DE102020116493A1 - Device and method for recovering an unmanned watercraft from the water - Google Patents

Abstract

A device (20) for recovering an unmanned watercraft (32) from the water is shown. The device has a guide rod (22) and a safety cable (24) which has a first sub-area (24a), a second sub-area (24b) and a third sub-area (24c). The first sub-area (24a) of the safety cable (24) is guided along the guide rod (22). The third sub-area (24c) of the safety rope (24) has a catch loop and the second sub-area (24b) of the safety rope (24) is passed through a positioning element (26). The second sub-area (24b) is arranged between the first sub-area (24a) and the third sub-area (24c) of the safety rope (24). The positioning element (26) is attached to the guide rod (22). The catch loop is designed to be tightened in the first partial area (24a) of the catching rope (24) when there is a pull in order to fix the unmanned watercraft (32) for recovery.

Description

The invention relates to a device and a method for recovering an unmanned watercraft, in particular an unmanned underwater vehicle.

Bringing unmanned watercraft out of the water to mountains, i.e. back on board a ship, is not as easy as it sounds. First of all, it should be noted that the water is constantly in motion and the ship and unmanned watercraft are therefore constantly moving relative to one another. Furthermore, occupational safety measures for the crew of the ship must be observed. For example, it is dangerous to have to bend over the side wall of the ship in order to attach the unmanned watercraft to a crane hook, for example. This is even more true in rough seas.

Another problem is that unmanned underwater vehicles in particular typically do not have their own buoyancy. If you touch the underwater vehicle, it goes down differently than a ship, for example. It is therefore not possible to pick up the underwater vehicle by means of a frame attached to a crane, since the frame would have to rest on the underwater vehicle and at the same time push the underwater vehicle below the surface of the water. Threading a rope or thread through an eyelet is also ruled out, as this would take far too long and sometimes not at all or only with luck in rough seas.

The object of the present invention is therefore to create an improved concept for recovering watercraft, in particular underwater vehicles.

The object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Further advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

Exemplary embodiments show a device for recovering an unmanned watercraft from the water. The device has a guide rod and a safety rope. The safety rope has a first sub-area, a second sub-area and a third sub-area. The first part of the safety rope is guided along the guide rod. It is advantageous if the safety rope can be guided on the guide rod essentially over the entire length of the same. This facilitates the handling of the device. The third sub-area of the safety rope has a safety loop.

The catch loop can be formed from the catch rope, i.e. the catch rope is shaped into the catch loop. Thus, one end of the safety rope can be passed through an opening or loop formed with the safety rope in order to form the safety loop. If the safety rope is designed as a rope, one possibility is to realize the safety loop in this way, the principle of the rope shackle. Alternatively, the safety rope, if it is designed as a rope, can also be partially spread, i.e. widened, in front of the third sub-area, so that the end of the safety rope is passed through the spread or expanded rope to form the catch loop. Spreading is also known as splicing.

However, this term of splicing is deliberately not used in this context, as it associates the permanent connection of two pieces of rope. In the present case, however, only one opening is to be formed in the safety rope, through which a piece of rope is passed and continues to be movable in order to be able to pull the safety loop. If the rope is spread and one end of it is passed through the spread rope, this has the advantage that the length of the section of the safety rope that is spread allows the resistance required to pull the safety rope to be adjusted and, vice versa, so that it can be adjusted the closed loop opens again. In this way, a catch loop can be implemented that normally does not open again when it is tightened.

The second sub-area of the safety rope is passed through a positioning element, the second sub-area being arranged between the first sub-area and the third sub-area of the safety rope. The positioning element is fastened to the guide rod, advantageously in an end region of the guide rod. The positioning element makes it possible to position the catch loop exactly by means of the guide rod. The catch loop is designed to be tightened in the first partial area of the catch rope when there is a pull in order to fix the unmanned watercraft for recovery. In other words, the operator of the device pulls the safety rope in the first partial area of the safety rope in order to tighten the safety loop. Typically, it is possible for the operator to pull on the safety cable in an initial area of the guide rod.

