FR2711966A1 - Device for evacuation of missile combustion gases on a ship. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for evacuating the combustion gases from at least one missile of a weapons system installed in particular on a ship. This device consists of a frame (1) integrated into the hull (3) of the ship and conforming to its external shape, this frame (1) delimiting at least one orifice blocked by a cover (2), the cover (2) being Ejectable under the pressure of combustion gases when at least one missile of the weapon system is fired.

Description

The invention relates to a device for evacuation of combustion gases

  generated when launching a missile by a

  weapon system installed on a ship.

  Weapon system missiles for warships are usually fired from the deck of the ship. In this case, in order to protect the bridge and the superstructures against the missile's combustion gases, jet deflectors are most often used, deflecting missile flames towards the outside; the use of the baffles is however a penalizing solution from the point of view of size, weight and cost. In order to avoid the use of the jet deflectors, it is also possible to consider placing the missiles judiciously, so that the combustion gases pass over the bridge or escape through orifices made in the walls: but this solution has, among other disadvantages, that of increasing the detectability of the ship by the enemy radars (we know that a ship is all the more "stealth" as its hull

has a smooth appearance).

  The problem of evacuation of the missile combustion gases must therefore be solved by taking into account the four constraints of space, weight, cost and smooth appearance. The subject of the invention is therefore a device for evacuating the combustion gases from the missile or missiles of a weapon system installed in particular on a ship, characterized in that it consists of a frame integrated with the hull of the ship. and conforming to its external shape, this frame delimiting at least one orifice obstructed by a lid, the lid being ejectable

  under the pressure of combustion gases when at least one weapon system missile is fired.

  Preferably, the device according to the invention is such that the covers are made of a composite material and such that the structure of the frame is made of metallic material or

composite.

  In an alternative embodiment according to the invention, the device is such that around each operculum or group of operculas to be ejected during the firing of a missile the structure of the frame present, on the internal face subjected to the pressure of the gases, a form converging towards the

external face.

  In another variant according to the invention, the device is such that the lid or group of lids to be ejected during the firing of a missile are fixed to the surrounding frame by tared bolts, of which the rupture occurs as soon as the pressure of the gases exceeds a predetermined threshold. In another variant according to the invention, the device is such that it comprises, for each cap or group of caps to be ejected, at least one wound cable linking the lid or group of caps to the frame, the cable

  then taking place at the time of ejection.

  In another embodiment of the invention, the device is such that the frame delimits a rectangular orifice, or as the frame delimits four

  rectangular orifices two to two superimposed.

  Thus the present invention provides a simple and effective solution to the problem; in principle, it consists in "weakening" the hull of the ship at predetermined locations, corresponding to missile nozzle outlets (generally at the walls) and thus to allow the weakened zones to be ejected under the pressure of the gasses. combustion then escaping through the hull of the

ship.

  To do this, the hull, while maintaining a smooth appearance for the enemy radar, comprises near each missile battery frame comprising at least one cap, the frame being attached to the hull of the ship. When firing a missile, the pressure of the gas causes the ejection of at least one lid, while leaving the lids intact.

  possibly not concerned, the ejection of which will only occur during the next shots.

  The frame may include only one operculum, sufficient configuration for firing a missile. Most often, however, the frame will have several lids (at least as many as missiles to shoot) and the arrangement of the lids will depend on the configuration of the missiles on the

shooting battery.

  Other features and benefits appear in the

  following description of a non-limiting embodiment,

  with reference to the accompanying drawings in which are represented four lids arranged in a square, ejectables rculeindividually at each missile firing and placed in a structure which, in this case, has the form of a framed cross.

  Figure 1 is a view of the frame in the plane of the hull.

  FIG. 2 is a view of the same frame in a plane

  perpendicular to the plane of the hull.

  FIG. 3 is a view of a lid and its recovery system after a shot, in a plane perpendicular to the

plane of the hull.

  FIG. 4 is a view of the ejection device of a

  operculum in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the hull.

  As can be seen in the example shown on the

  1, the structure of the frame 1 delimits four lids 2.

