FR3074475A1 - MODULAR DEVICE FOR ANTI-SUBMARINE ANTI-SURFACE BUILDING - Google Patents

Abstract

The modular anti-submarine surface building device comprises: - a first ammunition storage subsystem (16) having an output (28) for said ammunition (18), - a second sub-system (16) -system (20) firing said munitions (18) having an inlet (50) for said ammunition (18), and - a third handling subsystem (22) adapted to transfer the ammunition (18) away from the first subsystem (16), the third subsystem (22) comprises at least one component common to at least one of the first (16) and second subsystems (20).

Description

Modular anti-submarine device on surface building

The present invention relates to a modular anti-submarine control device for surface vessels, of the type comprising:

a first ammunition storage subsystem comprising an outlet for said ammunition,

a second firing subsystem of said ammunition comprising an entry for said ammunition, and

- a third handling subsystem suitable for transferring ammunition away from the first subsystem.

Such a device is used in particular for storing, handling, and firing munitions on board a surface building. Said ammunition is often used to fight against submarines. The three subsystems are separate, and are independently mounted on the surface building.

However, such a device is not entirely satisfactory. The design of these three subsystems is complicated. In addition, all of these three subsystems are often bulky and occupy a high volume on the surface building.

An object of the invention is to obtain a more compact device.

To this end, the invention relates to a modular device of the aforementioned type, in which the third subsystem comprises at least one component common to at least one of the first and second subsystems.

In particular embodiments of the invention, the modular device also has one or more of the following characteristics, taken in isolation or according to any technically possible combination (s):

- the third handling subsystem is intended to transfer the ammunition from the first subsystem to the second subsystem;

- the third subsystem is suitable for handling the ammunition by transferring it from the first subsystem to the outside of the modular device;

- the first and second subsystems are arranged at two different vertical levels;

- The first subsystem is arranged at a lower vertical level relative to the second subsystem;

- Said outlet of the first subsystem and said inlet of the second subsystem are arranged on the same side of the modular device;

- The first subsystem includes at least one cradle capable of supporting ammunition;

- The first subsystem comprises, for each cradle, at least one ammunition container intended to be placed on said cradle;

- The second subsystem comprises at least two tubes capable of firing ammunition; and

- the ammunition is torpedoes, and / or missiles, and / or decoys.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a modular device according to the invention,

- Figure 2 is a top view of the device of Figure 1,

FIG. 3 is a front view of the device of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a side view of the device of FIG. 1,

- Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1, the perimeter of the device being made transparent;

- Figure 6 is a detailed view of the first subsystem of Figure 1, the cradle being in the extended position;

- Figure 7 is a detailed view of the second subsystem of Figure 1;

- Figure 8 is a detailed view of the third subsystem before the transfer of a missile from the first subsystem to the second subsystem by the third subsystem;

- Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8, the missile being transferred to the second subsystem by the third subsystem; and

- Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 9, the missile being ready to leave the third subsystem to the second subsystem.

In the following description, the terms of orientation are to be understood with reference to the reference shown in the Figures, and in which there are:

- a transverse axis X, oriented from left to right,

a longitudinal axis Y, oriented from the rear towards the front and defining with the longitudinal axis a horizontal plane, and

- a vertical axis Z, oriented from bottom to top.

The axes X, Y and Z together form a direct orthogonal coordinate system, the front and the rear being heard relative to the normal direction of launching of the munitions, and the right and the left being heard relative to an observer looking at the rear of the device .

The modular device 10 shown in Figures 1 to 5 has a rear transverse wall 11 extending substantially in the direction X, and a front transverse wall 12 extending substantially in the direction X opposite the rear transverse wall 11.

The device 10 also has a right longitudinal wall 13 extending substantially in the direction Y and a left longitudinal wall 14 extending substantially parallel to the right longitudinal wall 13.

The right longitudinal wall 13 connects the rear and front transverse walls 11, 12 at their right ends, and the left longitudinal wall 14 connects the rear and front transverse walls 11, 12 at their left ends.

The device 10 comprises a first storage subsystem 16 of ammunition 18, a second firing subsystem 20 of ammunition 18, and a third handling subsystem 22 of ammunition 18.

The first and second subsystems 16, 20 are arranged at two different vertical levels. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the first subsystem 16 occupies a lower vertical level relative to the second subsystem 20.

The first subsystem 16 includes at least one ammunition hold 24. In the example shown in Figure 3, the first subsystem 16 has six bunkers 24 arranged on two different vertical levels in the direction Z, each level comprising three bunkers 24. In a variant, the first subsystem 16 has five bunkers 24 arranged on two different vertical levels, the lower level comprising four bunkers 24, and the upper level comprising a hold 24. This variant makes it possible in particular to obtain a lower height of the device 10 compared to the configuration as mentioned above. .

