US211303A - Improvement in torpedo-boats - Google Patents

Description

T No. 211,303.

ii W

LA Y., Torpedo-Boat; Patented Jan. 14,1879.

3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

- 8 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. L. LAY. Torpedo-Boat. No. 211,303. w Patented'lanrjfl, 187 9.

- 8 Sheets-Sheet 5: J L LAY.

Torpedo-Boat.

Patented Jan. 14, 1879.

8 Sheets-Sheet 6.

J. L. LAY. Torpedo-Boat.

-Patented lab. I4; 1879.

8 Sheets-Sheet 7 J. L. LAY. Torpedo-Boat.

.211,303. Patented Jan. 14, 1879.

8 Sheets-Sheet 8.

J. L. LAY.

} Torpedo-Boat. No. 211,303. Patented Jan. 14, 1879.

floating battery. snch station, vessel, or structnrethe said torship or other object of attack, and maybe fired ing fired.

patio-boat construct ed and provided with con- 'v'ided with means for driving it by carbonicthe mechanism for firing the same.

.iQH-N L. LAY, OF B FA LO, NEW YORK.

'! MPR'QVEMENT EN TORPEDO-BOATS.

l i otion forming part of Letters Patent No. Q B 5,303, dated January 14, 1879; application tiled July 17, 1878.

To all whom itmay concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN L. LAY, of Buf- Tale, in the county of Erie and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Torpedo Vessels; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and accurate description thereof, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

The said invention is designed to provide the means whereby a boat or vessel charged with suitable explosive materials-that is to say, a torpcdo-b0at--may be propelled by machinery contained therein, and at the same time may be kept fully under the control or management of an operator orsta-ff of operators at station on land or on board a ship or After being launched fronr p'edo-boat may be kept under observationand accurately guided or directed to an iron-clad or discliargedatany desired moment, or may be caused to return to its station without be- The manner in which I carry my said invention into practice is clearly illustrated in the accompanying tlrawings, which I will now proceed to describe. 7

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section (broken in two parts on account of the size of the drawing) of a. tortrolling apparatus, and with means for propell ing it by aminoniacal gas, according to my invention. Fig, 2 is a horizontal longi tudinal section of the same, si'milarlybroken. Fig. 3 is a horizontal longitudinal section, s imilar-ly broken, showing the same proacid gas. Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line a: w, Fig.1 Fig. 5 is a transverse tioh of the same. Fig. 11 is a transverse'sec tion on the line (1 q, Fig. 9. Figs. 12 and 13 are side views of the bow or stem of-a torpedoboat with a detaching magazine or torpedo,"-

the same being shown in two positions. Fig. 14 is a longitudinal section of the stern of my torpedo-boat, showing the same with two propellers and steering apparatus. Fig. 15 is a a side view andtransverse section of a minible through which the said cable passes in paying it out. of a cable-reel and core slightly modified in construction.

Figs. 23, 24, and 25 are views Like letters indicate the same parts through out these drawings. v I

A is the bull or body of the boat, which has conical ends AA, and is formed of thin plate iron or steel or other suitable meta This hell is divided into sections or compartments for:

the various purposes hereinafter described.

All of these compartments are sepa rated from each other by air-tight bulk-heads A.

My torpedo-boat may bep'rovided with a single screwpropeller, or with a double screw, ortwo screws or propellers, asshownin Figs. 1, 2, 3,14, and 15. The propellers B0 revolve in opposite directions. The shaft D of the propeller B is hollow or tubular, and the shaft '15 of the other propeller, 0, passes through the same. The said screws or propellers B0 are actuatcd by an engine. (Shown at F, Figs. 1, 2,:

and 3.) In the boat shown in Fig. 3 the engine is operated by the expansive force of carbonicare modifications of certain parts hereinafter described. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section of the stem of the said torpedo-boat, showing Fig. 9 is a horizontal longg dinal section of a portion of the bows, showing the same provided with adjustableside wings or horizontal agelders. Fig. 10 is arertical longitudinal see-- and 2 it is driven by animoniacal gas; or'I may use compressed air, or any other fluid which will be an equivalent for such gases.

