US2826001A - Self-propelled model submarine - Google Patents

Description

March 1l, 1958 F. G. PRESNELL SELF-PROPELLED MODEL SUBMARINE Filed May 11, 195e L V., WQ QN E m. M M WNH MNHN m m. m Huwmhw Mmmmwml. m R r nmwmmwu. N P .u 1 G. K wmv K K Q wk M. um M f Y B SELF-PRUPELLED MODEL SUBMARINE Frank G. Presneil, Hollywood, Calif.

Application May 11, 1956, Serial No. 584,287

7 Claims. (Cl. 4694) This invention relates to toys and particularly to a new and improved self-propelled model submarine.

Generally, self-propelled model submarines have positive buoyancy and inclined diving planes which cause submergence by exerting a downward force when the model is propelled forwardly through water. Resurfacing occurs after the dynamic downward force is reduced, in consequence of loss of speed due to exhaustion of motive power, to a point where buoyancy predominates.

The diving planes may be arranged to effect either evenkeel of bow-down submergence. Diving planes giving even-keel submergence exert a backward force as the model rises to resurface, thus slowing the models forward progress during resurfacing, or even causing the model to move backward while resurfacing. Generally, planes arranged to give even-keel submergence must be un realistically large in order to be effective. While planes arranged to give bow-down submergence tend to avoid these disadvantages, suchplanes are difficult both to proportion and adjust, as slight variations in the size or setting tend to result in the models either refusing to submerge, or diving too steeply.

Propulsion for model submarines can be provided inexpensively by the use of rubber bands driving an ungeared screw propeller. However, rubber bands are tedious to wind, and with such propulsion it is diicult to combine realistic appearance and good performance, since a propeller of realistic size is incapable of preventing excessively rapid unwinding of the bands if the latter are sufiiciently heavy to store much power, while if the bands are light enough to permit satisfactory duration of propulsion with a propeller of realistic size, little power can be stored, and the models speed will be low. Further, a model submarine has little lateral stability, and a single propeller tends to cause the model to heel excessively. These disadvantages can be avoided by the use of geared twin propellers which, however, add to complication and cost.

A primary object of this invention is, accordingly, the provision of a new and improved model submarine of simple, inexpensive construction which is propelled submerged at a satisfactory speed for a relatively extended period of time, and Whose trim is controlled to afford the model a slight, definite dive angle when submerging and aslight, definite rise angle when surfacing.

Another object is the provision of an improved propulsion device for model submarines, which device is simple in construction and capable of storing a relatively large amount of power that is expended at a controlled rate to give relatively prolonged propulsion at satisfactory speed.

Yet another object is the provision of an improved propulsion device as in the foregoing wherein the rate of utilization of the power stored by the device may be simply varied.

A further object is the provision of a model self-propelled submarine of the class described which, during submergence thereof, is trimmed to a realistic dive angle, and` Patent 2 which trim is automatically changed, in response to the exhaustion of power in the propulsion system, to give the model a rise angle and thereby assure realistic surfacing thereof in a forward direction.

A still further object is the provision of a self-propelled model submarine of the class described which is so constructed as to insure the removal of unwanted air from the propulsion device and from the interior of the model.

Another further object is the provision of a model submarine having a uid jet propulsion system embodying a check valve movable by gravity in response to loss of pressure in the propulsion system to shift the center of gravity of the model and thereby change the trim of the latter.

Yet a further object is the provision of a novel fluid pump for use with a jet propelled model submarine of the class described.

These and other objects are accomplished in the illustrative embodiment of the invention by the provision of a submarine-shaped hull enclosing an elastic propulsion tube adapted to be inflated with water. During operation of the model, the water in the propulsion tube is expelled, by contraction of the tube, through an after nozzle opening for propelling the model forwardly. A ballast member, which, in the illustrative embodiment of the invention, also functions as a valve to close a forward hull opening through which the propulsion tube is filled, is retained, by the pressure of water in the tube, in a forward position of sealing engagement with said opening whereby the model is made slightly bow heavy so that it assumes a slight dive angle for submergence. Upon con traction of the propulsion tube to substantially its normal condition, the ballast member is released for movement by gravity to a rearward position whereby the model is made slightly stern heavy so that it will assume a slight rise angle for surfacing in a forward direction under the action of the buoyant force therein.

The pump for filling the propulsion tube is of novel design including a container for water, and a reciprocable member engageable directly with the hull of the model about said forward opening and adapted for reciprocation, by movement of the hull, to pump water from the container to the tube interior.

