US1733436A

US1733436A - Submarine escapement device

Info

Publication number: US1733436A
Application number: US322488A
Authority: US
Inventors: Raymond A Taylor
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1928-11-28
Filing date: 1928-11-28
Publication date: 1929-10-29
Anticipated expiration: 1946-10-29

Description

Oct. 29, 1929. R, A TAYLOR 1,733,436

SUBMARINE ES CAPEMENT DEVICE Filed NOV. 28. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheb 1 @Hof/mui o.

Oct. 29, 1929. R. A. TAYLOR SUBMARINE ESCAPEMENT DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed NOV. 28. 1928 Rgmo/zdlylor' www Patented Oct. 29, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RAYMOND A. TAYLOR, OF FREDERICK, MARYLAND SUBMARINE ESCAPEMENT DEVICE rlhis invention relates to submarines, the primary object of the invention being to provide an escapement device for submarines so that the inmates of a submerged submarine may escape to the surface of the water should the submarine be caused to sink due to an accident or damaged machinery.

An object of the invention is to provide means for maintaining an equalization of pressure above and below the door or ciosure used in closing the escapement chamber or tube, so that the door may be opened readily. A still further object ofthe invention is to provide means which may be operated by the occupant of the escapement chamber or tube to the end that the last person left in the submarine may escape by manually operatedV means controlled from a point within the escapement chamber.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means for operating the door of the escapement tube .which may be controlled manually or by air pressure at the will of the operator.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the 1nvention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what'is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

i Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a submarine illustrating escapement tubes VVconstructed in accordance with the invention as positioned thereon. v

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmental sectional view through the submarine and esoapement tube. Y

Figure is an enlarged fragmental view of the escapement tube, the door or closure of the tube being shown in its open position.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference character 5 indicates a submarine in which the escapement tubes forming the sub ject matt-erof the present invention, are in Each escapement tube embodies a cylindrical body portion 6 which is of a diameter and height to permit a person to stand erect in the tube. At the upper end of the escapenient tube is a depression formed with an irregular surface conforming to the contour of the edge of the door or closure 7 of the tube, so that a water tight connection between the closure 'l' and upper end of the tube 6 will be assured. A threaded bolt 8 extends 60 through the upper portion of the tube 6 and passes into a threaded opening of the closure 7, as clearly shown by Figure 2 of the drawing, so that the closure will be held down under normal conditions.

The closure 7 is hingedly connected to the body of the submarine, by means of the hinges 9 and is provided with a connecting member 10 to which the link 11 is connected, the link 11 having pivotal connection with the arm 12, 7o which is formed integral with the arm 13 that rocks on the bracket member 14. An operating rod 15 extends through the upper wall of the submarine and connects with the arm 13, through the medium of the link 16, there being provided a gasket 17 surrounding the opening through which the rod 15 operates, to insure a water tight connection at this point.

An operating lever indicated at 18 connects so with the rod 15 and has pivotal connection with the link 19 which in turn is pivotally connected with the block 2O which is secured to the inner surface of the submarine body portion.

Disposed directly above the operating lever 18 is a cylinder 21 in which the piston 22 operates, the piston including a tubular portion 23 in which the rod 24 operates, the rod 24 being pivotally connected to the operating 9o lever 18. The reference character 25 designates a compressed air tank which may be lilled with air in any suitable and well known manner, and as shown communication is established between the tank 25 and cylinder 95 21, through the pipe 26. A valve 27 is disposed in the pipe line and may be operated to control the passage of compressed air to the cylinder 21 to operate the piston. Another valve 28 is disposed in the pipe line 100 and extends into the escapement tube so that this valve may be operated from a point within the escapement tube, to Control the passage of air to the cylinder 21.

