VEHICLE RECOVERY DEVICE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for recovering a vehicle, for example an unmanned surface drone (or USV) or an unmanned underwater drone (or UUV) or an unmanned autonomous vehicle.

[0002] WO97 / 39940A1 and FR2556309A1 propose devices for launching and recovering a vehicle comprising a floating cradle (also called a "floating cage" or "floating dock") configured to receive and support the vehicle, the floating cradle being configured to be manipulated using a lifting means provided on a vessel or a floating platform or a fixed installation, in order to be lowered onto the water from the vessel, the floating platform or the fixed installation for launching the vehicle, or raised onto the vessel, the floating platform or the fixed installation, for recovering the vehicle.

[0003] In vehicle recovery operations, the floating cradle is lowered into the water, the vehicle is retracted into the cradle, and then the cradle is raised onto the vessel, floating platform, or fixed installation.

[0004] However, it may be difficult to get the vehicle into the cradle due to swell, particularly when the sea is in a rough state and / or the vehicle has to be lifted onto a moving vessel, due to unavoidable relative movements between the vessel, the floating platform or fixed installation, the cradle launched and the vehicle.

[0005] US5641242A discloses an apparatus for lifting a boat, comprising a fixed frame on which is mounted a frame pivoting about a horizontal axis so as to be lowered to facilitate raising the boat onto the pivoting frame and raised to support the boat using the pivoting frame.

[0006] US8821066B1 discloses a device for recovering a marine vehicle comprising a recovery cradle having an entrance delimited between a port fender and a starboard fender arranged symmetrically to ensure centering of the marine vehicle.

[0007] DE19500182A1 discloses a boat recovery cradle comprising two side walls with pivotally mounted grab legs to selectively allow boat entry and surround the boat.

[0008] One of the aims of the invention is to propose a device for recovering a vehicle which facilitates the recovery operation.

[0009] For this purpose, the invention provides a recovery device according to claim 1.

[0010] The rear lateral extension extending from one of the two lateral parts delimiting the entrance to the cradle makes it possible to guide the bow (or stem) of a vehicle seeking to enter the cradle, by allowing the vehicle to approach obliquely relative to the cradle, so that the stem comes into contact with the rear lateral extension and is deflected towards the entrance to the cradle.

[0011] The entry of the vehicle into the cradle is then facilitated since it is no longer necessary to align the longitudinal axis of the vehicle with that of the cradle in order to be able to enter the vehicle into the cradle.

[0012] Optional features of the recovery device are defined in claims 2 to 5.

[0013] The invention also relates to a ship according to claim 6.

[0014] The invention further relates to a recovery method according to claim 7.

[0015] Optional recovery process features are defined in claims 8 to 10.

[0016] The invention and its advantages will be better understood upon reading the description which follows, given solely as a non-limiting example, and made with reference to the appended drawing, in which the only Figure is a schematic top view of a ship equipped with a device for recovering a vehicle, the recovery device being in a first configuration.

[0017] The vessel 2 illustrated in the Figure is equipped with a recovery device 4 for recovering a vehicle 6 to reassemble it on the vessel 2. The recovery device can also advantageously be used for launching the vehicle from the vessel 2.

[0018] The vessel 2 is partially illustrated in the Figure, with only a starboard side 8 and a portion of a deck 10 of the vessel 2 being visible. The vessel 2 is, for example, moving forward in a direction of advance E.

[0019] The vessel 2 is equipped with a lifting means 12 (shown in dotted lines in the Figure) allowing the recovery device 4 to be handled from the vessel 2.

[0020] The lifting means 12 is for example mounted on the deck 10 of the ship 2 by being tilted around a horizontal axis A between a retracted position (not shown) in which the lifting means 12 makes it possible to handle loads above the deck 10 and an extended position (illustrated in dotted lines in the Figure) in which the lifting means 12 projects outside the ship, beyond the gunwale, to raise or lower loads located next to the ship 2.

[0021] As shown in the Figure, the lifting means 12 is in the extended position and the recovery device 4 is launched next to the vessel 2, to starboard.

[0022] The vehicle 6 is for example a surface vehicle or an underwater vehicle, such an underwater vehicle also being able to float and move on the surface of the water, in particular during a launching maneuver or a recovery maneuver.

[0023] The vehicle 6 is for example an unmanned drone on board, in particular an unmanned surface drone on board (or USV from the English "Unmanned Surface Vessel") or an unmanned underwater drone on board (or UUV from the English "Unmanned Underwater Vessel" or UAV from the English "Unmanned Autonomous Vehicle"). Alternatively, the vehicle 6 is a surface drone with a pilot on board or an underwater drone with a pilot on board.

[0024] The vehicle 6 has a longitudinal axis B and has a bow 6A (front part of the vehicle 6) and a stern 6B (rear part of the vehicle 6) spaced along this longitudinal axis B.