The invention possesses various other novel features, such as means for assuring proper and complete inflation of the propulsion tube, complete removal of air from the interior of the hull, and realistic otation of the model when surfaced, which will become readily apparent as the ensuing description proceeds, reference being had therein to the attached drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a section taken longitudinally through the present model submarine showing the latter during diving thereof;

Fig. 2 is a reduced section taken along line 2-2 of Pig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a reduced section taken along line 3-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a reduced section taken along line 4--4 of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a section, on reduced scale, similar to Fig. 1 showing-the present model during surfacing thereof;

Fig. 6 is a section through the pump for filling the propulsion tube of the present model; and

Fig. 7 is a section taken along line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

The model submarine illustrated in these drawings. comprises a hollow hull 10 preferably constructed as a plurality of rigidly joined, molded plastic sections, as

shown. The model includes horizontal and `vertical stabilizing planes 12 and 14, respectively, disposed in axial planes of the hull, and a hollow conning tower 16. Hull 10 and conning tower 16 have ports 18 and 20 to admit i water to the interior thereof, and the planes v12 and `14 may' aseaooi have openings 22 formed therein to receive weighted slugs for'longitudinal and lateralbalancing of the model. VYThe conning tower 16 is secured to the upper portion of hull lib, as shown.

:The -forward and after ends oflhull 1'0 areiformed with axial Vopenings 24 Vand 26, respectively, the former deiining an inlet port for filling of the models propulsion system, generally indicated at 28, as will shortly'be more fully described, and the latter lhas the reduced after end ofa-sleeve 30 fixed therein.

Sleeve 3i) has abore 32 extending into its forward end, which .bore is continued in aireduced bore 34'having its after end continued .in a still further reduced bore Yforming a nozzle 36. The forward end of'sleeve Sil-is formed Withfa bead 38.

Secured aboutits periphery'to the interior wall Vof the one piece bow section of the hull as by suitable -adhesive, is a rearwardly tapered, cone-shaped wall 40lhaving a central, rearwardly, projecting stud 42. Stud 42 has a bead 44, and is formed with a central bore 46 which iscontinued at its forwardend in a reduced bore V48 opening to the forward sideof wall 40.

A-rod 50 has its opposite ends received in the-enlarged bores 32 and 46 in sleeve 30 and stud 42 and 1s .grooved at opposite ends, as shown at 52. Indicated at 54 is Aa `tube of elastic material, such as rubber, having its opposite ends stretched over the beaded ends 38 and 44 of the sleeve 30 :and stud 42, wire bands 38a and l44a being used -to assure a secure it. The grooves 52 in rod Sil-serve to permit the flow of water through the central-opening i8 in wall 40 into tube 54 and from the tube into :bore 34 and nozzle 36.

Disposed .in the forward compartment 37 of .the hull, defined by the forward wall of the hull and -wall fill, is a steel ball 56 which is adapted to occupy forward position in said compartment, shown in Fig. l, wherein it-seals the opening 24, and a rearward position, showninFig. 5. It will be seen that if the pressure in said compartment-is greater than external pressure when opening 24 is scaled by ball 56, the latter will befretained in said forward `position even though the hull occupies a generally horizontal position. If, however, the pressure in the compartment be equal to or :less than Vsaid external pressure with the hull in the position of Fig. l, the -ball will roll along the downwardly inclined inner surface or vfloor of the compartment 37 to said rearward position lof Fig. 5`

Formed on the yupper portion of -t'ne inner wall of lhull 10 is a longitudinal rib 58 and pieces-66 and-62 of .buoyant material are secured in the upper portion ofthe hull interior at the forward and-'after ends thereof. The volume and vertical positioning lof this 'buoyant material in the hull are such as to give vthe model positive k:buoyancy 'and a positive metacentric height when lthe entire hull, Fincluding compartment 37 and tube 54, are filled with water. The longitudinal disposition of the buoyant material is such that with the entire hull lled with water, and with ball 56 moved to its forward position, the center of gravity of the model is slightly forward of its center' of buoyancy to give the model 'a slight dive angle, as Vshown in Fig. 1, and with the ball moved to its rearward position, the center of gravity is slightly aft of the center yof buoyancy to give the model a slight rise angle, as shown in Fig. 5.

Illustrated in Figs. 6. and 7 is a pump which may be employed for filling andexpanding the elastic propulsion tube 54 of the present model. This pump comprises an open top container 64 adapted to be filled with water, as shown. Centrally fixed to the bottom wall of the container is a hollow, upstanding, cylindrical barrel 66 the central passage 68 in which opens through the upper end thereof. The lower endV of the passage is` continued in a reduced, right angle passage-7tl-opening through the wall of barrel 66 adjacent the bottom wall of the container so that water may ow from the container into the barrel. The. wall of passage 70, at its juncture with passage 63,

l is beveled to form a valve seat 72 for a ball check valve 74.

