EP3527483A1 - Vessel in which the hull has at least one opening shaped to be blocked by a mobile flap - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a vessel (1) whose hull (10) has at least one opening (11) necessary for the operation of one of its equipment (2), this opening (11) being configured to be selectively closed off or open, by a rigid movable flap (4), said opening (11) being provided below the waterline (F), said flap beingcomplet to be moved between a first end position in which it leaves fully open said opening (11); ) and is housed completely inside said hull (10) and above said opening (11), and a second end position in which it partially or totally blocks said opening (11), displacing said movable flap ( 4) being composed of a translational movement and a rotational movement.It is remarkable in that said flap (4) has an axis of articulation allowing said rotational movement, this hinge axis (X-X ') being posit ionné such that, regardless of the position of said flap (4) between said first and second extreme positions, it is always positioned opposite the hull which borders said opening (11).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a vessel whose hull has at least one opening necessary for the operation of one of its equipment, this opening being configured to be selectively closed or opened by a movable flap.

It finds particularly, but not exclusively, an application for closing the bow thruster tunnels (also known in the English terminology "thruster") or the stabilizer cavities.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

• pouvoir boucher partiellement ou totalement le tunnel ;
• se situer, en position fermée, dans la continuité de la carène, en vue d'une pénétration hydrodynamique optimale ;
• constituer une solution compatible avec des tunnels de propulseur d'étrave de faible longueur, cette faible longueur étant imposée par de nouvelles carènes très optimisées pour une meilleure performance hydrodynamique, de sorte qu'il existe très peu de place entre l'hélice du propulseur d'étrave et la continuité de la carène ;
• limiter, en position ouverte, les obstacles dans le flux du propulseur d'étrave, de manière à ne pas provoquer de perte de performance du propulseur d'étrave ;
• être manoeuvrable jusqu'à 10 noeuds, tant à l'ouverture qu'à la fermeture ;
• résister en position partiellement ou totalement ouverte aux efforts induits par la vitesse maximale du navire, de manière à ne pas provoquer d'annulation de croisière s'il restait bloqué dans une telle position ;
• ne pas engendrer, en position ouverte, une résistance hydrodynamique complémentaire et ainsi provoquer une diminution de la performance hydrodynamique du navire ;
• être fiable ;
• résister aux chocs d'objets en mer à la vitesse maximale du navire
• ne pas faire interférence avec l'ancre du navire.

In the particular application related to bow thruster tunnels, the flap of:

• ability to partially or completely block the tunnel;
• be in the closed position, in the continuity of the hull, for optimal hydrodynamic penetration;
• be a solution compatible with bow thruster tunnels of short length, this short length being imposed by new hulls highly optimized for better hydrodynamic performance, so that there is very little space between the thruster propeller d propeller bow and continuity of the hull;
• limit, in the open position, the obstacles in the bow thruster flow, so as not to cause a loss of performance of the bow thruster;
• be maneuverable up to 10 knots, both opening and closing;
• resisting in a position partially or fully open to the forces induced by the maximum speed of the ship, so as not to cause cruise cancellation if it remains stuck in such a position;
• not generate, in the open position, a complementary hydrodynamic resistance and thus cause a decrease in the hydrodynamic performance of the vessel;
• to be reliable;
• withstand the shocks of objects at sea at the maximum speed of the ship
• do not interfere with the ship's anchor.

Many previous documents describe such components.

Thus, there is known a butterfly door system in which one or more flaps pivots around an axis. This is illustrated in particular in the documents KR20150145569 , KR20150070748 , KR101310601 , CN103171737 , KR20100076217 , KR20100076216 , JP4275188 , JPH09226690 and JP2015168291 .

We know a device in which the shutter is similar to a roller shutter window (see in particular KR20120118921 and KR20120063751 ).

In KR20140052615 , the shutter is materialized by a curtain of water.

In KR101335255 we are dealing with a set of sliding elements which, when in the closed position, are arranged in the manner of a portion of camembert.

KR20120126875 describes a form of hull similar to that of a drop of water, in order to reduce the loss due to the bow thruster.

In KR20160000519 and KR20150076680 , the closing device is similar to the diaphragm of a camera.

A sliding door device is described in particular in KR20120128823 , KR20100010353 and JPH01233199 .

