U.S. patent application number 13/910905 was filed with the patent office on 2013-12-12 for motorized turntable for turret additional elements.
The applicant listed for this patent is PANHARD GENERAL DEFENSE. Invention is credited to Nicolas BOUSQUET, Eric HERVET, Christian MONS.
Application Number | 20130327205 13/910905 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47424969 |
Filed Date | 2013-12-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130327205 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MONS; Christian ; et
al. |
December 12, 2013 |
MOTORIZED TURNTABLE FOR TURRET ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS
Abstract
The turret (1) in accordance with the invention has two rotation
axes, a vertical axis (A) and a horizontal axis (B); it includes a
weapon (2), aiming means (3) and two motors, one part (10) of the
turret (1) being turned about the vertical axis (A) by the first
motor and the weapon (2) and the aiming means (3) being turned
about the horizontal axis (B) by the second motor; it is
characterized in that an additional element (6) is turned to
coaxially about the vertical axis (B) by a third motor that is
specific to it. The turret (1) is thus equipped with two motors
rated to turn on the one hand the mobile part (10) of the turret
about the vertical axis (A) and on the other hand the weapon (2)
and the aiming means (3) about the horizontal axis (B). The turret
(1) is thus rated optimally; the additional element (6) has a
dedicated motor that is also rated optimally and can be of
different powers depending on the inherent characteristics of this
element (weight, inertia, etc).
Inventors: |
MONS; Christian; (Marolles
en Hurepoix, FR) ; BOUSQUET; Nicolas; (Paris, FR)
; HERVET; Eric; (Beaucouze, FR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
PANHARD GENERAL DEFENSE |
Marolles en Hurepoix |
|
FR |
|
|
Family ID: |
47424969 |
Appl. No.: |
13/910905 |
Filed: |
June 5, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
89/36.13 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41H 5/20 20130101; F41A
27/22 20130101; F41A 27/28 20130101; F41A 23/24 20130101; F41A
27/18 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
89/36.13 |
International
Class: |
F41H 5/20 20060101
F41H005/20 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 7, 2012 |
FR |
1255331 |
Claims
1. Turret (1) with two rotation axes, a vertical axis (A) and a
horizontal axis (B), comprising a weapon (2), aiming means (3) and
two motors, one part (10) of the turret (1) rotating about the
vertical axis (A) by a first motor and the weapon (2) and the
aiming means (3) rotating about the horizontal axis (B) by a second
motor, characterized in that an additional element (6) is turned
coaxially about the vertical axis (A) by a third motor.
2. Turret (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that the weapon
(2) overhangs relative to the vertical axis (A) of the turret
(1).
3. Turret (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that the
additional element (6) is a shielding.
4. Turret (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that the
additional element (6) is a munitions payload.
5. Turret (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that the
additional element (6) is a camouflage device.
6. Turret (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that at least
one of the first motor, the second motor, and the third motor is
remote controlled.
7. Turret (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that movement
of the first and third motors is synchronized.
8. Turret (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that it
includes a grenade launcher.
9. Turret (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that the aiming
means (3) are optical.
10. Turret (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that the
aiming means (3) are optronic.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to turrets equipped with a
lethal or non-lethal weapon (firearm, water canon, etc) able to
turn about two rotation axes. The turret is also equipped with
aiming means that may be optical or optronic. The assembly may be
remote-controlled. The turrets are most often placed on mobile
elements such as vehicles and must withstand jolts caused by
irregularities of the terrain.
[0002] This type of turret is used in dangerous areas such as
battlefields, which are very severe environments. It must remain
functional whatever the weather, in very wide ranges of
temperature, in very severe electrical and electromagnetic
environments. Moreover, it must be capable of resisting intense
pyrotechnic shocks (for example: firing of smoke generators to
improve camouflage) and also impacts linked to ballistic threats
(projectiles stopped by the armour). It is therefore sometimes
necessary to provide additional equipment such as, for example,
protection against battlefield threats, camouflage or additional
munitions payloads.
[0003] Also, these turrets equip military systems that have very
long service lives (between 15 and 30 years). Accordingly, the
technical solutions adopted must match up to this and be rated so
as to be particularly durable.
[0004] However, these additional elements must turn with the turret
and are driven by the motors thereof. These elements often have a
high weight and a high inertia which necessitates rating the motors
of the turret with sufficient power. For reasons of
standardization, the manufacturers must therefore from the outset
provide powerful motors, which are therefore heavier, without this
power actually being used. The mechanical structure is then
overspecified and likewise the actuators and power electronics.
[0005] The object of the present invention is to propose a standard
turret that is rated exactly as required at the same time as
enabling the addition of additional elements of high weight and
high inertia.
