IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH TORPEDOES
Year: 1885

page_text: ROBERT SCOTT Grocer & Provision Dealer. 92 Shield Street Newcastle on
Tyne do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN AND
CONNECTED WITH TORPEDOES to be as follows:-
For the propelling, guiding and submerging torpedoes, I use electro-motors to
work one or two propellers, the electro motors are electrically controlled from
where the torpedo was launched, the guiding is accomplished by a wire connected
with the tiller, the wire is wound round a a drum, the drum is acuated with electro
motors. The submerging is accomplished by opening a valve in the torpedo and
water enters. The torpedo runs at a certain deepth by a self-acting engine which
is acuated by the difference of water pressure or springs, I also work the propellers
with compressed air, a cable is placed upon the torpedo and pays it off as it
proceeds upon its journey, the cable contains two tubes through which compressed
air is forced the valves are electrically controlled and one propeller can be made to
go faster than the other, by this means it can be guided to any point desired.
When compressed air is used, the electro motors are only used for controlling the
propelling and equilibrium engines.
This is accomplished in the following manner. Electro-motors are arranged to
work one or more propellers. The guiding apparatus consists of a wire attached
to the tiller and passed round pulleys.
Each end of the wire is attached to a drum. As the drum revolves the wire is
wound round it at one end and released at the other end, and the tiller is moved in
a certain direction, by reversing the motion of the drum the position of the tiller
is reversed.
Electro motors give motion to the drum and are controlled by a battery from
the place the torpedo was launched. The torpedo pays off a wire as it proceeds
upon its journey. A cataract is employed to give steadiness to the drum by
offering a resistance. The submerging is accomplished by an empty chamber in
the torpedo to which is attached a valve. The valve is electrically connected with
a battery from whence the torpedo was launched. When the valve is opened
water enters a chamber. To prevent the torpedoe from rapidly sinking this valve
automactically closes as soon as the torpedo is submerged.
To maintain the torpedo at a given deepth I use a self acting engine, which
consists of a slide valve situated in a cylinder.

page_text: This cylinder is carried to the surface of the torpedo, and the part above the
valve water has access, under this cylinder and connected with the slide valve is a
rod or piston, which enters another cylinder, a slide valve is also attached to this
cylinder, one end of this cylinder is filled with water or other liquid, between the
pressure in the two cylinders the slide valve finds its equilibrium, as the valve
decends in comes in contact with a pin or projection which places the electro-
motors in motion and they acuate a pump or other suitable arrangement and
force water out of the torpedo. When the torpedo rises towards the surface the
slide valve ascends and opens a valve and water enters the torpedo I also balance
the slide valve with springs or weights when this method is adopted I dispense
with the bottom cylinder. I also work the propeller or propellers with compressed
air. A cable is placed in the torpedo which it pays off as it proceeds upon its
journey. The cable contains two air tubes through which compressed air is forced,
and work the prepelling engines, I also use compressed air to work the equilibrium
engine.
When compressed air is used. I only use the electro-motors for controlling the
valves of the propelling, and equilibrum engine The electro motors are acuated
by a battery from where the torpedo was launched. By controlling the valves of
the propelling engine the torpedo can be guided to any point. This is accomplished
by using two propellers and by making one go slower than the other the torpedo
can be steered as desired. When a tubular cable is used I may work the engines
of the torpedo with water pressure through one or more. tubes of the cable.
1007

page_text: ROBERT SCOTT 02 Shield Street in the City and County of Newcastle upon
Tyne Grocer and Provision Dealer I do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH TORPEDOES 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 propell and guide torpedoes; in my provisional
specification I mentioned the propelling of torpedoes by electric-motors this method
I have not carried out but I have carried out that method which is also mentioned
in my provisional specifications, whereby torpedoes are propelled by means of a
flexible tube through which compressed air is forced to work the engines on the
torpedo.
One end of the tubular cable is attached to an air compressor and the other end
is attached to the engines in the torpedo, and as the torpedo proceeds upon its
course it pays off its cable.
I may also pay the cable off from the vessel or fort from which the torpedo is
launched, the distance a torpedo can travel depends upon the length of its cable,
as the motive is supplied as it is used, consequently the propelling power is as
great at the end of its journey as at the start.
This method does not interfere with the movements of the vessel; the torpedo
may be travelling in one direction and the vessel in another direction and such a
movement would not interfere with the propelling and guiding of the torpedo.
I prefer a cable which as a gravity slightly greater than that of water so that it
sinks so that connection cannot be cut by the enemy, as propelling power is
practically unlimitted, torpedoes may carry great charges and be armour plated to
resist machine guns. Another means of attack that can be carried out by this
system consists as follows. A torpedo may be run out half a mile and driven this
distance in front of a vessel for any distance desired. Compressed air being a very
elastic fluid the cable is quite plyable under great pressure. I have carried out a
method of sinking a torpedo ten to fourteen under water; at first the torpedo
travells in a semi-submerged condition and when it is near and fairly in a line to
strike the enemy the operator can cause it to disappear under water and it will so
travel until it strikes the enemy, but as the method is entirely different to the
equillibrum engine mentioned in the provisional specification I have not shown
it here.
Fig. 1 represents a torpedo divided into three compartments.
A. two vertical engines driving each a propeller.
B B two electic magnets which.govern the passage of compressed air to engines
by transmitting a negative or positive current either of the engines can be stopped
and the torpedo guided by its propellers, the wire conveying the current is inserted
in the cable.
Cable leading to engines

page_text: K Projecting rod which being pressed back releases pin L.
M. compressed air chamber which forces case containing explosive out in a
slanting direction and explodes under the hull of the vessel by means of pin N.
I have carried out another method for exploding the charge but it is not shown in
the drawing, it consists of a string or wire being attached to the explosive case
and when it is forced out and the wire extended the charge explodes.
Fig. 3 represents a vessel carring a whitehead or submerged torpedo.
O. Vessel.
P Torpedo Qcompressed air chamber R clyindrical magnet with plunger when
the plunger is drawn up the valve S is opened and compressed air passes to the
stern of the torpedo and shoots it from its case. There is a valve upon the torpedo,
not shown in the drawing, that when the torpedo is forced out it comes in contact
with a slot which opens a valve and put the torpedo engines into motion.
Different methods may be adopted for paying off the cable; a horizontal drum
may be used extending to both ends of the cable compartment and revolving upon
a tubular spindle and through which compressed air passes to engines.
I may also guide the torpedoes by having two tubes in one cable each tube
leading to seperate engines, by stopping the inflow of air by means of a valve at
the compressor end of the cable, the speed of either engines may be regulated.
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
First. The transmission of compressed air or other fluid through a flexible tube
to work the engines of the torpedo.
Second. The guiding of the torpedo by means of a cable containing two tubes,
through which compressed air is transmitted to the engines of the torpedo.
Dated this day 24th of Auil 1886