Naval vessel comprising a floating structure for launching and recovering a marine craft

Abstract

The naval building (1) comprises: - a reception space (2) delimited by a bottom (8) and an access opening (12), - a floating structure (6) movable between a retracted position and a deployed position, - a device for moving the floating structure (6), comprising: - a ramp (26) comprising a longitudinal section (30) substantially parallel to the bottom (8) and an inclined section (32) inclined between the longitudinal section (30) and the access opening (12), - a connecting element (28) secured to the floating structure (6), slidably mounted in the ramp (26) and moving in the inclined section (32) then in the longitudinal section (30) when the floating structure (6) is moved from the deployed position to the retracted position.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a naval building of the type comprising: a space for receiving a marine craft, said receiving space extending in a longitudinal direction and being delimited by a bottom comprising an edge defining an access opening opening onto the bottom of the receiving space from the exterior of the naval building; a floating structure for launching and recovering the marine craft, said floating structure being movable relative to the receiving space between a retracted position, in which the floating structure extends into the receiving space, and a deployed position, in which the floating structure extends outside the receiving space, the floating structure passing through the access opening during its movement between the retracted position and the deployed position; a device for moving the floating structure relative to the receiving space.

[0002] The invention applies more particularly to a naval vessel allowing the launching and recovery from the naval vessel of a marine surface vehicle, for example an autonomous or remotely piloted marine surface vehicle of the USV (Unmanned Surface Vehicle) type, or submarine, for example an autonomous or remotely piloted underwater vehicle of the UUV (Unmanned Underwater Vehicle) type. The invention also applies to marine surface or underwater vehicles piloted by a crew on board.

[0003] Such a naval vessel is, for example, a surface naval vessel capable of launching a marine vehicle or recovering such a marine vehicle to bring it back on board the naval vessel and store it in a reception space provided in the naval vessel.

[0004] It is known to provide such a reception space at the rear of the naval vessel and to allow the marine craft to enter and leave this reception space by passing through an access opening connecting the reception space with the water on which the naval vessel is sailing. However, there is a difficulty in getting the marine craft to pass through this access opening, particularly when it comes to getting the marine craft back on board the naval vessel, the marine craft then passing from the water to the reception space of the naval vessel.

[0005] To facilitate this passage, it is for example planned to submerge part of the reception space, including the access opening, in the water so that the marine craft can berth the naval vessel in the water and be hoisted on board the naval vessel, for example by means of a winch or other means. However, by submerging part of the reception space, water is allowed to enter the rest of the reception space, which is not desirable and can be dangerous for personnel sailing on the naval vessel.

[0006] To avoid this water ingress, it is instead provided that the edge delimiting the access opening forms a bump or protrusion extending out from the bottom of the reception space. The passage of this protrusion then adds another difficulty to the reception of the marine craft since it must be lifted above the protrusion to enter the reception space.

[0007] To achieve this, for example, a ramp is provided at the rear of the naval vessel onto which the marine craft engages to enter the reception space. This ramp extends above the protrusion and includes an end submerged in the water to allow the marine craft to engage on the ramp when the marine craft is in the water.

[0008] However, the submerged part of the ramp is likely to disrupt the navigation of the naval vessel due to the movements in the water of the submerged part of the ramp, particularly in rough seas. It is then necessary to take measures to deal with this disruption, which complicates the naval vessel.

[0009] Furthermore, alignment between the marine craft and the naval vessel to enable the marine craft to enter the reception space can pose difficulties, particularly in rough seas.

[0010] One of the aims of the invention is to overcome these drawbacks by proposing a naval vessel enabling a marine craft to be launched and recovered from or in a reception space efficiently without immersing any part of the reception space in water.

