US2729966A - Bomb shelter - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 10, 1956 D. c. LUTTEKE BOMB SHELTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 24, 1951 JNVENTOR;

A70/670750 C 10772512' @afn 00a/wl@ BOMB SHELTER Dorothy `C. Lutteke, Van Dyke, Mich. `ApplicatiorrMay 24, 1951, Serial No. 228,049 1 claim. (cl. 'l2-1) This invention relates to embedded ground enclosures for refuge purposes and particularly to an improved underground bomb shelter.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved bomb shelter and the like which is designed and constructed in a novel manner to protect persons from various types of explosions and particularly the explo sions and effects of recently developed implements `of atomic warfare. Another important object of the invention is to provide an improved bomb refuge or shelter which is located substantially wholly below the surface of the ground and yet is constructed in a novel way for shielded ventilation and for quick access thereto and egress therefrom. A further important object of the invention is to provide an improved bomb shelter of the character which is designed to shield and protect persons from extremely harmful effects of atomic radia tion and to withstand ground shocks. A still further important object of the invention is to provide an improved shelter of this character which is designed for economical manufacture and installation.

Various other objects, advantages and meritorious features will become more fully apparent from the following specilication, appended claim, and accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through a bomb shelter of the present invention showing a preferred manner of disposition below the ground level;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of the bomb shelter taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a substantially vertical sectional View taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along line 4 4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken along line 5 5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View of a l UnitedStates Patent() modified form of cover mounting for the bomb shelter;

and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view illustrating the manner of releasably locking the cover of Fig. 6 in opened condition. l

The drawings illustrate a preferred construction of the bomb shelter and including a hollow body generally indicated at 10 in Fig. l which serves as a compartment for one or more `persons seeking refuge from bomb attacks. The body 10 comprises a circular Hoor 12 and a round wall 14 connected to the peripheral margin of the iioor and rising thereabove on all sides of the floor. Preferably the wall 14 is bulged or bellied outwardly as shown in Fig. 1 and inclined inwardly for connection to the floor 12. The upper end portion of the wall 14 is preferably curved inwardly to a greater degree than the bottom portion and terminates in a circular opening or hatch of less diameter than the internal diameter of the floor 12. Preferably the lioor 12 and the wall 14 are formed of cementitious material, such as concrete, and poured into a form having a configuration of that shown in Fig. 1. In this manner, the wall and the floor are integrally joined together in the form of `a unit. Although the oor and the wall may be of various thicknesses, it is preferred to make them relatively thick, such as a thickness of approximately one foot.

The body 10 is embedded in the ground below the surface thereof in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1. The upper end opening of the wall 14 is preferably located in spaced relationship below the ground level. A cover or closure member indicated at 16 is employed to close the opening in the upper end of the wall 14. This cover is preferably formed of cementitious material vand shaped to seat within the opening in its closed position and to project laterally beyond all sides of the wall. The cover is preferably circular in formation having a diameter greater than the floor 12 and at least equal to the maximum diameter of the wall 14. Constructed in this manner, the cover 16 in its closed position has a lateral projecting peripheral portion 18 which projects laterally beyond the adjacent portion of the wall 14 and overhangs the same in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1. The cover 16 is provided with a central bulge 26 which is of a size to t the opening of the top of the Wall and project downwardly below the level of this opening. Shaped in this manner the cover together with the wall 14 and iloor 12 form a relatively thick shield completely around the area circumscribed by the wall 14.

The body 10 together with the cover 16 are preferably so embedded into the ground that the upper surface of the cover lies substantially iiush with the surface of the ground. Surrounding the upper portion of the wall 14 and the cover 16 is a shallow depression or trench 22. This trench is formed at the time the hole is dug for receiving the body 1li. The trench forms an overhead exposure for the upper end portion of the wall 14 and the cover 16. Shielded Ventilating openings or air passages are formed in the wall 14 which open into the depression 22 below the overhanging peripheral margin 18 of the cover. A series of such air passages are shown at 24 extending substantially vertically and having their respective lower ends opening into the interior of the body 10 and their respective outer ends opening into the trench 22 below the laterally projecting portion of the cover 16. in this manner, the cover serves to shield the openings or passages 24 from direct blasts of an explosion and from the radiation effects resulting from an atomic explosion.

