Improvements in and connected with Combined Surface and Submarine Boats.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 26th May, 1899-Accepted, 19th Aug., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Combined Surface and
Submarine Boats.
I, SIMON LAKE, of 11, Broadway, New York City, County and State of New
York, in the United States of America, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement,
reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters and figures
marked thereon, that is to say:-
―
This invention relates to a combined surface and submarine vessel which
may be employed either as a torpedo boat, or for freight and general cruising
purposes, or for submarine work of all kinds.
The said invention has for its object first, to combine with a submarine vessel,
cylindrical in cross-section, a superstructure built upon such submarine vessel
and affording a large desk surface, buoyancy, and a high free-board for surface
navigation, the space between the submarine vessel and the superstructure being
adapted to be filled with water when the vessel is submerged and thus rendered
capable of resisting the pressure of the water. It has for its further object to
provide such a vessel with an improved conning tower. It has for a further
object to provide improved observation cages, adapted to be raised and lowered,
from which the movements of an enemy may be observed while the vessel is
submerged at different depths within certain limits, and from which the move-
ments of the vessel may be controlled and torpedoes fired. It has for another
object to provide an escape buoy by means of which the occupants of the boat
may be sent to the surface of the water and effect an exit from the buoy while
the boat is submerged. It has for a further object to provide an improved turret.
It has also for another object to provide means for automatically regulating
the submergence of the boat at any predetermined depth. It has for another
object to provide improved means for automatically trimming the boat when
it is submerged, either while under way or at rest. It has for a further object
to provide wheeled weights suspended beneath the boat and adapted to travel
on the water bed or bottom and thus enable the boat to travel over or above the
bottom at a determined distance. It also has for its object to provide a weight
suspended beneath the centre of buoyancy of the boat and operating to increase
the stability of the boat and keep it on a level keel. Finally, it has for its object
to improve the construction generally of vessels of the character described, and
to increase their efficiency and practicability.
To these ends my invention consists in the features and in the construction,
combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, and afterwards
definitely set forth in the claims following the description, reference being had
to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, wherein-
Figure 1 is a view of my improved vessel adapted as a torpedo boat and arranged
in ernising trim

page_text: Figure 2 is a view showing the boat submerged with only the turret and
observation cages projecting above the surface of the water.
Figure 3 is a similar view showing the turret submerged.
Figure 4 is a similar view showing the entire vessel completely submerged.
Figure 5 is a view showing the boat submerged and travelling on the water-
bed, the escape buoy being shown afloat.
Figure 6 is a detail view illustrating the manner of housing the stanchions
of the guard rail on the superstructure.
Figure 7 is a central vertical longitudinal section of the boat.
Figure 8 is a half plan and half sectional view.
Figure 9 is a transverse section on the line 9-9 of Figure 7.
Figure 10 is a similar view on the line 10-10 of said figure.
Figure 11 is a detail sectional view of the escape buoy in position for sub-
mergence.
Figure 12 is a plan view thereof.
Figure 13 is a detail sectional view of the device for automatically controlling
the submergence of the vessel.
Figures 14, 15 and 16 are detail views of the means for electrically controlling
the trim of the boat.
Figure 17 is a detail sectional view of the gun turret and conning tower.
Figure 18 is a detail sectional view of one of the devices for controlling the
vanes that regulate the trim of the vessel.
Figure 19 is a plan view thereof.
Figure 20 is a detail sectional view of one of the observation cages.
Figure 21 is a plan view thereof.
Figure 22 is a detail view of the propeller for swinging around the bow of
the boat.
Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates the hull of the submarine
vessel, which, as shown, is of double conoidal form and cylindrical in cross-
section. Within this hull are arranged all the operative parts of the vessel
hereinafter described. Attached to the bottom of the hull, and extending fore
and aft nearly the entire length thereof, is a keel 2, and attached to the sides
of said hull, and projecting horizontally therefrom are two planes 3. Built upon
the upper side of the vessel 1 is a superstructure comprising a flat, horizontal
deck 5 and vertical sides 6, said superstructure conforming to the horizontal
sectional shape of the vessel 1 and being attached there to water and air tight.
This superstructure adds material buoyancy to the vessel when the latter is
cruising as a surface boat, and also gives to the vessel a good freeboard and ample
deck space.
When cruising as a surface boat, the vessel may be equipped with
masts 7, and is provided with a guard rail, extending fore and aft around the sides
of the deck, comprising a rope or cable supported on stanchions 9. The
stanchions 9 are fitted in tubes 10 which depend from the deck 5 and are closed
at their lower ends to prevent the passage of water therethrough. The stanchions
are held in their elevated positions by keys 11, and when it is desired to submerge
the vessel, said keys are removed, the stanchions are lowered into their tubes,
and the masts are unshipped.
Disposed upon each side of the vessel 1, between the upper side thereof and
the deck of the superstructure, are torpedo tubes 12, four in number, two of
said tubes being directed forward and two aft, the breeches of the tubes opening
into torpedo rooms 13, and being closed by breech blocks 14, whilst the muzzles
are closed by gate valves 15. An isolated observation room 16 is located in
the bow of the superstructure and is provided with observation ports 17, entrance
to said rooa being had from the boat 1 through the hatchway 18. Extending
lengthwise throughout the vessel 1 are two parallel decks 19 and 20, which are
formed water and air tight, and divide the vessel into three air tight compart-
ments a, b, and c, in the central one of which is quartered the screw and contains
all the machinery of the vessel. Supported upon the deck 19 in the central

page_text: part of the vessel, is a conning tower 21, which projects through and above the
deck 5 of the superstructure, and is provided at its top with a covered hatch-
way 22. A turret 23 is arranged on the conning tower and is adapted to revolve
on anti-friction balls 24. Entrance is had to said turret through an aperture 25
formed in its bottom, and the turret is connected water tight to the conning tower
by a gland 26 and packing 27. As a further safeguard against the entrance
of water, a cap 28 may be secured under the aperture 25. The turret is revolved
by a pinion 29 fixed on a shaft projecting through the bottom of the turret
and provided at its upper end with a hand wheel 30, said pinion gearing with
an annular rack 31 fixed on the top of the conning tower. Arranged in the
turret is a rapid fire gun 32 which projects through the wall of the turret and
is fitted watertight therein by a ball and socket joint 33. The gun is elevated
and depressed by a hand screw 34, connected at its upper end to the top of the
turret, and is trained horizontally by rotating the turret by means of the hand
wheel 30. In the conning tower is arranged a steering wheel 35 which, through
the medium of tiller ropes 36, operates the rudder 37 in the usual manner.
