EP3507190B1 - Modular storage room for storing and handling weapons in particular, and ship including such a storage room - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a modular warehouse for storage and handling, in particular for weapons.

The invention also relates to a ship such as a surface vessel or a submarine comprising such a warehouse which is integrated into a room commonly called an ammunition bay in this type of application.

Such a warehouse can also be provided in onshore facilities.

It is known that ships or onshore installations intended for this type of application include storage means making it possible to store weapons in complete safety.

Such means must have a certain number of characteristics, in particular for securing the weapons and the personnel having to intervene therein, while having a very small size and weight.

Moreover, and in certain applications, such warehouses must also allow the handling of weapons, for example in order to load or unload them and to bring them into corresponding launching means, such as torpedo tubes or missile launchers.

This then results, for example in ships such as submarines, by extremely complex structures of weapon storage and handling systems, such as torpedoes, missiles, drones, mines, etc. ...

These complex structures are heavy and bulky.

In addition, they bring strong integration constraints into the ship.

In surface ships, it has also been proposed to produce the storage means in the form of torpedo reception boxes. These lockers are then associated with handling means such as traveling cranes making it possible to handle the torpedoes by gripping them directly.

In any event, these storage means have fixed structures which consequently occupy the entire space of the ammunition bay, even when there is nothing to store.

Various prior documents describe storage systems for this type of application.

So for example, documents US2008 / 156182 and US5445104 describe warehouses.

The document US2010 / 236945 describes an ammunition container.

The document GB2525672 describes a vertical storage system for munitions such as missiles.

The document US 2002/100707 describes a pallet for transporting generally cylindrical objects.

It will be understood that all these systems have a certain number of drawbacks, in particular in terms of the lack of modularity of this assembly and of the adaptability of these warehouses to other applications, or with a view to objectives other than storage of weapons.

There is also a lack of interoperability between the storage facilities of the ships.

The aim of the invention is therefore to resolve these problems.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a vessel according to claim 1.

The vessel may include one or more of the features according to claims 2 to 8.

• la figure 1 représente une vue en perspective avec des portions arrachées, d'un entrepôt modulable de stockage et de manutention d'armes, dans un navire tel que par exemple un sous-marin
• la figure 2 représente une vue en perspective d'un casier individuel de stockage d'une arme ;
• la figure 3 représente une vue en perspective d'un ensemble de piles de casiers de stockage d'armes, verrouillés entre eux, de telle sorte qu'ils forment une structure rigide ;
• les figures 4, 5, 6, 7 et 8 illustrent différentes vues montrant différentes configurations et utilisations d'un entrepôt selon l'invention ;
• les figures 9 et 10 illustrent le chargement d'une arme dans un tel entrepôt ;
• la figure 11 illustre une configuration d'entrepôt avec des casiers collapsés ;
• la figure 12 illustre une configuration d'entrepôt avec des éléments modulaires formant passerelle, placés sur des piles de casiers.

The invention will be better understood with the aid of the description which will follow, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• the figure 1 represents a perspective view with portions broken away, of a modular warehouse for the storage and handling of weapons, in a ship such as for example a submarine
• the figure 2 shows a perspective view of an individual locker for storing a weapon;
• the figure 3 shows a perspective view of a set of stacks of weapons storage lockers, locked together, so that they form a rigid structure;
• the figures 4, 5, 6 , 7 and 8 illustrate different views showing different configurations and uses of a warehouse according to the invention;
• the figures 9 and 10 illustrate the loading of a weapon in such a warehouse;
• the figure 11 illustrates a warehouse configuration with collapsed lockers;
• the figure 12 illustrates a warehouse configuration with modular elements forming a walkway, placed on stacks of lockers.

It has in fact been illustrated in these figures and in particular in the figure 1 , an exemplary embodiment of a modular storage warehouse, in particular for weapons or others, according to the invention.

In the example illustrated in these figures, this warehouse is integrated into a ship such as a submarine, the submarine being designated by the general reference 1 on this figure 1 .

Of course, such a warehouse can also be provided in a surface building.

A room including such a warehouse in an onshore installation can also be considered.

The submarine 1 described in the example comprises for example several decks and is provided with at least one weapons storage warehouse designated by the general reference 2.

