US1028473A - Torpedo-boat. - Google Patents

Description

H. MAXIM.

TORPEDO BOAT.

APPLIOATION IILBD NOV. 21, 1908.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

I Patented June 4, 1912.

COLUMBIA PIJNonRAPn co.. WASHINGTON. n. c.

H. MAXIM.

I TORPEDO BOAT. I APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21, 1908.

1,028,473, Patented June 4, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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CDLUMIIA PLAIIOG IAPH co., WASHINGTON, n. c.

.H. MAXIM. TORPEDO BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21, 1908.

Patented June 4, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0., WASHINGTON. D. C.

HUDSON MAXIM, OF HOPATCONG BOROUGH, NEW JERSEY.

TORPEDO-BOAT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 4, 1912.

Application filed November 21, 1908. Serial No. 463,828.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HUDSON MAXIM, of the borough of Hopatcong, county of SusseX, State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Torpedo- Boats, which invention is fully set forth in the following specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in torpedo-boats, and has for its object mainly to provide a torpedo craftwhich shall be capable of passing safely through the danger Zone of a battleship or other war vessel, to attack it with a sufficient quantity of high explosives to insure its destruction, and shall be capable of running close in upon the war vessel to plant the high eX- plosive charge in a desired position or to ram the warship with a high explosive warhead below the armored protection.

In carrying out the invention, the torpedo-boat is constructed somewhat on the lines of the usual submarine boat, that is to say, it is capable of traveling either upon the surface of the water or in a submerged or semi-submerged position. When the boat is in a submerged position, it is tied tothe surface of the water and maintained at a definite predetermined depth by a flotation superstructure in the form of a long rib or flange running along the whole or nearly the whole length of the top of the boat. This superstructure consists of a thin metallic casing with the space within partitioned off by thin sheet metal into small compartments and the compartments filled with cellulose or other light flotation ma terial. This superstructure is from three to four feet or so in thickness at its rearward end and gradually tapers forward to a sharp edge; and near the rearward end of the torpedo-boat and extending upward through this superstructure is provided a conning tower and shaft connecting with the interior of the torpedo-boat. The conning tower is just large enough for one man to stand in in an erect position and extends above the flotation superstructure but a short distance, merely enough to provide an out look over the superstructure through eyeholes provided for that purpose. The conning tower is armor-plated sufliciently thick to resist the penetration of projectiles from small quick-firing guns.

The bottom of the torpedo-boat is provided with a wide keel running the length of'the craft. Port holes along each side of the vessel are provided for air and outlook when traveling upon the surface of the water, as under normal conditions, that is to say, except when striking a zone of danger or going into action; and these ports are capable of being quickly closed water-tight 1 when the boat is submerged for action.

Under normal conditions and when cruising in its over-water position, the boat is preferably driven by gasolene or oil engines, and when going into action it is preferably driven by the combined energy of the gasolene engines and the products of combustion of motorite and steam commingled actuating turbines which transmit the energy through propellers. The gasolene engine machinery is provided with a shift gear, so. that when running at high speed by the combined energy of the gasolene engines and the motorite, the speed of the propellers driven by the gasolene engines may be increased to correspond. The torpedo-boat is also provided with any suitable means for taking on and discharging water very quickly for its submergence and emergence, for example such as that described in my patent application Serial Number 361,395, filed March 8, 1907, in which the water is taken on at or near the forward end by being forced into an interior compartment or compartments running lengthwise of the craft and extending downward toward the stern, means being provided for opening or closing quickly and at will either the inlet or the outlet. The outlet being located immediatelyforward of the propellers at the stern, the discharge of water is accelerated by the suction of the screws; This system enables the water to be taken on very quickly owing to the inertia of the water under the momentum of the boat when traveling forward, the same as locomotives take on waterfrom a trough running along between the tracks; and the water is capable of being discharged from the compartments very quickly by the combinedaction of'gravity and the suction of the propellers.

, The boat is provided witha long extension to the bow portion which maybe either tubular or of any other desired shape. The length of this forward extension is preferably half as great as the length of the torpedo-boat proper, or longer. For example, when the torpedo-boat is one hundred andfifty feet long, the forward exten sion is preferably a hundred feet long. The front end of the forward extension forms a warhead carrying a large quantity of high explosive, from one ton to ten tons or more, according to the size of the torpedo-boat. The forward extension preferably consists of a steel casing sufficiently strong for structural rigidity and braced inside for additional support. For; a third or more of the length of the forward extension and im mediately back of the warhead, it is filled with water in order to tamp the high explosive and to direct the blast forward against the battleship and to prevent too severe a reaction backward toward the torpedo-boat; and an open space or air space is providedfor flotation purposes between the compartment and the bow proper of the torpedo-boat.

