US1617674A - Hydrostatic mine - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 15, 1927. 1,617,674 w. DIETER v HYDROSTATI C MINE Filed Feb. 5,. l926 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR mm, blw'rw Feb. 15, 1927. w. DIETER HYDROSTATI C MINE l Filed Feb. 5, 1926 2, Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQR 1 By Attorneys,

Patented Feb. 15, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM DIETER, or NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

IIYDRosTATIc MINE Application filed February -charge ,of high explosive which fills the greater part of the capacity ofthe shell or casing, a detonator usually in the form of a cartridgehaving the-usual cap containing fulminate, and an intermediate explosive charge which is sometimes called the primer, and sometimes the booster charge. A springpressed diaphragm or other form of hydro stat is provided which moves under hydro-- static pressure as the mine descends, until the set depth is reached, whereupon a sear or other -trigger device releases a hammer or firing needle which is projected by its wei ht or a spring, or by fluid pressure, and stri es the cartridge cap, exploding the cartridge, which in turn explodes the intermediate charge, and this in turn explodes the main Various provisions have been made for safeguarding against the premature explosion of such minesor bombs. One suclrmeans is to provide two hydrostatic diaphragms or feet)-Will cause the explosion of the care pistons, the one setto a primary depth and the other to the secondary or final explosion depth. The primer or booster charge has in some instances been made movable, being .primarily out of reach of the cartridge, so

,that the explosion of the latter will not explode the primer charge; and being connect' ed to the primary hydrostat, so that the bomb in descending to the preliminary set depth (say 2() feet) will lift the primer charge'within reach ofthe cartridge, after which the further descent of the bomb to the final set depth (say, for example,

tridge andx thereupon the consequent exs plosions of the primer or intermediatechargey andthe main charge. The present invention aims to improve upon the construction of such depth bombs .and to simplify them and make their safety provisions more reliable.

According to the present invention the intermediate charge is preferably fixed in place Withinv the main charge. The primary hydrostat operates a sliding member which normally cuts'off `communication be tween the Acliieriilr eontainingthe @arm-ge 3, 1926. e serial No. 85,646.

accompanying drawings, wherein,-

Figure 1 1s a longitudinal mid-section through the mine orbomb, showing it in the loaded position ready for launching.

Fig. 2 is a'. fragmentarytransverse section on the line 2 2 in Fig. 1, the cartridge being removed.

Fig. 34 is av section similar to Fig. 1, but showing the parts after the preliminary -set depth has been reached and while the subsequent movement toWard the final depth is in progress.

Fig.l 4 is a fragmentary transverse section on the line 4,-4 in Fig. r

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view on a larger scale, showing the condition immediately after the release of the hammer which causes ythe explosion. y

Fig. 6 is a fragment corresponding to the lower partfof Fig. l, showing the condition of the parts in case of the premature exlplospn of the cartridgebefore launching the duced scale. It will be understood that Figs'l and 3 'show only -those' portions ofthe bomb to ve that may be required: bomb is formed, as usual, with an outer shell or casing A of'sheetmetal. This shell is shown hemifspherical at Aone end, bu,t this'is not essential. The major portion of the capacity within the shell is taken up by a charge B of lhigh explosive (usually e TNT). Within a central chamberv or cavity thesizeof bomb and-charge of high explo- I,

is located, as usual, the intermediate exlosive A charge C, commonly called' the primer or booster charge; The primary explosive D in the form of a cartrldge myvbe-variously arranged, so that when exploded it will -in turn explode the intermediate charge.'

90 e I y l I Fig. 7 1s an elevation of the bomb on a re- The bomb has two hydrostats, the primary hydrostat being indicated as a whole by the letter E, and the secondary hydrostat by the letter F. Each hydrostat consists of a diaphragm or piston subjected to water pressure and opposed in its movement by a spring. The primary hydrostatat first is the only one receiving the water pressure; its movement to 'the primary set depth in turn admits water to act upon the secondary hydrostat, whereupon the latter moves p roportionally to the further increase in hydrostatic pressure.

