US1561334A

US1561334A - Mine-releasing device

Info

Publication number: US1561334A
Application number: US741499A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harry J Leible
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1924-10-03
Filing date: 1924-10-03
Publication date: 1925-11-10
Anticipated expiration: 1942-11-10

Description

Nov. 10,1925. 1,5 1,334

H. J. LEIBLE MINE RELEASING DEVICE Filed Oct. 5, 1 24 WII W mm wm Harry J: Leib g Patented Nov. 10, 1925.

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HARRY J. LEIBLE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

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Application filed October 3, 1924. Serial N0. 741,499

To (ZZZ whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY J. LEIBLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in a Mine-Releasing'Device, of which the following is a speci fication.

This invention relates to a mine releasing device and an object of the invention is to provide a device which may be drawn through the water by a mine sweeper or similar ship and will cut the cable which connects the explosive mines to their mooring anchors and permit the mines to rise to the surface of the water, so they may be picked up by the ship or mine sweeper.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mine releasing device as specified, which is designed so as to eliminate the liability of accident of premature explosion of the mine, and also one which may be drawn behind the ship sufficiently far to prevent accident to the ship should the mine accidentally explode.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device as specified which includes a suitable floating body provided with fins, the forward one of which has a plurality of cutters thereon for cutting mooring cables of mines.

Other objects of the invention will appear in the following detail description, and in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan of the improved mine releasing device.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the mine releasing device. 1

Figure 3 is a detail section on line of Figure 1.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the improved mine releasing device includes a cylindrical body 1, the bow or nose 2 which is substantially conical and the tail end 3 which gradually decreases in diameter. The body 1 has horizontal tail fins 5 attached thereto which are set at an angle of substantially 10 degrees to the horizontal, so as to keep the tubular body 1 from rising to the surface of the water during the travel of the mine releasing device. A vertical fin 6 is also attached to the tail end of body 1, and this vertical fin is set at an angle of substantially 15 degrees to the left of the.

vertical so as to guide the body 1 away from theside of the ship which is pulling the device.

The bow or front fin 7 which is relatively long is provided, and it is connected to the cylindrical body 1 by the braces 8 and it is recessed as shown at 9 to receive the nose 2 of the cylindrical body therein.

A lug or shackle 10 is attached to the fin 7 and a towing cable 11 is attached to the log or shackle 10, which cable is adapted for attachment of any convenient point on the towing ship.

A plurality of rotary cutters 12 are rotatably carried by the bow fin 7, and they have their edges serrated and sharpened, the edge of one cutter overlapping the edges or peripheries of the adjacent cutters. The drag on the mine releasing device will cast the cable to be engaged between two of the cutters which is severed for releasing the mine to permit it to float to the surface. The fin 7 is provided with cutout notches 18 therein aligning with the overlapping portions of the cutters so as to permit unimpeded action of the cutters on a holding cable.

A band 1a is mounted about body 1, intermediate its ends, and a sling 15 is detachably connected to the band 1 1 in any suitable manner. A cable 16 is connected to the sling 15 and is adapted to be connected to any convenient place on a towing ship, preferably to a boom extending over the side of the ship, so as to keep the mine releasing device clear of the ships side while underway.

In operation, the releasing device is comparatively simple. It is dropped overboard from a towing ship and sinks sufficiently deep in the water to engage the holding cables of mines, and as the ship moves through the water, the holding cables of the mine will be engaged by the cutters 12 which will sever the cables and permit the mine to rise to the surface, where it may be picked up by the ship.

It is, of course, to be understood, that the invention may be constructed in various other manners and the parts associated in difierent relations, and therefore, I do not desire to be limited in any manner, except as set forth in the claim hereunto appended.

What I claim is In a mine releasing device, a cylindrical body, tail fins thereon, a bow fin, a towing cable, connected to the boW fin, and a plurality of rotary cutters carried at the for- 5 ward edge of the bow fin, said cutters having serrated periineters; the cutting perimeters with one cutter overlapping the cutting perimeter of the cutter next thereto, said bow fin being recessed beneath the overlapping portion of the cutters, a strap about said 10 body, and a guiding cable connected to said strap.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HARRY J. LEIBLE.