EP2353994B1 - Decoy - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a decoy for torpedo defense.

To defend against torpedoes, modern submarines are equipped with decoys, with which a torpedo running towards a submarine can either be deflected or destroyed, depending on the design of the decoys. For this purpose, the decoys are ejected from transversely or obliquely to the longitudinal extent of the submarine aligned starter tubes, which are arranged in the region of the upper deck and / or the tower of such submarines. After ejection from the starter tubes, the decoys reach a certain distance from the submarine in which they assume a hovering position or, if equipped with a corresponding drive, can change their depth beforehand. WO 96/39325 A1 and US Pat. No. 6,834,608 B1 reveal decoys for torpedo defense.

In order to assume a floating position and to be able to remain in this, it is necessary that the weight of the decoy corresponds approximately to the weight of the displaced by him water. Accordingly, decoys have a comparatively low weight. Because of this light weight, they can absorb only relatively little kinetic energy and are therefore expelled only in a correspondingly short distance to the submarine. This relatively short ejection distances prove to be problematic in view of the fact that one tries in addition to the ejection of decoys to bring the submarine by targeted evasive maneuvers of the submarine in front of an approaching torpedo to safety, which worst case scenario can lead to a collision of the submarine with a decoy.

Against this background, the invention has for its object to provide a decoys of the abovementioned type, which can be ejected relative to the previously known decoys in a greater distance from the submarine, without significantly changing the other functional properties over the known decoys.

This object is achieved by a decoy with the features specified in claim 1. Advantageous developments of this decoy emerge from the dependent claims, the following description and the drawings. In this case, according to the invention, the features specified in the subclaims in each case, but also in combination, the solution according to the invention according to claim 1 further develop.

The decoy according to the invention has a mass body, which is detachable from the remainder of the decoy. Under the remaining decoy is an elongated body to understand that contains all the essential functional components of the decoy and the weight of which essentially corresponds to the weight of the displaced by him water. At this body, the mass body is releasably attached and thus forms an additional weight, although initially degrades the floating properties of the decoy, but this is unproblematic insofar as the mass body for producing the optimum floating ability of the decoy of the body is solvable and accordingly dropped at the appropriate time can be. But before that, ie when ejecting the decoy from the launch tube of a submarine, improves the condition caused by the mass body additional Weight the ability of the decoy according to the invention to absorb more kinetic energy so that the decoy according to the invention can be ejected from the previously known decoys under the same ejection conditions in a further distance from a submarine. As a result, the risk of a collision of the submarine with the decoy during an evasive maneuver of the submarine is significantly reduced. Advantageously, the decoy of the invention can also be constructed on the basis of a state of the art decoy, this prior art decoy then forms the body to which the mass body is releasably secured.

Appropriately, it is desirable that the mass body of the decoy invention is only dropped when the decoy is at a sufficient distance from the submarine. To achieve this, for example, a mechanism for releasing the mass body may be distance-dependent, e.g. be activated by means of a ripcord. However, it is preferably provided that the mass body is time-controlled releasable from the rest of the decoy. Accordingly, the decoy according to the invention may comprise a derailleur, which, after the decoy has left the starter tube, actuates the mechanism for releasing the mass body with a certain time delay.

In principle, the mass body can be arranged at any point of the base body. Particularly advantageously, however, the mass body forms a head of the decoy, ie, the mass body is arranged on a front end of the main body in the direction of ejection of the decoy. Expediently, the mass body does not protrude beyond the outer cross-sectional contour of the basic body. By the mass body forms the decoy head, the focus of the Decoys are placed as far forward in the ejection direction of the decoy, which leads to a particularly stable driving behavior of the decoy during the ejection movement. In addition, a mass body forming the head of the decoy can also form a protective cap for functional units arranged at the front end of the main body in the ejection direction. These functional units may be, for example, acoustic devices or a propeller arranged there for changing the diving depth. By appropriate external shaping of the mass body and the hydrodynamic properties of these decoys can be improved during the ejection process.

