US1154522A - Means for locating submarine boats. - Google Patents

Description

H. LOTZ.

MEANS FOR LOCATING SUBMARINE BOATS.

'APPLICATION FILED MAY 29. f9 l5.

Patented Sept. 21, 1915.

2 SHEET$SHEET 1.

H LOTZ MEANS FOR LOCATING SUBMARINE BOATS APPLICATION FILED MAY 29,19l5

' Patented Sept. 21, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UMTEE STATES PATENT @FFTQE.

'HENRY LOTZ, OF LAWRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS.

MEANS FOR LOCATING SUBMARINE BOATS.

Application filed May 29, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY LoTz, a sub ect of the Czar of Russia, residing at Lawrence,

in the county of Essex and State of Massa chusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Locating Submarine Boats; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make .and use the same.

This invention relates to devices for raising sunken vessels, and more particularly to simple and efiicient means for locating and facilitating speedy recovery of lost submarine boats.

The invention has for its object to provide novel and eflicient devices for locating lost submarine and other boats including buoys and conveniently releasable means for se curing the buoys to the boat.

Another object is the provision of electrical means operated automatically during the ascent of the buoy to light a lamp therein and thus render the buoy visible at night.

WVith these and other objects'in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts as will be hereinafter specifically described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 represents a top plan view of a submarine of the usual construction, illustrating the invention applied to use thereon. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the submarine partly in section. Fig. 3 represents an enlarged fragmental sectional view through a portion of the submarine illustrating the interior of the buoy in detail, and Fig. 4 represents a transverse sectional view on the line H of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 6 indicates the body of a submarine having the usual deck or platform 7 secured to the top thereof adjacent the opposite ends of which are provided chambers or compartments 8, in which the ends of buoy lines or cables 9 are rigidly secured. The lines 9 are normally coiled Within the chambers 8, and the free ends thereof are extended through apertures 10 formed in the platform or deck 7 and through rings 11 formed laterally and *at Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 21, 1915.

Serial No. 31,273.

the top of posts 12, suitably secured in a vertical position through the submarine body 5. The upper extremities of the posts 12 are provided with downwardly curved arms 13, adapted to be received -within rings secured to the lower extremities of raising llnes, whereby the submarine may be raised to the surface of the water.

Buoy holders 1% are arranged upon the deck or platform 7 inwardly of the posts 12 and are adapted to receive buoys 15, the lower extremities of which are provided with rings 16 receiving the free ends of p voted'retaining bars 17. The bars 17 are plvotally secured at 18 to the body 6 of the submarine boat and the free ends thereof are adapted to be engaged under angularly directed ends 19 of rotatable locking elements 20, which latter are extended downwardly through stuffing 21 arranged in the body 6 of the submarine boat and are provided at their lower extremities with handles 22, whereby the locking elements or shafts 20 maybe rotated from the interior of the submarine so as to release the retaining bars 17. The free ends of the buoy lines 9 are attached to the rings 16 at the lower extremities of the buoys, and the holders 1% are slotted, as at 23, to permit free swinging movement of the retaining bars 17 when the latter are released.

A shaft 25 is rotatably mounted in bearings 26 secured in diametrically opposed relation within each buoy 15 and is enlarged centrally, as at 27, and is formed with an aperture for the reception of an electric battery 28. A lens or globe 29 is secured in the upper end of the buoy and an electric lamp 30 is supported beneath the lens in a holder or socket 31. One of the poles of "the battery 28 is connected with one of the points of contact of the lamp 30 by a conductor 32, and the other contact of the lamp is connected with a contact plate 33 secured in the lower reduced extremity of the buoy 15 by a conductor 34;. The pole of the electric battery 28 opposite the conductor 32 is connected with a second contact plate 35 secured in the lower tapered end of the buoy 15 opposite the contact plate 33 by a conductor 36. A frusto-conical circuit closing member 37 is movably disposed in the lower portion of the buoy 15 and is adapted to engage the contacts 33 and 35 when moved downwardly so as to close the electrical circuit to the lamp 30. The lower relatively small end of the frusto-conical circuit closing member 37 is connected with the buoy line 9 at a point adjacent the ring 16' by a flexible member 38', which latter is extended through an aperture 39 formed in the lower adjacent extremity of the buoy. The length of the flexible member 38 is such that when the buoy line is drawn tight, as during the upward movement of the buoy in the water, subsequent to being released, the flexible member 38 is drawn longitudinally, thus engaging the contact member 37 with the diametrically opposed contact plates 33 and 35 and closing the electrical circuit to the lamp 30.

When an accident happens to the subma rine, either or both of the retaining rods 17 are released by turning the shafts 20 and disengaging the angularly directed ends 19 thereof from the free extremity of the bars 17, thus permitting the latter to swing upwardly under the buoyant influence of the buoys 15, which latter float to the surface of the water, drawing the lines 9 upwardly therewith. The weight of the lines 9 causes the flexible members 38 to be drawn tight and thus engages the frusto-conical circuit closing member 37 with the contact plates 33 and 35, thus closing the circuit to the lamp 30 and rendering the buoy clearly visible atnight.

What I claim is:

1. In a buoy, a body, an electric lamp arranged in the upper portion of said body, a buoy line attached to the lower end of said body, a source of electro-motive force pivotally sup-ported in said body, a normally open electrical circuit connecting said source of electro-motive force with said lamp, and

means operable by said buoy line to close said circuit.

2. In a buoy, a body, a source of electromotive force supported in said body, an electric lamp in the upper portion of said body, a buoy line secured to the lower end of said buoy, a normally open electrical circuit connecting said source of electro-motive force with said lamp, means for closing said electrical circuit to light said lamp, and a flexible member connecting said circuit closing means and said buoy line.

3. In a buoy, a body, a shaft rotatably mounted in said body, a source of electromotive force supported upon said shaft, a lamp arranged in the upper portion of said buoy, a buoy line attached to said buoy, a normally open electrical circuit connecting said source of electro-motive force with said lamp, a pair of spaced contact plates arranged in said circuit, a frusto-conical circuit closing member adapted to engage said contact plates to'close said circuit, and a flexible element connecting said circuit closing member with said buoy line.

4. In a buoy, a body, an electric lamp arranged in the upper portion of said body, a

buoy line attached to the lower end of said body, a source of electro-motive force arranged in said body, a normally open elec trical circuit connecting said source of electro-motive force with said lamp, and means operable by said buoy line to close said circuit.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY LOTZ. Witnesses:

JOHN F. BYRNE, W. C. DAVIS.

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