US974516A

US974516A - Life-saving attachment for submarines.

Info

Publication number: US974516A
Application number: US51970409A
Authority: US
Inventors: Snively S Peterson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1909-09-27
Filing date: 1909-09-27
Publication date: 1910-11-01
Anticipated expiration: 1927-11-01

Description

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27, 1909.

Patented Nov. 1, 1910.

INVENTOR Hi5 ATTORNEY,

SNIVELY S. PETERSON, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

LIFE-SAVING ATTACHMENT FOR SUBMABINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 27, 1909. Serial No. 519,704.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that. I, SNIVELY S. Pnrnnsorr, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco and It is the object of this invention to provide a safe and reliablemeans of egress from ing drawings, in which submerged submarine vessels and the'like.

A further object is to provide an apparatus by means of which the inmates of a submerged vessel can escape in the event of possible accident or the derangement of machinery which would cause the vessel to sink or remain submer ed, and which apparatus is also so designer? that ingress may be had to the interior of the submerged vessel, without endangering the lives or jeopardizing the safety of those aboard. a

The invention consists of the parts and the construction and combination of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompany Figure 1 is a view of a submarine boat with parts broken away showing the inven-' tion applied. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the invention. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line X-X, Fig. 2. Fig. 4-is a plan view.

Fig. dis a detail view showing a modified form 'of closing the esca e port. Fig. 6 is a detail in section of th Fig. 7 is a detail of the water inlet e safety air inlet valve. valve.

In the drawings, A is the shell or hull of i a submarine boat which may be of any de- Suitably con sired type or construction. nected to the upper part of the shell of the submarine and within the vessel and at a point preferably near the conning tower, is a downwardly projecting cage 2 which may be opened to the interior or exterior of the vessel so as to allow one to enter the cage from. inside the vessel. and thence escape without letting any water into the vessel, shortly. The cage all as will be described is designed in such proportions as to comfortably hold a person. The cage or compartment 2 incloses a chamber which is normally closed by a trap-door 3 in the bottom, and acover twhich o ens outside the vessel. Entrance to the cham er or compartment 2 is made from the interior of the vessel, through the trap-door 3 which is hinged in the bottom of the chamber 2 and opens upwardly therein. A flange is provided around the edge of the door 3, and a gasket or packing material placed on the underside thereof, which bears on a small rib 3 on the rim of the opening, so as to form a perfectly water-tight closure. The exit or escape opening is closed by the cover or gate 4, Figs. 234, mounted to swing sidewise The opening and closing of the door 4 from inside of the vessel and either outside compartment 2 or inside of compartment 2 is accomplished by the following mechanism. Shaft 5 is fixed to a projection 5' on Patented Nov. 1, 1910.

on the mouth of the cylinder 2.

the door 4 and passes through a suitable stuffing-box in the shell A and is provided with a pinion 6 on its lower end. This pinion'6 meshes with a gear 7on a shaft 8 which projects through a stufiing-box into the interior of the chamber 2. Cranks 9-9 are mounted on each end of the shaft 8, one inside chamber 2 and the other outside, so

that whichever crank is worked, the door 4 is caused toswing outward to open the mouth of the chamber 2.

In order to'lock door 4 and prevent its opening accidentally, threaded shafts 10 extend through the shell A and have each a projecting flange 10' on their outer ends adapted to, be drawn down onthe edge of the door 4 by means of hand-wheels 10 and thus bind the gate against free movement. These flanges are raised free from the gate previous to operating the opening mecha- 2 is shown in the form ofja metal cage and nism, so as to let the door swing sidewise.

"chamber 2 prior normally closed by 11 is a pipe for gradually flooding the to a mans releasing himself therefrom by opening the door 4. Pipe 11 opens outside the hull A and connects with the inside of the chamber 2 at any suit-able point. A valve 12 is provided at the inner end of the pipe 11 and is operated from inside chamber 2 by crank 13. A cutoff valve 14; is provided on thepipe 11 at a point near its inlet and outside chamber 2.

The chamber 2 is emptied through an outlet pipe 15 which may connect with a. suitable purhp, not necessary to be here shown, by which the water may be forced outside of the shell A.

