US964148A - Torpedo. - Google Patents

Description

o. DAVIS.

TORPEDO.

APPLIOATIOH FILED 001:21

Patented July 12 im a wir CLELAND DAVIS, OE THE UNITED STATES NAVY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSGNIENTS, TO NATIONAL TRPEDO OM'NY, O NEW' YORK, N. '32.,11 CORPORATLON OF MAINE.

TOR-PEDO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. illy Application filed October 2l, 3.907. Seriallllo. 393,497.

To all who/1i 'it may concern:

lle. it known that l, Cnrrnixn Davis, lieutenant-commander l. S. Iavy, a eitizen ot the United States, residing at Vfanhinglon, in the Bistriet ot Columbia, have invented eertain new and ueefui improvements in 'l`orpedoes; and l do hereby declare the lfollowing;` to be a full, clear, and exact dei-cription ot' the invention, such a5 will enable othere skilled in the art to which it apper- 1ain l to make and use the saine.

)ily invention relater-lv to torpedoes, and particularly to that clasS olf torpedoee` that are propelled. o r projected, through the livater under the surface thereof, and are adapted to trike the vessel or other object attacked belovv the ivater line, and Where armor platingis not so thick, as it usually i5 above the water line.

The objectoi niy invention is to create i greater disabling' ett'ects on the vessel or other objeetattacked, than is 'novv possible with the presentY torpedoes 1n general use,

and especially it the ship is provided with armor or other protecting:Y devieee below the water line.

As is well known, the eli'eet of modern torpedo xSi on vessels provided with n consider- .able protection of thin, or more or les's thick armor plating belovf they Water line, is to snnply blow a .hole therethrough. 'ilus vhole, when there is no armor proteetion, may

be very large, and 'does injury to the vessel largely-by theadiniL-:Sion of water thereto. lt. however. there is a thin armor protection the hole blown through the Sides of Such hhip. will be niuch A-fnialler and it might, or.

,- able might not, be sullciently large to disthe vessel. And again, if the arlnor is made aullieiently thick the hole Will be either too Final] to cause much damage or it will not be made. at all. In fact it is well knoivn, that il' suilieient armor protec- -vtion is provided, and if theV torpedo does not` get a ,iair ehanee,.thoeXploSion thereof willoulyveauxo a greater or lesa bulging' in o'l the Side@ ol the vessel or other objecti attacked.

'lhoobjeet ot iny present invention, more Specifically stated. is to send high explosives into the vit-als of the Ship and thuis` enable. or insure her doeii-action, under all conditions. i

To this end my invention consists in "providing an ordinary -torpedo shell with. a simple forni of gun from .which any ordinary projectile, carrying en explosive charge, may be tired and providing;` f id gun with a eixnple, and a certain ineen-fof in- @urine` the tiring" thereof, at Ithe moment of impart of the torpedo against the object attacked. By thi'b` rneauS, l ain enabled to pierce the under Water body ol the Ship, or any protection that niay have been provided against torpedoes upon the ship that is being4 att; cked. vAlfter the said Ship, its protection is pierced, the shelhot course, iinay be aus'ed to explode within the. veaeel there.- by dieabling her machinery, or can 'ng her desti-notion by exploding her boilers, or magazines.

illy present invention is an improvementupon a Similar invention made the Subject ot' iny prior application No. 383,814-, led July 1:3, 1907.

Referring,r to the accompanying drawings forming' a part oli this specification, the tigure illustrates a Sectional .view of the War lhead end ol' a standard torpedo Shell.

t A, designates the shell. or air tiask of a standard torpedo, and ll, the war head,

C, represente the ordinary disk elosin the air flask, and l), a flanged ring` in the entd Ileavingr the cap suliiciently strong to resiet.

the pressure of the Water while the torpedo is being propelled therethrough. Said line ot weakness F, also enables the cap to be readily blown out upon the explosion ot the charge within the gun, and thereby to provide a vent for the accumulated gases within the Var head. Y

lfLrepresents a barrel ot a gun, which is preferably smooth bore, but of course inay be ritled it desired, and yv'iieh is screwed into the disk C, as shown, by means of a wrench, or other tools, suitably engaging the end or muzzle thereof. Said barrchis also suitably supported at its rear by ineans of a Spider or perforated diaphragm J, as Shown,

