A NEW OR IMPROVED PRESSURE AND VACUUM APPARATUS FOR STARTING, STEERING, STOPPING, AND REVERSING TORPEDO AND OTHER BOATS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Sayer, of Derby, in the County of Derby,
Engineer, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED PRESSURE AND
VACUUM APPARATUS FOR STARTING, STEERING, STOPPING, AND REVERSING
TORPEDO AND OTHER BOATS."
Sealed the 23rd March 1880, and dated the 19th November 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Sayer at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th November 1879.
WILLIAM SAYER, of Derby, in the County of Derby, Engineer. "A NEW ORB
IMPROVED PRESSURE AND VACUUM APPARATUS FOR STARTING, STEERING, STOPPING,
AND REVERSING TORPEDO AND OTHER BOATS."
The object of this Invention is to start, steer, stop, and reverse the course or
direction of self-propelling boats, such as steam-launches and the like, employed in
dangerous operations, in saving life at sea, and other similar purposes, with or
without a crew on board such boats.
Near the stern of the boat I fix a cylinder and piston, or bellows, connected by &
crank or other suitable arrangement, with the tiller or rudder of such boat. The
said cylinder or bellows is connected with the operating apparatus, on board ship or
on shore, by a suitable tube or hose of sufficient length for the required purpose.
In another part of such boat I fix a similar apparatus for starting, stopping, and
reversing the motion of the propelling machinery of the boat.
In operating my said steering apparatus I fix, on board ship or on shore, as the
case may be, a drum or reel of suitable dimensions, on which is coiled the said tube
or hose, through which compressed air is forced or driven for operating the said
steering apparatus of the boat, say on the starboard tack; the same result is obtained
for steering the boat on the port tack by producing a vacuum in such apparatus.
This drum is mounted on a hollow shaft or spindle connected with one end of the
said hose by a suitable tube. The said spindle or shaft works in a gland or stuffing
box, the casing or exterior of which gland is connected by a pipe to a valve-
chamber, which is connected on one side by a pipe with a compressed-air chamber,

page_text: and on the opposite side by a similar pipe with a vacuum chamber. These chambers
may be in any other suitable relative position and convenient place.
The compressed air chamber is charged and the vacuum chamber exhausted by
any usual and efficient means. The compressed air is admitted into the apparatus
by moving a circular valve in one direction; this valve is so constructed and arranged
that by moving it in the opposite direction the compressed air is shut off from the
apparatus, and the compressed air remaining in the apparatus is allowed to escape
into the atmosphere; by the continued movement of the valve the connection with
the atmosphere is closed, and a communication is opened with the vacuum chamber.
By reversing the motion of the said valve, opposite effects are produced.
By my improved apparatus boats charged with or conveying torpedos, or other
destructive implements may be sent, manoeuvred, and directed against an enemy's
ship or land-works without any crew being on board such boats.
The same
apparatus may be likewise used from the shore for the same purpose, for saving
life in cases of shipwreck, and for other operations of a like kind.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Sayer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th May
1880.
WILLIAM SAYER, of Derby, in the County of Derby, Engineer. "A NEW OR
IMPROVED PRESSURE AND VACUUM APPARATUS FOR STARTING, STEERING, STOPPING,
AND REVERSING TORPEDO AND OTHER BOATS."
The object of this Invention is to start, steer, stop, and reverse the course or
direction of self-propelling boats, such as steam launches and the like, employed in
dangerous operations, in saving life at sea, and for other similar purposes, with or
without a crew on board such boats.
In order that my said Invention may be more clearly understood, and be more
readily performed, I will explain the same with the aid of the accompanying 4 Sheets
of Drawings, which form part of this Specification, reference being made thereto by
the numerals and letters marked theron; the same index numerals and letters
refer to the same parts in each Fig. on the same Sheet of the said Drawings.
Sheet 1.--Fig. 1 is a plan partly in section of my apparatus, as fitted in a torpedo
launch or boat, and Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same.
Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional plan views of my apparatus for operating the
apparatus on board such launch or boat, and Fig. 5. is an elevation partly in
section of the same.
Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the operating valve and lever.
Sheet 2. Fig. 7 is a sectional side elevation of my apparatus adapted to reverse
or operate larger and more powerful engines on board such boats, and Fig. 9 is an
end elevation of the same.
Fig. 8 is a plan view of the steam and exhaust ports of such apparatus.

page_text: Sheet 3. Fig. 10 is a plan view, partly in section, of my apparatus, fitted on
board for manoeuvring the rudder or rudders of large boats, and Fig. 11 is an
elevation of the same.
Sheet 4. Fig. 12 represents a ship or object to be attacked.
Figs. 13 and 14 represent the attacking boats with their connecting tubes.
