EP1783047B1 - Submarine with a tow-line - Google Patents

Abstract

The submarine (4) has a towing line retained in a bow area (7) of a hull, where the towing line is connected with an auxiliary rope (1). The auxiliary rope is guided from the bow area up to a sail (3) in or at an exterior shell (6), where the auxiliary rope is designed as a rope such as cable rope that is thinner than the towing line. The auxiliary rope is arranged in a groove (5) in the shell, where the groove is closed by a sealant.

Description

The invention relates to a submarine with a towline.

In order to recover a submarine in case of accident or failure of self-propelled even in heavy seas, it is known to provide a towline for this purpose. This is usually performed by the bow of the ship in a running along the hull outwardly closed groove that ends in the tower, so that even in heavy seas a person in the tower is able to the end of the towline to the towing vehicle handed over or attached to an auxiliary line with which the tow is then transported to the towing vehicle.

Since the outer skin should be as aerodynamic and smooth as possible in order to keep the acoustic signature as low as possible in particular militarily used submarines, it belongs to the state of the art in submarines whose outer skin is made of steel to complete this groove to the outside through sheets and to dress, which are then bent due to the force acting on the towline pulling force to the side, so that the towline can escape from the groove and is exposed until it tense between the stop point in the bow area of the submarine and the stop point on the towing vehicle strained their function when towing met.

In modern submarines, the outer skin is not made of steel, but largely made of fiber-reinforced plastic. To provide such a groove here, it is necessary that in the individual plastic panels to be mounted and prefabricated grooves after mounting later aligned exactly to each other, otherwise no continuous channel for receiving the towline is formed. True, is in DE 93 13 337 U1 described, not to lead the tow directly in this groove, but to use an elastic hollow profile, which can compensate for certain inaccuracies and the groove is flush at the same time outwardly, but also requires the construction described there always quite complex production of the groove within the plates already in the production.

Against this background, the invention has the object, a submarine in such a way that on the one hand the transfer of the towline from the tower is possible, on the other hand, however, the above-described manufacturing cost is significantly reduced.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a submarine with the features specified in claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims, the following description and the drawing.

The submarine according to the invention has a towline which is jammed in the bow region of the hull and connected to an auxiliary line which is guided from the bow region to the tower in or on the outer skin.

The basic idea of the present invention is not to guide the towline itself from its stop point in the bow area to the tower, but merely to guide an auxiliary line into this area and to stow the towline itself in the bow area. This has the advantage that the guide along the outer skin to the tower is not for the towline itself, but only needs to be dimensioned and manufactured for an auxiliary line, which, since it only serves to transfer the towline, must not be designed for the high tensile forces to be absorbed by the towline. The auxiliary line can therefore be dimensioned significantly smaller, which leads to smaller dimensions and thus to a cheaper and simpler design. Thus, if, for example, the auxiliary line is designed as a steel cable, a groove in the outer skin can be produced by milling after the assembly of the plastic panels, which is considerably less expensive than prefabricating one. Such a groove can be filled by inserting the auxiliary line by means of suitable sealants, so that forms a very smooth and signature poor outer skin in this area.

The towline dammed in the bow area is advantageously connected at one end to the submarine-side tow hook or struck in any other suitable manner on the hull such that a sufficiently stable connection with the hull is formed for the tow operation.

The auxiliary line is advantageously formed by a thin compared to the towline rope, especially steel cable. Such an auxiliary line can for example be formed by a steel wire only 8 mm thick, which lies in a groove of the outer skin. According to the invention, the auxiliary line does not necessarily have to lie within the outer skin, but may, if permitted by the flow and signature requirements, also be formed by a corresponding structure on the outer skin, for example by a flattened channel to the outer skin.

Advantageously, however, the auxiliary line is inserted into a groove arranged in the outer skin, which is formed cost-effectively after completion of the assembly of the outer skin, for example by milling. Such a groove can be easily completed by a sealant, so that after installation of the auxiliary line, this groove is again closed flush with the rest of the outer skin.

The towline itself is advantageously arranged in at least one storage compartment, preferably meandering. In this case, such a storage compartment is expediently designed so that it has an opening through which the towline initially runs parallel to the side wall near the front of the storage compartment, is bent to the end, there by 90 ° until the other lateral end of the storage compartment is reached. From then on, the towline is then placed in loops at 180 ° reversal until the tray is filled. The arrangement of the towline is expediently such that the end that exits the front of the storage compartment at the meandering guided part, is arranged zugseitig, so that the laid in loops loop towline is if necessary withdrawn from this forward.

