US3229420A - Remotely controlled, electrically operated, model submarine - Google Patents
Remotely controlled, electrically operated, model submarine Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3229420A US3229420A US240466A US24046662A US3229420A US 3229420 A US3229420 A US 3229420A US 240466 A US240466 A US 240466A US 24046662 A US24046662 A US 24046662A US 3229420 A US3229420 A US 3229420A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- submarine
- missile
- model
- remotely controlled
- switch
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
- A63H30/00—Remote-control arrangements specially adapted for toys, e.g. for toy vehicles
- A63H30/02—Electrical arrangements
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
- A63H23/00—Toy boats; Floating toys; Other aquatic toy devices
- A63H23/02—Boats; Sailing boats
- A63H23/04—Self-propelled boats, ships or submarines
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
- A63H23/00—Toy boats; Floating toys; Other aquatic toy devices
- A63H23/10—Other water toys, floating toys, or like buoyant toys
- A63H23/12—Waterborne toy projectiles; Knock-apart toys; Exploding ship toys
Definitions
- This invention relates to a nautical amusement device, and more particularly it relates to a remotely controlled model submarine of the missile launching type.
- models of the type herein disclosed are used primarily as toys, their use is not limited to such and they can be of considerable value as educational devices for acquainting personnel with the operational characteristics of vessels of the type simulated by the models.
- an object of this invention is to provide a model submarine which is remotely controlled, which is a simulacrum of an actual submarine and which is capable of performing both its surface and submerged operations.
- a further object of this invention is to provide a model submarine capable of carrying novel miniature missiles and of firing the same upon a command from the operator.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a model submarine in accordance with the present invention.
- FIGS. 2A and 2B are a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the model submarine
- FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along the plane indicated by the line 3-3 of FIG. 2A and illustrating details of the tail section of the model submarine;
- FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the control system for the various operating components of the model submarine;
- FIGS. 5A and 5B are a schematic wiring diagram of the control panel for the model submarine
- FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the wiring between the control panel and the various components on the model submarine.
- a model submarine in accordance with the present invention is shown floating in a body of water which is hereinafter arbitrarily referred to as the sea or sea water, although it is to be understood that submarine 20 may be used in any lake, river, model tank or other suitable body of water.
- the model submarine 20 is comprised of a main hull portion 22, an upper hull portion 24 and a sail means 26 mounted one upon the other as is illustrated in FIG. 1. Balsa wood, glass reinforced plastic or other suitable materials can be used for constructing the exterior of the submarine.
- a propeller means 28 provides propulsion for the submarine. Motion of the submarine is controlled by sail planes 30, stern planes 32 and rudder means 34.
- the sail 26 includes a slidably movable periscope means 36 and a rotatable radar mast 38.
- the running lights are comprised of a masthead light 40 on the forward part of the sail 26, a port light (not shown) on the port side of the sail 26, a starboard light 42 on the starboard side of the sail 26 directly opposite the port light and an emergency stern light 44 on the rear part of the sail 26.
- the anchor lights are comprised of a forward light 46 on the aft of the hull 22, a sail light located within the sail 26 but visible through plastic windows 48, a stern light 50 on the stern portion of the upper hull 24 and a rudder light 52 on the upper portion of the rudder means 34.
- dummy torpedo tubes 54 are dummy torpedo tubes 54, a forward ballast tank flood port 56 and vent 58, an after ballast flood port 60 and vent 62, six missile tubes generally indicated as 64 and access holes 66 for the missile tubes.
- the torpedo tubes 54 are indicated as dummy tubes, it is possible, if desired, to provide doors thereon and provide tube means which are adapted to fire torpedoes in much the same manner as will be presently described for the firing of missiles.
- all hardware and accessories shown in FIG. 1 are operative. It is possible to provide numerous non-operating accessories such as radio antennas and the like in order to more closely simulate the appearance of an actual submarine, and such accessories have not been shown since they merely constitute design features rather than an integral part of the present invention.
- the model submarine 20 of FIG. 1 is shown firing a missile from one of the missile tubes 64.
- the particular construction of the missile will be presently described, but at this point it can be stated that the missile is of a type which simulates the Polaris missile and which can be fired either from a submerged position or from a surface position.
- Power to maneuver the model submarine 20 and to fire the missiles is supplied by an electrically conducting cable means 70 which connects to a control means 72 in the form of a control panel.
- the propeller 28 which propels the submarine 20 is mounted on the end of a main shaft 74 which connects through a flexible coupling 76 to a propulsion motor 78.
- the propulsion motor 78 is a reversible, variable speed DC. motor of the series shunt type.
- the shaft 74 is rotatably mounted within a tubular housing 80 by means of a plurality of roller bearings 82 located at spaced intervals along the interior of the housing. End bushings 84 and 86 are provided at opposite ends of the housing means 80 to enclose the bearings 82 and render them relatively isolated from impurities.
- the outermost end bushing 86 has a groove therein containing a shaft surrounding O-ring 83 to insure that the interior of the housing means 80 will be watertight.
- An O-ring housing 90 with a plurality of O-rings 92 contained therein is located adjacent the end bushing 36 to further insure watertight integrity.
- a rubber seal means 94 is located between the outer end of the O-ring housing 90 and the propeller means 28. This seal 94 has the function of further rendering the inte rior of the submarine 20 watertight.
- Rotational movement of the rudders 34 is controlled by a rudder motor 96, of the reversible D.C. type.
- the upper and lower rudders are interconnected by means of a shaft 98 which is elbowed around the main shaft housing 80 in a manner which can best be seen in FIG. 3.
- Rubber seal means 100 surround the shaft 98 beneath each of the rudder for the purpose of preventing entry of water into the submarine through the shaft apertures.
- the rudder motor 96 has a drive gear 102 which engages and drives a bull gear 104 mounted on the inner end of a shaft 106.
- a drive gear 108 is provided on the outer end of the shaft 106 to drive an idler or connecting gear 110 which in turn drives a sector gear 112 which is affixed to the rudder shaft 98.
- the rudder shaft passes through a pair of roller bearings 114 mounted in the hull near the seal means 188.
- the effect of the gear train is that the drive motor 96 rotates the shaft 98 to turn the rudders 34 angularly to the right or to the left, depending on which direction the motor 96 is operating.
- Rotational movement of the stern planes 32 is controlled by a stern plane motor 116, of the reversible D.C. type, which is shown in FIG. 3.
- the two planes 32 are interconnected by a shaft 118 which is elbowed around the main shaft 80 in a manner similar to that of the shaft 98.
- the shaft 118 is provided with rubber seal means similar to seal means 100 for the rudders.
- the stern plane motor is provided with a drive gear 120 which en gages a sector gear 122 which is afiixed to the shaft 118.
- the gears 120 and 122 will turn the shaft 118 to make the planes 32 assume either as rise or a dive position, depending upon which direction the motor 116 is operating.
- the model submarine is provided with a plurality of missile tubes 64 which are shown as two rows of three tubes each, thus making a total of six missile tubes.
- the tubes themselves are each formed of an elongated tubular member 130 which has a heat producing means 132 threaded into its lower portion.
- a suitable heat producing means 132 has been found to be a model airplane Glo-plug which, when energized by electrical current gives ofi a considerable amount of heat.
- Each tubular member 130 is provided with a tube door 133 which is turn is provided with a tension spring means 134 to maintain the door in its open position once it has been manually opened.
- the door 133 when closed bears against a suitable sealing means such as a gasket 136 to prevent water entry into the tubular member 138.
- Each tubular member 130 has an upper portion 138 which. extends slightly above the hull. This allows the operator to place a rubber diaphragm over the portion 138 and attach it by means of a wire or rubber band, thus rendering the missile tube watertight even when submerged with the door 133 open. This allows launching of a missile even when submerged without allowing the missile to become wet before firing.
- the lower portions of the missile tubes 64 can be individually plugged or can be sealed by some common means such as a hinged door (not shown).
- the radar mast 38 and its operating mechanism are located either within the sail 26 or directly below it, and can best be seen in FIG. 2B.
