US2935943A

US2935943A - Moored mine and magnetically actuated firing means therefor

Info

Publication number: US2935943A
Application number: US725455A
Authority: US
Inventors: Stimler Morton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1958-03-31
Filing date: 1958-03-31
Publication date: 1960-05-10
Anticipated expiration: 1977-05-10

Description

May 10, 1960 M. STIMLER 2,935,943

MOORED MINE AND MAGNETICALLY ACTUATED FIRING MEANS THEREFOR Filed March 31, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.1.

WW9?" FIG.5.

INVENTOR.

MORTON STIMLER BY ATTYS.

May 10, 1960 STIMLER 2,935,943

MOORED MINE AND MAGNETICALLY ACTUATED FIRING MEANS THEREFOR Filed March 31, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 In a INVENTOR.

g MORTON STIMLER ATTYsf ntent of any royalties thereon or therefor.

tached toa'moving vessel.

, the hull of a moving vessel.

, "ling the magnet with the mine; r [Fig 4, is a sectionalview of a firing switch suitablefon,

7 oonnn Mm AND mesmcnmtew,

' t ATED FIG BEANS- THEREFOR Morton Stimler, Hyattsville, Md assignor tothe ,United,

the Secretary of Statesof America as represented by the Navy Application March 31,1958, Serial No. 725,455

. 8 Claims. 01; 102-13 7 (Granted under Title 35, us. Code 1952 see. 266) invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United-States" of America for governmental purposes without the payar o operation by movement of themagnet of Fig. 3 away:-

' from theminerand Fig. is a firing; circuit suitable for use withthe deviceof the present invention. 1

r Referring now-to the drawings on which like numerals of reference are-employed to designate like or similar parts and more particularly to" Fig. 1 thereof, there is- .,This-invention relatesto a 'moored marine mine and a more particularly to a moored mine having a plurality of, 1 magnetic devices. carried thereby for firing the mine in response to movement thereof away frorn'the' mine when I at least one of the devices has become magnetically at'-' In devices of this type heretofore proposed'it has been the usual practice to provide the mine with a plurality of projections or antennae projecting therefrom containing ampules having a quantity of acid therein and adapted to firethe mine as the ampules are broken by contact with a vessel or a large fish, as the casemay be.-: Incertain other types of prior art mines, contact of the-vessel with'an electrpdecarried by the mine or secured thereto causes the min etc be firfed by sea battery action or otherwise. While these-devices have proved generally satisfactory under most conditions of service they are subject to accidental firing by contact with a largefish.

The device of the present invention possesses all-,ofthe advantages of the prior artdeyices of this general characterm which the mine is actuated by actual contact with the hull of the vessel and'in addition thereto possesses the additional advantage ofsimplicity and reliability in operation and the additional: advantages of an initial low cost.

In accordance with the present invention the moored mine is provided with a plurality of outstanding antennae, each of which has a permanent magnet movably carried at the outermost extremity thereof and of sufiicient strength to actuate a firing switch to closed position'when' the magnet becomes attached magnetically to the hull of a, moving vessel as will more clearly appear as the description proceeds. V, v 1,

One of the objects of the presentinvention is the provi-.' sion vof a moored mine having a new and improved mag netically actuated firing mechanism therein. j Another object is'to fire a mine" in response to movement of-a permanent magnet carried thereby as the magnet moves away from the mine by magnetic attraction to shown thereon a pairof moored mines each indicated generally by the numeral 10 and preferably having an arm 11 secured thereto at one end thereof for 'establishing a mooring connection by way of cable 12 to anchor 13..

The mine is providedwith a flotation chamber constructedandarranged in such a manner as to maintain the mine in: a horizontal position within the Water when the mine'is moored: The uppermost mine, as viewed in Fig. 1-, is

moored at a depth beneath the surface of-the water sufficient' for engagement with the hull of the vessel 14 and the lowermost mine isof a depth adapted to be engaged bythe hull of /a submarine such as {the submarine 15 illustrated. Y

V As more. clearly shown on Fig. 2, the mine comprises a cylintlrical casing- 16 having an-explosive charge 17 therein adapted to be fired by the operation of; an electroresponsive detonator 18 as:a firing currentvis applied thereto. The explosive charge 17 is contained within a chamber 19 defined by thecasing 16 and a partition or wall structure 21 in such manner as to leave'a buoyancy space or chamber 22 sufiicient to maintain the mine'in ahorizontal moored condition. V 5