The connection of the engine with the twopropellershai'ts is effected by two sets of bev'-. ,el-gearing, or by other suitable-means.

The said engine has a'boss or projectiomG,

on which. is fixed a bevel-wheel, 1. 'Iheengine shaft passes through this boss and fixed wheel, and is provided with a stud or finger fixed on it, and which carries a similar wheel, 2, that rotates freely on the said stud in gear with the wheel. 1, and also with a similar wheel, 3, fixed on the screw-shaft E. in this arrangement of gearing the engine-shaft carries the wheel 2 around the fixed wheel 1, and

thereby imparts rotation to the wheel 3 and shaft Ewith an increase of velocity of the the propeller C. V This arrangement of gearing affords the means for obtaining very advantage'ou'sly the required velocity of the two propellers in opposite directions.

The said heat or vessel is provided with a double set of side wings or horizontalrcdders, H-two forward and two aft. These 7 side wings or rudders are mounted on shafts or spindles I, passing transversely throngh the boat, asshown in Figs. a, 1.0, it. attached to the shaft I are crank-arms J, which have slots for the reception of the ends of the erosshead K. The boss of this cross-head forms not, through which passes the verticai screw L,

supported and kept from endwise movement by the bearings L L; and by turning; this screw to the right or left the cross-head K andshaft I are adjusted to set the said wings i-i vertically to any desired angle that is to say, they may be set to escape a horizontal positionor more or less inclined in the proper direction, to cause the subinerging of the boat by the action of. the water on the said wings as theboat moves forward.

This screw L is operated from the outside or the boat by a key or wrench applied to the end of the screw L. These side wings or rudders are adjusted to the required angle for causing the necessary subincrgence, or partial sucmergeuce, of the boat before starting or leaving the station.

Two guide-rods, N, one aft and one forward, project up from the said vessel, to enable the operator to determine its position at any part of its journey, and in case of a night attack these rods are provided with lights; but as I have another application for sight-rods pending in the Patent Office, I do not deem it necessary to describe and claim them in this application.

In some instances I mayieinploy holiow -rods or tubes, with balls of indie-rubber .or

other like material at the upper ends of the same. These balls can be inflated with gae from the reservoir by means of a suitable valve, to render them visible'to the operator,

and when no longer required can be caused to collapse by exhausting the gas from them; or

thepipes may he so short'as not to project above the water, and open at top, or closed by valves opening outward, and a blast of 'air'or gas from the dash will throw up a jet of water ahove these tubes, thus indicating the position oi the boat. v

The medium of communication between the said torpedo-boat and the land or other station occnpied by the operator, and whereby the nest is started, stopped, and steered, and has her position ascertained, is an electric cahie, Q, which is carried in the boat and paid out as the boat progresses.

The cable is preferably coiled on a reel or in a coil arranged iongitudinally in one of the air-tight compartments ofthe boat, and passes out through a tube which projects beyond the rudder propeiier, so as not to be caught in or fouled by the propeller. One end of this cahie is connected to a keyboard at thelstation shore or on board of the ship or other structure i'rerni which the torpedo-boats are controiled. This key-board is provided with a suitable battery or other means for generattheelectric current. Thesaid cable is composed at several wires, each of which is insulated from the others. he of these wires is connected with the mechanism for starting and stopping the boat, one isconnected with the steering apparatus, one serves for' indicating to the operator at all times the exact po-.' sion of the rudder, one is connected with mechanism for eievating and depressing the said guideyrods, and one serves for firing the charge in the magazine.

The motive power for'efiecting the necessary movements of the niechanism'or apparav tna in performing the above operations is ob-' ained from the aforesaid engines, which are provided with snitabie valves arranged in combination with electro-naagnets, shunts, and the devices connected with the said. wires of the cable, as hereinafter set forth.

For piecing the cable Q in the form'of a coil in the said chamber, I prefer to uses reel constructed as shown in Figs. 19,20, and 21-- that is to say, it is provided with an inner core or barrel, R, and two flanges, R. The said flanges are connected or tiedtogether at or near their periphery by rods or bars R prowith hooks, which take hold of the rims or'the flanges it. v

The hoot; R at one .end of each rod, is loose, in order that it may he adjusted to'fit over the said rim, and, when properly placed thereon, it is tightened on the said rim tobind the ends of the coil by a screw-nut, as shown.

