US725570A - Observing-tube for submarine boats. - Google Patents

Description

No. 725,570. K PATBNTED APR.14, 190s.

s. LAKE. A OBSERVING TUBE PoR SUBMARINB BOATS.

APPLICATION FILED DEO. 13, 1902.

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ujglmeowo No. 725,570. PATENTED APR. 14, 1903.

s. LAKE.

OBSBRVING TUBE FOR SUBMARINB BOATS.

l APPLIATION FILED DEO. 13, 1902. l

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SIMONLAKE, BRVIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

OBSERVING-TUBE FOR SUBIVIARINE BATS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. '725,570,.dated April 14, 1903.

implication filed December 13, 1902. Serial No. 135Q55. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.: g

Be it known that I, SIMON LAKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bridgeport, in

the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Observing-Tubes for Submarine Boats,of which the following is a speciication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings. l

This invention has for its object to provide a submarine torpedo-boat with means Whereby the occu pants may take observations throughout the horizon above the surface of water while the boat remains wholly submerged beneath the surface, and of insuring precision of aim of its torpedoes at a hostile and by a special arrangement of mirrors or reflectors covering partially or wholly the entire horizon, partlyin devices for measuring the distance of such obj ect from said boat,

partly in a special telescopic arrangement of` lenses in said device for affording a closer in spection of the object toward which the samel is directed, partly in means for indicating to i the steersman and `gunner the direction of the hostile vessel in respect of said boat, and partly in particular constructive features and arrangements of the operative parts of such devices.

The invention will be understood by refer-I ence to the drawings annexed, in which- Figure l is an elevational'view of a sub-jl merged-submarine boat, showing the presentk improvement in operation. Fig. 2 is a longitu-. dinal vertical sectionof the conning-tower ori y turret and apparatus contained therein, upon an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation, lupon a still larger scale,v

Fig. 5

tusin external elevation, as seen from the left of Fig. 3; and Fig 6 is-a similar view, partly in section, at the lower 'end to expose the internal constructionof the supporting-stand for the observing-tube, showing also the base of said tube resting thereon. Fig. 7 is an elevation, partly in section,V of the observingtube, Yshowing magnifying-lenses interposed between the reflecting-surfaces intermediate the upper and lower ends of said tube.

The boat l is shown provided with a conning-tower or turret 2, containing the steering-wheel 3, upon the supporting-column4 of which is au inclined mirror 5, by means of which the steersman is enabled to see and read the'compass 6, whichis pivotally mounted, as usual, by means of gimbals in the com# pass-case 7, depending from the roof ofv the conning-tower. Y

The observing-tube 8 isinserted in a hole in the top of the conning-tower and is closely embraced by but adapted to be revolved within a stuffing-box of which the stationary mem-` ber comprises the two clam ping- rings 9 and 10, Vthe latter of which has an annular cavity containing the usual packing, which is confined by the gland or follower 11.

The upper or outer endof the observingtube is provided with a headpiece or hood 12, l

in which is shown a series of four lateral openings 13, arranged at the same level, and an additional 'lateral opening 14, facing in the same direction as one of those of the series but disposed above the same, each of such lateral openings being closed by a glass plate 15 to exclude water when the hood is submerged. At each of the lateral openings 13' of the series is arranged a glass prism 16, having its reflecting-face inclined at such an angle with the axis of the observing-tubethat an image of an external object received through its respective opening will be reflected downwardlyzthrough the tube into theinterior of the conning-tower for the inspection of the observer or lookout, as will hereinafter appear. At the lateral aperture ,15 in the hood 12 is a similarly-disposed reflecting--` prism 17, which is not stationary, like the prisms 16,butis mounted adjustably byrneans of the metallic fra`mes'l8, embracing its ends, and supported in the hood by means of pivots 19 and an adjusting-rod 20, having its upper end connected with one of said frames 18 eccentric to its pivot and its lower end connected with the pin 21 of a crank-arm 22 upon the end of a rotary spindle 23, passing through the wall of the tube 8 and provided upon its outer end with a hand-wheel 24. By turning the hand-wheel 24 the prism 17 may be tilted upon its bearing-centers 19 to compensate for any possible defect in the trim of' the vessel, the friction lof the spindle 23 in the wall of the tube insuring the maintenance ol the prism in any of its adjustments, although positive holding means may be employed when desired.

