EP0785887B1 - Air-droppable buoy - Google Patents

Air-droppable buoy Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0785887B1
EP0785887B1 EP95935492A EP95935492A EP0785887B1 EP 0785887 B1 EP0785887 B1 EP 0785887B1 EP 95935492 A EP95935492 A EP 95935492A EP 95935492 A EP95935492 A EP 95935492A EP 0785887 B1 EP0785887 B1 EP 0785887B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
balloon
buoy
air
beak
opening
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Expired - Lifetime
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EP95935492A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0785887A1 (en
Inventor
Vito Suppa
Pascal Bocquillon
Bernard Loubieres
Gilbert Oddoart
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Thales SA
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Thomson CSF SA
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B22/00—Buoys
    • B63B22/003—Buoys adapted for being launched from an aircraft or water vehicle;, e.g. with brakes deployed in the water
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B22/00—Buoys
    • B63B22/22—Inflatable buoys with gas generating means

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to airborne buoys which are intended to be dropped from an aircraft to float at the sea surface by supporting variable immersion of the sensors of measure whose signals are generally retransmitted by radio to the carrier aircraft. It applies inter alia to underwater detection.
  • the balloon also has on the flanks of its half upper pockets 108 which stabilize the movement of the buoy during its descent to avoid, or at least strongly imitate, oscillations.
  • these pockets have a triangular shape truncated towards the top and they extend substantially over the entire length of the part upper frustoconical of the balloon. They are fixed on the sides and open at the top and bottom. So the air rushes in, inflates them and escapes through the upper part which therefore plays the role of the hole located at the center of a parachute.
  • the balloon does not has no stabilization pockets located at the top. All on the contrary, these pockets are located on the lower part of the balloon. In in addition to the air inlets, if they are properly made in the wall of the balloon, are clearly located at the connection between the body and the ball and at the base of the pockets.
  • the invention proposes a buoy airborne airdrop intended to be dropped in flight from an aircraft, type comprising a body surmounted by an inflatable balloon provided at its upper part of aerodynamic stabilization pockets, mainly characterized in that the connection between the body and the balloon is tight and in that this balloon has at its bottom at least one spoiler 205 forming an air intake to allow inflation of the balloon under the aerodynamic air pressure after the buoy is released.
  • the spoiler has a shape triangular whose opening is directed towards the bottom of the balloon so to form a scoop for air and it comes to cover at its upper part a opening in the wall of the balloon ci forming air inlet in this one.
  • the buoy includes a valve check valve located on the inner wall of the balloon opposite the opening forming air inlet for the spoiler.
  • the spoiler is formed in one piece triangular fabric with a flexible blade at its bottom, the natural shape is curved to keep the spoiler open and which can be laid flat to allow the front balloon to be folded dropping the buoy.
  • the lower part of the spoiler is located approximately a third of the height of the frustoconical part bottom of the balloon.
  • the stabilization pockets aerodynamics have a reduced height and a higher opening enlarged to allow the buoy to be completely stabilized during its descent after ejection from the aircraft.
  • the buoy according to the invention includes a body 201 truncated on the drawing and whose length is substantially equal to a third of the length of the body 101 of the buoy according to the prior art.
  • This body has neither opening at its upper part, no shovel, unlike the one shown in figure 1.
  • the buoy also includes a bitronconical balloon 202 all quite similar in form and size to that of art prior.
  • This balloon is provided at its upper part with pockets of stabilization 208 whose appearance and role are similar to those of bags of the prior art, but the dimensions of which are, according to the invention, significantly reduced in height and whose upper opening is significantly wider.
  • the invention proposes to place on the lower part of the balloon, at least a spoiler 205 forming an air intake and which covers an opening 206 pierced in the wall of the balloon and forming an air inlet. This opening is closed on the inside of the balloon by a non-return valve 207 shown schematically in the figure.
  • a blade was attached to the lower part of the triangle flexible 310, made of flexible plastic for example, which can lie flat when of the balloon area when placed in its protective cover at when the buoy was made.
  • the flexible blade returns to its natural shape hoop and imposes on the triangular fabric piece a scoop shape, so that the air easily gets inside it. This air then enters the balloon through a circular opening 206 located at the height of the point of the triangle formed by the spoiler.
  • the check valve located inside the balloon is preferably formed by a piece of rectangular fabric of the same kind than that of the balloon, glued or welded by two of these opposite sides on the inner surface of the balloon so as to cover the opening 206.
  • This valve thus makes it possible to imitate the flow of air admitted during inflation of the balloon after ejection from the carrier aircraft, which limits the risks bursting of this balloon during inflation.
  • the buoy floats on the surface of the water, as shown in Figure 4, a small amount of water gets inside it, as already explained in the description of the prior art, and the non-return valve blocks the outlet of this water, and possibly air, when the balloon is shaken violently by a breaking wave. In this way, we ensure the maintenance of the buoyancy of the buoy even in the event of a storm.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
  • Toys (AREA)

