US1356791A - Torpedo-boat - Google Patents

Description

w. B.'SHEARER.

TORPEDO BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED DE C. IQ, 1917.

1,356,791. Patented Oct. 26, 1920.

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TORPEDO BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED 050.10. 1917.

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TORPEDO BOAT APPLICATION FILED DEC. 10, 19l7.

Patented 001:. 26, 1920.

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WILLIAM B. srrnA ER,' or Monron 1R,nnvr JERSEY, AssIeNoR roiiv'rnRlvArronAn ToRrRno BOAT ooRroR 'rroN, or wrmrmerorv; DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

To all whom it may concern: 7

' Be it known that 1, WILLIAM B. SHEARER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Montclair, county of Essex, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new-and useful Improvements in Torpedo Boats, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to certain improveit is carried, the operation of moving the bow and firing the torpedo being under control of the operator. a

The present invention has for one of its objects a construction by which the torpedo or'other movable explosive charge may be loaded into the boat without water having access to the torpedo compartment, so that the'torpedo [can be loaded into the boat while the boat is in the water.

It is a further object or" the; invention to provide such a construction by which is eliminated and the torpedo may be loaded into its compartment without the necessity of pushing it into or through such tube.

It is a further and important object of the invention to provide a construction whereby the torpedo compartment may be flooded with water when it is desired to fire the torpedo, so that the torpedo may be expelled from the compartment under its own power, the compartment being dimensioned to hold sufficient water to permit this to be done.

It is a further object of the invention to provide improved devices for controlling the firing of the torpedo so that the torpedo can not be fired until the movable bow portion of the boat has beenmoved out of the 'roRrnno-BoA'rf Specification of Letters Patent. Pat t d O t 1920 I g I o o 7 Application filed December 10, 1917. Serial No. 206,407. 7

way and the torpedo compartment flooded with water, whereby any danger of fpre mature firing of the torpedo is eliminated.

It is a further objectiof the invention to i 7 provide aniinproved construction for the protection of the operator against small arm fire, and for preventing wash from entering the operators compartment when the boat is underway in a rough sea.

It is a further object ofthe invention to improvein various'details' the body constructlon whereby a strong, rigid structure 1s provided, and one which is stable and which will lie low in the water so as to provide as small visibility as possible.

With these and other objectsnotspecifically referred to inview, the invention consists in certain novel parts and features of construction which will, toprovide a better understanding of the invention, be fully describedin connection with the accompany- 1ngdraw1ngs,'1n which- Figure 1 1s a general top plan view,

partly broken away oi the improved torpedo.

carrier;

F g. 2 is structlon shownfin Fig. 1;

a general side view. of the con Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section on an enlarged scale, showing the various controls and the torpedo in place and the movable bow portioniin open and closed posltlon, the latter in full lines;

Fig. is a horizontal'sectionalfplan view ofthe construction shown-in Fig. 3, the view being taken on line4-4 of that figure and certain parts being broken away;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional plan view of part of the control system, taken on line 5-5 ofFig.3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figs. 3 and 4;-

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional .view of part' of the control system on an enlarged scale,

the section being taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5

Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross sectional view;

taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is asecti'onal plan view of a portion of the bow guide track, partially broken away, the view being on the line 9-,9 of Fig.8;

' Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view of part of the bow manipulating mechanism the secdevices for connecting the torpedo firing controlling rods, and v Fig. 1s a detailed sectional view showing the means employed for manipulating the rear stop or bufi'er for the torpedo.

1.5 Before taking up a detailed description of these drawings, it may be stated; that while the boat may be used from a land or other permanent base, itis so dimensioned; that it may be carried in numbers by a war vessel 2o or other mother ship andlaunched therefrom, and is alsosobalanced that it will float as close to the water level as practicable to afford low visibility'; that is, practically awash. except for the conning tower or top of the operators compartment.

