Method for attaching outer skin plates in a submarine

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for fastening the outer skin panels 30 to spacers 20 around a pressure body 10.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for attaching the outer skin panels to spacers around a pressure body.

[0002] Submarines are often built as double-hulled vessels. This means that an inner, usually cylindrical, pressure hull is surrounded by a second, typically hydrodynamically optimized, outer hull. While the outer hull originally served to optimize surface handling characteristics, as seen in Type VII submarines, today it serves to influence features such as detection probability. German patent DE 10 2016 014 108 A1 discloses an underwater vehicle with reduced detection probability over long distances. To build a double-hulled submarine, the usually cylindrical pressure hull is constructed first. Spacers are then attached to the pressure hull, and plates are mounted onto these spacers to form the second hull. The space between the two hulls, which is typically filled with water, houses components such as fuel tanks (hydrogen tanks), oxygen tanks, sonar sensors, and similar equipment.

[0003] The manufacturing process presents a challenge because all production steps have manufacturing tolerances, which is particularly noticeable in the spacers due to the leverage effect of their length. Therefore, simply drilling the corresponding holes in the spacers and plates and then joining them is not straightforward, as not only must the relative position of the holes be correct, but also the angle, ensuring that a bolt or screw passes straight through both holes. The holes must not only be precisely aligned but also perfectly aligned. Since the plates are typically made of fiberglass-reinforced plastic or similar materials, any angular deviation between the holes in the plate and the spacer can damage the plate during assembly.

[0004] From DE 305 093 A a pressure-resistant body for submersibles is known.

[0005] From CN 1 14 012 225 B a pressure-resistant submarine hull made of solid titanium and an additive manufacturing device and a method for it are known.

[0006] From WO 2023 / 073 343 A1, a manufacturing system for producing a support frame for a pressure vessel and a method for producing a support frame for a pressure vessel using such a manufacturing system are known.

[0007] A lightweight metal sandwich composite structure is known from CN 2 03 766 148 U.

[0008] From Fluctus DE: The construction of a gigantic high-tech submarine. April 18, 2022, 0:00 / 10:16. https: / / www.youtube.com / watch?v=Awj55dfSQ9E [online]. The construction of a submarine is known.

[0009] The object of the invention is to optimize the method for introducing the holes into the spacer elements on the pressure body, so that damage to the plates is reliably avoided by aligning the holes of the outer skin plates with those of the spacer elements.

[0010] This problem is solved by the method with the features specified in claim 1. Advantageous further developments are described in the dependent claims, the following description, and the drawings.

[0011] The method according to the invention is used for the manufacture of a submarine. The method comprises the following steps: a) Providing a pressure vessel, b) Attaching spacers to the pressure vessel, c) Providing the outer skin panels, d) Creating connection holes in the outer skin panels, e) Attaching a mounting frame with a scanning and drilling robot, f) Placing the outer skin panels adjacent to the mounting frame onto the spacers, g) Detecting the position and direction of the connection holes in the outer skin panels using the scanning and drilling robot, h) Removing the outer skin panels, i) Creating the connection holes in the spacers according to the position and direction detected in step g) using the scanning and drilling robot, j) Replacing the outer skin panel onto the spacers, k) Connecting the outer skin panel to the spacers using connecting elements inserted into the connection holes.

[0012] The attachment of the spacers in step b) is preferably carried out by welding. The spacers can be point foundations located only at the four corners of the outer skin panels. Alternatively, the spacers can be strip-shaped. The essential point is that the spacers create a rigid connection between the pressure vessel and the outer skin, thereby giving the outer skin its external shape and stabilizing it.

[0013] Step a) must precede step b), and step c) precedes step d). Similarly, steps b) and d) must precede step e). Alternatively, the order of steps a), b), c), and d) can be changed; for example, the outer skin panels can be manufactured and provided before the pressure hull, and so on.

[0014] Today, outer hull panels are often made of glass fiber or carbon fiber reinforced plastics. Their shape is adapted to the complex outer skin often desired today, as described, for example, in DE 10 2016 014 108 A1. Therefore, outer hull panels are usually manufactured individually. Consequently, it is also advantageous to first introduce corresponding connection holes, for example, as bores, in step d), since the manufacturing process there is geared towards these plastics, whereas in the actual shipbuilding process, i.e., for example, on the pressure hull, steel construction methods are common.

