US2667141A - Steerable jet propeller boat - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 26, 1954 T. w. LEF KOWSKI STEERABLE JET PROPELLER BOAT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 7904448 144 L EP/(O ws/(l Filed May 12, 1948 4 r TORA/EY Jan. 26, 1954 w, L owsm 2,667,141

STEERABLE JET PROPELLER BOAT Filed May 12, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. 77/0/1445 W L EP/m ws/r/ ATTOANE) Patented Jan. 26, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

The invention relates to propulsion means for toy boats and similar floating articles, adapted to travel on water, and of the jet type embodying a suitable actuator steam boiler adapted for automatic intake and discharge of water received through a tube or tubes having their outer end or ends submerged in the water during operation of the toy.

The invention has for an object, in toys of this nature, toprovide simple and efiicient means for effecting the propulsion of the craft, said means being readily adaptable particularly to toy craft, for example, for use as an outboard motor member, and in a manner to allow of variously maneuvering the craft.

A further object of the invention is to provide discharge means from the boiler, which itself embodies novel features, whereby also the steering of the craft is effected.

A still further object of the invention is to locate a heating means for the boiler eccentrical- 1y with respect to the under surface of the same; and also toprovide heating means, the burner nozzle portion of which may be adjusted relatively to said under surface for control of the speed of the boat.

Another object of the invention is to associate manually actuated ignition means with the burner nozzle.

The invention has for an object, also, propulsion means which do not become an integral part of a hull but may conveniently be located variously on the deck thereof so that the hull need not be constructed of metal.

In the usual form of propulsion means utilized in craft of the aforesaid type and due to the fact that the heat delivered is critical, boiler members as heretofore constructed vibrate irregularly and are likely to flood with water and cause choking and temporary stoppage until enough water has been changed into steam to continue operation, or until the boiler runs dry bringing the operation to an end.

When using fuel such as alcohol in jellified or tablet form, this rapid termination of the boiler operation was not so objectionable since it is not diflicult to supplement the fuel. However, when liquid fuel is utilized which permits periods of operation extended from several minutes to half an hour or more, it becomes necessary that the intake of the water be regulated to prevent this flooding, together with a heat control to obviate running dry the boiler.

To this end it is proposed to provide a novel discharge member or members in the nature of a resilient tip or tips, as of rubber, with constricted outlet portion; also, to provide a novel membrane for the boiler element designed to oscillate in varying sections according to the degree of heat applied to the boiler. By this expedient, each time water is drawn into the boiler through a tube, a portion of the resilient discharge tip thereof will be compressed to slow down the intake, thus preventing flooding of the boiler. However, if the usual type of boiler closure membrane were used, the boiler would then run dry even more quickly since the atmospheric pressure affects the whole surface of the membrane which oscillates then as a single unit to force considerable amounts of the water at a time from the boiler.

By constructing the membrane in the manner proposed herein, the latter operates in sections according to the degree of heat supplied so that only as much of the total area is activated to oscillate as required in accordance with the propulsion system. The construction of the diaphragm to this end is such, preferably, that the oscillations spread from the center thereof radially outwardly in widening circles. This diaphragm construction permits, also, of speed regulation through adjustment of the heating means associated with the boiler, the membrane reacting immediately upon any change in the heat conditions, which may be readily adjusted to prevent premature running dry of the boiler.

The effect of the resilient tip of the tube on the discharge of water from the boiler is to create a temporary overpressure of steam to augment the thrust of the jet through contraction of an expanded tip and will thus extend the period of oscillation of the diaphragm. In constricting the end of the resilient tip, the jet pipe as a whole may be materially shortened.

The nature of the invention, however, will best be understood when described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a hull equipped with the novel actuator and steering means unit.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof and shows also, in broken lines, the jet or discharge means and boiler adjusted bodily to a different angular position relative to the longitudinal axis of the boat.

Fig. 3 is a stern view of a boat equipped with the novel unit.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary transverse section of the boiler on an enlarged scale.

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary elevations of jibe-tip portion of the jet intakeand discharge means, the dotted line positions generally indicating the shape assumed respectively during discharge and during intake of water.

