Year: 1885

page_text: I CLAUDE DÉSIRÉ GOUBET, of Paris, France, Civil Engineer do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
One of the chief obstacles to the working of submarine vessels is the want of
stability; when a vessel is entirely submerged its equilibrium can be destroyed by
a slight displacement of internal weight; on account of the acquired speed the
displacements of the vessel are accentuated in the direction of rise or descent
according to the angle of inclination.
.
In my improved submarine vessel perfect equilibrium is maintained upon the
following principle:-Suppose a central casing in which terminate two equal hori-
zontal tubes whose outer ends each carry a hollow sphere, in each sphere is
immersed one end of a pipe which passes through the horizontal tube and is
connected at its other end to a double action pump in the central casing; the
pump shaft is connected with a shaft below on which are loosely mounted two
bevel wheels. In connection with these two wheels is another bevel wheel which
rotates constantly under the action of a small motor. The shaft which carries the
two first named wheels does not turn so long as neither of these wheels is
unconnected with it by means of a clutch; this clutch is controlled by a rod
carrying a ball or pendulum. Immediately an inclination is given to the parts the
pendulum puts the clutch in connection with one or other of the bevel wheels
according to the direction of the inclination so that the wheel shaft is caused to
rotate and the pump is put in action. Water will thus be drawn from one of the
spheres and discharged into the other until equilibrium is re-established; this is
done very rapidly, in short it is hardly correct to say that the equilibrium is
re-established because immediately it tends to be destroyed a weight of water
suitably displaced tends to maintain it.
In my torpedo vessel the stability is maintained in the manner just set forth;
a pendulum acts through the intermediation of a horizontal bar on a clutch in
such manner that the connection for working a double action pump in the
one direction or the other is brought into contact with a clutch actuated by the
motor. The pump effects the displacement of water from the one to the other of
two reservoirs placed respectively at the two ends of the vessel, Immediately the
D

page_text: vessel inclines water is drawn from the reservoir which is lowered and discharged
into that which is raised; the vessel immediately becomes horizontal before it can
rise or descend to a sensible extent. The vessel being practically never inclined
therefore remains without sensible variation in the desired position as regards
depth below the surface of the water.
The lower part of the vessel forms a chamber divided into compartments which
contain water in a greater or less quantity according to the "depth it is desired to
submerge the vessel. Water is drawn from these compartments by means of a
pump. The vessel is also provided underneath with a heavy block which is fixed
thereto by a vertical rod having a nut at the lower end embedded in the block;
this rod passes up into the vessel through a water tight joint and at its upper end
is held by a nut. This heavy block is a safety weight which serves as a security
to the crew, for in case the pump last named should not act which would prevent
the vessel rising to the surface it suffices to turn the upper nut of the rod; the
lower nut being embedded will not turn and will become unscrewed so that the
block will become free and fall from the vessel; the vessel will therefore rise to
the surface although filled with enough water for its entire submersion when the
block is attached.
The motor which actuates the screw propeller and the different pumps is worked
by electricity supplied by accumulators at the fore part. The motor has a screw
propeller that is movable so as to be capable of giving the vessel an oblique
direction in any sense in relation to the vessel's axis while having a regular
continuous rotary motion. The vessel can thus be guided without a rudder and
perform various evolutions. This is an important advantage for a submarine
torpedo vessel which is thus enabled to place a torpedo under the ship itself.
The driving shaft is connected to the propeller shaft in such manner that the
angle which the propeller shaft makes with the intermediate transmitting device
is the same as the angle formed by this device with the driving shaft. The ends
of the propeller shaft and the driving shaft each carry a sphere and the two
spheres are surrounded by a coupling box. The screw is held in a support jointed
to the stern of the vessel; this support is connected to the stern post by means of
hinge pieces jointed to the said support and to the stern post respectively. One
of these hinge pieces serves not only as a joint piece but also forms the means
of shifting the screw propeller. For this purpose this hinge piece is at its inner
end formed with teeth to gear with an endless screw shaft. On the fixed part of
the apparatus is a toothed sector which gears with a similar sector on the support
of the propeller. By turning the endless screw shaft above described the hinge
piece is shifted and this in its turn shifts the support of the propeller; the com-
bination of the two sectors ensures equality of the angular deviation of the hinge
piece in relation to the driving shaft and the propeller shaft. The endless screw
shaft is worked by a hand-wheel. It may be here remarked that with this
arrangement the driving shaft undergoes no longitudinal strain. The coupling box
is enclosed in a casing which keeps it out of contact with the water and the
propeller always turns in full water. The whole arrangement of propeller above
described is fixed to a support which can be rotated; thus the propeller can be
worked in all directions.
