US2442030A - Torpedo control switch - Google Patents

Description

May 25, 1948. c. c. WHITTAKER ETAL. 2,442,030

TORPEDO CONTROL SWITCH Filed Nov; 24, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

INVENTORS C/mr/es CI l l fi/kfaker 00a WITNESSES:

309/ 6. Jones.

ATTORNEY May 25, 3948.

C. C. WHITTAKER AL TORPEDO CONTROL SWITCH Filed Nov. 24, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 d m Y E N I 8 W E n 0 M 0 T a m MC cmma KM f. m 0 C.

Patented May 25, 1948 TORPEDO CONTROL SWITCH Charles C. Whittaker and Ruel C. J ones,Wilkinsburg, Pa., assignors to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, of Pennsylvania East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation Application November 24, 1943, Serial No. 511,581

7 Claims.

Our invention relates to a system of control, and more particularly to certain elements utilized in a system of control for a, torpedo.

The present war has brought into use the electrically driven torpedo but in such torpedoes for certain operations gas. flasks are still necessary for the operation of certain devices. While it is ordinarily not important to provide for certain specific operations, as the disconnection of an electric motor from the propulsion means, on the final run, it does become rather important how the system of control is. utilized for a torpedo during exercise Further, since space is at a premium. in a torpedoi so that a maximum explosive charge may be carried, allof the devices must be relatively small compactv and yet .suificiently inexpensive not to raise the cost of a torpedo to excessive figures.

One object of our invention is the provision ofza system of control for an electrically driven torpedo. wherein the source of energy to the propulsion motor is disconnecteda substantially definite time interval after a predetermined run of the torpedo has been completed.

A, broad object of our invention is the provision of means for facilitatingthe recovery of a to pedo at the end of an exercise run.

A more specific object or our invention is the provision oi pneumatic time limit means for rapidly effecting the opening of a pneumatically operated electric switch when the pressure for actuating the switch decreases to a given value.

It is an object of our invention to provide a pneumatically operable switch which, is compact, rugged and inexpensive.

Another object of our invention is the provision of a low pressure relief valve in a pneumatic system which causes a rapid decrease of the pressure in the pneumatic system when the pressure in such system decreases below a given value.

The objects hereinbefore recited are merely illustrative, because many other objects and advantages will become apparent from a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawings,- in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic showing of our system of control for facilitatingthe'propulsion of a torpedo fora given length of time and the recovery of the-torpedo at the end of a run;

Figs. 2 and 3 are showings even more schematic than those in Fig. 1, illustrating modifications of our system of control;

Fig. 4 is a side view of a four-way valve utilized in our system of control;

Fig. 5 is an end view of the subject matter shown in Fig. 4; i

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a pneumatically operable switch; and

Fig. '7 is a longitudinalsectional view of a low pressure relief valve.

Referring to Fig. 1, l designates the torpedo having the exercise head 2 attached thereto, 3 de ignates the after-body of the torpedo in the region of the starting valve 4. This starting valve t is. provided with a trigger arm 5 coacting with the dog 6 on the torpedo. tube andthis valve is designed to be opened at, the operation of arm 5 when the torpedo is fired. Forthe operation of the pneumatic devices a gas flask 1, which may contain air under high pressure as 3000 to 4000 pounds per square inch, is, utilized. This flask is connected to the valve 4 actuated by the starting trigger 5 and, when opened, supplies air under pressure to the four-way valve 9 and thence to the pneumatic switch ill, during one stage of operation and for another stage of operation to the four-way valve 9, and thence through the tube 1 Iv to the interior of the exercise head 2.

A battery I2 is utilized for supplying the energy to the ropulsion motor l3. This propulsion motor i3 is of the series type having no commutating poles but is controlled for operation at constant speed by the governor mechanism M'for shifting the brush ring 15 so that constant motor speed is maintained.

The four-way valve is also designed to be operated by the governor mechanism to shift the four-way valve from the connection shown to such a connection that the flash I is connected to the chamber of the exercise head and the conduit NS, for supplying the pneumatic switch with gas pressure, is connected to the pressure relief valve ll.

