US1430644A - System of salvo firing for torpedoes - Google Patents

Description

,AND A. D. TRENOR.

. HAMMOND, JR.

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WITNESS J. H. HAIVIIVIONDl JR., AND Al D. TRENOR.

SYSTEM 0F SALVO FIRING FOR TORPEDOES.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. I5, 1917. IIEIIEwED Dsc. 24, I92I.

1,430,644. Patented Oct. 3, 1922.,`

6 SHEETSSHEET 2. I

WITNESS INI/EN 70H5 J. H. HAMMOND. JR., A'ND A. D. TRENOR.

SYSTEM OF SALVO FIRING FOR TORPEDOES.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. l5. |917. RENEWED DEC. 24. |921.

1,430,644. Patented Oct 3,1922..

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

w/TNESS v /NVE/vro/w Y J. H. HAMMOND, JR., AND A. D. TRENDR. SYSTEM 0F SALVO FIRING FOR TORPEDUES.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. I5, 1917. IIEIIEWED DEC. 24.1921.

1,439,644. Patented 001. 3, 1922.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

.9;0 LII II `92 I i VIV/ENTORS MM www Arme/vir J. H. HAMMOND, JR., AND A. D. TRENOR.

SYSTEM 0F SALVO FIRING FOR TORPEDOES.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. I5, I9I7. RENI-:WED DEC. 24. I92I.

Patented Oct. 3, 1922..

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5 /ll/ VE /I/ TOHS IMI@ l J. H. HAMMOND, JR., AND A. D. TRENOR.

SYSTEM 0F SALVO FIRNG FORTORPEDOES.

APPLICAUON FILED Nov. 15. 1917. RENEWED Dsc.24,192|.

CB. Patented Oct. 3, 1922,

WITNESS: /IV l/E/V T URS Patented @et 3, 1922.

entre srar JOHN HAZS HAMMOND, JR., OF GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, AND ALBERT D.v

rrr.

TRENOBJ, IDF .NEW YORK, N. Y.; SAID TRENOR ASSIGNOR TO SAID HAMMOND.

SYSTEM OF SALVO FIRING FOR TORPEDOES.

Application led November 15, 1917, Serial No. 202,15e. Renewed December 24, 1921. Serial No. 524,738.

To all whom t may concern Be it known .that we, JOHN HAYs HAM- MOND, Jr., a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Gloucester, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, and ALBERT D. TRnNoR, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, State of New York, have invented a certain new and Improved System of Salvo Firing for Torpedoes, of which the following is a speelfication.

Some of the objects of this invention are to provide an improved system for predirecting and firing or discharging a plurality of torpedoes in such a manner that the torpedoes will be delivered respectively at a plurality of predetermined points spaced apart any desired distances at the will of an operator; and to -provide other improvements as will appear hereinafter.

ln the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic top plan view of a system constructed in accordance with this invention for the salvo-firing of three torpedoes; Fig. 2 a fragmentary side elevation of a portion of the same shown partly in vertical section; Fig. 3 a diagrammatic plan view showing the successive steps in the operation of this improved system when the target is moving in a given direction; Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic top plan view showing successive steps in the operation of this System when the target is moving in the opposite direction; Fig. 5 is'a diagrammatic top plan view of a modified system constructed in accordance with this invention; Fig. 6 an enlarged top plan view of a portion of the same; Fig. 7 an enlarged fragmentary vert-ical section of a portion of the same, some of the parts connected therewith being shown in top plan view for convenience of illustration; Fig. 8 an enlarged frag mentary top plan view of a portion of the same; and Fig. 9 is a vertical section through the portion of the system shown in Fig. 8.

In the drawings this invention is shown as applied in a system comprising three torpedo tubes 10, 11 and 12, which are carried by a torpedo boat or other basal support, and which are fixedly secured in any desired positions with respect thereto. These torpedo tubes are arranged to contain respectively three torpedoes 15, 16 and 17 of any well known or suitable construction, and which are provided with automatic steering mechanism (not shown) of any Well known or suitable construction, which may be predirected in any well known or suitable manner to cause the torpedoes 15, 16 and 17 to assume and to continue in predetermined courses after having been fired or discharged from the tubes 10, 11 and 12. The tubes 10, ll and 12 are provided with electrical motion repeaters 18, 19 and 20; 65

which are arranged to be operatively connected to the predirecting steering'mechanisms of the torpedoes 15, 16 and 17 respectively whenthe torpedoes are in their normal positions in the torpedo tubes.

