GB190512794A - Improvements in Explosive Mines or Projectiles. - Google Patents

Abstract

12.794. McCombie, T. G. F., and Mac- Ilwaine, J. B. S. June 21. Explosive mines; projectiles ; fuses for projectiles. -A submarine contact mine 2, Figs. 3 and 15, is attached by lines 4, 5 to a buoy 3, Fig. 2, and an anchor 1, Fig. 1. The anchor 1 consists of a shell, which before being fired from a gun contains the buoy and mine, the latter being enclosed by the former. On entering the water, a potassium or sodium fuse 34 in the plug 31 ignites a charge in the chamber 33 and the plug is blown out. A charge of compressed air in the chamber 38 then expels the mine 2 and the buoy 3, and finally compressed air in the upper part of the buoy drives the piston 44 downwards and expels the mine from the buoy. The mine is constructed with frangible arms 25, which assume radial positions when the mine is liberated. Each arm contains a water fuse similar to that shown in Fig. 6, for exploding the mine when an arm is fractured by contact with a passing vessel. The fuse consists of a plug 12 carrying a charge 16 of potassium or sodium, for the ignition of a priming-charge 13. Water reaches the inlet 18 by passing around the threads of the timing-screw 12, or it may be admitted directly, the time interval, when such is required, being obtained by the interposition of a suitable length of fuse cord between the water igniter and the priming-charge. The mine may be rendered self-destructive either by closing the inner ends of the arms 25 by soluble plugs which in the course of time admit water to the fuse, or by providing in the buoy a tube 48 containing corrosive liquid and having two soluble plugs 50, 51. The shell 1 may be formed with a flat or cup-shaped nose 8, and in a modified form, for use as a projectile torpedo, it may be constructed with a water fuse in the side or base, and with a soft nose, so that on striking the sides of a vessel it will immediately sink and explode beneath the vessel.