US842146A - Submarine boat. - Google Patents

Description

N0. 842,146. I PATENTED JAN. 22, 1907. R. H. GOLDSBOROUGH. SUBMARINE BOAT.

APPLICATION mum NOV. so. 1900.

a sums-sum 2.

PATENTED JAN. 22, 1907.

R. H. GOLDSBOROUGH. SUBMARINE BOAT. urmm non'num NOV so, 1906 a SHEBTSSHBBT 3.

' M lflmard f1- GOdsI/orM/j/l attuned:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD H. eoLbsBoRoUeH, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT .OF COLUMBIA.

SUBMARINE BQAT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 22, 1907.

Application filed November 30,1906. Serial No. 345,684.

1'0 (Ll/l whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD H. GoLDs- BOROUGH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, District of. Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Submarine Boats, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in submarine boats; and it consists in the constructions, combinations, and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide means for insuring the safety of the crew in a submarine boat under all conditions occurring in practice.

A further object of my invention is to provide means for discharging deleterious and foul gases and vapors from a submarine boat and furnishing a continuous supply of fresh air thereto at any depth of submergence.

A further object of my invention is to provide means for conveniently establishing and 1 maintaining free communication between the interior of a submarine boat and the external air and for producing a system of forced ventilation through said communication to cause a continuous interchange between the air-supply within the boat and the external air.

Afurther object of my invention is to (provide eflicient means for transmitting an receiving wireless messages from a submarine boat while the boat is at any degree or depth of submergence.

A further object of my invention is to provide means for visually signaling the submerged position of a submarine boat and for permitting the interchange of audible messages between the crew within the submarine boat and persons afloat. I

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which similar reference symbols indicate corresponding parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of any usual type of submarine boat, illustrating one embodiment of my invention applied thereto. tail sectional view, on a larger scale, of the float and cooperating parts shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view showing the lower end of the float provided with means for preventing release of the float from the conning-tower before the former has been secured to the hollow mast slidably extending therethl ough.

Fig. 2 is a de-' Fig. 4 is a detail view, on a larger scale, illustrating the construction of the upper portion of the hollow mast shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4 Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a submarine boat, showing a modified embodiment of my invention applied thereto. Fig. 7 is a sectional view, on a larger scale, of the top of the hollow mast shown in Fig. 6. Fig.

8 is a sectional view illustrating a modification in which the inner tube or conduit of the hollow mast is provided with an auxiliary outwardly-opening valve. Fig. 9 is a detail plan view of parts shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation, on a larger scale, looking upward, as indicated by the arrows on the linelO 10 of Fig. 6, the float being omitted for clearness of illustration. Fig. 11 is a similar view looking upward, as indicated by the arrows on the line 11 11 of Fig. 6. Fig. 12 is a detail sectional view, partly in elevation, taken radially of the hose-supporting reel shown in Fi 6; and Fig. 13 is a sectional view illustrating a preferred construction of hose.

' Referring especially to Figs. 1-5 of the drawings, 1 indicates the shell of a submarine boat provided with a conning-tower 2. usual cover 3 of the conning-tower is shown formed with a conical seat on which a float 4 is tightly secured by suitable detachable] means, such as a series of bolts'5, threaded into the walls of said seat and float.

A hollow mast comprising an outer tube 6 and an inner tube 7 is shown slidably extending outboard through a packing-gland 8 on the cover of the conning-tower and through the float 4. A screw-bolt 9 is shown thread- The its entire length within the outer tube 6 and extends upwardly through a cap 12 on the end of said outer tube to constitute the vertical rod or wire 13 of a wireless telegraphic apparatus.

An annular partition 14 is arranged in the upper portion of the tube 6 to provide a chamber 15 therein, the inner tube 7 being provided with apertures 16 communicating with said chamber.

