DE102015112236B4 - Combat vehicle, trained as an amphibious vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a combat vehicle (1) which is designed as an amphibious vehicle. The combat vehicle (1) is therefore capable of swimming and/or diving. The combat vehicle (1) is constructed from a modular chassis, with a waterproof upper (11) and lower shell (10) being provided as modules. The invention further comprises a waterproof connecting element (20), which is arranged circumferentially between the waterproof upper (11) and lower shell (10) and connects the waterproof upper (11) and lower shell (10) in a watertight manner. The buoyancy means of the combat vehicle (1) is thus formed by the interior space between the upper (11) and lower shell (10). In addition, a lifting device (21) is provided, which makes the height between the upper (11) and lower shell (10) adjustable. The buoyancy means is therefore also designed to be adjustable.

Description

The present invention relates to a combat vehicle, designed as an amphibious vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1. It has a modular structure consisting of two modules, namely a waterproof upper and lower shell. Modules are interchangeable chassis parts that can optionally be combined to form a chassis. Such combat vehicles are used both civilly and militarily and have the ability to move on land as well as in or under water. Such combat vehicles are therefore also designed as amphibious vehicles.

Because they can move on land and water, these combat vehicles have strategic advantages because they do not rely on land routes or the use of bridges to cross water.

Such a combat vehicle shows, for example US 2002/0134295 A1 . A wagon is shown as an amphibious vehicle, with the floor of the vehicle being equipped with buoyant means. However, the part in which the occupants are accommodated is not designed to float, so diving trips are not possible.

The same shows US 6,482,052 B1 a corresponding combat vehicle, also comprising buoyant means to make the vehicle float. There is a crew compartment in the vehicle, with parts of the roof being extendable but not waterproof.

The US 2007/0281559 A1 shows an amphibious vehicle comprising an upper and a lower shell, the interior of the upper and lower shell being separated by a separating plate. This vehicle is not designed as a combat vehicle.

Combat vehicles that also function as amphibious vehicles are therefore known. However, these are not submersible. The structure of the crew rooms is not designed to be watertight. This is due to the fact that open and/or non-watertight areas are provided above the waterline, which prevent diving.

The combat vehicles known from the prior art are still limited to a certain vehicle weight, since above this weight the buoyant means are no longer sufficient to allow the vehicle to float. In the case of large and heavy vehicles, it is therefore necessary to provide the vehicle with additional buoyancy equipment in order to keep it buoyant.

Such additional buoyancy means can be designed to be variable in volume, as is the case, for example DE 10 2006 046 355 A1 describes. Floating elements attached to the side are inflated, making the vehicle buoyant. This vehicle can also empty and store the floating elements after use.

However, this results in the disadvantage that the additional buoyancy means have to be carried in order to have them on site in a situation in which they are needed. This requires additional space in or on the vehicle.

The object of the present invention is therefore to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages and to provide a combat vehicle which has a buoyancy means with an adjustable volume in order to make even heavy-weight vehicles buoyant as an amphibious vehicle. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a means of regulating the diving depth in the water through the adjustable buoyancy means and to make the vehicle submersible. These tasks are solved by the features of the present main claim.

According to the invention, the chassis of the combat vehicle is divided horizontally so that it is constructed from two modules, namely a so-called upper shell and a lower shell. This division is preferably arranged so that it runs centrally between the upper and lower shells. This creates a continuous longitudinal division of the chassis, which is preferably arranged at waterline height.

The combat vehicle also has a crew compartment in which the driver and other vehicle operators can find space. A watertight lockable hatch serves as access to the crew compartment, through which the crew can get in or out of the vehicle. The crew room is preferably arranged in the upper shell. In a preferred embodiment, the combat vehicle can have a waterproof lockable tailgate in the upper shell.

In addition to the waterproof upper and lower shells, the combat vehicle according to the invention consists of at least one drive for moving the combat vehicle and at least one chassis, which can be driven by the drive or drives. The chassis is located on the lower shell and the drive is preferably arranged in the lower shell. The lower shell itself is constructed in such a way that the chassis can be easily changed. The lower shell can therefore preferably be equipped with either a tracked chassis or a wheeled chassis. Appropriate standardized suspensions for the chassis are provided.