In JP2010120396 a door is described which, in the open position, protrudes out of the hull and pivots to plug the bow thruster tunnel.

In KR20150127938 it is an inflatable balloon structure that obstructs said tunnel.

Finally, in KR20130041622 a system is described that is similar to a plug valve.

In practice, none of the devices of the documents cited above can correctly fulfill the functions described above.

These functions are partially fulfilled by the devices described in the documents JP H03235784 , JP H0550989 , KR 20130000055 and JP H02105100 .

In all of the structures described in these documents, there is a movable flap which is shaped to be moved between a first extreme position in which it leaves fully open the opening of the careen and is housed completely inside the latter and above said opening, and a second extreme position in which it partially or completely blocks said opening. The displacement of the movable flap is composed of a translational movement and a rotational movement.

To do this, this component comprises an articulation axis allowing this rotation.

Furthermore, in the first extreme position, the flap is housed in an open box at its lower end, which extends inside the hull and which opens above said opening.

However, when the shutter has finished its travel in translation and before beginning its rotational movement, the aforementioned hinge axis extends opposite the free space defined by the opening.

This structure and kinematics require the presence of a large box.

The present invention aims to improve the devices discussed above, so as to provide a structure which the box which receives the flap has smaller dimensions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, the present invention relates to a ship whose hull has at least one opening necessary for the operation of one of its equipment, this opening being configured to be selectively closed or opened by a rigid movable flap, said opening being provided below of the water line, said flap being shaped to be moved between a first end position in which it leaves fully open said opening and is housed completely inside said hull and above said opening, and a second extreme position wherein it partially or totally blocks said opening, the displacement of said movable flap being composed of a translational movement and a rotational movement, a box open at its lower end being provided, in which said flap is housed in said first extreme position, said box opening above said opening, c characterized in that said flap has an axis of articulation allowing said rotational movement, this hinge axis being positioned so that, whatever the position of said flap between said first and second extreme positions, it is always positioned opposite the hull which borders said opening.

• Ledit axe d'articulation n'est jamais positionné en regard de l'espace délimité par ladite ouverture ;
• La projection de l'axe d'articulation selon une direction parallèle à la ligne de flottaison du navire s'étend toujours sur la carène et jamais dans l'espace délimité par ladite ouverture.

Expressed in two different additional ways:

• Said hinge axis is never positioned opposite the space defined by said opening;
• The projection of the hinge axis in a direction parallel to the waterline of the ship always extends on the hull and never in the space defined by said opening.

Thanks to these characteristics, we can better adapt the shape of the flap to that of the hull, while allowing its movement between the two extreme positions in a minimum of space. More specifically, by the particular positioning of the aforementioned activation axis, the "minimum of space" mentioned above results in a smaller depth (in the transverse direction of the vessel), which makes it possible to constitute a solution compatible with bow thruster tunnels of short length, this short length being imposed by hulls highly optimized for better hydrodynamic performance. Concretely, this results in the fact that the device according to the invention can be installed on ships having a smaller distance between the bow thruster and the opening of the hull.

• il comporte des premiers moyens configurés pour imprimer au dit volet un mouvement de translation à l'intérieur du caisson, ainsi que des seconds moyens pour imprimer audit volet un mouvement de rotation partielle, pour le faire passer d'une position intermédiaire dans laquelle il est sorti dudit caisson, à ladite seconde position extrême dans laquelle il obture ladite ouverture ;
• ledit volet comporte un élément supérieur et un élément inférieur qui forment entre eux un angle obtus, ledit mouvement de rotation imprimé audit volet étant réalisé lorsque ledit élément inférieur s'étend partiellement ou totalement à l'extérieur de l'enveloppe du navire matérialisée par la carène ;
• lesdits moyens configurés pour imprimer au dit volet un mouvement de translation à l'intérieur du caisson sont choisis dans le groupe constitués par les dispositifs suivants : glissière(s), dispositif(s) de translation à chaînes, vérin(s), combinaison d'au moins deux de ces dispositifs ;
• lesdits moyens configurés pour imprimer au dit volet un mouvement de rotation partielle pour le faire passer d'une position intermédiaire dans laquelle il est sorti dudit caisson, à ladite seconde position extrême dans laquelle il obture ladite ouverture sont différents de ceux configurés pour imprimer au dit volet un mouvement de translation à l'intérieur du caisson ;
• les moyens configurés pour imprimer au dit volet un mouvement de rotation partielle comprennent au moins un vérin associé au dit volet ;
• ledit volet comporte un panneau disposé du côté de sa face interne, c'est-à-dire celle dirigée vers l'intérieur du navire et ledit panneau est articulé sur cette face interne autour dudit axe d'articulation ;
• ledit vérin est articulé d'une part sur ledit panneau et d'autre part sur ledit volet ;
• lesdits moyens configurés pour imprimer au dit volet un mouvement de translation à l'intérieur du caisson s'étendent au moins partiellement au-dessus de ladite ligne de flottaison ;
• il comporte un orifice d'accès à la partie supérieure dudit caisson, lequel orifice d'accès se situe au-dessus de ladite ligne de flottaison ;
• ladite ouverture communique avec un espace situé à l'intérieur de la carène, dans lequel est logé un équipement tel qu'un propulseur d'étrave ;
• ledit volet présente une forme telle que, lorsqu'il obture ladite ouverture, il s'inscrit dans la continuité du galbe et de la forme de ladite carène.

