EP0057636B1 - Nuclear, biological and chemical protection shelter for a population of reduced manpower - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a shelter for nuclear, biological, chemical protection of a population of reduced numbers and in particular of a family.

A known shelter of this type is illustrated by US Pat. No. 2,955,549. This shelter comprises a resistant and buried metal cell; this cell is constituted by a cylindrical body with a horizontal axis secured at its ends to domed bottoms. One of these bottoms delimits an opening giving passage to a tubular access pipe which opens on one side into the body and on the other side into a chimney; this duct and this chimney form an airlock which is separated from the outside by a so-called pressure door, because it is intended to resist the effect of blowing.

A first drawback of this shelter lies in the fact that the airlock is unique and therefore provides defective protection when the external access door is opened. In addition, it is practically impossible to allow the occupants of the passenger compartment to exit safely as often as is necessary or useful and to allow them to return to said passenger compartment without contaminating it.

A second drawback is that the emergency exit is an illusory palliative, when it is provided; moreover, its installation compromises the solidity of the structure and its possible use poses problems such that it is permissible to question its effectiveness if the occupants of the passenger compartment must obligatorily borrow it.

A third drawback appears when it comes to assessing the quality and safety of the ventilation of the passenger compartment and the balancing of pressures on both sides of the airlock door. Indeed, the means used, when they are. described and / or illustrated, seem fragile and certainly not studied to resist various aggressions and remain operational whatever happens.

A fourth drawback is linked to construction, because there are many areas of weakness in the structure; moreover, the recommended constructions are certainly not the most economical and the easiest to manufacture in large modular series.

Another known shelter of this type is illustrated by French patent application no. 2,466,367. This shelter implements prefabricated reinforced concrete pipes assembled to each other in a leaktight manner by interlocking. In fact, these are pipes available on the market whose assembly makes it possible to create a network of galleries. In a particular embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 and relating only to part of the network, this part comprises several pipes connected together and to the cellar of a building to form a buried cylindrical passenger compartment. On the other side of the cellar, these pipes are extended by another T-shaped pipe, the main branch of which, identical to the previous pipes, forms a bathroom. This bathroom is separated from the passenger compartment by a partition with an armored door and it is closed at its other end by a flat plug. The secondary branch of the T-pipe constitutes an outlet well forming an airlock which can be isolated from the bathroom by a thermally insulating waterproof pad and from the outside by a removable pad.

Although this French patent application No. 2 466 367 is not very explicit, it is safe to assume that the bathroom could be used as an airlock.

In such a case, the shelter of this French patent application has many disadvantages.

First of all, it is a cumbersome heavy reinforced concrete structure which is difficult to set up with the precision required for sealing joints.

Next, the passenger compartment is not under slight overpressure and the airlocks are not provided with means for balancing the pressures, so that the radioactive dust can reach said passenger compartment from the outside.

In addition, radioactive dust can reach gravity in the "airlock airlock" by falling directly from the outside, through the "airlock airlock", onto the so-called watertight buffer and, by opening it, in the "airlock."

The present invention aims to remedy the drawbacks of these two known embodiments, while providing very satisfactory protection against the effects of an atomic explosion and by adapting this protection to the risks targeted within the limits of the expenditure incurred. The invention therefore makes it possible to lower the cost of an installation, to put its execution within the reach of reduced and economical means of implementation, to reduce the installation time, to increase safety. even in the event of partial destruction of the surrounding area, being able to distribute this type of family shelter en masse, adapting the capacity of the shelter to needs very simply and without any noticeable increase in investment and easily grouping together several separate shelters.

To achieve this goal, the shelter includes a resistant and buried cell, constituted by a cylindrical habitable with horizontal axis, by a cell forming, as an extension of this, a first airlock provided with a door to isolate it from the passenger compartment and which may contain means for equipping residents for outings outside, decontamination means and waste storage means, as well as by an access chimney forming a second airlock separated from the first airlock by a door and from the outside by a shutter means.