A float-valve 17 is slidably mounted on the outer tube 6 for controlling a series of ports 18 communicating with the chamber and a series of ports 19 communicatin with the interior of the tube 6 at a point elow the artition 14. When the upper end of the holow mast is submerged, the float 17 is held by its buoyancy in its upper position against the cap 12, as clearly shown in Fig. 7, thereby closing the ports 18 and 19 and preventing the access of water to the interior of the tube 6. When the upper end of the hollow mast is emerged, the oat 17 is maintained by its weight in its lower position against a collar 20 on the tube 6, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. In this lower position of the float the ports 18 and 19 are uncovered to rovide free communication between the tu es 6 and 7 and the external air. and 19 are spaced apart to prevent interference between the inflowing and outflowing currents of air during ventilation of the submarine boat.

As shown especially in Fig. 5, the inner tube 7 may be rigidly supported within the outer tube 6 by means of longitudinal flanges I 31 within the latter. Said flanges can be 7 conveniently formed integral with the outer tube or they may be formed of insulating material.

When the hollow mast is not in use, it is drawn inward until the floatvalve 17 engages the float 4, thereby positively locking the floatvalve in its closed position and leaving only the vertical tube 13 extending above the top of the conning-tower.

In the operation of my invention for the interchange of wireless messages and ventilation of the boat durin its submergence the hollow mast is extended outward through the float and secured thereto by the screw-bolt 9. A conduit-section 21,.comprising an outer tube and an insulated inner tube similar to the tubes 6 and 7 of the hollow mast, is then threaded on the inboard end of said mast, after which the float 4 is released by detaching the securin screws 5 therefrom. As the float 4 rises by 1ts buoyancy a sufiicient number of conduit-sections 21 are then attached in series to permit the float 4 to rise to the surface of the water. A hollow plug 22 is secured to the lower end of the last of said conduit-sections, and one of the spark-balls 23 is secured to the plug 22 in electrical connection with the inner tubes of the conduit 21 and the hollow mast, the other s arklug 24 being grounded through the she I of t e boat and the water of flotation.

The hollow plug 22 is shown connected by an insulated joint 25 and pipe 26 to any suitable form of air-pump for forcin the air from the interior of the boat throug the It will be noted that ports 18 inner tubes of the sections 21 and hollow mast, from which it is finally discharged through the series of openings 18 to the external air. Such discharge of air from the interior of the boat acts to reduce the pressure therein, and thereby causes a fresh supply of air to flow in through the series of openings -19 and the other tubes of the hollow mast and sections 21. This forced system of ventilation insures the discharge of all deleterious and foul gases from the boat and the replacement thereof by a continuous supply of fresh air.

The usual transmitting and receiving devices are arranged'for connection by a knifeswitch with the wire connecting the sparkball 23 and the inner tubes of the sections 21 and hollow mast, all in a manner similar to that commonly employed for connecting such devices to the vertical wire of a wireless tele aphic ap aratus.

T e e above-dbscribed arrangement enables the inner tubes to be employed in the system of forced ventilation, while being simultaneously utilized as the vertical wire .of the wireless system, thereby permitting the ventilation to be carried on continuously during the operation of the wireless system.

A pennant or other signal can be attached to the tube 13 for visually indicating the submerged position of the boat. Where it is desired to employ aerial signals, such as bombs or rockets, the upper end of the vertieal tube 13 can be closed by an easily-disrupted waterproof membrane, such as rubber, which will be disrupted by bombs driven upward through the inner tube of the sections and hollow mast by air-pressure.

Figs. 613 illustrate a modified construction in which a submarine boat is provided with an air-lock 27 for containing a float 28. The upper swing-doors 29 of the air-lock are provided, respectively, with a tongue 30 and groove. 42 at their meeting edges and with cooperating recesses 32 for closely fitting about a hollow mast when said doors are locked in their. closed position. A hollow mast is secured to the float 28 and extends outboard through the recesses 32, said mast comprising outer and inner tubes 6 and 7 and a float 17 for controlling the outlets from said tubes, all in a manner similar to that described in reference to Figs. 1-5.

