AU2020264786A1 - Case head deflector and weapon provided with such a deflector as well as a method for deflecting case heads - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a deflector (1) and a weapon provided with such a deflector as well as to a case head deflection method such that the deflector is intended to be provided on a weapon (100) at a case head ejection opening (103) adjacent to a slide (101) of the weapon (100), the deflector (1) comprising a panel (2) intended to be attached at one of its edges to the weapon (100), the deflector (1) being characterised in that the panel (2) is attached to the weapon (100) by a hinge (3) and in that it comprises an actuator (4) capable of pivoting the panel (2) between a deflection position in which the deflector (1) is positioned on the ejection trajectory of a case head in order to deflect same and a folded position in which the panel (2) is placed near the slide (101).

Description

CASE HEAD DEFLECTOR AND WEAPON PROVIDED WITH SUCH A DEFLECTOR AS WELL AS A METHOD FOR DEFLECTING CASE HEADS

The technical field of the invention is that of large

caliber base deflectors, large-caliber weapons equipped with

such deflectors, as well as methods for deflecting bases.

Patent application FR2714158 discloses a device for

deflecting the trajectory of the bases projected from a breech

of a weapon after ammunition has been fired from a turret of

an armored vehicle.

To this end, the device includes a flexible deflector

consisting in a curved plate that can be moved relative to the

weapon and can be placed facing the longitudinal axis of the

weapon. The deflector is directed so that a base ejected from

the weapon strikes the deflector, which cushions the impact

and deflects the base towards a base bag located downwards,

under the joint for pivoting the turret in traverse. When the

deflector is not in use, it is retracted under the weapon,

together with the bag containing the previously ejected bases.

Such a deflector encroaches significantly on the volume

surrounding the weapon. Such an encroachment is not compatible

with the cramped environments that may be encountered, for

example in a vehicle turret, and in particular if the turret

is located entirely above the joint plane that separates it

from the chassis, and therefore if it has no communication

path with the chassis of the vehicle.

Patent EP1338858 also discloses a base deflector that is

integral with a cradle and includes a panel located at a

distance from a base ejection opening. The panel is integral

with a fixed part of the weapon and it is therefore positioned

behind the breech at a distance that must be compatible with

the weapon's recoil. Such a deflector also encroaches on the

volume surrounding the weapon and does not make it possible to

reduce the overall dimensions.

Finally, patent US4919038 describes a case collector

including a panel located at a distance from a case ejection

opening to deflect the trajectory of a case. Here again, the

panel must be located at a significant distance from the breech

and the volume required for such a device is large.

The invention aims to solve this problem of volume.

The invention thus relates to a base deflector intended to

equip a weapon at a base ejection opening in the vicinity of

a breech of the weapon, the deflector including a panel

intended to be attached, by one of its edges, to the weapon,

wherein the deflector is characterized in that the panel is

attached to the weapon by an articulation and in that it

includes an actuator capable of pivoting the panel between a

deflection position in which the deflector is positioned on

the ejection trajectory of a base in order to deflect it, and

a folded position in which the panel is placed over the breech,

in a vicinity thereof.

The invention also relates to a large-caliber weapon,

characterized in that it is equipped with a base deflector

according to the preceding feature and in that the actuator is

positioned on a rear face of the breech of the weapon.

Advantageously, the panel has an axis of articulation that

is inclined at a first angle relative to a vertical plane

passing through a longitudinal axis of the weapon.

Advantageously, in the deflection position, the plane of

the panel is inclined at a second angle relative to the

longitudinal axis of the weapon.

Advantageously, the first and second angles are

substantially equal to 45°.

Advantageously, the axes of the ends of the actuator are

never aligned with the axis of articulation of the panel.

Advantageously, the breech includes a boss intended to

prevent alignment of the axes of the ends of the actuator and

the axis of articulation.

The invention also relates to a method for deflecting a

base ejected from a weapon according to the invention, wherein

the method is characterized in that: the panel is brought into

the deflection position when the weapon has just been placed

in battery; the panel is brought into the folded position

approximately one second after the breech is opened.

