Improvements in or relating to Indicators for Torpedoes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 24th May, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 26th Feb., 1894-Accepted, 5th May, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Indicators for Torpedoes.
I, JOHN SMITH COMRIE, of 7 and 8 Great Winchester Street in the City of
London Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to further improvements in indicators for torpedoes, of the
class described in Letters Patent previously obtained by me.
The object of this invention is to simplify the means by which the water is
admitted to the chamber containing the smoke or flame producing material (say
phosphide of calcium) and by which the float is started.
In applying this invention to an indicator to be placed in the nozzle-block of a
torpedo, parallel with the longitudinal axis of the latter I provide a chamber filled
with the flame or smoke-producing material. The lower portion of this chamber
fits into that portion of the nozzle block which is adapted to receive the indicator.
The upper part of the chamber is closed by a disc, at the centre whereof is a small
aperture closed by a thin piece of sheet lead or other material capable of
permanently protecting the phosphide of calcium or the like against atmospheric
and other influences and yet of being pierced easily enough to allow satisfactory
operation of the devices hereinafter described. The edge of said disc projects
beyond the chamber and forms a flange thereon. From this chamber projects the
float. This is a hollow chamber through the centre of which a tube passes to
accommodate a rod having at its upper outer end a cup of rubber or the like, or an
arrangement of fans, and is surrounded by a coiled spring tending to keep it raised.
The lower end of the rod carries a sharpened conical point capable of piercing the
sheet lead disc on the chamber when pressed against the same.
The tube passing
through the float projects beyond the latter to accommodate the reel, and underneath
the reel a float casing enclosing the following device for connecting the float (and
parts carried thereby) with the chamber.
In the float casing work two arms which meet at the centre and leave a small
circular aperture for the passage of the conical piercer. The arms carry two
semicircular plates capable of surrounding the flange on the top of the chamber above
described. A lining of rubber or the like may be employed to increase friction of
the semicircular plates on the flange. In order to attach the float to the chamber, the
two semicircular discs are pushed back behind a ring which keeps the same in place
and this causes the ends of the arms to project through apertures provided for the
purpose.
The top of the chamber is then pressed against the underside of the device just
described and the arms pushed home. The semicircular plates are thereby caused
to embrace the flange and thus secure the parts together.
When the torpedo is launched the rush through the water acting on the cup or
the like on the top of the rod forces the latter upon the lead closed hole in the top
of the chamber; at the same time the conical sides of the piercer push aside the
arms (and with them the semicircular plates) so that a passage for the water into
the phosphide chamber is made, and the float set free to start as soon as the torpedo
ceases to move.
When the indicator is applied in a position perpendicular or approximately
perpendicular to the long axis of the torpedo, the indicator is placed in a suitable
socket. The phosphide chamber has no flange but is formed with the aperture
closed by sheet lead or the like as and for the purpose above referred to.
The

page_text: float carries a reel as usual and through it passes a tube enclosing the piercer and
the rod for operating it. The top of the float is flush with the socket and a sliding
bolt (or two) retains the float until the proper time. On the top of the piercer-rod
a cam-plate is mounted and to the float is hinged a disc formed with a slot.
The rush of the torpedo actuates the last named disc, and the latter works the
cam-plate as well as the sliding bolt or bolts at the proper time so that the piercing
of the lead in the top of the phosphide chamber and the release of the float are
effected at the proper time.
In both the forms above described, the float rises alone leaving the phosphide
chamber behind, although either may be so modified that the float carries said
chamber with it.
MA-1009
BERNHARD DUKES,
226, High Holborn, W.C., Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Indicators for Torpedoes.
I JOHN SMITH COMRIE of 7 & 8 Great Winchester Street in the City of
London, Civil Engineer, 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 :-
This invention relates to further improvements in indicators for torpedoes of the
class described in Letters Patent No. 9616 of 1891 obtained by me.
The object of this invention is to simplify the means by which the water is
admitted to the chamber containing the smoke or flame producing material (say
phosphide of calcium) and by which the float is started.
This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of one form of indicator.
Figure 1 shows a portion of the same in side view.
Figure 2 shows another form of this indicator in elevation, partly in section.
Figure 3 shows a further modification in elevation and
Figure 3 side view
Figure 3 plan thereof.
Figure 4 is an elevation of yet another form of indicator shown in
Figure 4 a plan.
Figure 4B showing a detail of construction.
Figure 4° also a detail view.
Figures 1 and 14 show this invention applied to an indicator to be placed in the
nozzle-block of a locomotive torpedo parallel with the longitudinal axis of the
latter I provide a chamber A filled with the flame or smoke producing material.
The lower portion of this chamber fits tightly into that portion of the nozzle-block
which is adapted to receive the indicator. The upper part of the chamber is closed
by a disc B at the centre whereof is a small aperture closed by a thin piece C of
sheet lead or other material capable of permanently protecting the phosphide of
calcium or the like against atmospheric and other influences and yet of being
pierced easily enough to allow satisfactory operation of the devices hereinafter
described. The edge b of said disc projects beyond the chamber and forms a
flange thereon. Above this chamber the float is fitted. This is
a hollow
chamber D through the centre of which a tube E passes to accomodate a rod F
having at its upper outer end a cup G of rubber or the like and is surrounded by a
coiled spring H tending to keep it raised. The lower end of the rod carries a
sharpened conical point I capable of piercing the sheet lead disc on the chamber
when pressed against the same. The tube passing through the float may project
beyond the latter to accomodate the reel or the stem J of the float may do so and

