EP2530425B1 - Underwater vehicle comprising means for launching an underwater vehicle - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an underwater vehicle such as a submarine proper.

More particularly, the invention relates to an underwater vehicle comprising means for launching, by water pressure, an underwater vehicle such as for example a weapon constituted for example by a torpedo, a missile, a mine, a countermeasure device or a drone or any other device of this nature.

More particularly, such means are for example described in EP 0 151 980 A2 and generally comprise a vehicle launch tube, having a front part and a rear part and whose rear part is connected to a water distribution tank, itself connected to a tube of water in which is placed a piston of backflow of water at the back of the tube, in order to push and eject the weapon.

Such vehicle launching means are well known in the state of the art for example under the generic name of "WATER RAM".

Such means are widely distributed in different navies, but have several drawbacks in terms of their power / mass ratio, their compactness, their robustness, their maintenance, because they do not allow the vehicle to be launched automatically. startup, etc.

Also known in the state of the art launching means of another type, based on the use of a pneumatic rammer.

In fact, this pneumatic rammer is a telescopic piston mechanism comprising several deployable stages, associated for example with the rear door of a torpedo tube of a submarine and which is connected to a source of compressed air and is activated to push and thus eject the weapon from the tube.

However, this type of system also has a number of disadvantages because the rear end of the weapon and in particular the torpedo, must have an interface compatible with the front end of the piston, the front end of the piston coming into action. contact the rear end of the torpedo to push it and eject it out of the tube.

This then results in the fact that this type of pneumatic rammer has so far been of limited application essentially to torpedoes of French origin.

The object of the invention is therefore to solve all of these problems.

For this purpose, the invention relates to an underwater vehicle according to claim 1.

According to other characteristics, the underwater vehicle according to the invention comprises one or more of the optional features of claims 2 to 14.

• les figures 1, 2, 3 et 4 représentent des vues en coupe schématique d'un engin sous-marin équipé de moyens de lancement, et illustrant le lancement d'une arme telle qu'une torpille à l'aide de ceux-ci ;
• les figures 5, 6, 7 et 8 représentent des vues en coupe schématique d'un engin sous-marin illustrant le lancement en auto-démarrage d'une arme telle qu'une torpille ; et
• les figures 9, 10, 11 et 12 représentent des vues en coupe schématique de variantes de réalisation d'un engin sous-marin illustrant le lancement en auto-démarrage d'une arme telle qu'une torpille.

The invention will be better understood with the aid of the following description given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• the Figures 1, 2 , 3 and 4 are schematic sectional views of an underwater vehicle equipped with launching means, and illustrating the launching of a weapon such as a torpedo using them;
• the Figures 5, 6 , 7 and 8 are diagrammatic sectional views of an underwater vehicle illustrating the self-starting launch of a weapon such as a torpedo; and
• the Figures 9, 10 , 11 and 12 are schematic sectional views of alternative embodiments of an underwater vehicle illustrating the self-starting launch of a weapon such as a torpedo.

We have indeed illustrated on these Figures 1 to 4 a underwater vehicle designated by the general reference 1, constituted for example by a submarine proper and which has a thick shell designated by the general reference 2 and a thin shell designated by the general reference 3, in a conventional manner.

In a conventional manner also, this underwater vehicle comprises at least at the front, means for launching an underwater vehicle designated by the general reference 4 in these figures, the underwater vehicle being constituted for example by a weapon designated by the general reference 5 in this figure and formed for example by a torpedo.

In general, an underwater vehicle has several such launching means associated. There are in fact generally for example several means of this type grouped by edge and operable successively.

Such means then comprise, in a conventional manner, a weapon-launch tube designated by the general reference 6, in which is housed the vehicle to be launched and having a front part designated by the general reference 7 and a rear part designated by the general reference 8 , for example of different sections / diameters, the rear portion having a section / diameter greater than that of the front portion.

The front and rear ends of this tube 6 have doors respectively 9 and 10, the rear end of the gun-thrust tube passing through the thick shell 2 of the submarine to extend inside thereof and thus allow access to the tube for loading or changing the weapon in the tube.

The rear part of the weapon-launching tube is connected to a water distribution tank designated by the general reference 11 in these figures, for example through an annular door designated by the general reference 12 movable between a position shutter and an open position and thus placing in communication this reservoir 11 and the rear portion 8 of the tube 6, as illustrated.

This water distribution tank 11 is itself connected to a water tube designated by the general reference 13 in these figures, in which is placed a piston for discharging water into the rear part of the tube to push and eject the weapon out of the tube, this piston being designated by the general reference 14 in these figures.