- the mast 38 is an elongated rod having a replica of a radar antenna at its upper end.
- the central portion of the mast 38 is housed within a tubular member 140.
- a fitting 142 surrounds the lower end of the mast 38 is provided with a pair of bearings 144.
- Another bearing 144 is provided near the upper end of the mast 38.
- a rubber seal means 146 surrounds the mast 38 where it passes through the hull to provide watertight integrity. Additional leakage preventing means in the form of an O-ring housing 148 and a plurality of mast surrounding O-ring 158 is provided adjacent the inner side of seal means 146.
- the radar antenna can be trained in either direction by rotation of the mast 38. This rotation is provided by means of a radar motor 152 of the reversible D.C. type.
- the radar motor 152 has a drive gear 154- which engages a larger gear 156 which is affixed to the mast 38; thus rotation of the motor 152 in one direction will cause rotation of the radar mast 38 and antenna in the opposite direction.
- the periscope 36 is an elongated rod which passes through the hull in the sail 26 forward of the radar mast 38. Rubber seal means 160 and an O-ring housing 162 with periscope surrounding O-rings 164 assure watertight integrity.
- the central portion of the periscope 36 is housed within a tubular member 166, having an internal shoulder 168.
- the lower portion of the periscope 36 is wider than the upper portion thereby providing a shoulder 170.
- a coil compression spring 172 surrounds the periscope 36 and is mounted between the shoulders 168 and 170.
- the periscope 36 is raised and lowered by means of electromagnetic coils 174 and 176 which are connected in parallel. The lower portion of the periscope below the shoulder acts at the slug for these coils.
- the periscope 36 when the coils are actuated, the periscope 36 is raised. When power to the coils is cut off, the compression spring 172 and gravity cause the periscope to lower. It is possible, if desired, to provide suitable locking means for locking the periscope 36 in its raised position, such as for example, by rotating the periscope manually to a locked position.
- the sail planes 30 are operated in a manner similar to the stern planes 32.
- the planes 30 are interconnected by a shaft 180 which is sealed in a manner similar to that of the stern plane shaft 118.
- the operating mechanism for the sail planes 30 is shown in FIG. 2B. It consists of a sail plane motor 182 of the reversible D.C. type, which is provided with a drive gear in the form of a worm 184.
- the worm 184 mates with a drive gear 186 which is aflixed to the shaft 180.
- rotation of the sail plane motor 182 causes rotation of the sail planes 30.
- the model submarine 20 has a forward ballast tank 198 and an aft ballast tank 192, said tanks cooperating to control the overall ballast of the model.
- water starts to enter the ballast tanks through their flood ports 56 and 68, thus forc ing air out through the vents 58 and 62.
- the operator determines that proper buoyancy has been reached, he plugs the ports 56 and 60 with some suitable plug means such as corks.
- the electrically conductive cable means 70 enters the lower portion of the hull 22 of the model submarine 20.
- a rubber seal means 194 surrounds the cable means 70 to assure that no water will leak along the cable and into the interior of the submarine.
- FIG. 4 illustrates in block diagram form, the path of the power from the power supply through the control panel 70 to the model submarine 20.
- the specific circuitry for the model is shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B.
- the power supply, as seen in FIG. 5A is a 12.0-volt, 60-cycle, A.C. source which is connected to a conventional stepdown transformer 200.
- the output lines from the transformer 208 comprise two lines 202 and 204 which carry 35 volts, a line 206 which carries 28 volts, a line 208 which carries 26 volts, a line 210 which carries 24 volts, a line 212 which carries 22 volts and a common line 214.
- Power for controlling the propulsion motor 78 is tapped off the 35-volt lines 202 and 284 to an isolation switch 216 of the conventional double pole, double throw type which in turn connects to the A.C. terminals of a conventional full wave bridge rectifier 218, which is also identified as rectifier A.
- a conventional double pole, double throw switch 220 is connected to the D.C. terminals of the rectifier 218 to thereby control power to the propulsion motor 78.
- the switch 220 is connected to a terminal block 222, which is also identified as TB3, by means of four leads. Leads 224 and 226 connect to terminals 7 and 8 respectively of TB3 and these leads supply power to the armature circuit of the motor 78.
- Leads 228 and 230 connect to terminals 9 and 10 respectively of T83 and these leads supply power to the field circuit of the motor 78.
- Two indicating lights are connected between the rectifier 218 and the switch 220 to indicate whether the motor 78 is propelling the model forward or backward.
- the planes, radar and rudder are controlled by 22 volts of power which is tapped oil line 212 to an isolation switch 232 of the conventional single throw, double pole type which in turn connects to the AC. terminals of a conventional full wave bridge rectifier 234, which is also identified as rectifier B.
- the two leads from the DC. terminals of the rectifier 234 supply power to switches for controlling the sail planes, stern planes, radar, and rudders.
- These switches are all of the double pole, double throw type having crossed diagonal terminals and all the switches are connected in parallel with the DC. leads from rectifier B.
- An indicating lamp 236 is also connected in parallel with the DC. terminals to indicate when the rectifier B is receiving power.
- switch 238 which controls power to the rudder motor 96.
- This switch is connected by leads 240 and 242 to terminals 5 and 6 respectively of a terminal block 244 which is also identified as TB2.
- a pair of indicating lights are also provided at the switch 238 to indicate whether the rudder motor 96 is turning the rudders 34 right or left.
- switch 246 which controls power to the stern plane motor 116.
- This switch is connected by leads 248 and 250 to terminals 1 and 2 respectively of T132.
- a pair of indicating lights are also provided at the switch 246 to indicate whether the stern plane motor 116 is moving the stern planes 32 to a rise or drive position.
- Another of the above-mentioned switches is 252 which controls power to the sail plane motor 182.
- This switch is connected by leads 254 and 256 to terminals 3 and 4 respectively of TB2.
- a pair of indicating lights are also provided at the switch 252 to indicate whether the sail plane motor 182 is moving the sail planes 30 to a rise or a dive position.
- switch 258 which controls power to the radar motor 152.
- This switch is connected by leads 260 and 262 to terminals 7 and 8 respectively of TB2.
- a pair of indicating lights are also provided at the switch 258 to indicate whether the radar motor 152 is turning the radar mast 38 right or left.
- a variable resistance 264 of 8 to ohms can be provided in the lead 262 to vary the speed of rotation of the radar mast 38.
- Power for controlling the periscope coils 174 and 176 is tapped off the 35-volt lines 202 and 204 to an isolation switch 266 of the conventional single throw, double pole type which in turn connects to the AC. terminals of a conventional full wave bridge rectifier 268, which is also identified as rectifier C.
- a crossed-diagonal double pole, double throw switch 278, of the type described hereinabove, is connected to the DC. terminals of the rectifier 268.
- the switch is connected by a pair of leads 272 and 274 to terminals 9 and 10 respectively of TB2.
- An indicating light is connected across the leads 272 and 274 to indicate when the coils 174 and 176 are moving the periscope 36 to a raised position.
- the model submarine can be run at various speeds since the main propulsion motor 78 is a variable speed motor.
- the different speeds are accomplished by means of a rheostat 276 which connects to a speed selector switch 278.
- the speed selector switch 278 is connected to the lines 204 through 212 inclusive. Standard speed is indicated on the switch as I which corresponds to 26 volts. Similarly full speed or II is 28 volts, flank speed or III is 35 volts, /3 speed is 22 volts and speed is 24 volts.
- a conventional single pole, double throw switch 280 is used to connect the rheostat to the main motor circuit.
- the switch 280 When the switch 280 is swung to its other position, it deactivates the speed control from the main motor circuit and activates the fire control circuit by connecting a lead 282 from one of the DC. terminals of rectifier B to another lead 284 which leads to a conventional single throw, double pole switch 286 which acts as a fire control isolation switch. A lead 288 connects the other D.C. terminal of rectifier B with the other pole of the isolation switch 286.
- the fire control isolation switch and the rest of the fire control circuit, as well as the lighting control circuit are shown in FIG. 5B.
- a lead 289 connects negative terminal of the fire control isolation switch 286 to terminal 7 of a terminal block 290, which is also identified as TBl.