The ammunition 18 are for example torpedoes, or missiles of the anti-submarine type, or decoys. In one configuration, the hold 24 is adapted to accommodate a torpedo or a missile. In another configuration, the hold 24 is adapted to accommodate two lures.

Each hold 24 includes a cradle 26 adapted to support the ammunition 18, and an exit door 28 for the ammunition 18.

The cradle 26 is mounted movable between a retracted position, in which the cradle 26 is arranged in the hold 24, and an extended position, in which the cradle 26 is arranged outside the hold 24.

The cradle 26 is driven by racks. Alternatively, the cradle 26 is driven by a system of tensioned cables.

As shown in Figure 1, the exit door 28 is arranged on the rear transverse wall 11. The exit door 28 is rotatably mounted about an axis extending substantially in the direction Z between an open position, in in which the cradle 26 disposed in the hold 24 is free to leave or enter the hold 24, and a closed position, in which the cradle 26 is prevented from leaving or entering the hold 24.

In the example shown in Figure 1, the exit door 28 in its open position is substantially perpendicular to its closed position.

The hold 24 also includes a closing flywheel 30 capable of tightening the exit door 28 in its closed position, and a locking device 32 adapted to lock the exit door 28 in its open position.

In the preferred configuration, the hold 24 further comprises a damping cylinder (not shown in the Figures) adapted to dampen the rotation of the exit door 28 and help maintain the exit door 28 in its open position.

In the example shown in Figure 6, the hold 24 also includes, for each cradle 26, at least one container 34 of ammunition intended to be placed on the cradle 26. The container 34 has substantially the shape of a suitable rectangular parallelepiped to contain the ammunition 18. The containers 34 are the same or different for different types of ammunition 18 (torpedoes, missiles, lures etc.).

In a variant, the ammunition 18 is arranged directly on the cradle 26 without the container 34.

In a preferred configuration, the cradle 26 of a single type is adapted to support different types of containers 34. In another variant, different types of cradles 26 are used for different types of containers 34.

With reference to FIGS. 5 and 7, the second subsystem 20 comprises a local 40 for firing, and a man-machine interface device 41.

The room 40 comprises an assembly for the front door 42 disposed on the rear transverse wall 11, an assembly for the plating door 44 disposed on the front transverse wall 12, an operator access 46 disposed on the right longitudinal wall 13, and at least one firing tube 48 of the ammunition 18.

The assembly for the entry door 42 comprises an entry door 50 adapted to receive the ammunition 14, a device 52 for guiding the entry door 50 adapted to guide the rotation of the entry door 50, and a locking device 54 for the entry door 50.

The entry door 50 is rotatably mounted around an axis extending substantially in the direction X between an open position, in which the ammunition 18 is free to enter the room 40, and a closed position, in which ammunition 18 is prevented from entering room 40.

The entrance door 50 has a substantially rectangular shape.

The locking device 54 is adapted to lock the entry door 52 in its open position.

Similarly, the assembly for the plating door 44 comprises a plating door 56 through which the ammunition 18 is intended to be fired, a device 58 for guiding the plating door 56 adapted to guide the translation of the plating door 56, and a locking device 62 for plating door 56.

The plating door 56 is disposed at substantially the same height relative to the firing tubes 48. It is mounted movable between an open position, in which the ammunition 18 is free to leave the device 10, and a closed position, in which the ammunition 18 is prevented from leaving the device 10.

The plating door 56 has a substantially rectangular shape, at least in the example shown.

The locking device 60 is adapted to lock the plating door 56 in its open position.

The plating door assembly 44 also includes an actuator 62 adapted to automate the translation of the plating door 56 between its open and closed positions.

The operator access 46 is intended to allow the access of an operator of the device 10 inside the room 40. It is arranged substantially at the same height as the entry door 50.

The fire tubes 48 are adapted to accommodate the ammunition 18. In the example shown in Figure 7, the fire tubes 48 are two in number arranged side by side with respect to each other. In a variant, the firing tubes 48 are three in number. Two fire tubes 48 are arranged at a lower level side by side with respect to each other, and the third fire tube 48 is disposed between the two fire tubes 48 at an upper level in direct contact with the two lower 48 fire tubes. In other words, the three shooting tubes 48 form an isosceles triangle.

The shooting tubes 48 are oriented in a substantially horizontal direction.

The firing tubes 48 each comprise the firing means 63 of the ammunition 18 adapted to fire the ammunition 18 towards the outside of the device 10.

The room 40 also includes a loading device (not shown in the Figures) suitable for transferring the ammunition 18 arranged outside the room 40 opposite the entry door 50 to the shooting tubes 48.

Advantageously, as shown in FIG. 7, the room 40 also comprises a fifth wheel 64. The shooting tubes 48 are arranged on the fifth wheel 64. In one configuration, the fifth wheel 64 is fixed in the room 40. In another configuration, the harness 64 is rotatably mounted around an axis extending substantially in the direction Z.

