US980243A - Automobile torpedo. - Google Patents

Description

H. G. GILLMORQ AUTOMOBILE TORPEDO. AFPLIGATION FILED OCT 28, 1907.

Patented Jan. 3,1911;

"UNITED STAS .a'rn'r 0mm HOBATIO G. GIIlLMOR, QU INCY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO NEW JERSEY DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A. CQRPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

AUToMoBILn TORPEDO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 3, 1911.

Application filed October 28, 1907. Serial No. 399,517.

i To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, I'IORATIO Gr. GiLLMOR a citizen of the United States of America,

residing at Quincy, county of Norfolk, State .of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automobile Torpeknown in the artas automobile torpedoes,

and one of-the objects of my invention is to construct a torpedo which for a given size and weight shall be capable of traveling ata greater speed and for a greater distance than is the case with torpedoes as heretofore constructed.

Another object is to minimize change in moment of weight of the torpedo about the centerof buoyancy thereof, as the working fluid escapes in running; and so toobviate the need for maintaining the diving rudders 'at an increasing angle toward the end of the run of torpedo, thereby avoiding the resistance introduced by the maintenance of these rudders at' an angle. Another objectis to avoid the loss of heat to the water in which the torpedo moves, which loss of heat seriously reduces the ellicienc y of torpedoes-in which the air is preheated by burning the combustible withinthe air flask of such torpedoes.

Further objects of the invention will here inafter appear; and, to' these ends, the invention consists of atorpedo for carrying out the above objects embodying the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts having the general mode of operation substantially as hereinafter described and claimed in this specification and shownin the accompanyingdrawings; in which. I

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section ofa torpedo'embodying my invention, parts at front and rear of the same being broken away. Fig. 2 is a section at the plane indicated by a; a: in Fig. l looking toward the forward end of the torpedo with the boiler fines showing through the water Fig. 3 .is a section atthe plane indicated by .y 3 in Fig. 1;

r imilar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several figures;

' (a) represents the. flask in which compressed air at high pressure is carried, and

(b) a vessel constructed to stand within the air flask (a), and provided with a vapor and liquid space (0) andfa combustion space (d).

the torpedo; (f) a pump driven by the propelling motor drawing water, from the water in which the torpedo moves, by the inlet pipe (g) and discharging the same through pipe (h) tothe space (c).of the vessel (6)," and a fuel pump also driven by the pro (6) represents the propelling motor for v polling motor drawing liquid fuel through the suction pipe from the fuel tank (Z), and discharging the same through the discharge pipe (m) to the combustion space (a?) of the vessel (n) represents an outer casing separated from the lower portion of the vessel (7)) by spaces (0) forming passages by which air may pass to the duct (p) and thence to the free surfaces of the liquid (g) in the C0111? bustion space ((1). y

(r) is a water space formed by double walls of the vessel (6) at the top thereof;

intowhich space the wateris discharged by the pump (f) through the pipe (h). 'The space (7') is kept full by the dam or ba-flle plate (8) over the top of which the water must flow to reach the main water space (0) of the vessel (6).

p (t) represents flues by which the gases pass from the combustion space (d) 'to the space (a), and (u) a tube communicating with the main supply pipe (12), supplying motive fluid to the motor.

(w) represents an igniting or primer tube for igniting the combustible" (g) at the proper moment,-and (2) supports for retaining .the vvessel (b) in place within the air The weight of air carried in the flask of a torpedo is capable of burning more than one sixthits weight of a hydrocarbon such as alcohol As now constructed only a limited amount of such hydrocarbon is burned by the air charge to raise thetemperature of the air' before entering the propelling motor and so increase the work done'by it. A limit to the amount of heat which may be so added is placed by the necessity of limiting the temperature of the working fluid to a temperature which may be withstood by the materials of which the motor is constructed, and, in any. case, the amount of hydrocarbon so burned is 'very muchless than that which might be burned by the air in air at one thousand pounds pressure is nearly twenty-five times that in air atat- -mospheric pressure. This increase in combustion rate at high pressure makes it pos-\ .sible to provide, within a small space and withoutspecial means, for the burning in a short" time of a relatively large weight of fuel for the generation of heat.