- the safety circuit comprises a series of six push-buttons generally indicated as 291 and a three tier selector switch having selector portions 292, 294, and 296.
- a lead 298 connects the positive terminal of the switch 286 to one side of each of the push-buttons 291, to one terminal of a spring-loaded firing button 300 and finally to the center tap of the lower selector switch portion 292.
- the other side of each of the push-buttons 291 connects to a terminal on switch portion 292 which corresponds to the missile tube number.
- push-button #6 is connected to terminal #6 on switch portion 292 to control the firing of missile tube #6.
- the other terminal of the firing button 300 connects to the center tap of the upper switch portion 294.
- This switch portion has terminals numbered 1 through 6 which are connected to terminals 1 through 6 respectively of TB1 by means of leads 302, 304, 306, 308, 310 and 312 respectively.
- Indication of which tube is being fired is provided by a group of six indication lights generally designated as 314. One side of each of these lights connects to a lead 316 which taps oif the 22 volt line 212. The other side of each of the lights connects to the terminals on the switch selector portion 294. The center tap of portion 294 is supplied with 24 volts by means of a lead 318 which taps off the line 210. The net result is that two volts of power are supplied to whichever of the lights the operator selects on switch portion 294.
- a lamp 320 which indicates that the fire control circuit is being supplied with power, is connected between the leads 289 and 298. This lamp 320 will be lit when switch 280 is closed to the fire control position and when switch 286 is closed.
- Lighting controls for the model submarine 20 are provided by a pair of single throw, double pole switches which are tapped oh" the transformer lines.
- the anchor lights switch 322 is tapped ed the 22-volt line 212 and the 26-volt line 208 and it thus supplies 4 volts to the anchor lights.
- the switch 322 is connected by leads 324 and 326 to terminals 8 and 10 respectively of Till.
- the running lights switch 328 is tapped off the 22-volt line 212 and the 28-volt line 206 and it thus supplies 6 volts to the running lights.
- the switch 328 is connected by leads 330 and 332 to terminals 9 and 10 respectively of TBI. It is thus seen that terminal 10 of TB1 is common to both the running lights and the anchor lights.
- the lead running from terminal 10 to the lights will arbitrarily be referred to hereinafter as 326, only, although it is understood that it receives power from both lead 326 and lead 332.
- FIG. 6 shows the wiring running from the terminal blocks in the control panel 72 through the cable 70 to the components in the model 20.
- the cable 70 is of 24 lead telephone type.
- An amphenol plug 334 having a female part with 24 sockets and a mating male part with 24 prongs provides a means for disconnecting the control panel 72 from the model 20. Only the female portion of the plug 334 is illustrated and the leads to the components are shown as emanating from the sockets therein, but it is to be understood that this is only for purposes of illustration and in actual practice the leads to the components are connected to the prongs which fit into the sockets.
- FIGS. 7 to 9 show some of the various types of missiles which can be fired from the model submarine described herein.
- FIG. 7 shows a single stage missile 338 having a tubular main casing 340, a lower nozzle portion 342, a fuse 344 and propellant 346.
- the main casing can be made of a rifle shell such as a 3030 or a 30-60 rifle shell, or it can be made of alipstick tube or other suitable tubular member.
- the propellant 346 can be any suitable composition such as rough grain rifle powder, actual rocket fuel or the like. A very powerful propellant which has been used in these missiles is made by crushing one Jaytex propellant tablet and mixing it with an equal weight of Du Pont 4F Grade black blasting powder, rough grain.
- the fuse 344 extends through the nozzle and into contact with a Glo-plug 132, which when actuated will heat the tube causing the propellant to ignite and launch the missile.
- the outside of the missile should be lightly greased to facilitate its exit from its missile tube.
- FIG. 8 shows a two stage missile 348 having a tubular main casing 350 and a lower nozzle portion 352 similar to the missile of FIG. 7. However, the missile 348 is provided at its upper end with a separate portion 354 which constitutes the second stage of the missile. A fuse 356 is provided for the first stage and a second separate fuse 358 is provided for the second stage. Propellant 360 is provided for the first stage in the casing 350 and propellant 362 is provided for the second stage in the second stage portion 354. The propellants can be of the same or of different compositions, such as any of those described for the missile 338. A .22 caliber rifle bullet with its bottom out off has been used effectively as the second stage portion 354.
- the fuse 356 When the fuse 356 is ignited by a Glo-plug 132, it will cause the propellant 360 to ignite thus launching the missile. At some point in flight the propellant 360 will ignite the second stage fuse 358 which in turn will ignite the second stage propellant 362 thus causing the second stage portion 354 to separate.
- FIGS. 7 and 8 are extremely powerful and can attain a height of several hundred feet depending upon the size of the missile. Consequently, it will be appreciated that these missiles should only be fired outdoors. Occasionally, however, it may be desired to display and demonstrate the model submarine 20 indoors in which case a safe embodiment of missile is needed.
- FIG. 9 Such an embodiment is shown in FIG. 9 as 364.
- the body 366 of the missile is formed of styrofoam, sponge rubber or some other suitable soft material.
- a carbon dioxide cartridge 368 is inserted in the body portion 366 with its neck extending out at the bottom end of the missile. The carbon dioxide cartridge 368 provides the motive power to launch the missile 364.
- the Glo-plugs 132 must be unscrewed from the lower ends of the missile tubes 130 and replaced by threaded fittings 370.
- Each threaded' fitting 370 has an upper shoulder 372 upon which the base of the missile rests and an internal shoulder 374 upon which a coil compression spring 376 rests.
- a piercing means 378 in the form of a needle or pin passes through a central aperture in the fitting 370.
- the piercing means has aflixed to it a collar portion 380 of approximately the same lateral extent of the internal shoulder 374.
- the upper end of the spring 376 bears against the underside of the collar 380 and thereby urges the piercing means 378 upwards.
- a right angle portion 382 of the piercing means 378 extends beyond the lateral extent of the missile tube 130 and is held down under the raised portion of a cam 384, thus compressing the spring 376, as shown.
- the cam 384 is connected through a gear reducing means 386 to a DC. motor 388. This motor is supplied with power from the lead which supplied power to the Glo-plug 132 for that tube.
- the motor 388 turns the cam 384 thus releasing the right angle portion 382 of the piercing means 378 and thus allowing the spring 376 to urge the piercing means 378 upwards.
- the piercing means 378 punctures the neck of the cartridge 368, the missile 364 will fire.
- a nautical amusement device in the form of a model submarine which is adapted to cruise on and beneath the surface of a body of Water, said device comprising:
- a body portion including an elongated main 'hull portion and a sail portion carried upon said elongated main portion;
- a remotely controlled reversible propulsion means including a rotatable shaft having an inner end within said elongated hull portion and an outer end extending to the stern end of said elongated hull portion, a propeller connected to said outer end and a reversible electric motor connected to said inner end whereby when said motor is actuated, it will rotate said shaft and said propeller thus propelling said device through the water;
- a remotely controlled steering means including a pair of opposed rotatable rudders having means interconnecting them so they rotate together and a reversible electric motor connected to said interconnecting means to rotate said rudders and thereby steer said submarine;
- a remotely controlled diving means including a pair of opposed rotatable planes on the stern of said elongated main hull portion and thus defining stern planes, a pair of opposed rotatable planes on said sail portion and thus defining sail planes, interconnecting means for each pair of planes and reversible electric motor means connected to said interconnecting means for selectively rotating said interconnecting means and thus causing the associated pair of planes to assume a position whereby said submarine will rise or dive depending upon the direction of rotation;
- a remotely controlled missile launching means including a plurality of missile tubes located within said elongated main hull portion, actuating means in the lower end of said missile tubes for launching missiles contained therein and closure means for said missile tubes for preventing entry of water into said tubes;
- a remotely controlled rotatable radar means including a mast extending through said sail portion and having a simulated radar antenna on a portion of said mast which extends above said sail portion and a reversible electric motor means connected to said mast for rotating it either to the right or to the left;
- a remotely controlled periscope means including a periscope having an upper end extending above said sail portion and a lower end defining a slug for an electromagnetic coil means, said periscope being normally biased to a lowered position but movable upon actuation of said electromagnetic coil means to a raised position;
- a remotely controlled lighting system including a plurality of lights defining both an anchor light system and a running light system;
- a remote control means releasably connected to said model submarine by a detachable electrically con ducting cable and operative to control said reversible propulsion means, said steering means, said diving means, said missile launching means, said rotatable radar means, said periscope means, and said lighting system.