Fig. '7 is a side elevation illustrating a modifica tion in the boiler and jet intake and discharge means combination, and a cabin element being indicated in dotted lines over the actuator portion.

Fig. 8, is a, plan, view thereof, and, Fig. 9 a stern view.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating the actuator, jet intake and discharge means unit of Figs. 8 and 9 mounted as an outboard motor device.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating,

automatic lighting means associated with the burner of the actuator.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view partly in section illustrating means for mounting the fuel supply. tank with burner in a manner to adjust the latter toward and away from the boiler.

Referring to the drawings, one; embodimentof the. invention is indicated iin Figs. 143', inclusive, this particular form of" the" invention. including multiple jet meansconnected with an actuator or flash type of'boiler commonthereto, the arrangement being such that the jet. means and boiler, as well as. a fuel supplying means: for providing heat to the boiler, constitute a, single-unit. Thus, such unit may be attached conveniently to=the deck III of a craft, shown in the: particular embodiment as a solid 'hull- Hr such-as of wood-: or other buoyant material, the jet means depending from the boiler at the stern'of the hull with outlets designed to be submerged: in the: water in which the craft floats. It is'understood, of course, that the unit may belocatedon the deck otherwise than as shown for various maneuvering of the craft, for example,at the-bow to operate the craft backwards, or along the side of the hull for obtaining angular propulsion of the craft.

As indicated, the jet means which comprise three rigid tubular members I2" with tips, I32 of resilient material are directly: connected? to the circular actuator member l.4"'and"eccentrica1ly thereof, being suspended therefrom to move as; a unit therewith in steering the craft; The jet means preferably enter the boiler at different levels.

A handle member l5 maybe attached to the top of the actuator or boilermember l 4"to= ad just the same angularly; and the saidboiler to this end is mounted torotate upon arod' I16 which extends upwardly from thesupporting plate i't' of the unit. It is preferred to provideabout the rod a bushing 18 to afford: a bearing fora sleeve t9 integral with the under surface: 20: of the boiler 14, there being suflicient-friction between said sleeve and rod to retain the jets in thedesired adjusted location.

The necessary heat for operating the boiler is provided bya-burnernozzle:- 21 connected withaa fuel tank 22 mounted to rock in a. plane: normal to the deck whereby-the-degree'of: heat applied to the under surface 2U of-theboiler 'l-4imay. be,

variedin accordance with theposition of? the nozzle. Thus,- brackets 23;v extendingupwardly from the plate I-I'serve to mount the cylindric'al fuel tank 22, with filling cap 24 provided at the top of the tank; Tank-22 'car-riesalso' a' rearwardly directed arm 25 designed to enga'gethe free end'ofan-adjustablescrewlt mountedi in a further bracket 21 extending upwardlyfrom the plate, the saidscrew being provided witha manipulating head 28 whereby, in= accordance with"- the adjustment of said screw, the fuel tank will be rocked to vary the position of burner nozzle 2| with respect to the under surface 20 of the boiler.

The boiler itself is in the form of a pan-shaped casing, Fig. 4, closed at the top by a flexible circular diaphragm 3!! held to the casing around its circumference, said diaphragm, however, being provided with concentric circular scorings or weakening incisions 3| on its outer surface and similar-scorings, 32 on, theinner surface of said diaphragm, the latter scorings being positioned intermediate the former. This afiords a diaphragm which will bend uniformly, generally in all,- direotlons, to oscillate in sections, said oscillations starting from the center of the diaphragm, for example, and spreading in widening circles i i-accordance with the intensity of heat applied to the boiler, the diaphragm reacting immediately upon any change in heat conditions. Thus, with only a small amount of heat applied, only the centralportion. will; vibrate. and not. until the maximum heat is, applied: will the oscillations continueto-the circumference of the diaphragm. Such a diaphragm; due to; its enhanced amplitude, greatly increases the efiiciency of operation and will produce a deeper sound effect of discharge.

