Ordnance – Mounts – Training mechanisms
Reexamination Certificate
2003-03-19
2004-04-06
Carone, Michael J. (Department: 3641)
Ordnance
Mounts
Training mechanisms
C089S041150, C089S037130
Reexamination Certificate
active
06715397
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to aiming drives for a launching arrangement located on an object, which for the alignment of a pivotal holder for the launching arrangement, possesses in a support structure fixed to the object an azimuthal setting motor with a rotational drive connected to a support ring for the pivotal holder.
The invention is further directed to the provision of an aiming drive for a launching arrangement located on an object which for the alignment of a pivotal holder for the launching device, possesses in a support structure fixed to the object an elevational setting motor with a support extending by means of a linkage connection through a support ring for the pivotal holder so as to be rotatable relative to the support structure, for enabling the elevation of the launching arrangement.
Furthermore, the invention also provides for an aiming drive for a launching arrangement located on an object, which for the alignment of a pivotal holder for the launching arrangement possesses setting motors located in a support structure which is fixed to the object.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Aiming drives of that type for the weapon turret of a lightweight military vehicle are known from the disclosure of European Patent Publication EP 149 639 B1. The turret which is rotatable relative to the vehicle is carried on a platform by means of a radial ball bearing which, in turn, for shock-absorbing the recoil of the gun barrel is supported through the interposition of elastic supports by the vehicle chassis. The tilting moments which act on the platform are supported thereby through a cage-like yoke frame, which is in the configuration of a hollow truncated cone, against a central shaft in the azimuthal axis of the turret rotation. For the azimuthal aiming, there is effected the rotation of the turret about this shaft by means of a pinion which is supported in the platform, and which is driven through a belt drive by a motor which is mounted on the vehicle. For the elevational aiming, the central shaft ends opposite the turret in a linear gear rack, into which there engages the pinion of a motor, the latter of which is mounted transversely thereof fastened to the vehicle, so as to displace the shaft in the direction of the azimuthal axis. Connected opposite the gear rack to this shaft is a yoke by means of a ball and socket joint. The free end surfaces thereof are quite far behind the elevational, axis, extending so as to approach the center of gravity of the gun, articulated to the gun, as a result of which the latter by means of the gear rack drive can be aimed in elevation.
These previously known drives for the aiming of a gun in accordance with azimuth and/or elevation, either considered by themselves or also in combination, are subject to a series of significant constructive and functional disadvantages which, above all, come into consideration when it is important to be able to rapidly aim a large mass, and then to dependently arrest it in position. Thus, already because of the belt drive, there is not afforded a rapid and secure azimuthal aiming, since in view of the required torsional moments for the high inertial mass of the turret with its gun, there can be expected only a slowly moving entry into the specified aiming orientation, or there must be expected an azimuthal pendeling or overtraveling, and then in view of the unavoidable play in the engagement of the teeth of the drive pinion, and due to the belt drive leading to the drive motor, that this leads to only a poorly dependable arresting in the finally reached specified aiming orientation. Also the dependability of the weapon elevation in the known construction leaves much to be desired, inasmuch as the gear rack drive, when it is not imparted due to significant friction losses an exact constructive linear guidance, necessarily operates while being subjected to an extensive degree of play. In addition thereto, there are also the constructive disadvantages of the technological manufacturing demands, and the play in a two-dimensional support in the form of the ball and socket joint for the connection of the elevational yoke to the central shaft which serves as the longitudinally displaceable support rod. Moreover, the support of the weapon in the yoke far distant from the center of gravity which is located close to the azimuthal axis, in view of the intense pivotal movements of the yoke about its ball and socket joint, is extremely disadvantageous from a kinetic as well as kinematic standpoint. Finally, especially for a mass production manufacture, these aspects are generally disadvantageous: functionally the play and the frictional losses, as well as in the manufacturing technology, the large parts and adjusting requirement for the support of the gear rack and for the yoke connection through a ball bearing for elevational aiming, as well as the belt drive for azimuthal aiming; and finally, also in the requirement for excessive installation space for the aiming motors which are to be oriented transversely of each other.
From the disclosure of German Patent Publication DE 33 41 320 A1 there is known a controllable rotational drive for the rotatable upper part, for example, of a weapon installation, which supports itself on a stationary lower part by means of a large-sized roller bearing, which is formed from three rings or races, of which two are connected secured against rotation with the lower part and, respectively, with the upper part outer races are each equipped with a drive motor, whose pinions stand in engagement with a gear ring, which protrudes sleeve-like from this race arrangement, and axially offset relative thereto is connected with a middle race which is supported between these two races so as to, in the type of a differential drive, be able to vary the torsional moment transfer between the inner race and the outer race. This azimuthal drive thus permits the implementation of a highly dynamic azimuthal adjustment of the two outer races relative to each other; however, notwithstanding the high demands on manufacturing and spatial requirements, still does not afford a dependable arresting in the assumed specified reference position.
The above mentioned disadvantages of the already considered azimuthal and elevational drives are, in particular, overwhelming when it relates to the implementation of a two-dimensional aiming drive, such as is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,661,254 A for the rapid aiming of a heavy launch receptacle in accordance with azimuth and elevation, so as to for the active protection of a mobile or stationary object from a receptacle mounted on this object or in proximity thereto to fire fragmentation grenades against an attacking airborne body. For this purpose, from this publication there is known that a gun carriage-like support carries an azimuthally adjustable pivotal holder for the therein located tiltable launch container, which for these two aiming movements, in accordance with the prior art publication, is equipped with two setting motors which are mutually transversely oriented. Due to the large masses which are to be extremely rapidly accelerated and decelerated, such as a launch receptacle, which especially at the beginning of a combat action is equipped with a plurality of fragmentation grenades, and resultingly is heavy, the setting motors must be designed for a rapid acceleration at a high torsional moment and rapid deceleration with an intense halting or restraining moment, which requires a large magnetically operative mass; in effect, extremely heavy setting motors. This is particularly critical with regard to the unavoidable transmission losses in the rotating torque transmissions from the setting motors, on the one hand, for azimuthal rotation and, on the other hand, for the elevational pivoting of the launch receptacle. The requirement to be able to move these extremely large masses thus runs against the demand for a rapid and correct aiming of the launch receptacle toward a target.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTI
Carone Michael J.
Diehl Munitionssysteme GmbH & Co. KG
Scully Scott Murphy & Presser
Thomson M.
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