US3678872A

US3678872A - Emergency underwater escape vehicle

Info

Publication number: US3678872A
Application number: US71652A
Authority: US
Inventors: Luigi Migliaccio; Edward P Migliaccio
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-09-14
Filing date: 1970-09-14
Publication date: 1972-07-25
Anticipated expiration: 1989-07-25

Abstract

A submarine construction of generally conventional overall configuration but differing from the usual submarine construction in that it includes a forward end portion which is removably attached to the remainder of the submarine and includes its own propulsion motor, control station and torpedo tubes. The removable front or forward section is designed to be utilized as an escape vessel should the rear end portion of the submarine be severely damaged and the rear bulkhead of the forward end portion and the opposing bulkhead include registered, sealed and openable hatches whereby communication between the main submarine hull and the forward end portion of the submarine may be established.

Description

United States Patent Migliaccio et al.

[ 51 July 25, 1972 [54] EMERGENCY UNDERWATER ESCAPE VEHICLE [72] Inventors: Luigi Migliaccio; Edward P. Mlgliaccio, both of 78 Wayne Ave., Paterson, NJ. 07522 [22] Filed: Sept. 14, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 71,652

[52] U.S. C1 ..1l4/l6.7, 114/17 [51] Int. Cl ..B63g 8/40 [58] FieldofSearch ..1l4/16R, 16E,16.4, 16.6,

ll4/16.7, l7, 16.8,117, 235 R, 235 B, 77 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,551,750 5/1951 Liskey ..ll4/l17X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 7,051 0/1914 Great Britain ..l 14/16 R Primary Examiner-Trygve M. Blix Attorney-Clarence A. O'Brien and Harvey B. Jacobson [5 7] ABSTRACT A submarine construction of generally conventional overall configuration but differing from the usual submarine construction in that it includes a forward end portion which is removably attached to the remainder of the submarine and includes its own propulsion motor, control station and torpedo tubes. The removable front or forward section is designed to be utilized as an escape vessel should the rear end portion of the submarine bevseverely damaged and the rear bulkhead of the forward end portion and the opposing bulkhead include registered, sealed and openable hatches whereby communication between the main submarine hull and the forward end portion of the submarine may be established.

14 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Pmnted J l 25, 1972 BEST AVAILABLE COPY 3,6 8 8 3 Sheets-Shoot 1 Fig./ E

28 Luigi Mig/iacc/b Edward I? M'g/Ibccio INVESTORS BEST AVAILABLE copy 78,8

3 Shuts-Shut 2 Patentad July 25, 1972 Lang! M/g/mccm Edward P Migliaccio EMERGENCY UNDERWATER ESCAPE VEHICLE The emergency underwater escape vessel of the instant invention is constructed so as to comprise the forward end section of a submarine hull also including rear and center sections. The complete hull including rear, center and forward end sections as the configuration of a conventional submarine and includes rear propulsion means, a central control station and forwardly extending torpedo tubes whose rear ends are disposed in the center section of the hull. The front section is removably supported from the forward end of the central section and the front and central sections include opposing rear and forward bulkheads, respectively, disposed in spaced relation and provided with openable and registered water-tight hatches for passage between the front section and the center section of the hull when the front section is sealingly anchored to the forward end of the center section.

The forward diving planes of the hull are carried by the forward hull section and the forward hull section further includes an upper fin including upstanding rudder means. In addition, the forward section includes its own supply of torpedoes and closable rear door means for the rear ends of the sections of the torpedo tubes extending through the forward section.

Also, suitable means is provided whereby torpedoes stored in the forward section may be moved from a storage location in the forward section into the forward end portions of the torpedo tubes disposed in the forward section. Still further, a large diameter water passageway extends centrally through the center of the forward section and has a centrally disposed propeller shaft journalled therein. The propeller shaft is provided with marine propeller means and the forward section includes auxiliary motor means drivingly connected to the propeller shaft of the forward section whereby the forward section, after being uncoupled from the center and rear sections of the hull, can be navigated as a complete underwater vehicle and utilized as an attack vessel with its own weapons.

The main object of this invention is to provide a submarine hull with a detachable forward end portion provided with its own life-sustaining equipment, weapons and propulsion system as well as suitable controls whereby the forward section may be entered by the crew of the submarine in the event the center or rear section of the submarine is severely damaged and the forward section may thereafter be uncoupled from the forward end of the center section of the hull of the submarine and utilized as an auxiliary underwater fighting craft as well as an escape vessel.

Another object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately preceding object, is to provide a submarine bull including a detachable fonrvard end portion provided with a novel propulsion system of its own.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an underwater vessel of the submarine type which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture and whose basic principles may be readily incorporated into substantially all types of submarines.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a submarine constructed in accordance with the present invention with the forward hull section thereof being detached from the remainder of the hull and a surface position of the forward end section illustrated in phantom lines;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the forward section of the submarine and the adjacent forward end portion of the center hull section of the submarine;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing through the center of the assemblage illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the removable forward hull section;

FIG. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 5-5 of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged transverse vertical sectional view illustrating one of the locking cams utilized in removably securing the front section to the forward end of the center hull section; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 77 of FIG. 6.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates a submarine hull constructed in accordance with the present invention. The hull 10 includes a central control section 12, a rear propulsion section 14 and a removable front section 16. The rear propulsion section 14 includes conventional marine propulsion means 18 driven by motor means (not shown) contained either within the section 12 or the section 14 and the rear section 14 further includes rudder means 20 and diving plane means 22 operable by suitable controls (not shown) within the section 12.

