METHOD FOR MINIMIZING DETONATION DAMAGE ON A WATERCRAFT

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method in which the generation of a liquid mist is used to minimize the effect of a detonation in the watercraft.

[0002] Theoretically, it is known that liquid mist can be used to influence the propagation of a detonation wave and thus minimize damage.

[0003] The disadvantage is that the creation of liquid mist almost always causes damage, especially to electronic components. Furthermore, extinguishing fluid can, of course, also affect buoyancy.

[0004] To make matters worse, it's primarily military ships that have the necessary equipment to identify approaching threats. However, on these ships in particular, the various ship systems are shielded from each other, making simple integration difficult.

[0005] From US 2006 / 0196681 A1 the suppression of a fire by means of a water mist is known.

[0006] A fire extinguishing device and a fire extinguishing method are known from WO 2003 / 061769 A1.

[0007] From US 2007 / 0159379 A1 a method and a device for protecting a ship against missiles is known.

[0008] The object of the invention is to create a method that enables a reduction in detonation damage by forming a liquid mist while simultaneously minimizing the collateral damage caused by the liquid. The object of the invention is not to compete with short-range defense systems or countermeasures, but rather to reduce damage after their failure and thus minimize the damage caused by the impact of a missile.

[0009] This object is achieved by the method having the features specified in claim 1. Advantageous further developments emerge from the subclaims, the following description and the drawings.

[0010] The method according to the invention for minimizing damage on a watercraft comprises the following steps: a) Providing the watercraft and a database, wherein the watercraft has spaces R n , wherein the database contains time information t Ri for at least one space R i , wherein the time information t Ri is the time required to generate a liquid mist in the space R i to which this time information t Ri is assigned, b) Detecting and locating a threat in the form of a flying object, c) Determining the movement of the flying object, d) Determining the collision location between the flying object and the watercraft, e) Determining the space R i of the watercraft that is adjacent to the collision location, f) Determining the time information t Ri for this space R i from the database, g) Determining the time t 0 at which the flying object has reached a position at which the remaining flight time to the collision location corresponds to the time information t Ri, h) At time t 0 or at time t 0 - Δt 0 , the generation of a liquid mist in the space R i begins,where Δt 0 is a given tolerance time interval. ,

[0011] Watercraft within the meaning of the invention are in particular military watercraft, in particular military surface vehicles, for example and preferably cruisers, destroyers, frigates, corvettes, task force supply ships, minesweepers, minehunters, aircraft carriers, helicopter carriers, amphibious warships, landing ships, battleships.

[0012] The vessel has n spaces R n , where n is a natural number. A specific space is determined by numbering the spaces. For example, a vessel has 10 spaces. Thus, there are the spaces R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 and R 10 . R i is the i-th space of the vessel, where i is a natural number between 1 and n.

[0013] Rooms within the meaning of the invention are spaces inside the watercraft, for example the bridge, mess, galley, quarters, corridors, engine rooms, and the like. Rooms are therefore interior spaces of the watercraft, which, like a hangar, can also have a large opening to the outside. A room usually has walls, a floor, and a ceiling. Rooms usually have a door for entry, although there are also rooms on a watercraft that can only be entered through an opening in the ceiling, for example a battery room. Room is therefore to be understood in the sense of a room.

[0014] Virtual positions outside the watercraft, such as in US 2007 / 0159379 A1, are not spaces within the meaning of the invention.

[0015] The database contains the time information t R1 , t R2 , ... t Rn-1 , t Rn for each of the rooms R 1 , R 2 , ... R n-1 , R n. The time t Ri for the room R i results from the time required to generate a liquid mist in the room R i. This time depends, for example, on the size of the room and the number of sprinkler systems that can be used to generate the liquid mist.

[0016] In this case, time information tRi does not have to be stored for every room Ri of the watercraft. For example, rooms that are internal or permanently below the waterline can be excluded if an impact by a missile is considered unrealistic. Likewise, rooms in which liquid mist cannot and should not be generated could be excluded, for example, IT rooms that have an automatic extinguishing device using CO2. Thus, it is advantageous to record at least those rooms Ri that have a device for generating liquid mist in the database.