.The mine isprovidedwith a plurality of antennae fgenerally indicated at23, each ofzthe antennae comprising a 'fleXible hose-like member 24-cornposed of rubber or any of the synthetic varieties thereof suitable for'the purpose and having one end thereof secured as by clamp 30 to a' nipple 25 projecting outwardly from the mine'casing and secured thereto in any convenient manner as by welding the parts togetherzf The other end ofthe hose-like me mber is disposed within share 26 formed within connector 27 and secured thereto 'in any suitable manner as by the clamp 28 threaded thereonto which theelongatedhose member 24 is clamped as by the bolts 29, Fig. 3.' The connector 27 is provided with a second bore. 31 within* which is slideably disposed a guide or plunger 32 having a rod 33 connected thereto and looped atthe outer end thereof for pivotal engagement with eye bolt-34. The plunger 32 is yieldably maintained in a retracted position by spring 35 until moved therefrom by a pull on;permanent magnet 36 to which eye bolt 34 is connectedas by the-nut 37. The spring 35 is maintained in a compressed condition by a cap 38 having an aperture 39 rtherein of I sufiicient size to allow free sliding movement of rod- '33 therein, the cap being secured .tothe connector in any suitable manner as by the boltsfAl. The plunger. 32 is connected by a thin' flexible liner42 secured thereto to a firing switch 43 preferably disposed within the mine cas 7 ing, and secured theretoias bythe. bolts 44, Fig. 4,

Still other objects, advantages and improvements;will,i- Iv become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings ,of which:

net ,element secured to the hull of a vessel by magnetic;

attraction and the supporting means therefor interconnect:

preferred; embodiment ;'I'l1e'-firing. switch"may be of'any type suitable for the 'purpose, such for'eXam-ple, as the switchillustrated in which a lever arm 45 actuates a pair of contacts to closed position in response to a force applied thereto, movement of the arm to an initial position causing the contacts to open The lever arm 45 is preferably enclosed within a flexible jacket or sleeve 46 having anefitension 47' formed thereon to which one end of the line 42 is. secured, a. retractile spring 48-=being employed to yieldably maintain the switch arm in an initial unoperated position until moved therefrom by a forceor pullapplied to line 42.

The jacket 46 is formed preferably integral with a: gasket 49 disposed between a clamping member 40 held by the.,.' screwse and the surface of wall 51 to provide a watertightconnection therebetween and prevent entrance of 2,935,943? V Patented May 10,

3 the water into the switch 43., The switch is provided with a pair of terminals 52 for establishing a plurality of external electrical connections thereto.

There isalso provided within the casing 16 a hydro stat indicated generally by the numeral 53, Fig; 2, adapted to closearming switch. 514,. at theexpira tion of a predetermined interval of time after the mine has been planted. A battery 55, is secured to the inner casing of the mine and operatively connected to the hydrostatically con: trolled switch 54 and the firing switches 43. For a more complete understanding of this wiring arrangement, reference is now had to Fig. 5 on which is shown in diagrammatic form a circuit arrangement suitable for use with the device of thepresent invention in which the'battery. 55 is connected at one terminal thereof to one contact of arming switch 54 from whence, the circuit'is continued to one terminal of detonator 13 and thence by. way. of the firing switches. 43 inparallel to the other terminal of battery 55;

From the foregoing it will be apparent that afterthe mine has been moored and the arming switch 54' thereof closed by hydrostatic pressure, the mine will be fired by operation of any of the switches 43 as the magnet 36 thereof is pulled away from the outer end of the antenna by magnetic attraction 'to the hull of a moving. vessel. When this occurs a circuit is closed to fire the detonatcr and explode the mine.

While the invention has been described with particuiarity with reference to a cylindrical mine which has a pair of antennae diametrically disposed projecting from one .end'portion thereof and a second pair of antennae diametrically disposed and projecting exteriorly from the other end of the mine, it is not so limited as, if'desired, the mine may be spherical or of other outward configuration and various arrangements of antennae and various different numbers of antennae may be employed, if de? sired. Furthermore, while the invention has been described with reference to a pair of mines moored by a single mooring cable, it will be understood that this has been done for the purpose of illustration and that the number of mines moored by the anchor may be greater or less than the number illustrated.-

'Whereas the invention has been described with particularity with reference to one example thereof which gives satisfactory results, it is not so limited as it will be understood by one skilled in the art, after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and'scope of the invention, and it is intended therefore, in the appended claims, to cover all such changes and modifications.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a marine mine, in combination, a buoyant mine, means including a cablefor mooring the mine within a body of water at a depth less than the draft of a target vessel, a plurality of antennae projecting outwardly from said mine and secured thereto, each of said antennae comprising a flexible elongated tubular member, aswivel connector secured to the uppermost end portion of each of said antennae, a permanent magnet carried by the outwardly extending end portion of said connector and movable pivotally about any one of a plurality of axes and outwardly with respect thereto, a firing switch disposed within said mine, and a flexible line disposed within said tubular member interconnecting the magnet with said firing switch for causing the switch to be actuated to a firing position in response to movement of the magnet away from the end of said antenna by magnetic attraction between the magnet and the hull of a moving vessel as the vessel moves awayfrom the mine while the mine is moored.