The section 12 includes the usual conning tower or mast 26 with conventional periscope, snorkel and radio masts and the forward or front section 16 includes at least somewhat conventional diving planes 28 with adjustable portions 30 under the control of a control station (not shown) within the section 12.

The front section 16 further includes an upstanding fin 32 with movable rudder means 34 and supplemental periscope, snorkel and radio masts.

From FIG. 3 of the drawings it will be seen that the center section 12 includes a forward bulkhead 36 and that the front section 16 includes an opposing rear bulkhead 38. A pair of openable water-

tight hatches

40 and 42 close a pair of

access openings

44 and 46 formed in the

bulkheads

36 and 38, respectively, and a short tube section 48 is securely fastened to the front surface of the bulkhead 38 at one end and to the bulkhead 38 at its other end whereby a horizontal communicating passage between the

openings

44 and 46 is defined. However, the front end of the tube section 48 is secured to the rear surface of the bulkhead 38 in a manner such that the tube section 48 may break away from bulkhead 38 upon disengagement of the section 16 from the section 12.

The submarine hull 10 further includes a torpedo tube 50 extending completely through the forward section 16 and terminating rearwardly in the center section 12. The center section 12 includes conventional torpedo storage means (not shown) and means (not shown) for receiving torpedoes in the rear ends of the torpedo tube 50. Further, the forward end of the torpedo tube 50 includes an openable closure door 52. The torpedo tube 50 includes a rear section 54 within the center section 12 and a forward section 56 extending through the front section 16 of the hull 10. The forward end of the rear section 54 terminates at the bulkhead 38 and the latter includes a swingable closure door 58 which may be swung into closed position in registry with the rear end of the front torpedo tube section 56 after the front hull section 16 has been disengaged from the center hull section 12. Also, the front section 16 includes its own torpedo storage means 60 and the rear end portion of the front torpedo tube section 56 includes a removable section 62 whereby torpedoes 64 within the torpedo storage means 60 may be shifted from the latter into the rear end of the front section 56 to the torpedo tube 50.

The front section 16 further includes a control room 66 and a longitudinally extending centrally disposed large diameter passageway 68 extending longitudinally through the front section 16. The forward end of the passageway 68 is closable by means of laterally shiftable closure door sections 70 and the passageway 68 has a central propeller shaft 72 journalled therein. The propeller shaft 72 has front and rear

marine propellers

74 and 76 mounted thereon and each of the

propellers

74 and 76 is provided with reversible pitch propeller blades.

A bevel gear 78 is carried by the propeller shaft 72 and is meshed with a bevel gear 80 carried by a power transverse shaft 82 driven by an annular motor rotor 84 through meshed engagement of teeth 86 carried by the rotor 84 and a second bevel gear 90 mounted on the upper end of the shaft 82.

The motor rotor 84 may be of any suitable type for underwater propulsion and it may be seen that the rear end portion of the passageway 68 is flared as at 92 and tapered at its rear end portion as at 94. The rear end portion 94 of the tube 86 includes adjustable vertical rudder means 96 as well as adjustable horizontal diving plane means 98 and it may therefore be seen that the rotor means 34, diving plane means 30, rudder means 96 and diving plane means 98 may all be utilized in maneuvering the front section 16 when the latter is uncoupled from the section 12.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIG. 2 of the drawings it may be seen that the center section 12 includes a plurality of peripherally spaced forwardly opening notches 100 and that the front section 16 includes a plurality of corresponding peripherally spaced tongues 102 which are receivable in the notches 100 to securely lock the front section 16 in position relative to the section 12 against angular displacement about a longitudinal axis. Further, with attention now invited more specifically to FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings, it may be seen that the center section 12 includes a forwardly opening peripherally extending groove 106 in which a pair of rearwardly projecting concentric rings 108 carried by and projecting rearwardly from the bulkhead 38 are received. The rings 108 have an inflatable annular seal 110 disposed therebetween and suitable fluid conduit means 112 is provided and communicated with the interior of the tubular seal 110 through a valve 124. Thus, the annular seal 110 may be readily inflated from within the section 16.

The peripheral groove 106 of the section 12 is defined in part by an annular wall section 116 and the forward surface of the annular wall section 116 defines a rearwardly facing cam surface with which rotatable locking lugs 118 carried by the bulkhead 38 are operatively associated. The locking lugs 118 are carried by operating shaft portions 120 of fluid motors 122 carried by the bulkhead 38 and accordingly, the fluid motors 122 may be actuated so as to oscillate the shaft portions 120 and thus swing the locking lugs 118 into and out of the locked positions thereof illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings. Of course, when the locking lugs 118 are pivoted to the unlocked positions thereof illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings, the front section 16 may be broken away from the section 12.

