Patent GB-116554-A (GB)
Title: Natatory and Peripatetic Submarine Forts, and Adjuvant and Ancillary Apparatus.
Inventor: MIDDLETON HENRY
IPC: B63G8/28
Filed: 1917-06-21
Abstract: 116,554. Middleton, H. June 21, 1917. Submarine vessels; conning-towers.-A fin-propelled submarine adapted to serve as a submerged fort for blockading harbours has (a) twin steering screw propellers of the kind described in Specification 113,833, or a single steering screw propeller of the kind described in Specifications 12544/15, 101,280, [Class 114, Ships &c., Propelling &c.], and 103,166. (b) a transverse propeller at the bow as described in Specification 113,833, [Class 114, Ships &c., Propelling &c.], (c) detachable compartments serving as casemates for guns as described in Specifications 12544/15. 101,404, and 103,166, (d) the guns fitted with tompions of the kind described in Specifications 13945/88 and 5399/91, (e) a telescopic fire control chamber fitted to the detachable compartment serving as a conning tower, (f) a telescopic lookout post arranged just aft of the conning tower, (g) an automobile observing and control chamher connected by an electric cable to the top of the look-out post, and in one modification has (b) telescopic mine-laying apparatus and (i) oscillating legs to enable the boat to " walk " on the sea bottom, and in another form has (j) weight anchors and (k) tubes for ejecting small electricaliy controlled submaries of the kind described in Specification 15253/91, and in a third form the hull is made lens-shaped to enable the boat to operate in very shallow water. In Fig. 1 the fins are shown at f, f<1>, the steering and transverse screw propellers at b and s, and the detachable compartments at c and g, the entrance tubes having concentric ammunition hoists attached to the vessel. The telescopic control chamber is shown at c<1> and the telescopic look-out posts, which is extended by compressed air, at d. The mine-laying-apparatus is shown at u and comprises telescopic tube expanded by air or water under pressure and having the outermost section provided with a slide which is withdrawn to allow the mine to fall by gravity. Detachable electrical connexions are fitted to the mine to keep it under control until it is deposited. The legs p<1>, q<1>, which are operated by compressed air under the control of electrical apparatus, have segmental feet p, q and are secured to pistons working in cylinders y, z whereby the length may be varied. The legs are oscillated by horizontal cylinders a<1> connected directly to racks ! l and through levers to racks k, which racks engage toothed segments on the cylinders. In the form shown in Fig. 7, the vessel has weight anchors m and has tubes u for ejecting a number of small submarines s carrying explosive charges and usually connected two and two together. These vessels have a single pair of bow fins and a steering screw propeller driven from an accumulator in the vessel and controlled through an electric cable k<1>. The cables k<1> pass through tubes mounted on a water-tight gimbal arrangement whereby their position is indicated. The tompions m for the guns are carried by arms n pivoted to the gun barrel and provided with toothed wheels i engaging racks j arranged on the inside of the tube in which the gun slides. Specification 2852/71 also is referred to.