For predirecting the automatic steering mechanism in the three torpedoes 15, 16 andV iliary predirecting mechanism 27 are ordinarily mounted upon the torpedo boat or other basal support which carries the torpedo tubes 10, 11 and 12.

The main telescope or sighting instrument 25 is mounted in a yoke 28 to swing through a limited arc about a normally horizontal axis xed with respect thereto, and the oke 28 is rigid with a normally substantially vertical shaft 29 which extends snugly but rotatively through a fixed platform or support 30 and is held against longitudinal movement with respect thereto in anyl suitable manner. Rigidly secured to the lower end of the shaft 29 is a gear 31 which engages a pinion 32 which actuates an electrical motion transmitter 33, which for convenient future reference maybe called the central transmitter. i'

The secondary telescope or sighting instrument 26 is mounted in a yoke 35 to r0- tate through a limited arc about a normally7 horizontal axis fixed with respect thereto. The yoke is rigid with a normally substantially vertical shaft 36 which extends snugly but rotatively through a fixed platform or support 37, and which is held against longitudinal movement with respect thereto in any suitable manner. Rigidly secured upon the lower end of the shaft 36 is a gear 38 which engages two pinions 39 and 40 which actuate respectively a primary electrical motion transmitter 41 and a secondary electrical motion transmitter 42.

The primary electrical motion transmitter 41 is rigidly secured to the under side of the platform 37, and the secondary transmitter 42 is rigidly secured to a gear 45 which is fixedly secured upon the upper end of a normally substantially Vertical shaft 46 which is in longitudinal alinement with the shaft 36, and the lower end of which projects snugly but rotatively through a Vfixed platform or support 47, the shaft 46 being held against longitudinal movement with respect to the support 47 in any suitable manner. Centrally mounted upon the upper surface of the gear is an electromagnetic clutch 50 having a vertically reciprocatory clutch member 51 which normally clutches the gear 38 rigidly to the gear 45 when the electromagnetic clutch 50 is not energized, but which is arranged to be moved downwardly as a result of the energization of the clutch 50 to permit the gear 38 to be rotated with respect to the gear 45.

The gear 45 is engaged by a pinion 55 which is arranged to be actuated by an electrical motion repeater 56 which is ixedly secured upon the fixed platform 47 and which for convenient future reference may be called the main repeater. This main repeater 56 is connected by a four wire cable 57 to the central transmitter 33 and is arranged to be controlled thereby, the

' four wire cable 57 including a common circuit 58 which includes a battery 59 or other source of electric energy by which the repeater 56 is energized.

The auxiliary predirecting mechanism 27 comprises a fixed platform or support 65, projecting upwardly from Ywhich is a normally vertical shaft .66, the lower end of which extends snugly but rotatively through i the support` 65, the shaft 66 being held against longitudinal movement with respectto the support in any suitable manner. Rigidly secured upon the upperend of the shaft 66 is a gear 67 which is eni gaged by a pinion 68 arranged to be rotated about a fixed axis through the action of an electrical motion repeater 69 which is rig! idly secured to the fixed support 65. This repeater 69 is connected by a four wire eleci tric cable 70 to the central motion transiaaoml mitter 33 and is arranged to be controlled thereby, the four wire cable 70 including a common circuit 71 which includes a battery 72 or other source of energy whereby the repeater 69 is energized.

Spaced above the gear 67 is a fixed platform or support 80, and projecting downwardly from the support is a normally vertical shaft 81, the upper portion of which projects snugly but rotatively through the support 80, the shaft 81 being held against longitudinal movement in any suitable mannerl and being arranged in longitudinal alinement with the shaft 66.

Rigidly l'secured upon the lower end of the shaft 81 is a gear 82 which is engaged by a pinion 83 which is arranged to be rotated'about an axis fixed with respect to the gear 67 by means of an auxiliary electrical motion. repeater 84 which is fixedly secured to the gear 67. The gear 82 engages and actuates a pinion 85 which is arranged to rotate about a fixed axis to actuate an auxiliary electric motion transmitter 86 which is rigidly secured to the under side of the xed support 80.

