US120963A - Improvement in modes of exploding torpedoes - Google Patents

Description

E.G0MBZ MDDE 0F EXPLODING TORPBDOES.

Patented Nov. 14, 1871 Innwln GOMEZ, or New YORK, N. r.-

IMPROVEMENT IN MODES OF EXPLDING TRPEDQES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 120,963, dated November 14, 1871; antedated November 9, 1871.

To all whom it may concern: l

Be it known that I, EDWIN GOMEZ, 'of the city and State of New York, have invented and made Ian Improvementy in Exploding Torpedoes, and the following' is declared to be a correct description thereof.

Torpedoes have heretofore been exploded by either a fuse passing from the nipple or explder down into'the powder, or else a chamber `to contain explosive materialhas been employed tol communicate the iire to the explosive material of the torpedo. The powder or explosive material settling down in the-torpedo and leaving a space in the upper part, has rendered it necessary to resort to some means such as before named for communicating fire from the point of ignition =to the powder. In the case, however, of a powder-chamber the explosion of the powder therein frequently injures the upper part of the torpedo so as to allow water to pass into the same and prevent the explosion of the main charge.

My invention consists' in an igniting projectile combined with the torpedo, said projectile being fired by the first explosion into or through the main charge, conveying fire to the entire mass of explosive material with suddenness, so as to insure the entire ignition of the same before any water can pass in; thus a perfect explosion is eected regardless of the depth to which the powder may have settled down or the length of the Y cartridge.

In the drawing, Figure l' is a vertical section ofthe torpedo. Fig. 2 isa sectional plan of the igniting projectile at the line and Fig. 3-is a section 'of a modification in said torpedo.

The powder-chamber a or case containing the explosive material Ais of a suitablesize and shape and may bemade inany usual manner. The iguiting projectile b is made to contain material that will burn, and said projectile is driven longitudinally of the powder-chamber to ignite the powder or explosive material thereof in its passage through the same. I introduce into the projectile b a cavity, c, to contain compressed powder or other material that will burn with the name necessary for said ignition. This cavity may contain the explosive material by means of which the ball is projected, suchy explosive material also effecting. the ignition of the charge. The projectile b receives its momentum within the torpedocase by any suitable means. I have shown in so as not to shake l.the cap, by a hammer or weight;

Fig. 1 said projectile as attached by cords or Wires to the under side of the cap d ofthe torpedo, so that by the explosion ofthe material inserted in the chamber c the projectile is driven 'length- Wise of the torpedo upon the central or other guide f, breaking said cords for wires and igniting the contents ofthe case c. In Fig. 3 the proiectile is shown as within the .barrel c, and it may be held therein by adhesive material or otherwise. out, but so .that the explosion in e will drive the same lengthwise within the torpedo without breaking the torpedo-case by the explosion in the barrel c. The result in eithen case is the instant explosion of the entire charge in the case a., regardless of its length. The barrel e may be unscrewed for inserting the projectile b from the upper end, so 'that the same will be fired the same as in breech-loading guns. To fire. the powder in c or c a galvanic battery and wires might be employed, but I prefer a .percussion-cap, i, upon a nipple, o. I make the same water-tight, but allow of the motion necessary in exploding the cap by means of a thin rubber tube or elasticcement around the nipple, between thesame and the interior of the sides of th'e cap, but not at the end of said nipple. Thereby'said nipple is made Water-tight, but is free to be moved, inl exploding A movable screw-cap, l, may bev employed over the percussion-cap for protection in transportation, and a pin, m,- can be inserted through thesame to receive the blow and communicate the same to the cap. rllhe flash of the cap will be conveyed to the contents of the cylinder or barrel e to better advantage through a quick-lirin g fuse, r, that is attached to the inner end of the nipple or tube o, said nipple being of a tapering formto enter,

the end ofl uhesaid quick-liring fuse, and the parts being connected by a lwinding of string around the exterior of such fuse. The tapering end of the nipple or tube may be roughened or have a thread cut to prevent the fuse' slipping. The firing-pin m may be kept away from the percussion-cap by a spring to lessen strike the cap when released after beaway from thel nipple by a cord or cause it to ing 'pulled rope. v

The explosive materials employed may be of any desire'd character, and the movement of the projectile in contact with .detonating materlal, or

risk in transportation, or it may be provided with a springto material that will ignite by friction, may be used for communicating re' to the main charge of the torpedo, and with some mate als the passage of the ball alone through the same will be sucient for their ignition. The projectile may contain inflammable or detonating material to be ignited by friction or concussion in passing into the main charge of the torpedo.

I claim as my invention- 1. Atorpedo, combined with aball, to be driven lengthwise of the case by the explosion of powder in achamber, said b'allmakiiig an opening through the powder for the fire which follows the same, so

that the'charge will be ign'ted, as set forth.

2. The nipple o or tube made with a tapering end to enter thefolds' of the fuse r,.and to which it is united, as specified.

Signed this 19th day of January A. D. 1871.

- EDWi GOMEZ.

, Witnesses:

HAROLD SEBBELL,

Gmo. T. PmoxNEY. (124)

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