US2988992A - Torpedo arming device - Google Patents

Description

June 20, 1961 w. B. ELMERQ TORPEDO ARMING DEVICE Filed Oct. 31, 1945 r e a J a s 8 W A w 3 A ,/\..e r a 7 w Q/OXM a q V a a An Mec/za/r/lsms [Irp/ode/ f waif/00170 fZafu/e INVENTOR V/M4075 [/mer BY ME, W

ATTORNEY w w-m My invention relates to an arming mechanism for a torpedo used as a mine.

Torpedo mines are provided with a mooring anchor and a cable attaching the anchor to the torpedo and so paid out that thetorpedo is moored at aselected depth.

While the mooring anchor is in the torpedo the torpedo has a negative bouyancy and would normally sink, but when the torpedo is launched from the tube of a submarine or some other launching craft the anchor is released .from the anchor cavity in the torpedo as soon as the torpedo is a short distance from the launching .craft.

.Safety features are provided 'to preclude the arming of the torpedo while in the firing tube, or some other place on or near the launching craft. Some trigger mechanisms for arming are operated when the torpedo is launched but safety to the launching craft and personnel make it very desirable that the torpedo does not become armed except the torpedo be at a given distance from the launching craft and be at a depth greater than a given minimum.

One object of my invention is to effect arming of a torpedo mine when the torpedo is a selected distance from the launching craft.

Another object of my invention is to effect arming of a torpedo mine only when the torpedo is at a depth greater than ;a given A still further object of my invention is to elfect the arming of a torpedo mine when the torpedo has travelled a given distance in the water from the firing position and at a depth greater than a selected depth.

A broad object of my invention is to prevent detonation of the explosive charge in a torpedo mine while yet near the launching craft.

Other objects and advantages will become more apparent from a study of following specification and the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 shows the afterbody of a torpedo mine broken open to illustrate a side view of the mechanical details of my invention; and

FIG. 2 shows the essential electrical circuits for effecting the novel results of my invention.

When the torpedo is launched, or fired from the firing tube of a submarine, the inertia trip mechanism 1, having the pivoted weight 2 and overcenter spring arrangement 3, closes the contacts 4 to thus provide live circuits to the exploder mechanisms, the control and propulsion circuits.

My invention is primarily concerned with the switch S and the mechanisms for closing the contacts of this switch only after the torpedo mine is a safe distance from the submarine and at a depth greater than a selected minimum.

When the torpedo is launched, the flow of the water over the propeller causes rotation of the propeller and shaft. This rotation of the propeller is found to take place at water speeds relative to the torpedo in excess of five knots per hour. Since the torpedo is launched at much greater speed than five knots per hour and does not drop to a lesser speed until the torpedo is some considerable distance from the firing tube, I take advantage of this propeller rotation to actuate switch S.

In my construction I provide the propulsion shaft 5 with a worm 6. On a suitable frame structure 7, bolted nited States Patent 0 2,988,992 Patented June 20, 1961 2 to the torpedo afterbody 8 at 9 and 10 on suitable brackets provided for thepurpose, .I rotatably mount the Worm wheel 11 in such a manner that the worm wheel 11 is permanently in mesh with the Worm .6. The shaft 12 for the worm wheel also carries a pinion 13.

To the forward end of the frame I secure a bellows closed at both the forward and aft end, except that I connect the interior of the bellows to the pressure of the seawater by means of the nipples 15 and 1 6 and pipe coupling 17. The aft end of the bellows will thus move as a function of the pressure of the water outside of the torpedo shell8.

To the aft end of the bellows I secure the upper or movable end of the rocker arm 18 which is pivoted at 1-9 on the frame 7.

On the movable or upper end of the rocker arm .18 I mount apin 20 on which the gearsector 21 is pivotally mounted. 'The gear sector is normally biased for counterclockwise rotation on its pivot by the spring 22, which is at its forward end secured to the frame '7 and at its aft end secured to the sector 21 at a point above the pivot pin 20. The spring arrangement thus provides an overcenter function for the gear sector. The sector is limited in its angular motion by stops discussed heregreater than a twenty foot head of water. A decrease of pressure below a twenty foot head causes the bellows to withdraw the sector 21 from the in-mesh relation with the pinion 13. This is the relation shown in FIG. 1.

After firing of the torpedo if the depth is more than twenty feet the sector '21 and pinion 13 are thrown into mesh and since the shaft 5 is rotating in the direction indicated the, sector is rotated in a clockwise direction.

