GB119532A - Improvements in Submersible Vessels. - Google Patents

Abstract

119,532. Bartholomew, G. A. Oct. 4, 1917. Submarine vessels. - A submersible vessel adapted for use as a salvage vessel, as a submarine, or as an armoured submersible or floating battery has a central shaft leading to the operating compartments surrounded by a number of ballast tanks permanently open to the sea, and is provided with a number of screw propellers. In the form shown in Fig. 2, the upper end of the vessel is attached by slidably mounted pivots to a surface vessel, and the central tube C is provided with an elevator C' and is surrounded by a series of superposed ballast compartments A open to the sea at B. The central tube may have double walls divided into sections corresponding to the number of compartments, each compartment being open to its own section of the double wall. The sections may be connected to each other and to the central tube through pipes controlled by three-way valves. A ladder may be formed in the tube by rivets running from side to side. Compressed air is supplied to these compartments to empty them through a pipe I and valves J<1>. The operating compartments D are provided with windows G and the lower compartment has motors for driving propellers K. An external weight L can be detached in emergencies. In a modification, the surface vessel is dispensed with and an observation head is fitted to the vessel. In the form shown in Fig. 9, the ballast compartments A are arranged between the crew's compartment N and an observation and fighting head A<3>. The lower compartments are cruciform in section, external air or fuel tanks being arranged between the arms. The compartment N' contains 24 torpedo tubes sighted by means of periscopes P', the compartments N<2>, N<3> are for stores, while the compartment P contains machinery for driving sixteen propellers Y protected by a guard X. A ballast compartment Z has an inclined bottom and movable sides to allow the contained sand or gravel to be discharged. In a further modification, particularly adapted for salvage work, the engine room is arranged immediately beneath the ballast compartments and the lower cruciform compartments are fitted with salvage apparatus and are staggered to allow windows to be fitted in the floor of the upper compartment.