US1302732A - Submarine mine. - Google Patents

Description

n. TROUBTSCH'ANINOFF.

suMAmNE- MINE.

I APPLICATION FILE APR. l5 1918.

Patented May 6, 1919. I

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

D. TROUBTSCHANINOFF.

SUBMABINE MINE. APPucATloNhLen APR. 15. 191s.

Patented May 6, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2 me Naan/s grens campana-1 Ha wAsHmcroN, n.

n. TROUBTSCHANINOFF.'

SUBMARINE MINE.

APPLICATION FILED A PR.15,I918.

Patented May 6, .1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

n. ouBTsc-HANINOFF.'

SUBMARINE MINE.

AAPPLICTION FILED P R.15|1918.`

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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STATES f 1Q DizfrrnY TRoUB'rscI-IANINOFF, forNEw'YoRx, n.y YQ-v Tollwropt t may concern QBefjit known that I, DMrrRY TROUB- rsciiiIN'orF, a citizen of Russia, and residing at 'New York, county'of New York, and

'State of New York,"have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Submarine tion.;

The present'invention relates to improveof which the following is a' specificaments in sub-marine mines and has for its particular object to 'provide means 'whereby it'v will vvbe impossible to dislodge or. remove such ya mine, by cutting` the cable .connecting :it with fits, anchor, without .causing explo- Y Lsionthereof.

. .'With; the constructions heretofore employed 'vthe'mines lare frequently rendered harmless, yor at least "causedto rise to the surlfa'cel andf there exploded without )accompli'shinglthe purpose for which they were .vdesigned,lby cutting the cables connecting t.

he'mme's and anchors,for by engaging such cableswithdrags or similar devices operated `fby boats sofas to dr'awthe mine to the surface.V

frhapiwherebywhenthe' mine is disconnected from by 'a .sub-marine the explosive charge will be vliberatedr from the buoyant casing and causedto, explode atthe depth at which the sub-marine is operating.

llVhilel the invention may be applied to mines of various forms and diferent types ffandjthere can of course beconsiderable departure Vfrom the exact embodiments thereof hereinafter ,referred to, the accompanying drawings illustrate two forms.

v"Referring .to the' drawings: Figure'lfis' a vertical section through a {'contact minelhaving one embodimentjof rthe invention appliedvthereto;

3 is aview, of the same character as V rFig. l4 is an Velevation and partial section of Specification of Letters Patent.'

nt ,'invention provides means ,its4 anchor lther4 explosive' charge will be automatically separatedl from the buoyant` bodyl y (and exploded. More specifically 'theZinven-j 'lytinprovides means 'whereby if the cable yconnecting the' mine and anchor is severed Fig. l1, ofaportionqof the mine, on a plane' at rightangles, to the section of Fig. l;

A,A'rENrfoirrion SUBMARIN MINE.

Fig. is a different elevation yofthe same:

structure as is shown-in Fig. 4;; y.

Fig. 6 isa diagramjof an electric circuit that1may be employed; e t

' Fig. 7 is a detail, sectional view of oneof the externall contacts;

. F ig.- 8 is asectional, detail view of a formV of hydrostaticl control device ythat may bel employed with the 4embodiment-of the inventionillustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. .I

In the drawings many of the parts of the mine, which maybe of any ordinary construction, are killustrated more or less dia-l explosive charge, the casing or'holderv for which is indicated at 3. 'n f The mine is provided with a plurality of outwardly projecting contactV members 4.

The construction and operation of these contacts does not constitute a part of the present' invention but they are ,to be .of the character commonly employed. As shown in Fig. 7 each Contact comprises a suitable receptacle containing' positive -and negative battery elements, 50, 51, anda frangible vessel 52 containing a liquid' adaptedl when brought into contact with the elements 50, 51, to provide a source of electric current. Thek vessel 52' is shownl as being surrounded by av deformable covering, 53, for example of lead., When any of said members 4 is broken an electric circuit, including a suitable primer charge 60 in the body .of explosive in the casing 3,

is completed, igniting the primer and conse-v 4 are indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2 andv conventionally lillustrated at 5,6, (Fig. 1)