[0006] The turret in accordance with the invention has two rotation
axes, a vertical axis and a horizontal axis; it includes a weapon,
aiming means and two motors, one part of the turret rotating about
the vertical axis by a first motor and the weapon and the aiming
means being turned about the horizontal axis by a second motor; it
is characterized in that an additional element is turned coaxially
about the vertical axis and is provided with a third motor of its
own. This third motor enables rotation of the additional element
about the vertical axis. The turret is thus equipped with two
motors rated on the one hand to turn the mobile part of the turret
about the vertical axis and on the other hand to turn the weapon
and the aiming means about the horizontal axis. The turret is
therefore rated optimally; the additional element has a dedicated
motor that is also rated optimally and can be of different powers
depending on the specific characteristics of this element (weight,
inertia, etc.).
[0007] In accordance with one particular feature, the weapon
overhangs relative to the vertical axis of the turret. This
position is particularly advantageous because the field of action
of the weapon is not impeded by the structure of the turret, a
greater range of angular movement is available, and integration of
the weapon and its accessories is easier.
[0008] In accordance with another feature, the additional element
is a shielding. By its nature shielding is very heavy and
necessitates a relatively powerful motor to be able to track the
movement of the turret to which it it slaved.
[0009] In accordance with one particular feature, the additional
element is a munitions payload.
[0010] In accordance with another feature, the additional element
is a camouflage device. This device may contain smoke generators,
for example.
[0011] In accordance with one particular feature, at least one
motor is remote-controlled. This enables the user to control the
turret from a protected area.
[0012] In accordance with one particular feature, the movement of
the first and third motors is synchronized. This enables the
additional element to turn in phase with the turret, the third
motor being slaved to the first motor.
[0013] In one variant, the turret includes a grenade launcher.
[0014] In a first variant, the aiming means are optical.
[0015] In a second variant, the aiming means are optronic.
[0016] Other advantages will become apparent to the person skilled
in the art on reading the following examples, illustrated by the
appended figures, which are provided by way of illustration.
[0017] FIG. 1 represents an exploded perspective view of a turret
with its turntable.
[0018] FIG. 2 represents a perspective view of the turret in
accordance with the invention with an additional element.
[0019] FIG. 3 represents a section of the base of the turret with
the additional element.
[0020] The turret 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a weapon 2 and aiming
means 3. The turret 1 has two rotation axes, a vertical axis A and
a horizontal axis B. The turret 1 is in two parts: a mobile part 10
and a fixed part 11. The axis A is the axis about which the mobile
part 10 of the turret 1 turns; the axis B is the axis about which
the weapon 2 and the aiming means 3 turn.
[0021] The part 10 of the turret 1 is actuated by a first motor
(not represented) that may be disposed in the fixed part 11 of the
turret 1 or in the mobile part 10. The disadvantage of disposing
the first motor in the mobile part is that this increases the
weight of the mobile part 10. However, this has the advantage of
reducing the area to be protected from electrical or electronic
jamming to the mobile part 10 instead of being obliged to protect
the whole of the turret 1.
[0022] The weapon 2 comprises a canon 20 that has a greater or
lesser length. Said weapon 2 overhangs relative to the axis A,
which enables greater movement of the canon 20, which can thus be
inclined without being impeded by the fixed part 11 of the turret
1.
[0023] The weapon 2 and the aiming means 3 are turned together by a
second motor (not represented) in order to enable aiming and
pointing of the weapon.
[0024] The turret 1 is fixed to a turntable 4 via the fixed part
11. The turntable 4 is circular and its rotation axis is the axis
A.
[0025] The turntable 4 is shown in detail in FIG. 3; it includes a
fixed ring 40 and a mobile ring 41. The fixed ring 40 is fastened
to the fixed part 11 of the turret 1. The mobile ring 41 is
fastened to an actuator 5 and an additional element 6. The actuator
5 is a third motor slaved to the mobile part 10 of the turret 1 in
order to turn the mobile ring 41, the actuator 5, the additional
element 6 and the mobile part 10 together about the vertical axis,
preferably means of a toothed arrangement. The actuator 5 is rated
as a function of the additional element 6. It is also possible to
use a standard actuator capable of orienting different additional
elements 6.
[0026] The additional element 6 shown in FIG. 2 is a camouflage
device.
[0027] The actuator 5 is electrically connected to the mobile part
10 of the turret 1; the movement of the actuator 5 with the mobile
part 10 limits the length of the connecting wire (not represented)
and thus prevents said wires tangling around the fixed part 11 of
the turret 1.
[0028] The connection of the mobile ring 41 to the fixed ring 40
may be effected by means of a rolling bearing.
[0029] It is of course possible to place a plurality of different
additional elements on the mobile ring 41.
* * * * *