The driving shaft is divided, the two parts being connected by a coupling sleeve;
one part carries the sleeve, which is movable on a key, and also a loose bevel
wheel. A corresponding wheel is keyed on the other part of the shaft and between
the two wheels is an intermediate wheel. By moving a lever the sleeve is acted
on through the intermediation of a rod and can be placed either in a middle
position which will not cause the propeller to be rotated or against the one or the
other of the bevel wheels so as to go ahead or astern.
. The torpedo vessel may also be propelled by manual power by means of oara.
The oar in this case is composed of two distinct parts, viz: a lever handle which
terminates inside the vessel and which is connected with the shaft or loom of the

page_text: oar by means of a spindle passing through a box or cap fixed to the side of the
vessel. The inner end of the oar shaft is forked; each prong of the fork has a.
groove in which is lodged a key fixed to the spindle above mentioned. The blade
or outer end of the oar is composed of movable paddles which bear one against
another when acting on the water and separate when the oar is returned for
another stroke. Or, the vessel may be propelled by working the propeller by means
of pedals actuated by the crew.
The torpedo vessel is worked as follows:-Two men, say an officer and a seaman,
enter it through an opening at top which is then closed by means of a hinged
dome which is secured by a screw bolt and a winged nut. The edge of the dome
enters a groove in which is a rubber washer. The dome has sight holes filled with
thick glass having protecting gratings; there is an obturator for closing the sight
holes in case the glass gets broken. The torpedo is placed in the after part of the
vessel and is secured thereto by a bayonet catch whereby the torpedo can be set
free from the inside of the vessel. The torpedo is connected to an insulated wire
wound on a drum and connected with the source of electricity by means of a
commutator. The crew sit on a compressed air reservoir; air is taken therefrom
by means of a screw valve and passes into the water compartiments by a pipe so as
to become moistened; it is then conducted by a pipe which discharges it into the
dome. There are gauges to show the pressure of air in the vessel or in the
reservoir. An air pump working constantly and driven by endless chaius expels
the vitiated, air. Before causing the vessel to submerge the officer observes,
through one of the sight holes, the object to be reached, say, an enemy's ship. He
ascertains on the compass the angle of deviation of the needle, he then opens a
cock so as to admit water into some or all of the water compartments. When he
has reached the desired depth as indicated by a gauge he closes the cock and
directs the vessel, being guided by the compass, towards the enemy's ship. When
his vessel has arrived under this ship which can be seen through a sight hole in the
top of the dome he manoeuvres it into the best position and if necessary rises or
descends. When a good position has been attained the torpedo is released and
owing to its light density it rises and fixes itself under the ship by means of claws
with which it is provided. Then the torpedo vessel makes off the wire unwinds
from the drum indicating the distance apart. When the torpedo vessel has
reached a sufficient distance, say 150 yards, the electric current is transmitted and
the torpedo explodes.
I adopt by preference for the disengaging or clutch mechanism in my torpedo
vessel the automatic arrangement I will now describe. It is composed of a cone
keyed on the shaft and of a conical plate loose on the shaft; this plate may be a
pulley or toothed wheel. The cone is acted upon by a spring which bears against
a ring; the tension of the spring is regulated by shifting this ring along a threaded
boss on the shaft. The cone is formed with a groove in which are lodged the claws
of keys that terminate in a grooved sleeve. By acting by means of a forked
clutch lever on this sleeve the putting out or into gear of the cone and conical
plate can be effected; but the strain between the edges of the groove in the sleeve
and the roller on the end of the forked lever is considerable. To diminish this
strain I retain the sleeve in the out of gear position by hooks that take behind a
washer fixed on the shaft. By means of a counter lever a ring on the shaft can be
moved and when it is shifted in the one direction it lifts the hooks so that the
sleeve becomes free and the cone is put into gear with the conical plate. By this
arrangement the adhesion of the cone and conical plate can be regulated to the
desired pressure, and the friction which there would be on the studs of the clutch
lever if it offered a point of external support for the compression of the springs is
avoided.
The torpedo vessel is fitted in front with a cutter or spike which can be projected
forward 10 or 12 feet; it is worked by a lever and serves to cut torpedo wires or
The bow of the vessel can have an electric light,
nets.

