder E to close the valve by means
" of a spring, and in the other direction to admit the air to the aforesaid
perforated pipes by the pressure of the carbonic acid gas passing through the
"
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supply pipe D2, the said cylinder and feed pipe being for this purpose connected
by a pipe Es, I prefer to arrange a reducing valve E in the air pipe E* between
"the air reservoir E and the aforesaid alcohol tank or receptacle. The operation
"of the above described apparatus is as follows-When the operator desires to
"start the said torpedo-boat he first sends a current through the wires connected
"with the platina wire at B' and thereby ignites the gun cotton, which in turn
ignites the alcohol in the receptacle B3 by means of the fuse Bº. The operator
" then sends a current through the aforesaid cable to open the valve in the engine
supply pipe D., and the pressure of gas in the same and in the pipe E³. actuates
"the piston E³. in the cylinder E. and opens the valve E². in the air pipe E*.
"Air is thus admitted from the aforesaid compressed air reservoir through the
reducing valve Ee to the aforesaid perforated pipes E., thereby maintaining the
"combustion of the alcohol which heats the series of tubes or pipes B connected
"with the liquid carbonic acid gas flasks and the engine as above described.
"When the engine is stopped by cutting off the supply of gas to the same, the spring
in the aforesaid cylinder E. actuates the piston E³. connected with the valve E³.
" and thereby closes the said valve and stops the supply of air to the alcohol, thus
preventing the further combustion of the same. The products of combustion
pass into the engine exhaust pipe or out through a separate pipe D* provided for
" its exit.
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"In Figures 3 and 4 I have shewn in longitudinal and transverse section a
" modification of the above described apparatus.
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"According to this modification instead of employing a series of flasks for
containing the carbonic acid gas I use one vessel or reservoir B and so place and
support the same in the hull A of the torpedo-boat as to leave an annular
space A✶ between the interior of the hull and the said vessel. Within this
" annular space I arrange a series of pipes B. extending to and fro across the
"the same, one end of this series of pipes communicating with the said vessel or
reservoir, and the other end with the engine supply pipe D2. In connection
"with the aforesaid annular space a suitable chamber D* is arranged in the
"hull of the boat for containing the alcohol, which flows freely into the annular
space through a suitable opening or openings in the said chamber. Within this
"chamber a suitable igniting fuse and a series of perforated air pipes are arranged
"for the purposes above described. When the alcohol is lighted in the said
"chamber and in the annular space A* surrounding the reservoir B this reservoir
"will be heated and also the series of pipes B. leading from the same to the
engine supply pipe-If desired I may arrange a series of pipes, as shewn at D³.
"in the aforesaid chamber D* extending down from the supply pipe D². so that the
gas may be further heated whilst passing to the engine. In both of the above
"described forms of my apparatus the products of combustion pass out through a
"suitable exhaust or discharge pipe.
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"I prefer to conduct the exhaust gas or other fluid from the engine through
suitable pipes or passages into the tube through which the cable is payed out.
"The exhaust gas or other fluid in its passage through the said tube tends to
" force or carry the cable with it and thereby relieves the boat of a portion of the
retarding effect due to the friction of the said cable.
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"I will now describe the part of my Invention relating to means for controlling.
"the operation of the said torpedo boats by or through a cable or conductor
"consisting of a single wire only in place of a cable with several wires, as
" heretofore employed and as described in my said former Specification. This
single wire cable permits the torpedo boat to carry a coil of cable of a much
greater length than has heretofore been practicable, and will therefore extend
the range of operation of the said torpedo boat. In carrying this part of my
invention into practice I arrange in connection with the battery at the shore or
other station apparatus under the control of the operator and provide in the
boat other apparatus, which is connected with the apparatus at the station by.
means of the said 'single wire cable.

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"
This part of my Invention is represented in Figures 5 to 11 in which Figure 5
" is a plan or top view with the cover removed of my improved apparatus under
"the control of the operator at the shore or other station Figure 6 is a similar
"view of part of the same with the dial plate and index finger removed; and
Figure 7 is an end elevation, partly in section, of part of the said apparatus ;
Figure 8 is a plan of the apparatus on board the torpedo boat, which is connected
" to the apparatus on shore by the aforesaid single wire cable; Figures 9 and 10
are side and end elevations of the said apparatus in the boat; and Figure 11 is a
"horizontal section of a portion of the same.
"
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The apparatus under the control of the operator at the shore or other station
" is constructed as follows, that is to say.
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a represents a hand or index finger mounted on a vertical shaft a¹ and
arranged to move around upon a disc or dial b containing upon its face the
indications of the various operations to be performed in or by the torpedo boat
" to be controlled, such as "stop," "go," "starboard," "port," "sink," float,"
" "raise rods," "drop rods," "fire," or others. The said index finger is moved from
"from one indication to the other on the said dial by means of a lever or handle c
projecting from the case containing the said apparatus and provided with a
"pawl c arranged in connection with a ratchet wheel a² on the aforesaid vertical
spindle a. Each movement of the said handle c turns the said shaft or spindle a
sufficiently to move the index finger from one indication to the next one, the
" said handle being returned to its normal position by means of a spiral spring c²
or other suitable spring after each movement. Upon the said vertical spindle a¹
" is also arranged a commutator d which is provided on its periphery with as many
conducting parts or divisions d' as there are indications upon the aforesaid disc
or dial, these divisions d' being separated by insulating material, as shewn at d²;
"d represents a block of insulating material secured to part of the said apparatus,
as shewn and provided with springs d³, d³, which rest upon the periphery of the
"said commutator, the said springs being connected by suitable wires with the
" aforesaid cable.
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"One important feature of this Invention is that a weak or minor current (from
"about 15 cells in a 50 cell battery for instance) is free to pass through the said
apparatus and cable to the apparatus on the torpedo boat when the lever or
"handle c is moved by the operator. This current is not sufficiently strong
"however to effect the movement or adjustment of the steering firing or other
apparatus of the torpedo boat, but is only intended to adjust a spring or springs
" in connection with a commutator in the boat, as hereinafter described, to
correspond with the movements of the index finger a on the apparatus on shore,
" in order to form a circuit or connection with the particular part of the apparatus
on the boat to be operated, so that on moving the arm or lever c for closing the
circuit the whole force of the current from the battery may pass to such part of
"the apparatus and will actuate the same. In order to send a current of
electricity of the whole force of the battery to the torpedo boat after the afore-
"said index finger a has been adjusted on the dial b to the indication of the
particular operation to be effected on the said boat, I arrange upon the said
apparatus the aforesaid arm or lever e provided with a suitable handle, the said
arm being pivoted upon a vertical post e'. In close proximity to the said post e¹
" is another post f on which is pivoted a two-armed lever f¹. the extremity of one
arm of the same being provided with insulating material f2 which rests in
" contact with the aforesaid arın or lever e. The other arm of the said lever is
provided with a flat spring or plate f³ arranged between two posts gh. The
post g is connected by a wire 4 with a post 4* hereinafter called the "middle
post and the other post h is connected by a wire 5 to the "carbon" post 5*
"which is in burn connected to the carbon in the said battery-The aforesaid flat
spring when the arm or lever e is in its normal position rests against the
post g and is out of contact with the post has shewn in Figure 5. The post h
" is also connected to the "line" or "main line" post G*, to which the cable is
"
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"connected by means of a wire 6 passing first to one of the aforesaid springs d³
arranged in connection with the commutator d, then from the other spring d³
through the post e¹ on which the handle, for turning-on the full force of the
"battery is pivoted, and thence to the said "line" post 6*.
