WILLIAMS' SYSTEM OF COAST DEFENSE BY ELECTRICAL TORPEDOES.
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.
WILLIAMS' SYSTEM OF COAST DEFENSE BY ELECTRICAL TORPEDOES.
The motor of the torpedo, as illustrated, is composed of a number of disk-shaped armatures fastened on the shaft, combined with the screw propeller; the field magnets, being also of disk form, are arranged so that the armatures revolve within close proximity, but not touching the pole surfaces. This enables an exceedingly high efficiency and great power to be realized from a motor of light weight. This construction of motor is specially suitable for use in the equipment of torpedoes and launches, and permits an increase of the power of the motor in either of two directions, i. e., either by increasing the number of disks of a given diameter upon the shaft, or by increasing the diameter of the disks, both of these methods giving increased power in direct ratio to the increase of size. The accumulator or secondary battery, c, is especially designed to store the energy in a small space, and with light weight, and so as to command an amount of energy representing the power necessary for a speed of 25 miles an hour or more. In the electrical circuit, between the motor and accumulator, variable resistances and other governing devices are interposed, by which the current passing to the motor is regulated automatically in accordance with the speed of the motor, or with the electric pressure in the circuit from the accumulator. A circuit closer or variable resistance operating in the circuit is connected by the cable with a variable resistance at the switch board, and operated by the current controlled thereby. The force to the motor can be regulated, controlled, or stopped at the will of the manipulator at the switch board placed at the point from which the torpedo is dispatched. Signaling devices or guide rods, O, for indicating the position and direction of movement of the torpedo to the operator can be arranged to be raised and lowered, through the medium of electrical appliances, P, at will, by a current sent through the paying-out cable from the keyboard at the base of operations. Fixed means or sight rods can be used, and hooded incandescent lamps, O2, can be carried by the signal or sight rods, by which means at night or in the day the operator will be enabled to direct the torpedo to the object of attack in spite of adverse or cross currents, or a change in the position of the vessel under attack.
The body of the torpedo containing the machinery and explosive can be arranged to be any desired depth below the surface of the water, and be supported by a buoy as a shield, or be covered by a protection against shot, the displacement of the torpedo being regulated in accordance with the means employed for maintaining it the desired distance below the surface. The torpedo can be ballasted and provided with fins to offer the necessary resistance to the action of the propelling machinery. The electrical paying-out cable, G, is shown in a coil in proximity to the chamber at the bow, which is designed to carry the explosive charge in a fixed or detachable magazine, arranged when detachable to drop a determined distance, and to be fired electrically by the operator or automatically.
Fig. 6 illustrates an apparatus in which a dynamo is operated by a rotary engine having a throttling device controlled electrically by the current passing through the discharging circuit of the generator; the circuit of the generator is connected with the paying-out cable of the torpedo, through the medium of the key board, in which a variable resistance and regulating devices are employed for controlling the operation of the torpedo. Electric magazines are shown arranged to operate in the discharging circuit of the generator, and to be connected with the appliances forming part of the equipment of the torpedo through the medium of the paying-out cable, in conjunction with which is arranged the circuit-closing devices of the switch board under the control of the operator at the stations. Automatic electric pressure regulators are used in the circuit from the source, so as to reduce or regulate the pressure to some predetermined limit. The circuit controllers and manually operative variable resistances upon the switch or keyboard can have indicators connected with them. Under such conditions, with the circuits and appliances upon the torpedo constructed to a known standard, the control of such torpedo in all its movements and operations is easy and certain. Such appliances are especially designed for use upon men-of-war or steam or electric launches when the torpedo vessels are not equipped with electrical magazines. Fig. 5 illustrates a floating fort or battery equipped with machinery, electrical apparatus, and torpedoes, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 6. The floating fort or battery equipped with electrical or other machinery for propelling can be anchored in suitable positions, or moved from place to place to be in torpedo range of a fleet, or in a suitable position for supplying torpedo launches with torpedoes, and electric or other means of power.
Fig. 3 illustrates a steam launch, and Fig. 4 an electric launch fitted with electrical appliances and compartments containing a means for carrying and discharging electrical torpedoes. By the employment of such means, and a well-organized system of coast defense, it will be practically impossible for hostile vessels to land troops, or to inflict a serious damage upon shipping or seaport towns. Any extent of coast or estuary can be thoroughly protected by launches, light vessels, and appliances operated from fixed electrical stations, supplied with power and means of operation from any point, however distant. For carrying such a system into practical operation, the cost will, it is claimed, be but a tithe of what would be required for placing an inefficient system of fixed mines and forts, or for building men-of-war for coast defense, as men-of-war are practically defenseless against a greater number of high-speed launches equipped with movable and controllable torpedoes, the reasons for which are obvious, as a sufficient number of such launches would cover a greater distinctive range than the vessel which depended upon the range of its guns, or those combined with uncontrollable torpedoes.