EP0066734B1 - Blow-out system for discharging and launching tubes from submarines - Google Patents

Abstract

1. A blow-out system for discharging and launching tubes (1) from submarines for discharging weapons by means of compressed gas which is suppliable from associated compressed-gas containers (3.0) and is controllable via a circuit arrangement, characterized in that the compressed-gas container (3.0) is arranged in the base region of the discharging and launching tube (1) and has, at the side facing the weapon, an outlet opening (3.16) provided with a check valve (3.4) and connected to a buffer tube (3.3) passing through the compressed-gas container (3.0) and having, at the terminal region opposite to the check valve (3.4), passage openings (5.2) leading to the interior of said compressed-gas container (3.0), and a blow-out opening (3.17) is defined which is controllable via a blow-out valve (3.2).

Description

The invention relates to a blow-out device for ejection and drain pipes of submarines for the ejection of weapons by means of compressed gas which can be fed from assigned compressed gas containers and controlled via a circuit arrangement.

With this type of arrangement there is the problem of ejecting missile bodies or other weapons from a torpedo tube which have no or insufficient drive of their own to leave the tube at high speed (see e.g. US-A No. 4185538).

The known blow-out devices consist of voluminous pressure bottles which are arranged outside the torpedo tube and are provided with corresponding connecting lines. It is also known to press water into the torpedo tube in large quantities and at high pressure. These arrangements are too complex for many areas of application and, above all, have the defect that it is difficult to retrofit them in existing systems.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of the generic type, which also ensures retrofitting in existing systems and enables in a simple manner to reduce the initial pressure surge and prevents water from entering the blow-out device after the blow-out process has ended.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that the compressed gas container is arranged in the bottom region of the ejection and discharge pipe and has on the side assigned to the weapon an outlet opening provided with a check valve, which is connected to a buffer tube penetrating the compressed gas container, which is connected to the check valve has opposite through-openings leading to the interior of the compressed gas container and a blow-out opening is formed which can be controlled via a blow-out valve. This makes it possible to avoid water ingress by simple measures and to reduce the initial pressure surge via the buffer tube. It is possible to use the buffer tube in the pressurized gas container for the strength of the container.

Flawless operation is advantageously created in that the closing force of the check valve corresponds to a pressure difference of at least 0.5 bar.

A favorable arrangement is achieved in that the compressed gas container forms a unit with the control arrangement.

In order to change the opening process of the blow-out valve as a function of the immersion depth, it is proposed that the opening stroke of the blow-off valve be made adjustable for a linkage. As an alternative to this, it is proposed that the blow-out valve be coupled to a control piston arrangement which can be acted upon on both sides, and the cylinder spaces formed are connected to one another via a throttle device with an adjustable cross section.

In order to ensure control independent of the electrical system when firing is initiated, it is proposed that the firing valve be connected to the buffer pipe by a control line to maintain the firing position. As a result, a lock in the firing position is achieved.

To avoid a high initial pressure surge in the torpedo tube, it is proposed that the blow-off valve with its shut-off cone protrude into the blow-out opening in such a way that a minimal part of the opening cross-section of the blow-out opening is released in the first part of the opening path.

• Fig. 1 eine Ausblaseinrichtung im Torpedorohr,
• Fig. 2 eine weitere Ausführungsform einer Ausblaseinrichtung,
• Fig. 3 Einzelheiten eines Ausblasventils im Schnitt, und
• Fig. 4 eine Verriegelung einer Ausblaseinrichtung.

Exemplary embodiments according to the invention are shown schematically in the drawing. Show it :

• 1 is a blow-out device in the torpedo tube,
• 2 shows a further embodiment of a blow-out device,
• Fig. 3 details of a blow-off valve in section, and
• Fig. 4 shows a lock of a blow-out device.

The torpedo tube shown is provided with a bottom cover 2 and receives a blow-out device 3. The blow-out device 3 is formed by a compressed gas container 3.0 and an instrument part 3.1 for the control arrangement, which are introduced as a unit into the torpedo tube 1.

The compressed gas container 3.0 is provided on the side facing the weapon with an outlet opening 3.16 and is controlled by a check valve 3.4 with a pressure spring 3.5. The opening 3.16 is connected to a buffer tube 3.3 which is guided through the compressed gas container 3.0. In the end area, through-openings 5.2 to the interior of the compressed gas container 3.0 are arranged and the actual blow-out opening 3.17 to the buffer tube 3.3 is controlled by a blow-out valve 3.2. The check valve 3.4 is acted upon by the pressure spring 3.5 in the closing direction, so that at least a pressure difference of 0.5 bar is formed.

For the depth-dependent control of the opening speed of the blow-out valve 3.2, the two sides of the piston of the control piston arrangement 3.7 are connected to one another by a cylinder 3.10 via lines 3.11, the flow cross-section and thus the opening speed being changeable depending on the depth using an adjustable throttle device 3.12. This adjustment device is adjustable from the inside of the boat via an operating spindle 3.13 through the closed bottom cover 2. In order to maintain a minimum pressure on the low pressure side of the control piston arrangement, a low pressure accumulator 3.14 is assigned to this side. Of course, the adjustment can also be controlled automatically by the depth of the water pressure.

The actual blow-out process to eject the weapon is triggered by a firing valve 4, which in this case is controlled electrically. This firing valve 4 is locked in the firing position after initiation of the firing process by the pressure in the buffer tube 3.3 being applied to the control side 4.2 of the firing valve 4 via a connecting line 4.1.

