IM- PROVEMENTS IN CIRCUIT CLOSERS FOR TORPEDOES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Matthew Hutton Atkinson, of 21, Windsor Terrace, in
the Town and County of Newcastle-on-Tyne, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN CIRCUIT CLOSERS FOR TORPEDOES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Matthew Hutton Atkinson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th February 1878.
MATTHEW HUTTON ATKINSON, of 21, Windsor Terrace, in the Town and County
of Newcastle-on-Tyne. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CIRCUIT CLOSERS FOR TORPEDOES."
A is a case of tin, copper, iron, or other suitable material, made perfectly water-
tight; and it may if desired be protected by a casing of wood, cork, or other like
material.
B is an india-rubber tube.
C is a central spindle of wood, iron, or any suitable material.
D is a collar or projecting disc forming part of the central spindle C.
E, E, are sheet copper or other metal straps, or wire, or twine bindings or
whippings drawn tight round the india-rubber tube B to keep it tight on the neck
of the case A and on the collar D respectively.
F is a metal disc or cap, preferably of copper, fixed on the upper end of the
centre spindle C.
If spindle C is of any metal, then the disc F must be insulated from it by a bush G
of ebonite or some electrical non-conductor.
H is the insulated conducting wire or cable made of the materials generally used
for torpedo work..

page_text: If the central spindle is of wood, as in Figure 1, the wire is brought up along-
side it and lashed to it at intervals, and passed into the case through a notched cut
or a hole drilled through the collar D. The lower end of the india-rubber tube B
is then left projecting beyond the collar, and melted pitch or other suitable material
is poured or put in. If the central spindle is of metal and hollow, as shown in
Figure 2, then the insulated wire is passed through a gland and stuffing box I at
the lower end of it and up the inside of the spindle. The bare wire in both cases is
passed through a hole in a collar or cap F and soldered to it, or it may be fixed in
any suitable manner.
K is a shackle to fasten mooring rope to; it should be able to be moved up or
down the spindle.
L is a weight hung on to lower end of spindle C for the purpose of keeping the
circuit closer upright in the water.
M, shown dotted, Figure 2, is a ring of copper or other metal insulated from
case A by an ebonite cylinder.
N, also dotted, is a second insulated wire soldered to M. M and N are to be
used if necessary when the circuit closer is placed between the battery and the
charge or torpedo, as is sometimes the case.
The principle on which this circuit closer acts may be understood from Figure 3.
To fire the torpedo it is necessary to make a current of electricity pass through
the fuse. This is done by making the case A and the disc F touch each other.
The electrical circuit is then closed as the electricity passes through the sea between
the earth plate and the case A. If a ship, boat, or raft moves against and strikes
the case A it presses it out of perpendicular, but the weight L causes the central
spindle to remain upright, or nearly so. Therefore A touches F, as shown by the
dotted lines; this instantly fires the fuse as the circuit is completed by the case A
making earth.
This circuit closer can be tested in the usual way by putting a test battery too
weak to fire the fuse in the circuit with a galvanometer attached to it instead of
the firing battery, as shown by dotted lines. Then when the circuit closer is struck
the galvanometer needle ought to deflect. When not struck the needle ought not
to deflect, if it does it shows either water in the circuit closer or insulation rubbed
off the wire.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Matthew Hutton Atkinson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th August 1878.
MATTHEW HUTTON ATKINSON, of 21, Windsor Terrace, in the Town and County
of Newcastle-on-Tyne. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CIRCUIT CLOSERS FOR TORPEDOES."
My Invention of improvements in circuit closers for torpedoes is illustrated by
A is a case of tin, copper, iron, or other suitable material, made perfectly water-
tight;
and it may if desired be protected by a casing of wood, cork, or other light
material.
B is an india-rubber tube.
C is a central spindle of wood, iron, or any suitable material.
D is a collar or projecting disc forming part of the central spindle C.
E, E, are sheet copper or other metal straps, or wire, or twine bindings or
whippings, drawn tight round the india-rubber tube B to keep it tight on the neck
of the case A and on the collar D respectively.
F is a metal disc or cap, preferably of copper, fixed on the upper end of the
centre spindle C.
If spindle C is of any metal, then the disc F must be insulated from it by a
bush G of ebonite or some electrical non-conductor.
H is the insulated conducting wire or cable, made of the materials generally used
for torpedo work.
If the central spindle is of wood, as in Figure 1, the wire is brought up alongside
it and lashed to it at intervals, and passed into the case through a notch cut or a
hole drilled through the collar D. The lower end of the india-rubber tube B is
then left projecting beyond the collar, and melted pitch or other suitable material
is poured or put in. If the central spindle is of metal and hollow, as shown in
Figure 2, then the insulated wire is passed through a gland and stuffing box I at
the lower end of it and up the inside of the spindle. The bare wire in both cases
is passed through a hole in a collar or cap F and soldered to it, or it may be fixed
in any suitable manner.
K is a shackle to fasten mooring rope to; it should be able to be moved up or
down the spindle.
L is a weight hung on to lower end of spindle C for the purpose of keeping the
circuit closer upright in the water.
M (shewn dotted, Figure 2) is a ring of copper or other metal insulated from
case A by an ebonite cylinder.
N, also dotted, is a second insulated wire soldered to M. M and N are to be
used if necessary when the circuit closer is placed between the battery and the
charge or torpedo, as is sometimes the case.
The principle on which this circuit closer acts may be understood from Figure 3.
To fire the torpedo it is necessary to make a current of electricity pass through
the fuze. This is done by making the case A and the disc F touch each other.
The electrical circuit is then closed as the electricity passes through the sea between
the earth plate and the case A. If a ship, boat, or raft moves against and strikes
the case A it presses it out of perpendicular, but the weight L causes the central
spindle to remain upright, or nearly so. Therefore A touches F, as shewn by the
dotted lines; this instantly fires the fuze as the circuit is completed by the case A
making earth.
This circuit closer can be tested in the usual way by putting a test battery too
weak to fire the fuze in the circuit with a galvanometer attached to it instead of
the firing battery, as shewn by dotted lines. Then when the circuit closer is struck

page_text: the galvanometer needle ought to deflect. When not struck the needle ought not
to deflect, if it does it shews either water in the circuit closer or insulation rubbed
off the wire.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I claim, the construction of
circuit closers for torpedoes, substantially as herein described, and represented in
the annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Matthew Hutton Atkinson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.