AU624396B2 - Self-propelled submarine vehicle for the detection of submerged objects - Google Patents

Description

OPI DATE 05/01/90 APPLN. I D 38328 89 PC] A0JP DATE 01/02/90 PCT NUMBER PCT/FR89/00289 DEMANDE INTERNATIONALE PUBLIEE EN VERTU DU TRA1TE DE COOP'ERATION EN MATIERE DE I3REVETS (PCT) (51) Classification internationale des brevets 4 (11) Nurn.~ro de pub~lication Internationale: 'WO 89/11997 B63C 11/42 Al (43) Date d ublication intcrriationale: 14 d&ecmbre 1989 (14.12.89) (21) Numero de la dernande Internationale: PCT/FR89/00289 (81) d~ 6s: J, 0.

(22) Date de d~p6t international: 8 juin 1989 (08,06.89) lPublli~e A:'cc rapport c rchewrchec intcrnationalc.

Donn~es relatives i la priorit6: Avant I'cxpiration du cklti pri!'u pour Ia mnodification des 88/07612 8 juin 1988 (08.06.88) FR rci'cndications, sera repubikc sic/ d les modifications son' rcfucs.

(71) D~posant: BERTIN CIE [FR/FR]; BP N' 3, F-78373 Plaisir C~dex (FR).

(72) Inventeurs: GUILLOTEAU, Michel 2, rue Pav&-des- Gardes, F-92 130 S~vres PETRY, Martin 39, quai de Grenelle, F-75015 Paris RAGUENES, Armand, Marie 53, rue Leo-Lagrange, F-16600 Ruelle (FR).

VINCENT, Ren6 Bois-Balluet, F-16410 Garat (FR).

(74) Mandataire: CABINET ORES; 6, avenue de Messine, F- 75008 Paris (FR).

(54)Title: SELF-PROPELLED SUBMARINE VEHICLE FOR THE DETECTION OF SUBMERGED OBJECTS (54)Titre: VEHICULE SOUS-MARIN AUTOPROPULSE i-OUR LA DETECTION D'OBJETS IMMERGES 11 n 1 (57) Abstract The device described comprises ani upper portion (12) and a lower portion (16) longitudinally off-set in relation to one another, in order to provide, at the front of f he vehicle, a free space for locating a sonar aerial and, at the rear, a passage and clearance for a cable (28) connected to a surface craft.

(57) Abrege Whicule sous-marin autopropuls6 pour la detection d'objets immerg~s, comprenant une partie sup~rieure (12) et une partie inf~rieure (16) d~cal~es longitudinalement l'une par rapport it ['autre, pour manager, At l'avant du v~hicule, un espace libre de logemnent d'une antenne (20) de sonar et, At I'arri~re, le passage et le d~battement d'un citble (28) de liaison At un bittiment de surface.

I

A SELF-PROPELLED SUBMARINE VEHICLE FOR DETECTING UNDERWATER OBJECTS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a self-propelled submarine vehicle for detecting underwater objects, in particular underwater mines.

PRIOR ART When seeking and detecting underwater mines, it is common practice to tow an underwater sonar astern of a surface vessel by means of a cable. In order to be effective, the sonar must be at a distance from the surface vessel and it must have a very l.arge range in order to be able to scan a volume of sea far enough ahead of the surface vessel. Such sonars are very sophisticated and very expensive.

'There also exist small self-propelled submarine vehicles fitted with video cameras and/or with sonar equipment for seeking and detecting underwater objects such as underwater mines and suitable for being launched from a platform or from a surface vessel, and which are either independent from the S. platform or the surface vessel but very limited in range, or which are connected to the platform or the surface vessel by means of a cable for providing power, in which case the cable must constantly be towed during displacement of such vehicles, thereby constraining their capacity to manoeuvre.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention is to provide a satisfactory solution to the problem of seeking and detecting underwater objects such as underwater mines by use of a selfpropelled submarine vehicle for detecting underwatei objects.

According to the invention, there is provided a selfpropelled submarine vehicle for detecting underwater objects, the vehicle including detection means such as sonar and horizontal and vertical propulsion means, and a cable which connects the vehicle to a surface vessel for supplying electric power to the vehicle from the surface vessel and for transmitting instructions for manoeuvring the vehicle and for controlling the detection means, together with information S interchanged with said detection means, the vehicle being T O T 0r i-2characterised in that the cable is hitched to the vehicle at a fixed point situated on the thrust axis of the horizontal propulsion means, in the longitudinal midplane of lateral symmetry of the vehicle, .nd in the vicinity of the centre of gravity or substantially vertically therefrom, and in that the g vehicle includes a step in its trailing top portion for passing j the cable to leave it clearance about the hitching point in an i upwards direction and on either side of the vehicle.

By virtue of these characteristics of the invencion, Sthe presence of the connection cable to the surface vessel has very little or no influence on the stability and the manoeuvring capacity of the submarine vehicle, while nevertheless continuously feeding it with power, thereby giving it unlimited range.

i Preferably a sonar antenna is situated at the leading i .end of the vehicle in a step provided in the bottom portion of its hull.

