Vessel comprising means for deploying a floating dock

Abstract

Vessel comprising means for deploying a floating dock This vessel comprising means for deploying a floating dock for implementing a boat on at least one side of the vessel and provided with a dock towing line and davits for suspending / maneuvering the dock, comprising motorized means (13, 14) for unwinding / winding cables (11, 12) for supporting the dock, is characterized in that it comprises means (15) for controlling the motorized means (13, 14) for unwinding / winding the dock support cables to maintain constant tension in them. Figure for the abstract: Figure 3

Description

Title of the invention: Vessel comprising means for deploying a floating dock

[0001] The present invention relates to a vessel comprising means for deploying a floating dock for implementing a boat.

[0002] More particularly, the invention relates to such a vessel which comprises means for deploying this floating dock on at least one of the edges thereof and which is provided with a dock towing line and dock suspension / maneuvering davits.

[0003] Such ships are already known in the state of the art and can be used for different missions.

[0004] For example, one of the missions of this type of vessel may be a so-called mine warfare mission, in which the vessel is adapted to deploy a vessel, such as a drone, for analysis and exploration of the environment, or even for deployment of mine neutralization means.

[0005] The aim of the invention is to propose improvements to this type of vessel.

[0006] To this end, the invention relates to a ship comprising means for deploying a floating dock for implementing a boat on at least one side of the ship and provided with a dock towing line and davits for suspending / manoeuvring the dock, comprising motorized means for unwinding / winding dock support cables, characterized in that it comprises means for controlling the motorized means for unwinding / winding the dock support cables to maintain constant tension in them.

[0007] According to other characteristics of the ship according to the invention taken alone or in combination:

[0008] - the means for controlling the motorized means for unwinding / winding the dock support cables are controlled to keep the bottom of the dock at a predetermined immersion level;

[0009] - the predetermined immersion level is at a level slightly above the waterline level of the boat to bring it up a step when it is recovered from the floating dock.

[0010] The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which: - [Fig.l] [Fig.l] represents a perspective view of a ship according to the invention; - [Fig.2] [Fig.2] represents a rear view of this vessel illustrating the deployment / recovery of a boat in a floating dock; and - [Fig.3] [Fig.3] represents a block diagram illustrating the structure and operation of piloting means forming part of the construction of a vessel according to the invention.

[0011] In fact, these figures and in particular [Fig. 1] illustrate a ship such as a carrier ship designated by the general reference 1.

[0012] This vessel comprises on at least one of its edges, deployment means, designated by the general reference 2, of a floating dock, designated by the general reference 3, of a boat designated by the general reference 4.

[0013] In fact, these means make it possible, for example, to implement a vessel such as a drone from one of the sides of the ship.

[0014] This then comprises means 5 for towing the dock 3, these towing means comprising for example a towing pole designated by the general reference 6, associated with a towing line designated by the general reference 7, making it possible to tow the dock to the side of the ship.

[0015] In fact and as illustrated in [Fig.2], the means for deploying the floating dock may for example comprise one or more davits for suspending / manoeuvring the dock, at the front and rear of the latter, such as for example the davit designated by the general reference 10 in [Fig.2].

[0016] This or these davits are then articulated on the ship and are movable relative to it to store or deploy the dock and therefore the boat from and into a hangar, for example, provided on the ship.

[0017] Motorized means for unwinding / winding support cables are then provided, such as for example the cables designated by the references 11 and 12 in these figures, which are placed at the front and rear of the dock.

[0018] According to the invention, means are provided for controlling these motorized means for unwinding / winding the dock support cables, to maintain a constant tension in them.

[0019] The structure of these control means is illustrated in [Fig. 3] where the cables 11 and 12 are in fact represented associated with motorized means for unwinding / winding them, these means being designated respectively by the general references 13 and 14 in this figure.

[0020] These means include, for example, electric motors associated with winches in a conventional manner.

[0021] These means are controlled by control means, designated by the general reference 15 in this figure, comprising any appropriate automaton or calculator.

[0022] These control means are then associated with means for determining the tension in the cables, these means being designated by the general reference 16 in this figure.

[0023] In fact, these control means are adapted to control the motorized means for unwinding / winding the cables in order to maintain the bottom of the dock 3 at a predetermined level of immersion in the water.

[0024] This predetermined immersion level is then at a level slightly above the waterline of the boat to cause it to cross a step when it is recovered from the floating dock.

[0025] Thus, the boat is brought to cross an entry step in the dock in order to enter it, this entry step having to be sufficient so as to push the floating dock when the boat arrives, which makes it possible to maintain contact between the dock and the boat in order to avoid or reduce movements between the dock and the boat.

[0026] It goes without saying that the motorized means can also be controlled independently at the front and rear of the dock, which makes it possible to adjust the entry attitude of the dock.

[0027] It is therefore understood that such a system presents a certain number of advantages insofar as it makes it possible to improve the safety of maneuvering the boat.

Claims

[Claim 1] Claims Vessel comprising a floating dock (3), a boat (4) and means for deploying a floating dock (3) for implementing a boat (4) on at least one edge of the vessel (1) and provided with a towing line (7) for the dock and davits (10) for suspending and maneuvering the dock, comprising motorized means (13, 14) for unwinding / winding cables (11, 12) for supporting the dock, characterized in that it comprises means (15) for controlling the motorized means (13, 14) for unwinding / winding the dock support cables to maintain a constant tension in them and in that the means (15) for controlling the motorized means (13, 14) for unwinding / winding the dock support cables are controlled to maintain the bottom of the dock (3) at a predetermined immersion level slightly above the waterline of the boat (4) to bring the latter to take a step when recovering it from the floating dock.

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