- said actuating means in said missile tubes includes a heat producing means for igniting the fuses of missiles in said missile tubes.
- a device as defined in claim 1 wherein said remote control means includes an AC. power supply, a stepdown transformer for reducing the power from said power supply, a plurality of rectifiers to convert the power from AC. to DC and a plurality of switches and indicating lights for permitting the operator to selectively operate the various operational components of the device.
- the remotely controlled missile launching means includes a plurality of model missiles one of which is contained in each of said plurality of launching tubes;
- a model submarine having a substantially Watertight hull to permit both surfaced and submerged cruising operations, said submarine comprising:
- remotely controlled rudder means on the outside of said hull portion to selectively steer said model submarine in a selected course
- said hull portion including a plurality of missile tubes adapted to receive and fire model missiles;
- said diving plane means including a pair of rotatable opposed interconnected planes on the stern of said elongated main portion and a pair of rotatable opposed interconnected planes on said sail portion;
- each of said pairs of planes being operable by a reversible electric motor which is connected to its associated pair of planes by means of a gear train.
- a reversible driving means located within said hull portion but remotely controlled for selectively propelling said model submarine either forward or backward;
- remotely controlled rudder means on the outside of said hull portion to selectively steer said model submarine in a selected course
- said hull portion including a plurality of missile tubes adapted to receive and fire model missiles;
- a remotely controlled fire control system for selectively firing the missiles out of said missile tubes
- said missile tubes including a heat producing means to ignite the fuse of a missile contained therein to cause said missile to fire.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
- Toys (AREA)
Description
R. E. DIAS Jan. 18, 1966 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 27, 1962 INVENTOR RICHARD E. DIAS AGENT.
8 Sheets-S t 2 INVENTO lAs Jan. 18, 1966 REMOTELY CONTROLLED, ELECTRICALLY OPERATED, MODEL SUBMARINE Filed Nov. 27, 1962 AGEN Jan. 18, 1966 R. E. DIAS 3,229,420
REMOTELY CONTROLLED, ELECTRIGALLY OPERATED, MODEL SUBMARINE Filed Nov. 27, 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR RICHARD E. DIAS BY 9 14M m AGENT.
R. E. DIAS Jan. 18, 1966 REMOTELY CONTROLLED, ELEOTRICALLY OPERATED, MODEL SUBMARINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 27, 1962 FIG.8.
INVENTOR RICHARD E. DIAS AGENT.
R. E. DIAS 3,229,420
Y CONTROLLED, ELECTRICALLY OPERATED, MODEL SUBMARINE Jan. 18, 1966 REMOTEL 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 27, 1962 INVENTOR \1 l I I I I I I I i 1 I I I l I 1 l I I I I I I I I l i l I l mos: mohoz mokoz moss @952 $9; 460 59E wzjm 55 22 5 255 $83. 206 513. M3622 mioomiwl J a 2 a 2 a 1 I l I l l I i I i I I ll $124 $53 wzEEzmnm 5002 mozuz wziznm 21E 40510.5 l l I I l I l I i I I l l I I l I. I L 1 I I1 I in i I l I I I I. 11 11 I. I. It! I; I. I l I II I xom 6528 E. N E. m m; a u a a 2 2 6523 6528 8528 SEzoo 6528 wz i 255 $3 5 55 $595 595 megs a a a a 6528 H 582mm. 30528 a @2553 6523 wmE r i I l i I l I i I l I t l i l l I l I I I l l l l I I l l l 1 l I IIL R. E. DIAS Jan. 18, 1966 REMOTELY CONTROLLED, ELECTRICALLY OPERATED, MODEL SUBMARINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Nov. 27, 1962 R. E. DIAS Jan. 18, 1966 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed NOV. 27, 1962 N5; wom mfi mom ..I I I I I l I I l I I I IIJ 10:26 1856 312 2.19 wzEzzm W moxoz FIIM MIQIIH I WIIL s I 305200 Nmm own @2563 G 0-? r\ N o l 3m xvmm n W. m 0N h? :23 w l -om- NOm- INVENTOR RICHARD E. DIAS QXMLM, M
won
AGENT.
Jan. 18, 1966 R. E. DIAS 3,229,420
REMOTELY CONTROLLED, ELECTRICALLY OPERATED, MODEL SUBMARINE Filed Nov. 27, 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 RUNNING ANCHOR LIGHTS LIGHTS FIG. 6.
RUDDER MOTOR STERN PLANE MOTOR COILS PERISCOPE MISSILE TUBES PROPULSION MOTOR INVENTOR RICHARD E. DIAS BY M AGENT United States Patent 3,229,420 REMOTELY CONTROLLED, ELECTRICALLY OPERATED, MODEL SUBMARINE Richard E. Dias, 17 E. Emerson Sh, Melrose 76, Mass. Filed Nov. 27, 1962, Ser. No. 240,466 6 Claims. (Cl. 46-244) (Granted under Title 35, US. Code (1952), sec. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes Without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.
This invention relates to a nautical amusement device, and more particularly it relates to a remotely controlled model submarine of the missile launching type.
While models of the type herein disclosed are used primarily as toys, their use is not limited to such and they can be of considerable value as educational devices for acquainting personnel with the operational characteristics of vessels of the type simulated by the models.
Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a model submarine which is remotely controlled, which is a simulacrum of an actual submarine and which is capable of performing both its surface and submerged operations.
Another object of this invention is to provide a model submarine having self-contained steering equipment whereby the operator of the remote control can cause the submarine to follow any course he chooses.
A further object of this invention is to provide a model submarine capable of carrying novel miniature missiles and of firing the same upon a command from the operator.
Other objects, advantages and salient features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a model submarine in accordance with the present invention.
FIGS. 2A and 2B are a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the model submarine;
FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along the plane indicated by the line 3-3 of FIG. 2A and illustrating details of the tail section of the model submarine;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the control system for the various operating components of the model submarine;
FIGS. 5A and 5B are a schematic wiring diagram of the control panel for the model submarine;
FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the wiring between the control panel and the various components on the model submarine; and
FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are different embodiments of missiles which are fired from the model submarine.
Referring now to FIG. 1, a model submarine in accordance with the present invention is shown floating in a body of water which is hereinafter arbitrarily referred to as the sea or sea water, although it is to be understood that submarine 20 may be used in any lake, river, model tank or other suitable body of water. The model submarine 20 is comprised of a main hull portion 22, an upper hull portion 24 and a sail means 26 mounted one upon the other as is illustrated in FIG. 1. Balsa wood, glass reinforced plastic or other suitable materials can be used for constructing the exterior of the submarine.
A propeller means 28 provides propulsion for the submarine. Motion of the submarine is controlled by sail planes 30, stern planes 32 and rudder means 34. The sail 26 includes a slidably movable periscope means 36 and a rotatable radar mast 38.
Both running lights and anchor lights are provided on the model. The running lights are comprised of a masthead light 40 on the forward part of the sail 26, a port light (not shown) on the port side of the sail 26, a starboard light 42 on the starboard side of the sail 26 directly opposite the port light and an emergency stern light 44 on the rear part of the sail 26. The anchor lights are comprised of a forward light 46 on the aft of the hull 22, a sail light located within the sail 26 but visible through plastic windows 48, a stern light 50 on the stern portion of the upper hull 24 and a rudder light 52 on the upper portion of the rudder means 34.