The bomb shelter is constructed with underground passages leading from the body 1t) to the surface of the ground in spaced relationship to the trench 22 and the cover 16. Preferably two such passages are provided located diametrically opposite to one another in order to assure safety to the person desiring to enter and leave the body 10. For this purpose, the wall 14 of the body is provided with two openings or apertures 26 and 28 located opposite to one another and close to the door 12. Each opening or entrance is of a size to admit a person therethrough. Leading upwardly from each entrance is a passage which opens out through the surface of the ground spaced from the trench 22. The passage for the entrance 26 is indicated at 30 and is preferably inclined substantially throughout its extent in order to provide a chute down which persons may slide to the bomb shelter. The upper end of the passage 30 is preferably closed by a hinged cover member 32. In a generally similar manner, the opposite entrance 28 is provided with a passage 34 which may be shaped as shown in Fig.. l with a vertical section 36 opening out on the ground level. A hinged cover 38 is provided for closing the ground level opening of the vertical passage section 36. A ladder 40 may be provided in the vertical section 36 to facilitate ingress and egress. It is understood that the ground level cated in further spaced apart relationship to the trench V22 than that shown in Fig. l.

Closes in Order t0 permit theescape f remthe body M For this purpose, the cover 16 is preferably hinged to one side of the wall 14 in themanner illustrated in lgs. l,

4 and 5. The hinged mounting may omprisea cylind rical bar 4 2 cast in the upper endof the wallld in the manner illustratedin Figs. 4 and 5. The cover I is provided with one or more integrally cast. `depending proiections or lugs 4 4 which are shaped with-bcres extending on a common axis for receivingthecylindrical bar ,42. It is thus apparent that the cover 1 6 may be vsvt/.ung about the axis ofthe bar 32 vfrom the lclosed position shown in full line in Fig. l toan openedvdotted position likewise shownin Fig. l. Itis preferred to have the hat' 4 2 composed of material whichis non-radiative material to prevent yany absorption of any radiation etects of an explosion.

To assist in lifting the cover- 16,- it is preferred to eni- :ploy resilient means tending to urge the cover toward its fully opened position. One such yform of resilient means is illustrated in Fig. l and comprise-s one or more leaf springs 14p. Each s et ofl leaf springs has one end thereof vembedded and locked in the upper end of the wall 14 adjacent to the hinged axis and the other end thereof is free to engage the underside of the coverflo. As shown in Fig. l, the central portion Ztlof the covermaybe cut @Wayin line with each leaf spring to form a downwardly opening recess V4S for receiving theproieetins end of the spring. The leaf springs 4d are mounted in the wall 14 such that normally they would assume the positionshown in dotted outline in Fig. l. When the cover is moved to closedposition, the springs will be lexed downwardly to the f ull line position shown in Fig. l. In this manner, the springs s lwill tend to swing the cover 16 to open position about its hinged axis.

To securely lock the cover 1,6 in 1closedposition, a mechanism is Aprovided .which is operable from the inside of the body 1 9 for engaging a/ portion of. the cover opposite to its hinged axis. This mechanism-may be constructed as shown in Iligs.-- l, Zand 3 to provide a lluttencd loop 5i) which is receivable over the projecting margin 18 of the cover, in the manner shown in Figs. -2 and y3. `The loop 5 0 is connected toa bar or :rod 52 .extending through an opening 54 in the upper end ofthe wall 14. T he rod is supported y for swingingrnovcmcnt in a vertical plane by means of a support located on. the

inside of the body lil. Such supportcomprises a .pair of Asimilarly spaced apart parallel bracket membereW-Se between which extends a cross shaft 5 8. A'" Iihelatter is journaled 4for rotation on thebracvlet members S6755.

The cross shaftSti is provided with at ransversc bore through which the rod 52 extends. T o provide longitudinal adjustment of the rod 52, vthe lowerend thereof' may y.be externally threaded, asshown in Figs. l and 3 vand anut 6i) provided which is threaded thereon.

A s a result of `this assembly, it isevident that the, rod 52 andthe loop $0 maygoeswung in a verticalplanc from the full line c overcngagingposition shown in Fig.

l to an unlockingdotted 4position shown in Fig. 1. To provide such ys wingable 4movement of the rod 5 2, the passage Sil in 'the'wall may be shaped in the -diverging formation shown. Threaded adjustment of the nut 60 will permit theA rod and the loop vportion to lne-extended and retracted relative to the wallHin order to, if necessary, clear the peripheraledge ofthe cover 1 6 V as well as to draw the cover tightly againstthe Lwall. lf desired, three-ded adiustmentf the 10d 5 ;2maybe utilized to initially liftthe coverl. .This-maybe accomplished by rotatingthe net o; vin the directiontoexially move the rod.upWardlyrelative-to.the cross shaftr58. jTofaivtate r ingressgand egress-:throughethe Vopeningzin .the V.upper portion -of .the body .19, a .ladder 6.2 may ne pro/isles which is secured to the wa1l'14.