Moreover, according to certain advantageous and non-limiting characteristics of this vessel:

• it comprises first means configured to print said shutter a translational movement inside the box, and second means for printing said shutter a partial rotational movement, to move it from an intermediate position in which it is out of said box, at said second extreme position in which it closes said opening;
• said flap comprises an upper element and a lower element which form between them an obtuse angle, said rotational movement printed on said shutter being realized when said lower element extends partially or totally outside the envelope of the ship materialized by the carina;
• said means configured to print said shutter a translational movement inside the box are selected from the group consisting of the following devices: slide (s), chain translation device (s), cylinder (s), combination of at least two of these devices;
• said means configured to print said shutter a partial rotational movement to move it from an intermediate position in which it is out of said box, to said second end position in which it closes said opening are different from those configured to print said shutter a translational movement inside the box;
• the means configured to print said flap a partial rotational movement comprise at least one jack associated with said flap;
• said flap comprises a panel disposed on the side of its inner face, that is to say that directed towards the inside of the ship and said panel is articulated on this inner face about said hinge axis;
• said jack is hinged on the one hand on said panel and on the other hand on said flap;
• said means configured to print said flap a translational movement inside the box extend at least partially above said water line;
• it comprises an access orifice to the upper part of said box, which access orifice is located above said waterline;
• said opening communicates with a space located inside the hull, in which is housed equipment such as a bow thruster;
• said flap has a shape such that, when it closes said opening, it is part of the continuity of the curve and the shape of said hull.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

• la figure 1 est une vue partielle en coupe transversale d'une partie du navire, et plus précisément au niveau de sa carène, montrant d'une part un tunnel qui débouche au niveau d'une ouverture du bordé, ainsi qu'un volet d'obturation de cette ouverture, volet représenté schématiquement dans deux positions différentes ;
• la figure 2 est une vue similaire à la figure 1 mais tridimensionnelle et montrant en plus un caisson recevant le volet lorsque celui-ci est dégagé de l'ouverture ;
• les figures 3 et 4 sont des vues similaires, sensiblement analogues à la figure 2, montrant le déplacement du volet à l'intérieur du caisson, la figure 4 illustrant en plus les moyens qui permettent de déplacer le volet dans le caisson ;
• les figures 5 et 6 sont des vues de la face interne du volet montrant plus spécifiquement des moyens permettant de lui impartir un mouvement de rotation partielle.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention. This description is made with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• the figure 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a part of the ship, and more precisely at the level of its hull, showing on the one hand a tunnel which opens at an opening of the plating, as well as a closure flap of this opening, flap schematically represented in two different positions;
• the figure 2 is a view similar to the figure 1 but three-dimensional and showing in addition a box receiving the flap when it is clear of the opening;
• the Figures 3 and 4 are similar views, substantially analogous to the figure 2 , showing the displacement of the shutter inside the box, the figure 4 further illustrating the means for moving the flap in the box;
• the figures 5 and 6 are views of the inner face of the shutter showing more specifically means for imparting a partial rotational movement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the figure 1 we are dealing with a ship 1 whose hull 10 is partially represented. More specifically, we are interested in the portion of the hull located below the waterline F at which opens a tunnel 20 of generally horizontal axis of receiving equipment such as a bow thruster 2 , notably visible on Figures 2 to 4 .

