USRE10527E - Submarine torpedo - Google Patents

Description

' 3 Sheets-Sheet I. J.W. GRAYDON.

Assignor, by mesne assignments, to T COAST AND HARBOR DEFENCE COMPANY.

H SUBMARINE TORPEDO. k No. 10,527. Reissued Sept. 23, 1884.

272 2/13 7 Zjfii.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. W. GRAYDON. Assignor, by mesne assignmnts, to THE COAST AND HARBOR DEFENCE COMPANY. SUBMARINE TORPEDO.

Rei'ssued Sept. 23, 1884.

* Wfiw w www 3 Sheets-Sheet 3,

J. W. GRAYDON. Assignor; by mesne assignments, to THE COAST ANuHARBoR DEFENCE COMPANY. SUBMARINB TORPBDO. v No. 10,527. Reissued Sept. 23, 1884.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEO JAMES I. GRAYDON, OF NEWVPORT, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOB, BY MESNE 'ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE COAST AND HARBOR DEFENCE COMPANY, OF

JElV YORK.

SUBMARYINE TORPEDO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Reissued Letters Patent No. 10,527, dated September 23, 1884.

Original No.2l0,950, dated January 23,1833. Application for reissue [iled April 25, 1584.

Toall whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J AMES'VV'. GRAYDON, of Newport, in the county of Newport and the State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Movable Torpedoes; andI do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which like parts are represented by like letters.

My invention relates to the defensive and offensive use of torpedoes on coasts and'in harbors. The objects of my'invention are to-provide an apparatus for sending out torpedoes under the surface of the water to attack and destroy hostile fleets upon approach to the coast or entrances to harbors.

The objects of my inventionarc, further, to retain complete control of the torpedoes, to advance or withdraw them at pleasure, in order to allow our own or friendly vessels to approach, to keep them moving or stationary, to intercept hostile fleets and to sur round and destroy them, to explode the tor pedoes at will, or upon contact, individually or in groups,or the whole simultaneouslyiu fact, the object of my invention is to maneuver fleets of torpedoes underneath the surface of the water. V

My invention consists of an apparatus of propelling-lines, wire rope preferably extending from shore to suitable sunken moorings 'in coast defense, situated at proper distances from the coast, having attached to them suitable leading blocks or pulleys, through which the propelling-lines are',rove and returned to the shore where the base of operations is situated. To these propelling-lines are attached at suitable distances small leading-lines secured to the torpedoes which float near the surface of the water. These small leading-linesare provided with suitable clam ps for attaching and detaching to and from -the propelling-lines as the latter go out or return to the base of operations.

It further consists of a suitable motive power, preferably steam, situated at the base of operations under bomb proof, by means of which the propelling-lines are made to move &

' trical fuses suitably situated therein.

It further consists of attaching the pulleys through which. the propelling lines pass .to

other lines, so that the position of the pulleys may be changed, and greater facility given to the use, of the torpedoes attached to the-propelling-lines.

Having set forth the objects and purposes of my invention, I will proceed to fully describe its operations, having reference to the accompanying drawings, iu which- Figure 1 is a .ertical erosssection of the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay, showing the capes on the right and left, the water-lines V WV, the bottom line, D D, together with the apparatus, consisting of the single propellingline A A, theleading-lines VV, the torpedoes T T, and the bases of operation B B at the, capes the small steam-engines M M furnishing the motive power under bomb-proof P I. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section of the entrance to Mobile Bay, showing Fort Morgan on the right and the shore-line on the left, the

water-line \V'VV, the bottom line, D D, to-

gether with the apparatus consisting of the double propelling line A A, which crosses from Fort Morgan to the opposite shore, reeving around a drum or leading-block, X, and then returning to the base of operations in the fort to the small steam-engine M, the leadinglines V V, and the torpedoes T T.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section of a wide entrance to aharbor, showing the bases of operation B B, the water-line W W, the bottom line, D D, together with the apparatus consisting of the sunken moorings L, the double propelling-lines A A A A, the leading-lines V V, the torpedoesT T, and the steam-engines M 'M, situated at thebase of operations B B. p I

Fig. '4 is a vertical vseetion'at right angles to the coast-line at San Francisco, California, 5 showing the coastline on the right, the sunk en moorings L, the double propelling-line A A, the leadinglines V V, the torpedoes T T, and the steam-engine, M, situated at the base of operations B.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section or plan of the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay, showing the capes on the right and left, the two single propellihglines A A A A, withdetachable spanninglines S S S S, suitably buoyant to lift clear I 5 of the bottom, and by which the torpedoes T T T T are attached to the leading-lines, as in the other figures, thus with two propellinglines enabling the operators to control a large expanse of water. Fig. dis a plan or top View of the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay, showing the capes on the'ri'ghtand left, together with the positions of a number of sunken moorings L L in the center, which :5 break joints with each other, the torpedoes T T, a hostile fleet, O O, entering, which is being surrounded by torpedoes preparatory to its de struction, the bases of operations B B, with the propelling-lines A A A A leading to the steam-engines M M.

Fig. 7 is a Vertical 'section'showing posi- .Ttions of sunkennroorings L L, waterline-WV W, the'bottom line, D D, reeving-lines R R R,

attached to buoys H H.

of operations, showing the water-line W W, the bottom line, D D, the channel C C, through which the propelling-line A A leads to the steamengine M, the torpedoes T T T, thelead- 0' ing-lines V V, and the position Y, where the leading-lines areattached and detached.

