Ordnance – Mounts – For field use
Patent
1987-06-12
1988-12-20
Brown, David H.
Ordnance
Mounts
For field use
89 4011, F41F 102, F41F 1902
Patent
active
047918527
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to a light mobile mortar firing unit, particularly to a mortar of great power.
Due to the absence of any internal mechanical attenuation system for ballistic shots of great range, the mortars have a fire recoil force, which is of a considerable value.
The short duration of application of that force renders it even more dangerous for the material of the carrier.
In a general manner, a mortar is mounted on a base plate by means of which it is supported on the ground during fire. It is generally positioned by means of a bipod assembly. In order to stabilize the assembly at the moment of fire, the plate has a distinct shape with three edge projections in a star-arrangement along the principal directions of thrust. The anchorage of this type of a base plate in the soil ensures a sufficient stability so as to guarantee a great precision of fire. In the case of a self-propelled mortar mounted on a train of two wheels, the mortar is always supported on the base plate, and the bipod assembly is constituted by the train of wheels. The plate forwards and transmits the recoil energy to the ground with a maximal efficiency.
The necessity in combat of a parry and thrust at a distanct leads, for reasons of efficiency and security, to a desire for self-propelled units of fire having great mobility.
The mobility dictates a choice of rather light vehicle, as heavy carrier vehicles, which are effectively capable of absorbing the recoil of the mortar without damage, are only of little interest, as they constitute a choice target in view of their dimensions and characteristic slowness.
Furthermore, their high costs do not permit a nation to assemble a sufficient stock, so as to guarantee a certain efficiency of a mortar offensive.
The present invention permits reconciliation of the imperative demands of cost, and mobility and mechanical construction to resist damage from the brutal and violent recoil power of a mortar.
It is an object of the invention to confer to a fire unit the necessary rapidity of emplacement and removal from the fire zone in a manner so as not to constitute a potential return target after shots have been fired.
For this purpose, the present invention relates to a mortar fire unit including a carrier vehicle and a mortar mounted on a base plate characterized in that the carrier vehicle has a retractable suspension permitting a rapid descent of the chassis, and by the base plate being connected to the chassis or frame of the vehicle by means of a shock-absorbing mounting.
The vehicle's mobility assuring an efficient exit speed from the zone of fire, and the terrain characteristics of the carrier vehicle also permitting its rapid emplacement, constitute the principal advantages of the present invention.
Furthermore, the volume and the light weight of this vehicle do not carry with it the cost of equivalent heavy units, also suitable to carry this type of armament.
Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear from the description which is provided by way of an example, and accompanies by Figures in which:
FIG. 1 is an elevation view of the firing unit, according to the present invention, in a traveling position;
FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the firing unit, according to the present invention, in the firing position;
FIG. 3 is an elevation view of one type of retraction mechanism of the suspension of the firing unit used for caterpillar type vehicles;
FIG. 4 is an elevation view of an embodiment of the mounting of a mortar on a caterpillar type vehicle;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the elastic shock-absorbing cable coupling disposed between the mortar support, and the bottom of the frame, used in particular in the case of a vehicle having a wheel assembly;
FIG. 6 is an elevation view of an embodiment of the mounting of the mortar on a vehicle equipped with wheels;
FIG. 7 is a schematic elevation view of the firing unit on wheels, according to the invention, in a firing position equipped with the mechanical assembly shown in FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a schematic elevation
REFERENCES:
patent: 1310144 (1919-07-01), Schneider
patent: 1894680 (1933-01-01), Goebert
patent: 2199392 (1940-05-01), Dabrasky
patent: 2818781 (1958-01-01), Ruf
patent: 3112674 (1963-12-01), Jasse
patent: 4489639 (1984-12-01), Winkler et al.
patent: 4708051 (1987-11-01), Argon
Donnard Rene
Fraud Michel
Brown David H.
Lohr S.A.
Thomson-Brandt Arements
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