US1295742A - System of teledynamic control. - Google Patents

Description

J H. HAMMOND. m. SYSTEM OF TELEDYNAMIC CONTROL. APPLICATION FILED sums. i913. nzucwso FEB. 9. 1918.

1,295,742. 4 Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

4 SHEET S-SHEEI ATTORNEYS 1.11. HAMMOND. 1R

SYSTEM OF TELEDYNAMIC CONTROL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.8, I913- RENEWED FEB. 9. l9l8.

Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

.4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR WITH/E8858 1 H. HAMMOND. JR;

SYSTEM OF TELEDYNAMIC CONTROL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPTA 19H]. RENEWED FEB. 9. I9l8.

Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

E a Q J. H. HAMMOND, JR. SYSTEM OF TELEDYNAMIC CONTROL. APPLICATION FILED sens. I913. RENEWED FEB. 9. 1918,

Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

.4 SHEETS-SHEET 4'.

INVENTOR fir WM.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN HAYS HAMMOND, JR., OF GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

SYSTEM OF TELEDY NAMIC CONTROL.

Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

Application filed September 8, 1913, Serial No. 788,540. Renewed February 9, 1918. Serial 'No. 216,403.

My invention relates to systems for con-- trolling and operating mechanisms at a distance, and relates more particularly to systems in which received radiant energy causes pneumatic, hydraulic or other fluidoperated mechanisms to perform various functions.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 shows a general diagrammatic view of one of my receiving stations which may be on a torpedo boat or other vessel, and it is to be understood that there is a corresponding transmitting station, either on shore or on another vessel, capable of sending out radio signals.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4; show different views of pneumatic mechanisms in one of my receivingstations. F ig; 2 is a top view, partly in section; Fig. v3 is a side view. partly in section; and Fig. 4 is an end view.

In Fig. 1, A is an antenna, grounded at E, through the inductance coil L, the latter being inductively coupled with the inductance coil L of the oscillatory circuit L C,

C being a variable condenser. By means of the stopping condenser C and the rectify-- ing detector D, unidirectional current impulses are supplied to the relay F, which, when actuated, permits current from the battery B to flow through electromagnet G,

which has a magnetic core 9. I is a relay cylinder with a relay valve H, in which is the valve stem h, having a magnetic pole piece h at its end, in proximity to the core 9 of the electromagnet G. Relay cylinder I contains a piston 1, (shown in Fig. 2), which has a rod J. This rod carries a rack j, which engages with a pinion J. This pinion is attached to the rotary valve or commutator K, and causes it to rotate. The tank T contains compressed air or other fluid, and is connected by means of the pipe 1 with the commutator K. A branch pipe 2 leads from pipe 1 to the relay valveH. Pipes?) and 4 lead from the commutator K to the cylinder of the steering engine M. Pipes 5 and 6 lead fromthe commutator K to the cylinder of the clutch engine N, and

pipe 7 leads from K to the cylinder 0. The pipe 8 leads from the relay cylinder I to the rotary valve K, and at or near its junction with I, it has an adjustable aperture or valve V, which regulates the flow 'of air or other fluid through it. The adjustable valves or cocks V, V and V are attached to the pipes 5, 6 and 7, respectively, for the purpose of regulating the flow of air, or other fluid, through the pipes and into the cylinders N and O.

The cylinder M has the piston rod P, which is operatively connected with the steering gear IT. The cylinder N has the piston W which is operatively connected with the clutch gear X, X, X which operates the clutch Y, connecting the main engine R with the shaft Z.

The cylinder has a piston (not shown) with a piston rod 0, the stop 13 and electrical contact 14. A tension spring S tends to pull the. rod 0 and the attached pieces 13 and 1 1 downward. An adjustable valve or cock V regulates the flow of air from the upper end of the cylinder 0, and can cause the piston and piston rod 0 to move up as slowly as may be desired. 4

Q and Q are discharge tubes or chambe'rs, containing the bombs or projectiles Q, and Q and the charges of explosive g and g, respectively, and charges or fuses. Flexible or spring contacts 15 and 16 are connected by means of conductors 17 and 18, respectively, through spark gaps in the 9 with the grounds E and E Movable contact 1-1 is permanently connected to one pole. of battery B, the other pole of which is grounded at E. A pipe 9 connects the tube or chamber Q with the cylinder 10, in which is thepiston 11 and rod 12, the latter, in its initial position, being held back by the spring S out of the way of the stop 13. A check valve V allows the compressed 'gases from cylinder Q to enter freely into cylinder 10, but permits them to exhaust from only slowly. A small valve V also permits gases to leak out of cylinder 10 only slowly. The left end of cylinder 10 has large openings, or is entirely open with the exception of a frame to hold the rod 12 and the spring S so that the piston 11 and rod 12 can move freely and quickly to the left.

In Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the various parts shown have the same characters as the correg and g are .ignitaonignition charges g andattached to which are I energized, pole piece or armature it will be attracted and valve stem It will be moved so as to admit compressed air, or other fluid, to the relay cylinder I. Piston I and rod J will be pushed to the right and will cause rack j and pinion J to rotate commutator K. \Vhen commutator K is in the position where air, or other fluid, is admitted to the pipe 3, fluid will flow from tank T through pipe 1 to commutator K, through corresponding ports to pipe 3, and through pipe 3 to the left end of cylinder M. \Vhen the commutator is in this position, pipe 4: allows the right end of cylinder M to exhaust through suitable ports in the commutator. The piston and piston rod P are therefore moved to the right and operate the steering gear U.- \Vhen commutator K is in position for pipe 4; to admit air from tank T to the right end of cylinder M, pipe 3 is connected with an exhaust port of the commutator, and piston rod P and steering gear U are moved in the reverse direction. These respective operations take place without delay, assoon as the commutator has reached the proper position.

When commutator K is rotated to the positlon where pipe 5 is in communication with pipe 8 compressed air or other fluid can pass through the relay valve H into cylinder I, and thence through pipe 8 to rotary valve K and pipe 5. But before the fluid can leave cylinder I, piston I must have moved far enough to the right to uncover the opening to pipe 8, and as there is only a small aperture or valve V between cylinder I and pipe 8, the fluid will enter pipe 8 and rotary valve K only slowly, and not in sufliclent volume to produce any operative eflect on the piston in cylinder N, unless the electromagnet G is energized for a considerable period and the rotary valveIC held in pos1t1on to communicate with pipe 5 at the same time.

The fluid may also be retarded in its passage through valve V to any degree desired, so that this affords an additional means for delaylng its action on the piston of cylinder N, and piston rod WV will not move far enough to the right to operate clutch gear X, X, X and clutch Y unless the commutator K is kept in the aforesaid position for an appreciable len 11 of time. In like manner. if the clutch T has connected engiue R and shaft Z, and it. is desired to disconnect them, the commutator I\'- must be held for some time in the. position where cylinder 1 and pipe 8 are in communication with pipe (3. before enough air can pass through valves V and Y to move the piston in cylinder X and piston rod \Y far enough to the left to operate clutch gear X, X, X and disengage clutch Y. 'hen air is being admitted to one end of cylimler N through pipe 5, air is being exhausted from the other end through pipe (3 and a corresponding exhaust port in connnutator K, and vice versa. The valves Y and Y may be so arranged that they will allow air to move freely through them toward the commutator K, while it is retarded when moving toward cylinder X, or it may be retarded when moving in both directions.

The commutator ports for operating the clutch mechanism are preferably between the ports for operating the steering mechanism measured on the circumference of the rotary valve, so that the position of the steering gear and rudder can be rapidly changed by passing over the clutch-operating positions of the commutator so quickly that the clutch will not be operated.

'hen the commutator K is in the position where cylinder I and pipe 8 are in com munication with pipe 7. compressed air is admitted to pipe 7, but is delayed in its entrance to pipe 8 and is retarded in its passage through aperture V and valve Y to any degree desired, so that its action on the piston of cylinder is delayed. and piston rod 0 will not move up far enough to fire the light bombs Q or Q unless electromagnet G is energized and commutator K is kept in the aforesaid position for an appreciable length of time. Valve V can also be arranged to delay the movement of the piston in cylinder 0, by adjusting this valve so that it will permit air to escape only slowly from the upper end of cylinder 0. Valve V can be adjusted so that it will also permit air to enter the upper end of cylinder 0 quickly, and valve V can be adjusted so that it will permit air to flow freely from the lower end of cylinder 0 when commutator K is turnedso that pipe 7 is in communication with an exhaust port.