' One feature of this inventionresides in the employment of the air provided 'primarily for the propelling charge of a tor pedo to burn'aquantity of fuel, preferably in liquid form, approximating to the full quantity which can be burned by the air chargeand' the utilization of theheat so reduced for the ropulsion of the torpedo y generating under pressurethe vapor of aliquid; which vapor, together with the products of combustion, at a temperature as I high as practicable, are employed to drive the propelling motor of the torpedo. To

a Vessel b), which is virtually a boiler open freelyon the vapor side of the air within which the fuel for firing the boiler is burned.v

; Since the pressure is equal on all sides of the material of this vessel, the sheets of which "it is constructed needbe only of the thick-- ness'necessary for reasonable rigidity andto contain the fluids used. The boiler may,- t'herefore,'be of very light construction. To

avoid possible injurious efiect of large free 4 surfaces of fluid upon the longitudinal and transverse stability of the torpedo, the water spaces in the vessel (1)) are sub-divided-by longitudinal and transverse partitions having small apertures to. permit the fluid to flow slowly from one side to the other to. equalize levels but prevent; sudden rush of .finidsuch as mightbe occasioned by. giving an inclination to'th'e torpedo in any direc- -tion. These partitions serve further-to add to the stiffness of thelight construction of the vessel. f

To'insure the presence of fuel in the space ((5) at starting a small quantity is let into the'combustion space ((1) of the vessel (6) 60 before charging the air flask. When the torpedo is charged the pressure on thesurfa'ce of will close the discharge valve of the pump (i) and further flow of the, fuel from the fuel tank (Z) to the space (d) will be prevented until the starting of the accomplish this 1 construct the torpedo with a content of the flask.

completely filledafter the torpedo is charged.

Launching the torpedosets the pump (2') in motion; afterwlncha-definite amount of fuel will be. discharged at (g) by each stroke of the pump.

1 construct the combustion space (d) with greatly flaring sides so that a shallow vessel is formed in which the area of the free surface of liquid will, with only a small increase in the depth of the liquid increase from-the area of the cylindrical bottom part to many times that area. The area of the cylindrical bottom part is arranged to givethe desired rate of combustion of the fuel in air at the high pressure with which the torpedo starts. The range in area of the free surface of liquid to be provided for in the combustion space (cl) will vary with the designed initial and final air pressure in the flask and depends upon these pressures, For example, if the initial and final pressures were designed to be 1,000 pounds and a a 300 pounds per square inch, respectively, the

. combustion space would be designed so that a small increase in depth of the liquid would increase the area of 'the.= free surface of the liquid fuel exposed to theair from the area ofthe cylindrical bottom part to about 2;} times that, area, or if the initial and final pressures were 2,000 pounds and 300 pounds per square inch, respectively, an'increase of about seven times in-the free'surface area. of the liquid would b e provided-for; In this way provision is Ifi'iade for an almost constant rate ofburning forthe range in flask pressure from the beginning to the end I of, the run of thetorpedo;

The fuel (g) ignited at the proper moment by meansof a primer or ignition tube similar to. that. heretofore employed for the ignition of liquid hydrocarbon for v heating the air within the flask of torpedoes.

To avoid the loss of heat f'which would result from genenalheating of the air contained withintlie air flask, the' walls of the, combustion'spac'e of the, vessel.(b) are made indicated inthe drawing by the arrows,

double as illustrated, and form between reaches the free surfaces of the liquid at- (g), taking'up on its way heat, which would otherwise be radiated. to the general air.

vThe pump'se't in motion by the motor (a) when :the torpedo "is launched,

will draw .waterflfromtl'ie sea through the 'inlet pipe' (9),. and discharge the. same a construction of the vessel (b) with double walls at its top, in the manner indicated serves a double purpose preventing loss'of 45 r evaporation under the average conditions heat from the top of the vessel to the general content of the air flask and thence through the walls of the torpedo to the surrounding water; and at the same time, increases reatly the heating surface of the boiler.

7 hewater discharged into the vessel follows the course-indicated in the drawing by the arrows; and is, therefore, first presented 'to contact with gases after they have been already considerably cooled. It is possible by this construction" tfo provide relatively I thence to the'main propelling motor of the great heating surfaces with a boiler having small water content? T llie vapor generated by the heating of the water in the vessel (7)) mixes with the products of combustion in the space after these have traversed considerable heating surfaces and their tem-' peratures have been reduced. The admixture of the vapor with the products of co nbustion further reduces the temperature of the Whole; "and, at this high but limited temperature, the products of combustion, air and vapor are led by the pipe (14) which, since it bears no pressure, may be very light in construction, to the supply pipe ('0) and torpedo.

Since the total "heat of evaporation of water falls with reduction in the pressure, the weight of water evaporated by, the heat of combustion of the constant supply 'of fuel will be less at high pressures than at low pressures; and, therefore, as the pressure within the flask falls there will be an increase in the rate of evaporation. This increase in evaporation rate with falling pressure will tend to reduce the rate of fall of pressure within the'flask. I prefer to construct the pumps (f) andopposite one another with plungers driven at the same speed with the same stroke and to give to the two plungers such sectional areas that the volumes displaced by them are in the 'ratio'. of the volume of water to the volume of liquid hydrocarbon necessary for its as to initial temperature of the water and pressure within the flask (a). By so con struct-ing the pump there will be delivered to the vessel (1)) with each unit weight of water the necessary weight of fuel to insure the evaporation of this water.

