US2168767A

US2168767A - Automatic diving toy

Info

Publication number: US2168767A
Application number: US235517A
Authority: US
Inventors: Amos D Ellsworth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1938-10-17
Filing date: 1938-10-17
Publication date: 1939-08-08
Anticipated expiration: 1956-08-08

Description

Aug. 8, 1939. A. D. ELLSWORTH AUTOMATIC DIVING TOY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 17, 1938 3mm Ambs HZ'ZZ sworZ h,

Aug. 8, 1939. A. D. ELLSWORTH AUTOMATIC DIVING TOY Filed Oct. 17, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3140mm arm Amos .5 ZZsw Patented Aug. 8, 1939 UNITED STAT PATENT OFFIQE Application October 1'7,

12 Claims.

My invention relates to the art of nautical toys and it more particularly relates to improvement in toy submarine vessels.

An object of the invention is to provide a vessel of a very simple and inexpensive construction, which can be operated automatically to dive to the bottom and return after a predetermined interval to the surface bow-first, so as to simulate as nearly as possible the diving and rising actions of a real submarine boat.

Further, it is an object to provide a toy submarine With a contained gas generator. in cooperative association with means for shifting the fore and aft balance of the vessel to depress the bow and elevate the stern while in the act of diving and then, when the vessel is ready to rise,

" to shift the balance so as to elevate the bow as the vessel begins to rise so it may emerge bow first at the surface of the water.

Again, it is an object to provide a power generator in cooperative association with a main and auxiliary tank open at the bottom so that relatively high gas pressures within the vessel may be avoided.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out hereinafter.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends the invention still further resides in the novel details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all of which will be first fully described in the following detailed description, and then be particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a central vertical longitudinal section of a toy submarine embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the same.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a cross section on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the tanks and gas generator showing their position when the submarine rests on the bottom on an even keel.

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the position of the tanks when the vessel has just come to the surface but not yet up to the water line.

Fig. 8 is a View similar to Figs. 6 and 7 showing the position of the tanks when the vessel has emerged to the water line.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Figs. 6 to 8, showing the position of the tanks when the auxiliary tank has been completely filled with gas to reduce buoyancy of the bow and increase that of the stern.

1938, Serial No. 235,517

Fig. 10 shows the position of the tank while the vessel is going down.

Fig. 11 shows the position of the tanks when the gas has been discharged from the auxiliary tank and the weight of that tank has depressed the stern and brought the vessel to an even keel on the bottom.

In the drawings, in which like numbers and letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures, I represents the hull, in whose interior 2 is located the main tank 5, the gas generator l3, and the auxiliary tank It.

The hull I is provided with a keel slot 3 from stem to stern in which is adjustably held (in any suitable way) a ballast strip 4.

The main tank 5 comprises a front wall 6, a rear Wall 1, side walls 8, and a forwardly-upwardly inclined top wall or ceiling 9, the rear end of which lies adjacent the water-line level while the front end of the same lies above the water-line level of the hull I.

Save for an opening surrounded by a collar ii! to receive a cork H, the main tank 5 is closed at the top. A member 22, shaped to simulate a conning tower, may be soldered to the top 9 and a post 23 may be provided, to which post wires 24 may be secured to represent radio antenna, the ends of the wires 24 being anchored fore and aft as at 25.

The cork II is provided with a spring sleeve [2 onto which the upper end of the gas generator I3 is fitted and held by frictional engagement, or in any other suitable Way.

Extending rearwardly from the main tank 5 is the auxiliary tank I6 which has a front wall formed by the wall 1 extended, side walls H and a rearwardly-downwardly inclined top wall or ceiling [8. The side walls terminate at the level of the rear edge of the top H8. The bottom of tank l6, like that of tank 5, is open.

An inverted siphon tube effects communication between the two tanks. The vertical leg IQ of the siphon extends from a point just below the water line to near the bottom of the tank 5 where it joins the bend 2% to which the inclined leg is also joined. The open end of leg 20 terminates below the bottom level of tank [6 which, relatively, is considerably farther from the water-line level than is the open end of leg [9. The reason for this structure will shortly appear.

