Improvements in Apparatus for Closing the Ends of Torpedo Tubes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Aug., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 15th May, 1895-Accepted, 6th July, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Closing the Ends of Torpedo Tubes.
I, GEORGE JOHN CARTER, of Elswick Shipyard, Newcastle-on-Tyne, in the
County of Northumberland, Naval Architect, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:
:-
According to this invention the outer end of the torpedo tube is closed by means
of a valve or door actuated by a rack and pinion or other mechanism in such a
way that the valve or door moves backwards and is always within the torpedo tube
or the part of the vessel forming the continuation of the torpedo tube the arrange-
ment being such as to require no external projection beyond the outer end of the
tube or part of the vessel forming the continuation of the tube.
The valve or door closes against a seat at the outer end of the tube or in the
side of the vessel, being hinged at one side and turning back into a recess formed
in the side of the tube to receive it. Pivotted to the door is one end of a circular
rack whose other end passes through an opening in the side of the tube and gears
with a worm wheel driven by a worm. The worm and worm wheel and the rack
when the door is open are contained in a closed chamber, the axis of the worm
passing into the vessel through a stuffing box in the side of the chamber.
Dated this 14th day of August 1894.
GEO. J. CARTER.
Improvements in Apparatus for Closing the Ends of Torpedo Tubes.
1, GEORGE JOHN CARTER, of Elswick Shipyard, Newcastle-on-Tyne, in the
County of Northumberland, Naval Architect, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
According to this invention the outer end of the torpedo tube is closed by means
of a valve or door actuated by a rack and pinion or other mechanism in such a way
that the valve or door moves backwards and is always within the torpedo tube or
the part of the vessel forming the continuation of the torpedo tube the arrangement
being such as to require no external projection beyond the outer end of the tube
or part of the vessel forming the continuation of the tube.
The valve or door closes against a seat at the outer end of the tube or in the side
of the vessel, being hinged at one side and turning back into a recess formed in the
side of the tube to receive it. Pivotted to the door is one end of a circular rack
whose other end passes through an opening in the side of the tube and gears with
a worm wheel driven by a worm. The worm and worm wheel and the rack when
the door is open are contained in a closed chamber, the axis of the worm passing
into the vessel through a stuffing box in the side of the chamber.
The annexed drawing shews my invention as applied to a bow torpedo tube.
Figure 1 is a vertical and longitudinal section and Figure 2 is a horizontal
section.

page_text: a is the bow frame or cutwater of the ship; the torpedo port is formed through
it and the door b is fitted to the port. A face is formed around the port and a
packing upon the door closes watertight against the face. On the under side of the
door there is a hinge and the flap of the hinge is bolted to the frame a. a¹ is a hole
bored to drain the cavity in which the hinge lies. c is a portion of the torpedo tube.
d is a continuation of this tube connecting it with the frame a and e e are portions
of the outer plating of the ship. A recess d¹ in the under side of the part d
receives the door b when it is open. f is a rack connected by a ball and socket
joint with the door b, it passes through an opening in the bottom of the recess di
chamber g beneath.
into a gear
Within the gear chamber there is a pinion h which engages with the rack f and
also with the worm i. The bearing for the axis of the worm may be bolted to the
wall of the gear chamber; the axis passes out of the chamber by a gland.
To open and close the door the axis can be turned by a crank handle or
otherwise.
Other mechanism may be substituted in place of the rack, pinion and worm for
working the door but the arrangement shown I believe to be the most convenient.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Apparatus substantially as described for closing the ends of torpedo tubes, in
which a hinged valve or door opens backwards into a recess and closes flush with
the mouth of the tube presenting no external projection.
2. Apparatus substantially as represented by the annexed drawing.
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71
1005
GEO. J. CARTER.