Patent GB-393639-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to strategical demolition torpedoes
IPC: F42B19/12
Filed: 1931-12-07
Abstract: 393,639. Torpedoes ; submarine vessels. FRAUENFELDER, J. BARRAJA., 6212, Oxford Street, MAGEE, W. C., 1526, Ridge Avenue, both in Philadelphia, THOMAS, J. H., 526, Kenmore Road, Brookline, both in Pennsylvania, and KRUG, P. P., 715, William Street, Harrison, New Jersey, both in U.S.A. Dec. 7, 1931, No. 33926. [Class 9 (ii).] A torpedo 10, Fig. 2, adapted to be controlled by a crew in a " tonneau " or small compartment 70, which is freed from the torpedo before this reaches the target, is provided with tanks for fuel 14, lubricant 20, and ballast 15, 22, 221, 23, of which one ballast tank 15 acts as a control tank with the dual function of trimming and exhaust gas purifying and cooling for an internal-combustion propelling engine, preferably in two sets 64 driving the propellers through the intermediary of an electric motor 53. Flasks 35 containing oxygen under pressure are arranged in a chamber 16 above the tanks 14, 15. During surface cruising, air for the engine is taken from the atmosphere by a tube 59 and the exhaust let out by a tube 58. These tubes are encased in a fairwater, which may include a silencer. For submerged operation, the tubes are closed by a cap 62 and the tube 59 then takes the exhaust gases from the tube 58 to a pipe 88, Fig. 3, leading to a set of perforated pipes 21 in the tank 15, which contains sea water. Carbon dioxide and also some carbon monoxide in the exhaust gases are absorbed by the sea water, which also cools the gases. The remaining gases, mostly nitrogen, are led by a pipe 90 to the front end of the chamber 16 containing the oxygen flasks 35, and pass backward through that chamber, where they are smoothed by baffles 91. At the rear end of the chamber 16, the gases at the bottom containing a large proportion of carbon dioxide are sucked out through a pipe 92 by an air compressor 93 and discharged into a highpressure storage tank or direct into the air flasks when these are empty. The gases from the top of the chamber 16 are sucked by a pipe 96 into a mixing tank 95, where they are enriched with oxygen coming from the flasks by a pipe 102 and controlled by reducing valves 100<1>, 101<1>, and a metering valve 97 on their way to a sprayer 104 in the mixing tank. The reducing valves are set by hand beforehand, and the metering valve, which is of the sliding type, is worked by the main engines through gears 98 and a pitman. A valve 105 controlled from the tonneau by a rod 106 is also provided. Blowers 107 in the mixing tank cause the diffusion of the gases, which are led to the engine valves by a pipe 108, these cool gases being used on their way to the engine to cool the electric motor 53. Suitable gauges or detectors may be provided to indicate the percentage of oxygen in the gases, or the presence of an explosive mixture of oxygen and carbon monoxide. The ballast tanks 22, 22<1> contain fresh water ; and the ballast tank 23 is used to balance the torpedo when the tonneau is liberated. The fuel and lubricant tanks are compensated by admission of sea water as fuel or lubricant is used up. The explosive charge is located between fixed bulkheads 30, 28, or between the fixed bulkhead 30 and an adjustable bulkhead 29, if a full charge is not wanted. The detonator is armed by means of a shaft when the tonneau is released, and, to cause sufficient impact to operate, a percussion fuze if the torpedo passes under a vessel and the tubes 58, 59 only strike the vessel, these tubes are fastened firmly to the hull.