The coil of cable is covered by asheath, R. a

The core or barrel R is divided longitudinally into two or more parts, to permit it to be removed from the coil. While the cablois coiied on the reei the said coreand end are secured by disks E, provided with necks or trncnions E. The said trnnnionsv hearings, and theme! turns therein w rile the cable isbeing coiled. When the ca hie is coiled on the said reel, the rod and end r in Figs. 14, 15, and 16.

erases 8 pieces are removed. The core is then drawn out pieeeby piece.

' plates secured to the end thimbles by screws.

Fig. 25 isasection of the core, with the thinnbles held together by a central rod passing throughthem. The coil is wound on the core, beginning at one end, and after a'i'ew turns ofthe coil about thecore the screws holding the side plates may be removed, when the coil may be completed, the turns of the cable holding the .side plates of this core in place. Other forms of collapsible core may be readily devised.

1 may use an oval or flattened coil instead oia cylindrical one, byw'indin'g the cable on a core of'suitable form. Theoval or flattened coil may then be dropped into the compart-.

ment of the boat, the wires, pipes, &c., leading through the boat passing over the flattened side of the coil.

It will be observed that I place my coil or reel longitudinally in the boat, so that the turns of the cable surround the central axial 'line of tlieboat, and that I- pay ont'the cable from the inside of the coil. Both these features I deem of much importance.

The thimble which I place in the end of the reel-head after the coil is wound and the core withdrawn has rounded edges, surrounding the central aperture, and the aperture is somewhat smaller than that in the reel-head; or one reel-head 'may be made with a central aperture smaller than the core, (which must then be wilhd rawn from the other 0nd,) and the edges of the head may be rounded to allow the cable to run ensil y out of the reel.

The rudder is operated and controlled by means of a small auxiliary engine, (shown at T, Figs. '1 and 2,) which is started, stopped, and reversed by the electric current conducted through the said cable in connection with magnets attached directly to a valve forming part of the said engine. This valve is so actuated.

by the said magnets that when-the current passes in one direction the engine will move the rudder to starboard, and when the cur rent acts in the opposite direction it will turn the rudder to port.

The steering apparatus is most clearly shown In these figures I have shown the bout provided with adouble rudder ortworudders, one below and one above the boat,aud both fixed to one shaft or stock, U, or two shafts united by a yoke, through whiclrthe propeller-shaft passes; but it will be'readily understood that I may,if desired, use only one rudder.

'ing with the engine-shaft T.

On the rudder-stockU is an are or sector, U, which is connected by worm or bevel gear- This are or sec tor U is provided with metallic pins or projections on-its under side; and below this are, and in the path oi'thesume, I arrange a'spring, U. When the rudders move, these teeth or points come incontaet with the aforesaid spring, the'rcby closing the electric circuit.

' Onboth sides of the rudder-stock U, I arrange a spring or m, U, which, in its norinal position, rests against a contact point' or post, U and these arms thereby complete the electric circuit; but this circuit'is also completed through a resistance-coil. Wh'en the rudders U are hard sport or hard a-starboard, the end of the are or segment U, which is furnished with insulatin -points U'.', will be brought into contact with the corresponding spring U, and will push the same. out of contact with the said point or post'Ui and can This then move no further in that direction. position o-f'the rudder is indicated-on the keyboard through the electric cable by a suitable. indicator.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a modification of'my steering apparatus, in which a three-armed lever is fixed on the rudder-post, and is connected directly to the pistons of two eugine-eylinders, U, Fig.3, by rods U". The arm U of this lever is provided with a friction-roller,which worksnpou the V-sp-ringU. The latter is so formed that when the rudder is, by the action of the said pistons, moved either toport or starboard it tends to restore the said rudder to its central position by bringing the said friction-roller over either of its inclined surfaces into the central angle of the,

said spring, as shown. ()r the spring U may be arranged at one side, and the central arm ofthe yoke dispensed with, as in Fig. 3.

