US514810A

US514810A - Tavb adolphe canet

Info

Publication number: US514810A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1894-02-13
Anticipated expiration: 1911-02-13

Description

3 T E NY A ,0 Am G B J (No Model.)

TORPBDO LAUNGHING TUBE.

Patented Feb. 13, 1894.

WASNINGTON, a. c.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

J B. GLA. GANET. TORPEDO LAUNC HING TUBE- Patented v: 1.. i :lafiiill: 51.-. 2.... 1.

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"m: NAYIONAL umcsmwnms COMPANY.

WASHINGYON. D. c.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

J. B. G. A. (JANET. TORPEDO'LAUNUHING TUBE- Patented Feb. 13, 1894.

THE NATIONAL LWHOGRAPHING coMPANY.

, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JEAN BAPTISTE GUSTAVE ADOLPHE' OANET, OF PARIS, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO' JOSEPH WI-IITWORTH & 00., LIMITED, OF OPENSHAW,

ENGLAND. I

TORPEDO-LAUNCHING TUBE.

' SPEGIFICATIdN forming part of Letters Patent No. 514,810,12lated February 13, 1894. Application filed March 18, 1893. Serial No. 466,750. (No model.) Patented in France December 31,1891,No. 218,411.

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JEAN BAPTISTE Gus- TAVE ADOLPHE (JANET, engineer, a citizen of the Republic of France, and a resident of Paris, France, have invented certain new and useful Improved Apparatus for Launching Torpedoes and for Similar Purposes, (for whichI have obtained a patent in France, No. 218,411, dated December 31, 1891,) of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improved apparatus for launching torpedoes under water. The apparatus hitherto usually employed for launching torpedoes have guide beams with fiat sides which hold and guide the torpedo outside of the ship until the moment when it can be completely released. These guide beams may be housed in tubes or cases distinct from those for containing the torpedo and are operated by mechanical or other means. According to my invention I use a guide or guide-beam which is tubular or hollow and may or may not have a portion of its sides or walls-cut away. It has the form exteriorly of a solid, the strength ofwvhich at any section throughout its length is proportional to the stress, and is constructed to permit the liquid currents to act simultaneously on all parts of the torpedo. In some cases the guide actually forms part of the launching tube and it may be constructed to ing tube provided with a piston which is fit-- act either as a movable cylinder relatively to a fixed piston or may be provided with a piston and be movable therewith in a fixed cylinder.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 1s a vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line m 00 Fig. l, and Fig. 3 is a horizontal longitudinal section of my apparatus wherein the guide forms a part of one sideof the launching tube and serves as a hydraulic cylinder the piston 0t which is fixed. Fig. a is a horizontal longitudinal section of a modification of my said appara tus wherein the guide constitutes a launchted to work in an exterior envelope or cylinder. Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 'y y Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 7 is a horizontal longitudinal section, and Figs. 8 and 9 are transverse sections on the lines a z and z 2' Figs. 6 and 7 respectively showing another modification of my said apparatus wherein the guide serves as a launching tube and is moved by mechanical means independently of the torpedo.

Likelettersindicate the same parts throughout the drawings.

A is the torpedo which is shown in full lines inside and in dotted lines outside of the launching-tube.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the launching tube Bis of the proper form and size to receive the torpedo the said tube havingone side that communicates by an opening.B* with a chamber B in which the guide 0 works. The said guide is made hollow and has fitted within it a piston D the rodD' of which is securely fixed to the rear or inner end of the chamber B. O is another piston fixed in the rear end of the tubular guide 0 and fitting closely on piston rod D. The guide serves as a hydraulic cylinder movable relatively to a stationary piston. The piston rod D has small passagesd d extending through it for a purpose hereinafter specified. The said guide is so formed and placed in the chamber 13 that when the guide is within its chamber one side of it closes the aforementioned opening 13* in the side of the tube B. This side of the guide 0 is formed with dovetail grooves c and the side of the tube B opposite thereto is formed with similar grooves. These grooves receive the projections or fins a. on the torpedo and thereby guide and sustain the latter firmly until the moment its body is clear of the ship. E is a water-tight door at the rear'end of the launching tube and F is a valve for closing the forward end of the said tube to prevent the entry of sea water when the door E is opened for placing the torpedo in the tube. B is a drain cook or valve for drain- 'ing the tube before re-charging same with'a which flows from the sea into the tube; then air or water under pressure is admitted through the small passage (1 in the piston rod D to the space forward of the piston D in the guide chamber. This water presses upon the head of the guide and forces the guide out of the chamber into the position shown in dotted lines. Then air or water under pressure is admitted behind the torpedo and the latter is thereby driven out of the tube B, its fins a being guided by the grooves o in the guide 0. Then the passage d of the piston is opened for the admission, and the tube cl is opened for the exhaust of the air or water and the guide 0 is thereby caused to re-enter its chamber B.

