EP1123862B1 - Coastal boarding and unloading vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The landing craft is of the catamaran type with a movable platform (15) between its two hulls. The platform in the form of a caisson supports loads on its upper part. A deployable ramp (18,19) is provided at each end of the platform.

Description

The present invention relates to a fast load landings / loadings, such as including personnel, civil or military vehicles on undeveloped shores, while allowing fast transit, for example between a ship at sea and the shore.

At present, landings between a vessel and a range are carried out using gear of the type landing craft by air cushioned craft or using helicopters.

A barge-type landing ship has a shallow draft allowing landing on low gradient ranges but it has the disadvantage low speed due to its shapes and capacities limited evolution resulting from its shallow draft and its substantial dunnage.

A fast ship necessarily has a draft important which prevents him from approaching a beach of weak gradient.

Finally, the use of helicopters to ensure the disembarking vehicles from a ship requires the use of specialized vessels equipped with a platform and, on the other hand, their load is limited this which is a major drawback when it comes to land armored vehicles, especially tanks.

We know from FR-A-2 258 303 a catamaran type ship for transporting large.

The present invention has set itself the objective of make a landing craft that is characterized, on the one hand, by a significant transit speed and, on the other hand, by its ability to land loads on low gradient ranges.

Consequently, the subject of this invention is a device for loading and unloading of loads, in particular of personnel, vehicles, on undeveloped shorelines, catamaran type, according to the features of claim 1.

• les deux coques latérales dudit catamaran sont reliées en partie haute et à chacune de leurs extrêmités respectives par des poutres et
• on prévoit des moyens de levage permettant d'amener ladite plateforme respectivement en position haute ou position de transit et en position basse, ou position de débarquement/embarquement, dans laquelle ladite plateforme apporte un complément de flottabilité assurant une diminution du tirant d'eau de l'engin.

According to one embodiment of the invention, said mechanisms are produced in the following manner:

• the two side hulls of said catamaran are connected in the upper part and at each of their respective ends by beams and
• lifting means are provided making it possible to bring said platform respectively to the high position or transit position and to the low position, or landing / boarding position, in which said platform provides additional buoyancy ensuring a reduction in the draft of the craft.

According to the present invention, the two shells can in addition to being connected, in the lower part, by crosspieces or profiled beams, preferably wing-shaped, the box constituting said mobile platform being produced so that in the lower position said crosspieces come to be embedded under the lower surface of said casing according to the present invention movable shutters may optionally be arranged in said profiled sleepers so as to adjust the trim navigation according to the centering of the masses and sea conditions, these components can also be used as stabilization devices for fast transits in rough seas.

According to another characteristic of the present invention, the platform lifting means are of the mechanical guidance by articulated arms, with locking high and low positions and bi-directional control.

According to the invention, the means for guiding the platform mobile can be realized in the form of a system of mechanical guidance on rails, or using chains or any other appropriate system.

According to the invention, the locking in the high position or platform bass can be made up of a system of pins or possibly retractable brackets, or mechanical locks.

• les figures 1 et 2 sont des vues schématiques en élévation représentant respectivement l'engin selon la présente invention en position de transit et en position de débarquement;
• les figures 3 et 4 représentent en perspective l'engin objet de l'invention respectivement en position de transit et en position de débarquement et
• la figure 5 est une vue en perspective similaire aux figures 3 et 4 représentant l'engin sans la plateforme mobile, et
• la figure 6 est une vue de face de l'engin, objet de l'invention.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the description given below with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate an embodiment devoid of any limiting character. In the drawings:

• Figures 1 and 2 are schematic elevational views respectively representing the machine according to the present invention in transit position and landing position;
• FIGS. 3 and 4 show in perspective the object of the invention respectively in the transit position and in the landing position, and
• FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIGS. 3 and 4 showing the machine without the mobile platform, and
• Figure 6 is a front view of the object of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, it can be seen that the object of the present invention is in the form of a catamaran with two hulls 10 and 12 connected to each of their ends, and in the upper part, by beams 11 and 13. This produces a structure ensuring the rigidity of the assembly independently of the mobile platform 15 described below. In the embodiment shown on the drawings the two shells 11 and 12 are also connected, in lower part and at each of their respective ends by low profile sleepers 16 and 17, at the profiled keel of hulls 10 and 12, these crosspieces 16 and 17 preferably being in the form of wings so as to develop partial lift effects ensuring relatively high speeds. These sleepers 16 and 17 can be fitted with movable flaps 21 as can be see it in figure 6 so you can adjust the navigation trim according to the centering of masses and sea conditions. These components can in addition to being used as stabilization to ensure rapid transits in particular in rough seas.

