US1229797A - Submarine mine. - Google Patents

Description

E. SCHNEIDER.

SUBMARINE MINE APPLICATION FILED FEB. 1|. 1916.

1,229,797. Patented June 12 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

VIIIIIIII A LI /IIIIIIIIIII E. SCHNEIDER.

SUBMARINE MINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 11. 1915.

1 ,229,797. Patented June 12, 1917.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2- E. SCHNElDER.

SUBIVIARINE MINE.

APPLICATION HLED FEB. 1-1, 1916.

1,229,797. PzitentedJune12,1917.

I3SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Fig.3.

EUGENE SCHNEIDER, 01 LE CREUZOT, FRANCE.

SUIBMABINE MINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 12, 1917.

Application fi1ed February 11, 1916. Serial No. 77,709.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that L'Euoisnn SonNEIDnR, a citizen of the Republic of France, residing at Le Oreuzot, France, have invented a new and useful Improvement in or Relating to Submarine Mines, whichis fully set forth in the following specification. A Submarine mines are, known which are composed of two elements (a float and the mine proper) held in engagement by a suitable means, while a tensile device of suitable length extends between the float and the firing apparatus. When a mine of this type receives a shock, the float and-the mine proper are disengaged, with the result that these two elements are moved away from each other, so that the mine is fired when the tensile device becomes taut, thatis to say, when the mine proper has moved away from the float through a distance equal'to the length of the tensile device.

Now the present invention has for its object to provide a particularly simple form of submarine mine of the type specified hereinabove.

A main characteristic feature of the in vention consists in a peculiar-means of enga'gement between the float and the mine proper.

The mine proper is provided on its upper side .with a suitable number of cramps; for this purposefit is formed preferably with bosses in which horizontal pins are mounted ,for an equal number of rollers. The mine proper engages by means of these roller .cramps upon lugs or bearings from the underside of the float.

- Owingto the inertia of the mine proper suspended in this manner, the rotary movement which is imparted to the float, provid'd with antennae, by the action of a powerful shock, will cause the disengagement of the two elements, andeffect in the projecting known way the firing of the mine charge by the tensile device connecting the firing device to the float becoming taut. The invention consists also-1n a simple apparatus for sinking the mine on the expiration' of a determined length of time when the mine is arranged as a floating mine. a

The invention is illustrated in its application by way of example to a floating mine in the accompanying drawings wherein?- submerged mine, showing its elementsre- Figure 31- isan axial section of, the 'mine;

Figs. 5 and 6 are diagrammatic views of a spectively in the positions they occupy before impact, and after impact when the explosion is about to take place. F:

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of a modification.

As-shown, the upper portion of the box A containing the explosive charge is'provided with brackets a, three in number for instance, in which are fixed or with which are formed integrally the pins 6 of vertical rollers B which are arranged to .bear upon three corresponding bearings O fixed to the bottom of the float D. These rollers are situated at equal distances from the axis of the mine, and at 120 degrees from one another.

Each of the pins 6 has a recess in which there engages the rod 6 of a piston E which is impelled by a spring 6 and is arranged to work in a cylinder F fixed to the bearing C. -A block G of readily soluble substance, for instance, sugar, serves to 'keep the rod in its recess in the pin 6 so long as the mine is not submerged.

The upper part of the mine proper A is further provided with three other brackets a which are situated between the first three, and which carry the pins 6 of three horizontal rollers B that bear uponv three correeponding brackets C fixed to the underside of the fioat.

Inside the mine casing A which is annular in cross section, there is provided in the usual manner the percussion. cap box H containing a detonator h fixed to the mine cas ing in a watertight manner by any suitable means. Opposite the detonator, the head of the mine casing comprises a recess in which a friction fuse J is fixed which is connected by a brass wire K of determined length to a cross piece 03 fixed to the float D. The

4 brass wire is coiled in a funnel L which is i.provided on the head of the mine casing and able number are fixed to the float radially and are intended to take the impact of the colliding vessel and to transmit the same to the float.

The float is provided with an aperture N which is closed by a cover 0 screwing upon a union n for holding a soluble plug P. The melting of the latter causes the mine to sink to the bottom at the end of a determined. length of time if the minelhas not been struck before.

The operation of the mine is as follows Before subm'erging the mine (l igs. 1 and 2) the mine proper is connected to the float by means of the rollers B engaging the corresponding bearings. The safety rods 0 which are kept in their recesses by the soluble plugs G, prevent any untimely disengagement of the mine proper. The horizon-, tal rollers B" assure the centering ofthe whole-while facilitating the rotarymovement at the proper time.

The mine when placed in the water remains at the surface-(Fig. 5). After a very short time the melting of the plugs G releases the rods e which are attached to the float and which on being impelled'by their springs (2 move out of their lodgments in the pins B. The mine is then ready for operation.

From this instant onward, if, the hull of a ship strikes the antennae of the float, the latter will rotate, while the mine proper remains stationary owing to its inertia. The bearings C will move away from the roll- .ers B (Fig. 8) and the mine will sink and pay out thewire K that connects the fuse to the float.

When the wire has been paid out com: pletely, that is to say when the mine proper I has sunk to the predetermined depth, the

v e the explosiontakes place.

friction part of the fuse is pulled out and Thesoluble plug .P begins to melt as soon as the mine is immersed in the water, and at the endof a determined. length of time, owing to the continued -melting, wa-

ter enters the float and causes the mine to sink if it has not been previously struck by a ship.

In cases where it is desired to diminish 7 and its operatiolr'is the same as in thepreceding arrangement, the main float rising to the surface as soon as it is released from the mine proper A.