Slidably telescoping over barrel 66 is an outer barrel 76 in the wall of which is fixed a headed sleeve 78. Sleeve 78 has a passage 80 extending therethrough and projects into an elongated slot 82 in the inner barrel 66 to limit the telescoping movement of the outer barrel 76. The louter end of passage is beveled to form a valve seat in sealing engagement with which is retained, by an arcuate leaf spring 86 extending part way around the outer barrel, a ball check valve 8S. This check valve functions as a relief valve, as will presently be described. The upper end wall of the outer barrel is formed with a central opening 90 taperedto conform substantially to the tapered bow of hull 10. A coil compression spring 94 bears at opposite ends against the bottom of the inner barrel and the upper end of the outer barrel so as to normally retain the Aouter barrel at its upper limit of travel von the inner barrel.

In use of fthe invention, the'hull itl is filled with water throughits Vafter ports 18, preferably by submerging the hull bow `down in a vertical position, and container 64 of the pump is-va'lso filled with water, as shown. The bow of the hull isthen placed in the opening 90 in the upper end of the outer"barreli76 ofthe pump, as shown in phantom lines inf-Fig. 6.

The hullisreciprocated with its bow so engaged with the outer pump barrel, whereupon ball check valve 74 will alternately open and close in such a manner that water will be pumped from the container 64, through the forward hull port 24, into the forward compartment 37 of the hull and thence into the elastic tube 54, the airin the forward compartment and tube 54 being thereby expelled through the now uppermost nozzle opening 36. The conical shape of wall 40 prevents the entrapment of any air in the forward compartment 37 of the hull during the pumping operation even though the hull is not held trulyI vertical. Air inthe compartment would, of course, upset the balance of the model when afloat.

.After 4all of the air has been expelled from 'the compartment and tube through the nozzle 36, as indicated by water issuing therefrom, the latter is sealed .by the operators linger. Continued reciprocation of the hull and outer pump barrel to pump water Iin the propulsion tube will cause the latter 'to expand with resultant outward flow, through the hull openings 18, of the water in the hull which is displaced by the expanding tube. The tension of the leaf spring 36 on the pump is made such that upon the tube expanding into engagement with the interior wall of the hull, as shown 'in Figs. 2 and l, the rise in pressure will cause the ball check valve 88 to unseat and permit the escape of water from the pump interior, thus indicating that the propulsion tube is fully expanded.

It will ybe observed from Fig. 2 that a pair of small longitudinal passageways 96 are formed between the rib 58 'and expanded tube '65 vthrough which water, displaced by the expanding tube, may flow from the forward part of vthe hull to the rearrof the hull and thence out through the hull ports 1:3. Entrapment of water in the forward portion of the hull, with `resultant incomplete expansion of the tube, is ythus avoided. Rod 50 extending through the tube 54 prevents kinking yof the latter during expansion thereof, Vas would be p'rone to occur in the absence of such rod.

After -the propulsion tube has been completely expanded, the model .is removed from the pump whereupon the ball check valve 56 in the bow of the hull will be retained in -its forward position, wherein it closes and seals the hull-port 24, under the pressure of the water in the forwardk compartment due to the expanded condition of the elastic propulsion tube.

The model is now placed in water and released to un- `cover the 'nozzle 36, and contraction of the expanded elastic vpropulsion tube 54 causes the issuance of a jet of water from the nozzle to propel the model forwardly.

Because of the previously described disposition of the buoyant material in the upper interior of the hull, rather than in the conning tower, the hull will initially oat with its conning tower extending a substantial distance above the water surface. Owing to the retention of ball 56 in its forward position, the model will assume a slight dive angle, as was heretofore discussed. The openings 20 through the conning tower wall permit the conning tower to fill with water when the model submerges, and as the tube S4 contracts, water is drawn into the hull through the after hull ports 18 so that the buoyancy of the model and its angle of dive remain substantially unchanged.

The model will continue to dive until the propulsion tube 54 has contracted to such an extent that the pressure of the water in the tube and the forward compartment 37 approximates the external water pressure at the depth of the model. Ball 56 will then be released to roll to its |after position, shown in Fig. 5, along the forward, inclined inner hull surfa-ce, as previously described.

Rearward movement of the ball shifts the center of gravity of the hull, as previously explained, to give the model a slight rise angle, and the positive buoyancy of the model causes it to rise. Owing to the slight rise angle, the stern planes 14 produce a planing action having la forwardly directed force component during upward movement of the buoyant model through the water so that it will tend to move in a forward direction while resurfacing. The ports 20 in the conning tower permit the drainage of water therefrom upon surfacing of the model so that the latter will realisticly completely resurface with its conning tower above the water surface.

