Device for launching and recovering a marine craft comprising a triangular cable

Abstract

Device for launching and recovering a marine vehicle comprising a triangular cable The device (1) for launching and recovering a marine vehicle (2) comprises a floating reception structure (4) defining a reception space (6) for the marine vehicle (2), the launch and recovery device comprising a device (20) for attaching the marine vehicle (2) intended to cooperate with a member (26) for attaching the marine vehicle (2) to hold the marine vehicle (2) in the reception space (6). The hooking device (20) comprises a cable (22) of which a hooking part (24) is taut and extends into the receiving space (6), said cable (22) being mounted on the support structure by a holding device arranged to allow reversible movement of a hooking section (42) of the hooking part (24) of the cable (22) when the hooking member (26) exerts a force on the hooking part (24). Figure for abstract: 1

Description

Title of the invention: Device for launching and recovering a marine vehicle comprising a triangular cable

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for launching and recovering a marine craft, of the type comprising a floating reception structure defining a space for receiving the marine craft and comprising an access opening to the reception space at a rear end of the reception structure, the marine craft being able to engage in the reception space in an engagement direction by passing said access opening, the launch and recovery device comprising, in the vicinity of a front end of the reception structure opposite the rear end in the engagement direction, a device for attaching the marine craft intended to cooperate with a member for attaching the marine craft to maintain the marine craft in the reception space.

[0002] The invention also relates to an assembly comprising such a launching and recovery device and a marine craft received by the launching and recovery device.

[0003] The invention applies more particularly to the launching and recovery of a surface marine vehicle, for example an autonomous or remotely piloted surface marine 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 surface or underwater marine vehicles piloted by a crew on board.

[0004] Such a launch and recovery device makes it possible to launch a marine craft from a surface naval vessel or to recover such a marine craft to bring it back on board a surface naval vessel.

[0005] The recovery operation generally involves at least one operator responsible for ensuring the mooring of the marine vehicle to be recovered to a reception structure, such as a cradle or directly to lifting and / or towing cables present on a boat, for example of the semi-rigid boat or RHIB type for "Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat".

[0006] This operation, in addition to involving one or more operators, is greatly complicated when carried out in rough seas. Indeed, in rough seas, there is a high risk of impact between the marine vehicle and the receiving structure, which could damage the marine vehicle to be recovered. In addition, it is difficult to ensure a mechanical connection between the marine vehicle and the receiving structure while these two elements have significant relative movements, especially in rough seas. In addition, known launching and recovery devices are generally not versatile and are only suitable for a limited number of marine vehicles, or even specific to a single model of marine vehicle to be launched and / or recovered.

[0007] One of the aims of the invention is to overcome these drawbacks by proposing a device for launching and recovering a multi-purpose marine vehicle which can be used without the intervention of personnel, making it possible to establish a mechanical connection between the marine vehicle and the launching and recovery device in a simple manner and which can be used in rough seas.

[0008] For this purpose, the invention relates to a launching and recovery device of the aforementioned type, in which the attachment device comprises a cable, a attachment part of which is stretched in a direction of extension substantially perpendicular to the direction of engagement and extends into the receiving space, the attachment part forming a attachment section of the attachment member of the marine craft, said cable being mounted on the support structure by a holding device arranged to allow reversible movement of the attachment section of the attachment part of the cable in the direction of engagement when the attachment member exerts a force in the direction of engagement on the attachment part of the cable.

[0009] By ensuring the attachment of the marine craft to the receiving structure by cooperation between an attachment member provided on the marine craft and a cable stretched in the receiving space of the receiving structure, the launching and recovery device is suitable for receiving a large number of different types of marine craft, provided that these comprise an attachment member, and does not require the intervention of an operator to ensure this attachment. In addition, by allowing the movement of the attachment section in the direction of engagement, the holding device makes it possible to lighten the load exerted by the marine craft on the receiving structure when the attachment member of the marine craft exerts a force in the direction of engagement on the attachment part of the cable.