The idea is to use a rod to put a loop around the watercraft, which pulls itself tight to hold the watercraft in place. Thus, the operator does not have to bend over the edge of the ship to put the loop around the watercraft, but can guide the loop by means of the rod. If the loop is drawn around the watercraft, the watercraft can be pulled out of the water by means of the safety rope. The loop of the safety rope can be placed around the watercraft itself or around a device attached to it for lifting the unmanned watercraft. A device for lifting the unmanned watercraft is, for example, an eyelet or a hook attached to it. In the example of the eyelet, however, the catch loop is not passed through the eyelet, i.e. the hole in the eyelet, but rather placed around the eyelet.

In exemplary embodiments, the positioning element is fastened releasably to the guide rod, advantageously in an end region of the guide rod. In this way, the safety rope can be detached from the guide rod. Before doing this, however, the lanyard should be placed around the unmanned watercraft and tightened. The guide rod can thus be used for a further safety rope if the unmanned watercraft is to be fixed with two (or generally a plurality of) safety ropes. Furthermore, the management staff does not interfere with the recovery of the unmanned watercraft. The releasable connection is implemented, for example, by means of a clamp.

In exemplary embodiments, the guide rod and the positioning element each have a surface facing each other when the positioning element is detachably connected to the guide rod, the surface of the guide rod being essentially a negative image of the surface of the positioning element. In other words, the surfaces touch each other directly or indirectly. An indirect contact occurs, for example, when one or more further flat surfaces, for example a plate, is arranged between the guide rod and the positioning element. Both surfaces can be flat, i.e. have no elevations. However, it is also possible that one surface has a depression, e.g. a trough, while the other surface has a corresponding curvature. When the positioning element is connected to the guide rod, the curvature can grip into the recess and make it more difficult for the positioning element to slip. Examples of negative images are accordingly two flat surfaces or also a surface that has a depression when the other surface has a corresponding curvature.

For example, it is possible that the guide rod in the area in which the positioning element is (detachably) connected to the positioning element, for example square, rectangular, triangular, polygonal or semicircular (for example in the form of a semicircular bar) is designed to create a flat surface form. The positioning element can have the same shape, alternatively any other shape with a flat surface, for example square, rectangular, triangular, polygonal or semicircular (for example in the form of a semicircular rod). Choosing a round guide rod, e.g. with a ball as a positioning element, would not create a negative shape.

In exemplary embodiments, one end of the safety rope is passed through the positioning element in addition to the second partial area of the safety rope in order to form the safety loop, the end of the safety rope being secured against slipping out of the positioning element. Thus, the positioning element can press together both parts of the safety rope that are passed through the positioning element, so that opening of the tightened safety loop is made more difficult. Thus, the catch loop remains closed in the first partial area of the catch rope even without tension and the unmanned watercraft cannot detach itself from the catch rope. This configuration can advantageously also be combined with the above-mentioned spread rope in order to further increase the force required to reopen the tightened catch loop or to be able to reduce the length of the spread of the rope.

In exemplary embodiments, the safety rope has a further loop in the first partial area, which is designed to be hooked into a crane. The unmanned watercraft can thus be retrieved from the water by means of a crane. The device can furthermore have the crane, the crane being designed to lift the safety rope out of the water by means of the further loop together with the watercraft fixed in the safety loop and advantageously to bring it on board the ship.

Analogously, a method for recovering an unmanned watercraft from the water with the device according to one of the preceding claims is disclosed, the method comprising the following steps: using the guide rod to put the loop around the unmanned watercraft; Pulling on the safety rope in the first sub-area of the safety rope in order to tighten the safety loop and to fix the watercraft; Lifting the unmanned watercraft on the safety rope to rescue it from the water.

In exemplary embodiments of the method, this includes the further step: releasing the guide rod from the positioning element after the catch loop has been tightened so that the catch cable is no longer connected to the guide rod. This step is advantageously carried out after the safety rope has been hooked into the crane, if this is provided for. Otherwise the other loop into which the crane is hung would have to be held or fished out of the water. Furthermore, this step is advantageously carried out before the recovery of the unmanned watercraft, i.e. before lifting the unmanned watercraft out of the water. Furthermore, a further safety cable can then be connected to the unmanned watercraft by means of the guide rod, so that the unmanned watercraft can be recovered with two safety cables.

