AU2020210115B2

AU2020210115B2 - Large-calibre weapon mount and lock for such a mount

Info

Publication number: AU2020210115B2
Application number: AU2020210115A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Sylvain GUENAND
Original assignee: Nexter Systems SA
Current assignee: Nexter Systems SA
Priority date: 2019-01-15
Filing date: 2020-01-10
Publication date: 2024-01-25
Anticipated expiration: 2040-01-10
Also published as: EP3911913A1; ES2945654T3; WO2020148614A1; KR20210126567A; IL284607B1; FR3091753A1; EP3911913B1; AU2020210115A1; KR102689336B1; IL284607A; IL284607B2; FR3091753B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a lock (1) for a large-calibre weapon mount and a mount comprising such a lock (1) which (1) comprises a bolt (3) and a striker (4) in addition to a damping stop (5) situated in the vicinity of the striker (4), the bolt (3) being able to be moved by a first actuator (9) between a first position, in which it is situated in an opening (6) of the striker (4), a second position, in which it is outside the striker (4) and can interfere with a damping means (7), and a third position in which the bolt (3) is positioned at a distance from the striker (4). The lock (1) comprises a second actuator (10) which, when the bolt (3) allows the damping means (5) to be moved between a position allowing the bolt (3) to be aligned with the opening (6) of the striker (4) and a position in which the damping means (5) is able to travel in order to prevent the bolt (3) from rising beyond an angular position aligning the bolt (3) with the opening (6) of the striker (4).

Description

LARGE-CALIBRE WEAPON MOUNT AND LOCK FOR SUCH ASSEMBLY

The technical field of the invention is that of elevation

locking devices for large-calibre weapon mounts, and weapon

mounts comprising such devices.

In modern autoloading tanks, the weapon must be placed at

a fixed and determined elevation so as to align the weapon

tube with an autoloader, which can then ram a round of

ammunition into the weapon chamber according to a method

described, for example, in patent FR2668253.

In order to immobilize the weapon during this loading

phase, an elevation lock according to the prior art is known,

which is shown in Figures 1 and 2.

When the weapon is aimed at its loading elevation, without

being locked, and is otherwise oriented in relative bearing in

certain angular sectors (such as towards the rear of the

tank), the front part of the weapon will then be in close

proximity to the rear part of the tank body and risks striking

it when aimed. It is then necessary to provide an elevation

lock which limits the angular range in elevation for certain

angular sectors in bearing.

Figure 1 shows such a known lock 1 including a bolt 3

(secured to the weapon) and a striker 4 (secured to a fixed

frame). Figure 1 shows a locked position of the lock 1, in

which the bolt 3 is inserted into the striker 4 through a

corresponding hole 6. Of course, a first actuator

(schematically represented by the block 9, for example a

hydraulic cylinder, a pneumatic actuator or an electric motor)

makes it possible to slide the bolt 3 so as to engage it into

the striker 4.

In this position, any angular movement of the bolt 3

relative to the striker 4 and thus any pointing movement of

the weapon relative to the frame is impossible. The weapon can

then be loaded safely.

Figure 2 shows that a damping stop 5 is arranged in the

vicinity of the striker 4 and is vertically slidable between

an upper position (Figure 2) and a lower position (Figure 1).

The stop 5 is returned to its lower position by the action of

an elastic means 7.

The stop 5 has a through hole 6bis which is coaxial with

the hole 6 of the striker 4 when the stop 5 is in the lower

position, so that the bolt 3 passes through it when in the

locked position as shown in Figure 1.

Still according to Figure 2, the bolt 3 is placed in a

position (called damping position) by translation (using the

actuator 9) so that it is located outside the striker 4 but

with its end being still positioned in the stop 5. In this

damping position, when the weapon is pointing downwards, the

bolt 3 interferes with the upper part of the stop 5, which has

its stroke damped by the elastic means 7.

There is an unlocked position (not shown) in which the

bolt 3, controlled by the first actuator 9, is completely

disengaged from the stop 5. In this position the weapon is

free to pivot on its trunnions.