Other features which are illustrated on the model of FIG. 1 are dummy torpedo tubes 54, a forward ballast tank flood port 56 and vent 58, an after ballast flood port 60 and vent 62, six missile tubes generally indicated as 64 and access holes 66 for the missile tubes. Though the torpedo tubes 54 are indicated as dummy tubes, it is possible, if desired, to provide doors thereon and provide tube means which are adapted to fire torpedoes in much the same manner as will be presently described for the firing of missiles. With the exception of the dummy tubes 54, all hardware and accessories shown in FIG. 1 are operative. It is possible to provide numerous non-operating accessories such as radio antennas and the like in order to more closely simulate the appearance of an actual submarine, and such accessories have not been shown since they merely constitute design features rather than an integral part of the present invention.
The model submarine 20 of FIG. 1 is shown firing a missile from one of the missile tubes 64. The particular construction of the missile will be presently described, but at this point it can be stated that the missile is of a type which simulates the Polaris missile and which can be fired either from a submerged position or from a surface position. Power to maneuver the model submarine 20 and to fire the missiles is supplied by an electrically conducting cable means 70 which connects to a control means 72 in the form of a control panel.
Referring now to FIG. 2A, it can be seen that the propeller 28 which propels the submarine 20 is mounted on the end of a main shaft 74 which connects through a flexible coupling 76 to a propulsion motor 78. The propulsion motor 78 is a reversible, variable speed DC. motor of the series shunt type. The shaft 74 is rotatably mounted within a tubular housing 80 by means of a plurality of roller bearings 82 located at spaced intervals along the interior of the housing. End bushings 84 and 86 are provided at opposite ends of the housing means 80 to enclose the bearings 82 and render them relatively isolated from impurities. The outermost end bushing 86 has a groove therein containing a shaft surrounding O-ring 83 to insure that the interior of the housing means 80 will be watertight. An O-ring housing 90 with a plurality of O-rings 92 contained therein is located adjacent the end bushing 36 to further insure watertight integrity. Finally, a rubber seal means 94 is located between the outer end of the O-ring housing 90 and the propeller means 28. This seal 94 has the function of further rendering the inte rior of the submarine 20 watertight.
Rotational movement of the rudders 34 is controlled by a rudder motor 96, of the reversible D.C. type. The upper and lower rudders are interconnected by means of a shaft 98 which is elbowed around the main shaft housing 80 in a manner which can best be seen in FIG. 3. Rubber seal means 100 surround the shaft 98 beneath each of the rudder for the purpose of preventing entry of water into the submarine through the shaft apertures. The rudder motor 96 has a drive gear 102 which engages and drives a bull gear 104 mounted on the inner end of a shaft 106. A drive gear 108 is provided on the outer end of the shaft 106 to drive an idler or connecting gear 110 which in turn drives a sector gear 112 which is affixed to the rudder shaft 98. The rudder shaft passes through a pair of roller bearings 114 mounted in the hull near the seal means 188. The effect of the gear train is that the drive motor 96 rotates the shaft 98 to turn the rudders 34 angularly to the right or to the left, depending on which direction the motor 96 is operating.
Rotational movement of the stern planes 32 is controlled by a stern plane motor 116, of the reversible D.C. type, which is shown in FIG. 3. The two planes 32 are interconnected by a shaft 118 which is elbowed around the main shaft 80 in a manner similar to that of the shaft 98. The shaft 118 is provided with rubber seal means similar to seal means 100 for the rudders. The stern plane motor is provided with a drive gear 120 which en gages a sector gear 122 which is afiixed to the shaft 118. Thus, as the stern plane motor 116 operates, the gears 120 and 122 will turn the shaft 118 to make the planes 32 assume either as rise or a dive position, depending upon which direction the motor 116 is operating.
The model submarine is provided with a plurality of missile tubes 64 which are shown as two rows of three tubes each, thus making a total of six missile tubes. The tubes themselves are each formed of an elongated tubular member 130 which has a heat producing means 132 threaded into its lower portion. A suitable heat producing means 132 has been found to be a model airplane Glo-plug which, when energized by electrical current gives ofi a considerable amount of heat. Each tubular member 130 is provided with a tube door 133 which is turn is provided with a tension spring means 134 to maintain the door in its open position once it has been manually opened. The door 133 when closed bears against a suitable sealing means such as a gasket 136 to prevent water entry into the tubular member 138. Each tubular member 130 has an upper portion 138 which. extends slightly above the hull. This allows the operator to place a rubber diaphragm over the portion 138 and attach it by means of a wire or rubber band, thus rendering the missile tube watertight even when submerged with the door 133 open. This allows launching of a missile even when submerged without allowing the missile to become wet before firing. The lower portions of the missile tubes 64 can be individually plugged or can be sealed by some common means such as a hinged door (not shown).
The radar mast 38 and its operating mechanism are located either within the sail 26 or directly below it, and can best be seen in FIG. 2B. The mast 38 is an elongated rod having a replica of a radar antenna at its upper end. The central portion of the mast 38 is housed within a tubular member 140. A fitting 142 surrounds the lower end of the mast 38 is provided with a pair of bearings 144. Another bearing 144 is provided near the upper end of the mast 38. A rubber seal means 146 surrounds the mast 38 where it passes through the hull to provide watertight integrity. Additional leakage preventing means in the form of an O-ring housing 148 and a plurality of mast surrounding O-ring 158 is provided adjacent the inner side of seal means 146.
The radar antenna can be trained in either direction by rotation of the mast 38. This rotation is provided by means of a radar motor 152 of the reversible D.C. type. The radar motor 152 has a drive gear 154- which engages a larger gear 156 which is affixed to the mast 38; thus rotation of the motor 152 in one direction will cause rotation of the radar mast 38 and antenna in the opposite direction.
The periscope 36 is an elongated rod which passes through the hull in the sail 26 forward of the radar mast 38. Rubber seal means 160 and an O-ring housing 162 with periscope surrounding O-rings 164 assure watertight integrity. The central portion of the periscope 36 is housed within a tubular member 166, having an internal shoulder 168. The lower portion of the periscope 36 is wider than the upper portion thereby providing a shoulder 170. A coil compression spring 172 surrounds the periscope 36 and is mounted between the shoulders 168 and 170. The periscope 36 is raised and lowered by means of electromagnetic coils 174 and 176 which are connected in parallel. The lower portion of the periscope below the shoulder acts at the slug for these coils. Thus, when the coils are actuated, the periscope 36 is raised. When power to the coils is cut off, the compression spring 172 and gravity cause the periscope to lower. It is possible, if desired, to provide suitable locking means for locking the periscope 36 in its raised position, such as for example, by rotating the periscope manually to a locked position.
The sail planes 30 are operated in a manner similar to the stern planes 32. The planes 30 are interconnected by a shaft 180 which is sealed in a manner similar to that of the stern plane shaft 118. The operating mechanism for the sail planes 30 is shown in FIG. 2B. It consists of a sail plane motor 182 of the reversible D.C. type, which is provided with a drive gear in the form of a worm 184. The worm 184 mates with a drive gear 186 which is aflixed to the shaft 180. Thus, rotation of the sail plane motor 182 causes rotation of the sail planes 30.
The model submarine 20 has a forward ballast tank 198 and an aft ballast tank 192, said tanks cooperating to control the overall ballast of the model. When the model is placed in the water, water starts to enter the ballast tanks through their flood ports 56 and 68, thus forc ing air out through the vents 58 and 62. When the operator determines that proper buoyancy has been reached, he plugs the ports 56 and 60 with some suitable plug means such as corks. Depending upon the size and weight of the model, and the depth desired, it may be necessary to also plug the vents 58 and 62. Because of the size and weight variables, control of the ballast of a model becomes a matter of trial and error until the operator becomes sufficiently familiar with the operational characteristics of his model.
As can be seen from FIG. 2B, the electrically conductive cable means 70 enters the lower portion of the hull 22 of the model submarine 20. A rubber seal means 194 surrounds the cable means 70 to assure that no water will leak along the cable and into the interior of the submarine.