Advantageously, the antenna is mounted to swivel S"through plus or minus 1800 about a vertical axis and to tilt V about a transverse axis on the vehicle so as to enable it to scan the volume of sea ahead of the vehicle, on either side thereof, and both above and below the vehicle.

When the vehicle is moving forwards, the abovementioned step in the leading bottom portion of the hull S delimits a zone of slack water about the sonar antenna, such i that the motion of the antenna has no effect on the behaviour of the vehicle.

Preferably the vehicle can also be used as a hull sonar for the surface vessel.

The vehicle can thus be used both when operating 4 several hundred meters ahead of the surface vessel and when stationed beneath the hull of the vessel.

In addition, when the vehicle is brought back towards the surface vessel at the end of a period of services, it is no longer essential to hoist it out of the water and on to the vessel, and it may be placed in its hull sonar position.

ii Preferably, the bottom portion of the vehicle is offset sternwards relative U_ Ti lV j to its top portion, firstly to form the leading step in which the sonar antenna is received, and secondly to form the passage for passing the connection cable to its hitching point in the vicinity of the center of gravity of the vehicle, and to provide free clearance for the cable about the hitching point.

This particular configuration enables the connection cable to be fastened to the vehicle in the imme~diate vicinity of the vehicle's center of gravity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be better understood and other advantages, details, and characteristics thereof appear from the following explanatory description given by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammnatic front view of the vehicle of the invention; Fi ur 2. is a s d i w of t e v h c e Figure 2 is a side view of the vehicle; ~Figure 3 is a planeci view of the vehicle; an ::Figure 5 is a diagram showing the surface vessel and the vehicle in the 1,all sonar position.

Reference is made initially to Figures 1 co 4 which are showing a self-propelled submarine, vehicle in accordance with the invention for detecting underwater objects, in particular underwater mines.

In the embodime~nt shown, the vehicle 10 comprises a top portion 12 essentially constituted by tWo longitudinal floats 14 interconnected at their leading ends but separate from each other at their trailing ends, and a bottom portion 16 which is offset sternwards relative to the top portion 12 of the vehicle. This offset between the top and bottom portions 12 and 16 of the vehicle leaves a step 18 at the leading end of the vehicle for receiving a sonar antenna 20 together with its mechanisms 22 for pointing it about a vertical axis 24 and about a horizontal axis 26, and for stabilizing its position.

NTO

At the stern end of the vehicle, the offset between the top portion 12 and the bottomn portion 16 forms another step for passing a cable 28 for connection to a surface vessel and for hitching said cable at a point 30 which is situated in the :immuediate vicinity of the center of gravity G of the vehicle.

Where the top and bottomn portions 12 and 16 are joined together, the vehicle includes two side fairings 32 each containing a horizontal propulsion unit 34 having a shrouded propeller. A vertical propulsion unit 36 is also received in the leading portion of each side fairing 32.

The hitching point 30 for hitching the cable 28 to the vehicle lies on the thrust axis of the horizontal propulsion units 34 and in the mid longitudinal plane of lateral syimetry of the vehicle, and it also lies on the axis of the resultant of the hydrodynamnic drag during forwards movement.

Depending on the particular embodiment, the plane passing through the axis of the horizontal propulsion units 34 and containing the hitching point 30 for the cable 28 may be situated either substantially on the same level as the junction plane between the top and bottom portions 12 and 16 of the venicle, or else above said junction plane. In the first case which corresponds to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4, the cable hitching point 30 may be slightly astern of the center of gravity G of the vehicle such that when the vehicle is launched, it tends to point into the current. In the second case, the hitching point 30 may be situated substantially vertically above the center of gravity G of the vehicle. In any event, clearance is provided for the connection cable 28 about the hitching point 30, giving not less than 900 clearance 1430 in the mid vertical longitudinal plane of symmetry of the vehicle measured going from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and not less than 900 clearance in a horizontal plane an either side of said mid longitudinal axis.

The stern ends of the floats 14 are conically shaped and are separated by a vertical space so as to increase clearance for the cable 28.

The bottom portion 16 of the vehicle has containers 38 containing control circuits for the horizontal and vertical propulsion units 34 and 36, and circuits for controlling the sonar and for piocessing the information interchanged with the surface vessel. Jettisonable ballast 40 is also provided in the bottom portion of the vehicle astern of the sonar antenna, and fixed vertical and horizontal fins 42 and 44 are mounted at the trailing end of the bottom portion 16.

Acoustic locating devices 46 are mounted at the leading and trailing ends of the top portion 12 of the vehicle.

Various items of navigation equipmnent such as a current meter may also be provided.

This vehicle is used as follows: The cable 28 transmits power from a surface vessel to the vehicle as required for its operation power for the propulsion units, for the sonar, for the antenna displacement and stabilizing mechanisms, and for the various electronic circuits). The cable also transmits control signals for the propulsion units, the sonar, etc., and serves for transferring information between the circuits associated with the sonar onboard the vehicle 10 and processing and display circuits provided on board the surface vessel. The cable may be several hundred meters long and its total weight may be about 2 tons for example. The horizontal propulsion units 34 are designed to have sufficient power to be able both to tow the connection cable 28 and to move the vehicle at a speed of several knots.

