US1285586A - Torpedo-launching apparatus. - Google Patents

Torpedo-launching apparatus. Download PDF

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US1285586A
US1285586A US16853717A US16853717A US1285586A US 1285586 A US1285586 A US 1285586A US 16853717 A US16853717 A US 16853717A US 16853717 A US16853717 A US 16853717A US 1285586 A US1285586 A US 1285586A
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torpedo
air
piston
cylinder
valve
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Frank Baker
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    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F41WEAPONS
    • F41FAPPARATUS FOR LAUNCHING PROJECTILES OR MISSILES FROM BARRELS, e.g. CANNONS; LAUNCHERS FOR ROCKETS OR TORPEDOES; HARPOON GUNS
    • F41F3/00Rocket or torpedo launchers
    • F41F3/08Rocket or torpedo launchers for marine torpedoes
    • F41F3/10Rocket or torpedo launchers for marine torpedoes from below the surface of the water
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F41WEAPONS
    • F41FAPPARATUS FOR LAUNCHING PROJECTILES OR MISSILES FROM BARRELS, e.g. CANNONS; LAUNCHERS FOR ROCKETS OR TORPEDOES; HARPOON GUNS
    • F41F3/00Rocket or torpedo launchers
    • F41F3/08Rocket or torpedo launchers for marine torpedoes

Definitions

  • This invention relates to improvements in guns particularly adapted for naval use and the objects of the invention are to permit of a series of torpedoes being fired in rapid succession and at gradually increased predetermined depths so that when chasing submarines the eifective range of the torpedoes may be greatly increased and thus effectively destroy the submarine after the same has dived or become submerged.
  • Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the improved gun.
  • Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same.
  • I? ig. 3 is a sectional elevation of a torpedo tube.
  • Fig. l is a side elevation of one of the improved torpedoes.
  • Fig. 5 is a plan view of the same.
  • the improved gun comprising A represents the fixed barrel l, which is stayed or otherwise securely braced at the forward end to the hull B of the ship, tively supported by the standard C.
  • the outer wall of the forward end of this fixed barrel is made slightly conical and surrounded by an annular jacket 3 connected with an inlet conduit ehthrough which water at a high pressure is designed to be passed.
  • the hull B of the ship is provided with a port 5 arranged in alinement with the fixed barrel 1 of the gun and this port is designed to be closed by sluice gate 6 provided with a rod 7 which is connected at the lower end to the piston 8.
  • This piston slidably operates in the cylinder 9 provided at the lower end with a transversely extending wall 10 having an inlet port 11 therethrough and a spring 12 is located between the said piston and the said transverse wall.
  • This sluice gate is automatically opened by the high pressure water which is delivered to the conduit 4, a portion ofthis water passing through the inlet port 13 formed in the wall of the cylinder 9, and pressing the piston 8 downwardly, while the main body of the water passing into the annular jacket 3 is discharged through the port 5 in the hull of the ship and forms a water cone, tlje object of which will be made clear herea ter.
  • the sluice gate 6 is automatically closed under the action of the piston 8 acted upon by the spring 12 in conjunction with compressed air which is delivered to the cylinder 9 through the port 11, in the wall 10, and while the upward motion of the sluice gate 6 is taking place the water pressure delivered to the conduit 1 is somewhat reduced.
  • An auxiliary cone is also formed on the outside of the water cone by the use of a conduit 15 surrounding the port 5 and provided with a plurality of angularly disposed orifices 16 through which high pressure fluid is discharged to press back the wall of water and so reduce the water pressure on a torpedo D as it is being discharged from the fixed barrel 1.
  • This barrel is provided adjacent to its rear end with a valve chest 17 provided with a cut off port 18, the said valve chest being in the form of a cylinder having a piston 19 slidably operated therein and carrying a while the rear end may be operapiston rod around which a spiral spring 21 is arranged, the said spring being located between the end wall of the cylinder and the said piston.
  • the rear end of the fixed barrel 1 is provided with a conical recess 22 adapted to engage with the conical end 23 of the torpedo tube 25 carried by the magazine E.
