US2969762A - Device for protecting a vessel - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 31, 1961 c. s. LWERMORE 2,969,762

I DEVICE FOR PROTECTING A VESSEL Filed April 16, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 3mm/vbo@ C. S. LIVERMORE Wal/f 2 .Tv e e h S S t e e h s 5 Jan. 31, 1961 c. s. I Ivr-:RMORE DEVICE Foa PROTECTING A VESSEL Filed April 1e, 194s I I I .I .NII .III II -II .I U wII IIC. m .IIII II IIII I `I\m III I II I I I N IIINIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIwN IIIIIIIIImINIIIIIIIIIIII II IIIIIII EEEEQUQ C. S, LIVERMORE Jan. 31, `1961 c. s. LIVERMORE nEvIcE FOR PROTECTING A vEssEL 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 16, 1943 FIRING DEVICE C. S. LIVERMORE Jan. 31, 1961 c. s. LIVERMORE DEVICE EoR PROTECTING A vEssEL 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 16, 1943 C. S. LIVERMORE `an.' 3i, 1961 c. s. LIVERMORE 2,969,762

DEVICE FOR PROTECTING A VESSEL Filed April 16, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 C. S. LIVERMORE United States Patent() DEVICE FOR PROTECTING A VESSEL Clifford S. Livermore, United States Navy, Washington, D.C.

. Filed Apr. 16, 1943, Ser. N0. 483,257

7 Claims. (Cl. 114-240) (Granted under Title 3S, U.S..Code (1952), sec. 266) This invention relates to'a newV and improved device for protecting a vessel against attacks by torpedoes and more particularly to devices comprising a plurality of explosive bombs arranged in spaced relation within the Water about the vessel at a predetermined distance therefrom and adapted to be exploded selectively by signals received through the water from the approaching torpedo. Y In devicesV of this general type heretoforel proposed it has been the general practice to interpose a barrier between the oncoming torpedo and the-vessel in which the torpedo vis either destroyed or deflected from its course by moving into contact with the barrier. In certain other devices heretofore proposed the structure of the vessel includes a quantity of trapped air adjacent thereto adapted to reduce the force and effect of the explosion of the torpedo, one of the forms of devices of this type comprising an outer casing or blister secured to the hull of the vessel or formed integrally therewith below the Water line within which the air is trapped.

These devices have not proved entirely satisfactory vas a protection against the ravage of a modern torpedo for the reason that the rate of travel of the torpedo through the water and the destructiveness thereof have been greatly increased. Furthermore, these devices are cumbersome, expensive to install on a Vessel and in certain cases require extensive changes in the hull of Vthe y vessel.

Vadapted to receive a signal from the oncoming'torpedo and thereby cause a firing circuit to be closedand ex- -plode oneor more of the aforesaid bombs within the Vpath of travel of the torpedo adjacent thereto as the torpedo moves into proximate spaced relation with the bomb. The explosion of the bomb causes the torpedo to be destroyed at a safe distancefrom the vessel or deflected from its course sufficiently to miss vthe target.

One of the objects of the present invention is the provision of a plurality of explosive charges arranged about a vessel adapted to destroy a torpedo while the torpedo is at a safe distance from the vessel in response to a signal received through the water from the torpedo.

Another of the objects is the provision of a plu-v rality of torpedo detecting devices arranged about `a vessel and secured thereto adapted to fire an explosive charge sufficiently near an oncoming torpedo to destroy the same.

Still another object is the provision of a plurality of groups of explosive charges arranged within the water yabout a vessel in spaced relation at a predetermined distance therefrom in which a selected group of the 'ex- 2,969,762 Patented Jan. 31, 1961 plosive charges is fired by a signal received through the water from the torpedo.

A still further object is the provision of a plurality of groups of explosive charges arranged in spaced relation within the water about a vessel at a predetermined distance therefrom in which the explosive charges of a selected group are fired in succession in response to asignal received through the water from an approaching torpedo.