While the dimensions of the boatmay be varied as desired, and may embody structural features ofdiii'erent characters, it will include a water tight compartment 1 in which is located the driving mechanism,

whichmay be an. ordinary i-cylinder gasolene engine marked generally 2, this compartment also provlding a place for the op erator and for the controls hereinafter re '35 ferred to. The boat will also include compartment 3, closedat its rear end by a water tight bulkhead 4 by which it is separated fromv the control compartment 1, and closed 7 at its forward end by a bow section, 5, which 40 may be arranged; to be swung open to: admit water to the. torpedovcompartment 3 and to leave a clear path for the egress of the torpedo. This torpedo (compartment 3 is of any suitable dimensions, but will be sufliciently l a-rgeto accommodate a torpedo 6, V which may be of any suitable orusual type, and, an amount of water suflicient for the torpedo to leave the. compartment under its wownpower. While a torpedo of conventional shape has been shown, it will be understood that the invention contemplates the dischargeof any type or" torpedo or movable explosive carrier which can be discharged from the boat under its own power. The

boat'will also include air tanks 7 8 arranged at each side thereof, the function of these tanks being to balance the boat, prevent its capsizing, and to maintain it at the desired level, a I

The'amount of water sufiicient forthe torpedo to leave the compartment. under its own power depends to some extent on, the dimensions and weight of the torpedo. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated it will appear from Fig. 6 that there all which spaces are flooded when the bow is opened. With the common torpedo tubes which fit fairly closely around the torpedo only a comparativelysmall body of water can be admitted,so small in fact that if the torpedos engine were started therein without also propelling it by compressedair or. an explosive charge behind it the propellers would race without suflicient resistance from the water to secure a good launching. A considerable volume of water is necessary to furnish, so to, speak,,the necessary abutment against which the back pressure of the so propellers is exerted to launch the tor-j pedoveasily and without racing of its engine. The water should be in; considerable volume; around the sides of the; torpedo as wellas at its rear end and should be preferably 150% or more of the, volume of the torpedo. V

The water should also extend; at least to and preferably above thetop of the torpedo so as to support it in its proper horizontal .90

position and so that there is little or no serious tendency of the torpedo to dip its, nose as it leaves the bow ofthe boat. The air in the torpedois compressible to. avari-I ableextent. It is usually compressed to such. an extent that the torpedowhen idle will float at the surface of the water or approxie mately so. The flooding of the boat with. water which entirely surrounds the torpedo. will, therefore, practically support the tor 10o pedo in such body of water and ease the pressure on its guides .sothat it will move freely under its propelling power. And, since the deck of the boat its practically awash the lifting pressure of the water on the torpedo will be practically the same when it emerges as when it is within the boat.

@ne ofthc important features of the-present invention consists in a novelmethod of discharging the torpedo or other movable explosive carrier, whereby the torpedo is discharged from the boat under it own power and beneath, the water level, thus eliminating the use of the torpedo tube ordinarily used for effecting torpedodis charge and the use of compressed or an explosive for effecting the discharge, and a simple and convenient construction has been provided for effecting this and for effecting the loading of the torpedo into its compartment without the necessity of: pushing it into or through such tube, and'also for loading the torpedo into theboat while the boat is in the water.

It may here be stated that the boat may be: built of any suitable materiahbut preferably, and as illustrated, the-hull may be made of oak planking 9'and ribs of metal 10 to forma strong rigid structure. The

in the compartment without movable bow portion 5 may likewise be of any suitable material, but preferably is formed of sheet iron or steel to afiord rigidity and prevent accident in case of collision, this bow piece having bottom and sides 11 and-being of the usual bow form, with a fiat closed top 12 preferably made integral with the bottom and sides of the bow piece.

In accordance with the invention, means are provided for loading the'torpedo into the compartment 3 while the boat is-in the water, and so that the torpedodoes not have to be pushed through a tube, and means are provided whereby the torpedo may be held in position and kept from any undue movement in the compartment and discharged therefrom under its own power when desired. ment of these means may be varied within wide limits, a simple and convenient construction is that shown in which (referring particularly to" Fig. 6) there is provided an upper'deck 13 covering the compartment 3, which deck may be of wood having an under facing of sheet iron or steel 14. This upper deck, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, extends substantially the length of the compartment 3 from the bulkhead 4 to the rear of the movable bow 5. Thi deck is arranged to be movable, so that it can be swung out of the way to permit a torpedo to be lowered into the compartment 3, and, as shown, is hinged to the main hull by suitable hinges 15, one member'of the hinge being secured to the deck and the other to a sheathing 16, which is provided for covering the air tanks 7, 8, before referred to, and which has a portion extending inwardly over the sides of the boat, as shown in Fig. 6. The deck, when closed, is prevented from swinging down into the compartment and is supported by stop shoulders 17 formed in brackets 18 suitably secured, as by bolts 19, to the hull of the boat.

