US1277028A - Submarine. - Google Patents

Description

G. W. BEACH.

SUBMARINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10.1911.

2 SHEET$SHEET l- 1 ,277,028 Patented Aug. 27, 1918.

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1,277,028 Patented Aug. 27, 1918.

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Application filed May 10, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be .it known that I, Gnonen WATSON Bnaorr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Saybrook, in the county of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Submarines; and I do 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.

My invention has for its object to provide simple and eflicient means for automatically supplying water to the submerging tank or tanks of a submarine, in case the periscope is so damaged as to permit the leakage of water therethrough.

A further object is to so construct the periscope as to permit an injured outer section thereof to be readily replaced.

With the foregoing general objects in view, the invention resides in the novel features of construction and unique combinations of parts to be hereinafter fully described and claimed, the descriptive matter being supplemented by the accompanying drawings which constitute a part of this application and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a submarine with parts broken away and in section to show the improved features of construction; and

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of the invention with parts in elevation.

In the drawings above briefly described, the numeral 1 designates a submarine vessel having a submerging tank 2 at its bottom, said tank being provided with the usual wash plates 8 which prevent the water therein from surging forwardly and rearwardly. The water is admitted into the tank 2 through a suitable water inlet 4: and may be expelled therefrom by the usual means not shown.

A periscope 5 rises through the top of the vessel and includes a quickly attachable and detachable upper section 6 having a suitable eye 7 at its upper end, the latter being equipped with a lens 8 so mounted as to exclude water from the device, and with an optical prism 9 adjacent said lens for directing rays of light downwardly through the periscope to the lower prism 10 which is properly positioned for use bythe lookout. The periscope passes through any suitable Specification of Letters Patent.

SUBMARI'NE.

Patented Aug. 27, 1918.

Serial No. 167,773.

stuffing box or the like 11 and may be rotated for observation in all directions, by means of a hand wheel 12.

The lower portion of the periscope 5, or any other suitable portion thereof on the interior of the vessel, passes rotatably through a hollow head 13 which is equipped with stufiing boxes 14 engaging said periscope, the latter having one or more openings 15 positioned in the head 18 to place the two in communication. A pipe or other suitable passage 16 leads from the head 13 to the central portion of the submerging tank 2. By this arrangement, injury to the upper section 6 of the periscope, when the vessel is awash as shown, in Fig. 1 will permit the air in the submerging tank 2, to escape through the pipe 16 and its connection 1315 with said periscope. This escape of air from the submerging tank 2, permits the latter to automatically fill with water through the inlet 4, so that the vessel is quickly submerged, the valves 17 and 18 being normally open to permit the air to escape as stated. The enemy is thus led to believe that the vessel has been sunk and any possibility of ramming the submarine before submerging thereof, is prevented. Immediately upon submerging, the valves 17 and 18 are closed to prevent the water pressure at low depths from injuring the pipe 16. Even under such operation, it is necessary that this pipe and its coacting parts be of extremely strong construction, due to the fact that the pressure on the exterior thereof is atmospheric only, whereas the interior thereof is subjected to the pressure of a water head of several feet.

l/Vhile submerged, the submarine will travel to a zone of safety and will then rise 5 to the surface by expelling a suitable quantity of water from the tank 2, by means of the usual air pumps or the like. When circumstances permit, the injured outer section 6 of the periscope may be removed and a new one applied.

The periscope is provided with a suitable valve 17 which may be closed to prevent the further escape of air therethrough, after the ship has submerged to the required extent, and in most cases the pipe 16 will be equipped with a similar valve 18 positioned adjacent the tank 2. Needless to say, one or both of the valves 17 -.18, will remain closed while the pumps are in operation, in order that the air forced by these pumps into the submerging tank 2, may not escape, but will force the water from the tank.

It will be observed, that although my invention produces results not heretofore attained from the periscope, it does not pre vent successful operation of the latter, it being free to turn in any direction required Also, by making the head 13 of sufficient length, the periscope may slide vertically to project the eye 7 a greater or less distance above the top of the vessel.

In conclusion, I will state that the draw ings are for illustrative purposes only and that I do not wish to be restricted ,to the construction shown thereby to any extent other than that to which the appended clanns hnnt me, since 1t is obvious that numerous minor changes may be made within the scope of theinvention.

I claim:

1; The combination with a submersible vessel having a periseope and a submerging tank, of means for automatically admitting water tosaid tank in case of injury to said eriscope, whereby to submerge the vessel.

ing a rotatable periscope and a submerging tank, of a hollow head through which said ieriscope passes rotatably, said periscope having an opening located in said head, and a passage leading from said submerging tank to said head for exhausting the air from said tank in case of injury to said periscope, whereby water may enter sald tank to submerge the vessel.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE \VATSON BEACH, iVitnesses i MARK BROWN, E. LEWIS J onusoiv.

(Estates of patent maybe ebtaine lfer five cents each, by adflres sing the fbom missiener 0t Patents,

Washington, a, e.

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