In the said launch A (see Figs. 1, 2, and 13), which I wish to manoeuvre in an
attack or other operation, involving risk to the crew of such launch, I fix, in a
suitable position, a cylinder b, or bellows or air and vacuum sacks may be used
instead of such cylinder and its piston; into the said cylinder b, through the tube c,.
I force the requisite supply of compressed air for operating outwards the piston d,
which is fitted to and operates the rod e, on which is fitted the cross-head f, on the
gudgeons of which works one end of the links or connecting-rod g; the other ends
of such rods work on the joint pin at the lower end of lever h, which they operate, it
being fitted and keyed upon, and operating the reversing shaft J; this shaft J is
fitted to and forms part of the propelling engines k, the valve and reversing gear
of such engines being controlled by their connection with the shaft J.
The pressure which has been set up in the cylinder 6 being maintained therein
causes the said reversing and valve gear of the propelling engine k to remain in a
suitable position for such engine to revolve in one direction or a-head.
By exhausting the compressed air, and thus forming a partial vacuum in the
cylinder b, a reverse action takes place; the atmosphere presses the piston d inwards,
and thereby causes the said reversing and valve gear to be brought to and kept
in a suitable position for the said engine to revolve in the opposite direction or
a-stern.
By the application of similar means, the said reversing and valve gear may be
brought to a central or stand-still position, or mid gear from either of the previously
described positions. The reversing shaft J, or any other available part of such gear,
may be arranged to close a stop-valve on the main steam-pipe of the engine, on the
said gear reaching a point a little on either side of the said mid gear and the distance
traversed between such points, so as to insure the said engine remaining stationary
when such gear is in the said mid-gear position.
In a working position with the cylinder b is fixed the small cylinder 7, in which
works the piston m, fitted on the said rod e; this cylinder is previously filled with
water which the piston m on being operated by the rod e expels through one of the
openings n, the capacity of such openings being regulated by the valves o, such
valves being controlled by the adjusting springs and screws p in such a manner as
to keep the said valves o closed against any pressure of water in the cylinder / on
both sides of the piston m, that will withstand and prevent such piston, and its
connections, moving by working shocks or tension arising from the motion of the
said reversing and valve gear of the propelling engine k, through the said rod e,
the said valves o being opened by a greater pressure of water, on either side of the
piston m than will withstand the said working tension or shocks just referred to.
For instance, the application of either pressure or vacuum in the cylinder b
operating the piston d on the rod e, on which the piston m is also fitted, setting
up such greater pressure in the cylinder 7 that results in putting the said water in
such cylinder under increased pressure, the said water opening one of the valves o
and through this being forced by piston m to the opposite end of such cylinder l.
In another suitable position, nearer the stern of the said launch a, (Figs. 1 and 2)
I fix the bellows q, and supply the same with compressed air, through the tube R,
which forces outwards, the piston or part of bellows 8, and thus, through the
connecting-rod t and crank 2, turns the rudder stock or shaft w, and thereby
operates the rudder x. The said pressure in the bellows q being maintained therein,
causes the rudder x to remain at the position a¹, Fig. 1, or "to port." By exhausting
or withdrawing such compressed air, and producing a partial vacuum in the said
bellows, a reverse action takes place, by the atmosphere pressing inwards the part s
of the bellows q, such vacuum being maintained in the said bellows would cause
the rudder a to move to and remain at the position ³, Fig. 1, or "to starboard.”

page_text: For operating my said improved apparatus I fit and fix on board a suitable
following vessel (as Fig. 14, for example), or in a suitable position on shore, as the
case may be, the drums or reels E¹, E³, (see Figs. 3 and 4) which are keyed on and
rotate with their shafts 61, 63; these shafts are hollow for a part of their length and
act as tubes or passages from the glands and stuffing boxes c', c, (in which their
hollow ends revolve) to their connection with the inner ends of the tubes d', d³,
which tubes, passing outwards, form a connection with the inner coils of tubes o
and on the said drums. The said shafts b', 62, revolve in suitable bearings a¹, a².
Steam or other power may be applied to operate the said drums for coiling
thereon or paying out the tube c or R, or the said tubes may be payed out by
tension thereon arising from the onward motion of the launch a, with which they
are connected (see Figs 13 and 14), and communicate such tension to the outer tube
coils on the drums, thereby causing the latter to revolve and pay out the tube; or
from other like causes.
The said glands or stuffing-boxes c¹, c³, are continued, as shown, from the connecting
tubes or passage, to valve boxes f¹, f, such valve boxes containing circular or other
suitable valves g¹, 98, (see Figs. 5 & 6, for g¹, 92, is not shown); on the spindles of
such valves are fixed lever-handles h', h²
By operating the lever h¹ to position h³, (Fig. 4) causes the valve g¹ to open and
admit compressed air through the port or opening ", a continuation of such port
forms the connecting tube or passage with the accumulating chamber k¹, such
chamber receiving its supply of compressed air through the tube l, from an air-pump
or other suitable apparatus.
