GB2136738A - Cable trap mechanism for supply cables of a torpedo - Google Patents

Abstract

A cable trap mechanism for the cable ends in the launch tube of a torpedo for cut supply cables, in order to prevent damage to the blades of the drive propeller. A carriage is disposed in stationary rails (8) of a launch tube (2) and the free end of a supply cable is gripped either by a spring-loaded carriage (not shown) or by a torsion spring (23) and may be pressed into an area of the launch tube wall, away from the propeller, after the cable has been cut by the initial movement of the torpedo. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cable trap mechanism for supply cables of a torpedo The invention relates to a cable trap mechanism for the supply cables of a torpedo having drive propellers, which torpedo is launched from a launch tube under its own power and wherein the supply cable is disconnected via a disconnection device with traction release during the launch process.

It is known to cut supply cables in the launch of a torpedo. If a launch tube is used, the free cable end located in the tube does not cause any problems. In the case of a system with a torpedo launch tube in which the drive is started in the tube and the torpedo is launched under its own power from the tube, there is, however, the problem of the cable free end damaging the rotating propeller blades. A further difficulty lies in the fact that when torpedos are inserted in the tubes the dimensions are such that there is very little clearance space. This requires that the incorporated supply cable must be inserted simultaneously with the torpedo and there can be no further installation in the launch position of the torpedo.

To overcome the above difficulty it is important to provide a device for torpedo launch tubes that ensures, after cutting of the supply cable, defect-free operation of the torpedo in a simple manner during launching and which enables use of the device for the launch positioning of the torpedo despite the above-mentioned limitations of available space.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a cable trap mechanism for supply cables of a torpedo having a drive propeller, which torpedo is launched from a launch tube under its own power the supply cables being cut during the launch process by means of a disconnection device using traction release, wherein the free end that appears when the cable is cut is mechanically moved out of the right cylindrical volume swept by the rotating blades of the propeller of the ejected torpedo.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a cable trap mechanism for supply cables of a torpedo having a drive propeller which torpedo is launched from a launch tube under its own power, the supply cable being cut during the launch process by means of a disconnection device using traction release, wherein the supply cable is guided and maintained, in the launch position of the torpedo, in a launch tube via a rail, in which the supply cable is positioned in the launch position when the torpedo is inserted in the launch tube via a carriage that is inserted in the rail, the carriage being pre-tensioned in the launch position via a spring element that ensures that the free end of the supply cable when cut does not foul the drive propeller.

One embodiment of the invention is provided in which the carriage is disposed as a mounting for the supply cable in the insertion position of the torpedo via detachable pivot elements on the torpedo and may be pivoted into the rail in the launch tube and in that the carriage is locked in the launch position via a stop acting as a retaining element on the torpedo and may be pre-tensioned between the retaining points on the launch tube and on the carriage via a spring.

In another embodiment of the invention a carriage may be inserted in the rail and the carriage may be displaced via a connecting rod with respect to the cable end in such a way that the supply cable may be disposed in a groove of the rail for the purposes of guiding and may be locked via a clamp and that the carriage is locked in the launch position via a stop acting as a retaining element on the torpedo and may be pre-tensioned in the launch direction via a spring between the retaining points on the launch tube and on the stop.

In yet another embodiment of the invention it is proposed that a carriage having a connecting rod which is disposed in a detachable manner on the torpedo is inserted in a rail of the launch tube in the insertion position of the torpedo for the retention of the supply cable and that the connecting rod and therefore the carriage may be connected with the rail in the launch position- of the torpedo and that the carriage supports a torsion spring which surrounds the end of the supply cable and is pre-tensioned in the direction of the launch tube wall.

The invention will be more fully understood from the following description given by way of example only with reference to the several Figures of the accompanying drawings in which : Figure 1 shows schematically the general disposition of a torpedo in a launch tube, Figures 2 to 4 show schematically the launch sequence from the loading to the ejection of a torpedo, Figure 5 is a partial view of the rear end of the torpedo of Figure 1, to an enlarged scale, Figure 6 shows in perspective a disconnection device for the supply cable, Figures 7and 8 are schematics similar two Figures 2 to 4 of a further embodiment in the launch position of a torpedo and during the launch process, Figures 8 to 11 are cross-sectional views of the rails taken on the section stations IX-IX, X-X and Xl-XI of Figure 7, Figures 12 and 13 are schematics showing a further embodiment respectively in the launch position and during the launch process, Figure 14 is a perspective view similar to Figure 6 showing the disconnection device item XIV inset of Figure 12, to an enlarged scale, and Figure 15 is a view of the area of the torsion spring taken on the section station XV-XV of Figure 13.

In the arrangements shown in the drawing a torpedo 1 is provided in each case and is positioned in a launch position in a launch tube 2. The torpedo 1 comprises a drive propeller 3 and is connected with a supply cable 4 which is to be cut by an associated disconnection device 5 by means of traction release during launching from the launch tube 2.

