US1059766A - Torpedo. - Google Patents

Description

L. S. ROSS.

TORPEDO.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 12, 1912, 1,059,766. Patented Apr. 22, 1913.

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fronts' s. Ross, or nnwronvrrinn', MASSACHUSETTS.

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inenten.

haract parts. p This invention relates to torpedoes, and

more pi-irticularly to that class thereof #ated to be secured upon a rail and to'be exploded .by the wheels of a train. l'. Y i

ln order that the principle of the invention may be readily understood, l have disclosed a singleembodiment thereof in the accompanying drawing, wherein- Fieure. l 1sr a' )lan vievv of the blankV Ktvheref.rom the torpedo embodying my in- A vention preferably made; lig. 2 is a plan vievv' the complete torpedm'the torpedo securing means being partially broken away glig. Bis an underneath plan vievv thereof; Fig. is an end elevationv thereof; Fig, -is a long?.tndinalY vertical l central section thereof 6 is a vienY partially in plan nd part, Llly in longitudinal transverse section of a' sliglitlyumodilied form of my invention is an end elevation thereof; Fig. S is a. longitudinalcent-ral vertical sectioirthereofgigs. 9 and l0 are respectively an edgofvievv and a side elevation of the piece constitutngv the end Walls of the torpedo; Fig. l1 is a view partially in plan and partially-in longitudinal transverse section of a still further form of the invent-ion; Fig. 12 is an underneath plan thereof; Fig. 18 is an lend elevation thereof; Fig. 1st is a longi tndinal'vertical central section thereof; and

' Fig. is a 'view similar to Fig. S but representing the reverse position of the end Walls of the torpedo.

An important obj ect of my invention is to provide al railway torpedo of simple and cheap butk effective construction which may be readily secured upon the rail and which shall be of' non-dying? construction, thus eliminating all danger.

ln accordance with the preferred form of my invention. l form the torpedo casing of a single piece of material, such as hard fiber or toughpaper.

ln Fig. .1, I have shown the blank from which preferably the torpedo is formed.

Specicationof Letters Patent.

i Therein it is represented as composed of the -euterpbottom portion l, the top port-ion 2, the inner bottom portion 3 and the end portions 4.-, .3. The shape of ,these portions of the single integral blank may be altered Within the scope of my invention. Preferrectangular, vthe top portion '2 being preferably of slightly greater width than the bottom portions l and 3 for the 'etl'ective recep tion and' securing-in position of the end portions 4, 5, here shovvn as having tlanges' notched ati '7 7 to permit the conformation of the flanges to the top 2; Profe ably the blanlr is transversely crimped along the lines 8-S ofits top, so as to provide the sloping ,sides 9 9, thus giving the completed torpedo a trapezoid form. if desired, however, the torpedo may be'arc-shaped in end elevation. Preferably the outer bottom portion l is also crimped along the lines 10, 10 to provide therebetween a shallow groove for the reception'of the securing strap 11, which may be of any suitable character,

strip adapted to extendvtransversely of the rail and to have its ends engage beneath the upper flanges thereof.4 Herein I have represented the securing means il as extending in such a direction that the end Walls L 5 are the rail, but. if desired the securing means may extend yin a direction at right angles to that shown, in vvhiclicase the end walls 4:, 5 will extend transversely of the rail. Preferably the securing strip llA is positioned between the inner and outer bottoni portions l, 2, as most clearly represented in F ig. 5. The explosive composition received Within the casing is ofany suitable character, such, 'for example, -as chlorate of potash, sulfur the ingredients.v The blank of the casing is folded into the form described, ithe detonat# ing composition being placed therein at a suitable step in the folding of the blank, and 'thereupon the blank is secured in folded position. by a suitable cement, 'glue or other adhesive, which is preferably'applied to the adjacent faces of the'inner, and outer bot-- toms l, 2 and the flanges of the end Walls 4,

sand or similar, material upon the outer face rammed apnea, isis.- Application led January 12, 1912. Serial No. 670,739.A i

such, for example, as a lead or vspring steelI in substantial parallelism with the sides of and charcoal with or Without Va, gritty com-I position to secure the effective ignitionrof" 5. If desired,'I may provide a coating ofably, however, each of them is substantially l of the bottom 1 to assistin preventing dis- 110 placement of the torpedofrom the rail, and preferably the entire torpedo is Waterproofed, as by' dipping the same when coinpleted in paraifin or some other suitable substance.

In Fi 6 to 1() inclusive, I have shown a' slightly different form of my invention.

wherein the blank from Awhich the torpedo casing is formed is devoid of end-wallsv Preferably the lblank is composed of theportion's 1, 2, 3 represented in Fig. 41, and in addition I provide two separate end walls or pieces 12, 1 3, which are substantially the 'same in form as the walls 4, 5, excepting that 'they are provided with a. flange 13|' separate end pieces 12, 12 are secured inl place, as by coatingtheir flanges 13 with/a. suitable adhesive.