The means of engagement /consisting of cramps and bearings (the cramps having preferably the form of rollers as hereinb'efore described) may obviously be reversed, that is to say, the rollers may be attached to the underside of the float and the bearings may be carried by the mine proper.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letmally maintaining saidmine and float in unitary relationship but adapted to become disengaged upon relative rotation of the mine and float, and means adapted to fire .the mine upon separation of said mine and 3. In a submarine mine, in combination w th the mme proper, a float, means on the mine and on the float adapted when en gaged to hold theniine and -floatin unitary relationship but adapted to be disengaged by relative movement of the mine-and float, and means adapted to fire the mine upon separation of said mine and float.

4. In a submarine mine, in combination with the mine proper, a float, means on the mine and on' the float adaptedwhen en-fgaged to hold the mine and float inunitary relationship but adapted to be disengaged by relative rotation of the mine and float, and means adapted to fire the mine upon separation of said mine and float.

5. In a submarine mine, in combination with the mine proper, a float, hook-members on 111116 mine and on the float adapted when engaged to hold the mine and float in unitary relationship but adapted to be disengaged by relative'rotation of the mine and float, and means adapted to fire the mine upon separation of said mine and float.

6. Iii asubmarine mine, in combination with the mine proper, a float, hook-members on the mine and on the float adapted when engaged to hold the mine and float in unitary relationship but adapted to be disengaged by relative rotation of the mine and float, one of each pair of said hook-members being provided with a roller which bears upon its opposed hook-member, and means adapted to fire the mine upon-separation of said mine and float.

7. In a submarine mine, i111 combination with the mine proper, afloat, one of said elements having vertical projections provided with horizontal extensions constituting bearing surfaces, and the other of said elements having vertical projections pro-,

vided with rollers movable about horizontal axes, said rollers when engaged with said bearing surfaces maintaining said elements in unitary relationship but adapted to be disengaged therefrom by relative rotation of said elements, and means adapted to fire ihe mine upon separation of said mine and oat.

8. In a submarine mine, in combinationwith the mine proper, a float, means on the mine and on the float adapted when engaged to hold the mine and float in unitary relationship but adapted to be disengaged by relative movement of the mine and float, means centering said mine and float when in unitary relationship, and means adapted to fire the mine upon separation of the mine and float.

9. In a submarine mine, in combination with themme proper, a float, means on the mine and on the floatadapted when en- 'gaged to hold the mine and float in unitary relationship but adapted to be disengaged by relative movement of the mine and-float, centering means for said mine and float comprising vertical bearing members on one of said elements and horizontal rollers engaging therewith on the other of said elements, and means adapted tofire the mine upon separation of the mine and float.

10. In a submarine mine, in combination a with the mine proper, a float, members providing horizontal bearing surfaces on one of said elements, vertical rollers on the other of said elements, said members and rollers when engaged adapted to maintain said elements in unitary relationship but adapted to be disengaged by relative rotation .of said elements, centering means for said elements comprising members providing vertical bearing surfaces on one of said elements and horizontal rollers engaged therewith on the other of said elements, and means adapted to fire the mine upon separation of said elements. K

11. In a submarine mine, in combination with the mine proper, a float, means on the mine and on the float adapted when engaged to hold the mine and-float in unitary relationship but adapted to be disengaged by rotation of said float relatively to said mine,

means on the float to facilitate rotation of the same, and means adapted to fire the mine upon separation of said'mine andfloat.

12. In a submarine mine, in combination with the mine proper, a float, means on the mine and on the float adapted when engagedto hold the mine and float in unitary rela-f tionship but adapted to be disengaged by.

rotation of said floatrelativelytosaid mine,

unitary relationship but adapted to be disengaged by relativev movement of the mine and float, a lock for said means tending to move to unlocked tent for said lock.

14. In a submarine mine, in combination with the mine proper, a float, means normally maintaining said mine and float in unitary relationship but adapted to be dis engaged by relative-movement of-the mine and float, a lock for 'said means, aspring tending to move said lock to unlocked position, and a soluble detent for said lock.

15. In a submarine mine, in combination with the mine proper, a float, means normally maintaining said mine and float in unitary relationship but adapted to be disengaged by relative rotation of said mine and float, a lock to prevent said relative rotation tending to move to unlocked position, and a soluble detent for said lock.

16. In a submarine mine, in combination with the mine proper, a float, means normally maintaining said mine and float in unitary relationship but adapted to be disengaged by relative rotation of said mine and float, a lock to prevent said relative rotation, a spring tending to move said lock to unlocked position, and a soluble detent for said lock.

17. In a submarine mine, in combination with the mine proper, afloat, hook-members position, and a soluble de- 011 said mine and on said'float adapted when engaged to maintain said mine and float in unitary relationship but adapted to be disengaged by relative rotation of the mine and float, a lock normallymaintaining said hook-members in engagement but tending to move to unlocked position, and a soluble do.- tent for said lock.

18. In a submarine mine, in combination with the mine proper, a float, members presenting horizontal bearing surfaces on one of said elements, members provided with rollers movable about horizontal axes on the other of said elements, said members adaptlocked-iposition, and soluble detents for retainingsaid pins in locked position.

19. In a submarine mine, in combination w1th'the"m1ne proper, afloat, means normally mamtam ng said mme and float in unitary relationship, and means for firing In testimony whereof I have signed this the mme upon separatlon of said mine and speclfication Hgthe presence of two subscrlbfloat, said means comprising a tensile memlng witnesses.

ber connected to said mine and float, a fun- EUGENE SCHNEIDER. nel within which said tensile member is nor- Witnesses:

. mally coiled, and percussion means operated CHAS. P. PRESSLY, by said tensile member upon bec oming taut, EMILE BERTRAND'.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the flo imissioner of i'atents,

Washington, D. (5.

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