Patent GB-190203524-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Bulkhead Doors and Torpedo Delivery Doors or the like and Mechanism for Operating the same.
Inventor: PRESTON FREDERICK GEORGE PANIZ
Filed: 1902-02-11
Granted: 1903-02-11
Abstract: 3524. Preston, F. G. P., and Ralston, G. C. Feb. 11. Bulkhead doors.-Relates to systems for the simultaneous opening or closing of a number of bulkhead doors, torpedo-delivery doors, gun-port doors, or the like, by operating a valve or valves from the bridge or other convenient place and by means of hydraulic pressure which operates in cylinders connected to the doors. The systems are characterized by the application of an accumulator having one side of its ram or piston exposed to hydraulic pressure supplied by a pump and the other side exposed to the pressure of boiler steam, in combination with emergency valves and mechanism, creeping-preventing valves or devices, float valves actuated by an inrush of water by the rupture of the vessel's skin, and devices for indicating on the bridge or other place the position on the doors. The emergency controlling-devices distribute the hydraulic pressure to the operating- cylinders, and handles at the doors provide for men enclosed behind any of the closed doors leaving the compartment by reversing the cylinder pressure and opening communication between the partly-emptied accumulator and the door cylinder, the boiler-steam pressure following up the receding accumulator ram and the water behind the latter. When the emergency handles are released, after the men have escaped and let go the handles, the doors automatically close. One construction of door and operating-mechanism is shown in Figs.1, 2, and 4. On the side racks a<1>, slanting grooves a' engage with the slanting lugs a<3> on the door, and the projections a<4> on the racks carry the door along with them against the spring a<5>. The racks are operated by the pinions e on the spindle e<1>, which is rotated by a pinion gearing with a rack forming the rod connection between the two pistons working in the controlling or operating cylinders o<3>, o<4>. In other forms of door gear, the rack connection is external and fixed to the pistonrods or piston-rams, or the door is moved bodily by side piston-rods, or the rams have external crosshead connections to which are attached coupling-rods, and the rack connection is carried by the coupling-rods. Fig. 14 shows the arrangement adopted in one of. the systems. There are two accumulators 3 connected with the dooroperating devices, and the steam pipes 5 are connected with the boiler-feed pipe by the pipe 18, and a back-pressure valve 19 is provided in the steam pipe 5 so that the feedwater acts as intermediary and steam is not in direct contact with the interior of the accumulators. The pipes q, r to the door-operating cylinders are connected to the emergency-valve device, shown to a larger scale in Fig. 26, which can be controlled from the emergency hand-lever 10. The ram u, Fig. 26, is fitted with the D-slide valve v, to control the ports q, r and the exhaust port s. The cylinder is connected by the pipe 1 with the hydraulic-pressure main from a pump or from the boiler-feed pump, while the ram pipe 17 is connected to the branch pipe B, which has the actuating-valve 12 on the bridge and is connected with the bottom of the accumulator rams by the branches 2. The relief valve x is connected on one side with the ram space by the pipe Z, and on the other side with the exhaust. By the addition of another pressure ram or by modifying the ram u, the emergency valve or device is adapted to a modified system in which there are two fluid-control valves side by side on the bridge, one for opening all the doors, and the other for closing all the doors. To close the doors in case of accident, the valve 14 is connected to the float 16 in the bilge of a compartment, so that, when the float rises and opens the valve 14, pressure is admitted to the end of the ram u of the emergency or controlling valve t by the pipe 17. For the float valve, a part circular slide valve on a spindle, or a spindle with an arm, may be employed. The piston valve 37, Fig. 14, is inserted to prevent creeping and uncontrolled closing of the doors in case of leakage. The piston 36, Fig. 21, is hollow and has a cross-partition 37 and ports 38, 39, and is loaded by the spring 40. In another form of creeping-preventing valve, the valve is double-beat, and above it is arranged a diaphragm with a small hole through it. To indicate at all times on the bridge or other place the position of any and all of the doors, a tell-tale indicating-apparatus is in hydraulic connection with an apparatus at the door. The indicating- device consists of as many indicators as there are doors, and each indicator is a frame or holder with a coloured glass, which can be raised in front of an electric light.