Patent GB-318651-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to torpedoes
IPC: F42B19/14
Filed: 1928-03-09
Abstract: 318,651. Sacco, L. A. March 9, 1928. Torpedoes, locomotive.-A propeller is rigidly attached to the body of a torpedo, which is rotated to propel the torpedo ; hydrostatic devices maintain the axis of the torpedo horizontal and control the depth of submersion ; and means are provided to regulate the buoyancy of the torpedo and the distance travelled. The torpedo, the forepart of which is shown in Fig. 2 and the rear part in Fig. 3, has an outer shell 2 within which is mounted the main compressed-air reservoir 5, and the explosive head 6, an annular space 21 being left between these parts and the shell 2. Between the head 6 and the main air reservoir 5, there is a pair of bulkheads 3, 3, and behind the reservoir 5, there is another pair of bulkheads 4. 4. These bulkheads are perforated, except the rearmost one, and water is admitted by an aperture 1 in the nose of the shell 2 and passes rearwards along the annular passage 21. Between the bulkheads 3, 3 and the bulkheads 4, 4 nozzles 22, 23 are provided disposed skewwise with respect to the axis of the torpedo, and adapted when fed with compressed air to discharge tangential jets of water, whereby the torpedo is rotated bodily, and is propelled forwards by a screw propeller 33 rigidly secured to the tail of the shell 2. Between each pair of bulkheads 3, 3 and 4, 4 there is a chamber 11 shut off from the water and surrounded by a tank 7 open to the water by a valve 18. A centrifugal governor 13 and a valve 15 are arranged in the chamber 11 to control nozzles 16, 17 in the tank 7. At the moment the torpedo is launched, the nozzle 16 is in action and fills the tank 7 with air. When the torpedo attains the desired speed, the centrifugal governor 13 shifts the valve 15, the nozzle 16 is shut off, and the nozzle 17 put in action. This nozzle ejects the air through an outlet pipe 9 and sucks water into the tank 7 through the valve 18. The torpedo then sinks until at the appointed depth a hydrostat 14 varies the action of the governor 13 and the valve 15 is moved to shut off the nozzle 17 and to restore the action of the nozzle 16. By this double control, the torpedo is maintained at an approximate mean depth; moreover, if the torpedo tilts up or down, the rear or front controlling devices come into action and restore the torpedo to the horizontal position. The supply of compressed air from the reservoir 5 is controlled by a usual form of device shown in Figs. 8 and 10. The reservoir is filled through a valve. 66 and a branch 76 connected to the reservoir by a. pipe 127. When the torpedo is launched, a lever 29 is rocked about its pivot 74, and by means of a link 70 rocks a lever 71 and opens a valve 67, which allows air to pass from the reservoir to a branch 54<1> connected by a pipe to various apparatus to be described below. At the same time, a part of the compressed air passing through the valve 67 is by-passed by a duct 79<1> to a piston 75 which it lifts gradually, while oil confined above the piston escapes slowly through a duct 79 to a branch 81 under the control of a needle-valve 69. The piston 75 is connected to the lever 71, and in rising it rocks that lever about the fulcrum 71<1> and lowers the valve 67. After a given time, determined by the setting of the needle valve 69, the valve 67 closes and the run of the torpedo is stopped. The air supplied through the valve 67 to the branch 54<1> passes through a pipe 54, Fig. 7, to a pressure reduces 55 and thence through a pipe 36 to the branch 90 of a retarder 35. In this retarder, Fig. 11, the air passes through a valve 62, which at this stage is open, to. a piston 86, which it depresses gradually, while oil on the other side of the piston is expelled through a needle valve 88, the netting of which determines the time of this operation. At the end of this time, the piston 86 uncovers a branch 89, and the air then passes through that branch to a pipe 39, which leads to the heater 40. From the heater, a pipe system 41 leads to the propelling nozzles 22, 23, and to the valves of the hydrostatic devices 14. The valve 62 in the branch 90 of the retarder 35 is controlled by a weighted arm 64 and a spring 65. If the torpedo rotates too fast, the centrifugal force on the weight 64 overcomes the spring 65, and the valve 62 throttles the air supply, thereby preventing an excessive speed. Branch pipes 56, 57 lead to oil and water tanks 58, 59. The oil from the tank 58 is supplied to various devices for lubrication. The valves 15 and nozzles 16, 17 of the depth-controlling devices are supplied with air by pipes 37 direct from the pipe 36. A small auxiliary compressed air reservoir 19 is secured in the tail part of the shell 2, and behind this there is a non-reburn valve 32 which allows any excess air pressure in the tail of the torpedo to be relieved through an axial rear duct 34. The outlet of the reservoir 19 is provided with two valves 105, 28, in series. Before the torpedo is launched, the valve 105 is open but the valve 28 is closed. At the moment of launching, the valve 28, which is connected by an arm 73 and a link 30 to the lever 29 is opened by the rocking of that lever. Air passes through pipes 27 to the annular space 21 and expels any water therefrom. Soon after, however, air from the main air-supply pipe 36 passes through a pipe 103 to a valve 61 and thence through a pipe 104 to the piston valve 105, which it closes. If during the run or at the end of the run, the torpedo sinks below a predetermined depth, an hydrostat 20 shifts the valve 61, and connects the pipe 104 to exhaust, whereupon the valve 105 again opens and air from the auxiliary reservoir passes through and empties the space 21 of water, causing the torpedo to rise afresh. A screw 82, Fig. 11, is provided to put out of action during practice the usual device employed in war to sink the torpedo if it fails to hit its mark and stops through lack of energy.