GB2264267A

GB2264267A - An underwater mine

Info

Publication number: GB2264267A
Application number: GB9009171A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bernhard Kratz; Erwin Haas; Michael Biedermann
Original assignee: Diehl GmbH and Co
Current assignee: Diehl Verwaltungs Stiftung
Priority date: 1989-05-31
Filing date: 1990-04-24
Publication date: 1993-08-25
Also published as: FR2690243A1; GB9009171D0; IT9048016A0; NL9001057A; DE3917661A1; IT1240851B; IT9048016A1

Description

An underwater mine 2264267 The invention relates to an underwater mine

having stand legs which are hinged to a mine body and which are adjustable by means of a drive mechanism, activatable by a triggering mechanism, between a delivery position butting against the mine body and a waiting position swung away from the mine body.

Such an underwater mine is known, for example. from. DE OS 33 29 700. It is dropped e.g. from a delivery tube above water, strikes the surface of the water, and sinks to the sea bed. In the case of this underwater mine the drive mechanism has spring elements which press against a piston element. The piston element is forced against hingedly mounted end portions of the stand legs. In the case of this underwater mine an arresting mass which is soluble in water is provided as the triggering mechanism. In the dry state the arresting mass forms a stop for the hinged end portions of the stand 2 legs. As has already been mentioned. the arresting mass dissolves in the water. so that the stand legs swing away from the mine body and the mine body is brought into the desired waiting position. The dissolving of the arresting mass in the sea water is bound up with a certain delay of the swivelling or respectively swinging movement of the stand legs. This is unfavourable when the stand legs are to be swung open immediately the underwater mine encounters the sea bed. A further defect of this known underwater mine consists in that the water-sensitive arresting mass can become damp upon the storage of the underwater mine. In this way an impairment of the function of the underwater mine is possible.

The problem underlying the invention is to provide an underwater mine, of the kind mentioned at the beginning C) hereof. which with a simple structure is reliably and rapidly set-up into a desired waiting position when it strikes the sea bed.

In accordance with the invention this problem is solved in that the triggering mechanism has switching sliders and a switching element cooperating with the switching sliders, each stand leg having a switching slider and the mine body having the switching element, and in which respect between the/each switching slider and the switching element an axial movement parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mine body, a rotary movement, brought about by the axial movement, of the switching element relative to the switching slider and, thus, to the stand legs about the longitudinal axis of the mine body, and a radial movement of the switching sliders with simultaneous release away from the switching element can be executed. As a result of such a design of the underwater mine it is possible, upon its delivery, which is for example possible by firing from a weapon barrel or by dropping from a watercraft or aircraft, at specific occurrences such as the impact of the underwater mine on the surface of the water, the sinking phase of the underwater mine in the sea water or respectively the setting down on the sea bed to trigger at the same time functions which are associated with these occurrences. Since the time intervals for these occurrences are variable or respectively different from one another, these events are detected by the switching sliders and the switching element, in which respect, as a result of the design of the switching element and the association of the switching sliders with the switching element, the correct C Lunction is associated with the respective occurrence.

Preferably a distance element is provided to limit the axial movement, which is possible between the switching 1 sliders and the switching element. This distance element can be provided between the mine body and a sensor ring which is spaced apart from the underside of the mine body, the stand legs of the underwater mine preferably being hinged to this sensor ring. As a result of such a hingeing it is possible to design the stand legs with a length extent which can be adapted to the axial length of the mine body and, thus, be comparatively large. This means, however, that such an underwater mine in the waiting position on the sea bed has good stability. Moreover, as a result of a design of the last mentioned kind a simple structure of the underwater mine emerges.

The sensor ring can have an impact disc on the underside. As a result of the impact disc and the sensor ring a secure retention of the distance element is possible, in which respect by suitable design of the distance element dimension tolerances of the individual component parts of the underwater mine and more especially of the mine body can be compensated for.

It has proved to be advantageous if the switching element for the transformation of the axial movement of the switching sliders into a rotary movement of the switching element is des'igned with witching cam portions against which the 1 switching sliders butt.