[0011] To this end, the invention relates to a naval vessel of the aforementioned type, in which the movement device comprises: at least one ramp secured to the reception space, said ramp comprising at least one longitudinal section, extending between a first end and a second end substantially parallel to the bottom of the reception space in the longitudinal direction and being spaced from said bottom in an elevation direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and an inclined section, extending in an inclined direction between the longitudinal direction and the elevation direction, said inclined section extending between a first end opening into the second end of the longitudinal section and a second end extending over the edge of the access opening;a connecting element secured to the floating structure, said connecting element being slidably mounted in the ramp, said connecting element extending at the second end of the inclined section in the deployed position of the floating structure and at the first end of the longitudinal section in the retracted position of the floating structure, said connecting element moving in the inclined section then in the longitudinal section of the ramp when the floating structure is moved from the deployed position to the retracted position so as to cause said floating structure to pass above the edge of the bottom (8) of the reception space during this movement. ;

[0012] The device for moving the floating structure is such that only the floating structure is in the water only in its deployed position. Thus, the disruption to the navigation of the naval vessel is reduced. In addition, the shape of the ramp allows the marine craft to be easily passed on board the naval vessel without the edge of the access opening forming an obstacle, including when a protrusion is provided at the level of the latter. In addition, the size of the moving device is reduced due to the longitudinal section of the ramp which limits its size in the direction of elevation. Finally, the use of a floating structure to receive the marine craft facilitates its reception since the marine craft does not need to be aligned with the naval vessel to enter the reception space.

[0013] The naval building according to the invention may comprise one or more of the following characteristics, taken individually or in any technically conceivable combination: the movement device comprises two ramps extending on either side of the reception space in a transverse direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and to the elevation direction, each ramp comprising a longitudinal section and an inclined section, the connecting element comprising at least a first arm extending in the transverse direction and mounted to slide in the two ramps, said first arm sliding in the inclined sections then in the longitudinal sections of the two ramps when the floating structure is moved from the deployed position to the retracted position;the connecting element comprises a second arm substantially parallel to the first arm and spaced from said first arm in the longitudinal direction, said second arm extending outside the ramps in the deployed position of the floating structure and engaging in the inclined section of the ramps when the first arm moves in the longitudinal sections during the movement of the floating structure from the deployed position to the retracted position; ; the first arm extends at the first end of the longitudinal section of the ramps in the retracted position of the floating structure, the second arm extending between the first end and the second end of the longitudinal section of the ramps in said retracted position; the first arm has a length, measured in the transverse direction, greater than the length of the second arm, the first arm abutting against a stop surface extending at the second end of the inclined sections in the deployed position of the floating structure; the connecting element is articulated to the floating structure at least around a transverse axis extending in a transverse direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and to the elevation direction; the inclined direction forms an angle substantially between 100° and 170° with the longitudinal direction;the receiving space comprises a device for receiving a hull of a marine craft received by the floating structure, said receiving device extending over the bottom of the receiving space and being arranged to receive said hull in the retracted position of the floating structure; at least the edge of the receiving space forms a protrusion extending projecting in the elevation direction of the bottom of the receiving space, the floating structure passing over said protrusion when moving said floating structure from the deployed position to the retracted position; the floating structure forms a cradle for receiving a marine craft making it possible to put said marine craft into the water from the naval vessel by moving the floating structure from the retracted position to the deployed position and to raise said marine craft onto the naval vessel by moving the floating structure from the deployed position to the retracted position. ;

[0014] Other aspects and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description, given by way of non-limiting example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which: [ Fig. 1 ] - there Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective representation of a part of a naval building comprising a space for receiving a marine craft and a floating structure, the floating structure being in a deployed position, [ Fig. 2 ] - there Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective representation of the naval building of the Fig. 1 , the floating structure being in an intermediate position between the deployed position and the retracted position, [ Fig. 3 ] - there Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective representation of the naval building of the Fig. 1 , the floating structure being in another intermediate position between the deployed position and the retracted position, and [ Fig. 4 ] - there Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective representation of the naval building of the Fig. 1 , the floating structure being in the retracted position.

[0015] In reference to the Fig. 1 , a naval building 1 is described comprising a reception space 2 for a marine vehicle 4 and a floating structure 6 for launching and recovering the marine vehicle 4.

[0016] Such a naval vessel 1, of which only a rear or stern part is shown in the figures, is arranged to allow the launching and recovery of the marine vehicle 4 in a calm or rough sea from the naval vessel 1 without intervention of an operator, in particular during the recovery of the marine vehicle 4. Thus, the naval vessel 1 is particularly suitable for the launching and recovery of a surface or underwater marine vehicle 4 not carrying any navigating personnel, such as an autonomous or remotely piloted underwater surface marine vehicle.

