US257693A - Ments - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 5 sheets-sheet 1.

' G. E. HAIGHT.

CURRENT CONTROLLING DEVIGE FOR TORPEDO BOATS. No. 257,693. Patented May 9, 1882.,

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

I G. E. HAIGHT.

CU; ENI' CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR TORPBDO BOATS.

No. 257,693. Patented May 9, 1882.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Shea 3.

G. E. HAIGHT.

GURRENTGONTROLLING DEVICE FOR TORPEDO BOATS. No. 257,693. Patented May 9,1882.

5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

i (No Model.)

G. E. HAIGHT, CURRENT CONTROLLING DEVICE r011 TORPEDO BOATS.

Patented May 9, 1882.

(No Model.)

G. E. HAIGHT; CURRENT CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR TORPEDO BOATS.

N0. 257,693. Patented May 9,1882.

5 Sheets-Sheet 5..

NiiE era-res GEORGE HAIGHT, F HARTFORD, CONN, AssicuomnY MESNE ASSIGN' MENTS, OF ONEHALF TO WILLIAM E. WINSOR,. OF NEW YORK, N. 1'.

CURRENT CONTRDLLiNG DEVICE FOR 'TORPEDO-BOATS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 257,693, dated May 1882. Application filed June 14, [8?1. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it; known that I; GEORGE EHAIGHT, oi the ciiiy of Hartford, iu the county of Hart ford an 11 State of Conncciicut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Elec- 'trical Devices for Torpedocs; and I do hereby declare that the following; is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enableothers skilled in {heart i0 which itappertains to make and use the some, reference bc ing had to theaccompanyiug drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a method of operatiug or controlling the propelling steering and firiughppaflrtds oi a scli'acluatcd torpedohoat, which are carried therein by means or an electrical cable connect ion from the boat to a suitable operating-point, and proper electrical apparatus at each end of the cable or wire for accomplishing-the desired results.

For these purposes myinvention consists ot a transmitter or current-selector located in the boat and electrically connected with the different mechanisms for executing the functions of the same, and also in connection with the operating key-board on shore, or other desirahledirccting-point, by a single wire, the whole heing so constructed and arranged that each and every of the difi'crenh functional mechanisms may be first .brought into unison with the main line and battery through the transmittcr or current-director by a, comparatively ijcchle currcuh'which normally flows through the line, and then actuated by an said buttery-current.

Itfurthorcousistsoi'anelectrically-couuected. clock mechanism located wirhiu atorpedo-bont,

'- the escapemcnt-wheel of which is adapted to be operated by a pawl carried by the armature of an elcctro-maguec arranged within the main circuii, the opening or closing of the circuit; at; the. operating or directing point-causing,

through said pawl and cscnpemcni, a revol\ ing arm carried by in arbor of said clock mechanism to make aud break connection with the 'wircsleading to the several dilicrcnti'nuct ional mechanisms of the boat. I i

it further consists ina' clock mechanism arranged at on operating ordireclin'gpoiug and carrying a circuit; making and breaking wheel, .to the same arbor of which is attached a needle increase or aseries of stops artachcd to operating-buttons, the arrangement being such that when the needle rests against-any one of the series of. 5

stops-say porr--the'circuit is made or brought in unison with its corresponding port; mechanism through a suitable transmitting apparatus in'the' boat.

It further consists of a locking device in combination with the transmitter in the boar, whereby the clock mechanism may he looked at a stated number of revolutions-say twoof'thc revolving contact-arm when a slight current-is flowing through the line, and adapted 6 5 to be unlocked by an increase of the battcrycurrent, which overcomes the rctractile spring of the armature of an electro-maguet not opcrative by the weaker normal current, thocffeet being to insure the, unison oi therevolv- 7o ing contact-arm with relation to the diii'ercntfunctional mechanisms in the'boatgand with their corresponding operating-buttons through the circuit-breaking wheel of'thc time inechauism at the operating or directing point. it further consists in the employment. of u battery-current snificiently strong to. throw into unisonihe several circuits leading to the several functiouai mechanisms of the boat. throngh'suitable apparatus at each end of the So main line, but not strong enough to actuate said mechanisms, rho current passing out through a shorter circuit, of less resistance; and, also,'iu the employment of a stronger current, which shuts out-the shorter circuit, or y circuit; of least resistance, and is of sufficient;