Ingress and egress may be had to and from the conning tower, when the vessel
is afloat, through the hatch 22, and may also be had when the vessel is submerged
through an air and water lock 38, which is provided with a door 39 opening
into the conning tower, and with a door 40 opening into a companion-way 41
extending to the deck of the superstructure. A covered hatchway 42 leads from
the forward torpedo room 13 to the deck 5, and access from said room to the
interior of the vessel is had through a hatch 43. Water may be admitted to
the interior of the superstructure through ports controlled by valves 44, the
stems of which project into the interior of the vessel 1, and when the water is
thus admitted the air is permitted to escape through a valve 45 arranged in the
top of the superstructure immediately in front of the conning tower. A check-
valve 46 is arranged in the stern of the superstructure through which the water
is expelled when compressed air is admitted to the interior of the superstructure
from a compressed air reservoir hereinafter described.
In the lower compartment c are arranged tanks 47, which are adapted to contain
water to serve as ballast, whilst a pump 48, located in the compartment b, is
connected to said tanks by pipes 49. by means of which the tanks may be
emptied. The vessel 1 is provided with twin propellers 50, the shafts of which
are driven by gas engines 51 which are supplied from tanks or reservoirs, not
shown. Both engines exhaust through a common exhaust pipe 52 into a con-
denser 53, in which the hot gases are condensed before they make their exit
through an escape valve 54. A check-valve is arranged between the condenser
and escape valve to prevent the entrance of water. Arranged in the compart-
ment c, is a countershaft 55, which is driven by one of the engines 51 by means
of a sprocket-chain 56, and said shaft, by means of a chain 57, operates the
pump 48. Said countershaft also actuates an air pump 58, which operates to
compress air and store it in a reservoir 59. From this reservoir the air in the
compartment b may he renewed from time to time when the vessel is submerged,
and may also be discharged into the superstructure through a valved air-pipe 59",
to discharge the water therefrom.
Driven by each of the engine shafts is a combined dynamo and motor 60,
which is electrically connected to a battery of secondary cells located in a
locker 61. When the vessel is propelled by its engines, the dynamos operate
to generate and store up electricity in the battery, and when desired the engines
may be thrown out of action and the dynamos then act as motors and operate
to drive the propellers. The dynamos also operate to store up electricity in
the storage battery to operate the various different motors hereinafter described:
but to avoid confusion the connections between the dynamos and battery, and
between the battery and the motors are not shown.
Arranged below the bow and stern of the vessel are vertically operating
Propellers 62 and 63, the shafts of which project up into the compartment 7 as

page_text: shown, and are driven by electric motors 64, which derive their motive force
from the storage battery before referred to. Said propellers exert their force in
a vertical direction and operate to raise or lower the bow and stern of the vessel
to maintain the latter on an even keel while the boat is submerged, and this
operation is rendered automatic by the following described means most clearly
shown in Figures 14, 15, and 16. Referring to said figures, 65 indicates a disc
of non-conducting material in which is formed an annular groove 66, T-shaped
in cross-section as indicated by the dotted lines. Four binding posts, 67, 68, 69,
and 70, are provided, each of which is formed with a headed neck 71 which is
adapted to seat within said groove, and by means of which the binding posts
may be adjusted in their positions. A metallic pendulum 72 is pivoted to the
centre of the disc 65 and is electrically connected to the storage battery by a
wire 73, while the binding posts 67, 68, 69, and 70, are connected by wires 74
to the motors 64. Return wires (not shown) lead back from the motors to the
battery. The motors 64 operate in opposite directions, so that when the forward
propeller operates to raise the bow, the after propeller operates to depress the
stern, and vice versa. Should the bow sink lower than the stern the pendulum
swings upon its pivot and makes contact with the binding posts 67 and 68 and
closes the circuit through the motors, upon which the latter operate to drive
the propellers and raise the bow and depress the stern, and should the stern sink
lower than the bow, the pendulum swings in the opposite direction and closes
the circuit through the binding posts 69 and 70 and thus reverses the motors
which then operate to raise the stern and depress the bow. The fore and aft
trim of the boat may also be effected when the boat is submerged and under way,
by levelling vanes 75 and 76 arranged at the bow and stern respectively. Said
vanes are arranged on the opposite sides of the boat and are fixed on the ends
of shafts 77 which extend through the boat transversely. On the shafts 77 are
fixed levers 78 which are united by crossed cables 79, whereby when one of the
vanes is turned in one direction the other vane will be simultaneously turned in
the opposite direction. If the bow of the boat is lower than the stern, then by
turning the vanes, so that the forward edge of the bow vane is elevated and the
forward edge of the after vane is depressed, the bow will be raised and the stern
will be depressed by the resistance offered by said vanes to the water in the well
known manner, and vice versa, and this operation is performed automatically by
the mechanism most clearly shown in Figs. 18 and 19. Referring to said
figures, the numeral 80 indicates a vessel consisting of two cup-shaped members
secured together at their edges and having a flexible diaphragm 81 arranged
between said edges. To the diaphragm there is attached a rod 82 that is guided
in a fixed bracket 83, and said rod is loosely connected to one end of a lever 84
which is fixed at its other end to the vane shaft 77. A pipe 85 leads from the
under side of the vessel 80, and at its other end projects through the boat and
opens into the water. A pressure is thus placed upon the underside of the
diaphragm equal to the pressure of the water surrounding the boat. There are
two such devices provided, one for each vane shaft. Should the bow of the boat
sink lower than the stern the pressure of the water under the diaphragm in
the forward vessel will exceed the pressure beneath the diaphragm in the after
vessel and the diaphragm will then raise the rod 82 and turn the vanes 75 in the
position shown in Fig. 4, and the vanes 76 are simultaneously turned in the
opposite direction by the cables 79. The boat will then be caused to assume
a level keel, and in the same manner will be levelled should the stern sink lower
than the bow.
