GB353301A - A device for preventing torpedoes from sinking beyond a predetermined depth - Google Patents

Abstract

353,301. Torpedoes. SILURIFICIO WHITEHEAD DI FIUME SOC. ANON., Fiume, Italy. Sept. 1, 1930, No. 26069. Convention date, Aug. 30, 1929. [Class 9 (ii).] Relates to torpedoes the buoyancy of which is reduced by the ejection of compressed air under the control of an hydrostat, when the torpedo sinks beneath a predetermined depth, the object being to cause the torpedo to come to the surface to facilitate its recovery. According to the invention, the compressed air is ejected through nozzles directed rearwards, so that, the torpedo being then inclined upwards, the reaction of the air jets helps to urge the torpedo to the surface. As shown, the rearwardly directed nozzles 6, Fig. 1, are in communication with a space 7 between the front end 8 of the compressed air receptacle 3 and a similarly shaped partition 9; and the hydrostat 44, Fig. 3, is arranged at the upper end of a rod 40 attached to a transverse frame 33. The hydrostatic diaphragm 44 is controlled by a spring 42 and is provided with a lever 48 hinged at 58. The bottom end of the frame 33 is connected by a rod 34 to a shoe 36 pivoted at 37. When the torpedo is in its launching tube, the shoe 36 prevents any movement of the hydrostat ; but after the torpedo is launched, the shoe is free to swing out and the lever 48 is urged outwards by spring 59. Hence, if the torpedo sinks below a predetermined depth, the hydrostat is depressed and the frame 33 drives a plunger 39 down against a pair of togglelinks 25, 23 which compress a spring 28 on one side and displace a piston 19 on the other side. The head 20 of the piston 19 bears on the end 15 of the spindle of a pilot valve 14, which is opened bv the displacement of the piston 19. Compressed air then passes from the reservoir 3 through a port 16 and the pilot valve 14, and opens a main differential valve 12 ; after this compressed air passes also through a port 17 and then through a port 21 in the piston 19 and a port 56 in the casing 18 of the piston to a valve 54, which it forces open against a spring 55. The compressed air then passes through this valve to the space 7 and thence to the nozzles 6. The lever 48 in swinging out when the hydrostat is depressed brings a tooth 53 on the lever into locking engagement with the cover 51 of the hydrostat, which is thus held depressed until the lever is pushed back by hand.