intensity to iustantlyactuate the mechanism ct the boat desired, and in case of the i'usc-cir-,

cuit being made the fuse will be exploded hy the contaci; of 'the boat with any obstacle; 9o and, finally, in the employment-of a still stronger current adapted to be throwu in when the ,i'usc or fire circuitflsunadc, the effectof which will hate instantly fire the charge at the willpf thc operator.

It further consists in a series of operating jtiiiiiroils-or keys, haviu g projections designed 'to arrest the re\ 'olviug nccdleoi' the clock mechanism at the desired points to open the difi'ercni; circuits through ,the transmitter in too the boat, said buttons or proiectious being dcpendent upon each other for ()[JGIiht-lOll-Lllfll; is to say, the pressing down of one'button and whose outer end is arranged to be arrested by Tics projection will causeanycrcncry one pre viously pressed down to release itself, tirelessin gor unison button beingaisoprovidedmhieh, when operated, releases all buttons held down and allows the needle to freely revolve a sutiicieut number of times to insure the unison of what I term the key-board apparatus and thetrans mitter in the boat.

It further consists in ccrtsi'ndctails of construction and arrangement hereinafter partic- Fig. 4 represents a diagram view, designed to I show in a single view the principle of the operation of my improved device, and illustratcs the arrangement of the circuits and means by which the increases of the batterycurrcnt are controlled. Figs. 5, 6, 7, and-8 illustrate details of escapement and escapementwheel of time. mechanism of the transmitter and armature of clectro-magnet for operating the same. Fig; irrepresents a side elevation of oswitch-apparatus for regulating the incretisc and decrease of the battcryicnrrent's, and Fig. 10 an end elevation of the same. Figs. 11 and 12 represent respectively a side elevation and partial section of the governing device of the time mechanism of the key-hoard and a top plan view of the same. Fig. 13 represents a'detail elevation of one of the buttons or keys which arrest the motion of the indicator-needle of the key-board at different. points. Fig. 14 represents a detail view of the unison locking device ofthe current-selector.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A represents what I term the key-board apparatus, and is placed at the operating or directing point on shore or other suitable: position. This apparatus is located within and upon an inclosing-bo'x, B represents a clock mechanism or train of gears arranged within said box and driven by a suitable spring wound by the ratchet-leverQ. It is also provided with a governor, D, (sho,wn more particularly by Figs. 11 and 12,) which consists of two pivoted oppositely arranged frictional bearings arranged to rub against the inner wall of an inclosing-barrel through their centrifugal force, opposed to which are tension-springs connected to the bearings, soa'djnsted that the ten-- sion shall he overcome as the governor rcvolves rapidly.

Mounted upon a. suitable arbor of the train of gears B is a circuit; making andbreaking wheel, E. This wheel isfinsulated. from the time mechanism A by an annular riug, F, of some insulating material. In the outer periphery of wheel E also areal-ranged laser tions G oi insulating mntcrial, between which the conducting material H comes, time presenting alternately a segment of conducting material and a segmentof noiucoinlnoting liltiterial ot'equnl extent.

To thojsame arbor oi the time mechanism l3 upon which is mounted wheel E is mounted a needle, l, keyed thereto, the outer cantor" which may be arrested at different points in the path of its revolution, for thepurposc shortly to'lis described. I