where they pass fr ornthe buoyant chamber of the body to the interior explosive containing chamber and in the diagram (Fig. 6). t At its upper :end the casing 3 for the explosivecharge isprovided' with upwardlypr jecting brackets 7 oneof which is engaged by the toe of a lever 8 which vis suitably fulcrumed on a lug or lugs ydepending from Patented May 6, 1919. f Application filed April 15, 19718;.r serial 228,646, f*

etA4

the removable cover plate 9 of the compartment 2; and the upper end of the lanchor,l cable 10., is connected to the-other 'arm of said. lever so that 'the tensionv due to the weightof" tlie anchor 10a and cable and the tenden'cfyof" the casingy 1 to rise 'acts constantly to '-nilain-e tain the lever in engagement with the bracketvk 7 and thus support the explosive charge container within the compartment 2.

It vwill be seen Lthat if the cable 10 Ais severed, or the anchor detached therefrom thev strain on the lever 8 will 'be relaxed and as the buoyant body rises the casing 3 containing the "explosive .charge will escape through the lower vopen end l.of the compartment. In

order that this relative `movement ofl the b ody and explosive chargemay lnot be materiallyI hind-ered by the conductors of the vkexplosion circuits .hereinbefore referred to lm-ife like lblade 11 may :be arranged `within the compartment 2 in position to sever said conductors, between 'the points 5 and6, as `the explosive charge and buoyant Ycasing are'disengaged.

lWithin thenpper portion Vot thel casing'f is arranged a device 12, similarto 'tlie'ex-l ternal conta-cts. 4 including a 'frangible tube or liquid container and` battery elements which are properly connected in circuit with the primer charge of they mine. A' lever 1'3 fulcrurned within they casing `3 has,

one arm normally engaging la wire lll, that extends down from the aforesaid cover plate 9, and the otherarm ofsaidlever is adapted to break the frangible member ofthe device .12 and permit 'the liquid' contained there-` 1n .to escape and come into contact with. the.

battery elements, as said lever "1s rocked vby the downward movement of the casing .3.

The wire 14 extends .through a slot inthe arm of Jthe lever 13 land has vat its lower endl an enlargement that prevents it from moving :freely through the slotas the casing 3.

descends relative to thecasing 1f Therefore lthe wire 1li exertsy an upwardpull on.

the lever, causing it to turn fon its pivot.V

The vslot in the vlever extends through fthe end of the arm inawhich it is formed and as the latter is rocked, the wire will escape from engagement with the-*lever permitting the casing 3 to pass freely from .the-buoy.. ant body. Prior to placing; the mine inftlie water the 4lever 13 maybe retained in inop.- f

erative position by a stop rod 13a extendingv through la suitable passage in the .topy and into va socket in' the upper end ,of thev lever. Included in the electrical circuit;y (shown in Fig. 6) with the device 12 and the primer.

charge '60..are two terminals 15,16,the'b'ne 1'5,being relatively stationary and the otherfmovable 'away from and toward said sta-3 tionary terminal. ANormally theterminals 15, 16, are separated `to such" an v`extent thatV the .electric circuit including the4 devicel 12 and the primerfchar'ge 60 will not be completed to cause ignition or explosion ofvsaid primary chargev instantly` on. the lever' 13. break-ing ythe member 12".' Means are provided whereby the terminal 116' willl be held. Ysu'tliciently far from the terminal 15 -to pre- Y`Yv'vier-1t'ignitionof thepri'mer `charge untilv the .QaSing 3 has entirely escaped-from the'buoyxant body of the mine and reached approximately the depth at which the cable connecting the mine and anchorkhas" '.beem broken.