The auxiliary repeater 84 is connected by a four wire cable 90 to the secondary transmitter 42 to be controlled thereby, the cable 90 including a common circuit 91 containing a battery 92 or other source of electric energy whereby the auxiliary repeater 84 is energized. entrally mounted upon the gear 67 is an electromagnetic clutch 95 including a vertically reciprocatory clutch I member 96 which normally clamps the gear 82 rigidly tothe gear 67 when the electromagnetic clutch is not energized, but which is arranged to be moved downwardly as a result of the-energization of the electromagnetic clutch 95 to permit the gear 82 to be rotated with respect to the gear 67.

The electromagnetic clutch 95 of the auxiliary predirecting mechanismis connected in series with the electromagnetic clutch 50 of the secondary sighting device in a circuit 98 containing a battery 99 and controlled by a switch 100, the arrangement being such that when the switch 100 is closed, both magnetic clutches 50 and 95 are energized and act to unclutch the gear 38 from the ar 45 and to unclutch the gear 82 from t e gear 67, and when the switch 100 is open the two electromagnetic clutches 50 and 95 are dee-energized, permitting the clutch members 51 and 96 to engage the gears 38 and 82 and thus clutch the same rigidly to the gears 45 and 67 respectively.

The central electrical transmitter 33 is also connected by a four wire branch cable with the central repeater 18 for predirectin the central torpedo 15, the four wire ca le 110 including a common circuit 111 containing a battery 112 whereby the repeater 18 is energized. The primary transmitter 41 is similarly connectedlby a four wire cable 115 to the repeater 19 for predirecting the secondary torpedo 16, the cable 115 including a common circuit 116 containing a battery 117 whereby the repeater 19 is ener ized, and the auxiliary transmitter 86 is simi arly connected by a four wire cable 12() to the repeater 20 for predirecting the third torpedo 17, the cable 120 including a common circuit 121 containing a battery 122, whereby the repeater 20 is energized.

In the operation of this improved system, when it is desired to predirect andlsimultaneously fire or discharge the three torpedoes 15, 16 and 17, for instance at a boat or target 125 in such a manner that when the target 125 is moving in the direction indicated by,

the arrow 126 the three torpedoes will be so directed at the time of being discharged from the torpedo boat that the main or central torpedo 15 will be aimed towards a point 127 upon the bow or front end of the target, the auxiliary torpedo 17 upon a point 128 amidships of the target, and the secondary torpedo 16 upon a point 129 lying in the direction of motion of the target and lspaced in front of the bow or point 127 of thetarget a distance'substantially equal to the distance between the bow or point 127 and the point 128 amidships of the target, then the switch 100 which is normally left open is closed, thus unclutching the gear 38 from the gear 45, and the gear 82 from the gear 67, and the main telescope 25 is then pointed at the middle point 128 of the target as indicated by the line 135, and the secondary telescope 26 is simultaneously pointed at the bow or point 127 of the target as indicated by the line 136.

In thus pointing the main telescope 25 at 'the middle point 128 of the target, the rotary movement of the main telescope 25 about its vertical axis is transmitted through the gear 31 and pinion 32 to the central electrical transmitter 33 by which the motionis transmitted simultaneously to the two motion repeaters 56 and 69 which actuate respectively the pinion 55 and gear 45 of the secondary sighting instrument 26, and the pinion 68 and gear 67 of the auxiliary predirecting mechanism 27.

In pointing the secondary telescope 26 upon the point 127 at the bow of the target, the rotary movement of the secondary telescope 26 aboutits vertical axis is transmitted through the vertical spindle 36 and gear 38 to the pinion 40 which actuates the secondary transmitter 42. The secondary transmitter 42 is arranged to transmit any yrotary motion of its pinion 40 through the by the repeater 56 in response to the rotaf tion of the main telescope 25, when both the main telescope 25 and the secondary telescope 26 are rotated about their vertical axes, the secondary transmitter 42 transmits only the angular difference between the angular movements'of the main telescope 25 and the secondary telescope 26 about their vertical axes. The switch 100 is then opened, thus clutching the gear 38 to the gear 45 and the gear 82 to the gear 67. The angular dierence between these two sets of gears, which wasimposed upon them by the pointing or sighting of the two telescopes 25 and 26, will now be held constant regardless of the position of the gears 45 and 67 The gears 45 and 67 are moved in synchronism with the movement of the main telescope 25 about its vertical axis by means of the transmitter 33 and the repeaters 56 and 69 respectively. i

