GB160181A - Improvements in and relating to submarine mines - Google Patents

Abstract

160,181. Skipwith, H. L. d'E., and Sturgeon, R. A. June 24, 1916. Mines,marine. - Relates to mines of the kind in which the mine body is released from its anchor after sinking with it to the bottom, and is subsequently stopped at a given depth by means of a hydrostat which releases a short slack length of mooring-rope, whereupon the change or changes of tension in the mooring-rope cause the mooring-rope drum in the anchor to become locked. According to the invention, the hydrostat is arranged outside the mine and is released therefrom when the locking operation is performed. As shown in Fig. 2, there is a slack length 1<2> of mooring-rope adjacent to the mine 3, the end 13 of the rope being fixed to the mine or provided with a stop which prevents its escape through an eye 11 on the mine. The hydrostat 10 is carried by a pair of tongs 5, 7 which holds the mooring-rope 1 to one eye 8 on the mine. At the appointed depth, the stem 9 of the hydrostat trips a locking catch 6 and falls off with the tongs 5, 7. In one arrangement, Figs. 3 and 4, the sudden release of tension in the mooring-rope 1 allows the mooring-drum carried by a lever 16 in the anchor 13 to fall on a stop 22 which locks the ratchet-wheel 14 of the drum; unlocking, when the tension is restored, is prevented by spring arms 18 which move out of recesses in a plunger 17 at the end of the lever 16. The spring arms 18 are locked before the launching operation by a collar 21 which is displaced out of action to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4 when the mooring-rope is tensioned and lifts the drum and lever 16 at the beginning of the mooring operation. In a modification, it is the sudden excess of tension that occurs when the slack of the mooring-rope is taken up that overcomes a spring in the anchor and locks the drum, a spring stop again preventing subsequent unlocking.