A primary energy supply is provided to generate the operating energy required by the vehicle. This can optionally be done using conventional combustion engines, turbines and/or hybrid generators. However, multiple energy sources are also possible. The power transmission for moving the vehicle can take place either via the chassis, a propeller drive and/or a jet drive. The lower shell is provided with appropriate receptacles to make the energy supply interchangeable.

Different energy supplies and/or power transmissions can be combined. For example, a jet drive can be provided for movement in water and a power transmission to a landing gear for movement on land. Likewise, a primary energy supply can be designed as a conventional internal combustion engine, as well as a turbine for jet propulsion. As a result, the combat vehicle according to the invention can move on land while it can also move in the water. The power transmission to the chassis for locomotion on land can then be switched off or interrupted in the water. The other way around, the power transmission to the jet drive or to the propeller drive can be switched off or interrupted when traveling on land.

If a jet drive is used for the underwater propulsion, this is preferably designed as a water jet propulsion, with the water supply being provided, for example, through side openings in the lower shell.

Water can then be sucked in through these side openings, which is then expelled again by the water jet drive using high pressure in order to move the combat vehicle.

To solve the problem, according to the invention, a connecting element is also provided between the waterproof upper and lower shells, which is attached all around the outer edges of the upper and lower shells and connects these two in a watertight manner. The chassis of the combat vehicle is thus formed in a watertight manner by the upper shell, lower shell and connecting element. The interior of the combat vehicle is also made watertight by the upper shell, lower shell and connecting element and can be used as a buoyancy aid.

The connecting element is designed to be stretchable and/or foldable, so that it connects the upper and lower shells in a watertight manner, even at different distances from one another. The connecting element can be made of rubber-like material. The connecting element is preferably designed as a bellows. To reinforce the bellows against the applied water pressure, individual slats of the bellows are preferably equipped with circumferential, flat reinforcement frames.

Furthermore, according to the invention, a lifting device is provided which can change the distance between the waterproof upper shell and the waterproof lower shell, so that the height of the combat vehicle and thus the volume of the interior can be changed. The lifting device effectively lifts the upper shell from the lower shell, so that the interior space increases and more air-filled volume is available for buoyancy. The increase in volume occurs because the connecting element always connects them in a watertight manner even when the distance between the two shells increases.

Due to the modular design, the upper and lower shells can be replaced. For example, a lower shell with an electric drive can be replaced with a lower shell with an internal combustion engine. Since the chassis of the lower shells are also designed to be interchangeable, the chassis on the lower shells can also be changed.

The upper shell is also designed to be interchangeable. It can be designed depending on the area of responsibility or mission, for example for a staff vehicle, observation vehicle, combat vehicle. For this purpose, exemplary embodiments of the upper shells include at least one weapon system and/or at least one visual aid, such as a periscope and the like.

Since the present invention can also be used for heavy military vehicles, in a preferred embodiment the vehicle is designed as an armored combat vehicle. The upper shell can, for example, have a weapon system. The weapon system can also be designed as a weapon turret, which is rotatably mounted in a receptacle in the upper shell. When training as an amphibious vehicle, it is important that the weapon turret, and especially the mount, is designed to be watertight In addition to swimming ability, diving ability should also be realized.

In the upper shell of the combat vehicle, additional mission-specific equipment can be provided, which can also be inserted into the receptacle, such as the above-mentioned weapon turret. However, depending on the purpose of the combat vehicle, torpedo launching devices, for example, can also be provided as equipment in the upper shell or means for decontamination or manual equipment, such as ropes and / or cable pulls. Depending on the structure of the upper or lower shell, this equipment can also be provided in the lower shell.

In a further preferred embodiment, a cooling system is provided as equipment to cool the energy production. Furthermore, a cooling system can be provided to reduce the air temperature in the combat vehicle to a tolerable level.

In order to prevent the connecting element from creating a vulnerable weak point in armored vehicles, protective panels are preferably attached to the upper shell, which cover the connecting element. These can be designed to be rigid or extendable in order to protect an extended connecting element.

The lifting device, which can move the upper and lower shells apart, is equipped with an electric, hydraulic and/or pneumatic drive. It ensures that the distance between the upper and lower shells is adjusted. When the lifting device is extended, the upper and lower shells are at a maximum distance from each other. When the lifting device is retracted, the upper and lower shells are at a minimum distance from each other and the connecting element is not stretched and/or folded. The lifting device can assume any state between maximum extended and minimum extended.

