US1192546A - Submarine propulsion. - Google Patents

Description

0. F. MURPHY. SUBMARINE PROPULSION.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 5. l9l5.

6 0 Q m 1 m M 5m Mr M .WL. M A T .i F 8 M a w m a a P p WITNESSES D. F. MURPHY.

SUBMARINE PROPULSION.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 5, 1915.

1 ,1 92,546. Patented July 25, 1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

INVENTOI? By T AUOR/VEYS D. F. MURPHY.

SUBMARINE PROPULSION.

APPLiCATION FILED OCT. 5. 1915. 1,1 92,546. Patented July 25, 1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3 INVENTOI? WITNESSES A TI'ORNEYS ED STATES SUBMARINE PROPULSION.

Application filed October 5, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL F. MURPHY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Prince Rupert, in the Province of British lolumbia, Dominion of Canada, have invented a new and Improved Submarine Propulsion, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to submarine vessels having any usual or common form of means at the stern thereof or elsewhere for propelling the vessel forwardly or rearwardly, and one object of my invention is to provide mechanism locatedpreferably at the bow and stern of the vessel whereby the vessel may be readily elevated, lowered, or otherwise maneuvered, either in conjunction with or independently of said usual or well known propelling means.

A further object of my invention is to provide fins movable into position either beyond the hull of the vessel or into pockets formed in the hull, and which fins, when in their outward position and properly adjusted, serve to maintain the vessel at any desired. depth when the vessel is moving forward, this portion of my invention relating particularly to the means whereby the fins are moved into and out of their operative position and properly adjusted to secure the end or object above referred to.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the mechanism associated with submarine vessels hereinafter referred to and described.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specificationFigure 1 is a view illustrating the front portion or bow of the hull of a submarine vessel equipped with my invention, the view being partly in plan and partly in section; Fig.2 is a similar view showing the front end orbow of the hull in side elevation, the view being partly broken away to show various features of my invention located within the hull; Fig. 3 is a view showing the bow of a submarine vessel as seen from a position in front thereof, this view being partly broken away to show details of the fins referred to; Fig. 41' is a view illustrating certain details of the operating means for the propeller which forms a part of my device, and Fig. 5 is a sideview in diagram of a submarine showing my improved devices at both ends.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 25, 1916.

Serial No. 54,167.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 6 designates the front portion or bow of a submarine vessel, which vessel will be equipped at its stern with any of the usual or common type of propelling means at present in use with submarine vessels. Extending forward and through the bow of the vessel, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is a rotating shaft 7, said shaft being operated in any way but preferably by means of an electric motor shown at 8. A clutch 9 of any suitable form is interposed between the shaft 7 and the motor 8 in order to permit the shaft and motor to be disconnected, as will be understood, said clutch being operated by a lever 10.

The rotary shaft 7 drives a propeller 11 located adjacent the bow of the vessel. The hub 12 of the propeller is provided'with a gear 13, the teeth of which are engaged by a driving pinion 14 fast upon the shaft 7, and through which pinion and gear the propeller is rotated about an axis at right angles to the shaft 7, as will be understood.

The propeller may be supported in various ways. I have, however, illustrated the same as supported by means of a supporting member 15 carried by the shaft 7 and which supporting member is provided with a trunnion 16 upon which the hub 13 rotates, as best shown in Fig. 4.

Means are provided for adjusting the propeller 11 bodily about an axis extending longitudinally of the hull, this being accomplished by means of a sleeve 17 surrounding the shaft 7, and having a. yoke 18 adjacent its outer end, within which yoke the supporting member 15, above referred to, is located, and which yoke carries two idler pinions 19 with which the gear 13 of the pro peller engages. A third idler pinion 20 is also preferably provided, this idler pinion running upon the shaft 7, as shown in Fig. The purpose of the idler pinions 19 and 20'is to steady the propeller as it is rotated by the pinion 14:, as will be understood. The outer free end of the shaft 7 is steadied by an out-board bearing 21, supported by means of arms 22, which in turn are supported from thehull of the vessel to thereby steady the shaft and propeller.