If, which is advantageous, the towline is formed by a braided or beaten preferably textile rope, which has the advantage over tow lines made of steel, that it is more elastic and absorbs shock loads better, then it is according to a development of the invention of advantage Storage compartment in such a way that the distance between the limiting planar walls, so the walls at which abuts the meandering arranged portion of the towline is less than the clear width of the unloaded towline. In the case of a towline which is essentially circular in cross section, the clear width corresponds to the diameter; in the case of non-round or asymmetrical profiles, the clear width in the plane transverse to the winding plane is important. By appropriate dimensioning of the distance of the flat walls of the storage compartment a frictional connection between these walls and the towline can then be generated, which has the advantage that the towline is fixed and defined in the storage compartment, but on the other hand ensures that the loops are unwound starting from the direction of pull, that is, that not the entire towline package can be pulled out of the storage compartment, which could lead to a jam in front of the towline exit opening. Since the part of the towline, which is already under train, reduces its inside diameter, the frictional connection with the storage compartment walls is deliberately lifted where the tensile load is introduced.

This effect can be further supported according to a development of the invention in that adjacent towline sections within the storage compartment are connected to one another by connecting elements, preferably in the form of cable ties. In this way, the towline or at least the towline section, which is to be accommodated in a storage compartment, are fixed prior to insertion into the storage compartment, wherein expediently one of the flat walls is arranged variable in the distance, so that after inserting the towline section into the storage compartment by reducing the distance of the traction can be selectively produced.

The towline is protected within the outer skin in the bow area of the submarine. In order to fulfill their function, a towline exit opening in the outer skin is provided on the bow side, which is closed off by means of a detachable cover. The arrangement and design of the lid is advantageously provided according to a development of the invention that automatically by applying a tensile force on the auxiliary line the towline outlet opening is released.

This can be achieved in a structurally simple manner in that the cover is formed and arranged gap-forming in the towline exit opening, wherein in this gap between the cover and the towline exit opening the auxiliary line is guided circumferentially. This has the advantage of being traction on the auxiliary line, as is regular will be given after handover to a vehicle to be towed, first pulled out the auxiliary line from its groove in the outer skin of the tower along the ship to the bow and then finally, when the area of the lid is reached, this is removed by the pulling force on the auxiliary line , At an appropriate point behind the lid of the towline outlet opening then the end of the auxiliary line is connected, for example via a shackle with the free end of the towline.

To ensure removal of the cover from its flush composite in the outer skin, the cover has a peripheral edge which covers the circulating in the region of the lid auxiliary line portion to the outside, so that the force applied by the auxiliary line tensile force the circumferential adhesive gap, which passes through the Sealant and a plastic film is formed, cuts in the way that the lid falls out of the towline outlet opening.

Due to the required length of the towline on the one hand and the spatial conditions in the bow area of the submarine on the other hand, it is particularly appropriate for submarines of smaller and medium size to accommodate the towline not only in one, but in several storage compartments. In this case, four towline storage compartments are advantageously provided, which are arranged side by side and one above the other in pairs, the towline passing from its stop on the tow hook to the auxiliary line all four storage compartments in succession.

The storage compartments are expediently designed to be open at the front and, moreover, closed, so that the towline is pulled off from the storage compartment via the auxiliary line. It has proved to be advantageous in terms of the arrangement, the tow hook on which the towline is posted, to arrange between adjacent storage compartments and to arrange moreover two storage compartments on top of each other, wherein expediently the towline guide is such that initially the superimposed towline storage compartments emptied and then pulled out of the two arranged on the other side of the towing hook storage compartments the towline.

Fig. 1

in stark vereinfachter Seitenansicht den vorderen Teil eines Unterseeboots und den Verlauf der Hilfsleinenführung,

Fig. 2

das Unterseeboot gemäß Fig. 1 in Draufsicht,

Fig.3

eine schematische Darstellung eines in der Schleppleinenaustrittsöffnung liegenden Deckels,

Fig. 4

eine Schnittdarstellung der Außenhaut im Bereich des Deckels,

Fig. 5

die Einzelheit V in Fig. 4 in vergrößerter Darstellung,

Fig. 6

die Anordnung der oberen beiden SchleppleinenStaufächer in Draufsicht mit abgenommenen oberen flächigen Wänden,

Fig. 7

die Anordnung der unteren beiden SchleppleinenStaufächer in Draufsicht mit abgenommenen oberen flächigen Wänden und

Fig. 8

eine schematische Seitenansicht der übereinander angeordneten Staufächer ohne Seitenwand.