A flexible conduit or hose 33, provided with two longitudinal passages 34 and 35, is connected to the hollow mast with its longitudinal passages communicating, respectively, with the mner and outer tubes of said mast. The hose 33 is shown coiled on a supporting-reel 36 with its free end-connected to the axial standard 37 of said reel. The standard 37 is provided with two chambers 38 and 39, which communicate, respectively, with the longitudinal passages 34 and 35 1n the hose. The chamber 39 communicates ITS with the interior of the boat through a lateral opening 40, and the chamber 38 is arranged 'to be coupled up to a suitable air-pump by to that of the upper doors 29 and are pro-' vided with cooperating recesses 44 for closely fitting the hose 33.

The upper swing-doors 29 are secured to trunnions 45, carrying intermeshing pinions 46. A stud-shaft 47 carries a pinion 48 in mesh with one of the pinions 46 and'has secured to its inner end a worm wheel 49. A worm 50 is provided with a square head 51 for receiving either a crank or a pulley, whereby said worm may be turned either by hand or by power for simultaneously operating the two upper swing-doors 29.

The lower swing-doors 43 of the air-lock are mounted ontrunnions 52 and provided with suitable means for locking them in closed position and separating them therefrom. I have shown asatisfactory locking means comprising a bolt 53, swiveled at 54 on the lower surface of one of said doors and threadingly engaging a nut 55, pivotally supported-on the lower face of the other of said doors.

In'the above-described modified construction both sets of doors of the air-lock are normally locked in closed position with the float 28 retained within the air-lock.

When it is desired to employ the apparatus for ventilating the submerged boat, the worm 50 is turned to open the upper doors 29 of the air-lock, thereby releasing the float 28, which rises by its buoyancy through the water of flotation.

As the hose 33 is carried up by such rise of the float 28, it is unwound from its reel 36 until the float reaches the surface of the water of flotation, after which the upper doors 29 can be closed to closely embrace the hose in their cooperating recesses 32.

Under certain practical conditions, such as minimizes the strain on the hose 33, since such series of floats will be located in the relatively still water below the surface, and thus prevent the entire supporting strain from being exerted by the float on the relatively rough surface-water. vWhen such series of floats are employed,the upper swing-doors 29 of the air-lock are closed and the water forced from said lock in anysuitable manner, as by admitting air under pressure thereto. The lower swing-doors 43 are then opened to admit the float into the air-lock, after which they are locked in closed position. The upperswing-doors 29 are then opened to permit rise of the float into the water of flotation and these steps repeated as often as it is illesired to attach an additional float to the ose.

Fig. 13 shows a preferred construction of the flexible hose, comprising a heavy inner tube 56 of rubber composition, provided with an outer shield 57 of canvas and reinforced by a spiral 58 of wire embedded therein, a

central partition 59 being formed integral with the hose divided into the two independent longitudinal passages 34 and 35 and to brace the tube against collapsing under the pressure of the water.

Fig. 8 illustrates a slight modification, in which the inner tube 7 of the hollow mast is provided with an outwardly-opening valve 60 for preventing entrance to said tube of any water which may leak past the floatvalve 17. The valve 60 is shown held to its seat by a spring 61, which is so adjusted that the valve will open under the pressure of the air forced from the boat through the inner tube 7. Y

I have illustrated and described preferred and satisfactory constructions, but obviously changes can be made within the spirit, and scope. of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, .is

1. In a submarine boat provided with means for submerging the same, the combination of a vertical conductor, means for supporting said conductor above the surface of the water of flotation at any depth ofsubmergence of the boat, a wireless-system aparatus within the boat, and means insuated. from the water of flotation for maintaining said wireless-system apparatus in electrical connection with said'vertical conductor, substantially as described.

2. In a submarine boat, the combination of a vertical conductor, a float for supporting said conductor above the surface of the water of flotation at any depth of submergence of the boat, a Wireless-system. apparatus Within the boat, and means for maintaining said IIO wireless-system apparatus in electrical connection with said vertical conductor in all positions of the latter, substantially as described.