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"The aforesaid two-armed lever f' is connected by means of a wire 7 with a
post i, which is in turn connected with the "ground" post 7*, and the insulated
end of the said lever is held in contact with the aforesaid circuit closing arm
or lever e by a flat spring ƒ4, attached to the said two-armed lever and bearing
against the said post i. The "zine" post 8* connected to the zinc in the said
battery is connected by a wire 8 to a post j, arranged in close proximity to the
" circuit closer arm or lever e but not in contact with the same when the said lever
is in its normal position, as shewn in Figure 5, so that the zinc and carbon
"elements of the said battery are disconnected so long as the lever e remains in
" this position.
"
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The aforesaid "middle" post 4* is so connected to the zinc and carbon elements
"of the aforesaid 15 cells of the battery, that when the main circuit closing handle e
" is in its normal position and the spring plate f³ on the end of the aforesaid-two
"armed lever f' is in contact with the post g a current can be passed through the
" said cable when the lever c is drawn over by the operator, and this current will
"be sufficiently strong to effect the adjustment of parts of the apparatus in the
boat into a position to permit the performance of any operation indicated by the
"index finger a on the apparatus under the control of the operator, but not suffi-
ciently powerful to effect the operation or movement of the steering, firing, or
"other mechanism. To effect such operation it is necessary to so move the main
circuit closing lever e as to cause the spring-plate f³ on the aforesaid two-armed
lever to move into contact with the post h in connection with the "carbon"
post 5* and cut out the aforesaid weak or minor current; and in such movement
"the said main circuit closing lever will be forced into contact with the post j
connected to the aforesaid "zine" post 8* and will thereby close the circuit.
"
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"I will now more particularly describe the apparatus which is placed in the said
torpedo boat and which is connected to the above described apparatus by the
" aforesaid cable as described.
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"On a top plate k connected by pillars ² to a suitable base plate k, I place a
"commutator provided with as many conducting divisions as there are divisions
upon the dial on the apparatus at the shore or other station. To each of these
"divisions is attached a wire or conductor extending to the various parts of the
apparatus or machinery in the boat and so connected there with as to permit the
necessary operations of the same to be effected as desired. To the upper end of a
"vertical spindle or shaft m, passing through the top plate on which the commu-
"tator is fixed and through an insulated hole in the same, is an arm m¹ which carries
a spring m² resting upon the periphery of the said commutator and the said arm is
"attached to the said shaft or spindle and rotates with the same, the said shaft being
provided with bearings in the aforesaid plate k¹ and the base plate k. Upon the
"said shaft is also fixed an escapement wheel n connected by a train of gearing n¹
with a shaft n² supported in the aforesaid plates and having attached to it one
" end of a spring o similar to a watch spring the other end of the said spring being
attached to one of the said pillars supporting the top plate. The teeth of this
escapement wheel n correspond in pitch with the divisions of the commutator l.
In connection with the said escapement wheel I arrange a pallet p upon one end
of a lever p¹ to operate as in ordinary clock work. The other end of the said
"lever is so arranged in relation to a pair of electro magnets q, that when a current
" of electricity is passed through the same end p2 of the lever p¹ will be attracted
" and through the pallet p and escapement wheel n will turn the aforesaid vertical
"shaft m and the arm m' and springs m² in connection therewith, around the
commutator and so long as the end p² of the said lever is attracted by the
aforesaid magnets the spring m² on the said arm m¹ will rest upon the insulated
portions of the periphery. of the commutator ; but when the circuit is broken
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in connection with the said electro-magnets the pallet p' will be returned to
"its normal position by a spiral or other spring p³. In each movement of the
escapement wheel n the said spring will be brought to one of the conducting
portions or divisions of the commutator / corresponding with the division or
conducting portion of the commutator d in the apparatus on shore, that is to say,
"the movement or adjustment of the aforesaid index finger a, or pointer, to either
"of the indications marked on the dial b will adjust the commutator d under the
"said dial to the proper position for effecting the operation indicated, and the
spring m² resting on the periphery of the commutator will be adjusted to a
corresponding position. It will be seen from the foregoing description that by
simply sending a current of electricity through the magnets q the vertical shaft m
" is so rotated that the spring m² will rest upon the proper division of the com-
" mutator and will remain in that position so that the main current when sent
through the cable will effect the desired operation, as indicated on the dial b of
"the apparatus at the shore or other station-But in order that the main current
may not pass through the aforesaid magnets q and thereby operate the said
spring m² and cause improper working of the said apparatus I place in the said
apparatus a shunt r so arranged that the main current may be diverted from the
"said magnets and caused to pass through the aforesaid base plate k, and thence
through the spindle m and spring m² to the proper division of the commutator
"connected to the part desired to be operated.
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I sometimes employ in connection with the above described apparatus at the
"shore or other station an improved device, as shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7 to
serve as a stop to prevent premature firing of the torpedo by inadvertently
manipulating the main circuit closer lever-This device consists of a pivoted
"three-armed lever 8, one arm 8' of which projects beyond the case enclosing the
"said apparatus. On the other arins 82, 83 of this lever are formed lugs or
projections 88; the lug or projection 81 is designed to enter a notch a' in a
"disc as attached to or forming a part of the aforesaid ratchet wheel a² on the
"vertical index finger shaft a'. This notch a' is so arranged in the disc that
"when the said index finger reaches the indication "fire" on the dial b the said
"notch will be in a position to permit the lug or projection 8 to be forced into
"the same by a spiral spring & attached to the said lever and to any suitable fixed
part of the apparatus. The projection 85 on the other arm 83 of the said lever is'
"at the same time forced in front of a pin e² projecting from the main circuit
"closer lever e and holds the same so that it cannot be moved to complete the
main circuit until the end 8¹ of the aforesaid three-armed lever s projecting
through the case is properly manipulated to withdraw the said projections from
"their engaging surfaces.
