Device for Distributing Oil upon the Surface of the Sea.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 21st July, 1899-Accepted, 26th Aug., 1899
[Communicated from abroad by LEVIN LAKE, of Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A.,
Engineer.]
Device for Distributing Oil upon the Surface of the Sea.
I, THEODORE MCKENNA, of 17 & 18, Basinghall Street, in the City of London,
Solicitor and Patent Agent, 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:-
My invention relates to a device for distributing oil upon the surface of the
gea. It frequently happens in storms at sea that the breaking of the waves over
the ship imperils the safety of the ship, but this danger can be avoided, if the
breaking of the wave can be prevented.
It has long been known that oil distributed upon the surface of the sea will
prevent the breaking of waves, but it has always been a matter of great difficulty
to get the oil distributed upon the surface of the waves at exactly the right
point, and at the right moment to prevent the breaking.
This I have accomplished by the construction of a cartridge to be fired from a
gun, which can be thrown with accuracy to the desired point, and which will
open and deliver its charge of oil upon the surface of the sea at the instant at
which it strikes the surface, but will retain the oil during its flight, and not allow
any of it to escape.
It is necessary also to guide the device with accuracy so as to ensure the accu-
rate location of the oil at the point desired. My invention therefore consist in
a new and improved combination by which these ends are accomplished with
greater case and certainty.
In the drawings, Figure 1, is a sketch showing the general way in which my
device is put into operation at sea.
Figure 2, is a vertical section of my device having parallel circumferential
grooves on the rear end plug.
Figure 3, is a similar vertical section of my device having a spiral groove on
the periphery of the plug.
Referring to, the drawings. Figures 2 & 3 are longitudinal sections of my
improved device in which 1 represents an open ended cylinder. 2 is a bushing
secured to the interior of the cylinder at its forward end, and extending for a
short distance of its length. 8 is a collar made preferably of lend secured upon
the exterior of the cylinder at its forward end. 4 is a piston with a suitable
packing and fitting tightly into the interior of the bushing, 5 is a piston rod.
6 is a rear piston head by which the rear end of the cylinder is closed.
piston 4 and the piston head 6, are connected together by means of the piston
rod 5.
The
The piston head 6 is made preferably of wood and is elongated, and on its rear
end it is provided with a series of circumferential grooves 7.
We have found by experience that the best results with our device can be

page_text: accomplished by so constructing it as to cause the piston 4 to be driven entirely
out of the cylinder by the force of its impact upon the water. In doing this it
will of course carry with it the cylinder head 6, and the oil which is contained
in the cylinder between the piston 4 and the cylinder head 6. In order to accom-
plish this result, we have provided the cylinder at its front end with a bushing 2,
which is of short length, which forms a bearing for the edge of the piston so that
it may be fitted tightly into the end of the cylinder.
It will be seen that when the piston 4 strikes the water it will be driven by
the force of its impact inward past the bushing 2, over-coming the friction of
the bushing upon the piston.
The force or impact of the piston upon the water will however soon be neutral-
ized, and if the friction continued throughout the whole length of the cylinder,
the piston would be likely to stick, and not entirely leave the cylinder, there-
fore, the cylinder is provided with a short bushing smaller in diameter than the
interior of the cylinder, so that when the piston is past the bushing it may travel
further with the oil out of the cylinder without resistance.
The object which I have in view, is, that the cylinder when it strikes the sur-
face of the water, shall penetrate the water and sink, while the piston will stop
and remain at least stationary for a period long enough for the cylinder to leave
it and thus release the oil.
I have found that by increasing the weight of the forward end of the cylinder
and decreasing the weight of the piston, I can increase the tendency of the cylin-
der and piston to separate when the piston is stopped by contact with the water,
that is to say, by increasing the momentum of the cylinder. I cause it more
readily to continue its motion as 1 desire, while the piston which is light and
meets with the direct resistance of the water will stop; then too, for the most
effective service it is desirable that the piston should strike the water, so that
the plane of the piston will be as nearly as possible parallel with the surface of
the water.
It is a well known fact that the resistance of water decreases very rapidly as
the angle at which it is struck decreases, that is to say, if the maximum resist-
ance be attained at an angle of 90 degrees a variation of a very few degrees from
the vertical will reduce the resistance of the water to a disproportionate extent.
In other words, any tendency to cut the water reduces its resistance. In order
to accomplish the best effect therefore, it is desirable that the device should fall
upon the water in a direction as nearly vertical as possible, and therefore the
front end is made very heavy with the result that when the cartridge is fired
from a gun it will ascend until the driving force is expended, and will then
turn head downward and fall vertically.
The cylinder head 6, by which the rear end of the cylinder is closed may be
provided with any form of steering device, but we have found that a series of
circumferential grooves such as are used upon some kinds of bullets will serve
the purpose of steering the cartridge very well. These grooves may be spiral
or parallel.
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:-
The herein described shell for carrying oil to be distributed upon the surface
of the sea, consisting of a cylinder open at both ends, which are closed by con-
nected movable sections adapted to be unseated by the force of impact of one of
the sections with the water when it strikes its surface; the forward end of said
cylinder being provided with a heavy weight substantially as described.
2. The herein described shell for distributing oil upon the surface of the sea
which consists, of a cylinder open at both ends, said cylinder being provided at
its forward end, for a portion of its length with an interior bushing; the open
ends of the cylinder being closed by connected movable sections adapted to be

page_text: unseated by the impact of the forward section with the surface of the water,
substantially as described.
3. The herein described shell for distributing oil upon the surface of the sea
which consists, of the combination of a cylinder open at both ends provided upon
its interior at one end with a bushing for a portion of its length, the interior
diameter of which is less than that of the cylinder, and having upon the same
end a heavy weight; the two ends of the cylinder being closed by movable sec-
tions which are connected together, and which are adapted to be unseated by the
impact of the forward section with the water, substantially as described.
4. The herein described shell for the distributing of oil upon the surface of the
sea, which consists, of the combination of a cylinder open at both ends, one end of
which is provided with a heavy weight in the form of a collar secured to the end
of the cylinder, a piston in the cylinder closing its forward end, a plug closing
its rear end, the piston and the plug being connected by a piston rod, the piston
and plug being adapted to be unseated and driven partially or wholly from the
cylinder by the impact of the piston upon the water.
5. The herein described shell for distributing oil upon the sea, which consists
of, the combination of a cylinder open at both ends provided with a heavy
collar at its forward end, interiorly fitted with a piston at its forward end, and.
with a plug at its rear end, which are connected by a piston rod, the plug being
provided with a series of circumferential spiral, parallel or other grooves, the
piston and plug being adapted to be unseated by the impact of the piston with
the water, substantially as described.