GB191504994A - Improvements in or relating to Submarine Mines. - Google Patents

Abstract

4994. Vickers, Ltd., and North, T. K. March 31. Mines, marine.-Relates to firing-devices of the kind comprising an arm extending from the mine and deflected by a passing ship to fire the mine. According to the invention, a rotary spring clutch is arranged axially between the mine and the arm to prevent accidental deflexion of the arm, but yielding to the blow of a passing ship. In the form shown in Fig. 1, a socket C at the bottom of the mine (not shown) is screwed to a sleeve C' and is prevented from rotating relatively thereto by keys c in grooves in the socket C and sleeve C<1> and by screws c<2>. The lower end of the sleeve C<1> has lugs C<2> forming a bayonet-joint with lugs D<2> on a rotary clutch member D, which is secured by bolts a' to a socket A<1> attached to the anchor cable and carrying the arm A. The other clutch member E is mounted on the sleeve C' and is prevented from rotating by internal ribs e' in engagement with the groove c' in the sleeve C<1>. The clutch member D has V-shaped notches D' in its face, and the member E has corresponding ridges E', which are pressed into the notches D' by a spring e at the back of the member E. The socket A<1> has a slot A<3> normally interlocked with one of the screws c<2> to prevent rotation of the socket, the socket being held thus by soluble plugs a<4>. When the mine is laid, the plugs a<4> are dissolved away and the mine, after shearing a pin between the sockets A<1>, C, rises by its buoyancy until stopped by the heads a<2> of the bolts a<1>, this being sufficient to disconnect the socket A<1> from the screw c<2>. On impact with a ship, the socket A' and the clutch member D are rotated by the arm A, the notches D<1> wedging the other clutch member E back; the bayonet-joint C<2>, D<2> being thus disconnected, the mine rises by its buoyancy, and the rod B is drawn down relatively to the mine, bringing about the firing of the mine in a known way.