The primary hydrostat E is shown as including a cylindrical corrugated diaphragm a (which may well beconstructed of the type known as the sylphon), and which is opposed by the stress of a spring b. The diaphragmga is enclosed in a chamber G which is conveniently formed in a transverse tubular casing H, as shown. The

diaphragm a is shown as attached to a' cap c closing one end o f the casing H, this attachment-being throughthemedium of a disk or end piece d to which one end of the "diaphragm is immediately connected, its

other end being united to a disk which is detachably connected to. the main safety slide J This slide J is'conveniently made of cylindrical form and slides freely through a cylindrical neck orguide-way f formed in the intermediate portion of the casing H. The opposite end portion of this casing is expanded to forma chamber K which encloses the spring I). Between the portions f and K the casing H is formed with a cylinder g in which is movable a piston 'i preferably formed integral with the slide J. The chamber K is closed by a disk j screwed into the casing H and against which the spring b reacts, and which is perforated at 7c to admit water 'into this chamber. `The water thus admitted cannot pass the piston z' when the parts are in the normal position shown in Fig. 1. The safety slide J has a. solid portion m which-inthe normal positioncloses al liringhole p which communicates with a cartridge-receiving chamber g formed within the intermediate charge C. The safety slide has an opening fr which, as the primary hydrostat yields to the hydrostatic pressure, moves downward, and upon reaching the rimary set depth enters into coincidence with the opening p, this being the position shown in Fig. 3. To keep the slide J, if formed cylindrically, from turning within the shell H, it is provided at its upper portion in Fig. -1v with agroove o engaged b a key or lug s on a disk s', as shown in igs. 1 and 4, these parts having a free sliding lit.

The secondary hydrostat F is shown as including a piston L which slides, against the stress of a spring S, in a cylinder M arranged at right angles to the casing H,

and preferably in the longitudinal axis of the shell A. At its inner end this piston isclosed by a freely removable disk t which normally carries a frangible thin metal disk t (Fig. 2) having a central hole for guiding the cartridge D As the piston L moves forward the cartridge slides in this hole.

The piston L carries a tubular shell N Within which is mounted the hammer P formed with a projecting firing pin P', and receiving behind it the pressure of a suitably stilf spring Q. When set ready for firing, the'hammer is held by sears R (one or more), eachhaving a projecting tail R which, as the parts moveito the final depth, encounters the disk t (see Fig. 3), and by the final movement is swung backwardly (see Fig. 5), thereb releasing the hammer, so that the latter isprojected forward to cause its pin to enter the cap or fulminate charge of the cartridge and explode the latter. The cartridge might be stationar but is preferably mounted on the end of t e'tubular shell N by means of a screw cap u (Fig. `5) or in any other suitable manner. The slide J is cutaway on one side to form a` chamber o ofv sufficient size to-avoid the slide touching the cartridge, and sufiiciently large to admit the end of the shell N when the latter is projected. Extending from this chamber to the lower end of the slide J, the slide is formed with a tubular passage fw which at the outer end is closed by an suitable part m, preferably a thin meta disk, so mounted as to beeasily blown out in case of a premature explosion of the cartridge D. Thus, if with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1 anything should happen by which the ca-rtridge should be exploded,.

this explosion would not explode 4the bomb because 'the solid portion m of the slidel would prevent the burning powder or-hot gases 'entering through the firing hole p, and these would simply blow out harmlessly through the passage w and thereby blow off the diskdr. This disk thus serves as an indicator. VIf in place, it shows that the cartridge is intact; if blown out, as shown 1n Fig. 6 (which is apparent at a glance) it indicates at once to the operator that the cartridge has been prematurely blown and the bomb is unworkable. 1

The operation is as follows:

The bomb will have been initially charged with the usual. explosive charges B and C. ln preparing it for use the operator will remove` the cap M which closes the end of the cylinder M, and will take out the piston L with its attached parts. He will also see that a 'disk t with an intact frangible portion t is in place at the bottom of the cylinder M. He will then'set the hammer P' against the stress of its spring and see that it is properly held -by the sears R. He will then apply the cartridge D which is attached introducing the end of' the cartridge into the guiding neck of the inner disk t to the position shown in Fig. 1. In so doinghe compresses the spring S slightly to its initial tension, this being accomplished in the'act of screwing in the cap M',- whereby the cylinder M' is closed. It is assumed that the slide J and its appurtenant parts (none of which need ever be removed) were .previouslv in proper position, and that if the end disk :c had at any time been blown out, a new one is supplied, `The bomb thus is in readiness for launching, all the parts being in the position Shown in'Fig. l.