In addition, and in accordance with the invention, the cell is metallic and has, in a manner known per se, a cylindrical body closed at its two ends by domed bottoms, one annular of which is extended by a tubular conduit. access to which the access chimney is welded at an angle, the first airlock being delimited by the access duct. the door closing the chimney, the annular bottom, a part of the body separated from the passenger compartment by an internal partition and the door closing this passenger compartment; the passenger compartment and the first airlock are maintained at slight overpressure relative to the outside, by a pressure relief valve with which the door is provided and by a pressure relief valve mounted on a sheath connecting the two air locks on either side of the anti-breath door; the door, possibly fitted with a radiation screen - which separates the two airlocks - is offset laterally from the vertical projection of a grid closing a manhole to access the chimney.

According to another important characteristic of the invention, the second bottom - opposite the first bottom equipped with the conduit and the access chimney - is integral with a tubular emergency conduit extended by a chimney, preferably of the same diameter and perpendicular , opening into the open air through a manhole closed by a grid, the duct being closed by a bolted door and sand filling up to this part of the chimney, the elbow and this duct, the outlet air from an NBC filtering group opening into said duct above the sand.

Various other characteristics and advantages of the invention will also emerge from the detailed description which follows.

An embodiment of the object of the invention and installation variants are shown, by way of nonlimiting examples, in the accompanying drawing.

• la figure 1 est une coupe longitudinale verticale, prise suivant la ligne 1-1 de la figure 2 et montrant un abri conforme à l'invention installé dans le terrain.
• la figure 2 est une coupe longitudinale horizontale brisée, prise suivant la ligne 11-11 de la figure 1.
• la figure 3 est une coupe transversale prise suivant la ligne III-III de la figure 1.
• les figures 4 et 5 sont des coupes transversales prises suivant les lignes IV-IV et V-V respectivement de la figure 2.
• les figures 6, 6a et 6b, sont des vues schématiques analogues à la figure 1 illustrant des abris de différentes capacités d'habitation, réalisés de façon modulaire.
• la figure 7 est une perspective schématique montrant une possibilité de regroupement de plusieurs abris familiaux afin de constituer un complexe de protection pouvant concerner une population très nombreuse telle que celle d'une unité militaire.

On this drawing :

• Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section, taken along line 1-1 of Figure 2 and showing a shelter according to the invention installed in the field.
• Figure 2 is a broken horizontal longitudinal section, taken along line 11-11 of Figure 1.
• Figure 3 is a cross section taken along line III-III of Figure 1.
• Figures 4 and 5 are cross-sections taken along lines IV-IV and VV respectively of Figure 2.
• Figures 6, 6a and 6b are schematic views similar to Figure 1 illustrating shelters of different housing capacities, made in a modular fashion.
• FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective showing a possibility of grouping together several family shelters in order to constitute a protection complex which may concern a very large population such as that of a military unit.

As is apparent from Figures 1 to 5, the shelter is mainly constituted by a metal tank 1 whose thickness is at least equal to 6 mm and depends on the degree of protection sought. This reservoir comprises a cylindrical body 2, the ends of which are integral with annular bottoms 3 and 4; these are preferably curved and with an O-ring so that they can be very easily aligned and connected by welding to the cylindrical body.

An internal partition 5 separates in the body 2 the actual passenger compartment 6 from an airlock 7. The partition 5 delimits a communication passage 5a which is normally closed by a watertight door 8 provided with a pressure relief valve 9.

In the cockpit 6 of the shelter, is mounted a floor 10 and are installed and the means necessary for survival such as folding beds 11, an air renewal device 12, a rudimentary food store, a small electrical energy production unit capable of replacing the external network if it is damaged, etc.

The air renewal device comprises a fan 13 capable of being driven either by an electric motor connected to the external network, or by a crank 14; the fan is connected to the outside via a sheath 15, described below, either directly or via an NBC (Chemical Billogical Nuclear) filter 16. The device 12 holds the passenger compartment 6 under slight overpressure to avoid accidental penetration of dust from the outside.

Therefore, to open the door 8, it is necessary to operate the valve 9 to balance the pressures between said passenger compartment 6 and the airlock 7.

In this airlock 7 is mounted a floor 8 having a shower shelf 18 19 above a storage tank 20 for waste water; the shower 19 is located on one side of the door 8 while on the other side is installed a water reserve 21.