The dead center of the overcenter arrangement is located on the sector gear near the end of the gear travel. If the gears 21 and-13 disengage at any point before reaching the center, the sector 21 is thrown back. to the position shown. If, however, the pressure is maintained until the sector 21 moves oif the pinion 13, the overcenter spring 22 then swings the gear sector clockwise through an additional small angle to clear the pinion 13.

The stop for the sector 21 in the clockwise direction consists of a small micro switch S of the over center type. The switch S is actuated by the tab 23 on the sector 21. The arming function required of my device is thus completed.

The stop for the gear sector 21 in the counterclockwise direction is formed by a leaf spring 24 having an aft end extending below the shaft 12 for the pinion 13 and worm wheel 11. Should the propeller, for some reason, he turned a short distance in the reverse, or wrong direction, during launching, or any other time, the sector 21 is moved 011 the pinion 13 against the leaf spring 24. Upon-normal rotation of the propeller, the leaf spring 24 returns the sector 21 to such a position that the sector 21 and pinion 13 are in operative relation.

The gear ratios of the gears shown are so selected that the torpedo mine travels the required distance through the water before arming occurs.

Should the propeller be turned by hand or otherwise while out of the water, arming cannot occur since the hydrostatic pressure is absent from the bellows 14. Further, should the torpedo-mine stick in the tube during launching after emerging far enough for the anchor to drop from its cavity, arming is avoided because the propeller will fail to turn in the forward direction.

propeller while being rotated by the water flowing over the propeller blades during launching, arming means for the torpedo, pressure actuated means responsive to the hydrostatic head to which the torpedo is subjected, and means responsive to the joint action of said distance means and pressure actuated means for effecting operation of said arming means for the torpedo.

2. In a torpedo to be operated in the nature of a mine, ,in combination, an ignitor for the main charge of explosive, arming means for the ignitor, exploder means for energizing said ignitor, means responsive both to the,hydrostatic head above the torpedo and the distance of travel of the torpedo from its launching position for effecting the operation of said arming means for said ignitor after the torpedo is at a depth greater than a given minimum and at a distance greater than a given minimum from the launching position of the torpedomine.

3. In a torpedo to be operated as a mine provided with a propeller for self-propulsion and of the type that is launched from a launching craft from a thing tube, or otherwise, in combination, transmission gearing operated from the propeller shaft by rotation of the propeller by the water flowing over the propeller blades after launching, a bellows subject to the pressure of the Water surrounding the torpedo, a gear sector operated into meshing relation with said transmission gearing by said bellows when the hydrostatic head is greater than a given minimum, and means for effecting an arming action after a predetermined angular rotation of the gear sector.

4. Ina torpedo to be operated as a mine and provided with a propeller for self-propulsion and of the type that is launched from a launching craft from a firing tube, or otherwise, in combination, transmission gearing operated from the propeller shaft by rotation of the propeller by the water flowing over the propeller blades after launching, a bellows subject to the pressure of the water surrounding the torpedo, a gear sector operated into meshing relation with said transmission gearing by said bellows when the hydrostatic head is greater than a given minimum, means for eiiecting an arming action after v 4 a predetermined angular rotation of the gear sector, and means for disengaging the gear sector and the transmission gearing upon rotation of the propellers in the wrong direction.

5. In ordnance equipment of the self-propelled type but which is launched from a launching craft and which contains a charge of explosive, in combination, travel responsive means for measuring the distance of travel of the equipment from the launching position, an ignitor for the charge of explosive in the equipment, exploder means operated in response to the proximity of a target to the equipment for energizing the ignitor, arming means for the ignitor, pressure responsive means, and means responsive both to the pressure of the medium surrounding the equipment as determined by the pressure responsive means and the distance of the equipment from the launching craft as determined by the travel responsive means for eflecting the operation of the arming means when. the equipment is at a greater distance from the launching craft than a given minimum and the pressure on the equipment is greater than a given minimum.

6. In a torpedo to be operated in the nature of a mine provided with a propeller and drive shaft therefor, which is setin operation for self-propulsion upon reception of target signals at the moored position of the torpedo but whichtorpedo is of the type to be launched at relatively high speed from a launching craft, in combination, a worm mounted on the drive shaft which worm is driven by the rotation of the propeller by the water flowing over the propeller blades during launching, gears operated by the worm, a gear sector disposed to be placed in mesh with said gears, hydrostatic means for moving the gear sector in mesh with said gears at a hydrostatic head greater than a given minimum, and switching means operated by a predetermined angular movement of the sector. l 1:

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 644,321 Gathmann Feb. 27, 1900 1,382,374 Maxim June 21, 1921 1,626,794 Dieter May 3, 1927 2,060,206 Hammond Nov. 10, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS 212,774 Germany Aug. 7, 1909 156,814 Great Britain I an. 20, 1921

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