[0010] The launch and recovery device according to the invention may also comprise one or more of the following characteristics, taken in isolation or in any technically conceivable combination: - the holding device is arranged to maintain the tension in the hooking portion of the cable and to return the hooking portion of the cable to its taut position in the direction of extension when the force ceases to be exerted on the hooking portion of the cable; - the cable attachment part can be moved reversibly by stressing the holding device relative to its taut position according to the extension direction, between an engagement position, in which the hooking section of the cable hooking part is moved in the engagement direction toward the front end of the receiving structure when the hooking member of the marine craft engages the cable, and a loading position, in which the hooking section is moved in the engagement direction toward the rear end of the receiving structure when the marine craft moves in the receiving space toward the access opening; - the cable and the holding device are mounted on a frame secured to the front end of the receiving structure, said frame comprising a lower branch and an upper branch spaced apart from each other in the direction of extension and each extending in the direction of engagement between a front end and a rear end, the front ends being connected to each other by an upright, the attachment part of the cable being stretched between the rear ends of the lower and upper branches; - the holding device comprises two reels each fixed to the front ends of the lower and upper branches of the frame, said reels being connected to the cable on either side of the attachment part by tensioning cables sliding on the lower and upper branches, the attachment section being movable in the direction of engagement by unwinding the tensioning cables from the reels and by winding the tensioning cables into the reels; - at least one of the lower and upper branches comprises at least one guide element for one of the tensioning cables, said tensioning cable passing through said guide element; - at least one of the tensioning cables engages in a locking element gripping the tensioning cable when the hooking member exerts a force oriented towards the front end of the receiving structure on the hooking section of the hooking part of the cable, said locking element being arranged to block the movement of the tensioning cable when said force is applied; - the cable comprises two inclined parts extending on either side of the cable attachment part and connected to each other in a passage zone secured to a central part of the upright between the lower branch and the upper branch.

[0011] According to another aspect, the invention also relates to an assembly comprising a launching and recovery device as described above and a marine craft. received in the receiving space of the receiving structure, a marine craft attachment member being engaged on the attachment section of the attachment part of the cable to hold the marine craft in the receiving space.

[0012] According to an optional feature of the assembly according to the invention, the hooking member is a hook comprising at least one locking finger movable between a spaced position, in which the hook can engage around the hooking section of the hooking part of the cable, and a locking position, in which the hook is engaged on the hooking section and hooks the hooking member onto the hooking part of the cable, the movement of the locking finger from the spaced position to the locking position being triggered by the force exerted by the hooking member on the hooking section of the hooking part of the cable oriented towards the front end of the receiving structure when the marine craft engages in the receiving space in the direction of engagement towards the front end of the receiving structure.

[0013] Other aspects and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0014] [Fig-1] - [Fig.l] is a schematic perspective representation of a set according to the invention comprising a launching and recovery device and a marine craft received by the launching and recovery device,

[0015] [Fig.2] - [Fig.2] is a schematic perspective representation of a device for attaching the launching and recovery device of the [Fig.l] cooperating with an attachment member of a marine craft,

[0016] [Fig.3] - [Fig.3] is a schematic perspective representation of a part upper part of the hooking device of [Fig.2],

[0017] [Fig.4] - [Fig.4] is a schematic cross-sectional representation of part of the whole of [Fig.l] in a position of engagement of the cable of the hooking device,

[0018] [Fig.5] - [Fig.5] is a schematic representation seen from above of the part of the whole of [Fig.4],

[0019] [Fig.6] - [Fig.6] is a schematic cross-sectional representation of part of the whole of [Fig.l] in a position for loading the cable of the hooking device, and

[0020] [Fig.7] - [Fig.7] is a schematic representation seen from above of the part of the whole [Fig.6].