This known solution has its drawbacks.

Indeed, the damping stop 5 allows a residual stroke, due

to the enegery generated when aiming, thereby creating a

difference between the locking elevation and the elevation

when in abutment against the stop 5. This difference in

elevation will create a collision problem between the weapon

and the body when the weapon is pointed towards the rear of

the tank.

The invention proposes to solve this problem of limiting

the weapon's travel for certain aimings in relative bearing.

The invention relates to a lock for a large-calibre weapon

mount, comprising a bolt and a striker as well as a damping

stop located in the vicinity of the striker, the bolt being

movable in translation by a first actuator between a first, so-called locked, position, in which it is located in an opening of the striker, a second, so-called damping, position, in which the bolt is outside the striker and can interfere with a damping means, and a third, so-called unlocked, position, in which the bolt is placed at a distance from the striker, the lock being characterized in that it comprises a second actuator which, when the bolt is in the damping position, makes it possible to move the damping means between a so-called disengaged position which allows the bolt to be aligned with the opening of the striker and a so-called buffer position in which the damping means provides a damping stroke that makes it possible to prevent the bolt from rising beyond an angular position in which the bolt is aligned with the opening of the striker. Advantageously, the second actuator comprises a splined first shaft corresponding with a splined spacer, as well as a helical connection between the damping means and the striker in order to convert the rotation of the first shaft into a translational movement of the damping means. Advantageously, the second actuator is located above the striker. The invention also relates to a large-calibre weapon mount comprising a frame and a carriage carrying a weapon pivotable in elevation relative to the frame, the mount comprising a lock according to any one of the foregoing features. The invention will be better understood from the following description, which is made in the light of the annexed drawings, in which : Fig. 1 shows a lock according to the prior art, in a first configuration. Fig. 2 shows a lock according to the prior art, in a second configuration. Fig. 3 shows a lock according to the invention, in a first configuration.

Fig. 4 shows a lock according to the invention, in a

second configuration.

Fig. 5 shows a lock according to the invention in the

second configuration, with the bolt compressing the damping

means.

Fig. 6 shows a lock according to the invention, in a third

configuration.

Fig. 7 shows a schematic view of a weapon mount comprising

an elevation lock.

According to Figure 7, a weapon mount 100 comprises a

frame 102 and an oscillating mass 103 carrying a large-calibre

weapon 101 (calibre between 40 and 155 mm). The weapon 101,

integral with the oscillating mass 103, can be pivoted in

elevation relative to the frame 102 on trunnions 105.

The weapon mount 100 comprises an elevation lock 1 which

is intended to lock the weapon 101 in a fixed angular position

in elevation so as to allow loading of the weapon or to limit

the elevation angular range for certain given relative

bearings, as explained in the preamble.

To this end, the lock 1 has a bolt 3 which is secured to

the oscillating mass 103 at an arm 104. The lock 1 also has a

striker 4 secured to the frame 102 and a damping stop 5. The

entire lock 1 according to the prior art has been described in

the preamble of the present application. A first actuator 9

(schematically represented by the block 9, for example a

hydraulic cylinder, a pneumatic actuator or an electric motor)

makes it possible to slide the bolt 3 into the striker 4 to

obtain the locking or in the damping stop to limit the

elevation angular range.

Figures 3 to 6 show a lock 1 according to the invention.

According to Figure 3, the bolt 3 is shown in the locked

position, engaged in the striker 4 of the lock 1. It can be

noted that the lock 1 comprises, in its upper part, a damping stop 5 comprising a damping means 7 comprising an elastomer block 7a for example.