• 1a: eine schematische perspektivische Darstellung einer Vorrichtung zum Bergen eines unbemannten Wasserfahrzeugs aus dem Wasser;
• 1b: eine schematische Seitenansicht von Ausführungsbeispielen eines Fangseils der Vorrichtung aus 1a;
• 1c: eine schematische Seitenansicht eines unbemannten Wasserfahrzeugs, hier am Beispiel eines Unterwasserfahrzeugs, an dem das Bergen mittels der Vorrichtung aus 1a in einem Ausführungsbeispiel gezeigt ist;
• 2: eine schematische perspektivische Darstellung von Ausschnitten der in 1a gezeigten Vorrichtung in Ausführungsbeispielen, wobei 2a das Ende des Führungsstabs mit daran befestigtem Positionierelement zeigt, 2b das Ende des Führungsstabs ohne Positionierelement zeigt, 2c eine Spannklammer zum lösbaren Befestigen des Positionierelements an dem Führungsstab zeigt und 2d und 2e zwei Darstellungen des Positionierelements zeigt; und
• 3: eine schematische perspektivische Darstellung einer Fangschlaufe der Vorrichtung.

Preferred exemplary embodiments of the present invention are explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

• 1a : a schematic perspective illustration of a device for recovering an unmanned watercraft from the water;
• 1b : a schematic side view of embodiments of a safety cable of the device from 1a ;
• 1c : a schematic side view of an unmanned watercraft, here using the example of an underwater vehicle, on which the recovery by means of the device 1a is shown in one embodiment;
• 2 : a schematic perspective illustration of excerpts of the in 1a device shown in exemplary embodiments, wherein 2a shows the end of the stylet with the positioning element attached, 2 B shows the end of the guide rod without the positioning element, 2c shows a clamp for releasably securing the positioning element to the guide rod and 2d and 2e shows two representations of the positioning element; and
• 3 : a schematic perspective illustration of a catch loop of the device.

Before exemplary embodiments of the present invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings, it is pointed out that identical, functionally identical or identically acting elements, objects and / or structures in the different figures are provided with the same reference numerals, so that those shown in different exemplary embodiments Description of these elements is interchangeable or can be applied to one another.

1a shows a schematic perspective illustration of a device 20th for recovering an unmanned watercraft from the water according to an embodiment. The device 20th assigns a management staff 22nd and a safety rope 24 on. The safety rope has a first partial area 24a, a second partial area 24b and a third partial area 24c.

The first sub-area 24a of the safety rope 24 is along the leadership staff 22nd guided. The third sub-area 24c of the safety rope 24 has a catch loop. The second sub-area 24b of the safety rope 24 is through a positioning element 26th passed through, the positioning element 26th on the management staff 22nd , in particular releasably, is attached. The fastening is advantageously carried out essentially at one end of the guide rod. The second sub-area is arranged between the first and the third sub-area. Thus the safety rope can 24 on the management staff 22nd be attached.

The catch loop 24c is designed to be in the first sub-area 24a of the catch rope when pulled 24 to tighten to fix the unmanned watercraft. To in the first sub-area 24a on the safety rope 24 being able to pull is an exemplary and optional pulling device 28 , shown here a pulling ball with which the catch loop 24c can be tightened.

In embodiments, the pulling device 28 designed so that it floats on the water. The pulling device advantageously has such a buoyancy force that it also floats when the entire pulling rope is in the water. This prevents the safety rope from sinking if it accidentally detaches from the guide rod. It is not necessary to use the pulling device 28 to secure after attaching the lanyard to the unmanned watercraft. The pulling device falls 28 into the water, for example while a second safety rope or a second safety loop is attached to the unmanned underwater vehicle, the safety rope can be moved by means of the pulling device floating on the water 28 can simply be recovered.

Another optional feature is the safety rope 24 a further loop 24d, which is advantageously arranged in the first partial area 24a. A crane hook can be hooked into this in order to be able to lift the watercraft fixed by means of the catch loop 24c out of the water by means of a crane.

1b shows a schematic side view of the safety rope 24 of the device in one embodiment. In addition to those already regarding 1a features mentioned are in 1b further, each optional, features shown. So it is shown that an end 30th of the safety rope in addition to the second sub-area 24b of the safety rope 24 through the positioning element 26th is led. The end 30th prevents it from slipping out of the positioning element 26th secured. The securing is done by means of a knot, here an eight knot. Between the catch loop 24c and the positioning element 26th it is also indicated that the end of the rope 30th through a spread part of the safety rope 24 is passed through. The third sub-area of the safety rope or the safety loop 24c is then also referred to as the (splice) eye. Using the push-through length (cf. 42 in 3 ), which the eye 24c has, the force can be set which is required to close the catch loop 24c (ie the eye) or to open it again after it has been (partially) closed. Furthermore, the safety rope is at least partially guided in a protective sheath, in particular in the first partial area. Due to the further catch loop 24d, in 1b two protective sleeves 31a, 31b are shown which enclose the safety rope in front of or behind the safety loop. The protective sheath 31a, 31b stiffens the safety rope so that it can be guided more easily along the guide rod.