For ejecting the mass body from the decoy, the decoy may comprise an electronic control device which activates a device for releasing the mass body. Such a control device has the advantage that it can be operated remotely. However, it should be noted that an electronic control device requires an accumulator for the power supply of the controller. In addition, electronic control compared to hydraulically or mechanically operated controls are much more susceptible to interference, so that when using an electronic control device in decoys comparatively high failure rates of these decoys are to be expected. Therefore, a solution is preferred in which the mass body is hydraulically and / or mechanically detachable from the remainder of the decoy. In this context, both a device for releasing the mass body as well as a time or distance control for activating this device can be hydraulically and / or mechanically actuated. Preferably, a mechanical or hydraulic spring mechanism is used as the timing.

Particularly advantageously, the mass body is designed such that it is divisible into two parts transversely to a longitudinal axis of the decoy. Thus, a mass body forming the head of the decoy, which is arranged in direct extension of the main body of the decoy, can be substantially divisible into two halves in a plane lying on the longitudinal axis of the decoy and thus be dropped in a simple manner laterally to the longitudinal axis of the decoy ,

In order to hold together the two parts of the mass body to their separation in a two-part embodiment of the head of the decoy mass body, the two parts of the mass body can advantageously be releasably positively connected in an area facing away from the head of the mass body area. Here, the type of positive connection is suitably chosen so that the two mass body parts can be reliably and quickly separated from each other. Thus, e.g. at least one and preferably two oppositely arranged hooks may be formed on the end region of each mass body part facing away from the head end of the mass body, wherein the hooks of the two mass body parts engage in one another in a form-fitting manner. In this state, the two mass body parts are fixed to each other at least transversely to the longitudinal extent of the mass body, wherein the mass body parts can be solved by a corresponding relative movement between the mass body parts from each other.

Typically, it may also be useful to connect the two parts of the mass body to each other at the head end of the mass body. Therefore, a further advantageous embodiment of the decoy according to the invention, at the head end of the mass body to arrange a spring ring, which holds the two parts of the mass body together. So can the two joined parts of the mass body form at the head of the mass body, for example, a projection which is surrounded by a resiliently yielding spring ring positive and non-positive. Due to its elastic compliance of the spring ring for releasing the mass body of the remaining decoy can be easily stripped from the projection formed at the head of the mass body.

For separating the two mass body parts from each other, i. for releasing the mass body of the remaining decoy, a compression spring is preferably provided, which is supported biased between a first and a second part of the mass body. In the case of a mass body divided in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the decoy, the effective direction of this compression spring is expediently oriented substantially transversely to the longitudinal axis of the decoy or transversely to the plane of division of the mass body.

In one embodiment of the decoy according to the invention, in which a spring ring holds together a two-part mass body at the head end, advantageously a piston-cylinder arrangement may be provided by means of which the spring ring is removable from the mass body. This piston-cylinder arrangement may expediently be arranged in one of the two mass body parts in such a way that the piston of the piston-cylinder arrangement or a component coupled with this piston acts on the spring ring in the direction parallel to the central axis of the spring ring with appropriate movement of the piston separates the spring ring at an extension movement of the piston of the mass body.

Typical of piston-cylinder arrangements, the piston divides the cylinder interior into two cylinder chambers. It is preferably provided that a first, in the extension direction of the piston front cylinder chamber with a liquid, preferably glycol, is filled, while in a second, in the extension direction of the piston rear cylinder chamber, a prestressed compression spring is arranged. In this case, the piston of the piston-cylinder arrangement can advantageously have a throttle bore, which forms an overflow connection from the first to the second cylinder chamber of the piston-cylinder arrangement.

After activating the piston-cylinder arrangement, the pressure spring arranged in the second cylinder chamber presses the piston against the liquid present in the first cylinder chamber, which then flows over the throttle bore slowly into the second cylinder chamber. The piston movement is correspondingly slow. As a result, a time control for removing the spring ring from the mass body and, consequently, for releasing the mass body from the remaining decoys can advantageously be realized with a suitable flow path of the piston.