page_text: The torpedo vessel is fitted at the upper part with a tube having two obturators
connected together. When the lower one is open and the upper one is closed a
signal cartridge can be introduced; by closing the lower one the upper one opens
and the cartridge rises by virtue of its lightness, and on reaching the surface of the
water it explodes thereby giving an indication to the ship with which the torpedo
vessel is connected. Colored lights may serve to indicate the depth at which the.
torpedo vessel is. There can also be projected from the torpedo vessel a small
buoy carrying a telephone so that the crew can communicate with a ship that
answers the call.

page_text: Improvements in Submarine Torpedo Vessels.
I CLAUDE DÉSIRÉ GOUBET, of Paris, France, Civil 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 :-
One of the chief obstacles to the working of submarine vessels is the want of
stability; when a vessel is entirely submerged its equilibrium can be destroyed by
a slight displacement of internal weight; on account of the acquired speed the
displacements of the vessel are accentuated in the direction of rise or descent
according to the angle of inclination.
In my improved submarine vessel perfect equilibrium is maintained upon the
following principle, which is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, Sheet 2, of the annexed
drawings Suppose a central casing a in which terminate two equal horizontal
tubes b, b¹ whose outer ends each carry a hollow sphere c, c, in each sphere is
immersed one end of a pipe d, d which passes through the horizontal tube and is
connected at its other end to a double action pumpe in the central casing; the pump
shaft is connected with a shaft 1 below on which are loosely mounted two bevel
wheels 2, 2. In connection with these two wheels is another bevel wheel which
rotates constantly under the action of a small motor (not shown). The shaft 1
which carries the wheels 2, 2¹ does not turn so long as neither of these wheels is
unconnected with it by means of a clutch f; this clutch is controlled by a rod or
frame i carrying a ball or pendulum h. Immediately an inclination is given to the
parts the pendulum puts the clutch in connection with one or other of the bevel
wheels according to the direction of the inclination so that the shaft 1 is caused
to rotate and the pumpe is put in action. Water will thus be drawn from one of
the spheres c, c¹ and discharged into the other until equilibrium is re-established;
this is done very rapidly, in short it is hardly correct to say that the equilibriumn
is reestablished, because immediately it tends to be destroyed a weight of water
suitably displaced tends to maintain it. Figure 4 shows below the spheres hooks
to which weights may be attached in order to make experiments as to the
equilibrium.
In my torpedo vessel, which is represented in Figures 1 and 2, sheet 1, Figure 1
being a longitudinal section and Figure 2 a plan partly sectional, the stability is
maintained in the manner just set forth; a pendulum A acts through the
intermediation of a horizontal bar 4 on a clutch 5 in such manner that the
connection for working a double action pump v (Figure 2) in the one direction or
the other is brought into contact with a clutch actuated by the motor. The
pump effects the displacement of water from the one to the other of two
reservoirs A¹, A' placed respectively at the two ends of the vessel. Immediately
the vessel inclines, water is drawn from the reservoir which is lowered, and
discharged into that which is raised; the vessel immediately becomes horizontal
before it can rise or descend to a sensible extent. The vessel being practically
never inclined therefore remains without sensible variation in the desired position
as regards depth below the surface of the water.

page_text: •
The lower part of the vessel forms a chamber divided into compartments h, h¹
which contain water in a greater or less quantity according to the depth it is
desired to submerge the vessel. Water is drawn from these compartments by
means of a pump c (Figures 1 and 2). The vessel is also provided underneath
with a heavy block X which is fixed thereto by a vertical rod g having a nut 6
at the lower end embedded in the block; this rod passes up into the vessel through
a water tight joint formed by the cone 7 and box 8 and at its upper end is held
by a nut 9. The heavy block X is a safety weight which serves as a security to
the crew, for in case the pump c should not act, which would prevent the vessel
rising to the surface, it suffices to turn the upper nut 9 of the rod g; the lower nut 6
being embedded will not turn and will become unscrewed so that the block will
become free and fall from the vessel; the vessel will therefore rise to the surface
although filled with enough water for its entire submersion if the block were
attached.
