MILITARY VESSEL

Abstract

A military vessel may include a directable weapon and an antenna. The antenna can be swiveled from a first position, in which the antenna is disposed essentially vertically, into a second position, in which a height of the antenna above the military vessel is reduced to increase a directing range of the directable weapon compared to the first position. A method for operating a military vessel with a directable weapon and an antenna may involve swiveling the antenna from a first position, in which the antenna is disposed essentially vertically, into a second position, in which the height of the antenna above the vessel is reduced to increase the directing range of the weapon compared to the first position.

Claims

1.-16. (canceled)

17. A military vessel comprising: a directable weapon; and an antenna configured to be swiveled from a first position in which the antenna is disposed substantially vertically to a second position in which a height of the antenna above the vessel is reduced to increase a directing range of the directable weapon relative to the first position.

18. The military vessel of claim 17 wherein the antenna is disposed substantially horizontally in the second position.

19. The military vessel of claim 17 wherein a free end of the antenna is disposed in a region of a side of a hull of the military vessel in the second position.

20. The military vessel of claim 17 wherein the antenna swivels in a swivel plane that encloses an angle with a longitudinal axis of a hull of the military vessel.

21. The military vessel of claim 20 wherein the swivel plane is disposed perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the hull.

22. The military vessel of claim 20 wherein the swivel plane is parallel to an imaginary connecting line extending between the antenna and the directable weapon.

23. The military vessel of claim 17 wherein the antenna swivels about a swivel axis that is disposed in an edge region of a deck of the military vessel.

24. The military vessel of claim 17 further comprising a locking bolt for locking the antenna in at least one of the first position or the second position.

25. The military vessel of claim 17 further comprising a motorized swiveling device for swiveling the antenna.

26. The military vessel of claim 25 wherein the motorized swiveling device is rigidly or elastically connected to a deck of the vessel.

27. The military vessel of claim 25 wherein the motorized swiveling device comprises a rotatably supported shaft on which the antenna is disposed.

28. The military vessel of claim 27 wherein the motorized swiveling device comprises a housing and a sealing device for sealing against water that is disposed between the housing and the shaft.

29. The military vessel of claim 17 wherein the antenna is configured as a linear antenna.

30. The military vessel of claim 17 wherein the antenna is configured as a rod-shaped antenna.

31. The military vessel of claim 17 further comprising: at least one of a transmitter or a receiver; and an adjustment device for adapting antenna impedance to the at least one of the transmitter or the receiver, wherein the adjustment device is adjustable such that the antenna impedance is adjustable when the antenna is in the first and second positions.

32. A method for operating a military vessel that includes a directable weapon and an antenna, the method comprising swiveling the antenna from a first position in which the antenna is substantially vertically disposed to a second position in which a height of the antenna above the military vessel is reduced to increase a directing range of the directable weapon relative to the first position.

33. The method of claim 32 comprising swiveling the antenna to the second position if the directable weapon adopts at least one of a predetermined elevation directing position or a predetermined azimuth directing position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a military vessel in a lateral sectional representation.

[0028] FIG. 2 shows the military vessel according to FIG. 1 in a view of the bow of the vessel.

[0029] FIG. 3 shows the deck area of the military vessel according to FIG. 1 in a top view.

[0030] FIG. 4 shows a swiveling device for an antenna in a perspective representation.

[0031] FIG. 5 shows the swiveling device according to FIG. 4 with a housing in a sectional representation.

[0032] FIG. 6 shows the swiveling device according to FIG. 4 in a sectional representation along the line VI-VI in FIG. 5.

[0033] FIG. 7 shows the swiveling device according to FIG. 4 in a sectional representation along the line VII-VII in FIG. 5.

[0034] FIG. 8 shows an alternative implementation of a swiveling device.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0035] In the various figures, identical parts are always provided with the same reference characters and as a rule are therefore also only named or mentioned once in each case.

[0036] In FIG. 1, a military vessel 1 in the form of a surface vessel is represented. The vessel 1 comprises a hull 2, above which a main deck 6 is provided. On the main deck 6 there is a structure 3 of the vessel 1 comprising a plurality of decks 5. A tower 4 is provided on the structure 3. As protective equipment, the vessel 1 comprises a first directable weapon 7 that is disposed on an upper deck 5 in the region of the stern. Furthermore, a second directable weapon 8 is provided in the region of the bow on a main deck 6. The directable weapons 7, 8 are preferably directable in azimuth and/or elevation. According to the exemplary embodiment, the weapons 7, 8 are in the form of guns.

[0037] In order to be able to communicate with other vessels and/or a control station, the vessel 1 comprises a plurality of antennas 9, 10. According to the exemplary embodiment, the antennas 9, 10 are disposed on the upper deck 5, but can also be disposed on another deck. The antennas 9, 10 are designed as linear, rod-shaped antennas. In the first position represented in FIG. 1, the antennas 9, 10 are vertically oriented. In this respect, the antennas protrude upwards from the vessel 1 in the first position.

