Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B27/00—Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for cargo or passengers
  • B63B27/14—Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for cargo or passengers of ramps, gangways or outboard ladders ; Pilot lifts
  • B63B27/143—Ramps
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B23/00—Equipment for handling lifeboats or the like
  • B63B23/30—Devices for guiding boats to water surface
  • B63B23/32—Rigid guides, e.g. having arms pivoted near waterline
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B27/00—Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for cargo or passengers
  • B63B27/36—Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for floating cargo
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B27/00—Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for cargo or passengers
  • B63B27/16—Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for cargo or passengers of lifts or hoists
  • B63B2027/165—Deployment or recovery of underwater vehicles using lifts or hoists
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63C—LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS
  • B63C3/00—Launching or hauling-out by landborne slipways; Slipways
  • B63C3/02—Launching or hauling-out by landborne slipways; Slipways by longitudinal movement of vessel

Definitions

• the invention is in the naval field and relates more specifically to handling systems and lifting mounted on ships, allowing the launching and recovery of marine gear or submarine from these vessels, the gear considered being both towed gear and autonomous gear, the latter then being provided with a temporary link during the launching and recovery phases.
• solutions generally implementing means that involve the intervention of human operators.
• a known solution consists in providing means of securing on the the hull of the machine, for example fixing rings, these fixing means being arranged in such a way that the machine can be lifted while keeping a horizontal position.
• the launching and the recovery can then, for example, be carried out by means of a winch mounted on a movable gantry placed at the rear of the ship, or a crane, the crane or the crane allowing to position the hoist winch above the recovery area.
• the launch and the lift are carried out vertically which limits the possibilities of collision with the ship during the descent or ascent.
• the lifting of the machine can be achieved by placing it in a nacelle-type device itself having appropriate fixing points.
• This type of solution is applicable, notably independently, to gear towed by the medium but is however not easily applicable to the case of gear towed from the front, insofar as, for obvious reasons of efficiency, it is desired to perform the towing and handling of the machine from a single cable.
• Handling by means such as those described above using a single cable proves tricky because it is accompanied for the machine a passage from the vertical position to the horizontal position when setting the water and vice versa during recovery.
• This handling also requires additional operations whose object is, after lifting the machine and positioning above the deck of the ship, to rest the craft flat on the deck of the ship or more generally on a storage area. These operations themselves usually require the intervention of human operators, intervention which is made more delicate and more dangerous by strong sea.
• the generally preferred solution is to use a handling cable temporarily hung above the center of gravity of the machine.
• a solution also used provides a handling based on the establishment of means having an inclined ramp on which the machine slides to reach the surface of the water or to get out and return to the ship.
• the ramp is generally configured so as to guide the machine in a rectilinear path, which prevents the machine can follow a lateral movement.
• a ramp is not generally not suitable for use by high seas, lateral movements of the machine may then cause damage to it.
• the implementation of such means comprises a critical phase which is between the moment when the vehicle comes into contact with the ramp and that where it is completely placed on it.
• the passage of the machine from the surface of the water to the ramp involves contacting the nose of the machine with the ramp, the entry into contact may occur, in particular agitated sea, with a certain hardness that can cause damage to the machine but also prevent the recovery of it.
• An object of the invention to provide means for launching and recovering a marine or underwater vehicle in the safest possible manner, these means can be implemented fully automatically, without intervention or human supervision.
• An object of the invention is more particularly to propose means adapted to the handling underwater vehicles towed from the bow or underwater gear not having means for vertical lifting, but being temporarily connected to traction means, a cable moved by a winch for example, during launching phases and recovery.
• the invention relates to a launching system and recovery of a marine or underwater vehicle, said system being intended to be installed on a ship carrying out the storage and transport on the vehicle area submarine.
• It relates to a system for performing, including in rough seas, the launching and automatic recovery of marine or submarine craft from a moving carrier ship, of the type comprising:
• an articulated inclinable ramp including itself a bottom and edges
• first motor means for lowering and raising the ramp and traction means making it possible to control the sliding of the machine along the ramp during launching and to hoist the machine along the ramp during recovery, the ramp having an emerging end occupying a fixed position, this end being movable only in rotation at least about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the axis of the vessel and a free end whose position varies, under the action first motor means, between a submerged position where it is immersed in water and an emergent position for which the ramp is in a horizontal position.
• the system according to the invention also comprises buoyancy means configured and arranged on the ramp so that the free end of the ramp floats on the surface or near the surface of the water when the ramp is lowered.
• the bottom of the articulated ramp has an outer face configured to form a fairing whose sectional profiles are defined to minimize the drag and lift forces imposed on the ramp by the movement of the vessel and the vertical dynamic movements caused by waves when its free end is in contact with water.