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Although I have described the aforesaid index finger as being operated by a
reciprocating lever I may in some cases arrange upon the case enclosing the
apparatus a series of knobs or buttons, one for each division of the said dial,
"and so arrange the same in connection with the vertical spindle that by
depressing either of the knobs the index finger will be immediately carried
" round to that division and consequently the spring in connection with the said
" commutator on the apparatus in the torpedo boat will be adjusted to a
corresponding position.
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In some cases I may employ in connection with the above described apparatus
a cable consisting of two wires properly insulated, so that one of the said
"wires may be employed for effecting all of the necessary operations in the
"said torpedo-boat exclusive of the firing or exploding of the charge, this
operation being effected by sending a current through the other wire of the said
" cable.
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"
In Figures 12, 13 and 14, I have illustrated the employment of guide rods
provided with a light to indicate the position of the torpedo boat when the same
is employed in a night attack.
"Figure 12 is a longitudinal section of a portion of the hull of a tornedo-boat

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shewing one of the guide rods in an elevated position and the mechanism for
raising and lowering the same.
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Figure 13 is a side elevation shewing the said guide rod lowered and
Figure 14 is a horizontal section of part of the same on the line x*x*
Figure 12.
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F represents a chamber or receptacle for the light on the movable guide rod F
"which is provided with a toothed segment or arc F2 actuated by a toothed
"rack G¹ on the piston rod Gas shewn in Figure 12-In connection with the
"said light chamber I arrange a slide or cover H attached to a rod H¹, sliding
freely in brackets I attached to the guide rod F and provided at its lower end
"with a cross piece H2, which slides freely on the yoke J. The cylinder K
" is provided with pipes K' K2 fitted with valves which are arranged in
"connection with suitable devices to be operated by the current sent through
"the cable. The piston rod G extends through the lower end of the cylinder K
" into a second cylinder L and is attached to a piston G2 within the same.
"The said cylinder L is preferably filled with paraffine or other liquid, and
"is designed to serve as a cushion to the piston G³ in the cylinder K
" in the raising and lowering of the said guide rods, the amount of " " cushion
being regulated by a cock L² in a pipe L¹ connecting the upper and
"lower ends of the said cylinder. J¹ is a stop in the yoke J which stop is
preferably adjustable, and is designed to determine the angle at which the guide
"rods should rest when lowered, as shewn in Figure 13. The operation is as
"follows:-Gas is admitted to the upper end of the cylinder K by sending a
current of electricity through the cable to adjust the valves to admit gas by the
pipe K¹ to the cylinder K; the piston G³ and the piston rod G are thereby
" forced down and the rack G³ gearing with the segment F2 raises the guide rod F.
"As the said guide rod is raised, the cross piece H2 sliding on the curved face of
"the yoke J permits the slide or cover H to drop, thereby uncovering the said
light and indicating the position of the torpedo-boat to the operator at the shore
or other station. When it is desired to lower the said guide-rod a current of
electricity is sent through the said cable in the opposite direction to adjust the
"valves to admit gas. through the pipe K, the gas is thereby caused to enter the
lower end of the cylinder K, and its pressure on the said piston acts through
"the aforesaid rack and segment to depress the guide rod, while the cross-piece H²
sliding upon the aforesaid yoke causes the slide H to cover the light, as shewn
"in Figure 13, and the said slide remains in this position until the said guide-rod
" is again raised in order to further ascertain the position of the said torpedo-boat.
It will be obvious that the light at F¹ is so arranged that when uncovered it
" will be visible from the station and invisible from the ship or other object
"toward which the torpedo-boat is directed.
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"Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign Correspondent and the manner of performing the same, I wish it
" understood that I claim.
« First:—In a torpedo boat the improved method of and apparatus for heating
"the carbonic acid gas in the gas generators or reservoirs by means of alcohol,
" to which air is admitted to maintain the combustion, and which may be ignited
" and extinguished as desired by the operator at the shore or other station as
"above set forth, and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings
"Second-In a torpedo-boat the arrangement of the gas reservoir in the hull
or body of the same, so that there is an annular space between the said reservoir
" and hull connected with the chamber for the combustion of the alcohol for
heating the said gas as above described, and as shewn in Figures 3 and 4 of the
drawings.
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Third: The adaptation to the purpose of my Invention of a cable or conductor
"which has only one wire or two wires by the employment in combination with
"the said cable or conductor of the apparatus illustrated in Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,
"10, 11 of the drawings whereby with such a cable the operator at the shore or

page_text: « other station can' transmit electrical currents to any part of the apparatus on the
boat, as and for the purposes specified.
"
"
Fourth-The arrangement of the exhaust pipe or pipes in combination with
"the tube through which the cable passes from the torpedo-boat in such a manuer
"that the exhaust gas or other fluid from the engines passes out through the said
tube, as and for the purposes set forth."
"
.
In witness whereof I the said John Louis Lay have hereunto set my hand
and seal this third day of August in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two:
JOHN, LOUIS, LAY. (L.S.)
To the Commissioners of Patents for Inventions,
I hereby grant my Fiat giving leave to the above named John Louis Lay, the
Assignee of the said Letters Patent, to file in the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents for Inventions, with the Specification to which the same relates, the
above written Disclaimer and Memorandum of Alteration.
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1000

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LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, &
Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING, GUIDING, FIRING, AND
OTHERWISE CONTROLLING OR OPERATING TORPEDO BOATS." A communication
from abroad by John Louis Lay, of Paris, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th December 1878.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRO-
PELLING, GUIDING, FIRING, AND OTHERWISE CONTROLLING OR OPERATING TORPEDO
BOATS." [A communication from abroad by John Louis Lay, of Paris, France.]
My Invention relates to improvements in apparatus for working, guiding, or
controlling torpedo boats or torpedocs of the class described in the Specification of
my former Letters Patent, dated 22nd day of February, A.D. 1878, No. 747,
and comprises novel apparatus for heating the carbonic acid gas used as the motive
power for driving or propelling the said torpedo boats, and also to improved
electrical apparatus, whereby the carbonic acid gas engines are started and stopped
as required, and the other parts of the machinery are controlled by means of a
cable connected with the shore or other station, so that the boat may be started
and stopped, steered or guided in any direction, fired or otherwise manipulated by
the operator at the said station, as described in the said former Specification; and
also to improved means for ascertaining the position of the said torpedo boat when
making a night attack.
According to the first part of my Invention I arrange in the hull of the said boat
a series of flasks or receptacles for the liquid carbonic acid gas, and connect the
said flask by means of suitable pipes. Between these series of flasks I arrange a

page_text: metallic receptacle, preferably U shaped in transverse section, in which are placed a
series of connected pipes or tubes extending to and fro across the said receptacle,
and from the top to the bottom of the same. From the lower extremity of this
series of tubes a pipe extends to one of the aforesaid flasks, and the carbonic acid
gas is thus free to pass into the said tubes. To the other end of the series of tubes
is connected the pipe which leads to the engine of the said torpedo boat. The
aforesaid receptacle is partially filled with alcohol, and in connection with the same
I arrange a suitable fuse to be ignited by electricity sent through the aforesaid
cable. I prefer to use for this purpose a small portion of gun cotton placed upon a
platina wire suitably connected with electric wires operated through the said cable.
