US1303044A - brooklyn - Google Patents

Description

W. DIETER. AuToMoBnE ToRPEDo.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 8| l9l8.

1,303,044. I Patented May 6, 1919.

above stated, being normal UNITED sTATEs PATNT Trice.'

WILLIAM DIETER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIG-NOR TO E. W. BLISS COMPANY, OFA

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A' CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

AUTOMOBILE TOR-PEDO.

.ni-sm, such as the well-lmown gyroscopic steering mechanism. The purpose of theA invention is to make provision for inter? rupting the normal steering after the torpedo has completed a predetermined portionv of its normali run and to thereupon cause the torpedo to steer in an approximately circular course.

If, for example, an enemy iieet is at a distance of say 10,000 yards from the torpedo boat from which the torpedo is to be launched, it is desirable to have the torpedo steer the usual substantially straight course vfor approximately 10,000 yards and thereupon to steer a circular course, whereby the chance of its doing execution upon some one of the enemy ships is greatly increased. Heretofore, the torpedo being aimed to steer a straight course, has had only one chance or opportunity for hitting its target; if it missed the target it would continue to travel in t-he same direction and unless some other ship chanced'to be in its line of travel beyond, the torpedo shot was wasted. But, by causing the torpedo to steer a circular course in the zone or region occupied by the enemy ships, its chance of hitting one or more ships is greatly increased.

This desideratum has been heretofore recognized and means have been proposed for accomplishing this result, but such means have not been such as to render them practicable 'in View of the exigencies of Warfare. The present invention provides improved means for accomplishing the object such as to render the performance of the torpedo more certain and to facilitate its accurate adjustment to the desired course. According to the present invention, instead of providing means extraneous to the steering mechanism for locking the rudder when hard over to either side, or otherwise dominating the steering function so as to force-the torpedo to steer a curved Specification of Letters Patent. Application led February 8, 1918. Serial No. 216,102.

-point of launching Patented Mayo, 1919.

course, the steering mechanism is so modified and controlled as to first `function in its normal;x manner until aA predetermined range is reached, and thereupon to accomplish the steering of the circular course for the remainder of the run of the torpedo. This may be variously accomplished, a suitable means therefor being herewith illustrated.

Figure 1 of the iaccompanying drawings is -a diagram vshowing the course -of the torpedo;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the. after portion of the torpedo, .illustrating the application of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a 'transverse section thereof looking aft, the section being in the plane of.'

the line 3-3 in4 Fig. 2; I Y

Fig. i-'is a plan of part ofthe steering mechanism on a larger scale, partly in horizontal, longitudinal mid-section;

ig. 5 is ,va sideA elevation lof the same mechanism, partly' in vertical mid-sectiong Fig. 6 is an enlargement of part of Fig. 3,

being partly in vertical transverselsection;-

Fig. 7 is an enlargement of the cam wheel and connections shown in Fig. f2, Withthe air valve in longitudinal mid-section;

Fig. 8 is an elevation of the setting scale on the outside of the torpedo hull.

Referring first to Fig. 1, A designates a launching tube `and B designates the course of a torpedo launched therefrom. The iig# ures 41,000, 10,000 and 15,000 marked on this course may be taken as indicating yards or meters. B1 indicates to a magnified scale) a circular course ,which may be steered by the torpedo, which in this case commences at 4,000 yards. B2 in dotted lines indicates a similar circular course which may commence at 1000 yards.4 These figures areA given as illustrations, since the circular course may begin at any point after a suit-Y able interval in the run' of the torpedo sutlicient tocarry it far-enough away from the to avoid danger to the which it is launched, or same fieet. In the illustration given. 15,000 yards is assumed as the total normal straight run of the torpedo. The full lines show the launching of the torpedo in the normal manner by aiming the launching tube at the target. The diagram shows in dotted lines at the left, the case of the so-called angle fire in which thi-iter.- pedo tube, indicated at A', is aimed .linatorpedo boat from other vessels of the direction removed by a given number of degrees Afrom the' ultimate straight course B of the torpedo, the steering mechanism being setto steer through the circular arc indicated at a, which continues until the torpedo has been steered through an arc of the prescribed number of degrees, whereupon gram is therefore the general course steered, I

being the mean of the successive arcs or sinuosities, which would be imperceptible in il diagram on the scale here given.

The object of the present invention is to providejsuch construction of steering mecha- 'nism as Willenable the torpedo to be .launched in the normal manner either for direct fire or angle fire, and to provide that after ithas traversed a minimum portion of its course(her`e assumed to be 4000 yards) it may be caused thereafter, at any desired point in the run, to abandon its normal straight course and steer a 'circular course such as .shown at Bl or B2. The point in the course at which .the circular steerfing begins is determined by the actual or estimated distance of the target, so that .the circular course steered by the torpedo shall coincide as nearly as possible with the location or course of the enemy ship or Heet and enable the torpedo to repeatedly traverse such course, thereby correspondingly multiplying its chance of doing execution.