Means are provided by the present invention for holding the torpedo in position substantial movement. thereof and for guiding it and assistingits movement when it is discharged therefrom under its own power, as hereinafter explained. These guiding and positioning means comprise, in the particular construction illustrated, a inetal frame 20 having side bars 21, 22 and'cross bars 23. This metal frame 20 is hinged'at 241 to brackets 25 suitably secured, as by bolts 26,

to the hull of the boat, this frame being hinged so that it may be lifted to permit the insertion ofthe torpedo into the compartment 3. The frame is prevented from falling into the compartment and is supported by a stop flange 27 formed on the lower part of the bracket 18, before referred to,

the frame resting on this flange when in lowered position. The'frame 20 is, as will While the specific embodi be observed, spaced from the deck 13 so as.

are secured spaced rails 29 having angular extensions or flanges 30, the'flanges being disposed toward each other, as shown in Fig. 6, the bar 28 and the rails 29 being secured to the cros pieces 23 of the frame by suitable bolts 31. Cooperating with these flanged guide rails is a guide carried by the torpedo which, as clearly shown in Fig. 6, 1s a T.-shapedprojection 32, this T-projection fitting loosely in the track formed by the rails 29, 30, the rails and the T-proyection acting to guide the torpedo as the same moves fromthe compartment 3.

To facilitate the movement of the torpedo from the compartment and to keep it free of the bottom, antifriction devices of any suitable character are preferably employed, these antifriction devices also acting as a support for the torpedo while in the compartment. The specific construction of these devices may be somewhat varied, but in the particular construction illustrated, referring to Figs. 6 and 12, there are provided a series of two-part supports 33, 34 projecting angularly from the bottom of the boat on-each side thereof toward each other, these supports having mounted therebetween freely rotatable antifriction rolls 35, on which the torpedo rests, a sufficient number of these supports being provided to firmly support the torpedo. r

In constructions embodying the invention in its preferred form, the guide track, in

which works the T-projection before referred to, will be extended beyond the compartment into the movable bow-part of the boat, so as to guide the torpedo after it has emerged from the compartment. While various constructions ma be employed for effecting this, as shown Zsee Figs. 4:, 9 and 10) there is provided'a frame comprising cross pieces 36 bolted to angle irons 37 .se curely fastened to the hull portion of the boat. These frames 36are bent at right angles to form' forwardly extending portions 38 which are formed with flanges 39 (see Fig. 8) disposed toward each other to form a track. Side frames 40 are provided for bracing the parts 38, and the frames are furthermore braced by a top plate or bar 41 secured to the extension 38 of the frame 36. These frames extend, asshown in Fig. 4;, forwardly into the bow of the boat and remain in fixed position, the bow of theboat and thehinged deck 13 and frame 20 to the rails 29, before referred to, on their inner ends, the other end 45 of this lever taking into'a notch 46 formed in a rod 47 mounted so as to be movable on the frame 20 before referred to, the function of which rod is more fully described hereinafter. This stop 42 is normally in the path of the T-sh-aped projection 32, of the torpedo, and acts to hold the torpedo against substantial forward movement in the compartment.

Means are provided for preventing rearward movement of the torpedo to. any substantial extent in the compartment, which means may he of various characters. In the particular construction illustrated, there is provided (see Figs. 3, 7 and 15) a buffer which is provided with a buffer-head 48 against which the tail of the torpedo may seat. The construction of this buffer, wheresuch means is employed to prevent rearward movement of the torpedo, may be varied, but

preferably will be such that it may be swung out of the way when the torpedo is being positioned in the compartment. in the particularconstruction illustrated, there is provided a flange 49 secured to the bulk head 4, before referred to, which flange has secured thereto a head 50 having an ex tension 51. The extension 51 is pinned by a pin 52 to'a block 53, so that the block 53 may be swung around the pin 52 as a pivot. The block 53 lies within ahollow cylindrical extension 54'extending from the buffer-head 48 and is pinned thereto by a pin 55 which works in slots 56 in the sleeve. By pulling the buffer to the left in Fig. 7, until the end of the sleeve passes the pin 52, the buffer may readily swing to the position shown in Fig. 15 and be out of the way of the torpedo when it is placed in the compartment. In loading the torpedo into the compartment, the deck and frame are raised and the torpedo placed inthecompartment. The frame 20 is then lowered and the torpedo then given a slight forward movement to cause the projection 32. to engage the tracks 39, this movement bringing the projec ion on the torpedo against the stop 42. The buffer is then swung into place, and the buifer and stopv are so dimensioned and positioned that any substantial forward or backward movement of the torpedo is prevented.