After the switch 100 has thus been opened the secondary telescope 26 is permitted to be controlled entirely by the movement of the main telescope 25. The main telescope 25 is now rotated from the position in which it is aimed at the point 128 in the center of the target into a position in which it is aimed at the point 127 at the bow of the target, and this rotation of the main telescope is transmitted simultaneously through the central transmitter 33 to the repeaters 56 and 69 and simultaneously rotates the gears 45 and 67 through equal Aangles and in the same direction, and consequently rotates the gears 38 and 82 in the same direction through an equal angle and carries the secondary transmitter 42 and its pinion 40 and the auxiliary repeater 84 and its pinion 83 through equal angles. This rotation of the gears 38 and 82 causes equal rotary movements of the primary transmitter 41 and the auxiliary transmitter 86, and the motion of the primary transmitter 41 is transmitted through-the four wire cable 115 to the repeater 19 through which it acts to adjust the predirecting mechanism of the torpedo v16 in such a. manner as to predirect the torpedo uponthe point 129 which is in longitudinal alinement with the target 125 and spaced ahead of the target a distance of about one ment with the point 127 at the bow of the target causes a corresponding rota-tion of the auxiliary transmitter 86 which is transmitted through the four wire cable 120 to the repeater 2O through which it acts to adjust the predirecting mechanism of the torpedo 17 in such a manner as to cause the torpedo to be predirected towards the point 128 in the center of the target 125.

The aiming of the main telescope 25 controls at a'll times the adjustment of the predirecting lmechanism carried by the central torpedo 15, the rotary motion of the main telescope 25 about its vertical axis belng transmitted at all times by the secondary transmitter 33 through the four wire cable 110 to the repeater 18 which controls the predirectin mechanism carried by the torpedo 15. he aiming of the main telescope 25 upon the point 127 at the bow of the target thus adjusts the predirecting mechanism carried by the central torpedo in such a manner that the central torpedo 15 will be caused to proceed upon a course directed towards the point 127 on the bow of the target.

If, after having been thus adjusted, the three torpedoes 15, 16 and 17 should be discharged by any well known or suitable means, the torpedoes will assume and pro.

ceed upon the courses indicated by the three lines 150, 151 and 152 respectively, which lead through the three points 127, 129 and 4 128, and will arrive ultimately at those points unless their progress is interrupted.

If the target 125 is moving in the direction indicated by the arrow 160 in Fig. 4, and it is desired to discharge the torpedoes predirected towards a point 162 in the middle of the target, 163 at the bow of the target and 164 in longitudinal alinement with the target and at a point in advance of the taroet a distance equal to approximately half of the length of the target, then the switch 100 is closed and the main telescope is sighted on the point 163 at the bow of the target, and the secondary telescope 26 is sighted at the point 162 at the center of the target. This sighting of the .main and secondary telescopes 25 and 26 will adjust the predirecting steering mechanisms carried by the torpedoes 15 and 16 respectively so as to cause these torpedoes to proceed upon the lines 165 and 166 leading through the points 161 and 162 respectively. In thus sighting the main and. secondary telescopes 25 and 26 the rotary motion of these telescopes about their Vertical axes will beI transmitted, as hereinbefore described, to the auxiliary predirecting mechanism 27, which will cause t-he gear 82 to be rotated through an angle equal to the angular movement of the main telescope plus an angle equa-l to the angular difference between the angularA movement of the main telescope 25 and the and spaced in advance thereof a distance of approximately half the length of the target.

If, now, the torpedoes 15, 16 and 17 should be discharged, they would assume and proceed upon the three lines 165, 166 and 167 passing through the three predetermined points 163, 162 and 164 respectively.