Still other objects land advantages will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings of which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a vessel employing the device of the present invention in accordance with a preferred embodiment thereof;

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation taken along the line 2--2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 shows an alternative arrangement of explosive charges suitable for protecting the vessel of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 shows diagrammatically a circuit arrangement suitable for use with the system of Fig. l;

Fig 5 shows in diagrammatic form an arrangement of parts and circuits therefor suitable for use with the arrangement of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of the timing device of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a circuit diagram showing a group arrangement of explosive charges suitable for use with the arrangement of Fig. l or 3;

Fig. 8 shows an alternative form of torpedo detecting means suitable for use with the arrangement of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 9 is a circuit diagram illustrating diagrammatically a firing system suitable for use with the system of Fig. 8.

Referring now to the drawings for a more complete understanding of the invention and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof there is shown thereon a vessel indicated generally by the numeral 10 having a plurality of booms 11 pivotally secured thereto as at 12 and adapted to be raised and lowered at will by the cables or lines 13 secured thereto and passing over the pulleys 14 and adapted to be controlledby Winches 15. An arrangement is thus provided in which by operating the winches the booms may be raised to a substantially vertical position and lowered at will to the position shown on the drawings under control of the aforesaid Winches. Whereas in the illustrative embodiment of the invention each of the pulleys is provided with a winch individual thereto it will, of course, be understood that a multiple arrangement may be employed, if desired, whereby several of the booms may be raised and lowered at will, by

j a single operation.

Each of the booms is provided with a pulley or sheave 16 rotatably secured thereto and adapted to payout a length of cable 17 therefrom having a microphone 18 connected to the cable conductors. There is also preferably connected to the microphone 18 in any lsuitable manner as by the member 19 a weight 21 thereby to insure that the cable 17 will be properly paid out pastv the pulley l16 as the microphone and weight yare lowered into the water. The cable 17 extends from the pulley 16 to the vessel in any suitable manner as by passing within the aforesaid boom or within a suitable guide' secured thereto from whence the cable is continued past the pulleys 22 and 23 secured to the boom and to the vessel'respectively and thence to an amplifier 24 arranged on the vessel. f

There isv also secured to each of the booms l1 a pulle 25l having a cable 26 passing thereover to which is connected an explosive bomb or charge 27 adapted to lbe 1owered"within the water at a depth preferably somewhat lessl than the draft of thevessel. The cable 26 is '3 connected'at the opposite end thereof to a mine firing circuit comprising a source of electrical power and adapted .to' be closed `by a firing relayor similar device inresponse to a signal received by the amplifier, 4,"'th e connection between the amplifier'and the'iring circuit closing mechanism preferably including4 a` filter' 'device adapted to pass a signal within a predetermined frequency band characteristic of a torpedo being driven through'the Awater by its propelling mechanism. Within each of the bombs 27 is arranged an electro-responsive detonating device adapted to be fired in response tothe closureoffthe aforesaid firing circuit, `as is well known in the'a'rt to whichthe present invention pertains., w 4 M On Fig. 3 is shown an `alternative arrangement of bombs or explosive charges 28, 29and 31 arranged on the `boom 32 pivotally secured to the vessel 10 asat 33 and adapted to be raised andA lowered by the cable 34 secured thereto. The bombs 28, 29 and 31 are respectively connected to and preferably supported by the cables'35, 36 and 37 passing over the pulleys 38 rotatably secured to the boom. The microphone or'hydrophone 39 is connected to and supported by a'cable 41V passingover the pulley 42 rotatably secured at the end of the boom 32, a weight 43 being preferably connected to the microphone as by the member 44 to facilitate the paying out of the cable 41 past the pulley 42 and tomaintain the microphone at a predetermined depth of submersion within the water without substantial movement thereof. A

The connection between the microphone and the 'explosive charges`28, 29 and 31 is illustrated diagrammatically on Fig. on which the microphone is shown con- 4nected to the amplifier 24 by the cable'41, the output 'of the amplier being connected to the filter F from whence fthe circuit is continued to the timing device T. The operation of the timing device T causes the firing circuit to be closed over the cables 35, 36 and 37 thereby to fire in quick succession the bombs 28, 29 and 31' respectively connected thereto.