It will also be noted that a diaphragm designated by the general reference 15 can be placed in the tube and more particularly carried by the front part thereof in order to constitute a sort of sealing means between the front part and the rear part of the tube. tube and the weapon, the latter, during its ejection, then sliding in this diaphragm as will be described in more detail later.

The piston 14 is constituted by a telescopic piston with several deployable stages, movable in the water tube 13 to push it and cause the ejection of the weapon.

This telescopic piston is then connected, through a launch valve designated by the general reference 16 in this figure, to a supply of compressed air launch designated by reference 17, consisting for example of a cylinder of compressed air or other .

It is then conceivable that the launching of a weapon, using such means, consists first and foremost in putting the assembly in the firing position, that is to say with the outer front door 9 of the open tube and the annular door 12 open and opening the throwing valve 16 to cause, as illustrated on the figure 2 , an activation of the telescopic piston 14.

The compressed air then arrives in the telescopic piston 14 so that it increases in pressure and starts to deploy and to apply a discharge force on the water contained in the water tube 13.

Thus the water contained in the distribution tank 11 and in the rear part 8 of the tube 6 also rises in pressure and begins to push the weapon out of the tube, as illustrated on the figure 3 , this moving in the opening of the diaphragm 15.

Indeed, when the pressure is sufficient, the telescopic piston begins to deploy, causing the movement of the weapon due to the incompressibility of the water contained in the circuit formed by the water tube 13, of the distribution tank 11 and the rear portion 8 of the launch tube 6.

The deployment of the telescopic piston 14 can be controlled by controlling the operation of the throwing valve 16 in order to regulate the inflow of compressed air into this piston.

At the end of the ejection phase of the weapon, as illustrated on the figure 4 , the telescopic piston 14 is fully deployed in the water tube 13. It should be noted in this regard that it can be deployed beyond the water distribution tank 11, which allows water to the back of the water tube to continue its movement and avoids the abrupt stop of the whole.

It is conceivable that such a system has many advantages over the solutions proposed in the state of the art.

Indeed, the use of a telescopic piston avoids the use of a large cylinder and its activation mechanism which is also very bulky and difficult to implant, while being a power / mass ratio much more interesting, more compact, more robust and finally requiring only reduced maintenance.

Moreover, this system is also applicable to the launching of weapons of any kind that is to say weapons or any other type of vehicles that are not necessarily provided with specific interfaces adapted to the use of rammers tires.

In addition, the system according to the invention does not require any shell penetration and can therefore be adapted to non-through outer tubes.

A self-starting launch of the weapon can also be considered when it is equipped with motorization means, as is the case for example for a torpedo.

Examples of embodiments allowing this type of launch are illustrated on the Figures 5 to 12 .

A first example of embodiment is illustrated on the Figures 5 to 8 , in which we recognize organs already described with regard to Figures 1 to 4 and which have the same reference numbers.

In general, it is then provided intake means of water intake in the rear part of the tube, from the environment of the machine, to allow a launch by self-starting the vehicle by activating its motorization means without activating the delivery piston.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated on these Figures 5 to 8 these water intake means are designated by the general reference 20 and comprise for example valve-shaped means associated with the rear part of the tube.

In fact and in the example illustrated, these valve-shaped means comprise a non-return valve associated with the rear part 6 of the tube 8 and controlled at the opening by the depression generated in this rear part of the tube by the displacement of the vehicle during its self-launch.

It is conceivable indeed as it is illustrated on these Figures 5 to 8 , that if one proceeds to a launch in auto-start of the weapon that is to say by activation of the means of motorization of this one without activating the piston of delivery, the displacement of the weapon in the tube generates a vacuum in the rear part of this tube which causes the opening of the check valve 20 thereby allowing water into it from the environment of the machine.

In the example illustrated, these means in fact comprise a valve designated by the general reference 21 associated with an elastic return member in the closed position, such as for example a coil spring 22, but it goes without saying of course that other embodiments may be envisaged.

In fact, these means simply allow water to be admitted into the rear part of the tube during a self-starting launch of the vehicle.

Of course, still other embodiments can be envisaged as illustrated for example on Figures 9 and 10 , in which like reference numerals designate parts similar to those described in Figures 1 to 4 .

On these Figures 9 and 10 also, there is provided water intake means in the rear part of the tube from the environment of the machine to allow a self-starting launch of the vehicle to launch by activating its own motorization means without activate the discharge piston.