[0025] The vehicle 6 preferably comprises a propulsion system 14 providing propulsion for the vehicle 6. The propulsion system 14 comprises, for example, one or more motor(s) and / or one or more propellant(s).

[0026] The vehicle 6 preferably comprises a steering system 16 for steering the vehicle 6. The steering system 16 comprises, for example, one or more rudders. As a variation or as an optional addition, the steering system 16 is configured to allow the orientation of at least a portion of the propulsion system 14, for example the orientation of one or more thrusters.

[0027] The recovery device 4 comprises a cradle 18 configured to receive the vehicle 6 and to support it.

[0028] The cradle 18 is buoyant. Thus, it floats when placed in the water. Such a floating cradle 18 is also called a "floating cage" or "floating dock."

[0029] When the vehicle 6 is received in the cradle 18, the cradle 18 is suitable for being handled to remove the vehicle 6 from the water or put it in the water, the vehicle 6 being carried by the cradle 18.

[0030] The cradle 18 extends along a longitudinal axis C and has a front end 18A and a rear end 18B spaced along this longitudinal axis C of the cradle 18.

[0031] The cradle 18 is configured so that the vehicle 6 on the water surface can enter the cradle 18 floating on the water surface through the rear end 18B of the cradle 18, i.e. from rear to front.

[0032] The cradle 18 is provided to receive the vehicle 6 with the longitudinal axis B of the vehicle 6 substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis C of the cradle 18, the bow 6A of the vehicle 6 being adjacent to the front end 18A of the cradle 18 and the stern 6B of the vehicle 6 being adjacent to the rear end 18B of the cradle 18.

[0033] The cradle 18 has at its rear end 18B an entrance 20 allowing the vehicle 6 to enter the cradle 18 when the cradle 18 is floating on the water.

[0034] The cradle 18 has two lateral parts 22 delimiting between them the entrance 20 of the cradle 18. The two lateral parts 22 make it possible in particular to guide the vehicle 6 laterally when it enters the cradle 18.

[0035] The cradle 18 is configured or configurable so that it has a rear lateral extension 24 extending longitudinally rearwardly from only one of the lateral portions 22 delimiting the entrance 20.

[0036] The rear lateral extension 24 extends rearwardly from one of the lateral parts 22 substantially along the longitudinal axis C of the cradle 18.

[0037] One side portion 22 is provided with the rear side extension 24, the other side portion 22 being devoid of such rear side extension.

[0038] The rear lateral extension 24 extends longitudinally rearwardly beyond the inlet 20.

[0039] The rear lateral extension 24 extends the lateral part 22 on which it is arranged towards the rear of the cradle 18, from the entrance 20.

[0040] As illustrated in the Figure, the cradle 18 provided with the rear lateral extension 24 has, in top view, an asymmetrical shape relative to a vertical median plane passing through the longitudinal axis C of the cradle 18, this asymmetrical shape being conferred by the rear lateral extension 24.

[0041] The side of the cradle 18 whose lateral portion 22 is provided with the rear lateral extension 24 extends further towards the rear than the side of the cradle 18 without the rear lateral extension.

[0042] The lateral parts 22 of the cradle 18 extend symmetrically on either side of the median plane. In particular, the lateral parts 22 have the same length, taken along the longitudinal axis C of the cradle 18.

[0043] The asymmetry of the cradle 18 is conferred by the rear lateral extension 24 which extends one of the lateral parts 22 towards the rear of the cradle 18, the other lateral part 22 not being extended.

[0044] The rear lateral extension 24 is preferably of a length, taken along the longitudinal axis C of the cradle 18, greater than or equal to 1 / 6 of the length of the lateral part 22 of the cradle 18. The length of the lateral part 22 of the cradle 18 is taken along the longitudinal axis C of the cradle 18, between the inlet 20 and the front end 18A of the cradle 18.

[0045] The cradle 18 is advantageously configured to prevent the vehicle 6 from exiting at the front end 18A of the cradle 18. To do this, for example, the cradle 18 narrows towards its front end 18A and / or is closed at its front end 18A.

[0046] Advantageously, the cradle 18 is streamlined and has a hull extending along the longitudinal axis C of the cradle 18. Such a hull reduces the resistance to forward movement and the wake of the cradle 18 when the cradle 18 is launched on the side of the ship 2 which is moving forward on the water.

[0047] As illustrated in the Figure, the rear lateral extension 24 is provided on the port lateral portion 22 of the cradle 18, i.e. the lateral portion 22 located on the left of the cradle 18 when looking from towards the front of the cradle 18, and the cradle 18 is launched on the starboard side of the vessel 2. Thus, the rear extension 24, which is located on the port side of the cradle 18, is located on the lateral portion 22 of the entrance 20 of the cradle 18 which is adjacent to the vessel 2.