When, by means of the transmitted radio signals, commutator K has been rotated into the position where cylinder I and pipe 8 are in communication with pipe 7, and has been held there long enough for the compressed air to pass through aperture V and valve V and operate the piston in cylinder 0, this piston and the rod 0" will move up so that contact 14 will connect with contact- 15. When 14 and 15 make contact, a circuit is completed from the battery B through the conductor 17 and the spark gap in the 55 the commutator K may be fired and charge 9 will be exploded, and the light bomb or projectile Q, will. be discharged. At the same time the pressure due to the explosion is transmitted through the check valve V and the pipe 9 to the cylinder 10 and forces the piston 11 and rod 12 to the left, so that the latter moves into the way of stop 13. This prevents contact 14 from connecting with flexible contact 16, and discharging the second bomb Q. The gases will then slowly leak out of cylinder 10 through check valve V and small valve V and piston 11 and rod 12 will be slowly forced back to the right by spring S But before rod 12 can release stop 13, the operator at the transmitting station can cease sending signals, or can rotate commutator K to another posit-ion, so that pipe 7 communicates with an exhaust port, and the air is exhausted from the lower end of cylinder 0 before contact 14 has moved up far enough to touch contact 16, and the spring S then draws rod 0, stop 13 and contact 14 back to their original lower position, as quickly as may be desired.

When it is desired to discharge a second bomb Q, signals are sent out from the transmitting station until the commutator K again reaches a position where compressed air is admitted to cylinder 0. Rod 0' will then move up with its piston, and as the St0p-.

13 is no longer held by rod 12, contact 14 will move past the flexible contact 15 and will touch contact 16, when the circuit from battery B will be completed through" conductor 18 and the spark gap in ignition charge g Charge 9 will therefore be fired and charge exploded and bomb Q will be discharged.

As many bombs as is desired may be provided and discharged, it being understood that the corresponding cylinders, circuits and other auxiliary apparatus may be multiplied as often as is necessary. These bombs may contain some substance, such as calcium phosphid, which will give out light on contact with water, and so can illuminate the ships of an enemy and enable their position to be determined. Some of the features of this system for discharging bombs have been already shown and described in my application for United States Letters Patent Serial No. 745,57 6, but I do not confine myself to this particular system, but any suitable means for discharging bombs may be used with my present invention.

There may be another commutator port for operating the light bombs, and these ports may be between ports for operating the steering mechanism, so that the position of the steering gear and rudder can be rapidly changed by passing over the bomboperating positions of the commutator so quickly that the bomb will not be discharged.

As many ports or operating positions of be provided as is the rudder moved to suitable or convenient, and between each operating posit-ion of the commutator there may be a neutral position. There will preferably be an evennumber of positions for operating the steering gear, and between each of these positions will be one for operating clutch mechanism, light bomb or other apparatus, but I can also have any other number of ports suitable for any particular case, and may arrange them in any convenient order, the main point being that the steering gear can be operated quickly, and V V V starboard or to port, without operating the other mechanisms. The rotation of the commutator is effected by means of the received radio signals, and so is at all times under the control of the operator at the transmitting station.

Wherever, in this description of my invention, the terms right, left, up and down are used, it is to be understood that they refer to the arrangement and position of the apparatus and mechanisms as. shown in the drawings, and that they may be modified or changed according to the position of the apparatus.

Besides the steering gear, I have here shown an engine clutch and light bombs, but I do not confine myself to the particular kind of steering gear, clutch and light bomb here shown, noreven to any kind of clutches or light bombs, but may employ any other suitable or convenient apparatus and mech anlsms. l

I may employ any suitable radio receiving 1 0 apparatus, and I may use any appropriate means for propelling and steering mv torpedo or other vessel. I may also app y my invention to uses "other than for steering vessels and operating apparatus thereon, and in general, I do not confine myself to the particular apparatus andmechanisms here shown, but various changes and modifications, within the knowledge of those skilled in the art, may be made in the particular apparatusand mechanisms shown and described herein, without departing from the spirit of my invention, provided the means set forth in the following claims be employed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A system of teledynamic control comprising a receiving apparatus for radiant energy, an electro-pneumatic valve cont-rolled by said receiving apparatus, a pneumatic commutator controlled by said valve, 9. plurality of ports in said commutator, a plurality of mechanisms controlled by said ports,and means whereby non-adjacent ports, may enable their corresponding mechanisms to operate without causing the operation of the mechanisms controlled by the intermediate ports.