Description

La présente invention se rapporte aux bouées aéroportées qui sont destinées à être larguées depuis un aéronef pour venir flotter à la surface de la mer en soutenant à une immersion variable des capteurs de mesure dont les signaux sont généralement retransmis par voie radio à l'aéronef porteur. Elle s'applique entre autres à la détection sous-marine.The present invention relates to airborne buoys which are intended to be dropped from an aircraft to float at the sea surface by supporting variable immersion of the sensors of measure whose signals are generally retransmitted by radio to the carrier aircraft. It applies inter alia to underwater detection.

On connait de la demande de brevet N° 78 21 276 déposée le 18 juillet 1978 par la demanderesse et délivrée le 15 février 1980 sous le N° 2 431 419 une bouée de ce type qui comporte, comme représenté sur la figure 1, un corps allongé 101 suspendu à un ballonnet bitronconique 102. Pendant la descente dans l'air selon la direction 103, les filets d'air 104 viennent glisser le long du corps 101, qui est relativement long. La plus grande partie de cet air est canalisée par deux pelles latérales 105 situées à l'extrémité supérieure du corps. Ces pelles s'ouvrent au moment du largage et leur rôle principal est d'actionner un mécanisme intérieur permettant, entre autres, de libérer le capot de protection dans lequel est enfermé le ballonnet 102, comme décrit dans la demande de brevet N° 79 05 002 déposée par la demanderesse le 27 février 1979 et délivrée sous le N° 2 450 193 le 26 septembre 1980. Ces pelles permettent en outre de canaliser les filets d'air de manière à les diriger vers des ouvertures 106 situées à la partie supérieure du corps en-dessous des pelles et qui communiquent avec l'intérieur du ballonnet 102 par l'intermédiaire d'une membrane anti-retour 107. Donc après le largage les pelles s'ouvrent, ce qui entraíne l'éjection du capot de protection du ballonnet et la libération des ouvertures 106. Les filets d'air pénètrent alors par ces ouvertures, viennent soulever la membrane 107 et se mettent à gonfler le ballonnet 102. Lorsque celui-ci est complètement gonflé, il ralentit la chute de la bouée à la manière d'un parachute pour que le choc à la surface de l'eau ne soit pas trop brutal.We know of patent application N ° 78 21 276 filed on July 18, 1978 by the plaintiff and issued on February 15, 1980 under the N ° 2 431 419 a buoy of this type which, as shown on the FIG. 1, an elongated body 101 suspended from a bitronconical balloon 102. During the descent into the air in direction 103, the air streams 104 slide along the body 101, which is relatively long. Most much of this air is channeled by two side shovels 105 located at the upper end of the body. These shovels open when dropped and their main role is to activate an internal mechanism allowing, among other things, to release the protective cover in which the balloon 102, as described in patent application No. 79 05 002 filed by the plaintiff on February 27, 1979 and issued under the number 2,450,193 on September 26, 1980. These shovels also allow channel the air streams so as to direct them towards openings 106 located at the top of the body below the shovels and which communicate with the interior of the balloon 102 via a non-return membrane 107. So after dropping the shovels open, which causes the ejection of the balloon protective cover and the release of openings 106. The air nets then penetrate through these openings, come lift the membrane 107 and begin to inflate the balloon 102. When this one is completely inflated, it slows down the fall of the buoy in the way a parachute so that the shock on the surface of the water is not too brutal.

