FR2668254A1 - DEVICE FOR CLOSING AND PROTECTING A GAS EXHAUST SYSTEM OF A VERTICAL LAUNCHING MODULE. - Google Patents

Abstract

It is characterized in that it comprises at least one closure element mounted on a pivot axis (13) passing through a support which is arranged around and near the upper end (9 ') of the discharge duct (9). .

Description

DEVICE FOR CLOSING AND PROTECTING A SYSTEM

  OF GAS DISCHARGE FROM A VERTICAL LAUNCH MODULE

  The present invention relates to a device for closing and protecting a system for evacuating

  gas from a vertical launch module.

  The vertical launch modules fitted to a surface building are generally embedded under the deck of the building and each include a system for evacuating the propellant gases produced during a normal missile launch or an inadvertent ignition, which evacuates propellants from the upper end

or from the top of the module.

  Whatever the architecture of the launch module, the gas evacuation system must be provided with a closing device which opens only in the event of an accidental ignition or a normal fire

of a missile.

  Single central chimney exhaust systems must be designed to prevent seawater, rain or other foreign objects from falling inside the chimney and either cause the chimney to fill up or constitute, in concerns foreign objects, projectiles during

gas evacuation.

  The closing devices currently used consist of one or more resistant and motorized doors, each door being provided with a panel which is ejected during the evacuation of gas,

  following an untimely ignition.

  The closing devices mentioned above

  have the disadvantages inherent in their structure.

  Indeed, they are heavy and can only be actuated by means of a motorization system which not only requires an important place in the launch module but considerably increases the structure of said launch module on the deck. In addition, each module launch system requires its own door operator system which reduces space

available on the building.

  Finally, and this also constitutes a very serious drawback, the ejection of the ejectable panel constitutes a real projectile which can cause, by the fall

  significant damage, both human and material.

  In a separate request, it is proposed to replace a single propellant exhaust gas chimney with an exhaust system consisting of several separate exhaust conduits opening out through the lower ends into a plenum or stilling chamber. use of separate exhaust ducts has made it possible to study and design new closure devices which are applied to separate exhaust ducts, it goes without saying that they can be used for

unique fireplace.

  The object of the present invention is a device for closing and protecting a gas evacuation system which is simple in its construction and which requires no motor means to operate the device.

closing.

  The present invention relates to a closure and protection device which comprises at least one closure element mounted on a pivot axis passing through a support which is arranged around and near

  the upper end of the exhaust gas duct.

  An advantage of the present invention lies in the fact that the closure element is opened by the

  only propellant pressure.

  According to another characteristic, the closing element is returned to the closed position by a return member and it is arranged in a protective element which makes it possible, on the one hand, to avoid the mounting of an ejectable part and non-recoverable likely to cause personal injury and material damage and, on the other hand, to ensure protection of the gas evacuation pipe or pipes, by preventing seawater or solid objects from entering the inside said

exhaust pipes.

  Other features and advantages appear-

  will read the description of an embodiment

  sation of the invention, as well as of the appended drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vertical launch module with four gas evacuation conduits, each conduit being equipped with a device according to the invention ; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the closure element according to the invention;

  Figure 3 is a partial perspective view-

  the device according to the invention mounted on the upper plate of the module shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a sectional and elevational view of the device shown in Figure 4; Figure 5 is a schematic and partial sectional view of the device according to the invention fitted to a

gas exhaust pipe.

  The vertical launch module, shown in FIG. 1, comprises a structure 1 in which cells 2 for receiving missiles are provided, not shown, the cells 2 opening into an upper plate 3 through upper openings 4 and into a

  lower plate 5 by passages 6.

  The passages 6 communicate with a plenum or quiet room 7 which occupies the major

  part of base 8 of structure 1.

  The device for discharging the missile propulsion gases consists, in the example shown in FIG. 1, of four separate conduits 9, preferably of cylindrical shape, which are arranged between the upper and lower plates 3 and 5, of on the one hand, and between passages 6, on the other hand, so that

  occupy the volume of the module delimited by the cells.

  Each exhaust duct 9 is equipped with a closure and protection device 10, as well as

  this is shown in Figure 1.