In order to maintain the combustion of the alcohol when lighted I place a series of
perforated tubes in the said alcohol, and in connection with these tubes a suitable
reservoir containing compressed air is arranged. To prevent the escape of air into
the alcohol chamber when the torpedo boat is at rest I arrange a valve in the pipe
leading from the compressed air reservoir to the aforesaid perforated pipes, and
operate the said valve by means of the rod of a piston, which is moved in one
direction in a cylinder to close the valve by means of a spring, and in the other
direction to admit the air to the aforesaid perforated pipes by means of the carbonic
acid gas passing through the supply pipe connected with the said engine, the said
cylinder and feed pipe being connected by a suitable pipe for this purpose. I prefer
to arrange a reducing valve in the air pipe between the air reservoir and the afore-
said alcohol receptacle in which the perforated pipes are arranged.
According to a modification of the above described apparatus instead of
employing a series of flasks or receptacles for containing the carbonic acid gas I use
one receptacle only, and so place and support the same in the hull of the torpedo
boat as to leave an annular space between the interior of the hull and the said
receptacle. Within this annular space I arrange a series of pipes extending to and
fro across the same; one end of this series communicates with the said flask or
reservoir and the other end with the engine supply pipe. In connection with the
aforesaid annular space a suitable chamber is arranged in the hull of the boat for
containing the alcohol which flows freely into the annular space through a suitable
opening or openings in the said chamber. Within this chamber a suitable igniting
fuse and a series of perforated air pipes are arranged and controlled as above
described. When the alcohol is lighted in the said chamber and in the annular
space surrounding the said flask, this flask will be heated, and also the series
of pipes leading from the same to the engine supply pipe. If desired, I may
arrange a further series of pipes in the aforesaid chambers and extending down
from the supply pipe, so that the gas may be further heated whilst passing to the
engine. In both of the above described forms of my apparatus the products of
combustion pass out through a suitable exhaust or discharge pipe.
Another part of my Invention relates to the means for controlling the operation
of the said torpedo boats by a cable or conductor consisting of a single wire only
in place of a cable with several wires, as heretofore employed, and as described in
my said former Specification. This single wire cable permits the torpedo boat to
carry a coil of cable of a much greater length than has heretofore been practicable,
and will therefore extend the range of operation of the said torpedo boat. In
carrying this part of Invention into practice I arrange in connection with the
battery on the shore or other station an apparatus to be controlled by the operator,
and connect with the same a suitable apparatus carried in the boat, the connection
between these apparatuses being effected by means of the said single wire cable.
5
The apparatus under the control of the operator on shore or other station is
constructed as follows, that is to say :-A suitable hand or index finger mounted
on a vertical axis is arranged to rove round upon a disc or dial containing upon its
face the necessary indications to enable the torpedo boat to be controlled, such as
'stop," "go," "starboard," "port," "sink," "float," "raise rods," "drop rods," "fire," 5
or others. The said index finger is moved from one indication to the other on the
said dial by means of a lever or handle projecting from the case containing the said
"

page_text: apparatus, and provided with a pawl arranged in connection with a ratchet wheel
on the aforesaid vertical spindle. Each movement of the said handle turns the
said spindle sufficiently to move the index finger from one indication to the next
one, the said handle being returned to its normal position by means of a spiral or
other spring after each movement. Upon the said vertical spindle is also arranged
a commutator which is provided on its periphery with as many conducting parts or
divisions with suitable insulating material between them as there are indications
upon the aforesaid disc or dial, and attached to a fixed block of insulating material
are two springs which bear upon the periphery of the said commutator. These
springs, through the medium of the said cable and other apparatus, act in unison
with a commutator on the torpedo boat, as bereinafter described.
One important feature of this Invention is that a weak or minor current from
about 15 cells in a 50 cell battery, for instance, is always free to pass through the
said apparatus and cable to the apparatus on the torpedo boat. This current is not
sufficiently strong, however, to effect the movement or adjustment of the steering,
firing, or other apparatus of the torpedo boat, but is only intended to adjust the
spring in connection with the commutator in the boat to correspond with the
movements of the index finger on the apparatus on shore to form a circuit or con-
nection with the particular part of the apparatus to be operated so that on moving
another arm or lever for closing the circuit the whole force of the current from the
battery may pass to such part of the apparatus and will actuate the same. In order
to send a current of electricity of the whole force of the battery to the torpedo boat,
after the aforesaid index finger has been adjusted on the dial to the indication of the
operation to take place on the said boat, I arrange upon the said apparatus another
arm or lever provided with a suitable handle, the said arm being pivoted upon a
vertical post, and held in its normal position by a suitable spring. In close prox-
imity to this post is another post, on which is pivoted a two armed lever, the
extremity of one arm of the same being provided with insulating material which
rests in contact with the aforesaid arm or lever for closing the circuit. The other
arm of the said lever is provided with a flat spring or plate arranged between two
posts, one of which is connected by a wire with a post hereinafter called the "middle"
post, the purpose of which will be explained, and the other post to the "carbon"
post which is in turn connected to the carbon in the said battery. The aforesaid
flat spring when the aforesaid arm or lever is in its normal position rests against the
post in connection with the aforesaid "middle" post. The other post connected
with the "carbon" post is also connected to the "line" or "main line" post con-
nected with the cable by a wire passing first to the aforesaid springs arranged to
rest upon the periphery of the commutator attached to the vertical index finger
spindle, then through the post on which the handle for turning on the full force of
the battery is pivoted and thence to the said "line" post. The aforesaid two armed
lever is also connected by means of a wire with a post which is in turn connected
with the "ground" post, and its insulated end is kept in contact with the aforesaid
circuit closing arm or lever by a flat spring attached to the said two armed lever
and bearing against the aforesaid post connected to the "ground" post. The "zinc"
post leading from the zinc in the said battery is connected to a post arranged in
close proximity to the aforesaid circuit closer arm or lever, but which is not in
contact with the same, when the said lever is in its normal position so that the zinc
and carbon elements of the said battery are disconnected, and therefore no current
can pass through the cable.