16 is an emergency valve'operated by a foot-lever 17 and provided in the floor of the chamber 2, so that an inmate may empty the chamber in case of necessity and before gate 4; is opened. A'stop valve 18 is inserted near the point of discharge from valve 16; valve 18 being'closed when the apparatus is not in use. .fi

A breathing port 19 is provided in the upper portion of the chamber 2, whereby one may draw in sufficient air to exist while preparing to open the door 4. Port 19 is a counterweighted ball 20. As shown, the weight 21 flexibly connected with-valve 20 normally maintains the latter on its packed .seat. Valve 20 is opened by means of a mouth-piece 22 which may-be grasped and held between the teeth of the operator in chamber 2, by placing the face against a padded mask 23 which fits over the mouth and nostrils of the operator, and is provided with accordion folds 24:, so that it may be compressed to permit of the mouth-piece 22 being properly grasped by the teeth. A coil spring 25' retains the padded mask tight againstthe face of the operator, and a spider 26 limits the opening movement of the ball 20.

i 27 is a normally'open vent cock to allow the escape of air as the chamber 2 is filled with-water through pipe 11, as will be later described. i

In operation, it being desired to make an escape from a submerged submarine in which the foregoing apparatus is installed, the person to make the exit enters the cham her 2. through the trap-door 3 which is then allowed to close, thus inoasing the person in a water-tight compartment. The subject then places his face within the mask 23 andgrasps the mouth-piece 22 between his teeth, thus pulling theball 20 out of its seat and o ening the air inlet port 19, and permitting him to breathe freely. The handles 9 and 13 are then grasped in the right and left hands, respectivel and downward pressure upon the latter a mits water into the chamber 2 through the pipe 11, thevalve 14 being previously opened. Valve 18 is also opened before he enters, but valve 16 is and closed. As the compartment 2 fills, the air within the compartment escapes through the valve 27 As soon as the compartment becomes full or nearly full of water, the inmate bears down upon the crank 9, thus opening the door 1; the clamps 10 being previously released, thereupon permitting him to escape and float to the surface. The air port 19 closes as soon as the mouth-piece 22 is released, and the outlet valve 27 is closed by a floating ball when the compartment fills, so that no water enters the vessel on the opening of door 4. Life preservers or other buoyant means may be used to hasten the rise of the subject to the surface. To prepare the chamber for the next person, the door 4 is by means of the crank 9, and the water within thechamber is removed through the pipe 15. Glass peep-holes or windows 28 are provided in the walls of'chamber 2 so that the attendant can observe the conditions within the chamber or look out into the vessel. By reversing the operation, that is, first closing trap-door 3 and filling the chamher 2 through the pipe 15, the cover 4 may be opened by the crank 9 to allow a person from the outside to enter the chamber. The mask 23 being placed over his face allows him to breathe, after opening valve 20 to let the mask drain, while the cover 4 is being closed and the water being discharged from the chamber. The trap 3 can then be opened by means of the chain 29, thus allowing the subject to enter the vessel.

The hand-levers 9-13 and valve 12 are cased in pockets 30, so that the interior walls of the chamber'will be smooth and free of projecting obstructions thatwould be liable .v

to hinder the exit of a person from the chamber.

In Fig. 5 is shown a different style of cover 4 which in some cases may be more desirable than that described, but in which the pinion 6 engaging a lug on the shaft 5' turns the latter at the proper moment so as to swing the cover clear of the chamber. A cam collar 8 on, the shaft bearin on a fixed point retains the cover clearof t e chamber permits of its swinging back" into posiclosed from inside the vessel tion, whereupon a spring-9 acts to insure I the shaft scr wing into thepinion 6.