Since the stern planes 14 are disposed in `a neutral position and the model is caused to assume a dive angle, during submergence, by a forward positioning of its center of gravity rather than -by the action of stern planes, the dive angle is substantially unaffected by the speed of the model and delicate adjustment of the planes to achieve a desired dive angle is not necessary. The use of a jet propulsion system avoids heeling, as occurs in models employing a single screw, rotary propulsion mechanism, and enables the submerged speed of the model to be easily adusted by the proper choice of nozzle size.

It will be apparent that there has been described a model, self-propelled submarine which is fully capable of attaining the objects and advantages preliminarily set forth. While a present preferred embodiment of the invention has been described, it is illustrative in nature only, many modifications in the design and 'arrangement of parts thereof being possible within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A toy submarine comprising: an elongated buoyant hull having forward and after ends, a Huid pressure system in the hull comprising an expandableelastic tube; there being an inlet opening through the forward end of the hull communicating with :said tube for lling said tube with water under pressure to expand the tube and a discharge opening through which water may be expelled by contraction of the tube; a ball check valve adapted to be retained in a forward position sealing said first opening by pressure of the Water in said system; the center of gravity of the hull being forward of its center of buoyancy when the ball is in its forward position whereby the hull will assume 'a slight down angle when normally supported in water; a floor surface for said ball check valve adjacent said inlet opening which slopes downwardly toward said after end when the hull is inclined at said down angle; said ball being released to roll along said surface to a second position wherein the center of gravity of the hull is rearwardly of its center of buoyancy in response to loss of pressure in said system whereby to cause said hull t-o assume an up angle.

2. The subject matter of claim 1 wherein said second opening denes a nozzle through which water in Sad system is expelled in the form of a jet by contraction of the tube to propel the model.

3. A toy submarine comprising: an elongated, hollow, buoyant hull having forward and after ends; said hull having an opening in its forward end; a conduit member rigid in the after end of the hull defining a rearwardly directed nozzle opening through the after end of the hull; a transverse Wall within and adjacent the forward end of the hull and sealed about its edge to the inner wall of the hull whereby to form forward and after compartments in the hull, said wall having a central opening therethrough; a ball in the forward compartment adapted to close said forward opening; an elastic, open ended tube in said after compartment sealingly secured at opposite ends to said wall and conduit member and having its interior in communication with said openings in the wall and conduit member, said forward opening being adapted to be communicated with a source of water under pressure to fill and expand said tube; said nozzle opening being adapted to have the water in the tube expelled therethrough for propelling the hull forwardly by contraction of the tube when said ball is retained in a position of sealing engagement with said forward opening by the pressure of water in the tube and forward compartment; and said hull having openings therethrough below the normal surfaced water line thereof communieating to the interior of the hull about said tube.

4. The subject matter of claim 3 wherein in said sealing position of the ball, the weight of the latter causes the center of gravity of the hull to be slightly forward of its center of buoyancy to give the hull a down angle when normally supported in water; and the lower portion of the inner wall of said forward compartment sloping rearwardly and downwardly away from said forward opening toward said wall when the hull is freely supported in water whereby the ball when released is adapted to roll to a rearward position against said wall; the center of gravity of the hull in the latter position of the ball being slightly aft of its center of gravity.

5. The subject matter of claim 3 wherein said wall is cone-shaped with its apex projecting rearwardly of the hull whereby to assure complete removal of air from the forward compartment when the tube is lled with the hull held in a generally vertical, bow down position.

6. The subject matter of claim 3 including a rigid rod within the tube and secured at its opposite ends in said wall and nozzle openings; the ends of the rod being slotted to provide said communication between the tube interior and said openings.

7. A toy submarine comprising: an elongated, hollow hull having a nozzle opening in one end; an elastic tube within and xed at opposite ends to the hull, the interior of the tube communicating with said opening and being fllable with water to cause expansion of the tube, subsequent contraction of the tube causing a jet of water to issue through said nozzle opening for propelling the hull through water; and a rigid rod extending longitudinally through the tube and attached at opposite ends to the hull to prevent kinldng of the tube during expansion thereof.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,205,759 Lewis Nov. 2l, 1916 1,262,051 Humphrey Apr. 9, 1918 1,306,284 Seidl June 10, 1919 1,903,805 Buckley Apr. 18, 1933 2,194,564 Middler Mar. 26, 1940 2,549,428 Costea Apr. 17, 1951 2,661,571 Ramsay Dec. 8, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 657,263 France Jan. 12, 1929 955,455 France June 27, 1949

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