Due to the lifting device and thus the moving apart or together of the upper and lower shells, the volume of the interior of the combat vehicle changes, so that more buoyancy is available for the combat vehicle with a larger interior volume and less buoyancy with a smaller interior volume. These adjustment options make it possible not only to ensure the buoyancy of heavy vehicles, but also to make the vehicle's swimming or diving depth adjustable. When swimming, it is therefore possible to continue to use all equipment in the upper shell, such as vision and weapon systems, since the equipment is arranged above the waterline by adjusting the swimming depth.

The above-mentioned use of a lifting device, which is positioned between the upper and lower shell, has proven to have a surprising effect that, in addition to the variable adjustment of the buoyancy of the combat vehicle, this lifting device also represents a good damping option for the combat vehicle. Thanks to the lifting function, external influences such as shocks or vibrations that affect the combat vehicle can be very well dampened and passed on to the upper shell in an appropriately damped manner. This includes various mechanical effects due to the driving behavior of the vehicle but also, for example, shocks or vibrations due to bombardment or explosions.

For further damping, decoupling elements are provided between the lower and upper shells in order to enable vibration decoupling when the shells are resting and the lifting device is therefore retracted. Such vibration decoupling ensures that vibrations from the chassis are not passed on to the upper shell or are only passed on in a dampened manner.

The damping does not only work from the bottom to the top but also the other way around. For example, if an explosive force acts on the lower shell of an armored combat vehicle on land due to a mine, this force is dampened by the lifting device and passed on to the upper shell in a correspondingly dampened manner. If a force is exerted on the upper shell under water, for example by torpedo fire, this force is dampened by the lifting device and passed on to the lower shell in a damped manner. In the best case, the damping is so strong that no force at all is transferred to the damped shell.

Another advantage of the present invention is that the fighting space, i.e. the space available for operating the weapons, can be temporarily increased by lifting the upper shell. However, this should only be done if the protection requirements of the combat situation allow it, as the surface area of the vehicle is also increased. Likewise, raising the upper shell can improve the visibility and/or the effective range of the weapon, since any obstacles can be overcome by raising the upper shell and thus raising a weapon and/or a viewing device.

• 1 ein erfindungsgemäßes Gefechtsfahrzeug in Seitenansicht mit eingefahrener Hubeinrichtung;
• 2 ein erfindungsgemäßes Gefechtsfahrzeug mit ausgefahrener Hubeinrichtung in Seitenansicht und als Schnitt;
• 3 ein erfindungsgemäßes Gefechtsfahrzeug mit unterschiedlichen Hüben der Hubeinrichtung bei Wasserfahrt und
• 4 drei Ansichten eines erfindungsgemäßen Gefechtsfahrzeugs bei Landfahrt, inklusive Draufsicht.

Further advantages and features of the present invention emerge from the accompanying drawings. Show it:

• 1 A combat vehicle according to the invention in a side view with the lifting device retracted;
• 2 a combat vehicle according to the invention with the lifting device extended in a side view and as a section;
• 3 a combat vehicle according to the invention with different strokes of the lifting device when traveling on water and
• 4 three views of a combat vehicle according to the invention during land travel, including a top view.

1 shows a modular combat vehicle 1 according to the invention as an amphibious vehicle with a waterproof upper shell 11 and lower shell 10 as modules. Both shells together form the chassis of the vehicle. The combat vehicle 1 has a chassis 14, here designed as a tracked chassis, and a primary energy generation arranged in the lower shell 10, which can drive the chassis 14. The chassis and/or energy generation are designed to be interchangeable, so that, for example, a wheeled chassis can also be mounted on the lower shell. Also visible is a crew compartment 13, which can accommodate a crew for the combat vehicle 1, and a hatch 12 through which the crew of the crew compartment 13 can gain access to this. Hatch 12 can be closed watertight. Access to the tailgate is also possible. This must also be designed to be waterproof if the vehicle is to be designed to be submersible. The tailgate can be provided instead of or in addition to the hatch 12.

A connecting element 20 is provided between the upper 11 and lower shell 10, which is arranged all around between the waterproof upper 11 and lower shell 10. The connecting element 20 is designed here as a bellows. This connecting element 20 thus connects the upper shell 11 and the lower shell 10 in a watertight manner, with the interior of the combat vehicle 1 then being formed by the two shells and the connecting element 20. The connecting element 20 is designed to be stretchable and/or foldable.