A better understanding of some of the details of our invention can probably be had from a study of a typical sequence of operation during an exercise run. This operation is as follows: The instant the torpedo is fired, the lever arm 5 is actuated by the dog -6 and the valve 4 is opened whereupon gas from the flask l under-high pressure is admitted to the conduits 8 and 8'. The conduit 8' leads to various devices on the torpedo having no connection with the invention herein described. The conduit 8 leads to the four-way valve 9 and, as shown by the broken lines, provides gas pressure to the pneumatically operated switch ID which is thereupon operated with a short time delay to close thecontacts l8 to-thus '55 establish a circuit from the battery l2 through completed, the dog 22 on stem 2| 'actuates the a latch lever 63 to release the lever arm 61 coupled to the relatively strong spring 25 which is under considerable stress. This spring causes the fourway valve to rapidly rotate in a clockwise directhe pneumatically operable switch Hi. It is thus apparent that although the pressure in conduit Is at the instant the four-way valve 9 is operated may be 3000 pounds per square inch, it will slowly be dissipated by the pressure relief valve l1 and once the pressure has dropped to a given low value which may be 350 to 400 pounds per square inch, the pressure for maintaining the pneumatically operable switch closed is suddenly removed and the switch contacts |8 are rapidly opened.

With the high pressures encountered, the pressure relief valve can usually be depended upon tion connecting the conduit 8 to the conduit ll;

thus driving the ballast water from the exercise head and making the torpedo buoyant so that recovery may be facilitated.

It is important that the switch contacts l8 and other devices may not be injured by a slow operation of the pneumatic switchlll. The conduit I 6 therefore by the operation of the four-way valve 9 is connected to the low pressure relief valve IT. This low pressure relief valve IT after a substantially predetermined interval of time, namely, at a predetermined pressure in conduit l6 suddenly dumps the pressure in this conduit It, thus permitting a rapid opening of the contact members N3 of the pneumatic switch ill.

The low pressure relief valve (referring to Fig. 7) is provided with a base for connection to the pneumatic system and for connection to the cylindrical portion 3| of the Valve. This cylindrical portion is divided in two chambers by a partition 32'provided with the valve seat 33 for receiving a ball valve 34. This ball is held within a cup-shaped piston 35 disposed in the lower chamber of the cylindrical valve construction. The upper chamber is provided with discharge openings 36 and has internal threads 31 for receiving the valve adjusting nut 38. This nut once adjusted may be held in adjusted position by the lock nut 39. This nut further has an axial opening for receiving the stem 40 provided with the rim 4| at the base and the projection 42 therebelow, contacting with the upper surface of the ball valve 3 A spring supporting collar 43 rests on the rim 4| and against the lower or downwardly facing region of the adjusting nut 38. The downwardly facing region is provided with an annular chamber so that a spring 44 may be supported between the collar and the base of the chamber in nut 38. This spring-is selected to have a predetermined strength and by means of suitable adjustment of the nut 33 may be caused to press downwardly on the ball valve 38 with a predetermined force.

This low pressure relief valve is designed to have a relatively slow leak past the ball valve 34, so that the pressure in the lower chamber once the pressure of the flask is removed is caused to disappear slowly, but when this pressure in the lower chamber has decreased to a sufficiently low value the pressure on the lower portion of the ball valve becomes less than the pressure of the projection 42 acted upon by the spring 64. Then the ball valve 34 is moved downwardly and the lower chamber of the relief valve is open directly to the discharge openings 36, thus dumping the pressure in the lower chamber.

This lower chamber, as shown in Fig. 1, is'connected to the conduit I6 supplying pressure to without special design to effect the operation of the switch '|0 within a relatively short time, as 15 to 20 seconds. If, however, it is feared that this valve mayactually be perfectly gas tight and that the pneumatically operable switch be also perfectly gas tight, then a restricted exhaust port may be provided in the system supplying pressure to the switch. In Fig. 2, we have shown this restricted'opening IT at the four-way valve so that when the four-way valve is operated to the position to supply the gas to the exercise head, conduitlfi is connected to the port l1. At such time the conduit supplying pressure to the switch is connected to the restricted exhaust port in the four-way valve, and since, as shown, the low pressure relief valve is interconnected with this conduit, it will also function to cause rapid operation of this switch.

In Fig. 3, we have shown a scheme of control not requiring a four-way valve. In this case, the valve 16 is a simple valve for merely opening the connection of the flask to the exercise head. It will be noted that in this case the switch remains connected to the flask, but since substantially all of the gas under pressure from the flask is utilized to expel the ballast water from the exercise head, the pressure will naturally drop in the pneumatic system and after a given time the low pressure relief valve will function to rapidly effect the operation of the pneumatically operable switch.

The pneumatically operable switch comprises a connection 41 to be connected to the conduit IS, a cylinder 48 for housing the piston 49. This piston is designed as a valve at the region 50 and coacts with the valve seat 5| in the region of the mid portion of the cylinder 48. The reduced upper end of the piston is rigidly connected to the inverted cup-shaped member 52 having the reentrant shoulder connection 53. The upper outer portion of the cylinder isprovided with a collar 54 and a spring 55 under compression is disposed between the collar 54 and the reentrant shoulder connection to thus normally vhold the piston in the position shown..