By placing the sonar antenna 20 in the step 18 at the bottom of the leading end of the vehicle 10, the field of view of the antenna in a forwards direction and in a downwards direction is left free and the antenna itself is located in a .ne of slack water while the vehicle is moving forwards so that there is no need to protect the antenna by a cover. A swivelling directional antenna can thus be used without the motion of the antenna having any influence on displacement of the vehicle.

This special disposition of the sonar antenna also makes it possible to stow the vehicle in a station beneath the hull i 6 of the surface vessel, and thereafter to use it as a hull sonar, without limiting its performance or its field of view.

Figure 5 is a diagram showing the position of thev vehicle when being used for this purpose.

The shape and the strength of the top portion of the vehicle are suitable for enabling it to be located and fixed in position as a hull sonar beneath the surface vessel.

In addition, the vehicle 10 may easily be winched on-board or launched by the conventional hoisting means provided on the ship. In this case, the connection cable 28 is released from or connected to the vehicle by a diver.

Finally, as shown diagranumatically in Figures 1 and 2, a sliding horizontal telescopic bar 48 may be provided at the bottom of the vehicle in order to protect its sonar and to improve its stability, e.g. when standing on a quayside or on a platform.

In order to obtain a clear idea, it is specified by way of example that a submarine vehicle of the invention may be about 3 meters to 3.50 m long, it may be about 2 m wide, about 1.70 m high, it may weigh about 2 tons, and it may be capable of operating several hundred meters ahead of a surface vessel down to a depth of about 300 m.

Claims (13)

1. A self-propelled submarine vehicle for detecting underwater objects, the vehicle including detection means such as sonar and horizontal and vertical propulsion means, and a cable which connects the vehicle to a surface vessel for supplying electric power to the vehicle from the surface vessel and for transmitting instructions for manoeuvring the vehicle and for controlling the detection means, together with information interchanged with said detection means, the vehicle being characterised in that the cable is hitched to the vehicle at a fixed point situated on the thrust axis of the horizontal propulsion means, in the longitudinal midplane of lateral symmetry of thu vehicle, and in the vicinity of the centre of gravity or substantially vertically therefrom, and in that the *5 vehicle includes a step in its trailing top portion for passing :the cable to leave it clearance about the hitching point in an upwards direction and on either side of the vehicle.

2. A vehicle according to claim i, characterised in that a sonar antenna is situated at the leading end of the vehicle in a step provided in the bottom portion of its hull.

3. A vehicle according to claim 2, characterised in that the sonar antenna is mounted to swivel through plus or minus 1800 about a vertical axis and to tilt about a transverse axis.

4. A vehicle according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the step in the leading bottom portion of the hull delimits a zone of slack water about the sonar antenna, when the vehicle is moving forwards. A vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the vehicle can be stowed beneath the hull of the surface vessel and used in this position as a hull sonar.

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6. A vehicle according to any one of claims 2 to characterised in that it includes a horizontal telescopic bar in its bottom portion for protecting the sonar antenna, e.g. when the vehicle is placed oni a platform.

7. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that its bottom portion is offset sternwards relative to its top portion, firstly to form the leading step in which the sonar antenna is received, and secondly to form the passage for passing the connection cable to its hitching point in the vicinity of the centre of gravity of the vehicle, and to provide free clearance for the cable So about the hitching point.

8. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the top portion includes two longitudinal floats, whereas the bottom portion includes means at its leading end for pointing and stabilizing the sonar antenna and electronic means at its trailing end for controlling the sonar and for processing the information interchanged therewith, means for controlling the propulsion S. units, jettisonable ballast, and fixed vertical and horizontal stabilizing fins. ego

9. A vehicle according to claim 8, characterised in that a vertical longitudinal space for passing the connection cable and for providing it with clearance is provided between the floats on the top portion.

A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it includes two symmetrically disposed lateral fairings substantially at the same level as the hitching point for the connection cable, and each supporting a horizontal propulsion unit having a shrouded propeller. 'Y O?, f 16 1 i C 9

11. A vehicle according to claim 10, characterised in that the vertical propulsion units are received in the lateral fairings ahead of the horizontal propulsion units.

12. A vehicle according to any one of claims 7 to 11, characterised in that the horizontal propulsion units are situated substantially at the same level as the junction plane between the offset top and bottom portions of the vehicle.

13. A self propelled submarine vehicle substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Dated this 17th day of March, 1992. BERTIN CIE By its Patent Attorneys: GRIFFITH HACK CO. Fellows Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia. 1 I a ABSTRACT A self-propelled submarine vehicle for detecting underwater vehicles comprises a top portion (12) and a bottom portion (16) which are longitudinally offset from each other in order to leave an empty space at the leading end of the vehicle for receiving a sonar antenna and a passage at the trailing end of the vehicle leaving clearance for a cable (28) providing a connection to a surface vessel. -<A