The hull has an opening 26 in its bottom buneath tank 5 to permit free passage of water into tank 5 and into the cavity of the hull.

. In the drawings the Water line and water level are indicated by WL, and the bottom of the water course is designated B in Fig. 6 et seq.

The tanks 5 and I6 are placed as shown with the center of buoyancy in tank 5 and the vessel is trimmed to lie on an even keel (when no gas is being generated) by proper placement of ballast 4 in groove 3.

The hull, which is of peculiar shape, should be deep in order to place the ballast far enough below the center of buoyancy to maintain foreand-aft and lateral trim. It should be short so that the bow can be easily depressed for realistic bow-first diving. The vessel always operates in a water-logged condition. The buoyancy of the hull depends on that of the material of which it is made, and since the buoyancy must be slight, the hull is made as thin as possible. Wood may be used for the hull or pressed papier-mach, wood pulp or like material, shellacked and dip-painted, may be employed. The hull may be made in one piece or in sections suitably secured together, as may be desired. The ballast 4 may be of Babbitt metal, or any other suitable material.

The ballast should only be heavy enough to cause the hull (without gas) to sink slowly. In other words, the negative buoyancy to be overcome is not very great. The position of the ballast fore and aft is important with relation to the buoyancy of tank 5 and the hull and it must be so adjusted that the vessel will float at the surface or rest on the bottom on an even keel, but it must be capable of being easily tilted bow-up or bow-down.

In the practical embodiment of the invention which I have constructed and successfully tested the top of the tank 5 at its after end is level with the water line, while at its fore end the top 9 is one centimeter above the water line. The tank 5, as before stated, is open at the bottom and extends down to the upper edge of the ballast bar 4. The sides 8 slope inward toward the bottom to accommodate the shape of the hull. The tank 5 is six centimeters long, two and one-half centimeters wide at the water line and one and one-half centimeters wide at the bottom. It has a capacity of approximately fifty-seven cubic centimeters down to a point at which gas will be discharged through the inverted siphon I 9, 2|, 20.

The tank I6, which is attached to the after end of tank 5, is open at the bottom (as before stated) and its top at the fore end is level with the deck line (about six millimeters above the water line). The sides of the tank I6 fit loosely the usual inside curve of the hull. The top I 8 slopes downward toward the stern for a distance of seven and one-half centimeters at an angle of fifteen degrees to meet the bottom edge of the sides close to the stern. At this point the hull I is excavated to make room for the end of the tank I6, This tank has a capacity of about twenty cubic centimeters (about two-thirds of an ounce).

The tank 5 is intermittently connected to tank I6 by the inverted siphon, which begins at a point close to the top of the tank 5, follows down the after wall I to near the bottom where it pierces the after wall I at a point so that the lower edge of the bend ZI is about one-half centimeter above the bottom of tank 5. The siphon then slopes at an angle of about forty-five degrees upward toward the stern and ends just below the lower edge of tank I6. While the member I9, M, 20 has the shape of an inverted siphon, it does not operate strictly as a siphon because, on even keel, the outlet is lower than with full tanks,

the inlet. This is the reverse of what would obtain in a true inverted siphon. The siphon is ordinarily filled with water. It begins to operate when gas reaches the lowest part 2I. Gas then flows along the ascending limb to the outlet, displacing the water contained in the siphon. With gas forcing down the water level inside tank 5, the siphon begins to operate at first as an inverted siphon because this water level is well below the outlet. As the water level in tank 5 rises, the siphon continues to operate because gas in tank 5 is under slight pressure. Discharge of gas through the siphon continues until the water level in tank 5 reaches the inlet of the siphon. At this time the siphon becomes filled with water, which acts as a valve to stop the flow of gas and allows gas to re-accumulate in tank 5.

During this operation nearly two ounces of buoyancy has been removed from the forward tank 5. Two-thirds ounce of buoyancy has been added to the after tank I6. The tendency is to tip the bow downward at the same time that the submarine begins to sink from lack of buoyancy.