The aforesaid "middle" post is so connected to the zinc of the aforesaid 15 cells
of the battery that when the main circuit closing handle is in its normal position,
and the spring plate on the end of the aforesaid two armed lever is in contact with
the post connected with the aforesaid "middle" post, there will be a sufficiently
powerful current through the said cable to effect the movement of the spring in
connection with the commutator on the apparatus on the boat to that division of
the commutator which is attached, the wire through which the main current is to
be passed to effect the operation indicated by the index finger on the apparaṭus

page_text: under the control of the operator, but not sufficiently powerful to effect the said
operation or movement of the steering, firing, or other mechanism. To effect such
operation it is necessary to move the main circuit closing lever, so as to cause the
spring plate on the aforesaid two armed lever to move into contact with the post in
connection with the "carbon" post and cut out the aforesaid weak or minor current,
the zinc post then being in contact with the said lever and thereby closing the
circuit.
I will now more particularly describe the apparatus on the said torpedo boat, and
which is connected to the above described apparatus by the cable as described.
On a top plate connected by pillars to a suitable base plate I place a commutator so
formed and arranged as to correspond with that in the apparatus at the shore or other
station. To each of the divisions of the said commutator is attached a wire leading
to the various parts of the apparatus or machinery in the boat and so connected
there with as to permit the necessary operations of the same to be effected as desired.
To the upper end of a vertical spindle or shaft passing through the top plate on
which the commutator is fixed and through an insulated hole in the same is an arm
which carries springs resting upon the periphery of the said commutator and attached
to the said shaft or spindle and rotating with the same in the aforesaid plate and
the base plate. Upon the said shaft is fixed an escapement wheel connected by a
train of gearing with a shaft supported in the aforesaid plates and having attached
to it one end of a spring similar to a watch spring, the other end of the said spring
being attached to one of the pillars supporting the top plate.
The teeth of this escapement wheel correspond in pitch with the divisions of the
commutator. In connection with the escapement wheel I arrange a pallet upon
one end of a lever arranged to operate as in ordinary clockwork. The other end of
the said lever is so arranged in relation to a pair of electro-magnets, that when a
current of electricity is passed through the same, the end of the said lever will be
attracted, and through the said pallet and escapement wheel will turn the aforesaid
vertical shaft and the arm and springs in connection therewith around the
commutator. In each movement of the said escapement wheel, the said springs
will be brought to one of the conducting portions or divisions of the said com-
mutator, corresponding with the division or conducting portion of the commutator
of the apparatus on shore, that is to say, the movement or adjustment of the afore-
said index finger or pointer to either of the indications marked on the dial will adjust
the commutator under the said dial to the proper position for effecting the operation
indicated, and the spring resting on the periphery of the commutator in the boat will
be adjusted in a corresponding position. It will be seen from the foregoing descrip-
tion that by simply sending a current of electricity through the said magnets, the said
vertical shaft is so rotated that the spring will rest upon the proper division of the
commutator and will remain in that position, so that the main current when sent
through the cable will effect the desired operation as indicated on the dial. But in
order that the main current may not pass through the said magnets and thereby
operate the said springs and cause improper working of the said apparatus, I place in
the said apparatus a shunt so arranged that the said main current may be diverted
from the said magnets, the said main current passing through the aforesaid base plate,
and thence through the spindle and springs to the proper division of the commutator
connected to the part desired to be operated. I sometimes employ in connection
with the above described apparatus at the shore or other station an improved
device to serve as a stop to prevent premature firing of the torpedo by inadvertently
manipulating the main circuit closer lever. This device consists of a pivoted three
armed lever, one arm of which projects beyond the case enclosing the said appa-
On the other arms of this lever are formed lugs or projections, one of which
is designed to enter a notch in a disc attached to or forming a part of the aforesaid
ratchet wheel on the vertical index finger shaft. This notch is so arranged in the
said disc that when the said index finger reaches the indication "fire" on the dial,
the said notch will be in a position to permit the lug or projection on one arm of
the said lever to be forced into the same by means of a spiral spring attached to the
ratus.

page_text: said lever, and to the case of the apparatus. The projection on the other arm of
the said lever is at the same time forced in front of a pin projecting from the main
circuit closer lever, and holds the same so that it cannot be moved to complete the
main circuit until the end of the aforesaid three armed lever projecting through the
case is properly manipulated to withdraw the said projections from their engaging
surfaces.
Although I have described the aforesaid index finger as being operated by a
reciprocating lever, I may in some cases arrange upon the case enclosing the
apparatus a series of knobs or buttons, one for each division of the said dial, and so
arrange the same in connection with the vertical spindle, that by depressing either
of the knobs the index finger will be immediately carried round to that division,
and consequently the spring in connection with the said commutator will be
adjusted in a corresponding position.
Another part of my Invention relates to improved means for indicating the
position of a torpedo boat making a night attack. Upon the upper extremity of
the hinged movable guide rods I attach a chamber or receptale for a light, and in
connection with the said chamber or receptacle I arrange a slide or cover operated
as hereinafter described, so that when the said guide rods are raised the said light
will be visible to the operator at the shore or other station, but invisible when the
said guide rods are lowered or depressed. I prefer to effect the desired movements
of the guide rods by a toothed rack upon the end of a piston rod connected to a
piston, which is alternately raised and lowered by admitting gas to the lower or
upper extremity of its cylinder, the said rack gearing with a toothed sector on the
lower extremity of the said guide rods, as described in the Specification of the said
former Letters Patent.
In carrying this part of my Invention into practise I may in some instances
extend the said piston rod through the lower end of the said cylinder, and into
another cylinder where it is also provided with a piston. The last named cylinder
is filled with paraffine or other liquid, and is designed to form a "cushion" to the
piston in the first named cylinder to which the gas is admitted, and on which it
acts to raise or lower the said guide rods. The cylinder containing the paraffine is
connected at the top and bottom by means of a pipe provided with a cock, which
according to its position controls the flow of the said liquid from one end of the
said cylinder to the other, and thereby determines the amount of " cushion"
piston in the first named cylinder.
to the
The aforesaid slide or cover in connection with the light chamber is connected to
a rod which slides freely in brackets or bearings attached to the said guide rods,
and is provided at its lower end with a cross piece which slides upon the curved
face of a yoke through which the aforesaid guide rods slide. The curved face of
this yoke is so formed that when the aforesaid guide rods are raised, the slide or
cover will be lowered or otherwise so adjusted that the light will be visible to the
operator, but when the said rods are lowered the aforesaid cross piece sliding upon
the curved surface of the said yoke will close the said cover, and thereby render the
light invisible so long as the said guide rods are depressed. Within the aforesaid
yoke I prefer to arrange a stop to determine the angle at which the said guide rods
will rest when lowered. This stop may be made adjustable if desired.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th
June 1879.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRO-
PELLING, GUIDING, FIRING, AND OTHERWISE CONTROLLING OR OPERATING TORPEDO
BOATS." A communication from abroad by John Louis Lay, of Paris, France.