[0048] In operation, for the recovery of the vehicle 6, the cradle 18 is launched using the lifting means 12 alongside the vessel 2, here on the starboard side. The cradle 18 is held on the side, for example using the lifting means 12 and / or cables connecting for example the front end of the cradle 18 to the vessel 2.

[0049] The cradle 18 follows the route of the ship 2. The vehicle 6 is piloted towards the entrance 20 of the cradle 18 by approaching from the starboard side, following a route converging with that of the cradle 18, i.e. by advancing in a direction of movement making a non-zero angle with that of the cradle 18 and approaching the ship 2. In the Figure, the longitudinal axis B of the vehicle 6 makes a non-zero angle α with the longitudinal axis C of the cradle 18. In particular, the propulsion system 14 and the steering system 16 of the vehicle 6 are piloted to follow such a route towards the cradle 18 launched into the water.

[0050] The vehicle 6 is thus piloted so as to arrive from the rear and obliquely relative to the cradle 18, on the side of the entrance 20 of the cradle opposite the rear lateral extension 24, so that its bow 6A comes into contact with the rear lateral extension 24 of the cradle 18. The rear lateral extension 24 then guides the vehicle 6 by deflecting the bow 6A of the vehicle 6 towards the entrance 20 of the cradle 18. The rear lateral extension 24 of the cradle 18 is therefore configured to guide the bow 6A of the vehicle 6 towards the entrance 20 of the cradle 18.

[0051] Once the vehicle 6 is received inside the cradle 18, the cradle 18 carrying the vehicle 6 is lifted out of the water and brought back onto the ship 2, in particular onto the deck 10, using the lifting means 12.

[0052] Thus, the presence of the rear lateral extension 24 facilitates the entry of the vehicle 6 into the cradle 18 when recovering the vehicle 6.

[0053] This entry of vehicle 6 can in fact be made difficult by the swell which causes relative movements of the vessel 2, the cradle 18 and the vehicle 6 which are difficult to predict and control, particularly when the sea is in a rough state.

[0054] Furthermore, to recover the vehicle 6 without interrupting the progress of the ship 2, it is desirable to recover the vehicle 6 while the ship 2 is moving forward. However, when it is moving forward, the ship 2 creates a suction which tends to attract any floating object located near the ship 2 on the side of the latter towards the ship 2. Thus, the vehicle 6 approaching from the side of the moving ship 2 tends to be attracted towards the ship 2. The rear lateral extension 24 located on the cradle 18 on the side of the ship 2 makes it possible to guide the vehicle 6 towards the entrance 22 while preventing it from going towards the ship 2.

[0055] Finally, as it moves forward, ship 2 creates a wake that takes the form of a cone of transverse and diverging waves (a wake commonly called a "Kelvin" wake), which tends to disturb any floating object located near ship 2.

[0056] The rear lateral extension 24 located on the cradle 18 on the side of the ship 2 makes it possible to adopt an oblique approach route of the vehicle 6 in relation to the ship 2, in order to avoid the disruptive wake zones created by the ship 2.

[0057] In the Figure, the rear lateral extension 24 is provided on the lateral portion 22 located on the port side of the cradle 18 to carry out a recovery of the vehicle 6 on the starboard side of the vessel 2.

[0058] In another exemplary embodiment, and as illustrated in dotted lines in the Figure, the rear lateral extension 24 of the cradle 18 is provided on the lateral part 22 located on the starboard side of the cradle 18, the cradle 18 then being devoid of a rear lateral extension on the lateral part 22 located on the port side of the cradle 18, for example to carry out a recovery of the vehicle 6 on the port side of the ship 2.

[0059] In an exemplary embodiment, a cradle 18 is provided with a rear lateral extension 24 mounted irremovably on one of the lateral part 22 located on the port side of the cradle 18 and the lateral part 22 located on the starboard side of the cradle 18, the lateral part 22 located on the other side of the cradle 18 being devoid of a rear lateral extension.

[0060] In a first exemplary embodiment which can be illustrated by the Figure, the cradle 18 is provided with a rear lateral extension 24 mounted irremovably on the lateral part 22 located on the port side of the cradle 18, the lateral part 22 located on the starboard side of the cradle 18 being devoid of a rear lateral extension.

[0061] In a second exemplary embodiment which can be illustrated by the mixed lines in the Figure, the cradle 18 is provided with a rear lateral extension 24 mounted irremovably on the lateral part 22 located on the starboard side of the cradle 18, the lateral part 22 located on the port side of the cradle 18 being devoid of a rear lateral extension.

[0062] In another exemplary embodiment, the cradle 18 is provided with at least one rear lateral extension 24 removably mounted on the cradle 18. The removable rear lateral extension 24 can be dismantled and removed from the cradle 18.