The invention will be better understood from the following

description, which is made with reference to the attached

drawings, in which :

[Fig. 1] shows a detail view of a deflector according to

the invention;

[Fig. 2] shows a detail view of a weapon equipped with a

deflector according to the invention in a folded position;

[Fig. 3] shows a detail view of a weapon equipped with a

deflector according to the invention in a deflection position;

and

[Fig. 4] shows a schematic view of a turret provided with

a deflector according to the invention.

According to Figures 1 and 2, a deflector 1 according to

the invention includes a substantially flat panel 2 which is

provided, on one of its edges, with an articulation 3 which

connects it to a rear face of a breech 101 of a weapon. The

deflector also includes an actuator 4 arranged laterally

relative to the panel 2.

The actuator 4 here is an electric cylinder with a rod T

which is connected by a first pivot connection 4a to one end

2a of the panel, opposite the end carrying the articulation 3.

The actuator 4 is also connected by a second pivot connection

4b to the breech 101 of the weapon.

It can be seen in Figure 1 that the axis 3a of the

articulation 3 is not aligned with the first pivot connection

4a and the second pivot connection 4b in order to avoid an

over-center situation during the retraction of the rod T of

the cylinder 4.

According to Figure 2, a large-caliber weapon 100 includes

the breech 101 which is closed by a vertically movable breech

block 102.

The deflector 1 according to the invention is located on

a rear face of the breech 101, in the vicinity of an opening

103 of the breech, wherein the opening 103 is intended for the

loading of a piece of ammunition and for the discharge of a

base after fire (piece of ammunition and base not shown).

As previously mentioned, the panel 2 is connected to the

breach 101 by means of the articulation 3, the axis 3a of which

is inclined at a first angle a of approximately 45 degrees

relative to a vertical plane P passing through the longitudinal

axis X of the weapon.

The deflector 1 is shown in the folded position, i.e. the

panel 2 is placed over the rear face of the breach 101, as

closely as possible to it.

The cylinder 4 has its rod T extended and is substantially

parallel to the rear face of the breech 101. The device 1 thus

protrudes as little as possible from the rear face of the

breech, which greatly limits the volume required behind the

weapon. This volume required by the deflector 1 is at most

equal to the maximum thickness E of the cylinder 4.

It was noted in Figure 1 that the axis 3a of the

articulation 3 is not aligned with the first 4a and second 4b

pivot connections of the rod T of the cylinder 4 in order to

avoid an over-center situation when the rod T of the cylinder

4 is retracted.

To ensure this misalignment, the breach 101 includes a

boss 9 which prevents the axes 4a and 4b of the pivot

connections of the cylinder 4 and the axis 3a of the

articulation 3 from being aligned with one another.

The boss 9 may optionally include a spring-loaded plunger

9a which acts against the folding action of the panel 2, to facilitate positioning that tends to return the panel 2 to its deflection position.

As an alternative, it is obvious to the person skilled in

the art that the boss 9 and the plunger 9a can be carried by

the panel 2 itself. However, this alternative would impose

additional weight on the panel 2 and the solution of

positioning the boss 9 on the breech 101 is therefore

preferred.

It can also be seen in Figure 2 that, in its folded

position, the panel 2 is completely clear of the opening 103

and is located at a distance from this opening, which enables

unhindered loading of a piece of ammunition.

As previously mentioned, this folded position also

minimizes the space that the deflector 1 takes behind the

breech 101, allowing reloading and recoil of the weapon without

the deflector 1 interfering with any neighboring equipment.

According to Figure 3, the weapon has just been placed in

battery after firing.

In a conventional way and as well-known to the person

skilled in the art, the return to battery includes a movement

of the breech block 102 of the breech to its initial position

and it is ensured thanks to the action of elastic links (links

not shown) which return part of the recoil energy.

After firing, only the base of the piece of ammunition

remains in the chamber of the weapon 100, the projectile having

been fired and the rest of the case having been consumed.