[0021] With reference to [Fig.l], an assembly is described comprising a device 1 for launching and recovering a marine craft and a marine craft 2 received by the launching and recovering device 1. Such a launching and recovering device recovery 1 is arranged to allow the launching and recovery of the marine vehicle 2 in a calm or rough sea from a naval vessel (not shown) without the intervention of an operator, in particular during the recovery of the marine vehicle 2. Thus, the recovery and launch device 1 is particularly suitable for the launching and recovery of a surface or underwater marine vehicle 2 not carrying any navigating personnel, such as an autonomous or remotely piloted underwater surface marine vehicle.

[0022] The recovery and launching device 1 comprises a floating receiving structure 4 defining a receiving space 6 for the marine craft 2. More particularly, the receiving structure 4 forms a cradle receiving the marine craft 2 and arranged to allow the marine craft 2 to enter and exit the receiving space 6 without interference with the receiving structure 4. The receiving space 6 has, for example, a shape substantially complementary to that of the hull of a marine craft. Thus, the receiving structure 4 comprises, for example, two side walls 8 extending on either side of a bottom 10, for example formed by a plurality of floors, the side walls 8 converging towards each other at a front end 12, or bow, of the receiving structure 4, as shown in [Fig.l].At the rear end, or stern, of the receiving structure 4, the side walls 10 define an access opening 14 allowing the marine craft 2 to enter or exit the receiving space 6. Such a form of receiving structure 4 allows the launching and recovery device 1 to have some penetration into the water and thus to be suitable for towing a marine craft 2 for example. In the description, the direction from the rear end to the front end 12 of the receiving structure is called the engagement direction.

[0023] The receiving space 6 is dimensioned so that the marine craft 2 does not interfere or interferes little with the side walls 8 and the bottom 10 of the receiving structure 4 when the marine craft 2 is in the receiving space 6, as shown in [Fig.l], and the assembly floats in the water. When the marine craft 2 enters and leaves the receiving space 6, it is particularly appropriate to avoid contact between the floors of the receiving structure and the keel line or the bow of the marine craft 2. In other words, the receiving space 6 has dimensions greater than those of the hull of the marine craft 2. The lateral dimension is particularly slightly greater than that of the marine craft 2 in order to allow the movement of the marine craft 2 in the receiving space 6 while providing guidance of the marine craft 2 in the direction of engagement.The dimension in the elevation direction is significantly greater than that of the marine craft 2 in order to avoid shocks between the frames and the keel or the bow of the marine craft 2, the relative movements between the marine craft 2 and the reception structure 4 being greater in the elevation direction, in particular. due to vertical heave and pitching. Furthermore, the geometry of the reception space 6 can also be chosen so that the reception structure 4 can receive marine craft 2 of different types and sizes.

[0024] According to the embodiment shown in [Fig.l], the receiving structure 4 further comprises at least one gripping device 16 for gripping and lifting the receiving structure 4 from a naval vessel, for example by means of a crane or a davit provided on the deck of the naval vessel. The gripping device 16 is for example formed by a frame extending above the gripping space 16 and comprising one or more rings 18 for attaching one or more ropes secured to the arm of a crane. The gripping device 16 is in particular dimensioned so that the receiving structure 4 can be lifted when a marine craft 2 is received in the receiving space 6.

[0025] In the vicinity of the front end 12 of the receiving structure 4, the recovery and launching device 1 comprises a device 20 for attaching the marine craft 2 when the latter is received in the receiving space 6. By "in the vicinity of the front end", it is meant that the attachment device 20 extends towards the front end 12 of the receiving structure 4 so that the marine craft 2 extends mainly in the receiving space 6 when it is attached to the attachment device 20 as shown in Fig. 1. In this way, when the marine craft 2 approaches the attachment device 20, it is strongly guided in the direction of engagement by the cradle formed by the receiving structure 4, in particular by the side walls 8, which limits the lateral translations and the yaw of the marine craft 2 in the receiving space 6 and thus facilitates the interaction between the marine craft 2 and the attachment device.