Upon the delivery, i.e. upon the dropping of such an underwater mine, the external forces occurring on the underwater mine in the dropping phase until the impacting on the surface of the water, those occurring upon the impacting on the surface of the water, during the sinking phase in the water and those upon the striking against the sea bed are effective against the elastic forces of the drive mechanism which is activatable by the triggering mechanism, in which respect the movements of the switching sliders by way of the switching cam portions drive the switching element. The switching element has, moreover, fixing portions which bound the switching cam portions and by which the switching sliders in the rest or respectively storage position of the underwater mine are fixed relative to the switching element. The fixing between the switching sliders and the swit(:hing element is cancelled exactly when the underwater inine is subject to a specific event, three events being of importance, namely the release procedure of holding elements with which the underwater mine is held in the delivery tube, -er entry procedure, as well as the water impact and the walt the setting-down of the underwater mine on the sea bed. The sensor system of the underwater mine can recognise the rel-ease procedure of the retaining elements from the delivery tube of the underwater mine for example by the cessation of a biassing force. The water impact and the water entry procedure of the underwater mine can be ascertained by its sensor system e.g. by the forces acting against the sensor ring or respectively against the impact disc closing off the sensor ring on the underside. The setting-down procedure of the underwater mine on the sea bed can be detected, for example. by the cessation of the forces acting during the sinking phase on elements of the underwater mine, which will be described later on in a yet more detailed manner.

In order to achieve the switching movement between the switching slider and the switching element unequivocally and mandatorily also at the reversal points of the axial switching slider movement, the switching cam portions of the switching element can for the determination of the radial movement of the associated switching sliders be designed with radial graduations.

The biassing force mentioned earlier, as a result of the cessation of which the release procedure of the holding elements in the delivery tube is ascertainable, can be achieved in that provided between each stand leg and the mine body is a force element acting upon the associated stand leg radially away-from the mine body. In the case of this force 7 element it can be a matter of spreading (translator's note: can also mean "expansion") elements which are convexly arched out away from the mine body and which are designed as single-layer spring plate strips or as multi-layer pre-arched laminate structures in the manner of so-called preformed bending beam.

A special design of the underwater mine in accordance with the invention, for which independent Patent protection is applied for, is characterised in that arranged on each stand leg is a braking element which is active during the sinking phase in the water. In the case of this/each braking element it is a matter preferably of a flutter band. As a result of the design of the underwater mine with such braking elements it is, with a simple structure. simply and reliably possible to detect the touchingdown of the underwater mine on the sea bed by the cessation of the flow or respectively friction forces acting during the sinking phase of the underwater mine on the braking elements. It is advantageous if the/each force element and/the each (translator's note: this should read "and the/each") braking element are adapted to one another in such a way that the force element until the water impact has a first force potential and during the sinking-down phase in the water until the setting-down on the sea: bed has a further force potential. In this way it is 8 possible to adapt the axial movement of the switching sliders relative to the switching element to the external forces acting on the underwater mine during the various phases of its movement, in which respect a first partial triggering upon the impact of the underwater mine on the surface of the water can represent the first force potential or respectively energy level and the flow resistance during the sinking-down phase or respectively the setting-down of the underwater inine on the sea bed can represent the second force potential or respectively energy level.

Further details. features and advantages will become apparent from the following description of an exemplified embodiment of the underwater mine in accordance with the invention which is shown diagrammatically in the drawings.

Fig. 1 shows the underwater mine prior to its bracing, C) Fig. 2 shows the underwater mine in accordance with Fig. 1 after its bracing i.e. in the biassed state, c37 Fig. 3 shows the underwater mine in accordance with Fig. 2 in a delivery tube, Fig. 4 shows the underwater mine after leaving the 9 delivery tube during the flight phase, Fig. 5 shows the underwater mine at the instant of the water impact, Fig. 6 shows the underwater mine immediately after the water impact at the start of the sinking-down phase, Fig. 7 shows the underwater mine during the sinking-down phase in the sea water.

