EP0872412B1 - System for ventilating a compartment of a ship - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an aeration system of a compartment of a ship.

More particularly, the invention relates to a ventilation system of the type comprising an air intake such a windsock, provided on the deck of the ship, above a ventilation opening in the compartment, arranged in this bridge, this orifice being provided with a valve mechanism comprising a valve seat, projecting above the deck and associated with a movable closure member thereof against the demand for elastic means between an open position of the valve mechanism, to allow ventilation of the compartment and a position of closure thereof, by a body of water entering the air intake, to prevent the passage of water in the compartment.

We already know in the prior art, ventilation systems of this type, in which the means shutter mechanism are presented under the shape of an inverted cup.

We can then imagine that when drops of water enter the air intake, this shutter member in inverted cup shape prevents these drops do not enter the compartment, channeling them towards drainage holes provided for example in the part bottom of the air intake.

In addition, when a large body of water enters in the air intake, its impact on the organ shutter causes it to move to a position for closing the flap mechanism against the seat valve, against requesting resources elastic.

However, such a structure has a certain number of drawbacks especially when the means elastic push the shutter member towards its open position after the impact of the body of water on this one.

It may indeed happen that the air intake is not completely drained and that water remains in the bottom of it, around the mechanism valve.

In such a situation, the sudden displacement of the organ shutter towards its open position of the valve mechanism translated by the passage of a more or less significant quantity of water in the compartment, this member also forming a kind of water pump.

We also know from document US-A-2,084,338, a system according to the preamble of claim 1, wherein the means shutter are in the form of a funnel movable in the valve seat. The lower end of this funnel is then associated with a water discharge conduit passing through a hole in the valve seat.

We understand that such a structure is relatively complex and expensive. to manufacture and may cause sealing problems.

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

To this end, the invention relates to a ventilation system of a compartment of a ship, of the type having an air intake provided on deck of the ship, above a compartment ventilation hole, formed in this bridge, this orifice being provided with a valve mechanism comprising a seat valve projecting above the bridge and associated with a shutter member thereof, displaceable against the stress of elastic means, between a open position of the valve mechanism, to allow ventilation of the compartment and a closed position thereof, by a body of water penetrating the air bag, to avoid the passage of water in the compartment, the shutter member comprising retaining means temporary water provided with progressive emptying means, for control the movement of this shutter member from its closed position towards its opening position of the valve mechanism, characterized in that the obturation member has a central dome-shaped portion extending above the valve seat and a shaped peripheral portion of water retaining gutter extending around this valve seat, the lower part is provided with at least one water drain hole.

• les Figs.1 à 4 représentent des vues schématiques en coupe d'un tel système d'aération illustrant le fonctionnement de celui-ci.

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

• Figs.1 to 4 show schematic sectional views of such a ventilation system illustrating the operation thereof.

We recognize in these figures, a system designated by the general reference 1 of a compartment of a ship, designated by the general reference 2 in these figures.

Such a ventilation system includes classic an air intake such as a windsock designated by the general reference 3, provided on the deck for example 4 of the ship, above a ventilation opening 5 of compartment 2 thereof, this ventilation opening 5 being spared in this bridge.

In addition, this orifice 5 is provided with a mechanism valve designated by general reference 6, comprising a valve seat 7 projecting above the deck and associated with a shutter body thereof designated by the reference general 8.

As will be described in more detail later, this shutter member 8 is movable against the solicitation of elastic means, designated by the general reference 9, between an open position of the valve mechanism 6 (Fig. 1) to allow ventilation of the compartment 2 and a closed position (Fig. 2) of this one, by a mass of water penetrating in the sleeve to air, to prevent the passage of water in the compartment.

According to the invention, the shutter member 8 comprises means 10 for temporary water retention provided with means 11 progressive emptying thereof, to control the displacement of this shutter member 8 from its position closing towards its open position of the mechanism valve 6.

As shown in these figures, this shutter member may for example comprise a portion control unit designated by the general reference 12, in the form of dome, extending above the valve seat 7 and a peripheral portion 13 in the form of a retaining gutter of water extending around this valve seat.

This gutter 13 for retaining water then constitutes the temporary retention means described therein previously. The lower part of this portion device in the form of a water retaining gutter can have at least one drain hole, constituting the drain means 11 described above.

In addition, this peripheral portion of the organ shutter 8 may also include a rib peripheral designated by the general reference 14 on these figures, adapted to form, when the shutter member 8 is in the closed position of the valve mechanism, in cooperation with deck 4 of the ship, means of braking of the passage of water between this shutter member and the valve seat.

As previously indicated, the organ shutter 8 is also requested by means elastic.