I may employ one water compartment and one air compartment back of the water com partment in the forward extension, or I may employ a water compartment immediately behind the warhead and an air compartment immediately back of that, and another water compartment or more, with an alternate air compartment or compartments for the remainder of the length of the forward extension.

Running lengthwise through the center of the bow extension is provided a tube, within which is mounted another tube connected with the warhead and closed at its rearward portion and adapted to be thrown forward either by a gunpowder charge, or by compressed air, or the products of combustion of motorite, or by any other suitable means, so that on coming within close range of a battleship or other war vessel, that is to say, within one hundred and fifty feet or less, the warhead may be thrown forward and brought in contact with the warship and exploded, thereby providing a space of one hundred and fifty feet or so between the torped0-boat proper and the warhead when exploded, thus minimizing the risk to the torpedo-boat.

Mounted within thewarhead is an auxiliary explosive charge, which is capable of being thrown forward in advance of the warhead in a manner similar to that with which the warhead itself is thrown forward, so that when a battleship is surrounded by a torpedo netting, this smaller warhead or explosive charge may be thrown forward against the netting to destroy it or provide an aperture through which the main warhead may easily pass to the hull of the war vessel. When, however, there is no such torpedo netting, then the warhead, and the auxiliaryor smaller explosive charge, may be thrown forward together and exploded simuitaneously against the hull of the war vesse r Both the auxiliary. explosive charge and thewarhead are adapted to be exploded either upon impact or by an electric circuit arranged in any proper manner and controlled from the. conning tower.

. Unless a very large quantity of explosive be carried in the warhead, it will not be necessary to throw the warhead forward against the battleship or other war vessel in order to preserve the torpedo-boat itself from destruction, for the action of the explosive being on the lines of least resistance, will be through the hull and upward through the war vessel rather'than backward through the mass of water toward the torpedo-boat. And although the torpedo boat will have its dispensable bow projection blown away, the torpedo-boat proper will not be injured, but will be thrown somewhat V violently backward upon a large wave which will militate to its safety as the battleship goes down. After the torpedo warhead has been launched and exploded, the torpedoboat with engines reversed may retreat with V safety.

The accompanying drawings illustrate practical embodiments of the invention, in which drawings:

Figures 1 and 2, are respectively a plan and side elevation of the improved torpedoboat. Figs. 3 and 4, are similar views of the same boat with a change in the lines and construction of the forward portion.thereof. Fig.

5, is an enlarged sectional elevation of the forward or dispensable portion of the boat. Fig. 6, is an enlarged elevation partly in section of the forward or dispensable portion of the boat, the auxiliary head containing an explosive charge being shown in its projected position. Fig. 7, is a similar view with the warhead and auxiliary explosive head both shown in their forward projected position. Fig. 8, is an enlarged detail elevation of the piston head of the warhead,

projecting tube and rod of-the auxiliary explosive head.

Referring to said drawings Figs. 1 and 2, the improved torpedo-boat A is constructed on lines similar to a submarine'boat of the v a single structure, although, as in Figs. 3

to 7, the two portions or hulls may be more or less separated but rlgidly un ted to act and maneuver as a sin le structure.

The boat is provided with a flotation structure U, of comparatively narrow Widthwise dimensions, extending along the length of the top of the boat proper with'a tapering front end, which structure is of thin metal with its interior space above the deck of the boat provided with many thin metal partitions a, forming separate closed compartments filled with cellulose or other flotation material I), as indicated in Fig. 5. Near the stern of the boat and at the rearward end of the superstructure is the projecting end of a conning tower E, connect ing with the interior of the boat and with sight openings 6 for the operator in said tower; all the necessary operating levers, steering gear and other contrivanoes for the manipulation of the boat and its contained mechanism being within convenient reach.

The bottom of the boat has a deep fin or keel F extending preferably substantially the full length of the entire structure, and may be in two sections, the forward part of the dispensable bow portion bolted or otherwise jointed to the hull of the boat as by bolts is, accessible for detachment from the inside of the hull, aswhen,for instance, the said bow portion has become disabled or wrecked upon the explosion of the warhead or from other causes. Port holes G, are provided along the sides of the craft for air and outlook when traveling upon the surface of the water, which port-holes may be quickly closed and sealed when the boat is submerged.