In Figs. t and 5 I have shown a modification of my invention wherein the operations of forcing out the guide and launching thev torpedo are simultaneously performed. The launching tube B terminates at its outer end; in the guide 0 which is made hollow and ofl such a shape as to facilitate the action of the; water upon the entire surface of the torpedo. The said tube is formed at its rear end with; a flange B which acts as a piston in the outer tube or cylinder B And at the same end the said-tube is provided with a water tight door or cover E. The cylinder B has on opposite sides of its bore two longitudinal grooves b which serve as guide grooves for the fins or tenons a on the torpedo. The tube B as will be seen by reference to Fig. 4 consists of two parts of different diameter the large part serving as the cylinder of the piston B and the small part serving as a guide to the tube B. The said tube B is provided at its forward or outer end with a valve F and its rear end is closed by a water tight door B Apert-ures b? in the tube B permit communication between the interior of the same and the annular space around it within the cylinder B.

The launching of the torpedo is effected as follows thatis to say:--The torpedo beingwithin the launching tube B and the doors E and B being properly closed the valve F is opened, the seawater then flows into the tube B and through the apertures 12 into the annular space surrounding the said tube in front of the piston B Then by admitting air or water under pressure behind the said piston the tube B is forced out of the cylinder B as shown in dotted lines. As the tube B moves outward the water inclosed i n the aforesaid annular space is forced through the apertures 12 and acts upon the rear of the torpedo imparting to it a speed of outward movement in excess of that of the tube B and consequently a resultant speed which considerably accelerates the launching. The return of the launching tube B into the cylinder B can be very readily effected afteremployiug the said cylinder. This operation is facilitated by the pressure due to the head of water above the axis of the tube.

In the modification of my apparatus shown in Figs. 6,7, 8 and 9 the launching tube B terminates in the peculiarly formed guide and is provided interiorly with longitudinal guide grooves extending along the sides of the said guide as and for the purpose above specified with reference to Figs. 4 and 5. The said tube has on its lower side a rack G with which is geared a pinion H which can be driven by any suitable means. The outer tube or cylinder B is provided at its forward end with a valve F and at its rear end with a water tight door 13 as above described. The said cylinder is provided with two automatic devices at b and b". These devices are spring bolts; the bolt 1) limits the outward movement of the tube l3 and the bolt b retains the torpedo without exercising any restraint upon the said tube. 1) is an adjustable stop for limiting the rearward movement of the torpedo.

bolt b islraised to release the torpedo drives the latter out of the tube. For effecting the return of the said tube into the cylinder it-is only necessary to reverse the movement of the operating pinion H.

That I claim is- 1. In a torpedo launching apparatus, the combination with the launching tube, of a guide arranged in operative connection with the launching tube and movable outward for directing the torpedo as the latter entersthe water, substantially as described.

2.111 a torpedo launching apparatus, the combination of the launching tube, the guide chamber or tube at the side of the same, and the hollow guide sliding in said chamber, subs taiitially as described for the purposes speci- 3. In a torpedo launching apparatus,'the combination of the launching tube, the guide chamber or tube at the side of the same, the hollow guide sliding in said chamber, and the fixed piston, substantially as described for the purposes specified.

4. In a torpedo launching apparatus, the combination with the launching tube, of a hollow guide, a fixed piston within said hollow guide, and thoroughfares to conduct the working liquid to and from the hollow guide on opposite sides of the fixed piston, sub- 1s tantially as described for the purposes speciled.

5. In a torpedo launching apparatus, the combination of a launching tube, a guide tube at the side thereof, a hollow movable guide for the torpedo sliding in said guide tube, a

fixed piston and piston rod in said hollow other longitudinal groovesb in the launching guide, and thoroughfares leading through the tube, substantially as described, for the pursaid pist'on'rod into the hollow guide-on opposes specified.

posite sides of the piston, substantially as de- In witness whereof I have hereunto set my 5 scribed for the purposes specified. hand this 20th day of January, 1893.

, 6. In a torpedo launchin apparatus the combination of a launching tube, a g e JEAN BAPTISTE GUSTAVE ADOLPHE CANET.

chamber or tube at the side of the same, a Witnesses: hollow guide 0 sliding in thesaid chamber, ROBT. M. HOOPER, 1 1o longitudinal grooves c in the said guide, and OH. P. THIRION.