It is expedient to ensure that the mass body does not come loose in the storage position of the decoy in the starter tube of a submarine. For this purpose, a lever mechanism is advantageously provided which determines the piston of the piston-cylinder assembly in a locking position positively. This lever mechanism can form a single lever in the simplest case, which is pivotable from a position locking the piston to a position releasing the piston. However, such a lever mechanism is preferred, in which a lever is coupled to a locking element which is moved by pivoting the lever from a position locking the piston to a position releasing the piston. Particularly advantageous is the lever mechanism in such a way that it releases the piston after the expiry of the decoy from the starter tube automatically.

For this purpose, the lever of the lever mechanism can advantageously be actuated by means of a compression spring. In this context, an embodiment is preferred in which the lever is supported on a prestressed compression spring. The lever may in this case be arranged on a part of the mass body in such a way that, when the decoy is arranged in a starter tube, it can be arranged on an inner wall of the starter tube or on a guide rail for the decoy disposed in the starter tube in a piston of the decoy. Cylinder arrangement supports locking position. As soon as the decoy is moved out of the starter tube, the contact of the lever with the inner wall of the starter tube or with the guide rail arranged in the starter tube ends and the compression spring can move the lever into a position releasing the piston of the piston-cylinder assembly.

Fig. 1

in einer schematischen Seitenansicht ein Starterrohr mit einem darin gelagerten Täuschkörper,

Fig. 2

in einer Schnittansicht einen Kopfbereich eines Täuschkörpers gemäß der Einzelheit A in Fig. 1 mit einem dort angeordneten Massekörper und

Fig. 3

in einer Schnittansicht den Kopfbereich nach Fig. 2 mit einem sich lösenden Massekörper.

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

Fig. 1

in a schematic side view of a starter tube with a decoy mounted therein,

Fig. 2

in a sectional view of a head portion of a decoy according to the detail A in Fig. 1 with a mass body arranged there and

Fig. 3

in a sectional view of the head area Fig. 2 with a releasing mass body.

In Fig. 1 a decoy 2 is shown in a starter tube 4 of a submarine. An ejection opening of the starter tube 4 is closed pressure-tight with a cover 6, so that the decoy 2 in the starter tube 4 can be stored dry. The cover 6 is pivotable about a pivot axis B from a position closing the discharge opening into a position releasing the discharge opening. The storage of the decoy 2 in the starter tube 4 takes place on guide rails 8 which are fixed to the inner wall of the starter tube 4.

Like from the Fig. 2 and 3 shows, the decoy 2 has a base body 10. At the front in the ejection direction of the decoy 2 front end of the base body 10 and at the cover 6 facing the end of the base body 10 forms a mass body 12 a head of the decoy 2. The mass body 12 is of the main body 10 solvable, which will be discussed in more detail below.

In the decoy 2 is such a decoy 2, which can change its depth after completion of its ejection movement and after separation of the mass body 12 of the body 10. For this purpose, the base body 10 has a propeller 14. This propeller 14 is arranged at a vertex of a parabolically curved, the lid 6 facing end portion 16 of the base body 10, which adjoins a cylindrical portion 18 of the base body 10. The end portion 16 has a slightly smaller outer cross section than the portion 18 and thus forms an annular shoulder 20th

The mass body 12 is partially hollow and forms a cap which completely surrounds the end portion 16 of the main body 10 and in this way covers the propeller 14 and other functional units of the decoy 2 arranged in the region of the end portion 16 and protects in this manner. At its in ejection direction of the Decoy 2 front end of the mass body 12 is formed parabolically curved, where it goes into a cylindrical section, whose outer diameter corresponds to the outer diameter of the portion 18 of the body 10.

The mass body 12 is divided into two parts 22 and 24 substantially in the direction of a longitudinal axis C of the decoy 2. In a region adjacent to the cylindrical portion 18 of the body 10, a recess 26 and a projection 28 are formed on the part 22 of the mass body 12, while on the part 24 of the mass body 12, a recess 30 and a projection 32 are formed. In the assembled state of the parts 22 and 24 of the mass body 12, the projection 28 of the part 22 engages in the recess 30 of the part 24, while the projection 32 of the part 24 engages in the recess 26 of the part 22. In this way, the parts 22 and 24 of the mass body 12 in the direction transverse to the longitudinal axis C of the decoy 2 releasably positively secured together.