Le ballonnet comporte en outre sur les flancs de sa moitié supérieure des poches 108 qui permettent de stabiliser le mouvement de la bouée lors de sa descente pour éviter, ou tout au moins imiter fortement, les oscillations. Pour cela ces poches ont une forme triangulaire tronquée vers le haut et elles s'étendent sensiblement sur toute la longueur de la partie tronconique supérieure du ballonnet. Elles sont fixées sur les côtés et ouvertes en haut et en bas. Ainsi l'air s'engouffre dedans, les gonfle et s'échappe par la partie supérieure qui joue donc le rôle du trou situé au centre d'un parachute.The balloon also has on the flanks of its half upper pockets 108 which stabilize the movement of the buoy during its descent to avoid, or at least strongly imitate, oscillations. For this, these pockets have a triangular shape truncated towards the top and they extend substantially over the entire length of the part upper frustoconical of the balloon. They are fixed on the sides and open at the top and bottom. So the air rushes in, inflates them and escapes through the upper part which therefore plays the role of the hole located at the center of a parachute.

Lorsque la bouée arrive dans l'eau, le flux d'air s'arrête et la membrane anti-retour 107 se ferme, ce qui maintient le ballon gonflé. Ce ballon alors joue le rôle d'un flotteur qui empêche le corps de couler et le maintient près de la surface de l'eau. Sous l'effet de la pression hydrostatique, une petite quantité d'eau pénètre quand même dans le ballonnet par les ouvertures en soulevant la membrane 107, mais comme ce ballonnet est fermé vers le haut la pression de l'air augmente et empêche l'eau de continuer à rentrer. Le niveau de l'eau à l'intérieur du ballonnet se stabilise alors à une hauteur légèrement inférieure au niveau de l'eau à l'extérieur de celui-ci.When the buoy enters the water, the air flow stops and the non-return membrane 107 closes, which keeps the balloon inflated. This balloon then plays the role of a float which prevents the body from sinking and the keeps close to the water surface. Under pressure hydrostatic, a small amount of water still enters the balloon through the openings by lifting the membrane 107 but like this balloon is closed upwards the air pressure increases and prevents water to keep coming in. The water level inside the balloon is then stabilizes at a height slightly below the water level at outside of it.

On connaít aussi de la demande de brevet français n°2654065 une bouée munie d'un ballonnet.We also know from French patent application n ° 2654065 a buoy with a balloon.

Toutefois, dans cette demande de brevet, le ballonnet ne comporte pas de poches de stabilisation situées à sa partie supérieure. Tout au contraire ces poches sont situées sur la partie inférieure du ballon. En outre les entrées d'air, si elles sont bien pratiquées dans la paroi du ballon, sont clairement situées au niveau de la liaison entre le corps et le ballon et à la base des poches.However, in this patent application, the balloon does not has no stabilization pockets located at the top. All on the contrary, these pockets are located on the lower part of the balloon. In in addition to the air inlets, if they are properly made in the wall of the balloon, are clearly located at the connection between the body and the ball and at the base of the pockets.

Dans ces conditions les entrées d'air sont déventées par les poches où l'air s'accumule en repoussant d'une part les filets d'air au delà du niveau des ouvertures et d'autre part la paroi du ballon vers l'intérieur de celui-ci. Dans ces conditions, le ballon tend au départ à se dégonfler un peu puis ce gonflage s'arrête ou se poursuit très lentement, le ballon ayant alors la forme d'un champignon qui joue le rôle d'un parachuteIn these conditions the air inlets are vented by the pockets where air collects by pushing the air streams beyond from the level of the openings and on the other hand the wall of the balloon towards the inside of this one. Under these conditions, the balloon initially tends to deflate a little then this inflation stops or continues very slowly, the balloon then having the shape of a mushroom that plays the role of a parachute

De ce fait d'une part la bouée descend très lentement, ce qui est contraire au but recherché, où la descente doit certes être freinée suffisamment pour ne pas occasionner de dégâts lors du choc avec l'eau, mais où elle doit cependant être suffisamment rapide pour pouvoir être opérationnelle le plus tôt possible.Therefore on the one hand the buoy descends very slowly, which is contrary to the desired goal, where the descent must certainly be braked enough not to cause damage during impact with water, but where it must be fast enough to be operational as soon as possible.