The bottom 3 of the tank is integral with a coaxial tubular access conduit 22 through which the inhabitants can circulate between the passenger compartment 6 and the outside. The duct 22 is extended by a metal chimney 23, preferably of the same diameter and perpendicular; the joint connecting the duct with the chimney therefore extends to 45 ° and the connection between them by welding presents no difficulty; the chimney 23 rises from the level of the passenger compartment 6 to that of the ground. In the corner are installed chemical toilets.

A partition 24 is arranged across the chimney 23 to separate the airlock 7 from a second airlock 25 which opens into the open air via a manhole 26. The partition 24 delimits a circular passage 24a normally closed by an anti-blast armored door 27. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the passage 24a is offset laterally with respect to the vertical projection 26a of the manhole 26; since this passage 24a and this projection 26a of the manhole overlap only very little, furthermore given that said passage is closed by the door 27, it is highly improbable that the radioactive dust which could fall through the manhole 26, can reach the first airlock 7 when the door 27 opens.

The chimney 23 is closed at its upper part by a partition 28 secured to the shell of the manhole 26, which protrudes from the ground and is closed by a grid 29. The bars of a ladder 30 are fixed in the part of the chimney 23 situated above the partition 24 to allow the occupants of the places which come from outside to descend into the first airlock 25 or to those who come from the passenger compartment 6 to climb out of this first airlock, the door 27 of which is closed, in the open air. The bars of another scale 31 are fixed in the part of the chimney 23 and of the duct 22 located below the partition 24 to allow the occupants of the premises to pass from the first airlock to the second or vice versa. The opening of said door 27 is obviously only possible when the pressures are balanced between the first airlock 7 and the second airlock 25; for this purpose, an outer sheath 32 connects the two airlocks and the opening which opens into the first airlock 7 is controlled by a pressure relief and anti-explosion valve, through which the stale air is naturally evacuated; to open the door 27, it is therefore sufficient to operate the valve 33 until the pressure in the first airlock 7 drops and becomes equal to that which prevails in the second airlock 25.

Finally, to provide protection against radiation liable to penetrate through the manhole 26 and thus prevent them from reaching the first airlock 7, a screen 34, made of concrete or of heavy material such as lead, is reported. on the partition 24 and possibly on the door 27.

Furthermore, it may be advantageous to equip the shelter with an emergency exit independent of the access route in the event that the latter is partially destroyed or unusable. To this end, the annular bottom 4 is integral with a coaxial tubular emergency duct 35, a duct which, being metallic, is welded to said bottom. This is also extended by a metallic tubular chimney 36, preferably of the same diameter. and perpendicular, to be able to be easily welded on this conduit; the emergency chimney 36 rises across the ground and opens into the open air projecting from the ground surface; its emerging part is provided with a grid 37 similar to the previous one.

Since this escape route is intended to be used only exceptionally, the conduit 35 has an internal protrusion a flange 38 on which is fixed, by removable means such as nuts screwed on studs, pivoting latches. .., a door 39. A load of sand 40 is then poured into the chimney 36 to the door 39 in order to constitute sufficient protection; of course, if the escape route is to be used, the door 39 is unbolted and the aforementioned sand is piled up in the passenger compartment 6. The ventilation duct 15 mentioned in the above opens into the chimney 36 above the upper level of the sand load.

To build the shelter, an excavation is dug in the ground to the chosen protection depth. The various nomoosants of this shelter are brought to work by conventional means of transport. They are assembled together by welding above the excavation by resting on sleepers, then the assembly thus obtained is lowered into said excavation using an appropriate lifting means; or else these various components are previously lowered into the excavation with limited power means and they are assembled at the bottom by welding.

This operating mode is the same regardless of the shelter's habitable capacity. Indeed, it is a shelter for four people (Figure 6), the body 2 is constituted by a single modular element, that is to say by a single cylindrical shell. On the other hand, if it is a shelter for eight people (Figure 6a) or for ten or twelve people (Figure 6b), the body 2 consists of two or three modular elements respectively, these modular elements or cylindrical ferrules being aligned and butt welded where assembly is performed.