1c shows a schematic perspective illustration of an unmanned watercraft 32 , here using the example of an underwater vehicle on which the recovery by means of the device 1a is shown according to an embodiment. Here the watercraft points 32 Eyes 34a, 34b. The catch loop 24c is placed around the first eyelet 34a, but not yet pulled closed. If the operator pulls the catch loop 24c by pulling the catch rope in the first part of the catch rope, the catch rope can no longer detach itself from the watercraft due to the bulbous shape of the eyelet if the catch loop does not open again. The same can be done on the eyelet 34b with another safety rope. The watercraft 32 can then be lifted out of the water on both safety ropes, for example by means of a crane, in this exemplary embodiment.

2a FIG. 11 shows a schematic perspective view of section A from FIG 1a . The focus here is on the end 34 of the senior management team 22nd . This is designed as a cube, for example. Anyway, that forms the end of the management staff 22nd a flat surface on which the positioning element 26th , which also forms a flat surface, with the guide rod 22nd is attached. The flat surface of the positioning element 26th faces the flat surface of the end of the stylet. A clamp is used for fastening 36 shown.

2 B and 2c show the clamp 36 even clearer. So shows 2 B an embodiment of the section A from 1 , but without the positioning element. 2c shows the clamp in a side view. The clamp 36 is firm with the leadership staff 22nd connected and exerts pressure on the positioning element from below 26th so that the positioning element is attached to the guide rod. However, this attachment represents a detachable attachment, since the positioning element is subjected to a force, for example a pull on the guide rod 22nd when the lanyard is connected to the unmanned watercraft, it can be released from the clamp. The guide rod and safety rope are then separated. However, the force required is advantageously so great that the unmanned underwater vehicle can be guided in the air when it is lifted out of the water by means of the guide rod. Thus, by means of the guide rod, the operator can avoid uncontrolled oscillation or rotation of the unmanned underwater vehicle.

2 B now shows a predominantly round management staff. In this exemplary embodiment, too, is the end 34 of the guide rod, however, is again shaped as a cube, so that a flat surface is formed in the direction of the positioning element. The head of the cube can be attached to the remaining (in 2 B shown around) guide rod attached, for example screwed, are. With the same fastener 38 can then also use the clamp 36 with the management staff 22nd get connected.

2c shows that the clamp is L-shaped, with an angle α between the two legs being less than 90 °. In particular, the angle α is greater than 75 °, preferably greater than 80 °.

As the main production material, the tensioning clamp consists, for example, of a spring steel or a plastic with a high restoring force, which is suitable, for example, for connecting at least 100 positioning elements to the guide rod.

2d shows a schematic perspective illustration of the positioning element 26th in a perspective showing the front of the positioning element. 2e shows a schematic perspective illustration of the positioning element 26th in a perspective showing the rear of the positioning element. The positioning element has on the front 26th In this exemplary embodiment, a circular opening through which the safety rope exits and into which the end of the safety rope can re-enter after the safety loop has been formed. In this exemplary embodiment, the positioning element has an elongated hole, that is to say an essentially oval opening, on the rear. The end of the safety rope is prevented from slipping out of the positioning element by means of a knot or some other means 26th secured, the knot or other means can pull itself into the elongated hole, but not out of the positioning element 26th slip out. The front circular opening is too small for this. In addition, the knot or the other means within the positioning element presses on the safety rope, in particular its second partial area. This increases the friction and makes it more difficult to loosen or open the (partially) tightened safety loop of the safety rope.

3 shows a schematic perspective illustration of the catch loop 24c of the catch rope 24 in one embodiment. The safety rope is a rope. Optionally in the safety rope 24 , in particular in the catch loop 24c, a stiffer but at the same time elastic material, for example a wire rope or a wire mesh for stiffening and stabilizing the catch rope 24 be incorporated.