[0026] The attachment device 20 comprises a cable 22, or securing strand, a attachment portion 24 of which is stretched in the receiving space 6 in a direction of extension substantially perpendicular to the direction of engagement. The direction of extension is for example substantially vertical when the receiving structure 4 rests on horizontal ground. Alternatively, the direction of extension could be horizontal and extend along the width of the receiving structure 4, that is to say in the direction from one side wall 8 to the other. However, the vertical direction makes it possible to compensate for relative movements between the marine craft 2 and the receiving structure 4, in particular in rough seas. This also allows the attachment device 20 to be adapted to a greater number of marine craft 2, in particular to marine craft 2 having different hull heights, as will be described in more detail later.

[0027] The hooking portion 24 of the cable 22 is arranged to cooperate with a hooking member 26 provided on the marine vehicle 2 when the marine vehicle 2 is engaged in the receiving space 6 up to the vicinity of the front end 12 of the receiving structure to ensure that the marine craft 2 is held in the receiving space 6. The hooking member 26 is for example formed by a hook comprising at least one locking finger movable between a spaced position, in which the hook can engage around the hooking part 24 of the cable 22, and a locking position, in which the hook is engaged on the hooking part 24 of the cable 22 and hooks the hooking member onto the cable 22 in the direction of engagement so that the marine craft 2 can then no longer leave the receiving space 6.The cooperation between the hooking member 26 and the hooking part 24 of the cable 22 is such that the marine craft 2 can slide on the cable 22 during lifting in order to ensure that the marine craft 2 rests flat on the bottom 10 of the receiving structure 4 and that it is not hung by the front tip when the marine craft 2 is brought back on board a naval vessel.

[0028] The hook has for example the shape of a clamp, in particular a V shape. The hooking member 26 projects from the front end of the marine craft 2 in the direction of engagement so that when the marine craft 2 enters the reception space 6 through the access opening 14 while moving in the direction of engagement and advances to the cable 22, the hooking member 26, in the open position, naturally engages around the hooking part 24 of the cable 22 and passes into the locking position to ensure cooperation between the hooking member 26 and the hooking part 24 of the cable 22. The V shape of the hook allows lateral play between the marine craft 2 and the reception structure 4, which allows the marine craft 2 to slide and guide towards the hooking device 20 while ensuring the capture of the hooking part 24 of the cable 22 by the hooking member 26.The movement of the locking finger from the open position to the locking position is caused by the force exerted by the hooking member 26 on the hooking portion 24 of the cable 22 as the marine craft 2 advances towards the front end 12 of the receiving structure 4, as will be described in more detail later. The hooking member 26 is for example arranged on the upper edge, or on the deck, of the hull of the marine craft.

[0029] In order to avoid sudden contact between the marine craft 2 and the receiving structure 4, in particular with the front end 12 thereof, when the marine craft 2 moves in the direction of engagement towards the front end 12, the hooking portion 24 of the cable 22 extends cantilevered into the receiving space 6, that is to say it is spaced from the front end 12 in the direction of engagement towards the access opening 14, as more particularly visible in Figs. 2 and 4. In other words, the cable 22 is positioned in the receiving space 6 so that the hooking member 26 locks onto the hooking portion 24 of the cable 22 before the front end of the marine craft 2 does not come into contact with the front end 12 of the receiving structure 4 when the marine craft 2 moves in the receiving space 6 towards the front end 12 in the engagement direction.

[0030] The cable 22 is mounted on a frame 28 by means of a holding device arranged to allow movement of the attachment part 24 of the cable 22 in the direction of engagement, as will now be described.

[0031] The frame 28 is integral with the receiving structure 4 and comprises, for example, branches extending cantilevered into the receiving space 6 in the direction of engagement. More particularly, the frame 28 comprises a lower branch 30 and an upper branch 32 spaced apart from each other in the direction of extension and each extending cantilevered into the receiving space 6 from the front end 12 of the receiving structure 6. More particularly, each branch 30, 32 extends between a front end 34 extending in line with the front end 12 of the receiving structure 4 and a rear end 36 extending cantilevered into the receiving space 6. The front ends 34 of the lower 30 and upper 32 branches are for example connected to each other by an upright 38 extending in the direction of extension and fixed to the front end 12 of the receiving structure 4.In order to ensure robust support of the frame 28 on the receiving structure 4 despite the force that can be exerted on the frame 28 by the marine craft 2 as will be described later, the frame 28 comprises for example a reinforcing bracket 40 extending along the upright 38 and resting on the front end 12 of the receiving structure 4.