page_text: underneath the reel I provide a flat casing K enclosing the following device for
connecting the float (and parts carried thereby) with the chamber.
In the flat casing work two arms L L. These meet at the centre and leave a
small circular aperture for the passage of the conical piercer. The said arms L L
carry two semicircular plates 77 capable of surrounding the flange on the top of
the chamber A above described. A lining 1 of rubber or the like may be employed
to increase friction of the semicircular plates on the flange. In order to attach the
float to the chamber the two semicircular plates are pushed back behind a ring or
flange M which keeps the same in place and this causes the ends of the arms LL
to project through apertures provided for the purpose as seen in Figure 1. The
top of the chamber A is then pressed against the underside of the device just
described and the arms L L pushed home. The semicircular plates are thereby
caused to embrace the flange and thus secure the parts together.
When the torpedo is launched the rush through the water acting on the cup G
or the like on the top of the rod F forces the latter upon the lead-closed hole in
the top of the chamber A; at the same time the conical sides of the piercer I push
aside the arms L L (and with them the semicircular plates (D) so that a passage
for the water into the phosphide chamber is made and the float set free to start as
soon as the torpedo ceases to move.
As soon as the piercer I has reached the limit of its stroke the water inverts the
cup G so that no further resistance is offered by it to the course of the torpedo.
When the indicator is applied in a position perpendicular, or approximately
perpendicular to the long axis of the torpedo I use the following construction:
As shown in Figure 2 the phosphide chamber A has no flange but is provided
with the aperture C closed by a piece of sheet lead or the like. The float carries
a reel at Jas usual and through the float D passes a tube E enclosing the rod F
the lower end of which is provided with the pricker I.
The top of the float is flush with the top of the socket into which the indicator
is placed. On the upper surface of the float D is mounted a sliding bolt P the
construction and operation whereof are the same as those illustrated in Figures 4
and 4 QQ being guides for the bolt.
When the torpedo is propelled through the water, the action of the latter upon
the disc N causes this to turn and the disc acting upon the camplate O on the
rod F and the cam V on the bolt P depresses the pricker I and withdraws the
bolt so that the water gains access to the phosphide chamber A whilst the float D
is set free. H is a spring for keeping the rod E in proper position. Before the
torpedo is started on its course the phosphide chamber is fixed in the socket by a
suitable packing for instance, or, being of suitable diameter by friction only.
The disc N is turned till it rests on the spur o of plate O so as to present sufficient
resistance to the water as shown by the dotted lines and the float being placed in
position the bolt is pushed into the staple provided for its reception.
In some cases the phosphide chamber is dispensed with and in such cases I use
the construction shown in Figures 3, 34 and 3B.
In this construction no piercer is required. I therefore simply mount the two
bolts P P in guides the bolts being so shaped that they easily pass one
another.
On bolt P I fix two triangular pieces R, R, and on P¹ a stirrup piece S. The
disc N is fitted with a pint and hinged at T. When it turns as shown by the
dotted lines Figure 3 the pin t presses against the triangular pieces R, R, and
the piece S thereby causing the bolts to slide out. On being forced back it with-
draws the bolts and sets the float free. The ends of the bolts when fixing the
float in place engage with suitable staples or the like on the torpedo.
Figures 4 and 4 show a further modification of this invention. In this form
the construction of the operating gear on the top of the float is the same as that
for the form shown in Figure 2 viz. the bolt P has the notches p' p¹ (see Figure 4^)
and when the disc N is depressed by the water in the direction of the arrows
Figure 4, it passes over the cam V and moves the bolt as shown by the arrows in

page_text: Figure 4 till these notches pass the projecting parts p² p² of the one staple on
the torpedo and the other end clears the staple on that side. This sets the float
free and the piercer having pierced the lead the indicator is in full operation. The
piercer shown in these figures is however not a solid cone but is tubular.
The
The stem J of the float extends into a socket X provided in the phosphide
chamber the socket ✗ being closed by a thin sheet of lead or the like at C.
end of the tubular piercer W projects beyond below the end of the hollow stem J
sufficiently to enable it to work properly.
When the piercer is depressed it cuts through the lead at C as will be readily
understood. The entire edge of the piercer may be sharpened but I prefer to
leave a small portion to of it blunt as illustrated by the plan Figure 4B which shows
the end of the piercer on a considerably exagerated scale. When the piercer is so
made it severs the lead as shown in Figure 4° leaving the cut portion W₁ adhering
to the remainder at w¹ so that it can not clog the end of the piercer.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A torpedo indicator having a float and a. phosphide chamber wherein the
latter is permanently closed by a thin piece of lead or the like pierced by suitable
means at the proper time, the float being set free at the same time, substantially
as set forth and as illustrated in the drawings.
2. In a torpedo indicator such as hereinabove specified the mechanism for piercing
the piece of lead or the like closing the aperture C and setting free the float,
constructed and operating substantially as specified with reference to Figures 1
and 14 of the drawings.
3. In a torpedo indicator such as hereinabove described the mechanism for
piercing the piece of lead or the like on the top of the phosphide chamber and
for liberating the float constructed and operating as shown in and described with
reference to Figure 2 of the drawings.
4. In a torpedo indicator such as hereinabove referred to the mechanism shown
in Figures 3, 34 and 3B for liberating the float as set forth.
5. In a torpedo indicator the arrangement shown in Figures 4, 44, 4B and 4° for
enabling water to enter the phosphide chamber at the proper time substantially as
specified.
London, 24th of February 1894.
BERNHARD DUKES,
226, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.