DE102009040376B4 - Hatch cover for closing a hatch - Google Patents

Abstract

Hatch cover for closing a hatch (2) which is pivotally mounted on at least one hinge on the hull (1), with spring means (9-11) for weight relief during opening and closing, characterized in that the spring means (9-11) for weight relief have at least two springs (9; 10; 11) with different spring characteristics.

Description

The invention relates to a hatch for completing a hatch, in particular a hatch of a submarine with the features specified in the preamble of claim 1.

A hatch cover of the aforementioned type is typically used to close a hatch in a ship's deck, but also in other areas such as structures and the like. While the hatch cover is usually provided for over-sealing the hull in Überwasserschiffe, this fulfills the submarine in addition to other functions. In the submarine, the hatches next to the torpedo tubes are the only openings in the boat through which both persons and material can be brought into and out of the boat. In particular, the hatch in the tower of the submarine is usually opened after each emergence and sealed again before diving. In addition, the hatch often forms an emergency exit for the underwater exit of a damaged boat. On the one hand, therefore, it must be reliably pressure-tight, but on the other hand, it must be able to be opened both above and under water as simply as possible and with little force.

In hatch covers for hatches of submarines it is therefore already state of the art to provide a spring package on the cover side, which at least partially compensates for the weight force when opening and closing the hatch cover. Such a hatch cover is for example in DE 177 901 A described. This principle of weight relief by spring force is also known from DE-B, "submarine construction", Ulrich Gabler, Bernard & Graefe Verlag, Koblenz 1987, 3rd edition, p. 89 and 90.

A disadvantage of the known systems, however, is that not only the existing steel and the maximum diving pressure-resistant hatch cover is very heavy, but also by the spring assembly, which causes a weight relief, then, when the boat has a certain inclination, the opening of the lid is made even more difficult due to the high weight.

Against this background, the invention has the object, a generic hatch cover in such a way that it can be opened quickly and easily and reliably without much effort and closed, even if the boat has a certain inclination.

This object is achieved according to the invention by the features specified in claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

The hatch according to the invention for closing a hatch, in particular a hatch of a submarine, is pivotally attached to the hull via at least one hinge. There are provided spring means for weight relief during opening and closing, which have at least two springs with different spring characteristics and which are dimensioned and interconnected so that a weight relief of the lid takes into account its pivotal position.

The basic idea of the solution according to the invention is first of all to facilitate the opening and closing of the hatch cover in the intended position of the boat, namely the fact that by dimensioning the springs over the entire opening path or closing as uniform as possible weight relief of the hatch cover. Since in the closed position, so when the hatch cover the hatch and is arranged substantially horizontally, when lifting the greatest weight to overcome, the springs are designed so that they apply the maximum force in this position, then with increasing pivot position corresponding to the decreasing force to open or close and the spring force is reduced accordingly. This can be generated in a suitable manner by building a corresponding spring assembly of springs of different spring characteristics. How to build such spring packages is one of the state of the art. Although the weight of the lid remains constant during the entire opening process, the weight distribution changes depending on the position. In the case of a horizontal pivoting position, almost the full weight force for opening is to be overcome, whereas in a pivoting position of 90 ° the entire weight force is absorbed by the pivot bearing and therefore no further spring force is desired, since otherwise this would have to be overcome by the operator.

Basically, it is provided according to the invention to make the hatch itself as light as possible in order to reduce the weight forces. This can advantageously take place in that the hatch cover instead of, for example, as known, made of steel, titanium or a titanium alloy. As a result, the weight of the spring means for weight reduction is reduced, since only lower weight forces are to be compensated.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the spring means for weight relief between the joint and hull are arranged and operatively connected via a crank mechanism with a shaft forming part of the joint, rotatably mounted on the hull and rotatably connected to the hatch cover. With this arrangement it is achieved that the spring means arranged on the boat side are and therefore do not burden the lid in weight addition. Furthermore, this arrangement allows a much simpler and at the same time more effective arrangement of the spring means, since not only the otherwise available as flat space above the lid can be used, but extensive freedom of design exists. Such a crank mechanism, which acts on a shaft, can be provided to save space next to the hatch outside the hull or within the outer skin or a panel and keeps the lid itself largely free of mechanical components. In this case, the shaft simultaneously forms the axis of the pivot joint and gear part for opening and closing the lid.