  • This magazine consists of a shaft 26 rotatably mounted in the standards C-and C and provided adjacent to its ends with a pair of disk plates 27 provided with a plurality of orifices 28 therethrough concentrically arranged around the said shaft.
  • Theseorifices are designed to engage with the torpedo tubes 25 operatively supporting the same in equidistantly spaced relation and the periphery of one of the'plates 27 is provided with serrations 29 designed to facili tate rotating the magazine through predetermined distance during each operation of the gun.
  • a pawl 30 carried byv the piston rod 31 provided with a piston 32 slidably mounted in the angularly disposed cylinder 33 which is provided with a flanged end 34 with which the bolt 35 engages.
  • the lower end of the cylinder 33 is connected to the air inlet pipe 36 provided intermediate of its length with a movable joint 37 which permitsof the cylinder 33, when the bolt 35 has been loosened, being rotated in a horizontal plane for the purpose of disassembling the magazine.
  • the inlet pipe 36 communicates at its upper end'witli the cylinder 17 and is provided intermediate of its length with a spring controlled check valve 36 below which is located a branch pipe 38 connected to the cylinder 39, which is provided intermediate of its length with an exhaust port 24.
  • a piston 40 slidably operates in this cylinder and is provided with a piston rod 41 which forms a locking member adapted to coact with the front plate 27 of the maga zine E and so look the magazine in the de sired predetermined position.
  • the cylinder 39 houses a spiral spring 42 adapted to coact with the piston 40 and normally press the same outwardly.
  • the cylinder 33 is provided adjacent to its upper end with an outlet port 43 designed to exhaust the air from the said cylinder and permit of the piston 32 being returned to its normal position under the action of the spiral spring 44 which extends around the piston rod 31 and is located between the piston 32 and the upper end of the cylinder, the said piston being further provided with a leaf or like spring 45 designed to coact with the pawl 30 and normally press the same into contact with the periphery of the serrated disk plate 27.
  • the magazine may be locked in position by the locking device 46, which is of any suitable construction and the magazine is normally positioned so that the uppermost tube 25 will be disengaged from the fixed barrel 1 by means of the spiral spring 47 which is located between the standards C and the front disk plate 27. V
  • the position of the disk plates 27 is pre determined so that'the torpedo tubes 25 will be in turn brought into alinement with the fixedbarrel 1 during each operation of the gun and longitudinal movement of the disk plates on the shaft 26 is obviated by the use of collars 48"provided with set pins 49 coacting therewith and adapted to frictionally engage with the shaft 26 and so position the collars.
  • Each of the torpedo tubes is provided adjacentto its "forward end with a'slot 50, in Which the retaining cam 51 is pivotally mounted, the outer end of the cam being connected towthe piston rod 52 which'is provided with a piston 53 slidably mounted in the cylinder 54 formed integral with the said tubes.
  • the retaining cam 51 is also inclosed by the casing 54 formed'integral with the said tubes and the cylinder is provided with an air conduit 55' co'nnectedto the rear" end of the torpedo tubes.
  • each of the torpedo tubes is provided with ace-nical recess 60, each designed in turn to engage with the conical end 61 of thedownwardly projecting tubular arm 62 of the air chest 63 whichis supported by the hangers 64 from the track 65.
  • hangers are provided intermediate of their length with turn buckles 66 which permit ofthe' adjustment of the same'to elevate or lower the air chest to the desired extent, the upper ends of the hangers are provided with Wheels 67 designed to run along the track 65.
  • ports 68 are located which are of substantial v'-shape, and coacting with these ports is a D valve 69 con nected through the rod 70 with the lever 71 pivotally mounted intermediate of its length and connected at the lower end to the link 72, which in turn is connected to the lower end of the lever 73 pivotally supported intermediate of its length.
  • the upper end of the lever 73 is pivotally attached to the piston rod 74 which carries a piston 7 5 slidably mounted in the cylin- 1,2a5,5se
  • This cylinder or valve chest is provided intermediate of its length with peripheral recesses 7 8 in the inner wall to permit of the air located in the forward part of the cylinder being readily exhausted through the said peripheral recesses and exhaust port 79 extending through the cylinder or valve chest walls adjacent to one end thereof.