That foi-in of my invention shown Figs. 11 to 14: 'di'ersfrbm that shown in' l' Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive or that shown in Figs.

6 to 10 inclusive preferably only in that the securing band 18 extends outside of the portion 19 of the bottom through the greater portion of the length of the torpedo, and then passesA through slits formed in the bottom portions and in the flanges 2 0 of the end walls 21. In this manner, I not only more effectively secure the strip or band 19, butI more effectively secure the end walls 21 in position. Preferably, however, also employ some suitable adhesive to assist in securing the end walls 21 in position. "As above indicated, that form of my invention shown in Figs. 11 lto 14 may be employed either with separate end walls 12 or walls 4 5 integral -with the body of the blank.

That forni of my invention shown in Fig. 15 differs from that form shown in Fig. 8 only in that the end walls 22 are reversed in position, the anges 23 thereof extending inwardly instead' of outwardly, as 'replesented in Fig.l 8.

It will be observed that in eachof the forms of my invention herein shown, the end walls are of material 'preferably uniform with that constituting the body of the Casing of the torpedo. In other words, I do notprovid end plugs or Stoppers of cenientitious or 0 ther friable material, but instead provideihin end-walls which -when the torpedo is. exploded are simply. blownas units from thev torpedo, orjpossibl'y somewhat ruptured.l Owing to the fact that said end walls are composed of paper, hard fiber or-the 1 ike, no injury can be inflicted byl them, even though they are not disintegrat'ed by the force of the explosion. By providing the end walls of suitable fibrous material in sheet form, I not only cheapen the torpedo, but l'provide a .construction whereby :the torpedo casing may be assembled. V

' -It will 'be understood that in each of the forms of my invention, the securing means readily maybe of any suitable nature, and that it may extend either in the direction, shown or in a direction at right angles thereto,

and 'that the form or shape .of the -torpedo may be varied within the scope of my in -v ventionr j It is evident that in certain forms of my invention, theform of theV blank -may be 1 changed or modified, so as to present-va' double top and 4a single bottom ineinber, in which case the t\ vo.members of the top will be adhesively secureditogether. It will be obsei'yed that the blank is crimped along the linesvof `union of the top and bottom members, so that 'the blank may be readily By crimpv rolled or folded into posit-ion. ing the top member. .of the blank, I provide a torpedo hav-ingwell dened' sloping walls extending transversely ofthe rail and up which the wheel more effectively rides. While the two sloping portions of the top may be prolonged so as to meet at a sharp angle, I' preferably space them by a fiat portion as illustrated, thus securing a' more effective ignition of theA composition. The crimping ofthe blank along the lines of union of the bottom and top also serres to 'strengthen the torpedo at-thesepoints and to prevent premature vrupture there-at as is likely to occur when the 'torpedo is .of arcshaped forni in cross section. It is evident that the blank may be stamped into the shape shown in Fig'. .1 at one operation, thus cheapenin'g the cost of the torpedo and-that by providing the described sheet like end Walls, I also very considerably enlargethe capacity of the torpedo.

It isevident that the -end walls if flanged need not in all cases be notched, but that they may be fashioned in any suitable manner. Preferably the said end walls are of the same material as the body. and in any event are of comparatively thin sheet like material.

`The securing strips of suitable charac- 4ter may "be fastened to the torpedo body in any suitable manner otherwise than as shown, as, for example. by positioning them transversely of the body upon the exterior of the bottom wall and thon cen'ienting thereagainst and onto the bottoni Wall an additional .strip ofipapei', hard 122.5"

fiber or other material, preferably "similarito thatjof which the torpedobody is formed.

Each end. wall ofthe torpedo casing constitutes a rigid truss', so that the casingeffec tively resists the very considerable pressure to -which the torpedo is necessarily subject-I odin' storage or transportation. This truss like action of the ends is present to an even greater degree Awhenthe ends are secured by sealing. Furthermore each of the 'ends is preferably provided with a lip orflange 6 jwhichf thus provides a pressure resista-ntsealing lip. Moreover, the width of each lip is suiicient to prevent, when the lip is sealed in position, the entrance of moisture int'o the casing. It will be observed that each end 'extends from the bottom member of the casingina direction at right angles thereto and that when-sealed to the top member of the casing the ends .are normal to both the top and bottom.. lThus the truss like action is preserved. I have so proportioned theI length 'of the torpedo casing to the width thereof that. the truss like -action of the sealed ends is distributed and maintained -throughout the area ofthe casing, so that the whole casing is substantially rigid and sult by making the bottom mernberv 3 ofthe In other mitted` from the cnds vto the mid-length.

'effectively resists the pressure to which they are necessarily subyected l1n transportatlon or In' storage. Preferably I. secure thls rev portions of ,thecasingf :The truss like action.

of the ends is'of greatimportance.