[0032] The holding device is arranged so that the hooking part 24 of the cable 22 is stretched between the rear ends 36 of the lower 30 and upper 32 branches of the frame 28.

[0033] The fact that the hooking part 24 of the cable 22 is stretched in the direction of extension allows it to exert sufficient force on the hooking member 26 when the marine craft 2 moves towards the front end 12 of the receiving structure 4 so that the hooking member 26 passes from the open position to the locking position. More particularly, during such a movement of the marine craft 2, the hooking member 26 comes into contact with a section of the hooking part 24 of the cable 22, as described previously, and the reciprocal force exerted between the hooking member 26 and the section of the hooking part 24, called the hooking section 42, is arranged so that the hooking member 26 passes from the open position to the locking position due to the resistance force opposed by the taut hooking part 24 to the advancement of the marine craft 2 towards the front end 12 of the receiving structure 4.

[0034] Thus, the attachment device 20 according to the invention makes it possible to ensure anchoring of the marine craft 2 in the reception space 6 by the cooperation of the attachment member 26 and the attachment section 42 of the attachment part 24 without intervention of an operator since the attachment member 26 passes from the open position to the locking position autonomously due to the movement of the marine craft 2 in the reception structure 4 in the direction of engagement. The launching and recovery device 1 according to the invention is thus adapted to recover autonomous or remotely piloted marine craft. In addition, any part of the attachment part 24 can form an attachment section 42, the launching and recovery device 1 is adapted to several sizes of marine craft 2.

[0035] However, if the attachment portion 24 were to remain rectilinear in the direction of extension when the attachment member 26 exerts a force in the direction of engagement towards the front end 12 of the receiving structure 4 on the attachment section 42, the load applied by the marine craft 2 on the receiving structure 4 through the attachment device 20 would require oversizing of the constituent elements of the receiving structure 4 so that it could support this load.In order to avoid this oversizing, the hooking section 42 of the hooking part 24 of the cable 22 is arranged to move towards the front end 12 of the receiving structure 4 when the hooking member 26 exerts a force in the direction of engagement towards the front end 12 of the receiving structure 4 on the hooking section 42, the hooking part 24 retaining sufficient tension to trigger the passage of the hooking member 26 from the open position to the locking position. As can be seen in [Fig. 5], during this movement, the marine vehicle 2 comes into abutment against the receiving structure 4 so that the load applied by the marine vehicle 2 to the cable 22 is transmitted directly to the receiving structure 4 and no longer passes through the cable 22. More particularly, the abutment is made for example between the side walls 8 of the receiving structure 4 and the edges of the hull of the marine vehicle 2.

[0036] Such a movement of the hooking section 42 is allowed by the holding device which is arranged to allow a reversible movement of the hooking section 42 of the hooking part 24 of the cable 22 in the direction of engagement when the hooking member exerts a force in the direction of engagement on the hooking part 24 of the cable 22, while maintaining the tension in the hooking part 24. For this purpose, the holding device comprises two winders 44 connected to the hooking part 24 of the cable 22 by tensioning cables 46 which the winders 44 are arranged to unwind to allow the movement of the hooking section 42 and to wind to return the hooking section 42 to its initial position. The winders 44 are respectively mounted on the lower branch 30 and on the upper branch 32, for example in the vicinity of the front end 34 of these lower 30 and upper 32 branches. The tensioning cable 46 associated with the reel 44 fixed on the lower branch 30 then extends along the lower branch 30 in the direction of engagement and passes around the rear end 36 to extend in the direction of extension to a lower end of the attachment part 24 of the cable 22. Similarly, as more particularly visible in [Fig. 3], the tensioning cable 46 associated with the reel 44 fixed on the upper branch 32 extends along the upper branch 32 in the direction of engagement and passes around the rear end 36 to extend in the direction of extension to an upper end of the attachment part 24 of the cable 22.Thus, when the hooking member 26 exerts a force in the engagement direction on the hooking section 42 of the hooking part 24 of the cable 22, this causes the tensioning cables 46 to unwind and the length of the part of these tensioning cables 46 which extends in the extension direction increases, which allows the hooking section 42 to move in the engagement direction, as visible in Figs. 4 and 5. The ends of the tensioning cables 46 are connected to the lower and upper ends of the hooking part 24 of the cable 22 by rings 48, as visible in [Fig. 3] for the upper end.