and is preferably closed at its rear end by means of e. plug K, which is prelerably in tegral with said barrel, but, ol; course, which tachhd t? vide 'any suitable gas check, to prevent the escape of gas between jthe body of said projectile and the inner Walls of the barrel H; and I prefer one of the expansibleA cup shaped type. I have shown, as an example, a cup shaped disk Q, provided with the eX- pansible flange R, adapted to be forced outwardly against the bore when the Vcharge L, is exploded, and thereby prevent an undue escape of the gases past the shell, before it leaves the gun. It is also very desirable that the shell should not leave the barrel before the'full s pressure has been developed in the breech of the gun, and to this end I may provide any suitable retarding device for the shell which will hold the same in position, ori olier a considerable resistance to the passage of the shell out of the bore, While the powder pressure is being develo ed. To these 'ends IA find that a few turns o soft copper Wire S, placed on the'outside of theI shell, as shown, are suflicient to accomplish the purpose, in that they exert a jamming action against the bore of the gun, and are yet so soft that the powder pressure is enabled to force the shell out of the bore with a high velocity after the full pressa/re has been developed.

It is essential, in my invention, that the shell shall' have a suicient velocity', before it strikes the ship, to penetrate the sides thereof, and also any armor protection that may be placedon the same; To these ends, it isv very desirable that the shell shall have as long a travel as is possible, before striking the vessel or other target, that the gases generated from the powder charge shall not be confined infront of said shell and thereby lessen its velocity, and that the shell shall only be fired when the torpedo`s nose is either in Contact with the vessel, or is in close proximity thereto. Of course, 'it is also desirable, in order' to attain this essential velocity, that Water shall be kept out of the torpedo, and out of the gun barrel containing the shell, before the latter is fired. To accomplish these most desirable and essential conditions, I prefer that the gun barrel Il, be either stopped short of the ring D, of the war head, .as shown, or that it be provided with large perforations at its outer end, in order to permit any gases that escape past the shell toffreely expand, and tlicreby not oppose the passage of thc shell. I also find that by providing a special weakening mcans,as the line F, on thc cap E, that the said cap may he readily blown out by a comparatively small pressure, and thereby furnish a ready escape for said gases while the 'water, at the same time, iskep out of the torpedo. I also find that I may very materially lengthen the war head, without materially disturbing the ballistics of the tor-l pedo; and especially may I do this if I suitably distribute the weight of my barrel H,

charge and projectile.v By thus lengthening the war head, I very materially increase the distance through which 'my shell may be propelled before striking the vessel, and thereby very materially increase the time during which the shell may increase its velocity up to the desired degree, vwhich isnecessary to enable it to penetrate the vessel.

Since when the projectile is fired the' nose of: the torpedo is either in contact with the vessel attacked, or else is very close to the same, the nose of the projectile itselfQ'when tired from the gunwill contact with said vessel before the base "of said projectile leaves the torpedo. In other words, the projectile will extend some distance within the war head of the torpedo when it begins toi the weight that such cut ott portion of the barrel would/ issess, and to add Said weight to the charge and/p/rojectile. This I consider an important/feature of my invention, for lthat itis very desirable to make both the projectile and charge as large-as possible, in order that they may have a maximum destructive effect.

In order to fire my shell at-the proper moment, and in order to msureagainst its' heilig tired accidel'itally or at any other time than the proper moment, I provide the following means: T, representsa suitable perforated lug, -or projection attached to, (ir-integral with the cap E. provided with a suitable stuffing box U, .as shown, and through this lug and stutl'- ing box pass the firing rod lV, provided with a screw thread X,'over which fits the screw threaded sleeve Y, provided. at its outer end with the ropeller Z. Said rod WV, reciprocates un er the-control of lthe spring A', which rests against the disk LC, as shown, and is provided with thefcollar li on the inside of said disk. lV, passes through 'said disk C, -as well as through a bearing C in the spider or perforated diaphragm J. lVhen the sleeve Y, is screwed down to the extremity of the screw thread X, as shown in dotted lines, the collar B is jammed against the inner surface of the disk C, .and'thc sleeve Y, is jammed against lthe outer sur- Tliis lug Said rod.

iso

Z, from forcing scales en' face of the stutl'in'g box U, and the said rod is firmly locked so that it cannot'be moved in any direction. llllien, however', the torpedo is projected or propelled through the water, the said propeller Z, will cause the said sleeve Y, to turn in such a direction as to advance along the screw thread X, and to occupy the position, shown in full lines, when the shoulder D, on the interior of said sleeve rests against the ring E', on the outer end of said screw thread X, in` which position the propeller aiid spring A', will tend to urge the rod lV, forward, and the collar B, will prevent this further movement.