For causing the boat to be submerged to any given depth, the following means
are provided. Arranged on the opposite sides of the boat are vanes 86 and 87
that are fixed on shafts extending transversely through the boat. The vanes
are preferably arranged in recesses in the planes 3, so that when they are in
a horizontal plane they practically form a part of said planes, as shown in Fig. 5.
Referring to Figs. 7 and 13, the numeral 88 indicates a cylinder in which works

page_text: A knife
a piston 89. Into one end of the cylinder, is tapped a pipe 90 which, at its other
end, passes through the side of the boat and opens into the water, and hence
the water presses on one side of the piston with a pressure equal to that of the
water surrounding the boat. On the opposite side of the piston, is a coiled
spring 91, the tension of which is regulated by a threaded sleeve 92 tapped
through the end of the cylinder and provided with a hand wheel 93.
edge 94 is formed on the periphery of the hand wheel and operates to indicate
on a scale 95 the tension of the spring 91. Piston rods 96 are attached to the
piston at their adjacent ends, and at their opposite ends are attached to cranks 97
on the shafts of the vanes, one of said rods passing through the sleeve 92. The
operation of the device is as follows: If it be desired to sink to a certain depth,
the vessel is placed in a state of equilibrium, the hand wheel 93 is turned until
the knife edge 94 registers with the graduation on the scale 95 corresponding
to the desired depth, and the spring 91 is thus placed under a tension equal to
the pressure of water at such depth, and forces the piston forward and with it
the rods 96, which turn the vanes 86 and 87 to the position shown in Fig. 3.
As the vessel is propelled ahead, the vanes cause it to sink until the desired depth
is reached, when the pressure of the water will balance the tension of the spring
and force back the piston, thus restoring the vanes to the position shown in
Fig. 5. If the boat descends below the desired depth the pressure of water will
exceed the tension of the spring and the piston will be forced back and turn the
vanes into the position shown in Fig. 2, and the vessel will thus be caused to
ascend. The boat will thus be caused to maintain the desired depth of sub-
mergence automatically.
For the purpose of adding stability to the boat, and to aid in maintaining it
on a level keel, I provide a weight 98 suspended by cables 99 from drums 100
mounted on a shaft 101. On the shaft 101 is fixed a worm wheel 102 which
meshes with a worm 103 driven by the auxiliary shaft 55 before described. The
worm 103 may be thrown into and out of engagement with the auxiliary shaft 55
by a clutch 103* of any well known construction. The weight being below the
centre of gravity of the boat aids in maintaining the boat on a level keel. It
also serves as a recoverable drop-keel to be used in cases of emergency, as by
releasing the cable hoisting mechanism the weight is permited to descend and
rest on the bottom, thus increasing the buoyancy of the boat and permitting it
to ascend. The weight may afterwards be raised to its seat in the recess 104 by
the cable-hoisting mechanism described.
"
In order to turn the boat quickly, I provide what I term an athwartship
propeller, indicated by the numeral 105, and most clearly shown in Figs. 7 and 22.
As shown in said figures, the propeller is arranged in a tube 106 extending
transversely through the under and forward portion of the vessel, and is fixed
on a shaft 107 journalled in a bracket 108 fixed in the tube. On the shaft 107
is mounted a worm wheel 109 which gears with a worm 110 on an upright
shaft 111. The shaft 111 extends up into the compartment 6 and is driven by
an electro-motor 112. The said propeller will operate to force the bow of the
vessel around in one direction or the other, according to the direction in which
the propeller is rotated, in an obvious manner.
In the bow of the boat is a well 113 (see Fig. 7) in which is arranged a
drum 114, actuated by a worm shaft 115, driven by an electro-motor 116, and
on the drum is wound a cable carrying an anchor 117.
Recesses 118 are formed in the forward and after part of the keel (see Fig. 7)
and in said recesses are pivoted weights consisting of heavy or weighted arms 119,
in the free ends of which are journalled wheels 120. The weights are bent near
their point of attachment to the wheels, as shown, and to said weights are
connected rods 121, which are connected at their other ends to pistons 122. The
pistons 122 are fitted in cylinders 123 arranged in the bottom of the boat and
connected with pipes 124 leading to the pump 48. By admitting water into
the cylinders 123 the weights 119 drop by gravity into the position shown in

page_text: Fig. 5, in which position the wheels rest on the bottom and the boat is thereby
relieved of the greater portion of the weight of the arms and is thus rendered
buoyant. Should, however, the boat attempt to ascend, the weight of the said
arms, before they could be lifted from contact with the bottom, would overcome
the buoyancy of the vessel and prevent its further ascent. By these means the
boat would be caused to maintain a course parallel with the bottom, the wheels
yielding and riding over slight obstructions. If sufficient water only is admitted
to the cylinders to permit the weights 119 to drop but a slight distance below
the keel, the bent portions of the weights would then come into contact with
the bottom, while the wheels would remain in their housings, and in this position
the weights 119 would travel over the bottom after the manner of sleigh runners,
but the weights 119 would continue to act in the manner before described. The
weights 119 would be used in this manner when the vessel is travelling over
a bottom too soft to permit the practical operation of the wheels. It will thus
be seen that the arms 119 in reality, are merely weights that may be dropped
from the vessel and thus render the latter buoyant, but prevent the vessel from
ascending above a certain distance limited only by the length of the connections
which hold the weights attached to the boat, consisting in the present instance
of the arms themselves.