J J are metallic contact-springs arranged within the main-line circuit and upon the frame of the time mechanism, butiusnlated therefrom. They bear against the circuit-breaking wheel E, and are so arranged with respect to'eaeli other and to the wheel E and its metallic and 'insuluted'segmeuts that norinnlly the springs J J rest against the metallic portions, (which are continuous,) and the main-line cnrrentflows throughthe line. This. normal or GlI'OtlllI-lliilliing position of the wheel E is secured by the relative'arrangement of needle I and the series of stops or keys for the same. In this instance I have provided the key-boardwith five difi'erent-stopsorkeys, besidssaunison-key. They are respectively designnted stop, go, port, starboard, and lircf but i wish it undemstood that I do not confine myself to the set number of stops orlteys, nor to their eniploymcnt forjthc uses designateihns it is evident that I can increase or diminish the m ni her of functions or substitute other functions for those stated. Everyone of these keys-- stop," f go,-&c.--is so arranged within the circular path of the needle I that when said needle rests against any one of them the .circult opening and closing wheel E makes metaliic contact; with springs J J, and the cirsuit is made. The arrangement of the keys stop, go,&c., is shown in Fig. 1 and in reverse in Fig. 2, and the position oi the needle [when resting against them, respectively, is indicated by dottedlines in diagram view, Fig.

4. if the position of the needle is ntstop-lrsy andthe go-key be pressed down, the stop-key will rise (by means of a. device to be hereinafter described) and the needle will rotate by the spring-driven train of gears until arrested by the go-ltey. The positioiroi' the needle will then lie along the dotted line ltidiktl"GO, Fig. 1- As the circuit-wheel E is keyed to the same arbor as the needle I, it is evident that the wheel E has accomplished the same degreeof revolution. "lhis partial revolution has broughttwo of the. insulated segments G against the contact-springs J J-one against each-and the circuit has-.beenbroken and made again through said springs arranged within the circuit, the segmentportions ot' the circuit-wheel E occupying thesams relative position that they occupied when arrested by the stop-key. This breaking and making of the circuit cause pulsations through the main line to the torpe o-boat, the utilization'otf which will be described fnr'theron. If the starboardstop hie-pressed dewn,the go-stop will rise and same make and break the circuit five times, because there are five keys, and correspondingly five I conducting and live non conducting segments of wheel 1* and it it rotate three-fifths of a revolution-r, in other words, travel the dis tance of three stops orhcys-dt will make and break the circuit three times, and it'i'our-fifths, or the distance of four stops, it will open and close the circuit four times; but it will be obvions, as before indicated, that the number of keys may be changed and the wheel E correspondingly modified.

Instead of employing two springs J J to break the circuit, only one might be used and insulated block.

the other end of the line connected with wheel E in such manner that the wheel B would still be insulated.

The method of providing and controlling currents from the battery or dilferent intensities is shown in Figs. 2, 4, 9, and 10.

K, Fig. 4, represents a galvanic battery, preferably composed of sixty elementsor cells. From the fifth carbon or negative pole of the iitth element I connccta wire, a, leading to bindlug-post a on the key-board apparatus. From thence wire a leads to the contact-point a, insulated from its supporting-frame. Against this point 11 and making metallic contact therewith, lies spring at, whose inner end is sccuredto insulated post a. A wire, u, loads l'rornspring'a and connects with one of springs J J, through botlrof which the currentnormally flows, from whence it passes off to the groundthroiigh wire a. From the zinc or positive pole of element or cell N0. lawire, a, passes to binding-post a, from which the main wireLleads to the transmitter and other mechanisms of the boat, and thence to earth,

thus completing thc'circnit. I i, when the circult is thus made and the current of five elerheuts is flowing through the line, it is desired to increase the intensity or strength of the current, say, to thirtyfive elements or cells, I connect the carbon or negative pole of the thirtylltth element by a. wire, 1), leading to binding 'post b.

