Improvements in Movable Submarine Batteries.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd June, 1891-Accepted, 8th Aug., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Movable Submarine Batteries.
I, RANALD MACDONALD, of 33 Second Place, Brooklyn, in the County of
Kings and State of New York, one of the United States of North America,
Gentleman, 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:-
The object of this invention is to provide a battery which may be floated from
place to place and in any desired locality and be for the most part submerged and
anchored fast, thereby providing an efficient means for harbor and coast defense
and for other defensive uses.
Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view representing my invention.
Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof.
Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on a larger scale taken in the line, a, a, of
Figs. 1 and 2.
Fig. 4 comprises views on a still larger scale of certain details of construction.
Fig. 5 is a side view, and
Fig. 6 is a plan view illustrating another construction, although included
within my said invention, designed for the purpose of defense float and siege
battery.
The hull or float, A., which carries the other elements of the invention is made
preferably of metal and with horizontal compartments, A. By admitting water
into these internal compartments, A', of the bull the latter may be sunk until it
reaches the bottom of the harbor or other water locality in which it is placed.
In order to retain this hull in the required position, anchors, B, are provided at
the sides thereof, being pivoted to the hull as shown at, b, and having chains, o,
extended over pulleys or wheels, b, which latter, being worked by winches or any
other suitable means, enable the anchors to be lowered into the position represented
in Fig. 3, and thrust into the bottom to hold the hull or float in place; or, on
occasion, to be raised up clear from the bottom into the position shown in dotted
outline in Fig. 3, when the battery is to be removed. There are also provided to
the sides of the hull laterally extending spars, C, pivoted to the sides of the hull
and having attached to them at their outer ends, a', stakes, C. To the spars, C,
are attached floats, D, which may be made adjustable along the spars by any
suitable means.
When the battery is anchored in place the spars are thrown
downward and outward, thrusting the points of the stakes into the bottom of the
harbor in which the float is anchored, the floats assisting to properly balance or
sustain the spars. These latter may most properly be made of metal-iron or
steel and serve as supports for the usual or any suitable net to keep off torpedo
boats, etc.
When the battery is to be moved from one place to another the spars, with their
stakes, are swung upward into the vertical position represented in Fig. 3.
Upon the hull or float, A, is provided a turret, T, armored in any suitable way
and preferably hemispherical at the top. When the battery is submerged to the
requisite degree and resting upon the bottom of the harbor or other water locality,
it is this top or upper part of the turret, T, that projects above the surface of the
water as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3. It is of course to be understood that the
object of submerging the hull is to protect the same by the surrounding or
superincumbent water, leaving only a comparatively small area presented by those
portions of the turret above the water exposed to the enemy's fire.
It is also to
be understood that any desired number of towers or turrets may be placed upon

page_text: the float or hull, A. That portion of the turret which is exposed above the surface
of the water when the battery is submerged, should be made of cast steel or any
other suitable material, or armored in any appropriate way. It is provided with
port holes, as for examples through which the guns may be projected for firing
and adjusted to proper loading position, as indicated in Fig. 3. The guns may be
worked in any suitable or appropriate way by means of hydraulic accumulators or
other mechanism of any suitable kind.