' Such 'means include va lever 17 ywhich is f fulcrumed on a stud rising from thenuppcr end of the casing 3,1andhasfo`ne .end .extendev ing. into engagement with vva rod Vorfoarrier to the lower end fof which-.the termi- nal 1,16

isconnectedpf The otherfend .ovf'said 1lyex: 17 is provided with a'rollerv 18-w`hch bears againstthe cable 10. "A spr'ingl'lf) acts com; stantly to move the terminali 16 toward the.

terminal'A 15, and: tolmaintain the roller lS in close contact with the cablelO, the pressure exerted by Isaid roller18 on'. the cable 11%.-,- i

sisted by a diametricallyoppositely arranged roller 20. The upper end of :the vterminal support is also connected .wit-hija' 16a exposed to the lpressure 4of the` wat'er.;in-

which the mine is submerged. .Ihel-dia-r V 4 .phragm 16a-is not 'directlyl exp'osedgto'con;

tact' with the water "but as shown Iis clamped.

between themembersof a piston-like vhead y. 16??A that-is exposed lto such pressure l.and

minal, ,support `will. move the 'terminal "1'6 sufficiently close;v to the terminal' 15 to 'complete the electricI `circuit requiredv for deto-v n'ating the explosive charge. Therefore the explosion will occurk at adepth wlaich is ycloseV to that atl which the cable 10 has been cut, and itv the cutting Was .eltected by a sub.- `marine the latter will be within range of the not destroyed. f

. 'i As' hereinbefore stated Vinvention may n be readilyapplied to minesofdlilferent .types andit 4notnecessary.that theexplosive charge be'pcontained Vwitliinlthe buoyantIl body.f

In Figs-4 and lltlierle is. illustrated, more ,125 an upper buoyant section. 3,1 and a. lower s. explosive'.contaming .section 32.' Thejtwo o r less d-iagraxnmatically, a mine comprising sections are connected by l,project'ionsj 33; on

the lsection "327, extending through ,eyes 34; on l fthe' .upper buoyant, section .andr by 'ya hydroico` explosion andprobably.seriously damaged Y staticallyrcontrolled means With such a construction if the anchor cable is broken the entiremine will rlse and when such r1s- ,l ing has suliiciently'` reduced the hydro-static pressure on, the connection 35 the latter will y, be disengaged andthe lower, explosive containing, sectionl 32 will swing downwardly,

aboutthe engagement [of the projection 33 '11. and eyes 34 as'an axis, until said projections Acanescape from the eyes' 34, when the two v.sectionsof the minekwill be entirely disconnected.l .Y

Infthis embodiment of the invention the frangible member of the device 12a control- .j j ling, the electric circuit for detonating the f explosivecharge is broken, during the turningfmovem'ent of the section 32, by contactv withl a`. memberr62 [carried by the buoyant r section31. The means for preventing premature explosion, ordeferring such explosion until .the charge has reached the desired depth,lis the same Iin this form of the invention as in that previously described.

y The anchor.` cable extends through g suitable central passage in the lower section 32 of, theLmineand-is attached at its upper end tothe buoyant section 31.

` vt 3 vTo, prevent accidental discharge of the mine.V and permit yit'to be safely handled, it

may beequipped with any suitable means. Asshown in the form illustrated in Figs. l y to 3, a locking pin 40 projects from a casing 41 secured to the buoyant body over the leverr 8. V At its inner end saidl pin is provided Ev rith anenlarged head between which and.

any lend. wall of thelfcasing 41 is arranged a coiledspring that acts to withdraw the pin "fromlengagement with the lever 8. A `se-v curing pin42 is normally passed through an aperture in the pin 41 vand acts to prevent movement of the latter under the effect of j j. .the spring referredto.

`1In addition to employing the pins 40, 42

'i aslaf safety means, the mine is shown as equipped with means adapted to be renderedV 7 ineffective only.v after ithas been submerged.

The casing 41 in. rear of the piston-like head` 7 on thepin 40 is illed with a suitable soluble substance, for example sugar,v and an inlet A' I to the chamber containing this substance is closed .by a-readily detachable closure 43.

`, Prior to placing the mine in the water the closure 43 is removedand the pins 13a and 42 withdrawn. f

i -In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. .4.;and 5, the hydrostatically controlled connection between thetwo sections 31, 32

and 5 may be employed, Fig. 8 illustrates in i y detail one form of such a device.

vReferring to this.` ligure designates a tubularmember which is shown as provided that projects from the bodyfof the mine is secured. a hollow head 71 which asshown'is provided with an exterior annular groove or channel to receive the cable `that is employed to connect the two 'sections of -the mine. Within the chamber in the head 71 is arranged a platelike member 72 having oppositely directedvsleeve-,like projections 71a.