2. A system of distance control for mechto said mechanisms, and means whereby mechanisms governed by non-adjacent commutator ports may be caused to operate successively without causing the mechanisms governed by the intermediate commutator ports to operate.

3. In a system for controlling mechanisms from a distance, a supply of fluid under pressure, a relay valve, a fluid-operated pis-' ton controlled by said relay valve, a rotary valve operated by said piston and connected with said supply of fluid, a plurality of fluid-operated mechanisms, a plurality of ports in said rotary valve for admitting fluid to said mechanlsms, and means whereby mechanisms controlled by non-adjacent ports may be caused to operate in rapid sequence, Without causing the mechanisms governed by the intermediate ports to operate.

4:. In a system for controllingmechanims 'from a distance, a supply of fluid under pressure, a relay valve, a rotary ,valve controlled by said relay valve, a plurality of fluid-operated mechanisms, a plurality of ports in said rotary valve arranged to connect said mechanisms selectively with said fluid supply, and retarding means for causing certain of said mechanisms to remain inoperative for a predetermined time interval after they have'been connected with the fluid supply. v

5. A system of teledynamic control which comprises a receiving apparatus for radiant energy, an electromagnet controlled by said receiving apparatus, a relay valve operated by said electromagnet, a supply of fluid, a rotary valve, a plurality of fluid operated mechanisms, connecting pipes between said rotary valve and said mechanisms, and means for retarding the passage of fluid through certain of said pipes.

6. In a system for controlling-vessels at a distance, a radio-receiving apparatus, a

.supply of fluid under pressure, a relay valve controlled by said receiving apparatus, a rotary valve controlled by said relay valve,

steering mechanisms controlled by said rotary valve, other mechanisms controlled by said rotary valve, and means for delaying the action of said other mechanisms.

7. In a teledynamically controlled discharge system, means for detachably supporting a series of dischargeable bodies upon a movable body, means for discharging one of said dischargeable bodies from said mova able body by radiant energy, and means controlled by the discharge of said one of said bodies to retard the discharge of a succeeding body.

8. In a teledynamically controlled dis: charge system, means for supporting a plurality of projectiles upon a basal body, means controlled by radiant energy from a distance for discharging one of said projectiles, and subsequent discharg retarding means operated by such prior discharge of said projectile.

9. A system of producing expansion of fluids at a distance in predetermined sequence, comprising a receiving circuit for radiant energy, a relay in said circuit, a plurality of expansive elements, means for expanding said elements controlled by said relay, and a mechanism permitting a limited of each expansive element.

10; Means for effecting a plurality of results comprising an element responsive to radiant energy, a plurality of devices arranged to be controlled by said element, and pneumatic means arranged to 'be actuated as a result of the cooperation of said element With one of said devices to retard the cooperation of said element with another of said devices.

11. The combination with a plurality of relatively stationary contacts, means adapted to receive a plurality of explosive charges corresponding to said contacts respectively, partial electric circuits connected to said contacts respectively for exploding said charges, a relatively movable contact arranged to engage said relatively stationary contacts successively, a partial electric circuit connected to said relatively movable contact and adapted to complete said firstmentioned partial circuits successively, and

pneumatic means operative as a result of the explosion of one of said charges to delay the explosion of a second of said charges.

12. The combination with a plurality of contacts of a relatively movable contact piece arranged to engage said first-mew tioned contacts successively, and pneumatic mean-s operating as a result of the engage ment of said contact piece with one of said first-mentioned contacts to temporarily oppose the engagement of said contact piece With another one of said first-mentioned contacts. I v

\ 13. The combination with a plurality of contacts of a relatively movable contact piece arranged to engage said first-mentioned contacts successively, and explosive means operating as the result of the engagement of said contact piece with one of said first-mentioned contacts to temporarily oppose the engagement of said contact piece with another one of said first-mentioned contacts.

14. The combination with a plurality of relatively stationary contacts, means adapted to receive a plurality of explosive charges corresponding to said contacts respectively; partial electric circuits connected to said contacts respectively for exploding said charges; a relatively movable contact arranged to engage said relatively stationary contacts successively, a partial electric circuit connected to said relatively movable contact and adapted to complete said first- 10 mentioned partial circuits successively, and

means operative as a result of the explosion of one of saidcharges to delay the explosion of a second of said charges.

This specification signed and witnessed this 28th day of August, A. D. 1913.

JOHN HAYS HAMMOND, JR.

G. W. MOKAY.

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