3. In a submarine boat, the combination of tubular means for maintaining the boat in free communication with the external air at any depth of submergence of the boat, a vertical conductor carried by said tubular means,

a wireless-system apparatus within the boat, and meanswithin said tubular conductor for electrically connecting said apparatus to said vertical conductor in all positions, thereof, substantially as described.

4. In a submarine boat, the combination of adjustable means for maintaining theboat in free communication with the external air at any depth of submergence of the boat, and automatic means for closing said communication when submerged and opening it when emerged. substantially as described.

In a submarine boat, the combination of adjustable means for maintaining the boat in free con'nnunimition with the external air at any depth of submergence of the boat, a vertical conductor carried by said adjustable means, a Wireless-system apparatus within the boat, and means for electrically connecting said apparatus to said vertical conductor in all positions of said adjustable means, sub stantially as described.

6. In a submarine boat, the combination of adjustable means for maintaining the boat in free communication with the external air at any depth of submergence of the boat, automatic means for closin said communication when submerged an opening it when emerged, a vertical conductor carried by said adjustable means, a wireless-system appa ratus within the boat, and means for electrically connecting said apparatus to said vertical conductor in all positions of said adjustable means, substantially as described.

7. In a submarine boat, the combination of a hollow mast comprising independent conduits provided with external openings, means for supporting said mast above the water of flotation, means for maintaining the independent conduits of said mast in communication with the interior of the boat, at any depth 01' submergence of the latter, and automatic means controlling said openings for maintaining them closed when submerged and open when emerged, substantially as described.

' 8. In a submarine boat, the combination of a hollow mast comprising independent conduits provided with external openings, means for supporting said mast above the water of flotation, means for maintaining the independent conduits of said mast in communication with the interior of the boat at any depth of submergence of the latter, and means within the boat for producing a continuous interchange through said independent conduits of the air-supply within the boat and the external air, substantially as described.

9. In a submarine boat, the combination of a hollow mast comprising independent conduits provided with external openings spaced apart along the length of said mast, and a common means for automatically controlling said openings for maintaining them closed when submerged and open when emerged, substantially as described.

10. In a submarine boat, the combination of a hollow mast comprising an outer tube and an inner tube of electrical conductive material insulated from said outer tube, means for establishing free communication through said tubes between the external air and the interior of the boat at any depth of submergence of the latter, avertical conductor carried by said inner tube, a wireless-system apparatus Within the boat, and means for electrically connecting said wireless apparatus to said inner tube in all positions of said hollow mast.

11. In a submarineboat, the combination of a float detachably secured to the boat, a hollow mast slidably extending outboard through said float, means for securing said float at any point along the length of said mast, means for detaching said float from the boat, and means for renewingthe air-supply in the interior of the boat through said mast when the latter is supported above the water of flotation by the detached float, substantially as described.

12. In a submarine boat, the combination of a float detachably secured to the boat, a hollow mast carried thereby, said mast com prising independent conduits provided with V external openings, means for'sealing such openings during their submergence, and for maintaining the openings in communication with the external air while emerged, means for detaching said float from the boat, and means for simultaneously supplying air to, and discharging foul gases from, the interior of the boat through said conduits when the mast is supported above the water of flotation by the detached float, substantially as described.

13. In a submarine boat, the combination of a float detachably secured to the boat, a hollow mast slidably extending outboard through said float, locking means engaging said boat for securing the float thereto, and means for adjusting said locking means to shift it from engagement with the boat and to simultaneously secure said float to said hollow mast, substantiall I as described.

14. In a submarine oat, the combination of a float detachably secured to the boat, a hollow mast carried by said float, meansfor detaching said float from the boat, a conduit for maintaining said hollow mast in communication with the interior of the boat, and means for attaching auxiliary floats at desired points along said conduit, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD H. GOLDSBOROUGH.

Witnesses:

G. AYRES, CHARLES LOWELL HOWARD.

ICC)

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