US2212280A

US2212280A - Toy submarine

Info

Publication number: US2212280A
Application number: US324594A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph O Thorsheim
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1940-03-18
Filing date: 1940-03-18
Publication date: 1940-08-20
Anticipated expiration: 1957-08-20

Description

Aug- 20, 1940 J. o. THORSHEIM 2,212,280

TOY SUBMRINE Filed March 18, 1940 Joseph O. Thor-shem Patented Aug. Z0, 1940 UNITE sm'res TENT GFFECE Z0 Claims.

My invention relates to toy submarines and has for an object to provide a toy submarine which will simulate in action an actual submarine.

An object of the invention resides in providing a toy submarine capable of submerging and automatically rising to the surface of the water after a predetermined interval.

vA further object ofv the invention resides in providing a toy submarine which will repeatedly submerge and rise to the surface.

Another object of the invention resides in providing va toy submarine which will submerge and after a predetermined lapse of time will travel ahead in the water and rise therein.

Another object of the invention resides in constructing the submarine with a hull having a support for a cake of soluble material, said cake being adapted to cause the submarine to submerge and upon solution in the Water causing the submarine to rise to the surface.

A feature of the invention resides in forming in the bottom of the submarine a cavity in which the cake of soluble material is disposed.

A still further object of the invention resides inconstructing the submarine so that the water circulates freely about the cake whereby rapid solution of the same may be effected.

An object of the invention resides in providing a cage within said cavity having perforate walls and forming a passageway through which water may circulate, said cake being disposed Within said cage.

An object of the invention resides in constructing the cake of layers of different materials or of differently treated materials so that successive portions of the same are dissolved changing the buoyancy of the cake so as to procure alternate submerging and rising of the submarine.

A still further object of the invention resides in untilizing a propeller for propelling the submarine and in employing in conjunction with the propeller a device for controlling movement thereof, said device being actuated upon solution of the cake.

A feature of the invention resides in employing a `propeller shaft for operating the propeller and in attaching to the propeller shaft an arm adapted to en-gage the cake and restrain rotation of the shaft.

A feature of the invention resides in using the propeller shaft and arm for maintaining the cake Within the cavity in the hull.

Another object of the invention resides in venting the cavity in the hull, whereby water will readily enter said cavity.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel combination and arrangement oi parts and in the details of construction hereinafter illustrated and/or described.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a toy submarine illustrating an embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevational sectional View taken on line 3-3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the. cake partly dissolved.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4' showing the cake still further dissolved.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the cage used for supporting the cake within the cavity in the hull of the submarine.

My invention comprises a hull designated by the reference numeral I0, which may be constructed of wood or other buoyant material or which may be constructed of metal and provided with sufficient air spaces to procure buoyancy of the same. The hull I0 is generally in the form of a submarine having sides II and I2 and a bottom I3. The hull Ill may be constructed, as indicated at I6, to simulate the super-structure of a submarine with a periscope I1 and a conningtower I8.

0 The submarine is provided with a rudder I9.

Ahead of the rudder and attached to the bottom I3 of the hull Illl is a bracket 2| which forms a bearing for a propeller shaft 22. This shaft 272 follows along the underside of the bottom I3 and is positioned in close proximity thereto. The rearward end of the shaft 22 has attached toit a propeller23 which has a hub 24 bearing against the bracket 2l. The other end 29 of the shaft 22 is constructed with a hook 25 over which one end of a rubber band 26 is hooked. The other end of the said band is hooked on a fixed hook 2'! which is screwed into the bottom I3 of the hull Ill. It will readily be comprehended that, when the propeller shaft V22 is rotated the band 26 is twisted and energy stored up in the same, which, when the shaft 22 is released causes the propeller 23 to rotate and drive the submarine` forward in the Water.

In the bottom I3 of the hull, intermediate the ends thereof and midway between its sides I I and I2, is formed a rectangular cavity 28. This cavity has side walls 3| and 32 and a top 33, said cavity being open at the bottom so that water may readily enter the same. A vent 36 for the cavity 28 is provided in the hull |9 to prevent the trapping of air in said cavity and thus permit water readily to enter the cavity for a purpose presently to be described.