Secured in the torpedo shell A., is the tiring pin support l1". rlhis firing pin support is suitably bored, as shown, and ca'- ries the firing pin G', provided with the spring H, and the collar K', against which the trigger L', takes, as shown. Il`he barrel H, is provided with any suitable vent M', which receives a primer N', or other firing devices, and theV hole is so arranged that when `the collar K', takes against the trig ger L', as shown, the spring H', is not under tension, and, therefore, it is not possible for the firing pin tol be projected forward against the prinier N', until the said trigger is tripped by the rod l/V, and the said spring tensioned. Nor. is it possible, above stated, for the rod W, to niove backward against the said .tri ger L, until the ,sleeve has beeirmoved orward bythe propeller Z, in the manner above described.

The operation of my device is as followsz-The torpedo isl fired at the 'object or propelled in its direction, by the usual and well known ineans. Tpon moving through the water, the propeller Z. sets the collar Y, in the position shown. The spring A', is of sufficient tension to pre ent the pressure of the'wf-=f r against the propeller ra. rod il", back against the trigger L, but upon impact of the said propeller Z, against the. vessel or other object attacked, the said rod "W, forced back against the tension of said spring A',

-into contact with the trigger L, turns the saine on its pivot, tensions the spring ll', and then trips the firing pin, when the same, under the action of the spring, moves forward and explodes the primer.

The explosion of the primer ignites the charge L, which expands the flange R, and jams the retarder S, against the bore of the gun. Any powder gases that may escape beyond the shell escape intov the war head, and finally blow out the cap ln the meantime the torpedo nose is approach` ing the y vessel, and the pressure behind the shell is dev loping to its ii'iaxiinuni. During the brief interval of time between the explosion of the primer, and the departure of the projectile from the nose of said torpedo,

gun, the projectile will have attained its necessary velocity, and the nose of the torpedo will have either contacted with the vessel, or else will have approached so close thereto, that the intervening layer of water 'will be ofl no consequence.

`in fact, the whole distance between the nose of the tor` pedo and the propeller Z, is not snll'icient to prevent the shell from penetrating the vesscls sido.

The fuse O, which niay be of any suitable type is so set, as to cause the shell M, to explode after it passes through the ships 1 side.

Particular attention is called to the fact that in standard torpedoes, or in any other kind, where the ballistics areto be preserved and accuracy in tlight'is to be attained, that the length of the air flask is limited, and also that of the war head. Therefore, in such torpedoes, if the gun had to be placed entirely in 'the war head, its length and therefore the velocity of the projectile would he likewise limited; but if the gun is extended baclt into the air flask, the length of its bore may be greatly extended and the velocity of the projectile correspondingly increased, provided the ceiiterof gravity of the system is not materially disturbed.` I

` have found by actual trial that in practice,

the gun may be sufficiently extended'into the air flask to enable the projectile to' attain the required velocity, and all without niaterially disturbing the center of gravity of the system. v

Having now described iny invention what l claim is l. ln a torpedo, the combination with the shell thereof, of a gun barrel fixed to the saine adapted to fire a projectile therefrom, means forming a fixed and lrigid part of said shell adapted to exclude water from said barrel, and firing means extending beyond said torpedo adapted to contact with the object. to be destroyed, substantially as described. n

2. ln a torpedo,.the coinlfiination with the body thereof adapted to move through the water, of :i gun carried by the. saine and adapted to lire a projectile therefrom, fixed and rigid means attached to said shell for excluding water from said gun, and tiring means for said gun extending beyond the substantially as described.

llD

3. In a torpedo, the combination with they I excluding water from said gun barrel, and

.tiring means extending beyond the nose of saidtorpedo, adapted toy contact with the vessel to bedestroyed, substantially as described.

4. In a torpedo, the Combination with the shell thereof properly proportioned to enable the same to be fired with accuracy from a torpedo tube, of a gun carried by said shell.

