AU738449B2 - Container for storing and launching a torpedo-type weapon - Google Patents

Description

Container for storing and launching a torpedo-type weapon The present invention relates to a container for storing and launching a weapon of the light torpedo type from a surface vessel said container being directly in the firing position and operating in a self-sufficient manner.

To launch weapons of the light torpedo type from a surface vessel, generally horizontal launching tubes or catapults installed on the deck of the vessel or in specific locations generally equipped with means for handling and loading the weapons into the tubes or onto the catapults are used.

When stored in containers, light torpedoes impose on the crew heavy tasks of handling, conditioning and placing the weapon in the launching means. During all these phases, the weapon is no longer protected and is exposed to the risk of damage.

Moreover, facilities for handling weapons and loading tubes are generally complex and require additional personnel, and incur additional costs resulting from research, implementation as well as maintenance thereof.

The energy necessary for launching weapons of the light torpedo type is generally supplied by compressed air. For a launch tube, the cylinders are placed in the breech door or on the tube; opening a valve creates an overpressure in the rear of the weapon which is then propelled toward the front of the tube and ejected to the exterior of the vessel. For a catapult launch, compressed air cylinders supply energy to an actuator which propels the weapon to eject it from the vessel. Facilities using tubes or catapults also comprise a compressed air panel intended for initial charging of the launching cylinders or for recharging them after use.

The patent EP662599 describes a container from which it is not necessary to extract the torpedo to launch it. It.contains a torpedo having batteries which supply power to the propulsion means, an interlocking device which isolates an arming assembly from the charge, said interlocking device being retracted at the moment the weapon departs. On most light torpedoes, these elements are kept in place by a device called "single pin". In addition, the torpedo has a remote control connector connected 2to the control computer for programming the weapon. These elements must be withdrawn as late as possible at the moment of launching. Now, it is the movement of the torpedo which leads to the withdrawal of these devices.

Such a container has numerous disadvantages.

On the one hand, this container is not self-sufficient in so far as it is necessary to retract the front and rear faces of the torpedo to enable the energy source to be branched, the torpedo to depart and to place them on a launching bank to supply the energy which is indispensable for the launch.

On the other hand, it is observed that a quasi-systematic degradation of the elements for withdrawing the remote control connector increases the amount of work which is necessary to enable the container to be used again.

The principal purpose of the invention is to provide a container for storing and 15 launching a weapon of the torpedo type which makes it possible to launch in a selfsufficient manner the weapon from its storing location without any handling operation and degradation of the remote control connector at the time of launching the torpedo.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide a container for storing and launching using compressed air which makes it possible, on the one hand, to store weapons in the •.20 depot, and to transport them to the vessels which must be equipped with them.

In accordance with the present invention, therefore, there is provided a container for storing and launching a weapon of the light torpedo type, said container comprising S° stacking means and a device, connected to the weapon, for arming safety and remote control, said device comprising a remote control connector, where said container includes means for storing and releasing compressed air which is simultaneously necessary for launching the weapon and separating the safety and remote control devices connected to said weapon, as well as means which enable compressed air to arrive at a device for extracting the remote control connector.

According to an additional preferred characteristic, the container comprises means for deactivating the system for holding the torpedo and means for maintaining the locked position of a pin.

According to a further preferred characteristic, the means for storing and releasing S mpressed air comprise a reservoir, a launching valve integrated with the reservoir, a S w-acting purge valve for filling and purging the reservoir.

17/07/01,jf10330 spc.doc.2 -3- According to another preferred characteristic, the means which enable compressed air to arrive at the remote control connector comprise an electrodistributor.

According to yet another preferred characteristic, the means for extracting the remote control connector comprise a body, a piston articulated at on the lever, which itself is articulated at on the body, a cable being hooked by an end on the lever, the other end being fixed on the remote control connector after the passage on a shaft.

According to another preferred characteristic, the device for deactivating the system for holding the torpedo comprises a piston and a lock.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood and put into practical effect there shall now be described in detail a preferred embodiment of a container for storing and launching a weapon of the light torpedo type in accordance with the invention.

The ensuing description is given by way of non-limitative example only and is with oO.* reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a depiction of the container according to the invention and the torpedo 15 which it contains; Figure 2 is a simplified depiction of a device for extracting a remote control connector; Figure 3 is a simplified depiction of a device for extracting a pin; Figure 3' is a view along F; Figure 4 is a simplified depiction of a torpedo holding device; 18/07/01.jf10330 spc,3 Figure 5 is a simplified depiction of slow-acting valves and a firing electrodistributor; Figure 6 is an illustration of the ability of the container according to the invention to be naturally stacked.