Within the cavity 28 is disposed a cage 31 `formed with -a top 38`and side and

end walls

39 and 4|, the bottom of said cage being open. This cage is constructed of suitable sheet material and the various walls thereof are perforate, being formed with numerous large openings 42 therein through which water may readily enter the cage from the top, sides and ends thereof, as well as from the bottom. The walls 39 have ears 43 projecting outwardly therefrom. The dimensions of the cage 31 are somewhat less than those of the cavity 28 so that the

walls

39 and 4| become spaced from the walls 3| and 32 of the cavity 28 and so that the top 38 of the cage becomes spaced from the top 33 of cavity 28. In this manner a passageway 44 is formed between the walls of the cage 31 and the walls of the cavity 28, whereby water may enter'the cavity and circulate 'freely about and through the ca-ge 31. Said cage 31 is supported through the two ears 43 which are attached to the bottom |3 of the hull I6 by means of nails or screws 45, best shown in Fig. 2.

Within the interior of the cage 31 is disposed a cake 46 which is constructed of materials readily solublein water. This cake consists of a core 49, an intermediate portion 48 enrobing the core, and a jacket 41 .enrobing said intermediate portion 48. Each of these various portions consists f water-soluble material. The core 49 and jack et 41 may be of the same material and will have a specific gravity, greater than that of water, while the material from which the intermediate portion 48 is formed will have a specic gravity less than that of water. The thickness of the various portions of the cake 46 and the relative weights thereof are so proportioned that the' ratio of the weight of the entire cake to its volume is greater than that of water. Also the weight of the entire cake is suicient so that the cake, when inserted into the cage 31, and the submarine placed in the water, overbalances the buoyancy of the submarine and causes the same to submerge. The ratio of the weight of the intermediate portion 48 and its enrobed core 49 to the volume of the former is preferably less than that of water so that, after the jacket 41 has been dissolved, the cake becomes buoyant and causes the submarine to rise. It can readily be comprehended that the ratio of the weight to volume of the intermediate portion 48 and its enrobed core 49 can be made equal to that of water or even slightly greater than water if the combined weight of both

portions

48 and 49 be kept below the buoyancy of the hull. However, best results are produced when the ratio is less than that vof water so that the buoyancy of the cake, devoid of the jacket 41, tends to cause the submarine to rise. The ratio of the weight of the core 49 to its volume is greater than that of water and said core is of such weight that, when denuded of the intermediate portion 48, it will cause the submarine to submerge.

In forming the cakes 46, various chemicals and materials which are soluble in water may be used. Ordinary table salt or sugar may be utilized. Buoyancy of the cake may be procured by trap- Dlrlg air with the particles of soluble substance, such air being released as the substance dissolves. Or 1f desired, `substances or maieials of low specic gravity may be used to provide buoyancy in the cake.

As will be noted in Figs. 1 and 2, the forward portion 29 of shaft 22 extends across the open underside of the cavity 28. At this locality a cross arm is provided which is welded or otherwise secured to the said shaft. This cross arm engages the cake 46 and prevents rotation of the shaft 22. When the jacket 41 and intermediate portion 48 and a substantial portion of the core 49 of said cake are dissolved, arm 5| is released and the propeller shaft 22 permitted to rotate. This shaft 22 is loosely journaled in the bearing formed in bracket 2| so that the portion 29 of said shaft may be swung clear of the bottom I3 of the hull in proximity to the cavity 28. This permits the insertion of the cake 46 into the cage 31. When the shaft 22 is released, the elastic band 26 returns said shaft to its normal position, bringing the cross arm 5| into engagement with the underside of the cake 46 and thus holding said cake in position within the cage 31.