A suitable engine H, adapted for gasolene or oil, is provided (Fig. 3) for driving the boat under normal conditions through the usual twin propellers and with a motorite combustion device and turbine I, ada ted also for connection with said prope lers when the boat is submerged and going into action. The motorite is a self-combustive fuel of a character set forth in my United States Letters Patent Number 77 8,7 88, combusted in the presence of water to form steam, which, with the products of combustion of the motorite, forms a motor fluid for driving an engine or for jet propulsion in manner set forth in my pending application, Serial Number 420,084, filedMarch 9, 1908. The hull of the boat proper is formed with longitudinal side chambers or compartment-s J, for taking on and discharging water quickly for submerging and raising the boat, which may be operated in any desired manner, as, for instance, that particularly described in my said pending application, Serial Number 361,395. The forward extension or dispensable bow portion or hull B, is preferably of tubular or other suitable form of thin metal properly connectedv with the main hull of the boat to form a rigid structure therewith and yet a dispensable one, which forward hull is braced and strengthened laterally and longitudinally as warhead; the next compartment 0, an air chamber for buoyancy; and still another compartment P, for another water compartment if deemed desirable. These partitions are preferably bow or conical shaped with the apex directed forward as best seen in Fig. 5 to better deflect the blast when the warhead is exploded. Other braces and stays may be employed, as, for instance, the stay Z2 and the side braces f.

The extension or dispensable bow portion is formed with a tubular casing 10, extending from the hull of the boat forward to the warhead, within which casing is mounted a tube 11, connected with the rear of the warhead and extending rearward with a piston or head 12 (see Fig. 8) within a cylinder 13, mounted in the bow of the hull of the boat as in'Fig. 5. The auxiliary explosive head is seated in a recess in the front of the warhead and is connected to a rod 14 mounted within the tube 11 and extending rearward with a piston or head 15, (see Fig. 8) in the central cavity of the cylinder 13. Pressure supply pipes 8, 9, lead from some suitable source of supply to said cylinder 13, controlled by valves 6, 7 for projecting the warhead and auxiliary head at the proper times, either the auxiliary head independently of the warhead, as inFig. 6, or both of said heads as a unit as in Fig. 7. The heads of the tube 11 and rod 14 meet shoulders at the end of their forward travel, preventing their detachment fromthe forward hull or dispensable portion.

What is claimed is:

1. In a torpedo boat, the combination of the hull of the boat, a dispensable bow portion or compartment, an explosive charge in the forward end thereof, and a tamping material in said bow portion between said explosive charge and the bow of the torpedoboat proper.

2. In a torpedo-boat, the combination of the hull of the boat, a dispensable bow portion or compartment, an explosive charge in the forward end thereof, and a water-filled compartment in said bow portion between said explosive charge and the bow of the torpedo-boat proper.

3. In a torpedo-boat, the combination of a dispensable bow portion or extension, having a high explosive charge in its forward end, alternate compartments filled with air and water interposed between the high explosive charge and the bow of the torpedoboat.

4. A torpedo-boat consisting of two hulls united longitudinally end to end, a warhead carried by the forward hull and an extensible auxiliary explosive head.

5. A torpedo'boat, consisting of two hulls united longitudinally end to end, an extensible warhead carried by the forward hull, and an auxiliary explosive head carried at the front of the warhead.

6. A torpedo-boat, consisting of two hulls united longitudinally end to end, an extensible warhead carried by the forward hull, and an extensible auxiliary explosive head mounted in the front of the warhead. V

7. A torpedo-boat, having a warhead and a forwardly movable auxiliary explosive head.

8. A torpedo-boat, having a hollow forward extension, a warhead at the forward end of the extension, and aconical partition in the extension behind the warhead.

9. A torpedo-boat, having a hollow or tubular forward extension, a warhead carried by said extension, and a water compartment in the extension behind the warhead.

10. A torpedo-boat, having a hollow or tubular forward extension, a warhead carried by said extension and water and buoyancy chambers behind the warhead.

11. A torpedo-boat, having a hollow or tubular forward extension, a warhead cartaking the lines of a single structure, said dispensable hull being provided with a warhead.

14. A torpedo-boat comprising two hulls one of which is dispensable and both partaking the lines of a single structure, said dispensable hull being provided with a warhead and an extensible auxiliary explosive headmounted in the front of said warhead.

15. A torpedo boat, having a warhead and an auxiliary explosive head, means for projecting both the warhead and the auxiliary head forwardly beyond the boat and means for projecting the auxiliary head beyond the warhead.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HUDSON MAXIM. Witnesses L. D. LA FORGE, GEO. H. GRAHAM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

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