IMPROVEMENTS IN TORPEDO APPARATUS FOR VESSELS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Isaac Thornycroft, of the Firm of John J. Thorny-
croft and Co., Steam Yacht and Launch Builders, Church Wharf, Chiswick, in
the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TORPEDO
APPARATUS FOR VESSELS."
Sealed the 26th February, 1878, and dated the 30th August 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Isaac Thornycroft
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th August 1877.
JOHN. ISAAC THORNYCROFT, of the Firm of John J. Thornycroft & Co., Steam
Yacht and Launch Builders, Church Wharf, Chiswick, in the County of Middlesex.
" IMPROVEMENTS IN TORPEDO APPARATUS FOR VESSELS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in torpedo apparatus for vessels,
and is designed to facilitate the placing of torpedoes in such positions relatively to
the vessels carrying them that they may be readily discharged from their cases or
cradles, or exploded (as the case may be) when near the object to be destroyed.
The Invention has reference to apparatus for operating with fish torpedoes, such
as the Whitehead torpedo, and apparatus for operating with spar torpedoes.
For both classes of torpedo I use a cradle, tube, trough, or case, in conjunction
with levers or arms hinged or jointed to the vessel.
For fish torpedoes the cradle, tube, trough, or case is suspended to levers which
are suitably braced, and are jointed to other levers carried by a rocking shaft, the
suspension levers being also connected to the vessel by connecting rods (solid or
hollow); hinged or jointed to the suspension levers and to the vessel.
The tube or trough for spar torpedoes is connected to the vessel by connecting
[Price 6d 1

page_text: rods or arms (solid or hollow), so arranged that when the tube or trough is by suit-
able means moved forward its outer end is guided by the rods or arms into suitable
position for the discharge of the torpedo on the spar being run out.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Isaac Thornycroft in the Great Seal Patent Office, on the
28th February 1878.
JOHN ISAAC THORNYCROFT, of the Firm of John J. Thornycroft & Co., Steam
Yacht and Launch Builders, Church Wharf, Chiswick, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TORPEDO APPARATUS FOR VESSELS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in torpedo apparatus for vessels,
and is designed to facilitate the placing of torpedoes in such positions relatively to
the vessels carrying them that they may be readily discharged from their cases or
cradles when sufficiently near the object to be destroyed.
The Invention has reference to apparatus for operating with fish torpedoes, such
as the Whitehead torpedo. I use a cradle or case in conjunction with levers or
arms hinged or jointed to the vessel. The cradle or case is suspended to levers which
are jointed to other levers carried by a rocking shaft, the suspension levers being also
connected to the vessel by connecting rods (solid or hollow), hinged or jointed to the
suspension levers and to the vessel.
It will be seen that according to my Invention the torpedo during the operation
of lowering, as well as when in a firing position, remains close to the side of the
vessel, thereby obviating any risk or inconvenience from excessive leverage which
would have a tendency to tilt or upset the boat.
In the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 shews a side elevation of my improved
apparatus, and Fig. 2 is a plan of the same.
The apparatus consists of two or more bent levers A securely and rigidly fixed on
a shaft B which works in bearings fixed on the deck of the vessel C, from which
the torpedo is to be discharged. On the ends of the levers A furthest from the
shaft B are pivotted other levers D to which the cradle or case E for sustaining the
torpedo is suspended. The other ends of each of these levers are connected to the
vessel by means of rods or tubes F jointed at each end in such a way that when the
shaft B is made to revolve in its bearings the case containing the torpedo is guided
over the side of the vessel, and close to it, and is held in a position convenient for
discharging the torpedo (see right-hand side of Fig. 1).
The shaft B may be made to revolve by means of ropes G and pulleys H attached
to the levers A, or by hydraulic or steam pressure, as may be found most
convenient.
The torpedo case can be towed alongside the vessel if found necessary without
deranging the apparatus.
According to my Invention the torpedo case is carried in the angles of the bent
levers, and is stowed away so that neither it nor the suspending levers project at
all beyond the hull of the vessel; also when lowered the levers and suspending rods
fold over one another so as to occupy very little space, and the torpedo is suspended
close to the hull.

page_text: Having thus described my Invention and the mode of carrying it into effect,
I desire it to be understood that I do not claim any of the mechanical parts of the
apparatus herein described as taken separately and apart from the combination or
application thereof, in the manner and for the purposes described, but what I do
claim is the apparatus for lowering torpedoes and holding them in a firing position,
substantially as described, and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings..
In witness whereof, I, the said John Isaac Thornycroft, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
JOHN ISAAC THORNYCROFT. (L.S.)