US1460370A - Air-leak vent for torpedoes - Google Patents

Description

AJuly 3, 192,3. Y 1,460,370

' W. DIETER AIR LEAK VENVT FOR TOBPEDOES Filed Aug. 4. 1922 Patented July 3, 1923.

WILLIAM DIETER, F NE'WARK, INEJVy JERSEY.

AIR-LEAK VENT FOR TQRPEDOES.

Application filed August 4, 1922. Serial No. 579,667.`

^To all 'whom if may concern.' A

sov

Be it known that I, lViLLniM IMMER aV citizen of the United; States ot .'LLi'nerica, residing in Newark, in the county ,of Essex and State of New 'plerseyg have invented certain new and, useful improvements in Air-Leak Vents 'for rorpedocs, of which the following` is a specication.

In auton'iobile torpedoes it is common to provide two receptacles, `one for alcohol or other fuel, and-the other 'for water, with means for feeding these liquids'to the heating apparatus'v or superheater after Y the torpedo has been launched` It customary tok construct these liquid compartments or receptacles closely adjacent the head ofthe air flask, 'for compactness, but

this involves the difficulty that if any lealrage of compressed air 'from the flask occurs,

it. entersl .the communica-ting liquid 're ceptacleand must be discharged therefrom to avoid its generating an air pressure thereinv which would expel the liquid lto the superheater. fFor this purpose it 'is common to provide a vent for conducting away any slow leakage entering` either orboth receptacles. when the torpedo is stored prior to launching. Means are providedwhereby upon launching, or in preparation therefor,

such leak vent is shut ofi', so-that the receptacles areA hermetically sealed and pressurefmay, he introduced into them vfor yev- `polling rthe'liq'uids -at the desired rate inor other Vvessel carrying the torpedoes before launching. Such vessels are usually of light draft, and subject toV serious rolling and4 pitching. p i p in a foreand ait position, the rolling of the vessel equally rolls the torpedo, and this' rol/ling mayotten be so y,Qfreat as to submerge 'the open end of the vent tube, so

' that any leakage resultsI in expelling liquid the line 3 3` in Fig. 2.

of the cylinderwduring 'rolling.

It the ltorpedoes are stored iromthe compartment. It the torpedoes are stored transversely, the rolling has less eect, but the pitching of the vessel is .ac`l co'nipanied by an equal roll of the torpedoes.` The present invention aims ,to provide means whereby the vent outlet tube willvalways remain in tree communication with the air space in the top of the liquid com.- partment, notwithstanding that therolling is such as would submerge such outlet vent.

To this end the .present invention pr0,

vides Lfor enclosing the outlet of' the vent.'V

l tube within a'chamber having through perforations or the like, a restricted communi cation with the interior of the compartment,. adapted in case ot rolling,r and sube` mergence, to retard the entry vof liquid into such chamberso-asto leave vthe vent outlet in communication with the air space' therein, lthe latter being in communicationv with the air space in the compartment,"

Thus, when rollingy occurs, a small-amount of liquid enters the chamber, and lupon the reverse roll this is dischargedso as to free the chamber preparatory to vthe next submergence;

The preferred embodiment o'futhe inven-` tion is illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, wherein section of fthe mid-portion `of a torpedo showing the liquid compartments' and the Figure 1f is a yvertical longitudinalv midventing meansand Vrelated apparatus, the portions of which exterior to the compartments'are rearranged'in diagrammatic manner.'-

. Fig. `2 a. klongitudinal vertical midsecl-l f tion of the chamber enclosing the .vent out- Fig. 3 is a transverse section thereof onrv Fig. 4' isa transverse section yoir-the` line 4-41 iny Fig. 1, yon a scale intermediate that.; Y

of FigsQl and 2, showing thr ee positions Fig. is a transverse section correspondv mg toFig.y 3, andshowmg arnodified con-` struction. f j v f j 1 To venable the mechanism shown in Fig.

1 to be understood, `I will briefly describe it. making' reference tosaid patents .and application for a more detailed description.,

Referring iirst to Figure 1, A indicates the Yshell or hull'of theA torpedo and'fyBfthe reservoir or flask of compressed air. From this flask an Voutletpipe a leads to a pressure reducing valve C by which'the air pressure in the flask is reduced to a lower and unlform pressure. Fromthe low pressure side 'of this valveleads a pipe b which extends to theheater or superheater D, and from the latter a pipe c leads to the engine (not shown) which is commonly a turbine, and by which the screw propellers are driven in the well-known manner. At Vsome suitable lpoint in the pipe or passage wis introduced a'starting valve E vwhich may be ofA any known const`ruction, and lwhereby "the air is admitted to the heater and engine "at the instant of launching the torpedo.

-Within a strong container F is provided the usual enclosurefor the waterand liquid fuel. This is commonly formed'by eXtend-i ing the air flaskv B rearwardly in the form of'a` cylindrical wall CZ having a flangeto- `which is securely attached a disk or head fe.

