EP3713841A1

EP3713841A1 - Hull device

Info

Publication number: EP3713841A1
Application number: EP18800976.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: François REYNARD; Didier CAVALLERA; Laurent Demilier
Original assignee: Naval Group SA
Current assignee: Naval Group SA
Priority date: 2017-11-20
Filing date: 2018-11-19
Publication date: 2020-09-30
Also published as: FR3073811B1; US20200283107A1; AU2018368617A1; KR20200083489A; US11634199B2; JP2021503410A; FR3073811A1; AU2018368617B2; WO2019097056A1; KR102613246B1; BR112020009392A2; JP7232830B2

Abstract

The invention relates to a hull device designed to be reversibly attached to an outer surface of a ferromagnetic structure of a marine or submarine system or vessel. The device comprises at least one attachment surface (20) suitable for attaching the device to the structure, and a plurality of permanent magnets (24) arranged in the vicinity of the attachment surface (20) in order to attach the device to the structure.

Description

Hull equipment

The present invention relates to a hull equipment adapted to be reversibly attached to an outer surface of a ferromagnetic material structure of a marine or submarine building or system, the equipment comprising at least one surface of own fixing to allow the attachment of the equipment to the structure.

The invention also relates to a building or a marine or submarine system provided with such equipment.

In the shipbuilding industry, it is desirable to attach equipment to the hull of a building in a simple and, if possible, reversible manner. This is for example a shell coating providing desirable properties to the building, for example an improvement of its acoustic or radar stealth.

This is particularly the case with submarine vessels, since it is common practice to cover the hull of these with a technical coating.

The fixing of these coatings is generally ensured by gluing, which allows a quick and simple installation, while remaining inexpensive in terms of equipment and qualified personnel.

However, these coatings sometimes need to be removed, to be replaced or to access the hull for maintenance. A reversible attachment is therefore desirable, to facilitate removal of the coating, and to possibly reuse once the operation requiring the withdrawal completed.

Reversible fastening systems also find utility for hull equipment other than coatings, such as sensors and cameras. It can also be mobile devices such as robots, devices or hull inspection machines that use the reversible appearance of the attachment during their movement.

It is known to fix the equipment reversibly by means of threaded studs screwed into pions previously welded to the shell of the building, which crush the coating on the hull.

The previous reversible fastening systems are not entirely satisfactory. Indeed, a fastening by screwing requires welding a large number of pins on the shell, which is long and expensive in terms of equipment and skilled labor.

An object of the invention is to provide a hull equipment, reversibly fixable, whose installation is simple to implement and inexpensive in terms of specific equipment and labor. To this end, the invention relates to a hull equipment of the aforementioned type, characterized in that the equipment comprises a plurality of permanent magnets arranged in the vicinity of the attachment surface to ensure the attachment of the equipment to the structure.

The attachment of such equipment to a ferromagnetic structure is simple and does not require specific equipment or qualified personnel. The equipment is held against the structure by the permanent magnets when using the marine or submarine building, and can be easily removed during maintenance or replacement operations. Such a system is more compact, simple and robust, as well as harmless for the support. It also does not require energy input, and finally is not very sensitive to aging.

According to particular embodiments, the hull equipment according to the invention has one or more of the following characteristics, taken in isolation or in any technically feasible combination:

the magnets are arranged in a network on the fixing surface, each magnet being adjacent or in the vicinity of at least one nearest neighbor, each magnet having a polarity, the polarity of each magnet being oriented in the opposite direction to the polarity of its at least one closer neighbors;

the network forms a checkerboard, each magnet being adjacent to between one and four nearest neighbors;

- the equipment comprises a tile of elastomeric material for forming a coating of at least a portion of the shell;

the magnets are embedded in the tile in the vicinity of the fixing surface, or are flush with the fixing surface;

the attachment surface comprises an inner region extending away from the edges of the tile and a peripheral region surrounding the inner region and extending in the vicinity of the edges of the tile, the magnets being arranged on at least a portion the peripheral region of the attachment surface, the inner region of the attachment surface being devoid of magnets;