[0063] The cradle 18 is then configurable, each rear side extension 24 being able to be mounted on the cradle 18 or removed from the cradle 18.

[0064] In an exemplary embodiment, the cradle 18 has two rear lateral extensions 24 removably mounted on the cradle 18, namely a port rear lateral extension 24 and a starboard rear lateral extension 24, the cradle 18 being configurable by removing one of the rear lateral extensions 24 and holding the other on the cradle 18, for example for the recovery of a vehicle 6 on one side or the other of a moving ship 2.

[0065] In an exemplary embodiment, the cradle 18 has a rear lateral extension 24 configured to be removably mounted, selectively on the lateral portion 22 located on the port side of the cradle 18 or on the lateral portion 22 located on the starboard side of the cradle 18.

[0066] The recovery device 4 has been described above in use on a vessel 2, in particular for recovering a vehicle 6 while the vessel 2 is moving forward.

[0067] The recovery device 4 is usable while the vessel 2 is not in motion.

[0068] The provision of the rear lateral extension 24 facilitates the entry of the vehicle 6 even when the cradle 18 is stationary, by allowing the entry of the vehicle 6 into the cradle 18 with a non-zero angle between the longitudinal axis B of the vehicle 6 and the longitudinal axis C of the cradle 18.

[0069] The recovery device 4 can also be used on a stationary floating platform or a fixed installation fixed to the ground or the seabed.

[0070] The recovery device 4 can also be used for launching a vehicle 6, for example from a ship, a floating platform or a fixed installation, fixed to the seabed.

[0071] To do this, the vehicle 6 being carried by the cradle 18 mounted on board the ship or the floating platform or on the fixed installation, the cradle 18 is put into the water and the vehicle 6 is piloted to exit the cradle 18, in reverse and through the entrance 20 of the cradle 18.

[0072] Such an operation can be carried out from a moving vessel.

[0073] Thus, the recovery device constitutes a device for recovering and / or launching a vehicle, the vehicle being a surface vehicle or an underwater vehicle.

Claims

1. A device for recovering a vehicle (6), the vehicle (6) being a surface vessel or an underwater vessel, for lifting it on a ship, a floating platform or a fixed installation fastened to the seabed, the recovery device comprising a floating cradle (18) configured to receive and support the vehicle (6), the cradle (18) being configured so that the vehicle on the surface of the water can enter the cradle (18) floating on the surface of the water from a rear end (18b) of the cradle (18), the cradle (18) having an entrance (20) for the vehicle (6) situated at the rear end (18b) of the cradle (18) and delimited between two lateral portions (22), the cradle (18) being configured with a rear lateral extension (24) extending toward the rear from one of the two lateral portions (22), the other lateral portion (22) having no rear lateral extension.

2. The recovery device according to claim 1, comprising at least one rear lateral extension (24) configured to be mounted removably on the cradle (18).

3. The recovery device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising two rear lateral extensions (24) configured to be mounted removably on the cradle, each rear lateral extension (24) being configured to be mounted on one respective lateral portion (22) among the two lateral portions delimiting the entrance (20) of the cradle (18).

4. The recovery device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a rear lateral extension (24) configured to be mounted removably on the cradle (18), selectively on one lateral portion (22) or on the other lateral portion (22) among the two lateral portions delimiting the entrance (20) of the cradle (18).

5. The recovery device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the or each rear lateral extension (24) has a length, taken along a longitudinal axis (C) of the cradle (18), greater than or equal to 1 / 6 of the length of the cradle (18) taken between the entrance (20) and the front end (18A) of the cradle (18).

6. A ship equipped with a recovery device according to any one of the preceding claims.

7. A method for recovering a vehicle using a recovery device according to any one of the preceding claims, the vehicle (6) being a surface vessel or an underwater vessel, the vehicle (6) being controlled to advance toward the entrance (20) of the cradle (18) from the side of the cradle (18) opposite the side where the rear lateral extension (24) is located and being oriented obliquely relative to the cradle (18) such that the bow (6A) of the vehicle (6) comes into contact with the rear lateral extension (24) and is deflected by the rear lateral extension (24) toward the entrance (20) of the cradle (18).

8. The recovery method according to claim 7, wherein the cradle (18) is placed in the water next to a moving ship (2).

9. The recovery method according to claim 8, wherein the cradle is placed in the water on the starboard side of the ship (2), the rear lateral extension (24) being located on the port side of the cradle (18), the vehicle (6) being controlled to approach the cradle (18) by the starboard side of the cradle (18).

10. The recovery method according to claim 8, wherein the cradle (18) is placed in the water on the port side of the ship (2), the rear lateral extension (24) being located on the starboard side of the cradle (18), the vehicle (6) being controlled to approach the cradle (18) by the port side of the cradle (18).