The sleeve 17 is provided with means whereby it is rotated about the shaft 7 as a center, said means being illustrated as comprising a worm gear 23 secured to the inner end of the sleeve and located within the hull of the vessel. A worm 24: is in operative engagement wit-h the gear 23, which worm is shown as operated from the motor 8, through a sprocket chain 25, a reversing clutch 26, a shaft 27, and gears 23, although the operating means above described may be varied, it being understood that my invention includes broadly any suitable means for imparting rotary motion to the sleeve 17, whereby the propeller may be adjusted about an axis extending longitudinally of the hull of the vessel.

The reference numeral 29 designates outwardly-opening recesses formed on opposite sides of the hull of the vessel, and 30 designates two reciprocating and angularlyadjustable shafts, the outer or free ends of which shafts carry fins 31. The inner ends of these shafts are operatively connected with pistons 32, movable in cylinders 33 to which air under pressure may be supplied from a storage tank 34:, through suitable pipes 35, to operate the pistons, suitable valve mechanism, not shown, being provided for controlling the supply and eX- haust of the air, as will be understood, the

exhaust occurring through the pipes 36. It therefore follows that as said shafts are moved outward, the fins are moved out from the recesses 29, and as said shafts are moved inward, said fins are drawn into the recesses 2-9, in which position they are entirely within the outline of the vessel and are not engaged by the water through which the vessel is passing. The outer ends ofthese shafts are preferably steadied in two-part bearings 37 located adjacent the outer portion of the recesses 29, which bearings, being separate from one another, permit the fins to pass into the recesses without interference, as will be understood.

The shafts 30 are shown as adjustable about their axes, to thereby vary the inclination of the fins 31, by means of toothed segments 38, these segments beingin driving connection with the shafts through elongated keys 39, which, obviously, permit the shafts to be moved to adjust the angularity of the fins without disturbing the driving connections between the segments and shafts. These segments 38 are engaged and operated by means of worms 40, which worms in turn are driven through gears, at 41, from an air-operated motor 42, which motor derives its supply from the tank 34 above referred to. It will therefore be seen that as the motor 42 is operated, the worms 40 are also operated, and motion is communicated to the segments 38 and shafts 30 to adjust or vary the angular position of the fins 31. i v

The fins above referred to are intended to be used only when the vessel is being driven forward, as distinguished from when it is rising or falling, this latter movement being produced by the propeller 11, although it will be appreciated that the fins may be used preciated that by using the propeller 11, the

vessel with which it is equipped may be more readily maneuvered than would be the case if such propeller were not used. Such propeller may be so adjusted by means of the sleeve 17, that the vessel may be made to sink notwithstanding excessive buoyancy, or'to rise notwithstanding more or less deficiency in the buoyancy of the vessel. The vessel may also be moved more quickly in turning around or varying its course, the propeller being arranged to rotate in a vertical plane during this maneuver, as will be understood. Also, the vessel may be kept on an even keel better by the use of the propeller, this advantage being present when the vessel is being driven at a very slow speed as is some times desirable.

As already indicated I preferably provide the propeller wheels 11 and their supporting and operating devices at both ends of the vessel- These wheels are adapted to be rotated around their trunnions 16 and also revolve around the axes of the shafts 7 either independently of each other or in unison and also either independently of or in conjunction with the usual operation of the propeller P located at the stern. I

More definitely stated, if the wheels 11 both be revolved around the shafts 7 so as to lie in the same horizontal plane as indicated, for instance, in Fig. 2, they would cooperate with each other when rotated around the trunnions 16 to propel the vessel bodily downwardly even though the propeller P be inoperative or with the vessel standing still with respect to forward or backward movement. In submarine practice it is frequently desirable to rise or sink while the vessel is stationary with respect to forward or backward movement or while possibly moving at very slow speed through the water. It follows, therefore, that in order to raise the vessel quickly to or toward the surface of the water, the wheels 11 are revolved into a horizontal plane below the shafts 17 when they will both act to elevate both ends of the vessel simultaneously. Furthermore, when the wheels are adjusted in vertical planes, they may act together, or one may occupy a plane on one side of the longitudinal axis of the vessel and the other a plane on the opposite side, and when these wheels are rotated the effect will be to turn the vessel around a vertical central axis for the purpose of making quick turns for any purpose. Obviously intermediate results of these maneuvers may be effected as may be found desirable in the practice of the invention.