The yokes 120 in which the wheels 120 are rotatably journalled, may be
swiveled in the ends of the weights 119, as at 120b, clearly indicated by dotted
lines in Fig. 7 of the drawings, whereby the wheels are free to turn after the
manner of castor wheels as they travel over the bottom.
To enable observations to be made from the surface when the vessel is submerged,
and to permit of one or more of the crew being sent to the surface and escaping
without raising the boat, I provide a buoy constructed as follows, reference being
had to Figs. 4, 7, 11, and 12. In the after part of the superstructure is formed
a well 140 in which is housed a buoy, consisting of a closed cylindrical shell 141,
in the top of which is arranged a hood 142 provided with bull's-eyes 143, through
which observations may be taken. The hood 142 is hinged to the buoy, as at 144,
and is adapted to be closed watertight by a latch 145 rotatably fixed in the top
of the buoy and having a lug 146 which engages a flange 147 formed on the
bottom of the hood. To enable the hood to be opened and closed either from
the inside or the outside of the buoy, the latch is provided with two handles 148.
An air pipe 149 projects through the bottom of the buoy and extends to near
the top thereof, and to the lower end of said pipe is coupled a hose 150, which
is wound about a drum 151 journalled in the bottom of the well. The drum
is hollow, as shown most clearly in Fig. 11, and is provided with a hollow shaft
or trunnion 152, which projects through a stuffing box in the side of the well.
The end of the hose 150 is connected with the interior of the drum and thus
supplies air to the buoy, and also serves as a speaking tube. A crank 153 is
fixed on the end of the shaft 152 by means of which the drum may be rotated.
A door 154 is arranged in the side of the well 140 and communicates with a room
in the superstructure, and a corresponding door 155 is formed in the
side of the buoy. A frame 156 is attached to the exterior of the
buoy and surrounds the door 155, and is adapted to engage a rubber
packing fitted in a corresponding frame 157 attached to the well casing and
surrounding the door 154. Bolts 158 are tapped through the well casing and
engage threaded apertures formed in the frame 156, by which means the two
frames 156 and 157 may be drawn up together watertight. The door 155 is
smaller than the door 154, and by removing the latter door, the door 155 may
also be removed and withdrawn through the doorway in the well. When the
doors have been thus removed, one of the crew may enter the buoy, after which
the doors are replaced, then by withdrawing the bolts 158 the buoy is released
and ascends to and floats upon the surface of the water, as shown in Fig. 4,
unwinding the hose 150 as it ascends. The occupant of the buor can then freely
take observations in every direction through the bull's-eyes in the hood, and can

page_text: communicate with the interior of the boat through the air pipe 149 and hose 150.
By turning the catch 145 and raising the hood 142, the occupant of the buoy
may emerge from the latter, and by closing the hood and fastening it, can place
the buoy in condition to be returned to the submerged boat. This is accom-
plished by winding up the hose on the drum from the interior of the vessel, and
in order to properly house the buoy in the well to be engaged by the bolts 158,
I attach to the exterior of the buoy a circular rack 159, which is engaged by a
pinion 100, fixed on the end of a crank-shaft 161 projecting through a stuffing-
box in the side of the well. By turning the crank 161 the buoy is rotated until
the bolt holes in the frame 156 register with the bolts 158, when the frames 156
and 157 may again be fixed watertight, the doors 154 and 155 removed, and
another man sent to the surface in the manner before described.
Observations may also be taken, the movements of the boat controlled, and
the torpedoes discharged when the boat is only partially submerged, as shown
in Fig. 2, or when submerged only to a limited distance, as shown in Fig. 3,
by means of observation cages, shown in detail in Figs. 20 and 21, and which I
will now describe.
Wells 162 and 163 are formed respectively in the forward and after part of
the superstructure and communicate with the interior of the boat by hatches
or doors 165 and 164. In the wells are housed the observation cages, and as
the construction of both cages is identical it will only be necessary to describe
one of them.
Referring to Figs. 20 and 21, the cage is illustrated as consisting
of a closed cylindrical vessel 166 having fixed in its upper end a hood 167 provided
with bull's-eyes 168. In the top of the hood is formed a cylindrical recess 169
having a perforated bottom 170, and arranged over said bottom is a disc valve 171
having a stem projecting through the bottom and provided at its lower end with
a stop 172. A coiled spring 173 is arranged around the stem of the valve and
operates when the cage is afloat to raise the valve and permit the entrance of
air to the interior of the cage. When the cage is submerged, the pressure of
the water operates to hold the valve closed and prevent the entrance of water.
The cage is connected to the boat by two hollow arms 174 which, at their upper
ends, are bent inwards at right angles towards each other and are threaded, as
most clearly shown in Fig. 20. The upper bent ends of said arms project through
apertures formed in the opposite sides of the cage 166, and are secured rotatably,
but watertight therein, by lock nuts 175. The lower ends of the arms 174
project through the side walls of sinks 176 formed in the deck of the super-
structure, and are rotatably connected with elbow pipes 177 which communicate
with the interior of the boat 1. The cage is thus free to rise and fall, or have a
swinging movement on the arms, the upper ends of the arms turning in the sides
of the cage and their lower ends turning in the sides of the sinks 176 and in
the elbow pipes 177. A telephone 178 is arranged in the hood 167 and is con-
nected with a telephone 178 in the conning tower, by conductors 179 which
pass down through one of the hollow arms 174. A switch-board 180 is arranged
in the cage 166, and is provided with two push buttons 181 which control the
torpedo firing mechanism (not shown) of the two torpedo tubes arranged
in the same end of the boat as the cage, said switches being in
circuit with wires 182 which pass down into the boat through one of
the hollow arms 174. The switch-board is also provided with two switches 183,
which are connected by wires 184 also passing down through said arm, with the
motor 112 which actuates the steering or athwartship propeller 105, and by
turning one or the other of said switches said propeller may be operated to turn
the boat in either direction desired to properly train the torpedo tubes on an
enemy. The cage 166 is provided at its bottom with a door 185 which is adapted
to register with the door in the bottom of the well, and the construction and
arrangement of said doors is precisely the same as the doors 154 and 155 in
the escape buoy before described and therefore need not be shown and described
in detail. Arranged on the exterior of the cage is a drum 186, about which is

page_text: wound a cable 187 attached to the bottom of the well. The shaft of the drum
projects through a stuffing box in the side of the cage and on its inner end is
fixed a crank 188 by means of which the drum may be rotated from the interior
of the cage and the latter be thus hauled down into its well.