The operation of the .illustrated embodiment of my invention is as follows: The shaft 22 is first turned by hand in a -direction opposite to that through which the propeller 23 turns in propelling the boat. This twists the elastic band 26, storing up energy in the same. After the said band has been sufficiently twisted, the shaft 22 is swung clear of the cavity 28 in the hull I6. The cake 46 is then inserted into the cage 31 and the cross arm 5| brought flatly into engagement with the underside of the cake, as shown in Fig. 3. The tension on the band 26 holds lthe structure, as shown in Fig. 1', with the cake 46 retained in position through the cross arm 5|. When the submarine is placed in the water, it is caused by the weight of the cake 46 to sink and become completely submerged. Water, of course, enters the cavity 28 and the air within said cavity escapes through the vent 36. It will readily be comprehended that the water may circulate through the space 32 in the cavity 28 and freely enter the cage 31 through the openings 42 in the various walls thereof. cage through said openings and through the open bottom thereof rst dissolves the jacket 41 of the cake 46. This reduces the weight of the said cake and upon substantially complete solution of said jacket the submarine rises to the surface of the water. As the jacket 41 is dissolved, the cross arm 5| follows the gradually changing surface of the cake. When the jacket has been completely dissolved the position of the cross arm, with reference to the cake, is as shown in Fig. 4. Upon reaching the surface of the-water, the submarine floats, the remainder of the vcake 46 being still submerged. During flotation of the submarine the intermediate portion 48 of the cake commences to dissolve and as it dissolves, the ratio of the weight to volume of the remainder of the cake increases until a point is reached at which the ratio is greater than that of water. When this ratio becomes suiciently great, which is accomplished when substantially all of the intermediate portion 48 has been dissolved, the weight of the core 49 causes the submarine again to sub-` merge. The position of the cross arm 5|, with reference to thecore 49, when the intermediate portion 48 and jacket 49 of the cake have both been dissolved is shown in Fig. 5. Solution of the core 49 then progresses until the cross arm 5| is released thereby. When this occurs, the undissolved fragment of said core drops from the cage 31, whereupon the'submarine begins to rise The water entering they final ascent.

The layers of the cake need not completely enrobe each other, as shown, but may be simply stratified layers which are successively exposed to the water to effect the repeated submerging and emerging of the toy. And, too, the cake may have a uniform foundation throughout and be without layers of different materials or differently treated material, where it is desired only to provide for a single submersion of the toy followed by the emersion thereof.

The device is adapted also to simulate a power driven boat and in such use, a delayed action of the propeller may be had, without submersion of the toy, by using a water-soluble cake of such material that the ratio of the weight of the cake to its volume, as compared with that of water, is insufcient to overcome the buoyancy of the toy. In such case, the toy will merely float until the cake has become sufficiently disintegrated by solution-to release the cross bar 5I, whereupon the propeller shaft will be turned by the twisted band 26 and the toy driven forward by the propeller 23.

The advantages of my invention are manifest. An extremely simple construction is provided. By means of the cakes-used, the device becomes Wholly automatic. The cakes can be constructed of various harmless materials treated in different ways. There are very fewyparts to get out of order. The submarine operates in lan extremely interesting and attractive manner simulating the maneuvers of actual submarines. The cake used with the invention serves a two-fold purpose, rst to cause the submarine to submerge. and rise and secondly to control the action of the propeller or any other movable part of the submarine. The use of the invention is extremely simple and a child can easily learn to manipulate and operate the same. The cakes can be constructed at little expense and are easily replaced.

Changes in the specic form of my invention, as herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A toy submarine comprising a hull of sufficient buoyancy to float and having a cavity therein into which water may enter from the body thereof in which the submarine is disposed, a cake` in said cavity formed of a material readily soluble in Water, said material having a specific gravity greater than that of water, and said cake being of sufficient size to overcome the buoyancy of the hull and cause the submerging of the submarine, said cake upon solution becoming dispersed in said body of water and rendering the submarine free to rise in the water.

2. A toy submarine comprising a hull of suilicient buoyancy to float, a water-soluble substance adapted to be carried by the submarine and exposed to the water in which it is placed, said substance being of suiicient bulk and specific gravity to cause the submarine to submerge, said submarine being adapted to rise in the water upon the solution of said substance therein.

3. A toy submarine comprising a hull of sufficient buoyancy to float, a support on said hull, a cake soluble in water and carried by said support, the ratio of the weight of said cake to its volume being greater than that of water, said cake being K.

of `sufficient weight to cause submersion of the submarine, said support being arranged to expose the cake to the water in which the submarine is placed to cause the solution of the cake in the water, said submarine being adapted to rise to the surface of the water upon solution of the cake therein. f

Ll. A toy submarine comprising a hull of suflicient buoyancy to float, a support on said hull,

a cake consisting of two portions both soluble in water, the ratio of the weight of said cake to the volume thereof being greater than that of the water and the weight of said cake being sufcient to cause submerging of the submarine, said cake being carriedon said support and exposed to the water in which the submarine is placed, one portion of said cakebeing first exposed and the other portion subsequently exposed after the solution of said first portion, the ratio of the weight to the volume of said second portion being sufficiently near that of water to permit the ascent of the submarine upon solution of said first portion, a movable member carried by the submarine, and

means engaging said cake for controlling move-` men-t of said member, said means becoming actuated upon solution of one of said portions of said cake.