The gauge m' being fixed in a convenient position to be seen by the operator,
registers or points to the amount of pressure within the tube c.
By operating the lever h¹ to position h4, (Fig. 4) the valve g¹ opens the port n¹
and thus allows the compressed air to escape or exhaust from the apparatus; a
continuation of such port forms the connecting tube or passage o' with the exhaust
chamber p¹, such chamber being exhausted through the tube Q1, by means of an
ejector, air-pump, or other suitable apparatus, the gauge R' registering or pointing to
the amount of vacuum in the tube c.
By operating the said lever h' to its central position, see Figs. 4, 5, and 6, the said
valve gl opens the port 8¹, through which the compressed air escapes from the tube c,
and so reduces the pressure therein, or atmospheric air may enter and destroy any
vacuum within such tube.
By similarly operating the lever h², Fig. 3, like results are attained in the tube R,
to those described for tube c, and illustrated in Fig. 4, the pressure and vacuum
being produced by similar means.
The result of these operations being that, if I place the lever h', Fig. 4, at a
position h³, I cause the propelling machinery on board the boat a to be in a suitable
position to revolve in one direction; also, by moving the lever h¹ to position h¹, a
reverse motion will be produced by the means described.
The tubes c and R may be made or rendered buoyant, or to fall in water, either
by their own gravity or by the aid of floats or weights attached thereto. These tubes
may be formed or inclosed in one cable of suitable material, and be coiled around
one drum whose shaft will be hollow for a portion of its length at both ends; each
of such hollows or passages are connected to and communicate with one of the
tubes c or R, and through glands and stuffing-boxes with similar apparatus, as
described under Figs. 3, 4, and 5.
For controlling the propelling engines of large boats, ships, or the like, I operate
the controlling valves of auxiliary steam cataract reversing gear, or the like, fitted
on board such ships, large launches, or boats propelled by steam or other similar
power, in which fluid under pressure is employed, see Figs. 7, 8, and 9. The
bellows A and piston or part B thereof are fixed on board such large vessels, and
are operated through the tube c from a like, source and with like apparatus, as
described under Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6. By forcing compressed air through the tube c
into the bellows A, the part B on the connecting rod D jointed at c operates the

page_text: lever F, as shown by the dotted lines, such lever being jointed to the link g at g',
and at gå connected with the lever h, the shorter arm of which, through the rod i
and valve stem j, operates the slide valves K and k¹ in the steam-chest L, into
which steam has previously been admitted through the steam pipe m in a direction
to open the steam-ports N and n¹ (Figs. 7 and 8), which permit steam to enter the
chamber O, and also by the steam-pipe p into the cylinder Q between the
pistons Q1, Q2; these pistons being thus driven apart the piston Q₁ operates, by its
contact with one end of its stem, in a direction to open the equilibrium water-
valve R which admits water from the chamber O. This chamber being of larger
capacity than the cylinder S, the said chamber O is previously charged and kept
sufficiently supplied with water by the condensation of steam on its surface, on
which surface the steam is already exerting its pressure to enter the cylinder S at
the end s' and force the piston u towards the end 8 of the cylinder; at the same
time the piston-rod u¹ being connected by the cross-head u² with the connecting-.
rod u³ operates the crank V fitted on the shaft V', which shaft is connected to the
reversing gear of the propelling engines on board such large vessels.
By forming a partial vacuum in the bellows A the opposite or reverse action and
result are attained by similar means. The slide-valves K, k', open the ports n³, n³,
which admits steam into the chamber O¹, and also by means of the steam-pipe Pl
into the cylinder Q between the pistons Qand Qs; the piston Q³ operates by its
contact with one end of its stem in a direction to open the equilibrium water-
valve R' which admits the water from the chamber O¹ (which is similar in its
details and operation to the chamber O) into the cylinder S at its end 8³, and
thereby operates the piston U towards the end 8' of the cylinder, which expels the
water therefrom through the valve R into the chamber 0%; the said valve R is
opened by one end of its stem being operated by the piston Q¹, against which piston
the piston Qis driven by the said steam pressure acting between it and the
piston Q. The steam pressure on the surface of the water in such chamber is
exhausted through the port N into the exhaust ports N1; such ports also receive
the exhausted steam from between the pistons Q1 and Q through the steam-pipe P
and port n. The valve springs and adjusting screws R2, R3, keep the equilibrium
valves R, R', closed when the steam is exhausted from both sides of the piston Q
in the cylinder Q. The slide-valve k¹ is slightly open to both steam ports, or is
minus any cover or lap on the exhaust side when in the centre of its traverse, so as
to ensure the perfect closing of the said valves R, R¹, when the said slide-valves K
and are brought to the centre of their traverse.
