IL259407A

IL259407A - Coupling device for a releasable plug connection between a towed antenna and a water vehicle

Info

Publication number: IL259407A
Application number: IL259407A
Authority: IL
Original assignee: Thyssenkrupp Marine Sys Gmbh; Thyssenkrupp Ag
Priority date: 2015-12-11
Filing date: 2018-05-16
Publication date: 2018-07-31
Also published as: DE102015224949B4; IL259407B; WO2017097679A1; EP3387699B1; KR20180066245A; EP3387699A1; DE102015224949A1; ES2865294T3; KR102023292B1

Description

1 Coupling device for a releasable plug connection between a towed antenna and a water vehicle The invention relates to a coupling device for a releasable plug-in connection between a trailing aerial and a watercraft, having a first plug-in element and a second plug-in element for the from the trailing aerial and watercraft, a locking system by means of which the one plug-in element of the first and second plug-in ele ments can be moved between an unlocking position and a locking position, and wherein the locking system acts upon the one plug-in element via a first and a second bolt element moving it into the locking position.

It is the state of the art for watercraft, in particular submarines, to be equipped with water-guided trailing aerials. There are systems known in the art for this purpose, for securing, deploying and retrieving trailing aerials on the craft. These systems contain plug-in and releasable underwater plug-in connections for a signal-guiding connection between the craft and trailing aerial. For a system of this kind, for example, so- called clip-on connectors are used, in which the trailing aerial is coupled via a cable to the associated sig nal-transmitting system of the craft. A clip-on connector is located in the outer region of the craft, for ex ample in the outer hull of a submarine. The clip-on connector is ultimately a coupling device.

A plug-in connection comprises two plug-in elements which are connected or coupled with one another. A plug-in element may also be referred to as a plug half. A connection of the two plug-in elements via screw connections or bayonet locks is not suitable for trailing aerials, as there may be situations in which the plug-in connection has to be released quickly. This is not possible with screw connections or bayonet locks.

The plug-in element on the trailing aerial side is located at the one end of the trailing aerial cable and is held or else locked in a releasable manner at the clip-on connector by means of a locking system. For this purpose, the plug-in element on the trailing aerial side forms suitable holding means which may be config ured as locking lugs of the plug-in element arranged on the side, for example. By means of these holding means, the plug-in element is held via the bolt elements of the locking system in the clip-on connector. The plug-in element on the craft side may be referred to as an integral constituent of the clip-on connector, to the extent that the plug-in element on the craft side can be acted upon by means of an actuating device for coupling with the plug-in element on the trailing aerial side.

A basic prerequisite that must be fulfilled by the plug-in connection is that it must be stable enough to pre vent the two plug-in elements from moving in respect of one another due to movements of the craft, since otherwise the signal transmission could be interfered with. The signal transmission may take place via light conductors, for example. In addition, the plug-in element on the trailing aerial side should not be tilted by the trailing aerial in the locking system of the clip-on connector on account of variable tensile forces. How ever, small movements of the two plug-in elements in the axial direction of the coupling device in respect of one another are non-critical, as these can be balanced by the actuating device which acts upon the plug-in 150641P10WO2 element on the craft side moving it in the direction of the plug-in element on the trailing aerial side. Howev er, it is necessary for the coupling device to release the plug-in element on the trailing aerial side in an over load situation caused by the trailing aerial cable, in order to prevent damage.

A coupling device for a releasable plug-in connection between a trailing aerial and a submarine is disclosed in DE 10 2005 045 843 A1. A disadvantage of this plug-in connection is seen to be that the release of the plug-in element on the trailing aerial side required in an overload situation has to take place through man ual interaction. This means that no defined and constantly unchanged overload condition for the release of the plug-in element on the trailing aerial side can be represented.

Using this as the point of departure, the problem addressed by the present invention is that of providing a coupling device which allows an independent and defined release of the plug-in element on the trailing aerial side in the event of an overload situation.

