The present invention relates to an underwater vehicle such as a submarine itself.

Submarines of this nature are almost always equipped with a central hydraulic station, which produces usable energy for various applications on board.

In particular, this hydropower is extremely well adapted to maneuver the masts of the vehicle such as the servo operation of a periscope, or others.

But for various reasons, particularly reasons of discretion, space, cost, maintenance and volume in the shell, such waterworks centralized power generation, tend to disappear in favor of other stations using other energy, such as for example pneumatic energy or electrical energy.

The power of the submarine onboard network is sometimes used for electric actuators for maneuver of such masts. This energy does not always have the availability and the required discretion.

The pneumatic energy, reliable and available in quantity on board, does not facilitate the achievement of a position control. It can be noisy for the crew when using the mast.

The purpose of the invention to solve these problems.

To this end the invention relates to an underwater vehicle of the type comprising a high pressure air board network and operating means of at least one mast of this gear for hoisting and douses thereof -Cl, characterized in that the operating means are connected to hydropneumatic means comprising a first hydraulic displacement portion of the mast and a second inflatable portion pressurizing the first portion from the high air-board network pressure of the underwater vehicle.

According to other characteristics of the device according to the invention:

- it comprises an air / hydraulic separator, the air portion is associated with the second inflatable portion of the hydro-pneumatic means and which hydraulic part is associated with the first hydraulic portion thereof;

- the air portion of the air / oil separator is connected to the output of a distributor having at least one input connected to pressurized air supply means and an outlet connected to the expansion means;

- the pressurized air supply means includes valve means and connected to the high pressure air on-board network;

- the expansion means comprises at least one bottle trigger associated with an air expansion silencer in the underwater vehicle;

- the hydraulic part of the air / oil separator comprises a power output associated with a high-pressure oleopneumatic accumulator and connected through a proportional valve to a large chamber of a cylinder of the mast operating means;

- the proportional directional valve comprises a return path connected to the hydraulic part of the separator;

- the actuator comprises a small chamber associated with an oleopneumatic accumulator against pressure;

- the outlet and return path of the hydraulic part of the separator are associated to the valves nonreturn;

- the mast of the maneuvering means comprise a jack whose rod is fixed.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which will follow, given solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing, which shows a block diagram illustrating the structure and operation of a portion of a underwater vehicle according to the invention and comprising means of hydropneumatic operation of a mast thereof.

It has in fact shown in this figure, a block diagram illustrating the structure and operation of a power supply installation operating means of at least one mast of an underwater vehicle.

These maneuvering means allow e.g. maneuver as the hoisting and douses a mast of the craft such as for example a periscope mast for a submarine itself.

These maneuvering means are designated by the general reference 1 in this figure and then comprise for example at least one maneuvering jack whose rod 1a is fixed and body 1 b movable to the embodiment shown.

Moreover, the underwater vehicle also includes a high pressure air network edge, designated by the general reference 2 in this figure.

In fact, the network panel 2 may for example be an onboard network at a pressure between 150 and 250 bars running environment.

In fact, the means 1 for mast maneuver include oleopneumatic means designated by the general reference 3 in this Figure, having a first hydraulic part 4, the mast movement, and a second portion

tire 5, pressurizing of the first portion 4, from the high pressure air board network 2 of the underwater vehicle.

In fact and as illustrated in the apparatus according to the invention, there is provided an air / hydraulic separator, designated by the general reference 6 in this figure, the air portion 7 is associated with the second tire portion 5 oil pneumatic means 3 and that the hydraulic part is associated with the first hydraulic section 4 of these oil pneumatic means 3, as will be described in more detail later.

As illustrated, the air portion 7 of the air / hydraulic 6, is in fact connected to the outlet of a dispenser for example electrically operated, designated by the general reference 8, and comprising at least one inlet connected to means pressurized air supply, designated by general reference 9, and an outlet connected to the expansion means, designated by the general reference 10.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in this figure, the pressurized air supply means 9 comprise, for example, valve means, designated by the general reference 1 1, and for outputting the rest of the circuit, a pressure e.g. to 150 bar, from a nominal pressure of 250 bar high pressure air network edge 2.

The detent means comprise in turn, for example at least one bottle of relaxation, designated by the general reference 13 in this Figure, associated with an air expansion silencer in the rest of the underwater vehicle, it muffler being designated by the general reference 14.

The hydraulic part 15 of the separator air / hydraulic 6 comprises a power output associated with an oleopneumatic accumulator at high pressure, designated by the general reference 16 in this Figure, and connected through a proportional valve 17, to a large chamber of the actuator maneuvering means 1 of the mast of the craft.

The proportional valve 17 also includes a return path connected to the hydraulic part 15 of the separator 6.

It will be noted that the means for maneuvering the mast 1 comprises the cylinder, whose rod is for example fixed and that the outlet and return path of the hydraulic part 15 of the separator 6 are associated with non-return valves, designated respectively by the references 18 and 19.

Finally the small chamber of the cylinder of the maneuvering means 1, is associated with an oleopneumatic accumulator against pressure, or booster, designated by the general reference 20 in this Figure.

As indicated above, it comes to the principle of air over oil cylinder to the separator upstream of the proportional valve, operating the hoisting and douses the mast.

This separator feeds a supply of high pressure hydraulic fluid produced by an oleopneumatic accumulator, for storing a bit more oil than is necessary to perform a full stroke mast deployment.