D'autre part cette descente est très instable parce que le "parachute" ainsi obtenu ne comporte pas de moyens de stabilisation ( le trou supérieur des parachutes ordinaires par exemple) et que tout au contraire les poches qui sont situées en bas tendent à accentuer les mouvements de balancement plutôt qu'à les réduire.On the other hand, this descent is very unstable because the "parachute" thus obtained does not include stabilization means (the top hole of ordinary parachutes for example) and that on the contrary the pockets which are located at the bottom tend to accentuate the swinging movements rather than reducing them.

L'évolution de la technique a entraíné une diminution très sensible du volume du matériel contenu dans le corps et corrélativement une diminution importante, de l'ordre de deux tiers, de la longueur de celui-ci. En outre, des perfectionnements ont permis de se passer des pelles pour dégager le ballonnet après le largage.The evolution of the technique has resulted in a very sensitive to the volume of the material contained in the body and correspondingly significant decrease, of the order of two thirds, in the length thereof. In in addition, improvements made it possible to dispense with shovels for release the balloon after release.

Dans ces conditions, le mouvement des filets d'air le long du corps de la bouée est profondément modifié et les entrées d'air sont déventées, ce qui entraíne un mauvais gonflage du ballonnet.Under these conditions, the movement of the air streams along the body of the buoy is deeply modified and the air inlets are vented, which leads to poor inflation of the balloon.

Pour pallier cet inconvénient, l'invention propose une bouée aéroportée largable destinée à être larguée en vol depuis un aéronef, du type comprenant un corps surmonté d'un ballonnet gonflable muni à sa partie supérieure de poches de stabilisation aérodynamique, principalement caractérisée en ce que la liaison entre le corps et le ballonnet est étanche et en ce que ce ballonnet comporte à sa partie inférieure au moins un becquet 205 formant prise d'air pour permettre le gonflage du ballonnet sous la pression aérodynamique de l'air après le largage de la bouée.To overcome this drawback, the invention proposes a buoy airborne airdrop intended to be dropped in flight from an aircraft, type comprising a body surmounted by an inflatable balloon provided at its upper part of aerodynamic stabilization pockets, mainly characterized in that the connection between the body and the balloon is tight and in that this balloon has at its bottom at least one spoiler 205 forming an air intake to allow inflation of the balloon under the aerodynamic air pressure after the buoy is released.

Selon une autre caractéristique, le becquet a une forme triangulaire dont l'ouverture est dirigée vers le bas du ballonnet de manière à former une écope pour l'air et il vient recouvrir a sa partie supérieure une ouverture ménagée dans la paroi du ballonnet ci formant entrée d'air dans celui-ci. According to another characteristic, the spoiler has a shape triangular whose opening is directed towards the bottom of the balloon so to form a scoop for air and it comes to cover at its upper part a opening in the wall of the balloon ci forming air inlet in this one.

Selon une autre caractéristique, la bouée comporte une valve anti-retour située sur la paroi intérieure du ballonnet en face de l'ouverture formant entrée d'air pour le becquet.According to another characteristic, the buoy includes a valve check valve located on the inner wall of the balloon opposite the opening forming air inlet for the spoiler.

Selon une autre caractéristique, le becquet est formé d'une pièce en tissu triangulaire comportant à sa partie inférieure une lame souple dont la forme naturelle est courbée pour permettre de maintenir ouvert le becquet et qui peut se mettre à plat pour permettre le repliement du ballonnet avant le largage de la bouée.According to another characteristic, the spoiler is formed in one piece triangular fabric with a flexible blade at its bottom, the natural shape is curved to keep the spoiler open and which can be laid flat to allow the front balloon to be folded dropping the buoy.

Selon une autre caractéristique, la partie inférieure du becquet est située sensiblement au tiers de la hauteur de la partie tronconique inférieure du ballonnet.According to another characteristic, the lower part of the spoiler is located approximately a third of the height of the frustoconical part bottom of the balloon.