FIG. 4 illustrates in block diagram form, the path of the power from the power supply through the control panel 70 to the model submarine 20. The specific circuitry for the model is shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. The power supply, as seen in FIG. 5A is a 12.0-volt, 60-cycle, A.C. source which is connected to a conventional stepdown transformer 200. The output lines from the transformer 208 comprise two lines 202 and 204 which carry 35 volts, a line 206 which carries 28 volts, a line 208 which carries 26 volts, a line 210 which carries 24 volts, a line 212 which carries 22 volts and a common line 214. t 1
Power for controlling the propulsion motor 78 is tapped off the 35- volt lines 202 and 284 to an isolation switch 216 of the conventional double pole, double throw type which in turn connects to the A.C. terminals of a conventional full wave bridge rectifier 218, which is also identified as rectifier A. A conventional double pole, double throw switch 220 is connected to the D.C. terminals of the rectifier 218 to thereby control power to the propulsion motor 78. The switch 220 is connected to a terminal block 222, which is also identified as TB3, by means of four leads. Leads 224 and 226 connect to terminals 7 and 8 respectively of TB3 and these leads supply power to the armature circuit of the motor 78. Leads 228 and 230 connect to terminals 9 and 10 respectively of T83 and these leads supply power to the field circuit of the motor 78. Two indicating lights are connected between the rectifier 218 and the switch 220 to indicate whether the motor 78 is propelling the model forward or backward.
The planes, radar and rudder, are controlled by 22 volts of power which is tapped oil line 212 to an isolation switch 232 of the conventional single throw, double pole type which in turn connects to the AC. terminals of a conventional full wave bridge rectifier 234, which is also identified as rectifier B. The two leads from the DC. terminals of the rectifier 234 supply power to switches for controlling the sail planes, stern planes, radar, and rudders. These switches are all of the double pole, double throw type having crossed diagonal terminals and all the switches are connected in parallel with the DC. leads from rectifier B. An indicating lamp 236 is also connected in parallel with the DC. terminals to indicate when the rectifier B is receiving power.
One of the above-mentioned switches is switch 238 which controls power to the rudder motor 96. This switch is connected by leads 240 and 242 to terminals 5 and 6 respectively of a terminal block 244 which is also identified as TB2. A pair of indicating lights are also provided at the switch 238 to indicate whether the rudder motor 96 is turning the rudders 34 right or left.
Another of the above-mentioned switches is switch 246 which controls power to the stern plane motor 116. This switch is connected by leads 248 and 250 to terminals 1 and 2 respectively of T132. A pair of indicating lights are also provided at the switch 246 to indicate whether the stern plane motor 116 is moving the stern planes 32 to a rise or drive position.
Another of the above-mentioned switches is 252 which controls power to the sail plane motor 182. This switch is connected by leads 254 and 256 to terminals 3 and 4 respectively of TB2. A pair of indicating lights are also provided at the switch 252 to indicate whether the sail plane motor 182 is moving the sail planes 30 to a rise or a dive position.
The last of the abov-mentioned switches is switch 258 which controls power to the radar motor 152. This switch is connected by leads 260 and 262 to terminals 7 and 8 respectively of TB2. A pair of indicating lights are also provided at the switch 258 to indicate whether the radar motor 152 is turning the radar mast 38 right or left. A variable resistance 264 of 8 to ohms can be provided in the lead 262 to vary the speed of rotation of the radar mast 38.
Power for controlling the periscope coils 174 and 176 is tapped off the 35- volt lines 202 and 204 to an isolation switch 266 of the conventional single throw, double pole type which in turn connects to the AC. terminals of a conventional full wave bridge rectifier 268, which is also identified as rectifier C. A crossed-diagonal double pole, double throw switch 278, of the type described hereinabove, is connected to the DC. terminals of the rectifier 268. The switch is connected by a pair of leads 272 and 274 to terminals 9 and 10 respectively of TB2. An indicating light is connected across the leads 272 and 274 to indicate when the coils 174 and 176 are moving the periscope 36 to a raised position.
The model submarine can be run at various speeds since the main propulsion motor 78 is a variable speed motor. The different speeds are accomplished by means of a rheostat 276 which connects to a speed selector switch 278. The speed selector switch 278 is connected to the lines 204 through 212 inclusive. Standard speed is indicated on the switch as I which corresponds to 26 volts. Similarly full speed or II is 28 volts, flank speed or III is 35 volts, /3 speed is 22 volts and speed is 24 volts. A conventional single pole, double throw switch 280 is used to connect the rheostat to the main motor circuit.
When the switch 280 is swung to its other position, it deactivates the speed control from the main motor circuit and activates the fire control circuit by connecting a lead 282 from one of the DC. terminals of rectifier B to another lead 284 which leads to a conventional single throw, double pole switch 286 which acts as a fire control isolation switch. A lead 288 connects the other D.C. terminal of rectifier B with the other pole of the isolation switch 286. The fire control isolation switch and the rest of the fire control circuit, as well as the lighting control circuit are shown in FIG. 5B.
A lead 289 connects negative terminal of the fire control isolation switch 286 to terminal 7 of a terminal block 290, which is also identified as TBl. To prevent accidental firing of a loaded missile tube, a safety circuit has been included as part of the firing circuit. The safety circuit comprises a series of six push-buttons generally indicated as 291 and a three tier selector switch having selector portions 292, 294, and 296. A lead 298 connects the positive terminal of the switch 286 to one side of each of the push-buttons 291, to one terminal of a spring-loaded firing button 300 and finally to the center tap of the lower selector switch portion 292. The other side of each of the push-buttons 291 connects to a terminal on switch portion 292 which corresponds to the missile tube number. For example, push-button # 6 is connected to terminal # 6 on switch portion 292 to control the firing of missile tube # 6.
The other terminal of the firing button 300 connects to the center tap of the upper switch portion 294. This switch portion has terminals numbered 1 through 6 which are connected to terminals 1 through 6 respectively of TB1 by means of leads 302, 304, 306, 308, 310 and 312 respectively.
Indication of which tube is being fired is provided by a group of six indication lights generally designated as 314. One side of each of these lights connects to a lead 316 which taps oif the 22 volt line 212. The other side of each of the lights connects to the terminals on the switch selector portion 294. The center tap of portion 294 is supplied with 24 volts by means of a lead 318 which taps off the line 210. The net result is that two volts of power are supplied to whichever of the lights the operator selects on switch portion 294.
A lamp 320, which indicates that the fire control circuit is being supplied with power, is connected between the leads 289 and 298. This lamp 320 will be lit when switch 280 is closed to the fire control position and when switch 286 is closed.
Lighting controls for the model submarine 20 are provided by a pair of single throw, double pole switches which are tapped oh" the transformer lines. The anchor lights switch 322 is tapped ed the 22-volt line 212 and the 26-volt line 208 and it thus supplies 4 volts to the anchor lights. The switch 322 is connected by leads 324 and 326 to terminals 8 and 10 respectively of Till. The running lights switch 328 is tapped off the 22-volt line 212 and the 28-volt line 206 and it thus supplies 6 volts to the running lights. The switch 328 is connected by leads 330 and 332 to terminals 9 and 10 respectively of TBI. It is thus seen that terminal 10 of TB1 is common to both the running lights and the anchor lights. The lead running from terminal 10 to the lights will arbitrarily be referred to hereinafter as 326, only, although it is understood that it receives power from both lead 326 and lead 332.
FIG. 6 shows the wiring running from the terminal blocks in the control panel 72 through the cable 70 to the components in the model 20. The cable 70 is of 24 lead telephone type. An amphenol plug 334 having a female part with 24 sockets and a mating male part with 24 prongs provides a means for disconnecting the control panel 72 from the model 20. Only the female portion of the plug 334 is illustrated and the leads to the components are shown as emanating from the sockets therein, but it is to be understood that this is only for purposes of illustration and in actual practice the leads to the components are connected to the prongs which fit into the sockets.