Fig. 9 is a vertical section showing the water-line W V, the bottom line, D D, the propelling-line A A, made'buoyant bythe buoys 5 K K, the leading-lines V V, also made buoyant by thesniall buoys IC-K, together with the small torpedoes T T above and attached to the larger ones T T, which can be used for the destruction of boats sent in. by the enemy to cut the lines. 1

Fig.10 is a vertical crosssection of an enn trance to a harbor, showing water-line W the bottom line, D D, the propellingdine A A, the leading-lines V V, the torpedoes T T, depressed by the action of a current, the dotted line A A showing position of propellingline when raised by tightening it by the steamengine, and the position of the torpedoes T T after the propelling-line has been raised.

Fig-11 is a top view or plan of a coast-line,

v D D, with the adjacent water, showing the sunken moorings L L, through which leads the mooring-line Q, returning to the base of operations. To this mooring-line are attached C5 the blocks or pulleys, through which lead the propelling-lines A A A. By hauling on the propelling-lines leading tosition of each torpedo, they are enabled to de- Fig. 8 is a vertical section through the base.

I" n Y D e I mooring-line on one slde and slackmg the as a railroad, together with rollersE E, leading-lines V V, and propellingline A.

The operat-i on of my invention is as follows:

In time of peace the sunken moorings are put in proper positions, withreeving-lines rove paratus, with the torpedoes, is placed in bomb: proofs at the bases of -operations, ready for ac tion. In time of war the propelling-linesare rove off and gotten into position. 7 The appara'tus, is then in a condition to be operated. Upon the approach of the enemys vessels the torpedoes are attached as the lines are run out .by the engines, inv suflicient numbers and upon .as many propelling-lines as may be nec essary to defend the coast-line or harbor. ter the necessary number are attached to the lines, the torpedoes are then maneuvered in fleets against the enemy, attacking him assoon as in range of the lines, surrounding and destroying his vessels, and as the apparatus, with the torpedoes, is completely concealed from view of the enen1y,"and yet the operators have full; knowledge always of the-exact p0.-

stroy the enemy'at p easure. It will there- 8 and attached to buoys, as in Fig. 7. The air fore be seen that the. torpedoes can be assembledat any given position for a strong attack, can be deployed to intercept an enemy, or the torpedoes withdrawn to allow friendly vessels to approach, and as torpedoes are exploded new ones can be sent out to replace them at .will. In fact, with ample stean1-power the torpedoes can be handled with the same precision that a body of troops'are maneuvered,

and with absolute destructive powers. The drums on the steam-engines being reversible, the propelling-lines can be moved backward and forward, the adjacent lines moving in opposite directions, as indicated in Fig. (No. 1 and 2 lines.) The torpedoes are thus constantly changing positions, and the enemy s vessels are sure of destruction upon approach. Upon the approach of friendly vessels the torpedoes arc suificiently run in to enable them to pass in unharmed; and if chased by the enemy he can be intercepted, surrounded, and destroyed, as shown in Fig.

By attaching large submarine mines to the propelling-lines you can transport them un-v der the enemys vessels within range, and the positions of the mines will be determined accurately by the vmarks on the propelling-lines.

The operation of thespanning-lines S S S S.

in Fig. 5 is clearly indicated by the drawings.

,In running the torpedoes n for examination or for other purposes the torpedoes are detached from the propelling lines by unc'lanip ing the leading-lines atthe position Y, Fig. 8.

, Thetorpedoes are then 'cared for by hand, and can be taken into the interior of ,the base of operations through a separate channel, if neeessary.

To provide for the actions of currents, and to overcome the tendency. of a strong curren'tto sink the torpedoes too far belowthe surface of been depressed by the action of the current, and if, for any other purpose, it is'desirable to raise the torpedoes nearer to the surface of the water, it can be done in the same way, and in this connection the buoys K K on the propelling-lines, Fig. 9, are made to assist the engines. I

' I propose to'make the torpedoes float just awash, and the leading-lines cut short for the depth of water which the torpedo'is intended .to operate in. Then the weight of the lines willsink thetorpedoesto the depth required;

or the torpedoes can be made to float at agiven depth of water and the leading-lines entirely. .1buoyant, as represented in Fig. 9, K K. The permanent running-lines H H, Fig. 12,

may be used'as a railroad on which the leading-lines V V are run, having two small wheels or rollers, E Eone above and the other below l the permanent linesHH-and to these rollers are attached light propellingdines, and by this modification mines and torpedoes can be run out in any number desired. a

; Where it is necessary to sweep a large expause of water with torpedoes, two or more lines may be attached to permanent mooringlines Q Q, Fig: l1,which leadthrough sunken moorings L L, and the direction to which the propelling-lines A A lead may be changed by ,themovemerit of the'mooring-lin'e QQ, Fig. 11.

Letters Patent, is-- I The combination of the operating machinery at the base of operations with two or more moorings, L L, -in angular relation therewith, and the mooring-line Q, extendingfrom the base of operations to and about the moorings and back to thebase of operations, one or more pulleys attached to the mo'oringline, and a propelling-line passingfrom the base of operations through one or more of the pulleys, doubling and returning to the base of operations, the propelling-line having attached leadi;ng-lines and torpedoes, substantially as speci- 'fied and set forth. p JAMES W. GRAYDON. VVit'nesses:

, \PHILIP F. LARNER, HOWELL BARTLE.

- What I claim as new, and desire to secure by

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