US1235783A - Mine-destroying device. - Google Patents

Description

A. FERNANDEZ.

MINE DESTROYING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-20, l 9l6.

' Patented Alig. 7, 1917 I 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

ALFE RNANDEZ. MINE DESTROYING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-20,1916. I 1,235,783. Patented Aug. 7,1917.

2 SHEETS'-SHEET 2.

/ 1 gwvemtoz ivrmn-nnsrnorrns DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.-

Patented Aug. '7, 1917.

Application filed September 20, 1916. Serial No. 121,252.

cm, a subject of the King of Spain, residing at the city of Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mine-Destroying Devices; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to makeand use the same.

My invention has for its object to provide an efficient spring actuated gun for use on submarines for the purpose of secretly directing projectiles against mines while the vessel is submerged. In carrying out this object, I employ certain novel features of construction and unique combinations of parts to be hereinafter fully described and claimed, the descriptive matter being supplemented by the accompanying drawings which constitute a part of this application and in which: s

Figure 1 is a side elevation of, the improved gun showing the same located in an external compartment of a submarine, the device being in position for loading; a

Fig. 2 is a similar view after a proj has been placed in the barrel;

Fig. 3 is a central vertical longitudinal section;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view Fig. 5 is a horizontalsection showing the relation of parts when the projectile is first placed in the barrel;

Fig. 6 is a similar view with the projecting spring compressed; 7

Figs. 7 and 8 are transverse sections on the planes indicated by the line. 77 of Fig. 4, showing differentpositions of parts; and

Fig. 9 is a detail longitudinal section on the plane indicated by the line 99 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings above briefly described, the numeral 1 designates an external compartment in a submarin said compartment being water tight but having doors 2 which may be opened so that the improved gun which is mounted in said compartment 1 may direct projectiles against so-called floating mines, another door 3 being provided for the purpose of permitting gunners in diving suits to enter the compartment 1, the diving suits employed preferably having individual air tanks although air may be sup ectile plied to the men from the interior of the ship by the provision of other suitable means. These details, however, need not be entered into at length in the present application. I

A suitable base 4 is mounted on the bottom of the compartment 1 and a rotary gun mount 5 is disposed on said base, the gun barrel 6 being pivoted at 7 to said mount to permit it to swing vertically. The barrel 6 is open at its rear end to permit the insertion of metal projectiles 8 and anyappropriate type of trigger 9 is providedfor holding the projectiles against forwardmovement until the required time, the trigger 9 belng shown in the form of a vertical bolt having an operating lever 10 by means v of which it may be released.

A stiff coiled spring 11 is adapted to be inserted in the rear end of the barrel 6 and to be compressed against the projectile 8, said spring being carried by a cross head 12 whose ends are formed with hearing open ngs through which a pair of screws 13 pass rotatably, said screws belng formed of front and rear sections 14 and 15 hinged together at 16, the front sections 1 1 carrying the screws proper which pass slidably through cars 17 which rise from flanges 18 on the opposite sides of the barrel 6, the

outer edges of said flanges preferably having channels 19 which receive the screws slidably (see Figs. 7,8 and 9).

Semi-cylindrical nuts 20 are pivoted a 21 to the flanges 18 in such a manner as to permit them to swing vertically, said nuts 7 when lowered engaging the screws 13 whereby as the latter are turned they will move the cross head 12 inwardly'to compress the spring 11 preparatory to releasing the trigger 9 to cause said spring to impel the proj ectileS toward the mine, at which the gun is pointed. ,To quickly return the cross head 8 and the spring 11, however, for reloading the gun, the nuts 20 are swung upwardly to the position shown in Fig. 8 and thus a rearward pull on the cross head will move the numerous parts to normal position, the hinges 16 permitting the rear sections 15 of the screws 13 to swing downwardly as shown in Fig. 1 for the purpose of allowing an-.

other projectile tobe uninterruptedly inserted in the barrel.

Any suitable means may be provided for raising and lowering the nuts 20 but they are preferably connected by links 22 with points on opposite sides of the fulcrum of a lever 23 mounted on top. of the barrel 1, a suitable pawl 24 and rack 25 being em ployed for locking the lever 23 in one posi tion or the other.

T he unthreaded portions of the screws 13 pass slidably through guides 26 on the rear end of the barrel 6 and thus when the cross head 12 is lifted from the position shown in Fig. l and forced forwardly, the hinges 16 will be received in said guides to sustain the sections 15 of the screws, thus relieving the weight thereof from the spring 11.

F or turning both screws 13 simultaneously, any suitable means may be provided but the rear ends of said screws are preferably equipped with gears 27 meshing with another gear- 28 which is equipped with a handle 29.

In use, the submarine equipped with one or more of the improved guns will travel a suitable distance below the surface of the water to permit the mines to be located. By means of a telescopic sight such as that indicated at 30, the gun will now be aimed at the target by the divers within the compartment 1 the door-s 2 having been previously opened. Byoperating the lever 10 a projectile may now be forced from the gun against the mine to explode the latter and this having been done, the lever 23 is operated to raise the nuts 20. This allows the cross head 12 to be moved rearwardly to withdraw the spring 11, whereupon said head is lowered and another projectile is inserted in the breech of the barrel. lVhen the cross head 12 is now again raised and forced forwardly, the nuts 20 are shifted downwardly into engagement with the screws 13 whereupon turning of the gear 28 by the handle 29 will cause the screws to pull the cross head inwardly to again compress the spring 11 for discharging the second projectile. All subsequent operations will be performed in the same manner and it will be obvious that the device is an effective instrument of naval warfare.

On account of ease of operation and the advantages derived, the construction shown and. described constitutes the preferred form of the device but it is to be understood that within the scope of the invention as claimed, numerous changes may be made without sac-- rificing the principal advantages. Y

I claim:

1. A gun of the class described comprising a barrel having an open rear end into which projectiles are to be placed, a trigger for temporarily holding the projectile in place in said barrel, a spring to be inserted into the barrel inrear of the projectile, a support on which said spring is carried, and means for moving said support forwardly to compress the spring and for permitting said support to be quickly retracted; to withdraw the spring after the trigger is released.

:2. A gun of the class described comprising a barrel having an open rear end into which projectiles are to be placed, a trigger for temporarily holding the projectile in place in said barrel, a spring to be inserted into the bar-rel in rear ofthe projectile, a support on which said spring is carried, a screw for moving the support forwardly to compress, the spring, a support for said screw, and half nut movable downwardly onto said screw, said nut whenraised from engagement with the screw permitting quick retraction of the latter.

3. A gun of the class described comprising a barrel open at its rear end to receive a projectile, a trigger for temporarily holding the projectile against forward movement in the barrel,a support carrying said spring, a screw for compressing said spring, said screw having one end mounted on said support and being formed of two sections hinged together to permit the spring to move downwardly below the barrel, and a guide into which the hinge may be moved to sustain the rear section of the screw.

4:. A gun of the class described compris ing a barrel open at its rear end to receive a projectile, a trigger for temporarily holding said projectile against for-ward movement in the barrel, a coiled spring insertible into said rear end of the barrel, means for compressing said sprmg against the projec tile, and means for then releasing said trigwitnesses.

ALPHONSE FERNANDEZ.

Witnesses L. O. HIL'roN, J. A. GmEsBAunR.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissio e of Eetents Washington, D. 0.

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