The mobile platform 15, produced in the form of a waterproof case, is positioned between the two shells 10 and 12 and it consists of a watertight box, the upper part forms a rolling surface supporting the load shown in Figures 1 to 5 by tanks and in Figure 6 by trucks. To each of the ends of the mobile platform 15 a deployable ramp respectively 18, 19 so that the platform 15 and the ramps 18, 19 constitute a corridor of uniform width loading equal to the spacing between the two shells 10 and 12 (see Figure 4). Of preferably, the ramps are of the wallet type. In folded position they protect from waves and spray the loads transported by the machine (see Figure 3).

When the shells 10 and 12 are connected in the lower part by sleepers such as 16 and 17 (Figure 5) these last, when the mobile platform 15 is in position low, come to be embedded under the lower surface of the platform, which ensures their protection during "plageage" (see Figure 2).

The machine also comprises lifting means shown schematically in 20 and 20 'in the figures which are designed to allow the platform 15 to be brought respectively in the high position or the transit position and low position or disembarkation / embarkation, position in which the box constituting the platform provides additional buoyancy ensuring a reduction in the draft, allowing access to shore.

According to an exemplary embodiment of these lifting means, these can be of the type with mechanical guidance by arm articulated, with locking in high and low positions and bi-directional control. This bi-directional control can be obtained, for example using double acting cylinders or using a screw type system endless rack. The displacements of the platform are controlled from the cockpit.

In the embodiment illustrated by FIG. 6, we represented at 24 the platform guidance system mobile 5, which can be constituted by a system mechanical guidance on rails, or by articulated arms as mentioned above either by chains or by any suitable device. On this same figure 6 we have schematically the locking devices in position high 22 or low 23 of the mobile platform 15. These devices can be made in the form of pins or consoles, possibly retractable or locks mechanical or any suitable system.

According to the invention, the bi-directional control mentioned above shown schematically at 25 on Figure 6 can be made in the form of cylinders to double effect acting directly on the mobile platform 15 or via the articulated arms mentioned above, or by racks or winches actuating cables or even using geared motors causing chains. We can still in this purpose, use in combination the above mentioned systems or any other means of bi-directional control power.

Propulsion is preferably provided by hydrojets with directional nozzle and reversing nozzle ensuring excellent maneuverability and very stopping distances short. These hydrojets, not shown in the drawings are arranged symmetrically in the two shells side 10 and 12, substantially above the bottom of these latest. It is also possible to provide propellants side, in front of the hulls to facilitate the lateral control of the machine.

In transit (Figures 1 and 3) the machine according to the invention presents a navigation configuration on both profiled hulls 10 and 12 allowing high speed even in heavy seas. The load is carried on the platform 15 positioned at the top of the hulls and it is protected by the front and rear ramps 18 and 19.

When approaching the beach (Figures 2 and 4) platform 15 is lowered at the bottom of the hulls 10 and 12 and in this position it brings to the machine a additional buoyancy allowing a reduction in draft low enough allow access to the edge of the beach, the ramp such that 18 then being deployed in order to allow the disembarking personnel and vehicles so classic.

As we understand the platform 15 and its ramps 18 and 19 constitute a wide loading lane uniform adapting to a configuration in line of machines in the raft of a barge transport.

• transport de matériel de protection de l'environnement permettant d'apporter en tout point d'un littoral ou de berges fluviales, des engins de protection civile;
• transport pour des actions humanitaires sur un rivage non aménagé;
• transport et débarquement de matériels et personnels militaires;
• transport fluvial ou maritime sans installation portuaire ou avec installations limitées ou à très faible tirant d'eau;
• transport maritime de produits depuis un navire de haute mer vers une rive ou un littoral non équipé d'installations portuaires ou à très faible tirant d'eau.

The device, object of the invention, can be used for any rapid transport of people, materials, vehicles, by sea or river such as for example:

• transport of environmental protection equipment enabling civil protection equipment to be brought to any point on a coast or riverbanks;
• transportation for humanitarian actions on an undeveloped shore;
• transport and disembarkation of military equipment and personnel;
• river or maritime transport without port facility or with limited facilities or with very shallow draft;
• maritime transport of products from an ocean-going vessel to a shore or coastline not equipped with port facilities or with very low draft.