In fact and in this embodiment, the water intake means in the rear part of the tube from the environment of the machine, are associated with the sealing diaphragm extending between the tube and the vehicle when it is in position in this tube.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated on these Figures 9 and 10 the diaphragm is designated by the general reference 23 and the water intake means are formed by at least one retractable portion 24 of this diaphragm.

In fact and in the example illustrated, the diaphragm is formed by a set of flaps resiliently movable between an active position towards the weapon and a retracted position, under the effect of the depression generated in the rear part of the tube during the launch of the weapon in auto-start, to admit water in this rear part of the tube from the environment of the machine.

It goes without saying of course that different embodiments of this diaphragm can be envisaged, and that it may simply comprise a movable part between an active position and a retracted position for admitting water into the rear part of the diaphragm. tube.

In the embodiments which have been described above, the water admission means are controlled at the opening by the depression generated in the rear part of the tube by the weapon when it is launched.

It goes without saying of course that other embodiments can be envisaged, such as that illustrated on the Figures 11 and 12 , in which the water intake means are controlled at the opening by closing the connecting door-shaped means 12 provided between the water distribution tank 11 and the rear part 8 of the tube.

Mechanical connection means 25 are then provided between this door 12 and the retractable part 24 of the diaphragm 23.

When the annular door 12 is in the open position, the diaphragm is in the sealing position towards the weapon as shown in FIG. Figure 11 , while when the annular door 12 is in the closed position, the diaphragm or at least a part thereof, is retracted as illustrated in FIG. Figure 12 , to allow the admission of water in the rear part of the tube.

It goes without saying of course that other embodiments can be envisaged.

Claims (14)

1. Underwater machine comprising launching means by water thrust (4) of an underwater vehicle (5), of the type comprising a vehicle-launching tube (6) having a front part (7) and a rear part (8) and the rear part (8) of which is connected to a water-distribution reservoir (11), itself connected to a water tube (13) in which there is placed a piston (14) for ramming water into the rear part (8) of the tube (6), in order to thrust and eject the vehicle (5), characterised in that the piston is a telescopic piston with several deployable stages (14), displaceable in the water tube (13) in order to cause the ejection of the vehicle, and in that the telescopic piston is confined between a thin shell (3) and a thick shell (2) of the underwater machine without passing through the thin and thick shells.
2. Underwater machine according to claim 1, characterised in that the telescopic piston with several stages (14) is connected to a compressed air source for launching (17) through the means (16) forming the launching valve.
3. Underwater machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the rear part (8) of the tube (6) has a section which is greater than that of the front part (7) of the latter.
4. Underwater machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the front and rear ends of the vehicle-launching tube (6) are equipped with doors (9, 10).
5. Underwater machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the launching means (4) are placed between the thick shell (2) and the thin shell (3) of this underwater machine (1), the rear part (2) of the vehicle-launching tube passing through the thick shell.
6. Underwater machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises means (20; 24) for controlled admission of water into the rear part (8) of the tube (6) from the surroundings of the machine, in order to allow self-starting launching of the vehicle by activating its motorisation means without activating the rammer piston (14).
7. Underwater machine according to claim 6, characterised in that the water-admission means comprise means in the form of a sluice gate (20) connected to the rear part of the tube.
8. Underwater machine according to claim 7, characterised in that the means in the form of a sluice gate comprise a non-return flap (20) connected to the rear part of the tube and controlled in opening by the low pressure generated in this part of the tube by the displacement of the vehicle during its self-launching.
9. Underwater machine according to claim 6, characterised in that a sealing diaphragm (23) extends between the tube and the vehicle when it is in position in the tube, and in that the water-admission means (24) are connected to this diaphragm.
10. Underwater machine according to claim 9, characterised in that the water-admission means are formed by at least one retractable part (24) of the diaphragm (23).
11. Underwater machine according to claim 10, characterised in that said at least one retractable part (24) of the diaphragm (23) is controlled in opening by the low pressure generated in the rear part of the tube by the displacement of the vehicle during its self-launching.
12. Underwater machine according to any of the claims 6 to 10, characterised in that the means forming the connecting door (12) are provided between the water-distribution reservoir (11) and the rear part (8) of the tube, and in that the water-admission means are controlled in opening by closure of these means forming the door.
13. Underwater machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the underwater vehicle is a weapon.
14. Underwater machine according to claim 13, characterised in that the underwater vehicle is a torpedo.

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