The gas generator operates nearly, but not quite, on the principle of the Kipp generator. The gas generator I3 consists of a tube of perforated metal (see Fig. 1). This tube is closed at the bottom and serves to receive the fuel from which gas is generated. This generator is introduced through the tapered collar soldered at an opening (hereinbefore mentioned) to the top of tank 5 near its forward end. This collar fits a standard cork which is two and one-half centimeters long, two centimeters across its larger end and which tapers toward a point twelve centimeters from its larger end. The generator I 3 may he slipped over the spring skirt I2 after the generator is filled with fuel. The cork thus serves to close the opening in tank 5 and to hold the generator in position in the tank.

The rate at which gas is generated depends upon the depth to which the generator is immersed in water. It must not, however, like the Kipp generator, cease to form gas entirely. If no gas at all is generated at any point of the cycle, the submarine will cease to operate and will remain motionless either at the surface or resting at the bottom. Therefore some gas must be formed even at the lowest point of activity of the generator. This is accomplished by providing that the fuel shall fall downward in the generator as fuel at the bottom is consumed. This fuel which falls down comes in Contact with the wet sides of the generator and with water in the tank even at the lowest level of water in tank 5.

Formation of gas is most active when the submarine is at the bottom with empty tanks. Gas generation is at its lowest when the submarine, is floating at the surface and about to dive.

Any gas used in a toy submarine must be odorless, non-poisonous, non-explosive, and cheap. Carbon dioxide seems to be the only gas which fulfills these requirements. produced by chemical reaction of tartaric acid and sodium bicarbonate. In my experiments I have made use of a mixture of powdered tartaric acid and sodium bicarbonate in approximately equal parts. Any excess of one or the other would be of no importance, since such excess would pass into solution in the water in which the submarine swims. However, if such a mixture were kept for use, dampness of the air would cause slow It can be cheaply reaction and deterioration of the fuel. In practice, separate tablets I4, H) of the two substances may be used, of ten-grain size. These would be placed alternately in the generator on top of each other until the generator is full. One sort of tablet may be colored pink or blue and the other left white, so that they can be distinguished from each other. They may be hard-pressed tablets (CT) which would not break down too rapidly in water, and they should not be coated. Both kinds of tables should have added to the other ingredient, ten grains of quinine bisulphate to the ounce. This for the following reasons:-

First, quinine bisulphate, which is freely soluble in water, is therefore much more bitter than the common sulphate.

Secondly, children might mistake the tablets for candy. While these tablets are in no sense poisonous, they would cause excessive amounts of gas if swallowed. The bitter taste would discourage children from placing them in their mouths.

Thirdly, adults are certain to wonder what the fuel is which operates the submarine. Many of them would attempt an assay by the tongue. A mysterious bitter taste would add to the psychological effect.

If it is desired to refill the generator after the boat has finished one series of dives, the generator must be thoroughly dried. Fuel placed in a wet generator will be partly consumed before the submarine can be placed in the water.

7 By referring now to Figs. 6 to 11 inclusive, the cycle of operation will become clear.

Fig. 6 shows the tanks when the submarine is submerged, resting on an even keel on the bottom. Tank 5, after being completely emptied, is beginning to refill. Gas is generating actively. It will be noted that there is more gas in the forward end of tank 5 than in the after end, tending to lift the bow of the submarine first.

Fig. '7: Moregas has been formed and the submarine has come to the surface, but not yet up to its water-line. Gas generation has become slower.

Fig. 8: Tank 5 is full of gas and the submarine is riding at its highest above the surface. Gas has reached the lower bend 2! of the siphon tube. It has displaced the water in the ascending limb 20 and is being discharged from the outlet end of the siphon. From this outlet the gas flows upward into tank l6 where it is being stored. It will be noted that with the submarine up to the waterline, the forward peak of tank it is above the water-line, that is, above the surface of the water. This part of the tank, therefore, has no lifting power until the submarine begins to submerge. This fact allows the submarine, with gas collecting in the peak of tank It, still to remain on an even keel. Gas continues to be taken from tank 5, decreasing the buoyancy of the bow, and to be stored in tank I6, increasing the buoyancy of the stern.