The operation of the cages will be readily understood from the following
particulars: The pilots, or gunners, may enter the cages either while the
boat is afloat, or submerged, and the doors be then closed in the same manner
as that described with reference to the escape buoy. If the boat be only partially
submerged, that is to say, so that the top of the conning tower is approximately
awash, as shown in Fig. 2, the cages will be afloat with their hoods 167 only
projecting above the surface of the water and the lower part of the cages in their
wells; or the boat may be entirely submerged for a short distance-in practice
about fifteen feet--as shown in Fig. 3, when the cables 187 will unwind and
permit the cages to float upon the surface. The buoyancy of the cages, if the boat
be ballasted only slightly more than is sufficient to sink her, will prevent the boat
from sinking to a greater depth than the length of the arms 174 will permit,
or this depth may be regulated by means of the cables 187 and drums 186. The
occupants of the cages can freely take observations in every direction, and can
control the actions of the boat at will. An air and water lock, and a divers
chamber 189 are arranged in the compartment b, and a door 190 (see Fig. 9)
is arranged in the bottom of the diver's chamber. A diver equipped with the
proper diving armor may pass from the interior of the boat to the exterior, by
entering the air and water lock and closing the door 191 behind him, and then
pass into the diver's chamber and close the door 192 behind him, when, by
opening the door 190, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 9, he may pass out of
the boat. In a similar manner he may return. No detailed description or illus-
tration of the lock and diver's chamber, however, is necessary, as the same forms
no part of the present invention.
A switch board 180 is arranged in the conning tower, and is provided with
switches controlling the steering propellers, the torpedo firing mechanism and
the various other electrically controlled mechanisms.
The operation of my improved boat may be briefly reviewed as follows:
In Fig. 1, the vessel is shown rigged for surface navigation, the masts being
stepped in place and the guard rail in position. In this trim the superstructure
affords ample deck room and a high freeboard and also materially adds to the
buoyancy of the vessel. Should it be desired to submerge the vessel, the masts
are unshipped, and the guard rail lowered by dropping the stanchions 9 into
their tubes 10. A predetermined quantity of water is then admitted into the
ballast tanks 47 in the bottom of the boat. The air valve 45 and inlet valves 44
are next opened, allowing water to flow into the space between the top of the
vessel 1 and the deck of the superstructure, which still further reduces the
buoyancy of the vessel. The pilots having previously taken up their positions
in the observation cages 166, if a sufficient quantity of water has been admitted
to the water ballast tanks, the vessel will assume the position shown in Figure 2,
in which position only the turret and the hoods of the observation cages will
be exposed above the surface of the water. When the vessel is submerged in
this manner, the quick fire gun may be put into action to ward off the attack
of small boats. Should it be still further desired to submerge the vessel, an
additional quantity of water may be admitted to the water ballast tanks sufficient
to overcome the buoyancy of the turret, and the occupants of the observation
cages permit the cables 187 to unwind, when the boat will sink to the position
shown in Fig. 3, and be prevented from sinking further, without admitting
further water ballast, by the buoyancy of the observation cages. In both the
positions above referred to, the occupants of the observation cages have full
control of the boat, as they are in telephonic communication with the conning
tower and can control the athwartship propeller to train the vessel to starboard
or port, and discharge the torpedoes when the target is in alignment.

page_text: If it be desired to disappear entirely from the surface, an additional quantity
of water is admitted to the ballast tanks sufficient to overcome the buoyancy
of the observation cages which are drawn down into their wells, and their
occupants then pass to the interior of the boat in the manner heretofore described.
The depth regulating mechanism shown in Fig. 13 is then set for the depth
desired, thus placing the vanes 86 and 87 in the position shown in Fig. 3, and
the vessel then propelled ahead. The said vanes cause the boat to sink to the
depth at which the mechanism may be set for, and in connection with the
levelling vanes 75 and 76 and their automatic controlling mechanism and the
vertical propellers and their regulating device, operate to maintain the desired
depth. Ur the vessel may be still further ballasted and permitted to settle on
the bottom, when the arms 119 are dropped below the keel until the wheels 120
rest on the bottom and render the vessel again buoyant as before described. If
the bottom be too soft for the wheels to properly travel over, the arms are allowed
to drop only sufficiently to cause their bent portions to project below the keel,
when they will then act as runners in the manner hereinbefore described. When
in this position, communication may be had with the surface of the water by
means of the escape buoy, as shown in Fig. 4 and described above.
I do not wish to be understood as confining myself to the exact details of
construction herein shown and described, as many modifications can be devised
without departing from the spirit of my invention. I also wish it to be under-
stood that while I have shown and described the invention as applied to a torpedo
boat, I do not limit my invention thereto, as it will be manifest that the invention
is equally well adapted for vessels designed for submarine work of all kinds,
for scientific research and investigations, for carrying freight, or for pleasure,
the necessary modifications or arrangement of space and the like readily suggest-
ing themselves to those skilled in the art.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
1. The combination with a submarine vessel, of a closed superstructure fixed
upon said vessel air and water tight, means for admitting water to the interior
of said superstructure, and means for ejecting the water therefrom, substantially
as described.
2. The combination with a submarine vessel, of a closed superstructure fixed
upon said vessel air and water tight, means for simultaneously admitting water
to the interior of said superstructure and permitting the escape of air therefrom,
and means for ejecting the water, substantially as described.
3. The combination with a submarine vessel carrying a compressed air reser-
voir, of a closed superstructure fixed upon said vessel air and water tight, an air
escape valve arranged in the deck of said superstructure, water inlet valves for
admitting water to the interior of the superstructure, and an outwardly opening
check-valve for permitting the escape of the water from the superstructure when
compressed air is admitted to the interior thereof from the compressed air reservoir,
substantially as described.