By providing for a multiplicity of the. jet pipes comprising the elements i2--l 3, greater flexibility is imparted to. the system permitting of greater constriction of the outlets of'thetips I13, which in turn will tend to increase the speed developed by the unit. Such constriction, indicated at 33 at the discharge end ofv the flexible tipv portion [3, will serve to check the intake, of. water through the jet pipe through contraction asa result of compression of" the portion !3, as indicated in the dotted line position, Fig; 6, so that flooding of the=boilerisprevented; and the discharge from the boiler will be retarded initially to expand the portion [3: as. indicated in: the dotted position, Fig: 5, and enable temporarily the creation of excess pressure of steam in the boiler to accelerate with the resiliency action of thetip the discharge of steam and water, as well as prolong the period and smooth out the shock of discharge from a tip.

have discovered, also, that for best efliciency of thesystem a certain relation must exist between the area of the diaphragm 30, number of the jet means, and the area of 'the exhaust orifices of atip' It; A very. satisfactory.- result is attained with an. area ratio of ten to one between mem: brane and orifice. It is desirable .for best results that the number of these jetmeansbe increased withincrease of= diaphragmarea soas to maintain as small aspossible theexhaust' orifices so essential=in developing speed; By. increasing the numberoff tubes, their length may-be materially decreased; both; of which increases the, frequency offthe diaphragm oscillationsand' the efficiency: of thesystem.

Referring to Figs; 7-9,; inclusive, amodification is indicated in the location-of: the boiler member 35-'and its mounting: ln this particular embodiment; the jet tube 3.6; is indicated. as. passing through the hulk 37, the" boiler being: supported on the-plate 38 through-a tube 39-whichalso-extends partlyinto the hull to receivetheinner end of the-.jet tube=36; The latter is provided over its exterior witlrandntegral'ring portion 4.0 as a stop forengagingthe outerend of tube39 into which the jet tube 3t: telescopes tobring its, inner end substantially'flush'with the bottom of boiler 35. The-fit between tube 39: and jet tube 36 is a: frictional one permitting-the former to= rotate-in a horizontal plane to change the direction of discharge from the tip 4| to suit the desired steering of the craft. It will be noted also that tube 39 is mounted eccentrically with respect to the boiler 35, thus permitting better distribution of heat from the burner nozzle 42 communicating with a fuel supply tank 43-all carried by a plate 38. A housing or simulation of a cabin 44 may be provided over the entire power mechanism, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 7, and full lines, Figs. 8 and 9.

Also, as indicated in Fig. 10, the entire unit may be utilized as an outboard propulsion means at the stern of the craft by merely securing the plate 38 to the deck with a portion thereof overhanging the stern. In all the embodiments, the arrangement is such that the fuel supply tank with burner nozzle may be located ahead of the boiler, in the direction of travel, so that the maximum amount of heat developed is applicable to the boiler.

The heating means, being of a nature to utilize liquid fuel contained in a tank 50, Fig. 11, feeding a wick member 5|, lends itself to the use of automatic ignition means therefor such as the pyrophoric alloy type. -As indicated, this may comprise a sparking wheel 52 engaging the alloy material in proximity to the wick 5|, said wheel 52 being engaged by a rack member 53 conveniently actuated by a spring cable combination having the manually operated button 54 and digital grip 55, as is well understood.

I claim:

The combination with a power-propelled boat;

of a propulsion unit therefor comprising a flashtype boiler for converting water into steam and provided with an outlet, said boiler being adapted for horizontal disposition over the boat deck, a burner located on the deck including an element with outlet for directing a flame beneath the boiler, a sleeve extending upwardly of the deck substantially in the steering axis of the boat with its upper end supporting the boiler at its outlet for communication with the interior thereof, immersible jet pipe means extending at one end into the sleeve for complete rotation therein as a unit about an axis normal to the boat deck, the immersed portion of the jet pipe means serving also as a rudder in steering the boat and whereby the boat may be displaced laterally as well as steered in all directions.

THOMAS W. LEPKOWSKI.

References Cited in the file Of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,237,674 Moiseeff Aug. 21, 1917 1,596,934 MoHugh, et a1 Aug. 24, 1926 1,629,767 Valdes May 24, 1.927 1,993,670 Jones, Jr., et al. Mar. 5, 1935 1,997,421 Lindstrom Apr. 9, 1935 2,431,132 Malina (NOV. 18, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 287,510 Great Britain Oct. 22, 1928 375,616 Great Britain June 30, 1932

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