Selon une autre caractéristique, les poches de stabilisation aérodynamiques ont une hauteur réduite et une ouverture supérieure agrandie pour permettre de stabiliser de manière complète la bouée lors de sa descente après éjection de l'aéronef.According to another characteristic, the stabilization pockets aerodynamics have a reduced height and a higher opening enlarged to allow the buoy to be completely stabilized during its descent after ejection from the aircraft.

D'autres particularités et avantages de l'invention apparaítront clairement dans la description suivante, présentée à titre d'exemple non limitatif, en regard des figures annexées qui représentent :

  • la figure 1, une vue de côté d'une bouée selon l'art antérieur;
  • la figure 2, une vue de côté partielle d'une bouée selon l'invention ;
  • la figure 3, une vue du becquet de la bouée de la figure 3; et
  • la figure 4, une vue en coupe d'une bouée selon l'invention flottant sur la mer.
Other features and advantages of the invention will appear clearly in the following description, presented by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the appended figures which represent:
  • Figure 1, a side view of a buoy according to the prior art;
  • Figure 2, a partial side view of a buoy according to the invention;
  • Figure 3, a view of the spoiler of the buoy of Figure 3; and
  • Figure 4, a sectional view of a buoy according to the invention floating on the sea.

La bouée selon l'invention, représentée partiellement et schématiquement sur la figure 2, comprend un corps 201 tronqué sur le dessin et dont la longueur est sensiblement égale au tiers de la longueur du corps 101 de la bouée selon l'art antérieur. Ce corps ne comporte ni ouverture à sa partie supérieure, ni pelle, contrairement à celui représenté sur la figure 1.The buoy according to the invention, partially shown and schematically in Figure 2, includes a body 201 truncated on the drawing and whose length is substantially equal to a third of the length of the body 101 of the buoy according to the prior art. This body has neither opening at its upper part, no shovel, unlike the one shown in figure 1.

La bouée comprend en outre un ballonnet bitronconique 202 tout à fait semblable dans sa forme et dans ses dimensions à celui de l'art antérieur.The buoy also includes a bitronconical balloon 202 all quite similar in form and size to that of art prior.

Ce ballonnet est muni à sa partie supérieure de poches de stabilisation 208 dont l'apparence et le rôle sont semblables a celles des poches de l'art antérieur, mais dont les dimensions sont, selon l'invention, nettement plus réduites en hauteur et dont l'ouverture supérieure est nettement plus large.This balloon is provided at its upper part with pockets of stabilization 208 whose appearance and role are similar to those of bags of the prior art, but the dimensions of which are, according to the invention, significantly reduced in height and whose upper opening is significantly wider.

D'autre part, comme le corps ne comprend plus d'ouvertures d'entrée d'air, le raccordement du ballonnet au corps est étanche pour éviter toute fuite d'air à ce niveau.On the other hand, as the body no longer has openings air inlet, the connection of the balloon to the body is tight to avoid any air leakage at this level.

Pour pouvoir quand même gonfler le ballon sans recourir à des moyens internes compliqués et coûteux, du genre bouteille de gonflage, l'invention propose de placer sur la partie inférieure du ballonnet, au moins un becquet 205 formant prise d'air et qui vient recouvrir une ouverture 206 percée dans la paroi du ballonnet et formant entrée d'air. Cette ouverture est obturée sur la face intérieure du ballonnet par une valve anti-retour 207 représentée schématiquement sur la figure.To still be able to inflate the balloon without resorting to complicated and expensive internal means, such as an inflation bottle, the invention proposes to place on the lower part of the balloon, at least a spoiler 205 forming an air intake and which covers an opening 206 pierced in the wall of the balloon and forming an air inlet. This opening is closed on the inside of the balloon by a non-return valve 207 shown schematically in the figure.

On a représenté de manière plus détaillée ce becquet sur la figure 3.This spoiler is shown in more detail on the figure 3.