A water inlet pipe 29 has its upper end 30 extended through the deck of the submarine, the pipe extending downwardly where it passes'into vthe escapement :tube 6 at its 'lower end. A valve 31 is provided in the pipe 29 and may be operated to control the passage of sea water into the .eseapement tube. Another pipe 32 connects with the pipe 26 and has its lower end disposed adjacent to the bottom of the tube 6 to admit water at the bottom of the tube 6, the pipe 32 being mounted within the tube 6. The reference charaeter indicates a valve which may be controlled by the person within the escapement tube so that water may enter through the pipe 32. The reference character 84 designates anout'let pipe that has its upper end disposed at a point within a recess formed in the closure 7 the lower end of the pipe extend-ing through the wall o't the vtube 6 where it'is supplied with a valve 3G. This outlet pipef permits air to pass from the escapementtube as the water enters the escapement tube-through the pipe 32, and when tlieescapement tubeibecomes filled with water the water will pass from the tube through the pipe .3 4 indicating to the occupants of the submarine that the escapement tube has been filled with water.` The valve 36 is now closed while .the valves Bland ,3 3 remain open so that the pressure Zon opposite sides of lthe closure 7`is equalied .to the end that the closure may be easily operated by the lever 18. lVhen the closure 7 is moved to its open position, the person in the tube `ascends to thesurfface of the water. A valve 45 .is also in the pipeline 'Slland affords means for cuttingoi'l the passage of water throughthe pipe 34:, from a point within the escapement tube. A pump 'indicated at 37 is in communication with ,the interior of the escapement tube, through the pipe 38 so that water may ibe pumped from the escapemen't :tube after a person has left the escapenient tube, ,so that another person may enter .the tube. Vi'fater passes from 4the pump, through the pipe 39 Athatha-s its discharge end disposed exteriorly of the Submarine, there being provided a. check value 40 so arranged that water cannot enter the pump through the .pipe 39. The .escapemerit tube iis-provided with an entrance openingnormallyelosed'by meansot the door ftfl suuportedbythe hinges ther-e being profvigili-id la pivoted lateh' 4 3 operated ,by either side ofthe clooi',so that ,whena personenters .theesqapementtubeihe mayloek the Cloer- *In the ,useLof the i@scrupulent tube, it iS to ibe .understood that ,the @Sealants O' the submarine @before @entering the 4esca-pement tube 6, are supplied with water proof suits embodying ,helmets so that sufficient breathing space is provided to supply air until the persons reach the surface of the water. As a person enters the escapement tube 6, the door is closed and the valve 31 is opened allowing sea water to enter the escapement tube at the bottom thereof until the escapement tube is filled.

When a person Yis to Vbe released from the escapement tube, the valve 36 Yisl closed and the valve 31 remains open. The bolt 8 is now released and the operating lever 18 is pulled downwardly causing the Closure 7 to swing upwardly toits open position as shown by Figure 3.

After the person has been released from the escapement tube the operating lever 18 is moved to close the closure 7 andthe water Vis pumped from the eseapement tube whereupon another person to leave the submarine enters the eseapement tube and this operation is repeated.

The last person to leave the submarine now operates the lever 18 tofmove the vclosure 7 to its closed position and Aafter the water has been pumped from the escapement tube, the person enters the eseapement .tube looking the door .41 after him. AThe valve isofeourse left open and the valve` L15 is Operated to allow vair to pass through lpipel.' Valve ,33

is now operated allowing sea water to enter the escapement tube and when the es cap e ment tube .becomes yfilled with water, valve 4 5 is closed. Y When the person in the escapement tube is ready fto leave the-tube, the personoperates the valve 28 allowing air to pass I from the tank 25 to point vabove the `piston 22 vin cylinderQl. It isobvious thatthe Vpistonwill move downwardly moving the operating lever 18 to lmove the closure 7 `to its open position y whereupon the person in theeseapementtube will float to the surface of the water.

In order that the elosure 7 .may be moved to its closed position with the .least possible resistance, a one-way valveflill is provided in the closure which valve allows water to pass through the opening Vin Athe closure as the closure moves downwardly. l claim:

1. An escapement-tubertorsubmarines, -including a bodyk Vportion lsecured within the submarine, a closure for normally closing the body portion, an operating mechanism including a cylinder, a pistonoperatingin ,the

cylinder, vsaidpiston .having tubularextension, an operating-lever, a{rQClCQnnectedlwith the operating lever and extending into the tubular extension t0 lp elinit thel operating lever to vmore independently of the piston, means for directing empresse/,d t0 the cylinder to operate the piston fandopeiiating lever, and means operated x10571121.18 onereting lever for moving the closure to its'open and closedposition. t 2. An escapement tube-for submarineain- Cil cluding a body portion secured Within a submarine, the upper end of the body portion being open, a closure for normally closing the open end of the body portion, mechanical 5 means operated eXteriorly of the body portion for moving the closure to its open position, pneumatically cont-rolled means controlled from a point Within the body portion for operating the mechanical closure operating means, and said mechanical closure operating means adapted to be operated independently of the pneumatically controlled means.

3. An escapement tube for submarines, including a body portion secured Within a submarine, the upper end of the body portion being open, a closure for normally closing the open end of the body portion mechanical closure operating means connected with the closure, pneumatically controlled closure 29 operating means including a cylinder and a piston, means for connecting the piston to the mechanicalr closure operating means to operate the mechanical closure operating means, and said mechanical closure operating means adapted to operate independently of the pneumatically controlled closure operating means. In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto .aHiXed my signature.

RAYMOND A. TAYLOR.