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North London company’s expertise helps protect Korean Navy equipment
A submarine rescue submersible commissioned by the Republic of Korea Navy has been fitted with a nose-cone shield produced by British firm, Talbot Designs Ltd, bespoke plastic fabricators based in north London.
The high-cost, pressure-rated acrylic view-port at the front of the rescue submersible needed to be protected from accidental damage during routine use. Talbot Designs was therefore commissioned by James Fisher Defence (JFD), based in Renfrew, Scotland who designed, manufactured and commissioned the rescue submersible, to provide a sacrificial lens cover to protect the front view-port, precision-manufactured to precisely fit the complex contours of the submersible rescue vehicle. If damaged, this non-pressure-rated protective cover can readily be replaced quickly, easily and relatively inexpensively. After extensive consultation with Talbot Designs’ senior management team, it was agreed that a two-parts lens assembly was the best option. The centre section was blown from optically-superior cast acrylic and the outer surround was vacuum –formed from high strength 8mm PETG. The Talbot Designs view-port protection was described as ‘a thing of beauty’ by Craig Freshwater, JFD’s Senior Design Engineer.
Steve Gibson, Consultant Design Engineer - James Fisher Defence – DSAR 5, project who was responsible for the front view port protection design and manufacture, also praised Talbot Designs.
Mr Gibson said: “The design criteria for the front view port protect was fairly complicated. The view port protection on our earlier designs, for example LR5, are generally simple hemispheres but our shape evolved to incorporate cut-outs to avoid interruption to the light beams, so that the lights could be tucked in closer to the hull for improved hydrostatics. We also required more shape in the lower part of the view port protect to give a seamless fixing onto the rescue submersible front fairing and allow for movement of the forward collision structure.
“After the design stage we struggled to find a company with the capabilities and talent to produce such an innovative component assembly until a supplier recommended to us, Talbot Designs. I worked closely with Richard Woolff , Managing Director of Talbot Designs, trying to determine how best to approach the problem of manufacture. It was decided to produce the component in 2 parts and from 2 different materials. The centre lens was blown acrylic giving perfect clarity and good abrasion resistance. Uninterrupted vision is critical for our pilots when they are closing with a submarine to achieve an effective mating at first pass. The outer ring was polycarbonate which is easier to mould and clarity in this area was not as important. The 2 components fitted together with quick release bolts which also meant that no cutouts had to be made in the protect view port to enable cleaning of the view port because the lens could simply be removed..
“We have been delighted with the view port protect and the front of the rescue submarine looks absolutely amazing enhancing its hydrodynamic capabilities."
The Korean Navy Deep Search And Rescue (DSAR) submersible was supplied by James Fisher Defence (JFD) and was named ROKS-DSRV II at a formal ceremony on 25 September at Fairlie Quay , Ayrshire, Scotland.
Talbot Designs, which also produced one of the pieces of acrylic technical equipment for the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, is a small family firm that has a worldwide reputation for precision, bespoke production of plastic and acrylic items for industries as diverse as show-business and retail through to defence.
Picture printed courtesy of James Fisher Defence - Renfrew 2008