From'thence wire b leads to contactpoint b, against which normally rests metallic spring I). Point b and spring b rest upon an From metallic spring I) a wire, If, connects with the conducting metal frame b ot'switch apparatus M. Here the connection of the thirty-fifth element is broken. It cannot pass on. through contact-point o I spring a, nor ground-wireb because they are insulated. The currentthereforctlowsthrough contact-point 11" to spring switch-lever l), arranged to be operated by button N. When, therefore, it is desired to throw in a current from thirty-five cells, as above stated, the butof-a train of gears driven. by an i|npellingten 1*? is pressed down, which movement dcpressesswitchleverI). Saidleverthen strikes spring a making metallic contact therewith, and at the same timebreaking the contact between point a and spring .05, whereby the connection with wire a.,'leading to the fifth carbon, is broken. In the meantimethe inner end oflevcrb lms broken contact with postb and makesmctallic contact. with point 1"", which leads to earth through wire If. The electric current then passes as follows: from thirtyfifth carbon to wireb, to binding-post b, to wire b point '11, spring b wire 11", frame of switch b, through trunnion-posts and trunnion to switch-lever If, where the curreutiinds two routes-one through point b" and wire b to ground, and the other through spring a, wire a, spring J, wheel ll), spring J, and wire a to earth. The current from the zinc or positive pole of the'battery takes theusualcoursethat is, through wire a binding-post a", line L, through. the transmitter, to earth, or, more properly speaking, to the water. By this division the greater portion of. the current is made to flow over the former route, as it presents the least resistance, thereby preventing the burning out of the contact-springs J located-in the other route. Again, when it is desired to have a. still stronger current, or that of the entire battery, which is sixty cells, I connect the sixtieth carbon by a wire, c, which leads to binding-post c, FPO!!! thence wire c connects with switch if. This switch is normall y held open by spring 0'", and carries a projection, 0, adapted to make metallic contact with spring I), and at the same time break contact with point I). When the whole battery is used, the lint-connections with the fifth and thirtytiftii carbons are broken by press 'ing button N and operating lever c, and the whole current takes the followingroute: from sixticth carbon, through wire 0, post 0', wire a, switch c, drawn around so as to make contact with spring b, (the thirty-fifth carbonwirobeing broken through point I-'',) wire b. frame b ,trunnion-posts, and trunnion, to lever b", (which was previously held down,) where thecu: rentlinds two routes, as beforeexplai ned, the current them the zinc pole finding a route through main line L to earth.

Having described my improved apparatus located at the operating or directing point, (with the exception oi the special construction and arrangement of the go, stop, port, 830., keys. or buttons, which will he described far ther on,) I will now procecdto describe my improved transmitting device, whereby I am enabled to open up the several different die 25 cuits connecting the different functional mechanisms of the boat-through a single line-wire.

0 represents a. time mechanism consisting spring or equivalent, the winding-post orarbor of which is P. This mechanism carries an escapemeut-wheel, Q,of.novel construction, the outer rim of which carries a number of equiglistant stopsarranged to come in successive I electro-rnoghetSis connected. ArmaturcSwill he attracted and pawl 'i willengage stop 5, as i contact with a. vibrating pawl or escapement is arranged to sweep a series of metallic plates snlating material.

in electrical connection with the different functional mechanisms of the bout. Intervening between these metallic plates are plates of in- In this instance I have provided five metallic plates, (1,6, j, g, and h, to correspond with the live keys stop, go, port, starboard. and fire on the keyboard at the other end of the line or directingpoint. From plate :1 awiro, d, leads to binding-post d connecting with stop mechanism ct thehoat. From plates c, f, g, and k; lead respectively wires 6, f,g, and h to bindingposts 0 9 and h, connecting with the go, port, starboard, and fire mechanisms ofthe boat. When a less or greater number of functioual mechanisms ared'esired the number of metallic plates in contact with arm R and nnm-- her of stops on wheel Q are correspondingly modified, as also the number of keys on the key-hoard at the other end of the line.

The main line L is secured to binding-post L of the transmitter. From said post L a wire, L leads to an electro-magnet, 8, having a. vibratory armature, S. An adjustable limiting-stop, S limits its outward 'iuovement due to the usual retractilesprinm- Upon the some shaft that armature S is mounted is socured pawl. or e'scapement T, vibrating in unison therewith. The arrangement-and construction'ot' the eseapement'hud its actuating electro-magnet armature are shown in Figs.3, 5, 6, 7, and. 8. As there are five difl'erent circuits in the bout leading from plates ci ,'e,f, g, and h, I arrange upon the cscapemcnt-wheel ten stops 01' teeth, or doublethen umber of said plates, for a purpose shortly to be described.