• the edges of the ramp are configured to ensure, together with the fairing of the lower part of the ramp, the buoyancy of the free end of the ramp.
• the buoyancy means are constituted by floats fixed on the ramp at its free end.
• the edges of the ramp are configured to maintain the machine on the ramp and limit roll movements printed on the machine.
• the system according to the invention further comprises reception and guidance means comprising a reception device configured to receive the end of the machine and remain in contact with the machine during the launching operations and recovery, the docking device being driven with the vehicle by the traction means.
• the traction means comprising a traction cable driven by a winch
• the receiving device is constituted by a fairlead configured to slide along the ramp and through which the cable passes. traction.
• the reception device furthermore comprises vertical protection elements on which the wings of the machine rest when its end is engaged in the reception device, the frontal support thus produced making it possible to contribute to the keeping the machine in the axis of the ramp.
• the receiving and guiding means further comprise motor means configured so as to keep the receiving device in contact with the end of the machine as it progresses on the ramp.
• the system according to the invention further comprises complementary support means for holding the machine in a fixed storage position when the ramp is returned to its raised position; the machine is then stored on the ramp.
• the device according to the invention thus consists of a recovery system that advantageously makes it possible to limit the relative vertical movements between this system and the underwater vehicle, or marine, while the latter floats on the surface, in particular at the critical moment of the contact between these two entities during the recovery. It allows to put the vehicle into the water automatically from its storage position and then retrieve the machine after use and put it back in its storage position.
• the limitation of the vertical relative movements is obtained by means of a tilting ramp articulated in its upstream part and which has means of buoyancy in its rear mean that allow its free end to float to the surface. Furthermore, the streamlined underside of the ramp advantageously limits the impact of the speed of advance of the ship and the striking effects due to waves on the relative positioning of the rear end of the ramp relative to the surface of the beam. water for different sea conditions and speed with respect to water.
• FIG. 1 a general schematic view of a particular embodiment of the device according to the invention showing the ramp in the lowered position;
• FIG. 3 a general schematic view of an example of particular embodiment of the device according to the invention representing the ramp in the raised position.
• the device is mounted on a catamaran-type ship 10, between the two hulls of the latter.
• the device according to the invention mainly comprises the following elements:
• the fixed end 1 1 1 of the ramp is connected to the carrier leaving at least a degree of rotation about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the main axis of the ramp so that the free end can be raised or lowered in the manner of a drawbridge.
• the ramp 1 1 has a general shape of slide or gutter with a bottom 1 13 and edges 1 14 and 1 15 whose height is determined in particular according to the size and geometry of the machine manipulated 15.
• Means 12 mounted on the ramp and intended to promote the progression of the machine along the ramp, under the action of the traction exerted by the cable (recovery) or by gravity (launching). These means are for example rollers or rollers arranged laterally on the bottom 1 13 of the ramp and on which the machine 15 rolls.
• - Reception and guidance means whose function is to ensure alignment of the machine on the axis of the ramp so as to allow a sliding or correct rolling of the machine all along its path on the ramp (uphill or downhill).
• These means are for example constituted, as shown in Figure 1, by a device 13 as a fairlead, inside which passes the traction cable 14 of the machine.
• This element is configured to move along the ramp 1 1, for example on a rail disposed along the longitudinal axis thereof (not shown in the figure).
• - buoyancy means whose main role is to ensure that the free end 1 12 of the ramp can naturally stay on the surface of the water in the absence of waves or for waves of great length. wave compared to the dimensions of the recovery system.
• these means are constituted by lateral floats forming the edges 1 14 and 1 15 of the ramp, and by the bottom of the ramp forming the fairing portion.
• these means may consist simply of floats fixed on the ramp at the free end 1 12 or by any other combination of appropriate means.
• the end 151 of the craft integral with the traction cable, is inserted inside the element 13 and remains in contact narrowly with it, which has the advantageous effect of maintaining the axis of the vehicle in the axis of the ramp 1 1 during its progression along the latter.
• the reception and guiding means may also comprise motor means (not present in the example of FIG. 1) configured in such a way that the reception element 13 is kept in contact with the end of the machine 15 as the latter progresses on the ramp 1 1.
• motor means act for example by exerting some resistance to the progression of the fairlead towards the fixed end of the ramp.
• these motor means may for example consist of an auxiliary winch which pulls the receiving device 13 (the fairlead) towards the free end 1 12 of the ramp 1 1 (downwards), by intermediate of a cable returned by a pulley located at the free end of the ramp.