[0017] Particularly preferably, at least the spaces R i are covered which are arranged on the outside of the watercraft in the above-water area.

[0018] Flying objects encompass all possible threats, from warheads, grenades, cruise missiles, rockets, and even aircraft. These can be purely ballistic, actively controlled, or ballistic with control capabilities, with the control capabilities being either active or passive.

[0019] The spaces R 1 , R 2 , ... R n-1 , R n can also be grouped into functional groups or connected locations and accessed together. For example, the ammunition depots, ship sections, or external spaces on the port or starboard side can form common groups. It is essential to group the spaces in such a way that the spread of damage to the ship is slowed and the damage itself is reduced. Criteria for forming space groups can be the ship's structural layout.

[0020] Another advantage of the invention is that this additional protection is undetectable to an enemy. Virtually all larger military vessels are equipped with both a radar system and a sprinkler system capable of generating a liquid mist. However, these are usually integrated into different and strictly separate ship systems. While the combat management system is connected to the radar, an integrated platform management system controls the firefighting equipment. Such a military vessel can easily be equipped with a control system for implementing the method according to the invention. However, unlike stronger armor, for example, this system is not detectable by an enemy from the outside, meaning that the weakened detonation effect of a warhead is unpredictable for the enemy in the field.

[0021] In step h), a liquid mist is generated inside at least one room and thus inside the watercraft. This is disadvantageous for two reasons. Firstly, unused extinguishing water can cause damage to everything from electronic devices and paper documents to food and clothing. Secondly, water also gets into the interior of the watercraft, something that is usually avoided in the interest of buoyancy. The core of the invention is to accept these disadvantages in order to minimize the effect of a warhead detonation. The aim here is not, or at least not primarily, to extinguish a potential fire before it starts, but rather to mitigate the spread of a pressure wave or a plasma lance generated by a warhead and thus to reduce the primary damage caused by a warhead.

[0022] Steps b) and c) are preferably carried out using radar, optical sensors, and / or acoustic sensors. Steps b) and c) are particularly preferably carried out using radar.

[0023] The determination of the movement in step c) can be based either on two time-spaced measurements and the measured position difference. It can also be done directly, for example, using frequency shift (Doppler effect).

[0024] Preferably, all method steps are performed on one vessel. However, it is also conceivable, particularly in a convoy, that steps b) and c) are performed by a second vessel, for example, and in particular, an escort vessel, such as a destroyer, and the acquired data is then transferred to the first vessel, such as a task force support vessel, which does not have a radar system of its own, or at least not a comparable one. If necessary, step e) can also be performed on the second vessel.

[0025] It may be advantageous that in step h) a liquid mist is not only generated in room R i, but that in the event of an acute threat this may be carried out in neighboring rooms, for example in rooms R i-1 and R i+1. For this purpose, steps f) to h) are preferably carried out for each room R i-1 , R i and R i+1. This results in a time t 0,Ri-1 for room R i-1, a time t 0,Ri for room R i and a time t 0,Ri+1 for room R i+1.

[0026] It may also be advantageous to select all spaces located within a ship section or a cordonable area. This ensures that the area over which a pressure wave or fire can spread is already filled with liquid mist, reducing damage across the entire area.

[0027] Of course, further measures can be taken after step b) to prevent the missile from impacting, for example, using short-range defense systems to attempt to destroy the missile before it reaches the watercraft. Countermeasures can also be used to deceive the missile's homing function and thus guide the missile away from the watercraft. These measures can also be carried out in parallel with step h). Although water damage has already occurred in the affected areas, preventing the impact is still always the best option. The method according to the invention thus represents an additional and downstream line of defense to conventional short-range defense systems and countermeasures.

[0028] In a further embodiment of the invention, steps c) to e) are continuously repeated to detect changes in movement. This allows both course corrections by the flying object and changes in movement of the watercraft to be taken into account. This is preferred because even simple artillery shells, particularly in versions with increased range, possess a certain degree of maneuverability. And with anti-ship missiles, powerful maneuvers to overcome hard-kill defenses are common today, especially when approaching targets. If the change in step e) identifies a different space R i , steps f) and g) are also performed again.