Fig. 8 shows the underwater mine with swung-open stand legs in the waiting position on the sea bed, Fig. 9 shows the position of the switching sliders and of the switching element in the positionv shown in Fig. 1, of the underwater mine Fig. 10 shows a section along the section line X-X in Fig. 9 Fig. 11 shows a representationg corresponding to Fig. 9, of the switching sliders and of the switching element of the underwater mine in the position shown in Fig. 2 Fig. 12 shows a section along the section line XXII-XXII - (translator's note: this should be "XII-XIV') in Fig. 11 Fig. 13 shows a representation of a section of the switching sliders and of the switching element of the underwater mine in the position shown in Fig. 39 Fig. 14 shows a section along the section line XIV-XIV in Fig. 13 Fig. 15 shows a representation of the switching sliders and of the switching element of the underwater mine in the position shown in Fig. 41 Fig. 16 shows a section along the section line XVI-MI in Fig. 15, Fig. 17 shows a portion of the switching element and of the switching sliders of the underwater mine in the position shown in Fig. 51 Fig. 18 shows a section along the section line XVIII-XVIII in Fig. 17 Fig. 19 shows A representation of a section of the - 1 1 switching element and of the switching sliders of the underwater mine in the position shown in Fig. 67 Fig. 20 snows a section along the section line XX-XX in Fig. 19t Fig. 21 shows a sectional representation, corresponding to cl.> Fig. XX, through the switching element shown in section and through one of the switching sliders of the underwater mine in the position shown in Fig. 7 during the sinking-down phase onto the sea bed, and Fig. 21 (translator's note: this should be "22") shows a section along the section line UI1-XXII in Fig. 21.

The Figures show an underwater mine 10 with a mine body 12 Wiich has at the top a fixing ring 14 with a switching element 16. The fixing ring 14 is designed witin through-holes 18.

Through the base 20 of the imine body 12 of tine underwater mine 10 there extends a distance element 22, which on its two end portions remote from. one another has adjoint-pieces 24 and 26. The adjoint-piece 26 is arranged or respectively clamped between a sensor ring 28 and an impact disc 30 connected to the sensor ring 28.

Stand legs 32 of the underwater mine 10 are hinged to the sensor ring 28 by means of hinges 34.

Provided between the mine body 12 of the underwater mine 10 and each stand leg 32 is a biassed spreading (translator's note: can also mean "expanding") element 36 which is convexly arched-out away from the mine body 12 and which is arranged with its one end portion 38 on each guide element 40, the/each guide element 40 being arranged so as to be displaceable in the axial direction of the mine body 12. i.e. in the direction of the longitudinal axis 42 of the underwater mine 10. The second end portion 44 of each expansion element 36 is fastened to a guide element 46 which is guided movably along the associated stand leg 32. Provided between the/each guide element 40 and the mine body 12 is a first spring element 48 which is designed as a tension spring. A second spring element 50. which is designed as a compression spring, is provided between every second one 46 and the associated stand leg 32.

Fastened to each stand leg 32 is a braking element 52. which is designed as a flutter band. Braking elements 52, which are fasto-ned by their two end portions to the t associated stand leg 32, are indicated in the figures. It would, however. for example also be possible to fasten the braking elements respectively by one end portion to one stand leg and by their second end portion to another stand leg 32, preferably to the adjacent stand leg 32.

In the figures identical individual items are in each case designated with the same reference numbers.

In Fig. 2 the underwater mine 10 is shown in the biassed state. in which inserted through the through-holes 18 provided in the fixing ring 14 are pin-shaped securing elements 54 which also extend through holes 56 in the stand legs 32. In this biassed state the adjoint-piece 24 of the distance element 22 is spaced apart from the base 20 of the mine body 12. This spacing is designated by xl. Between the base 20 and the sensor ring 28, to which the stand legs 32 are hinged, in this biassed state of the underwater mine 10 a spacing x2 is afforded, by which dimension tolerances of the component parts of the underwater mine 10 are compensated for.

