US327380A - Marine torpedo - Google Patents

Description

2. t. e e h s n. e e h s 2. .RM EE BD.. MR o AT HE num .R IA Wam (No Modell) No. 327,380; Patented Sept. Z9, 1885.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARINE oRPs-oo.

, l SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent Np. 327.380. dated September 29. 1885.

Y Application insa Januar; sus, Issa. No modell) To a/Zlwhom it may concern: I

Be it known that 1,WAsHINGToN IEVING CHAMBERS, an ensigu in the' United Stat'es navy, residing at Kingston, in the 'county of Ulster and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ma rine Torpedoes, of which the following', in connection with the accompanying drawings, y y'herein referred to, and forming 'a parthereof, io is a full and complete specification.

My invention relates to that class of torpedoes commonlyknown as rockettorpedoes; and has forits object, irst, to produceaprojectile or -il'oatz which shall carry the torpedo x 5 or magazine housed within it tothe objective point to be there released and dropped `a suiicientdistaneebelowthesurface ofthewaterand v -then exploded; second, to provide means for propelling this projectile or float upon or near 2o-the surface of the water aerreeeiving its initial impulse; third, to provide means for steering or guiding the projectile; `and, fourth, to provide u .rocket projectile which shall be simple in construction, capable of being taken apart for convenience andsafetyin transportation, cheap, and` e'ective in operation.

These'objects I attain by the construction,

arrangement, and `combination of parts, as hereinafter described. l

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a plan view ot the projectile or rocket arranged to be fired from a gun situated either above or belowthe surface of tbelwater. Fig.l

2 is avertical longitudinal section on the line :A A of Figs. 1 and 6. Fig.3 is averticallongtudinal sect-ion' through the axis ofthe projectile. Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 are crosssee ti ons on the lines B B B B BW, respectively. Fig. 9 represents in. planand sideviewa slid- 4o ing bar to be arranged in the upper side of the projectile to form what I shall herein denominate the tail.; Fig. 10 is an elevation of the sabot audits stem. Fig. 11 is a side view of a series of tubes which contain rocket composition, arranged# around a central unfilled l tube4 which, when all parts are assembled, receives the stem of the sabot. Figs. 12, 13,

and H14 represent modifications, `which will be hereinafter described; and Fig. 15 is asec- 5o tional detail showing the construction of the tubes containing'th'e rocket composition.

In carrying out my invention I take a cylindricalbody of wood, cork, or other buoy ant material, b, of suitable diameter, to loosely iit the bore of the gun from which it is to be fired, and of a'length of, say, from jteen to twenty diameters. v'This body of wood' is pointed at both ends, as shown in Fig. 3, and is bored out centrally from the rear nearly its entire length,as shown in' Figs. 3 to 8, to receive the series of tubes shown in Fig. 11. It

side, near or slightly in front of its longitudinal center, which recess extends into the central bore, andthe purpose of which is'to receive the magazines, charged with dynamite, gun-cotton, gum gelatine, or other suitable high explosive. The pointed ends of the body b are covered and protected by shells or ,cases b' b" l-of cast-iron, bronze, or suitable alloy, and the cylindrical portion is cgvered with thin sheet metal-such, for instance, as common sheet-iron-the ends lapping over those of the end casngs, as shown in Fig. 3.

l In order that the tail, hereinafter described, shallbe enabledl to guide the projectileas desired, the ycenter of gravitysheuld fall below the longitudinal axis. yThis is accomplished by placing the magazine in the lower recess beforementioned.

Heretofore it has been lIcustomary in 'constructing rocket-torpedoes to pack the rocket composition .in one mass within the body of the projectileand to ignite at and burn from the rear. According-tc myinvention Iseparate it into several masses-. six being shown in the drawings-by pecking it inte separate tubes, d, which are arranged longitudinally around a central tube, d', as shown in Figs. '1 to 8, which .central tube snbserves a purpose tobe hereinafterexplained. The tubes d d screwed together, formingcontinuous tubes,

any suitable number-three being shown in Fig. ll-and their front ends are securedwithin a head, m', all opening intoa'chamber, m", withinsaid head. The head m' is provided with a point or projection, l, which projects through the point of the casing b, and which I denominate the except the larger central tube, maybe filled with rocket composition; or one or more of them may `be left vacant to serve as an ar-4 are each composed ofy'severa-l shortdengths andarebound together by ,rings or bands in is also provided with a recess inits lower rec trigger. All the tubes.

space or fair-cushion for regulating the even dischargeof gases, as 'hereinafter described.