Means are provided, according to the presrificembodiments for effecting these objects may be varied, a simple and efiicient one is that shown in which (referring particularly to Fig. 3) there is provided a rod 57 slidably supported in brackets 58 positioned on the hinged deck 13 before referred to. This rod is operated by a screw 59 engaging a nut 59- and an operating wheel 60 from the cockpit 1, before referred to, and this rod will hereinafter be termed the bow operatingrod. This rod, by the turning of the wheel 60, is moved to open or close the bow ofthe boat through any suitable connections, as by means of a short rod 61 secured to the rod57, so as to move therewith, as by being pinned to a bracket 62 fast on the rod, Theother end of this rod is pivotally secured to a bracket63 mounted on the upper portion 12 of the bow 11 before referred to. By the movement of the rod to the right, as shown in Fig. 1, the bow of the boat is swung to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, the bow swinging on connections hereinafter more specifically referred to.

Below the deck 13, and slidably supported in brackets 64 depending from the deck, is

the rod 47 before referred to. This rod, at one end, is connected to and is operated by a hand lever 65, this lever being controlled by a toothed sector 66. The rod 47 has two functions/ The initial movement of the rod to the right causes the lever arms '45 to be swung to the right in F ig. 11, this swinging movement of the lever operating to lift the stop 42 out of the path of the projection 32 on the torpedo, The further movement of the rod causes a trip pin 67 carried thereby to contact with and operate a firing pin 68 on the torpedo, this action throwing into opmay be'of various characters, in the particular construction illustratedthe firing rod is provided with a toothed ratchet 69 with which cooperates a pawl 70 carried on the bow rod, the parts being so arranged that the firing rod can not be operated until the bow rod has been moved sufficiently for the pawl to clear the ratchet. In this way there will be no danger of firing the torpedo until its path from the compartment is free and unobstructed, which is a :very important feature of the device.

Both the bow rod and the firing rod enter the compartment or cockpit 1, the bow rod through the top of the compartment above the deck, and the firing rod through the water-tight bulkhead 4 below the deck. In the best constructions, to prevent leakage into the water-tight compartment, stufling boxes 71, 72 are provided for the bow rod and firing rod, respectively, these stufiing boxes being of any suitable character.

As the bow rod is carried by the hinged deck 13, and the firing rod by the swinging frame 20, and as these rods extend beyond the deck and frame, respectively, into the cockpit or compartment 1, means must be provided whereby the decks can be swung on their hinges, carrying these rods with them. While the specific means employed may be somewhat varied, in the particular construction shown in Figs. 13 and 14, these rods are two-part rods, and one end of one part of the rod is provided with a tongue 7 3 which fits between a pair of ears 74, a pin 7 5 being passed through the tongue and ears for holding them together, this pin 7 5 being prevented from displacement by the usual cotter pin 7 6, this construction being. adopted for both the rods.

With the construction shown and described for opening thebow, when the deck and frame are to be opened to permit the loading of'the torpedo into the torpedo comartment, it is necessary to uncouple from the rod 57 the short rod 61 which normally holds the bow inclosed position, to permit the opening movement. When 7 this construction is employed, where a torpedo is being loaded into the compartment when the boat is in the water, it is preferable to provide some means for positively holding the bow in position to prevent ingress of water into the compartment. While this may be provided in various ways, there is prov ded (Figs. 1 and 3) a supplemental clamping rod 77 pivotally secured to the bracket 63 secured on the bow portion, as before referred to, and arranged to be secured, as

7 shown in dotted lines, to an eye 79 secured on the main deck of the boat at one side of the swinging deck 13, it being understood that after the torpedo is in place and the deck is closed and the rod 61 is agam coupled, this supplemental holding rod 77 1s uncoupled from the eye 7 9and swung to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3.