Thealternzitestopsviz.,'i i i i 'i-'-crearranged in one and the same plane, while the intervening stops, z" i c" i i, are arranged in one plane, but at the side or adjacent to the plane of the other series, thus making every alternate stop lie in a dili'erent but contiguous plane in relation to the next adjoining stops. The escapcment or pawl T, operated hy'th evibration of armature S, carries at its outer extremity twolugs or detects, it, projectingfrom pawl Cl, so as to lie within the circumferential path of the stops i i, the dctcnt t abutting against stops 2' and detent t" against stops 5'. There is snificient intervening-space between. the two detects t tto allow of the free passage of the stops of wheel Qwhencver theyare by the movement of the pawl released. Whenever the armature S is attracted detect trcsts Y against. one of the stops 3', and whenever said armatnreisdemagnetized detent trests against Y one of the stops i. Suppose, now, that the current is flowing through the line to which shown by Fig.3. It, now, the circuit he broken,

armature S will-he withdrawn, detect i will release stop i and allow it to pass between the 'detrnts by the downward movement of the pawl, and defect t will engage the next stop *5, (see Fig. 6,) the vibratory movement of the pawl being suficiently great. to throwthe detent tinto the path of sto'ps'z' at one limitot its throw and detect i into the path of stops Its arthat the weaker normal current which flows through the main line will not affect armature TI. This armature orn. ro'ection therefrom a P .l 1

rests normally against post. U, from whence a wire, k, leads to binding-post k, which in turn is connected with the earth. The mainline wire L after entering cieciro magnet U, is led to its armature U, where the current ordinarily finds two routes, one through post Uflwire 7:, post k to earth, and the other through wire or (attached to the some armature) to bindin g-screw m, attached to the springdriren train ot'gears 0,which coustitn-tesaconductor to post 1* and its arm B, where it passesofi' through the various circuits of the functional mechanisms of the coat to'the ground, according as said circuits are opened and closed.

V represents an arm loosely pivoted to the winding-arbor P ot'the train of gears, or to any other suitable point, the object oi which is to insure of the transmitter being in unison with the key-board A at the directing-point. For this purpose the arm V is made of the peculiar configuration shownhy the drawings, so that at every two revolutions (from a given point, preferably the circuit; of the stop mech anism) of the arm it of the transmitter, and (from the st0p kcy)of the needle I on the keyhoard, the arm R will become locked at said stop circuit plate (I. This it-will do by the abutment '1 0t arm V coming in contact with the arm V and carry thoahutrnent '0 out ofthe path of pin Z. This oscillating movement o of the series 11 i) into the path of pin 3 when it rotates, through its first revolution, whereupon'pin I will strike notch '0 the efi'ect of which will be to oscillate the arm V suiuciently tothrow pawl it into notch n. ifpon the second revolution oi arm 1t and pin l the pin will strike notch of and oscillate arm V'still farther, or suficicntlyto allow of pawl n crtoring notch a, when the abutment; 4: will he again in the path ofpiu Z, to arrest it tit the completion of its second revolution.

The operation of my invention is as follows:

I will be continued for enough to carry the notch is "flowing through the line. Iuother We will suppose the transmitter toJ e arranged within a torpedo-boat, the binding-postL' connected with the main line leading to the keyboard A on shore or other directing-point, the

rests upon plate d. The needle I of the key-' board A rests against the corresponding stopkey, and a current of five cells of lhebattery words, the current from the live cells passes from fifth carbon, thronghwire a, post a, point a, spring a, wire a, springs J, wheel E, wire a, to earth; and from zinc pole of first cell it passes by wire a post a, line-wire L, post L, wire L electro-magnet S, (whose armature it attracts and holds the pawl T against one of the stops 5 of wheel .Q,) thence by same wire I} to electro-magnet U, thencc'to armature U, wherethecurrcntfindstworoutes-onethrough wire'm, post m, frame of train of gears O,arher 1', arm It, plate d, wire :1, post d through -stop mechanism of the boat, to ground, the,

other through post U", wire k, post It, to ground. As the latter is the route of the least resistance, the current passes out throughsaid route. When, however, it is desired to operate the stop mechanism of the boat, the button or key N- is pressed down, which cuts out the connection with the fifth carbon wire and throwsin a current from thirty'five' cells, as heretofore fully described. This current, passing over main wire L, enters the transmitter at bindingpost L, thence by wire L through magnet S,