Referring to Fig. 2, C designates the propellershaft or shafts for driving in the usual manner the propeller screws which turn in contrary directions. D designates, as a whole, the usual gyroscopic steering mechanism, which comprises a steering engine E (or any other equivalent steering mechanism) which, through the usual actuating rod or tiller i'od operates the tiller c for turning the rudders (l. Compressed air from the air flask passes through a pipe f to a pressure-reducing valve g, and thence `at .reduced pressure by pipe i to the usual superheater F, and thence by pipe c' to the engine, which latter (not shown) may be a reciprocating engine or turbine, as preferred. The engine drives in the usual manner the propeller shaft C. All of the parts',

y thus far referred to are customary in torpedoes and' may be of the usual or any suitable, construction, and form no part of the present invention.

The present invention requires first sonie suitable form of timing or reducing mechanism foi,Z bringing about the initiation of the steering of the circular course at any desiredpoint in the run of the torpedo, and

3 so that this period may be determined by the operator before the launching of the torpedo. In the construction shown, the timing mechanism consists simply of atrain of gearing in the specific form shown.coinprisinga worm 4 on. the propeller shaft C,

a worm-wheel 5 driven thereby carrying on its shaft a Worm 6 which in turn drives a Worm-wheel 7 on the shaft of which is a Worm 8 which drives a worm-wheel 9), this train terminating in a revolving cam G having a cam 'projectionor tooth j which at the predetermined point in its revolution actuates the mechanism .for ldetermining the circle steering.

F or accomplishing the circle steering acthe rudder to one side and hold it there during the period of steering such circular course. Obviously, this result may be accomplished in various ways, as, for example, by`

discontinuing the alternate movements of the steering engine or by so dominating the lat- `ter that its continued alternate movements or efforts are impotent to throw the rudder. A simple and easily applied means for accomplishing the desired result is that'shown in the accompanying drawings, which involves the application of mechanical means for holding the tiller when thrown to one side l,and preventing its being afterward operated or thrown hack by the action of the steering engine. This means is very simple in its application and involves no interference with the normal operation of the steer- .ing engine under attempted control of the' gyroscope, and hence involves no change in the construction of the steering engine or gyroscopic steering mechanism.` The circle steering mea-ns therefore simply dominates and overcomes the normal action ofthe steering mechanism, and forcibly holds the rudder hard over (or partially so) to either side so as to steer a circular course in the corresponding direction. While this result may he accpmplished by the application of various mechanical means,

the simplest, most easily controlled, and most positive and elective in its operation is by means operated hy compressed air, To this end a special air valve is provided which is operated by the cam projection to admit the air at the proper instant to vexert its dominating effect to overcome the no1-mal its active position (shown in fu engine J is held in the pressed air.

Steering. The preferred construction of this apparatus will now be described.

The air valve vH receives air at reduced pressure from the low pressure side of the reducer g through a pipe c. This valve is normally closed, but when opened by the cam j it admits compressed air through a pipe Z to a compressed'air cylinder J which is suitably "mounted in any convenient location Within the torpedo. The piston'J of this-cylinder is normally retracted by the spring m. l' Its piston rod carries theeffec- 've circle ,steering element K which isfto act directly or indirectly upon the tiller c. In the construction shown th element K is a Wedge, preferably a double or bifurcated Wedge, which embraces the tiller rod and, when projected from its normal ositvion to l lines in Fig. 5) acts upon a collar or ,projection n on said rod and thrusts this collar in one direction or'the other to thereby throw over the rudder. The air pressure engine J is made to dominate the steering engine E, either by making it of larger area or-'in any other convenient manner. The wedge mem- 'ber K is'shown as supported against a fixed support p' which receives the reaction of the wedging thrust.

The air valve H is specially constructed to avoidjany derangement due to leakage. The valve casing g incloses a chamber 1' to which compressed air is constantly admitted through the port lla', the outlet through port Z is closed by a diaphragm s of thin metal or other puncturable material which, under the operation of the cam projection j, is

punctured by means of a spur t carried by av plunger u which is normally retracted by a spring 1 5. The escape of air around the plunger uis prevented by a packing c which s held seated in the inactive condition of the valve. The diaphragm s is carried by a re` movable member Q of the valve casing, which is shown as a screw plug, the diaphragm -being preferably soldered thereto. It results that the compressed air is reliably sealed off by the diaphragm from access to the pipe Z and engine J until the spur is operated to puncture this diaphragm, wherei upon the compressed air rushes through and operates the engine J;

and thereafter the position shown in Fig. 5 by the continued action of the comair valve H affords an important safeguard. against premature operation of the circle steering mechanism by preventing any possibility of leakage of compressed air into the cylinder J.

