US1265262A - Torpedo. - Google Patents

Description

J. M. SEYMOUR, JR.

TORPEDO.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, I917.

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TORPEDO.

APPLICATION FILED MAYI9,19|I.

1,265,262. Patented May 7,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR w 2 FORNEYS f W anduse the same, reference being had to the i Z '0 all u /1.0m ifmay concern: a

Jr, acitizen of the United States, residing Be; it known that 1, JAMES M. SEYMoUR,

at Newark, in the county of Essex andState of New" Jersey, have invented certaln new and useful Improvements in Torpedoes, and do hereby declare the following to be a full elear, and exact description of the invention, suchas will enable others skilled part of this specification.

in the ar-mo which it appertains to make accompanying drawings, and to characters The present invention has reference, generall to animproved construction of tora pedo; and the invention relates more particularly to a novel construction, of suba merged dirigible torpedo.

The inve-ntionhas for its principal object fto provide a novel torpedo comprising a;

cigar-shaped :hull whichis interiorlysubdivided into a plurality of separate com-n partmenta each compartment being adapted toirhouse or contain thevarious mechanisms andfapparatus whereby the functions of the torpedo asawhole are performed, said hull i being submerged lbeneaththe surface of the} water, and supported in such submerged condition by means of a surface float carryvisible identifyingsignals. c c a c The invention has for its further objects toprovide aflconstruction of torpedo which is dirigible: or controllable from a distance, Lwhich isdriven by self contained power, and which may be fired or exploded either by contact or atwill from the distant control point on stationyand to" this end embodies certain specific inventions, covered by my copending applications for patents hereinafter I mcntionedandidentified. i

it c Other objects of the present invention, not

atthisti'me more particularly mentioned,

will be clearly understood from the following detailed description pf the same.

With the various ob ects of my present invention in view the same consists, primarily, in the novel construction of dirigible torpedoghereinafter set forth; and the m ventionconsists, furthermore, in the several novelarrangementsand combinations of the variousdevices and parts, as well as in the i t details ofthe construction of the same, all

oftwhich will be more fully described in the following specification, andth'en finally em-i bodied intheclaims which are appended to and "which form speclficatlon.

of reference marked thereon, which form a The'invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying draw1ngs, 1n wh1ch:- 1

- UNITE STATESPATE OFFIGE-Q JAMESHM. SEYMOUR; an; OFNEWARK, NEWUJERSEY.

l Specification of Letters Patent. a Pate-flied lflay Q1918, Application filed a 19, 1917. Seria1No,169,Q15.

aniesseetial pa of the-said ure 1 s ebngitud nal rertic lsectio i t of the noveltorpedo made according to and embodying the principles of my present in atime the :fil ppQlifiillgflfi attherefor being shown in side elevation. c a i a i Fig. 2 1s a vertlcal cross sectlon taken on line 2-2 in said Fig.1, looking in the direction'of the arrow 1 Fig. 3 is a plan view of the t v supporting float for said torpedo. it a Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the hereinabove described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to said drawings, the ref.

erence character 1 indicates the hull of the torpedo, which consists ofanair and water tight cigar-shaped hollow-body, which-may be constructed of metallic plates or cylindrical sections, or in any other suitable man-y ner! The referencecharacter 2 indicates suitable surface .float or buoyant body for supporting said hull in submerged condition.

metal in the form of a hollow body sharp ened to provide a cutwater 3 at the bow,

'andhavi11g a V-shaped bottom 4, gradually developing into; a broadgflatfibottoni 5 at ,1. the stern, such flat bottom construction at the stern preventing burying of said stern in the water, which would tend to cause the torpedo to inclineupward and rise to the surface, instead of maintaining its proper submerged position. Said float 2 is divided in its interior by bulkheads 6 into aplurality of separate water-tight compartments 7',

which are preferably filled with lamp-black, a

not mix with water, so that should the float be perforated by shot, itwould still retain its buoyancy for a long period of time, or

untilso badly riddled as to allowthe filling? to escape from confinement within the com 1 and abaftof the midshipsportion of the float 2. Saidhangersincline rearwardlyso as to permit the nose or bowofthe torpedo f lSaidhanger-members are preferably constructed of steel, very-"strong and thin, and are sharpened at their fore and aft edges, to'provide knife-like edges 10,: so as not'jto create great resistance in passing through" the Water, "and'so that the same Would easily I shearor cut through smallrope, seaweed or under Way.