[0037] In order to maintain the tension in the cable 22 and allow the movement of the attachment section 42, which causes a deformation of the cable 22, the cable 22 comprises for example two inclined parts 50 extending on either side of the attachment part 24 of the cable 22 and connected to each other in a passage zone 52 secured to a central part 54 of the upright 38 between the lower branch 30 and the upper branch 32, as more particularly visible in [Fig. 2]. Thus, the cable 22 has a substantially triangular shape when the attachment part 24 is stretched in the direction of extension, as visible in [Fig. 2]. The central part 54 of the upright 38 extends substantially equidistant from the lower 30 and upper 32 branches and the passage zone 52 is for example formed by a shackle, in which the cable 22 passes. The triangle formed by the cable 22 is thus for example an isosceles or equilateral triangle.

[0038] The cable 22 is arranged to move to an engagement position in which the hooking section 42 of the hooking portion 24 of the cable 22 is moved in the engagement direction toward the front end 12 of the receiving structure 4 when the hooking member 26 of the marine craft 2 engages the cable 22, as shown in [Fig. 4]. Thus, in the engagement position, the hooking portion 24 of the cable 22 adopts a V-shape, the tip of which is formed by the hooking section 42 of the cable 22 and is brought closer to the front end 12 of the receiving structure 4 relative to the stretched position according to the direction of extension of the attachment part 24 of the cable 22.

[0039] In order to guide the movement of the tensioning cables 46 and prevent them from disengaging from the lower 30 and upper 32 branches during movements of the cable 22, at least one of these branches comprises, for example, at least one guide element 56 for a tensioning cable 46 arranged to guide this tensioning cable 46 in the lateral direction and in the direction of extension, the tensioning cable 46 passing through the guide element 56. Such a guide element 56 forms, for example, a groove preventing the tensioning cable 46 from coming out of the guide element 56 during its movements. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, each branch comprises, for example, at least one guide element 56 fixed to the rear end 36 of each branch and the groove of which extends in the direction of extension.At least one of the branches may further comprise an additional guide element 58 extending over the branch between its front end 34 and its rear end 36 to hold the tensioning cable 46 on this branch.

[0040] In order to minimize the movement of the hooking portion 24 of the cable 22 towards the front end 12 of the receiving structure 4 and in order to maintain the stiffness and tension of the cable 22 when the hooking portion 24 moves towards the engagement position, a locking element 60 is for example provided to receive one of the tensioning cables 46 when the hooking member 26 exerts a force oriented towards the front end 12 of the receiving structure 4 on the hooking section 42 of the hooking portion 24. The locking element 60, arranged inside the guide element 56 of the upper branch 32 according to the embodiment shown in [Fig.3], is arranged to grip the tensioning cable 46 when the latter is pulled towards the central part 54 of the upright 38 due to the movement of the hooking part 24 of the cable 22 towards the engagement position and thus prevent further movement of the hooking part 24 beyond the engagement position towards the front end 12 of the receiving structure 4. To do this, the locking element 60 has for example the shape of a groove whose section is substantially complementary to that of a part of the tensioning cable 46. According to one embodiment, the groove is ribbed, the ribs being oriented to drive the tensioning cable 46 towards the bottom of the groove and cause unidirectional blocking of the latter in the groove. Preferably, two locking elements 60 are provided to receive each tensioning cable 46.