4. The combination with a submarine vessel, of a closed superstructure fixed
upon said vessel air and water tight, and having an observation room arranged
in the bow thereof, a hatch for establishing communication between said observa-
tion room and the interior of the submarine vessel, and means for admitting
water to and expelling it from the interior of the superstructure, substantially
as described.
5. The combination with a submarine vessel, of a closed superstructure fixed
upon said vessel air and water tight, means for admitting water to and expelling
it from the interior of said superstructure, and a collapsible guard rail arranged
around the deck of said superstructure and comprising a plurality of stanchions
movably fitted in tubes depending from said deck and closed at their lower ends,

page_text: a cable connected to the upper ends of the stanchions, and keys adapted to pass
through said stanchions to hold them in their raised positions, substantially
as described.
6. The combination with a submarine vessel, of a closed superstructure fixed
upon said vessel air and water tight and having a flat deck, a conning tower fixed
on the said vessel and communicating with the interior thereof, said conning
tower projecting through and above said superstructure, and an air and water
lock communicating with the interior of the conning tower and with the deck
of the superstructure to permit ingress and egress to and from the conning tower
when submerged, substantially as described.
7. The combination with a submarine vessel, of a closed superstructure fixed
upon said vessel air and water tight, torpedo tubes arranged in the fore and
after part of said superstructure and communicating at their breech ends with
the interior of the said vessel, and gate valves for closing the outer ends of said
torpedo tubes, substantially as described.
8. The combination with a submarine vessel, of a buoy, means for passing
back and forth from the interior of the vesel to the buoy when the vessel is sub-
merged, a door for closing said buoy water-tight, a drum, a hose wound about
the drum and communicating with the interior of the vessel at one end and
connected at its other end to the buoy, and means for rotating the drum to
raise and lower the buoy, substantially as described.
9. The combination with a submarine vessel, of a buoy, means for passing
back and forth from the interior of the vessel to the buoy when the vessel is
submerged, a door for closing said buoy water tight, a hollow drum, a hose wound
about the drum and communicating with the interior thereof and connected
at its other end to the buoy, and a hollow crank-shaft projecting into the interior
of the vessel for rotating the drum to raise and lower the buoy, substantially
as described.
10. The combination with a submarine vessel, of a buoy having a hood arranged
on its upper end and provided with bull's-eyes, means for passing back and forth
from the interior of the vessel to the buoy when the vessel is submerged, a door
for closing the buoy water tight, a hose leading from the buoy to the interior of
the vessel, and means for winding up and unwinding said hose to raise and lower
the buoy, substantially as described.
11. The combination with a submarine vessel, of an observation buoy having
a hood hinged to its upper end and provided with bull's-eyes, a latch for locking
said hood water tight, means for passing back and forth from the interior of
the vessel to the buoy when the vessel is submerged, a door for closing the buoy
watertight, a hose leading from the buoy to the interior of the vessel, and means
for winding up and unwinding said hose to raise and lower the buoy, substantially
as described.
12. The combination with a submarine vessel, of a buoy, means for passing
back and forth from the interior of the vessel to the buoy when the vessel is
submerged, a door for closing said buoy watertight, an air pipe projecting
through the bottom of the buoy and extending to near the top thereof, a hollow
drum, a hose wound about the drum and communicating with the interior thereof
and connected at its other end to the lower end of said air pipe, and a hollow
crank-shaft projecting into the interior of the vessel for rotating the drum to
raise and lower the buoy, substantially as described.
13. The combination with a submarine vessel having a well in its deck, of a
buoy housed in said well, means for passing back and forth from the interior
of the vessel to the buoy when the vessel is submerged, a door for closing said
buoy water tight, a hollow drum journalled in the bottom of said well and
provided with a hollow crank-shaft projecting into the interior of the vessel,
and a hose connected at one end to the buoy and at its other end wound about
and communicating with the interior of the drum, substantially as described.
14. The combination with a submarine vessel having a well in its deck, of a

page_text: buoy housed in said well, means for passing back and forth from the interior
of the vessel to the buoy when the vessel is submerged, a door for closing said
buoy water tight, a hollow drum journalled in the bottom of said well and
provided with a hollow crank-shaft projecting into the interior of the vessel, a
hose connected at one end to the buoy and at its other end wound about and
communicating with the interior of the drum, and means for detachably fastening
the buoy in the well, substantially as described.
15. The combination with a submarine vessel having a well in its deck, of
a buoy housed in said well, a door arranged in one side of said buoy, a correspond-
ing door arranged in the side of the well, means for effecting a water-tight seal
around said doors, means for locking the buoy in the well, a hose communicating
at one end with the interior of the buoy and at its other end with the interior
of the vessel, and means for winding up said hose to draw the buoy into the
well. substantially as described.
16. The combination with a submarine vessel having a well in its deck, of a
buoy housed in said well, a door arranged in one side of said buoy, a corresponding
door arranged in the side of the well, a frame attached to the well casing and
surrounding the door and provided with a rubber packing, a corresponding frame
attached to the side of the buoy and surrounding the door in said buoy, bolts
projecting through the well casing and engaging the frame on the buoy, said
bolts operating to draw said frames together water tight, and a hose communi-
cating at one end with the interior of the buoy and at its other end with the
interior of said vessel, substantially as described.
17. The combination with a submarine vessel having a well in its deck, of
a buoy housed in said well, a door arranged in one side of said buoy, a correspond-
ing door arranged in the side of the well, a frame attached to the well casing
and surrounding the door and provided with a rubber packing, a corresponding
frame attached to the side of the buoy and surrounding the door in said buoy,
bolts projecting through the well casing and engaging the frame on the buoy,
said bolts operating to draw said frame together water tight, a hose communi-
cating at one end with the interior of the buoy and at its other end with the
interior of the vessel, a circular rack surrounding and attached to the buoy, and
a crank-shaft projecting through the well casing and provided with a pinion
adapted to engage said rack to rotate the buoy and cause the said frames to
register, substantially as described.