other similar obstacles with which they might;come,in contact when said torpiedofis Mounted'o n saidfloat '2', soas to, project I upwardly therefrom, are't o masts l1,@.the

" same being. properly spacedone from: the

other, and-{being adaptedtocarry signals, such asthe balls-12,,or'other dev1ces, Wh1ch 7 may-jibe brightly colored "and" of' suflicient -rsize to be readily observable at a *great disthereupon to control and (direct thei same. I

- Theinterior, ofsai'd hull .1 of thez'torpedo tance, thus enabling the operator'to note the position and" course of "the torpedo, and

J is transversely,subdivided by bnlk-l1eads13 into several-separate and independent watert1ght compartments, to Wit, compartments at,

b, 0,,d and e, successively located from bow I to stern. The'forWard-orbowcompartment a is adapted to'conta-in the explosive charge 14 of'th'e torpedo. Located in the bowlor nose'iofthe'hull 1 is the firing pin 15,, Whichis .adaptedatofexplode the charge; 14 im- *pa'ct -hen the 'toripedoistrikes an object such as :atvessel, submarine or the like "against i which i-tris directe'cl The charge '14 is also I subject a to;- independent firing control by the operator from. a distant control point or station according to the principles and by ;v means vo'f the -devices zdisclosedlin my :00-

v pendingfapplication for United States Let tersi Patent, Serial Number '16t,'60i5, filed April, 26', 1917." Said firing-pin 15is mount-,7

I ed :so that its free outer endfprojects for- V ardlybeyond the bow or nose'ofthe tor pee-10,; :the 1 same ibei'ng'g longitudinally movable rearW-ardly into" the "compartment to, in such v .armannerthatlitanay be drivenagainstfthe "dictionatingcap 16 of the-charge 14a. Said 11;. pins-15 is .mainta-ined'in normal forwardly.

projecting position bynreansofa spring 17 j :yvhich ip resses against the annular shoulder 1'8,=formed on said .pin, said shoulder 18' also.

serving stopforlimiting the forward; movement ofsaid pin under said spring' I {pressures 'Inv'ordercv'to render the torpedo f 5 safe agaii'ist ffiring'thro'ugh accidental impactv when handling, towing .OPEOtllGIWiSQ nianip ula tin'g -the* san 1e preparatory .to launching r and operating 'the same, I provide, inc-confiringepin until, said safetyl pin is removed.

withdrawn :by the hand zorqau'll (line swastika theater Sara safety-pin 9 is ahandor pull line 20 Which is lead to the surface -'andattachedto the float 2c in any suitable manner. When the torpedo is launched and] readyltofbe sent awayto an attack, thehand'or pull line 20 is figrasped and pulled upwardto Withdraw, saidsafety- 'pinq19 :andfthus-free said firing-pin '15Iso that y p m ly perform its function. -v

, The -compartment b adapted contain the electric control cable or'vvire 21 which is tolzbe fedfout, aste rn' of the-torpedo as it proceeds outward .to its attack. Connected with ;:and communicating with this compartment 7) is the bell-shaped mouth-22rd "the cablecguiding' tube 23,;the latter running along through the interior ofthe hull 1' and emergingthrough saidhull forward of its stern, the outer rear end'Q L-of said tube 1nclininggslightly downward, and extending astern to apoint beyond and beneath the 7 driving propeller of the torpedo. The control cable is Woundin aholloW coil25, somewhatsimilar to the Winding of, a hollow ball of twine: or -cord, so that the rearwardly travelin-g line thereof emerges ,fromand feeds from the center. convolutions thereof. Thetable is ofverysmall'gage or fine wire properly insulated, and the windings thereof jthecoil 25j .are treated itha suitable ad-- hesi-ve mixture, such as-"insulating shellac, appliedito the surface of the" cable or ,wire' when being. coiled, so that the coils-adhere together. whenpthejshellac' .fdries', and which will hold-the windings together and. which preventsithe wallstof thecoil, as theisame are reduced by," thefeeding outcof thecablafroin collapsing {or idropplng down with the iconsequent dangerqof ,kinking .orsnarli-ng the control cable;v -The;adhesive zuse dxmust'ibe sufiicientto-Ihold the winding against fall-.