Il est donc formé d'une pièce en tissu 305 de forme triangulaire dont la pointe est orientée vers le haut du ballonnet et qui est fixée par collage ou soudage sur la surface extérieure de celui-ci par ses deux côtés latéraux. le tissu est de préférence le même que celui du ballonnet.It is therefore formed of a piece of fabric 305 of triangular shape the point of which is oriented towards the top of the balloon and which is fixed by bonding or welding on the outer surface thereof by its two sides lateral. the fabric is preferably the same as that of the balloon.

Pour assurer le déploiement à coup sûr de cette pièce lors de l'extraction du ballonnet, on a fixé à la partie inférieure du triangle une lame flexible 310, en plastique souple par exemple, qui peut se mettre à plat lors du plage du ballonnet lorsqu'on le place dans son capot de protection au moment de la fabrication de la bouée. Lorsque le capot est éjecté et que le ballonnet se déplie, la lame flexible reprend sa forme naturelle en forme d'arceau et impose à la pièce en tissu triangulaire une forme en écope, de manière à ce que l'air s'engouffre facilement à l'intérieur de celle-ci. Cet air vient alors pénétrer dans le ballonnet par une ouverture circulaire 206 située à la hauteur de la pointe du triangle formé par le becquet.To ensure the safe deployment of this part during extraction of the balloon, a blade was attached to the lower part of the triangle flexible 310, made of flexible plastic for example, which can lie flat when of the balloon area when placed in its protective cover at when the buoy was made. When the cover is ejected and the balloon unfolds, the flexible blade returns to its natural shape hoop and imposes on the triangular fabric piece a scoop shape, so that the air easily gets inside it. This air then enters the balloon through a circular opening 206 located at the height of the point of the triangle formed by the spoiler.

La valve anti-retour située à l'intérieur du ballonnet est de préférence formée par un morceau de tissu rectangulaire de même nature que celui du ballonnet, collé ou soudé par deux de ces côtés opposés sur la surface intérieure du ballonnet de manière à recouvrir l'ouverture 206. Cette valve permet ainsi de imiter le débit de l'air admis lors du gonflage du ballonnet après son éjection de l'aéronef porteur, ce qui limite les risques d'éclatement de ce ballonnet lors du gonflage. En outre, lorsque la bouée flotte à la surface de l'eau, comme représenté sur la figure 4, une petite quantité d'eau rentre à l'intérieur de celle-ci, comme déjà expliqué dans la description de l'art antérieur, et la valve anti-retour bloque la sortie de cette eau, ainsi qu'éventuellement de l'air, lorsque le ballonnet est secoué violemment par une vague déferlante. De cette manière, on assure le maintien de la flottabilité de la bouée même en cas de tempête.The check valve located inside the balloon is preferably formed by a piece of rectangular fabric of the same kind than that of the balloon, glued or welded by two of these opposite sides on the inner surface of the balloon so as to cover the opening 206. This valve thus makes it possible to imitate the flow of air admitted during inflation of the balloon after ejection from the carrier aircraft, which limits the risks bursting of this balloon during inflation. In addition, when the buoy floats on the surface of the water, as shown in Figure 4, a small amount of water gets inside it, as already explained in the description of the prior art, and the non-return valve blocks the outlet of this water, and possibly air, when the balloon is shaken violently by a breaking wave. In this way, we ensure the maintenance of the buoyancy of the buoy even in the event of a storm.

On maítrise aussi la phase de gonflage du ballonnet lorsque la bouée est éjectée de l'aéronef porteur et on garantit la durée de vie de la bouée par mer forte.We also control the inflation phase of the balloon when the buoy is ejected from the carrier aircraft and the lifetime of the buoy in heavy sea.

Pour une bouée standard dont la partie inférieure tronconique du ballonnet a une hauteur H égale sensiblement à 250 mm, on a obtenu de bons résultats en positionnant trois becquets de ce type à 120° les uns des autres. Ces becquets avaient une hauteur de sensiblement 90 mm pour une ouverture à la base de sensiblement 60 mm, et le diamètre de l'ouverture d'entrée d'air était de sensiblement 24 mm. La base du triangle était positionnée au niveau du tiers inférieur du troncone inférieure formant le ballonnet.For a standard buoy whose frustoconical lower part of the balloon has a height H substantially equal to 250 mm, we obtained good results by positioning three spoilers of this type at 120 ° from each other other. These spoilers had a height of substantially 90 mm for a opening at the base of substantially 60 mm, and the diameter of the opening air intake was approximately 24 mm. The base of the triangle was positioned at the level of the lower third of the lower frustoconical forming the balloon.