[0017] The naval building 1 may be of any type suitable for receiving and storing the marine vehicle 4. Thus, the naval building 1 is, for example, a surface military naval building, of the frigate type or other. The reception space 2 is, for example, arranged at the rear of the naval building 1 and is sized so that the entire marine vehicle 4 and the floating structure 6 can be received in the reception space 2, as more particularly visible in the Fig. 4 . The reception space 2 is delimited by a bottom 8, for example formed by a part of the bottom of the stern of the naval vessel 1, and by two transverse walls 10 spaced apart from each other in a transverse direction T corresponding to the width of the naval vessel and rising projectingly and on either side of the bottom 8 in an elevation direction Z substantially perpendicular to the transverse direction T and corresponding to the height of the naval vessel 1. The transverse walls 10 are for example formed by the hull of the naval vessel 1 so that the reception space 2 occupies substantially the entire width of the naval vessel. The bottom 8 of the reception space 2 extends for example substantially at the level of the water on which the naval vessel 1 is sailing.In a longitudinal direction L, substantially perpendicular to the transverse directions T and elevation Z and corresponding to the stern-bow direction of the naval vessel 1, the reception space 2 extends from an access opening 12 to a front edge 14, the distance between the access opening 12 and the front edge 14 being sufficient to receive the marine vehicle 4, the floating structure 6 and a device for moving the floating structure 6 which will be described later.

[0018] The access opening 12 is defined at the rear end of the hull of the naval vessel 1 and allows access to the reception space 2 from outside the naval vessel 1, more particularly from the surface of the water extending behind the reception space 2 in the longitudinal direction L. The access opening 12 is more particularly delimited by a rear edge 16 of the bottom 8. In the transverse direction T, the access opening 12 is further delimited by the rear edges of the transverse walls 10, so that the access opening has substantially the shape of a U, the base of the U being formed by the rear edge 16 of the bottom 8 and the branches of the U being formed by the rear edges of the transverse walls 10 of the U.The dimensions of the access opening 12 are such that the marine craft 4 and the floating structure 6 can engage in the reception space 2 by passing through this access opening 12 from the surface of the water extending behind the reception space, as represented by the movement between the . Figs. 2 And 3 .

[0019] According to one embodiment, at least the rear edge 16 of the bottom 8 forms a protrusion 18 extending projecting in the elevation direction Z of the bottom 8 of the receiving space 2 so that the edge of the access opening 12 is raised relative to the water level. Such a protrusion makes it possible to limit the intrusion of water into the receiving space 2. According to one embodiment, the entire bottom of the receiving space 2 is raised relative to the water level.

[0020] According to an embodiment not shown, the reception space 2 can be closed in the elevation direction Z by a cover extending substantially parallel to the bottom 8, the distance between the bottom 8 and the cover being arranged so that the marine vehicle 4 can be housed between the bottom and the cover over its entire height.

[0021] As shown in the figures, the floating structure 6 is arranged to receive the marine craft 4 so as to allow the movement of the marine craft 4 with the floating structure 6 when the latter is moved relative to the reception space 2, as will be described later. For this purpose, the floating structure 6 is for example formed by a frame arranged to surround at least a portion of the hull of the bow of the marine craft 4. Thus, the frame comprises at least two longitudinal branches 20 spaced apart from each other in the transverse direction T and joined to each other at a front end of the floating structure 6 by a transverse branch 22 so as to define a reception area 24 of the marine craft 4 between the longitudinal branches 20 and the transverse branch 22. The floating structure 6 thus forms a cradle receiving the marine craft 4.The shape of the frame described above is given only as an example and other shapes can be envisaged, for example a shape substantially complementary to that of the bow of the marine craft 2. According to one embodiment, the floating structure 6 can also comprise a bottom, for example formed by floor ribs (not shown) extending under and between the longitudinal branches 20.

[0022] The frame is open at the rear of the floating structure 6 so as to allow a marine craft 4 to enter and exit the reception area 24 by passing through the opening of the frame.

[0023] The floating structure 6 comprises for example a reversible locking device for the marine craft 4 arranged to hold the marine craft 4 in the reception zone 24 when the marine craft 4 is engaged in the reception zone 24 up to the transverse branch 22. This locking device can be actuated to release the marine craft 4 and allow it to move relative to the floating structure 6.

[0024] The floating structure 6 is mounted on the naval vessel 1 by means of a device for moving the floating structure 6 making it possible to move the floating structure 6 relative to the reception space 2 between a deployed position ( Fig. 1 ) and a retracted position ( Fig .4 ).