The piston is provided with. a rod having the stop nut .56. member 51 suitably insulated from the rod by the insulating. sleeve .58. Thecontact member 5! slides freely on the piston rod and is designed to resiliently engage the contact member's I8.

To effect this resilient engagement of the contacts, a spring 59 under compression is disposed between the lower face of the contact members and a suitable circumferential outer ledge on the outer portion of the cup-shaped member 52.

The piston is designed to fit somewhat loosely in the cylinder so that when pressure is admitted to the conduit l6, there is some leakage of the gas past the piston and the switch is thus not operated with too much impact so as to injure any portion of the switch.- However, once the 1 piston is forced upwardly, the conical portion 50 On-this rod is disposed a contact engages the valve seat 5|, thus providing a sub-v stantially. perfect seal against any leakage oi" the gas. from the switch.

sarytour connections to the flask, pneumatic switch, exercise head, and relief valve, .respectively. This valvehas its lever 60 connected to a link 6| which, in turn, is connected to another lever 62 which may be extended so as to form a handle for resetting this valve manually. The four-way valve is provided with a tripping latch 53 biased in a clockwise direction about the pivot pin 64- by the spring 65 disposed between the ledge 66 and the right-hand end of the latch member 63. The dog 22 on the governor mechanism at the end of the run is designed to move the-latch member 63' counterclockwise whereupon the dog 61 on the hub of the lever 82 is released. The spring 2-5 thus causes the levers {iii and 62 to rapidly move in a counterclockwise directionthrough an angle of substantially 90 to thus change the connection from that shown in Fig. l to such a connection that conduits 3 and Il are interconnected, and conduit is and the relief valve are interconnected.

While we have shown but few systems of co11- trol and but single embodiments of the details, we do not wish to be limited to the particulars shown or described but wish to be limited only by the scope of the claims hereinafter recited.

We claim as our invention:

1-. A pneumatically operable switch for use in a system of control for a device, as a torpedo, said system including a source of, gas pressure and valve means, in combination, a cylinder adapted to be connected at one end thereof through said valve means to the source of gas pressure, piston disposed in said cylinder forming a compression chamber, said piston having a loose fit in the chamber to rovide some lag in the movement of the piston when gas is admitted into the compression chamber by the operation ofsaid valve means, saidcylinder and piston on the side opposite the compression chamber forming a gas-tight valve so that no gas leaks out of the compression chamber once the piston has been operated, a piston rod projecting from the other'end of the cylinder, an inverted cup-shaped member secured to the piston over the cylinder, spring means, normally under compression, engaging the outer portion of the other end of the cylinder and the inner edge of the cup-shaped member to thus bias the piston toward the said one end of the cylinder, a switch element slidably mounted on the piston rod, an abutment at the end of the piston rod to limit the slidable movement of the switch element in the direction to the outer end of the piston rod, spring means normally under compression engaging the outside of the cup-shaped member and the switch element to thus resiliently support the switch element.

2. A pneumatically operable switch for use in a system of control for a device, as a torpedo, said system including a source of gas pressure and valve means, in combination, a cylinder adapted to be connected at one end thereof through said valve means to the source of gas pressure, a piston disposed in said cylinder forming a compression chamber, said piston having a loose fit in the chamber to provide some lag in the movement of the piston when gas is admitted into the compression chamber by the operation of said valve means, said cylinder and piston on the side opposite the compression chamber rod and disposedforminga gas-tight valve so that no gasleaks outofthe compression chamber once the piston has been operated, apiston rod projecting from the other end of the cylinder, an inverted cupshapedmember secured to the piston rod and disposed over the cylinder, saidcup-shaped'mem-i her having a reentrantledge at the edge and said cylinder having a peripheral ledge facing the reentrant ledge, a spring under compression dis. posed between the said reentrant ledge peripheral ledge, and a, resiliently mounted switchelement on theouter end of the piston rod.

3. A pneumatically operable switch for usev in a system ofcontrol for a device, as a torpedo, said :system including a sourceof gas pressure andvalve means, in combination, a cylinder adapted to be connected at one end thereof through said valve-means to the source'of' gas pressure; a piston disposed in said cylinder forminga compressionchamber, said piston having aloose fit in the chamber to provide some lag in the movement of the-piston when gas is admitted into the compression chamber by the operation ofsaidvalve means, said cylinder and piston on the side-opposite the compression chamber forming a gastight valve so that no-ga-s leaks out of the compression chamber once the piston has beenoperated, a piston rod projecting from the other end of the cylinder, an inverted cup-shaped member securedto the piston rod and disposed over the cylinder, said cup-shaped member having a reentrant ledge at the edgeand said cylinder having a peripheral ledge facing the reentrant ledge, a spring under compression disposed about said cylinder and completely housed within said cupshaped member between: the said: reentrant ledge and peripheral ledge, and a resiliently mounted switch. element onthe'outer end of the pistonred.

