GB154421A - Improvements in or relating to submarine mines - Google Patents

Abstract

154,421. Vickers, Ltd., and Elia, G. E. Nov. 3, 1919. Mines, marine. - Relates to mines of the kind in which the mine is adapted, when laid, to sink with its anchor to the bottom first, then to rise from the anchor by drawing the mooring- cable from a drum in the anchor, and finally to be stopped at the desired depth by a small weight normally secured to the mooring- cable close to the mine, which weight is released by a hydrostatic device and falls on the anchor, whereby a spring pawl is released and locks the drum. According to the invention, (1) the mine A, Fig. 2, is secured to its anchor B by means of rigid arms G hinged to the base of the anchor and connected at their upper ends to tie rods g fastened over the mine by a coupling g<2>, which is released by a soluble plug g<3> after the mine has reached the bottom; and (2) rims F are provided on the anchor and on the hinged arms so that the mines may be rolled on these rims to drop them in the sea, thereby avoiding the need of a special launching track. The mooring-cable D. Figs. 1 and 2. passes from the mooring drum E over a pulley d, then up the hollow spindle L of the drum and through a fairlead i<7> at the end of a pivotal arm i<1> to the shackle a of the mine. The drum is rotated to wind the cable in by means of a bevel-gear j and handle j<1>. During the paying out, the speed of the drum is checked by a dash-pot brake H adjusted by a micrometer device. The small weight C, Fig. 4, by which the paying out is stopped, is normally held up by a pawl c<1> in engagement with a bevelled notch c<2> in a sleeve c secured to the mooring-cable D close to the mine. When the mine in rising reaches the desired depth, an hydrostat c<11> coupled by a trigger-lever c<6> to a spring plunger c<13> is overbalanced by the pressure of the plunger spring c<14> previously set to the desired pressure by a nut c<15>. The trigger c<6> then releases the pawl c<1>, which is wedged out of the recess c<2> by the weight, and allows the weight to fall along the mooring- cable on to the arm i', which has been swung up to a vertical position by the mooring-cable. The thrust of the weight is transmitted by the arm i<1> to a lever i<2>, to one end of which it is connected by a short link i<3>; and a spring-controlled rod i is thereupon lifted by the other end of the lever i<1>, and releases a spring pawl e<1> which locks the drum.