My Invention relates to improvements in apparatus for controlling and operating
torpedo boats or torpedoes of the class described in the Specification of my former
Letters Patent dated the 22nd day of February, A.D. 1878, No. 747, and comprises
novel apparatus for heating the carbonic acid gas used as the motive power for
driving or propelling the said torpedo boats. It also comprises the employment of
apparatus whereby the carbonic acid gas engines are started and stopped as required
and the other parts of the machinery are controlled through the medium of a cable
having only one or two wires connected with the shore or other station, so that the
boat may be started and stopped, steered, or guided in any direction, fired or other-
wise manipulated by the operator at the said station, as described in the said former
Specification. The said Invention also comprises improved means for indicating the
position of the said torpedo boat when making a night attack.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a portion of a torpedo boat provided with
means for heating the gas according to my present improvements.
Figure 2 is a transverse section of the same.
According to this part of my Invention I arrange in the bull A of the said boat a
series of flasks B* for the liquid carbonic acid gas and connect the said flasks by
means of suitable pipes, as shewn. Between the said flasks I arrange a metal tank
or receptacle B³ (preferably U shaped in transverse section) in which are placed a
series of connected pipes or tubes B* extending to and fro throughout the said
receptacle, and from the top to the bottom of the same. From the lower extremity
of this series of pipes or tubes B a pipe B extends to one of the aforesaid flasks B*
and the carbonic acid gas is thus free to pass into the said tubes B*. To the other
end of this series of tubes is connected the pipe D2, which extends to the engine of
the said torpedo boat. The aforesaid receptacle B is partially filled with alcohol,
and in connection with the same I arrange a suitable fuse B to be ignited by elec-
tricity sent through the cable connecting the torpedo-boat with the shore or other
station. I prefer to use for this purpose a small portion of gun-cotton placed upon
a platina wire, as shewn at B7, and suitably connected with electric wires in con-
nection with the said cable. In order to maintain the combustion of the alcohol
when lighted I place a series of perforated tubes E¹ in the said alcohol, and in con-
nection with these tubes I arrange a suitable reservoir E containing compressed air.
To prevent the escape of air into the alcohol chamber B³ when the torpedo boat is at
rest I arrange a valve E2 in the pipe E* leading from the compressed air reservoir E
to the aforesaid perforated pipes; the said valve is operated by the rod of a piston E³
which is moved in one direction in its cylinder E to close the valve by means of a
spring, and in the other direction to admit the air to the aforesaid perforated pipes
by the pressure of the carbonic acid gas passing through the supply pipe D², the said
cylinder and feed pipe being for this purpose connected by a pipe E³. I prefer to
arrange a reducing valve E in the air pipe E*, between the air reservoir E and the
aforesaid alcohol tank or receptacle. The operation of the above described apparatus
is as follows-When the operator desires to start the said torpedo-boat he first
sends a current through the wires connected with the platina wire at B' and thereby
ignites the gun cotton, which in turn ignites the alcohol in the receptacle B³ by
means of the fuse B6. The operator then sends a current through the aforesaid cable
to open the valve in the engine supply pipe D2, and the pressure of gas in the same
and in the pipe E actuates the piston Es in the cylinder E and opens the valve E²

page_text: in the air pipe E*. Air is thus admitted from the aforesaid compressed air reservoir
through the reducing valve E6 to the aforesaid perforated pipes E¹, thereby main-
taining the combustion of the alcohol which heats the series of tubes or pipes B⭑
connected with the liquid carbonic acid gas flasks and the engine, as above described.
When the engine is stopped by cutting off the supply of gas to the same, the spring
in the aforesaid cylinder E actuates the piston E³ connected with the valve E2 and
thereby closes the said valve and stops the supply of air to the alcohol, thus pre-
venting the further combustion of the same. The products of combustion pass
into the engine exhaust pipe or out through a separate pipe D' provided for its
exit.
In Figures 3 and 4 I have shewn in longitudinal and transverse section a
modification of the above described apparatus.
According to this modification instead of employing a series of flasks for con-
taining the carbonic acid gas I use one vessel or reservoir B, and so place and
support the same in the hull A of the torpedo boat as to leave an annular space A*
between the interior of the hull and the said vessel. Within this annular space I
arrange a series of pipes B' extending to and fro across the same, one end of this
series of pipes communicating with the said vessel or reservoir, and the other end
with the engine supply pipe D². In connection with the aforesaid annular space a
suitable chamber D* is arranged in the hull of the boat for containing the alcohol,
which flows freely into the annular space through a suitable opening or openings in
the said chamber. Within this chamber a suitable igniting fuse and a series of per-
forated air pipes are arranged for the purposes above described. When the alcohol
is lighted in the said chamber and in the annular space A* surrounding the reser-
voir B this reservoir will be heated, and also the series of pipes B' leading from the
same to the engine supply pipe. If desired I may arrange a series of pipes, as
shewn at D in the aforesaid chamber D*, extending down from the supply pipe D²
so that the gas may be further heated whilst passing to the engine. In both of the
above described forms of my apparatus the products of combustion pass out through
a suitable exhaust or discharge pipe.
I prefer to conduct the exhaust gas or other fluid from the engine through
suitable pipes or passages into the tube through which the cable is payed out.
The exhaust gas or other fluid in its passage through the said tube tends to
force or carry the cable with it and thereby relieves the boat of a portion of
the retarding effect due to the friction of the said cable.
•
I will now describe the part of my Invention relating to means for controlling
the operation of the said torpedo boats by or through a cable or conductor con-
sisting of a single wire only in place of a cable with several wires, as heretofore
employed and as described in my said former Specification. This single wire cable
permits the torpedo boat to carry a coil of cable of a much greater length than has
heretofore been practicable, and will therefore extend the range of operation of the
said torpedo boat. In carrying this part of my Invention into practice I arrange
in connection with the battery at the shore or other station apparatus under the
control of the operator and provide in the boat other apparatus, which is connected
with the apparatus at the station by means of the said single wire cable.
This part of my Invention is represented in Figures 5 to 11, in which Figure 5
is a plan or top view with the cover removed of my improved apparatus under the
control of the operator at the shore or other station; Figure 6 is a similar view of
part of the same with the dial plate and index finger removed; and Figure 7 is an
end elevation, partly in section, of part of the said apparatus; Figure 8 is a plan
of the apparatus on board the torpedo boat, which is connected to the apparatus on
shore by the aforesaid single wire cable; Figures 9 and 10 are side and end
elevations of the said apparatus in the boat; and Figure 11 is a horizontal section
of a portion of the same.