[0025] In the deployed position, the floating structure 6 extends outside the reception space 2 and is “in the water” opposite the access opening 12 to the reception space 2, as shown in the Fig. 1 In this position, a marine craft 4 can enter and exit the reception area 24 of the floating structure 6 for operations of recovering the marine craft 4 when it enters the reception area 24 and of launching the marine craft 4 when it leaves the reception area 24.

[0026] According to one embodiment and as will be described in more detail later, in the deployed position, the floating structure 6 remains integral with the rest of the naval vessel 1 but is for example free to move along several axes of freedom relative to the reception space 2 outside the longitudinal direction L. Thus, the floating structure

[0027] 6 is at least rotatable about a transverse axis relative to the receiving space 2 in the deployed position so that the front end of the floating structure 6 can be lifted relative to the receiving space 2, as will be described later. Furthermore, such rotation allows the floating structure 6 to perform pitching movements relative to the receiving space 2. Advantageously, the floating structure 6 is further rotatable about an elevation axis relative to the receiving space 2 so that the orientation of the floating structure 6 relative to the receiving space 2 can be modified. In other words, the rotation about the elevation axis allows the floating structure 6 to be placed at a non-zero angle relative to the longitudinal direction L.Such a modification of the orientation of the floating structure 6 relative to the reception space 2 allows the floating structure 6 to adapt its position to the movements of the water, in particular by allowing yaw movements. According to one embodiment, the floating structure 6 is furthermore movable in rotation about a longitudinal axis relative to the reception space 2 in order to allow a rolling movement of the floating structure 6 relative to the rest of the naval vessel 1. Such freedom allows flexibility in the reception of the marine craft 4 which does not need to be aligned in the longitudinal direction L with the naval vessel 1 to enter the reception zone 24 of the floating structure 6.

[0028] It should be noted that the floating structure 6 can also be used to tow the marine craft 4 without receiving it in the reception space 2 by leaving the floating structure 6 in the deployed position.

[0029] The movement device comprises at least one ramp 26 mounted in the reception space 2 and at least one connecting element 28 secured to the floating structure 6 and mounted in a movably manner on the ramp 26.

[0030] The ramp 26 extends in the longitudinal direction L over all or almost all of the length of the receiving space 2, that is to say substantially from the access opening 12 to the front edge 14 of the receiving space 2. The ramp 26 comprises a longitudinal section 30 and an inclined section 32, these two sections together forming a rail on or in which the connecting element 28 can move, as will be described later. For this purpose, the longitudinal section 30 and the inclined section 32 are for example formed by a profile defining a rail receiving the connecting element 28.

[0031] The longitudinal section 30 extends in the longitudinal direction substantially parallel to the bottom 8 of the receiving space 2 and is spaced from the bottom 8 in the elevation direction Z. In other words, the longitudinal section 30 extends at a height greater than that of the bottom 8 parallel to the latter. The longitudinal section 30 extends between a first end 34 extending in the vicinity of the front edge 14 of the receiving space 2 and a second end 36 extending between the access opening 12 and the front edge 14, being closer to the access opening 12 than to the front edge 14. The exact position of the second end 36 of the ramp 30 depends on the inclination of the inclined section 32 and is arranged so that the inclined section 32 extends to the rear edge 16 of the bottom 8, as will now be described.

[0032] The inclined section 32 extends in an inclined direction between the longitudinal direction L and the elevation direction Z, that is to say that the inclined section forms a non-zero angle with the longitudinal direction L on the one hand and with the elevation direction Z on the other hand. The inclination of the inclined section 32 is arranged so that the inclined section 32 extends between the second end 36 of the longitudinal section 30 and the rear edge 16 of the reception space 2. In other words, the inclined section 32 connects the ramp 26 with the access opening 12 to the reception space 2 and, more particularly, with the lower edge thereof at water level extending behind the reception space 2 in the longitudinal direction L.Thus, the inclined section 32 extends in the inclined direction between a first end 38 opening into the second end 36 of the longitudinal section 30 and a second end 40 extending in the vicinity of the rear edge 16 of the reception space 2 and opening outside the reception space at the level of the water on which the naval vessel is sailing. The inclined direction forms for example an angle α of between 100° and 170°, for example substantially equal to 135°, with the longitudinal direction L. The angle α depends on the height of the longitudinal section 30 relative to the bottom 8 of the reception space, which is directly linked to the height of the marine craft 4 and therefore to that of the reception space 2 in the naval vessel. The angle α also depends on the length of the inclined section 32.