' into electromaguet U, thence to its armature U. This stronger current (or current from thirty-five. cells) is suflicieut, tovattract said armature U against its spring j, (not operative by the weaker current, or current'from five cells,) whereby metallic contact of said armature with post U and its grouml-connection is broken, and the current flows from said armature,=throngh wire at, post m, frame of geariug 0, arbor 1', arm 1t, plate (I, wire (1, post 11?, to the stop mechanism of the boat and ground, the current being of suliicicnt intensity to operate said mechanism. This current of thirty five cells, when attracting armature U, also actuates through said arn'iature the lever \V, eausingit to trip pawl a of lever V and unlock the arm 12 and its gearing, as before set forth. hen the button, N is released the norn'ialcurren't of five cells again flows through the line in the manner before stated. If, now, it is desiredto start the torpedo-boat, the gobutton is. pressedrlown. upon the key-board A, which will release the needle atstop, and it will rotate to said go-button and step, during which partial revolution the wheel E, through its insulated segments, will break the circuit and then make it again; This operation will have h ell'ect, first, ot' denmgnetizing electroqnng net S, when its armature will be withdrawn and pawl T will pass stop 'i and er.

notches z" in the ringplate.

gage the next succeeding one, 2', thus allowing. arm R to make one-tenth of a revolution, or, in other words, to pass midway between platesd and 0 upon the insulated material; and, sec- ;oudly, upon the making of the circuit again ar mature S will again be attracted, and pawl "T will passstopiin contact therewith and take up the next succeeding stop 2', allowing arm R to make another one-tenth revolution, bringing it upon plate 0. The current willhiow flow fromarmature U of magnet U through the two routes before stated, an increase of the battery-current cutting out the ground-circuit through post U, and the current tlowin g through-arm R, plate (2, wire e, and post 6 to the go mechanism,its'tunction will be executed. Should it now. be desired to operate the starboard mechanism, the starboard-button on the keyboard is pressed dowu, when the needle in rotating from go .to starboard will cause the circuit-wheel E to make and break the circult twice, whereby armature S will be withdrawn and attracted twice, thus allowing arm R to perform four-tenths of a revolution, when said arm will be on plate g,'leading to the starboard mechanism of the boat. Its function is executed by an increase of the battery-current in the samemanncr as the stop and go mechanisms. The port mechanism is first brought in unison, and then executed in like manner. In like .manner, also, the fire mechanism is brought in unison with the main'wire and bat- 'tery. When the current from thirty-five cells flows through the fire mechanism it intensifies said mechanism only to that degree which would explode the fuse by the boat striking some obstacle which drives in a firing-pin and cuts out resistance-coils, as shown in patents to J. L. Lay. This is what is termed firing by contact. When, howei'er, a currentofsixty cells is thrown in, which is accomplished-by holding down button N and drawing switch 0 from label Fire to that of At will, in the manner heretolbre'statcd, thefuso is instantly exploded by thestron g current passingthrough the resistance coils.

' The transmitting apparatus is preferably inclosed within a wooden' box and placed in the boat, so that it may be easily taken out and replaced. l