FIGS. 7 to 9 show some of the various types of missiles which can be fired from the model submarine described herein. FIG. 7 shows a single stage missile 338 having a tubular main casing 340, a lower nozzle portion 342, a fuse 344 and propellant 346. The main casing can be made of a rifle shell such as a 3030 or a 30-60 rifle shell, or it can be made of alipstick tube or other suitable tubular member. The propellant 346 can be any suitable composition such as rough grain rifle powder, actual rocket fuel or the like. A very powerful propellant which has been used in these missiles is made by crushing one Jaytex propellant tablet and mixing it with an equal weight of Du Pont 4F Grade black blasting powder, rough grain. The fuse 344 extends through the nozzle and into contact with a Glo-plug 132, which when actuated will heat the tube causing the propellant to ignite and launch the missile. The outside of the missile should be lightly greased to facilitate its exit from its missile tube.
FIG. 8 shows a two stage missile 348 having a tubular main casing 350 and a lower nozzle portion 352 similar to the missile of FIG. 7. However, the missile 348 is provided at its upper end with a separate portion 354 which constitutes the second stage of the missile. A fuse 356 is provided for the first stage and a second separate fuse 358 is provided for the second stage. Propellant 360 is provided for the first stage in the casing 350 and propellant 362 is provided for the second stage in the second stage portion 354. The propellants can be of the same or of different compositions, such as any of those described for the missile 338. A .22 caliber rifle bullet with its bottom out off has been used effectively as the second stage portion 354. When the fuse 356 is ignited by a Glo-plug 132, it will cause the propellant 360 to ignite thus launching the missile. At some point in flight the propellant 360 will ignite the second stage fuse 358 which in turn will ignite the second stage propellant 362 thus causing the second stage portion 354 to separate.
The missile described in FIGS. 7 and 8 are extremely powerful and can attain a height of several hundred feet depending upon the size of the missile. Consequently, it will be appreciated that these missiles should only be fired outdoors. Occasionally, however, it may be desired to display and demonstrate the model submarine 20 indoors in which case a safe embodiment of missile is needed. Such an embodiment is shown in FIG. 9 as 364. The body 366 of the missile is formed of styrofoam, sponge rubber or some other suitable soft material. A carbon dioxide cartridge 368 is inserted in the body portion 366 with its neck extending out at the bottom end of the missile. The carbon dioxide cartridge 368 provides the motive power to launch the missile 364.
In order to launch the missile 364, a modified system of launching equipment is needed. The Glo-plugs 132 must be unscrewed from the lower ends of the missile tubes 130 and replaced by threaded fittings 370. Each threaded' fitting 370 has an upper shoulder 372 upon which the base of the missile rests and an internal shoulder 374 upon which a coil compression spring 376 rests. A piercing means 378 in the form of a needle or pin passes through a central aperture in the fitting 370. The piercing means has aflixed to it a collar portion 380 of approximately the same lateral extent of the internal shoulder 374. The upper end of the spring 376 bears against the underside of the collar 380 and thereby urges the piercing means 378 upwards.
A right angle portion 382 of the piercing means 378 extends beyond the lateral extent of the missile tube 130 and is held down under the raised portion of a cam 384, thus compressing the spring 376, as shown. The cam 384 is connected through a gear reducing means 386 to a DC. motor 388. This motor is supplied with power from the lead which supplied power to the Glo-plug 132 for that tube. When a particular missile tube is fired 8 by the operator, the motor 388 turns the cam 384 thus releasing the right angle portion 382 of the piercing means 378 and thus allowing the spring 376 to urge the piercing means 378 upwards. When the piercing means 378 punctures the neck of the cartridge 368, the missile 364 will fire.
It is possible to supply other components and equipment to the model system described hereinabove. For example, a small working model of the submarine, having indicating lights therein could be furnished on top of the control panel 72 so the operator could get a further indication of what is occurring at the submarine, particularly if the submarine is submerged.
It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials, steps and arrangements of parts, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.
What is claimed is:
1. A nautical amusement device in the form of a model submarine which is adapted to cruise on and beneath the surface of a body of Water, said device comprising:
a body portion including an elongated main 'hull portion and a sail portion carried upon said elongated main portion;
a remotely controlled reversible propulsion means including a rotatable shaft having an inner end within said elongated hull portion and an outer end extending to the stern end of said elongated hull portion, a propeller connected to said outer end and a reversible electric motor connected to said inner end whereby when said motor is actuated, it will rotate said shaft and said propeller thus propelling said device through the water;
a remotely controlled steering means including a pair of opposed rotatable rudders having means interconnecting them so they rotate together and a reversible electric motor connected to said interconnecting means to rotate said rudders and thereby steer said submarine;
a remotely controlled diving means including a pair of opposed rotatable planes on the stern of said elongated main hull portion and thus defining stern planes, a pair of opposed rotatable planes on said sail portion and thus defining sail planes, interconnecting means for each pair of planes and reversible electric motor means connected to said interconnecting means for selectively rotating said interconnecting means and thus causing the associated pair of planes to assume a position whereby said submarine will rise or dive depending upon the direction of rotation;
a remotely controlled missile launching means including a plurality of missile tubes located within said elongated main hull portion, actuating means in the lower end of said missile tubes for launching missiles contained therein and closure means for said missile tubes for preventing entry of water into said tubes;
a remotely controlled rotatable radar means including a mast extending through said sail portion and having a simulated radar antenna on a portion of said mast which extends above said sail portion and a reversible electric motor means connected to said mast for rotating it either to the right or to the left;
a remotely controlled periscope means including a periscope having an upper end extending above said sail portion and a lower end defining a slug for an electromagnetic coil means, said periscope being normally biased to a lowered position but movable upon actuation of said electromagnetic coil means to a raised position;
a remotely controlled lighting system including a plurality of lights defining both an anchor light system and a running light system; and
a remote control means releasably connected to said model submarine by a detachable electrically con ducting cable and operative to control said reversible propulsion means, said steering means, said diving means, said missile launching means, said rotatable radar means, said periscope means, and said lighting system.
2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said actuating means in said missile tubes includes a heat producing means for igniting the fuses of missiles in said missile tubes.
3. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said remote control means includes an AC. power supply, a stepdown transformer for reducing the power from said power supply, a plurality of rectifiers to convert the power from AC. to DC and a plurality of switches and indicating lights for permitting the operator to selectively operate the various operational components of the device.
4. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the remotely controlled missile launching means includes a plurality of model missiles one of which is contained in each of said plurality of launching tubes;
said actuating means for each of said missiles including a propellant within the body portion of said missile and a fuse contained therein and a rear nozzle portion through which one end of said fuse extends, and a heat producing plug means in the lower end of each of said missile tubes whereby said fuse is ignited.
5. A model submarine having a substantially Watertight hull to permit both surfaced and submerged cruising operations, said submarine comprising:
a watertight hull portion closely simulating an actual submarine;
a reversible driving means located within said hull portion but remotely controlled for selectively propelling said model submarine either forward or backward;
remotely controlled diving plane means on the outside of said hull portion for causing said model submarine to selectively rise or dive;
remotely controlled rudder means on the outside of said hull portion to selectively steer said model submarine in a selected course;
said hull portion including a plurality of missile tubes adapted to receive and fire model missiles;
at remotely controlled fire control system for selectively firing the missiles out of said missile tubes;
means removed from said hull portion for providing said remote control;
said hull portion including an elongated main portion and a sail portion mounted upon said elongated main portion; 7
said diving plane means including a pair of rotatable opposed interconnected planes on the stern of said elongated main portion and a pair of rotatable opposed interconnected planes on said sail portion; and
each of said pairs of planes being operable by a reversible electric motor which is connected to its associated pair of planes by means of a gear train.
6. A model submarine having a substantially watertight hull to permit both surfaced and submerged cruising operations, said submarine comprising:
a watertight hull portion closely simulating an actual submarine;
a reversible driving means located within said hull portion but remotely controlled for selectively propelling said model submarine either forward or backward;
remotely controlled diving plane means on the outside of said hull portion for causing said model submarine to selectively rise or dive;
remotely controlled rudder means on the outside of said hull portion to selectively steer said model submarine in a selected course;
said hull portion including a plurality of missile tubes adapted to receive and fire model missiles;
a remotely controlled fire control system for selectively firing the missiles out of said missile tubes,
means removed from said hull portion for providing said remote control; and
said missile tubes including a heat producing means to ignite the fuse of a missile contained therein to cause said missile to fire.