Fig. 3 shows the underwater mine 10 in the biassed state according to Fig. 2 in a delivery tube 58. in which respect on 'the rig...it-hand side of one of the securing elements 54 it is shown how it serves in accordance with Fig. 2 for the biassing of the underwater mine 10. whilst on the left-hand side in Fig. 3 holding elements 58 and 60 are shown. which replace the securing ( translator's note: can also mean 'safety") elements 54 after the introduction of the underwater mine 10 into the delivery tube 58 and hold the underwater mine 10 in the delivery tube 58 in the biassed state. In this respect the/each holding element 60 butts against the underside 64 of the impact disc 30. The axial bracing of the underwater mine 10 is in the position depicted in Fig. 3. thus by releasing of the securing elements 54, transferred to the holding elements 59. 60 of the delivery tube 58, whereby in an advantageous manner length tolerances of the component parts of the underwater mine 10 are compensated for and the underwater mine 10 is fixed resiliently in the delivery tube 58. As a result of the removal of the holding elements 59 and 60 from the delivery tube 58 there emerges, as a result of the biassing, a release of the switching sliders 00 provided on the stand legs 32 el _Y (see also Figs. 15 and 16) by a switching element 68 which is provided on the mine body 12 and which is shown in sectors in Figs. 15 and 16. The switching element 68 is provided on the fixing ring 14 of the mine body 12 and has recesses 70, distributed at the circumference of the mine body 12. with switching cam portions 72 and apertures 74 as well as blind Cn holes 76. In the biassed state of the underwater mine 10, as is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 as well as in Figs. 11 to 14, 0 the switching sliders 66 are secured in the blind holes 76.

In the relaxed state, shown in Fig. 4, of the underwater mine C during the flight phase the switching sliders 66 are moved 0 out in the axial direction out of the corresponding blind holes 76 of the switching element 68, the axial movement of the switching sliders 66 relative to the switching element 68 being specifically limited by the distance element 22, which butts with its first end portion 38 in this relaxed state against the base 20 of the mine body 12. Simultaneously to the axial movement of the switching sliders out of the 0 corresponding blind holes 7G of the switching element 08 there results a radial movement of the switching sliders 6 by the biassed expansion elements 36, so that the switching sliders 66 - as is evident from Fig. 16 - butt against the switching cam portion 72, which is designed as a wedge surface (see for example Fig. 15).

Uhen the underwater mine 10 strikes the surface of the water, which is indicated in Fig. 5, the sensor ring 28 is forced with the impact disc 30 in the direction of the base of the mine body 12 of the underwater mine 10. At the same time there ensues an axial movement of the stand legs 32 and, thirs, of the switching sliders 66 provided on the stand legs - 16 32 towards the upper side 62 of the underwater mine 10. Since the switching sliders 06 upon the impact of the underwater mine 10 on the surface of the water butt against the switching cam portions 72 designed as wedge surfaces (see Figs. 15 and 16), the axial movement of the switching sliders 66 caused by the impact of the underwater mine 10 on the surface of the water results in a rotary movement of the switching element 68, which is indicated in Fig. 18 by the arrow 78. The switching sliders 66 then, thus, no longer butt against the left-hand abutment surface 80 in alignment with the blind holes 76 but against the right- hand abutment surfaces 32, remote therefrom, of the recesses 70.

Immediately after the impact of the underwater mine 10 on the surface of the water, i.e. at the start of the sinking-down phase shown in Fig. 6, there then results again a relaxation of the expansion elements 36 or respectively of the first spring elements 48 and of the second spring elements 50, in which respect this relaxation leads to an axial movement of the stand legs 32 and, thus, of the switching sliders 66 provided on the stand legs 32 away from the upper side 62 of the underwater mine 10, this axial movement - as in Fig. 4 - being specifically limited by the adjoint-piece 24 and the base 20. In this position it is.' however, pbssible for the switching sliders 66 to emerge in the radial direction through the apertures 74 in the switching element 68. in order to assume an angular position spread away from the mine body 12, as is evident from Fig. 7. This radial expansion movement results through further relaxation of the expansion elements 36 and of the spring elements 48 and 50.