Fig. 9: At this point tank I6 has become completely filled and exerts considerable lifting power to overcome the buoyancy of the bow which is somewhat reduced. The stern begins to rise and the bow to be depressed. As this occurs, as shown by Fig. 9, gas flows from the forward to the after end of tank 5, still further reducing the buoyancy of the bow. The center of buoyancy has shifted toward the stern. It will be noted that although the top of tank 5 is now parallel with the surface, the top of tank l6 still slopes. Therefore tank I6 is still able to retain gas and help lift the stern.

Fig. 10: The submarine is going down. As its keel reaches an inclination of fifteen degrees, tank I'B dumps its gas and the submarine dives in a shower of bubbles.

Fig. 11: The lift of the gas in tank It having been removed, the weight of that tank tends to depress the stern and return the boat toan even keel. This movement is helped by the little gas remaining in tank 5 flowing to the forward peak of that tank, owing to the slope of its top. This further tends to lift the bow.

As the submarine assumes an even keel and the gas flows to the forward end of tank 5, the water level rises at the after end of tank 5. This water level reaches the upper end of leg IS, the inlet of the inverted siphon. Water flows into the siphon, acting as a valve to stop the discharge of gas. Gas generation is now at its most active stage and tank 5 is being refilled, preparatory to raising the submarine to the surface.

By locating the ballast i at a lower level, a rubber band motor may be used in slot 3 above bar 4 and provided with a propeller if desired.

While I have disclosed the preferred embodiment of my invention and have described the same in detail, I wish it understood that changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the appended claims.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought that the construction, operation and advantages of my invention will be clear to those skilled in the art to which it relates.

What I claim is:

1. A diving toy comprising a hull, at least two buoyancy tanks, an inverted siphon connecting said tanks, and a gas generator in one of said tanks, said tanks and said siphon being constructed to transfer gas from the tank containing the generator at predetermined intervals to the other tank to shift the center of buoyancy aft until the gas shall have been siphoned out of the first tank into said other tank and spilled from the same.

2. In a diving toy, a hull having an opening so that it may become water-logged, a fore and an aft buoyancy tank, means in the fore tank continuously generating gas to fill the tank, and means to transfer the gas from the fore tank to the aft tank at intervals, said tanks having provision cooperating with the gas for shifting the center of buoyancy from fore to aft and back again accordingly as gas is passing through the gas transferring means or not.

3. In a diving toy, a hull, a gas generator, fore and aft buoyancy tanks, and means for trapping in and releasing gas from said tanks alternately to increase and decrease buoyancy of the vessel and cause it to dive and ascend alternately.

4. In a diving toy, a hull, a gas generator, fore and aft buoyancy tanks, and means for trapping in and-releasing gas from. said tanks alternately to increase and decrease buoyancy of the vessel and to shift the center of buoyancy aft and fore alternately to nose the vessel down when submerging and up when rising to the surface.

5. A diving toy, comprising a hollow hull of buoyant material and having a hole in its bottom so that it may become water-logged, a main buoyancy tank open at the bottom. and an auxiliary buoyancy tank open at the bottom and aft of the main tank, ballast means carried by the hull to trim the vessel, a gas generator in said main buoyancy tank, and an inverted siphon to effect communication between said tanks, the inlet of the siphon being adjacent the after end of the main tank and below the water-line and the outlet of the siphon being located beneath the water-line and beneath the auxiliary tank to discharge gas into the same.

6. A diving toy, comprising a hollow hull of buoyant material and having a hole in its bottom so it may become water-logged, a main buoyancy tank open at the bottom and an auxiliary buoyancy tank open at the bottom and aft of the main tank, ballast means carried by the hull to trim the vessel, a gas generator in said main buoyancy tank, and an inverted siphon to effect communication between said tanks, the inlet of the siphon being adjacent the after end of the main tank and below the water-line and the outlet of the siphon being located beneath the water-line and beneath the auxiliary tank to discharge gas into the same, the top of said main tank being forwardly-upwardly inclined from its rear end and the top of said auxiliary tank being downwardly-rearwardly inclined from its front end.