4. A pneumatically operable switchfor use in a system of con-trol for a device, as a torpedo; said system including a source of gas pressure and valve means, in combination, a cylinder adaptedto be connected at one end thereof through-said valve means to the source of gas-pressure, a piston disposed in said cylinder forming a compression chamber, said piston having a loose fit in the chamber to provide some lag in the movement of the piston when gasis admitted into the-compression chamber by the operation ofsaidvalvemeans, said cylinder and piston on the side opposite the compression chamber forming a gas-tight valve so that no gas leaks out of the compression chamber once the piston has been operated, a piston rod projecting from the other end of the cylinder, an inverted cup-shaped member secured to the piston rod and disposed over the cylinder, said cup-shaped member having a reentrant ledge at the edge and said cylinder having a peripheral ledge facing the reentrant ledge, a spring under compression disposed between the said reentrant ledge and peripheral ledge, a switch contact disc slidably mounted on the piston rod, an abutment at the end of the rod to limit the movement of said disc toward the outer end of the rod, and spring means under compression engaging the cup-shaped member and the disc to bias the disc against said abutment.

5. A pneumatically operable switch for use in a system of control for a device, as a torpedo, said system including a source of gas pressure and valve means, in combination, a cylinder adapted to be connected at one end thereof through said valve means to the source of gas pressure, a piston disposed in said cylinder forming a compression chamber, said piston having a loose fit in the n i v 7 chamber to provide some lag in the movement of the piston when gas is admitted into the compression chamber by the operationof said valve means, said cylinder and piston on the side opposite the compression chamber forming a gas-tight valve so that no gas leaks out of the compression chamber once the piston has been operated, a piston rod projecting from the other end of. the cylinder, an inverted cup-shaped member secured to the piston rod and disposed over the cylinder,

said cup-shaped member having a reentrantledge at the edge and said cylinder having a peripheral ledge facing the reentrant ledge, a spring under compression disposed between the said reentrant ledge and peripheral ledge, a switch contact disc slidably mounted on the piston rod, an abutment at the end of the rod to limit the movement of said disc toward the outer end of the rod, peripherally projecting means on the outer cylindrical surface of the cup-shaped member, and spring means under compression disposed between said disc and peripherally projecting means adapted to bias said disc against the abutment on the piston rod.

6. A pneumatically operable switch for use in a system of control for a device, as a torpedo, said system including a source of gas pressure and valve means, in combination, a cylinder adapted to be connected at one end thereof through said valve means to the source of gas pressure, a. piston disposed in said cylinder forming a compression chamber, said piston having a loose fit in the chamber to provide some lag in the movement of the piston when gas is admitted into the compression chamber by the operation of said valve means, said cylinder and piston on the side opposite the compression chamber forming a gas-tight valve so that no gas leaks out of the compression chamber once the piston has been operated, a piston rod projecting from the other end of the cylinder, an inverted cup-shaped member secured to the piston rod and disposed over the cylinder, said cup-shaped member having a reentrant ledge at the edge and said cylinder havin a peripheral ledge facing the reentrant ledge, a spring under compression disposed between the'said reentrant ledge and peripheral ledge, a switch contact disc slidably mounted on the piston rod, an abutment at the end of the rod 8 v to limit the movement of said disc toward the outer end of the rod, a peripheral ledge on the cylindrical surface of thecup-shaped member, and a helical spring disposed about the piston rod and under compression engaging the peripheral ledge and the disc to bias the disc against the abutment on the piston rod.

7. A pneumatically operable switch for use in a system of control including a source of gas pressure, in combination, a, cylinder adapted to be connected at one end thereof to the source of gas pressure, a piston disposed in said cylinder forming a compression chamber, said piston having a loose m in the chamber to provide some lag in the movement of the piston when gas is admitted; into the compression chamber, said cylinder and piston on the side opposite the compression chamber forming a gas-tight valve so that no gas leaks out of the compression chamber once the piston has been operated, a piston rod projecting from the other end of the cylinder, a mem-' her having a diameter somewhat greater than the cylinder secured to the piston rod and disposed above the cylinder, spring means secured to the member and the cylinder for biasing the piston toward the said one end of the cylinder, a switch element slidably mounted on the piston rod, an upper abutment on the piston rod for limiting the upward movement of the switch element, and spring means disposed between the said member and the switching element for biasing the switching element against the abutment at the upper end of the piston rod.

CHARLES C. WHIT'IAKER.

RUEL C. JONES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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