A -chamber G formed within this'container y F is sub-divided into twov compartmentsby apartition'H of comparatively thin rmetal1 such vas metal sheet or plate, which is pref-` erably'constructed in the form of an annuI lar vesselhavinga central opening for the kfree passage through it ofthe pipeya 'and which is supported within the'container F *in* any suitable manner, as by brackets ff. The partition or vessel H thusdivid'es the chamber G into two compartments, an outerl compartment I, and an innery compartment J. In the construction shown the outer compartment I- is designed to hold water "and vtheinner compartment `J to hold alco- `holor othercombustible fluid; but this ar rangement may be" reversed by suitably al Itering the'respective pipe connections which will be'described.

the reducedk pressure pipe b is v.formed a slightcontraction lor choking g, and `be-v tween this and' the, reducing valve v C' a branch It leadsto avalveshellz' whereifthe ductbranches and leads totwo valves K and L." From the valve K a pipe 7c leads to the fuel tank or compartment J, From the yvalve Ll a pipe Zk leads )into thewater Space Vor compartmentI'. From the bottom Vof the f fuel compartment J there leads a pipe in whichlis introduced a check-valve and which pipe j leads thence to a yfuel nozzle m;

i .through which vvfuel is sprayedor'otherwise introduced into vthe heater.

f tomofethe water compartment I leadsa pipe vring water. The valves K, L,

p in which is introduced' a check :valve 13.#

whence the pipe 0 extends to the heater D and terminates lin a' spray nozzle L Pfhe-ve the functions described in said Leavitt Patent i\lo.'l, 0`22,fl86.v

For "preventing From 'the bot# for introduci any Slight leakage at the. jointe 0r-'e'. ntethe Water Compartment I' generating e preeeure in the-latter, means ere Prevdjed for Venting effenv Sueh air.' pressure from this compartment.' The venting means here shown is the same as that set forth in my said prior application. A vent tube 5 passing through" the rear' wall or fiange 6 leads from'its open end 7 forming the vent outlet, to a vent valve Q which is normally open and permits outflow through v a tube'8 into suitable connection with the conduit h, whence the, air may escape freely through 6,11), c, into the afterbody. The valve Q is openl at all Vtimes vafter air pressure is stored inthe air flask, and until the torpedo is being prepared for firing. For

the purposes of the 'present inventionthe outer cylindrical casingl 31 an inner cylin drical casing 32, and end headsz` 'these three' parts being united by theirjadjoining end, flanges being soldered or otherwise joined togethernuler Space 35; The Chamber 34 is crossed' at its middle byv a transverse tube 3G. In the preferrediconstructionzthe structure has This construction affordsy l a middle chamber 3ft surrounded by anan- 95 at its bottomfve (more o'rfless), yperforarl` tiene, 37, and .between the-.Chambers 34 and 35 conmIunication through a bottom pere ,166i foration 38, and a 'middle' perforation 39v formed vin the top of the cross-tube 36: and the annular speee 3,5 communieateslon op7 posite sides through perforations 40, 14:0,

with the exterior.

In the normaltrimpositlon air ymay'flow through` any ofthesej perforations into the inner 4eheri1b-er`3%, and' thence. Out' threileh the: outlet, 7. l In case of rolling, so as 'to Submerge 'melf-e erleee. t111e easing '304' water may .enter the 'euterfehamber 35 threu'gh 'i the bottoinperforations 37, and the-lowerv` ma here perfetti@ e: but the 'airone let'is maintained. through the upper unsubmerged perfera'ten 40, and thencev through the Cube 361andfpe`rforation 3 9r tothe inner chamber.

The Water entering the enter.

space 35V canfow only very Slowly into the inner chamber' 34:V thr'leughthe Per-ferita tion38, so that it would require'a long time` A for lthis inner chamber to. vso .fa-r fllwith y is too short tojpermit any 'considerable inflow of water. because ,they perforation 38 wateras to cutoff thefflow 4of air from 40 Y e kto 39, and Vin rolling.y the duration or phasev is so smallfas to permitwater-to'enter only veryjslowly. OnA the reverse roll `the cas-,

ing 3() isV for ythe greater part of the'timev out of water, and during thisV periodfthere is rapid, eutiew through` the vepe'rfere.-

cylindrical shell 31.

tions 37,' and a sloweroutflowthrough the oneperfor-ation 38, vbut the flow through the `latter is sufficiently fast todischarge all t ofthe water from the chamber 34 before the rollhas-gone fanenough to resubmerge the casing on the opposite side; duringl the vmiddle portion of entered it during the submergence at the end of the roll. The purpose of the perforation 38 is to afford a simple means -for thus purging the inner cli-amber of water; of

' course,` an inlet check valve could be used --for this purpose, but the perforation accomplishes all needful purpose with greater simplicity.

Fig. .4 shows in full Alines the positions incase of an abnormal roll which, without the rpresent invention. .would submerge the vent outlet 7 it showsin dotted lines the mid or trim position, and also the position' of extreme roll tothe opposite side.

