IMPROVEMENTS IN SUBMARINE VESSELS
Year: 1885

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, ROMAN MORHARD, of the City of Brooklyn, State of New York, United'
States of America, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SUBMARINE VESSELS" 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 my invention is the construction of a vessel which can be made to
go below the water level or to rise upwards again while in motion, without taking
in or discharging ballast.
The invention consists in the arrangement of laterally projecting plates on the
sides of the vessel attached to shafts connected together by a rod in the interior of
the vessel to operate all these side plates at the same time. By the relative
position of these plates to the line of the vessel, the latter, while being propelled,
will at the same time be made to go downwards or upwards as may be desired.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1. represents a side elevation of the vessel.
Fig. 2. is a top view of the same, and,
Fig. 3. is a cross section.
A, is the vessel preferably made cigar shaped with the bottom flat. In the shell
of the vessel, a number of bulls-eyes B are arranged, to give light to the interior,
as well as to be able to make observations when under water, for which purpose I
likewise place a number of bulls-eyes in the bottom of the same.
A suitable man-
hole C is arranged for entrance and exit.
The vessel is provided with a propeller D operated by suitable power, arranged
in the interior of the vessel, not shown in the drawing, as well as with the necessary
steering apparatus.
At the under side of the vessel a number of wheels or rollers E, are attached to
enable the vessel when at the bottom of the river to roll upon the surface.
Below the natural water line of the vessel shafts n passing through the sides of
the vessel are arranged, to the ends of which laterally projecting plates J are
attached. These plates may be made of any desired width, and are of such length
that when the same are in a horizontal position, they will nearly meet each other
and form a straight surface.
The shafts n are made with suitable cranks m (see fig. 3) and are connected
together by a rod w, capable of being operated simultaneously in either direction.

page_text: Air pipes P, P', are attached to the upper part of the vessel for the admission and
expulsion of air into and from the interior, while the vessel is under the water.
These pipes are preferably made flexible and provided on their ends with floats F, F¹,
to keep the mouths of said pipes above the water.
When the plates J are in a horizontal position they will offer little obstruction to
the forward motion of the vessel. Whenever it is desired to go below the water
level these plates are moved so that their forward parts will incline downwards, as
shown in dotted lines in fig. 1., when the action of the water against these inclined
plates will cause the vessel to move downwards below the water line.
When the vessel has arrived at the bottom of the river, the wheels E will
facilitate the movement of the vessel upon the surface of the bottom.
Changing the direction of the plates J, so that their forward ends will point
upwards, or even bringing these plates into a horizontal position, will cause the
vessel to rise again to the surface of the water.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to bo performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First. A submarine vessel, provided with propelling power, in combination with
laterally projecting plates J, on its sides in the manner and for the purpose
described.
Second. In a submarine vessel the combination of the laterally projecting plates J,
attached to the ends of shafts n, provided with suitable cranks m, and the
connecting rod w, as and for the purpose described.
Third. In combination with a submarine vessel A, the wheels or rollers E at the
bottom, as and for the purpose substantially as set forth.