  • This cylinder or valve chest is connected through the conduit 80 with the air reservoir 81, and the conduit is provided intermediate of its length with a valve 82 designed to be normally held closed by the spring 83 connected to the rod 84.
  • the reservoir 81 is also connected to the air chest 63 through the conduit 85 provided intermediate of its length and with a ball and socket connection 86 permitting of the valve chest being moved to a limited extent in a longitudinal direction without any liability of the air escaping through the said joint. 7 i
  • valve chest 63 is connected at that end remote from the arm 62 to one end of the piston rod 87 the opposite end of which is connected to the piston 88 slidably mounted in the cylinder or valve chest 89, which is provided in one of its end walls with an air outlet port 90 normally closed by the valve 91 held in position by the spring 92.
  • the piston 88 coacts with a spiral spring 93 housed in the cylinder or valve chest 89, and located between the end wall and the piston so that under the action of this spring,
  • the air chest 63 is normally held with the arm 62 spaced from the uppermost torpedo tube 25.
  • Air is admitted through the conduit 94: from the air reservoir 81 and this conduit is provided with a valve 95 provided with a depending arm 96 designed to coact with the offset tappet member 97 carried by the piston 20.
  • This offset tappet member is provided intermediate of its ends with a second arm 98 designed to coactwith the valve 91, and under certain circumstances to unseat the same to permit of the air pressure in the valve chest or cylinder 89 being reduced orexhausted.
  • the torpedoes D which are designed to be utilized with this gun are provided with the usual turbine. propeller. gyro and other attachments at present in use but in other respects the construction of the torpedo is unique. being inexpensive and provided at the point with planes 99 which may be adjusted in a longitudinal direction to give to the torpedo when discharged the desired course or path.
  • planes are provided intermediate of their length with a swivel connection 100 which permits of their being angularly adjusted to the desired extent and the conical end of the torpedo may be slightly corrugated to hold the planes in the desired position.
  • torpedoes are also provided at the rear end with steering planes 101 and the air in the torpedo is electrically heated by means of a resistance 102 which is inserted in an electric circuit when the torpedoes are loaded in the magazine and are ready for immediate use when required in emergency.
  • these torpedoes In loading these torpedoes, they are inserted inverted into the lowermost torpedo tube 25 between the legs of the standards C, and as the magazine E is rotated and each tube comes to its uppermost position, the torpedo will then be in a normal position ready to be discharged from the gun.
  • the torpedo tubes 25 of the magazine E are filled with torpedoes whereupon the valve 95 is actuated to permit air flowing from the reservoir 81 through the conduit 9% into the valve chest or cylinder 89 to move the piston 88 which in turn transmits its motion to the air chest 63, moving the same in a longitudinal direction to engage the tapered end 61 of the tubular arm 62 with the conical recess 60 of the uppermost torpedo tube 25, the tapered front end 23 of which engages with the conical recess 22 of the fixed barrel 1.
  • the sluice gate 6 is opened by water under pressure being admitted to the conduit 4; in the manner previously described and simultaneously with the opening of the gate, the water cone is formed in front of the port 5, in the hull B of the ship while the auxiliary cone is also formed by discharging fluid under pressure from the orifice 16 in the conduit 15.
  • valve 82 is now actuated and air is admitted through the conduit 80 to the valve chest or cylinder 76, moving the piston 75.
  • valve 57 is unseated and air flows through the port 56 to the conduit and moves the piston 54 forwardly, so releasing the cam 51 and allowing the torpedo to be fired by the com pressed air in the torpedo tube.
  • the air passing from the cylinder 17 passes through the check valve 36 'and pipe 36 and some of the air is delivered through the branch pipe 38 to the cylinder 39 moving the piston 4:0 and disengaging the locking rod 41 from the serrated disk plate 27.