Intermediate each glass 15 and prism 16 of the series is shown interposed a plano-concave lens 25, which gives to the prism behind it a range of vision of the required extent so that the series will together cover the entire horizon and reiiect downwardly through the observing-tube an image of any object within seeing distance in any direction from the boat. While it is considered preferable to construct each prism with a fiat reflectingface and to employ in conjunction therewith a condensing-lens of the required power in order that the prisms of the series may together form a compound member of the required character,such parts may,if` desired,be formed of a single piece of glass in prismatic form.

The single prism 17 is shown formed with flat faces, and therefore adapted to reflect an image downwardly through the tube upon the same scale as the object would be viewed by thei naked eye of the observer, and it is de- Isigned. to have a much smaller visual angle,

even if similarly provided with a condensinglens, than the combination refiecting member 16 25 of the series, which latter obviously reduces the scale of the image which it reflects downwardly through the tube 8, and hence the former maybe termed a narrowangle reflector or reflecting-prism and the latter a wide-angle7 refiector or reflectingprism.

lu order that the field of vision of the narrow-angle prism may be readily brought into register with the center of that ofthe primary wide-angle prism 16 beneath it, which is similarly directed, the wide-angle prism or both of said prisms are or may be provided directly in advance of their centra] points with vertical filaments 26, as indicated in Fig. 3, by which means the revolution of the tube 8 to bring the lower filament directly in line with the centerof the external object sighted will enable the lookout to center the field of the smaller-angle prism thereon for a closer inspection than maybe secured by the widerangle reflector. p

The observing-tube 8 is shown provided in its lower or inner end portion with two lateral apertures 27 upon the side opposite the upper lateral opening 14, to each of which apertures may be applied a telescopic eye-` piece 28 for magnifying the images refiected downwardly through the tube from the upper lateral openings to the prism 29, located opposite the right eyepiece and the graduated speculum or mirror 30 behind it, the effectivc surfaces of bot-h of such reflectors being inclined upwardly and backwardly in respect of said eyepieces through which their respective images are visible.

In the form of the improvement illustrated in Figs. l to 6, inclusive, the primary wideangle prism 1G is so arranged in relation to the graduated speculum or mirror 30 that the image reflected by it will be directed thereupon, as illustrated in Fig. 4, while the relative dispositions of the narrow-angle prism 17 and the other prisms 1G of the series with reference to the lower prism 29 is such that all the images therefrom are received by the latter in their relativel positions and reflected through the lateral aperture 27 into its respective eyepiece 28. Thus with the present improvement the lookout or observer, who would preferably be the captain of the vessel, having full power to direct the entire operation of the craft, may scan with one eye simultaneously every portion of the entire horizon and also more closely inspect the vessel toward-which the instrument may be directed, while with the other eye he may measure its distance away, being thus able to identify the vessel, and therefore to determine its known actual length, which by comparison with the length of the image measured upon the speculum 30 renders it a simple matter to calculate its distance from the boat or to determine the same by reference to a suitable table which may be prepared for use under such conditions. Although the parallel lines of the scale upon the speculum are represented in Fig. l as disposed equidistant and lying in vertical planes parallel with the axial lines ot' the eyepieces 23 merely for the purposes of illustration, it is evident that the graduations would be in practice properly calibrated by actual trial, so as to insure accuracy in the measurement of distances.

The rigid cylindrical casings of the eyepieces 2S may serve as handles for use in turning the tube S to enable it to maintain its primary reflector or reflecting-face trained upon the external object heilig observed; but it is evident that special handles may be provided at the lower end of the tube for the purpose.

