Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B21/00—Tying-up; Shifting, towing, or pushing equipment; Anchoring
  • B63B21/56—Towing or pushing equipment
  • B63B21/66—Equipment specially adapted for towing underwater objects or vessels, e.g. fairings for tow-cables
• • 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
  • B63B27/14—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
  • B63G—OFFENSIVE OR DEFENSIVE ARRANGEMENTS ON VESSELS; MINE-LAYING; MINE-SWEEPING; SUBMARINES; AIRCRAFT CARRIERS
  • B63G8/00—Underwater vessels, e.g. submarines; Equipment specially adapted therefor
  • B63G8/001—Underwater vessels adapted for special purposes, e.g. unmanned underwater vessels; Equipment specially adapted therefor, e.g. docking stations
  • B63G2008/002—Underwater vessels adapted for special purposes, e.g. unmanned underwater vessels; Equipment specially adapted therefor, e.g. docking stations unmanned
  • B63G2008/005—Underwater vessels adapted for special purposes, e.g. unmanned underwater vessels; Equipment specially adapted therefor, e.g. docking stations unmanned remotely controlled
  • B63G2008/007—Underwater vessels adapted for special purposes, e.g. unmanned underwater vessels; Equipment specially adapted therefor, e.g. docking stations unmanned remotely controlled by means of a physical link to a base, e.g. wire, cable or umbilical
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63G—OFFENSIVE OR DEFENSIVE ARRANGEMENTS ON VESSELS; MINE-LAYING; MINE-SWEEPING; SUBMARINES; AIRCRAFT CARRIERS
  • B63G8/00—Underwater vessels, e.g. submarines; Equipment specially adapted therefor
  • B63G8/001—Underwater vessels adapted for special purposes, e.g. unmanned underwater vessels; Equipment specially adapted therefor, e.g. docking stations
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63G—OFFENSIVE OR DEFENSIVE ARRANGEMENTS ON VESSELS; MINE-LAYING; MINE-SWEEPING; SUBMARINES; AIRCRAFT CARRIERS
  • B63G8/00—Underwater vessels, e.g. submarines; Equipment specially adapted therefor
  • B63G8/42—Towed underwater vessels