It is however a simple example of realization, this tunnel being able to receive another type of equipment. In yet another possible embodiment, the aforementioned tunnel is absent and the hull has a stabilizer cavity.

The tunnel 20 opens slightly back from the hull 10, at an opening 11 formed in the latter, as is well known.

According to the invention, it is sought to seal, only when desired, said opening 11.

In accordance with the embodiment presented on figures 2 and following, the ship accommodates, inside the shell plating, a box 3 preferably metal.

This box 3 has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape whose major axis extends vertically. It is delimited by vertical walls 30 and a top wall 31 provided with an orifice 310 not shown. All the walls of this box is attached, for example by welding, to the internal structural elements of the ship.

This box has the particularity of having an open bottom opening 32. As shown in the figures, this opening 32 is located vertically above the opening 11, and more particularly of its upper part.

An imperative of the invention is to deal with a flap 4 for closing the opening 11 which will allow it to be closed partially or completely, and by very significantly limiting the flow of water into the cavity blocked by flap 4. To optimize the hydrodynamic efficiency of the vessel, it is preferable that this flap has the same shape and the same external shape as the hull, at the opening 11.

The flap 4 is rigid and, as shown in the appended figures, it comprises an upper element 40 intended to give rigidity to the shutter 4 and a lower element 41 which has the function of completely closing the shutter. opening 11 above.

These two upper and lower elements 41 together form an obtuse angle which is directly a function of the angle which separates, on the one hand, the general orientation of the opening 11 and, on the other hand, the vertical wall 30 of the box 3.

Against the inner face 43 of this flap 4, that is to say that which is turned towards the interior of the ship, there are vertical and parallel stiffening ribs 42 which participate in the connection between the upper elements 40 and 41, but also contribute to significantly increase the rigidity of the shutter.

In view of the foregoing, it is necessary to have at disposal means which will enable the shutter to be printed, when desired, a translational movement of the inside of the box 3 towards the outside (and vice versa) , as well as a partial rotational movement to move it from an intermediate position in which it is out of the box 3 to an extreme position in which it closes the opening 11 of the hull (and vice versa).

The means which make it possible to print on the flap 4 a translational movement inside the casing 3 are for example constituted, as represented symbolically on FIG. figure 4 , by a pair of jacks 5 whose body is attached to the box 3, while the rod is integral, directly or indirectly, the flap 4.

Thus, it is easily understood that by causing the extension or the retraction of the rod of the jacks, it is possible to move the flap 4 in a movement generally vertical, in the longitudinal direction of the box, from top to bottom and vice versa.

In the position of maximum extension of the rod of these cylinders, then the flap 4 has a generally vertical orientation in which it extends partly outside the hull, as shown in FIG. figure 1 .

Preferred means that will enable it to undergo a partial rotational movement in order to close the opening 11 are more particularly represented in FIGS. figures 5 and 6 .

Thus, on the side of the inner face 43 of the flap 4, and more particularly in the upper part of the element 41, is present an articulated transverse panel 6 (or platform), which has the particularity of having one of its longitudinal edges 60 hinged on the ribs 42 described above, about an axis XX 'which constitutes an axis of articulation of the flap 4.

Under these conditions, the flap 4 can be oriented relative to the panel 6 around this axis X-X '.

For this purpose, there is a cylinder 7 whose body 70 is hinged to the panel 6 and the rod 71 on one of the frames 42 (preferably the central frame). If necessary, several jacks 7 working together can be used.

By joining the cylinders 5 described above to the panel 6, by driving the extension or the retraction of the rod 71 of the cylinder 7, to guide the flap 4 about the axis XX 'to make it occupy a final position in which it completely closes the opening 11.

Of course, one proceeds in the opposite of what is described above when it is proposed to clear the opening 11.

During the total duration of the movements of the flap 4, the panel 6 retains an identical orientation, here parallel or substantially parallel to the waterline of the ship.

In place of the cylinders 5 and / or 7 which have been described above, one could deal for example with a rack drive system.

According to another embodiment, one could be dealing with a set of slides allowing not only the panel 6 (motorized for this purpose) to move vertically inside the box 3, but also to undergo the flap 4 partial rotation which allows it to move to the final position of closing the opening 11.

