US3300893A - Missile launching system for model submarine - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 31,1967 'R. E. DIAS 3,300,393

, MISSILE LAUNCHING SYSTEM FOR MODEL SUBMARINE Original Filed Nov. 27, 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I.

INVENTOR RICHARD E. DIAS AGENT.

Jan. 31, 1967 R. E. ms 3,300,393

MISSILE LAUNCHING SYSTEM FOR MODEL SUBMARINE Original Filed Nov. 27, 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 w Q (I) \z u '2 11 0 v E'ETQF N m k) 3 g L r m o co m EN m . N m k m 2 m w 1 00 O Q m (I) .q 01 w m m r r INVENTOR m 3g RICHARD E. DIAS co m 01 AGENT.

Jan. 31, 1967 R. E. DIAS 3,300,893

MISSILE LAUNCHING SYSTEM FOR MODEL SUBMARINE Original Filed Nov. 27, 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR RICHARD E. DIAS AGENT.

Jan. 31, 1967 'R. E. DIAS 3,300,893

MISSILE LAUNCHING SYSTEM FOR MODEL SUBMARINE Original Filed Nov. 27, 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG 8 f r v M 388 INVENTOR ave, RICHARD E. oms

AGENT.

R. E. DIAS 3,300,893

MISSILE LAUNCHING SYSTEM FOR MODEL SUBMARINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Jan. 31, 1967 Original Filed Nov.

Jan. 31, 1967 R; E. DIAS 3,300,893

MISSILE LAUNCHING SYSTEM FOR MODEL SUBMARINE I Original Filed Nov. 27, 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 ANCHOR LIGHTS FIG. 6.

RUNNING LIGHTS MISSILE TUBES PROPULSION MOTOR INVENTOR RIOHARD E. DIAS AGENT United States Free 3,300,893 MISSILE LAUNCHING SYSTEM FOR MGDEL SUBMARINE Richard E. Dias, 17 E. Emerson St., Meirose, Mass. 02176 Original application Nov. 27, 1962, Ser. No. 240,466, now

Patent No. 3,229,426, dated Jan. 18, 1966. Divided and this application May 28, 1965, Ser. No. 470,953

2 Claims. (Cl. 46-244) 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.

The present application is a divisional application of applicants copending application Serial No. 240,466, filed November 27, 1962, now Patent No. 3,229,420.

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 20 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 6% 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 7 0 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 88 to insure that the interior of the housing means 80 will be watertight. An O-ring housing 96 with a plurality of O-rings 92 contained therein is located adjacent the end bushing 86 to further insure watertight integrity. Finally, a rubber seal means 94 is located between the outer end of the O-ring housing and the propellor means 28. This seal 94 has the function of further rendering the interior 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 rudders 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 afiixed to the rudder shaft 98. The rudder shaft passes through a pair of roller bearings 114 mounted in the hull near the seal means 109. 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, dependingon 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 1% for the rudders. The stern plane motor is provided with a drive gear 126 which engages a sector gear 122 which is affixed to the shaft 118. Thus, as the stern plane motor 116 operates, the gears 120 and 122 will turn the shaft 113 to make the planes 32 assume either a rise or a dive position, depending upon which direction the motor 116 is operatmg.

The model submarine is provided with a plurality of missile tubes 64 which are shown as two rows of six tubes each, thus making a total of twelve 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 off a considerable amount of heat. Each tubular member 130 is provided with a tube door 133 which in 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 130. 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 and 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 bull to provide watertight integrity. Additional leakage preventing means in the form of an Oring housing 148 and a plurality of mast surrounding O-rings 150 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 afiixed 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 bull in the sail 26 forward of the radar mast 38. Rubber seal means 164) 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 17 3. 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 1'76 acts as 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 136 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 affixed to the shaft 180. Thus, rotation of the sail plane motor 182 causes rotation of the sail planes 30.

The model submarine 2%) has a forward ballast tank 190 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 60, thus forcing 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 sufiiciently 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 7% to the model submarine 2G. The specific circuitry for the model is shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. The power supply, as seen in FIG. 5A is a volt, 60 cycle, A.C. source which is connected to a conventional stepdown transformer 200. The output lines from the transformer 200 comprise two lines 202 and 204 which carry 35 volts, at line 266 which carries 28 volts, a line 208 which carries 26 volts, at 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 204 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 DC. 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 T133 and these leads supply power to the armature circuit of the motor 78.

leads 228 and 230 connect to terminals 9 and 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 228 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 off 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 258 to terminals 1 and 2 respectively of TB2. 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 dive position.

