LAUNCH APPARATUS AND VEHICLE

Abstract

The invention relates to a launch apparatus for an Unmanned Underwater Vehicle—in particular, for an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle or for a Remotely Operated Vehicle—with a launching tube having an inner wall and an outlet, and the Unmanned Underwater Vehicle contained within the launching tube, whereby the Unmanned Underwater Vehicle has a vehicle casing with a vehicle casing inhomogeneity, such that an ejection of the Unmanned Underwater Vehicle causes different contact loads between the vehicle casing and the inner wall, whereby the Unmanned Underwater Vehicle has a detachable compensating form, which is designed in such a way that the vehicle inhomogeneity is compensated, such that the result is a combination of the Unmanned Underwater Vehicle and the detachable compensating form, the combination whereof, when ejected, causes a substantially more uniform contact load to occur between the combination and the inner wall.

Claims

1. A launch apparatus for an unmanned underwater vehicle, said launch apparatus comprising a launching tube having an inner wall and an outlet, the unmanned underwater vehicle contained within the launching tube, the unmanned underwater vehicle having a vehicle casing, the vehicle casing having inhomogeneity, the unmanned underwater Vehicle having a detachable compensating form configured to compensate for the vehicle inhomogeneity so that when a combination comprised of the unmanned underwater vehicle having the detachable compensating form is ejected from the launch tube, a substantially more uniform contact load between the combination and the inner wall occurs in comparison to the different contact load that would occur when the unmanned underwater vehicle without the detachable form is ejected from the launch tube.

2. The launch apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the launch apparatus further comprises a relay facility arranged on the inside of the launch tube, the relay facility movable to an outlet medium when the combination of the unmanned underwater vehicle and the compensating form are ejected from the launch tube, the relay facility is connected with the unmanned underwater vehicle and/or the compensating form by way of a data exchange line.

3. The launch apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the relay facility having a relay casing with a relay casing inhomogeneity, so that an ejection of the relay facility would cause different contact loads between the vehicle casing and the inner wall, the relay facility having a relay facility compensating form configured in such a way that the relay casing inhomogeneity is compensated for so that a relay combination comprised of the relay facility and the relay facility compensating form when ejected causes a substantially more even contact load to occur between the relay combination and the inner wall.

4. The launch apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the detachable compensating form and/or the relay facility compensating form is comprised of a plurality individual forms, which together form the respective compensating form and/or the relay casing compensating form.

5. The launch apparatus according claim 3, wherein the combination and/or the relay combination has a spring element and/or a tension element, which separate the combination and/or the relay combination after leaving the launching tube, so that at least one of either the underwater vehicle or the relay facility is ready for use.

6. The launch apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the detachable compensating form and/or the relay facility compensating form realizes or realize the spring element.

7. The launch apparatus according to claim 3, wherein at least one of either the detachable compensating form or the relay facility compensating form has a resistance area and/or a predetermined breaking point so that the at least one of the detachable combination and the relay combination become separated due to an outlet speed when exposed to a force from the outlet medium.

8. The launch apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the launch apparatus further comprises a controllably openable outlet closure for the launch tube.

9. The launch apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the launch apparatus further comprises acceleration means, which, in an activated state, exerts a force on the combination and/or the relay combination in the direction of the outlet, so that, when the outlet is open, the combination and/or the relay combination is brought into the outlet medium.

10. A vehicle, including a ship, boat, submarine, helicopter or plane, or a transport facility, wherein the vehicle or the transport facility is equipped with a launch apparatus according to claim 1.

11. The launch apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the unmanned underwater vehicle comprises an autonomous underwater vehicle or a remotely operated vehicle.

12. The launch apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the relay facility is connected to at least one of the unmanned underwater vehicle or the compensating form by fiber optic cable.

13. The launch apparatus according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the detachable compensating form and the relay casing compensating form is comprised of a plurality individual forms, which together form the respective compensating form and the relay casing compensating form.

Description

[0041] The invention is further explained using an exemplary embodiment. The figures show the following:

[0042] FIG. 1a a schematic representation of a combination of an ROV with a corresponding compensating form and an assigned launching tube in a side view,

[0043] FIG. 1b a very schematic representation of the combination of FIG. 1a in a front view, and

[0044] FIG. 2 a combination and corresponding relay combination that are positioned in a launching tube.

[0045] Launch apparatus 101 has ROV 103 and launching tube 105. Launching tube 105 has inner wall 107 as well as opening flap 271, which can be opened via opening joint 273, and insertion flap 281, which can be opened via insertion joint 283 and by using handle 285 for opening.