  • Air also passes to the cylinder 33 and moves the piston 32 upwardly, causing the piston rod 31 and coacting pawl 30 to rotate the serrated disk plate 27 toa predetermined distance to bring the next torpedo tube 35 into alinement with the fixed barrel 1, when the above operations of firing the torpedo are repeated.
  • the air in the pipe 36 is maintained at-normal pressure to actuate the pistons 4:0-and 32, after the t0rpedo has been fired and there is no leakage of air back through the by-pass 18.
  • valve 82 is normally closed after being actuated or opened and is immediately closed on being released by the spiral spring 83.
  • the spring 42 moves the piston l0 and reengages the locking rod 41 with the serrated disk plate 27, holding the magazine E in the desired position, while the piston 32 is returned to its normal position under the influence of the spring a l, so permitting the pawl 30 to engage another serration 29 preparatory to rotating the magazine E through another predetermined dis tance to bring the next torpedo tube 25 into alinement with the fixed barrel 1.
  • A" torpedo launching apparatus comprising a fixed'bar-rel, a rotatable magazine cooperating with the fixed barrel, means for moving the magazine longitudinally, the magazine comprising a plurality of torpedo tubes arranged in cylindrical formation with means for automatically locking the magazine in position as each tube comes into alin'ement'with the fixedbarrel.
  • the torpedo I launching apparatus claimed in claim 1 carried by means for forming a water cone in front of the fixed barrel when the gun is utilized in submarine Warfare.
  • the torpedo launching apparatus as claimed in claim 2 characterized by an auxiliary means for forming a second water cone in front of the first cone.
  • the torpedo launching apparatus as claimed in claim 3 characterized by an air chest being suspended above the magazine and means whereby the air chest and the uppermost tube of the magazine are successively moved into intimate engagement with eachother and with the fixed barrel of the gun.
  • the torpedo launching apparatus as claimedin claim 4 in Which the air chest is formed with a tubular depending arm designed to be engaged with the rear end of the uppermost tube of the magazine.
  • the torpedo launching apparatus as claimed in claim 4 characterized by the air chest being capable of verticaladjnstment.
  • the torpedo launching apparatus as claimed in claim 4 carried by the air chest being connected to an air reservoir through a conduit having a ball socket connection intermediate of its length.
  • each torpedo tube having a releasing cam designed to engage the torpedo and be automatically released by fluid pressure just prior to the torpedo being fired.

Description

Patented Nov. 26, 1918.
{SHEETS-SHEEI F. BAKER.
TORPEDO LAUNCHING APPARATUS.
APPLICATION men MAY 14. I917.
F. BAKER.
TORPEDO LAUNCHING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED- MAY 14. 1911.
1 ,285,58 6. Patented NOV. 26, 1918.
2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.
FRANK BAKER, 0F BROADVIEW, SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA.
TORPEDO-LAUNCHING APPARATUS.
Specification of Letters Patent.
Patented Nov. 26, 1918.
Application filed May 14, 1917. Serial No. 168,537.
To'aZZ whom it may concern:
Be it known that I, FRANK BAKER, of the town of Broadview, in the Province of Saskatchewan and the Dominion of Canada, in the Canadian Army, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 'in Torpedo- Launching Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.
This invention relates to improvements in guns particularly adapted for naval use and the objects of the invention are to permit of a series of torpedoes being fired in rapid succession and at gradually increased predetermined depths so that when chasing submarines the eifective range of the torpedoes may be greatly increased and thus effectively destroy the submarine after the same has dived or become submerged.
Further objects are to permit of the gun being mounted on merchant vessels, patrol boats and in all types of war craft, and to be so arranged that they may be utilized above or below water for offensive or defensive purposes.
Further objects still are to increase the efiiciency of the gun and render the operations of the same automatic, controlled either from the ships bridge or by a gun crew.
Further objects still are to permit of a vessel equipped with a gun of this description utilizing another vessel as a screen and firing torpedoes under the said screening vessel at eneniys vessels located on the opposite side of the screening vessel.
With the above and other objects in view the invention consists essentially of the improved construction particularly described and set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings forming part of the same.
In the drawings,
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the improved gun.
Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same.
I? ig. 3 is a sectional elevation of a torpedo tube.
Fig. l is a side elevation of one of the improved torpedoes.
Fig. 5 is a plan view of the same.
Like characters of reference refer tolike parts in the several figures.
Referring to the drawings, the improved gun comprising A represents the fixed barrel l, which is stayed or otherwise securely braced at the forward end to the hull B of the ship, tively supported by the standard C.
The outer wall of the forward end of this fixed barrel is made slightly conical and surrounded by an annular jacket 3 connected with an inlet conduit ehthrough which water at a high pressure is designed to be passed.
The hull B of the ship is provided with a port 5 arranged in alinement with the fixed barrel 1 of the gun and this port is designed to be closed by sluice gate 6 provided with a rod 7 which is connected at the lower end to the piston 8.
This piston slidably operates in the cylinder 9 provided at the lower end with a transversely extending wall 10 having an inlet port 11 therethrough and a spring 12 is located between the said piston and the said transverse wall.
This sluice gate is automatically opened by the high pressure water which is delivered to the conduit 4, a portion ofthis water passing through the inlet port 13 formed in the wall of the cylinder 9, and pressing the piston 8 downwardly, while the main body of the water passing into the annular jacket 3 is discharged through the port 5 in the hull of the ship and forms a water cone, tlje object of which will be made clear herea ter.
The sluice gate 6 is automatically closed under the action of the piston 8 acted upon by the spring 12 in conjunction with compressed air which is delivered to the cylinder 9 through the port 11, in the wall 10, and while the upward motion of the sluice gate 6 is taking place the water pressure delivered to the conduit 1 is somewhat reduced.
An auxiliary cone is also formed on the outside of the water cone by the use of a conduit 15 surrounding the port 5 and provided with a plurality of angularly disposed orifices 16 through which high pressure fluid is discharged to press back the wall of water and so reduce the water pressure on a torpedo D as it is being discharged from the fixed barrel 1.
This barrel is provided adjacent to its rear end with a valve chest 17 provided with a cut off port 18, the said valve chest being in the form of a cylinder having a piston 19 slidably operated therein and carrying a while the rear end may be operapiston rod around which a spiral spring 21 is arranged, the said spring being located between the end wall of the cylinder and the said piston.
The rear end of the fixed barrel 1 is provided with a conical recess 22 adapted to engage with the conical end 23 of the torpedo tube 25 carried by the magazine E. This magazine consists of a shaft 26 rotatably mounted in the standards C-and C and provided adjacent to its ends with a pair of disk plates 27 provided with a plurality of orifices 28 therethrough concentrically arranged around the said shaft.
Theseorifices are designed to engage with the torpedo tubes 25 operatively supporting the same in equidistantly spaced relation and the periphery of one of the'plates 27 is provided with serrations 29 designed to facili tate rotating the magazine through predetermined distance during each operation of the gun.
Coacting with the serrations 29 is a pawl 30 carried byv the piston rod 31 provided with a piston 32 slidably mounted in the angularly disposed cylinder 33 which is provided with a flanged end 34 with which the bolt 35 engages.
'The lower end of the cylinder 33 is connected to the air inlet pipe 36 provided intermediate of its length with a movable joint 37 which permitsof the cylinder 33, when the bolt 35 has been loosened, being rotated in a horizontal plane for the purpose of disassembling the magazine.
The inlet pipe 36 communicates at its upper end'witli the cylinder 17 and is provided intermediate of its length with a spring controlled check valve 36 below which is located a branch pipe 38 connected to the cylinder 39, which is provided intermediate of its length with an exhaust port 24.
A piston 40 slidably operates in this cylinder and is provided with a piston rod 41 which forms a locking member adapted to coact with the front plate 27 of the maga zine E and so look the magazine in the de sired predetermined position.
The cylinder 39 houses a spiral spring 42 adapted to coact with the piston 40 and normally press the same outwardly.