[0041] Once the hooking member 24 cooperates with the cable 22, the propulsion means of the marine craft 2 are cut and the latter is free to move by report to the receiving structure 4 within the limits of the movements authorized by the cable 22.

[0042] More particularly, the cable 22 is further movable into a loading position, shown in Figs. 6 and 7, in which the hooking section 42 is moved in the engagement direction toward the rear end of the receiving structure when the marine craft 2 moves in the receiving space 6 toward the access opening 14. Thus, in the loading position, the hooking portion 24 adopts a V-shape, the tip of which is formed by the hooking section 42 and is brought closer to the rear end of the receiving structure 4 relative to the taut position in the extension direction of the hooking portion 46. The cable 22 as a whole adopts, for example, a diamond shape as shown in [Fig. 6].Such a loading position is adopted for example when the launching and recovery device 1 is used to tow the marine craft 2 or during the operation of launching the marine craft 2, the force exerted by the hooking section 42 on the hooking member 26 then being arranged to move the hooking member 26 from the locking position to the open position to release the marine craft 2 as it moves back to exit the receiving space 6 through the access opening 14. The angle formed by the hooking portion 24 around the hooking section 42 in the loading position is less than 120°. This angle is for example greater than 90°. In order to limit the distance separating the front of the marine craft 2 and the front end 12 of the receiving structure 4 in the loading position, the angle is for example close to 120° while being less than or equal to 120°.Such a movement of the cable 22 makes it possible to lighten the load applied to the launching and recovery device 1 and thus to dispense with dimensioning the launching and recovery device adapted for the multiplied load if the cable 22 remained taut when the marine craft 2 exerts a rearward pull on the cable 22 in the loading position. The limitation of the movement of the attachment part 24 of the cable 22 beyond the loading position is for example adjusted by the length of tensioning cable 46 available in the reel 44.

[0043] When the attachment member 26 of the marine craft 2 is disengaged from the cable 22, that is to say when a force in the direction of engagement ceases to be exerted on the attachment part 24, the reel 44 recalls the tensioning cables 46 and thus returns the attachment part 24 of the cable 22 to its taut and rectilinear position in the direction of extension.

[0044] The cable 22 and the tensioning cables 46 are for example made of textile material, for example polyethylene having a high molar mass. According to one embodiment, the cable 22 and / or the tensioning cables 46 are sheathed in order to to limit wear due to friction caused by the movements of the cable 22 and the tensioning cables 46 between the engagement and loading positions. In order to limit this wear, angle-breaking devices may also be provided at the rear end 36 of the branches to limit friction at the level of the passage of the tensioning cables 46 from the direction of engagement on the branches to the direction of extension between the branches.

[0045] According to the embodiment described above, the marine craft 2 floats in the receiving structure 4, which makes the assembly usable in rough seas. Furthermore, such a launching and recovery device 1 makes it possible to compensate for the relative movements between the marine craft 2 and the recovery structure 4 even in rough seas. Alternatively, it may be provided that the marine craft 2 rests on the bottom 10 of the receiving structure 4.

Claims

Claims

1. Launching and recovery device (1) for a marine craft (2) comprising a floating receiving structure (4) defining a receiving space (6) for the marine craft (2) and comprising an access opening (14) to the receiving space (6) at a rear end of the receiving structure (4), the marine craft (2) being able to engage in the receiving space (6) in an engagement direction by passing said access opening (14), the launching and recovery device comprising, in the vicinity of a front end (12) of the receiving structure (4) opposite the rear end in the engagement direction, a hooking device (20) for the marine craft (2) intended to cooperate with a hooking member (26) of the marine craft (2) to maintain the marine craft (2) in the receiving space (6),characterized in that the attachment device (20) comprises a cable (22) of which an attachment part (24) is stretched in a direction of extension substantially perpendicular to the direction of engagement and extends into the receiving space (6), the attachment part (24) forming an attachment section (42) of the attachment member (26) of the marine craft (2), said cable (22) being mounted on the support structure by a holding device arranged to allow reversible movement of the attachment section (42) of the attachment part (24) of the cable (22) in the direction of engagement when the attachment member (26) exerts a force in the direction of engagement on the attachment part (24) of the cable (22).,

