Improvements in Methods of Steering Torpedoes and Submarine Boats.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Methods of Steering Torpedoes and Submarine
Boats.
We, ERNEST WILSON, of 64, St. John's Park, Blackheath, in the County of
Kent, and CHARLES JOIN EVANS, of 108, Castelnau, Barnes, in the County of
Surrey, Electrical Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The object to which this invention is principally directed is to more effectually
steer torpedoes and submarine boats the steering mechanism of which is controlled
by the influence of Hertzian waves.
According to this invention we produce by means of a generator of Hertzian
waves in conjunction with a shield reflector or lens or combinations of these a
field of influence in the direction in which it is desired to steer the torpedo of
sufficient strength to operate a coherer which controls the steering mechanism.
The steering gear of the torpedo may be so arranged that when the coherer
which is to be operated by the Hertzian waves in the field of influence above
referred to is not in operation the torpedo will be guided into the said field
whereupon the coherer will be operated with the result that the torpedo will be
thereby deflected away from the said field, By these means it is evident that
the torpedo will be kept about the field of influence of the Hertzian waves and
so will be steered in the desired direction.
An analogous result may be produced by so arranging that the coherer will
be decohered when the torpedo is outside the field of influence and steering gear
will be thereby brought into operation to bring the torpedo back again into the
field of influence.
If desirable two fields of influence at an angle to each other may be employed
the torpedo being placed between them and provided with two coherers (each
controlling steering gear which will direct the torpedo in opposite directions)
with the result that the path of the torpedo will be in the desired direction.
Dated this 26th day of March 1898.
ERNEST WILSON.
CHARLES JOHN EVANS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Methods of Steering Torpedoes and Submarine
Boats.
We, ERNEST WILSON, of 64, St. John's Park, Blackheath, in the County of
Kent, and CHARLES JOHN EVANS, of 108, Castelnau, Barnes, in the County of
Surrey, Electrical Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention

page_text: and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:--
The object to which this invention is principally directed is to more effectually
steer torpedoes and submarine boats the steering mechanism of which is controlled
by the, influence of Hertzian waves.
According to this invention we produce by means of a generator of Hertzian
waves in conjunction with a shield reflector or lens or combinations of these a
field of influence in the direction in which it is desired to steer the torpedo of
sufficient strength to operate a coherer which controls the steering mechanism.
The steering gear of the torpedo may be so arranged that when the coherer
which is to be operated by the Hertzian waves in the field of influence above
referred to is not in operation the torpedo will be guided into the said field
whereupon the coherer will be operated with the result that the torpedo will be
thereby deflected away from the said field. By these means it is evident that
the torpedo will be kept about the field of influence of the Hertzian waves and
so will be steered in the desired direction.
An analogous result may be produced by so arranging that the coherer will
be decohered when the torpedo is outside the field of influence and steering gear
will be thereby brought into operation to bring the torpedo back again into the
field of influence.
If desirable two fields of influence at an angle to each other may be employed
the torpedo being placed between them and provided with two coherers (cach
controlling steering gear which will direct the torpedo in opposite directions)
with the result that the path of the torpedo will be in the desired direction.
In order that our invention may be more readily understood we proceed to describe
how the same may be performed.
Figs. 1 and 2 show side and plan sections of one form of apparatus by means
of which we achieve the desired result, in which A is a metal box which contains
a transmitting apparatus of any ordinary and well known form, C is a Rhumkorff
coil, is a battery for the purpose of operating the Rhumkorff coil and E, F
and G are spheres of metal separated from one another at a suitable distance by
ebonite or other insulating material, the spheres E and G are connected by
conductors to the secondary of the coil C.
=
The metal box A supports a lens B of a material and thickness suitable for
waves of great wave length (compared with the wave length of light). We may
employ sulphur or other suitable material as the material of the lens. The form
depicted in Figs. 1 and 2 is known as a plano-convex lens in connection with which
μ -1
the equation
holds, where f is the focal length, r the radius
of curvature of the surface of the lens outside the box A, and μ is the index
of refraction of the material for the wave length determined by the dimensions
of the transmitter E, F, G. Tuis index of refraction can be determined for the
material used by aid of a coherer and spectroscope in a manner analogous to
that employed in the corresponding determination in the case of light. For
sulphur (commercial) it has been found to be 1'73 for comparatively short wave
lengths of Hertzian waves.
By another form of apparatus we obtain a fairly well defined plane of demarca-
tion between the space in which a coherer can be operated and in which it can
not be operated. In Figs. 3 and 4. HI is a metal sheet to which are affixed
projecting metal sheets J K L M N O etc. The transmitter E F G is placed as
shown on the line P Q, and the prolongation of this line determines the line of
demarkation above referred to.
We may employ two fields of influence as above described and place them,
with a suitable space of non-influence between them, and they may have their
planes of demarkation as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 in which R S is the one plane
and TU the other. Let a horizontal plane W X cut through the planes R S.

page_text: 1
1
U respectively at W, X. Then in Fig. 6 the space on such horizontal plane
between the lines W, W, and X, X₁ will constitute a path of non-influence.
We can place a torpedo, suitably fitted in a way similar to that described in
Patent No. 16820 '97 with coherers and two receivers at right angles, in this path.
The construction is such that if the torpedo deviates from the path W, W₁ X, X,
coherer is operated in such wise as to bring into operation a steering mechanism
which will deflect the torpedo out of the space of influence back into the space of
non-influence when the coherer will be decohered. Similarly with regard to the
other field of influence. Each receiver is in a position to be operated by one
of the fields of influence.
To change the course of the torpedo we change the direction of the field or
fields of influence, but in the case where the torpedo is normally always in a
field of influence we cannot do this. In this case where the torpedo is normally
in a field of influence we employ a hinged flap or fin which when the torpedo
deviates from its course makes à contact which determines the direction of operation
of the steering gear so that the torpedo is guided back into the field of influence—.
and thus it is normally kept there.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. The use of transmitting apparatus such as described with reference to Figs. 1
and 2 for the purpose of producing a field or fields of influence and thereby
steering torpedoes and submarine boats substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The use of transmitting apparatus such as described with reference to Figs. 3
and 4 for the purpose of producing a field or fields of influence and thereby
steering torpedoes and submarine boats substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. The use of transmitting apparatus for the purpose of producing a field or
fields of influence and thereby steering torpedoes and submarine boats the steering
mechanism of which is controlled by the influence of Hertzian waves all sub-
stantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
Dated this 24th day of December 1898.
ERNEST WILSON.
CHARLES JOHN EVANS.