In a variant, the room 40 further comprises at least one tube of decoy launchers (not shown in the figures), and a door of decoy launcher (not shown in the figures) arranged on the front transverse wall 12.

The decoy launch tubes are suitable for housing decoys. They have an upward tilted orientation. In one configuration, the decoy launching tubes are arranged above the firing tubes 48. In another configuration, the launcher tubes are arranged transversely next to the firing tubes 48.

The decoy launcher door is adapted to allow the crossing of the decoys arranged in the decoy launcher tubes. In a variant, the decoys leave the device 10 through the plating door 56.

The man-machine interface device 41 is suitable for controlling the third subsystem 22, in particular for requesting the transfer of ammunition 18 by the third subsystem 22. In the example shown in Figure 5, the device d the man-machine interface 41 is arranged on the right longitudinal wall 13.

The third subsystem 22 is suitable for handling the ammunition 18, in particular for transferring the ammunition 18 from the first storage subsystem 16 to the second firing subsystem 20. In a variant, the third subsystem 22 is adapted to transfer the ammunition 18 from the first subsystem 16 to the outside of the device 10, for example to an ammunition handling cart for airborne use. In another variant, the third subsystem 22 is capable of also functioning as a subsystem for handling munitions for airborne use.

Referring to Figure 8, the third subsystem 22 includes a bracket 80, a vertical bracket guide 82, an overhead crane 84, and an interface device 86 of the first and second subsystems 16, 20.

The bracket 80 has a substantially flat shape extending in the direction X. It is movable between an upper position, in which it is substantially flush with the upper vertical end of the second subsystem 20, and a lower position, in which it is flush substantially the lower vertical end of the second subsystem 20.

In the preferred configuration, the bracket 80 is shared between the second and third subsystems 20, 22.

The vertical guide 84 comprises two uprights 88 extending substantially in the direction Z. The uprights 88 delimit between them a space suitable for housing the bracket 80. The uprights 88 are adapted to guide the translation of the bracket 80 between its upper positions and lower.

The crane 84 comprises a carriage 90, and a drive mechanism (not shown in the Figures) adapted to drive the translation of the carriage 90 in the direction X. The drive mechanism comprises, for example, a rack.

The carriage 90 is connected to the bracket 80. It is mounted to move among a plurality of positions in the direction X. These positions correspond to the transverse positions of each exit door 28, and to the transverse position of the entry door 50.

The interface device 86 is shared between the first and third subsystems 16, 22. It comprises a spreader 94, spreader scissors 96 connecting the spreader 94 to the carriage 90, and an ammunition interface clamp 98 suitable for gripping and holding ammunition 18.

The lifting beam 94 has an elongated shape extending substantially in the direction Y. It is mounted movable, relative to the carriage 90, between a retracted position and a plurality of deployed positions.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, the lifter 94 occupies its retracted position when the stem 80 moves from its upper position to its lower position, the interface clamp 98 being devoid of ammunition 18.

As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the lifter 94 occupies its deployed positions when the bracket 80 occupies its lower position and the interface clamp 98 is in the process of recovering the ammunition 18 from the first storage subsystem 16, or when the stem 80 moves from its lower position to its upper position with the interface clamp 98 holding the ammunition 18.

When the lifter 94 occupies its retracted position, the scissors 96 have a minimum length. When the lifter 94 occupies its deployed positions, the scissors 96 have a length greater than said minimum length.

Interface clamp 98 is movably mounted between an open position and a closed position. When the clamp 98 occupies its closed position, it is capable of holding the ammunition 18.

During the movement of the bracket 80 from its lower position to its upper position, the interface clamp 98 is provided with ammunition 18 to transfer them from the first subsystem 16 to the second subsystem 20. During the displacement of the bracket 80 from its upper position to its lower position, the interface clamp 98 is devoid of ammunition 18.

In a variant, during the movement of the bracket 80 from its upper position to its lower position, the interface clamp 98 holds the ammunition 18. This variant corresponds in particular to the case where the firing of the ammunition 18 is canceled, which requires the return of the ammunition 18 from the second subsystem 20 to the first subsystem 16.

The device 10 is used as described below.

At the start, the ammunition 18 is placed in the first subsystem 16. The stem 80 occupies its upper position, and the lifter 94 occupies its retracted position.

When we want to transfer the ammunition 18 housed in a hold 24 from the first subsystem 16 to the second subsystem 20, first of all we turn the handwheel 30 on the exit door 28 of the hold 24 to loosen the door exit 28. Then the exit door 28 is manually turned along its axis of rotation from its closed position to its open position. Then the exit door 28 is locked in its open position by the locking device 32.

