US2555357A - Submarine stabilizer - Google Patents

Description

June 5, 1951 L. c. MASPERO SUBMARINE STABILIZER FIG.

| l l l I l lbIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIlI Filed Sept. 27, 1945 BYYKW ATTORNEY Patented June 5, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SUBMARINE STABILIZER Louis C. Maspero, Dorchester, Mass. Application September 27, 1945, Serial No. 619,010

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 3'70 0. G. 757) 2 Claims.

My invention relates to a submarine stabilizer. It has to do, more particularly, with an arrangement for stabilizing a submerged submarine in a vertical position especially during the time forward movement has been interrupted.

In attempts to evade attacks from enemy surface craft, it is often desirable to interrupt forward movement of the submerged submarine and have it lie motionless at a selected depth. This is also desirable when the submarine is being used for scouting or observation at periscope depth and in other instances. However, because there is always either a positive buoyancy force or a negative buoyancy force exerted by the water on the submarine, it is impossible to do this. The submarine always has a tendency to rise or to sink farther.

The object of my invention is to provide a system on a submarine for accomplishing equilibrium at any desired depth.

To accomplish equilibrium at any desired depth, I provide vertical jet units at a plurality of places along the length of the submarine by means of which the trim of the vessel may be controlled to overcome positive buoyancy or negative buoyancy.

The preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevational View showing a submarine equipped with the stabilizer system.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view illustrating more in detail one of the stabilizer units.

With reference to the drawing, I have illustrated, more or less diagrammatically, in Fig. 1

a submarine I which is equipped with a vertical jet stabilizer unit 2 at its forward end and a vertical jet stabilizer unit 3 at its aft end. The units 2 and 3 are preferably spaced a substantial distance from the corresponding ends of the submarine. For example, the unit 2 may be located in the forward torpedo room and the unit 3 may be located in the aft torpedo room. However, additional units may be located at other points longitudinally of the submarine.

Each of the units 2 and 3 is of the structure illustrated best in Fig. 2. The unit consists of a vertically disposed conduit or jet pipe preferably in the form of a tube 4, which extends completely through the pressure hull 5 of the submarine. The upper end 6 of the tube is open and the lower end I is open. Intermediate, the height of the tube, there is interposed a variable speed reversible motor driven pump or impeller unit -B.

In the drawing, I have illustrated the unit 8 as comprising an electric motor 9 which drives an impeller or propeller l0 disposed in the tube'd. By-pass tubes lead from the lower part of tube 4 to the upper part thereof around the motor 9. The motor shaft extends into the lower part of tube 4 through a packing gland II. When the motor is actuated, the impeller ID will pull water from one end of the tube and cause it to flow out of the other end. The direction of flow will depend on the direction of rotation of the impeller and can be quickly reversed. Since both ends of the tube 4 are open both sides of the impeller are subject to the same amount of pressure and there will be a balanced condition. However, the impeller will produce motion of the water or a current. It is to be understood that I am not limited to this particular type of pumping unit. Other types of pumping units may be employed.

The motors 9 of the units 2 and 3 may be controlled from the control room of the submarine. If desired, these controls may be automatic.

The units 2 and 3 are located on opposite sides of the keel line so that they counteract each other in a transverse direction and will not produce a rolling effect on the vessel.

In using the stabilizer arrangement, if positive buoyancy tends to move one end of the submerged submarine upwardly, the stabilizer unit at that end is actuated to expel water upwardly. The resulting reaction will tend to keep that end of the submarine down. On the other hand, if negative buoyancy tends to move that end of the submarine down, the unit is actuated to expel water downwardly. The resulting reaction will tend. to keep the end of the submarine up.

Thus, thejet pipes provide trimming jets directed either upwardly or downwardly. The jets at the different ends may be so controlled relative to each other that the trim of the vessel can be controlled and equilibrium obtained at any desired depth.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for govermental purposes without the payment of any royalty thereon or therefor.

What I claim is:

1. A system for stabilizing the submerged vertical position and roll of a submarine comprising, first and second jet producing units longitudinally spaced of said submarine, each of said units comprising a jet tube extending in a vertical direction through the hull of said submarine having single openings at the opposite ends thereof, both openings of each jet being equally laterally displaced in the same direction from the longitudinal axis of said submarine, a variable speed reversible pump disposed in said jet tube for discharging water in a selected direction and amount through said tube, said first and second jet producing units being displaced on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of said submarine, the flow of Water through said jet tubes producing vertical reaction forces on said submarine and a resultant rotational moment tending to roll said submarine about said longitudinal axis.

2. A system for stabilizing the submerged vertical position and roll of a submarine comprising two jet producing units for discharging water vertically of the hull of said submarine, each of said jet producing units comprising a jet tube extending in a vertical direction completely through the hull of said submarine, said tube having a sole opening at its lower end displaced laterally from the longitudinal axis of saidisubmarine and a sole opening at its upper end similarly laterally displaced in the same direction from said longitudinal axis, and a pump driven by a variable speed reversible motor disposed in said jet tube for controlling the direction and rate of fiow REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 825,881 Gibon July 10, 1906 20 1,281,414 Pegram Oct. 15, 1918 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 4.048 Great Britain Feb. 22, 1896

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