Instructions for the Management of Harvey's Sea TorpedoHarvey, Frederick
History
Instructions for the Management of Harvey's Sea Torpedo
Harvey, Frederick
Torpedoes
The electrical arrangement has its own exploding bolt, which differs
from the other only below the safety key, which key is fitted and worked
in the same manner as the mechanical one, in order that the electrical
arrangement might not be disturbed by an accidental blow when launching.
The insulated conducting wire is carried along the whole length of
the tow-rope in the centre, forming a core. The tow-rope, as in the
mechanical one, is bent on to the hemp buoy-rope by a sheet bend, the
strands at the end are then unlaid, sufficiently so to form a connection
between the insulated wire in the tow-rope and that projecting from
the centre hole of the torpedo; this connection can be best made with
McEvoy’s patent jointer. The other end of the tow-rope on the barrel of
the brake passes through the hollow spindle of the brake at one extremity
and is connected with the constant battery, which must be suitable for
heating platinum at the distance of 100 fathoms, the return circuit being
by the water. The levers act in the same manner as in the mechanical one,
forcing down the bolt and thereby closing the circuit through the fuze
and exploding the torpedo.
This system of exploding the torpedo may be preferred in rivers or
shallow water, where it would be considered dangerous to leave a
mechanical torpedo at the bottom; but it cannot be reckoned upon with
the same certainty as the mechanical one. It is necessarily more costly,
complicated, and delicate; the two latter conditions rendering it
unsuited for the rough work it will have to encounter.
The torpedo being provided with this centre tube in addition to the
usual priming case, admits of its being used upon an emergency, special
ones not being at hand, for various other purposes, _viz._ clearing
away obstructions; as land torpedoes; as stationary torpedoes, provided
they are not to remain a very long time in the water. In these cases
the ordinary insulated wire and jointers are all that is required. If
required to be fired at will, it will be only necessary to force down the
bolt sufficiently to close the circuit through the fuze and then secure
it. If to be self-acting, leave the bolt up in its position, as when
working at sea, to be acted upon by pressure.
DESCRIPTION OF CAPT. C. A. MCEVOY’S CIRCUIT-CLOSING ARRANGEMENT FOR
HARVEY’S SEA TORPEDO.
[Illustration: _Fig: 1._ _Fig: 2._
London: E. & F. N. Spon, 48, Charing Cross.
Kell Bros. Lithrs.
FIG. 1.—An exterior tube, _a a_; screw-head, [= _a_]; interior tube,
_b_; intermediate tube, _d_; firing bolt, _e_; spindle, _f_; long brass
spiral spring, _g_; short spiral spring, _h_; socket for spindle, _i i_;
insulated wire from battery, _k k_; insulated terminal, _l_; electric
fuze, _m_; priming space, _n n_; charging hole, _o_; insulated bridge,
_p_; metal bridge, _u_.]
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