[0033] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the movement device comprises two ramps 26 as described above, the two ramps 26 extending on either side of the reception space 2 in the transverse direction T, along the transverse walls 10 delimiting this reception space 10.

[0034] The connecting element 28 is arranged to cooperate with the ramp(s) 26 in order to allow the movement of the floating structure 6 and the marine vehicle 4 received by it between the deployed position and the retracted position. The remainder of the description will be made with reference to the embodiment in which the movement device comprises two ramps 26, the connecting element 28 cooperating with the two ramps 26 to move the floating structure 6. More particularly, the connecting element 28 cooperates with the rails formed by the ramps 26, the connecting element 28 moving in the inclined direction in or on the inclined sections 32 then in the longitudinal direction L in or on the longitudinal sections 30 when the floating structure 6 moves from the deployed position to the retracted position.Thus, the connecting element 28 makes it possible to lift the floating structure 6 and the marine vehicle 4 held by it above the rear edge 16 of the reception space 2 when the connecting element 28 moves in the inclined sections 32 and then to advance the floating structure 6 and the marine vehicle 4 in the reception space 2 to the front edge 14 thereof when the connecting element moves in the longitudinal sections 30. The lifting of the floating structure 6 and the marine vehicle 4 is in particular such that the marine vehicle 4 can pass above the protuberance 18 formed by the rear edge 16 of the reception space 2.

[0035] The connecting element 28 is formed by a frame comprising at least one first arm 42 extending in the transverse direction T between the two ramps 26 and cooperating with them. More particularly, the transverse ends of the first arm 42 cooperate with the rails formed by the ramps 26, the first arm 42 moving in the inclined direction in or on the inclined sections 32 then in the longitudinal direction L in or on the longitudinal sections 30 when the floating structure 6 moves from the deployed position to the retracted position.

[0036] The transverse ends of the first arm 42 are for example arranged to come into abutment against abutment surfaces (not shown) provided at the second end 40 of the inclined sections 32 of the ramps 26 when the floating structure 6 is in the deployed position. Such abutment surfaces prevent the connecting element 28 from coming out of the ramps 26 in the deployed position so that the floating structure 6 remains connected to the rest of the naval vessel 1 even when it is in the water.

[0037] The movement of the connecting element 28 in the ramps 26 is for example motorized, the transverse ends of the first arm carrying for example toothed wheels arranged to cooperate with racks formed on the rails formed by the ramps 26. As a variant, a winch is arranged to move the connecting element 28 between the deployed position and the retracted position.

[0038] In order to allow the movement of the connecting element 28 and the lifting of the floating structure when the connecting element 28 moves in the inclined sections 32 and the longitudinal sections 30, the connecting element 28 is articulated to the floating structure 6, for example to the transverse branch 22 thereof, at least around a transverse axis, also allowing the floating structure 6 to perform pitching movements. According to an embodiment described previously, the connecting element 28 is further articulated to the floating structure 6 around an elevation axis allowing the floating structure 6 to yaw and / or around a longitudinal axis allowing the floating structure to perform rolling movements. The frame of the connecting element 28 is for example connected by a ball joint to the floating structure 6 in order to allow these different movements of the floating structure 6 relative to the receiving space 2.

[0039] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the connecting element 28 further comprises a second arm 44 extending in the transverse direction and spaced from the first arm 42 in the longitudinal direction L. More particularly, the second arm 44 extends between the first arm 42 and the floating structure 6 in the longitudinal direction L. For this purpose, the frame of the connecting element 28 comprises for example one or two longitudinal members 46 extending in the longitudinal direction between the first arm 42 and the second arm 44 and connecting these arms to each other.

