GB211196A - Improvements in or relating to submarine mines - Google Patents

Abstract

211,196. Vickers, Ltd., and Elia, G. E. Nov. 8, 1922. Mines, marine. - A submarine mine is automatically anchored at the desired depth by means of an auxiliary line which is paid out from the sinker while the main mooring rope is also being paid out; the upper end of the line is connected to the mine or to the upper end of the main mooring cable and is adapted to be released therefrom at the desired depth. This release stops the mooring cable drum in the sinker. In the form shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the sinker B and the mine, A are secured together before launching by a combined time and hydrostatic release Q, as described in Specification 210,873. The mooring cable C and the auxiliary line F are paid out of the sinker B from two drums D, E rotating in opposite directions on the same fixed spindle G<1>, the drums acting as brakes to each other by frictional engagement at H. The upper end of the mooring cable C is attached to the mine A by means of a tension-controlled safety device, as described in Specification 212,971, to delay the separation of the mine from the sinker at the beginning of the launching operation. The upper end of the line F is connected by a link g<1>, Fig. 3, to a. socket g<7>, which is attached to the stem g<6> of an hydrostatic device G on the mine A by a shear wire g<10>. When the mine is launched and falls below the desired depth before its release from the sinker, the diaphragm g<2> is forced up by hydrostatic pressure and the stem g<6> of the diaphragm confines balls g<8> in holes in the socket g<7> and in the casing of the hydrostat, the socket being thus locked to the hydrostat. When the launching operation is nearly completed and the mine has risen to the desired depth, the balls g<8> are released by the hydrostat, the wire g<10> is sheared by the pull of the line F, and the drum E is driven in thel reverse direction by the drum D through the braking engagement H. This reverse rotation of the drum E drives a ratchet wheel K by means of a pawl J<1>, and a detent plate L fixed to the wheel K releases a pawl M, which is urged by a spring N into locking engagement with a toothed wheel d on the drum D, thereby stopping this drum. In some modifications, the two drums are mounted on a screwthreaded spindle or on parallel screw-threaded spindles and follow each other, so that when the line drum ceases to rotate it acts as a stop to the mooring-cable drum, or the line drum works a nut which acts as the stop for the mooring-cable drum. In another modification, the pull of the auxiliary line normally holds a spring pawl away from a ratchet wheel on the mooring-cable drum; and when the line is released, the pawl locks the drum. A suitable form of hydrostat for the present purpose is described in Specification 163,339.