Advantageously, not only spring means for weight relief during opening and closing of the hatch cover are provided, but also spring means for damping, which cushion the lid when reaching a final pivot position, preferably in the open end position to avoid kickback.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, both the spring means for weight relief and the spring means for damping in a common, preferably cylindrical housing are arranged, which is fixed to the hull. In this way, all the spring means can be arranged in a housing, which is advantageous. Alternatively, it is possible to arrange the spring means in separate housings or to encapsulate only one or the other spring means by means of a housing. In particular, in the spring means for weight relief, such a housing encapsulation is advantageous, since pollution by seawater and entrained impurities of the spring assembly can be reliably prevented. In this way, despite harsh environmental conditions a long-term reliable and consistent in terms of power development operation can be guaranteed.

It when the spring means for weight relief or the spring means for damping, but preferably both act on a longitudinally movably guided in the housing rod, which is connected at its joint-side end with the crank mechanism is particularly advantageous. This is technically basically well feasible, since the spring means for compensating the lid weight substantially at the beginning of opening and the spring means for damping substantially at the end of opening must be effective and insofar transmitted over one and the same mechanical component, namely, for example, the aforementioned rod force can be.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the housing is designed as a cylinder housing and has a piston arranged therein movable, the piston rod preferably passes through the housing at both ends. The spring means are expediently arranged so that they act on the piston, wherein the spring means for damping advantageous to one side of the piston and the spring means for weight relief to the other side of the piston act. The fact that the piston rod is led out to both end sides of the housing, there is a good leadership and a structurally simple structure.

The housing is advantageously pressure-sealed and has two line connections for pressurizing the piston from one side and from the other side. In this way, the piston-cylinder assembly forms a double-acting lifting cylinder, which has the advantage that regardless of the manual operability of the hatch for opening and closing in addition, a hydraulic or pneumatic actuation both for opening and closing the hatch cover is possible , The housing thus forms on the one hand a double-acting lifting cylinder in connection with the piston and on the other hand, a housing for the spring means. The housing thus has a dual function, namely, on the one hand, to form part of the lifting cylinder, on the other hand, to receive the spring means safely. This results in a simple, but also very compact design.

The spring means for weight relief are advantageously formed by two or more coaxially arranged one inside the other and in parallel coil springs. In this case, the coil springs advantageously have different lengths, so that, for example, when opening initially two or more prestressed springs are effective force. If then on further opening the lid due to the decreasing proportion of the weight lower spring forces are required for relief, one of the springs after reaching their maximum stroke is no longer effective and only the other spring. Such spring assemblies can be constructed from two, three or more springs of different characteristics and connected in a suitable manner in series and / or in parallel. In this case, the springs are advantageously designed as coaxial with one another arranged in helical springs and connected in parallel, as this allows a particularly compact design.

A substantial release of force during opening and closing of the hatch cover, especially in inclined position of the boat in case of accident can be further achieved in that the hatch cover is not made of steel, but of light metal, preferably titanium or a titanium alloy.

The invention is explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing. Show it:

1 in a very simplified schematic representation a closed hatch cover on the tower of a submarine,

2 the hatch cover in half open position in representation after 1 .

3 The hatch cover in fully open position in representation after 1 and

4 a longitudinal section through the cylinder housing receiving the springs.

The submarine not shown in detail in the figures has a tower in a conventional manner 1 on, whose tower lid 2 that is, at the top of the tower 1 hatch located 2 through a hatch cover 3 is closable. With hatch cover closed 3 is the Turmluk 2 pressure sealed ( 1 ).

