Naval platform comprising a superstructure comprising an access opening to a niche

The present invention relates to a naval platform.

More particularly, the invention relates to a naval platform of the type comprising a superstructure comprising at least one opening giving access to a niche as described in document EP 2 433 859.

This opening is generally equipped with retractable closure means, movable between an active position of closing the opening and a retracted position of clearance of this opening.

Various reasons have led the designers and builders of this type of platform, to integrate more and more into the superstructures, and in particular in the sides of these superstructures, openings to access niches thereof.

These niches are for example adapted to receive fast boats and launching means and recovery thereof.

Other facilities and / or equipment can of course be installed in such niches.

For various reasons and for example reasons of safety and protection of personnel on board and reasons of discretion including thermal or equivalent radar signature (SER), these openings are equipped with retractable closure means.

In the state of the art, very many embodiments of these closure means have been proposed.

For example, it is possible to find, in platforms of the state of the art, closure means which are in the form of one or more articulated flaps, movable between a closed position. and an opening release position.

These displacements may for example be provided by electric motorization means.

Different ways of fixing these shutters on each other and on the rest of the structure of the platform, have also been proposed.

Various materials have also been proposed such as metal materials, composites ..., to manufacture these shutters.

In general, all these structures have a certain number of drawbacks in particular as regards their complexity, their weight, their cost, their visual stealth, the risks of corrosion due to the fact that they are subject to assaults related to the external environment, etc.

The object of the invention is therefore to solve these problems.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a naval platform, of the type comprising a superstructure comprising at least one opening giving access to a recess, the opening being equipped with retractable shut-off means movable between an active position of closure of the opening and a retracted position of release of this opening, characterized in that the closure means of the opening comprise a curtain of textile material associated with means of winding and horizontal unwinding of the curtain, disposed of both sides of the opening, for closing or clearing the opening and in that the winding and unwinding means of the curtain comprise a first and a second drums for storing and retrieving the curtain,in that the first drum is adapted to receive the textile curtain in the retracted stored position, to allow the opening of the opening, and in that the second drum comprises at least one traction cable associated with the free end of the textile curtain to unroll it and move it to its closed position of the aperture.

According to other features of the platform according to the invention, taken alone or in combination:

the first and second drums for storing and retrieving the curtain each comprise a geared motor driving in rotation with the corresponding drum, in order to allow the movement and tensioning of this curtain between its active shutter and retracted positions of release of the opening ;

said at least one traction cable is associated with a drawbar fixed on the corresponding end of the curtain in order to allow the movement thereof and its tensioning through the opening;

- The ends of the drawbar comprise guide means adapted to move in complementary guide means extending along the upper and lower edges of the opening;

the upper and lower edges of the curtain comprise guide and tensioning ropes thereof, movable in complementary clevis tunnels extending along the upper and lower edges of the opening;

- there is provided means for adjusting the position of the guide means to allow a vertical adjustment of the tension of the curtain;

- Protection caps are provided for winding and unwinding drums;

- Perimeter masking plates are provided to ensure a continuity of visual, thermal and electromagnetic stealth performance between the naval platform and the shutter means.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 represents a schematic side view of a naval platform according to the invention, and comprising a superstructure comprising a sidewall provided with at least one opening,

FIG. 2 represents a rear perspective view illustrating the structure of an exemplary embodiment of closure means forming part of a platform according to the invention,

FIG. 3 illustrates a sectional view of a detail of guiding means forming part of the constitution of these closure means,

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a geared motor forming part of the constitution of such closing means, and

- Figure 5 shows a side view of a platform illustrating masking plates for ensuring the continuity of visual, thermal and electromagnetic furtivities between the naval platform and the sealing means.

It has indeed shown in Figure 1, a naval platform which is designated by the general reference 1.

This naval platform comprises a superstructure, designated by the general reference 2, and which comprises for example in its visible side in this figure, at least one opening giving access to a niche.

In this Figure 1, this opening is designated by the general reference 3 and thus gives access to a recess in the corresponding side of the superstructure.

This opening 3 is associated with retractable closure means designated by the general reference 4 in this figure, which are therefore movable between an active position of closing the opening and a retracted position of release of this opening.

This then allows to open or on the contrary to close this niche and thus to put it in relation with the external environment or on the contrary to isolate it from this environment.

Of course, many locations and many embodiments of this opening of the superstructure and the naval platform can be envisaged.

According to the invention, the closure means of the opening comprise a curtain of textile material, associated with means of winding and horizontal unwinding of the curtain, arranged on either side of the opening of the superstructure , to seal or clear the opening.

For example, FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of such sealing means.

In fact, in this Figure 2, the opening of the superstructure is always designated by the general reference 3 and the closure means are always designated by the general reference 4, the superstructure is still designated by the general reference 2 .

As illustrated, the closure means of the opening then comprise a curtain of textile material, designated for example by the general reference 5 in this FIG.

This curtain can then be solid or perforated and have characteristics including technical resistance to the environment and discretion and protection appropriate for this type of use.

This curtain 5 is then associated with winding means and unwinding thereof, which are arranged on either side of the opening 3 to close or clear this opening.

These winding and unwinding means of the shutter curtain 5 are designated for example respectively by references 6 and 7 in this FIG.

