GB510552A - Improvements in or relating to above-water torpedo-discharging gear - Google Patents

Abstract

510,552. Launching torpedoes. VICKERSARMSTRONGS, Ltd., PEARSON, E. C., and SWINDALE, J. W. Feb. 19, 1938, No. 5255. [Class 9 (ii)] Apparatus for securing a torpedo on the carriage of an above-water torpedo discharging gear comprises an arm adapted to engage the body of the torpedo at a point substantially opposite the bearing surface of the carriage for supporting the torpedo, said arm being associated with a link mechanism which, in the normal inboard position of the discharge gear, holds the arm in its torpedo-retaining position, said link mechanism being automatically operated by the movement of the torpedo-supporting carriage upon actuation of the discharging gear to cause the arm to swing away from said torpedo-retaining position. The invention is preferably employed in connection with the discharge gear described in Specification 479,497 in which the torpedo is supported on three carriages adapted to be moved on rails by a ram from an inboard to an outboard position in order to discharge the torpedo. The additional holding means, according to the invention, is shown as applied to one of the outside carriages 11 having rollers 11A, 11B which permit it to run on a rail 8, although, if desired, such means may be applied to a pair or all three of the carriages. The holding means shown comprises a bell crank lever having arms A, B pivotally secured at C to the carriage. A curved arm D also pivoted on the pin C is adapted to extend over the top side of the torpedo 5 being provided at its outer end with a screwthreaded clamp device E, F adapted to bear on the exterior surface of the torpedo. A locking pin G when passed through apertures in the arms A, D serves to connect these arms rigidly together. The free end of the arm B is pivotally connected at H to one end of a lever J pivotally mounted at K on the carriage and carrying at its free end a roller L adapted to project downwardly just behind the end of the rail 8 when the discharge gear is in its inboard position. In this position, the rear side of the roller contacts with an abutment M on the deck N of the vessel. When it is desired to place a torpedo in position, the pin G is removed and the arm D swung backwardly into the position D<1>. A torpedo is then placed on the carriages and the arm D then brought down into the position shown in full lines and the pin G inserted in the apertures in the arms A, D. On movement of the carriages into their outboard position, the roller L rides up the rail 8 so that the lever J is tilted so as to cause the bell-crank lever having the arms A, B to be swung round its pivot C which results in the lifting of the arm D and the freeing of the torpedo for launching.