The apparatus under the control of the operator at the shore or other station is
constructed as follows, that is to say :-
'
a represents a hand or index finger mounted on a vertical shaft a¹, and arranged

page_text: <
"
"
to move around upon a disc or dial b, containing upon its face the indication of the
various operations to be performed in or by the torpedo boat to be controlled, such
as "stop," "go," "starboard," "port," sink," float," "raise rods," drop rods,"
"fire," or others. The said index finger is moved from one indication to the other
on the said dial by means of a lever or handle c projecting from the case containing
the said apparatus, and provided with a pawl c¹ arranged in connection with a
rachet wheel a² on the aforesaid vertical spindle a¹. Each movement of the said
handle c turns the said shaft or spindle a sufficiently to move the index finger
from one indication to the next one, the said handle being returned to its normal
position by means of a spiral spring c² or other suitable spring after each movement.
Upon the said vertical spindle a¹ is also arranged a commutator d, which is pro-
vided on its periphery with as many conducting parts or divisions d¹ as there are
indications upon the aforesaid disc or dial, these divisions d' being separated by
insulating material, as shewn at d²; d' represents a block of insulating material
secured to part of the said apparatus, as shewn and provided with springs d³, d³,
which rest upon the periphery of the said commutator, the said springs being con-
nected by suitable wires with the aforesaid cable.
One important feature of this Invention is that a weak or minor current (from
about 15 cells in a 50 cell battery, for instance) is free to pass through the said
apparatus and cable to the apparatus on the torpedo boat when the lever or
handle c is moved by the operator. This current not sufficiently strong however
to effect the movement or adjustment of the steering, firing, or other apparatus of
the torpedo boat, but is only intended to adjust a spring or springs in connection
with a commutator in the boat, as hereinafter described, to correspond with the
movements of the index finger a on the apparatus on shore, in order to form a
circuit or connection with the particular part of the apparatus on the boat to be
operated, so that on moving the arm or lever e for closing the circuit the whole
force of the current from the battery may pass to such part of the apparatus and
will actuate the same. In order to send a current of electricity of the whole force
of the battery to the torpedo boat after the aforesaid index finger a has been
adjusted on the dial b to the indication of the particular operation to be effected on
the said boat, I arrange upon the said apparatus the aforesaid arm or lever e
provided with a suitable handle, the said arin being pivoted upon a vertical post e'.
In close proximity to the said post e¹ is another post f, on which is pivoted a two-
armed lever f', the extremity of one arm of the same being provided with insu-
lating material f which rests in contact with the aforesaid arm or lever e.
other arm of the said lever is provided with a flat spring or plate f³ arranged
between two posts g, h. The post g is connected by a wire 4 with a post 4* herein-
after called the "middle" post, and the other post his connected by a wire 5 to
the "carbon" post 5*, which is in turn connected to the carbon in the said battery.
The aforesaid flat spring f³ when the arm or lever e is in its normal position rests
against the post g, and is out of contact with the post h, as shewn in Figure 5.
The post is also connected to the "line" or "main line" post 6*, to which the
cable is connected by means of a wire 6 passing first to one of the aforesaid
springs arranged in connection with the commutator d, then from the other
spring through the post e¹, on which the handle for turning-on the full force of
the battery is pivoted, and thence to the said "line" post 6*.
The
The aforesaid two-armed lever f¹ is connected by means of a wire 7 with a
post i, which is in turn connected with the "ground" post 7*, and the insulated
end f of the said lever is held in contact with the aforesaid circuit closing arm or
lever e by a flat spring f4, attached to the said two-armed lever and bearing against
the said posti. The "zine" post 8* connected to the zinc in the said battery is
connected by a wire 8 to a post j, arranged in close proximity to the circuit closer
arm or levere but not in contact with the same when the said lever is in its normal
position, as shewn in Figure 5, so that the zinc and carbon elements of the said
battery are disconnected so long as the lever e remains in this position.
The aforesaid "middle" post 4* is so connected to the zinc and carbon elements

page_text: of the aforesaid 15 cells of the battery; that when the main circuit closing handle e
is in its normal position and the spring plate f³ on the end of the aforesaid two-
armed lever f' is in contact with the post g a current can be passed through the
said cable when the lever c is drawn over by the operator, and this current will be
sufficiently strong to effect the adjustment of parts of the apparatus in the boat
into a position to permit the performance of any operation indicated by the index
finger a on the apparatus under the control of the operator, but not sufficiently
powerful to effect the operation or movement of the steering, firing, or other
mechanism. To effect such operation it is necessary to so move the main circuit
closing lever e, so as to cause the spring-plate f³ on the aforesaid two armed lever fl
to move into contact with the post h in connection with the "carbon" post 5* and
cut out the aforesaid weak or minor current, and in such movement the said main
circuit closing lever will be forced into contact. with the post j connected to the
aforesaid "zine" post 8* and will thereby close the circuit.
1
I will now more particularly describe the apparatus which is placed in the said
torpedo boat and which is connected to the above described apparatus by the afore-
said cable as described.
On a top plate, connected by pillars ² to a suitable base plate k, I place a com-
mutator provided with as many conducting divisions as there are divisions
upon the dial on the apparatus at the shore or other station. To each of these
divisions is attached a wire or conductor extending to, the various parts of the
apparatus or machinery in the boat and so connected therewith as to permit the
necessary operations of the same to be effected as desired. To the upper end of a
vertical spindle or shaft m, passing through the top plate on which the commu-
tator is fixed and through an insulated hole in the same, is an arm m³ which carries
a spring m resting upon the periphery of the said commutator and the said
arm is attached to the said shaft or spindle and rotates with the same, the said shaft
being provided with bearings in the aforesaid plate k' and the base plate k. Upon
the said shaft is also fixed an escapement wheel n connected by a train of gearing
n with a shaft n² supported in the aforesaid plates and having attached to it one
end of a spring o similar to a watch spring, the other end of the said spring being
attached to one of the said pillars k² supporting the top plate. The teeth of this
escapement wheel n correspond in pitch with the divisions of the commutator l.
In connection with the said escapement wheel I arrange a pallet p upon one end
of a lever p¹ to operate as in ordinary clock-work. The other end of the said lever
is so arranged in relation to a pair of electro magnets q, that when a current of.
electricity is passed through the same end p2 of the lever, p¹ will be attracted, and
through the pallet p and escapement wheel n, will turn the aforesaid vertical shaft
m and the arm m' and springs m² in connection therewith, around the commutator
, and so long as the end p² of the said lever is attracted by the aforesaid magnets
the spring m² on the said arm m¹ will rest upon the insulated portions 12 of the
periphery of the commutator ; but when the circuit is broken in connection with
the said electro-magnets the pallet p' will be returned to its normal position by a
spiral or other spring p³. In each movement of the escapement wheel n the said
spring will be brought to one of the condueting portions or divisions of the com-
mutator corresponding with the division or conducting portion of the commutator
d in the apparatus on shore, that is to say, the movement or adjustment of the
aforesaid index finger a, or pointer, to either of the indications marked on the dial b,
will adjust the commutator d under the said dial to the proper position for effecting
the operation indicated, and the spring m² resting on the periphery of the commu-
tator will be adjusted to a corresponding position. It will be seen from the fore-
going description that by simply sending a current of electricity through the
magnets q the vertical shaft m is so rotated that the spring m² will rest upon the
proper division of the commutator and will remain in that position so that the main
current when sent through the cable will effect the desired operation, as indicated
en the dial b of the apparatus at the shore or other station. But in order that the
main current may not pass through the aforesaid magnets q and thereby operate the

page_text: said spring m and cause improper working of the said apparatus I place in the
said apparatus a shunt r so arranged that the main current may be diverted from
the said magnets and caused to pass through the.aforesaid base plate k, and thence
through the spindle m and springs m² to the proper division of the commutator
connected to the part desired to be operated.