The problem is solved by a coupling device for a releasable plug between a trailing aerial and a watercraft, comprising a first plug-in element and a second plug-in element for the from the trailing aerial and water craft, a locking system via which the one plug-in element of the first and second plug-in elements can be moved between an unlocking position and a locking position, wherein the locking system acts upon the one plug-in element via a first and a second bolt element moving it into the locking position, and the first and second bolt element starting from the locking position of the locking system can be moved into a release position triggered by the presence of an overload condition at the one plug-in element. It may be provided in this case that the first plug-in element is arranged on the trailing aerial side and the second plug-in ele ment is arranged on the craft side. These assignments are used as a starting point only for the purpose of the description below. A distinction is made in principle according to the invention between the locking position of the locking system and the release position of the first and second bolt elements, wherein this release position can be adopted while the locking system is in the locking position. An overload condition may exist at the one plug-in element, for example, if an overload above a previously defined limit value has been introduced to the plug-in element via the trailing aerial cable. Therefore, the overload condition pref erably comprises a load component acting upon the locking system to move it from the locking position into the unlocking position. In particular, this load component is caused or characterized by a tensile force of the trailing aerial. “Coupling” may be used to denote a mechanical, optical and/or electrical coupling. An optical coupling may, in particular, take place via optical waveguides.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention envisages that the first and the second bolt element are connected to one another in terms of drive via a carrier shaft, wherein an actuating mechanism of the lock ing system acts upon the carrier shaft indirectly via the first bolt element. In this way, it is possible for the actuating mechanism to be arranged in a space-saving manner on one side of the coupling device. 150641P10WO3 An advantageous embodiment of the invention envisages that the torsional stiffness of the first bolt ele ment relative to a contact point of the actuating mechanism at the first bolt element corresponds at least approximately to the torsional stiffness of the second bolt element in relation to the contact point of the actuating mechanism at the first bolt element. Since on account of the first plug-in element the tensile force of the trailing aerial is transmitted as half the support force in each case to the first and the second bolt element, by adjusting the torsional stiffness of the two control elements in respect of one another it is achieved that half the support force in each case produces the same degree of compliance in the bolt ele ments. In this way, it is likewise guaranteed that a tilting of the first plug-in element in respect of the second plug-in element is avoided and only a small movement of the first plug-in element in the axial direction of the coupling device is allowed. Interference with the signal transmission is thereby prevented or else re duced to a minimum.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention envisages that the first and second bolt elements are of two- part design, wherein each bolt element comprises a bolt finger held pivotably on a base body in the release position. In this way, the overload protection function is advantageously performed directly at the bolt ele ments. Through this simple embodiment of the two-part bolt elements with pivotable bolt fingers, it is pos sible for the two bolt elements to guarantee a defined and constant overload condition in an overload situa tion. In particular, it is preferable for the bolt finger to be held via a shear pin on the base body in a non- pivoted initial position. Consequently, each bolt finger can be pivoted on the respective base body between a non-pivoted initial position and a release position, wherein the bolt finger is, however, initially held in the initial position via a shear pin and after the shear pin has been sheared off as a result of an overload situa tion is pivoted into the release position. The configuration of equal torsional stiffnesses in the two bolt ele ments relative to the contact point of the actuating mechanism, combined with the release of the bolt fin gers via shear pins in an overload situation, also produces a very uniform loading of the shear pin due to a tensile force through the trailing aerial. Consequently, a very uniform and clearly defined triggering thresh old or else failure threshold of the shearing pins is guaranteed.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention envisages that the bolt finger of the first or the two bolt ele ments forms a deformation region running substantially radially to the carrier shaft and allowing defor mation of the bolt finger. Through this deformation region, the torsional stiffness of the first bolt element can advantageously be adapted to the torsional stiffness of the second bolt element which is connected to the contact point of the actuating mechanism via the carrier shaft which allows deformation for structural reasons. Via the deformation region, a reduction in torsional stiffness is deliberately imparted to the first bolt element. In a preferred embodiment, the deformation region is formed by a slot in the bolt finger run ning in a radial and an axial direction to the carrier shaft. This slot is easily reproduced in production terms.