The bow 5 is secured to the main hull, as

torpedo from the compartment 3, and in the best constructions connections between the Y movable bow and the remainder of'the hull are such as to stop ingress of water to the compartment'when the bow is closed. While the specific construction for effecting this may be somewhat varied, as illustrated (see Figs. 3, 8 and 10) the bow is hinged to the stationary top deck of the boat by hinges 80 on which it is swung up'by the operating rod 61, before referred to. The means for effecting a water-tight joint between the bowof the boat and-"the hull may be vofany suitable character. As illustrated, the forward end of the hull proper is cut out at its outer side, as indicated at 81 (see Fig. 9). The inner side of the end of the hull proper is recessed, as indicated at 82, to receive a packing strip 83 held in the recess 82 by channel iron 82' and extending around the hull. Against this packing strip takes one leg of an angle iron 84securely fastened on the inner end of the bow portion. With this construction, when the bow portion is swung into place, it swings against this packing and affords a joint sufficiently tight to prevent substantial ingress of water to the compartment.,-i

Inconstructions embodying the invention in its best form, means will be provided for clearing the flooded torpedocompartment after the torpedo has been ejected, both when the boat ismoving and when the boat 100 is standing still. While the specific con-. struction for effecting this maybe somewhat varied, it. may include'a' bilge clearer v marked generally95, which is of any usual 'or suitabletype, one of these clearers being is controlled by a cock 97 so that connection is made between the pump' of the motor and the compartment, and the motor acts to draw the water from the compartment to and through the water-jacket of the engine. 1 The cockpit or operating compartment 1 is, as before stated, constructed so as to afford protection against small arm fire, and

seats to be substantially water tight to prevent water from obtaining entrance therein. In the particular construction illustrated, the compartment above the water line 1s formed ofsheet steel, the forward and rearward sides of which are slanted, as shown at 85.

'and86 in Fig. 3, through; which the operator can see to manipulate the boat. Thefront wall 85 is or may be hinged, as indicated at 88, so thatit may be swung back .to get at the engine, if for any reason this is necessary, and the top 89 may be hinged as at 90.

The boat may be steered by the usual wheel 91 through any suitable rope and pulley construction 92.

It will be seen from the foregoing that a simple butefliective torpedo carrier has been devised, which can be operated by one man, the torpedo can be discharged under its own power, and the torpedo can not be fired until its path is clear, which are two important features of the invention. Furthermore, a craft of low visibility and great stability is provided. It will be understood that the invention, as to its important features, is not to be limited to :the exact construction shown :and described, as various construe tions could be devised for eflecting these ob jects without departing from the invention, and it is understood that such changes in oonstnuction are within the invent-ion de scribed and the claims appended.

What is claimed is:

1. A torpedo boat divided by a transverse partition into a closed space for carrying its operating mechanism and a torpedo-receivingspace with :a deck which can be openened to admit a torpedo without opening the space carrying the operating mechanism.

'2. A torpedoboat having a rear closed space for carrying its operating mechanism, the remaining forward space being ust sudfi'cient in .iength to accommodate a torpedo.

3. A torpedo boat having a rear closed space for carrying its operating mechanism, the remaining forward space being just sufficient in ileng th to accommodate a torpedo, and having a deck which can be opened to give direct access to said forward space and permit the introduction of :a torpedo.

4. A torpedo boat divided by a .transverse 'partitionint'o a closed space for carrying its operating mechanism and a torpedo-receiving space with a deck which can be opened to admit a torpedo without opening the space carrying the operating mechanism, said torpedo-receiving space adapted to be flooded with sufficient water to support the torpedo so that it may be propel l'ed through sudh water under its own power.

5. A torpedo boat divided by :a transverse partition into a closed space for carrying its operating #mech-anism and :a torpedo-receiving space with a deck which can be opened to admit a torpedo without opening the space carrying't'he operating mechanism, said torpedoreceiving space adapted to be flooded with sufficient water to support the torpedo so that it maybe "propelled through such water under its own power, and means for clearing the flooded torpedo-receiving space of Water after the torpedo "has in launched.

'6. A torpedo boat having a closed space for carrying :the mechanism and :an operator and a compartment for a torpedo which is out ofi from said space and is adapted to float substantially awash while the closed space extends above said compartment to enable the operator to direct the boat.

