Improvements in Apparatus for Catching Mines, and for Protecting Vessels from Mines.

摘要

109,399. Feller, M. March 9, 1917 Sweeping mines.-Consists in providing the bow of a ship A, Figs. 1 and 2, with a pair of foldable horizontal frames H having a series of grasping devices J for catching mines, Each frame H is carried by links or rods G2, H2, E9, F5. The links G2 are coupled to blocks G1 movable along horizontal rods G near the bottom of the ship. The links H2 contain spring cushions H', and are connected to a box D movable on vertical rails B at the bow of the ship. The links E9 are coupled to a block E8, Fig. 5, on a rack E moved vertically relatively to the box D and to a similar box D' lower down by pinions E2, E4. The rods F5 act as hinge pins for the frames H, and are connected, to nuts F4, which are moved along oppositely pitched screw spindles F by bevelgear F1, E7. All these parts are worked by flexible wires from windlasses on board ship to raise and lower the frames and fold, extend, and brace them. Each grasping-device J is in the form of a hollow ring containing a spring bolt J1, Fig. 10, which is pulled to open the ring by a wire K, and is held in the open position by a catch J5. Impact of a mine or other obstruction on a guard J' pulls the catch, allowing the bolt to close the ring to retain the mine therein; at the same time an electric switch J10 is closed, giving a signal on board ship. The wire K for opening the bolt, and a wire L3 to pull the catch J@ to permit the opening of the bolt are worked by a spring-controlled shaft and a spring-controlled slide interconnected by a finger on the shaft and a slot on the slide.