US1683085A - Method of generating motive fluid - Google Patents

Description

Patented Sept. 4,. W28.

' mmson in l 'i OF HOPAQCONG BOROUGH, NEW JERSEY; LILIAN MAXIM. EXEOUTBIX OF SAID HUDSON MAXIM, DECEASED.

METHOD OF GENERATING MOTIVIE FLUID.

No Drawing.

The objectof the invention is mainly to provide a simpler, safer more efiiclent and convenient method of utilizing a self-combustive or explosive fuel for the generation.

of energy for the propulsion of torpedoes than has heretofore been employed.

In carrying out the invention, I preferably employ for a self-combustive and explosive liquid fuel, nitroglycerin de-sens it zed by dissolving in it a suitable de-sensitlzing substance orby forming a solutlon of another explosive substance in it, such as tr -n tromethyl-phenol, di-nitro-naphthalin, di-nitrobenzol, tri-nitro-toluene, or di-nitro-glycerin, or other suitable solid or llqilld explosive sub stance or substances, and may and sometimes do employ a solution in nitroglyce'rln of a suitable non-explosive combustible sub- ,stance to de-sensitize the nitroglycerin, such, 39 for example,'as gum camphor, wood alcohol,

acetone, mono-nitro-naphthalin or nitrobenzol, which latter two substances, although nitro compounds, still contain such a small percentage of combined oxygen as by themselves to be impractical or unsuitable as explosive compounds, either for the purpose of a self-combustive fuel for torpedoes or of a high explosive to reinforce the explosive blast of the warhead of the torpedo, as hereinafter described. r

All of the above de-sensitizing agents further serve the purpose of materially lowering the freezing point of nitroglycerin.

I have found that when a suflicientpercent- 5 age of a suitable dry-sensitizing substance or combination of substahces, such as those above enumerated, are employed effectuallyto de-sensitize the nitroglycerin and render it suitable as a liquid fuel for torpedoes, the

Y freezing point of'the nitroglycerin is thereby lowered below the freezing point of seawater, so that a torpedo containing such liquid fuel may remain immersed indefinitely, in seawater in winter, in any climate, without freezing of the nitroglycerin or the crystallization of any tion. x

I preferably employ such a proportion of de-sensitizing matter as shall render the nitroglycerin incapable of detonation under the conditions in which it may be employed in the combustion chamber of a torpedo-by the action of vaporization and inflammation for the generation ofheat for the produtcion of the necessary gases or vapors at the required t8mposure,

of the nitroglycerin out of solu-' torpedo,-but the employment centage of camiphor in addition to such an ex- Application filed February 23, 1922. Serial No. 447,176;

pera'ture to evaporate suflicient water to serve as an effective fuel; for driving torpedoes, as hereinafter described, and still, I preferably employ so small or limited .9, percentage of the de-sensitizing agent or substance or substances as shall renderany residual quantity of the fuel compound, in proximity to the warhead after a run of the torpedo, capable of being detonated by the detonation ofthe warhead of the torpedo, thereby permitting of the utilization of an residue of the self-combustive fuel to particle pate in and add to the force of the explosive blast of the warhead.

I have found'gum camphor to be a very efficient de-sensitizer of nitroglycerin.

Camphor has a very intense aflinity for nitrov glycerin, on account of the great solubility of camphor in nitroglycerin. The aifinity of camphor for nitroglycerin is such that but very little camphor will evaporate from a solution of nitroglycerin even after long exliquid nitrbglycerin fuel containing camphor being inadvertently spilled and exposed to the atmosphere, there will, after long exposure, remain in solution in the nitrogl erin the greater part of the camphor origina ly in solution, thereby effectually serving to prevent any quantity of the liquid for becoming sensitive and dangerous due to evaporation.