The mechanism for firing the charge in the magazine A is most clearly shown in Fig. 8, and operates as follows: Projecting from the front-extremity or stem of the boat is a rod or pin, V, which extcudsth rough a suitable packing-box, W, into the said magazine or charge chamber. \Vhen the boat strikes an object the said rod is forced inward into contact with the springs or points X, thereby closing an'elcctrical circuit and igniting a cartridge (shown at Y) in the magazine. The charge in the magazine can also be fired at any moment by the operator on shoreclosing a circuiton the keyboard, and thereby cutting out one of two. resislancecoils plac'ediu the circuit to 'prevent accidental or premature discharge-that is to say, there are two resistance-coils. I

v The battery is not sufficiently powerful to 'fire through both resistance-coils at the same time. 'Whcn the boat strikes an object the resistance-coil in the magazine is cut out by.

the driving inward of the rod masabove described. The battery then fires th rough the one on the key-board. On the other hand, if the operator desires to fire the torpedo-boat before she touches the object of attack, be mea I senses nipu'lates the switch to cut out the coil in the keyboard, the charge then being fired through the coil in the magazine. This arrangement of the two resistance-coils is very eliect-nol in preventing accidents.

In order that the said torpedo-hoot may he provided with material torniziintninin'g'the' action of the fmotorenginesi'or n suiiicient time, it is sometimes necessary that the reservoir or vessel containing the gas or fluid from which the motive power is generated should contain such gas or lluid under at pressure very lunch higher than that under which the some can be used in the engines. iherefore it is necessnryto provideinenns whereby this pressure can be reduced in its passage from the said reservoir to the engine. For-this purpose I employ n. valve or valves so arranged as to greatly reduce the pressure of the gas pipes and valves to he clearly seen. in this figure I have shown the reducing-valves lost above described hot-h arranged i n the gas-pi pes between the reservoir and the engines.

-Thc' valve A** reduces the pressure from the very. high degree in whichit exists in thereservoir and pipe a to n comparatively moderatepressure on the pipers, end the valve B**-o lniits the gatS, still further reduced inpr'e ssure, from the pipe a. to thepiperfi, from \vhichiitpesses to the throttleyelve to thelengine. The pipe a, extending through theflask or reservoir, provides coin mnnicetion between ihe wnter-spnces A at the ends of the some.

41* is :1 vol ve for closing thepip'e a, and wit ich is-openefd from. the outside oi the boat before relievingthe engine and pi pc e". a shows the position of the aforesaid throttle' valve, which is controlled by the operator through the cubic and the mjmgnets c.- a? is a smell ,velve for admitting" water to the spaces s: to compensate for the grim taken fl'Oll l the reservoir. o is a. pipe, whiehconveys gats from the pipe between the engine and throttle-valve to a smell cylinder, a. This cylinder is provided with a spring-piston, connected by a lever to the suid'volve uif When the throttlevalve is open the gas overcomes the spring of the said piston and opens the"valvewnherehy admitting water to the space A. When the throttle-valve is closed the spring forces back the pistonand closes the when".

a" is a pipe-[or permitting the escape of air from the SpllCGS A" into the exhaust-pipe of theengine. 7

When ennnonincal gas is nscol emmonie in aliquid stateis carried in 2. cylinder conteining a series of tnhesnnd which is surrounded with water. The gas having exerted its power in the engine is exhausted into this water snrrounding the aforesaid cylinder, and it is absorbed by the water, and during the absorption host is tieveloped, which is imparted to the ant nioniecel gas in the cylinder, thereby mtiirr teining a uniform pressure.

In Fig. 6 I haveshovvn in this-watercourportnient a. smell fan or propeller, driven by n rotary engine, for the purpose of keeping the water in agitation, and thereby insuring this desired uniformity of temperatnre.

In someinstnnces I make the magazine detachable from the hnll of the boat, so that on striirin an object it will descend ordrop down in the water before exploding.