To open the hatch cover 3 , which can be done both from the outside and from the inside, is first to operate a locking fuse, after which by means of a handwheel 4 or from the outside by means of a handwheel 5 a rotatable on the lid 3 mounted Knaggenring is rotated, whereby the bayonet-type positive connection between the Knaggenring and the correspondingly profiled inner circumference of Turmluks 2 is disengaged. Once this is done, the hatch cover 3 around a pivot axis 6 from the closed position ( 1 ) in the open position (end position 3 ) are pivoted. This can be done either by manual application of force, namely from the inside by pressing the handwheel upwards 4 or from the outside by pulling up the handwheel 5 respectively. It is first of the in 1 illustrated closed position the entire weight of the lid 3 to raise. As the opening position increases, however, the weight to be applied decreases as part of the weight is then removed from the bearing of the cover 3 at the tower 1 is recorded, the pivot axis 6 in 3 is shown.

To compensate for this acting on the operator, depending on the pivot position changing weight of the hatch cover 3 is a spring package 7 provided in a spring housing 8th is arranged in the form of a cylinder housing. The spring housing 8th is on the side of the tower 1 mounted and slightly inclined with respect to the tower axis, as determined by the 1 to 3 is apparent. In this spring case 8th is a spring package consisting of three coaxial spring coils 9 . 10 and 11 arranged between axial stops within the housing 8th and one side of a piston 12 is effective, within the spring and cylinder housing 8th is guided longitudinally movable. The feathers 9 . 10 . 11 are by means of spring holders 25 and 26 coaxially arranged one inside the other. The piston 12 sits on a piston rod 13 , which are sealed on both sides by the cylinder housing 8th passed through.

The piston rod 13 forms part of a thrust crank mechanism whose structure is based on the 1 to 3 is apparent. The piston rod 13 is about a joint 14 with a lever 15 connected, in turn, via a joint 16 with the one end of a crank 17 is connected, the other end against rotation on a shaft 18 attacks, the rotation with the linkage 19 the hatch cover 3 connected to the lid 3 swiveling at the tower 1 is stored. The wave 18 turns around the axis 6 and thus forms part of the joint with which the hatch cover 3 at the tower 1 is attached.

As based on the 1 to 3 becomes clear, the piston rod moves 13 from the closed lid position in 1 until fully opened lid position in 3 from above into the cylinder and spring housing 8th in and out of this at the bottom. The piston moves 12 accordingly in direction 20 inside the cylinder housing.

With the lid closed ( 1 ) are the coil springs 9 . 10 and 11 biased, as in the sectional view according to 4 seen. In this position, therefore, acts on the piston 12 the maximum spring force, that of all three prestressed coil springs 9 to 11 , The feathers 9 to 11 are designed so that in this closed position of the hatch cover 3 over the piston 12 and the associated piston rod 13 a force is applied, which is in the direction 20 works and on the shaft 18 generates a moment about the weight of the hatch cover 3 on the linkage 19 acting force compensates, leaving the lid 3 weight-balanced and can be raised with virtually no significant force. With increasing travel of the piston 12 or the piston rod 13 in the direction 20 First, the internal coil spring arrives 11 at the end of their way out. Then only the springs are left 9 and 10 effective. In the further process in the direction 20 , that is, when swiveling the hatch cover 3 about the in 2 Outgoing opening position eventually passes the middle coil spring 10 at the end of her stroke and out of action. The outer spring 9 is dimensioned so that it reaches the open position of the lid ( 3 ) no further force on the piston 12 exercises. As already on the basis of 4 Obviously, have the coil springs 9 . 10 and 11 different spring characteristics and are tuned to each other and connected in parallel, that when opening or closing the hatch cover 3 always one of the pivot position adapted weight compensation is done so that the lid 3 can be both opened and closed with little force.

While in the upper part of the spring and cylinder housing 8th arranged coil springs 9 . 10 and 11 for weight relief of the lid 3 are provided at the lower end of the spring housing more springs 21 . 22 and 23 provided, which are designed as conical springs and are used exclusively for damping. These cone springs 21 to 23 are at the in 4 lower end of the spring housing 8th supported and act on the underside of the piston 12 if the hatch cover 3 in the in 3 open position shown pivots open and prevent a hard noisy striking the lid, these feathers instead soft and with increasing travel harder from going. The feathers 21 to 23 are by means of spring holder 27 and 28 coaxially arranged one inside the other.

