UNDERWATER VEHICLE COMPRISING A FOLDING MAST
The underwater vehicle with a folding mast and motorized shutter flaps addresses the challenge of efficient mast deployment and retraction, enhancing operational capabilities for missions like maritime surveillance.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2021014108
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2021-12-21
- Publication Date
- 2024-12-13
- Estimated Expiration
- 2041-12-21
AI Technical Summary
Existing underwater vehicles lack enhanced operational capabilities, particularly in deploying and retracting mast structures efficiently for various missions such as maritime surveillance.
An underwater vehicle with a thick hull featuring a niche for a folding mast that can move between retracted and active positions, equipped with motorized shutter flaps and a masthead with functional means, allowing for efficient deployment and retraction of the mast.
Enhances operational capabilities by facilitating seamless mast deployment and retraction, enabling versatile mission execution.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Underwater vehicle comprising a folding mast
[0001] The present invention relates to an underwater vehicle.
[0002] More particularly, the invention relates to an underwater vehicle which comprises a thick hull around which an external hull is provided.
[0003] Such underwater vehicles are, for example, formed by unmanned underwater drones.
[0004] We know that this type of device is of increasing interest, particularly to navies, to carry out various missions such as maritime surveillance missions or others.
[0005] The aim of the invention is to further improve the operational capabilities of this type of machine.
[0006] To this end, the invention relates to an underwater vehicle, of the type comprising a thick hull around which an external hull is provided, characterized in that it comprises in its upper part between the external hull and the thick hull, a niche for receiving a mast articulated on the rest of the underwater vehicle and movable between a position retracted into the niche and an active position erected above the underwater vehicle.
[0007] According to other characteristics of the machine according to the invention, taken alone or in combination:
[0008] - the underwater vehicle has, around the mast receiving niche, flaps movable shutters between an active niche shutter position and a retracted position to allow the mast to pass between its active and retracted positions;
[0009] - the mast comprises a support portion of which a first end is articulated on the rest of the underwater vehicle around an axis transverse to it and the other end of which has a masthead equipped with functional means;
[0010] - the niche has two portions to receive one the support portion of the mast and the other the masthead;
[0011] - it includes means for motorizing the movements of the mast;
[0012] - it is formed by an underwater drone.
[0013] The invention will be better understood with the aid of the following description, given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
[0014] [Fig.l][Fig.2][Fig.3][Fig.4] and [Fig.5] Figures 1 to 5 represent views in perspective of an underwater vehicle according to the invention illustrating the deployment of a mast folding of it.
[0015] These figures 1 to 5 in fact illustrate an underwater vehicle such as for example an underwater drone designated by the general reference 1 in these figures.
[0016] Conventionally, this underwater vehicle comprises a thick hull around which an external hull is provided, this external hull being designated for example by the general reference 2.
[0017] As illustrated in these figures, this underwater vehicle comprises in its upper part between the external hull and the thick hull, a niche for receiving a folding mast, articulated on the rest of the underwater vehicle and movable for example between a retracted position in the niche and an active position erected above the underwater vehicle.
[0018] In these figures, the niche for receiving the folding mast is designated for example by the general reference 3, while the folding mast is designated by the general reference 4.
[0019] As is also illustrated in these figures, this underwater vehicle comprises around the mast receiving niche, shutters movable between an active position for closing the niche and a retracted position raised relative to the underwater vehicle for opening the niche, to allow the mast to pass between these active and retracted positions.
[0020] One of these flaps is for example designated by the general reference 5 in these figures.
[0021] It is then understood that [Fig.l] illustrates the case where the mast is in the retracted position in the niche of the underwater vehicle 1 and the flaps for example 5 are in the position of closing this niche.
[0022] In [Fig.2] the flaps open so as to allow the mast to be deployed as illustrated in [Fig.3], from its retracted position in the niche to its erect position.
[0023] Once the mast 4 is fully deployed as illustrated in [Fig.5], it is possible, for example, to close the shutters 5.
[0024] In fact and as illustrated, this mast 4 can comprise a support portion designated by the general reference 6, one end of which is articulated on the rest of the underwater vehicle around an axis transverse to it and the other end of which comprises a mast head provided with functional means.
[0025] This head is for example designated by the general reference 7 in these figures and the functional means may for example comprise means of taking pictures, means of detecting means of communication, etc.
[0026] As illustrated, the niche can then comprise two portions intended to receive one the support portion of the mast and the other the masthead.
[0027] Of course, means are provided for motorizing the movements of the mast between its
[0028]
[0029] positions, that is to say from its retracted position to its active position and vice versa. These means are for example hydraulic, electric... It goes without saying of course that other embodiments of this machine can be envisaged.
Claims
Claims
1. Underwater vehicle, of the type comprising a thick hull around which an external hull (2) is provided, characterized in that it comprises in its upper part between the external hull and the thick hull, a niche (3) for receiving a mast (4) articulated on the rest of the underwater vehicle and movable between a retracted position in the niche and an active position erected above the underwater vehicle and, around the niche (3) for receiving the mast, shutter flaps (5) movable between an active position for closing the niche and a retracted position to allow the mast to pass between its active and retracted positions.
2. Underwater vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the mast (4) comprises a support portion (6) of which a first end is articulated on the rest of the underwater vehicle around an axis transverse to the latter and of which the other end comprises a mast head (7) provided with functional means.
3. Underwater vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that the niche (3) comprises two portions for receiving one the support portion (6) of the mast and the other the mast head (7).
4. Underwater vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for motorizing the movements of the mast.
5. Underwater vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is formed by an underwater drone.