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Breech and Muzzle Door Interlock 38

Tube Drain Valve and Muzzle Door Interlocking Mechanism 42
Firing Interlocking Mechanism 44
Interlock Disconnect 46

37

BREECH AND MUZZLE DOOR INTERLOCK

FOREWORD: Plate Two, which shows Figure 70, or F in Figure 72) is operated
diagramatically the complete interlock by hand, independently of other gear. In
system for a torpedo tube having a the power-operated mechanism, the
manually-operated muzzle door breech and muzzle door interlock lever is

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21-Inch Submerged Torpedo Tubes - Chapter 4
mechanism, and Plate Three, which
similarly pictures one for a tube having
a power-operated muzzle door
mechanism, should be referred to in
connection with the more detailed
figures and text of this chapter. In
general, the differences between the
interlock systems are:
(1) The interlock slide, which is moved
fore-and aft by threads on the muzzle
door operating shaft in the manually-
operated mechanism, is driven by
gears, sprockets and a chain from the
operating shaft of the power-operated
gear.
(2) In the manually-operated
mechanism the breech and muzzle door
interlock lever (A in
Figure 68 The breech bracket and
interlocking levers, showing their
position with relation to the breech
door. (A) Firing mechanism interlock
lever; (B) Tube drain valve and muzzle
door interlock lever; (C) Indicator
38
linkages are provided from the breech
and muzzle door interlock lever and
from the firing interlock lever to the
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Page 2 of 11
linked to the drain valve and muzzle door
interlock lever by a connecting rod (A in
Figures 74 and 77) so that the two
operate together.
(3) In general, the interlocking bolts
operate with the interlock slide in the
same manner, regardless of whether the
muzzle door operating mechanism is of
the manual- or power-operated type.
However, in order to properly control the
operation of the control valve in the
power-operated type, the interlock bolts
engage the thrust rod or attached parts as
well as the interlock sleeve. Also, in the
power operated type, these bolts do not
prevent the operation of the emergency
hand drive, so additional
showing position of muzzle door while
opening and closing; (D) Breech and
muzzle door interlock lever; (E) Breech
bracket, in which the cylindrical slide
moves as the muzzle door operating shaft
is turned.
depth and speed spindles are retracted
from their sockets in the torpedo, (4) the
firing stop valves are locked open, (5) the
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hand operating shaft, each linkage drain valve is locked closed.

consisting of a long connecting rod and
a bellcrank lever which has a tip shaped
like a gear-tooth so that it will engage a
gear which is keyed on to the hand
operating shaft. These linkages perform
the same functions with respect to the
emergency hand shaft that the interlock
bolts perform with respect to the
power-operated gear.
In this chapter, Figures 68 to 73, 77, 79, mechanical throughout and centers about
80 to
The interlocking mechanism consists of
three sections: The Breech and Muzzle
Door Interlock; the Tube Drain Valve
and Muzzle Door Interlock; and the
Firing Mechanism Interlock. The levers
and indicators for these interlocks are
shown in Figure 68.
In general, the interlocking mechanism is
the muzzle door operating shaft, which
extends (in the manual

Figure 69 Cylinder slide and breech end of muzzle door operating shaft, showing
(A) Acme thread on breech end of muzzle door operating shaft; (B) Slot for breech
and muzzle door interlock bolt; (C) Bolt disengaged from and in line with slot in
slide, in muzzle door unlocked position.
83, and 85, strictly apply only where
muzzle door operating mechanisms are
of the manual type. Figures 74 and 75
apply where the power type is installed.
Figures 76, 78 and 84 may be
considered illustrative for either type.

The interlocking mechanism actually is

protection against improper operation
of the tube. It prevents (a) opening the
breech door when the muzzle door is Figure 70 Breech bracket, showing
open, and opening the muzzle door breech and muzzle door interlock lever
when the breech door is open; also, it (A) at muzzle door unlocked position.
prevents (b) opening the drain valve
when the muzzle door is open, and
opening the muzzle door when the drain
valve is open. It prevents (c) firing of
the tube except when (1) the muzzle
door is locked open, (2) the breech
door is locked closed, (3) the

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39

Figure 71 Cylindrical slide, showing (A) interlocking bolt raised into slot,
preventing movement of slide and locking muzzle door operating shaft.

type) from the gearing at the muzzle door

to the breech bracket over the breech end
of the tube.

The Breech and Muzzle Door Interlock

controls the opening and closing of the
breech and muzzle doors. It is so
arranged that when one door is open the
other door is closed and locked tight.