- The tile has at least one chamfered edge adapted to cooperate with an anti-slip rib extending on the outer surface of the shell;

the equipment comprises at least one wheel, at least one movable foot, or at least one track, the fastening surface extending on a tread of the wheel or the track or under the moving stand, the equipment being able to move along the outer surface of the shell while being kept in contact with the shell by the magnets of the attachment surface; and the equipment comprises a magnetized plate adapted to be arranged in the vicinity of the structure, the fixing surface extending on the magnetized plate, the equipment also comprising at least one wheel, at least one caterpillar or at least one foot; adapted to move the equipment relative to the structure, wheel, crawler or foot being unmagnetized.

The invention also relates to a marine or submarine building or system provided with a hull equipment as described above, the equipment being reversibly fixed on an outer surface of a structure of the building or system, the surface fastening being disposed in the vicinity of the structure, the attachment of the equipment to the structure being provided by the plurality of magnets.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings, among which:

- Figure 1 is a side view of a submarine building comprising equipment according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one of the equipment of FIG. 1;

- Figure 3 shows a rear view of a detail of the equipment of Figure 2;

- Figure 4 shows a sectional view of three equipment according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an equipment according to a third embodiment of the invention; and

- Figure 6 is a perspective view of an equipment according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.

An underwater vessel 10 is shown in FIG. 1. The underwater vessel 10 comprises a hull 12 of ferromagnetic material, defining an outer surface 14 and sealingly separating an inner space from an exterior of the underwater vessel. , even under the influence of external pressures.

A plurality of hull equipment is attached to the outer surface 14 of the hull 12. The hull equipment is fixed to the outer surface 14 in a reversible manner, i.e. it is possible to remove them from the hull. the outer surface 14 without damaging them or damaging the shell 12.

In particular, it is possible to reassemble the hull equipment on the hull 12 after removing them, without having to modify them in the meantime in order to carry out the reassembly. According to a first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the shell equipment is tiles 16 forming a coating of a part of the shell 12 to modify at least one property of the external surface 14.

For example, the tiles 16 are made from an elastomeric material having advantageous properties of absorption of acoustic vibrations, and form an anechoic coating of the shell 12.

The outer surface 14 then has greatly reduced acoustic wave reflection properties, and in particular sonar waves, which increases the stealth of the submarine building 10.

The tiles 16 have for example a parallelepiped shape, with a rectangular or square base. The base is in this case the face of the tile 16 facing the shell 12.

As shown in Figure 2, the tile 16 has an outer side 18 and a fastening surface 20, extending on either side of the tile 16, as well as lateral edges 22.

The tile 16 has a plurality of permanent magnets 24 for fixing this tile 16 to the shell 12, arranged in the vicinity of the fastening surface 20. The magnets 24 are for example embedded in the tile 16, in the vicinity of the surface 20 or are flush with the fastening surface 20.

The magnets 24 are for example magnets comprising neodymium, for example neodymium / iron / boron, having a rectangular shape or disk.

Advantageously, the magnets 24 are of small size, each magnet 24 having a relatively small individual adhesion force with respect to the total adhesion force of the set of magnets 24. It is then the multiplicity of the magnets 24 which allows to provide good adhesion of the hull equipment on the hull 12.

According to the embodiment of FIG. 2, the attachment surface 20 has an internal region 26 extending away from the edges 22, a peripheral region 28 surrounding the internal region 26 and extending in the vicinity of the edges 22, and a central region 30 extending in the middle of the attachment surface 20, surrounded by the inner region 26.

The magnets 24 are arranged on the peripheral region 28 and the central region 30, the inner region 26 being devoid of magnets 24.

This arrangement makes it possible to maximize the tearing resistance of the tile 16, the stresses resulting in tearing of the tile 16 being located in the vicinity of the edges 22.

The magnets 24 are arranged in a network on the attachment surface 24, for example a network forming a checkerboard. Each magnet 24 is thus adjacent to at least one nearest neighbor, for example to between one and four nearest neighbors in the case of a checkerboard network.

