Patent GB-481382-A (GB)
Title: Systems for launching and priming aerial mines
IPC: F41H11/04
Filed: 1936-12-02
Abstract: 481,382. Aerial mines. TINSSONNIER, G. Dec. 2, 1936, No. 33050. Convention date, July 30. [Class 9 (ii)] An aerial mine, adapted to be suspended by a cable from its supporting member (balloon, parachute, aeroplane, kite or the like) and provided at its lower end with a parachute or similar air-drag device, embodies a device which contains the priming charge and which is so arranged as to maintain said charge out of contact with one or more strikers when the mine is in its normal suspended position but adapted to be moved so as to present the priming charge to the striker or strikers on the cable supporting the mine being struck by aircraft in flight. As shown in Fig. 4, the body 1 of the mine is internally divided by a partition 2 into two chambers 3, 4, the former of which contains the explosive charge whilst the latter is in constant communication with the outside air. A detonator 5 and percussion cap 6 are mounted in a block 7 adapted to slide in a passageway 8 and to be held by a spring 9 in the position shown in which an opening 10 in the block registers with an opening 11 in the passageway 8 communicating with chamber 4 and in which the percussion cap is located at a suitable distance from the spring-controlled striker 12. The striker is engaged by a claw' 14 of a lever 15 pivoted at 16 on the body of the mine, any number of levers 15, strikers 12 and percussion caps 6 being provided as desired. The block 7 carries a rod 17 which extends through the lower end of the mine where it is connected to a cable 18 which supports an airdrag or parachute device 19. A shoulder 20 on the rod 17 co-operates with a stop 21 when each cap 6 is located opposite the corresponding striker 12. The mine is suspended by a cable 22 from a reel located in a cell 23, Fig. 3, a ring 24 on which is engaged by suspension wires 25 attached to one end of a pocket 26, the other end of which is secured to a collar 27 mounted on the wall 28 of a dilatable balloon. The opening in the pocket 26 is closed by a cover 29 hinged at 30 to the collar 27 and maintained in the closed position by a pin secured to one end of a cable 31 which, after passing through loops on the side panels of the balloon, has its other end suitably secured to the balloon. In operation, when the balloon has ascended to the desired altitude, the dilation of the balloon envelope causes the pin on the end of cable 31 to be withdrawn so as to release the cover 29, whereupon the pocket 26 together with the assembly of the mine and its reel is expelled by the pressure of the gas in the balloon envelope and takes up the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3. The reel then unwinds to allow the mine to take up the desired position as determined by the length of the cable 22. The mine is maintained in the safe condition shown in Fig. 4 and is only armed when an aircraft strikes the cable 22. When this occurs, the air-drag 19 offers sufficient resistance to compress the spring 9 and cause the block 7 to be displaced so as to bring the shoulder 20 on rod 17 against stop 21, in which position, the percussion caps 6 are opposite the strikers 12. Consequently, when the mine itself comes into contact with the aircraft, one or other of the arms 15 will actuate the corresponding striker 12 to ignite one of the percussion caps 6. The opening 10 in the block 7 being in this position opposite an opening 37 in the passageway 8 leading to the chamber 3, the explosion of the mine is produced. Specification 454,078 is referred to.