Our adjoining engravings illustrate the system of J. S. Williams, for
working electrical torpedoes, launches, and torpedo boats, and the
appliances be proposes for their equipment and his method of utilizing
a system of electrical appliances for the defense of sea-ports,
harbors, coast, and coaling stations. We use Mr. Williams' own words
in describing this invention. Fig. 1 illustrates men-of-war or vessels
attempting to force their way into a harbor defended by such means.
The movable and controllable torpedoes are indicated by letters of
reference, A, connected through the medium of paying-out electrical
cables, G, with the base of operations upon the shore at C, and the
launches and floating torpedo batteries or vessels, D. Several lines of
torpedo defense or attack are shown, and illustrate the hostile vessels
coming within the destructive radius of the movable and controllable
torpedoes, which radius is limited only by the length of the paying-out
cable, which length can be 1½ miles (more or less). These means secure
an effective weapon at all times under command from the base of
operations over a radius of 1½ miles, as against a radius of 50 ft.,
which is the estimated effective range of destruction for fixed mines
containing an equal explosive charge.
The movable torpedoes operated from the shore can be supplied with
electric power from the main circuits extending along the coast from
the developing source, at any distance from the electric power station
or base from which the movable torpedoes are operated or supplied. Any
natural force, fuel, or other means can be employed for the development
of the electric force, which can be transmitted through the main
circuits with high tension or pressure to the power stations along
the coast, or to the floating magazines, where electric accumulators
are placed to hold a reserve of energy. The accumulators at such
stations can be compounded so as to be at all times ready for supplying
power, and being charged, except when the limit of storage is reached.
Electric cut-offs are provided in the loop or derived circuits from the
main to cut the magazines out of the circuit when such predetermined
limit of energy is in reserve, and means are employed to prevent the
backward flow of the current toward the source from the power stations
supplied from the main or other circuit. Means are also employed to
automatically regulate and prevent any excess of current passing
through the circuit in which the accumulators are included. The
discharging circuits from the reserve magazines can be connected at
the will of an operator with an electric circuit, including electric
magazines, forming part of the equipment of the launches, vessels,
or torpedoes, so as to supply electric power thereto. This can be
accomplished at the wharves or through the medium of a cable buoyed
along the coast, so as to obviate the necessity of the launches or
vessels returning or running into harbor. Signaling devices can extend
from such buoy to the operator along the shore, who will close the
circuit from the reserve or main supply circuit. Fig. 2 illustrates a
sectional elevation of an electrical torpedo provided with mechanism
at the stern for operating the rudder electrically, and the force is
regulated by an automatic or manually operative variable resistance
interposed in the electrical circuit at the switch board of the cable.
A circuit reverser and variable resistance are arranged upon the switch
board, so that the operator at the base can change the direction of
the current, and regulate the force applied through the medium of the
electrical cable in such a manner as to adjust the rudder to port or
starboard, and, if so arranged, to maintain it at any angle by varying
the resistance in the circuit. The rudder mechanism can be operated
by the electric energy stored on board the torpedo through the medium
of an electric circuit thereto from the electric accumulator provided
with a circuit closer and variable resistance worked by the force
passed through the paying-out cable. The force passing there through is
regulated by a pressure regulator and controlled by a circuit reverser
and variable resistance upon the keyboard. Means are also employed
for indicating to the operator the position of the rudder at any
moment, and such position will correspond to some defined resistance
introduced at any given moment in the circuit. The mechanism combined
with the rudder can consist of an arrangement of compound solenoids,
the armatures of which are connected to a lever on the rudder head, or
a small electric motor can be employed for operating worm gearing in,
or combined with, the rudder head. The rudder is brought back to the
midship or normal position by springs or counterbalance weights.
[Illustration: FIG. 1
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