The motor, which actuates the screw propeller and the different pumps, is worked
by electricity supplied by accumulators at the fore part. The motor has a screw
propeller that is movable so as to be capable of giving the vessel an oblique
direction in any sense in relation to the vessel's axis while having a regular
continuous rotary motion. The vessel can thus be guided without a rudder and
perform various evolutions. This is an important advantage for a submarine
torpedo vessel which is thus enabled to place a torpedo under the ship itself.
The arrangement for connecting the driving shaft to the propeller shaft is
represented in Figures 2 and 3, Sheet 2, which are respectively an elevation and
a plan. The arrangement is such that the angle which the propeller shaft makes
with the intermediate transmitting device is the same as the angle formed by this
device with the driving shaft. The ends of the propeller shaft and the driving
shaft each carry a sphere (as shown) and the two spheres are surrounded by a
coupling box. The screw is held in a support e jointed to the stern of the vessel;
this support e is connected to the stern post by means of hinge pieces d, d¹ jointed
the one at o, to the said support and the other at o' to the stern post. One of
these hinge pieces, d for example, serves not only as a joint piece but also forms
the means of shifting the screw propeller. For this purpose this hinge piece dis
at its inner end formed with teeth to gear with an endless screw shaft c. On the
fixed part of the apparatus is a toothed sector f which gears with a similar sector
on the support e of the propeller. By turning the endless screw shaft c the hinge
piece d is shifted and this in its turn shifts the support e of the propeller; the
combination of the two sectors f ensures equality of the angular deviation of the
hinge piece d in relation to the driving shaft b and the propeller shaft. The
endless screw shaft c is worked by a hand wheel m (Figure 1, Sheet 1). It may
be here remarked that with this arrangement the driving shaft undergoes no
longitudinal strain. The coupling box is enclosed in a casing which keeps it out
of contact with the water and the propeller always turns in full water. The whole
arrangement of propeller above described is fixed to a support S (Figure 1 Sheet 1)
which can be rotated; thus the propeller can be worked in all directions.
The driving shaft is divided, the two parts being connected by a coupling
sleeve 12 (Figure 1 Sheet 1); one part carries this sleeve, which is movable on a
key, and also a loose bevel wheel 13. A corresponding wheel 14 is keyed on the
other part of the shaft and between the two wheels is an intermediate wheel 15.
By moving a lever u the sleeve 12 is acted on through the intermediation of a
rod 16 and can be placed either in a middle position which will not cause the
.propeller to be rotated or against the one or the other of the bevel wheels so as to
go ahead or astern.
The torpedo vessel may also be propelled by manual power by means of oars.
Figures 6 and 7, Sheet 2, represent an arrangement for this purpose. The oar is
composed of two distinct parts, that is to say: a lever handle a which terminates
'inside the vessel and is connected with the shaft or loom 6 of the oar by means of
a spindle c passing through a box or cap & fixed to the side of the vessel. The

page_text: inner end of the oar shaft b is forked; each prong of the fork has a groove' in
which is lodged a key fixed to the spindle c. The blade or outer end of the oar
is composed of movable paddles which bear one against another when acting on
the water and separate when the oar is returned for another stroke. Or the vessel
may be propelled by working the propeller by means of pedals actuated by the
crew. An arrangement for this purpose is shown in Figure 1, Sheet 2.
.
The torpedo vessel is worked as follows:-Two men, say an officer and a seaman,
enter it through an opening at top which is then closed by means of a hinged
dome a which is secured by a screw bolt and a winged nut. The edge of the dome
enters a groove 10 in which is a rubber washer. The dome has sight holes filled
with thick glass having protecting gratings; there is an obturator for closing the
sight holes in case the glass gets broken. The torpedo is placed at the after part
of the vessel and is secured thereto by a bayonet catch whereby the torpedo can
be set free from the inside of the vessel. The torpedo is connected to an insulated
wire wound on a drum 11 and connected with the source of electricity by means
of a commutator. The crew sit on a compressed air reservoir b; air is taken
therefrom by means of a screw valve e and passes into the water compartments h, h¹
by a pipe, so as to become moistened; it is then conducted by a pipe k which
discharges it into the dome a. There are gauges to show the pressure of air in
the vessel or in the reservoir. An air pump & working constantly and, like the
pump c, driven by endless chains expels the vitiated air. Before causing the
Vessel to submerge the officer observes, through one of the sight holes, the object to
be reached, say an enemy's ship. He ascertains on the compass O the angle. of
deviation of the needle, he then opens a three-way cock P, so as to admit water into
the compartments h, or into those marked , or into all of them. When he has
reached the desired depth, as indicated by a gauge S, he closes the cock P and
directs the vessel, being guided by the compass, towards the enemy's ship. When
his vessel has arrived under this ship, which can be seen through a sight hole in
the top of the dome, he manoeuvres it into the best position and, if necessary, rises
or descends by manipulating the pump c by means of the lever r. When a good
position has been attained the torpedo is released and owing to its light density it
rises and it fixes itself under the ship by means of claws with which it is provided.