Of course, when the locking lugs 118 are pivoted to the open positions illustrated in FIG. 4, the forward end of the rear section 54 of the torpedo tube 50 must break away from the bulkhead 38 and the forward end of the tube section 48 must also break away from the bulkhead 38. In addition, numerous frangible but watertight service and control components extending between the

sections

12 and 16 are provided but not shown and are of a type to break away upon disengagement of the section 16 from the section 12. Of course, these various controls are utilized in controlling the operation and functioning of the entire hull until such time as the section 16 is broken away from the section 12. Of course, after the section 16 has broken away from the section 12, the section 16 is fully operative on its own and may be utilized solely as an escape craft for the hull 10 or as a supplemental attack craft. In addition to being provided with its own torpedoes, the front section 16 may also include other offensive weapons (not shown). Further, it is to be understood that the front section 16 includes various controls (not shown) for operation of the motor rotor 84, the various periscope, snorkel and radio masts of the front section 16 and the firing of torpedoes 64 from the front section 56 of the torpedo tube 50. Also, other controls for controlling the various diving planes and rudders as well as other maneuvering controls will be included in the front section 16 for supporting its operation when it is detached from the front section 12.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An underwater vessel including an elongated hull having a center section as well as front and rear sections and marine propulsion means at its rear section with attendant rudder means, the front section being releasably anchored to the front end of the center section, said center section including forward bulkhead means closing its front end and said front section including rear bulkhead means closing its rear end, coacting peripheral seal means carried by the peripheral portions of the opposing ends of said center section and front section forming a fluid tight pressure seal between said front and center section, said bulkheads including openable sealed hatches for establishing communication between said center and front sections while said front section is anchored to said center section, a generally centrally disposed passage extending lengthwise through said front section and having second marine propulsion means operatively associated therewith for pumping water through said passage in at least a rearward direction.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said second marine propulsion means is reversible for pumping water through said passage in a forward direction.

3. The combination of claim 1 including a retractable door assembly operatively associated with the forward end of said passage for selectively opening and closing the latter.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein centrally disposed passage extending lengthwise through said front section and having second marine propulsion means operatively associated therewith for pumping water through said passage in at least a rearward direction, said front section includes rearwardly displaced rudder means and also diving plane means.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said marine propulsion means comprises a central shaft journalled in said passage and having marine propeller means mounted thereon adjacent the rear end of said passage.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said marine propeller means comprises a propeller hub mounted on said shaft and provided with generally radial blades, said blades being supported from said hub for rotation about the axes extending through said blades and disposed generally upon radii of the axis of rotation of said shaft.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said propeller means is disposed forward of the rear terminal end of said passage, the rear terminal end of said passage including upstanding adjustable rudder means and generally horizontal adjustable diving plane means.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said seal means includes an inflatable continuous frame-type seal member disposed between said peripheral portions.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said front and center sections include coacting rotatable locking dogs and cam surfaces respectively spaced about said peripheral portions removably securing said front section to said center section.

10. An underwater vessel including an elongated hull having a center section as well as front and rear sections and marine propulsion means at its rear section with attendant rudder means, the front section being releasably anchored to the front end of the center section, said center section including forward bulkhead means closing its front end and said front section including rear bulkhead means closing its rear end, coacting peripheral seal means carried by the peripheral portions of the opposing ends of said center section and front section forming a fluid tight pressure seal between said front and center section, said bulkheads including openable sealed hatches for establishing communication between said center and front sections while said front section is anchored to said center section, said vessel including a forwardly opening torpedo tube extending through said forward section and rearwardly into said center section, said tube including front and rear end portions removably joined together at their rear and front ends, respectively, between said bulkheads, said front section including torpedo storage means and means operatively associated with said tube rear end portion and storage means for shifting a torpedo from said storage means into the rear end of the tube rear end portion.

11. The combination of claim including a generally centrally disposed passage extending lengthwise through said front section and having second marine propulsion means operatively associated therewith for pumping water through said passage in at least a rearward direction.

12. An underwater vessel including an elongated hull having a center section as well as front and rear sections and marine propulsion means at its rear section with attendant rudder means, the front section being releasably anchored to the front end of the center section, said center section including forward bulkhead means closing its front end and said front section including rear bulkhead means closing its rear end, and a generally centrally disposed passage extending lengthwise through said front section and having second marine propulsion means operatively associated therewith for pumping water through said passage in at least a rearward direction.

13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said front section includes rearwardly displaced rudder meansand also diving plane means.

14. The combination of claim 12 wherein said marine propulsion means comprises a central shaft journalled in said passage and having marine propeller means mounted thereon adjacent the rear end of said passage, said marine propeller means comprising a propeller hub mounted on said shaft and provided with generally radial blades, said blades being supported from said hub for rotation about the axes extending through said blades and disposed generally upon radii of the axis of rotation of said shaft.

Claims

11. The combination of claim 10 including a generally centrally disposed passage extending lengthwise through said front section and having second marine propulsion means operatively associated therewith for pumping water through said passage in at least a rearward direction.

13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said front section includes rearwardly displaced rudder means and also diving plane means.