In the "manually operated" type of

muzzle door operating mechanism, a
cylindrical slide engages an acme thread
on the breech door end of the muzzle
door operating shaft (Figure 69) and
slides in the breech bracket (Figure 70).
This cylindrical slide moves away from
the operator when closing the muzzle
door, and toward the operator when
opening the muzzle door. The distance
this slide travels between the extreme
positions is 4.858 inches. By means of
slots, this cylindrical slide engages bolts
in the breech and muzzle door
Figure 73 Cylindrical slide interlocking system (see Figures 69 and
disassembled, showing (A) Muzzle door 71), also in the drain valve and the firing
indicator; (B) Ring with pointer and interlocking systems.
tooth in (C) Helical groove in
cylindrical slide; (D) Slot for head of The breech and muzzle door interlocking
drain valve interlock rod; (E) Slot for bolt (Figures 69 and 71) is actuated by a
breech and muzzle door interlock bolt;
breech and muzzle door interlock lever
(F) Acme thread on (G) Breech end of (Figures 70 and 72). When the muzzle
muzzle door operating shaft. door is fully closed, the slot in the slide is

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in line with the interlocking bolt (Figure

69) and the interlock lever can be moved
to "Breech Door Unlocked" position
(Figure 72). In this position, the interlock
bolt is raised into the slot of the slide
(Figure 71), clearing the lug on the
breech door locking ring, and allowing
the locking ring to be rotated so the
breech door can be opened. The lug on
the locking ring prevents the bolt from
being lowered while the breech door is
unlocked. When the breech door is
closed and locked, the interlock lever can
be moved to "Muzzle Door Unlocked"
position, as in Figure 70, and the bolt
goes to its lower position where it is clear
of the slot in the slide, as in Figure 69.

As the muzzle door opens or closes, its

movement

40

Figure 72 Breech bracket, showing breech and muzzle door interlock lever at
breech door unlocked position. (A) Cylindrical slide; (B) Indicator showing
position of muzzle door when opening or closing. (C) Breech bracket; (D) End of
muzzle door operating shaft for attaching handle; (E) Indicator, showing (F)
Breech and muzzle door interlock lever at breech door unlocked position, ready for
unlocking and opening the breech door.

is shown on the Muzzle Door Indicator
(see Figure 73, also C in Figure 68).
This indicator consists of a ring with a
pointer on its outer surface or
circumference, and, a tooth
operated by a control valve, the control
valve being set in action by a thrust rod
which moves through the interlock sleeve
and the breech bracket. This control
valve cannot be set in action unless the

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immediately below it on the inner interlocks are in proper position.

surface of the ring. The tooth engages a
helical groove in the slide, so that as the
slide moves backward or forward the
indicator moves, showing the position
of the muzzle door on the scale.
With the power-operated mechanism,
the shaft for opening and closing the
muzzle door is operated by a hydraulic
cylinder which, in turn, is
Rods extend down from the breech and
muzzle door interlock lever and from the
drain valve and muzzle door interlock
lever, and connect with gearing which
locks or unlocks the emergency hand
operating shaft (H in Figure 45, page 32).
The interlock slide is moved backward or
forward by an interlock chain.

Figure 74 New connecting rod (A) Linking the breech and muzzle door interlock
lever with the drain valve and muzzle door interlock lever so the two operate
together. Levers as shown are at muzzle door locked, and breech door unlocked,
positions. At right, Figure 75, levers are shown at muzzle door unlocked, and drain
valve locked, positions.

41

TUBE DRAIN VALVE AND MUZZLE DOOR INTERLOCKING

MECHANISM

Figure 76 Drain valve interlock The interlocking mechanism also

provides an interlock between the tube
drain valve and the muzzle door, so that
the muzzle door can not be opened unless
the tube drain valve is closed.

The tube drain valve, located just under

Figure 76 Drain valve interlock,
showing (A) Rod extending up to
interlock lever and cylindrical slide;
(B) Collar on drain valve shaft
disengaged, valve unlocked.
the breech end of the tube, is operated by
a lever attached to a shaft, at one end of
which is a collar (B in Figure 76). This
collar is locked or unlocked by moving
the drain valve and muzzle door interlock
lever (A in Figure 77). The interlock
lever has a pinion gear which engages a
rack gear (B in Figure 77) attached to a
rod (A in Figure 76) which extends down
to a lever which operates an interlock
bolt which operates on the collar on the

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drain valve stem (B in Figure 76). This

rod also extends up to the cylindrical
slide, as shown at C in Figure 77.

Figure 77 Drain valve and muzzle door interlock, showing (A) Lever at muzzle
door closed position; (B) Pinion gear and rack with (C) Head of rod in upper
position, engaging slot in cylindrical slide.

42

When the interlock lever is at "Muzzle

Door Closed" position, the head of the
rod engages the slot in the cylindrical
slide (C in Figure 77) so the muzzle
door operating shaft can not be moved.
The collar on the drain valve stem is
disengaged, as shown at B in Figure 76,
and the drain valve lever may be moved
to open the drain valve.