The manner in which this is accomplished will be more clearly apparent by consideration of Fig.- 6 on which is shown in diagrammatic form atiming device T suitable for use with the `system of the present invention, the mechanism comprising, among other elements, a control relay C adaptedto be operated by a signal received from thelter F.V There is also included within Vthe timing mechanism a distributor D having a rotatable brush 45 'adapted to engage the contacts 46, 47 and 48 in rapid succession as :the brush rotates and thereby establish a circuit from a source of potential at the feeder ring FR by way of the cables 35, 36 and 37 to the bombs 28, 29 and 31 whereby the bombs are red in predetermined sequential order as the brush 45 traverses the'contacts `46, 47 and 48 of the distributor D. The brush 45 is secured to a rotatable shaft 49 operatively connected preferably by a friction clutch 51 and gear box 52 to a motor M. Relay C, it will be noted, is provided withv an armature 53 adapted to engage a contact 54 and apply potential to the motor M as the relay operates in response :to a signal received from `the filter F. The operation of A relay C at the armature 55 thereof also applies `battery by way of conductor 56 to the distributor start magnet SM and causes the start magnet to be Venergized and attract the latch 57 thereby releasing the brush 45 and setting the distributor in operation to tire the explosive charges -,Within the bombs 28, 29 and 31. Relay C is preferably adapted tomove the armature 53 thereof into engagement vwith the make contact54 slightly in advance of the en- `gagement of armature 55 thereof with the associated make contact whereby the motor M is brought up to speed before the start magnet SM is operated.

` An arrangement is thus provided in which the brush 45, whenreleased by the start magnet SM,'invariably operates 4at a predetermined speed of rotation andthe intervall of time between the `reception ofthe u'nderiwater 4signal by the associated microphone 43 and the explosion of 4 the bombs 28, 29 and 31 is fixed suchthat the bombs are exploded in predetermined `time spaced relation during the movement of the torpedo adjacent thereto.

On Fig. 7 is shown in diagrammatic form a plurality of microphones M and bombs B adapted to be suspended from a plurality of boomsA generally in the manner of Fig. l, in which the same'subscripts are employed to designate the microphone and bomb suspended from the same boom and in which the bombsy comprising a`s`el`ected group are adapted to be exploded substantially simultaneously in response to` a signal received from one Vor `more of the microphones. For the purpose of description six bombs, B, B1, B2, B3, B4 and B5 'are' Vshown operatively connected in groups to the microphones M1 to M5 although it will, of course, be understood that lthe arrangement disclosed may be extended to include as many microphones and bombs as may be desired. Respectively associated with each of the microphones is an amplifier 24 having a iilterF connected to the output thereof adapted to pass a signal having a frequency characteristic of the Vsignal produced within the water by an `oncoming torpedo.

The output of each of the filters is connected respectively to a plurality of firing relays FRI to FRS, each` of the tiring relays being provided with means such, for example,

as a copper slug or sleeve arranged about the core there- `of to render the relay slow operating andthereby provide tsuicient time Yfor the torpedo to' travel within the destructive range of the bombs 'controlled thereby before the bombs are tired by the firingrelay.

'Let itbe assumed, by way of example, thatrthe microphone M1 is arranged at a particular portion of thevessel `10 such, for' example, as the bow. The operation of relay FRI in response to a firing signal received from the lmicrophone M1 closes a firing circuit from the armatures 58 thereof tothe bombs B, B1 and B2, the bomb B1 being supported by the boom associatedwith the microphone M1 andthe bombs B and B2 being `supported by booms respectively disposed on opposite sides of the boom supporting the bomb B1 andmicrophone M1.