As illustrated, this storage warehouse, in particular for weapons 2, is in fact the storage bay, for example for torpedoes or other types of weaponry or others of the submarine 1.

Thus, for example, we can cite missiles, drones, mines ...

The front wall of this warehouse 2, designated by the general reference 3, is provided with gun launcher tubes, such as for example torpedo tubes, similar to that designated by the general reference 4 on this figure 1 .

Conventionally, several torpedo tubes 4 can be provided in this front bulkhead 3 of the thick hull of the submarine 1, to ensure the launching of the weapons.

In fact and according to the invention, this warehouse 2 comprises a floor, designated by the general reference 5 on this figure 1 , on which are provided means for hooking stacks of elongated storage racks for weapons and the like.

Several piles of lockers of this nature are indeed illustrated on this figure 1 such as, for example, the batteries designated by the references 6, 7, 8 and 9 on this figure 1 .

These stacks of racks 6, 7, 8 and 9 are formed of individual racks stacked on top of each other and locked to each other, as will be described in more detail below.

It will simply be noted, for example, that the stack of racks 6 comprises different racks stacked on top of each other such as, for example, racks 10 and 11.

These lockers each contain, for example, a torpedo.

The warehouse 2 also comprises means in the form of a gantry for handling these lockers 10,11.

These means in the form of a handling gantry are designated by the general reference 12.

As mentioned above, the lockers 10, 11 are individual boxes for receiving, for example, at least one weapon, such as a torpedo, as illustrated in the figures. figures 2 and 3 .

On the figure 2 , there is illustrated a locker such as for example the locker designated by the general reference 10.

This box 10 is then an individual box for receiving, for example, a torpedo designated by the general reference 13.

This individual locker 10 then comprises a part in the form of an elongated cradle, designated by the general reference 14, for receiving at least one weapon such as the torpedo 13.

This individual box 10 also comprises, on each side of the cradle-shaped part 14, members in the form of a stacking column.

Thus, for example, stacking columns, such as the end columns 15 and 16, can be regularly distributed on each side of this part in the form of an elongated cradle 14 and then make it possible to stack the individual compartments one on top of the other. others, to form piles of lockers.

So and as shown on the figure 3 , such racks 10 can be stacked on top of each other as needed.

Of course, such lockers 10 can receive loads other than weapons.

It can then be seen that these different stacks 6, 7, 8 and 9 of stacked individual lockers are locked on the means in the form of a floor 5, in an appropriate manner to avoid any risk of the latter tipping over.

Another particularity of these lockers is that they can be collapsible, in particular to reduce their bulk when they are empty and to facilitate their boarding on board.

For example, we have illustrated on the figure 1 , in the stack 6 of racks, in addition to the racks 10 and 11 described above, three racks stacked on top of each other and collapsed in order to reduce their bulk.

These collapsed lockers are designated by the references 17, 18 and 19 respectively on the figure 1 .

The means in the form of a handling gantry 12 of these racks then comprise a gantry, for example motorized and movable transversely in the warehouse 2, above the stacks of racks 6, 7, 8 and 9.

The movable gantry 12 is provided with means for gripping these racks in order to handle them, for example from above.

This is for example illustrated on the figures 4, 5, 6 , 7 and 8 .

In fact, we can recognize in these figures, the submarine 1, the warehouse 2, the front bulkhead 3 thereof, the torpedo tube 4, the floor 5 and interposed shock and vibration damping means. for example between the floor 5 and the rest of the structure of the ship.

These different means include, for example, elements or pads of damping material, regularly distributed between the floor 5 and the rest of the ship.

One of these elements is for example designated by the general reference 20.

In these figures, we also recognize the stacks of individual compartments, as well as the gantry-shaped handling means.

It can then be seen, as illustrated in these figures, that these means in the form of a handling gantry 12 make it possible to move the various racks to form stacks, for example symmetrically on either side of the longitudinal plane of the warehouse. 2, in one or more storage areas and delimiting, for example as illustrated in the figures 7 and 8 , one or two corridors between these piles of lockers, in order to facilitate the movement of personnel in the warehouse.