The cylinder 33 is provided adjacent to its upper end with an outlet port 43 designed to exhaust the air from the said cylinder and permit of the piston 32 being returned to its normal position under the action of the spiral spring 44 which extends around the piston rod 31 and is located between the piston 32 and the upper end of the cylinder, the said piston being further provided with a leaf or like spring 45 designed to coact with the pawl 30 and normally press the same into contact with the periphery of the serrated disk plate 27.
j the inlet into the conduit '55.
The magazine may be locked in position by the locking device 46, which is of any suitable construction and the magazine is normally positioned so that the uppermost tube 25 will be disengaged from the fixed barrel 1 by means of the spiral spring 47 which is located between the standards C and the front disk plate 27. V
The position of the disk plates 27 is pre determined so that'the torpedo tubes 25 will be in turn brought into alinement with the fixedbarrel 1 during each operation of the gun and longitudinal movement of the disk plates on the shaft 26 is obviated by the use of collars 48"provided with set pins 49 coacting therewith and adapted to frictionally engage with the shaft 26 and so position the collars.
Each of the torpedo tubes is provided adjacentto its "forward end with a'slot 50, in Which the retaining cam 51 is pivotally mounted, the outer end of the cam being connected towthe piston rod 52 which'is provided with a piston 53 slidably mounted in the cylinder 54 formed integral with the said tubes.
The retaining cam 51 is also inclosed by the casing 54 formed'integral with the said tubes and the cylinder is provided with an air conduit 55' co'nnectedto the rear" end of the torpedo tubes.
Air is admitted tothe conduit 55 through port 56, the air being controlled by the valve 57- which is normally pressed into engagement with the said port through the medium of the spring 58 located above the valve and coasting at its outer end With the adjustable screw'or plug 59 threaded The rear end of each of the torpedo tubes is provided with ace-nical recess 60, each designed in turn to engage with the conical end 61 of thedownwardly projecting tubular arm 62 of the air chest 63 whichis supported by the hangers 64 from the track 65.
These hangers are provided intermediate of their length with turn buckles 66 which permit ofthe' adjustment of the same'to elevate or lower the air chest to the desired extent, the upper ends of the hangers are provided with Wheels 67 designed to run along the track 65.
Between the tubular arm 62 and the body of the air chest 63, ports 68 are located which are of substantial v'-shape, and coacting with these ports is a D valve 69 con nected through the rod 70 with the lever 71 pivotally mounted intermediate of its length and connected at the lower end to the link 72, which in turn is connected to the lower end of the lever 73 pivotally supported intermediate of its length.
The upper end of the lever 73 is pivotally attached to the piston rod 74 which carries a piston 7 5 slidably mounted in the cylin- 1,2a5,5se
der or valve chest 7 5, the said piston being normally spring pressed outwardly by means of aspiral spring '77 located between the end of the cylinder and the said piston.
This cylinder or valve chest is provided intermediate of its length with peripheral recesses 7 8 in the inner wall to permit of the air located in the forward part of the cylinder being readily exhausted through the said peripheral recesses and exhaust port 79 extending through the cylinder or valve chest walls adjacent to one end thereof. a
This cylinder or valve chest is connected through the conduit 80 with the air reservoir 81, and the conduit is provided intermediate of its length with a valve 82 designed to be normally held closed by the spring 83 connected to the rod 84.
The reservoir 81 is also connected to the air chest 63 through the conduit 85 provided intermediate of its length and with a ball and socket connection 86 permitting of the valve chest being moved to a limited extent in a longitudinal direction without any liability of the air escaping through the said joint. 7 i
The valve chest 63 is connected at that end remote from the arm 62 to one end of the piston rod 87 the opposite end of which is connected to the piston 88 slidably mounted in the cylinder or valve chest 89, which is provided in one of its end walls with an air outlet port 90 normally closed by the valve 91 held in position by the spring 92.
The piston 88 coacts with a spiral spring 93 housed in the cylinder or valve chest 89, and located between the end wall and the piston so that under the action of this spring,
the air chest 63 is normally held with the arm 62 spaced from the uppermost torpedo tube 25.