18. The combination with a submarine boat, of a buoyant cage, and an arm
attached to the cage and pivotally connected to the vessel, substantially as described.
19. The combination with a submarine vessel, of a buoyant observation cage,
and two hollow arms pivotally connected at their opposite ends to and communi-
cating with the interior of said cage and vessel, substantially as described.
20. The combination with a submarine vessel, of a buoyant observation cage,
two hollow arms pivotally connected at their opposite ends to and communi-
cating with the interiors of said cage and vessel, a cable leading from said cage
to said vessel, and means for winding up said cable to lower the cage, substantially
as described.
21. The combination with a submarine vessel, of a buoyant observation cage,
two hollow arms pivotally connected at their opposite ends to and communicating
with the interiors of said cage and vessel, a drum journalled on the exterior of
the cage and provided with a crank-shaft projecting through the side of the cage
into the interior thereof, and a cable wound at one end about said drum and at
its other end attached to said vessel, substantially as described.
22. The combination with a submarine vessel, of a buoyant observation cage.
two hollow arms pivotally connected at their opposite ends to and communicating
with the interiors of said cage and vessel, means for raising and lowering said
cage, and a hood projecting from the upper end of the cage and provided with
bull's-eves, substantially as described.
23. The combination with a submarine vessel, of a buoyant observation cage,

page_text: two hollow arms pivotally connected at their opposite ends to and communicating
with the interiors of said cage and vessel, means for raising and lowering said
cage, a hood projecting from the upper end of the cage and provided with bull's-
eyes, an air valve in the top of said hood arranged to be closed by the pressure
of the water when submerged, and a spring operating to open said valve when
the buoy is afloat to admit air to the latter, substantially as described.
24. The combination with a submarine vessel, of a buoyant observation cage,
two hollow arms pivotally connected at their opposite ends to and communicating
with the interiors of said cage and vessel, means for raising and lowering said
cage, a hood projecting from the upper end of the cage and provided at its top
with a cylindrical recess having a perforated bottom, a disc valve arranged in
said recess and adapted to be closed by the pressure of the water when the cage
is submerged, and a spring arranged beneath said valve and operating to raise
the latter to admit air when the cage is afloat, substantially as described.
25. The combination with a submarine vessel having a well in its deck, of a
buoyant observation cage housed in said well, two hollow arms pivotally connected
at their opposite ends to, and communicating with the interiors of said cage and
vessel, and means for drawing said cage into said well, substantially as described.
26. The combination with a submarine vessel having a well in its deck, of a
buoyant observation cage housed in said well, two hollow arms pivotally con-
nected at their opposite ends to, and communicating with the interiors of said
cage and vessel, means for drawing said cage into the well, and means for passing
back and forth from the vessel to the cage when the latter is housed, substantially
as described.
27. The combination with a submarine vessel, of a buoyant observation cage,
two hollow arms pivotally connected at their opposite ends to, and communicating
with the interiors of said cage and vessel, electrical signalling and controlling
devices arranged in said cage, and conductors leading from said devices through
the hollow arms to the interior of the vessel, substantially as described.
28. The combination with a submarine vessel, having two wells respectively
arranged in the forward and after part of the deck, of observation cages housed
in said wells, hollow arms pivotally connected at their opposite ends to and
communicating with the interiors of said vessel and cages, and means for drawing
said cages into said wells, substantially as described.
29. The combination with a submarine vessel, of rigidly fixed horizontally
projecting planes arranged upon the opposite sides of the vessel and extending
fore and aft, said planes being provided with recesses, as shown, and flat pivoted
vanes arranged in said recesses and when turned horizontally operating to form
continuations of said planes, substantially as described.
30. The combination with a submarine vessel, of two pivoted vanes arranged
on each side of said vessel and near the opposite ends of the latter, and means for
connecting said vanes so as to cause them to simultaneously turn in opposite
directions, substantially as described.
31. The combination with a submarine vessel, of two shafts projecting trans-
versely through said vessel, vanes fixed on the outer ends of said shafts, levers
fixed between their ends on said shafts, and crossed cables attached to the opposite
ends of said levers, whereby the said vanes are simultaneously turned in opposite
directions, substantially as described.
32. The combination with a submarine vessel, of two shafts projecting trans-
versely through said vessel, vanes fixed on the outer ends of said shafts, means
for connecting said shafts so as to cause the vanes to simultaneously turn in
opposite directions, and mechanism actuated by the variation in the pressure of
the water at the bow and stern for operating said vanes, substantially as
described.
33. The combination with a submarine vessel, of two shafts projecting trans-
versely through said vessel, vanes fixed on the outer ends of said shafts, means for
connecting said shafts so as to cause the vanes to simultaneously turn in opposite

page_text: directions, hollow casings arranged in proximity to each of said shafts and
connected at their lower ends with the water surrounding the vessel, flexible
diaphragms arranged in said casings, stems actuated by said diaphragms, and
arms fixed on said shafts and connected to said stems, whereby the depression
of the bow or stern of the vessel causes a variation in the pressure of the water
on said diaphragms and operates the vanes to place the vessel on an even keel,
substantially as described.
34. The combination with a submarine vessel, of two shafts projecting trans-
versely through said vessel, vanes fixed on the outer ends of said shafts, cranks
fixed on said shafts in the interior of said vessel, a cylinder, a piston arranged
in said cylinder, piston rods connected at their adjacent ends to said piston and
at their opposite ends to said cranks, a spring arranged in one end of the cylinder
for forcing the piston in one direction, and means for connecting the other end
of said cylinder with the water surrounding the vessel, substantially as described.
35. The combination with a submarine vessel, of two shafts projecting trans-
versely through said vessel, vanes fixed on the outer ends of said shafts, cranks
fixed on said shafts on the interior of said vessel, a cylinder, a piston arranged
in said cylinder, piston rods connected at their adjacent ends to said piston and
at their opposite ends to said cranks, a spring arranged in one end of the cylinder
for forcing the piston in one direction, means for connecting the other end of
the cylinder with the water surrounding the vessel, and means for adjusting
the tension of said spring, substantially as described.
