Storage and handling warehouse for for example weapons in a ship and ship comprising such a warehouse

Abstract

This warehouse for storing and handling, in particular weapons for a ship such as a submarine, is characterized in that it comprises elongated modules (3) for receiving the weapons (6), means for launching them and means (10) in the form of a shot compensation bag intended to receive a weight of water corresponding at least in part to the weight of the weapon launched in order to compensate for this shot.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a warehouse for storing and handling weapons in particular in a ship such as, for example, a submarine.

[0002] According to another aspect, the invention also relates to a ship comprising such a warehouse.

[0003] It is known that vessels such as submarines and others have weapons storage and handling facilities that allow weapons to be safely stored and handled.

[0004] These means are also known generally as ammunition bunkers.

[0005] Such means must have a certain number of characteristics, in particular the security of weapons and personnel involved, while being extremely compact and lightweight.

[0006] Furthermore, and in certain applications, such warehouses must also allow the handling of weapons, for example for loading and unloading them and for bringing them into corresponding launching means, such as torpedo tubes or missile launch tubes.

[0007] This then results, for example in ships such as submarines, in extremely complex structures of systems for storing and handling weapons, such as torpedoes, missiles, drones, mines, etc.

[0008] These complex structures are also very large.

[0009] In addition, they result in relatively strong constraints on integration into ships.

[0010] The Applicant has already proposed a number of improvements to this type of warehouse in document FR A 3 055 305. Another state of the art can be found in document FR2976063.

[0011] In fact, this document describes a warehouse for storing and handling weapons in particular in a ship such as, for example, a submarine, which comprises a floor on which are provided means for attaching elongated modules for receiving the weapons and means in the form of a gantry for handling these modules, between positions for storing and loading / unloading the weapon from a module into a launch tube provided in a wall of this warehouse, the means in the form of a handling gantry comprising means in the form of a pusher allowing the loading and unloading of the weapon from the module into the tube.

[0012] But there is still the problem of balancing the ship after one or more weapon shots.

[0013] The aim of the invention is to further improve this type of warehouse.

[0014] To this end, the invention relates to a warehouse for storing and handling, in particular, weapons for a ship such as a submarine, characterized in that it comprises elongated modules for receiving the weapons, means for launching them and means in the form of a shot compensation bag intended to receive a weight of water corresponding at least in part to the weight of the weapon launched in order to compensate for this shot.

[0015] According to other characteristics of the warehouse according to the invention taken alone or in combination: at least some of the weapon reception modules comprise compensation bags; it comprises means for emptying the water contained in the launching means after the launching of a weapon, into a corresponding bag; the bag is made of polypropylene or polyester; the bag comprises reinforcing fibers; the bag is stored flat unfilled in the module; the bag comprises emptying means; the emptying means comprise means for emptying the bag into the water circuit of the ship.

[0016] According to another aspect, the invention also relates to a ship comprising such a warehouse.

[0017] The invention will be better understood by reading the following description, given solely by way of example, and made with reference to the appended drawings, in which: There figure 1 represents a schematic perspective view illustrating the structure of a storage and handling warehouse according to the invention, The figure 2 represents a schematic side view illustrating the structure of a storage and handling warehouse according to the invention, and The figures 3 And 4 schematically illustrate the water compensation after firing a weapon.

[0018] We have in fact illustrated on these figures and in particular on the figures 1 And 2 , a warehouse for storing and handling weapons in particular in a ship such as a submarine.

[0019] This warehouse is designated by the general reference 1 in these figures.

[0020] This comprises a floor designated by the general reference 2, on which are provided means for attaching elongated modules for receiving weapons and means in the form of a gantry for handling these modules, between positions for storing and loading / unloading the weapon from a module into a launch tube provided in a wall of this warehouse.

[0021] On these figures 1 And 2 , a large number of elongated weapon receiving modules, are illustrated.

[0022] For example, three modules 3, 4 and 5 are placed on top of each other.

[0023] A weapon 6, such as a torpedo, is illustrated in Module 3.

[0024] These modules are for example arranged one above the other and there are also provided in the warehouse, means in the form of a gantry for handling these modules, these means in the form of a gantry being designated by the general reference 7 on this figure 1 .

[0025] These gantry-like means are adapted to move the modules between positions for storing and loading / unloading the weapon from a module into a launch tube, such as for example a launch tube 8, provided in a wall 9 of this warehouse.

[0026] In the warehouse according to the invention at least some of the weapon reception modules comprise means in the form of shot compensation bags intended to receive a weight of water corresponding at least in part to the weight of the launched weapon in order to compensate for this shot.

[0027] An example of the production of such a wineskin is illustrated in the figures 3 And 4 .

[0028] In this example, module 3 has a skin 10 stored flat and unfilled in the module, under weapon 6, as long as the latter is present, as illustrated in the figure 3 .

[0029] In another embodiment, the weapon 6 rests in contact with the bag 10. The bag 10 is removably attached to the module 3.

[0030] Sliding rail-shaped means, not shown, are arranged on the surface of the skin 10.

[0031] This has the advantage of improving the sliding between the weapon 6 and the skin 10 while providing very good abrasion resistance so as not to damage the skin 10 during the operation of placing the weapon 6 in the barrel.

[0032] For example, the sliding rail-shaped means are strips of material such as KEVLAR ® (registered trademark in the name of the company DUPONT DE NEMOURS), sewn onto the skin 10.

[0033] Once the weapon is fired as shown in the figure 4 , the skin can then be filled to receive a weight of water corresponding at least in part to the weight of the weapon launched in order to compensate for this shot.

[0034] In fact, for example, means may be provided for emptying the water contained in the launching means 8 after the launching of a weapon, into the corresponding bag.

[0035] Likewise, the bag itself may include means of emptying, for example means of emptying into the ship's water circuit.

[0036] The bag can, for example, be made of polypropylene or polyester and include reinforcing fibers.

[0037] Of course, many implementation methods can be considered.

[0038] Likewise, the bag can also be stored in a different way, such as being folded to be stored near the modules or other.

[0039] It can then be spread out in a module if needed.

Claims

1. A warehouse for the storage and handling, in particular of weapons, for a ship such as a submarine, comprising elongated modules (3, 4, 5) for receiving the weapons (6), means (8) for launching them and characterized in that it comprises means (10) in the form of a launch compensation bladder intended to receive a weight of water corresponding at least in part to the weight of the launched weapon in order to compensate for this launch.

2. The storage and handling warehouse according to claim 1, characterized in that at least some of the modules (3) for receiving the weapons comprise compensation bladders (10).

3. The storage and handling warehouse according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises means for draining the water contained in the launch means (8) after launching a weapon, into a corresponding bladder.

4. The storage and handling warehouse according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bladder (10) is made of polypropylene or polyester.

5. The storage and handling warehouse according to claim 4, characterized in that the bladder contains reinforcing fibers.

6. The storage and handling warehouse according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bladder (10) is stored flat unfilled in the module (3).

7. The storage and handling warehouse according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the bladder is folded to be stored close to the modules.

8. The storage and handling warehouse according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bladder comprises emptying means.

9. The storage and handling warehouse according to claim 8, characterized in that the emptying means comprise means for emptying the bladder into the water circuit of the ship.

10. A vessel comprising a storage and handling warehouse according to any one of the preceding claims.

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