5..A toy submarine comprising a hull, a cake formed with two portions both thereof being soluble in water, a support on said hull carrying said cake and exposing it to the water in which the submarine is placed, rst exposing one portion and, after it is dissolved, then exposing the second portion, the ratio of the weight to volume of the two portions being greater than the ratio of the weight to volume of said second portion, -said submarine being adapted to sink in the water with both portions of said cake on said support Vand adapted to rise with only the second portion of said cake remaining after `solution of said rstv portion.

6. A toy submarine comprising a hull of sufficient buoyancy to float, a cake formed of three portions, all thereof `being soluble in water, a support on the hull carrying said cake and exposing it to the water in which the submarine is placed so that one portion is exposed and dissolved` and then the second and then the third, the ratio of the weight of the entire cake to its volume being greater than that of water and the weight of said cake being suflicient to cause submerging of the submarine, the ratio of the weight of said ,second and third portions of the cake to the volume thereof being less than that of water and the volume thereof being suicient to cause the submarine to rise upon solution of said rstportion, the ratio of the weight of the third portion to the volume thereof being greater than that of water and the weight thereof being suicient to cause the submarine to submerge upon solution of said second portion of the cake, solution of said third portion of said cake freeing the submarine and permitting it to rise again to the surface of the Water.

7. A toy submarine adapted to submerge and emerge repeatedly, the same comprising a hull of suicient buoyancy to float in water, a watersoluble cake consisting of a core, an intermediate portion enrobing the core, and a jacket enrobing saidV intermediate portion, a support on said hull for `said cake, said support being arranged to procure contact of substantially the entire surface area of the cake with the water in which the submarine is disposed, whereby said jacket, in-

termediate' portion and core'of' said cake are caused to dissolve successively in theWater, said entire cake being of such relative Weight and volume as to cause the submarine to sink, the intermediate portion and core of said cake remaining in the course of its rsolution being of such relative Weight and volume as to cause the submerged submarine to rise, the core of said cake remaining in the further course of its solution being of such relative Weight and volume as.A

to cause the submarine again to sink, the solution of a substantial portion of said core, permitting the submarine again to rise.

8..A toy submarine comprising a hull having sufficient buoyancy to oat, Va receiver on the hull, a Water-soluble cake disposed Within said receiver and exposed to the Water .in which the submarine is placed, the ratio of the Weight of said cake to the volume thereof being greater than that of Water. and the Weight' of said cake being suflicient to cause submerging of the submarine, said cake upon solution becoming dispersed in the Water, thus freeing the submarine and permitting it to rise to the surface of the water.

9. A toy submarine comprising a hull having sufficient buoyancy to float, a receiver on the hull, a Water-soluble cake disposed Within said receiver and exposed to the Water in vvhich` the submarine is placed, the ratio of the Weight of said cake to the volume thereof being greater than that of water and the Weight of said cake being sufficient to cause the submarine to submerge, said cake, upon solution, being disintegrated in the water, thus freeing the submarine and permitting it to rise to the surface, means for propelling the submarine, control means engaging the cake and thereby rendering the propeller means inoperative, said co-ntrol means being released from said cake upon its disintegration and serving thereupon to render said propelling means operative, said control means serving also to retain said cake in said receiver. v

10. A toy submarine comprising a hull having suflicient buoyancy to float, a receiver on the hull, a Water-soluble cake disposed Within said receiverA and exposed to the Water in which the submarine is placed, the ratio of the Weight of said cake tothe volume thereof being greater than that of Water andthe Weight of said cake being suflicient to cause the submarine to submerge, said cake, upon solution, being disintegrated in the Water, thus` freeing the submarine and permitting it to rise to the surface, means for propelling the submarine, control means engaging the cake and thereby rendering the propeller means inoperative, said control means being released from said cake upon its disintegration andserving thereupon to render said propelling means operative.

11. A toy submarine comprising'a hull having sufficient buoyancy to float, a. receiver on the hull, a Water-soluble cake disposed Within said receiver and exposed to the Water in which the submarine is placed, the ratio of the Weight of said kcake to the volume thereof being greater than that of water and the weight of said cake being suiiicient to cause the submarine to submerge, said cake, upon solution, being disinte-` grated in the Water, thus freeing the submarine and permitting it to rise to the surface, and means for propelling the submarine, said means serving also to retain said cake in said receiver.