Definitions

• the subject of the invention is a system for carrying out, including in rough seas, the launching and the automatic recovery of marine or submarine equipment from a moving carrier, of the type comprising a ramp. hinged articulated comprising a bottom and edges, first motor means for lowering and raising the ramp and traction means for controlling the slippage of the machine along the ramp when launching and hoist the boat. machine along the ramp during recovery, the ramp having an emerging end, and an end intended to be immersed, the first drive means being able to lower and raise the ramp so that the position of the end intended to being immersed varies between a submerged position where it is immersed in water and an emergent position for which the ramp is in a horizontal position.
• the axis of rotation of the ramp is located between the emerging end and the end intended to be immersed.
• the traction means comprising a traction cable driven by traction means.
• the system comprises means for deflecting the cable.
• the means for deflecting the cable comprise a pulley having a pulley axis coinciding with the axis of rotation 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 the latter progresses on the ramp.
• the axis of rotation of the ramp is movable in translation relative to the ship between a first position and a second position in front of the first position relative to the ship.
• 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. 3 a general schematic view of a particular embodiment of the system according to the invention representing the ramp in the raised position
• FIG. 5 schematically represents a side view of another example of the system according to the invention in which the ramp is in the lowered position
• FIG. 6 schematically represents a view from above of the system of FIG. 4,
• FIGS. 7a to 7d show schematically another example of the system according to the invention in side view in which the ramp is lowered (7a), seen from above in which the ramp is lowered (7b) and in which the ramp is raised and in storage position (7c in side view and 7d in top view).
• front, rear, front and back are defined with respect to the ship and more precisely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the ship extending from the rear to the front of the ship.
• the ramp 1 1 is articulated to the ship 10 about an axis of rotation of the ramp x perpendicular to the main axis of the ramp.
• the axis of rotation x is located at the emerging end 1 1 1.
• 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.
• - Welding and guiding means whose function is to ensure alignment of the machine on the axis of the ramp so as to allow a sliding or a correct rolling of the machine all along its path on the ramp (uphill or downhill).
• These means comprise, for example, as shown in Figure 1, a device 13 serving 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 rails disposed along the longitudinal axis thereof (not shown in Figures 1 and 3 but shown in Figures 4, 7b and 7d).
• 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 1.
• the bottom 1 13 of the articulated ramp 1 1 comprises 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 FIGS. 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 do not cause, at the rhythm of the passage of the waves under the ramp 1 1, a sudden variation of the position vertical of the free end 1 12 of the ramp 1 1 relative to the surface of the surrounding water. 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”.
• 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 above, complementary elements allowing for example to facilitate its implementation in the operational context.
• the device 13 (fairlead) locally and simultaneously provides the functions of the means 161 and 20.
• the device presented comprises the essential constituents described above and in particular a narrow ramp 1 1 whose width corresponds substantially to the section of the body of the machine, associated with buoyancy means whose action is essentially applied to the free end of the ramp and to reception and guiding means constituted by the device 13. even, the outer face 21 of the bottom 1 13 forms a fairing.
• the ramp has a streamlined shape, shaped "V” or shaped "W”. This streamlined form is advantageously narrow.
• the careen form of the outer face 21 is by nature an aerodynamic shape.
• 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 free end 1 12 of the ramp 1 1 in the event of non-use of the device, outside the periods of launching and recovery of the craft 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.
• 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 stability of the vertical position of the rear end 1 12 of the ramp with respect to the surface of the water is normally ensured, by optimizing the hydrostatic (mass, volume) and hydrodynamic properties of the ramp, by the presence of the buoyancy means and the sectional profile of the hull formed by the bottom 1 13 of the ramp 1 1, it is nevertheless possible, for some particular applications, to complete the action of these means by enslaving the position in the vertical plane of the free end 1 12 of the ramp using complementary means, for example cylinders, or using lifting means capable of performing this control, these means can be those used to raise the ramp and keep it in the raised position.
• the device according to the invention advantageously makes it possible to carry out the operations of launching and recovering marine gear, or submarines, particularly towed gear, without intervention. human for mooring or handling is necessary.
• 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 actual rise of the vehicle 15 on the ramp 1 1 can thus be performed by continuing to actuate the towing winch 16, the movement of the apparatus 15 driving that of the fairlead 13 through which the towing cable 14 passes and in which its end 15 is inserted while the wings 151 of the machine 15 take a frontal support.
• the assembly thus rises along the ramp, by sliding or rolling on it, towards the fixed end 1 1 1, the receiving element 131 being kept in contact with the end of the machine by the motor means described above
• the machine 15 being positioned on the ramp 1 1, it is lowered, 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 axis of rotation of the ramp x with respect to the ship 10 is situated at a distance from the emerged end 11 1.
• the axis x is more particularly located between the end intended to be immersed 1 12 and the emerged end 1 1 1 of the ramp 1 1.
• the axis of rotation x is located between the two ends 1 1 1, 1 12, at a distance from these two ends 1 1 1, 1 12. This characteristic is also reproduced in Figures 5, 6 and 7a to 7d. It makes it possible to bring the center of gravity of the ramp closer to its axis of rotation x, which makes it easier to lift and lower the boom.
• the cylinder portion 20 is arranged so that its axis coincides with the axis of rotation x of the ramp.
• the cylinder portion is fixed, either relative to the ship or relative to the ramp.
• the cylinder 20 is integral with the ramp and rotatable relative to the vessel about the axis of rotation x.

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
• Laying Of Electric Cables Or Lines Outside (AREA)
• Control Of Position, Course, Altitude, Or Attitude Of Moving Bodies (AREA)
• Jib Cranes (AREA)
• Other Liquid Machine Or Engine Such As Wave Power Use (AREA)
• Financial Or Insurance-Related Operations Such As Payment And Settlement (AREA)
• Platform Screen Doors And Railroad Systems (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

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Cited By (3)

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• 2012
  • 2012-06-01 FR FR1201573A patent/FR2991284B1/fr active Active
• 2013
  • 2013-05-31 IN IN11251DEN2014 patent/IN2014DN11251A/en unknown
  • 2013-05-31 WO PCT/EP2013/061272 patent/WO2013178792A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2013-05-31 AU AU2013269527A patent/AU2013269527B2/en active Active
  • 2013-05-31 CA CA2875597A patent/CA2875597C/fr active Active
  • 2013-05-31 EP EP13728697.7A patent/EP2855252B1/de active Active
  • 2013-05-31 SG SG11201407997QA patent/SG11201407997QA/en unknown

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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