The lock 1 also has a second actuator 10 which produces a

rotational movement and makes it possible to vertically

translate the damping means 7. The actuator 10 rotates a

splined first shaft 11, which rotates a corresponding splined

spacer 8, which is secured in rotation to the damping means 7

via a splined second shaft 12 integral with the damping means

7. The rotation of the damping means 7 is converted into

translation by means of a helical connection 13 between the

damping means 7 and the striker 4. The splined spacer 8 allows

the relative translation of the two shafts 11 and 12 by

sliding of one relative to the other. The damping means 7

comprises a metal body which carries part of the helical

connection 13 (e.g. a thread) and to which the elastomer block

7a is attached.

In the configuration shown in Figure 3, the damping means

7 is located at a distance D from the bolt 3 in an upper, so

called disengaged, position, which allows the bolt 3 to be

aligned with the opening 6 of the striker 4 (first or locked

position of the bolt).

The damping configuration is shown in Figure 4 and Figure

5. Figure 4 shows this configuration with the damping means 7

in the lower position. Figure 5 shows this configuration but

with the damping means 7 being compressed by the bolt.

In this configuration of Figures 4 and 5, the bolt 3 is

extended, driven by its first actuator 9, and occupies an

intermediate position (second or damping position) in which it

is not engaged in the striker 4, but it can nevertheless

interfere with the damping means 7 which is lowered into a

lower, so-called buffer, position, which limits the upward

movement of the bolt 3 up to a maximum angular position in

which the bolt 3 is aligned with the opening 6 of the striker

4 (Figure 5).

This prevents the weapon from dropping below a predetermined elevation, thus preventing the weapon from hitting the body.

This position of the bolt 3 is controlled by the first

actuator 9.

The Person Skilled In The Art will select the damping

characteristic of the damping means 7 in such a way that, at

its maximum compression, the energy due to the impact is

sufficiently absorbed to protect the mechanics of the weapon

and lock, and that the bolt 3 cannot rise beyond the position

where it is aligned with the opening 6 of the striker 4

(Figure 5).

The lowering of the damping means 7 into the buffer

position is achieved by the operation of the second actuator

10 which advantageously, due to the non-reversible nature of

the helical connection 13, prevents the damping means 7 from

returning to the upper position when the bolt 3 strikes the

stop 5 and, consequently, mechanically protects the actuator

10 from any force generated by this impact.

In order to allow the weapon to swing fully in elevation,

the bolt 3, controlled by its first actuator 9, can be fully

retracted into a third position (called unlocked position) in

which it can no longer interfere with any other element of the

lock 1 as in Figure 6.

This position will be used only when the weapon is

positioned in relative bearing in a sector where its travel

will not interfere with the body and when the weapon is not

loaded.

Claims

1. A lock (1) for a large-calibre weapon mount (100),

comprising a bolt (3) and a striker (4) as well as a damping

stop (5) located in the vicinity of the striker (4), the bolt

(3) being movable in translation by a first actuator (9)

between a first, so-called locked, position, in which it is

located in an opening (6) of the striker (4), and a second,

so-called damping, position, in which the bolt (3) is outside

the striker (4) and can interfere with a damping means (7),

and a third, so-called unlocked, position, in which the bolt

(3) is placed at a distance from the striker (4), the lock (1)

being characterized in that it comprises a second actuator

(10) which, when the bolt (3) is in the damping position,

makes it possible to move the damping means (7) between a so

called disengaged position which allows the bolt (3) to be

aligned with the opening (6) of the striker (4) and a so

called buffer position in which the damping means (7) provides

a damping stroke that makes it possible to prevent the bolt

(3) from rising beyond an angular position in which the bolt

(3) is aligned with the opening (6) of the striker (4).

2. The lock (1) according to claim 1, characterized in

that the second actuator (10) has a splined first shaft (11)

corresponding with a splined spacer (8), as well as a helical

connection (13) between the damping means (7) and the striker

(4) in order to convert the rotation of the first shaft (11)

into a translational movement of the damping means (7).

3. The lock (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2,

characterized in that the second actuator (10) is located

above the striker (4).

4. A large-calibre weapon mount (100) comprising a

frame and a carriage (102) carrying a weapon (101) pivotable

in elevation relative to the frame (102), the mount (100)

comprising a lock (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3.