The piston rod 13 is on both ends of the case 8th over two seals each 24 opposite the housing 8th sealed so that the housing interior with the springs located therein 9 to 11 and 21 to 23 , the spring holders 25 to 28 and the piston 12 Incidentally, it is also sealed off from the cylinder wall, hermetically sealed and thus protected against ingress of seawater.

On the cylinder housing 8th are near the top and bottom in 4 invisible line connections provided over which one or the other side of the piston 12 is pressurizable. This allows the piston 12 inside the cylinder housing 8th be moved by appropriate pressurization of one or the other side in the manner of a lifting cylinder, depending on the design pneumatically or hydraulically, so that using a corresponding auxiliary power supply of the hatch cover 3 can also be opened and closed pneumatically or hydraulically. This is particularly useful for the accident case, when the boat has such an inclined position that the weight relief of the lid by the springs 9 to 11 only partially effective.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

tower

2

Turmluk, Luke

3

hatch cover

4

Handwheel (inside)

5

Handwheel (outside)

6

swivel axis

7

spring assembly

8th

Spring housing, cylinder housing

9

Coil spring (outside)

10

Coil spring (center)

11

Coil spring (inside)

12

piston

13

piston rod

14

Joint between piston rod and lever

15

lever

16

Joint between lever and crank

17

crank

18

wave

19

Linkage of the hatch cover 3

20

Direction in 4

21, 22 and 23

conical springs

24

poetry

25

penholder

26

penholder

27

penholder

28

penholder

Claims (12)

Hatch cover for closing a hatch ( 2 ), which pivotable on at least one joint on the hull ( 1 ), with spring means ( 9 - 11 ) for weight relief during opening and closing, characterized in that the spring means ( 9 - 11 ) for weight relief at least two springs ( 9 ; 10 ; 11 ) have different spring characteristics. Hatch cover according to claim 1, characterized in that it is suitable for closing a hatch ( 2 ) of a submarine is provided. Hatch cover according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the spring means ( 9 - 11 ) for weight relief between the joint and hull ( 1 ) and via a crank mechanism ( 14 - 17 ) with a wave ( 18 ), which forms part of a joint, rotatable on the hull ( 1 ) and rotationally fixed with the hatch cover ( 3 ) connected is. Hatch cover according to claim 1 to 3, characterized in that the spring means ( 21 - 23 ) for damping the lid ( 3 ) when reaching a final pivot position, preferably the open position ( 3 ) are provided. Hatch cover according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring means ( 9 - 11 ) for weight relief and / or the spring means ( 21 - 23 ) for damping in one common, preferably cylindrical housing ( 8th ) are arranged on the hull ( 1 ). Hatch cover according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring means ( 9 - 11 ) for weight relief and / or the spring means ( 21 - 23 ) for damping on a in the housing ( 8th ) longitudinally movably guided rod ( 13 ), which at their joint-side end with the crank mechanism ( 14 - 17 ) connected is. Hatch cover according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing ( 8th ) a cylinder housing ( 8th ) with movably arranged piston ( 12 ), whose piston rod ( 13 ) the housing ( 8th ) preferably penetrated at both ends. Hatch cover according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing ( 8th ) is pressure-sealed and at least two line connections for pressurizing the piston ( 12 ) from one side and the other side. Hatch cover according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring means ( 9 - 11 ) for weight relief to one side of the piston ( 12 ) and the spring means ( 21 - 23 ) for damping to the other side of the piston ( 12 ) are effective. Hatch cover according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring means ( 9 - 11 ) for weight relief two or more coaxially arranged in a parallel and parallel coil springs ( 9 - 11 ) exhibit. Hatch cover according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the coil springs ( 10 ; 11 ) only over a part of the stroke of the piston ( 12 ) is effective. Hatch cover according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hatch cover ( 3 ) consists of light metal, preferably titanium or a titanium alloy.

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