A lifting device 21 is provided in the interior between the upper 11 and lower shell 10, shown here as four extendable stamps. By means of this lifting device 21, the upper shell 11 can be brought at a distance from the lower shell 10. In 1 However, the lifting device 21 is shown retracted, so that the upper shell 11 rests on the lower shell 10.

The amphibious vehicle shown as an armored combat vehicle 1 stands on a ground 2, so that the combat vehicle 1 according to the invention is shown traveling on land. A cooling system 16 is shown. The purpose of this is to cool the energy supply. A cooling system is also possible to regulate the temperature of the air in the vehicle.

In 2 The lifting device 21 is now shown extended, so that the upper shell 11 is brought at a distance from the lower shell 10. Because the interior of the combat vehicle 1 is delimited by the upper shell 11, lower shell 10 and connecting element 20, the combat vehicle 1 has in 2 now a larger volume than that in 1 Combat vehicle 1 shown. This higher volume gives the combat vehicle 1 a higher buoyancy in the water. This also enables heavy combat vehicles 1 as amphibious vehicles to be able to swim.

The difference between the retracted lifting device 21 and the extended lifting device 21 is shown in the sectional view 2 shown. The retracted lifting device 21 is shown on the left half of the section. Here the connecting element 20 is shown as a folded bellows 20.1. The minimum lifting height can be seen from reference number 22.1.

The right side of the section of the combat vehicle 1 according to the invention shows the maximum lifting height 22.2 of the lifting device 21. Here the connecting element 20 is shown as a folded-out bellows 20.2. Also visible in the sectional drawing are the protective coverings 4 according to the invention to protect the connecting element 20, even in the unfolded state.

The decoupling elements 23 shown ensure vibration decoupling between the upper shell 11 and the lower shell 10. When the lifting device 21 is retracted, the upper shell 11 rests on the decoupling elements 23, which ensure that vibrations are transmitted from one shell to the other shell in a damped manner. Vibrations are caused, for example, by the movement of the chassis 14.

In 3 Four different floating states of the combat vehicle 1 as an amphibious vehicle can now be seen through different lifting heights. The combat vehicle 1 is shown at different heights below the surface 3 of the water. The combat vehicle 1 on the far left shows an amphibious vehicle 1.1 without a hub, which ches moves over the chassis 14 on the floor 2. The entry into the water and the exit from the water are shown. A shell with a periscope 5 is drawn as the upper shell 11 for water travel in order to be able to orient yourself better when traveling on water.

When leaving water, the buoyancy can be reduced in favor of traction. Here, the upper shell 11 is lowered before leaving the water, thereby reducing the buoyancy. There is now more weight on the chassis, which optimizes the drive traction.

The second illustration from the left shows the amphibious vehicle 1.2, also without a lift, but which is located below the surface 3 of the water. In this state, either the combat vehicle 1 can be driven via the chassis 14 or via a corresponding drive under water, such as a jet drive. The environment above the water surface can be observed using the periscope 5.

The amphibious vehicle 1.3 in the third illustration shows a medium stroke of the lifting device 21. The stroke generates so much buoyancy in the vehicle that the vehicle dives. The combat vehicle 1 with the upper shell 11 and lower shell 10 is under water, whereby the periscope can still see out of the water surface. The adjustable lifting height of the lifting device 21 makes it possible to adjust the swimming or diving depth.

On the far right, the amphibious vehicle 1.4 is shown floating, which requires a widely extended stroke. As a result, the vehicle 1.4 floats and protrudes at least partially from the surface 3 of the water. The connecting element 20 is here folded out and/or stretched.

4 shows the combat vehicle 1 according to the invention again in three views, this time also showing a top view of the combat vehicle 1. The representations are in contrast to the left representation of 2 with the lifting device 21 retracted.

The positions of the hatch 12 can be seen in the top view, with a two-part hatch 12 being shown here with two entry options. Also visible is an upper shell 11 with a receptacle 15 in which a weapon turret can be accommodated. However, it is also possible to use an upper shell with mission-specific equipment, such as a periscope 3 . However, the mission-specific equipment can also be arranged anywhere in, on or on the upper shell 11.

The crew room 13 is also shown in two parts and is assigned to the upper shell 11.