As has been mentioned, a purpose of the invention is to eliminate the handling of the torpedo to bring it into the firing position. The container according to the invention enables this purpose to be achieved since it is directly installed in the firing position. Another purpose of the invention is to enable the weapon to be stored in a depot and transported toward vessels without handling the weapon itself. The container according to the invention enables this purpose to be achieved since it replaces conventional storage and transport containers for light torpedoes.

There appear in the different figures: a container body 1, stacking means 2, represented here by frames, a front cover or plug 3, a coaming 4 onto which is fixed a device for extracting remote control connector 5, a device for extracting pin 6, a sealed lead-through 7 providing connection to the remote control connector, a desiccating device 8 for maintaining a definite humidity level, and a torpedo holding device 9, interacting with a sphere on the torpedo.

a rear attachment ring 10 integrating all the devices necessary for storing and releasing the launching energy, namely: a reservoir 11, a launching valve 12 integrated with this reservoir, a slow-acting purge valve 13 for filling and purging the reservoir, a slow-acting valve 14 enabling the continuity of the stream of launching air toward a firing electrodistributor 16.

In the depot the attachment ring 10 is separated from the container body.

The torpedo is guided in the body 1 by a slider assembly. The torpedo holding device 9 is maintained in place in order to lock the torpedo via its sphere The working of the container will be described later in the text. The remote control connector 5 and the pin 6 are put in place. The attachment ring 10 is raised in the rear of the body 1. After being hooked to an ad hoc device, the slow-acting purge valve 13 is slowly opened to enable the reservoir 11 to be filled. A pressure sensor (not shown in Figure 1) enables the pressure inside the reservoir 11 to be known.

After the valve 13 has been closed and the cap 17, shown in Figure 5, has been put in place, the container 1 is ready either for storage in the depot, or transport toward a vessel.

Containers are positioned on the periphery of the vessel in such a manner that they are directly in the firing position. The containers can be particularly stacked.

The stacking means 2 can be, for example, frames formed from two mechanically assembled parts. The bottom and top faces are machined to serve as a mounting plane, either on a seating, or on two other containers in case of stacking. Each frame is provided with a centring device so that the containers can be positioned on their fixation seating, or in case of stacking, the upper containers can be positioned in relation to the lower containers. The fixation devices are integrated with the frames.

According to the invention, the installation of the container on the vessel involves the following operations: a) fixing the container via the stacking means 2; b) branching the torpedo data transmission cable from the control computer of the vessel on the sealed lead-through 7 and the cable for transmitting electrical interlocks and firing order; c) removing the cap 18, opening the slow-acting valve 14 to allow compressed air to arrive at the firing electrodistributor 16, and re-putting the cap 18 in place (ref. Figure A sensor 19 enables the position of the slow-acting valve 14 to be known.

The container is ready for weapon delivery.

The firing and launching order delivered by the control computer of the vessel leads to the following sequence: a) Opening of the firing electrodistributor 16 which allows compressed air to arrive at the device for extracting the remote control connector The electrodistributor has a manual control 20, accessible after the cap 21 is removed, which makes it possible to manually perform a "stand-by" launch (ref.

Figure b) The device for extracting the remote control connector 5 shown in Figure 2 comprises a body 30 and a piston 31 articulated at 32 on a lever 33 which is itself articulated at 34 on the body 30. A cable 35 is hooked by one of its ends on the lever 33, the other end being fixed on the remote control connector 5 after passage on a shaft 36.

The arrival of air from the firing electrodistributor 16 causes the displacement of the piston 31, and hence the lever 33. The traction exerted on the cable 35 results in the extraction of the remote control connector When completing its course, the piston 31 uncovers an orifice which allows compressed air to arrive at the torpedo holding device 9.

c) The torpedo holding device 9 shown in Figure 4 comprises two jaws 41 and 42 articulated around the shaft 43 and maintained in position by the lock 44. The latter is connected to a piston 45. The assembly is mounted in the body 46. In the position shown, the torpedo is longitudinally locked via its sphere The arrival of air from the device for extracting the remote control connector causes the displacement of the piston 45 which results in a translation of the lock 44 and hence to the unlocking of the jaws 41 and 42.

When completing its course, the piston 45 uncovers an orifice which allows compressed air to arrive at the starting valve 12 and causes it to open. This abrupt opening releases the compressed air, which causes the torpedo to move forwards, the movement being made possible by the unlocking of the jaws 41 and 42.