Other more volatile'solvents, such as acetone,

wood alcohol and the like, from the nitroglycerin, Furthermore, wood alcohol, acetone and the like, may be removed or washed out of the nitroglycerin with water, while it is very difficult to extract camphor fromnitroglycerin with water, the camphor being, for all practical purposes, as insoluble in water as is nitroglycerin. I have found, furthermore, that by dissolving in nitroglycerin another explosive substance less sensitive than nitroglycerin, such astri-nitro-methyl-phenol, or tri-nitro toluene, .di-nitro-naphthalin, di-nitro-benzol, or di-nitro-glycerin, the nitroglycerin is de-sensitizectthereby, and the same purposes served as by the use of camphor, while the may evaporate leaving the camphor.

so that in the event of someof the added explosive material, unlike a non--explosive combustible; is capable of.contributng heat to the reaction of self-combustion-of the liquid in the combustion chamber of the of a small perplosive adds to its solubility in nitroglycerin.

Therefore, I may and sometimes do em- 4 ploy both an explosive and a non-explosive substance or substances for the purpose of dedi-nitro-glycerln, or in sensitizing nitroglycerin, such, for example,

' as acetone or wood alcohol or both with dinitro-glycerin, or I may employ, instead of addition to di-nitrog1 cerin, tri-nitro-toluene, di nitro-benzol or trl-nitro-methyl-phenol or other suitable explosive material.

I some times employ a solution of acetylene gas in acetone dissolved in nitroglycerin, either with or without the addition of other de-sensitizing agents, the acetone serving the purpose of eflecting more rapid action of vaporization and inflammation of the liquid fuel in the combustion chamber of the toredo. Furthermore, acetylene being an endo-thermic body, it is capable of generating heat from its decomposition or dissociation in the combustion chamber of the torpedo suflicientto render its own gases of decomposition incandescent without oxygen, so that by its use I am enabled to add to the -amount of heatgenerated, while at. the; same time I lessen the roportion of oxygen in the products of com ustion, thereby rendering the gases of the products of combustion more reducing and less oxidizing than they otherwise would be, which is particularly advantageousif the combustion chamber be made of tungsten or an alloy rich in tungsten, or a baflle or enflaming' plate of tungsten be employed upon which to play or jet the stream of liquid fuel into the combustion chamber, the high temperature of the tungsten rendering complete, efficient, constant and steady vaporization and inflammation off-the liquid fuel. As tungsten at a high temperature is rapidly oxidized and destroyed in an oxidizing flame, the advantage ofa reducing flame is obvious when tungsten is employed for the purpose above specified.

i The initial Va is preferably e ected either by the employment of a pilot flame of a portion of the material burned in a jet' of-air or by a pilot igniter made of an explosive material, such as .smokeles powder like cordite,

rial.

orization and inflammation black gunpowder or of a combination of black gunpowder and smokeless powder, or of a rich in nitro glycerin.

After the initial vaporization and inflammation of the liquid fuel is efiected, the pilot flame or means of ignition maybe discontinued.

The heat evolved or generated b the inflammation or combustion of the sel -combustive liquid will be suflicient to maintain at a very high temperature the bafile plate or vaporizing and enflaming plate against whichthe self-combustive fuel is pro ected or jetted in the combustion chamber of the torpedo. In the absence of such baflle plate, the heated walls of the chamber of the torpedowill serve the same urpose, the excess of heat in the products 0? combustion being absorbed by water admitted to the combustion chamber or into the stream of products of-combustion in their esca e from the combustion chamber, and by bem forced by the flame blast through a suita le mixingor atomizing device or means whereby the water is practically instantly evaporated by the absorption of heat from the stream of products of combustion and the steam superheated to any desired temperature, which temperature at present employed is about 1100 F. at the nozzle.

What is claimed is I 1. A liquid explosive for driving torpedoes consisting of a nitro compound of glycerine holding in solution gum camphor, and a combustible non-explosive material. I 2. A liquid explosive for driving torpedoes consisting of holding in solution um camphor, acetylene a nitro compound of: glycerine gas, and a combusti le non-explosive mate- 3. A liquid explosive for driving torpedoes consisting of a nitro compound of glycerine holdingin solution gum camphor, acetylene gas, acetone and a combustible non-explosive material.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

' HUDSON MAXIM.