The observing-tube is adapted to be raised and lowered to place it, respectively, in operative and inoperative position by means of a jack-screw 3l, to the upper end of which is keyed the hub of a hand-wheel 32, attached to the lower end of the tube 8 by a swivel-joint formed by a flange 33 ou said hub and a flanged ring 34 of the said tube, the said screw having tted thereto a nut 35, mounted in the upper end of a tubular stand 36, attached to and resting upon the floor oi the conning-tower, which receives the thrust of the screw when manipulating the hand- Wheel to operate the observing-tube.

Surrounding the stand 36 is a tubular guard IOO IIO

in the hub of the hand-wheel 32.

or sheath 37, closely embracing said stand, either directly or 'by means of distance pieces or rings 38 and 39, the former being attached to or formed upon the interior ofthe lower end of the guard 37 and the latter to the exterior of the upperend of the stand 36, said guard being rigidly secured within asocket By turning the hand-wheel for operating the screw vthe latter, with lthe attached observing-tube, is raised or lowered, the guard 37 protecting the occupants of the conning-tower from contact with the screw and also serving materially to steady the observing-tube by reason ot' its greater surface of contact with the stand 36 than the screw 3l.

In order that the lookout may indicate with certainty to the steersman the exact direction of a hostile vessel or other external object from the submarine boat, the device now to be described is employed. V

Secured to the follower 11 is shown a fas tening-ring 40, having an annular rabbet in which isY fitted a -iiange upon thehub of a sprocket-wheel 41, which latter is fitted also to the exterior of the tube 8, which is movable vertically through the same. The hub of this sprocket-wheel is provided with a depending lug 42, carrying a set-screw 43, by which the sprocket-wheelmay be tixed'to rotate with the tube 8 in any of the latter-s po-` chain 46, with a sprocket-wheel 47, of equal size, fitted to and revoluble in respect of' the compass-case 7, by which-it is sustained.

- The sprocket-wheel 47 carries two depending pins 4S, between which is stretched a filament 49, extending across the center of the field ofthe compass and intermediate the compass 6 and the steersmans mirror 5. The driving-sprocket 4l is coupled to -the tube 8 for operation by first turning the tube, so that its fore-and-aft line 50 corresponds inY relation to the vessels center-line with that of the compass when the set-screw 43 is' tightened or the clutch-pins 44 and .45 brought into engagement, as the case may be, and the turning` of the observing-tube thereafter to direct its principal narrow-angle prism having the vertical filament 26 upon the exterior object, with both filaments crossing the centube is pointed, the chain 46 is provided with4 a contact-stud 51, whichwhen the tube` is connected through the sprocket-wheels 41 and f 47 and the observing-tubev and compass-case. It is evident that as the observer continues to follow the hostile vessel or other target with the observing-tubea-nd the steersman turns the course of the vessel to the direction indicated by the filament 49` the electrical alarmcircuit will be closed by the contact of the stud 5l with the contact-spring 52, the switch 54 having previously been closed. The ringing of the alarm-bell thus indicates positively that the course of the Vessel is directly toward the object to be attacked and i apprises the gunner with certainty of such times at which he may properly operate the torpedoejecting apparatus;

In order'to provide a gage for settingl the observing-tube in initial axial position, a stationary pointer or indicating-finger 57 is attached to the ring 10, the rotation of the tube to bring its fore-and-aft line 50 into register i withwhich pointer insures the finding of the correct position for the connection thereto yof the sprocket-wheel 4l.

By reference to Fig. 7 1t will be observed that in order to magnify all the images reiiected downwardly from the upperiprisms upon the lower prism 29 a magnifying-lens 58 may be interposed between the same, in which case an image reflected from the primary wide-angled lens may also be separately magnified and directed upon the speculum 30 by means of the lens 59, or, as indicated lOO IIO

in dotted lines in said figure, a lens 60 may but throw out of operative relation the reflector or reflectors in its upper or outer end.

Althoughl I prefer to construct the tubeV withv lateral apertures through which the refleeting-prisms may receive laterally and refiect. downwardly or inwardly through the tube images of external objects,'it is evident .thatby providing the outer endv of the ob'-4 serving-tube with a transparent cap having the` general character of the inspection-dome forming the subject of the United States Patent No. 717,101, granted to me December 30, 1902, such individual apertures for the several reflectors or reflecting-surfaces would not be required.