[0029] Continuous observation of the flying object can also determine whether it has been eliminated, for example, by a hard kill, and thus no longer poses a threat. In this case, the method according to the invention is preferably aborted as quickly as possible to avoid unnecessary water damage.

[0030] In a further embodiment of the invention, after the flying object impacts the watercraft at time t On, the generation of the liquid mist continues for a period Δt On. During the time from t On to t On + Δt On, fire monitoring is carried out in the room R i to determine whether the impact has triggered a fire in the room R i in question. If a fire is detected, the generation of the liquid mist continues beyond time t On + Δt On. If no fire is detected, the generation of the liquid mist stops at time t On + Δt On.

[0031] In a further embodiment of the invention, steps b) and c) are carried out by a combat management system. The combat management system on a military watercraft comprises the controls, for example, of the sensors for detecting the threat situation, such as radar, as well as the control of the effectors, such as guns, missiles, or short-range defense systems. The combat management system is therefore specially shielded for security reasons in order to prevent any unwanted external interference. Steps d) to h) are carried out by a control system. The control system can, in particular, be designed as a standalone system in order to carry out only this part of the method according to the invention outside of the other ship systems, which enables optimal integration into the security architecture and optimal retrofitability.The Combat Management System and the control system are connected via a unidirectional connection for transmitting data from the Combat Management System to the control system. Unidirectional connections are established, for example, via so-called data diodes and ensure that, for example, no malware can be transmitted from the control system to the Combat Management System, thus fully guaranteeing the security of the system.

[0032] In a further embodiment of the invention, the generation of a liquid mist in step h) by a control system occurs when the control system transmits a fire alarm to the firefighting system. The firefighting system then initiates firefighting measures that lead to the generation of the liquid mist. For example, and preferably, the sprinkler system in room R i is activated. The advantage of this system is that no new systems need to be installed on the vessel other than a control system. The control system utilizes the existing ship systems. This saves space, weight, and integration complexity and enables optimal retrofitability.

[0033] In a further embodiment of the invention, a non-conductive fluid is used to generate the liquid mist, for example CF 3 CF 2 C(O)CF(CF 3 ) 2 . For example, and preferably, the watercraft has a supply of non-conductive fluid to enable generation of the liquid mist at least from t 0 to t Ein + Δt Ein. If the non-conductive fluid is used up, further firefighting can also be carried out with fresh water or sea water. Damage, for example to electronics, is then accepted, since an arbitrarily large supply of non-conductive fluid is not practical and firefighting takes priority over damage caused by extinguishing water.

[0034] In a further embodiment of the invention, heading data and speed data of the watercraft are used to determine the collision location in step d). The current heading allows for an accurate prediction of the future location of the watercraft. While this information can only be predicted from the past for the flying object, this additional information is available to the watercraft for its own future, which increases the prediction probability.

[0035] The method according to the invention is explained in more detail below using an embodiment shown in the drawings. Fig. 1 Watercraft Fig. 2 First threat scenario Fig. 3 Second threat scenario

[0036] In Fig. 1 a watercraft 10 is shown in a highly schematic manner. The watercraft 10 has a radar 40 which is controlled via a combat management system 50. The combat management system 50 is connected to a control system 30 via a data diode 60. The combat management system 50 transmits information about approaching flying objects 80 to the control system 30 via the data diode 60. The control system 30 has a database in which the time information t Ri is stored for all rooms R i of the watercraft 10. If the control system 30 identifies a room R i that is threatened by an approaching flying object 80 and is to be protected by a liquid mist, the control system 30 transmits a fictitious fire alarm for the room R i to the integrated platform management system 70 at time t 0 .The integrated platform management system 70 controls a firefighting system, which also includes the firefighting equipment B i in the rooms R i . Through the simulated fire alarm, the integrated platform management system 70 activates the firefighting equipment B i in the affected room R i . As a result, a liquid mist is formed in the room R i at the exact moment t Ein at which the flying object 80 impacts the room R i , and the detonation effect is minimized.

