Navigation device for naval vessel and associated naval vessel

Abstract

Navigation device for naval vessel and associated naval vessel The invention relates to a navigation device (30) for a naval vessel, said naval vessel comprising a hull and a rudder; the navigation device comprising a mark (34) and an angle indicator (36), connected respectively to the hull and to the rudder, an angular position of the mark relative to the angle indicator indicating an angle (α) of the rudder relative to the hull. The angle indicator comprises a visual coding element, comprising a plurality of consecutive visual indications. The mark comprises an optical sensor (62), located opposite the visual coding element, said optical sensor being capable of detecting each visual indication opposite said sensor. The navigation device comprises an electronic module (38) connected to the optical sensor and configured to associate each visual indication with an angle (α) of the rudder relative to the hull. Figure for abstract: Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: Navigation device for naval vessel and associated naval vessel

[0001] The present invention relates to a navigation device for a naval vessel, said naval vessel comprising a hull and a rudder movable relative to the hull along a first axis of rotation; the navigation device comprising a mark and an angle indicator, one of the mark and the angle indicator being connected to the hull, the other of the mark and the angle indicator being connected to the rudder, such that an angular position of the mark relative to the angle indicator is capable of indicating an angle of the rudder relative to the hull.

[0002] The rudder is a part of a ship's rudder, comprising a vertical plane capable of pivoting relative to the hull of said ship. The rudder thus deflects the flow of water around the hull to change the direction of the ship.

[0003] It is known from the state of the art that the angle of the rudder relative to the hull is visible to the pilot of the ship by means of an angle indicator, comprising a graduated wheel and a movable reference arrow relative to said wheel. The determination of the angle is carried out visually by the pilot, with the associated inaccuracies.

[0004] For a vessel equipped with an automatic piloting device, it is important to precisely calibrate the zero of the rudder angle, corresponding to a rudder axis coincident with a hull axis. Inaccuracies in the zero setting lead to less efficient piloting of the vessel.

[0005] The present invention aims to propose a navigation device making it possible to determine the angle of the rudder with great precision.

[0006] To this end, the invention relates to a navigation device of the aforementioned type, in which: the angle indicator comprises a visual coding element, said coding element comprising a plurality of consecutive visual indications; the marker comprises an optical sensor, located opposite the visual coding element, said optical sensor being capable of detecting each visual indication when it is opposite said sensor; and the navigation device further comprises an electronic module connected to the optical sensor, said electronic module being configured to associate each visual indication of the visual coding element with an angle of the rudder relative to the hull.

[0007] According to other advantageous aspects of the invention, the navigation device comprises one or more of the following characteristics, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations:

[0008] - the device further comprises a support movable relative to the shell according to a second axis of rotation, parallel to the first axis of rotation, said support being connected to the rudder so that an angular position of the support relative to the hull depends on the angle of the rudder relative to said hull, one of the reference mark and the angle indicator being fixed relative to the hull, the other of the reference mark and the angle indicator being fixed relative to the support;

[0009] - the angle indicator further comprises a convex surface, substantially cy revolution lindicator, centered on the second axis of rotation, the visual coding element being arranged on said convex surface;

[0010] - the angle indicator is fixed relative to the hull and the mark is fixed relative to the support;

[0011] - the navigation device further comprises a connected human / machine interface to the electronic module and capable of displaying a rudder angle determined by said module.

[0012] The invention further relates to a naval vessel comprising a hull and a rudder movable relative to the hull along the first axis of rotation, said naval vessel comprising a navigation device as described above, said navigation device being capable of determining the angle of the rudder relative to the hull.

[0013] According to a particular embodiment, the naval vessel further comprises an electronic automatic piloting device connected to the navigation device, said navigation device being capable of communicating the angle of the rudder to said electronic device.

[0014] The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the drawings in which:

[0015] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] is a schematic view, seen from below, of a naval building according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0016] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a schematic view, seen from above, of a navigation device of the naval vessel of [Fig.l];

[0017] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a detail view of a first embodiment of an element of the navigation device of [Fig.2]; and

[0018] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a detail view of a second embodiment of said element of the navigation device of [Fig.2].

[0019] [Fig. 1] schematically represents a naval vessel 10 according to one embodiment of the invention. The naval vessel 10, intended to move on or in the water, comprises in particular a hull 12 and a rudder 14.