Par ailleurs, en réduisant les dimensions des poches de stabilisation aérodynamiques 208 à la moitié de la hauteur des poches connues et en agrandissant leur ouverture supérieure d'environ un tiers, on arrive à absorber en totalité les turbulences d'écoulement autour du ballonnet.Furthermore, by reducing the dimensions of the pockets of aerodynamic stabilization 208 at half the height of the pockets known and by enlarging their upper aperture by about a third, manages to fully absorb the flow turbulence around the balloon.

Dans ces conditions, pour une bouée existant actuellement et pesant 4,3 kg, on arrive à obtenir une vitesse limite de descente de l'ordre de 32 m/s, ce qui réduit sensiblement les contraintes appliquées à la bouée lors du choc avec la surface de l'eau, par rapport à celles observées pour les vitesses actuelles qui sont de l'ordre de 40 m/s. L'origine de ces vitesses excessives provient de ce que le gonflage est essentiellement obtenu, lorsque les pelles sont supprimées, par la surpression aérodynamique provenant de la vitesse de l'aéronef, qui s'exerce par le travers de la bouée. On obtient alors une perte d'air progressive lors de la descente, qui n'est que partiellement compensée par les oscillations de la bouée sur sa trajectoire. Under these conditions, for a currently existing buoy and weighing 4.3 kg, we manage to obtain a limit speed of descent of the order 32 m / s, which significantly reduces the stresses applied to the buoy during the impact with the water surface, compared to those observed for the current speeds which are of the order of 40 m / s. The origin of these speeds excessive is due to the fact that the inflation is essentially obtained, when the shovels are removed, by aerodynamic overpressure coming from the speed of the aircraft, which is exerted across the buoy. We then obtain a progressive loss of air during the descent, which is not only partially offset by the buoy's oscillations on its path.

Les observations qui ont été faites ont montré que le gonflage du ballonnet avec ce type de becquet est parfaitement reproductible d'une bouée à l'autre. La bouée est donc ainsi parfaitement qualifiée pour sa mission.The observations which have been made have shown that the inflation of the balloon with this type of spoiler is perfectly reproducible buoy to another. The buoy is therefore perfectly qualified for its mission.

Claims (5)

  1. Air-launched buoy intended to be launched from a flying aircraft, of the type comprising a body (201) surmounted by an inflatable balloon (202) equipped at its upper part with pockets (208) for aerodynamic stabilization, and at its lower part including an air intake to allow the balloon to be inflated, characterized in that the connection between the body and the balloon is leaktight and in that the air intake is composed of at least one beak (205) having a triangular shape, the opening of which points towards the bottom of the balloon so as to form a scoop for the air, and in that at its upper part this scoop covers an opening (206) made in the wall of the balloon (202) and forming an inlet allowing air into the balloon.
  2. Buoy according to Claim 1, characterized in that it includes a non-return valve (207) situated on the interior wall of the balloon (202) facing the opening forming an air inlet for the beak.
  3. Buoy according to either one of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the beak is formed of a triangular piece of fabric (305) having at its lower part a flexible strip (310) the natural shape of which is curved to allow the beak to be kept open and which can be made to lie flat to allow the balloon (202) to be folded up before the buoy is launched.
  4. Buoy according to either one of Claims 1 and 3, characterized in that the lower part of the beak is situated substantially at one third of the height (H) of the lower frustoconical part of the balloon (202).
  5. Buoy according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the aerodynamic pockets (208) for stabilization have a small height and an enlarged upper opening to allow the buoy to be fully stabilized as it falls once it has been thrown out of the aircraft.
EP95935492A 1994-10-18 1995-10-13 Air-droppable buoy Expired - Lifetime EP0785887B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9412411 1994-10-18
FR9412411A FR2725684A1 (en) 1994-10-18 1994-10-18 LARGABLE AIRBORNE BUOY
PCT/FR1995/001351 WO1996011837A1 (en) 1994-10-18 1995-10-13 Air-droppable buoy