• Adjusting the tension of the auxiliary winch with respect to the tension generated by the towing winch 16 then makes it possible to maintain active maintenance of the contact between the machine 15 and the fairlead 13 during the ascent of the machine 15 along of the ramp 1 1, without however upsetting the ascent.
• the machine can be secured to the host element when its end is inserted therein. In this case, the action of motor means becomes less necessary.
• Figures 2-a, 2-b and 2-c of Figure 2 illustrate an essential feature of the invention.
• Figure 2-a shows a schematic side view of the ramp 1 1, in a lowered configuration for which the free end January 12 is immersed in water. This configuration corresponds to the implementation of the ramp during launching operations and recovery of the machine 15.
• Figure 2-b presents for the same configuration (ramp down), a view of the ramp according to a horizontal section plane passing through the axis ⁇ 2 presented on the side view 2-a.
• illustration 2-c it shows a view of the ramp in a vertical sectional plane passing through the axis ⁇ presented on the side view 2-a and perpendicular to the axis of the ramp 1 January.
• the bottom 1 13 of the articulated ramp 1 1 has an outer face 21, intended to come into contact with the surface of the water, which forms a fairing whose sectional profile is defined, as illustrated by the views 2-b and 2-c, so as to minimize, when the free end of the ramp is in contact with the water (lowered ramp) in accordance with the schematic view 2-a, the drag and lift forces caused by the speed of advance of the ship on the one hand and to minimize the knocking effect caused by the waves on the other hand.
• the profile of the outer face 21 of the bottom 1 13 of the ramp 1 1 is defined to act in the manner of a breakwater to break the wave front likely to collide with the ramp 1 1 , in particular because of the movement of the ship 10, before they reach the free end 1 12 of the ramp, and cause, at the rhythm of the passage of the waves under the ramp 1 1, a sudden change in the vertical position of the free end 1 12 of the Ramp 1 1 1 in relation to the surrounding water surface.
• This sudden variation would result in particular, in the absence of any compensation, by an uncontrolled variation of the vertical position of the end 1 12 of the ramp 1 1 relative to that of the end 151 of the machine 15, which may cause damage to the boat if it occurs as it approaches the ramp.
• the outer face 21 of the bottom 1 13 of the ramp 1 1 forms a fairing with a sectional section in the form of "V".
• this face 21 forms a fairing with a sectional profile in the shape of "W”.
• the implementation of a ramp 1 1 equipped with buoyancy means which act mainly on the free end 1 12 of the ramp so as to maintain it at a given position relative to the surface of the water , surface or slightly immersed, for example, and whose lower face 21 has the sectional profile defined above, can minimize two important effects:
• the device according to the invention makes it possible to safely recover an underwater vehicle, or marine, while the ship in charge of the recovery is advancing with a non-zero speed. by formed sea.
• the device is designed to be implemented from a moving ship, advantageously allows this vessel to be more maneuvering and limits the amplitude of its movements under the action of the movements of the sea. following, the use of a favorable course facing or back to the swell can greatly limit the roll movements.
• the speed of advance of the carrier vessel 10 further allows, as has been said above, to more easily stabilize the positioning of the machine 15 in the axis of the ramp 1 January.
• the device according to the invention also has the advantage of being able to be installed on a wide variety of vessels with different tonnages and shapes. It may also, depending on the application considered, include in addition to the essential characteristics described previously, complementary elements allowing for example to facilitate its implementation in the operational context considered.
• the device according to the invention is for example placed between the two hulls of a catamaran-type ship, preferably towards the rear of the ship.
• the machine 15 considered here is a towed underwater vehicle with wings 151 providing a depressant function.
• the size and constitution of these fins also makes them relatively fragile.
• the machine 15 is here towed by means of a towing cable 14, a cable electrotractor for example; wound on a towing winch 16.
• the device presented comprises the essential components described above and in particular a narrow ramp 1 1 whose width substantially corresponds to the section of the body of the machine, associated with buoyancy means of which the action is essentially applied to the free end of the ramp and to receiving and guiding means constituted by the device 13.
• the outer face of the bottom of the ramp has a narrow form careened, shaped " V ".
• the ramp 1 1 is mounted on the vessel by means of fixing means 17 allowing it to pivot about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the ship.
• the fastening means are mounted on the end 1 1 1 of the ramp directed towards the front of the ship 10, which allows the end 1 12 of the ramp directed towards the rear to be free with respect to pitching movements of the carrier ship.
• the device (the fairlead) 13 comprises, in this example, vertical protection elements 131 on which the wings 151 of the machine rest when its end is engaged in the guide element 13, the support thus made to contribute to the maintenance of the machine 15 in the axis of the ramp 1 1.
