Year: 1885

page_text: THOMAS SMITH, Naval Architect 142 Glenarın Road Clapton Park London do
hereby declare the nature of my invention for TORPEDOES to be as follows:-
(1.) This Torpedo is made of two connected portions its floating portion and its
explosive portion the former of which is placed above the latter and it can be con-
structed out of iron or wood or both combined, or other convenient substances in
fact if desired of any number of suitable or convertible materials, and may be of
any requisite dimensions.
The
(2.) They are held by lines attached to the Torpedoes at four different points,
and the four points are brought to one at a given distance from the Torpedo.
proportion of the four lines to the given point of juncture to attain the most suit-
able lead or sheering power is as follows, As the fore top line is to the fore bottom
line 26 is to 38, and as the after top line is to the after bottom line 30 is to 40, and
the distance at which these lines meet in one centre, to take the driving line is 28
to 30 inches from face side of the Torpedo. The above measurements are for
Torpedoes 4 feet long by 2 ft 9 inches deep, about the smallest size for practical
purposes, and which will carry a charge of Explosive weighing from 60 to 65 lbs.
For larger sized Torpedoes say up to 10 ft in length, the above given dimensions
should be in about the same proportion according to size of Torpedo.
(3.) The Torpedoes are lowered over the side of the Vessel by means of a divit
or other suitable appliance, fitted with the necessary blocks, tackles and falls. The
working and guiding line is on a winch with brake, specially provided and fitted
in the vessel or boat employed.
(4.) The Vessel, Boat or Steam Launch being got underweigh the Torpedo at
once sheers away from the vessel at right angles and keeps the vessels course,
being abreast or nearly so at a distance of 400 to 500 yards or more according
to the size of the Torpedo, the larger dimensions possessing the greatest sheering
power.
(5.) According to the manner in which the four attachments are set, so is the
lead or sheering power increased or diminished as may be desired.
(6.) The attachment to the Steam Launch, Boat or other Vessel, which must be
at a point forward of midships, ("prefered to be at about the after end of the
fore body") so as to give a full effect to the sheering power of the Torpado. The
Pais 111

page_text: guiding line must run off the drum over and through rollers on the rail or gunwale,
constructed to take the strain of line, either fore and aft or abreast, as circumstances
may require, and to lead down to a swivel roller connected to vessels side about six
inches above the line of vessels immersion. The use of this roller at water line is
obvious, as it prevents the strain that would necessarily occur if attachment was
at the gunwale to heel the vessel over and so considerably to detract from her
steering a straight course without the helm being well over, and also at same time
interfering with the working and proper guiding of the Torpedo.
(7.) Stationary "Otarian" Torpedoes are moored so as to remain in exact
position in any Tidal River or Harbour without anchors or other attachments to
the bottom, being moored solely from the shore. They are harmless to friendly
vessels coming in contact with them, but are discharged by an Electric spark
carried through the mooring, at the moment desired, either from the shore or a
vessel at anchor..
(8.) "Otarian" Sweepers. Any Harbour, Bay or River can be cleared of sunken
or noored Torpedoes by the use of these, which are worked on the same principle
as the moveable Torpedo, and will do their work at the same distances either dis-
charging or cutting adrift the enemy's Torpedoes if moored even at a depth of 30
or more feet. The Torpedo is made to descend by means of wings attached to its
sides as will be illustrated in drawings.
(9.) For discharging or firing any of these Torpedoes, I make no special claim as
they can be discharged by any of the appliances at present in use for such
apparatus, machines, mines, guns or whatever else it may be, and are adaptable
equally to all appliances of percussion, electricity, or other known methods.
(10.) These Torpedoes are suitable for all purposes of Naval Warfare at Sea, in
Rivers that are navigable for Vessels, Estuaries or Harbours, and for Military
purposes on Inland Rivers, Lakes, Lagoons or Running Streams.
(11.) I claim the whole method of constructing, making and working Torpedoes
on the principles above described.
DT01
L100-

