US1233237A - Protecting means for ships or vessels. - Google Patents

Description

A. c. HOLZAPFEL.

PROTECTING MEANS FOR SHIPS 0R VESSEL'S. APPLICATION FILED MAYI6.1917.

Patented July 10, 1917.

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PflO'IJECTING MEANS JEOR SHIPS R VESSELS.

a subject of the King of Great Britain, re-

siding at New York, in thecounty of New York and State of "New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Protecting Means for Ships or Vessels, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a protecting means or beltffor use in connection with a ship or vessel, armored or'unarmored, for

protecting the same against destruction or extensive injury, due to the explosion of a torpedo or mine.

An important object of the invention is to provide means of the above mentioned character, providing a highly elastic cushion against the explosion of the torpedo or mine, thereby throwing the force of such explosion back or away from the hull of the ship or vessel, as far as possible, whereby the hull will not be destroyed or extensively injured.

A further object of the invention is to provide means of the above mentioned character, adapted to serve both as an elastic cushion, to reduce the destructive effect of the explosion of the torpedo or mine, and as float means, preventing the sinking of the ship or vessel, should the injury thereto be extensive.

A further object of the invention is to provide means of the above mentioned character, which is adapted to be attached to a completed ship or vessel, armored or unarmored, or which may be applied to or built into a ship or vessel, during the construction thereof.

A further object of the invention is'to provide means of the above mentioned character, which are simple in construction, comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, and highly efficient in operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is an enlarged transverse vertical section through one side of the hull of the ship or vessel, of the unarmored type,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, and,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an air holding tank, included in the apparatus.

Specification of Letters Patent.

This sheet metal skin 7 may be bolted bolted or riveted to Patented July it), 1917.

Application filed May 16, 1917. Serial No. 169,013.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates the hull of the ship or vessel of the unarmored type. Extending longitudinally of the sides of the hull are my improved protecting belts 6. As more clearly shown in Fig. 2, the belts 6 extend longitudinally of the hull for substantially its entire length.

In Fig. 1, the belt extends vertically from a point at or near the bilge, near the deep load line. In fer; to have this protecting belt extend upwardly to within a few feet of the deep load line. In the case of armored ships, the belt gvclmld extend from the bilge to the armor Each protecting belt 6 comprises an outer wall or skin 7, preferably formed of sheet metal, of the desired thickness and strength. or riveted to angle irons 8, which are in turn the sides of the hull 5. The outer side of the shell or skin'7 may be further connected with the side of the hull 5 by rods 9, passing through apertures therepractice, I prein. and carrying nuts 10. -The inner ends to a point at or width of from six to eight feet, while the .1

lnvention is of course in no sense restricted to these dimensions.

Arranged within the inner or central portion of the compartment of the shell or skin 7 are air holding tanks 12, which are referably cubical, while the invention is in no sense restricted to :this shape. The tanks 12 are hermetically sealed, and contain air at atmospheric pressure. I have found that satisfactory results can be obtained by constructingthese tanks a cubic foot. These cubical tanks are preferably constructed of sheet metal, such as tin, sheet iron, galvanized sheet iron, or any other suitable material. The tanks should be made of material sufici'ently stron to give them a firm holdto the side of t e ship. Satisfactory results can be obtained by having the sheet being destroyed by are arranged in substantial vertical rows, 1n close relation, with the tanks in one row being staggered with relation to the tanks in the other row, whereby these tanks break joint. The tanks maybe secured together by any suitable means, if desired. The group of tanks 12 is spaced from the skin or shell 7, at its upper and lower ends and side, and this space is preferably filled with a soft and light wood, such as balsa wood or cork. The term soft and light wood is intended to cover any cork like substance, such as balsa wood or' cork. This balsa woodis first preferably dipped in molten paraifin wax, whereby its surface pores become impregnated with the same and the wood is rendered water-proof. This prevents the wood becoming water logged or dry rot. The soft and light wood is preferably cut into blocks 13,

y and arranged between the tanks 12 and the shell or skin 7 These blocks are disposed in staggered relation to break joint. The blocks 13 also function to exclude the passage of water therethrough preventing it from contacting with the tanks 12.

If the ship or vessel equipped with myv protecting armor is struck by a torpedo or mine, a portion of the belt would be destroyed by the explosion, probably to an extent of a 20 foot radius. The air tanks in this radius would be crushed or destroyed. At the same time, the intervening .elastic action or resistance of the belt would enable the hull 5 of the ship or vessel to with stand the force of the ex losion, and it is believed that the only e ect would be a slight list to the side on which the ship was struck, and a loss of speed, which would .result from the added resistance of the do stroyed belt.

I have estimated that the weight of such a belt for a ship or vessel 300 feet long and invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

' 1. The combination with the hull of a ship or vessel, of a protecting belt secured thereto, comprising a skin, an inner group of substantially hermetically sealed air containing tanks, and an outer filling of soft and light wood arranged between said group and the skin.

2. A protecting belt for a ship or vessel, comprising a group of substantially hermetically sealed air containing tanks, -and an outer covering for said tank formed of balsa wood having its surface pores"impregnated with a water-proofing substance.

3. The combination with the hull of a ship or vessel, of, a. protecting belt secured thereto, comprising a skin, an inner group of substantiall hermetically sealed fluid containing tan 5, and an outer filling of wood arranged between said group and the skin.

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

ALBERT o. HOLZAPFEL.

Witnesses.

B. P. Frsmsumm, C. W. PARKER.

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