IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF AND IN THE MODE OF FIRING TORPEDOES
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Mathieson, of West Ham, in the County
of Essex, Electrician, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF AND IN THE MODE OF FIRING TORPEDOES."
Sealed the 20th January 1874, and dated the 30th July 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Mathieson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 80th July 1878.
I, JAMES MATHIESON, of West Ham, in the County of Essex,
Electrician,. do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF AND IN THE MODE OF FIRING TORPEDOES,"
A+
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Mathieson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 80th July 1873.
I, JAMES MATHIESON, of West Ham, in the County of Essex,
Electrician,. do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF AND IN THE MODE OF FIRING TORPEDOES,”
to be as follows:-
This Invention relates, firstly, to a novel arrangement of mechanism
for-closing and breaking the circuit of electric batteries connected with
torpedoes or submarine mines.

page_text: The mechanism at present in use for this purpose is contained within
a moored buoy or float, and it is set in action by the buoy being struck
by a passing vessel. A central weighted rod of the apparatus being
thereby caused to vibrate, and bring an insulated disc which it carries
connected with the battery into contact with platinum plates connected
with the opposite pole of the battery and thus completing the circuit.
As an improvement upon this apparatus which besides being costly is
liable to injury from sudden and severe vibration, I use a short central
rod for carrying the insulated contact disc, and this rod I weight as
before but much more lightly, and instead of screwing the rod into the
base I connect it therewith by a coil of stout wire, which serves to
support the rod in a vertical position and gives it great freedom of
motion. Standing up from the base to which this spiral coil is attached
is a collar to which the contact springs are made fast. These springs
are adjusted by means of stud. screws with respect to the disc carried by
the central rod, so that they stand off clear of the disc when the
apparatus is quiescent, but on the apparatus being struck the disc
will be thrown into contact with one or other of the springs and the
circuit will be completed. If at this time the torpedo and its battery
connections are arranged for a discharge, as would be the case in time of
war, an instant explosion will result, but otherwise the vessel will pass
harmlessly over the buoy. This mode of mounting the contact disc
insures a prolonged electrical contact (which is a most important.
matter), and it permits me greatly to reduce the size and cost of the
apparatus.
The Invention relates, secondly, to an improved mode of firing
torpedoes. In manufacturing electro-mechanical torpedoes or those
which will fire by being struck by a passing vessel instead of inserting
within the torpedo any means for firing the same, which renders the
handling of such torpedoes highly dangerous, I lead off a given length
of electric cable from the placed torpedo and buoy the end of the cable.
Then when an enemy is expected and not until then I apply to the cable
a battery that will act under water and sink it. I thus provide a safe
means for exploding the torpedo mechanically, for when the torpedo is
struck and caused to vibrate the circuit will be made as already
explained, and the battery will be brought into action and caused to fire
the charge.
•

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Mathieson in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 30th January 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
MATHIESON, of West Ham, in the County of Essex, Electrician, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of July, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said James Mathieson, Her special
licence that I, the said James Mathieson, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said James Mathieson, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree, with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
the
THE CONSTRUCTION OF AND IN THE MODE OF FIRING TORPEDOES," upon-
condition (amongst others) that I, the said James Mathieson, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Mathieson, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto
annexed and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to
say) :—
This Invention relates, firstly, to a novel arrangement of mechanism
for closing or for breaking the circuit of electric batteries connected
with torpedoes, or submarine mines for the purpose of firing the same,
"

page_text: The mechanism at present in use for this purpose is contained within
a moored buoy or float connected with a vessel charged with the
explosive material (or the buoy itself carries in a suitable chamber the
explosive material), and it is set in action when the buoy is struck by a
passing vessel. A central weighted rod of the apparatus being thereby
caused to vibrate and bring an insulated disc which it carries, and which
is connected with the battery into contact with a platinum plate con-
nected with the opposite pole of the battery, and thus completing the
circuit. This vibrating rod has hitherto consisted of a straight rod of
steel, which if not tempered to exactly the proper degree will when set
violently vibrating by a passing friendly vessel, either snap in two by
being of too hard a temper, or bend a little and take a permanent set if
of too soft a temper, and thereby throw the adjustment out of order and
render the apparatus useless.
To remedy these inconveniences I use instead of the straight steel rod
a long length of stout wire coiled in the form of a helix, on which is
fixed a short spindle with the weight on top as shown in the accom-
panying Drawing at Fig. 1, which represents a pear shaped buoy in
central vertical section, which is connected electrically, as shewn at
Fig. 2, with a submarine charge, and is intended also to have electrical
communication with a signal and firing apparatus on shore, as is well
understood.
Referring to Fig. 1, A, A, is a jacket of wood surrounding the
wrought-iron conical case B, which is made water-tight; O is a ring for
hoisting the buoy, and it is connected to a holdfast which is rivetted to 2
a triangular strap D. Pendent from this strap which overlies the
wrought-iron case B are screw bolts E to which the cap F is secured.
Rivetted to the centre of this cap is a lug for receiving the ring of the
mooring chain or wire rope. G, G, are hoops for bracing together the
staves of which the wooden jacket A is composed; H is a hook grip for 3
the electric cable I; K is a flanged plate of gun metal forming the
bottom of the conical case B. This plate has a central opening which is
tapped to receive a hollow central piece L, which carries the central
weighted vibrating rod M that terminates, as already described, in a
spiral coil N which is firmly secured to the central piece L. This 3
piece L is tapped to receive a screwed collar O, which serves to support

page_text: case an additional insulated wire of the cable will be connected with
the contact disc, as shown by red lines in the Figure.
The Invention relates, secondly, to an improved mode of firing
torpedoes. In manufacturing electro-mechanical torpedoes, or those
which will fire by being struck by a passing vessel, instead of inserting |
within the torpedo any means for firing the same, which renders the
handling of such torpedoes highly dangerous, I lead off a given length
of electric cable from the torpedo, and when mooring the same I buoy
the end of the cable. Then when an enemy is expected, and not until
then, I apply to the cable a battery that will act under water and sink it. 1
I thus provide a safe means for exploding the torpedo mechanically, for
when the torpedo is struck and caused to vibrate, the circuit will be
made as already explained and the battery will be brought into action.
and caused to fire the charge.
Fig. 3 shews in plan view, and Fig. 4 in elevation a group of five 1
electro-mechanical torpedoes A, A, A, moored and connected with a
sunken battery common to all, by means of short lengths of conducting
cables. This arrangement allows of the torpedoes being moored in
position without risk to the workmen employed in the operation, and
not until this operation is effected is the firing battery connected with
the torpedoes. The battery will by preference consist of a few cells of
a Leclanchè battery sealed in a water-tight chamber, and when con-
nected to the conducting cables of the torpedoes A it is sunk in a central
position as shewn at Z, Fig. 3.
If desired the torpedoes may be moored as shewn at Fig. 5, where the 2
battery serves but for one torpedo, but it can also be made to serve as
an anchor for the same.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "Improvements
of and in the Made of Thiring Townadons" and

page_text: Secondly. Connecting torpedoes with sunken local batteries in the
manner and for the purpose above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Mathieson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Twenty-ninth day of January; in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.