[0020] The hull 12 extends along a main axis 16, considered to be horizontal. The rudder 14 is arranged at one end of the hull 12 along the main axis 16, considered the rear end of the hull.

[0021] The rudder 14 extends along a secondary axis 18, considered to be horizontal.

[0022] The rudder 14 is movable relative to the hull 12 along a first axis 20 of rotation, perpendicular to the main axis 16 and to the secondary axis 18. The first axis 20 of rotation is considered vertical.

[0023] The rudder 14 is intended to pivot around the first axis 20 of rotation during the movement of the naval vessel 10, so as to deflect the water flows around the hull 12 and thus to modify the direction of the naval vessel 10. In the remainder of the description, an angle α of the secondary axis 18 of the rudder relative to the main axis 16 is considered to be “the angle α of the rudder”.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the naval vessel 10 comprises an electronic automatic piloting device 22. The electronic device 22 is in particular capable of modifying the angle a of the rudder during the movement of the naval vessel 10.

[0025] [Fig. 2] schematically represents, in top view, a navigation device 30, equipping the naval vessel 10. The navigation device 30 is preferably received in the hull 12, for example in a pilot cabin of the naval vessel 10.

[0026] The navigation device 30 comprises a support 32, a marker 34, an angle indicator 36 and an electronic module 38.

[0027] The support 32 is movable relative to the shell 12 along a second axis 40 of rotation, parallel to the first axis 20 of rotation.

[0028] The support 32 is connected to the rudder 14 by a mechanism 42 capable of pivoting said support 32 around the second axis 40 of rotation. Thus, as detailed below, an angular position of the support 32 relative to the hull 12 depends on the angle α of the rudder. The mechanism 42 comprises, for example, jacks 44.

[0029] The reference mark 34 is integral with the support 32 and will be described in more detail below. In particular, the reference mark 34 is movable relative to the shell 12 along the second axis 40 of rotation.

[0030] The angle indicator 36 is integral with the shell 12, the support 32 and the mark 34 thus being movable in rotation relative to said angle indicator 36.

[0031] Preferably, the angle indicator 36 comprises a convex, cylindrical surface 46 of revolution, centered on the second axis 40 of rotation.

[0032] The angle indicator 36 further comprises a visual coding element 48, 148, arranged on the surface 46.

[0033] A first example of embodiment of the visual coding element 48 is shown in [Fig. 3]. The coding element 48 is in the form of a strip extending along a longitudinal axis 50. In [Fig. 3], the element 48 is in a planar configuration, the longitudinal axis 50 being rectilinear.

[0034] The visual coding element 48 comprises a plurality of consecutive visual indications 52 on the longitudinal axis 50. In the embodiment shown, the visual indications comprise two-color geometric shapes, the colors chosen here being white and black.

[0035] The longitudinal axis 50 has an origin O. To an abscissa x on the longitudinal axis relative to the origin O corresponds a unique ratio of white and black along a transverse axis 60, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

[0036] A second exemplary embodiment of the visual coding element 148 is shown in [Fig. 4]. The visual coding element 148 comprises a plurality of QR codes 70 arranged side by side along a longitudinal axis 150.

[0037] Preferably, the element 148 further comprises a secondary scale 72 formed of notches 74.

[0038] In [Fig.2], the strip forming the coding element 48, 148 is fixed to the convex surface 46, so as to fit said surface. The coding element 48, 148 is then in a cylindrical configuration of revolution.

[0039] The reference 34 comprises an optical sensor 62 such as a digital camera. The optical sensor 62 is fixed relative to the support 32 and arranged opposite the convex surface 46 of the angle indicator 36.

[0040] The optical sensor 62 is in particular capable of detecting a portion 64 ([Fig.3]) of the coding element 48 fixed on the convex surface 46, said portion 64 being arranged opposite said sensor.

[0041] Optionally, the mark 34 further comprises a visual sign such as an arrow 66, arranged on the support 32 and oriented towards the convex surface 46. The arrow 66 indicates, for example, the desired reading axis for the optical sensor 62 and helps to position said sensor on the support.

[0042] The electronic module 38 is connected to the optical sensor 62. Said electronic module stores a program capable of calculating the black / white ratio of the portion 64 detected by the optical sensor 62, then of associating this ratio with a stored value of the angle a of the rudder.

[0043] A width along the longitudinal axis 50 of the portion 64 detected by the optical sensor 62 is chosen as a function of the desired precision for the angle a.