12. A toy submarine comprising a hull having acavity therein and of .suicient buoyancy to float, the Water in which the submarine is disthereof being greater than that of Water andv the Weight of said cake being sufficient to cause submerging of the submarine, said cake uponv solution dissolving in the water circulating through said cage and cavity and upon solution causing the submarine to rise to the surface of the Water.

13. A toy submarine comprising a hull of su'icient buoyancy to float, a support on said hull, a Water-soluble cake carried by? said hull and exposed to the Water in which the submarine is placed,'the ratio of the Weight of said cake to the volume thereof being greater than that of Water and the Weight of said cake being sufcient to cause the submarine to submerge, a movable member carried by the submarine, and means for controlling'movement of said member engaging said cake, said means becoming actuated upon solution of said cake.

f 14. A boat-like toy comprising a hull, a movable element carried thereby, means for controlling the movement of said element, said control means including a Water-soluble cake carried by said hull and exposed to the water in which the toy is placed, also a member engaging said cake,'said member becoming free from the cake upon solution of said cake and rendering said movable element operative, f

15. A toy having means for prop-elling the same, said means including 'a movable element, and means for controlling the movement of said element, said control means including a soluble cake exposed for Contact with a solvent, also a member engaging said cake, said memberl becoming freed from said cake upon its solution and rendering said'movable element operative.

16. A toy submarine comprising a hull of sufficient buoyancy to float, a support on said hull, a cake readily soluble in water and carried by said support, the ratio of the Weight of said cake to the volume thereof being greater than that of Water and the Weight of said cake being sufcient to cause the submarine to submerge, a propeller for propelling the submarine, a shaft supporting said propeller, a resilient member connected to said shaft and yieldingly applying a rotative force thereto, and an arm carried by said shaft and adapted to engage said cake, said cake restraining rotation of' said shaft through engagement with said arm, said arm being freed upon solution of the cake and rendering said shaft operative to propel the submarine.

17. A toy submarine comprising a hull having a cavity in the bottom thereof exposed from beneath the submarine, said hull being of suiiicient buoyancy to float, means at the rearward' portion of the submarine forming a bearing, a shaft journaled in said bearing and extending along the bottom of the submarine and at a locality in proximity to said cavity, an arm carried by said shaft and rotatable with said shaft Within said cavity, a resilient member attached at one end to said shaft, means securing the other end of the resilient member to the hull at the forward portion of the submarine, a soluble cake disposed within said cavity, said arm engaging said cake and restraining rotation of the shaft thereby, said cake upon being dissolved freeing said arm to procure rotation of said shaft and propulsion of the submarine.

18. A toy submarine comprising a hull having a cavity in the bottom thereof exposed from beneath the submarine, said hull being of sufficient buoyancy to iioat, means at the rearward portion of the submarine forming a bearing, a shaft journaled in said bearing and extending along the bottom of the submarine and at a locality in proximity to said cavity, an arm carried by said shaft and rotatable with said shaft within said cavity, a resilientmember attached at one end to said shaft, means securingthe other end of the resilient member to the hull at the forward portion of the submarine, said resilient member yieldingly applying a rotative force to said shaft, a portion of said shaft and said arm overlying the exposed portion of said cavity, said shaft being movable in said bearing and said resilient member yieldingr to permit of movement of said arm and the overlying portion of said shaft away from said cavity to give access thereto, and a soluble cake dispo-sed within said cavity and held in position therein through said arm, said cake restraining rotation of said shaft through engagement with said arm, said cake upon solution freeing the arm and rendering said shaft operable to propel the submarine.

19. In combination, a normally inoperative movable element, control means for controlling movement thereof, said control means including a soluble cake and a movable member engaging the cake and restrained from movement thereby, said cake having a portion thereof disposed for contact with a solvent, said engaging member, upon solution of the cake, becoming freed therefrom. rendering said movable element operative.

20. A toy submarine comprising a hull having a downwardly opening Vented cavity in the bottom thereof, said hull being of suflicient buoyancy to oat, the water in which the submarine is placed being adapted freely to enter said vented cavity from the underside of the hull, a readily soluble cake held in said cavity, the ratio of the weight of said cake to the volume thereof being greater than that of water and the weight of said cake being sufficient to cause submerging of the submarine, said cake upon solution becoming dispersed in the water and freeing the submarine of the weight of said cake.

JOSEPH O. THORSHCEIM.