As will be seen later, the forward movement of the torpedo leads to the release of the pin 6.

d) The device for extracting the pin 6 shown in Figure 3 comprises a support 51 fixed on the coaming 4, a lever 52 mounted on a shaft 55 of a rotating electromagnet 53, a sensor 54, and a manual control 57 (not always shown).

In a nominal launch, the lever 52 maintains in position the head of the pin 6 under the action of the return spring of the electromagnet 53. The sensor 54 informs the launch computer of the locked position of the pin 6, and thus authorises the launch.

During the forward movement of the torpedo, the pin 6 undergoes a forward motion under the action of the lever 52, and it then releases different automatic safeties for the torpedo.

A mode of launching, called "inert launch", requires that the pin 6 be not extracted during the launch. For this, the device for extracting the pin 6 comprises an electromagnet 53 whose power supply causes the lever 52 to rotate to free the head of the pin 6. The sensor 54 is then disengaged, the disengagement authorising the continuation of the sequence by supplying power to the firing electrodistributor 16.

In case there is no power supply to 30, the electromagnet 53 or if the latter fails, a manual control 57, put in place after the cap 58 fixed on the coaming 4 has been removed, makes it possible to activate the lever 52 and by doing so, releases the head of the pin 6. The sequence can then continue.

Another arrangement of the container according to the invention relates to the front plug or cover 3. Indeed the front plug or cover 3 is fixed to the body of the container by means of a joint (not shown) in such a manner that, as soon as the launching air is released, an overpressure forms inside the container, and causes the cover 3 to be ejected before the torpedo has travelled the distance that was initially separating them. In other words, the ejection of the front cover is caused by an overpressure inside the container, this ejection taking place so that the torpedo would not travel the distance that separates it from the front cover The launch thus takes place while the torpedo is under complete safety.

In summary, the present invention makes it possible, by using a container according to the invention, to obtain a certain number of advantages such as: a) protection of the torpedo during all the duration of its storage in the depot, its transport, and its installation on firing posts; b) the frames of the container enable it to be naturally stacked either during storage in the depot, or in onboard installation; c) the container according to the invention can be used without any handling after its installation on firing posts, since it is self-sufficient and integrates all the devices required for storage of launching energy, its charge and release, without the need to establish a link with an air panel installed onboard vessels.

According to the invention, the pneumatic device for extracting the remote control connector enables an optimal extraction, which completely eliminates deterioration of the contact elements of the connector. In addition, the end of the motion of the piston 31 assures the continuity of the air stream toward the next device. The launch sequence is thus perfectly decomposed and any elementary action only starts when the preceding action has been terminated.

8a Where the terms "comprise", "comprises", "comprised" or "comprising" are used in this specification, they are to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components referred to, but not to preclude the presence or addition of one or more other feature, integer, step, component or group thereof.

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Claims (9)

1. A container for storing and launching a weapon of the light torpedo type, said container comprising stacking means and a device, connected to the weapon, for arming safety and remote control, said device comprising a remote control connector, where said container includes means for storing and releasing compressed air which is simultaneously necessary for launching the weapon and separating the safety and remote control devices connected to said weapon, as well as means which enable compressed air to arrive at a device for extracting the remote control connector.

2. The container according to Claim 1, including means for deactivating a system for holding the torpedo and means for maintaining the locked position of a pin. o 0* 0O

3. The container according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the means for storing and releasing compressed air comprise a reservoir, a launching valve associated with this reservoir, and a slow-acting purge valve for filling and purging the reservoir.

4. The container according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein said means which enable compressed air to arrive a the remote control connector comprise an electrodistributor.

5. The container according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein said means for extracting the remote control connector comprise a body, a piston articulatedly connected to a lever, which itself is articulatedly connected to a body, a cable being hooked by an end on the lever, the other end being fixed on the remote control connector after the passage on a shaft.

6. The container according to any one of Claims 2 to 5, wherein said device for deactivating the system for holding the torpedo comprises a piston and a lock.

7. The container according to any one of Claims 2 to 6, wherein said device for maintaining the locked piston of the pin comprises a support fixed on a coaming, a lever mounted on a shaft of a rotating electromagnet, a position sensor, and a manual control.

8. The container according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, including a front 3 er whose ejection is caused by an overpressure inside the container, such 17/07/01,jf10330 claim.doc.9 ejection taking place before the torpedo has travelled the distance that separates it from the front cover.

9. A container for storing and launching a weapon of the light torpedo type, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 18 th day of July, 2001 ETAT FRANCAIS REPRESENTt PAR LE DELEGUE GENERAL POUR L'ARMEMENT By their Patent Attorney CALLINAN LAWRIE *9 18/07/01 ,j10330