This separator is itself fed by a compressed air network board via a pressure regulator.

Finally, an expansion volume is located downstream of the air distributor to the drain in the edge, so as to create a rapid expansion in the separator and consequently if the dispenser 17 is in the return position, in the large chamber the cylinder of the mast operating means.

It is this expansion volume allows to lower the mast faster than oil pneumatic masts slowed by a slow expansion phase.

The air network high edge pressure ensures, as has been previously indicated, a pressure of for example between 150 and 250 bars running environment.

The expansion pressure of 150 bar is retained as an example.

The use of an elevated pressure reduces very significantly the volume of the cylinder and the associated devices that is to say, accumulators, air cylinders, circuits and accessories.

The air network edge, after expansion to 150 bar is connected to an electrical distributor involved in the servo logic.

The output U of the electric valve is connected to the pneumatic chamber of the separator.

It will be noted in this regard, a mounting of the dispenser directly on the separator is also possible.

R the return outlet of the dispenser is connected to a bottle of relaxation, downstream of which are a diaphragm, and a muffler slowly releasing the expanded air in the rest of the board.

The separator 6 can be constituted by an accumulator piston conventional high pressure, away from its traditional usage.

This separator has two outputs with hydraulic of check valves, respectively connected to the P and R ports of the proportional hydraulic distributor 17.

Between the separator and the port P thereof, a high-pressure oleopneumatic accumulator is the hydraulic power reserve, which can be pre-charged before controlling the hoisting of the mast so as to mask the inherent slowness in pneumatic floor.

The proportional valve 17 is useful both in douses hoisting, in order to control both the speed and the position of the mast in both directions.

The U output of the proportional valve is connected to the large chamber of the lifting cylinder.

The small cylinder chamber of the one operating means is connected to an oleopneumatic accumulator recall or against pressure.

From the moment in which the mast is placed in standby mode, the pressure or the level of the high-pressure accumulator is monitored (e).

If the mast is lower than the nominal working position and if the high pressure is not nominal, the air distributor 8 is actuated during a predetermined timed duration just needed to fill the accumulator.

It should be noted that, thanks to the expansion valve 9, the maximum pressure and thus the filling level of the accumulator 16, will never exceed a predetermined threshold, and regardless of the opening time of the air distributor 8 and the initial level of the battery.

The air distributor returning at rest, the pneumatic chamber of the separator 6 is emptied quickly in the bottle of relaxation then more slowly in the edge.

In this state, the mast can be controlled in lifting, through the high pressure reserve, but may also be controlled in douses, against the pressure in the small chamber pushing the separator piston.

If the mast is in its nominal operating position and that the pressure P is below a certain threshold, the air distributor 8 is again activated to pump up the high pressure accumulator.

If the mast receiving a serial douses, the air distributor 8 receives a command from relaxation regardless of its previous state and the status of the compression delay.

Proportional hydraulic distributor receives orders parallel but separated from the air distribution logic.

These orders come from such a battle management system, for example depending on the operational need hoisting or douses the mast.

The proportional valve control law is therefore a classical law of maintaining the position and speed. The mast works for example in response to a rallying set a position, with clipping according to a maximum speed threshold of the mast. The clipping speed may be fixed or be programmed according to the measured deviation between the target position and the position of the mast at a given time.

The use of a proportional valve justified to overcome speed bumps at the end of race.

It is then appreciated that such a structure has a number of advantages in terms of lifting and douses the mast, while being much easier to use, more compact and quieter.

It goes without saying of course that other embodiments still may be envisaged.

CLAIMS

1 .- underwater vehicle of the type comprising a high pressure air board network (2) and operating means (1) at least one mast of this gear for hoisting and douses of celui- above, characterized in that the maneuvering means (1) are connected to hydropneumatic means (3) comprising a first hydraulic part (4) for moving the mast and a second inflatable portion (5) for pressurizing the first portion from the high pressure air edge network (2) of the underwater vehicle.

2.- Machine submarine according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an air / hydraulic (6), the air portion (7) is associated with the second tire portion (5) and including means oleopneumatic the hydraulic part (15) is associated with the first hydraulic part (4) thereof.

3.- Machine submarine according to claim 2, characterized in that the air portion of the air / oil separator (6) is connected to the outlet of a dispenser (8) having at least an inlet connected to means for pressurized air supply (9) and an outlet connected to the expansion means (10).

4.- Machine submarine according to claim 3, characterized in that the air supply means under pressure (9) comprise means forming a valve (1 1) and connected to the high pressure air on-board network ( 2).

5. - underwater vessel as claimed in claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the detent means (10) comprise at least one bottle trigger (13) associated with a silencer (14) of expansion of the air in 'underwater vehicle.

6. - underwater vessel as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the hydraulic part (15) of the air / oil separator (6) comprises a power output associated with a high-pressure oleopneumatic accumulator (16) and connected through a proportional valve (17) to a large chamber of a cylinder of the maneuvering means (1) of the mast.

7. - underwater vessel as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the proportional valve (17) comprises a return path connected to the hydraulic part (15) of the separator (6).

8. - underwater vessel as claimed in claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the actuator comprises a small chamber associated with an oleopneumatic accumulator against pressure (20).

9. - underwater vehicle according to claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the outlet and return path of the hydraulic part of the separator (6) are associated with anti-return valves (18, 19).

10. Engin submarine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the maneuvering means (1) of the mast comprise a jack whose rod is fixed.