In like manner the operation of relay FR2 causes the bombs B1, B2 and B3 to be simultaneously exploded as 'the relay contacts are closed in response to a signal received from the microphone M2, relay FR3 is adapted `to explode bombs B2, B3 and B4, relay FR4 to explode bombs B3, B4, B5 and relay FRS to explode bombs B4,

B5 and B6 (not shown), sufficient additional explosive devices and control means vtherefor beingprovi'ded'to extend the zone of protection completely about thevessel.

Whereas on Fig. 7 is shown an 'arrangement in which each of the firing relays is adapted to explodevthebombs supported by booms on opposite sides of the bomb associated with the microphone controlling the firing relay,

it will be understoodthat this has been done for the lpurpose of description and that'various other combinations and arrangements may be elected within thesco'pe'of the invention such,` for example, as the arrangement'of Fig. 3 in which more than one bomb is disposed on each boom. By arranging the bombs in groups in the manner disclosed herein, the ring power and effective destructive area ofthe explosion isl increased with acorresponding decrease in the possibility that a torpedo may approach `the vessel from such an angle as to escape prematureldetained'in predetermined 'space relationship with respect to each other within the water by themember 61 to `:which l l l 1 the surrounding sea water. The electrodes 59 are respectively connected to and supported by a pair of cables or conductors 62 passing over a pair of pulleys 63 rotatably secured to the boom 64 whereby the electrodes are arranged within the water in such a manner as to cause a potential to be set up across the conductors 62 by the electric field of the torpedo when the torpedo has approached within a predetermined distance of the electrodes.

When this occurs, the amplifier 65, Fig. 9, is caused to send an output signal suicient to operate the slow operating ring relay 66 in time delayed relation with respect to the closure of the operating circuit thereto. As armature 67 of relay 66 moves intoengagement with its make contact a circuit is closed from the positive terminal of battery BA by Way of conductor 68, armature 67 and make contact of relay 66, conductor 69 within cable 71 and thence to the detonator within the bomb 72 from whence the circuit is continued by way of conductor 73 within the cable 71 to the negative terminal of battery BA thereby causing the detonator to operate and tire the bomb 72 adjacent the torpedo.

Whereas in the foregoing description the bombs have been suspended directly from a plurality of booms extending outwardly from the vessel, it will, of course, be understood that, if desired, the bombs may be arranged from a chain or cable extending from each boom to the adjacent booms and, furthermore, the bombs and detecting elements may, if desired, be combined into a unitary structure. Each of the microphones employed with the present invention is arranged to have a eld of detection suflicieintly large to overlap the field of detection of the adjacent microphones and thus, in the event thata torpedo should pass substantially midway between two adjacent microphones the signal generated by the torpedo would be effective to operate both microphones to explode the bombs controlled thereby. Furthermore, if desired, the pair of electrodes 59 may be connected to one arm of a Wheatstone bridge having the tiring relay included within the galvanometer circuit thereof and adapted to be operated when the resistance of the leg of the bridge is varied by the presence of a torpedo within the vicinity of the electrodes.

While the invention has been described with reference to several examples thereof which give satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art, after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention and it is my intention, therefore, in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

The invention herein described and claimed may be manufactured and used by and for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A vessel protector comprising a plurality of elongated mounting means adapted for attachment to the exterior of the vessel and projecting laterally therefrom, a plurality of explosive bombs arranged within the water at a distance from the vessel and respectively supported by said mounting means, a plurality of signal detecting devices arranged within the water and supported by each of said mounting means at the free end thereof, a plurality of means for amplifying the signals received by said signal detecting devices, a plurality of firing relays respectively controlled by said signal amplifiers each adapted to close a plurality of contacts as the relay operates, and a plurality of firing circuits adapted to be closed by said contacts and explode a selected group of said explosive bombs.