The bomb in this condition may nbehandled with perfect safety, there being no possibility of any explosion occurring. `-lllven if the hainmerwere to become released from its sears '(Which could not happen if properly loaded) it could only explode the car-` tridge, which would -harmlessly blow out the cap doingno further damage, in lwhich case the absence of this cap would-betray to he operator that the bomb had become useess.-

Upon launching, the bomb is dropped overboard and descends in the water by its weight. The hydrostatic pressure can affect only the primary hydrostat E by entering its diaphragm. and as this pressure increases the slide J will gradually move down against the stress of the spring b, until at or near the primary set depth the piston c' passes out of the cylinder g, as Jshown 4in Fig. 3, and thereby permits water to enter under pres- 49 sure through the openings 7c, chamber K, cylinder g, and through passage to the interior of the cylinder M, where it acts upon the iston L of the secondary hydrostatalilzindj advances this piston against the stress of its spring. S. This advance is gradual as the bomb descends; during -this advance the cartridge D enters throughthe firing hole pl into the recess q in the inter-- mediate explosive charge C, as shown in Fig. Ab

50 3. `Finally when the set depth isreached, the sears R are released in the manner `de scribed andthe hammer flies forward, its, xpin striking the cap and exploding the cartridge. As the cartridge thus explodes within the charge C,`the latter is exploded .with

great certainty, and this in turn explodes the main charge B.

Theslide J is of such length that in its initial position shown in Fig.- 1 its lower 0 end comes just within the exterior dimensions of the shell of the bomb, If wrongly assembled (forexample, if the spring b were omitted)` the slidel would in the handling of the bomb become displaced, which would at once be betrayed .by its end projecting be- -cap c the primary diaphragm a with yond the shell of the bomb, .as shown in Fig. 3. Thus, the operator would be warned to examine the launch the bomb.

i In order to avoid any counter-pressure which might materially affect the operation of the hydrostats, provision is made for parts before attemptingy to .venting the chambers from the side oppositel to that which receives hydrostatic. pressure into a somewhat large chamber U which is formed in the end portion of the shell or casing- A by means of a partition y which divides the interior of the casing, the portion to the right of this partition in Fig. l being filled with the explosive charge.y The -vent to the chamber U from the diaphragm chamber G may be effected by a short tube y', while the vent from'the interior of the cylinder M into the chamber U may be effected by means of al Jort or opening Before launching, the chamber U is filled with air vat atmospheric pressure; as the bomb descends, the movement of the hydrostats displaces some fluid into this chamber, but not enough to createany material back-pressure therein sucha3 would-impair the'action of the hydrostats. A

If desired, the chamber G may be illed with heavy oil or grease for lubricating .the diaphragm a and its appurtenant parts, and also fonlubricating the slide J in its movements within the tubular svh'ell -`As the diaphragm a expands, some of this grease Will be expelled through passage y into the thamber lU, but without any detrimental efect. t I

It will be understoodthat the use of the lcc intermediate explosive charge C as a primer,

while practically desirable, is not essential to.

the present invention.

The safety slide J may be easily removedl by unscrewing the cap ji- By removing the its cap e may be taken out, the neck of this cap` having a free sliding fit with the slide J. 'The slide J may then be pushed down' and Iout and freely withdrawn. The cartridge D lll) should either be absent or its length should I e insuflicient'to cause it to project into the pathw of the slide. p

To cause the piston z' to make a water-tight ll-i.

joint in the normal position, it is desirable to 'fit it with a gasket i.

For effecting a joint between the pass/age T and the tubular shell H, it is desirable to interpose a bushing j', as shown, so that the parts may be united by a sliding joint.

I havelshown no adjustmentsfor'the hydrostat springs b and S, because the provision of such adjustments would be a needless complication. yIt is preferable to construct these springs of the desired resiliency to cause the hydrostats to accomplish their movements at certain' predetermined depths respectively. 1f it is desired that either hy"- drostat be caused to act at a different set depth, this can be accomplished by having in reserve one or more additional springs having diferent resiliency or stress, and these ma be substituted for either of the springs or S to accomplish the desired change in the respectiveoperating depths.