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

Fig. 1

in a greatly simplified side view the front part of a submarine and the course of the auxiliary line guidance,

Fig. 2

the submarine according to Fig. 1 in plan view,

Figure 3

a schematic representation of a lying in the towline outlet opening lid,

Fig. 4

a sectional view of the outer skin in the region of the lid,

Fig. 5

the detail V in Fig. 4 in an enlarged view,

Fig. 6

the arrangement of the upper two towline storage compartments in plan view with removed upper flat walls,

Fig. 7

the arrangement of the lower two towline storage compartments in plan view with removed upper flat walls and

Fig. 8

a schematic side view of the stacked storage compartments without side wall.

An auxiliary line 1 in the form of an 8 mm thick steel cable leads from a transfer point 2 on the tower 3 of a submarine 4 in a groove 5 in the outer skin 6 of the boat 4 first from the transfer point 2 at the top of the tower 3 down and then along the hull forward to the bow area 7. The groove 5 is made in the made of fiber-reinforced plastic outer skin 6 after their assembly by milling. In this groove 5 then the auxiliary line 1 is inserted, after which the groove 5 has been sealed with a sealant, which fixes the auxiliary line 1 within the groove 5 and the groove is flush with the outer skin 6 to the outside.

The groove 5 opens at the bow area 7 in a gap 8, which is formed between there provided in the outer skin towline exit opening 9 and a cover 10 which closes the opening 9. In this case, the edge 11 of the cover 10 projects beyond the actual opening 9 by one piece, wherein the auxiliary line 1 is guided peripherally around the cover 10 in this projecting area under the edge 11. The remaining free space of the gap 8 is filled with sealing means 12, so that both cover 10 and sealing means 12 are flush with the immediate outer skin 6.

As in particular the schematic representation according to Fig. 3 clarifies, the groove 5 opens with the guided therein auxiliary line 1 obliquely from the bottom and front into the gap 8 to then viewed from the front clockwise below the lid edge 11 circumferentially in the gap 8 to be performed until it is just before the mouth of the groove 9 then guided inwards (see Fig. 4 ) and is struck by a shackle 13 at the free end of a towline 14.

The cover 10 is glued with an elastic adhesive in the form of the sealant 12 in the frame-like designed towline outlet opening 9 there. A plastic film 15, which prevents sticking of the lid on the frame-like lid support is placed around the auxiliary line 1 and the lid support. The plastic film 15 thus ensures that neither lid 15 nor auxiliary line 1 stick to the lid support of the towline outlet opening 9, so that defined pull-off forces are ensured when the lid 10 is opened. The lid 15 is glued by the sealant 12 to the frame. When triggered, the auxiliary line 1 is pulled through this adhesive gap and thereby destroys the bond between the frame and lid 15. The lid 15 is not torn by the auxiliary line 1, but it is only the adhesive bond destroyed. The lid 15 then falls through the then subsequent towline ejected from the frame.

The towline 14 itself is located in the bow area 7 seen from the front behind the lid 10 in a total of 4 storage compartments 16a to 16d. The storage compartments 16a to 16d have a cuboid interior and are all forward, so the lid 10 is open towards. The space of these storage compartments is limited by narrow rear walls 17, narrow side walls 18 and flat side walls 19. To insert the towline 14 into the storage compartments 16a to 16d, one of the flat side walls 19 can be removed in each case. The distance between the flat side walls 19 to each other is smaller than the diameter of the approximately circular in this embodiment in cross-section towline 14 in the unloaded state. In this way, a traction between the towline 14 and the flat side walls 19 is generated, which has the effect described in the introduction, that the towline 14 is always pulled out as intended from the storage compartments 16 and can not be pulled out as a package from a storage compartment 16.

