Patent GB-103166-A (GB)
Title: Submarine & Submergeable Trading Ships.
Inventor: MIDDLETON HENRY
IPC: B63G8/00
Filed: 1916-01-18
Abstract: 103,166. Middleton, H. Jan. 18, 1916. Submarine vessels.-A submarine propelled and manceuvred by vibrating fins, particularly adapted for use as a trading ship, has foldable fins arranged very near to the stem and stern and actuated by a crank mechanism so as to give up and down strokes of equal duration in any desired plane. The vessel is also fitted with detachable compartments and conning-tower of the kind described in Specification 101,280, [Class 114, Ships &c., Propelling &c.], and with a steering screw propeller of the kind described in Specification 101,404. The fin levers f are pivoted at g in a cylindrical casing rotatably mounted on a tubular fixed member a and adjusted by an electric motor e acting through a worm d and worm-wheel c. Each fin is driven by a separate electric motor coupled by chain gearing to a toothed wheel p on a shaft s mounted in the casing b. The shaft s carries a crank-disk w coupled bv a link l to a member k slidably mounted in slots in the adjustable cylinder and provided with a pin adapted to engage slots in the fin levers. In a modification, the crank-pin directly engages an horizontal slot in a reciprocating member similar to the sliding member k. The fins F, Fig. 12, are folded by means of a toothed segment n on the fin rotated by an electric motor coupled to the shaft s acting through bevel-gear k and toothed wheels l, m. An adjustable friction grip j is provided to hold the shaft in the adjusted position. In a modification, a pinion on the shaft s directly engages the toothed segment on the fin. The steering screw propeller is driven through a universal joint and is mounted on a shaft adapted to be inclined in any direction or in an horizontal plane only. The screw propeller c, Fig. 4, mounted on a shaft x is connected at one end by a Hooke's joint to the driving-shaft a, and pivoted at the other end in a segmental member f. The member f is adjustably mounted in a bow-shaped member e pivoted in brackets d and adjusted by a rod g acting through bevel-gearing g<1>. The lower part of the member f is secured to a part m embracing the bow e and provided with a pair of racks, one of which is engaged by an idle pinion driven by a spur-wheel j, which engages the other rack and is rotated by a shaft h acting through bevel-gearing i. Thus, by manipulating the shafts g, h, it is possible to incline the shaft x in any direction. The adjustable member f may be dispensed with, making the shaft x adjustable in one plane only. The shafts g, h are actuated by electromotors fitted with suitable cut-outs to stop when the desired movement has been obtained. The axis of the shaft x may be controlled by the step-bystep mechanism described in Specifications 15253/91 and 12717/93. The shaft x may be coupled through a clutch to the main motor, or a separate motor, also employed for driving a pump, may be used. The detachable compartment is formed as a small covered boat having the shape of a prolate spheroid or cylinder with conical ends, and is provided with a simple form of steering screw propeller. Access to the compartment is obtained through a tube provided with trap-doors and fitted within a tube fixed to the conning-tower. Suitable packing is inserted to prevent the inlet of water. The entrance to the tube may be surrounded by a wall having a side opening near the top reached by ladders on either side. The main sections of the hull are circular, while the forward sections have the lower parts semicircular and the upper parts substantially semi-elliptical. Specifications 5399/91, 21681/02, and 12544/15 also are referred to.