[0038] In the representation in FIG. 1, the elevation directing regions of the weapons 7, 8 are represented as light shaded angular regions E1. The directing range of the weapon 7 is limited in elevation by the upright antenna 9. This means that the weapon 7, if it is pointing in the direction of the bow, can only be directed in elevation above an imaginary connecting line L1 between the weapon 7 and the free end of the aft antenna 9. To this extent, the antenna 9 has an interfering contour that restricts the directing range of the weapon 7. In order to increase the directing range of the weapons 7, 8, the antennas 9, 10 can be swiveled from a first position, in which the antennas 9,10 are essentially vertically disposed, into a second position, in which the height of the antennas 9, 10 is reduced to increase the directing range of the weapons 7, 8 compared to the first position. For this purpose, the antennas 9, 10 are designed to be swiveled by means of a swiveling device 11 that is disposed at the foot of the antennas.

[0039] The elevation directing range of the weapon 7 is represented as a dark shaded angular region E2. It can be seen that the elevation directing range of the weapon 7 in the second position of the antenna 9 is increased compared to the first position. The directing range of the weapon 7 is not restricted by the antenna 9 in the second position of the antenna 9, but by the tower 4, cf. the imaginary connecting line L2 between the weapon 7 and the contour of the tower.

[0040] The swiveling of the antennas 9 into the second position is preferably carried out if the weapon 7 adopts a predetermined elevation directing position and/or a predetermined azimuth directing position, so that the swiveling of the antennas 9 is only then carried out if the antennas 9 are actually forming an interfering contour for the weapon 7.

[0041] To illustrate the swivel plane of the antennas 9, 10, in FIG. 2 an antenna 9 is shown both in the first, upright position and also in the swiveled second position. In the second position, the antenna 9 is swiveled clockwise by approx. 90° about a swivel axis S compared to the first position. The swivel plane of the antenna 9 is thereby the same as the plane of the drawing and runs parallel to a lateral axis of the hull 2 or perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the hull 2. In the second position, the free end of the antenna 9 is disposed to the side of the hull 2. Because the swivel axis S is disposed in the edge region of the deck 5 and the antenna 9 is swiveled away from the tower 4 of the ship in the second position, the antenna 9 is essentially to the side of the hull 2 in the second position. In this respect, the overall width of the vessel 1 increases by the length of the antenna 9.

[0042] FIG. 3 shows the antennas 9, 10 in the second, swiveled position, in which the antennas 9, 10 restrict the directing range of the weapons 7, 8 to a lesser extent than in the first, upright position shown in FIG. 1. In the second position, the antennas 9, 10 are swiveled in a region from 45° to 120°, preferably in a region from 70° to 110°, particularly preferably by approximately 90° compared to the first position. The antennas 9, 10 can be disposed horizontally in the second position for example. In the first, upright position of the antennas 9, 10, the directing range of the weapons 7, 8 is limited in azimuth by the interfering contours of the antennas 9, 10, cf. the light-shaded angular regions A1. In the second position of the antennas 9, 10, the directing range of the weapons 7, 8 is increased in azimuth, cf. the dark-shaded angular regions A2. The antennas 9, 10 can each be swiveled in a swivel plane that encloses an angle with the longitudinal axis R of the hull 2. However, there are differences regarding the selection of the size of the angle. The swivel plane of the antennas 9 encloses an angle of approx. 90° with the longitudinal axis R of the hull 2. The antennas 10, on the other hand, can be swiveled in a swivel plane that runs parallel to an imaginary connecting line between the azimuth directing axis of the weapon 8 and the foot of the antennas 10. Thereby, the swivel plane of the antennas 10 lies effectively in the “firing direction” of the weapon 8. This arrangement of the swivel plane is advantageous, because the weapon 8 is disposed below the foot of the antenna 10 and it is not possible to swivel the antenna 10 completely out of the directing range of the weapon 8.

[0043] Using the representations in FIGS. 4 through 7, a first exemplary embodiment of a swiveling device 11 by means of which the antennas 9, 10 can be swiveled will be described below. The swiveling device 11, in particular a supporting plate 28 of the swiveling device 11, is rigidly connected to the deck 5 by means of a base 24.

[0044] As represented in FIG. 4, the swiveling device 11 comprises a shaft 13 that is rotatably supported in two pedestal bearings 12. An especially cylindrical receptacle 14 for the antenna 9, 10 is provided on the shaft 13. The foot of the antenna 9, 10 is accommodated in the receptacle 14. A gear wheel 22 that is connected to a drive 16 by means of a toothed belt 15 sits on the shaft 13. The drive 16 can be controlled by means of two, in particular mechanical, end switches that are not shown in the figures, so that the antenna 9, 10 can be swiveled back and forth between the first position and the second position by the drive 16. In addition, contactless proximity switches for detecting the position of the shaft can be provided. Using the proximity switches, a transmitter and/or receiver connected to the antenna 9, 10 can be switched off while the antenna 9, 10 is being swiveled, which is also referred to as “blanking”.