Just before the opening of the breech block 102, which

triggers the ejection of the base, the panel 2 of the deflector

1 is pivoted by the cylinder 4, which, by retracting its rod

T, positions the panel 2 facing the opening 103, on a first

ejection trajectory of the base, with an angular orientation

@ of the plane P2 of the panel relative to the longitudinal

axis X of the weapon 100 (Figure 3 shows schematically a main

direction of the plane P2 parallel to an edge of the panel 2)

Thus the base, which is ejected along a first trajectory directed towards the rear and along the longitudinal axis X of

the weapon 100, will strike the panel 2, which will deflect it

and impart to it a second trajectory.

The base is ejected from the breech 101 by spring means

well known to the person in the art (base and spring means are

not shown).

The person skilled in the art will choose the direction of

the second trajectory by adjusting :

- the first angle a of the axis 3a of the articulation 3

relative to the vertical plane P passing through the

longitudinal axis X of the weapon (which defines the

deflection of the base in a vertical direction); - the second angle @ of the plane P2 of panel 2 relative to

the longitudinal axis X of the weapon (which defines the

deflection of the base in a direction lateral to the

weapon).

The combination of these two deflections makes it possible

to import to the base a trajectory A that enables it to reach

a base bag positioned near the weapon (Figure 4).

According to Figure 4, by selecting angles a and B of

substantially 45 degrees for each angle, the base C will be

deflected laterally to the weapon and upwards.

Figure 4 thus shows a military vehicle turret 20 including

a weapon 100 whose breech 101 is equipped with a deflector 1

whose panel 2 advantageously enables the ejection of the bases

C towards a base receptacle 10 which is located in the turret

20, above a joint plane 40 of the turret 20 relative to a

chassis 30 of the vehicle. The arrow A represents schematically

the trajectory of the ejected base.

Approximately one second after the breech is opened, the

deflector 1 is returned to its folded position, clearing access

to the weapon chamber. This time period of at least one second

is considered necessary to make it possible to eject a base under proper conditions and without slowing down the loading of a new projectile into the weapon.

The invention therefore solves the problem of volume at

the rear of a breech as mentioned in the preamble, but it also

prevents any intrusion below the joint plane of the turret.

Claims (1)

1 - A base deflector (1) intended to equip a weapon (100)

at a base ejection opening (103), in the vicinity of a breech

(101) of the weapon (100), the deflector (1) including a panel

(2) intended to be attached, by one of its edges, to the weapon

(100), wherein the deflector (1) is characterized in that the

panel (2) is attached to the weapon (100) by an articulation

(3) and in that it includes an actuator (4) capable of pivoting

the panel (2) between a deflection position in which the

deflector (1) is positioned on the ejection trajectory of a

base in order to deflect it, and a folded position in which

the panel (2) is placed over the breech (101), in a vicinity

thereof.

2 - A large-caliber weapon (100), characterized in that it

is equipped with a deflector (1) according to claim 1 and in

that the actuator (4) is positioned on a rear face of the

breech (101) of the weapon (100).

3 - The large-caliber weapon (100) according to claim 2,

characterized in that the panel (2) has an axis of articulation

(3a) that is inclined at a first angle (a) relative to a

vertical plane (P) passing through a longitudinal axis (X) of

the weapon (100).

4 - The large-caliber weapon (100) according to claim 3,

characterized in that, in the deflection position, the plane

of the panel (2) is inclined at a second angle (B) relative to

the longitudinal axis (X) of the weapon (100).

5 - A large-caliber weapon (100) according to claim 4,

characterized in that the first and second angles (a,B) are

substantially equal to 45°.

6 - The large-caliber weapon (100) according to any one of

claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the axes of the ends of

the actuator are never aligned with the axis of articulation

(3a) of the panel.

7 - The large-caliber weapon according to claim 6,

characterized in that the breech includes a boss (9) intended

to prevent alignment of the axes (4a, 4b) of the ends of the

actuator (4) and the axis of articulation (3a).

8 - A method for deflecting a base ejected from a weapon

(100) according to any one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in

that: the panel (2) is brought into the deflection position

when the weapon (100) has just been placed in battery; the

panel (2) is brought into the folded position approximately

one second after the breech is opened.