This modification of myinvention is illustrated in Figs. 12, 13, 17, and 18. The megazine A is attached otits lower side to the boat by a chain or other suitable connection. At its upper edge it is held by a rod, as shown in Fig. 12'. This rod is fitted to slide in dovetailed henrings, as shown at 3*, nnd' \vhen this magazine is in its place on the boat the said rod is engaged with a catch or stop, 0"; but when the said rod is driven against any object it is forced hack and released-from the said catch or stop, and the magazine then drops, a inFig. 13, and is tired. v

To effect the tiring,l prefer to use shall, 13*, pieced in tube contoiningtwo springs or plates, E, and arranged in an upwardly-in" clined position, as shown in Fig? 12, one of the said springs heing connected with the cabie, end the other with n wire that passes through the cartridge to the ground; vVhilethe megszinc is in the position shown in Fig. 12 the circnit is incompiete; but when themagezine drops, theseid hell falls into the position shown in Fig. 13. The eircuitisthen completed ondcthe magazine is tired.

- The electrical or electromagnetic apparatus for generating, directing, and controlling the currents, whereby the above-described operationsere effected, niey hoot any suitable kind;

For operating and controllingthe abovodescriheii steering epparetus, and indicating the position of the rudder to the operator on shore, i use the following devices, in combination with the pole-changers on the key-board.

These poiechengers are geared together-by int-.1

snleted toothed wheels, which are fixed on the spindles or axles of the said pole-changers so that the letter work accurately together and maintain the same relative positions to each other. One pole-changer is connected by one of the shid insulated entitle-wires with a shunt on board the beet, whichshunt iseornieetert with a set of magnets arranged in combination with the valve of the engine that drives der to port or sterhoerd at the wiil ot' the op; crater. But in order that the operator may.

know the exact position of the rudder at any moment, I employ the device hereinbcfore dcscribcd, consisting of a series of pins or pro jections fixed on an are or other portion of the rudder-stock, and arranged in combination with an insulated spring projecting into the connected by one of the cable-wires with a polechanger on the key-board, which is geared with and moves in unison with the other polechanger, so that the electric current that controls the steering-engine and the curren that returns the indication of the rudders position will'both be reversed simultaneously. A sepa rate battery is connected with the index on the said keyboard, whereby a constant current is maintained between this index and the indicating apparatus on the boat. The current passing from the said spring to the shore is made to indicate the position of the rudder" by the index on the lrey-hoar d. Now, it will be obvious that when the rudder is turned in either direction, the pins on the sector U will come successively in contact with the spring U and at each contact and separation the cir cuit will be made and broken, and an impulse will be transmitted through the cable, whereby acorresponding movement will be transmitted tothe said indexfin'geror pointer on the keyboard. A switch on the key-board is connected with anothcrf'ot' the said insulated wires of the cable, which forms the circuit to the firing mechanism of the torpedo or magazine-which includes thc'albresaid two resistance-coils. ly adjusting this switch the operator completes the circuit through the two resistance-coils, and then, but not till then, the charge can be exploded either by the operator or by the action of the firing pin or rod, when the same is driven in and cuts out the other resistance-coil, as above described.

By referring to Fig. 8, the arrangement of i the resistance-coil and connecting-wires on the boat may be fully understood. The resistance-coil XI is connected by the wires 7 8 to the binding-screws 910, which are insulated 'i'fbm the case or box Z, but are connected with the springs or points X. The wire 11 from thekey-board battery is connected to the screw 9, and the wire 12 extends from the screw 10 throughthe cartridge-.1 to the ground. Now, when the'opciatonas aforcsaid, cuts out the resistance-coil on shore by actuati the'switch on the key-board, the current from the battery is snllicientiy powerful to fire the said cartridge through the resistance-coil X, and

the operator can thus lire the charge at any momentyor hccan await the contact of the boat with the ship or other structure to be attacked,'when the charge will be fired automatically by the driving in of the rod V, as above described. When this rod is driven so that its inner extremity or point, V, is in corrtact with the springs X the circuit is completed through the wire 11, springs X, the point V, and wire 12, and the charge is fired.

Vlhat I claim as my'invcntion isforth. path of t-hesaid series of-pins. This spring is 1. The two propellers, one in rear of the other, the tubular propeller-shaft, the engine, and the system of gearing, all in combination, so that the screw-propellers move inopposite directions and with different velocities, as set 2. A. torpedo-boat having side wings or diving rudders, and mechanism, substantiallyas described, for adjusting said rudders to any desired angle prior to launching the boat and retaining them in that position, as set forth.