[0045] A cable 19 connection of the antenna 9, 10 to a transmitter and/or a receiver is connected to the antenna 9, 10. The cable 19 runs through the interior of the receptacle 14, exits from the receptacle 14 and then runs in a spiral about the shaft 13. Preferably, the shaft 13 comprises a soft sheath at least in the region in which the cable 19 runs about the shaft 13, so that damage to the cable 19 can be reduced. The cable 19 runs through a clamping frame 23 disposed in the plane of the deck 5 into the interior of the structure 3.

[0046] FIG. 5 shows that the swiveling device 11 comprises a housing 20 that protects the mechanism of the swiveling device, in particular the shaft 13, against external effects. For protection against water, a seal 21 is provided between the housing 20 and the shaft 13, in particular the receptacle 14 for the shaft 13.

[0047] Furthermore, a plate 26 that can rotate with the shaft 13 is disposed on the shaft 13. As shown in FIG. 6, the plate 26 comprises two openings 25 that can accept a locking bolt 18 in the first and second positions of the antenna 9, 10 in order to fix the antenna 9, 10 in the respective position. The locking bolt is movable linearly by means of an especially electrically driven cylinder 17. Preferably, two plates 26 are disposed on the shaft 13 for locking the antenna 9, 10.

[0048] FIG. 7 shows a sectional representation through the receptacle 14 for the shaft 13. It can be seen that the seal 21 seals the housing 20 relative to the receptacle 14.

[0049] In FIG. 8 a second exemplary embodiment of a swiveling device 11 for an antenna 9, 10 is represented. In contrast to the swiveling device 11 according to the first exemplary embodiment, the swiveling device 11 is elastically connected to the deck 5 of the vessel 1. For this purpose, the swiveling device 11 comprises spring elements 27 that are disposed between a supporting plate 28 of the swiveling device and the deck 5.

[0050] An adjustment device for adjusting the antenna impedance can also be provided on the vessel 1 between the antenna 9, 10 and a transmitter and/or receiver. Preferably, two operating states can be stored in the adjustment device, so that a first setting for the first position of the antenna 9, 10 and a second setting for the second position of the antenna 9, 10 can be stored. This enables the antenna 9, 10 to use radio traffic in the first position and in the second position.

[0051] By swiveling the antenna 9, 10, the radiation behavior of the antenna 9, 10 can be influenced, as will be described below. In the first, essentially vertical, position of the antenna 9, 10, the radiation angle of the antenna 9, 10 is rather flat, for which reason when radiating electromagnetic waves in the HF range reflections occur at the ionosphere only at a great distance from the vessel 1. In the first position, the antenna 9, 10 therefore has improved radiation behavior for connections to far distant receivers. In the second position the antenna 9, 10 is in a lowered, in particular horizontal position. The radiation angle of the antenna 9, 10 in the second position is rather steep, i.e. the primary radiation direction is essentially vertical. Electromagnetic waves in the HF range are therefore reflected above the vessel 1 at the ionosphere and returned to the vicinity of the vessel 1. This results in improved radiation behavior for connections to nearby receivers.

[0052] In contrast to the exemplary embodiment described above, the antennas 9, 10 of the vessel 1 can be continuously swiveled and/or locked, so that the reduced height second position of the antennas 9, 10 is continuously adjustable. For example, the swivel position of the antennas 9, 10 can be adjusted depending on the azimuth directing position and/or the elevation directing position of the weapons 7, 8.

[0053] The vessel 1 described above comprises a directable weapon 7, 8 and an antenna 9, 10 that can be swiveled from a first position, in which the antenna 9, 10 is essentially vertically disposed, into a second position, in which the height of the antenna 9, 10 above the vessel 1 is reduced to increase the directing range of the weapon 7, 8 compared to the first position. In this respect, the angle of coverage of the weapon 7, 8 can be increased by swiveling the antenna 9, 10 into the second position thereof.

REFERENCE CHARACTER LIST

[0054] 1 military vessel

[0055] 2 hull

[0056] 3 structure

[0057] 4 tower

[0058] 5 deck

[0059] 6 deck

[0060] 7 weapon

[0061] 8 weapon

[0062] 9 antenna

[0063] 10 antenna

[0064] 11 swiveling device

[0065] 12 pedestal bearing

[0066] 13 shaft

[0067] 14 receptacle resp. receiving region

[0068] 15 toothed belt

[0069] 16 drive

[0070] 17 cylinder

[0071] 18 locking bolt

[0072] 19 cable

[0073] 20 housing

[0074] 21 seal

[0075] 22 gear wheel

[0076] 23 clamping frame

[0077] 24 base

[0078] 25 opening

[0079] 26 plate

[0080] 27 spring element

[0081] 28 supporting plate

[0082] A1, A2 directing range in azimuth

[0083] E1, E2 directing range in elevation

[0084] L1, L2 imaginary connecting lines

[0085] R longitudinal axis

[0086] S swivel axis