2. A launching and retrieving device according to claim 1, wherein the holding device is arranged to maintain tension in the hooking portion (24) of the cable (22) and to return the hooking portion (24) of the cable (22) to its taut position in the direction of extension when force ceases to be exerted on the hooking portion (24) of the cable (22).

3. A launching and recovery device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the hooking portion (24) of the cable (22) is reversibly movable by biasing the holding device relative to its stretched position in the direction of extension, between an engagement position, in which the hooking section (42) of the hooking portion (24) of the cable (22) is moved in the engagement direction toward the front end (12) of the receiving structure (4) when the hooking member (26) of the marine craft (2) engages the cable (22), and a loading position, in which the hooking section (42) is moved in the engagement direction toward the rear end of the receiving structure (4) when the marine craft (2) moves in the receiving space (6) toward the access opening (14).

4. Launching and recovery device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the cable (22) and the holding device are mounted on a frame (28) integral with the front end (12) of the receiving structure (4), said frame (28) comprising a lower branch (30) and an upper branch (32) spaced apart from each other in the direction of extension and each extending in the direction of engagement between a front end (34) and a rear end (36), the front ends (34) being connected to each other by an upright (38), the hooking part (24) of the cable (22) being stretched between the rear ends (36) of the lower (30) and upper (32) branches.

5. A launching and recovery device according to claim 4, wherein the holding device comprises two reels (44) each attached to the front ends (34) of the lower (30) and upper (32) branches of the frame (28), said reels (44) being connected to the cable (22) on either side of the attachment portion (24) by tensioning cables (46) sliding on the lower (30) and upper (32) branches, the attachment section (42) being movable in the direction of engagement by unwinding the tensioning cables (46) from the reels (44) and by winding the tensioning cables (46) into the reels (44).

6. Launching and recovery device according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the lower (30) and upper (32) branches comprises at least one guide element (56) of one of the tensioning cables (46), said tensioning cable (46) passing through said guide element (56).

7. A launching and retrieving device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein at least one of the tensioning cables (46) engages a locking element (60) gripping the tensioning cable (46) when the hooking member (26) exerts a force directed towards the front end (12) of the receiving structure (4) on the hooking section (42) of the hooking part (24) of the cable (22), said blocking element (60) being arranged to block the movement of the tensioning cable (46) when said force is applied.

8. Launching and recovery device according to any one of claims 4 to 7, in which the cable (22) comprises two inclined parts (50) extending on either side of the attachment part (24) of the cable (22) and connected to each other in a passage zone (52) integral with a central part (54) of the upright (38) between the lower branch (30) and the upper branch (32).

9. An assembly comprising a launching and recovery device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8 and a marine craft (2) received in the receiving space (6) of the receiving structure (4), a hooking member (26) of the marine craft (2) being engaged on the hooking section (42) of the hooking part (24) of the cable (22) to hold the marine craft (2) in the receiving space (6).

10. An assembly according to claim 9, wherein the hooking member (26) is a hook comprising at least one locking finger movable between a spaced position, in which the hook can engage around the hooking section (42) of the hooking portion (24) of the cable (22), and a locking position, in which the hook is engaged on the hooking section (42) and hooks the hooking member (26) onto the hooking portion (24) of the cable (22), the movement of the locking finger from the spaced position to the locking position being triggered by the force exerted by the hooking member (26) on the hooking section (42) of the hooking portion (24) of the cable (22) oriented towards the front end (12) of the receiving structure (4) when the marine craft (2) engages in the receiving space (6) according to the direction of engagement towards the front end (12) of the receiving structure (4).

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