Air is admitted through the conduit 94: from the air reservoir 81 and this conduit is provided with a valve 95 provided with a depending arm 96 designed to coact with the offset tappet member 97 carried by the piston 20. This offset tappet member is provided intermediate of its ends with a second arm 98 designed to coactwith the valve 91, and under certain circumstances to unseat the same to permit of the air pressure in the valve chest or cylinder 89 being reduced orexhausted.
The torpedoes D which are designed to be utilized with this gun are provided with the usual turbine. propeller. gyro and other attachments at present in use but in other respects the construction of the torpedo is unique. being inexpensive and provided at the point with planes 99 which may be adjusted in a longitudinal direction to give to the torpedo when discharged the desired course or path.
These planes are provided intermediate of their length with a swivel connection 100 which permits of their being angularly adjusted to the desired extent and the conical end of the torpedo may be slightly corrugated to hold the planes in the desired position.
These torpedoes are also provided at the rear end with steering planes 101 and the air in the torpedo is electrically heated by means of a resistance 102 which is inserted in an electric circuit when the torpedoes are loaded in the magazine and are ready for immediate use when required in emergency.
In loading these torpedoes, they are inserted inverted into the lowermost torpedo tube 25 between the legs of the standards C, and as the magazine E is rotated and each tube comes to its uppermost position, the torpedo will then be in a normal position ready to be discharged from the gun.
The assembly of the several parts will be readily understood from the foregoing description.
WV hen the gun is in use, the torpedo tubes 25 of the magazine E are filled with torpedoes whereupon the valve 95 is actuated to permit air flowing from the reservoir 81 through the conduit 9% into the valve chest or cylinder 89 to move the piston 88 which in turn transmits its motion to the air chest 63, moving the same in a longitudinal direction to engage the tapered end 61 of the tubular arm 62 with the conical recess 60 of the uppermost torpedo tube 25, the tapered front end 23 of which engages with the conical recess 22 of the fixed barrel 1.
The sluice gate 6 is opened by water under pressure being admitted to the conduit 4; in the manner previously described and simultaneously with the opening of the gate, the water cone is formed in front of the port 5, in the hull B of the ship while the auxiliary cone is also formed by discharging fluid under pressure from the orifice 16 in the conduit 15.
The valve 82 is now actuated and air is admitted through the conduit 80 to the valve chest or cylinder 76, moving the piston 75.
and actuating the lever 73. link 72, lever 71,
rod 70 and D valve 69 permitting air to flow from the reservoir 81 and air chest (33 through the tubular arm 62 into the torpedo tube 25.
Then the air enters the torpedo tube and the desired pressure is attained the valve 57 is unseated and air flows through the port 56 to the conduit and moves the piston 54 forwardly, so releasing the cam 51 and allowing the torpedo to be fired by the com pressed air in the torpedo tube.
Just as the torpedo D is fired air is admittedto the cut off port 18 and moves the piston 19, causing the rod 20 to engage with the lever 71 and actuate the rod 70 to close the D valve 69, and the offset tappet 97 will engage with the depending arm 96 of the valve andso close the same while the arm 98 unseats the valve 91 and allows the air in the cylinder 89 to exhaust; The air in front of the piston 7 5 Whichoperates in the-cylinder Y 7 6 is exhausted by passing through the recess 78 and escaping through the exhaust port 79, The spring 93 will thus move the piston 88 which in turn moves the valve chest 63 to disengage the conical end 61 of the arm 62 from the conical recess of the torpedo 25.
The magazine E is now moved backwardly by the spring 47 coacting with the front serrated disk plate 27.
Simultaneously with the rearward-motion of the magazine E, the air passing from the cylinder 17, passes through the check valve 36 'and pipe 36 and some of the air is delivered through the branch pipe 38 to the cylinder 39 moving the piston 4:0 and disengaging the locking rod 41 from the serrated disk plate 27.
Air also passes to the cylinder 33 and moves the piston 32 upwardly, causing the piston rod 31 and coacting pawl 30 to rotate the serrated disk plate 27 toa predetermined distance to bring the next torpedo tube 35 into alinement with the fixed barrel 1, when the above operations of firing the torpedo are repeated.