The means in the form of a handling gantry 12 also make it possible, as illustrated in the figure 6 , to bring a locker next to a loading opening of a weapon in one of the torpedo tubes such as tube 4.

These gantry-shaped means 12 then also include means for pushing the weapon into this torpedo tube 4 in order to load the latter.

These thrust means therefore pass through the lockers when loading or retrieving a weapon in one of the torpedo tubes such as tube 4.

Conventionally, the means in the form of a handling gantry 12 then comprise a pusher designated by the general reference 21 on this figure 6 .

Of course and again in a conventional manner, this weapons storage warehouse 2 can be provided with an access hatch allowing the passage of the lockers, to load and / or unload them in and out of this warehouse, in particular thanks to for example to a tilting ramp integrated into the floor.

The loading and / or unloading of the lockers is illustrated on the figures 9 and 10 , where we recognize the submarine 1, the warehouse 2, the front bulkhead 3 thereof.

In these figures, the weapons storage warehouse 2 and the submarine 1 are then provided with an access hatch, designated by the general reference 22, allowing for example a handling tool 23, to engage a locker such as for example the locker 24, on a tilting ramp, integrated into the floor of the warehouse 2, in order to load this locker in this warehouse.

We have illustrated on the figure 11 , an end view of such a warehouse 2, showing a stack of racks such as stack 6, comprising racks 10 and 11 in the deployed position and racks 17, 18 and 19 collapsed, to save space.

Finally and as shown on the figure 12 , there may also be provided modular elements forming a walkway, adapted to be placed on stacks of lockers, also to facilitate the movement of staff in warehouse 2 and access the high lockers.

On this figure 12 , elements of this nature are for example arranged on stacks of racks 25 and 26.

The modular elements forming a gateway are designated by the respective references 27 and 28.

These modular elements 27 and 28 are then arranged where desired to form a passage above the lockers.

It can then be seen that such a structure has a certain number of advantages, in particular in terms of its modularity.

In fact, lockers can be stacked on top of each other and be loaded or unloaded from the ship to adapt the warehouse to the different missions in which, for example, the ship must participate.

Thus, the number of racks for weapons and / or various materials can be adapted to the mission and space can be saved in the warehouse to be used for other applications.

It goes without saying of course that still other embodiments can be envisaged.

Claims (8)

1. Ship comprising at least one modular storage room for storing and handling weapons in particular (2), characterized in that said storage room includes individual racks (10, 11) arranged to stack on one another and lock together to form stacks of racks (6, 7, 8 and 9), a floor (5) on which fastening means are provided for the stacks (6, 7, 8 and 9) of elongate racks for receiving weapons and means in the form of gantry cranes (12) for said racks (10, 11),

   in that the racks (10, 11) are collapsible while remaining stackable, to reduce their bulk when they are empty or to make them easier to place on board a ship, including when they contain weapons,

   and in that one of the walls (3) of the premise containing the storage room (2) includes at least one weapon launching tube (4), the gantry crane (12) of the racks (10, 11) being suitable for bringing a rack opposite a loading opening of a weapon into said tube and includes means (21) for pushing and recovering the weapon in the tube.
2. Ship according to claim 1, wherein each rack (10, 11) includes a part in the form of an elongate cradle (14) for receiving at least one weapon or the like, and on each side of said means, members in the form of stacking columns (15, 16) suitable for being stacked on one another and locked to one another to form the stacks of racks (6, 7, 8 and 9).
3. Ship according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gantry crane-forming means (12) include at least one gantry movable transversely in the storage room (2) above the stacks of racks (10, 11) and provided with means for grasping the latter to handle them.
4. Ship according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gantry crane-forming means (12) comprise pusher-forming means making it possible to load and unload weapons in the container and in the corresponding launch means.
5. Ship according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it includes modular elements forming a gateway (27, 28) suitable for being arranged on the individual racks and on the stacks of racks (6, 7, 8 and 9) to facilitate the movements of the operators in the storage room (2) and to facilitate the accessibility to the racks stored heightwise and to their contents.
6. Ship according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the floor (5) of the storage room (2) is associated with the rest of the structure of the ship (1) through means for damping vibrations and impacts (20).
7. Ship according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ship is a submarine (1).
8. Ship according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ship is a surface ship.

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