In front of the third sub-area 24c, that is to say the catch loop, the cordage is spread in the area 42. The end 30th of the safety rope 24 is passed through the spread cordage to form the catch loop 24c. The spread cordage can be partially located in the second sub-area or between the second sub-area and the third sub-area of the safety rope 24 . In other words, part of the spread rope 42 can be located inside the positioning element, but the positioning element can also be located where the end of the safety rope emerges from the spread rope. The length of the spread rope 42, that is to say the length between the entry of the end of the safety rope into the spread rope and the exit of the end of the safety rope from the spread rope, is referred to as the insertion length.

The safety rope can also be optional 24 , advantageously in the third sub-area 24c, have a withdrawal tape 44. The retrieval strap 44 is arranged in such a way that the catch loop 24c, when it has been tightened, can be opened again without fixing the unmanned underwater vehicle. Without the retrieval strap 44, the catch loop 24c can completely pull the spread rope and could no longer be pulled out there.

Although some aspects have been described in connection with a device, it goes without saying that these aspects also represent a description of the corresponding method, so that a block or a component of a device is also to be understood as a corresponding method step or as a feature of a method step. Analogously to this, aspects that have been described in connection with or as a method step also represent a description of a corresponding block or details or features of a corresponding device.

The above-described embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles of the present invention. It is to be understood that modifications and variations of the arrangements and details described herein will be apparent to other skilled persons. It is therefore intended that the invention be limited only by the scope of protection of the following patent claims and not by the specific details presented herein on the basis of the description and the explanation of the exemplary embodiments.

List of reference symbols

20th

contraption

22nd

Management staff

24

Safety rope with the sub-areas 24a, 24b, 24c and the further loop 24d

26th

Positioning element

28

Pulling device

30th

End of the safety rope

32

Watercraft

34

End of senior management

36

Clamp

38

Fasteners

40

Long hole

Claims (11)

Device (20) for recovering an unmanned watercraft (32) from the water, having the following features: a stylet (22); and a safety rope (24) which has a first sub-area (24a), a second sub-area (24b) and a third sub-area (24c); wherein the first sub-area (24a) of the safety rope (24) is guided along the guide rod (22), the third sub-area (24c) of the safety rope (24) having a catch loop and the second sub-area (24b) of the safety rope (24) through a positioning element (26) is passed through; wherein the second sub-area (24b) is arranged between the first sub-area (24a) and the third sub-area (24c) of the safety rope (24); wherein the positioning element (26) is attached to the guide rod (22); wherein the catch loop is designed to be tightened in the first partial area (24a) of the catch rope (24) when pulled in order to fix the unmanned watercraft (32) for recovery. Device (20) according to Claim 1 wherein the guide rod (22) and the positioning element (26) each have a surface which faces each other when the positioning element (26) is connected to the guide rod (22), the surface of the guide rod (22) being essentially a negative image is the surface of the positioning element (26). Device (20) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein one end of the safety rope (24) in addition to the second portion (24b) of the safety rope (24) is passed through the positioning element (26) to form the safety loop, the end of the Safety rope (24) is secured against slipping out of the positioning element (26). Device (20) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the safety rope (24) forms an opening through which the safety rope (24) is passed in order to form the safety loop. Device (20) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the safety rope (24) comprises a rope, wherein the rope is spread in front of the third sub-area, one end of the safety rope (24) being passed through the spread rope to form the catch loop . Device (20) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the positioning element (26) is releasably attached to the guide rod (22). Device (20) according to Claim 6 , wherein the positioning element (26) is detachably connected to the guide rod (22) by means of a clamp (36). Device (20) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the safety rope (24) in the first partial area (24a) has a further loop (24d) which is designed to be hooked into a crane. Device (20) according to Claim 8 with a crane, the crane being designed to lift the safety rope (24) out of the water by means of the further loop together with the watercraft fixed in the loop. Method for recovering an unmanned watercraft (32) from the water with the device (20) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the method comprises the following steps: Using the guide rod (22) to put the lanyard around the unmanned watercraft (32); Pulling on the safety rope (24) in the first partial area (24a) of the safety rope (24) to tighten the safety loop and to fix the watercraft; Lifting the unmanned watercraft (32) on the safety rope (24a) in order to rescue it from the water. Procedure according to Claim 10 , with the further step: releasing the guide rod (22) from the positioning element (26) after the catch loop has been tightened so that the catch rope (24) is no longer connected to the guide rod (22).

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