In the region of the end remote from the base body 10 of the mass body 12, an annular shoulder 34 is incorporated on the outside thereof, which forms a projection 36 on the mass body 12. To this projection 36, a spring ring 38 is placed, which connects the parts 22 and 24 of the mass body 12 positively and non-positively with each other.

At the parabolically curved end of the mass body 12 whose parts 22 and 24 are solid. In this area of the part 22 of the mass body 12, an opening 40 is formed which extends parallel to the longitudinal axis C of the decoy 2 from the outside of the part 22 to the cavity formed in the mass body 12. The opening 40 points from the outside of the part 22 has a section 42 which widens in a paragraph to a section 44.

The portion 44 of the aperture 40 forms a cylinder 44 of a piston-cylinder assembly with a piston 44 movably mounted in the cylinder 44. The piston 46 divides the cylinder into a first cylinder chamber 48 and a second cylinder chamber 50. The cylinder chamber 50 is at its closed by the section 42 of the opening 40 facing away from the end of a sleeve 52 through which a direction of the main body 10 directed portion of a piston rod 54 is guided. At this portion of the piston rod 54, an annular groove 55 is formed in an end region.

In the section 42 of the opening 40, a threaded bushing 56 is screwed. Through this threaded bushing 56, another directed in the direction of the head end of the mass body 12 portion of the piston rod 54 is guided. This portion of the piston rod 54 is movable against the spring ring 38, whereby the spring ring 38 can be stripped from the projection 36 of the mass body. In the cylinder chamber 50, a coil spring 58 is disposed, which is supported between the piston 46 and the sleeve 52. The bushing 52 is fixed in position by a retaining screw 53. The cylinder chamber 48 is filled with glycol. This glycol can flow from the cylinder chamber 48 into the cylinder chamber 50 via a throttle bore 60 formed on the piston 46.

In the region of the cylindrical portion of the mass body 12, a groove-shaped recess 62 is formed on the outside of the part 22 of the mass body 12. In this recess 62, a lever 64 is pivotally mounted about an axis D. The lever 64 is supported in the storage position of the decoy 2 in the starter tube 4 on one of the guide rails 8 off. In this state, a pressure spring 66 mounted on the part 22 in a recess oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis C of the decoy 2 and biased into a corresponding recess on the lever 64 is biased.

At an end of the lever 64 facing the head end of the mass body 12, an actuating rod 68 is articulated. This actuating rod 68 is guided in the part 22 of the mass body 12 90 ° normal to the longitudinal axis C of the decoy 2 and forms at its free end a hook 70 which faces away from the lever 64 in the side formed on the piston rod 54 annular groove 55th engages and holds in this way the piston 46 of the piston-cylinder assembly in a locking position.

On the part 24 of the mass body 12, a blind hole 72 is formed, which extends from the part 22 facing the longitudinal side of the part 24 90 ° normal to the longitudinal axis C of the decoy 2. The blind hole 72 serves to receive a helical spring 74, which is supported on assembled parts 22 and 24 of the mass body 12 under pressure-biased on the part 22 of the mass body 12.

The operation of the decoy 2 according to the invention is as follows:
When mounted in the starter tube 4 decoy 2, the lever 64 is supported against a arranged on the inner wall of the starter tube 4 guide rail so that the hook 70 of the hinged to the lever 64 actuating rod 68, the piston 46 of the piston-cylinder assembly by engagement in the formed on the piston rod 54 annular groove 55 prevents movement. At the same time, a projection 76 presses on the one of the articulation of the actuating rod 68th arranged remote from the end of the lever 64, a arranged on the curved end portion 16 of the body 10 actuator 78 for activating the arranged in the body 10 functional units in a non-activating these functional units position.