In fact, these winding and unwinding means of the curtain 5, comprise a first and a second drums for storing and retrieving the curtain, constituted for example respectively by the drums designated by the references 7 and 6 in this FIG.

These storage and retrieval drums of the curtain 6 and 7, are then arranged on each side of the opening.

The drum 7 is for example adapted to receive the textile curtain stored stored retracted position of the opening.

The other drum 6 is associated for example with at least one pulling cable of the curtain.

For example, the drum 6 is connected to two traction cables 8 and 9, associated with the free end of the textile curtain 5, to unroll it and thus move the curtain to its active position of closing the opening .

In this case, or the traction cables 8 and 9 of the curtain, are associated for example with a drawbar 10, fixed on the corresponding front end of the curtain 5, to allow the unwinding of the curtain and its power through the opening.

Thus, for example, this drawbar 10 comprises, at its ends, guide means 1 1 and 12, respectively, adapted to cooperate with complementary guide means 13 and 14, respectively, extending along the upper and lower edges of the opening, to guide the movement of the curtain through the opening of the superstructure.

In addition and as illustrated for example in Figure 3, the upper and lower edges of the curtain may also include guide means and power.

These guide means may be for example in the form of ropes and tunnels of ropes or roll trains or other.

For example, the curtain 5 may comprise on its upper and lower edges, a rope for example 14, which is then associated with a rope tunnel for example 15, the platform, to guide the movements of this curtain and its implementation under pressure.

These lug tunnels are also for example associated with means for adjusting their position which allows for example to adjust the tension applied to the curtain.

Each drum 6 and 7 described previously, is also associated for example with an electric gearmotor or other, such as that shown in Figure 4 and designated by the general reference 17.

It is then conceivable that in the retracted position, the textile curtain 5 is wrapped around the storage drum and winding 7 and the opening 3 of the superstructure of the platform is then released.

When it is desired to close this opening, an operator actuates the power supply of the geared motor associated with the drum 6.

The latter then starts to turn by winding the traction cable or cables 8 and 9 of the curtain and thus causing the advance and unwinding of the curtain 5 from the drum 7.

The curtain then approaches the shutter position of the opening.

Just before the total closure of the opening, the geared motor associated with the drum 7 is fed to ensure at the end of the race a perfect horizontal tension of the fabric.

When it is desired to open and clear the opening, the operator triggers the supply of the geared motor associated with the drum 7, to wind the shutter curtain around it and thus retract it and clear the corresponding opening of the superstructure.

Different modes of operation of the system as a whole can be envisaged.

In particular, a mode of emergency operation of the operating means can be provided.

In this case the geared motor may include a receipt of a coupling system with a drill or a screwdriver / screwdriver for example pneumatic, to allow a curtain manouvre even in case of failure eg power supply.

Of course other modes are possible.

Such a curtain SER is also compatible with rescue operations (SOLAS) thanks to its speed of opening.

It will be noted that protective covers may be arranged for example around these drums to ensure the operational safety of these and the safety and protection of the personnel on board.

It may also be provided peripheral masking plates around the opening, to ensure a continuity of stealth performance including visual, thermal and electromagnetic between the naval platform and the shutter means of the opening, ensuring by example the masking of the interstices between them.

This is for example illustrated in Figure 5, where there is illustrated such sheets respectively 18, 19, 20 and 21.

It goes without saying of course that many other embodiments can be envisaged.

CLAIMS

1. Naval platform, of the type comprising a superstructure (2) comprising at least one opening (3) giving access to a recess, the opening being equipped with retractable shut-off means (4) movable between an active position of closure of the opening and a retracted position of clearance of this opening, characterized in that the means (4) for closing the opening (3) comprise a curtain of textile material (5) associated with means (6, 7) winding and horizontal unwinding of this curtain (5), arranged on either side of the opening (3), to close off or clear the opening and in that the means of winding and unwinding the curtain comprise first and second drums (6, 7) for storing and retrieving the curtain (5),

2. - Naval platform according to claim 1, characterized in that the first and second drums (6, 7) for storing and retrieving the curtain (5) each comprise a geared motor (16) for rotating the corresponding drum, to allow movement and tensioning of this curtain (5) between its active shutter positions and retracted clearance of the opening.

3.- Naval platform according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said at least one traction cable (8, 9) is associated with a drawbar (10) fixed on the corresponding end of the curtain (5) so to allow the movement of the latter and its powering through the opening.

4.- Naval platform according to claim 3, characterized in that the ends of the drawbar (10) comprise guide means (1 1, 12) adapted to move in complementary guide means (13, 14). extending along the upper and lower edges of the opening.

5.- Naval platform according to claim 4, characterized in that the upper and lower edges of the curtain (5) comprise rulers (14) for guiding and setting

under tension thereof, movable in complementary clevis tunnels (15) extending along the upper and lower edges of the opening.

6. - Naval platform according to claim 5, characterized in that there is provided means for adjusting the position of the guide means to allow a vertical adjustment of the tension of the curtain.

7. - Naval platform according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that there are provided protective covers of winding and unwinding drums.

8. - Naval platform according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that there are provided plates (18, 19, 20, 21) of peripheral masking to ensure a continuity of visual stealth performance, thermal and electromagnetic between the naval platform and the means of shutter.