36. The combination with a submarine vessel, of two shafts projecting trans-
versely through said vessel, vanes fixed on the outer ends of said shafts, cranks
fixed on said shafts on the interior of said vessel, a cylinder, a piston arranged
in said cylinder, piston rods connected at their adjacent ends to said piston and
at their opposite ends to said cranks, a spring arranged in one end of the cylinder
for forcing the piston in one direction, means for connecting the other end of
the cylinder with the water surrounding the vessel, means for adjusting the
tension of the spring, and an indicator for indicating the tension to which the
spring may be adjusted, substantially as described.
37. The combination with a submarine vessel, of two vertical propellers
respectively arranged near the bow and stern of the vessel, means for rotating
said propellers simultaneously in opposite directions, and a circuit closing and
reversing device actuated by the fore and aft careening of the vessel for throwing
said means into operation to put the vessel on a level keel, substantially as
described.
38. The combination with a submarine vessel, of two vertical propellers respec-
tively arranged near the bow and stern of the vessel, electric motors for rotating
said propellers simultaneously in opposite directions, a battery for operating
said motors, a circuit closing and reversing device actuated by the fore and aft
careening of the vessel for throwing said motors into operation to put the vessel
on a level keel, and means for adjusting said circuit closing and reversing device
to make it respond more or less quickly to the movements of the vessel, sub-
stantially as described.
39. The combination with a submarine vessel, of two vertical propellers respec-
tively arranged near the bow and stern of the vessel, electric motors for rotating
said propellers simultaneously in opposite directions, a battery for operating
said motors, two normally open and reversely connected circuits leading to the
motors, and a circuit closer controlling said circuits and comprising a base
having four contacts arranged thereon and forming the terminals of said circuits,
a metallic pendulum pivoted intermediate its ends to said base, and a wire con-
nected at one end to said pendulum and at its other end to the said battery,
whereby when the vessel is on a level keel the pendulum hangs free from
engagement with all of said contacts and the motors are out of circuit, but
when the vessel sinks by the bow or stern the pendulum swings into engagement

page_text: •
with two of the contacts and throws said motors into circuit to place the vessel
on a level keel, substantially as described.
40. The combination with a submarine vessel, of two vertical propellers respec-
tively arranged near the bow and stern of the vessel, electric motors for rotating
said propellers simultaneously in opposite directions, a battery for operating said
motors, two normally open and reversely connected circuits leading to the motors,
and a circuit closing device for controlling the motors and comprising a disc of
insulating material having an annular groove formed therein, four binding posts
adjustably arranged in said groove and connected to the terminals of the motor
circuits, a metallic pendulum pivoted intermediate its ends to said disc and a
wire connected at one end to the pendulum and at its other end to the battery,
the arrangement being such that when the vessel is on a level keel the pendulum
hangs free from engagement with all of the binding posts, but when the vessel
sinks by the bow or stern said pendulum swings into engagement with two of
the contacts and throws the motors into circuit to restore the vessel to a level
keel, substantially as described.
41. The combination with a submarine vessel, of a weight provided with a
wheel adapted to run upon the bottom or water-bed when the vessel is submerged,
and means for raising and lowering said weight, substantially as described.
42. The combination with a submarine boat, of a weight provided with a wheel
to run upon the bottom or water-bed, and mechanism for raising and lowering
the weight at pleasure, the boat being adapted to lift and carry the weight when
required, substantially as described.
43. The combination with a buoyant submarine boat, of a weight provided with
a wheel to run upon the bottom or water-bed, the boat being provided with
mechanism for raising and lowering the weight and for holding it at an adjusted
distance from the bottom of the boat, substantially as described.
44. The combination with a buoyant submarine boat, of a weight movably
attached to the boat and provided with a wheel to support the weight movably
upon the bottom or water-bed, substantially as described.
45. The combination with a buoyant submarine boat, of a weight provided
with a wheel to run upon the bottom or water-bed, means for ballasting the boat
to cause it to remain suspended above the bottom when submerged and the said
weight is resting on the bottom or water-bed, and means for raising and lowering
the weight, whereby the boat may be moved at a uniform distance above the bottom
or water-bed with the wheeled weight resting thereon, substantially as described.
46. The combination with a submarine vessel, of weights pivotally connected
at their forward ends to the underside of the vessel and having wheels journalled
in their after ends, cylinders arranged in said vessel, pistons fitted in the cylinders,
piston rods pivotally connected at their opposite ends to the pistons and said
weights respectively, and means for admitting water to the upper ends of said
evlinders to project said weights downward to force the wheels into contact with
the water-bed or bottom, substantially as described.
47. The combination with a submarine boat, of a weight arranged beneath the
normal centre of buoyancy of the boat, hoisting mechanism carried by the boat
for raising and lowering the weight, and cables attached at their lower ends
to the forward and after ends of said weight and at their upper ends to said
hoisting mechanism, substantially as described.
48. The combination with a submarine boat, of a weight arranged fore and
aft beneath the normal centre of buoyancy of the boat, and flexible connections
for suspending said weight to the boat, substantially as described.
49. The combination with a buoyant submarine boat, of a movable or travelling
weight attached to the boat and provided with a wheel to support the weight
movably upon the ocean bottom, substantially as herein set forth.
50. The combination with a buoyant submarine boat, of a movable or travelling
weight attached to the boat and provided with a castor-wheel to support the
weight movably upon the ocean bottom, substantially as herein set forth.

page_text: 51. My improved combined surface and submarine boat or vessel having its
parts constructed arranged and combined to operate substantially as hereinbefor
described with reference to the annexed drawings.
Dated this 26th day of May 1899.
ERNEST DE PASS,
Chartered Patent Agent,
78, Fleet Street, London, and 5A, Market Street, Nottingham,
Agent for the Applicant.