The storage compartments 16a and 16c are adjacent to each other and above the storage compartments 16b and 16d underneath. Between adjacent storage compartments 16a, 16c and 16b, 16d, a free space is formed, in which a towing hook 20 is articulated, to which one end of the towline 14 is struck by means of a loop 21. From the loop 21, the towline 14 extends first in the seen from the front lower left storage compartment 16d along the side wall 18 to the rear wall 17, where it is 90 ° bent along the rear wall 17 extends to then on reaching the opposite side wall 18 its direction 180 ° to change. Within the storage compartment 16d the towline 14 is then guided meander-shaped, with adjacent towline sections can be additionally connected with cable ties or other fixing elements. The end of the meandering guided part of the towline is out of the storage compartment 16d up into the overlying storage compartment 16c out where the towline 14 again along the side wall 18 to the rear wall 17 is guided there by 90 ° deflected to the opposite side wall and from since meandering in each case under 180 ° directionally shot is shot. The end of the meandering part of the towline 16 of the storage compartment 16c is guided downwards to the storage compartment 16b lying diagonally offset therefrom, where the towline 14 has again been projected as described with reference to the storage compartments 16c and 16d. The leading out of this storage compartment 16b end is then led up to the storage compartment 16a, where the towline 14 is finally struck after the meandering guide on the shackle 13, which connects the towline 14 with the auxiliary line 1.

Once the auxiliary line 1 is pulled out of the groove 5 and the cover 10 is removed due to the tensile force of the auxiliary line 1, the tensile force acts on the posted on the shackle 13 end of the towline 14, which is then first withdrawn from the storage compartment 16 a. Only after the storage compartment 16a is emptied, the further towline section pulled out, which is shot down in the storage compartment 16 b located underneath. Finally, the towline is removed from the storage compartment 16c until then the last storage compartment 16d is emptied. During the extraction of the towline 14 from the storage compartments 16a-d, the shackle 13 reaches the trailing vehicle with the aid of the auxiliary line 1. There, the shackle 13 is opened, the tow 14 removed from the shackle 13 and hooked into the towing gear of the towing vehicle. Now the connection between submarine and the towing vehicle is given and the traction is transmitted to the towing hook 20.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

auxiliary line

2

Transfer point

3

tower

4

submarine

5

groove

6

shell

7

bow

9

Schleppleinaustrittsöffnung

10

cover

11

cover edge

12

sealant

13

Shackles

14

towline

15

Plastic film

16a, b, c, d

storage compartments

17

backs

18

side walls

19

Flat side walls

20

towing hook

21

loop

Claims (13)

1. A submarine with a tow line (14), characterised in that the tow line (14) is stored in the bow region (7) of the vessel body and is connected to an auxiliary line (1), which is led from the bow region (7) up to the tower (3), in or on the outer skin (6).
2. A submarine according to claim 1, characterised in that the one end of the tow line (14) is connected to the submarine-side towing hook (20).
3. A submarine according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the auxiliary line (1) is formed by a cable, which is thin compared to the tow line (14), in particularly by a steel cable.
4. A submarine according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the auxiliary line (1) is arranged in a groove (5) which is closed preferably by sealing means, in the outer skin (6).
5. A submarine according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the tow line (14) is arranged in at least one storage compartment (16), preferably in a meandering manner.
6. A submarine according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the tow line (14) is formed by braided or laid, preferably textile roping and that the distance of the plane walls (19) delimiting the storage compartment (16) is smaller than the clear width of the unloaded tow line (14), in a manner such that the tow line (14) is arranged with a non-positive fit within the storage compartment (16).
7. A submarine according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that within the storage compartment (16), adjacent tow line sections are connected to one another by way of connection elements, preferably in the form of cable connectors.
8. A submarine according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a tow line exit opening (9) is provided on the bow side, in the outer skin (6) and is closed by way of a releasable cover (10) which is designed and arranged such that the tow line exit opening (9) is automatically released by way of exerting a tensile force on the auxiliary line (1).
9. A submarine according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cover (10) is arranged and designed in the tow line exit opening (9) in a gap-forming manner, wherein the auxiliary line (1) is peripherally guided within the gap (8) formed between the cover (10) and the tow line exit opening (9).
10. A submarine according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cover (10) comprises a peripheral edge (11), which covers the auxiliary line section (1) which is peripheral in the region of the cover (10), to the outside.
11. A submarine according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the gap (8) formed between the cover (10) and the tow line exit opening (9) is filled with sealing means (12) in a terminating manner, flush to the outside.
12. A submarine according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that four tow line storage compartments (16a - 16d) are provided, which are arranged in pairs next to and above one another, wherein the tow line (14) runs through all four storage compartments (16a - 16d) from its attachment on the towing hook (20) to the auxiliary line (1)
13. A submarine according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that all four storage compartments (16a -16d) are designed open to the front, wherein the towing hook (20) is located between storage compartments arranged next to one another.

Images