Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F41—WEAPONS
  • F41B—WEAPONS FOR PROJECTING MISSILES WITHOUT USE OF EXPLOSIVE OR COMBUSTIBLE PROPELLANT CHARGE; WEAPONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F41B11/00—Compressed-gas guns, e.g. air guns; Steam guns
  • F41B11/70—Details not provided for in F41B11/50 or F41B11/60
  • F41B11/72—Valves; Arrangement of valves
  • F41B11/723—Valves; Arrangement of valves for controlling gas pressure for firing the projectile only
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F41—WEAPONS
  • F41A—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS COMMON TO BOTH SMALLARMS AND ORDNANCE, e.g. CANNONS; MOUNTINGS FOR SMALLARMS OR ORDNANCE
  • F41A21/00—Barrels; Gun tubes; Muzzle attachments; Barrel mounting means
  • F41A21/06—Plural barrels
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F41—WEAPONS
  • F41F—APPARATUS FOR LAUNCHING PROJECTILES OR MISSILES FROM BARRELS, e.g. CANNONS; LAUNCHERS FOR ROCKETS OR TORPEDOES; HARPOON GUNS
  • F41F1/00—Launching apparatus for projecting projectiles or missiles from barrels, e.g. cannons; Harpoon guns
  • F41F1/06—Mortars
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F41—WEAPONS
  • F41H—ARMOUR; ARMOURED TURRETS; ARMOURED OR ARMED VEHICLES; MEANS OF ATTACK OR DEFENCE, e.g. CAMOUFLAGE, IN GENERAL
  • F41H11/00—Defence installations; Defence devices
  • F41H11/02—Anti-aircraft or anti-guided missile or anti-torpedo defence installations or systems
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
  • F42B—EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION
  • F42B5/00—Cartridge ammunition, e.g. separately-loaded propellant charges
  • F42B5/02—Cartridges, i.e. cases with charge and missile
  • F42B5/145—Cartridges, i.e. cases with charge and missile for dispensing gases, vapours, powders, particles or chemically-reactive substances
  • F42B5/15—Cartridges, i.e. cases with charge and missile for dispensing gases, vapours, powders, particles or chemically-reactive substances for creating a screening or decoy effect, e.g. using radar chaff or infrared material

