GB191412252A - Improvements in or relating to Submarine Mines. - Google Patents

Abstract

12,252. Schneider, E. May 18. Mines, marine.-Relates to safety-devices for submarine mines in which firing is effected upon impact by means of a spring-actuated striker previously cocked, and in which relative movement takes place between the cocked striker and primer when the anchor cable becomes taut or slack to bring the primer respectively within reach of, and out of reach of, the striker when released. According to the present invention, means are provided whereby the primer carrier is movable independently of the striker when the anchor cable becomes taut or slack, the striker remaining stationary within the mine. A locking-device may also be provided to prevent any movement of the striker, the device being released by the movement of the primer or its support. In the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the primer charge B has two primers b, b<1> and slides in a tube a forming an inner sleeve to the casing containing the explosive A. The support for the charge B is pivoted at b<2>, b<3> to two levers c<2>, c<3> which are pivoted at c, c<1> to the body C of the mine, and are also pivoted at c<4>, c<5> to a member d mounted on a rod D carrying the shackle E for the anchor cable F. A spring d<2> normally presses the ii-teiiiber d away from the fixed part d<3>. When the anchor cable F is taut, the spring d<2> is compressed and the primer charge B is lifted so as to be within reach of the firing-pins h<1>, h<2>. The locking-device comprises two bell-crank levers g<1>, g<2> pivoted at g<3>, g<4> to a part g fixed to the spindle G upon which the striker H slides. In the position shown in Fig. 1, the anchor cable is slack and the levers g<1>, g<2> prevent the descent of the striker. A pull on the anchor cable raises the primer charge B and causes pins b<4>, b<5> to engage the arms g<1>, g<2> of the bellcrank levers which are thus moved out of the path of the striker.