Adjacent means that the magnets 24 are in contact by a respective lateral edge, or that their respective adjacent lateral edges are in the vicinity of each other.

As shown in FIG. 3, each magnet 24 has a polarity oriented in a direction substantially orthogonal to the fixing surface 20.

Each of the nearest neighbors of the magnet 24 has a polarity oriented in the opposite direction to the polarity of the magnet 24.

By convention, in the figures, the magnets 24 whose polarity is oriented towards the shell 12 are shown in white, and the magnets 24 whose polarity is oriented outwards are shown in gray.

Thus, the proportion of magnets 24 whose polarity is oriented in one direction and the proportion of magnets 24 whose polarity is oriented in the opposite direction are substantially equal, advantageously equal.

According to one variant, the material of the tiles 16 has advantageous properties of thermal insulation, absorption of electromagnetic waves, reduction of hydrodynamic drag, or others.

According to one variant, the tiles 16 have a hexagonal prism shape, which increases the resistance of the tile 16 to tearing. More generally, the shape of the base can be any geometry to ensure a desired recovery of the outer surface 14 of the shell 12.

According to one variant, the magnets 24 are embedded in the tile in the vicinity of the fastening surface 20, for example at a distance less than 5 mm from the fastening surface 20.

According to one variant, the magnets 24 are glued to the tile 16 at the level of the fastening surface 20.

According to one variant, the magnets 24 are groups of permanent magnets in contact or close to each other, having polarities oriented in the same direction, the groups of magnets being arranged in a network identical to the magnets 24 described above. .

According to one variant, the magnets 24 are arranged in a disordered manner on the fastening surface 20, the proportion of magnets 24 whose polarity is oriented in one direction being substantially equal to the proportion of magnets 24 whose polarity is oriented in the direction reverse. Alternatively, the central region 30 is devoid of magnets 24, the magnets 24 being disposed on the peripheral region 26 only.

According to one variant, the magnets 24 are arranged on the entirety of the fastening surface 20.

According to one variant, the polarities of the magnets form a non-straight angle with the fastening surface 20, or they are tangent to the fastening surface 20.

Alternatively, the magnets 24 are not adjacent to their nearest neighbors, but separated by a constant pitch of each of their nearest neighbors.

According to a variant shown in Figure 4, the edges 22 of each tile 16 are chamfered and adapted to cooperate with anti-slip ribs 32 extending on the outer surface 14 of the shell 12. This increases the resistance of the tiles 16 sliding along the outer surface 14 of the shell 12.

According to a second embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the shell equipment comprises an active device, for example a projector 34, and a fixing plate 38.

The projector 34 is mounted via a foot 36 on the slab 38 for fixing. The slab 38 defines a fastening surface 20, extending on one side of the slab 38 opposite the foot 36, and comprising the magnets 24 arranged in a network as previously described.

Alternatively, the active equipment is for example a sensor, a camera, an antenna, a signaling device or a tool.

According to a third embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the hull equipment is a mobile equipment, for example a robot 50 for inspection of the hull 12.

The robot 50 comprises a housing 52 and caterpillars 54.

The housing 52 contains a control electronics of the robot 50, a drive motor of the tracks 54, and communication means. The shell 52 is adapted to seal its contents from the outside, and has a window 56 through which the sensors can make measurements, for example optical measurements.

Each track 54 comprises a tread 58 disposed around at least two wheels 60. The wheels 60 are rotated by the engine and drive the tread 58, which is in contact with the outer surface 14 of the hull 12 .

The attachment surface 20 extends over the tread 58, so that a portion of the attachment surface 20 is permanently in contact with the outer surface 14 of the shell 12. The magnets 24 are embedded in the strip 58 and are flush with the surface of the tread 58. Alternatively, the magnets 24 are glued to the surface of the tread 58.

The magnets 24 located on the part of the fastening surface 20 in contact with the shell 12 then hold the robot 50 against the shell 12 during the movement of the robot 50.

Alternatively, the robot 50 comprises wheels or movable feet instead of the tracks 58, and the attachment surface 20 extends on an outer rolling surface of each wheel or under the movable feet.

