MENTS IN LOCOMOTIVE TORPEDOES
Year: 1885

page_text: I, EDWARD CHARLES PECK of N° 8 Clarendon Villas, Old Charlton, Kent,
England; Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVE-
MENTS IN LOCOMOTIVE TORPEDOES, to be as follows:-
I construct the shell of my Torpedo of thin metal or any suitable alloy, and
strong enough to resist the external pressure of the water and atmosphere when a
vacuum is formed within it. It may take any suitable form but I prefer a circular
cross section and a cigar shape longitudinally.
In the forward part is carried the explosive charge and firing apparatus. About
the middle of the length is placed a Reservoir capable of withstanding a certain
amount of pressure; it is surrounded with non-conducting material and a small
annular space is left between its external diameter and the outside shell. This
reservoir I charge with a certain quantity of hot water from the main boiler of a
torpedo boat or other war vessel or from a land boiler when the torpedo is fired
from shore. The quantity of water carried possesses sufficient sensible heat to
supply the propelling engine with steam of a slowly decreasing pressure during its
run. The charge of water only partly fills the reservoir, the space above it being
filled with steam, and the lower part being fitted with longitudinal and transverse
plates to prevent the water rolling during the run of the torpedo.
A part or all of the space not otherwise taken up in the torpedo is utilized as a
condenser, the shell in contact with the surrounding water giving a part or all of
the required condensing surface.
The aftermost part of the torpedo is occupied by the propelling apparatus which
may consist of a triple compound surface condensing engine, or other suitable
steam motor driving a single or double screw propeller.
The pressure of steam need not be limited to that in the boiler from which the
charge is taken, as I may increase the temperature and pressure of the charge after
it has been taken from the boiler and before being put into the torpedo by means
of a small reservoir heated by the furnace of the boiler or by its waste gases or by
гр. Ола

page_text: a furnace of its own, This reservoir is fitted with a safety valve loaded to the
required pressure minus the pressure in the main boiler and blows off into the main
boiler, the charge is thus maintained at its proper temperature ready for use.
The torpedo is provided with suitable fins, rudders, and regulating apparatus
to ensure its travelling at any required depth and direction. It is also provided
with suitable valves and orifices for the purpose of filling and discharging the
reservoir, admitting steam to the engines and condenser and discharging air from
it previous to its run, It may also be provided with a reducing valve placed
between the boiler and engines,

page_text: I, EDWARD CHARLES PECK, of N° 8 Clarendon Villas, Church lane, Old Charlton,
Kent, England; Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCOMOTIVE TORPEDOES and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement-
My Invention has for its object the simplification and improvement of the
present locomotive torpedo system; the reduction of weight to be carried by the
Torpedo Boat; and the reduction of pressure stored in the Torpedo.
I do this by placing a charge of hot water in a Reservoir within the torpedo;
this charge to be drawn from a Boiler temporarily connected to the Torpedo for
that purpose. The steam from the hot water, being used to drive the propelling
engines, is afterwards exhausted into the body of the torpedo, when it is condensed
by the cold sides in contact with the surrounding water.
I construct the shell of my Torpedo of thin metal or any suitable alloy and
strong enough to resist the external pressure when the torpedo is immersed at its
greatest depth & a vacuum is formed within it.
It may be of any suitable form but I prefer a circular cross section and a cigar
shape longitudinally.
Referring to the drawing accompanying this Specification; Figs. 1 and 2 shew
respectively a sectional elevation and plan, and Figs. 3 and 4 cross sections. It
will be seen that in the forward part A, Figs. 1 and 2, is carried the explosive
charge and firing apparatus. This part of the Torpedo is capable of being detached
and stored separately, but, while attached to the main body, is completely isolated,
as regards conduction of heat, by the wooden disc B.
Within the body of the Torpedo is placed a Reservoir P, Figs. 1, 2, and 4 capable
of withstanding a certain amount of pressure.
It is surrounded with non-conducting material of a light form, and a small
annular space, R, is left between its external diameter and the outside shell of the
Torpedo.
This Reservoir I charge, by means of a hose and nozzle coupling, with a certain
quantity of hot water from the Boiler of a Torpedo Boat, War Vessel, or other.
boiler provided for the purpose, Or I may charge it with the same quantity of
cold water, to be afterwards heated by circulating steam pipes placed within the
Reservoir, or by injecting steam from any of the before mentioned Boilers.
The quantity of hot water carried contains sufficient heat to supply the pro-
pelling engines with steam during its run. The charge of water only partially fills
the Reservoir, and the lower part is fitted with longitudinal and transverse
partitions T, Figs. 1 and 4 to prevent the water rolling during the run of the
Torpedo. A part or all of the space in the body of the Torpedo, not otherwise
occupied is utilized as a condenser, the surrounding water in contact with the shell
giving a part or all of the required cooling surface. The after part of the body

page_text: contains the propelling engines or apparatus, which may consist of a compound
condensing engine, driving a single or double screw propeller; or other suitable
motor.
The pressure of steam in the Reservoir need not be limited to that in the Boiler
of the Torpedo Boat or War Vessel in cases where the charge is drawn from that
source; as I may increase the temperature and pressure of the charge after it has
been taken from the boiler, and before being loaded into the Torpedo, by means of
a separate Reservoir or Heater, heated by the furnace of the Boiler, or by its
waste gases; or by a furnace of its own. This Reservoir is fitted with a safety
valve loaded to the required pressure, minus the pressure in the main boiler, and
blows off into it. The charge is thus maintained at the proper temperature
& ready for use.
The Torpedo is provided with suitable fins, rudders, and regulating apparatus,
to ensure its travelling at any required depth and direction. It is also provided
...with suitable valves and orifices for the purposes of filling and discharging the
reservoir; admitting steam to the reservoir for the purpose of heating its charge
of water; heating the engines, and discharging air from the Condenser previous to
its run
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I. claim is
:
1st Supplying the propelling machinery of a locomotivé Torpedo with steam
from a working charge of hot water drawn from a separate steam boiler provided
for that purpose, substantially as set forth in this Specification.
2nd Heating a charge of water. in a locomotive Torpedo by the steam from a
separate boiler provided for that purpose, as set forth in this Specification.
3rd Superheating a charge of hot water drawn from a steam boiler by means of
an additional Heater; for the purposes set forth in this Specification.
4th The constructing and arranging locomotive Torpedoes substantially as herein-
before described, set forth, and illustrated with reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, in
the accompanying drawings and Specification.
Dated this 5th day of April 1886
1