These means have been designated by the reference general 9 in these figures and may for example include a helical spring arranged in the extension of a sleeve 15, provided in the center of the valve mechanism. This sleeve is adapted to receive, for example, a operation 16 of the shutter member 8 to allow a user to control its position and place it for example in a stable position for closing the flap mechanism.

To this end, these maneuvering means include example a rod 16a having at a first end an operating handle 16b by the user and connected to its other end, for example in 16c, to the organ shutter.

Means for blocking this shutter member in closing position of the valve mechanism are associated with the rod or the handle, in a conventional manner.

We then understand that the functioning of such a system is as follows.

In the position shown in Figure 1, the shutter member 8 is in the open position of the flap mechanism, so that compartment 2 of the ship is ventilated.

When drops of water get into the sleeve air, the central dome-shaped portion 12 of this obturation member 8 makes it possible to direct them in direction of the temporary retention means 10 thereof, this water then being discharged through the holes of emptying 11 of this obturation member and of the holes emptying the air bag, one of which is designated by the general reference la in this figure.

If a large body of water enters the windsock, it will then fall on the organ shutter 8, which will allow as we can see in FIG. 2, to fill at least partially the temporary water retention means 10 of the organ shutter 8.

Under the effect of the impact of this body of water and the quantity of water filling the retaining means 10, the shutter member 8 of the valve mechanism moves then against the request of the means elastic 9 towards the closed position thereof, shown in figure 2.

We can see in this figure that the shutter member 8 comes into contact against the seat of valve 7 to prevent water from entering the compartment, the rib 14 thereof also coming to close to the ship's deck to slow down the passage of water between this shutter member and the valve seat.

As can be seen in Figure 3, the mass water can then be evacuated from the air bag by the drain holes therefrom, the shutter member 8 remaining in the closed position of the valve mechanism, made the weight of the water retained in the retaining means of it.

When the water level in the windsock becomes lower than that of the water contained in the means water retaining member of the obturation member, the retained water in these ways can drain through the or each drain hole 11 of these, towards the holes of emptying the air bag and this, gradually, to allow, as can be seen in Figure 4, the progressive ascent of the shutter member 8 towards its flap mechanism open position, to allow ventilation of compartment 2 of the ship again.

It should be noted in this regard, that in the closed position, the means for retaining water from the obturation member, extend to a level at most equal to that of the seat of valve, which avoids any passage of water in the compartment during movement of the shutter member towards its open position.

It is therefore conceivable that the ventilation system according to the invention has a number of advantages by compared to conventional systems of the state of the art, insofar as the temporary water retention means to progressive emptying of the shutter member thereof allow to control the movements of this organ shutter from its closed position to its position opening of the flap mechanism, in order to avoid any passage of water through the opening in the bridge of the ship by not authorizing the movement of this organ towards its open position only when the windsock is sufficiently drained.

It goes without saying of course that different modes of realization of this ventilation system and in particular of the shutter member can be considered.

Claims (5)

1. System for ventilating a compartment (2) in a ship, of the type comprising an air inlet (3) provided on the deck (4) of the ship above an opening (5) formed in this deck, this opening (5) being provided with a valve mechanism (6) comprising a valve seat (7) projecting above the deck (4) and associated with a sealing member (8) therefor, which is movable counter to the biasing of resilient means (9) between an open position of the valve mechanism, to allow ventilation of the compartment, and a closed position thereof, by a body of water entering the air intake (3), to prevent water entering the compartment, the sealing member (8) comprising means (10) for temporarily holding back water which are equipped with means (11) for progressively draining off the water, in order to control the movement of this sealing member (8) from its closed position to the open position of the valve mechanism, characterised in that the sealing member (8) has a central portion in the shape of a dome (12) extending above the valve seat (7) and a peripheral portion (13) in the form of a water retaining gutter extending around this valve seat (7), the lower part of which is provided with at least one drainage hole (11).
2. System according to claim 1, characterised in that the peripheral portion (13) of the sealing member (8) comprises a peripheral rib (14) for slowing down the passage of water between the sealing member (8) and the valve seat (7).
3. System according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the resilient means (9) are disposed in the central part of the valve mechanism (6) and are associated with means (16) for manoeuvring the sealing member (8) in order to move it towards a stable position blocking the valve mechanism.
4. System according to claim 3, characterised in that the manoeuvring means (16) comprise a manoeuvring rod (16a) one end (16c) of which is associated with the sealing member (8) while the other end comprises an operating handle (16b).
5. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that in the closed position of the sealing member (8) the water retaining means (10) thereof extend at a level which is at most equal to that of the valve seat (7) relative to the deck (4) of the ship.

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