inggoftheir ovvn Weight,.and yet nottofs'uch fixtGHHJClQLlS character 'preventwthe windings from: gently,, -tea-ring {ravvayasnthe" cable feeds for pulls out from thefcenter. roof the acoi-lwhiletthe torpedo movesqatvay to its g attack. 2T6 Qmaintain the proper-buoyancy,

'of the-torpedo, hen'uthe cable: plays -.;out; Q

from the compartment b, and the. torpedois 1 lightened :of its dead Weight, I provide-1a '-1-e' movable plug jQfi' :in the hull 1 which normallystopsi an openingicommunicating 'With said compartment '5. wSaid plugmay ib ta'ched .thereto,*,when "the torpedo is. operation, zso' that Water :may: enter the i-"coinp-artment and replace- With its-weight the weight of cable-fed :out-of the-compartment; I

In the discharge end of the tube '23 TS .iplacexd .a'soft rubbervgasket128through 'whichithe .cable-x-pa ssesfand which normally prevents Water ffrom'ztbacking 11p through :the tube. v

When,1 hoWever, thescablel'begins ftopziyrdutl after the torpedo is "started in motion, this I gasket 28 soon wears away, thus allowing the water to circulate. freely through the compartment 6. V V i m The next compartment 0 is adapted to contain the power plant of the torpedo. This power plant comprises, preferably,an internal combustion engine 29 substantially of i the type shown and described in my copending application for United States Leton a fuel consisting of hydrogen andoxygen such as, is described in my application for same is also provided with, a self-starting motor 30 which is geared thereto so as to impart an initial motiontothe crank-shaft fot the engine to start the same; The motor Iters Patent, Serial Number April 28th, 1917, which is adapted toberun United StatesLetters Patent,SerialNumber 161,555, filed April 12,1917. When the in l ternal combustion engineis thus used, the

3Q;mayalsobe adapted tooperateasagen: 7;

, erator, when the same is drivenby the engins, so that the current generated thereby may be utilized to recharge storage batteries.

"The energizing circuit'of said starting motor include an automatic cut-in switch 31, which is provided with an operating arm 32 which proj ect'sl exteriorly from the hull 1,

a and to which the hand or pulliline 33 is attached, so that when starting the torpedo: to

an attack the pulling of said line 33 will operate the cut-in switchto turnthe current into the startingmotor. whereby the engine a is cranked. Connected with the engine sel from adistant point by the aid of a comthe torpedo is put in operation all that is necessary to be done is to pull saidline thus openingthe said valves to permit the continued flow of The next; an last or stern compartment e is adapted to contain the electrical steering appliances 43 for operating the rudder 44,

the storage batteries for supplying cur rent to operate the steering appliances, and galvanometer relay de:

h dr e lsvfifiiand vices 47 all controlle by the weak electric current sent over the controlcable or wire 21 from the shore or control station in the manner d by the means fully described i a is my said pending application for United States Letters Patent, Serial Number 164,-- 605, filed April26, 1917. a a a It will be apparent from, the above description that my present invention provides avery novel constructionof torpedo, which be steered and controlled or fired at will :paratively weak electric current, sent out crank-shaft so as to be driven thereby is the propeller shaft 34 which extends rearwardly t through the remaining compartmentsd and e, and thence through the stufling-box 35 at the stern of the hull 1 so that a suitable pro- 7 over. the light trailing cable or wire 21.

gases to the engine apparatus.

maybe driven at high speeds bymeansof contained powerplant, and which may The control cable or wire 21 being very small or fine maybe carried in sufficient quantity, inthe novel hollow coil above described, to, provide a very great length thereof j so that the range of the torpedo may be ,greatlyincreased, and in fact may be efiectively controlled within aradius of from ten to twenty miles.

I claim: p M1 1. The combination with. a dirigible torpedo of an electric control cable, saidcable peller 36 may be connected upon its rearf wardly projecting exterior end.