- The withdrawal of mixed vapor and products of combustion from the space (0') 2 through the duct (u) to the motor, through the supply pipe (1;), introduces air through the spaces (0) and the pipe (77) to the comibustion sfpace (d) and keeps a continuous supply 0 the necessary air for the combustion of the .fuel at"(g)within this space.

The mixed vapor and products of combustion at the temperature at which they are led to the motor, are of much greater volume than, and are capable of doing work greatly in excess of the work which could I be done by, the air which was employed for the propelling motor lightens the torpedo when running; and, since the weightremoved is forward of the center of buoyancy, changes the balance of the torpedoand ,causes the bow to tend to rise; To keep the torpedo at the proper depth this tendency of the bowto rise has to be corrected by the diving rudders and to maintain these at the necessary angle increases the resist: ance opposing the passage of the torpedo through the water and reduces its speed. To avoid this change in balance, I arrange the tank containing the fuel carried so that the distance of the center of gravity of the fuel from the center of buoyancy on oneside shall be, as near as may be, as many times the distance of the center of gravity of the air in the air flask from the center of buoyancy on the other side as the weight of air discharged in running the torpedo for a given intervalof time is a multiple of the weight of fuel withdrawn from the tank for burning during the same time. For example, if it be arranged that alcohol is em ployed as a fuel and that nearly but .not quite all the alcohol which could be,burned by the air discharged, leaving some uncon sumed air, is supplied, the weight of air discharged would be about seven times the weight of alcohol withdrawn from the tank l and burned. The air flask and fuel tankwould in this case be so placed that the distance of the center of gravity of; the fuel,-

aft, or to the rear, of the center of buoyancy of the torpedo would be about seven times the distance of the center of gravity of the air contained in the flask forward of the center of buoyancy of the torpedd." The tendency of the bow torise on account of the discharge of air would then be counteracted by the'withdrawal and burning of oneseventh the Weight of this air in fuel from the fuel tank at a distance aft of t-he center of buoyancy seven times the distance I "that the center of gravity of the air -discharged is forward of the center of buoyarmy; and, since the ratio of air discharged to fuel'burned is approximately constant, an

approximately unchanged total moment of the weight of the torpedo and its contents about the center of buoyancy of the torpedo will be "maintained throughout the run of the torpedo and the loss of speed incident to the use of the diving rudders to correct changing balance of the torpedo will be avoided, witha corresponding increase in range and accuracy of the torpedo.

"It will be'u'nderstood that the Vapor generatorflmight be installed externalto the air.

flask (a) and-the air, after discharge from the'fl'ask, be employed for burning the fuel and generating a vapor under pressure, which vapor would bemixed with the prod-- nets of combustion and the mixture employdinithe propelling motor. Such an arrangement while possible is open to the objection that considerable spacewouldbe required, and also considerable additional Weight on'accountof the necessity of cons t-ructing all parts to Withstand the presv motive fluid is supplied to the-motor.

.sure (usually 350 to" 500 lbs.) at which the The ';-li uid for evaporation might also be stored .w1thin-the =hull of the torpedo 3 with; suitable, meansfor its supplyjto the vapor gen 25. pose,.mtr drawn from the Itwil-lbe' eraton instead .0f. employingflfor' thepurcontained under pressure in a fuel tank ,with suitable meansto control the flow thereof from. the gaseous fuel tank to the combustion chamberfaf), and further, thatfjinstead of the means shown for producing and 3'5 regulating the supplycof fuel, to: the combustion space, othe'rlmeans such for instance-as the pressure of 'gaseson the surface of the liquid fuel might be employed to produce the-flow thereof. 3

.Qb'viously'some features of, the inventlon may'beus'edwithout others, and the inven.

tion ma'y beigembodied in widely var'yiI' 1g forms. Therefore, without limiting the 'inventio'n to the construction 'shown' or. de-

- following scribed or enumerating eiu-ivalents, I claim and desire to secure by 1. An autombbile' torpedo, in combination with a compress -ai1 *fl'as a shallow vessel adapted tqholdcl quid uel" with its free level surface exposed; to the air in said air flask, the sides of said vessel in said vessel so increa's'ethe araoft means whereby; said fuel may be ignited.

'2. An automobile'torp'edo, including, in combination wlth a compressed air storage .reservoir, a completely inclosed'combustion chamber wholly contained within said reservoir, means whereby the heat radiated energy supplied to the propelling tters Patent the from the walls of said combustion chamber is intercepted and employed to heat the air passing to said combustion chamber, means for supplying fuel to said combustion chamber and means whereby hot gases may be led from the interior of said combustion chamber to the propelling motor of said torpedo, substantially as described.