• importante capacité de vitesse de transit même sur mer formée lorsque la plateforme est en position haute;
• réduction importante du tirant d'eau permettant d'approcher très près la lisière d'une plage, la plateforme de chargement étant en position basse avec sa surface de roulement au-dessus du niveau de l'eau, la présence de la rampe avant réduisant encore la longueur de franchissement de l'eau;
• excellente manoeuvrabilité en position de transit et en position de débarquement;
• grande surface de flottaison en mode "plageage" donnant une faible sensibilité au centrage des masses et permettant une grande flexibilité de disposition du chargement;
• possibilité de prévoir des volets, tels que 21 dans les traverses inférieures profilées, telles que 16 et 17, ces volets étant profilés de façon à ajuster l'assiette de navigation en fonction du centrage des masses et des conditions de mer, et pouvant être utilisés en tant que systèmes de stabilisation.

The advantages provided by the object of the invention are in particular the following:

• significant transit speed capacity even on sea formed when the platform is in the high position;
• significant reduction in the draft making it possible to approach very close to the edge of a beach, the loading platform being in the low position with its running surface above the water level, the presence of the front ramp reducing again the length of water crossing;
• excellent maneuverability in transit and landing positions;
• large flotation surface in "plaging" mode giving low sensitivity to mass centering and allowing great flexibility of loading arrangement;
• possibility of providing flaps, such as 21 in the profiled lower crossmembers, such as 16 and 17, these flaps being profiled so as to adjust the navigation trim according to the balance of the masses and the sea conditions, and which can be used as stabilization systems.

Of course, the present invention is not not limited to the embodiments described and / or mentioned above by way of nonlimiting examples but that it encompasses all variants.

Claims (11)

1. Craft for loading/unloading loads, in particular personnel and vehicles, on undeveloped shorelines, of the catamaran type, comprising two lateral hulls (10, 12), between which a movable platform (15) is provided, this platform being in the form of a tight caisson, the upper part of which supports the loads, mechanisms (20, 20') being provided to allow the relative position of the movable platform (15) and the hulls (10, 12) of the catamaran to be varied such that the craft floats, either by means of the mere hulls of the catamaran or by means of the entire area of said platform and the hulls of said catamaran, characterised in that a deployable ramp (18, 19) is provided at each end of said platform, said platform and said ramps in the deployed position forming a loading corridor of uniform width equal to the spacing between the two hulls, and the upper part of the caisson forming a rolling surface.
2. Craft according to claim 1, characterised in that said mechanisms are produced in the following way:

   the two lateral hulls (10, 12) of said catamaran are connected at the upper part and at each of their respective ends by beams (11, 13), and

   lifting means (20, 20') allow said platform (15) to be brought respectively into the raised position or transit position and into the lowered position, or unloading/loading position, in which said platform provides supplementary buoyancy, thus reducing the draught of the craft.
3. Craft according to either of claims 1 and 2, characterised in that:

   the hulls (10, 12) are also connected at the lower part by wing-shaped crosspieces (16, 17), the caisson forming said movable platform (15) being produced in such a way that, in the lowered position, said crosspieces fit below the lower surface of said caisson.
4. Craft according to claim 3, characterised in that said crosspieces (16, 17) are equipped with movable profiled flaps (21).
5. Craft according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the lifting means (20, 20') for the movable platform (15) are of the mechanically guided type, with locking in the raised and lowered positions and with bidirectional control.
6. Craft according to claim 5, characterised in that the guiding means for the movable platform (15) consist of a mechanical guide on rails or of an articulated arm or chain system.
7. Craft according to claim 5, characterised in that the movable platform (15) is locked in the raised (22) or lowered (23) position using a system of pins or, optionally retractable, brackets, or using mechanical locks.
8. Craft according to claim 5, characterised in that the bidirectional control of the raising means (20, 20') is performed using double-action jacks, or using cable-activating winches, or alternatively using chains driven by reduction motors.
9. Craft according to claim 5, characterised in that the bidirectional control of the raising means (20, 20') is performed using a worm-and-rack screw system.
10. Craft according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that it is equipped with a propulsion system of the hydrojet type, disposed symmetrically in the two lateral hulls (10, 12).
11. Craft according to claim 10, characterised in that it further comprises auxiliary propellers provided at the front of each of the two hulls (10, 12).

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