Inplace of the internal combustion engine it I may use a steam engine, supplied with steam produced by burning a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen, or other suitable com- I bustible fuel, in an internally fired gas burna ing boiler, such as is described and patented by my United States Letters Patent, Numexhaust from such a steam engine could be either condensed and returned to said boiler, or allowed to exhaust intothe sea, when it would be immediately condensed and disfposedof. t a

The next compartment d is adapted to contain the fuel storage tanks 37 in which are 1 contained the supply of gases ready for mixture to produce the fuel for service to the engine. The supply pipes 38 leading from the tanks to the engine apparatus, may be provided withsuitable valves 39 to the operfating levers 40 of which is connected a pull rod 41 the free end of which projects exteriorlyof said hull 1, and to whichis at jtached a pull or hand line 42, so that when being stored in the interior of said torpedo in'the formof a hollow coil adapted to feed out the cable from its center, and the winds ings of said coil being secured together by adhesive material to hold the same against a collapsing and tangling within the interior of the coil, said adhesive material yielding ber, 1,178,956, dated April 11th, 1916. The a to the pull of said cable so that the windings of said coil are successively torn away and freed from their fellows as the cable issues from said'torpedo when in motion.

2. A torpedo, comprising a hollow hull provided with a compartment in its bow,a

, and a hand-line connected with said safetypin wherebythe same may be withdrawn from sai firing-pin to operatively free the latter for service.

A propeller driver'i dirigible torpedo "comprising a" hollow "hull containing a ,pri-

mary mover for dr'ivin'g' the propeller and a fuel-supply for-said primaryjmover, anel'ec-Q tric; starting inea'ns' for: said primary mover,

' .a-'cut+in"switc h fcr'energizin'g'saidstarting means, and 'a' hand-lme'eXtendmgfrom sa d switch-'eziteriorl-yifrcm said torpedo for operating said switchfrom Without said torped'o' to put the'latter in notitm. 4, A "torpedcj comprising a hollow hull provided with :a surface 'flo at. for supporting v the same 'in*-submerged-positi0n, saidhuli havingja, compartment for "storing electric contrcl cable, afguide-tube arranged Within askto communicatefwith said-compartment, I the rearward end of said guide tub'e project'- yieldin'gftothe pull cf said cable scfthat. the

' Windings'pf saidcoilare successively freed. as' the cable -issue's;rom the exitendfofsaidi' guide-tube, a) scft gasket secured in thefexit end'oflsaid" guidetube through j which the j cable passes, "a removable 7 ing between said plug and saidsur'face fie said hi'1I1-, *said"guide-tube fhaving' a-bllshaped receiving end positioned ithin so when Withdrawn tcf adrniti water intc said cable compartment, and a hand 'line extend A'torpe'do comprising ta hull "carry ng an explosive charge, prcpelling'pfcwer plant; and steering apparatus; and cbntact cable adaptedtoyissue frcm said hiifil lgand mu 40 i back to a control'point, supp'ortingsaid hi'il and hanger -member 1 1 in a float With said hull; said hanger-@inembers? having sharpenedknife-hke edges "rare and"" aft; said surface float havinga sharpened cut-ivaterand :aj ffV-shap'ed bottom: Whichf broadens'at-the stern into a "fiat-bottom. 61 A torpedo ccn pris'ing 'a "hull carrying an: explosive chargefpropelling power plant and steering apparatus;- and "c (')'1'1 trd 1fcab;1e adapted to issue-*frbni f-said 1 1111- .and" trail v back "to a -contro1 pqint;,a surface Efloat "01 ,suppcrtingi sai d "hiillin-siibmerged pcsition,

ha'n'ger-m'embers interconnect ng; aid float i 'With Sai'd; hull; said surface float.

- mm which broadens 'th'ester n "intcfa fiatbottom.

in 't'estin'rony, that i claini theini ention Q set .forth abelve *I- have hereunto setmy'hand this 18thday df May, 1917.}

JAMES Witnesses:

I SEYMOUR, an.

I Copies of this pa tent may be obtainedTcrfii're ce nts each; bfatidress'ing the figimxiiiss'ionercf fatents,

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