  The frame 1 is inserted into the hull 3 of the ship by bolts 4 or rivets or any other means. The frame 1 remains attached to the hull 3 of the ship when the lids 2 are ejected. The covers 2 are fixed to the structure of the frame 1 by calibrated bolts 5 or other equivalent means, such as for example a ratchet, (see FIG. 4), with a view to keeping these lids 2 on the frame 1 as long as the pressure flue gas did not exceed a threshold related to the type of missile fired. This threshold must not be too low, so as to keep the seal 2 in place as long as the missile is not fired: indeed, when the weapon system is not activated, the shutter presence of the operculum 2 is necessary, not only to promote radar stealth but also to resist the rise of "sea packs" on the deck. The threshold must also not be too high, in order to cause the ejection of the seal 2 sufficiently early so that the high temperature of the combustion gases has not been able to damage the bridge and the walls of the ship. The value

  the pressure generated by the missile gas jet being high, that of the threshold can be easily calculated.

  As can be seen in FIG. 2, the structure of the frame 1 has on its internal face, exposed to the jet of the combustion gases, a shape converging towards the external face, this shape is due to deflectors 6, 7, 8, 9 which are intended to channel the jet on the ejection cap 2, as well as to avoid the ejection of neighboring operculas. This gas channel does not require a large rectification of the jet, the baffles 6, 7, 8, 9 used (unlike those mentioned above for conventional devices for evacuation of gas) do not penalize the size, weight and the cost. The lids 2 may be provided with

  handgrips 10, a fan to simplify the anfontio and O minse ae pla.

  It may also be advantageous, depending on the case, to have a version of the device according to the invention in

  which the lids 2 are recovered, after their ejection.

  As can be seen in FIG. 3, it is sufficient to provide at the level of the interface between the covers 2 and the frame structure 1 a wound cable system 11, one of whose ends is connected to the cover 2 and the other to the structure of the frame 1. Thus, when firing a missile, the ejected lid 2 drives the cable 11 unwinding and can be

recovered thanks to it.

  The structure of the frame can be made of resistant metallic or composite material. The covers are made

  preferably of composite material, essentially for reasons of weight and heat resistance: but other less technically adapted materials (materials not alloyed) can be used Cu plus Fo (glasses% lx, crdql, etc ... ).

  Various modifications may be made to the device described above, without departing from the scope of the invention. It is conceivable, for example, to eject each missile shot, not a given operculum, but a group of operculas: the weakened bolt embrittlement (or other means) would then be

  performed on the periphery of each group of lids.

  In addition to the advantages relating to congestion, weight, cost and radar stealth, the device according to the invention has the particularity of being able to operate autonomously and passively with respect to the missile. Indeed, no

  signal or hatch opening command is required; it is the firing of the missile and the jet of gas that it drives which causes the ejection of the cap or group 40 of caps.

Claims (7)

  1. Device for evacuating the combustion gases of at least one missile from a weapon system installed in particular on a ship, characterized in that it consists of a frame (1) integrated into the hull (3) of the ship and taking its external shape, this frame (1) delimiting at least one orifice obstructed by a lid (2), the lid (2) being ejectable under the pressure of the combustion gases when at least one   weapon system missile is fired.   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the lids (2) are made of a composite material and in that the frame structure (1) is made of material metallic or composite.   3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that around each operculum (2) or group of caps to be ejected when firing a missile, the structure of the frame (1) has, on the internal face subject to   gas pressure, a shape converging towards the external face.   4. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the lid (2) or the group of lids to be ejected during the firing of a missile, are attached to the frame (1) which surrounds them with calibrated bolts (5) whose rupture occurs as soon as the pressure of the gases exceeds one predetermined threshold.   5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises, for each   operculum (2) or group of lids to be ejected, at least one wound cable (11) linking this lid (2) or group 30 of lids to the frame (1), the cable then taking place at the time of ejection .   6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame (1) defines a   rectangular orifice. 7. Device according to any one of claims 1 to   , characterized in that the frame (1) defines four rectangular openings two by two superimposed.