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US 3,943,874 AGranted
River mine countermeasure device
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsEdward L. Pipkin, William H. Tolbert
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A free-running river mine disabler having a float which is propelled under he river surface by means of the river current. A wire cutter is towed along the river bottom by said float in such manner as to sever the ignition wires of electrically detonated mines.
Claims12
Means for acquiring and cutting marine mine control wires laying on and buried in the bottom of a river:
- a housing means;
- passageway means of predetermined geometrical configuration located in said housing means for the controlled flow of river water therethrough;
- cutting means mounted for rotation in said housing;
- means mounted in said housing and extending within said passageway means for rotation therein in response to river water flowing therethrough;
- means interconnecting said water responsive rotating means and the aforesaid cutting means for the driving thereof thereby;
- means connected to said housing means for guiding the marine mine control wires to be cut into engagement with the aforesaid cutting means upon contact therewith;
- and
- means connected to the aforesaid housing means for the propulsion thereof in such manner within said river that wires laying on and buried in the bottom thereof will be contacted, acquired, and guided for engagement with said cutting means by the aforesaid wire guiding means.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.