The blow-off valve 3.2 is enclosed, for example, by an annular gate valve 5 and is normally positioned so that its radial bores 5.1 are aligned with the associated bores 5.2 of the valve housing. If an impermissibly high pressure occurs in the torpedo tube 1 or in the buffer tube 3.3, a switching valve 5.4 is actuated via a line 5.3, which relieves pressure on the gate valve 5 on one side via the vent line 5.5, so that it is moved into a blocking position in which the passage through the Bores 5.2 to blow valve 3.2 is blocked. The switching valve 5.4 is locked in the venting position or the gate valve remains in the blocking position until the pressure in the buffer tube 3.3 has dropped. It is of course also possible to lock the gate valve 5 in the closed position.

In the interest of easy handling and especially for retrofitting existing torpedo tubes 1, it is important that the instrument part 3.1 forms a structural and functional unit with the compressed gas container 3.0, with the connecting lines to the inside of the boat, namely a ventilation line 6 and an electrical one Supply line 7 and adjustment devices 3.9 and 3.13 are easily detachably attached in the bottom cover 2 of the torpedo tube.

However, the device becomes particularly easy to handle and failsafe if the operating and supply elements are not guided through the bottom cover 2 but through the wall of the torpedo tube 1, as shown in FIG. 2. The depth-dependent stroke limitation of the blow-out valve 3.2 via the piston rod 3.6 is represented by an eccentric disk 3.15, the position of which can be changed using the actuating spindle 3.9.

The vent and blow-out holes arranged on the encapsulated control arrangement 3.1 on the firing valve 4, the switching valve 5.4 for the gate valve 5 and the switching valve 8 of the compressed gas container 3.0 are combined to form a common vent line 6.1, which leads into the connecting line 6 to the inside of the boat. This measure prevents inevitable moisture which can escape from the valves mentioned from collecting in the control arrangement 3.1 and causing malfunctions on the electrical components there. This is an electrical control 9.1 of the firing valve 4, an electrical monitoring 9.2 of the pressure in the compressed gas container, the electrical monitoring 9.3 of the stroke limitation or locking 3.15 and the electrical monitoring 9.4 of the position of the hydraulic fluid reservoir 3.14.

The line 6.1 also reduces any excess pressure that may have arisen in the encapsulated control arrangement 3.1. For this purpose, an additional line is connected via a check valve 6.2, the check valve 6.2 being installed such that only the direction of flow from the instrument part into line 6.1 is released.

In the detailed partial representation of the blow-off valve 3.2, according to FIG. 3, it is shown that in the closed state the valve cone 13 rests on a seat 11 of the valve housing via a sealing element 10. When the blow-out valve 3.2 is opened, compressed gas flows from the compressed gas container 3.0 through the inlet bores 5.2 through the opening gap into the buffer tube 3.3. In order to limit the effect of this pressure surge, the blow-out valve 3.2 is provided with a peg-shaped extension, which forms a constant annular gap to the buffer tube 3.3 over approximately 10% of the opening travel, the size 14 of which does not exceed 3% of the maximum opening cross-section of the blow-out valve. Only when the blow-out valve has exceeded approximately 10% of its total opening travel does the gap widen and, according to the cone angle 15 of the cone 16 adjoining the extension 13, open up a larger opening cross section.

4, a locking device for the blow-out valve 3.2 is shown, which prevents inadvertent actuation of the filled blow-out device during transport or in the torpedo tube 1.

For this purpose, the piston rod 3.6 receives a cylindrical extension 21, the end 22 of which is offset in half over a length corresponding to the valve stroke. A corresponding spindle 23 can be rotated in the control arrangement 3.1, but is axially immovable. Both parts 21, 23 are aligned, so that the stepped ends 22 and 24 face each other in the locked position with a minimum distance, but after the spindle 23 has been rotated through 180 ° in the release position, the blow-off valve 3.2 can be opened unhindered.

With the help of the switch contact 25, the blocking position is monitored electrically. The lock can be actuated by the bottom cover 2 with the aid of an extension spindle 26 even when the torpedo tube 1 is flooded.

Claims (9)

1. A blow-out system for discharging and launching tubes (1) from submarines for discharging weapons by means of compressed gas which is suppliable from associated compressed-gas containers (3.0) and is controllable viaa circuit arrangement, characterized in that the compressed-gas container (3.0) is arranged in the base region of the discharging and launching tube (1) and has, at the side facing the weapon, an outlet opening (3.16) provided with a check valve (3.4) and connected to a buffer tube (3.3) passing through the compressed-gas container (3.0) and having, at the terminal region opposite to the check valve (3.4), passage openings (5.2) leading to the interior of said compressed-gas container (3.0), and a blow-out opening (3.17) is defined which is controllable via a blow-out valve (3.2).

2. A system according to Claim 1, characterized in that the shutting force of the check valve (3.4) corresponds to a pressure differential of at least 0.5 bar.

3. A system according to Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the compressed-gas container (3.0) defines a unit with the control arrangement (3.1).

4. A system according to Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the opening stroke of the blow-out valve (3.2) is made adjustable via a linkage (3.8).

5. A system according to Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the blow-out valve (3.2) is coupled to a bilaterally pressurizable control piston arrangement (3.7), and the cylinder spaces defined are interconnected via a restriction arrangement (3.12) with a variable cross-section.

6. A system according to Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a firing valve (4) is connected by a control line (4.1) to the buffer tube (3.3) for maintaining the firing position.

7. A system according to Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the blow-out valve (3.2) extends with ist shutting cone (13) into the blow-out opening (3.17) such that, in the first portion of the opening path, a minimum portion of the opening cross-section of the blow-out opening (3.17) is released.

8. A system according to Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the blow-out valve (3.2) has associated therewith a switch valve (5.4) for a controllable shut-off slide (5), said switch valve being connected via a control line (5.3) to the buffer tube (3.3) for an adjustment upon exceeding a pressure limit.

9. A system according to Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the lines (6) and operating linkages (3.9, 3.13) are passed through the discharging and launching tube (1) into the interior of the boat.

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