The tail of the projectile,which guides and steadies the latter in its ilight,is illustrated in i5 enlarged head and a narrowing channel, the

-bar lmay be provided with a slot of sufficient lengt-h, 'corresponding 'with the longitudinal movement which 'it is desirable `to allow it, and 1a pin -or bolt Abe passed partly through it zo into'the body b. e I To-the under side,atthe vrearend of this'bar, is attached a tin or blade, -which serves as a rudder or guide to direct the movement of the projectile in water, and this ii or 'blade -1 ineke adjustable on the-bar,so that it may be -set'at an angle in order to provide against the deilecting -force-of currents or tides.

The sabot j, which is aixed to the rearend of Ithe projectile, is made to snugly -it the bore be made expansible, to' provide, as is-nsual, against the escapeof gases 3o ofthe-gun, and may from the iringcharge.l Its rear face is preferably -concaved, as 'shown in Fig. 3; it tapers toward the front, and its front face is -or chambered to iit over the rear end of the casing b". A'metal projection, j', externally screw-threaded, -is either cast or screwed into a central opening in the sabot, its 'front end extending through `the -chamber in the front 4o1face, and upon this projecting end is screwed atube, which-maybe called the stem of the si ibot. Thisstein, when the parts are in position foriiring, lies within the tube d' which it should snugly fit. The sabot j is provided 45 Awith s projecting pin or`hook, k, which engages in an opening in the rear end of the bar I h, to connect-the two together. The in l ine' c maybe made of any suitable metal, an of -a shape to tit snugly into the l5a opening in the bottom of. the projectile. It is provided with flanges or loops to ,engage hooks f f on two of the bands m m, which surroundthe series of tubes d d', the bauds carrying said 'hooks being so disposed that the latter project into the magazine loops or .flanges and hold it in place. A The series of tubes is capable of -rearward *movement within the body of the projectile, and this movement is eected when the point 6o or-triggerlstrikesanobject,whereby the hooks ff are -disen d fromthe magazine and the latter is allowed to drop out of its chamber before exploding, so as to be exploded ata distance below the surface of the water, which distance is regulated by the length of the connecting-bars by which it is hung to`the.body

'- ofthe project-ile.l These connectingbars are sanno jointed spring-bars, joinedto the body b and to =the magazine e, and arranged to`fo1d'together, as shown in Fig. 2, where arepresents one of the bars, which .iahinged to the body .b at a", land a represents theotlier bar, which is hinged to the torpedo at a" and to the rst bar at a'. The vhinge or ljoint a'" has a bearing in the top of the magazine-chamber, and both bars are bent or sprung over abearing, e", on the top of the magazine. Thus, when the magazine is released rom theliooks f f by the backward Amovement of the tubes d d",the spring-bars force it ont of,its chamber, and, after it has dropped, support it until the explosion takes place. v

The magazine. is provided at its re'ar end 'with a time-fuse, e', which is ignited through a channel, n, in the bottom of the central bore '-by the gases of the iring-charge, the gases entering said channel through a small opening, o, in 'the sabotj. A A

In additionto the time-fuse a percussionfnse may be'arranged in the-front-end of th'e magazine, as shown at e", to be fired-by strilb ing against the side of a vessel or other fob- 'jective point` when the magazine drops and swings forward.

The operation of'the devices thus far described is as follows: The parts being -ad- 'justed as shown in'Fig. 3, the projectile 'is placed 'in a gun to thecaliber of which it i3 adapted. The gases generated bythe burning .of the ring-charge. at the same time that they drive the projectile from the gun,'enter the openings o and p in the sabot j and ignite the 'time-fuse e' and the rocket coiposition'con- Atainedin the tubes d, through the pes n and d, respectively. -Tlie gases from the rocket composition pass into the tube d' through the chamber m". The backward press'- ure of these'gases forcesthe tube or stem g, and the sabot to which it is attached, backward until the stein is entirely forced from =the tube d'. This backward movement of the sabot and stem also draws back the bar h, by reason of the connection k. As soon as the stem gis entirely .withdrawn fromtlie tube d' itis free to disconnect itself from the bar or tail 1|, leaving thelatter projecting from the rear end of the projectile to steady and guide the .latter in its flight., as above stated. As soon as the stein g leaves the tube d' the gases from'the rocket composition are free to escape there fromand act, against the water, as in other projectiles of this class. l Igniting and burning the rocket composition thus from the front end of a number of tubes, each made up of several short lengths of tubing screwed together, and discharging the gases through a long tube or passage ex tending to the rear end of the body of the projectile, I regard as an important feature,'as it aords a body of gas" under pressure which, as thus controlled, compensates for any uneven- 'ness or irregularity in the burning oftherocket composition, and produces a more even action of the gases against the-water. In packing ico ros

llllO iig y izo as the last lengths burn out.