In Figures 1 to 5 a device for gripping the cut cable end is shown. In the loading process a carriage 6 is fastened to the torpedo 1 via detachable pivot elements 7. The carriage 6 in this way receives the supply cable 4. This attachment to the torpedo 1 is of importance and enables the entire arrangement to be introduced through the aperture of the launch tube 2. When the torpedo 1 is in the position shown in Figure 2, the carriage 6 is dropped downwardly on to a rail 8 disposed in the launch tube 2. Apertures 9 are provided in the rail 8 for this purpose. During the further forward movement of the torpedo 1 to the end position, i.e. the launch position, of Figure 3 the carriage 6 is guided in the rail 8. In this position the pivot elements 7 are now moved away.A draw spring 10 is associated with the carriage 6, said spring 10 is attached to retention points 11 and 12 respectively on the launch tube 2 and on the carriage 6 and thus spring 10 pre-tensions the carriage 6 in the launch direction (arrow A). In this respect the carriage 6 is held on the torpedo 1 via a stop 13 acting as a retaining element. The supply cable 4 is additionally held by a cable clamp 14. During launching of the torpedo 1 the disconnection device 5 is actuated. The carriage 6, which is drawn by the spring 10, simultaneously follows the torpedo which is in front of it. In this respect the carriage 6 presses the cut free cable end on the rail 8 and the cable is not trapped in the rotating blades of the propeller 3 which passes safely by it (see Figure 4).

In Figures 7 to 11 the supply cable 4 is disposed in the rear area in the rail 8 disposed in the launch tube 2 after introduction of the torpedo 1 into the launch tube 2 and a carriage 14 is inserted in the rail 8.

When the carriage 14 is moved forwards via a connecting rod 15 the supply cable 4 is inserted in a groove 16 of the rail 8 until a stop 17 is adjacent to the torpedo 1, as can be seen from Figure 7. In this arrangement the connecting rod 15 covers the supply cable 4. After the supply cable 4 has been made taut, it is clamped in a cable clamp 18 (Figure 8). The carriage 14 is pre-tensioned in the launch direction via the connecting rod 15 by the extended draw spring 10 which engages with the retaining points 11, 12 on the launch tube 2 and on the stop 17.

After launching of the torpedo 1 the supply cable is cut by the disconnection device 5. The carriage 14 simultaneously follows the torpedo 1 via the draw spring 10 and brings the free end of the cable into the rail 8. The free end of the cable is therefore unable to enter the turning circle of the blades of the rotating propeller 3.

In Figures 12to 15, before loading ofthe launch tube 2, an insertion element 19 is attached as an extension to the rail 8. After this the torpedo 1 is loaded into the launch tube 2 approximately up to the connection of the supply cable 4. The supply cable 4 is then fastened on a carriage 20 by means of a cable clamp 21 and on an associated connecting rod 22 which is an extension of carriage 20. A torsion spring 23 is connected to the carriage 20, which spring is placed in the area at which the cut free end of the supply cable will subsequently appear and grips the cable 4 (Figure 14). For the purposes of the loading process for the torpedo 1, the connecting rod 22 is held against the torpedo 1 via a detachable strap 24. On further forward movement of the torpedo 1 the carriage 20 is threaded into the rail 8 via the insertion element 19. The thrust forces for the carriage 20 are transmitted from the torpedo 1 via the connecting rod 22 so that no forces are applied to the supply cable 4. When the torpedo 1 reaches its launch position in the launch tube 2, the insertion element 19 is removed and the strap 24 is detached from the torpedo 1. The connecting rod 22 is then fastened to the rail 8 (Figure 13). During the launch of the torpedo 1 the supply cable 4 is cut by the disconnection device 5 and the free end of the supply cable 4 is pressed on to the wall of the launch tube 2 by the torsion spring 23. In this way the free end of the cut cable is unable to enter the turning circle of the blades of the rotating propeller during the launch of the torpedo 1.

Claims (6)

1. A cable trap mechanism for supply cables of a torpedo having a drive propeller, which torpedo is launched from a launch tube under its own power the supply cables being cut during the launch process by means of a disconnection device using traction release, wherein the free end that appears when the cable is cut is mechanically moved out of the right cylindrical volume swept by the rotating blades of the propeller of the ejected torpedo.

2. A cable trap mechanism for supply cables of a torpedo having a drive propeller which torpedo is launched from a launch tube under its own power, the supply cable being cut during the launch process by means of a disconnection device using traction release, wherein the supply cable is guided and maintained, in the launch position of the torpedo, in a launch tube via a rail, in which the supply cable is positioned in the launch position when the torpedo is inserted in the launch tube via a carriage that is inserted in the rail, the carriage being pre-tensioned in the launch position via a spring element that ensures that the free end of the supply cable when cut, does not foul the drive propeller.

3. The cable trap mechanism as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the carriage is arranged as a mounting for the supply cable in the insertion position of the torpedo via detachable pivot elements on the torpedo and is pivoted into the rail in the launch tube and the carriage is locked in the launch position via a stop acting as a retaining element on the torpedo and is pre-tensioned in the launch direction via a spring between retaining points on the launch tube and on the carriage.

4. The cable trap mechanism as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the carriage is inserted in the rail and the carriage is displaced with respect to the cable end via a connecting rod in such a way that the supply cable is disposed in a groove of the rail for the purposes of guiding and is locked by a clamp, the carriage being locked in the launch position via a stop acting as a retaining element on the torpedo and pre-tensioned in the launch direction via a spring between retaining points on the launch tube and on the said stop.

5. The cable trap mechanism as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the carriage has a connecting rod disposed in a detachable manner on the torpedo and is disposed in a rail of the launch tube to maintain the supply cable in the insertion position of the torpedo and in the launch position of the torpedo the connecting rod and the carriage are connected with the rain and the carriage supports a torsion spring which surrounds the end of the supply cable and is pre-tensioned in the direction of the launch tube wall.

6. A cable trap mechanism constructed and arranged as hereinbefore described and as shown in the Figures of the drawings.