2. A firing mechanism for a moored mine comprising, iii-combination,- a minecasing, means including a cable for mooring said casing at a predetermined depth of submersion less than the draft of a target vessel, a plurality of flexible antenna elements carried by said casing and projecting outwardly therefrom, each of said elements having a swivel connectorsecured to the outermost end portion thereof, a permanent magnet carried by said connector at an end portion thereof and movable pivotallyand outwardly with respect thereto in response to magnetic attraction between the magnet and the hull of a vessel as the magnet makes contact therewith and the vessel moves away from the mine while the mine is moored, means for yieldably maintaining the magnet in an initial position relative to said connector, a firing switch disposed within said casing, and means including a flexible line disposed'within said tubular member for estabiishing an operative connection between said magnet and the firing switch for causing the firing switch to be closed as the magnet is moved a predetermined distance from said end portion of the connector 3; A firing mechanism according to claim 2 in which said antennae are arranged in pairs at predetermined intervals onsaid casing, each of said pair of antennae being arranged in diametrically disposed relation with respect to said casing and in predetermined uniform spaced relation therealong.

4. A firing mechanism according to claim 3 in which means are provided for yieldably maintaining the firing switch in an initial unoperated position.

5. In a moored mine, in combination, a cylindrical mine casing, means including a cable for mooring said casing beneath the surface of a body of water at a depth of submergence less than the draft of a target vessel, a pair of diametrically disposed flexible antennae secured to the mine'casing and projecting outwardly therefrom, at least one additional pair of flexible antennae secured to the mine casing and projecting outwardly therefrom in predetermined spaced relation with respect to the first named pair of antennae, a permanent magnet individual to each of said antennae, means including a swivel for yieldably and pivotally'securing the magnet to an outwardly projecting end portion of the antenna for movement away from the end thereof as the magnet engages the hull of a moving vessel while the mine is moored, a plurality of firing switches equal in number to the number of antennae, and means including a flexible line disposed within a respective one of said antennae and interconnecting each of the firing switches with a respective magnet for operating the firing switch to a closed position as the magnetconnected thereto is moved away from the end of the antenna.

6. A system for destroying an enemy surface vessel and undersea craft comprising, in combination, an elongated cylindrical mine having'a buoyancy chamber therein so arranged as to maintain the mine in a horizontal position when moored beneath the surface of the water, a mine anchor, a'mooring line connected to said anchor and to one end of the 'mine and of suflicient length to maintain the mine completely submerged at a depth less than the depth of the keel of a target surface vessel, a second cylindrical mine having a buoyancy chamber therein so arranged as to maintain the mine in a horizontal moored position within the water, means for connecting said second mine to the'mooring cable intermediate the first named mine and the anchor at a depth of submersion such that is adapted to be contacted by a submerged underwater craft, each of said mines having a plurality of flexible tube-like antennae secured thereto and projecting outwardly therefrom, means for connecting one end of each of said antennae to the mine such that the connected ends of each antennae extend outwardly in a radial direction from the axis of the mine, a connector comprising a rigid cylindrical member clamped in water-,

tight connection to the upper end of each of said antennae, a plunger having an eye formed in the outer end thereof slideably disposed within said member, means I including a spring Within the member for maintaining said plunger yieldably in a normal retracted condition, a

U-shaped magnet swivelly connected to said eye at the I mid-portion thereof -an'd-jadapted to engage the surface of mine when any one of said switches is closed, said g switches being equal in number to the number'of said antennae and carried by the mine interiorly in a position opposite the inner end portion of the antenna respectively associatedltherewith, and a plurality of flexible lines 1 respectivelydisposed within the antennae for establishing an operative connection. between the inner end of =said plunger and the switch associated with the'an'te'nna carrying the connector within -whichthe plunger is disposed for closing the switch whenthe plunger is moved to an outwardly extending position with respect to the connector by the permanent magnet to which the permanent magnet is attached with respectto the mine while the mine is moored.

7. A system according to claim 6-in -which the any; 7 tennae are arranged in pairs, the antennae of each or said pairs being arranged diametrically on of the mine. i g

8 The system of claim 7 in which the pairs of anopposite sides tennae are each disposed at ditferent positions along the 71%" axis of the mine and are oriented angularly about the axis of the mine in such manner-that eachpair of a'ntennae is positioned at a diiferent angle at the point of connection thereof with the mine from each of the other pairs of antennae.

References Cited in therfileof this'patent UNITED STATES PATENTS '20 322,900 Castro 'July28,

swivelly connected a thereto in response to movement of ,the target vessel"