2. In a device of the character disclosed for protecting a vessel against attack by a marine torpedo, the combination of a plurality of signal detecting devices arranged about the vessel within the water, a plurality of explosive charges arranged within the water intermediate said detecting devices and the vessel, a plurality of signal amplifying devices associated with each of said detecting devices respectively and controlled thereby, each of said amplifying devices having a filter mechanism connected thereto adapted to pass a signal of predetermined character corresponding to a signal received from the oncoming torpedo by said detecting devices, and means i-ncluding a plurality of firing relays respectively connected to said signal amplifying devices :for tiring said explosive bombs in groups selectively in accordance with signals received by said detecting devices.

3. I-n a torpedo guard for a vessel, the combination of a plurality of explosive charges arranged in serial order within the water about the vessel, a plurality of microphonic detecting devices arranged about the vessel beyond said explosive charges theerby to establish a continuous zone of detection about the vessel, means for firing said explosive charges, and means controlled by signals received from said detecting devices as the torpedo moves into said zone of detection for operating said firing means in suficient time delayed rel-ation with respect to the signal received by the detecting devices to cause at least one explosive charge to be fired adjacent said torpedo.

4. In a system of the character disclosed for protecting a vessel from attack by a marine torpedo, the combination of a plurality of microphonic detecting devices arranged about the vessel Within the Water in spaced relation such that a portion of the eld of detection of at least one of the detecting devices overlaps the Zone of detection of the adjacent detecting devices, a plurality of explosive charges arranged about the vessel intermediate said detecting devices and the vessel, means for tiring a predetermined number of explosive charges substantially within the path of travel of the oncoming torpedo in response to a signal received by one of said detecting devices as the torpedo moves within the detecting zone thereof, and means for firing a substantially greater number of explosive charges adjacent the path of the torpedo when the torpedo has moved within an overlapping portion of said zone of detection.

5. In means for destroying a marine torpedo as it approaches a vessel, the combination with the vessel of a series of outwardly projecting booms, a plurality of signal detecting devices arranged within the water and supported by the booms at the free end portions thereof, a plurality of explosive bombs arranged within the water supported by said booms, and means controlled by said detecting devices for firing in succession a predetermined group of said bombs selectively in response to a signal received through the water by said detecting devices from said torpedo.

6. In a device for destroying a marine torpedo as it approaches a vessel, the combination with the vessel of a series of outwardly projecting booms, a plurality of signal detecting devices arranged within the water and supported by the booms at the free end portions thereof, a plurality of explosive bombs arranged within the water and supported by said booms, a plurality of signal amplifiers respectively connected to said signal detecting devices, a plurality of timing devices operatively connected to each of said signal amplifiers respectively and adapted to be controlled thereby, each of said timing devices having means to close a plurality of electrical circuits in predetermined order in quick succession as the device operates, and means for causing the bombs of a selected group to be fired in succession as said circuits are closed.

7. In a device for destroying a marine torpedo as it approaches a vessel, in combination with the vessel, a series of outwardly projecting booms, a plurality of signal detecting devices arranged within the water and supported by the booms, a plurality of explosive bombs arranged in groups within the water and supported by said booms intermediate the detectingdevices and the vessel, f

f a-'pluralityenA normally inactive timing devices operative- 1y connected to'each of said detecting v,devices respective-r 1y, each of said timing devices having a rotatable memy bery adaptedto rclose a plurality of contacts in quick successionfas the device operates, meansy responsive to,

' for firing ythefbombs ofa `selected group adjacent the ymoving torpedo in quick successiony as said plurality of contacts are,` closed by said rotatable member.

\ IReferences;Cited finfthexleof this `patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Leon Aug. 15, 1916 Heap et al. f ff.. July22, 1919 Nazzareno July 6,1920y FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain .f. ..f.. rMay 7,r 1917

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