It is one of the advantages of the improvedv bomb provided by this invention that it is adapted for safe discharge from a launching tube such asis used for launching automobile torpedoes. By making it of the proper 'diameter to it such tubes and of a suitable length (being approximately the proportions shown in Fig. 7) it may be ejected from such a launching tube in exactly the same manner as a torpedo'. For such use it has the special advantage incident to the transverse movement of the safety slide J, thatif any derangement occurs which causes the -protrusion of this slide, as shown in Fig. 3,

it cannotbe entered into the launching tube; it also has the -advantage that while the absence of the disk m would'betray the fact of lpremature explosion of the detonator,. the presence of this disk, which Ain connection with the normal osition of the slide J affords assurance o the correct operative con- 'dition of the bomb, guards against any introduction of compressed air from the launching tube such as might leak past the sides of the bombfand enter through the passage w, and which, if it were -tozenter within the cylinder M, might derange the hydrostatic action of the secondary hydrostat F. The disk m affords maximum resistance against inward pressure, while affording only suicient resistance against outward pressure to hold it in place under normal conditions.

It Iwill be understood that. while the embodiment of the invention here illustrated and described is the preferable one, yet the details of construction may be considerably varied according'to practices well under.

stood in this art, and that such structural variations may be made without departing from the present invention, within the scope of the appended claims.

In the claims the cartridge or its equivalent isreferred to as a detonator, and the explosive charge includes both the intermediate charge C and the main high explosive B,

if both are used. What I claim is:^- 1. A de th bomb having an explosive charge an a detonator, with primary `and secondary hydrostats, safety means Anormally interposed to prevent exploding said .charge from the detonator and adapted to permit such explosion on responding to a preliminary set depth, and said secondary hydrostat adapted to explode the deton'ator upon reaching a final set depth.

2. `A- depth bomb according said safety means including a movable part to claim which uncovers a firing hole on responding to the preliminaryset depth.

3. A depth bomb accordingy to claim l," i

said exploding charge having an internal cavity communicating with a firing hole,

and said safety means including a movable part. which uncovers said tiring hole on relinal set depth to project the detonator through said iringh'ole into said cavity.

-5. A depth bomb having an explosive charge, a detonator, and primary and secondary hydrostats, with a fluid passage for admitting hydrostatic press-ure to the secondary hydrostat, and means controlling said passage adapted upon the movement of the primary hydrostat responding to a predetermined depth to open said passage.

- 6. A depth bomb having an explosive charge and a detonator, with primary and secondary hydrostats, with safety means operated by the primary hydrostat yand means for exploding the detonator operated by the secondary hydrostat, and means controlled by the primary hydrostat for admitting hydrostatic pressure at a predetermined depth to the secondary hydrostat.

7. In a depth bomb having an explosive charge and means fory exploding it, a hydrostatically-operated safety device compris ing a.movable slide primarily occupying a safety' position where it is interposed to prevent the action/of said exploding`-means, and a hydrostat adapted at a predetermined depth` to displace said slide intov position to permit the operation of said means and thereby cause the explosion of the contained charge. a

8. A depth. bomb` having an explosive charge formed with an internal cavity coinmunicating with ariring hole, and a safety device comprising a hydrostatically-operatedmovable part adapted at a predetermined depth to uncover such tiring hole, and means adapted. thereafter to introduce a detonator through said hole into said cavity.

9. A depth bomb having, an explosive charge and a detonator, with a safety .means normally interposed to prevent explosion of the detonator from exploding said charge,

and a vent adapted to discharge-externala slide movable under hydrostatic control.

and having avent passage for discharging externally any products resulting from a ma premature explosion of the detonator.

11. A depth bomb according to claim 9, having a fragile closure for said vent passage adapted tobe blown o' in the event of a premature. explosion to thereby indicate its occurrence.

12. In a depth bomb having an explosive charge and means for exploding it, a safety device and a hydrostat operating it, said safety device in its normal safety position located within the bomb and adapted upon moving to firing position to project beyond the bomb.

13. A depth bomb comprising primary and secondar hydrostats, a safety device operated by t e primary hydrostat and consisting of a slide carrying a valve, and a passage from the ,exterior to the secondary hydrostat controlled by such valve, such pas sage being normally closed, but opened un- 1 der control of the prilnaly hydrostat at n. preliminary set depth.

14. A depth bomb having primary and secondary hydrostats, and an empty chamber communicating with the chambers of said hydrostats into which iiuid may be expelled from said chambers as the hydrostats respond to hydrostatic pressure.

15. A depth bomb having primary and secondary hydrostats, and a safety device controlled by the primary hydrostat, a transverse shell in which such safety device moves, and a longitudinal cylinder enclosing the secondary hydrostat, `With removable means for giving access to said hydrostats from the exterior.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name. 'WILLIAM DIETER.

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