Definitions

• Lure launching device in particular for a naval ship
• the present invention relates to a device for launching a lure, in particular for the protection of a naval vessel.
• Such a decoy is intended to divert hostile armaments initially directed towards the naval vessel.
• the invention relates to the launch of CANTO® type lures.
• a device for launching the state of the art comprises pyrotechnic ejection means.
• pyrotechnic ejection means require strict safety precautions, suitable storage spaces, and also require the implementation of complex transport and dismantling protocols.
• the object of the invention is in particular to provide a space-saving, simple, economical and secure launching device.
• the subject of the invention is in particular a device for launching decoys, in particular for a naval ship, characterized in that it comprises:
• a distribution block interposed between the pneumatic circuit and the launch tubes, the distribution block comprising, for each launch tube, a valve, movable between an open position in which the corresponding launch tube communicates with the pneumatic circuit, and a closed position in which the corresponding launch tube is isolated from the pneumatic circuit.
• the invention provides a shared pneumatic circuit for several lure launch tubes. This results in a reduced size and a relatively low overall cost.
• a launching device according to the invention may also include one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or in any technically conceivable combination.
• the pneumatic circuit includes at least one pressurized air storage tank.
• the pneumatic circuit includes means for connection to a source of pressurized air, for example to a high pressure air network of a ship building, or to a compression module.
• Each valve is a solenoid valve.
• the launching device comprises valve control means, configured to open only one valve at a time.
• the launching device comprises a housing housing the launching tubes, the housing comprising a support base shaped so that each launching tube is inclined relative to a vertical direction.
• the launching device comprises, for each launching tube, a guide tube arranged at the outlet of the launching tube and extending this launching tube.
• Each guide tube is formed in two longitudinal parts, movable with respect to one another by rotation around a longitudinal hinge, between a closed position and an open position of the guide tube.
• the invention also relates to a naval vessel, characterized in that it comprises at least one lure launching device as defined above.
• the launch tubes of the same launch device are fixed with a constant orientation relative to the naval vessel.
• FIG. 1 schematically shows a launch device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the launching device of Figure 1;
• FIG. 3 shows an example of an arrangement of the launching device of Figure 2 in a naval vessel.
• FIG. 1 shows a device for launching decoys, designated by the general reference 10.
• a launching device is in particular intended for equipping a naval vessel, part of which accommodating the launching device 10 is represented on the figure 3. It will be noted that the naval vessel can comprise several launching devices, separate or attached.
• the launching device 10 comprises at least two lure launching tubes 12, a single pneumatic circuit 14, and a distribution block 16 interposed between the pneumatic circuit 14 and the launching tubes 12.
• the distribution block 16 includes, for each launch tube 12, a valve 18, movable between an open position in which the corresponding launch tube 12 communicates with the pneumatic circuit 14, and a closed position in which the corresponding launch tube 12 is isolated from the pneumatic circuit 14.
• Each valve 18 is for example a solenoid valve.
• the launching device 10 comprises means for controlling the valves 18, configured to open only one valve at a time. This ensures that when one valve is open, all the other valves are closed.
• the distribution block 16 also includes a single inlet 20 upstream of each valve 18, the valves 18 being arranged in parallel with each other.
• the input 20 is connected to the pneumatic circuit 14.
• the pneumatic circuit 14 includes at least one tank 22 for storing pressurized air.
• the pneumatic circuit 14 also comprises means 24 for connection to a source of pressurized air, for example to a high pressure air network of the naval ship.
• the air storage tank 22 is charged with pressurized air by connecting it to the high pressure air network. It is then the air storage tank 22 which supplies the selected launch tube 12 with compressed air when necessary.
• the launching device 10 can operate independently of the high pressure air network, and can launch lures even in the event of failure of the high pressure air network of the naval ship.
• connection means 24 are connected to a compression module, which thus makes it possible to fill the reservoir 22 completely independently.
• the circuit is pressurized by the ship's high pressure (HP) air network or any other compressed air supply means 24.
• the air is filtered through a filter 25.
• the compressed air tank 22 then fills.
• the selection of the tube 12 is made by action on the distribution block 16. As soon as a piloting solenoid valve 50 is actuated, the HP air drives a launching valve 51 which puts the HP network of the installation into communication with the tube 12 selected, allowing ejection of the lure therein.
• piloting solenoid valve 50 can be actuated manually.
• the launch valve 51 After releasing the pilot solenoid valve 50, the launch valve 51 returns to the initial position. The closed distribution block 16 then isolates the tubes. The device is ready for a second shot.
• the capacity of the HP air tank 22 allows for two consecutive shots without the need for an external HP air supply.
• Safety valves 52 and 53 protect the equipment from possible overpressure due to a failure of the device organs or the HP air source.
• each launch tube 12 comprises means for detecting the presence of a decoy in this launch tube 12. These detection means are preferably coupled with warning means, warning an operator of the presence or of the no lure in the launch tube 12.
• the launching device 10 is shown in more detail in FIG. 2.
• the launching device 10 comprises a housing 24 housing the launching tubes 12 in a first compartment 26, and the pneumatic circuit 14 in a second compartment 28. It will be noted that FIG. 2 shows only two launch tubes 12, but the launch device 10 can comprise as many launch tubes 12 as desired.
• the housing 24 includes, for each launch tube 12, an opening 30 coinciding with an outlet from the launch tube 12.
• each opening 30 is closed by a respective masking shutter 32.
• a shutter 32 makes it possible on the one hand to protect the elements inside the housing 24, and on the other hand to limit the radar signature of the launching device 10.
• the housing 24 comprises a rigid structure allowing the fixing of all the constituent elements of the launching device 10.
• This rigid structure is for example covered with a coating, making it possible to limit the radar signature of the launching device 10.
• the housing 24 advantageously comprises a triangular support base 34, comprising a lower face 34a intended to be fixed to a wall of the naval ship, and an upper face 34b to which are fixed the first 26 and second 28 compartments, these first 26 and second 28 compartments extending perpendicular to this upper face 34b.
• the upper face 34b is inclined relative to the lower face 34a, so that the launch tubes 12 are inclined relative to the vertical. This inclination will be chosen according to the desired angle of launching of lures.
• the support base 34 is fixed, so that the orientation of the launch tubes 12 remains unchanged relative to the naval vessel.
• the launching device 10 according to the invention therefore does not include costly means for changing the orientation of the launching tubes 12. This is possible when using lures which do not require a particular launching direction, such as lures CANTO® type.
• the launching device 10 oriented in a desired manner, is shown in FIG. 3.
• the launching device 10 is arranged inside the naval building, and fixed to a ground 36 of the naval building, near a wall 38 separating the interior from the exterior.
• the wall 38 includes a door 40 movable between an open position and a closed position.
• the hatch 40 is arranged opposite the launching tubes 12, to free a passage for the lures in the open position.
• the launching device 10 comprises, for each launching tube 12, a guide tube 42 arranged at the outlet of the launching tube 12 and extending this launching tube 12, extending in the same direction as this launching tube.
• the guide tube 42 is used to guide the lure through the passage to the outside of the ship building.
• each guide tube 42 is formed in two longitudinal parts, movable relative to each other by rotation about a longitudinal hinge, between a closed position and an open position of the guide tube 42.
• a longitudinal hinge movable relative to each other by rotation about a longitudinal hinge, between a closed position and an open position of the guide tube 42.
• the launching device 10 also advantageously comprises an interface 44 allowing an operator to locally control the launching of a lure.
• the launching device 10 is arranged outside the naval building, and fixed to an external wall of this naval building.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
• Remote Sensing (AREA)
• Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=65494141

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 2018
  • 2018-08-20 FR FR1800887A patent/FR3085069B1/fr active Active
• 2019
  • 2019-08-13 WO PCT/EP2019/071730 patent/WO2020038778A1/fr unknown
  • 2019-08-13 EP EP19753365.6A patent/EP3841347A1/de active Pending

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