• the device according to the invention also comprises lifting means making it possible to raise the mobile end 1 12 of the ramp 1 1 if the device is not in use, outside the periods of launching and recovery of the machine in particular, and to bring the ramp 1 1 and where appropriate the machine 15 in a horizontal storage position, illustrated in Figure 3, above the surface of the water.
• These additional lifting means may consist, as illustrated in FIG. 1, in a winch 18 which synchronously winds and unrolls two cables 181 and 182.
• the cables 181 and 182 are returned by pulleys placed on a gantry 19 and come to be fixed on each side of the ramp 1 1, preferably close to the free end 1 12.
• the upper position of the ramp is for example determined by a system of stops positioned on the gantry. The low position is not identified by a locking stop because the ramp is desired floating.
• edges 1 14 and 1 15 of the ramp 1 in addition to being configured to ensure the buoyancy of the free end 1 12 of the ramp 1 1, are also configured to form semi-rigid longitudinal support elements.
• the thickness of the edges is then adapted to the dimensions of the machine 15 considered, so that when this machine is installed on the ramp 1 1, its body rests on the means 12 while its wings 151 rest on the edges 1 14 and 1 15 on which they slide.
• the device according to the invention advantageously makes it possible to carry out the launching and recovery of marine gear, or submarines, towed gear particularly, without human intervention for docking or handling is required.
• the ramp 1 1 thus lowered advantageously ensures, thanks to the means ensuring the buoyancy of its free end 1 12 and to its fairing, the holding in position of the reception and guiding means, and in particular of the inlet of the device 13 ( fairlead), at the sea surface regardless of the height of the waves.
• the fairlead 13 thus follows the surface of the water as well as the towed craft 15 which floats on the surface.
• the machine 15 can be towed to a position where it comes into contact with the fairlead 13 while these two elements are positioned substantially at the same height. In this way, the end of the machine 15 can fit into the fairlead 13 with a minimal risk of violent frontal and vertical shock.
• the movement of the vessel 10 has the effect of driving the machine to position, by inertia, along the longitudinal axis of the ramp 1 1.
• the device 13 is equipped with vertical protection elements 131, bringing the wings 151 of the machine 15 into contact with these vertical elements 151 favors the refocusing of the device.
• the assembly thus rises along the ramp, by sliding or rolling on it, towards the fixed end 1 1 1, the reception element 131 being maintained in contact with the end of the machine by the motor means 132 described above.
• the device according to the invention may comprise a complementary means, a rigid arm for example, allowing immobilize the machine relative to the docking device 13 and therefore with respect to the ramp.
• the craft can from this stable position be detached from the towing cable 14 and placed on a dedicated storage area.
• the action of the lifting means during Transit phases are limited to maintaining the boom in the raised position.
• the maneuver of launching the craft is a reverse maneuver from that of recovery.
• the lifting means ensuring a controlled descent of the free end 1 12 of the ramp 1 1 to the surface of the water.
• the free portion of the ramp 1 1, still equipped with the towed vehicle 15, floats by sinking slightly below the surface of the water at its rear end 12.
• the towing winch 16 is actuated so as to release the craft 15 which slides along the ramp 1 1 under the action of its own weight, or in the alternative form of embodiment described above, under the action of the motor means which act on the receiving device 13, until completely leaving the ramp 1 1, the end of the machine 15 and the fairlead 13 then being separated.
• the lifting means are preferably maintained in tension so as to prevent the lifting cables 181 and 182 being relaxed from having a "slack", that is to say a loosening , detrimental to the proper execution of the operation.

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
• Toys (AREA)
• Laying Of Electric Cables Or Lines Outside (AREA)
• Electric Cable Installation (AREA)
• Control Of Position, Course, Altitude, Or Attitude Of Moving Bodies (AREA)
• Other Liquid Machine Or Engine Such As Wave Power Use (AREA)
• Transmission Devices (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

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• 2010
  • 2010-12-07 FR FR1004764A patent/FR2968268B1/fr active Active
• 2011
  • 2011-12-06 BR BR112013013585A patent/BR112013013585A2/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2011-12-06 EP EP11793422.4A patent/EP2648970B1/de active Active
  • 2011-12-06 SG SG2013044607A patent/SG190756A1/en unknown
  • 2011-12-06 CA CA2820784A patent/CA2820784C/en active Active
  • 2011-12-06 WO PCT/EP2011/071895 patent/WO2012076515A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2011-12-06 US US13/311,885 patent/US8752494B2/en active Active
  • 2011-12-06 AU AU2011340678A patent/AU2011340678B2/en active Active

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