Another of the above-mentioned switches is 252 which controls power to the sail plane motor 182. This switch is 35 volts, /3 speed is 22 volts and /3 speed is 24 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 above-mentioned switches is switch 258 which controls power to the radar motor 152. This switch is connected byleads 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 10 ohms can be provided in the lead 262 to vary the speed of rotation of the radar mast 38. A 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 270, 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 iridicating 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 /3 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 266 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 266. 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 lea-d 289 connects negative terminal of the fire control isolation switch 266 to terminal 7 of a terminal block 290, which is also identified as TB1. To prevent accidenal 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 266 to one side of each of the bush-buttons 291, to one terminal of a springloaded 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 TBI by means of leads 362, 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 oh 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 326, 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 off the transformer lines. The anchor lights switch 322 is tapped off 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 TBI. 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 338 and 332 to terminals 9 and 10 respectively of TBI. It is thus seen that terminal 10 of TBI 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 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 spouse's 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 30-30 or a 30-06 rifle shell, or it can be made of a lipstick 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 ciushing one laytex 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 336. A .22 caliber rifle bullet with its bottom cut 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 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 3'72 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 affixed 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 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. In combination with a remotely controlled model submarine as described herein, a missile launching system comprising:

at least one elongated missile tube situated within said model submarine and having an upper and lower end portion, said upper end defining a missile discharge end;

a model missile contained within said tube and adapted to be launched out of the upper end thereof; said missile containing propelling means comprising a cartridge containing pressurized fluid;

actuating means located within the lower end of said missile tube and adapted, upon activation of said propelling means, to launch said missile out through the missile discharge end of said tube;

said actuating means including piercing means spring biased upward toward the discharge end of said missile tube, rotatable cam means for controlling the position of said piercing means and, electric motor means connected to said cam means to rotate the same and release said piercing means upwardly to pierce said actuating means thereby activating said missile propelling means by releasing said pressurized fluid; and

manually operable closure means at the discharge end of said missile tube for rendering said tube substantially Watertight when said closure means is in its closed position.

2. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said model missile is made of relatively soft material and wherein said cartridge containing pressurized fluid has a neck portion facing toward the lower end of said missile tube and wherein said piercing means actuates said missile propelling means by puncturing the neck of said cartridge thereby releasing said fluid.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,957,468 10/1960 Enfield 12411 2,960,977 11/1960 Moorhead ,l24-11 2,993,297 7/ 1961 Bednar et al. 46- -74 3,142,293 7/1964 Harter 124- 11 3,158,062 11/1964 Feiler 124--11 X FOREIGN PATENTS 4,677 1912 Great Britain.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

L. J. BOVASSO, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A REMOTELY CONTROLLED MODEL SUBMARINE AS DESCRIBED HEREIN, A MISSILE LAUNCHING SYSTEM COMPRISING: AT LEAST ONE ELONGATED MISSILE TUBE SITUATED WITHIN SAID MODEL SUBMARINE AND HAVING AN UPPER AND LOWER END PORTION, SAID UPPER END DEFINING A MISSILE DISCHARGE END; A MODEL MISSILE CONTAINED WITHIN SAID TUBE AND ADAPTED TO BE LAUNCHED OUT OF THE UPPER END THEREOF; SAID MISSILE CONTAINING PROPELLING MEANS COMPRISING A CARTRIDGE CONTAINING PRESSURIZED FLUID; ACTUATING MEANS LOCATED WITHIN THE LOWER END OF SAID MISSILE TUBE AND ADAPTED, UPON ACTIVATION OF SAID PROPELLING MEANS, TO LAUNCH SAID MISSILE OUT THROUGH THE MISSILE DISCHARGE END OF SAID TUBE; SAID ACTUATING MEANS INCLUDING PIERCING MEANS SPRING BIASED UPWARD TOWARD THE DISCHARGE END OF SAID MISSILE TUBE, ROTATABLE CAM MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE POSITION OF SAID PIERCING MEANS AND, ELECTRIC MOTOR MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID CAM MEANS TO ROTATE THE SAME AND RELEASE SAID PIERCING MEANS UPWARDLY TO PIERCE SAID ACTUATING MEANS THEREBY ACTIVATING SAID MISSILE PROPELLING MEANS BY RELEASING SAIUD PRESSURIZED FLUID; AND MANUALLY OPERABLE CLOSURE MEANS AT THE DISCHARGE END OF SAID MISSILE TUBE FOR RENDERING SAID TUBE SUBSTANTIALLY WATERTIGHT WHEN SAID CLOSURE MEANS IS IN ITS CLOSED POSITION.

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