The spars, C, have their pivotal connection with the hull provided by the
attachment of their inner ends to shafts, D', arranged around the longitudinal side
of the hull or float, A, as more clearly represented in Fig. 2; so that by giving
an axial movement by any suitable means or by due connection with any suitable
motive power to said shafts, D', the spars may be drawn upward or brought down-
ward as required. As represented in the drawing the shafts, D', are provided
with crank arms, d, which are connected by suitable pitmans, e, with the plungers, f,
of the hydraulic engines, F. In like manner the anchors. B, are attached to
similar longitudinal shafts, G, which are provided with crank-arms, f', connected
with the pitmans, g³, of the plungers, h, of the hydraulic engines, J, so that the
requisite axial movement may be given to said shafts in order to move upward or
downward the anchors, B, as occasion may require. It is of course to be under-
stood that the shafts, D, G, work in suitable bearings or journals, i, and, j, provided
at the proper places along the sides of the float or hill. In order to provide a
defense against the approach of hostile vessels, submarine torpedes, and the like,
above the hull when submerged, the latter is provided with a system of blades, K,
capable of being laid flat upon those portions of the deck or upper surface of the
float or hull not occupied by the turret. These blades, K, are provided upon
shafts, J, the ends of which work in suitable journals or bearings provided to the
deck of the hull or float. These blades have a substantially angular form as
represented in the central diagram of Fig. 4; the sloping edge being made sharp, as
indicated in the left hand diagram of said figure; while the back is made broad, as
represented in the right hand diagram of said Fig. 4, for the purpose of strengthening
the blade. Each shaft, J', is provided with an arm, K. It will be noticed that
the blades are placed in parallel longitudinal series. The crank arms of each
series are attached to a long shaft, L, which said shaft is connected at its end
adjacent to the turret to a lever, N, actuated by a suitable hydraulic motor, and
which, at its longitudinal movement outward, raises the blades to a vertical
position as represented in Fig. 1; while its reverse or inward movement brings the
same down flat upon the deck of the hull, as indicated in the plan view, Fig. 2.
Upon the under side of the hull or float are longitudinal keels, R, which operated
as vertical flanges when the battery is submerged and which sink into the silt or
bottom of the harbor to assist the stability of the hull when submerged.
In the construction represented in Figs. 5 and 6, S, is the hull or float, which is
constructed with a downwardly projecting flange, Y, at its lower circumference as
indicated in the dotted outline in Fig. 5. This flange, when the float is submerged,
sinks into the silt or bottom of the harbor or other locality where it is located and
thereby anchors the float in place. Placed upon this float is a tower or turret
which may be of circular, hemispherical, semi-spheriodal or other shape and
provided with guns of appropriate kind and character and operated by any suitable
means.
Between the turret and the circumference of the float is a circular space, V,
around which is a raised rampart, W. This space may be utilized for the carriage
and employment of Gatling guns or for the purpose of musketry, etc., when
required.
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Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. The combination with
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page_text: turrets, T, constructed for the working and firing of guns, substantially as and for
the purpose herein set forth.
2nd. The combination with a submergeable hull or float, A, having one or more
turrets, T, constructed for the working and firing of guns, of the longitudinal
keels, R, arranged upon the bottom of the hull, substantially as and for the
purpose herein set forth.
3rd. The combination with a submergeable hull or float, A, having one or more
turrets, T, constructed for the working and firing of guns, and anchors, B, having
pivotal connection with said hull or Hoat for holding the same in position when
submerged, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
4th. The combination with a submergeable hull or float, A, having one or more
turrets, T, constructed for the working and firing of guns, and spars, C, having
pivotal connection with said hull or float, and stakes, C', substantially as and for
the purpose herein set forth.
5th. The combination with a submergeable hull or float, A, having one or more
turrets, T, constructed for the working and firing of guns, anchors, B, and spars, C,
having stakes, C, said anchors and spars having pivotal connection with said hull
or float, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
6th. The combination with a submergeable hull or float, A, having one or more
turrets, T, constructed for the working and firing of guns, of a series of blades, K,
arranged upon the deck of the hull or float, substantially as and for the purpose
herein set forth.
7th. The combination with a submergeable hull or float, A, having one or more
turrets, T, constructed for the working and firing of guns, one or more series of
blades, K, having pivotal connection with said hull or float and provided with
crank arms, K, and a rod or rods arranged to simultaneously actuate the several
blades of the series, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
8th. The combination with a submergable hull or float, A, having one or more
turrets, T, constructed for the working and firing of guns, anchors, B, provided to
a longitudinal rod or rods by the axial movement of which the anchors may be
raised or lowered, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
9th. The combination with a submergeable hull or float, A, having one or more
turrets, T, constructed for the working and firing of guns, spars, C, provided to a
rod or rods by the axial movement of which the spars and their adjuncts may be
raised or lowered, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
10th. The combination of the tower or turret, T, with the float having the
flange, Y, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
11th. The combination of the tower or turret, T, with the float having the
flange, Y, the annular space, V, and the circumferential rampart, W, substantially
as and for the purpose herein set forth.
Dated this 2nd day of L 1901
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.