3. The combination in an automobiletorpedo, of a boiler constructed to contain a.

vaporizable liquid and the vapor thereof and provided with a combustion chamber boiler by he conducting walls, with an air storage' rese oir, a fuel tank and means for supplying-and burning fuel and air in the separated from the liquid contained by said i combustion chamber of said boiler, substantially as described.

4. An automobile torpedo, combination with an air'stora'ge reservoir, a

including, in

boiler wholly contained within said reser voir, constructed to holdifa -..vapo r izable" liquid and the vaporthereof; means for'supplying a vaporizable .liquidto said boiler, a

fuelstorage tank, and means whereby-fuel" ma be supplied and burned undersaid 'stantially,as described. :2

with a compressed air flask, a fuel storage self; propelled torpedo provided; a

tank, a boiler constructed'withIf ivater and bui ferwithin said air storage reservoir, sub-f steam spaces and a separate combustion chamber, means for supplying water to said boiler, means for supplying and burningv fuel in the combustion chamber. of said boiler, and means for mixing the vapor generated in said boiler -with the gases of combustion after said gases have traversed heating surfaces of said boiler, whereby the volume ofvfluid under pressure and the motor of said torpedo are greatly increased. i 31? 6. An automobile torpedo having a-i'ese'rthe; water spaces to said boiler, meansrfor 'ivo'ir containing compressed air, a boiler-'constructed with combustion spaces separated ,by-suitable heat-transmitting wallsv from supplying water to' said boiler, a fuel con-a.

taming tank, means for supplying, igniting and burning fuel in the combustionspaces of said b01161, means for mixing steam ens erat'ed in said boiler with gases of com ustion aftersaidgases have been cooled by contact with water-cooled surfaces of said boiler, and a pipeto conduct vaporand gases. under. pressure from said boiler'te the motor propelling said torpedo substantlally asdescribed.

7. A self-propelled torpedo provided-with a compressed air flask, aboiler'withinsaid flask, constructed with vapor and liquid spaces and separate combustion spaces,-

means whereby a vaporizable liquid and a.

suitable quantity of fuel to evaporate the same are supplied to the vapor and liquid Fido w spaces and to the combustion spaces, respectively, of said boiler, means whereby admix ture of the vapor and products of combustion are effected, and means whereby mixed vapor and gases are led to the motor of said torpedo.

S. A self-propelled torpedo including, in combination with an air storage reservoir, a boiler constructed with water and vapor spaces and a separate combustion chamber divided from the water space by heat conducting walls. in contact at one side with the 'ater within said boiler, a pump for supplying water from the sea to saidboiler, a fuel-containing reservoir, means for supplying, igniting and burning fuel in the -combustion chamber of said boiler, and

means whereby steam and gases under pressure are supplied to the propellingmotor of said torpedo, substantially as described.

9. The combination of a compressed air storage reservoir with a boiler constructed to be wholly contained within said reservoir. means for supplying water to said boiler, and means for supplying fuel to be burned within the air under pressure in said reservoir for the generation of steam in said boiler.

10. An automobile torpedo, including, in combination with a compressed air storage reservoir. a slightly constructed boiler contained within said reservoir open to the gases therein and arranged to hold a vaporizable liquid, the vapor thereof and gases. means for supplying a vaporizable liquid to said boiler. and means for supply ing and burning a fuel under said boiler, substantially as described.

11. ,\n automobile torpedo including, in

combination with a compressed air storage 1'( Ql'\'t ll. an iuclosed vessel wholly contziined within said storage reservoir constructed with spaces to contain a vaporizable liquid and the vapor thereof. and sepa rate combustion spaces, means for supply-' ing a vaporizable liquid to. said vessel and combustion spaces of said vessel, substantially as described.

12. An automobile torpedo, including, in combination with a compressed gas storage reservoir having its center of gravity at one side of the center of buoyancy of the torpedo, a liquid storage reservoir having its center of gravity at the other side of the said center of buoyancy, connections for withdrawing the stored gas from its reservoir for the propulsion of the torpedo, and means for sinmltancously Withdrawing the stored liquid from its reservoir in such amount that the weight of the gas with drawn mutiplied by the distance of its center of gravity to one side of the center of buoyancy is equal to the weight of the liquid withdrawn multiplied by the distance of its center of gravity to the other side of the center of gravity to one side of the center consumed multiplied by the distance of its center of gravity to the other side of the center of buoyancy, whereby the balance of the torpedo is maintained.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

11. G. GILLMOR. \Vitnesses:

'i'noams II. KELLY, MI HAEL A. HORIGAN.

means for supplying and igniting fuel in the center of buoyancy, whereby the balance of of buoyancy is equal to the weight of fuel consumed multiplied by the distance of its

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