'7. A diving toy, comprising a hollow hull of buoyant material and having a hole in its bottom so it may become water-logged, a main buoyl ancy tank open at the bottom, and an auxiliary buoyancy tank open at the bottom and aft of the main tank, ballast means carried by the hull to trim the vessel, a gas generator in said main buoyancy tank, and an inverted siphon to effect communication between said tanks, the inlet of the siphon being adjacent the after end of the main tank and below the water-line and the outlet of the siphon being located beneath the Waterline and beneath the auxiliary tank to discharge gas into the same, the top of said main tank being forwardly-upwardly inclined from its rear end and the top of said auxiliary tank being downwardly-rearwardly inclined from its front end, the fore end of said auxiliary tank terminating above the water-line and the rear end of said main tank terminating at the water-line.

8. A diving toy, comprising a hollow hull of buoyant material and having a hole in its bottom so it may become water-logged, a main buoyancy tank open at the bottom and an auxiliary buoyancy tank open at the bottom and aft of the main tank, ballast means carried by the hull to trim the vessel, a gas generator in said main buoyancy tank, and an inverted siphon to effect communication between said tanks, the inlet of the siphon being adjacent the after end of the main tank and below the water-line and the outlet of the siphon being located beneath the waterline and beneath the auxiliary tank to discharge gas into the same, the top of said main tank being forwardly-upwardly inclined from its rear end and the top of said auxiliary tank being downwardly-rearwardly inclined from its front end,

the fore end of said auxiliary tank terminating above the water-line and the rear end of said main tank terminating at the water-line, the fore end of said main tank terminating above the water-line and above the level of the fore end of the auxiliary tank.

9. A diving toy, comprising a hollow hull of buoyant material and having a hole in its bottom so it may become water-logged, a main buoyancy tank open at the bottom and an auxiliary buoyancy tank open at the bottom and aft of the main tank, ballast means carried by the hull to trim the vessel, a gas generator in said main buoyancy tank, and an inverted siphon to eifect communication between said tanks, the inlet of the siphon being adjacent the after end of the main tank and below the water-line and the outlet of the siphon being located beneath the waterline and beneath the auxiliary tank to discharge gas into the same, the top of said main tank being forwardly-upwardly inclined from its rear end and the top of said auxiliary tank being downwardly-rearwardly inclined from its front end, the inclination of the top of the auxiliary tank being greater in degree than that of the main tank so that in diving when the top of the main tank assumes a position parallel with the water surface the top of the auxiliary tank will still be somewhat inclined.

10. In a diving toy, a hull having an opening so that it may become water-logged, a fore and and aft buoyancy tank, means in the fore tank continuously generating gas to fill the tank, and means to transfer the gas from the fore tank to the aft tank at intervals, said tanks having provision cooperating with the gas for shifting the center of buoyancy from fore to aft and back again accordingly as gas is passing through the siphon or not, said gas generator comprising a foraminous tube, means to hold it rigidly in place in the fore buoyancy tank, and gas-forming materials in said tube designed to gravitate downwardly as they are consumed upon contact with water in the fore tank.

11. In a diving toy, a hull, a gas generator, fore and aft buoyancy tanks, means for trapping in and releasing gas from said tanks alternately to increase and decrease buoyancy of the vessel, said gas generator comprising a foraminous tube, means to hold it rigidly in place in the fore buoyancy tank, and gas-forming materials in said tube designed to gravitate downwardly as they are consumed upon contact with Water in the fore tank.

12. In a diving toy, a hull, a gas generator, fore and aft buoyancy tanks, means for trapping in and releasing gas from said tanks alternately to increase and descrease buoyancy of the vessel, said fore tank having a hole in its top surrounded by a collar, a cork fitting in said collar to close said hole, and means carried by said cork for suspending said gas generator within said fore tank.

AMOS D. ELLSWORTI-I.