Thus, in accordance with the invention, the shape of the hull is optimized since the flap 4 has an external shape similar to this one.

In addition, the thickness of this flap is very small so that little space is needed between the bow thruster and the hull.

When the opening 11 is completely clear, there is no obstacle, which optimizes the thrust of the bow thruster, but also limit the noise of the vibrations generated by its use.

During ship rotation maneuvers using the thruster, the portion of the flap exposed in the water flow is negligible, so that little effort is applied to this flap. When the opening is clear, the flap in the casing 3 therefore undergoes very little effort. It is even possible to navigate while the opening is completely unobstructed without the shutter reduces the hydrodynamic efficiency of the vessel compared to an identical ship not provided with such a flap.

Furthermore, the described device is simple, so that its maintenance is facilitated by access to the box 3 by its upper part located above the waterline.

In the closed position, the flap can accept shocks and is not part of the integrity of the hull.

In the open tunnel position, the flap 4 does not come out of the natural envelope of the hull, so that there is no interference with the maneuvering of the anchor of the ship, nor reduction of the hydrodynamic efficiency of the ship compared to an identical ship not equipped with such a component.

In the foregoing description, we have placed ourselves in the situation in which the opening of the hull communicates with a tunnel 20 receiving a bow thruster.

However, one could similarly deal with an interior space of the hull used to catch and discharge seawater. As already said, It could also be a box hosting stabilizer fins. One can also be dealing with a balancing tunnel.

Claims (13)

Ship (1) whose hull (10) has at least one opening (11) necessary for the operation of one of its equipment (2), this opening (11) being configured to be selectively closed or open by a rigid movable flap (4), said opening (11) being provided below the waterline (F), said flap (4) being shaped
to be moved between a first end position in which it leaves fully open said opening (11) and is housed completely inside said hull (10) and above said opening (11), and a second extreme position in which it blocks partially or completely said opening (11), the displacement of said movable flap (4) being composed of a translational movement and a rotational movement,
a box (3) open at its lower end (32) being provided, in which is housed said flap (4) in said first extreme position, said box (3) opening above said opening (11), characterized by the in that said flap (4) has a hinge axis (X-X ') allowing said rotational movement, this hinge axis being positioned such that, whatever the position of said flap (4) between said first and second extreme positions, it is always positioned opposite the hull which borders said opening (11). Ship (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises first means (5) configured to print said flap (4) a translational movement inside the box (3), as well as second means (7) for printing said shutter (4) a partial rotational movement, to move it from an intermediate position in which it is out of said box (3), to said second extreme position in which it closes said opening (11); ). Vessel (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said flap (4) comprises an upper member (40) and a lower member (41) which form between them an obtuse angle, the rotational movement printed to said flap being made when said lower element (41) extends partially or totally outside the envelope of the ship materialized by the hull. Ship (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said means (5) configured to print said flap (4) translational movement inside the box (3) are selected from the group consisting of the following devices: slide (s), chain drive device (s), cylinder (s), combination of at least two of these devices. Ship (1) according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that said means (7) configured to print said flap (4) a partial rotational movement to move it from an intermediate position in which it has come out of said box (3), at said second end position in which it closes said opening (11) are different from those (5) configured to print said shutter translational movement inside the box. Vessel (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the means (7) configured to print said flap (4) a partial rotational movement comprise at least one jack (7) associated with said flap (4). Ship (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said flap (4) comprises a panel (6) disposed on the side of its inner face (400), that is to say the one directed towards the interior of the ship (1) and that said panel (6) is articulated on this inner face (400) about said articulation axis (X-X '). Ship (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that during the total duration of the movements of the flap (4), the panel (6) maintains an identical orientation. Ship according to claims 6 and 7 taken in combination, characterized in that said cylinder (7) is hinged on the one hand on said panel (6) and on the other hand on said flap (4). Ship (1) according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that said means (5) configured to print said shutter translational movement inside the casing extend at least partially above the said waterline (F). Vessel (1) according to one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that it comprises an access port (310) to the upper part of said box (3), which access port is located above of said waterline (F). Ship (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said opening (11) communicates with a space located inside the hull, in which is housed equipment such as a bow thruster. Ship (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said flap (4) has a shape such that when it closes said opening (11), it is part of the continuity of the curve and the shape of said hull (10).

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