The slot also offers the advantage that the two parts of the bolt finger separated by the slot move fully into 150641P10WO4 contact with one another from a certain load height, so that there is no inherent weakening of the bolt fin ger.

The problem is further solved by the use of a coupling device according to the invention for a releasable plug-in connection between a trailing aerial and a watercraft, in particular a submarine.

The invention is explained below with further features, details and advantages with the help of the attached drawings. The drawings in this case only illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the invention. In the draw ings Figure 1 shows a coupling device according to the invention in side view; Figure 2 shows a coupling device according to the invention in a further side view; Figure 3 shows a view of a detail of a coupling device according to the invention; Figure 4 shows a view of a further detail of a coupling device according to the invention, and Figures 5a, 5b show views of a further detail of a coupling device according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows a releasable plug-in connection 12 between a trailing aerial which is not depicted and a watercraft which is not depicted and a coupling device 10 for the plug-in connection 12. The watercraft may be a submarine.

The coupling device 10 initially comprises a frame element 14. The frame element 14 is fastened to the watercraft or in the region of the external space of the submarine in a manner not depicted in greater detail.

The plug-in connection 12, which has a first plug-in element 20 and a second plug-in element 22, is held on the frame element 14 at least indirectly. In this case, the second plug-in element 22 is held via an actu ating device 16 movably on the frame element 14 and the first plug-in element 20 is held via a locking sys tem 30 releasably on the frame element 14. The locking system 30 is only shown in the one side view of the coupling device 10 in Figure 1. The drawing described below shows the coupling device 10 in the opposite side view. In particular, the first plug-in element 20 can be moved via the locking system 30 from an un locking position into a locking position, and vice versa, in relation to the frame element 14 of the coupling device 10. A detailed description of the kinematics, in relation to how the second plug-in element 22 can be moved by means of the actuating device 16 between a position coupled with and uncoupled from the first plug-in element 20 will not be given at this point.

Figure 2 shows the locking system 30 in the opposite side view to Figure 1. The locking system 30 is to be described initially with the help of Figures 1 and 2. The locking system 30 may initially comprise an actuat ing actuator 32 configured as a hydraulic piston/cylinder unit and an actuating mechanism 40 which are both fixed to the frame element 14. The actuating mechanism 40, for its part, may comprise a toggle lever arrangement 42 which may be actuated at least indirectly via a push/pull element 34 configured as a pis 150641P10WO5 ton rod of the piston cylinder unit 32. The toggle lever arrangement 42 is firstly held on the frame element 14 and secondly conducts via a lever arm 44 a rotational movement to a carrier shaft 46. In particular, the rotational movement at one end or at least at one end region of the carrier shaft 46 may be initiated via the lever arm 44. This gives rise to a particularly advantageously space-saving arrangement of the unit compris ing an actuating mechanism 40 and actuating actuator 32, in such a manner that these are arranged on one side of the frame element 14.

At the end or in the end region of the carrier shaft 46, at which the lever arm 44 is held in a non-rotational manner, a first bolt element 50 is furthermore held in a non-rotational manner. Furthermore, at the oppo site end or in the end region of the carrier shaft 46, a second bolt element 52 is held in a non-rotational manner, as depicted in Figure 1. A rotational movement of the carrier shaft 46 about an axis A can therefore be transferred into a pivoting movement of the two bolt elements 50, 52. Via this pivoting of the two bolt elements 50, 52, the locking system 30 can move the first plug-in element 20 indirectly via the bolt ele ments 50, 52 from an unlocking position into a locking position, and vice versa, as is described in detail below.