As a variant shown in FIG. 7, the robot 50 comprises a magnetized plate 70 on which the fastening surface 20, located under the robot 50, extends, attaching the robot 50 to the shell 12, as well as non-magnetized wheels 72 ensuring his displacement. In this case, the magnetized plate 70 is not directly in contact with the shell 12 but disposed in the vicinity of the shell 12, for example at a distance of less than 2 mm.

The magnetized plate 70 then has an air gap with the shell 12. The contact between the robot 50 and the shell 12 takes place by the wheels 72, or by non-magnetized tracks or feet, which ensure the movement of the robot 50.

The hull equipment described is reversibly fixable, and its installation is simple to implement and inexpensive in terms of specific equipment and manpower, since the attachment is provided by magnets simple to handle by man of the job.

In addition, the hull equipment according to the invention is particularly advantageous in terms of magnetic signature. Indeed, the alternation of polarities of the magnets has the advantage of both generating a significant attraction force while minimizing the gradient of the magnetic field lines in the shell. The magnetization of the shell is modified on the surface and a few millimeters thick (in its depth) but much less important than a system with large magnets having or not alternating polarity.

The magnetization of the hull is modified very locally and on the surface, which leads to a very slight modification of the magnetic field a few centimeters from the hull, but does not modify the magnetic field at greater distances.

Claims

1.- Hull equipment adapted to be reversibly fixed to an external surface (14) of a structure (12) made of ferromagnetic material of a building (10) or a marine or submarine system, equipment comprising at least one attachment surface (20) suitable for attaching the equipment to the structure (12),

characterized in that the equipment comprises a plurality of permanent magnets (24) arranged in the vicinity of the attachment surface (20) for securing the equipment to the structure (12).

2. Hull equipment according to claim 1, wherein the magnets (24) are arranged in a network on the attachment surface (20), each magnet (24) being adjacent to or near at least one closer neighbor, each magnet (24) having a polarity, the polarity of each magnet (24) being oriented in the opposite direction of the polarity of its at least one nearest neighbors.

3. Hull equipment according to claim 2, wherein the network forms a checkerboard, each magnet (24) being adjacent to or in the vicinity of between one and four nearest neighbors.

4. Hull equipment according to any preceding claim, comprising a tile (16) of elastomeric material for forming a coating of at least a portion of the shell (12).

5. Hull equipment according to claim 4, wherein the magnets (24) are embedded in the tile (16) in the vicinity of the fastening surface (20), or are flush with the fastening surface (20).

The hull equipment according to any one of claims 4 and 5, wherein the attachment surface (20) has an inner region (26) extending away from the edges (22) of the tile (16). ) and a peripheral region (28) surrounding the inner region (26) and extending in the vicinity of the edges (22) of the tile (16), the magnets (24) being disposed on at least a portion of the peripheral region ( 28) of the fastening surface (20), the inner region (26) of the fastening surface being devoid of magnets (24).

7. Hull equipment according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the tile (16) has at least one chamfered edge (22) adapted to cooperate with a rib (32) anti-slip extending over the outer surface (14) of the shell (12).

8. Hull equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one wheel, at least one movable foot, or at least one track (54), the attachment surface (20) extending over a strip of bearing (58) of the wheel or track (54) or under the movable foot, the equipment being able to move along the outer surface (14) of the shell (12) while being kept in contact with the shell (12) by the magnets (24) of the attachment surface (20).

9. A hull equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a magnetized plate adapted to be arranged in the vicinity of the structure (12), the attachment surface (20) extending on the magnetized plate, the equipment also comprising at least one wheel, at least one track (58) or at least one foot adapted to move the equipment relative to the structure, the wheel, the track (58) or the foot being unmagnetized.

10. Building (10) or marine or submarine system provided with a hull equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, the equipment being reversibly fixed on an external surface (14) of a structure ( 12) of the building (10) or marine or submarine system, the fixing surface (20) being arranged in the vicinity of the structure (12), the attachment of the equipment to the structure (12) being provided by the plurality of magnets (24).