The shelter is assembled at the bottom of the excavation, it is filled up to a certain level with the excavated material. Then, a protective reinforced concrete slab 41 is poured onto the body 1 to cover it over a thickness corresponding to the chosen protection, this sole partially enveloping the tank 1 laterally and also trapping the chimneys 23 and 36 as well as possibly the conduits. 22 and 35; the slab may be integral with a coating 41 a of reinforced concrete enclosing the whole body; finally, the filling with the cuttings is continued in order to constitute an additional protection of suitable thickness.

The unitary shelter as described in the foregoing makes it possible to protect a population of reduced numbers, one or more families for example. If the population to be protected is larger and if land free from construction is available, several reservoirs 1 can be grouped together (Figure 7). This possibility is particularly advantageous if it is a question of protecting with a limited means and by dividing the risks, a population having a certain autonomy, as it is the case for example for a military unit, for services of various activities , schools etc ...

Thus, and as shown in Figure 7, tanks 1.11, 1.12, 1.13 are buried side by side in a resistant material to form a first layer at the deepest level, then other tanks 1.21, 1.22, 1.23 ... are also buried side by side to form a slightly shallow layer and so on, going back up to ground level. There are therefore several superimposed layers of tanks, the respective conduits 22 of which open either directly or via unit chimneys 23 in a collecting gallery 42 communicating with one or more access shafts 43 the conduits 35 of these reservoirs open either directly or via unit chimneys 36 in a collecting gallery 44 communicating with one or more relief well 45. There is no need to extend further on this structure, because very varied networks can be formed from a multitude of reservoirs and these reservoirs can be arranged in their respective layers, parallel to each other, on the cob, in the shelves or others. It does not matter ultimately the distributions adopted and the communications established, the important thing being to individualize the shelters, to separate them sufficiently from each other to avoid propagations of damage from one to the other and to communicate between them and with outside by as many means of communication as possible.

Claims (3)

1. Shelter for the nuclear, biological and chemical protection of a small group of people, particularly of a family, comprising a resistant metal cell buried underground, constituted by a cylindrical interior (6) with horizontal axis, by a cell constituting an extension of the latter, a first airlock (7) provided with a door (8) to isolate the latter from the interior (6) and adapted to contain means for equipping the inhabitants for going out, decontamination means and waste storage means, as well as by an entrance/exit shaft (23) constituting a second airlock (25) separated from the first airlock by a door (22) and from the outside by an obturating means (29), this shelter being characterized :

- in that the cell (6) is metallic and is provided in manner known per se, with a cylindrical body (2) closed at its ends by convex end walls (3,4) of which one is annular (3) and is extended by a tubular passage (22) to which the entrance/exit shaft (23) is welded at an angle, the first airlock (7) being defined by the passage (22), the door (27) closing the shaft (23), the annular end wall (3), a part of the body (2) separated from the interior (6) of the shelter by an internal partition (5) and the door (8) closing the interior of the shelter,

- in that the interior of the shelter (6) and the first airlock (7) are maintained under slight overpressure with respect to the outside by a relief valve (9) with which the door (8) is provided, and by a relief valve (33) mounted on a conduit (32) connecting the two airlocks on both side of said antiblast door (27),

- in that the door (27) possibly equipped with a shield against radiation (34) which separates the two airlocks is offset laterally with respect to the vertical projection of a grating (29) closing a man hole (26) giving access to the shaft (23).

2. Shelter according to claim 1, characterized in that the second end wall (4) opposite the first end wall (3) equipped with the conduit (22) and with the entrance/exit shaft (23) is integral with a tubular emergency passage (35) extended by a shaft (36) preferably of the same diameter and perpendicular, opening out into the open air through a man hole closed by a grating (27), the passage being closed by a bolted door (39) and sand (40) filling, up to said door, part of the shaft, bend and passage, the ventilation aperture (15) of an NBC filtering unit opening into said passage above the sand.

3. Shelter according to claim 1, characterized in that the metal cell is covered by a protecting slab of reinforced concrete (41), subsidiarily fast, in manner known per se, with a coating of reinforced concrete of said cell and covered with earth.

Images