To enable the operator to determine at what point in the run A simple way of'accomphslnng this 1s to provide that The described construction of i of the torpedo the circle steering shall begin, the timing mech-- anism is made adjustable at will.

and simple operation which may.

thecam G may be turned at the outset to any desired position so as to, cause its cam projection j to traverse any required pal't of its circular course before acting upon` the valve stem u. To? this end the timing mechanism is, so proportioned that the cam G will execute not over one complete revolution 'during the entire maximum course of the torpedo. If this course is 15,000 yards, for example, the gear 9 carrying thecam G may be proportioned to execute one revolution in 15,000, or somewhat over 15,000 yards. If the circle steering is commenced at, say, 4,000 yards, the cam G has to be set initially projection j to a corresponding fraction of the total circular movement in -advance of the operative movement of the stem u; if the circle steering is to begin at any later point in the course, the cam has to be 'set that much farther back. Such-setting is accomplished by the operator before launching the torpedo and is determined by aid of a scale marked on the exterior. The operator has first to disconnect the cam With the gear 9, then turn it to the required position, and then re-connect it With this gear. For acto bring its complishing this the means best shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are provided.

The cam G is connected to a spindle w which passes out through a fitting m in the hull of the torpedo and has on its outer end a head w which has a square socket or is otherwise shaped to be engaged by a key or wrench for turning it and also for drawing it back to the position shown in Fi G. When so drawn back it pulls the cam G out of its normal position and withdraws a pin 10 carried by the cam from one of a .series ofholes 11 formed in the gear 9.

These holes are spaced apart a distance corresponding, for example, to 1000 yards in the run of the torpedo, or any other convenient spacing. In this Withdrawn position the cam may be turned by turning the head w until it is brought to the required position. This is determined by a pointer y on the'head fw which traverses a circular graduated scale z (Fig. 8) which is marked on the rim of the iitting 'On this scale the zone 2', shown in black in Fig. 8, is that portion under, for example, 4000 yards, within which it is unsafe to start the circle steering and which may be deemed, therefore, a forbidden zone. Beyond this it may be set to any point between 4,000.yards and 15,000 yards. When turned to this position, the operator then pushes back the head wand thereby restores the cam G to its normal position, its pin entering the corresponding one of the holes 11 Which it finds alined with it. Thus, lby a very quick be performed at any time before the launching of the torpedo, the operator determines at what point in its straight course it shall de- Which is Wholly housed within the torpedo and acts upon the rudders through the medium of their tiller. Further, the mechanism is constructed to operate with the utmost precision and certainty. It is of such construction that it can by no possibility interfere with the normal steering .operationl in case circle steering is not desired, and so that when set for circle steering the latter cannot begin prematurely.

' What I claim is y 1. In a torpedo ycomprising propelling and automatic steering mechanism, means for causing the torpedo, after traversing' a predetermined fraction of its normal run, to then steer a curved course, such meansv coniprisinga timing device 4for bringing it into action at a ,determined point in the run of the torpedo, and a controlling means for holding the rudder to one side.

2. In a torpedo accord-ing to claim 1, the controlling means adapted to ystop the steeringaction of the normal steering mechanim, whereby to hold the' rudder to one si e. 3. lIn a torpedo according to claim 1, the controllingV means adapted to dominate and overcome the normal steering action of the steering mechanism and thereby tohold the rudder to one side. V

4. In a torpedo according to claim l1, the controlling means pneumatically operated.

5. In a torpedo according to claim l, the

v controlling means comprising a compressed lair engine, with an air valve operated from l the timing device to operate said engine.

6. In a torpedo according to claims l and 5, said compressed air engine adapted to dominate and prevent the operationof the normal steering mechanism.

7." v'In lziltorpedo according to claim l, said controlling means comprising a mechanical device actin between the steering mechanism and til er.

'timing device comprising a reducing train device being a rotatably adjustable cam.

1l. In a torpedo according to claim 9, means for axially displacingthe terminal and 9 the terminal member of said timin member whereby to vary its rotative engage- 4 ment With the train.

12. In a torpedo according to claim 9, al1

indicating means on the exterior of the torpedo for ascertaining the angular arrangement of the terminal member.

13. In a torpedoaccording to. claim 1, said controlling means being pneumatically actuated under control orl a valve operated by -the timing device, such valve comprising a pnnctiirable sealing means and a device for puncturing such sealing means.

14. In a torpedo'accordin to claim 13, such valve comprising af-tliin iaphragm and a reciprocating plungerarrying a spur for punctui-ing such diaphragm.

15. In a torpedo according to claim 14:, i

said valve plunger having a stein passing out through its casing and a packing for preventing leakage around said. stein, and

a .spring holding said plunger normally retracted with said packing seated.

1G. A torpedo comprising means to alter@ I its movement, fluid operated means to control the said movement altering means, and means to render said fluid operated means inoperative and to actuate said movement altering means, substantially as specied.

17. A torpedo comprising a ruddeigan actuating rod operatively connected to said lrudder, fluid operated means to control the movement of said actuating rod, and means to render said fluid operated means mop# erativc andto move said actuating rod, substantially as specified.

18.' A torpedo comprising propelling means, a rudder, an' actuating rod operatively connccted to said rudder, fluid operated means to control the movement of said actuating rod, and means controlled by said propelling means to render said -iuid operated means inoperative and to move aid a '"f;uating rod, substantially as Aspeciied.

In witness` whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

VILLIAM DIETER.-

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