GB472975A - Improvements in or relating to means for launching torpedoes - Google Patents

Abstract

472,975. Launching torpedoes. THORNYCROFT & CO., Ltd., J. I., THORNYCROFT, SIR J. E., and MILES, C. E. April 1, 1936, No. 9670. [Class 9 (ii)] Relates to torpedolaunching cradles of the kind which run on transverse rails and which, near the end of the outward travel, throw the torpedo over the side of the vessel with its longitudinal axis approximately parallel to that of the vessel. According to the invention, the cradle has a bearing surface adapted to support only a lateral segmental portion of the torpedo above and below the horizontal plane passing through its axis, the torpedo being held against the bearing surface by means which are automatically released at or near the termination of the outward accelerating movement of the cradle. In the construction shown, the torpedo 20, Figs. 1 and 4, is held by straps 19 against the cradle which comprises plates 1 connected by upper and lower members 2, 3, and which is supported by and guided upon transverse rails 5. The cradle is moved outwardly by means comprising flexible wires 12, 13, which lead from the front of the cradle to a cross-head 11 on the plunger 10 of a ram cylinder 9. Fluid under pressure is supplied to the cylinder by a pipe 15, the pressure being produced by the explosion of a cartridge in a container 16 as described in Specification 129,376, [Class 9 (i)]. The cartridge is fired by means of a handle 18 which, by means of a rope 36, bell-crank lever 34 and a rod 33, also moves a stop 32 which normally prevents any outward movement of the cradle. The ends of the straps 19, which pass around the torpedo, are connected to loops or eyes 21, Fig. 6, which engage with lever arms 22 extending from sleeves 22a fixed to the upper and lower ends of two shafts 23 journalled in the cradle. The upper sleeves of the two shafts carry each a lever 25, the outer ends of which are normally held by trip devices on vertical shafts 27. The two shafts are suitably interconnected so that they rotate simultaneously. One shaft carries a lever 30 adapted to strike against a fixed stop 31 secured to the deck of the vessel. In operation, the rotation of the shafts 27 is effected by the movement of the lever 30 when it strikes the stop 31, thus freeing the levers 25 and thus allowing the shafts 23 to rotate to release the holding straps 19. The torpedo is normally supported by two devices each comprising metal segments 39, Fig. 3, a fixed chock 37 and a further chock 37a hinged to the deck in such manner that it can be turned downwards into a position in which it lies clear of the torpedo. The two pivoted chocks are interconnected by links 45, 45a, the inner ends of which are connected to opposite arms of a two-armed pivoted lever 46, whereby they may be both moved by means of a single lever 43. Associated. with the lever 46 is a device which prevents any movement of the stop 32 until the chocks 37a are moved clear of the torpedo, and which thus prevents any movement of the hand-lever 18.