The frame element 14 has a receiving region 18 in which the first plug-in element 20 can be received, in order to be releasably locked via the locking system 30. The receiving region 18 creates guides 241, 242 on both sides which are preferably configured as apertures in the wall of the receiving region 18. As a counter part to the guides 241, 242 the first plug-in element 20 forms first and second guide lugs 261, 262 on both sides for receiving in the guides 241, 242 of the receiving region 14. In particular, it is provided that the guide lugs 261, 262 are of such dimensions that when the plug-in element 20 is introduced into the receiv ing region 18, they project outwardly beyond an outer face of the frame element 14, so that the guide lugs 261, 262 with the bolt elements 50, 52 can move or be brought into active connection. Via this active con nection, it is possible for the first plug-in element 20, once it has been initially introduced into the receiving region 18 in a manner not described in greater detail, to be moved from an unlocking position that then exists by means of the locking system 30 into a locking position and locked therein.

Figure 3 shows a detail of a coupling device 10, in particular the first bolt element 50. The second bolt ele ment 52 is, insofar as possible, configured identically to the first bolt element 50, wherein the difference will be looked into at the appropriate point. The bolt element 50 was pivoted clockwise by the toggle lever arrangement 42, the lever arm 44 and the carrier shaft 46, so that the first plug-in element 20 is located in the locking position. The bolt element 50 comprises a base body 54, a bolt finger 56 and a counter-bolt finger 58. The bolt element 50 acts via the bolt finger 56 upon the guide lug 261 of the first plug-in element moving it into the locking position. Via the counter-bolt finger 58, the bolt element 50 can act upon the first plug-in element 20 moving it into the unlocking position. 150641P10WO6 The bolt finger 56 is held on the base body 54 pivotably about a pivot axis S via a suitable bearing ar rangement 60, wherein the bolt finger 56 is prevented from pivoting by a shear pin 62 arranged offset from the pivot axis S between the bolt finger 56 and the base body 54. If an overload situation of the first plug-in element 20 results in a corresponding shearing-off of the shear pin 62, the bolt finger 56 is able to pivot about the pivot axis S and thereby move the bolt element 50 into a release position. In the release position, the first plug-in element 20 can adopt the unlocking position, so that the overload situation is removed. In another conceivable embodiment, the shearing-off function in an overload situation can also be achieved by other suitable releasing means. Furthermore, it can be seen from Figure 3 that the bolt finger 56 has a deformation region 64 in the form of a slot. In this case, the slot 64 runs substantially radially relative to the axis A of the carrier shaft 46.

Figure 4 shows part of the locking system 30 in a cut-out representation. The carrier shaft 46 and the two bolt elements 50, 52 held thereon are shown. The base bodies 541, 542 of the bolt elements 50, 52 can be seen and the bolt fingers 561, 562 held pivotably on the base bodies 541, 542 which, however, are prevent ed from pivoting via the shear pins 621, 622, provided these have not yet sheared off as a consequence of an overload situation. The lever arm 44 in contact with the base body 541 is not shown.

One aspect of the coupling device according to the invention will be explained below with the help of Figure 4, at the same time referring to the other drawings. In the case of the locking system 30, in the locking posi tion of the first plug-in element 20, the bolt element 50 is locked directly via the actuating mechanism 40.

Half the holding force for the first plug-in element 20 in each case is transferred via the respective bolt fin ger 561, 562 of the two bolt elements 50, 52. The two half holding forces accumulate at the contact point of the lever arm 44 on the base body 541 of the first bolt element 50. Starting from this contact point, the half holding force of the second bolt element 52 is therefore transferred via the entire carrier shaft 46, whereas the half holding force of the first bolt element 50 is transferred from the contact point directly to the base body 541 thereof. The carrier shaft 46 acts to some extent as a torsion spring during this transfer. As a con sequence of these transfer conditions, the half holding force of the second bolt element 52 brings about a greater displacement of the bolt finger 562 opposing the holding force than the half holding force of the first bolt element 50 brings about a displacement of the bolt finger 561 opposing the holding force. In order to balance this unequal displacement of the bolt fingers 561, 562 as a consequence of the half holding force in each case, according to one aspect of the invention the bolt finger 561 which is, in principle, the bolt finger with the shorter transfer path of the holding force is configured with a deformation region 64 which is preferably in the form of a slot, as already described. Through this deformation region 64 of the bolt finger 561, an artificial or intended elasticity or reduced torsional stiffness is in fact imparted to the first bolt element 50 which is optimally adjusted in such a manner that it is precisely in line with the elastic ity or torsional stiffness of the second bolt element 52 which is imparted to said second bolt element via 150641P10WO7 the carrier shaft 46. According to a further aspect according to the invention it is guaranteed that the first plug-in element 20, during the action of a tensile force through the trailing aerial cable, does not tilt within the coupling device 10 or else within the second plug-in element 22, which means that the signal transmis sion remains unaffected by the plug-in connection 12. Through this aspect according to the invention it is furthermore guaranteed that the shearing pins 621, 622 are not unequally loaded in an overload situation.