3. A pair of diving wings connected to a screw-shaft, one end 01' which projects through the side of the boat, as shown.

4. The combination, with the sight-rods of a torpedo-boat, of an elastic globe or target,

which is inflated from the gas-flask, as shown and described.

The cable-reel having a detachable core,

on which the cable is wound,which core is removed to permit the paying out of the cable from the inside of the coil, as forth.

6. A skeleton cablerecl having end plates and side clamps and a round-edge deliveryorifiee for the cable, as described.

7. The combination of the reel-plate R and thimble R as set forth.

8. A collapsible core, constructed substantially as described, in combination with the end plates and holding-rods of a reel, as set forth.

9. The combination of thcrecl ends R having central apertures, with the clampingrods R, for retaining a coil of cable.

10. The collapsible core of the cable-reel,consisting, essentially, of the side plates, R, end plates, R or equivalent devices, to retain the end'platcs and side plates in their relative position.

11. The core of the cable-ree consisting of side plates and end plates provided with trunnions, in combination with the end plates, R

R, of a cable-reel,- all as set forth.

12. The combination of a skeleton reel for holding the cable, said reel having end plates and retaining-rods, with a torpedo-boat, when said reel is placed longitudinally of the boat in a compartment thcrcofiso as to pay out the coil of cable from the inside, as set forth.

13. The combination of the rudder and the electric indicator; to indicate the position of the rudder to the operator, as set forth.

14. A rudder stock or head provided with projecting pins,wl1ich, in the movement of the rudder, serves to open and close the electric circuit and indicate the position of the rudder through suitable mechanism, substantially as described.

1 The combination of sector U on the rudder stock, its connecting and projecting pins, the spring U and its connecting electric wires, and a suitable indicating device at the operating-station, whereby the position of the rudder is indicated to the operator.

16. The combination of thc rnddcr and the engine by mechanism substantially as described, whereby the operator is enabled to "control the rudder and engine by single electric circuit, substantially as set forth.

17; The combinatiomwith the rudaier-yohe, of safety springs and resistance coils and wires connecting with the engine, as set forth,

18. The combination of the redder-yoke or its equivalent, the electrica indicating device, and the, sefet-y'springs wires connecting to the rudder-engine, whereby the en- .gine is stopped entometienlly when it reaches its extreme position.

19. The combination of sector U on the rudder-stock, having insulated point-s, the

safety-springs, the connecting electric wires,

and the magnets'which control the rneirlcrengine, whereby the position of the-rnciders's indicated on thehey-boartl by the cieetric cur rent.

20. The combinntion, in n torpeGobnnnef-n gas-engine, n compensating water-tank, anti en automatic valve to control the ncimission of Water to the tank, substantially as set forth.

trols the inlet-valve, and the water-inlet valve and'its pipe, nil substantially as set fortin 28. The combination of the gas-pipe a", the throttle-valve operated by magnets c gaspipe af, and water-inlet valve a, snbstantially as described.

2%. fl torpedo-boat having the charge or magazine containeri in a separate detachable section at the bow, which section completes,

findfOiHiS part cf the boat proper. 1

25. The. tietsehable prow of the boat, the retaining clasp, and the projecting rod which releases the grow, all in combination, as set forth.

26; The combination of the firing-rod with the electricfinrrcnt wi res, whereby the circuit is compieted 'aLdthe torpedo fired bythe electric spnrkon contact with an obstacle.-

323. h bi'iration of the firing-rod, the

and their projections X, and the circuit: tan. A resistance-con i '28. Thccombinntion of two resistance-coils and connecting wires and a firing rod, ar

ranged as described, so that the'contnctof the firing-rod with obstacle serves to cut out one of the resistance-coils and fire the charge, as set forth.

29. The combination, Withthe animoniacalgas engine oi a. torpedo-boat, of it water-conipartnzent to absorb the gas aft-er use and an agitator to accelerate absorption. v

30. A runner-shaft projecting above and beiow the hull, and collared so as to passround the propellershaft, as shownin Fig. 16. In testimony that I claim the foregoing as any own E aiiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN. L. LAY.

Witnesses:

LEWIS SANDERSON, ROWLAND GEO. Bnowr

Images