' body thereof, of a gulrcarried thereby, a

'charge and projectile carried by the gun barrel, and terminating short of the nose of the torpedo a distance sufficient to enable the projectile to acquire a considerable velocity before leaving the glrn, and means for exploding said charge and tiring the projectile consisting of a rod extending beyond said nose, adapted to contact. with the target attacked, and means operated by said rod for igniting said charge, substal'ltially as described.

t3. In a torpedo. the combination with the body thereof of standard make, of a gun carried thereby, a propelling charge, a projectile, a fuse therein, all carried by the said gun, and leaving a lspace between the point of saidprojectile and lthe nose of said' torpedo, and means extending beyond said nose for tiring said gun, whereby upon impact.

the' said firing means will ignite the charge and the projectile will attain a considei'-,

able velocityl before it leaves the gun, substantially as described.

' 7. In a torpedo, the combination with the body thereof. of a gun fixed in said body and provided with a propelling charge, a shell provided with a bursting charge, a fuse in said shell, means to exclude water from said gun, a rod \Vprovided with a propeller Z, and a sleeveY, extending beyond said torpedo, and means adapted to be operated by said rod to fire said charge, substantially as described.

8. ln a torpedo, the combination with the body thereof of standard make, of a gun fixed in said body and provided with a closed breech, a propelling charge` a projectile havinga bursting charge, a fuse carried by said projectile, means to exclude water from the gun. having a line of weakness therein, a rod lV, provided with a sleeve Y, a propeller carried by said sleeve, and firing meansl with which sa'id rod is adapted to contact,substantially as described.

9. In a torpedo, the combination with 'a body thereof of a gnu fixed in said body, means to'lirc said gun consisting of a rod projecting beyond the nose of' said torpedo, a trigger with which said rod is adapted to contact, a firing pin controlled by said trigger, and a'sprmg normally not under tention for'controlling said firing pin, but adapted to be put ander tension when said trigger is swung on its pivot, substantially as described.

l0. In a torpedo, the combination of a gun and a firing mechanism therefor, com#I prising a rod extending beyond the nose of said torpedo, a spring A', for controllin said rod, a trigger L', with which said rod is adapted to contact, a firing in Gprovidedv with a collar K', with which said tri ger is adapted to contact, and a spring l?,

adapted to be put under tension when said substantially as depeller on said sleeve, substantially asdescribed. i

l2. In a torpedo, the combination of a gun and a firing mechanism therefor,'com prising a rod Il' a spring A', on said rod, a. collar. B on said rod, a propeller Z on said sleeve, a trigger L', withwhich said rod is adapted to contact. a firing pin controlled `by said trigger, and a springY for propelling said firing pin adapted to b'e tensioned when said trigger is operated, substantially as described.

13, In a torpedo, the combination With the body thereof, of standard make of a gun fixed in said body, and provided with apropelling charge, a projectile having a bursting charge, and a fuse, also in said gun, a cap E, provided with a line .of weakness F, adapted to exclude water from said gun, and a-f`n-ing mechanism for said gun comprising the rod provided with the Sprng'A', the sleeve Y', and the collar B', said rod bein screw threaded at its outer end, and said sleeve engaging said screw4 threads, and provided with thc propeller Z, a trigger L',

with which said rod is adapted to contact, a

firing pin G', adapted tol be operated by said trigger, and a spring I-I', controllin firing pin and normally inert, and a apted to be tensioned when said trigger is operated, substantially as described.

14. In-a torpedo, the combination With'the shell thereof, of a-gun barrel carried by said shell, of such' a length as to leave a space between the nose of said torpedo and the muzsaid lea

zle of said barrel, and firing means also carlried by said shell, substantially as described.'

'15. In a torpedo, thc combination with the shell thereof, of a gun barrel carried by said shell, a projectile and charge in said barrel, the combined length of which i's shorter thap said-barrel, and said barrel' so located as to leave a space between the nose of said torpedo and its muzzle, and means also carrled by Said shell for firing said charge, substantially as described.'

16. In a torpedo, the colnblnatmn of en an' flask and a gun located partly within said flask, substantially as described.

17. In a torpedo the combination of an air flask, a war head, and u gun located partly within each, substanliall,v as described.

18. In a torpedo, the combination of an air flask, a war head, a gun located Within each, and tiring means for smid gun,.substantially as described.

19. In a. torpedo, the combination of an air flask, a. War head, a gun located partly within each, and terminating short 0l the nose of the torpedo and firing means for said gun, substantially as described.

Q0. A torpedo, having an air tlask, provided with means 'for securing a gull partly within the sinne, substantially described.

ln' testimony whereof. I elix my signature, inpresenco el tive Witnesses.

CLRLAND DAVIS. V'tnesses Geo. B. Prins, A. WT. NEALE, Jr.

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