Improved Means for Preventing the Capsizing of Torpedo Boats.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Oct., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 21st July, 1896-Accepted, 12th Sept., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Preventing the Capsizing of Torpedo Boats.
I, OTTO KUEHL of 8, Kurfürstenstrasse, Stettin, in the Empire of Germany,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
It is well known that in rough weather, and especially when running. in the
trough of the sea, torpedo boats are very apt to capsize by reason of their
comparatively narrow and peculiar construction.
The object of this invention therefore is to provide means for preventing such
capsizing, even when a high sea is running.
This I attain by means of two buoyant tubular bodies about one third the length
of the boat and preferably made of boiler plating, such bodies being horizontally
suspended above the surface of the water and parallel to and at a suitable distance
from each side of the boat by means of cross arms or stays bolted to the latter.
These tubular bodies are preferably tapered away at both ends so as to offer little
resistance when striking or being immersed in the water and are further braced by
rings or hoops at suitable distances apart and a T-iron running along the outer
side of same and bolted at both ends to the sides of the boat.
Water outlet valves and an air inlet valve are also provided for running off any
water which should find its way into the tubular bodies; in case, however, one of
the bodies should be so seriously damaged, for instance, by a shot, that a large
volume of water enters same and thus threatens to capsize the boat, shots are fired
through such body by means of the machine-gun on board, when the water will at
once run off. The body thus perforated is, however, still capable of fulfilling its
said functions, seeing that the small quantity of water finding its way into same on
being immersed will run off immediately the body emerges from the water.
It will thus be seen that when running in a heavy sea, this arrangement of the
tubular body on each side of the torpedo boat not only ensures comparatively
steady running & thus prevents the capsizing of the boat, but that this is effected
without sensibly retarding the speed of the boat. Moreover, if filled with cork or
like material, the bodies also protect that part of the boat from shots directed
thereat.
It will be evident that the dimensions of the bodies are dependent on the size of
the torpedo boat.
...
ليه
Outoboy 1805

page_text: Improved Means for Preventing the Capsizing of Torpedo Boats.
I, OTTO KÜЕHL of No. 8 Kurfürstenstrasse, Stettin, in the Empire of
Germany, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improved means for preventing the capsizing of torpedo
boats, such safety means being chiefly composed of long extended buoyant tubular
bodies, which are rigidly secured to both sides of the hull of the vessel and are
horizontally arranged above the surface of the water. On the unsteady movements
of the boat, these tubular bodies are immersed into the water, thereby returning
the boat to its normal position.
In the accompanying drawing,
Fig. 1 is the side view of a torpedo boat, equipped in accordance with the
invention,
Fig. 2 is a plan view of same, and
Fig. 3 is a sectional view on a larger scale from the bow of the boat, the tubular
bodies on both sides of the boat being shown in section.
It is well known that in rough weather and especially when running in the trough
of the sea, torpedo boats are very apt to capsize by reason of their comparatively
narrow and peculiar construction.
The object of this invention therefore, is to provide means for preventing such
capsizing, even when a high sea is running.
The new means for ensuring safety of a torpedo boat, especially adapted in case
of war, consist of closed buoyant bodies B, B preferably tubular or cylindrical in
shape with conical ends, such bodies being connected with the hull (A) at both
sides of the boat, by means of suitable frames or girders (C).
As it will be seen, the buoyant bodies (B, B) are arranged parallel to the axis
of the boat and kept in a horizontal position at some distance above the surface of
the water. If the one, or the other buoyant body is immersed or dipped into the
water, the hydrostatical buoyancy causes a corresponding relievement of the force
acting on the boat on that side so that the boat is balanced or returned to its
normal position seeing that both bodies, as a rule, are not immersed at the same
time into the water.
The dimensions and form of both equally constructed buoyant bodies, depend, of
course, on the size or other conditions of the torpedo boat, to which this device is
to be secured. In the boat as shown, corresponding to an English torpedo boat,
1st class (Thornycroft's construction), the buoyant cylinders composed of boiler
plates have a length of about one third of the boat and a diameter of about one
twentieth of the length of the cylinder. In order that the buoyant bodies may not
beud or deform but properly resist the tension they have to undergo, suitable iron
rings (r) are arranged on same, such rings preferably consisting of two parts secured
by screws passing through flanges; besides this inner strengthening braces and water
longitudinal rails s of angle or 1-iron are preferably provided. The supporting
construction or frames (C) extending from the hull of the boat and serving for
securing the buoyant bodies to the boat, must be sufficiently strong; such frames
preferably consist, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing of iron flat or round rods or
braces p, p crossing each other and fastened by a yoke q the flat ends of the
former being bolted on the one side to the hull of the ship and on the other side to
the hoops or rings r of the buoyant bodies B.
Water outlet valves (k Fig. 1) and one or more air inlet valves, as shown at /
(Fig. 2) are provided for running off any water, which should find its way into the
tubular bodies. In case, however, the buoyant bodies should be so seriously

page_text: damaged, for instance, by a shot, that a large volume of water enters same so that
the boat would tilt over to that side, the danger arising herefrom is removed by
simply firing shots from above through the buoyant bodies, by means of the
machine guns on board, so that the water collecting in the bodies may easily run
off through these shot-holes.
The body thus perforated is, however, still capable of fulfilling its said functions
seeing that the small quantity of water finding its way into same on being immersed
will run off immediately the body emerges from the water.
It is evident, that the herein described means likewise form a kind of outer
bulwark for the torpedo boat, such bulwark being adapted for protecting the
machine plant (boiler and machines) especially if the bodies are filled up with a
suitable material, for instance, cork.
It will thus be seen that when running in a heavy sea this arrangement of the
tubular bodies on each side of the torpedo boat not only ensures comparatively
steady running and thus prevents the capsizing of the boat but that this is effected
without sensibly retarding the speed of the boat.
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 :-
1. An improved means for preventing the capsizing of torpedo boats consisting
of hollow preferably cylindrical closed buoyant bodies horizontally secured on
either side of the boat above the water line by rigid frames and provided with
conical ends substantially as described and shown in the drawing.
2. In the improved means for preventing the capsizing of torpedo boats as
described in Claim 1, the arrangement of water outlets and air inlets in the buoyant-
bodies, substantially as described and shown in the drawing.
Dated this 20th day of July 1896.
J. C. CHAPMAN, C.P.A.,
70 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Filing Agent.