It will be readily seen that inasmuch as the most important part of the horizon which should be visible to the occupants of the boat when submerged is that part in advance of the boat the prisms or reflectors at the upper or outer end of the observing-tube may each be directed so that collectively they cover only such half of the entire horizon, the apparatus in such case being revoluble or held in fixed axial relation to the boat, as the requirement-s may determine; but a seriesof reflectors, having visual angles collectively covering the entire horizon mounted ina revoluble vertically-movable observing tube, as shown and described herein, is considered preferable.

It is to be understood from the foregoing description that the present invention is not limited to any of the details of construction and arrangement of parts above described, nor to the employment of lenses in combination with the inclined reflectors, (each of which may obviously be of any desired or suitable character,) nor to the number and arrangement of such reflectors in either the upper or lower portion of the observing-tube, such matters being in a large degree governed by the requirements of individual cases, the essential feature of the present invention being the provision of the observing tube with a reflector or reflectors in its upper or outer end, so arranged or operated as to adapt it to give an extended view of the horizon.

Having thus set forth the invention, what I claim herein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination with a submarineboat, of an observing-tube passing through the wall of the same and surrounded by a stuffing-box by which it is held rigidly in upright position but is permitted to slide outwardly and inwardly and to be revolved in respect of said i boat, amirror or refiectorin the upper or outer end of said tube adapted to receive laterally an image of an external object and to reflect it downwardly through said tube, and means for raising and lowering said tube through its surrounding stuffing-box.

2. In a submarine boat, the combination with an observing-tube passing through the wall of the same surrounded by a stuffing-boX and having in its outer end an inclined mirror or reflector for receiving laterally and ref fleeting inwardly through said tube an image of an external object, of means connected with the inner portion of said tube for moving it outward and inward through said stuffing-box comprising a jack-screw and a stand having a nut fitted thereto, and means for turning one of said parts.

3. In a submarine boat, the combination with an observing-tube passing through the wall of the same surrounded by a stuffing-box and havingin its outer end an inclined mir-` 7o ror or reflector for receiving laterally and rcflecting inwardly through said tube au image of an external object, of a jack-screw having one end swiveled to the inner end of said tube and provided with means for turning it, and

a stand provided at the end adjacent said tube with a nut fitted to said jack-screw for receiving the thrust of the latter.

et. In a submarine boat, the combination with an observing-tube passing through the 8o wall of the same surrounded by a stuffing-box and having in its outer end an inclined mirror or reflector for receiving laterally and refleeting inwardly through said tube an image of an external object, of a jack-screw having one end swiveled to the inner end of said tube and p rovided with means for turning it, a stand provided at the end adjacent said tube with a nut fitted to said jack-screw for receiving the thrust of the latter, and a guard 9o or sheath rigidly connected with saidtube and closely embracing said stand.

5. The combination with a submarine boat, of an observing-tube projecting from the same and provided at its upper or outer end with means for simultaneously receiving laterally and reflecting downwardly or inwardly throughsaid tube images of all objects throughout the horizon.

6. The combination with a submarine boat, `1 oo of an observing-tube projecting from the same and provided at its upper or outer end with a plurality of mirrors or reflectors for simultaneously receiving laterally and reflecting downwardly or inwardly through said tube and provided at its upper or outer end with a 11o plurality ot' reflectors or mirrors for receiving laterally and reflecting downwardly or in* wardly through said tube images of all objects throughout the horizon.

8. The combination with a submarine boat, I i5 of an observing-tube projecting from the same and provided at its upper or outer end with an annular series of prisms directed each toward a different portion of the horizon and adapted to receive laterally an image of an external ob- I zo ject and to reflect it downwardly or inwardly through said tube.