[0044] According to the embodiment variant of [Fig.4], the optical sensor 62 is capable of detecting a QR code 70 arranged on the coding element 148; and the program of the electronic module 38 is capable of associating said QR code with a value of the angle a of the rudder.

[0045] Preferably, the QR code 70 corresponds to the value of the unit in degrees of the angle a^; and the secondary scale 72, also detected by the optical sensor 62, allows the reading of a value of the decimals of said angle a^ for a more precise measurement.

[0046] Preferably, the navigation device 30 is configured to determine a angle a included in -30° and +30° relative to the origin O.

[0047] Preferably, the navigation device 30 further comprises a human / machine interface (not shown) of the computer screen type, capable of communicating to an operator the angle a of the rudder determined by the electronic module 38.

[0048] Preferably, the electronic module 38 is connected to the electronic device 22 for automatic piloting of the naval vessel 10, so as to transmit to said electronic device 22 the determined value of the angle a of the rudder.

[0049] A method of operating the navigation device 30 will now be described. Depending on the angle α of the rudder 14 relative to the hull 12, the mechanism 42 associated with the support 32 pivots said support around the second axis 40 of rotation. Thus, preferably, an angle delimited by the arrow 66 of the reference 34 and by the origin O of the coding element 48 reproduces the angle α of the rudder at a time t

[0050] The optical sensor 62 detects the portion 64 of the coding element 48 located opposite the arrow 66; and the electronic module 38 determines the associated value of the angle a. In the embodiment shown in [Fig. 3], the coding element 48 is symmetrical with respect to the origin O, the angle a of the rudder being able to be measured in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. The arrow 66 opposite the origin O corresponds to a zero angle a, the main 16 and secondary 18 axes being merged.

[0051] The value of the angle a determined by the navigation device 30 makes it possible in particular to set the automatic piloting device 22 to the zero value of the angle a, more precisely than a visual check. During the movement of the naval vessel 10, the transmission of the value of the angle a to an operator, via a screen, also makes it possible to obtain said value with greater precision than a direct visual check by said operator.

[0052] More generally, the assembly formed by the coding element, the optical sensor and the electronic module can be used to advantageously replace any mechanical angular coding device such as encoder wheels. As for the invention, this has the advantage of possible calibration in real time without physical intervention, that is to say a calibration of the zero angle on a position different from the origin O.

Claims

Claims

1. A naval vessel (10) comprising a hull (12) and a rudder (14) movable relative to the hull along a first axis (20) of rotation; the naval vessel further comprising a navigation device (30), said navigation device comprising a marker (34, 66) and an angle indicator (36), one of the marker and the angle indicator being connected to the hull, the other of the marker and the angle indicator being connected to the rudder, such that an angular position of the marker relative to the angle indicator is capable of indicating an angle (a) of the rudder relative to the hull; wherein: - the angle indicator comprises a visual coding element (48, 148), said coding element comprising a plurality of consecutive visual indications (52, 64, 70);- the marker (34) comprises an optical sensor (62), located opposite the visual coding element, said optical sensor being capable of detecting each visual indication (52, 64, 70) when it is opposite said sensor; - the navigation device further comprises an electronic module (38) connected to the optical sensor, said electronic module being configured to associate each visual indication of the visual coding element with an angle (a) of the rudder relative to the hull; - the navigation device further comprises a support (32) movable relative to the hull along a second axis (40) of rotation, parallel to the first axis of rotation, said support being connected to the rudder by a mechanism (42), so that an angular position of the support relative to the hull depends on the angle (a) of the rudder relative to said hull; and the angle indicator (36) is fixed relative to the shell (12) and the mark (34) is fixed relative to the support (32).;

2. Naval building according to claim 1, in which the mechanism (42) comprises jacks (44).

3. Naval vessel according to claim 1 or 2, in which the angle indicator further comprises a convex surface (46), substantially cylindrical of revolution, centered on the second axis (40) of rotation, the visual coding element (48, 148) being arranged on said surface convex.

4. Naval vessel according to one of the preceding claims, in which the navigation device further comprises a man / machine interface connected to the electronic module (38) and capable of displaying an angle (a) of the rudder determined by said module.

5. Naval vessel according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising an electronic automatic piloting device (22) connected to the navigation device (30), said navigation device being capable of communicating the angle (a) of the rudder to said electronic device.

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