GB240299A - Improvements in or relating to means for discharging or laying submarine mines from submersible vessels - Google Patents

Abstract

240,299. Vickers, Ltd., and Thurston, Sir T. G. O. Oct. 7, 1924. Mines, marine; laying.- Submarine mines are ejected one at a time from a submerged tube by means of water under a higher pressure than that of the surrounding medium. As shown, three mines D, D', D<2>, Fig. 1, are placed in a tube A and held therein by stops E, E<1>, E<2> on a longitudinal shaft E<3> which can be rotated by a hand-wheel E<4>, Fig. 2, to unlock the mines in succession, the number unlocked being indicated by a pointer E<5>. The tube is provided with front and back doors B, C. The front door B is hinged at b and operated through a worm gear b' and a longitudinal shaft B<2> by a hand-wheel B<3>. The back door C is hinged' at c and swung about this hinge by a handle, C<3> provided with a counterweight c<3>. This door is locked in the closed position by a gated ring C<1>, which is rotated by means of a pinion c<2> and handle C<2>. When the ring C' is not in the locking position a cam slot C<4>, Fig. 7, thereon deflects a bell crank c<4> which locks the band-wheel B<3> and thus prevents the opening of the front door. Similarly, when the front door is open, a nut b<2>, Fig. 6, on a threaded part of the shaft B<2> deflects a lever b<3> which puts a bolt b<4> in the path of a stop c<x> on the ring C' and thus prevents the opening of the back door. The position of the nut b<2> also indicates whether the front door is open or closed. When the back door is open as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the front door being then closed, the mines are loaded into the tube by means of a frame G provided with pinions g adapted to engage rack teeth on the mines and thereby to drive the mines into the tube when the pinions are rotated through gearing by means of a hand-wheel G<1>. The mines are guided on their way by means of rollers d<3>. The back door is then closed, after which the front door can be opened and the mines unlocked one after another. Each mine, when unlocked, can be ejected by the admission behind it of water under pressure from pipes F. F', F<2> respectively. When a mine is discharged, it tilts a lever H, which by means of a link h coupled to a weighted arm h' rocks a longitudinal shaft carrying an arm h<2> cooperating with a hammer h<3> and thereby strikes a gong H<3>. , Before the back door is opened to reload the tube after the mines have been discharged and the front door shut again, the water is cleared out through the pipes F, F<1>, F<2>, air being admitted at the same time by a pipe f. Suitable valves are provided' in the pipes F, F<1>, F<2>, and a pump for supplying the water under pressure. When several tubes are used. separate pipes and valves are preferably provided, for each tube. The mines are of the automatically moored kind with a sinker d provided with hinged arms d' normally folded against and retaining the buoyancy chamber. The racks and rollers for loading the mines are disposed on these arms. When the mines are layed, the arms open out, releasing the buoyancy chamber from the sinker, and when the sinker touches the bottom, the arms assist in anchoring the mine.