IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO TORPEDO EJECTING TUBES FROM SHIPS- BOATS BATTERIES & FORTS
Year: 1884

page_text: I WILLIAM WELCH of 13, Kings Terrace, Portsmouth in the County of
Hampshire, (Civil Engineer,) do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO TORPEDO EJECTING TUBES FROM SHIPS-
BOATS BATTERIES & FORTS, to be as follows :—
"
Tubular Channel ways, of any dimensions, either circular or other configuration,
are constructed of Metal, or Wood-Casings, and are inserted through the "Bow "-
side or other part of the Ship-Boat-Battery-or Fort-at the surface-or any
desired depth below the Water line-The end of the Channel ways are open to
the ingress and egress of the Water the whole length of the Tubular Space.
The top or upper side of the Tube or Channel way is made to open at any
length, and around the opening, a water tight casing is formed and carried up to
the required height-when used for submerged purposes.
Within this water tight Casing, is fitted an Inner or Second moveable Chamber,
fitting closely, around the entire surfaces, and of equal height with the outer
Casing, thus producing a Water tight Box, which is reversible, the Bottom forming
the configuration of the Tubular Channel way.
Within the Box, when reversed, the Torpedo or other Missle is suspended, and
held ready for Launching, and Ejectment.
Any number of these Launching, and Ejecting, Tubes,-can be used-and placed
in any part of the Ship-Boat,-Battery, or Fort.
The Channel ways are fitted with Stop Valves, for excluding the ingress, of the
water, when not required for use.
Theso Channel ways also form a receptacle, or Reservoir, for supplying water for
the use of the Ship, &-in lieu of the various-openings, and Valves at present
in use.
Dated this 10th day of December 1884

page_text: Improvements in and relating to Torpedo Ejecting Tubes.
WILLIAM WELCH of 13 Kings Terrace, Portsmouth, in the County of Hampshire
(Civil Engineer) do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVE-
MENTS IN AND RELATING TO TORPEDO EJECTING TUBES and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :—
The object of my Invention is to provide sub water-ways or Conduits leading
from the exterior to the interior of Forts-Batteries-Ships Boats-or other
structures for the purpose of Launching or Ejecting Torpedoes-and other
Missles whereby open exposure and risk is avoided-And greater control-
precission and efficency obtained in their delivery.
In order that my Invention may be fully and practically comprehended viz :-
I introduce Tubular Channel ways-subway Conduits or Casings of Metal or
other materials within the structures and leading to the exterior projecting through
the "Bow" Stern "-Side-Bottom-or other part of the Ship-Boat-Fort-or
Batteries either above or below the Water-line-The Conduits or subways are
made to open to allow the ingress of the Water in connection with the outside,
the entire length of the Tubular Channel way-Penstocks-or stop valves are
introduced at the entry of the Conduits for stopping out the water when desired.
At the end of the Channel ways—or in and above the Top side of the Conduits--
or subways Water tight Reservoirs are constructed and carried to a sufficient
height to allow the water from the exterior to flow to the level within the
structure in the Reservoirs-and the Torpedoes or other Missles are placed
within these reservoirs, and therefrom enter the Ejecting Tubes or subways for
delivery.
Where necessary to discharge the Torpedoes or Missles in more than one line
within the structure, several Ejecting Tubes or Conduits from differrent angles are
led into a Central Circular Reservoir, in which each seperate Ejecting Tube is
connected Within the Circular reservoir-a Travelling or Moveable Chamber-or
Turntable is fitted for placing the Torpedoes or Missies within the Ejecting Tube
or Tubes as required.
.
By this invention sub water way Tubes-or Conduits are carried under
ground, leading from the sea shore-or Embankment and connected with Masked
Entrenchments or Underground Casemates-Inland Forts—or Batteries-And the
Torpedoes, or Missles discharged-and ejected and controlled with great precission.
The reservoirs connected with the Ejecting Tubes-or sub Channel ways—
forming also receptacles for supplying Water for the use of Ships & In lieu of
the varied openings and valves as at present used.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed-I declare that what
I claim is
1st The construction and equipment of Ejecting Tubes and Water-way conduits
for submerged delivery of Torpedoes and other Missles-from floating structures,―
Forts-Batteries & without exposure.
2nd The connecting any number of Ejecting Tubes with a central reservoir―
whereby the Torpedoes and Missles may be discharged at different angles-and
several launched at one time.
3rd Connecting with the Water, or Sea by underground Channel water ways
Casemates-Forts and Shore Batteries for delivering Torpedoes and other
Missles and affording means of discharging the same by Electric wires or
otherwise.