The present invention is not limited to the features from the description and the figures. Rather, further configurations are possible. For example, several receptacles could be provided for several weapon turrets or a two-part upper shell 11, which can then only be partially lifted by the lifting device 21.

Reference symbol list

1

combat vehicle

1.1

Amphibious vehicle without a hub

1.2

Amphibious vehicle without lift, diving

1.3

Medium lift amphibious vehicle, floating

1.4

Wide lift amphibious vehicle, floating

2

Floor

3

surface

4

Protective cladding

5

periscope

10

Lower shell

11

Upper shell

12

hatch

13

Crew room

14

landing gear

15

Recording

16

Cooling system

20

Connecting element, waterproof

20.1

Bellows, folded

20.2

Bellows, unfolded

21

Lifting device

22

Height

22.1

minimum lifting height

22.2

maximum lifting height

23

Decoupling elements

Claims (19)

Combat vehicle (1), designed as an amphibious vehicle (1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4) with a modular chassis, characterized in that the chassis comprises a waterproof upper (11) and lower shell (10) and that a waterproof connecting element (20) is provided, which is arranged all around between the waterproof upper (11) and lower shell (10) and the waterproof upper (10) 11) and lower shell (10) connects watertight. Combat vehicle (1). Claim 1 , characterized in that an interior of the combat vehicle (1) is formed in a watertight manner by the upper shell (11), lower shell (10) and connecting element (20). Combat vehicle (1) according to one of the Claims 1 or 2 , characterized in that a lifting device (21) is provided, which can change the distance between the waterproof upper shell (11) and the waterproof lower shell (10), so that a height (22) of the combat vehicle (1) and thus a volume of the interior are changed can. Combat vehicle (1) according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that at least one energy supply is provided for generating energy for use in the combat vehicle (1), as well as a chassis (14), which can be driven by the energy supply. Combat vehicle (1). Claim 4 , characterized in that at least one jet drive and/or at least one propeller drive are provided, which can be driven by the energy supply. Combat vehicle (1). Claim 4 or 5 , characterized in that the chassis (14) and power supply are assigned to the lower shell (10). Combat vehicle (1) according to one of the Claims 1 until 6 , characterized in that a crew compartment is provided in the upper shell (11), which is accessible via a watertight lockable hatch (12) and / or a watertight lockable tailgate. Combat vehicle (1) according to one of the Claims 1 until 7 , characterized in that at least one receptacle (15) is provided in the upper shell (11), which can accommodate a weapon turret. Combat vehicle (1) according to one of the Claims 1 until 8th , characterized in that mission-specific equipment is provided in the upper shell (11) and/or in the receptacle (15). Combat vehicle (1). Claim 8 or 9 , characterized in that a function of the weapon turret and / or the equipment is independent of the drive and independent of the lifting state of the lifting device (21), so that the function is also guaranteed in swimming operation. Combat vehicle (1) according to one of the Claims 1 until 10 , characterized in that protective coverings (4) are attached to the upper shell (11), which cover the connecting element (20). Combat vehicle (1) according to one of the Claims 3 until 11 , characterized in that the lifting device (21) is driven electrically, hydraulically and/or pneumatically. Combat vehicle (1) according to one of the Claims 3 until 12 , characterized in that the lifting device (21) is used in addition to the lifting function to dampen shocks and/or vibrations which act on the combat vehicle (1). Combat vehicle (1) according to one of the Claims 4 until 13 , characterized in that at least one internal combustion engine or at least one turbine or at least one hybrid generator or a combination of the like is used as the energy supply. Combat vehicle (1). Claim 14 , characterized in that the jet drive is designed as a water jet drive, with water supply being provided through side openings in the lower shell (10). Combat vehicle (1) according to one of the Claims 1 until 15 , characterized in that it is designed as an armored vehicle. Combat vehicle (1) according to one of the Claims 3 until 16 , characterized in that the lifting device (21) also changes the size of a fighting space due to the variable distance between the waterproof upper shell (11) and the waterproof lower shell (10). Combat vehicle (1) according to one of the Claims 8 until 17 , characterized in that the lifting device (21) improves an effective range of the weapon turret and/or the equipment by changing the height of the upper shell (11) in relation to the lower shell (10). Combat vehicle (1) according to one of the Claims 1 until 18 , characterized in that in swimming mode a variable volume is achieved due to the variable volume of the interior Drive is generated and this lift can be reduced in favor of better traction.

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