Having thnsdescribed my invention,what

I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat-.

ent is 1. The combination with a vessel adapted tobe submerged, of a-compartm-ent in the vessel, said compartment having a door in its bottom which opens upwardly into the its compartment, said compartment having, also, an openin outside of the vessel, edge A wise swinging oor for openingand closing the last-named opening, means for closing said opening sons 'to render the compartment water tight,- means independent of said opening'for admitting water into the compartment, independent means controllable from. within the compartment, for draining said compartment, and means for operating the closure which controls the opening outside of the vesseL- 2. The combination with-a vessel adapted to be submerged, of a compartment in the vessel, said compartment having an opening in its bottom, a door controlling said opening and mounted to swing in an upward direction into the compartment, and said compartment having an opening leading to the outside of the vessel,'an'edgewise swinging. door for opening and closing the lastfnamed opening, means whereby the openings are rendered water tight, means independent of said openings for admitting water thereinto, independent means for drainin the compartment, said last named means %eing controlled from within the compartment, and means by which the closure controlling the opening leading exterior to the vessel may be operated from within said compartment.

3. The combination with a vessel adapted to be submerged, of a compartment in the .vessel, and, having ingress and egress door controlled openings, an edgewise swinging closure for the egress opening, means independent of saidopenings forv admitting water intothe compartment, and independent' means controlled from within, the com- 40 partment for draining the compartment.

4. The combination witha vessel adapted to be submerged, of a compartment within the vessel having an opening thereinto and an opening dutside the vessel, said openings being in line, and in the top and bottom respectively-of the compartment, and an upwardly opening closure for the bottom opening, a tra -door for said inside opening and a cover or said outside opening, said compartment capable [of being rendered water-tight when said openings are closed, said outside cover mounted on a shaft to swing horizontally, and means for operati said shaft to turn the door from within t e compartment.

5. The combination with a'vessel adapted to be submerged, of a; compartment within the vessel having an opening in its bottom thereinto and an opening outside the vessel,

' a tra -door for said inside opening, said trap I oor opening upwardl into the compartment and a cover for sa1d outside opening, said compartment capable of being 1 rendered water-tight when said openings are closed, said outside cover mounted on a shaft to swing horizontally, means for oper atin said shaft to turn the door from within t e compartment, means independent-of said openings controllable from within the compartment for flooding the compartment, and, independent means for dralning 'the compartment, said means being controlled from'within the compartment,

6. The combination with asvessel adapted to be submerged, of a compartment within the vessel havingan opening thereinto and an opening leading outside the vessel, closures for said openings, the closure leading into the compartment comprising a door adapted to 0 en u wardly into the compartment and t e 0t enclosure comprising a horizontally swinging door and mechanism leadin operating the closure fIOlBwiIlSldQ the compartment, means controllable from within the compartment independent of either closure for flooding sa1d com artment, and means independent of sai draining the compartment, said last-named means being controlled from within the compartment. 1

7. The combination with a vessel adapted to be submerged, of a compartment within the vessel havin an opening'lea mg outside the vessel, clo-. sures for said openings, the closure for the outlet opening being mounted on a vertical pivot so that it ma swing edgewise, means for o crating the c osure for the exit open: ing rom within the com artment,-.means controllable from within a compartment therefrom into the compartment for closures for an opening thereinto and j independent of said closures for flooding the compartment, and independent means for draining the compartment, said last named means being controlled from within the compartment.

8. The combination with a life-saving drum. adapted to be rendered water-tight, of a breathing attachment therefor, sa1d attach: ment' including a flexible member adapted' to fit the face and a valved port, and means operative from. within ,the drum for opening said valve.

9. The combination with a life-savin drum adapted to be rendered water-tight, o

a breathing attachment therefor, said attachment including a valved ort, and means operative from within the rum for openin said valve, said ort having on the insi e of the drum a exible mask to fit the face of the occupant.

p 10. The combination with a sealeddrum, of a breathing-attachment therefor consisting of-a port havin a normally closed valve, a ellows within t edrum having a mask portion to fit around the face of the occupant of the drum, and means'for operating the valve in said port from within the drum.

11. The combination with a sealeddrum of a breathing attachment therefor consistin% of a port having a normallyclosed valve, In testimony whereof I have hereuntc set a ellows within the drum having a mask my hand in the presence of two subscribing portion td fit around the face of the occuwitnesses.

pant of the drum, and means by which the SNIVELY PETERSON. occupant of the drum may operate the valve Witnesses: in said portby his teeth when his face is' CHARLES A. PENFIELD,

placed against the mask. R. S. BERRY.