In Figs. 6 and 7, a modification of the invention is illustrated. In lieu of the springs 46, or in addition thereto, the cover 16 may be counterbalanced -to aid in its opening movement. For this purpose there may bc provided a weighted menibie r .6 4 secured to, the undersideof the overhanging"portionV 018 of the cover adjacent to the hinged axis but on .the'side thereof opposite the hatch opening-in ,the wall. Theweighted member 64 may be arcuately formedas shown in Fig.'v 6 and moved through an aperture `66 Iin .the V4wall which isshaped to conform to the curved path o f travel of theweighted member. The latter may be of such a length that when the cover is swung to fully opened position the inner end thereof projects inside of Vthe body 10 as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 6 and in full line position in Fig. 7. -The inner projecting end .of ,the .weighted lmember 64 may be `utilized to .releasably lock .the .cover .16 ;in fully opened position. For thus. purpose,.the .innenprojecting end Aof the `member .64 may be provided with a transverse .recess or lbore.68 .into which is .detachablyreceived. clipmembersin thezform of right angularlyshaped bars 70470. VIn.=this manner, .the counter weight `64 may .be utlilized'for releasably locking the .closure member16:.in fully openposition.

'To .provide drainage of any .water ,or other .material which .may collect in the trench 22, there 4is .provided a conduit extending downwardly along the outside offthe .wall 14 and yemptying v.into `a cistern located .below .thc level of the `floor 12. The drainage passage. is indicated at 72 and may beformed by casting a ,conduit574 integrally with the outside .ofthewallxli VThe upper end of the conduit opens into .the lowest portion of the trench 22 and maybecovered by'a screen .-toprevent clogging .of the passage. The lower endof theiconduit may openintothecistern or cess-pool 76 located in .the ground below .the floor 12 `as shown in Fig. l.

`What I rclaimis:

A Vbomb shelter comprising a hollow round body embeddedintthe ground and composed of cementitiousmaterial, said body including a circular lloor anda generallycircular sidewall extending upward. from. theoor and having its Iupper end section inclined inwardly .on all sides to form .a hatch openingcoaxially related to the floor and .of 'less diameter `than the floor, said .body further including a circular closure member for .the `hatch opening,fsaid closure member having a diameter greater than the upper end of the wall and being centrally related thereto' so .that in' closed position' its outer ,niarginal portions project outwardly beyondV all sidesk ofthe upper `end lof --the .walL the ground immediately adja cent to the body being removed yto` provide a shallow .trench extending .around Ythe body andv exposing the up persection. of the side wall-.underthe projecting marginal portions of the closure member to the atmosphere, means pivotally connecting the closurememberfto one side of the upper section of the side wall for swinging move- `ment about a horizontal axis from a closed position overlying the hatch opening toen upright position exposing ihfhatsh 'Opening the @Per inwardly idinedf ,Ssstisn of thewall being providedT with a plurality lof air vent passages circularly.spaced lthei-.earound and opening at .one

. end intothe interior of .thebody and at theotheend Ainto 'thefrench under the .project ing portion oflthelclosure memben and a wilmerv'eisht secured 1.0411@ 'Pristiss Y irfieii sfth sloslut feinster @dissent t0 `the Pivotal axis thereofhandAarrangeduupon openingmovement ofthe stesure. @onvermogen-0n@ of said air Yen? passages and means-,for vreleasably locking the counterweight in vthe.ait-...vent passagcwhich .it enters to hold the closure member. in open. position.

.iCReferencea .onafnllowing .page) References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Moon Mar. 16, 1897 Howard Sept. 7, 1897 Julian Aug. 1, 1905 Crosta Aug. 20, 1918 Nelson Nov. 29, 1927 Starret Apr. 11, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain of 1891 6 Italy of 1936 Great Britain of 1940 Great Britain of 1940 Germany of 1940 Great Britain of 1942 France of 1942 OTHER REFERENCES American Builder, page 56, September 1943. Concrete, pages 24 and 26, January 1950.

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