[0040] The second arm 44 is arranged to extend outside the ramps 26 when the floating structure 6 is in the deployed position, as shown in the Fig. 1 , and to engage in the ramps 26 when the floating structure 6 moves to the retracted position in order to assist the lifting of the floating structure 6 and the marine craft 4 relative to the rear edge 16 of the reception space 2, as will be described in more detail later. In order to allow the second arm 44 to exit the ramps 26 and enter them, the second arm 44 has for example a length measured in the transverse direction T less than that of the first arm 42 so that the transverse ends of the second arm 42 do not interfere with the abutment surfaces provided at the second end 40 of the inclined sections 32 of the ramps 26. The length of the second arm 44 is however arranged so that it cooperates with the ramps 26 in order to move in or on the rails formed by them.

[0041] The operation of the movement device described above will now be described during the movement of the floating structure 6 from the deployed position to the retracted position, the floating structure 6 receiving a marine vehicle 4. It is understood that this movement can also be done while the floating structure 6 does not receive a marine vehicle 4, for example to bring the floating structure 6 back into the reception space 2 after the launch of the marine vehicle 4. It is also understood that the steps described below can be done in the reverse order to move the floating structure 6, and possibly a marine vehicle 4 received by it, from the retracted position to the deployed position.

[0042] When the floating structure 6 is in the deployed position, shown in the Fig. 1 , the first arm 42 of the connecting element 28 is located at the level of the second end 40 of the inclined sections 32 of the ramps 26 and the second arm 44 extends outside the ramps 26.

[0043] When the connecting element 28 or a winch is actuated, the first arm 42 moves towards the first end 38 of the inclined sections 32 and then engages in the longitudinal sections 30 by passing through the second end 36 of these longitudinal sections 30, as shown in the Fig. 2 This movement brings the second arm 44 back towards the ramps 26 and causes the second arm 44 to engage in the inclined sections 32 via the second end 40 thereof.

[0044] As the first arm 42 moves towards the first end 34 of the longitudinal sections 30 of the ramps 26, the second arm 44 moves in the inclined sections 32 towards the first end 38 thereof. This movement of the connecting element 28 causes the floating structure 6 and the marine craft 4 to be lifted above the rear edge 16 of the reception space 2.

[0045] The second arm 44 then engages in the longitudinal sections 30 of the ramps 26, which causes the floating structure to enter the reception space 2 by passing through the access opening 12 over the rear edge 16 of the reception space 2, as shown in the Fig. 3 This passage is made in particular above the protuberance 18 possibly formed by the rear edge 16 of the reception space 2.

[0046] The first arm 42 and the second arm 44 continue their movement in the longitudinal sections 30 of the ramps 26 until the first arm 42 reaches the first end 34 of the longitudinal sections. The second arm 44 is then located in the longitudinal sections 30 between their first end 34 and their second end 36 and the floating structure 6 is in the retracted position, the marine craft 4 then extending entirely into the reception space 2, as shown in the Fig. 4 .

[0047] According to an embodiment shown and as shown in the figures, the reception space 2 further comprises a reception device 48 for the hull of the marine vehicle 4 received by the floating structure 6. The reception device 48 extends over the bottom 8 of the reception space 2 and is arranged to receive the hull of the marine vehicle 4 in the retracted position of the floating structure 6, as shown in the Fig. 4Such a receiving device 48 is for example formed by a plurality of frames spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction L and each extending in the transverse direction T between the two ramps 26.

[0048] The device for moving the floating structure 6 has several advantages: only the floating structure 6 is in the water only in its deployed position. Thus, the disturbance in the navigation of the naval vessel is reduced.This disturbance is all the more reduced since the floating structure 6 can move freely relative to the rest of the naval vessel 1 to adapt to the movements of the water at the rear of the reception space; the shape of the ramp makes it possible to easily pass the marine craft 4 on board the naval vessel 1 without the edge of the access opening 12 forming an obstacle, including when a protuberance 18 is provided at the level of the latter; the size of the movement device is reduced due to the longitudinal section 30 of the ramps 26 which limits the size of the latter in the elevation direction Z; the use of a floating structure 6 to receive the marine craft 4 facilitates the reception thereof since the marine craft 4 does not need to be aligned with the naval vessel in the longitudinal direction L to enter the reception space 2.