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0785887A1 EP0785887A1 (en) 1997-07-30
EP0785887B1 true EP0785887B1 (en) 1998-12-02

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP95935492A Expired - Lifetime EP0785887B1 (en) 1994-10-18 1995-10-13 Air-droppable buoy

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US5795203A (en)
EP (1) EP0785887B1 (en)
AU (1) AU693274B2 (en)
DE (1) DE69506437T2 (en)
FR (1) FR2725684A1 (en)
WO (1) WO1996011837A1 (en)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2744870B1 (en) * 1996-02-13 1998-03-06 Thomson Csf METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE NAVIGATION OF A TOWED LINEAR ACOUSTIC ANTENNA, AND DEVICES FOR CARRYING OUT SUCH A METHOD
FR2776161B1 (en) 1998-03-10 2000-05-26 Thomson Marconi Sonar Sas REMOVABLE ANNULAR ACOUSTIC EMISSION ANTENNA
US6082675A (en) * 1998-08-17 2000-07-04 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Standoff delivered sonobuoy
JP2000128087A (en) * 1998-10-19 2000-05-09 Japan Aircraft Mfg Co Ltd Water buoy device
FR2800229B1 (en) 1999-10-22 2002-04-05 Thomson Marconi Sonar Sas BROADBAND SUBMARINE ACOUSTIC TRANSDUCER
FR2809580B1 (en) 2000-05-26 2002-08-30 Thomson Marconi Sonar Sas ELECTRODYNAMIC TRANSDUCER FOR UNDERWATER ACOUSTICS
US8939056B1 (en) * 2012-04-20 2015-01-27 Barron Associates, Inc. Systems, devices, and/or methods for managing targeted payload descent
FR2995588B1 (en) * 2012-09-18 2015-12-11 Dcns FUNCTIONAL SYSTEM FOR CHANGING THE AIR / WATER ENVIRONMENT AS IN PARTICULAR AGAINST UNDERWATER MEASUREMENT INTENDED TO BE LAUNCHED IN PARTICULAR FROM A SURFACE BUILDING
FR3015785B1 (en) * 2013-12-20 2015-12-25 Thales Sa COMPACT OMNIDIRECTIONAL ANTENNA FOR SONAR TEMP

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FR2219598B1 (en) * 1973-02-23 1978-12-01 Thomson Csf
IT1052833B (en) * 1974-12-17 1981-07-20 Thomson Csf COOLING DEVICE FOR STRONG THERMAL DISSIPATION COMPONENTS
FR2431419A1 (en) * 1978-07-18 1980-02-15 Thomson Csf WIDE AIRBORNE BUOY
FR2450193A1 (en) * 1979-02-27 1980-09-26 Thomson Csf WIDE AIRBORNE BUOY WITH INERTIAL TRIGGERING
FR2464179A2 (en) * 1979-08-28 1981-03-06 Thomson Csf LARGABLE AIRBORNE BUOY
US4379534A (en) * 1981-03-02 1983-04-12 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Cargo lift system
FR2614598B1 (en) * 1987-04-29 1989-06-09 Thomson Csf WIDE AIRBORNE BUOY, PARTICULARLY FOR UNDERWATER LISTENING
FR2654065B1 (en) * 1989-11-03 1993-05-28 Laloubere Jean Claude FLOATING BALL FOR WIDTHING A LOAD ON THE SURFACE OF A BODY OF WATER.
GB2250960B (en) * 1990-12-18 1994-08-17 Secr Defence Float for an air-launched sonobuoy

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US5795203A (en) 1998-08-18
WO1996011837A1 (en) 1996-04-25
AU693274B2 (en) 1998-06-25
EP0785887A1 (en) 1997-07-30
FR2725684A1 (en) 1996-04-19
DE69506437D1 (en) 1999-01-14
FR2725684B1 (en) 1997-02-28
AU3749395A (en) 1996-05-06
DE69506437T2 (en) 1999-04-22

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