[0046] ROV 103 has ROV body 132, which has tool head 131, arranged at the top of it, and fins 135 arranged at the back. On its top side, ROV 103 has additional GPS-receiver 137, and, on its bottom side, active sonar 145. For power supply, four battery containers 133 are arranged on the side. On one of battery containers 133, camera 139 is arranged in the front area. In addition to that, on one of battery containers 133, lamp 141 is arranged in the front area.

[0047] On the outside of ROV 103, ROV-contour 166 is formed. The distance between the actual components and the contour designated with reference number 166 that is shown in FIG. 1b only serves illustration purposes. In reality, compensating form 160 touches the individual points directly, and the transition between compensating form 160 and ROV 103 forms actual contour 166.

[0048] Compensating form 160 is formed by four radial compensating form quarters 161, 162, 163, 164. These quarters have a pressure surface (hatched in FIG. 1b). As soon as combination 201 of compensating form 160 and ROV 103 is immersed in water, pressure is exerted upon the contact surface (hatched area in FIG. 1b).

[0049] Moreover, compensating form 160 has longitudinally arranged contact slants 168, which cause the parts of compensating form 160 to slide apart after ejection. Compensating form 160 is made from an elastic plastic material.

[0050] The circumference of combination 201 is approx. 1 mm wider than the caliber of launching tube 105. In case of operation, combination 201 is inserted into launching tube 105 by pushing in insertion direction 151 and slight pressing into launching tube 105. Between compensating form 160 and inner wall 107 of launching tube 105, a pressure is exerted upon combination 201, which pressure closes combination 201 and launching tube 105.

[0051] In the area at the back of launching tube 105, layer 291 is provided, which serves as a relay station after immersion. Inside layer 291 and in the back of ROV 103, coils with cross-wound glass fiber lines are arranged, which unwind during the departure of ROV 103, due to the departure speed and the force exerted thereby.

[0052] In addition to that, layer 291 is equipped with an additional glass fiber line that can enable communication between the ROV and, for example, a ship. Enveloping layer 291, layer compensating form 293 is arranged, which adjusts layer 291 to the caliber of launching tube 105. In the back area of launching tube 105, an access for compressed air cylinder 297 is provided, which can be filled with compressed air via valve 299.

[0053] In case of operation, opening flap 271 is closed. First, combination 201 is inserted in launching tube 105. After that, layer 291 along with layer compensating form 293 is also inserted into launching tube 105.

[0054] Finally, previously opened insertion flap 181 is closed manually via insertion joint 283 using handle 285. In operation, opening flap 271 is completely opened electronically via opening joint 273. Via the resulting outlet, a transition into the outlet medium (water) is provided. Immediately after activation of the ROV via glass fiber cable 295, valve 299 is abruptly opened, so that the compressed air in compressed air cylinder 297 expands into the back area of launching tube 105, causing first combination 201 and, subsequently, layer 291 along with layer compensating form 293 to exit the launching tube.

[0055] As soon as the combination is in the water and no longer exposed to pressure from inner wall 107 of launching tube 105, compensating form 160 separates from the ROV, and layer compensating form 293 from layer 291. Due to the weight force, layer 291 is pulled vertically down shortly after the outlet. The activated ROV, which is now freed from compensating form 160, can then perform its mission.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0056] 101 Launch apparatus

[0057] 103 ROV

[0058] 105 Launching tube

[0059] 107 Inner wall of launching tube

[0060] 131 Tool head

[0061] 132 ROV body

[0062] 133 Battery container

[0063] 135 Fins

[0064] 137 GPS

[0065] 139 Camera

[0066] 141 Lamp

[0067] 143 Drive

[0068] 145 Sonar

[0069] 151 Insertion direction

[0070] 160 Compensating form

[0071] 161 first radial compensating form quarter

[0072] 162 second radial compensating form quarter

[0073] 163 third radial compensating form quarter

[0074] 164 fourth radial compensating form quarter

[0075] 166 Contour

[0076] 168 Contact slants

[0077] 201 Combination

[0078] 271 Opening flap

[0079] 273 Opening joint

[0080] 281 Insertion flap

[0081] 283 Insertion joint

[0082] 285 Handle

[0083] 291 Layer

[0084] 293 Layer compensating form

[0085] 295 Glass fiber cable

[0086] 297 Compressed air cylinder

[0087] 299 Valve