References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,504,525 4/1950 Holderness 124-11 2,515,511 7/1950 Hansen 46-244 2,537,358 1/1951 Lincoln 124-11 2,846,813 8/1958 Giardina 46-244 2,903,822 9/1959 Reid 46-244 2,964,031 12/ 1960 Dotson 12411 3,036,403 5/1962 Presnell 4694 3,075,301 1/1963 Fiedler et al. 35-25 OTHER REFERENCES Bertrand R. Brinley article appearing in American Modeler magazine, vol. 5354, pp. 20, 21, and 61, May 1960.
Popular Science Monthly Magazine, vol. 181, September 1962, pp. 59-63 and 208.
DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner.
RICHARD C. PINKHAM, R. F. CUTTING,
Assistant Examiners.
Claims (1)
- 6. A MODEL SUBMARINE HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY WATERTIGHT HULL TO PERMIT BOTH SURFACED AND SUBMERGED CRUISING OPERATIONS, SAID SUBMARINE COMPRISING: A WATERTIGHT HULL PORTION CLOSELY SIMULATING AN ACTUAL SUBMARINE; A REVERSIBLE DRIVING MEANS LOCATED WITHIN SAID HULL PORTION BUT REMOTELY CONTROLLED FOR SELECTIVELY PROPELLING SAID MODEL SUBMARINE EITHER FORWARD OR BACKWARD; REMOTELY CONTROLLED DIVING PLANE MEANS ON THE OUTSIDE OF SAID HULL PORTION FOR CAUSING SAID MODEL SUBMARINE TO SELECTIVELY RISE OR DIVE; REMOTELY CONTROLLED RUDDER MEANS ON THE OUTSIDE OF SAID HULL PORTION TO SELECTIVELY STEER SAID MODEL SUBMARINE IN A SELECTED COURSE;
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US240466A US3229420A (en) | 1962-11-27 | 1962-11-27 | Remotely controlled, electrically operated, model submarine |
US470953A US3300893A (en) | 1962-11-27 | 1965-05-28 | Missile launching system for model submarine |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US240466A US3229420A (en) | 1962-11-27 | 1962-11-27 | Remotely controlled, electrically operated, model submarine |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3229420A true US3229420A (en) | 1966-01-18 |
Family
ID=22906650
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US240466A Expired - Lifetime US3229420A (en) | 1962-11-27 | 1962-11-27 | Remotely controlled, electrically operated, model submarine |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3229420A (en) |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3364617A (en) * | 1964-12-22 | 1968-01-23 | Fred J. Grafe | Combination dispenser and bath toy |
US4826465A (en) * | 1986-05-22 | 1989-05-02 | Leonard Bloom | Model submarine |
US6619278B1 (en) * | 2002-03-29 | 2003-09-16 | Peter Lin | Non-lethal ammunition for a firearm |
US20060178085A1 (en) * | 2005-02-04 | 2006-08-10 | Nicholas Sotereanos | Remotely controlled vehicle |
US20140259863A1 (en) * | 2013-03-15 | 2014-09-18 | Larry D. Martinez | Mechanized Trolling Device |
USD964481S1 (en) * | 2020-08-20 | 2022-09-20 | Aqua-Leisure Recreation, Llc | Toy submarine |
Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2504525A (en) * | 1946-11-30 | 1950-04-18 | Benjamin S Holderness | Harpoon gun |
US2515511A (en) * | 1945-10-09 | 1950-07-18 | Hansen Mfg Company Inc | Submarine motor-driven toy |
US2537358A (en) * | 1949-02-23 | 1951-01-09 | Herbert R Lincoln | Compressed gas pistol |
US2846813A (en) * | 1954-12-17 | 1958-08-12 | Andrew N Giardina | Remotely controlled toy vehicle |
US2903822A (en) * | 1955-07-08 | 1959-09-15 | Donald V Reid | Radio controlled model submarine |
US2964031A (en) * | 1955-10-28 | 1960-12-13 | Welton Whann R | Underwater gun and projectile for spear fishing |
US3036403A (en) * | 1960-04-01 | 1962-05-29 | Frank G Presnell | Predetermined depth-maintaining, selfpropelled model submarine |
US3075301A (en) * | 1961-07-13 | 1963-01-29 | Willy A Fiedler | Launch and underwater trajectory test vehicle |
-
1962
- 1962-11-27 US US240466A patent/US3229420A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2515511A (en) * | 1945-10-09 | 1950-07-18 | Hansen Mfg Company Inc | Submarine motor-driven toy |
US2504525A (en) * | 1946-11-30 | 1950-04-18 | Benjamin S Holderness | Harpoon gun |
US2537358A (en) * | 1949-02-23 | 1951-01-09 | Herbert R Lincoln | Compressed gas pistol |
US2846813A (en) * | 1954-12-17 | 1958-08-12 | Andrew N Giardina | Remotely controlled toy vehicle |
US2903822A (en) * | 1955-07-08 | 1959-09-15 | Donald V Reid | Radio controlled model submarine |
US2964031A (en) * | 1955-10-28 | 1960-12-13 | Welton Whann R | Underwater gun and projectile for spear fishing |
US3036403A (en) * | 1960-04-01 | 1962-05-29 | Frank G Presnell | Predetermined depth-maintaining, selfpropelled model submarine |
US3075301A (en) * | 1961-07-13 | 1963-01-29 | Willy A Fiedler | Launch and underwater trajectory test vehicle |
Cited By (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3364617A (en) * | 1964-12-22 | 1968-01-23 | Fred J. Grafe | Combination dispenser and bath toy |
US4826465A (en) * | 1986-05-22 | 1989-05-02 | Leonard Bloom | Model submarine |
US6619278B1 (en) * | 2002-03-29 | 2003-09-16 | Peter Lin | Non-lethal ammunition for a firearm |
US20060178085A1 (en) * | 2005-02-04 | 2006-08-10 | Nicholas Sotereanos | Remotely controlled vehicle |
US8083569B2 (en) * | 2005-02-04 | 2011-12-27 | Nicholas Sotereanos | Remotely controlled vehicle |
US20140259863A1 (en) * | 2013-03-15 | 2014-09-18 | Larry D. Martinez | Mechanized Trolling Device |
US10201155B2 (en) * | 2013-03-15 | 2019-02-12 | Troller Pro, Inc. | Mechanized trolling device |
USD964481S1 (en) * | 2020-08-20 | 2022-09-20 | Aqua-Leisure Recreation, Llc | Toy submarine |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
Everett | Unmanned systems of World Wars I and II | |
CN108945362B (en) | Submarine navigator | |
US3229420A (en) | Remotely controlled, electrically operated, model submarine | |
US2903822A (en) | Radio controlled model submarine | |
CN202315303U (en) | Wireless remote control model naval vessel capable of emitting ammunition | |
US5741167A (en) | Remotely controllable signal generating platform | |
US3300893A (en) | Missile launching system for model submarine | |
US3181272A (en) | Remote controlled toy submarine | |
US3474750A (en) | Underwater vehicle | |
Bishop | The Story of the Submarine | |
GB1188868A (en) | Toy Plane. | |
CN202470899U (en) | Military portable rapid deception device | |
CN101012004A (en) | Mini game submarine | |
US3091895A (en) | Toy submarine | |
US970210A (en) | Submarine torpedo-boat. | |
Copley | Ask an ocean explorer | |
Armstrong | Torpedoes and Torpedo-vessels | |
US3419997A (en) | Toy submarine | |
US2949089A (en) | Radio controlled torpedo | |
Williamson | Kriegsmarine U-boats 1939–45 (2) | |
Iqbal et al. | The UAE in World War Two: The War at Sea | |
Spilsbury et al. | Submarines at Sea | |
Mallard | DK Eyewitness Books: Submarine: Discover the Secret Underwater World of Submarines and Submersibles | |
Hargis | US Submarine Crewman 1941–45 | |
Cooper | Sub Hunters: Australian Sunderland Squadrons in the Defeat of Hitler's U-boat Menace 1942-43 |