The present invention relates to a system for attaching an object to a support. Such a system can be used for securing a weapon to a cradle for receiving it, for 10 example.
During their handling, in particular on military ships, weapons are generally held mechanically to the handling and storage system structures by straps.
These straps make it possible to maintain the weapons in all platform movements
such as roll, pitch, yaw and trim, etc., and to withstand military shocks.
15 A strapping effort is applied then to the weapons, in order to maintain them in
position, on a receiving cradle, for example.
However, this strapping effort depends on the weapon in question, or on the strapping area.
Indeed, strapping pressures are different for different weapons, because they 20 tolerate these pressure efforts on their external casings differently.
The operators handling these weapons must therefore regularly ensure that the weapons are properly strapped during all operational phases of the platform, such as during a mission, at the dock, loading, etc.
However, no information is given to the operators to ensure that the straps are 25 properly tightened.
In fact, this tightening is also applied during all the phases of loading weapons on
board not only submarines but also surface ships, for example, where these weapons are
moved strapped on a cart, making trips between an ammunition hold and the corresponding
launchers.
30 These launchers may be weapon launchers, for example, or aircraft such as planes
or helicopters, etc.
In this case, it is known that safety during these maneuvers is essential, given the
danger of displaced weapons, which then risk falling, but also because of their financial
value.
35 It is known that a weapon that falls is normally secured and cannot be used anymore.

2
Thus, we are faced with a certain number of problems related in particular to the
lack of information on strapping sent to the operators, to the risk of weapons falling or even
the risk of deterioration of the weapon, such as the weapon slipping from its receiving cradle.
In addition, the strapping pressure can evolve over the course of time as a result of
5 vibratory stresses. Nowadays, this type of strapping of parts is done by a handling operator,
using a torque wrench to apply a defined tightening torque.
Thereafter, the holding of the weapon in position on the corresponding receiving means is no longer controlled.
The object of the invention is therefore to solve these problems.
10 To this end, the invention has as its object a system for attaching an object to a
support, such as a weapon to a cradle for receiving same, in particular, using a means of strap tightening, characterized in that the means of strap tightening comprises a means for visually indicating the tightening pressure.
According to other features of the invention, taken alone or in combination:
15 - the means for visually indicating the tightening pressure comprises at least one
photo-elastic indicator;
- the indicator comprises a birefringent member associated to at least one
polarizing member;
- the indicator comprises a birefringent member placed between two polarizing
20 members;
- the birefringent and polarizing members are in the form of layers of material fixed
to the rest of the strapping means.
The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, given
only by way of example and made with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
25 [Fig 1] and [Fig 2] Figures 1 and 2 illustrate an example embodiment of an attaching
system according to the invention, in an exploded view and in the tightening position respectively, of a weapon on a cradle for receiving the same, for example, and [Fig. 3] Figure 3 illustrates an example of a tightening tag.
Figures 1 and 2 effectively illustrate an example embodiment of a system for 30 attaching an object to a support according to the invention.
Thus, for example, this attaching system can be used to attach a weapon, designated by the general reference 1, on a cradle for receiving same, designated by the general reference 2, by a tightening strap means, designated by the general reference 3. According to the invention, the means of strapping comprises means for visually 35 indicating the tightening pressure applied, designated by the general reference 4.

3
In fact, this means of visually indicating the tightening pressure comprises at least one photo-elastic indicator.
An examplary embodiment of this indicator can be seen more clearly in Figure 1, where it can be seen that it comprises at least one birefringent member 5 placed between 5 two polarizing members 6 and 7.
These members are in the form of layers of corresponding materials, for example, fixed on a strap, itself designated by the general reference 8.
This strap is then adapted to interact with a conventional type of tightening system,
designated by the general reference 9.
10 Such a strap, also called a photo-elastic strap, is then adapted for tightening and
attaching, for handling weapons inside or outside submarines or surface vessels, for example.
The idea is to use the principle of photoelasticity whereby the color and/or shape of the visual indication means seen by the handling operator on each strap corresponds to the 15 effort applied to it etc.
Thus, by simple visual control of the indicator, a handling operator is able to control the correct tightening effort of the strap according to the different needs.
In the case of photo-elastic straps, the photo-elastic material has a suitable photo-elastic coefficient in order to have only one visible fringe for the effort for tightening different 20 weapons, for example.
Of course, other embodiments can be envisaged.
For example, several fringes can also be envisaged, drawing a known geometric shape (such as a circle, more or less visible depending on the strapping effort, or other).
Most resins are photo-elastic.
25 Thus the material used can be an elastic resin cast between the two polarizers.
The means of pressure detection, i.e. the polarizers and the birefringent material, are then flexible and can be easily fixed to the strap itself, by gluing, for example.
A simple color code like the one shown on the tightening tab in Figure 3, makes it possible to know the tightening effort required for all the embarked weapons, such as 30 missiles, torpedoes, mines, etc., and thus to verify the securing of the weapon quickly.
A function of visual controlling the effort applied is thus added to the tightening straps.
This function is extremely simple to implement, does not require any specific tool, is
extremely fast and results in increased weapon safety.
35 Of course, various other embodiments can be envisaged.

CLAIMS

1.System for attaching an object to a support such as a weapon (1) in particular
on a receiving cradle (3) of the same, using a strap tightening means (3) characterized in
5 that the tightening strap means (3) comprises visualization indication means (4) indicating the tightening pressure.
2. The attaching system according to claim 1, characterized in that the means
for visually indicating the tightening pressure (4) comprises at least one photo-elastic
indicator.
10 3. The attaching system according to claim 2, characterized in that the indicator
comprises a birefringent member (5) related to at least one polarizing member (6, 7).
4. The attaching system according to claim 3, characterized in that the indicator
comprises a birefringent member (5) placed between two polarizing members (6, 7).
5. The attaching system according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the
15 birefringent and polarizing members are in the form of layers of material attached to the rest
of the strapping means (8).