I sometimes employ in connection with the above described apparatus at the shore
or other station an improved device, as shown in Figures 5, 6, and 7, to serve as a
stop to prevent premature firing of the torpedo by inadvertently manipulating the
main circuit closer lever. This device consists of a pivoted three-armed lever s, one
arm s¹ of which projects beyond the case enclosing the said apparatus. On the
other arms 82, 83, of this lever are formed lugs or projections 84, 85; the lug or pro-
jection 8 is designed to enter a notch a in a disc a³ attached to or forming a part
of the aforesaid ratchet wheel a² on the vertical index finger shaft a¹. This notch
a is so arranged in the disc that when the said index finger reaches the indication
fire" on the dial b the said notch will be in a position to permit the lug or pro-
jection 8 to be forced into the same by a spiral springs attached to the said lever
and to any suitable fixed part of the apparatus. The projection 85 on the other
arm 83 of the said lever is at the same time forced in front of a pin e² projecting from
the main circuit closer lever c and holds the same so that it cannot be moved to com-
plete the main circuit until the end s¹ of the aforesaid three armed lever s projecting
through the case is properly manipulated to withdraw the said projections from their
engaging surfaces.
"
Although I have described the aforesaid index finger as being operated by a
reciprocating lever I may in some cases arrange upon the case enclosing the appa-
ratus a series of knobs or buttons, one for each division of the said dial, and so
arrange the same in connection with the vertical spindle that by depressing either
of the knobs the index finger will be immediately carried round to that division
and consequently the spring in connection with the said commutator on the appa-
ratus in the torpedo-boat will be adjusted to a corresponding position.
In some cases I may employ in connection with the above described apparatus a
cable consisting of two wires properly insulated, so that one of the said wires may
be employed for effecting all of the necessary operations in the said torpedo-boat
exclusive of the firing or exploding of the charge, this operation being effected by
sending a current through the other wire of the said cable.
In Figures 12, 13, and 14, I have illustrated the part of my Invention relating
to guide rods provided with a light to indicate the position of the torpedo boat
when the same is employed in a night attack.
Figure 12 is a longitudinal section of a portion of the hull of a torpedo-boat
shewing one of the guide rods in an elevated position and the mechanism for
raising and lowering the same.
Figure 13 is a side elevation shewing the said guide rod lowered, and
Figure 14 is a horizontal section of part of the same on the line **, **,
Figure 12.
F represents a chamber or receptacle for the light on the movable guide rod F
which is provided with a toothed segment or arc F2, actuated by a toothed rack G¹
on the piston rod G, as shewn in Figure 12. In connection with the said light
chamber I arrange a slide or cover H attached to a rod H¹, sliding freely in brackets
I attached to the guide rod F and provided at its lower end with a cross piece H²,
which slides freely on the yoke J. The cylinder K is provided with pipes K1, K2,
fitted with valves which are arranged in connection with suitable devices to be
operated by the current sent through the cable. The piston rod G extends through
the lower end of the cylinder K into a second cylinder L, and is attached to a
piston G within the same. The said cylinder L is preferably filled with paraffine
or other liquid, and is designed to serve as a " cushion to the piston G³ in the
cylinder K in the raising and lowering of the said guide rods, the amount of
"cushion" being regulated by a cock L2 in a pipe L connecting the upper and
lower ends of the said cylinder. J' is a stop in the yoke J which stop is preferably
"

page_text: adjustable, and is designed to determine the angle at which the guide rods should
rest when lowered, as shewn in Figure 13. The operation is as follows:-Gas is
admitted to the upper end of the cylinder K by sending a current of electricity
through the cable to adjust the valves to admit gas by the pipe K' to the cylinder
K, the piston G³ and the piston rod G are thereby forced down and the rack G¹
gearing with the segment F2 raises the guide rod F. As the said guide rod is
raised, the cross-piece H2 sliding on the curved face of the yoke J permits the slide
or cover H to drop, thereby uncovering the said light and indicating the position
of the torpedo-boat to the operator at the shore or other station. When it is
desired to lower the said guide rod a current of electricity is sent through the said
cable in the opposite direction to adjust the valves to admit gas through the pipe K,
the
gas
is thereby caused to enter the lower end of the cylinder K, and its pressure
on the said piston acts through the aforesaid rack and segment to depress the
guide rod, while the cross-piece H2 sliding upon the aforesaid yoke causes the
slide H to cover the light, as shewn in Figure 13, and the said slide remains in
this position until the said guide rod is again raised in order to further ascertain
the position of the said torpedo boat. It will be obvious that the light at F¹ is so
arranged that when uncovered it will be visible from the station and invisible
from the ship or other object toward which the torpedo boat is directed.
.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent and the manner of performing the same, I wish it under-
stood that I claim,―
First. In a torpedo-boat the improved method of and apparatus for heating the
carbonic acid gas in the gas generators or reservoirs by means of alcohol, to which
air is admitted to maintain the combustion, and which may be ignited and extin-
guished as desired by the operator at the shore or other station as above set forth,
and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawings.
Second. In a torpedo boat the arrangement of the gas reservoir in the hull or
body of the same, so that there is an annular space between the said reservoir and
hull connected with the chamber for the combustion of the alcohol for heating the
said gas as above described, and as shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the Drawings.
Third. The adaptation to the purpose of my Invention of a cable or conductor
which has only one wire or two wires by the employment in combination with the
said cable or conductor of the apparatus illustrated in Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,
of the Drawings, or other suitable apparatus or mechanism operating in substantially
the same manner, whereby with such a cable the operator at the shore or other
station can transmit electrical currents to any part of the apparatus on the boat,
as and for the purposes specified.
Fourth. The arrangement of the exhaust pipe or pipes in combination with the
tube through which the cable passes from the torpedo boat in such a manner that
the exhaust gas or other fluid from the engines passes out through the said tube,
as and for the purposes set forth.
Fifth. The guide rod provided with a light and with a slide or cover or other
device which may be operated from the shore or other station as above described,
to exhibit and conceal the light as desired when the torpedo boat is employed in a
night attack.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand night hundand