Then the torpedo vessel makes off, the wire unwinds from the drum indicating the
distance apart. When the torpedo vessel has reached a sufficient distance, say
150 yards, the electric current transmitted and the torpedo explodes.
adopt by preference for the disengaging or clutch mechanism in my torpedo
vessel the automatic arrangement represented in Figure 11, Sheet 2. It is
composed of a cone a keyed on the shaft and of a conical plate bloose on the
shaft; this plate may be a pulley or toothed wheel. The cone a is acted upon by
a spring which bears against a ring c; the tension of the spring is regulated by
shifting this ring along a threaded boss d on the shaft. The cone is formed with
a groove pin which are lodged the claws of keys that terminate in a grooved
sleeve e. By acting by means of a forked clutch lever k on this sleeve the cone
and conical plate can be put into or out of gear; but the strain between the edges
of the groove in the sleeve and the roller. on the end of the forked lever is
considerable. To diminish this strain I retain the sleeve e in the out of gear
position by hooks o, o that take behind a washer h fixed on the shaft. By means
of a counter lever ra ring n on the shaft can be moved and when it is shifted
towards the left it lifts the hooks o, o so that the sleeve e becomes free and the
cone a is put into gear with the conical plate b. By this arrangement the adhesion
of the cone and conical plate can be regulated to the desired pressure, and the
friction which there would be on the studs of the clutch lever k, if it offered a point
of external support for the compression of the springs, is avoided.
The torpedo vessel is fitted in front with a cutter or spike 8 (Figures 1 and 2,
Sheet 1) which can be projected forward 10 or 12 feet; it is worked by a lever T
and serves to cut torpedo wires or nets. The bow of the vessel can have an electrio
light, as shown,

page_text: The torpedo vessel is fitted at the upper part with a tube Z having two
obturators connected together. When the lower one is open and the upper one is
closed a signal cartridge can be introduced; by closing the lower one the upper
one opens and the cartridge rises by virtue of its lightness, and on reaching the
surface of the water it explodes thereby giving an indication to the ship with
which the torpedo vessel is connected. Colored lights may serve to indicate the
depth at which the torpedo vessel is. There can also be projected from the torpedo
vessel a small buoy carrying a telephone so that the crew can communicate with
a ship that answers the call.
'
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, in respect of submarine torpedo vessels, is :-
1. Providing a torpedo vessel with two reservoirs situated in the fore and after
parts respectively and with means whereby when the vessel inclines, liquid is
transferred from the lower reservoir to the higher one so that equilibrium is
reestablished, substantially as set forth and shown.
.
2. In combination with reservoirs employed as referred to in claim 1, a pump
for pumping the liquid from one reservoir to the other, such pump being controlled
by a pendulum at the middle of the vessel, substantially as set forth and shown.
8. Providing the vessel with a chamber at the bottom to contain a body of water
which can be varied according to the depth to which the vessel is to be submerged,
substantially as set forth and shown.
4. Providing the vessel with a block or weight fixed under the vessel and
capable of being detached by the crew in case of need, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth and shown.
5. Providing the vessel with a screw propeller which can be inclined in any
direction so as to act as a rudder, substantially as set forth and shown.
6. The special arrangement described and shown for connecting the driving shaft
to the propeller. shaft.
7. The special arrangement described and shown for propelling the vessel by
means of oars.
8. The construction of the vessel with a dome having protected sight holes and
arranged substantially as described and shown.
9. Connecting the torpedo to the vessel as described and shown.
10. Providing the vessel with means for taking in a supply of compressed air
substantially as described and shown.
11. Providing the vessel with a pump for discharging vitiated air as described
and shown.
12. Fitting the vessel with a cutter or spike as described and shown.
13. The disengaging or clutch mechanism substantially as described with reference
to Figure 11, Sheet 2.
14. The obturator tube Z arranged as and for the purposes described.
15. Constructing submarine torpedo vessels as hereinbefore described and
represented in the annexed drawings.