7. A boat having suflicient closed space for carrying its operating mechanism and for securing the desired flotation level, and having a torpedo-receiving space inclosed directly by the sides, bottom and deck of the vessel and cut on. from said closed space.

8. A boat having sufficient closed space for carrying its operating mechanism and for securing the desired flotation level, and having a torpedo-receiving space inclosed directly by the sides, bottom and deck of the vessel and cut off from said closed space', the torpedo receiving space being clo'sed by a wall which can be opened to flood the space and permit the torpedo to be propelled out oil the boat by its own power.'

'9. A boat having s'ufiicient closed space :for carrying its operating mechanism and for securing the desired flotation level, and having a torpedo-receiving space inclosed directly by the sides, bottom and deck of the vessel and cut ofl from-said closed space, the deck over this space being movable to permit the torpedo to be lowered while maintaining a horizontal position into this space.

10. A boat having suificient closed space for carrying its operating mechanism and for securing the desired flotation level, and having a torpedo-receiving space inclosed directly by the sides, bottom and deck of the vessel, the deck over this space being movable to permit the torpedo *to be lowered while maintaining a horizontal position into this space, and means for holding down and guiding the torpedo in this space, said means being also movable to permit the lowering of the torpedo.

11. A "boat, substantially the entire fore part of which is a torpedo-receiving space large enough to carry so much water that the torpedo may be propelled through such water under its own power.

12. A'boat having a rear closed space and a forward space inclosed directly by the sides, bottom and deck adapted 'to receive a torpedo and to be flooded with water in which the torpedo can propel itself by its own power.

13. A boat having a rear closed space and a forward space inclosed directly by the sides, "bottom and deck adapted to receive a torpedo and to be flooded with water in which the torpedo can propel "itself by its own power and a bow adapted "to be m ved from the line of said forward space.

14. A boat having a rear closed space and a a forward space inclosed directly by the sides, bottom and deck adapted to receive a torpedo and a bow adapted to be moved from the line of said forward space to flood the same and means for starting the propel ling mechanism of the torpedo so that it will launch itself by its own power from said.

divided torpedo-receiving and launching space.

16. A boat'having a rear closed space and a forward space inclosed directly by-the sides, bottom and deck adapted to receive a torpedo and to he flooded with water in which the torpedo can propel itself'by its own power anda bow hinged to theforward end of the deck and adapted to be swungup out of line with said torpedo.

17. A boat having a rear closed space and a forward space inclosed directly by the sides, bottom and deck adapted to receive atorpedo, said deck being movable to permit introduction of the torpedo into said forward space without passing through said rear space.

18. A boat having a space for carrying and launching a torpedo inclosed directly by the sides, bottom and top of the boat.

19. A boat having a space for carrying and launching a torpedo inclosed directly by the sides, bottom and top of the boat said top being movable to permit introduction of the torpedo.

20. A boat having a torpedo-carrying space inclosed directly by the sides, bottom and top of the boat said top being movable to permit introduction of the torpedo and the bow of the boat being also movable to permit launching of the torpedo.

21.A boat having a torpedo-carrying 1 space inclosed directly bythe sides, bottom and top of the boat and closed at its forward end directly by the bow of the boat, the bow being movable to permit launching of the torpedo.

22. In a torpedo or similar boat, the com: bination of a bow piece normally closing the compartment, and movable to clear the same, a hinged deck covering the compartment and independent of the bow piece, a hinged frame below the deck piece, and guides can ried by the frame for guiding the torpedo as it is descharged from the compartment.

28. In a torpedo or similar boat, the combination of a bow piece normally closing the compartment and movable to clear the same, a hinged deck covering the compartment and independent of the bow piece, a hinged frame below the deck piece, and a track supported from the frame and cooperating with a projection on the torpedo for guiding the torpedo as it is discharged from the compartment.

24. In a torpedo or similar boat, the combination of a bow piece normally closing the compartment and movable to clear the same,

a hinged deck covering the compartment and independent of the bow piece, a hinged frame below the deck piece, a track supported from the frame and cooperating with v a projection on the torpedo for guiding the torpedo asit is discharged from the compartment, and antifriction supports on which the torpedo moves as itis discharged.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM B. SHEABER.

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