In the modified system shown in Figs. 5 to 9 inclusive, the construction and operation are the same as that of the system shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and hereinbefore .described, except that in this modified system, for the purpose of including as factors in predirecting the torpedoes, the course of the target, the s eed of the tar et and the speed of thel torpe o, a main mo lfying device 175 is inserted in the hereinbefore' described conductor 110 which leads to the central torpedo 15, a secondary modifyin device 176 is inserted in the hereinbefore escribed conductor 115 which leads to the right hand torpedo 16, and an auxiliary modifying device 177 is inserted in the hereinbefore described conductor 120 which leads to the left hand torpedo 17.

The main modifying device 175 comprises a vertical spindle 180 which depends from a `fixed support 181, and which is arranged to rotate about a xed axis coincident with its longitudinal axis. Rigidly secured to the spindle 180 is a gear 182, which is arranged to be rotated by a pinion 183 which is arranged to be rotated about a fixed vertical axis by an electrical repeating mechanism 184, which is arranged to be actuated by the hereinbefore described electrical 'transmission mechanism 33 which is arranged to be controlled by the hereinbefore described telescope 25, and which is connected to the repeater by means of the hereinbefore described four wire cable 110 which includes the return wire 111 which is arranged to be energized by the battery 112. vArranged below the gear 182 and rigidly secured to the shaft 180 and extending in a plane perpendicular thereto, is a rigid arm 190, and below this arm 190 rigidly' secured to `the shaft 180 is a gear 191. Spacedbelow the shaft 180. and in longitudinal alinement therewith, is a shaft 195 which is supported at its lower endin a fixed platform 196 to rotate with respect thereto about a fixed vertical axis and to be held vagainst longitudinal movement. -Ri idly secured to the up per end of the sha t 195 is a fiat plate 197 which is arranged in a normally horizontal iso plane spaced below thevplane of the gear 191. Fixedlyfsecured uponfthi's plate- 197 is an electrical transmission device 198 which is arranged to be actuated by a pinion-199 which is arranged to be rotated by the gear 191 about avertical a-xis fixed Withrespect to the plate 197. Rigid with the plate 197 and extending in a horizontal direction therefrom is a carrier 200 comprising two parallel rigid bars 201 and 202 which are terminally connected by two'vertical end plates 203 and 204. Mounted upon the two bars 201 and 202 and arranged to slide longitudinally thereof in a predetermined path with respect theretol is a slider 205. moving the slider 205 longitudinally of the bars 201 and 202, a lead screw 210 extends between the bars 201 and 202 ina direction parallel thereto and is threaded through the slider 205. This bar is rotatably supported at its outer end in the vertical plate 204, and is arranged to be rotated about its longitudinal'axis by an electrical repeating device 215 which vis operatively connected to the inner end of the lead screw 210 and secured to the vertical plate 203. This repeating device 215 is arranged to be'actuated by an electrical transmission device 216 which is connected to the repeating device 215 by a graduations to permit lthe gear to be con` veniently rotated through an arc proportional to the speed ofthe torpedo.

Mounted upon and carried by the slider 205, is an arm 230 which isrigidly secured at one end to a vertical shaft 231 which extends snugly but rotatably through the slider 205, and upon which the arm 230 is rotatable with respect to the slider 205 about the longitudinal axis of the shaft 231.

For causing the arm 230 to point always in a direction corresponding to the direction of movement of the target regardless of the position of rotation of the carrier 202, a bevel gear 235 is rigidly secured to the lower end of the shaft 231, and is engaged by a bevel pinion 236 which is mounted upon and slidable longitudinally of but is held against rotation with respect to a shaft 237 which may be polygonal in transverse section and which extends longitudinally of the carrier 200 and is rotatably supported terminally in the two end plates 203 and 204 and is held against movement longitudinally of the carrier. Upon the inner end of this shaft 237 is rigidly secured a bevel pinion For f 238 which is engaged by a bevel gear 239 which loosely surrounds the lvertical shaft 195 and which is rigid with and arranged to be actuated by a spur gear 240p'which loosely surrounds the vertical shaft 195 and which is held against movement downwardly thereon in any suitable manner.- The spur gear 240 is arrangedv to be rotated by a piny ion 241 which is fixed upon the upper end of a vertical spindle 242 which is arranged to be actuated by an electrical repeating device 243 which is fixed upon a rigid standard 243 carried by the fixed base 196. The repeating device 243 is arranged to be actuated by an electrical motion transmission device 244 which is connected to the repeating device 243 by a fourwire cable 245 which includes a return wire 246 controlled by a switch 247 and arranged to be energized by a battery 248. The transmission device 244 is actuated by a pinion 249 which is en# gagedby a gear 250'which is mounted to rotate about a fixed axis and which carries a pointer` or index 251 which is arranged to cooperate with a fixed dial 255 coaxial with the gear 250 and -provided with marginal p graduations so that the gear 250v may be conveniently rotated into any 'desired position of adjustment, as indicated by the pointer 251 to cause the transmission device 244 to be actuated to a degree depending upon the course or direction of movement of. the target as indicated by the pointer 251.4