At the same time there ensues during this sinking-down phase shown in Fig. 7 an emergence and unfolding of the braking elements 52 designed as flutter bands. The greater the sinking speed of the underwater mine 10 is. the greater is the resistance to flow caused by the braking elements 52, to which the expansion angle of the stand legs 32 is inversely proportional. That is to say that to a large resistance to flow there corresponds a small expansion angle and vice versa. As a result of the braking elements 52., the sinking-down movement of the underwater mine 10 is accordingly decelerated. As soon as the underwater mine 10 strikes a sea bed 84 (see Fig. 8)g the resistance to flow becoming effective at the braking elements 52 is no longer present. so that the stand legs 32 are swung with the aid of 0 the expansion elements 36 and of the spring elements 48 and 50 away from the mine body and the imine, body 12 of the underwater mine 10 assumes the waiting position shown in Fig. 8. Such an underwater mine 10 has. between the mine body 12 - is and the stand legs 32, advantageously such an elastic flexibility that such an underwater mine 10 well withstands an attempt at sweeping. because after an attempt at sweeping C) and the external forces thereby becoming effective it again returns resiliently back into the waiting position.

0 Fig. 22 shows a portion of the switching element 68 along the section line MI-XXII in Fig. 21. in order to make evident the radial graduation 86 of the/each recess 70.

11 1

Claims

1. An underwater mine having stand legs (32) which are hinged to a mine body (12) and which are adjustable by means of a drive mechanism, activatable by a triggering mechanism, between a delivery position butting against the mine body (12) and a waiting position swung away from the mine body, characterised in that the triggering mechanism has switching sliders (66) and a switching element (68) cooperating with the switching sliders (66), each stand leg (32) being provided with a switching slider (66) and the mine body (12) being provided with the switching element (68). and in which respect between the/each switching slider (66) and the switching element (08) an axial movement parallel to the longitudinal axis (42) of the mine body (12), a rotary movement (78), caused by the axial (68) relative to the movement, of the switching element switching sliders (Go) and, thus, to the stand legs (32) about the longitudinal axis (42) of the mine body (12). and a radial movement of the switching sliders (66) with simultaneous release away from the switching element (68) can be executed.

2. An underwater mine according to claim 1, characterised in that a distance element (22) is provided to limit the axial movement which is possible between the switching sliders (66) and the switching element (68).

3. An underwater mine according to claim 2, characterised in that the distance element (22) is provided between the wine body (12) and a sensor ring (28) which is spaced apart from the underside of the mine body (12), the stand legs (32) of the underwater mine (10) being hinged to the sensor ring (28).

4. An underwater mine according to claim 3, 1 characterised in that the sensor ring (28) has an impact disc (30) on the underside.

5. An underwater mine according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the switching element (68) for the transformation of the axial movement of the switching sliders (66) into a rotary movement of the switching element (68) is designed with switching cam portions (72) against which the switching t sliders (66) butt.

6. An underwater mine according to claim 5, characterised in that the switching cam portions (72) of the switching element (68) for the determination of the axial movement of the associated switching sliders (66) are designed with radial graduations (86).

7. An underwater mine more especially according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that provided between each stand leg (32) and the mine body (12) is a force element (36) which acts upon the associated stand leg (32) radially away from the mine body (12).

8. An underwater mine more especially according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a braking element (52) which is effective during the sinking 0 phase in the water is arranged on each stand leg (32).

9. An underwater mine according to claim 8, characterised in that th&/each braking element (52) is designed as a flutter band.

10. An underwater mine more especially according to claim 7 and 8. characterised in that the/each force element (36) and/the each ( translator's note: this should be "and the/each") braking element (52) are adapted to one another in such a way that the force element (36) until the water impact of the underwater mine (10) has a first force potential and during the sinking-down phase in the water until the setting-down on the sea bed (48) has a second force potential.