Now, if the decoy 2 is ejected from the starter tube 4, the contact between the guideway 8 and the lever 64 is released and the compression spring 66 can pivot the lever 64 in a position in which the formed on the actuating rod 68 hook 70, the piston rod 54 releases while the projection 76 moves away from the actuator 78 disposed on the body 10, causing the actuator 78 to move to an operative position in the body 10.

At the same time arranged in the cylinder chamber 50 coil spring 58 can move the piston 46 of the piston-cylinder assembly in the direction of the cylinder chamber 48, wherein this movement is delayed, since the glycol located in the cylinder chamber 48 over the comparatively small cross-section of the throttle bore 60 only slowly from the cylinder chamber 48 in the cylinder chamber 50 can flow over.

After a certain time, in which the decoy 2 has already significantly removed from the starter tube 4 or from the submarine; pushes the piston rod 54 against the spring ring 38 and strips it from the formed at the top end of the mass body 12 projection 36 so that at the head end, the connection of the parts 22 and 24 of the mass body 12 is released.

As a result, the coil spring 74 can push away the parts 22 and 24 of the mass body from each other, wherein the two parts 22 and 24 in each case about each other on the shoulder 20 of the main body opposing pivot axes to the outside, that are pivoted away from the longitudinal axis C of the decoy 2. By these pivotal movements of the parts 22 and 24 releases their hook connection at the end remote from the head end of the mass body 12, so that now no longer exists between the parts 22 and 24 and the parts 22 and 24 or the entire mass body 12 of can solve the body 10.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

2

- decoys

4

- Starter tube

6

- Lid

8th

- Guide rail

10

- basic body

12

- mass body

14

- Propeller

16

- End section

18

- Section

20

- Paragraph

22

- part

24

- part

26

- recess

28

- Head Start

30

- recess

32

- Head Start

34

- Paragraph

36

- Head Start

38

- spring washer

40

- breakthrough

42

- Section

44

- Section, cylinder

46

- Piston

48

- Cylinder chamber

50

- Cylinder chamber

52

- Rifle

53

retention screw

54

- piston rod

55

- Ring groove

56

- threaded bush

58

- coil spring

60

- Throttle bore

62

- recess

64

- Leverage

66

- compression spring

68

- Operating rod

70

- Hook

72

- blind hole

74

- coil spring

76

- Head Start

78

- Actuator

A

- detail

B

- Swivel axis

C

- longitudinal axis

D

- axis

Claims (9)

1. Decoy (2) for torpedo defence, characterized in that the decoy (2) has a mass body (12) which can be divided into two parts (22, 24) transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis (C) of the decoy (2) and which can be released hydraulically and/or mechanically from the remaining decoy (2), a prestressed compression spring (74) being supported between a first part (22) and a second part (24) of the mass body (12).
2. Decoy (2) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the mass body (12) can be released from the remaining decoy (2) in a time-controlled manner.
3. Decoy (2) according to either of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mass body (12) forms a head of the decoy (2).
4. Decoy (2) according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the two parts (22, 24) of the mass body (12) can be releasably connected in a positively locking manner in a region which faces away from the head end of the mass body (12).
5. Decoy (2) according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a spring ring (38) which holds the parts (22, 24) of the mass body (12) together is arranged at a head end of the mass body (12).
6. Decoy (2) according to Claim 5, characterized in that the spring ring (38) can be removed from the mass body (12) by means of a piston/cylinder arrangement.
7. Decoy (2) according to Claim 6, characterized in that the piston (46) of the piston/cylinder arrangement has a throttle bore (60) which forms a crossflow connection from a first (48) to a second cylinder chamber (50) of the piston/cylinder arrangement.
8. Decoy (2) according to either of Claims 6 and 7, characterized in that a lever mechanism fixes the piston (46) of the piston/cylinder arrangement in a locked position in a positively locking manner.
9. Decoy (2) according to Claim 8, characterized in that a lever (64) of the lever mechanism can be actuated by means of a compression spring (66).

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