Claims

1. Naval building (1) comprising: - a reception space (2) for a marine craft (4), said reception space (2) extending in a longitudinal direction (L) and being delimited by a bottom (8) comprising an edge (16) defining an access opening (12) opening onto the bottom (8) of the reception space (2) from the outside of the naval building, - a floating structure (6) for launching and recovering the marine craft (4), said floating structure (6) being movable relative to the reception space (2) between a retracted position, in which the floating structure (6) extends into the reception space (2), and a deployed position, in which the floating structure (6) extends outside the reception space (2), the floating structure (6) passing through the access opening (12) during its movement between the retracted position and the deployed position, - a device for moving the floating structure (6) relative to the reception space (2),characterized in thatthe moving device comprises: - at least one ramp (26) secured to the receiving space (2), said ramp (26) comprising at least one longitudinal section (30), extending between a first end (34) and a second end (36) substantially parallel to the bottom (8) of the receiving space (2) in the longitudinal direction (L) and being spaced from said bottom (8) in an elevation direction (Z) substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (L), and an inclined section (32), extending in an inclined direction between the longitudinal direction (L) and the elevation direction (Z), said inclined section (32) extending between a first end (38) opening into the second end (36) of the longitudinal section (30) and a second end (40) extending on the edge (16) of the access opening (12), - a connecting element (28) secured to the floating structure (6), said connecting element (28) being slidably mounted in the ramp (26),said connecting element (28) extending at the second end (36) of the inclined section (32) in the deployed position of the floating structure (6) and at the first end (34) of the longitudinal section (30) in the retracted position of the floating structure (6), said connecting element (28) moving in the inclined section (32) then in the longitudinal section (30) of the ramp (26) when the floating structure (6) is moved from the deployed position to the retracted position so as to cause said floating structure (6) to pass above the edge (16) of the bottom (8) of the reception space (2) during this movement., 2. Naval building according to claim 1, wherein the moving device comprises two ramps (26) extending on either side of the reception space (2) in a transverse direction (T) substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (L) and to the elevation direction (Z), each ramp (26) comprising a longitudinal section (30) and an inclined section (32), the connecting element (28) comprising at least a first arm (42) extending in the transverse direction (T) and slidably mounted in the two ramps (26), said first arm (42) sliding in the inclined sections (32) then in the longitudinal sections (30) of the two ramps (26) when the floating structure (6) is moved from the deployed position to the retracted position.

3. Naval building according to claim 2, wherein the connecting element (28) comprises a second arm (44) substantially parallel to the first arm (42) and spaced from said first arm (42) in the longitudinal direction (L), said second arm (44) extending outside the ramps (26) in the deployed position of the floating structure (6) and engaging in the inclined section (32) of the ramps (26) when the first arm (42) moves in the longitudinal sections (30) during the movement of the floating structure (6) from the deployed position to the retracted position.

4. Naval building according to claim 3, wherein the first arm (42) extends at the first end (34) of the longitudinal section (30) of the ramps (26) in the retracted position of the floating structure (6), the second arm (44) extending between the first end (34) and the second end (36) of the longitudinal section (30) of the ramps (28) in said retracted position.

5. Naval building according to claim 3 or 4, in which the first arm (42) has a length, measured in the transverse direction (T), greater than the length of the second arm (44), the first arm (42) being in abutment against an abutment surface extending at the second end (40) of the inclined sections (32) in the deployed position of the floating structure (6).

6. Naval building according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the connecting element (28) is articulated to the floating structure (6) at least around a transverse axis extending in a transverse direction (T) substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (L) and to the elevation direction (Z).

7. Naval building according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the inclined direction forms an angle (α) substantially between 100° and 170° with the longitudinal direction (L).

8. Naval building according to any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the reception space (2) comprises a reception device (48) for a hull of a marine craft (4) received by the floating structure (6), said reception device (48) extending on the bottom (8) of the reception space (2) and being arranged to receive said hull in the retracted position of the floating structure (6).

9. Naval building according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein at least the edge (16) of the receiving space (2) forms a protuberance (18) extending projectingly in the elevation direction (Z) of the bottom (8) of the receiving space (2), the floating structure (6) passing above said protuberance (18) when moving said floating structure (6) from the deployed position to the retracted position.

10. Naval vessel according to any one of claims 1 to 9, in which the floating structure (6) forms a cradle for receiving a marine craft (4) making it possible to put said marine craft (4) into the water from the naval vessel (1) by moving the floating structure (6) from the retracted position to the deployed position and to raise said marine craft (4) onto the naval vessel (1) by moving the floating structure (6) from the deployed position to the retracted position.

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