US2060670A - Submarine television - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 10, 1936. i HARTMAN 2,060,670

SUBMARINE TELEVISION Filed Nov. 13, 1931.

INVEN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 10, 1936- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SUBMARINE TELEVISION Hans Hartman, Monaco, Monaco Application November 13, 1931. Serial No. 574,835

Claims. (CI. 61-69) tographic cameras for still and moving pictures and other devices for submarine research, exploration and salvage work.

The main feature of my present invention is l5 not any particular construction or technical arrangement but the utilization of existing or still unknown systems of electric television for submarine purposes in combination with watertight and water pressure resisting compartments or 90 chambers, shells and the like and also, the combination of electric television means .with photographic cameras and other useful devices which can be utilized for submarine purposes.

As it is evident that, at the present development 25 of the art, this main feature of my invention may be attained in varying technical combinations and by using various technical constructions, it is obvious that I cannot limit myself to any particular embodiment of the invention,

30 one of which I am describing herein and showing in the accompanying drawing merely to il lustrate one possible combination of parts, whereby equal numerals designate equal or similar parts.

35 In a steel globe I, closed watertight by a removable steel cover 2, at one side in a vertical direction, and held in place by screws 2a, having a plurality of circularly arranged larger openings, closed by heavy glass or quartz-lenses 3,

attached watertight to the cover by metal rings 3a, are inserted an equal number of electric lamps 4, the light of which is intensified and reflected thru said lenses 3, by means of reflectors5, to the exterior so as to illuminate the water in front 45 of said cover, when globe I, is submerged.

In the center of the cover 2, are providedtwo smaller openings, closed also watertight by means of two lenses 6, and I, held in place by a metalring and cushioned at both sides by washers or 50 gaskets as indicated in heavy black lines. Thru lens 6, an image of the illuminated exterior will.

pass into the globe I, and guided by means of a double prism 8, it will fall thru the apertures of a scanning disk 9, upon a photo-electric cell III, 55 the latter sending feeble electric impulses which may be amplified in any manner known to those skilled in the art, by means of electric conductors and a cable I9, to a television receiving apparatus on board of the vessel from which the globe I, has been lowered into the water. 5 The second lens I, willlead the same image from the exterior thru a similar double prism II, to the lens of a photographic motion picture camera I2, which is driven electrically and may be controlled from the ship. As the entire apparatus, may be preferably lighter than the water it displaces, alow voltage motor I3, attached (with its shaft in a vertical position) to the lowermost part of globe I will force the same down by rotating its propeller I4, in a predetermined direction. Above the globe I, is disposed a high pressure cylinder I5, containing compressed air. The same will pass thru a reducing valve I6, actuated by increasing water pressure, during the descent of the globe g into greater depths, into its interior, so as to increase the internal pressure resistance of the globe I, which may be at the start already filled with compressed air to a certain degree.

I1 designates adjustable connectors and I8, additional tubular lamps or luminous tubes to increase the submarine illumination, while I9, is 'an electric cable and 20, a safety valve to allow thecompressed air to escape when the globe I, raises to the level and the air pressure within it surpasses the water pressure.

The lamps 4, may be protected against the internal air pressure either bya steel partition arranged behind the cover 2, or the reflectors I, I may encase each lamp individually against said compressed air. Thescanning disk 8, is driven in synchronism with a similar disk in the television receiver on board the ship by an electric motor, not shown, in the usual manner. The

electric motor I3, driving propeller I4, may be 40 exposed to the sea water, to avoid friction as long as the electric'current does not pass over 10 volts, as at so low voltage'no short-circuit can be caused and the electrical losses will be small. The tubular lights I8, may be of a gas-filled type or may contain short tubular incandescent lamps, protected by a heavy quartz or glass envelope, sealed watertight. The current to be used to be preferably of high voltage, direct current,

and the lamps connected in series, so as to permit the use of a thin, flexible cable and to reduce losses therein. Separate submarine illuminators may also be utilized, being lowered near the above described apparatus or near the objects to be ex- 5 directly around and-uponthe globe I, and being\ amined or photographed, by means of arsecond cable and alternating current in combination with transformers may then be used, which would discable ll, after the cylinder II, has been tilled with air at a high pressure and an electric circuit closed thru the motor II, and alsothru the lamps- I, and i8, and the motor rotating the scanning disk I, is running in synchronism with a similar motor and scanning disk in the receiving appa y ratus, installed in a darkened cabin oi the ship, an image or the illuminated area under water will be transmitted and appear upon a screen or the like. a

As soon as anything oi suilicient interest be comes visible, an observer may close an electric circuit thru the motor 01' the motion picture camera or thru an electrical mechanism of any photographic still camera so as to obtain photographic records of what can be seen at that moment in the television receiving apparatus, co-

operating with the submarine television sending device described.

It shal) be pointed out that I do not wish to limit myself to the use of a television system utilizing a perforated scanning disk or to any one particular other system of receiving and transmitting television images. However, at the present development oi the art of television, the use. of a scanning disk appears to be preferable for submarine television to any other known system, due to its simplicity and compactness, as against for example 0! revolving mirrors an polarizing prism, etc.

a To increase thebrilliancy of illumination, additional submarine lights maybe disposed either led with the necessary electriccurrent by the same cable, or by additional cables. Or said additional submarine lights may form separate units and be supplied with electric energy by separate cables. 7

From the vessel the submarine television images or electric impulses oi the photo-electric cell 0, may be transmitted by wireless, aitcr havdescribed herein produces as images of thellluminated area deep below the water level.

,Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. A submarine television apparatus comprising a hermetically sealed casing, electrically driven television and photographic means in said casing in combinationwith electric submarine illuminators.

2. A submarine television apparatus comprising a watertight sealed casing, means to lower said easing into the water, electrically driven television receiving and transmitting means and a photographic camera within said casing.

3. A submarine television receiver comprising a watertight closed chamber, electrically driven and distantly controlled television image receiving means and a motion picture camera within said chamber.

. 4. 'A submarine television receiver and image transmitter comprisinga watertight closed chamher,v electrically driven and distantly controlled electric television image receiving and transmitting means and photographing apparatus within said chamber in combination with electric illuminating means adapted to be used under water.

5. A submarine television apparatus in comtelevision images receiving ,and transmitting means and photographing apparatus within said HANS HARTMAN.

Images