page_text: Improvements in the Construction and Propulsion of Torpedoes.
THOMAS SMITH Naval Architect 142 Glenarm Road Clapton Park London do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:―
This invention is a new method of making and propelling Torpedoes and
Torpedo Sweepers in the following manner.
1. This Torpedo is made of two or more connected portions, the floating portions
being above and the explosive and ballast portions being below. It can be con-
structed out of iron or wood or both combined, or any other convenient substances,
in fact if desired out of any number of suitable or convertible materials, and may
be of any requisite dimensions and of various suitable forms.
2. They are held by lines attached to the Torpedoes at four different points, and
the four points are brought to one at a given distance from the Torpedo. The
proportion of the four lines to the given point of juncture, to attain the most
suitable lead or sheering power, is as follows-As the fore top line is to the fore
bottom line 26 is to 38, and as the after top line is to the after bottom line 30 is
to 40, and the distance at which these lines meet in one centre, to take the main
driving line is 28 to 30 inches from face side of the Torpedo. The above measure-
ments are for Torpedoes 4 feet long by 2 feet 9 inches deep, about the smallest
size for practical purposes, and which will carry a charge of Explosives, weighing
from 60 to 65 lbs. For larger sized Torpedoes say up to 10 feet in length, the
above given dimensions should be in about the same proportion, according to size
of Torpedo.
3. The Torpedoes are lowered over the side of the vessel or boat, by means of a
davit or other suitable appliance, fitted with the necessary blocks, tackles and falls,
as illustrated in Sheet 2 of drawings.
The working and guiding line is on a winch with drum for coiling and paying
out the line, with the necessary brake and gear specially provided, and fitted in
the Steam Launch or boat that may be employed, which is illustrated in Sheet 2
of drawings.
4. The Vessel, Boat or Steam Launch being got underweigh, the Torpedo sheers
off from the vessel at right angles and keeps the vessels course, being abreast or
nearly so at a distance of 400 to 600 yards or more as is illustrated in Sheet 3 of
drawings. The larger the dimensions of the Torpedo the greater will be the
sheering power, and the gear, winch and boat for working must be stronger and
heavier in proportion.
•
5. According to the manner in which the four attachments are set, so is the
sheering power increased or diminished, the quicker the lead the greater the
sheering power. By reference to Sheet 1 of drawings various degrees of lead will
be seen illustrated.
6. The construction of the Torpedoes, either in timber, metal or other suit-
able material, or partly of one or the other is illustrated in Sheet 1 of drawings,

page_text: Figs. 1. 2 & 3, show on a large scale the details for the construction of one class of
Torpedo and Figs. 4. 5. 6 & 7, outlines of other suitable forms, which may be of an
unlimited number of dimensions, and forms, so long as they are suitable to work
on the principles named and enumerated in this Specification.
7. The attachment to the Steam Launch, Boat or other Vessel employed should
be at a point forward of midships ("say at about the after end of the fore body.")
to ensure a full and efficient effect of sheering power to the Torpedo. The guiding
line must run off the drum over and through rollers on the rail or gunwale ("as is
illustrated in Sheet 2 of drawings B, Figs. 1, 2 & 3") constructed to take the strain
of line, either fore and aft, or abreast, as the circumstances may require, the line
thence leads down to a swivel roller connected to vesels side about six inches
above the line of vessels immersion ("Sheet 2 of drawings C. Figs. 1 & 2.") The
use of this roller is obvious at the water line, as it prevents the strain that would
necessarily occur if attachment were at the gunwale or rail, to heel the vessel over,
and considerably to detract from her steering a straight course without the helm
being kept well over, also at same time interfering with the working and proper
guiding of the Torpedo, and causing errors and delays in judging the proper
distances to strike the object aimed at.
8. Stationary Torpedoes are moored so as to remain in exact position in any
Tidal River or Harbour, without anchors or, other attachment to the bottom, being
moored either from the shore or from a vessel at anchor. They are harmless to
friendly vessels passing over or coming in contact with them, but are discharged
by an Electric spark carried through the mooring at the moment desired, either
from the shore or a vessel at anchor, whichever the Torpedo may be attached to.
9. Sweepers, any Harbour, Bay or River can be cleared of sunken or moored
Torpedoes by the use of these, which are worked on the same principle as the
moveable Torpedo, and will do their work at the same distances, either discharging
or cutting adrift the Enemy's Torpedoes, if moored at a depth of 30 or more feet.
The Sweeper is made to descend by means of wings attached to its sides, as is
illustrated in Sheet 4 of drawings.
10. Method of attacking a Vessel with Torpedoes as illustrated in Sheet 3 of
drawings. The launch following the Vessel to be struck must have a speed greater
than the vessel, to bring the Torpedo under her quarter on the starboard side.
The launch meeting the vessel, so soon as vessels stem comes in contact with the
guiding line, the Torpedo will run in and strike the vessel on the port side.
Should the Torpedoes fall short of the vessel to be attacked they can be brought
back tō the Launch or Boat and lifted on board ready for use again. When the
Launch stops the Torpedo will of itself drift either astern or ahead of the Launch
according as the set of the current or tide may be.
11. These Torpedoes are suitable for all purposes of Naval Warfare at Sea, in
Rivers that are navigable for Vessels, Estuaries or Harbours, and for Military
purposes on Inland Rivers, Lakes, Lagoons or Running Streams.
12. For discharging or firing any of these Torpedoes, I make no special claim, as
they can be discharged by any of the appliances at present in use for such
apparatus, machines, mines, guns or whatever else it may be, and are adaptable
equally to all appliances of percussion, electricity or other known methods.

page_text: B. Figs. 1, 2 & 3. Is the floating power, shown in drawing to be of wood, but is
equally adaptable of thin metal or of any other suitable substances that may be
desired.
C. Figs. 1 & 2. Is the Explosive Chamber made of any suitable metal or other
substance.

page_text: יוון:
FIC.4.