It will be understood that the structure provided by the present invention may b e greatly modified so long asits essential/fea!` tures;` are retained. What lis essential is that the outlet 7 shall communicate with an enclosed chamber of sufcient capacity to be' partly iilled with water and yet main# tain an air space with which the outlet 7' is in communication, and it is desirable that suchk perforations or openings shall be vprovided as shall during partial submergence of the structure maintain free communica-v brief period of submergence' of the vent structure the water level in 35 lis lower than in the compartment I, and that in the inner chamber 34 is lower than that in the space 35.

Fig, 5 illustrates one of numerous modifications in which the structure shown in Fig. 3 is inodiiiedby multiplying` the an-` nular space To this end an outerjacket vll-1 is provided` thus forming an annular space 42 around theannularspace 35. Sinih ilar perforations are provided7 as in the,

-In this specification, whereverthe term perforation or perforations is used. the singular is to include the plural, and vice versa;` it beingimm-aterial howV many Consequently, each roll the chamber 34 is emptied of any waterL that n l'aso that the vent sure therefrom having a p artment.

perforations are employed, provided' their areas are 'correctly plish the stated results. t

The -proportions are' such that in rolling the vvent structure might be wholly submerged during entreme' rollingymovements without admitting sullicient water to the innercliamber Br-.dto-submerge `the outlet .7.

T he rollinpjl-would havetoamount to' prac-y tically D before sufficient waterr could eiiterto lill the chamberfll' and permit ywater to flolwout through 7 and a'-miichy less degrec of rolling exceeds that which is'possible in practice.

lf in the torpedo boat' the torpedoes-arel stored atliwartships, then `the rolling of the boat 'simply vthrows Vthe water endwis'e of the torpedo. and as 'it cannot enter at either end of'the chamber 34,and can only leak in through the perforations' 37 and 38, it has nettime tofenter fast materiall amount of water into the.

outlet -7 cannot become submerged. 5

Tll7hat is claimed is ment andY means for-venting gaseous pressure therefrom having a vent outlet at the normally upper part of ysuch compartment, the combination therewith of means for eX- cluding liquidfromsaid outlet in case of enough to carry any chamber proportioned to accom such rollinga of'tlietorpedo yas would submerge such outlet, comprising ay chamber communicating with said outlet having re'- stricted communication with the compartment. l l 'i i i 2. In a torpedo having a ment and means for venting gaseous presvent outlet at the normally upper part of v'such compartment,

liquid compart-` los the o ombination therewith of means for eX- cludinp liquid from Asaid outlet in case of'I such rolling' of the torpedo as wouldsubymerge such(k outlet, comprising a chamber communicating? with said outletand a cir; cuitous passage between said chamber and the compartment affording restricted communicationbetween the chamber and com- 3. In a torpedo'having a liquid-,compartment and means for venting' ,gaseous presv sure therefrom having a vent outletat the normally upper part of cludingliquid from said outlet in case of such compartment,` ,y the combination' therewith of means for ex-v 20..

such rolling of the torpedo as would sub* l merge such outlet. comprising achamber communicating with lsaidA outlet and a circuitous passage surrounding said chambery and affordingrestricted communication between the chamber and compartment.

el. In .a torpedo having a liquid compartment and means for venting;` gaseous pressure 'therefrom' having a vent outlet at the Y normally `upper part of suoliV compartment,

merge Vsuch 'outlet7 comprising achamloer in 'free communication 0with the outlet,v and4 'having restricted communication on .oppositesides with the compartment.

s 5.y In -a torpedohavin'g aliquidcoinpart ment. and. means yfor venting vgaseous pressure therefroml having a vent outlet' at the normally` upper part of such compartment,v the combination therewithI of means forex- `cluding*'liquid `irom "said Aoutlet in casey of lsuchr rolling lof the' torpedo as. would subfmergesuch outlet` comprisingna cylindrical shell forming' a chamber in jfree communi? cation with the outlet, and having restricted 'cation *with the/outlet, and an enclosing y communication on oppositel sides'with the Y' compartment.

6. In a torpedo-having 'a liquid 'coinp'art-v ment and means vfor venting gaseous vpres'- `suretherefrom havingfa vent ,f outlet at the l l said space throu'ghfsa'id` t'uloeltoA the chamber.-

"normally upper part of, suchk compartment,

the combination therewith of means for -ex- 25,1

cluding liquid from saidfoutlet in case of such rollingvof the torpedo as would' :sub-kv with perforations affordingA restricted com# municationjbetweenfsaid space andchamber, and between Partment;

said `space fthe comf 7.' In a torpedo having` a` liquid covrnpart;`

sure therefrom fhavingifk` a ,'ent'outlet-at the Vlag,

yment and means l:fori .venting gaseous pres-v A ,normallyupper part of such compa'rtrn'ent,` i

recombination therewith of means forex cludingA liquid .from said outlet incase of such'rolling ofthe. torpedo as would sub-v merge such outlet, comprisingy 'a cylindrical shell `forming a chamber inkree 'communishellform-ing an intervening annular space',`

with a transverse tube,` and'perforations'affordingv restricted 'communication between said` space and "the compartment, and from AIn witness Whereofyhave hereunto signedv my name.

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