  Each device 10 is mounted on the upper plate 3 of the vertical launch module and around the upper end 9 'of the evacuation duct which

is associated.

  The device 10 comprises a closing element constituted by a sleeve 11 whose upper edge 11 'is located above the free edge of the discharge duct 9, and two valves 12 pivotally mounted on an axis 13 passing through the body of the sleeve 11 The pivot axis 13 is arranged in such a way that the valves 12, in the closed position, shown in FIG. 2 in dotted lines, come to bear on the upper edge 11 ′ of the valve holder sleeve 11 The valve holder sleeve valves 11 is fixed by its base 11 "to the upper plate 3, by any suitable means such as bolts 14 (FIGS. 4 and 6). A protective element 15 is placed around the valve-carrying sleeve 11, and it is mounted and fixed on the latter by means of lugs or an internal crown applying to the base 11 "of the valve-carrying sleeve 11, and of the bolts 14, with the interposition of a seal 19 as shown on the

figure 6.

  The protective element 15 which, in section, is elliptical has a free upper edge 15 'which is located above the upper edge 11' of the valve holder 11 Two discharge orifices 16 are formed at the base of the bodies of the protective element 15 and below the level of the valves 12 In this way, the valves 12 are protected from the action of seawater packets capable of sweeping the deck of the building, the seawater being discharged by the orifices 16 In addition, at the opening of the valves 12 and by virtue of the difference in level of the upper edges 11 ′ and 15 ′ respectively of the valve-carrying sleeve 11 and of the protective element 15,

  the propellants cannot escape laterally.

  A return spring or any other equivalent means such as one or more torsion bars 17, mechanically return the valves to the closed position as soon as the pressure of the propellant gases applying to the valves 12 is lower than the setting.

  of the spring or at the moment of torsion of the torsion bars.

  The mechanical recall used is calculated so that it is not too large; otherwise the gas pressure required to open the valves 12 would be too high and lead to a general weighting. It should be noted that even with a relatively low mechanical return, the valves 12 are not sensitive to packets of sea water thanks to to the present of the element of

protection 15.

  Of course, the nature of the materials used for the various constituent elements of the device according to the invention are chosen so as to resist the corroding actions of sea water and propellant gases,

  evacuating through the evacuation pipes.

  During a firing or an inadvertent ignition of a missile, the pressure of the propulsion gases 18 prevailing in each conduit 9 causes the valves 12 to open, against the mechanical return, to bring them into the position o they are back to back, as shown in FIG. 2 The propellant gases 18 are evacuated for the most part upwards and into the atmosphere, thanks to the presence of the protective element which acts as an element for guiding said propellants A significant lateral evacuation

  could be detrimental to the missile fired.

  When the propellant pressure is lower than the mechanical return, the latter brings back the

  valves 12 in their closed position.

  Finally, the device according to the invention is

  of variations in the relative positions of the evacuation conduits 9 and of the upper plate 3 since it only fits on the evacuation conduits whatever their location in the upper plate 3 of the

vertical launch module.

Claims (7)

  1 closure and protection device (10) of a gas evacuation system of a vertical missile launching module, characterized in that it comprises at least one closure element mounted on a pivot axis (13 ) passing through a support which is arranged around and near the upper end (9 ') of the exhaust duct (9).   2 Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the closure element support is housed at   inside a protective element (15).   3 Device according to claim 2 characterized in that the upper edge of the protective element is located above the upper edge of the support closing element.   4 Device according to one of claims 1 to 3   characterized in that the closing element consists of two hinged flaps (12) about the same pivot axis (13) located approximately in a vertical median plane of the support.   Device according to one of claims 1 to 4   characterized in that the closing element is returned to the closed position of the exhaust duct by a return member (17).   6 Device according to one of claims 1 to 5   characterized in that the pivot axis is located near from the upper edge of the support.   7 Device according to claim 2 characterized in that the protective element comprises discharge orifices (16) formed in the direction of the pivot axis.   8 Device according to one of the preceding claims -   teeth characterized in that it is mounted on each of the cylindrical conduits (9) constituting the system gas evacuation.