By using the check valve 36 the air in the pipe 36 is maintained at-normal pressure to actuate the pistons 4:0-and 32, after the t0rpedo has been fired and there is no leakage of air back through the by-pass 18.
It will be seen that the valve 82 is normally closed after being actuated or opened and is immediately closed on being released by the spiral spring 83.
When the air has been cut ofl from the port 18, the spring 42 moves the piston l0 and reengages the locking rod 41 with the serrated disk plate 27, holding the magazine E in the desired position, while the piston 32 is returned to its normal position under the influence of the spring a l, so permitting the pawl 30 to engage another serration 29 preparatory to rotating the magazine E through another predetermined dis tance to bring the next torpedo tube 25 into alinement with the fixed barrel 1.
When the magazine E is emptied, the sluice gate is closed and the magazine recharged. By providing Water cones at the front of the port 5, it will be understood that the torpedo D is free to enter the water without any tendency of the water to divert the torpedo from it's intended path.
Although I have illustrated this gun with the several valves arranged for mechanical or manual operation at the gun, it willbe understood that by using magnets or solenoids in an electric circuit, the gun may be actuated from the bridge of a ship and the several operations will then be automatically followed one by the other.
As many changes could be made in the above description and many apparently ings shall beinterpreted' as illustrative and not in a limited sense.
aving now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my saidinvention, and what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I; claim is:
1. A" torpedo launching apparatus comprising a fixed'bar-rel, a rotatable magazine cooperating with the fixed barrel, means for moving the magazine longitudinally, the magazine comprising a plurality of torpedo tubes arranged in cylindrical formation with means for automatically locking the magazine in position as each tube comes into alin'ement'with the fixedbarrel.
2. The torpedo I launching apparatus claimed in claim 1 carried by means for forming a water cone in front of the fixed barrel when the gun is utilized in submarine Warfare.
3. The torpedo launching apparatus as claimed in claim 2 characterized by an auxiliary means for forming a second water cone in front of the first cone.
4. The torpedo launching apparatus as claimed in claim 3 characterized by an air chest being suspended above the magazine and means whereby the air chest and the uppermost tube of the magazine are successively moved into intimate engagement with eachother and with the fixed barrel of the gun.
The torpedo launching apparatus as claimedin claim 4 in Which the air chest is formed with a tubular depending arm designed to be engaged with the rear end of the uppermost tube of the magazine.
6. The torpedo launching apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which a valve operates between the air chest and the tubular arm.
7. The torpedo launching apparatus. as claimed in claim 4 characterized by the air chest being capable of verticaladjnstment.
8. The torpedo launching apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which the air chest moving means are actuated by compressed fluid.
9. The torpedo launching apparatus as claimed in claim a in whichthe air chest is moved rearwardly by resilient means.
10. The torpedo launching apparatus as claimed: in claim 6 in which the valve is opened by compressed fluid and closed by resilient means.
11. The torpedo launching apparatus as claimed in claim 4; carried by the air chest being connected to an air reservoir through a conduit having a ball socket connection intermediate of its length.
12. The torpedo launching apparatus as claimed in claim 11 in which a port is termed in the hull of a ship in front of the fixed barrel and designed to be opened and closed by an automatically actuated sluice gate.
13. The torpedo launching apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the magazine locking means is opened under air pressure and locked by resilient means.
14. The torpedo launching apparatus as claimed in claim 1 characterized by each torpedo tube having a releasing cam designed to engage the torpedo and be automatically released by fluid pressure just prior to the torpedo being fired.
15. The torpedo launching apparatus as claimed in claim 14 in which the releasing cam is returned to its normal locking position by resilient means.
16. The torpedo launching apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which the adjacent ends of the tubular depending arm, of the FRANK BAKER.
Witnesses J. D. CoLQUHoUN, JAMES BOYD.
Copies of this patent :ma; be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.
US16853717A 1917-05-14 1917-05-14 Torpedo-launching apparatus. Expired - Lifetime US1285586A (en)

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