US1474027A - Torpedo - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 13 1923. 1,474,027

w. E. FOLLIN TORPEDO Filed March 19, 1921 Patented Nov. 13, 1923.

WERNER E. FOLLIN, OFJ'AMESTOWN, RHODE ISLAND.

TORPEDO.

Application filed March 19, 1921.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, W'nnxnn E. FoLLIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jamestown, Rhode Island, have invented new and useful Improvements in Torpedoes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in torpedoes and more particularly to an attachment device adapted to be associated with the steering mechanism.

By way of explanation it might be stated that before torpedoes are put into the service they are subjected to various tests under actual service conditions and, of course, after each test it is necessary to recover the torpedo. It sometimes happens, however, that the torpedo sinks at the end of the run and it is at times exceedingly difiicult to recover the same.

The present invention relates more par ticularly to a device adapted to be associated with the steering mechanism of the torpedo adapted to prevent down rudder at the end of the run.

One of the objects of the present invention is, therefore, to provide a device of the above general character which will be of simple and practical construction.

A further object is to provide a mechanism that may be inexpensively manufactured, be exceedingly light in weight, may be easily installed and applied to torpedoes now in general use without mate rially modifying or rearranging the parts.

A further object is to provide a device that will be reliable, durable and efiicient in use and operation.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out in connection with the accompanying sheet of drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts and in which is shown such parts of a torpedo as are necessary for one skilled in the art to fully understand the invention. In these drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the attachment, and,

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the parts shown in Figure 1.

The function of this gear or device is to connect the action of the distance gear with that of the horizontal steering engine in order that on the functioning of the distance gear up horizontal rudder is insured thereby preventing the torpedo from taking a deep dive at the and of the run.

Serial No. 453,857.

In the accompanying drawings 5 indicates a part of the distance gear which is provided with a stop plunger or lengthened shaft 6 pivotally connected by means of a small pin 7 with a link or arm 8. This arm 8 is secured to a cross shaft 10 mounted in a bracket 11 which is bolted directly or otherwise secured in any desired manner to the gear casing. On the other end of the shaft 10 is rigidly secured a second link or arm 12 provided at its lower end with a small toe 13 secured thereto by means of screw 14: whereby it may be easily removed when desired.

The horizontal steering engine is indicated in dotted lines at 15 and is provided with a shaft 16 which reciprocates back and forth as the steering engine operates to move the horizontal rudders up and down. This shaft 16 is provided with two stops 17 and 18 between which is interposed a lug 20 which limits the reciprocating movement of the shaft 16.

It will be noted that the arm 12 is made in two parts hinged at 21 and secured by nut 22 whereby on loosening the nut 22 the lower part of the arm 12 may be swung out of the way of the shaft 16 and coacting collars 17 and 18. I

The operation of this device is substantially as follows The distance gear is set for any desired length of run and the toe 13 occupies a central position with re spect to the collars l7 and 18 on the horizontal steering engine valve rod and in no way interferes with the reciprocating action of the shaft 16. Upon functioning of the distance gear the plunger 6 moves towards the left causing the links 8 and 12 to move the toe 13 relatively towards the right to engage the collar 18 thereby pushing the horizontal steering engine valve rod or shaft 16 and causing the engine to give neutral rudder. The control valve from then on is held in this position. In the meantime, true to the functioning of the distance gear the air has been shut off in the torpedo and the compressed air entrapped in the horizontal steering engine and continues to hold the rudders in such position as to bring the torpedo t0 the surface.

It is thus seen that the present invention provides a simple, practical and inexpensive mechanism adapted on operation of the distance gear to act upon t e horizontal steergear, a horizontal steering engine, inter posed means acted upon by the distance gear said mechanism-including a system of levers and a stop lug adapted to coact directly 10 with the horizontal steering engine valve rod.

Signed at Newport, Rhode Island, this 19th day of February, 1921.

What I claim is: In a torpedo, in combination, a distance lock the steering en'ginein fixed position, WERNER E. FOLLIN.

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