Patent GB-191512544-A (GB)
Title: Submarines and Submerge-able Nurse-ships & Ocean-keeping Flotillas.
Inventor: MIDDLETON HENRY
IPC: B63G8/00
Filed: 1915-09-01
Abstract: 12,544. Middleton, H. Sept. 1. Submarine vessels. - A submarine of the type propelled and manoeuvred by a series of vibrating fins has (1) a fin-actuating mechanism so arranged that the stroke of the fins and the plane of vibration may be varied, as described in Specification 101,403, [Class 114, Ships &c., Propelling &c.]. (2) a steering screw propeller mounted on a hinged or universally pivoted shaft, as described in Specification 101,280, [Class 114, Ships &c., Propelling &c.], and (3) the conning-tower and gun casemates detachably connected to the main structure, as described in Specification 101,404. The fins f, Fig. 7, which are preferably eight in number and for small submarines have a concave surface facing downwards and for large submarines have the concave surface facing upwards, are vibrated by means of a pair of slotted levers passing through stuffing- boxes as described in Specification 5399/91, and oscillated by cranks t rotated by an electric motor g acting through spur gearing h, i, and bevel-gearing p, q. To enable the plane of vibration to be varied, the levers c and cranks t are mounted in a casing a normally pressed against the sides of the vessels by hydraulic presses y and adapted to be rotated by an electricallydriven worm engaging a worm-wheel u on the outside of the casing. By this means, the plane of vibration may be completely rotated, so that the bow fins may vibrate in opposition to the stern fins and thus hold the vessel poised. To vary the amplitude of vibration, the cranks t and bevelgearing p, are mounted on a member e adapted to be moved axially in the casing a. The member e engages a square guide-pin d and, exterior to the casing a, is provided with a series of ring-shaped teeth adapted to co-operate with an electricallydriven spur-wheel m for moving the member e. The fins may be constructed as described in Specifications 4604/87 and 13,945/88. The stroke and plane of vibration may be controlled automatically and by means of electric relays controlled by a switchboard in the conning-tower. The screw propeller c, Fig. 8, 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 bevelgearing g'. 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 the spur-wheel j, which engages the other rack and is rotated by a shaft h 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 the motor when the desired movement has been obtained. The axis of the shaft x may be controlled by the step-by-step mechanism described in Specifications 15,253/91 and 12,717/93. 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 conning-tower a, Fig. 1, is shaped as a prolate spheroid and is provided with a simple form of steering screw propeller. Access to the tower is obtained through a tube y provided with trap-doors l, m and fitted within a tube fixed to the conning- tower. Suitable packing is inserted at i to prevent the inlet of water. The entrance to the tube y may be surrounded by a wall having a side opening near the top reached by ladders on either side. The compartment is detached by admitting compressed air stored in tanks in the conning-tower into the space between the trap-doors, or a slowburning powder may be introduced and fired, or the compartment may be made buoyant and released by electrically-actuated catches. The detachable compartment may be fitted with engines and the steering screw propeller shown in Fig. 8. The forward gun is mounted in a second detachable compartment, to which access is obtained through a similar arrangement of tubes and trap-doors. This compartment is oscillated slightly about the axis of the tube q by a long pimon engaging a rack formed on the back of the compartment. The gun g is mounted in a pivoted tube k provided with a segmental member making a tight sliding joint with a cylindrical surface m. Small hydraulic presses may be fitted for steadying the compartments, and the sides of the compartment may be corrugated or domed. An anti-aircraft gun may also be mounted in a detachable compartment capable of being rotated by rack - and - pinion gearing, and another detachable compartment may be fitted to facilitate the escape of the men working the torpedo tubes. The guns may be trained from the conning-tower by electric step-by-step apparatus similar to that described for moving the fins in Specification 12,717/93. The detachable compartments may be raised without detachment and held in the raised position by electrically-actuated bolts. The hull of the vessel is circular in central and rear cross-sections, while the fore cross-section has the lower part circular and the upper part elliptical. The stern is conical, while the bow is weige-shaped.