IMPROVEMENTS IN TORPEDO BOATS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
TORPEDO BOATS." A communication from abroad by Antoine Jean Amable
Lagane, of Paris, in the Republic of France, Engineer.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th May 1881.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TORPEDO BOATS." A communication from abroad
by Antoine Jean Amable Lagane, of Paris, in the Republic of France, Engineer.
This Invention relates to the application to torpedo boats of a water tight float
permanently connected to the upper deck of the vessel for the purpose of
maintaining the said vessel entirely below the surface of the water out of reach of
projectiles.
In carrying out this Invention the hull of the torpedo boat is entirely submerged
below the surface of the water, so that its upper deck is maintained at such a
depth as to be completely protected from projectiles.
The depth at which the vessel is submerged is rendered invariable, whilst
certainty in the course, the floating capacity, and the control of the vessel is ensured
by means of a water tight float permanently connected to the upper deck, a portion
of which rises above the surface of the water. This float may be constructed of
solid wood of any description, or of metal chambers filled with any nonabsorbent
material, such as cork, cellulose, and the like.
Communication is established between the upper part of the float and the
interior of the vessel by means of hatch ways or wells (say, for example, two in
number) constructed with thick plates, and protected from hostile projectiles.
The well communicating with the fore part of the vessel is surmounted by a
turret or chamber for the accommodation of the commander and the man at the
wheel, and the well at the after part of the vessel affords means of access to the
engine room on one side, and to the steerage on the other.
These two openings in the deck, as well as all other such openings provided for
the passage of the funnels, ventilators, coals, and the like, are provided with
suitable devices for excluding the water.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th November 1881.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TORPEDO BOATS." A communication from abroad
by Antoine Jean Amable Lagane, of Paris, in the Republic of France, Engineer.
The said Invention relates to the combination with torpedo boats of a water
tight float permanently connected to the upper deck of the vessel for the purpose
of maintaining the vessel entirely below the surface of the water out of the reach
of projectiles.
All
Torpedo boats have for some time past occupied an important place in the
defence of roadsteads and harbours. Some of these vessels are constructed for the
purpose of carrying torpedoes attached to the extremity of a spar, whilst others are
employed for projecting what are known as Whitehead torpedoes, either through
submerged tubes, or through tubes carried above the surface of the water.
these boats are provided with a powerful engine, capable of propelling them at a
high speed, but the necessity of making the hulls or framework extremely light in
order to enable these high rates of speed to be attained has led to the employment
of very light materials, which are hardly of sufficient strength to protect the vital
parts from the projectiles of small arms, and are altogether incapable of withstanding
projectiles delivered by a mitrailleuse or revolving gun, or ordnance of the smallest
calibre.
Now the said Invention has for its object protecting torpedo boats from the
danger to which they are liable from exposure to projectiles thrown by this class of
mitrailleuse, or ordnance capable of being fired with great rapidity.
In carrying out the said Invention, in order to effect the object before mentioned,
the hull of the torpedo boat is entirely submerged below the surface of the water,
so that its upper deck is maintained at such a depth as to be completely protected
from projectiles.
The depth at which the vessel is submerged is rendered invariable, whilst
certainty in the course, the floating capacity, and the control of the vessel are insured
by means of a water tight float permanently connected to the upper deck. This
float may be constructed of solid wood of any description, or of metal chambers
filled with any non-absorbent material, such for example, as cork, cellulose, and the
like.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents a longitudinal section of a
torpedo boat, having the said Invention applied thereto; Figures 2 and 3 are
horizontal sections of the same taken respectively along the lines 1-2 and 3-4
(Figure 1), and Figure 4 is a transverse section taken along the line 5-6
(Figure 1); Figures 5 and 6 are details hereinafter referred to.
The improved torpedo boat is constructed with a hull A which is entirely
submerged below the surface of the water, and is divided by suitable water tight
bulkheads into compartments containing the mechanism for delivering the torpedoes,
together with the propelling and steering gear. To the upper deck of this vessel
there is rigidly and permanently attached a float B of solid wood (for example)
which serves to maintain the vessel invariably at the same depth, and also to ensure
its buoyancy and facilitate its navigation. A portion of the float rising above the
surface of the water, as shewn in the Drawing.

page_text: Communication is established between the upper part of the float and the interior
of the vessel by means of two hatchways or wells M, N, protected from hostile
projectiles by a hood constructed with thick plates.
The well M communicating with the fore part of the vessel is surmounted by a
turret or chamber O for the accommodation of the commander and the man at the
wheel. This chamber is entirely closed and water tight, as shewn in the detail,
Figure 5, of the well M, and is provided at the upper part with small water tight
windows p. In the case of the well M, Figure 5, as well as the well N, shewn in
detail in Figure 6, openings o are provided for the admission of air which passes
along passages o' in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figures 5 and 6.
The well M at the after part of the vessel affords means of access to the engine
room on one side, and to the steering gear on the other.
These two wells or openings in the deck, as well as all other such openings
provided for the passage of the funnels, ventilators, coals, and the like, are fitted
with suitable devices for excluding the water, as will be well understood. According
to the arrangement illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, any water entering the aperture o
is caused to strike against a surface a which deflects it into a chamber K, whence
it is discharged into the sea through a pipe i provided with a valve opening out-
wards so as to prevent water from passing through the pipe i into the chamber K.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein before in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
The combination with torpedo boats of a water tight float permanently connected
to the upper deck of the vessel for the purpose of maintaining the vessel entirely
below the surface of the water out of the reach of projectiles, substantially as
herein before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of November,
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)