WVhat I claim is:

1. In combination with the hull of a submarine vessel, a propeller located adjacent the bow of the hull; means for rotating said propeller; means for adjusting the position of said propeller about an axis extending longitudinally of the hull; two outwardlyopening recesses formed one in each side of the hull; a fin adapted to be moved into and out of each of said recesses; and means for moving said fins into and out of said recesses.

Q. In combination with the hull of a submarine vessel, a propeller located adjacent the bow of the hull; means for rotating said propeller; means for adjusting the position of-said propeller about an axis extending longitudinally of the hull; two outwardlyopening recesses formed one in each side of said hull; a reciprocating shaft associated with each of said recesses; means for reciprocating said shafts; a fin carried by each of said shafts and movable into and out of said recesses; and means for imparting angular movement to said shafts to thereby vary the inclination of said fins.

3. In combination with the hull of a submarine vessel, a propeller located adjacent the bow of the hull; means for rotating said propeller; and means for adjusting the position of said propeller about an axis extending longitudinally of the hull.

l-. In a device of the class described, the hull of a submarine vessel; a propeller located adjacent the bow of the hull; means for supporting said propeller; means for rotating said propeller; and means for adjusting said supporting means about an axis extending longitudinally of the hull.

5. The combination with the hull of a submarine vessel, of a rotatable shaft extending longitudinally of said hull and through the bow thereof; a propeller driven from said shaft; supporting means for said propeller; and means for adjusting said supporting means about said rotatable shaft.

6. In combination with the hull of a submarine vessel, a rotatable shaft extending longitudinally of said hull and through the bow thereof; a propeller driven from said shaft; a rotatable sleeve surrounding said shaft; means intermediate said sleeve and propeller and through which said propeller may be adjusted about said shaft; and means for rotating said sleeve about said shaft.

7. In combination with the hull of a submarine vessel, a rotatable shaft extending longitudinally of said hull and through the bow thereof; a support for the free outer end of said shaft; a propeller adapted to rotate about an axis perpendicular to said shaft; a rotatable sleeve surrounding said shaft and extending into said hull; means intermediate said sleeve and propeller and through which said propeller may be adjusted about said shaft; a gear operatively connected with the inner end of said sleeve; and driving means in engagement with said gear and through which said sleeve may be rotated.

8. In combination with the hull of a submarine vessel, a rotatable shaft extending longitudinally of said hull and through the bow thereof; driving means for said shaft located within the hull; a clutch intermediate said driving means and said shaft; a propeller driven from said shaft; a rotatable sleeve surrounding said shaft; means intermediate said sleeve and propeller and through which said propeller may be adjusted about said shaft; and means for rotating said sleeve about said shaft.

9. In combination with the hull of a submarine vessel, a rotatable shaft-extending longitudinally of said hull and through the bow thereof; a propeller having a gear; a pinion carried by said shaft and in engagement with said gear; a rotatable sleeve surrounding said shaft and having a yoke; a supporting member carried by said shaft and located within said yoke and having a trunnion for supporting said propeller; idler pinions carried by said yoke and with which the gear upon said propeller engages; a gear located at the inner end of said sleeve, and a worm in operative engagement with said gear and through which said sleeve may be rotated about said shaft.

10. In a marine vessel, the combination with a hull and means to propel it forwardly in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the hull, of a'pair of auxiliary propeller Wheels carried at the ends of the hull, means for supporting the auxiliary propellers for revolution around a longitudinal axis, supporting means for rotation of the Wheels around trunnions perpendicular to said axis, and means for controlling the position and rotation of the auxiliary propellers.

DANIEL FRANCIS MURPHY.

Witnesses:

DANIEL W. Monnissnr, JAMES C. BRADY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

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