9. The combination with a submarine boat, of au observing-tu be projecting from the same` and provided at its upper or outer end with a series of prisms directed each toward a different portion of the horizon and adapted to receive laterally an image of an external 0bject and to reflect it downwardly or inwardly through said tube, said observing-tube being 13o revoluble in respect of said beat.

vl0. The combination with a submarine boat, 0f an Observing-tube projecting from the same and provided at its upper or outer end with a series of prisms directed each toward a different portion of the horizon andadapted to receive laterally an image of an external object and to reflect it downwardly or inwardly through said tube, and a series of condensing-lenses of which each lens is disposed in the field of vision of one of said prisms.

11. The combination with a submarine boat, of an observing-tube projecting from the same and provided at its upper or outer end with two inclined mirrors or reflectors each having a diierent visual angle from the other but directed in the same vertical plane and adapted to receive and to reliect inwardly nthrough said tube an image of' an external object.

12. The combination with a submarine boat, of an observing-tube provided at its upper or outer end with two inclined mirrors or reliectors each having a different visual angle from the other but directed in the same vertical plane and adapted to receive and to reflect inwardly through said tube an image of an external object, said observing-tube being revoluble in respect of said boat.

13. The combination with a submarine boat, of au observing-tube provided at its upper or outer end with two inclined mirrors or reflectors each having a different visual angle from the other but being directed in the same vertical plane and adapted to receive and to reliect4 inwardly through said tube an image of an external object, and a .vertical filament arranged in the field of Vision of said mirror or reflector having the greater visual angle, said observing-tube being revoluble in respect of said boat.

14..A The combination with a submarine boat, of an observing-tube provided at its upper or outer end with a series of prisms of uniform visual angles each directed toward a different portion ofthe horizon, and a prism having a smaller visual angle directed toward the same portion of the horizon as one ol" the prisms of said series, each of said prisms be-l ing adapted to receive an image of an external object and to reiiect it downwardly orinwardly through said tube.

15. The combination with a submarine boat, of an observing-tube revoluble in respect of said boat and provided at its upper or outer end with a series of prisms of uniform visual angles leach directed toward a different portion of the horizon, and a prism having a smaller visual angle directed toward the same portion of the horizon as one of the prisms of said series, each ot said prisms being adapted to receive an image of an external object and to reflect it downwardly or' inwardly through said tube, and a .vertical filament disposed in the iield of vision of that prism of the series directed toward the same portion of the horizon as said prism having the smaller visual angle. Y

16. The combination with a submarine boat, of an observing-tube provided at its upper or outer end with a series of prisms of uniform visual angles each directed toward a different portion of the horizon, and a prism having a `smaller visual angle directed toward the same portion of the horizon as one of the prisms of said series, each of said prisms being adapted to receive an image of an eX- ternal object and to reflect it downwardly or inwardly through said tube, and one or more inclined mirrors or rellectors at the inner end portion of said tube for receiving and reflecting said 'images laterally from said tube.

17. flhe combination with a submarine boat, of' an observing-tube provided at its upper or outer end with a series of prisms of uniform visu al angles each directed toward a different portion of the horizon, and a prismhav- 1 their images upon one of said lower reflecting members and the remaining wide-angle prism adjacent the narrow-angle prism to reflect its image upon the other of said lower members.

lower end portionlof said tube adapted to receive an image of' an external object reflected from the prism of the series directed similarly to the narrow-angle prism and a prism adjacent to the graduated mirror or reiiector for receiving and reflecting laterally images' reliected from all the other prismsin the other end of said tube.

19. The combination with a submarine boat, of an observing-tube provided at its upper or outer end with a series of divergentlydirected prisms and a single prism directed correspondingly with one of the prisms of said series but having a smaller visual angle, an inclined graduated mirror or reliector within the boat beneath said prisms adapted to receive an image of an external object reflected ICO IIO

from that prism of the series directed similarly to the narrow-angle prism, a prism adjacent per or outer end with a series of divergentlydirected prisms and a single prism directed correspondingly with one of the prisms of said series but having a smaller visual angle, an inclined graduated mirror or reflector' in the inner or lower end portion of said tube adapted to receive an image of an external object reflected from that prism of the series directed similarly to the narrow-angle prism, a prism adjacent to said `graduated mirror or reflector for receiving and reflecting laterally images reflected from all the other prisms at the other end of said tube, and telescopic eyepieces applied to said tube and directed, respectively, toward said graduated mirror and the adjacent prism.