71h, the` former extendinginto the tubular member 70 and being connectedto a firing pin support 73. The inner end of this support normally extends intof an opening in a disk. 70b that is screwed into` the tubular member 70.

The outer end of the chamberA inthe head` 71 is closedby aplug 71c which has'a centrally positioned opening over `which is ar, ranged a cap 71dl provided; with an aperturel ythat is normallyA closed by a readily removable sealing stri 71e. f

A diaphragm 7) 4 is arranged over theouter face of the plate-likey member 7 2, -its edge being confined kbetween the body ofthe headk 71 and suitable washers adapted to be ad justed inward by the plugj71. A disk or washer 74a is screwed on the projection 71b of the plate-like member 72 and acts to retain the diaphragm in substantially the relation shown.

within the Outer fend of th Cylinder@ which supports the'ring pin is arranged a suitable cartridge 75. I i

The firing pin 76 is lsurrounded by ;a spring 7 6a' which extendsbetween the head of said pin and an abutment formed in the cylinder 73. A latch 75b'normally engages an enlargement on the stem of the' liring` pin and extends into the openino'y inthe disk 70b so that the `spring 76a is held? under compres-A sionv and the firing pinyin the retracted position shown. j

Between the cylindricalmembers 70, 73, is arranged a coiled spring 77 the outer end abutting the sleeve-like extension 71a ofthe plate member 71 and its inner end bearin against an adjusting nut 70d portions o which are exposed through slots formed in the member70.

When the mine is not submerged the parts are retained in the positions shown in Fig. 8

by a block 7S of suitable material, for example, sugar, which will be dissolved when exposed to water. The tensionofthe spring 77 is -adjusted so that its expansive action will be counterbalanced by the pressure of water on the diaphragm whenv the mine is submerged to the desired depth.

If the mine rises, owing to thecable 10 being out, the pressure exerted by the'water on the diaphragm will be reduced and the spring 77 will withdrawv the linner cylindrical member 72 from'the opening inthe disk 7 OP.: As the latch 751 escapes from the disk it* will release the -iring pin and the latter will'be impelled forward by the'sprin-'g 76ste explodethe cartridge 75. A 'v Y Thek explosion'of the cartridge 75l will break the connection att35- between the'two sections ofthe mine but will not eEect ex'- plosi'on of the mainexplosivel charge. No claim is herein 'made to the novel-fea-V tures of the particular form of'hydrostatic control described as they are claimed in a co# pending application, led April 6, 1918, S'e-l rial .Number 227 ,083.- f l 'It is thought-that the operation and advantages of the invention vwill be apparent from the -foregoing description. It will' be seen that if theanchorl cable is cut or broken so that the lever 8 is released from the pull or strain intended to-be Iexerted by vthejan? chor thereon, o r in the-embodiment of the invention illustrated/ in-"Figs. 4 and: 5 the mine'is caused to rise above va certain/level,

the firing pin 76 will be released and the cartridge 75 exploded. j I'Ihiswill blow ott the outwardly projecting'part ofthe hydro- 'static ldevice 35,` thus destroying that con-1 nection between the two parts of the mine and permitting the lower explosive containing section thereof to swingcvdownwardly y about the connections 33, 34"and/to move .l Vthereinlias passed fromy betweenfthe con:-v '4o entirely away from 'the 'upper section. Dur,-4

ing such separating movement the 4receptacle 12a'will be broken fand as soon 'as the sectionofl the cable above the 'c ut or break tacting rollers'the 'electric circuit -wi'll be completed 'and the mine 'Y exploded. y As theV upper section of the'mine will risefbut a relatively short distance, beforethe lower section falls suiciently to escapeffrom contact with'the cable, the' explosion lwill occur at la'depthv'vhic'hfis Iclose to*v that at which Athec'able was cut and therefore assuming that the cutting was effected by a'submarine the latter will not have had opportunityV to escape from the area affected by the ex-v plosion. Suchv an attachment therefore renders it practically impossible to destroy mine fields by the means inonly employed.