The collar on the drain valve shaft is Figure 78 Drain valve shaft, showing (A)
locked, as shown at B in Figure 78,
Rod in lower position, engaging (B)
when the interlock lever is moved to
Collar on drain valve shaft and locking
"Drain Valve Locked" position, thus valve.
preventing movement of the drain valve
lever, and the head of the rod
disengages the cylindrical slide, as
shown in Figure 79, permitting
movement of the muzzle door operating
shaft so as to open the muzzle door.

This interlock acts in the same manner

on tubes which have power -operated
muzzle door mechanism.

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Figure 79 Drain valve interlock, showing (A) Interlock lever at drain valve locked
position, with (B) Head of rod disengaged from slot in slide, releasing muzzle door
operating shaft.

43

Figure 80 Firing interlock disassembled, showing (A) Lever in muzzle door

unlocked position; (B) and (C) Gearing drive for firing interlock bolt through idler
mounted on muzzle door operating shaft; (D) Firing interlock bolt, shown turned
out of the way of interlock slide. (Compare with Figure 82.)

FIRING INTERLOCKING MECHANISM

Firing Interlocking Mechanism the spindles of the setting mechanisms

prevents firing the tube until other
interlocks are correctly set.
The firing interlock lever rotates the
interlock sleeve (Figure 80). When the
lever is at "Muzzle Door
Unlocked" (Figure 81) the interlocks on
the depth and speed setting mechanisms
are released so the spindles can be
have been disengaged from the torpedo,
the tube firing system is released ready
for firing.
Raising the firing interlock lever from
"Muzzle Door Unlocked" to "Tube
Ready to Fire" also rotates the sleeve
head which moves the shutter bar so the
opening in the shutter bar is lined up to

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moved in to engage the mechanisms in allow the piston of the torpedo stop
the torpedo. When the depth and speed cylinder to pass through it and set the
setting mechanisms are engaged with firing mechanism in
the torpedo, hubs on the interlock
sleeve prevent rotation of the interlock
sleeve head by the firing interlock
lever.

When the firing interlock lever is

moved to "Tube Ready to
Fire" (Figures 82 and 83), after

Figure 81 Firing interlocking mechanism, showing (A) Lever in muzzle door

unlocked position, and (B) Pinion and gear attached to interlock sleeve through
which muzzle door operating shaft passes; (C) Position of cylindrical slide. (Also
see Figures 80, 82 and 83.)

44

Figure 82 Firing interlock disassembled, showing (A) Lever in tube ready to fire
position; (B) and (C) Gearing drive for firing interlock bolt through idler mounted
on muzzle door operating shaft; (D) Firing interlock bolt, shown turned so as to
prevent interlock slide from moving toward muzzle.

operation after the firing key is pressed. of the leakage of air under pressure into
The shutter bar (J in Figure 96 or N in the stop cylinder. In such case, the end of

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Figure 99, on pages 52 and 53), in
addition to the hole intended for the
passage of the stop piston extension,
has a recess which registers with the
end of the stop piston extension when
the firing interlock is set for "Muzzle
Door Unlocked." The purpose of this
recess is to engage the end of the stop
piston extension if it should be forced
breechward as by reason
the stop piston extension locks the
shutter bar, so the firing interlock cannot
be thrown to "Tube Ready to Fire"
position. (If it could be so thrown while
there was pressure in the stop cylinder,
the tube would fire immediately.) At the
same time, the electric interlock switch
(not adequately shown on any
illustration, but actuated by movement of
the shutter bar) is closed, lighting
interlock indicator lights.

At the same time, the firing interlock bolt

has been rotated downward, engaging the
muzzle door end of the interlock slide
(Figure 83), thereby locking the muzzle
door in its open position.

Figure 83 Firing interlocking mechanism, showing (A) Lever in tube ready to fire
position; (B) Pinion and gear attached to the interlock sleeve; (C) Cylindrical
slide locked to prevent movement of muzzle door operating shaft. (Compare with
Figure 81.)

45

INTERLOCK DISCONNECT

Provision is made for disconnecting the
firing interlocking mechanism in order
to permit of testing the operation of the
firing mechanism. This test consists of
firing what is called an "inboard slug,"
or a charge of air, while the breech door
is open.
To make this test, the lock on the
the interlock signal arm is raised to
vertical position, showing the "Danger,
Interlock Disconnected" warning flag
(see B in Figure 85), also disengaging the
firing interlock clutch shaft (see A in
Figure 85) and permitting the stop and
firing mechanism to function, regardless
of the position of the breech door or the
drain valve interlock levers, for the

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interlock disconnect (see Figure 84) is purpose of testing the firing mechanism.
unlocked and removed,

Figure 84 Firing interlock disconnect, showing (A) Clutch shaft engaged; (B) Lock
which must be removed to disconnect interlocking mechanism; (C) Interlock signal
arm. Compare with Figure 85, below, showing the cylindrical slide disassembled,
with (A) Clutch shaft disengaged, and (B) Interlock signal arm raised to show
warning flag.

46

Plate 3 - Interlocking Mechanism for Power Operated Doors

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