Then the cradle 26 is manually removed from its retracted position to its extended position. The container 34 supported on the cradle 26 is then taken out of the hold 24. Then the container 34 is opened. The ammunition 18 contained in the container 34 is thus exposed.

The third subsystem 22 will now be used to transfer the ammunition 18 to the second subsystem 20. For this purpose, a request for recovery of the ammunition 18 is given by an operator to the third subsystem 22 via the interface device man-machine 41. This request notably contains information on which hold 24 houses the ammunition 18 to be recovered.

Under this request, first the carriage 90 moves in the direction X in order to position the lifter 94 substantially in the same transverse position above the ammunition 18. Then the bracket 80 descends in the direction Z from its upper position towards its lower position, as visible in Figure 8. Once the stem 80 has reached its lower position, the interface clamp 98 moves into its open position.

Then, the position of the stem 80 being maintained, the spreader scissors 96 lengthen in the direction Z to allow the spreader 94 to continue to descend until the clamp 98 is situated substantially at the same height as the ammunition 18. Then the clamp 98 closes. In doing so, the ammunition 18 is clamped in the clamp 98 and is ready to be transferred.

For this purpose, the lifter 94 rises to its upper position. During the rise of the spreader 94, the spreader 94 maintains its relative position relative to the bracket 80, as visible in FIG. 9.

Once the stem 80 reaches its upper position, the entry door 50 of the room 40 rotates around its axis of rotation from its closed position to its open position. Then the entry door 50 is locked in its open position by the locking device 54 of the entry door 50.

To move the ammunition 18 into the second subsystem 20, the position of the clamp 98 is adjusted in the direction X and Z so as to be positioned opposite the entry door 50. For this purpose, first the carriage 90 moves in direction X in order to position the clamp 98 in the same transverse position as the entry door 50, then the scissors 96 are lengthened or shortened in order to bring the clamp 98 substantially at the same height as the door input 50.

The ammunition 18 is thus positioned opposite the entry door 50. The clamp 98 then passes from its closed position to its open position and thus deposits the ammunition 18 on the loading device.

After the ammunition 18 is placed on the loading device, the scissors 96 shorten, which brings the scissors 96 to their retracted position. Then the spreader 94 moves in the direction X towards the left transverse wall 14, returning to its default position.

Then the loading device transfers the ammunition 18 into the firing tubes 48. The ammunition 18 is thus transferred from the first subsystem 16 to the second subsystem 20.

When a request for firing ammunition 18 is launched, the actuator 62 moves the planking door 56 to its open position, the guiding device 58 of the plating door guiding the translation of the plating door 56. When the plating door 56 reaches its open position, the locking device 60 of the plating door fixes it in its open position. The firing means 63 can then be used to fire the ammunition 18 from the firing tubes 48 towards the outside of the device 10.

Thanks to the invention described above, the functions of storage, handling, and firing of ammunition are merged, which makes it possible to obtain more compact anti-submarine combat devices.

In addition, the modulation of anti-submarine devices limits their interfaces with other components on board a surface vessel and thus facilitates their integration on the ship. It also provides autonomous and ship-independent anti-submarine anti10 devices, which facilitates the design, manufacture, and qualification of a ship.

Claims (10)

1. Modular device (10) for anti-submarine warfare for surface vessels, comprising: - a first ammunition storage subsystem (16) (18) comprising an outlet (28) for said ammunition (18), a second subsystem (20) for firing said munitions (18) comprising an inlet (50) for said munitions (18), and - a third handling subsystem (22) adapted to transfer the ammunition (18) away from the first subsystem (16), characterized in that the third subsystem (22) comprises at least one common component at least one of the first (16) and second subsystems (20). 2. Modular device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the third handling subsystem (22) is intended to transfer the ammunition (18) from the first subsystem (16) to the second subsystem (20). 3. Modular device (10) according to claim 1, in which the third subsystem (22) is suitable for handling the ammunition (18) by transferring them from the first subsystem (16) to the outside of the modular device (10) . 4. Modular device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first (16) and second (20) subsystems are arranged at two different vertical levels. 5. Modular device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first subsystem (16) is disposed at a lower vertical level relative to the second subsystem (20). 6. Modular device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which said outlet (28) of the first subsystem (16) and said inlet (50) of the second subsystem (20) are arranged on one side of the modular device (10). 7. Modular device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the first subsystem (16) comprises at least one cradle (26) suitable for supporting ammunition (18). 8. Modular device (10) according to claim 7, wherein the first subsystem (16) comprises, for each cradle (26), at least one container (34) for ammunition intended to be placed on said cradle (26). 9. Modular device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the second subsystem (20) comprises at least two tubes (48) suitable for firing ammunition (18). 10. Modular device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the ammunition (18) are torpedoes, and / or missiles, and / or decoys.