Only equal loading of the shear pins 621, 622 ensures that in an overload situation both shear pins 621, 622 are moved equally to the loading threshold thereof and fail at the same time.

Figures 5a and 5b show schematically the transition of the first bolt element 50 into the release position due to the shearing-off of the shearing pin 621 when the first plug-in element 20 is in an overload situation.

Figure 5a shows the bolt finger 561 initially in a non-pivoted position in respect of the base body 54 in which the bolt finger 561 is held via the bearing arrangement 60 on the base body 54. Figure 5b shows the bolt finger 561 in a pivoted position which is the release position of the first bolt element 50 in which the pivot pin 621 is sheared off and the bolt finger 561 is only held pivoted on the base body 54 via the bearing arrangement 60. 150641P10WO8 List of reference numbers Coupling device 12 Plug-in connection 14 Frame element 16 Actuating device 18 Receiving region Plug-in element 22 Plug-in element 24 Guide 26 Guide lug Locking system 32 Actuating actuator 34 Push/pull element 40 Actuating mechanism 42 Toggle lever arrangement 44 Lever arm 46 Carrier shaft 50 Bolt element 52 Bolt element 54 Base body 56 Bolt finger 58 Counter-bolt finger 60 Bearing arrangement 62 Shear pin 64 Deformation region S Pivot axis A Axis 150641P10WO259407/4 9

Claims

CLAIMED IS:

1. A coupling device for a releasable plug-in connection between a trailing aerial and a watercraft comprising a first plug-in element and a second plug-in element for coupling a trailing aerial and watercraft, a locking system by means of which the one plug-in element of the first and second plug-in elements can be moved between an unlocking position and a locking position, wherein the locking system acts upon the one plug-in element via a first and a second bolt element moving it into the locking position and the first and second bolt element starting from the locking position of the locking system can be moved into a release position triggered by the presence of an overload condition at the one plug-in element, wherein this release position can be adopted while the locking system is in the locking position, and whereas the overload condition comprises a load component acting upon the locking system to move it from the locking position into the unlocking position.

2. The coupling device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the overload condition comprises a load component acting upon the locking system to move it from the locking position into the unlocking position.

3. The coupling device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first and the second bolt elements are connected to one another in terms of drive via a carrier shaft , wherein an actuating mechanism of the locking system acts upon the carrier shaft indirectly via the first bolt element .

4. The coupling device as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the torsional stiffness of the first bolt element relative to a contact point of the actuating mechanism at the first bolt element corresponds at least to the torsional stiffness of the second bolt element in relation to the contact point of the actuating mechanism at the first bolt element .

5. The coupling device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the first and second bolt elements are of two-part design, wherein each bolt element comprises a bolt finger held pivotably on a base body in the release position. 02555663\104-01 259407/4 10

6. The coupling device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the bolt finger is held via a shear pin on the respective base body in a non-pivoted initial position.

7. The coupling device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the bolt finger of the first of the two bolt elements forms a deformation region running radially to the carrier shaft and allowing deformation of the bolt finger .

8. The coupling device as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the deformation region is formed by a slot in the bolt finger running in a radial and an axial direction to the carrier shaft .

9. The coupling device as claimed in one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the coupling device is used for a releasable plug-in connection between a trailing aerial and a watercraft or a submarine. 02555663\104-01