[0015] The mounting frame allows for the easy attachment of a scanning and drilling robot to the submarine. Preferably, the mounting frame is the size of one or more outer hull panels and can therefore be easily and temporarily fixed to the spacers. The mounting frame and the scanning and drilling robot can also preferably be arranged separately; in this case, the mounting frame is installed first, and only then is the scanning and drilling robot placed on the mounting frame. For example, and preferably, the mounting frame is arranged horizontally along the length of the submarine. This allows the scanning and drilling robot to access the adjacent panels row by row, thus reducing setup time. The mounting is preferably load-bearing in the upper section. The mounting frame is temporarily fixed to the spacers in such a way that the spacers support the mounting frame.In the lower area, the arrangement is preferably carried out by positioning only. The mounting frame is temporarily fixed to the spacers in such a way that the spacers only hold the mounting frame in position; the load-bearing function can be performed by the floor.

[0016] From step f) to h), the outer skin panel is preferably brought into position and held, for example, by a suction gripper arm. Since there is no fixed connection between the outer skin panel and the pressure hull, and such a connection cannot be established without creating the necessary connection holes, the outer skin panel must be actively held on the inclined surface to maintain its position. This is most easily achieved by using a gripper arm with a suction device to grasp the future outer surface of the outer skin panel.

[0017] The insertion in step i) can be carried out, for example, by drilling, but preferably by plasma cutting. Plasma cutting has proven particularly suitable for creating highly precise connection holes with minimal setup and material costs. Furthermore, the automated or remote-controlled operation allows for the use of high plasma energy, significantly higher than with manual methods, which in turn improves the quality of the connection holes.

[0018] Since a large number of outer skin panels need to be installed, and since the process cannot simply be carried out one after the other for each panel, as there would then be no space to attach the mounting frame for the last outer skin panel because all spaces would already be occupied by outer skin panels, the steps for each individual panel are carried out in sequence, but the steps overlap for different panels.

[0019] In a further embodiment of the invention, the scanning and drilling robot is moved along the mounting frame. Firstly, the scanning and drilling robot can be moved to reach, for example, the four corners of an outer skin panel, since outer skin panels are typically quite large and this method is simpler than using a sufficiently long multi-jointed arm. Secondly, particularly if the mounting frame extends longitudinally over the length of several outer skin panels, the scanning and drilling robot can be moved from one outer skin panel to the next. This reduces the frequency with which the mounting frame needs to be assembled and disassembled.

[0020] In a further embodiment of the invention, steps g) and i) are optically detected. This serves to increase accuracy. For this purpose, the movements are optically detected with a camera. This allows a comparison between the target and actual values, and thus the detection and drilling robot can be recalibrated if necessary.

[0021] The method according to the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings. Fig. 1 first supervision Fig. 2 first cross-section Fig. 3 second supervisor Fig. 4 second cross-section Fig. 5 third supervision Fig. 6 third cross-section

[0022] The illustrations are highly simplified and schematic, not to scale, and serve only to demonstrate the process. Each pair of figures represents a top view and a cross-section.

[0023] In Fig. 1and in Fig. 2 The initial situation is shown. Spacer elements 20 are arranged on a pressure body 10. Outer skin panels 30 are to be mounted on the spacer elements 20; these are therefore indicated here by dashed lines.

[0024] In Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 The figure shows how the mounting frame 40 with the detection and drilling robot 50 is attached to the lower segment, on which an outer skin panel will later be attached.

[0025] As in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 As shown, an outer skin panel 30 is now placed on the adjacent upper segment 30 and the detection and drilling robot 50 detects the not shown connecting holes in the outer skin panel with position and angle.

[0026] Then the outer skin plate 30 is removed again, so that the in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4The image shown shows that the detection and drilling robot 50 can preferably use plasma cutting to create the connecting holes in the spacers 20 in the exact correct positions and angles.

[0027] The mounting frame 40 can then be placed on the upper segment, for example, and the procedure repeated for the lower outer skin panel 30. The mounting frame 40 can then be removed and both outer skin panels 30 can be installed. Reference sign

[0028] 10 Pressure body 20 Spacer element 30 Outer skin plate 40 Mounting frame 50 Detection and drilling robot

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a submarine, comprising the following steps: a) providing a pressure hull (10), b) attaching spacers (20) to the pressure hull (10), c) providing the outer hull panels (30), d) creating connecting holes in the outer hull panels (30), e) attaching a mounting frame (40) using a scanning and drilling robot (50), f) placing the outer hull panels (30) adjacent to the mounting frame (40) onto the spacers (20), g) detecting the position and direction of the connecting holes in the outer hull panels (30) using the scanning and drilling robot (50), h) removing the outer hull panels (30), i) creating the connecting holes in the spacers (20) according to the position and direction detected in step g) using the scanning and drilling robot (50), j) re-placing the outer hull panel (30) onto the spacers (20).k) Connecting the outer skin panel (30) to spacer elements (20) by means of connecting elements inserted into the connecting holes.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the insertion in step i) is carried out by means of plasma cutting.

3. Method according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized by the fact that the scanning and drilling robot (50) is moved on the mounting frame (40).

4. Method according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized by the fact that Steps g) and i) are optically detected.

Images