The coustructionand arrangement of the stop, go, port, starboard, tire, and unison key X areshowu by Figs. 1 2, and 13. Z represents aring, provided with a spring-2, having its other end fixed to astationary-part, and it has a constant tendency to draw said ring in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 2, which ring is mounted loosely for that purpose. This oscillatory movement of. ring ZLis. limited by pin 0',

extending within notch z of the ring. Opposite the lowcr end, 2, of each of the keys are The projections z carryeach an inclined face, z adapted to engage the sides of the notches z and force ring Z in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow, Fig. 2. Ilr'Fig. 2, which is a bottom View of the ring Z, the stop-button is making the train @11' gami- 1% 6? mm, m b 29%;?? as befm'e explainsd. 3kg @mmtim is semmai fly pressing dawn-mpmcn may i men 2&4} ting go at it, 231%, after swasfiaa fmmed 12m r aveiuiianggwr mum ibaicthe new}; iiywheiz it has A: the, smmmm m reache we emre wadisg amp-1 0nd time muihas Sfifiizfi iaskeih mg 425 mm 1% has .1 2% heramiwea My eviw is 'pecmiizwfiy adaptmi imam in torpaxia-buam, sss Ezy my sin-mg maz'mnt K kesp taa escapement lacked whiie' acmazing me unison-stop, am with the weak curmm l air amte we @scapemem when/gm unison-amp is 211mm: (mm was securing tiw escagmmmat against accideaxtal aiispiacemmzi;

Eaviugdescribad my im asiiiemwha .i'ciaim, M263 dasim to secure 0 Laettem Pmem a? the United mm, is

LA @nwent-fiirzcier 29mm wiiiai-n Ear peflo-boat or 0851121 desirabie point, censisting at a clock mechanism carrying a switch acme, Med by the armature of an slectro-magnez and, having a, switch-boardelectrically con- 3, figuring-driven switch wnsismag sf remlving zawiwh-zerm and mm is with wires Eeadaxpg thez'efwm. as fiaassibari, fits leaking names for imhizzag said switch at the maizwupeim am} the escawemant m equimieaa b and paw-g3 wuaec ted wi'fia mid swim: mm 0021. mam my a apamiw fiamagi: am eleetm imagnafiie m m am is! cdmbinatian Wham;

mm m to bring it to the nuison-stop'by means mi a. emqeut operating thmugh a singie wire, as et form;

5!. The eembimtion, with a spring-driven switch, of two or more sham-magnets of diffemnfi power, but, counectd to th same wire,

' whereby :heswitchmay be cuntrg qiled by throw iug mot-s or less eleatrical elements into tbs eipcait thmugh the simzle wire, subatantially 2m Geacwibed.-

Cih-e :mmbamion of the spring-driven by ma imserwm of 15mm mm; 11m aiugia escapemen:

switch, as R, and its connections,'the unisonstop controlled bya current of a given power, the escapemen't and connections controlled by a current, of different power, a single wire lead-. 5 in g to both,and a battery constructed to throw ing ring, as described, a series of buttons or operating-keys haying projections designed to arrest the revolving needle of aspring-driven or equivalent train of gears at the desired points, for the purpose described, said projections being so constructed and arranged that the pressing'down of one button and its projection will cause any one previously pressed down to be released.

10. The combination, with anotched oscillating ring and a series of buttons or operating-keys, substantially as described, of a unison-key which, when operated, releases all buttons or keys held down and allows the needle to freely revolve, for the purpose substantially as set forth. 7 4 I 11. The herein=described method of propelling,steering, and firing a. torpedo-boatfrom any suitable directing-point through an electrical wire connection, consisting, first, in the employment of a comparatively'feebie normal 3 current suificient only to throw into electrical connection any one of the several operative circuits, as described; secondly, in the employment of atstronger current of sufiicient intensity to'efl'ect the desired movement of the boat through the circuit previously placed in electrical connection; thirdly, in transferring the current to the firing-circuit, whereby the torpedo will be fired by contact with anobstruction.

a 12. The herein-described method of propeli ling, steering, and firing a torpedoboat from any suitable directing-point through an elcctrical wire connection, consisting first, in the employment of a comparatively feeble normal current sufficient only to throw into electrical connection any one of the several operative circuits,as described; secondly, in the employment of a stronger current of suflic'ient inteir sity to effect the desired movement of the boat through the circuit previously placed in-electrical connection; thirdly, in transferring the current to the firing-circuit; and, fourthly, in sending a still stronger current, whereby the torpedo will be instantaneously exploded,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as mytown I have hereto aflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses:

THOMAS MCMANUS, THOMAS B. CHAPMAN.

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