azmaao even short lengths of tubes with rocket composition it will be difficult to secure entire uni- -forxmtyor' regularity of density throughout their length; but when packed. under the same conditions and with the same pressures the density of the packed composition will be more or le uniform at correspouding'points inthe length of the several tubes. I so arrange the short lengths as to break joints, as shown' in- Figs. 11 and 15, and -by this means, `together with the air-cushion before mentioned, arising'from burning the coinposition at.. the `front end, I secure comparative uniformity by burning from several tubes at the same time. These short lengths may be packed to diiierent degrees of density or with different kinds of composition, so as to give the intensity of the burning composition from front to rear in the tubes a progressive action, ending in explosion of the tubes, if desirable, Dividing the several tubes into short lengths also faci1itates packing the composition and transporting br storing. the tubes, as it enables them to be easily handled andstowed away.

Fig. 12 shows the rocket aiter'it has struck the-object aimed at and before the explosion has taken place, `the magazine and tail being disposed in the body, as above set Aforth, and released and red bythe means described.

' Fig. 13 shows a rocket in the same position,

. provided with `two tails-one at each side-the( magazine being disposedas before and con'-` nected to the body by a spring-bar' hinged near the front 'end of the body.

Fig. 14 shows a rocket providedwith a short tail and a length of rope attached thereto, which trails behind after having been pulled out, as in the other cases. It also shows the magazine attached to the rear end of the projectile' by a hinged spring-bar on which it may slide, its downward movement being limited by a chain or cord,which also operates either a friction or percussion fuse.'

Ido not claim herein the method of packing and forming the rocket-composition chamber; but

I claim for my invention- I. In a rocket-torpedo, the combination of a body, b, provided with alongitudinal channel ator near itsaxisnopen at the rearendo f the projectile, an opening or chamber in its lower part connected therewith, a magazine to contain an explosive .charge arranged in said opening and provided witha time-fuse,

- and means foriholding and releasing said magazine,

as and for the purpose described.

2. .A rocket-torpedo constructed substantiallyas described :andhaving a detachable magazine arranged in a chamber at or near its. longitudinal center, with a preponderance of weight, caused by this arrangement of the magazine, at` one side of the arial center of .the torpedo, whereby said magazine is made to serve as ballast to prevent rotation during 3. In a rocket-torpedo, thecombinatiou of a body, b, provided with a chamber or recess to receive the magazine, amagazine arranged in said chamber, means fo; holding end releas- 7o ing the magazine, and a spring or springs to force the magazine out of its chamber when released, substantially asdescribed. Y

4. In arocket-torpedo, the combination'of a body, b, provided with a chamber or recess to receive the magazine, a magazine arranged in said recess or chamber, means for holding -and releasing the magazine, and two or more spring-bars jointed to the magazine and to the. body and arranged between the' magazine and thebody, whereby the magazine, when released, is forced from its chamber and supported in firing position, as described. f

5. In a rockettorpedo, the combination of a series of .tubes, as d,for\contain1ng the rocket composition, arranged in the'longitufdinal axis Vof the projectileand closed at their rear ends, and an nnpackedtube, d', open at .both ends, said tubes d and d' opening into a go common chamberl at their front ends, whereby the r rocket composition is adapted to burned from the "front and the gases dischargedat the rear, as described.

6. In.a`rocket-torpedo,'the combination of' 95 a series of tubes, as d, for containing the rocket composition, an unpacked tube, d, open at both ends, said tubes d and d opening 'into a common chamber at `their'front ends,

and a sabot, j, arranged upon the rear end ofthe projectile and having a stem which projects into the tube d', as and for the purpose t described.

7. In a rocket-torpedo, the combination of a series of tubes, d, packed with rocket composition, an unpacked tube,'d, open at both ends, said tubes d and d opening into a common chamber 'at their front ends, a .'sabot, j, an ranged on the rear end of the projectile and having Ya hollow Astem whichprojects into the tube d', and an opening, p, -i'nto the hollow stem, all as and for the purposes s et forth.

8. In a rocket-torpedo, the'combination of one or more sliding bars arranged in longitudinal channels in the body of the projectile and 'provided with a stop or shoulder to limit the Abackward'movemenba tube, d, in the longitudinal axis of the projectilethrough which the gases fromthe rocket composition are discharged, a sabot arrangedon the rear end of the projectile and provided with a stem which projects into the tube d', anda separable connection between the sliding bar or bars and the sabot, as and for the purpose described.

'wAsnlNcroN Irvine cuA'uBuRs.

Witnesses:

Guo. M. Looxwoon', WM. H. DE LACY.

'the Hight ofthe torpedo, as described.

to fold and besprnng ,8o

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