[0037] Fig. 2 shows a first scenario with a purely ballistic flying object 80. At a time t D , the flying object 80 is detected, and its direction and speed are determined. This time t D is in Fig. 2a However, since the vessel 10 is not at rest, it moves forward, as shown in Fig. 2a above Fig. 2b to Fig. 2c Since the control system 20 receives the information about this self-motion from the Integrated Platform Management System 70, the control system can already recognize the space R 5 as the impact location at time t D. For Fig. 2b At the time t 0 shown, the remaining flight time of the flying object 80 is equal to the time required to generate a liquid mist in the space R 5, which is why the control system initiates this at this time. Fig. 2c then shows the impact at time t Ein , at which the liquid mist in space R 5 is fully formed.

[0038] In Fig. 3 a slightly different picture emerges. Analogous to Fig. 2a is at time t D in Fig. 3 the flying object 80 is detected, direction and speed are determined and the impact for space R 5 is predicted. At this time, however, the flying object 80 changes its direction of flight slightly, which is detected by the radar 30 between t D and t 0. As a result, the impact prediction is changed to space R 3 and at time t 0 , which is in Fig. 3b which creates liquid mist in space R 3. The impact of the flying object 80 into space R 3 at time t Ein is shown in Fig. 3c to see.

[0039] To cover a further, unpredictable change in the trajectory of the flying object 80, a liquid mist can be generated in the spaces R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 at time t 0 . While this increases the damage caused by the liquid mist, a possible deviation of the flying object 80 from the predicted course still leads to a dampening of the detonation, even if it impacts the space R 2 or R 4 . Spaces located further away have too low a threat probability, so no liquid mist is generated there. Reference symbol

[0040] 10Vessel 20Database 30Control System 40Radar 50Combat Management Systems 60Data Diode 70Integrated Platform Management System 80Flying Object R i Space i (i is a natural number) B i Firefighting Equipment i (i is a natural number)

Claims

1. A method for minimizing damage on a watercraft (10), wherein the method has the following steps: a) provision of the watercraft (10) and a database (20), wherein the watercraft (10) has rooms Rn, wherein the database (20) contains time information tRi for at least one room Ri, wherein the time information tRi is the time required to generate a liquid mist in the room Ri to which this time information tRi is assigned, b) detecting and locating a threat in the form of a flying object (80), c) determining the movement of the flying object (80), d) determining the location of the collision between the flying object (80) and the watercraft (10), e) determining the room Ri of the watercraft (10) adjacent to the location of the collision, f) determining the time information tRi for this room Ri from the database (20), g) determining the time t0 at which the flying object (80) has reached a position at which the remaining flight time to the collision location corresponds to the time information tRi, h) at the time t0 or at the time t0 - Δt0 start the generation of a liquid mist in the room Ri, wherein Δt0 is a predetermined tolerance time interval.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that steps c) to e) are continuously repeated to detect changes in motion, wherein another room Ri is identified by a change in step e), and the steps f) and g) are carried out.

3. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that after the impact of the flying object (80) into the watercraft (10) at time tEin the generation of the liquid mist is continued for a period of time ΔtEin, wherein during the time from tEin to tEin + ΔtEin fire monitoring is carried out in the room Ri and, in the case of a detected fire, the generation of the liquid mist is continued over the time tEin + ΔtEin, wherein in the absence of a detected fire the generation of the liquid mist is stopped at time tEin + ΔtEin.

4. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the steps b) and c) are carried out by a combat management system (50), wherein the steps d) to h) are carried out by a control system, wherein the combat management system (50) and the control system (30) are only connected to the control system (30) via a unidirectional connection for the transfer of data from the combat management system (50) to the control system (30).

5. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the generation of a liquid mist in step h) by a control system (30) is carried out in that the control system (30) transmits a fire message to the firefighting system and as a result the firefighting system initiates firefighting measures leading to the generation of the liquid mist.

6. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a non-conductive fluid is used to generate the liquid mist.

7. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that course data and speed data of the watercraft (10) are used to determine the collision location in step d).