An important feature of theinvention is that` it'doesl not in lanyl way interfere with the operation-of the mine in' thel ordinary' manner. The 'explosive charge will be Vdetonated by contact with any of ltheprojecting members 4 in the `ordinary manner and; .in addition said charge" will be set'oif vif the anchor cable is'broken.

`By vreference to the' circuits Vshown in Figs. 2 and 6 it Vwill be seen that when any one of the contacts v4 is broken,` by being that has `been com-y struck by avessel for example, an electric circuit will befestablished from the battery, produced yby breakingv the frangiblecontainer 52 in saidk'contact, through the primer charge 6'0 thus yexploding the' mine in the ordinary Vmanner'. f f i .Ifv "thev ycable is'A 4 out the explosivefcharge and itsicontainer willbe 7 separated yfrom thel buoyant casing or sec# tion vof` `the mine and while the conductors of the; 'circuit Ibetween 'the contacts 4V and primer 6are severed, another circuit willV be established including the battery forinedby c the device 12, the primer charge 60 and the contacts 15, 16the 'latteroperating to'fclose said lcircuit;k and explode ,the primer only after the rollers, 1-8, 20 are 'below' thecut'f end'ofthecable. y I l' 1 c Having thus described theinvent-ion what is'claimed and desiredtofbe secured'by Let' ters'Patentjis: f f f' l. In a subemarine mine, the combination of a buoyant`,casing,fa container for an exev plosive charge'normally connected with the buoyant casing, anV anchor,` 'connections vbetweenl the anchor Land buoyant casing, andy -means whereby 1 the explosive charge and buoyant casingwillv be automatically disexr' gaged4 andl sai'd charge detonated ifA the connectionv between the ycasing -vand' anchor is broken. i

In a l.sub-marine mine, the'y combination ofa 'buoyantcasing acontainer for an explosive charge normally connected with said sid casing, means lontheycasingfor` detonating c said explosive charge, an anchor, connections between the anchor and `buoyant casing, Aand 1 mfMlS wherebygslaidexplosve charge andr buoyant casing vrmay be v automatically dis- 4 connected and said charge detonated.

B fln a sub-marine mine, thecombi'nation of a buoyant casing, ajcontainer for an ex-fy plosive charge, an anchor, ajcable connect-v tainer inay `be 'automatically disconnected if the connection with the anchor: is broken,

and/meansfor detonating -`'the explosive iet ith

charger 'after has beendisengaged rfrom said casing.

; `5. In a Xed said casing, an anchor for `holding the mine imposition, means whereby the casing and explosive charge "container will be automatiy sub-marine mine the combina tion' of a buoyant casing, a container for an explosive charge normally 'connected with,

ret

cally disconnected and the latter permitted to move downwardly from the casing, and

,A means for detonating the charge when it is `separated froml the casing to a certain extent.

6. In a sub-marine mine, the combina-tion lof a buoyant casing, a container for an explosive charge normally connected with said casing, means whereby said casing and container may be automatically disconnected, an electric circuit for detonating the explosive charge7 and means for rendering said circuit operative when the explosive charge Y is entirely disconnected from the buoyant Y 'casing and the cable carried thereby.

7. lIn asub-mari'ne mine, the combination y.of a buoyant casing, a container for an exf *plosive charge normally connected with said l rcasing, means l'whereby the casing and conv tainer may be automatically disconnected, an

anchor, a cable connecting the anchor and buoyant casing, an electric circuit for detonating the explosive charge, and means controlled by the anchor cable for rendering said "circuit operative.

8. In a sub-marine mine, the combination l rof a buoyant casing, a container for an ex- 'of a buoyant casing, a container for an eX- plosive charge normally connected with said casing, means on the buoyant casing adapted to eiiect detonation of the explosive charge, an anchor connected with the casing, means whereby the buoyant casing and container will be automatically disconnected when the connection between the casing', and anchor is broken, a supplemental detonating device carried by the container, and means for automatically actuating said supplemental device after the casing and container are disconnected.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

DMITRY 'raourscliirmorn Copies of this patent maybe obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washingtoml). C.

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