The arm 230 is provided with a lead screw 260 -extending longitudinally thereof and carried thereby which is rotatable but held against longitudinal `movement with vrespect to the arm 230. This lead screw 260 is threaded through a slider 261 which is mounted upon the arm 230 and movable longitudinally thereof in a predetermined path. Rigid with and projecting upwardly 'from the slider 261 is a pin 262 which engages snugly but slidably in a slot 263 which extends longitudinally of the hereinbe'fore described arm 190. The upper end of this pin 262 is provided with a head 264 which overlaps the arm 190 and holds the arm in position upon the pin 262. The lead screw 260 is arranged to be rotated-by means of an electrical repeating device 270 which is mounted upon the arm 230 and which is arranged to be actuated an electrical transmission device 271 which Ais connected to the repeating device 270 by a four wire cable 272 including a return wire 2 73 controlled by a switch 273 and arran ed to be energized by a battery 274. T e transmission device 271 is arranged to be actuated by a pinion 275 which is actuated bya gear 27 6 arranged to rotate about a fixed axis and carrying a pointer 277 which is arranged to cooperate with a fixed dial 278 coaxial with the gear 276 and provided with marginal graduations whereby the gear 27 6 mayl ries rigidly secured vthereto an electrical re- 'thevertical shaft 195, and is arranged tov A actuate a pinion 286 whlch actuates an electrical repeating device 28.7 which is secured .i

.upon 4the fixed base 196 and which is electrically connected to the hereinbefore defour wire cable 288 which includes a return wire 289 arranged to be energized by a battery 290. i

- The secondary device 17 6 and the auxiliary device 177 are substantially the same,

lin construction, and each includes, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, a vertical spindle 300 which wardly from a vfixed horizontal platform 301. oosely surrounding the lower end of the spindle 300 and held against longitudinal movement thereof, is a gear 302 which is arrangedto actuate a pinion 303 -which is mounted upon the lower end of a vertical s indle 304 which .is arranged to rotate about a fixed axis to actuate an electrical transmission device 305. In the secondary modifying device 176 this transmission device 305 is arranged to control the cri'esponding repeating device 19 through a four wire cable 310 having a return wire 311 arranged to be energized by a battery 312, and in the auxiliary modifying device 177 this transmission device 305 is arranged to actuate the corresponding repeating device 20 through a four wire cable 315 which includes a return wire 316 arranged to bev energized by a battery 3,17. Spaced below and in vertical alinement witheach of the shafts 300, is a shaft 320 which is rigid with and projects upwardly from a fixedvbase 321. Loosely surrounding the upperend o f the shaft 320 and held against movement longitudinally thereof is la gear 325 which carpeating device 326 which is provided with a spindle 327 projecting upwardly vtherefrom and rotatable about an axis xed'with respect to the gear 325. Rigidly secured'upon the upper end of this spindle 327 is a pinion 328 which engages and actuatesthe gear 302. The repeating device 326 of the secondary modifying device 176 and the corresponding repeating 'device' 326 of the auxiliary modifying device 177 are arranged predirected to be actuated by the transmitting device 198 of the main modifying device 175 though a four wirecable 330 including a return wire 331 arrangedv to be energized by a battery 332, and a four wire cable 335 including a return wire 336 arranged to be ,y

energized by a battery 337, respectively.