Also the lever W (connected at its lower end by the rod W' with the crank V
jointed at V) moves on, and takes its radius from the stud a. On the upper arm
of such lever W is the joint pin or stud ¹ which forms the fulcrum of the lever H.
By the operation of this arrangement and its connections, as described and shown
in Fig. 7, steam would be shut off from chamber O or O¹, and from the cylinder Q
on the piston u reaching a position relative to the distance traversed, outwards or
inwards, by piston or part of bellows B by the application of pressure or vacuum
in the bellows A through the tube c. The spiral spring Y connected to the operating
lever F is for the purpose of maintaining at or bringing to a central position the
slide-valves K and k¹ on the releasing of pressure from or the destruction of vacuum
in the bellows A. The handle F¹ on the operating lever F and the locking arrange-
ment F connecting such lever with the slotted link Z are for use when operating
the reversing gear by hand on board such large vessels.
Figs. 10 and 11 show my improved apparatus for operating the controlling valves
of an auxiliary operating or steam steering gear on board large vessels propelled by
steam or other fluid under pressure.
The bellows A and part thereof B are arranged, fixed, and operated through the
tube c, Fig. 10, on board such large vessels from a like source and with like apparatus,
as described under Figs. 3, 4, 5, & 6.
By forcing compressed air into the bellows A the piston or part B on the rod e
operates the lever F, which lever by its connections operates the slide-valve J in

page_text: steam-chest K (steam having previously been admitted therein) in a direction to
open the steam-port L, and thereby admit steam to enter the cylinder N at its
end N¹ and operate the piston O towards the end N2 of the said cylinder, the piston-
rod P being connected by the cross-head Q with the connecting rod R operates the
crank T on the shaft u. The said crank forms on each side of the shaft u the arms
or levers which operate the steering-rods or ropes V, such rods or ropes being con-
nected to and communicating with by suitable gear the rudder or rudders of such
large vessels.
By forming a partial vacuum in the bellows A the opposite result is attained.
The slide-valve J opens the steam-port L', and thereby admits steam to enter the
cylinder N at its end N³, and operate the piston O towards the end N¹ of the said
cylinder, from which the steam is exhausted through the port L2; also the lever W
whose slotted end is operated by the crank-pin a on the crank t¹, the fulcrum pin
of such lever being the stud x¹ on the shorter arm of the said lever moves one end
of the operating lever F; this arrangement being operated with its connections, as
described and shown in Fig. 10, shuts off steam from the cylinder N on the piston O
reaching a position relative to the distance traversed outwards or inwards by the
part B of bellows a by the application of pressure or vacuum in the bellows a through
the tube c. The handle F on the operating lever F and the locking arrangement F³
which connects such lever with the slotted end of the rod Z are for use when
operating the said steering gear by hand on board such large vessels.
Figs. 13 and 14 show a method of night attack that may be adopted by one or
more pairs of boats, assumed to be built in duplicate, either boat of any pair being
arranged to take the lead and be manoeuvred from the other or "aft" boat; apparatus
is provided and so arranged that either boat can pay out the tube a which forms
the connection between the two boats, Figs. 13 and 14. When operating spur or
other torpedoes, say, against a ship, Fig. 12, the crew of both, Fig. 13, is transferred
to the "aft" boat, Fig. 14, at the most convenient time before the final rush is made,
at Fig. 12; or the man in charge of the furnace may be left on board boat, Fig. 13;
or a mechanical apparatus could be arranged for keeping the furnace going for a
short period; or a boiler with furnaces arranged to burn petroleum or other oils
with self-feeding apparatus could be applied, if necessary, on board such boats when
propelled by steam or similar power.
Having thus fully described and ascertained the nature of my said, Invention,
and the method of performing the same, I desire it to be understood that I do not
restrict myself to the precise details now given as an illustration thereof, as they
admit of considerable variation without departing from the principles and general
characteristics of my said Invention, but I claim as new and desire to secure by the
herein before-mentioned in part recited Letters Patent,―
Firstly. The method of operating the steering apparatus and gear of torpedo and
other boats.
Secondly. The method of starting, regulating, stopping, and reversing the pro-
pelling machinery and gear of torpedo and other boats.
Both claims substantially as specified and illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
Thirdly. The apparatus for controlling the propelling engines and gear of large
vessels, substantially as specified and illustrated in Figs. 7, 8, and 9.
Fourthly. The apparatus for operating the rudder or rudders of large vessels,
substantially as specified and illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Sayer, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.
WILLIAM SAYER. (L.S.)