2l. The combination with a submarine boat, of au observing-tube having in its upper or outer end two similarly-directed mirrors or reflectors of different visual angles adapted to receive images of external objects and to reflect the same downwardly or inwardly through said tube, a graduated specnlum within the boat beneath the said mirrors or. reflectors in the upper or outer end of said tube, and a lower mirror or reflector adjacent said graduated speculnm and adapted to receive and reflect laterally the image reflected from one of said Lipper mirrors or reliectors while the image from the other of said upper mirrors or reflectors is received bysaid speculum.

22. The combination with. a submarine boat provided with a steering-wheel, of a revoluble observing-tube rising above the same and provided with an inclined mirror or reflector for receiving an image of an external Object and reflecting it downwardly or inwardly through said tube, a revoluble holder carrying a filament or other direction indicator disposed near said steering-Wheel, and a connection between said observing-tube and said revoluble holder wherebythe rotary movement of said tube communicates a corresponding movement to said revoluble holder.

23. The combination with a submarine boat, of a revoluble observing-tube provided with an inclined mirror or reflector for receiving and reflecting downwardly or inwardly through said tube an image of' an external object, a compass, a revoluble holder carrying a filament or other direction indicator disposed near said compass, and a connection between said observing-tube and said revoluble holder whereby the rotary movement of said tube communicates a corresponding movement to said revoluble holder.

24;. The combination with a submarine boat, of a revolnble observing-tube provided with an inclined mirror or reflector for receiving and reflecting downwardly or inwardly through said tube an image of an external object, and means for indicating the coincidence of the center of the field of vision of said mirror or reflector with the direction of the fore-and-aft line of said boat. y

25. The combination with a submarine boat, of a revoluble observing-tube provided with an inclined mirror or reflector for receiving and reflecting downwardly or inwardly through said tube an image ot an external object, a compass, a revoluble holding-ring mounted upon the compass-case and carrying a lament crossing the field of the compass, and a connection between said observ` ing-tube and filament-holding ring for ellecting a rotary movement of' said members in unison.

26. The combination with a submarine boat, of a revoluble observing-tube provided with an inclined mirror or reflector for receiving and reflecting downwardly or inwardly through said tube an image of an external object, a vertical filament stretched across the center of the lield of Vision of said mirror or reflector, and means for indicating the coincidence ofthe axial relation of said Afilament to said tube with the fore-and-aft line of said boat.

27. The combination with a submarine boat, of a revoluble observing-tube provided in its upper end with an inclined mirror or reflector for receiving and reflecting downwardly or inwardly through said tube an image of an external object, a compass, a revoluble holding-ring mounted upon the inclosing case of said compass and carrying a filament diametrically crossing the field of' the compass, a connection between said observing-tube and filament-holding ring whereby they effect a rotary movement in unison, an electrical indicator, an electrical circuit comprising a contact device having normally insulated contact members one of which is carried by the connection between the holdingring and the observing-tube and the other of which is stationary and adapted to engage the first said member only ata single point in the revolution of said connected parts.

2S. The combination with a submarine boat, of a revoluble observing-tube provided in its outer end with an inclined mirror or reflector for receiving and reflecting downwardly or inwardly through said tube animage of an external object, a compass, a revoluble holding-ring mounted upon the inclosing case of said com pass, a metallic chain and sprocket-wheels connecting said holding-ring and observing-tube, an electric bell, and au electrical circuit comprising a contact device of which one of the insulated members is station ary and adapted for engagement with the movable member which is carried by said` chain, whereby the circuit is closed to cause said bell to ring when the initial line of the compass coincides in direction with that of the said filament.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscrbin g witnesses.

SIMON LAKE.

"Witnesses:

lI. A. KORNMIANN, il. J. MILLER.

IZO

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