then rotated until the Each gear 325 is arranged to be rotated byl a'pinion 340 which is rigidly secured upon the upper end of a vertical spindle 341 which is arranged to be rotated about a fixed axis by means of an electrical repeating device 342 which is fixedly secured, upon the corresponding base 321. The two reeating devices 342 of the secondary modiying device 17 6, and the auxiliary device 17 7 are arranged tov be actuated by the hereinbefore described transmission devices 41 and 86 through which the repeating devices scribed repeating device 18 by. means of a\342 are respectively connected, the hereinbefore described four wire cable 115 includpredirect and simultaneously discharge thev three torpedoes 15,- 16 and 17, for instance at a boat or target 125and to have the torpedoes proceed upon predetermined courses, as hereinbefore described the switch 100 which'is normally left open, is closed, and the two switches 110 and 247 are closed in such a manner as to render the telescope 25 and the'transmitter 244 operative to control the two arms 190 and 230 respectively. The course of the target'and the speed of the target having been determined by devices not forming a part of this invention,

the gear 250 carrying the pointer 251 is ointer 251 assumes a position over its diei) which corresponds to the course of the target, and the gear 276 carrying thepointer 277 is rotated into such a position that its pointer 277 occupies a position with respect to its dial 27 8 corresponding to the speed of the target. The gear 225 carrying the pointer 226 is also 'rotated into such a position that its pointer 226 will occupy a osition in -respect to its dial 227 correspon ing to the speed of the torpedo. The main telescope 25 and thel Vsecondary telescope 26 are then pointed at the middle point 128 of the target, and at the bow point 127l of the target, as hereinbefore described. The switch 100 is then opened and the main telescope 25 is then rotated from the position in which it is aimed at the point 128 in the center of the target into a position in which itA is aimed at the point 127 at the bow of the target. The three torpedoes 15, 16 and 17 will now be approximately upon three corresponding courses 425, 426, 427 (see Fig. 3), the course 425 ofthe central torpedo 15 being arranged to make an angle 450 with the line of sight 150 of the main telescope 25 which is' equal to the angle formed between the arms 190 and 200 of the main n ranged that if now the torpedoes should be simultaneously discharged, the torpedoes would proceed vapproximately upon the courses 425, 426, 427 respectively and the central torpedo 15 would strike the bow of the boat or target 125 in its dotted position, while the bow torpedo 16,- would cross the bow of the target 125 `at Aa point spaced in front of the target a distance equal to about one-half of the length ofthe target and the stern torpedo 17 would strike the target. about amidships, it being understood that arranged to be controlled by the conjoint action of said sighting devices and to control a corresponding one of said predirecting devices.

4. The combination' with avmain sighting instrument and a secondary sighting instrument arranged to rotate separately about predetermined axes. respectively, ofY predirecting means for two projectilescontrolled by said sighting instruments respectively, and auxiliary predirecting means for a third projectile controlled by the conjoint action of said sighting instruments.

the target 125 has moved at the known rate\\` 5. The combination with a main sighting from its full line position to its dotted position while the torpedoes have been proceedf ing from 'the torpedo boatvto the target.

v Although only a few of the forms have been shown in which this invention may be embodied, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to any specific construction but might be applied in various s 7stems without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

l Having thus fully described this inven-v jectiles and controlled respectively by said sighting devices, and auxiliary predirecting means arranged to be controlled by the conjoint action of said sighting devices to predirect a corresponding projectile. g

2.,A system forv predirecting a plurality of torpedoes having .automatic steering mechanisms respectively, comprising means for supporting a plurality of said torpedoes in predetermined positions, a plurality of predirecting devices arranged to predirect the steering mechanisms of said torpedoes when lsupported in said positions, a plurality of separately movable sighting devices each of which is arranged to control a corresponding one of said predirecting def vices, and auxiliary predirecting means arranged to be controlled by the conjoint action of said sighting devices and to control a corresponding one of said predirecting devices.

3. A system for predirecting a plurality of torpedoes having automatic steering mechanisms respectively, comprising means for supporting a plurality of said torpedoes in predetermined fixed positions, a plurality of predirecting devices arranged to pred-1- rect the steering mechanisms of said torpedoes when supported in said positions, a plurality of separately movable sighting devices each. of which is arranged to control a corresponding one of lsaid predirecting devices, and auxiliary predirecting means a third projectile controlled by the conjoint action of said sighting instruments.