The .torpedo'casing is filledwith the deton'ating material in the following-manner:

. One of the ends 4 or 5 is sealed. in position as described, and then the detonatingma-te- Arial'fis packed into the casing throughthe opposite open end. To effectively pack a torpedo in this manner, it is essential that the 4closed end be secured strongly enoughv to resist the packing pressure. After the detonating material has been packed into the torpedo,'the opposite end is sealed to the top and arigid structure is secured. So rigidis the torpedo because of the employment of the truss ends that AI am enabled to employ Va detonating composition in a loose or powdered form instead ofmolding it, as, has

heretofore been largelypractised. This effects a saving in the manufacture 'of the torpedo, The powdered form of the detonating composition is, however, exceedingly sensitive to friction, and were not the sealed casing rigid throughout its entire extent, `the pressure to which the torpedo casings are subjected when theYT are packed for storage or `transportation would explode them or rende them gravely liable to such explo- Sion... c

.I .am the first so far as I am aware so to proportion the dimensions of a railway torpedo co-mposed of a single piece that a rigid structure is secured through theaction of truss 4Ilike ends. ft will furthermoreV be observed that each of fthe ends is unitary and ,nninterrupted, thus securing the maximum -eiiect of the truss action of the'ends'. It will furthermore be observed that the sealing :edge of each end is ofrelatively short extent in the preferred embodiment of the invention, namely, that wherein the edges are integral with the bottom, thus avoiding a joint at the bottom.

Owing to the rigid nature of the torthe-,loaded torpedoes with extreme care for storage or transportation, because Vthey are:

not. liable to explode except when subject- A oneepiece railway or'like torpedoiof, 'to'ugh, stiff librous, non-flying material comprising a 'folded,fsheetlike, unitary casing of non-nioldedform consisting cfa bottom member and a top-member and upright end walls f constituting 4rigid transverse trusses extending atright angles from one of said members and engaging the inner face of and sealed' to the other member, the

length of the. folded casing being so proportionedto the length of the truss `ends that the 'truss support of the ends is distributed and maintained throughout the area of the casing, and the latter when sealed is substantially rigid and non-collapsible under pressure incident to packing and storage; a suitable detonating composition within said casing and torpedo positioning means. `2. A one-piece railway or like torpedo of tough, stili' fibrous, non-flying material comprising a folded, sheet-like, unitary casing of non-molded form consisting of a substantially square bottom member, an oblong top member and upright end walls constitn ting rigid` transverse trusses extending unitarily at lright angles from one of Said members and engaging the inner face of and scaled to the other member. the sealed ras; ing being substantially square in longitudinal cross section. whereby the truss supportof the ends is distributori and maintained throughout the area of the casing and whereby the zarter when sealed is substantially rigid and non-collapsible under pres- Ifao sure incident to package and storage', a suit- 'vable detonating composition within said ,upi'ight end Walls constituting transverse,

rigid trusses extending at right angles from one of said members, each of said ends have, ing a. pressure resistant lip or flange to u engagethe inner face of and secured to the opposite member, said ends being of v tioned to thelength of the truss ends that i' vtough, fibrous, non-dying material, the

length of the folded casing being so proporthe truss support ofthe' ,ends is distributed .and maintained throughout the area of the casing, and the latter when 'secured isA substantially rigid land non-,collapsible under pressure' incident to packing and' storage;

a suitable detonating4 'composition Within said casingvand torpedo securing means.

' +L.' AL one-piece railway or like torpedo of 1 tought, stiff fibrous, non-dying material comprising a folded, sheet-like, unitary oas- -ing of non-molded form Consisting of a' bottom member, a top member and upright end Walls integrally extending from the bot- .tom `member at right angles thereto andv having at their upperedges pressure resist.- ant sealing lips to engage the inner face of said top member; said ends constituting rigidtransverse trusses and the length of the' folded casing being'so 'proportioned to the'l length of the said truss ends that the truss .support of said 'ends is distributed and ymaintained throughout the area of the casing, andthe latter -When secured is substantially rigid and non-collapsible under.

pressureJ incidentl to packing and storage; a suitable detonatingv composition Within said casing, and torpedo positioning means.

5. A one-piece railway or like torpedo of tough, stitl' fibrous, non-dying material comprising a folded, -sheet-like unitary Cas` ing of non-molded form consisting of a bottom member and a to-p member and upright end Walls constituting rigid transverse trusses and extending unitarily from the bottom member at right angles thereto and engaging the 'inner face of and sealed. at their upper edges to the top member, said end Wallseach being of unitary, uninterrupted formation; a suitable detonating composition wit-hins'aid casing, and torpedo positioning means.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my -nanie to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

Louis s.A Ross.

'Witnessesy ROBERT' H. KAMMIER, F. IRENE CHaNDmR.

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