Videos tagged with 1895 Patent

This video showcases a rare 128-year-old gyroscopic guidance unit from an 1895 Ludwig Obry patent, famously used in Whitehead torpedoes. The device, dubbed "The Devil's Device," was crucial for making torpedoes accurate by ensuring they traveled straight towards their target, revolutionizing naval warfare. The explanation details how the mainspring, wound by a cocking key, stores energy that spins a flywheel to an impressive 20,000 RPM. This kinetic energy, leveraging Newton's first law of motion, counteracted any forces that would cause the torpedo to veer off course. The video highlights the historical significance of this technological marvel, born from the industrial revolution, and its impact on military history.