6. The combination with a main sighting instrument and a secondary sighting instrument arranged to rotate separately about predetermined axes respectively, of predirecting means for two projectiles controlled by said 'sighting instruments respectively, and auxiliary predirecting ymeans for a third projectile controlled by the conjoint action of said sighting instruments, said auxiliary means comprising two elements separately rotated about a common axis, one of said elements being controlled by said main instrument and the other of said elements being controlled either by said secondary instrument or by the conjoint action of said main and said secondary instruments.

7. The combination with a main sighting instrument and a secondary sighting instrument arranged to rotate separately about predetermined fixed axes respectively, of predirecting means for two projectiles controlled by said sighting 4instruments respectively, and auxiliary predirecting means for a third projectile controlled by the conjoint action. of said sighting instruments, saidv auxiliary means comprising two elements separately rotatable about a common iixed axis, one of said elements being lcontrolled by said main instrument and the other of said elements being controlled either by said secondary. instrument or by the conjoint action of said main and said secondary instruments.

8. The combination with a main sighting' instrument arranged to rotate about a predetermined-axis, of a secondary auxiliary sighting instrument arranged to be rotated about a predetermined axis independently of said main sighting instrument, an element arranged to be rotated about said last mentioned axis independently of said secondary instrument, means automatically operative to rotatesaid element in synchronism with said main instrument, -and transmitting sighting-instrument, of a main electrical mo-A.

tion transmitter controlled thereby, a secondary sighting instrument, a member arranged to be rotated about a fixed axis by said secondary instrument, an element ar- Vio ranged to be rotated independently of said member about said' axis `in response to the movement of said main instrument, a stationary electric motion transmitter arranged to be controlled by said member, a secondary electrical motion transmitter carried by' the rotatable element and controlled by the conjoint action of said element and said member, means operative to connect said member and said element to cause the same to be rotated in unison as a result of themovement of said main instrument, and auxiliary predirecting mechanism jointly controlled by said main transmitter and said secondary transmitter.

10. The combination with a movable sighting instrument, of a member arran ed to be rotated about a fixed' axis by said instrument, an element arranged to be rotated about said axis independently of said member, a stationary electric motion transmitter arranged to'be controlled by said member, a'secondary electric motion transmitter carried b said element and arranged to be controlle by the conjoint action of said element and said member, means to rotate said element, and means operative to connect said member and said element to cause the same to rotate in unison.

11. rlfhe combination With a member and an element arranged to rotate. separately about the same axis, of motion transmitting means actuated by said member, motion repeating means carried by said element and arranged to actuate said member, a main movable sighting instrument arranged to cause the rotation of said element, a secondary movable sighting instrument arranged to cooperate with said main instrument to control said repeating means, and means opverative to connect said member and saidk element to cause the same to be rotated in unison.

12. The combination with a member and an element arranged to rotate separately about the same fixed axis, of motion transmitting means actuated by said member, mo-

ranged to cooperate With said main instrument to control said repeating means, and

means operative to connect said member and said element to cause the same to be rotated in unison. 1

13. The combination With a member and an element arranged to rotate separately about the same xed axis, of motion transmitting means actuated by said member, and motion repeating means carried by said element and arranged to actuate said member. 14. The combination With a member and an element arranged to rotate separately about the same fixed axis, of motion transmitting means actuated by said member, motion repeating means carried by said element and arranged to actuate said member, and means operative to connect said member and said element to cause the same to be rotated in unison When said element is rotated.

of torpedoes, comprising a plurality of separately movable sighting devices, a plurality of predirecting devices arranged to predirect a corresponding plurality of projectiles and controlled respectivelyby said sighting devices, auxiliaryv predirecting means. arranged to be controlled by the conjointvaction of said sighting devices to predirect a correspondin projectile, and means adjustable in accor ance'with the speed of the rojectiles and the known course and speed of a target for modifying the action of said sighting devices upon said predirecting devices and said auxiliary predirecting means.

16. The combination With a; main sighting instrument arranged to turnl about a predetermined axis, of a secondary auxiliary instrument arranged to be turned about a predetermined axis independently of said main sighting instrument, an element arranged to turn about said last mentioned axis independently of said secondary instrument, means automaticall operative to turn said instrument in sync ronism with said main instrument, and transmitting means arranged to be controlled by the action of said secondary instrument.

JOHN HAYSy HAMMOND, J R.

ALBERT D. TRENOR.

15. A systemlfor predirecting a plurality--

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