EP0640805A1 - Ammunition feeding device for a cannon of an armoured vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

An ammunition (projectile, round) feeding device for an armoured howitzer having a turret (T) which is arranged on a vehicle in the region behind the vehicle centre, can rotate and on which a heavy weapon (25) is arranged such that it can pivot in elevation. An ammunition magazine (23) is arranged in the turret rear (H), and a loading/unloading opening (B), which is accessible from the rear, is arranged in the vehicle rear (H). A guide (2.1) which runs in the transverse direction and on which a carriage (2) is displaceably guided is mounted on the roof plate (D) of the turret (T), between the weapon (25) and the ammunition magazine (23). A downwardly extending supporting arm (1) is attached to the carriage (2), on which supporting arm (1) a loading cradle holder (9) is movably guided, which is fitted with a loading cradle (22). The arrangement is such that the loading cradle (22) can be moved into a position aligned with the barrel boresight (bore axis) of the weapon when the weapon (25) is in at least one elevation position, and into positions in which the rear end of the loading cradle (22) is located immediately in front of the ammunition magazine (23) as well as into a position in which the rear end of the loading cradle (22) is directly adjacent to the front end of a roller track (24) which is arranged in the region of the loading/unloading opening (B). <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a projectile feed device for a self-propelled howitzer with a rotatable turret arranged on a vehicle in the area behind the center of the vehicle, on which a heavy weapon is pivotably arranged in elevation, in the turret rear behind the weapon a projectile magazine for receiving essentially horizontally forward storey-pointing storeys and a rear loading / unloading opening are arranged in the rear of the vehicle.

Armored howitzers with projectile feeders are known per se. For example, in EP 0 331 980 B1 describes a self-propelled howitzer in which the projectiles stored in the vehicle in the center of the vehicle in a projectile magazine are conveyed from the projectile magazine to the weapon by means of a projectile delivery device consisting of a projectile transporter, a transport rail and a projectile transfer arm. The known projectile feeders are structurally relatively complex and difficult, if necessary, to operate manually.

The invention has for its object to provide a projectile delivery device for a self-propelled howitzer with the features specified at the beginning and in the preamble of claim 1 that it is structurally very simple, basically easy to use in an emergency, and extremely flexible to use means that the projectiles should be able to be conveyed from the projectile magazine to the weapon as well as from the outside through the loading / unloading opening to the weapon or to the projectile magazine. Finally, the unloading, that is to say the conveying of the projectiles from the projectile magazine to the outside, should also be possible in a simple manner.

This object is achieved according to the invention with the features from the characterizing part of patent claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are described in the subclaims.

The basic idea of the invention is to arrange a simply constructed loading aid in the turret between the storey magazine arranged in the turret rear and the weapon, which essentially consists of the transversely displaceable support arm and the loading cradle that can be moved up and down, suspended on this support arm, which is connects the rear end of the charging cradle in a predetermined position to the front end of a roller conveyor guided through the loading / unloading opening. As explained in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments, it is very easily possible with this “loading aid” to feed the projectiles from the outside via the roller conveyor of the charging cradle, with the aid of which they can either be fed to the weapon or conveyed to the projectile magazine. According to a first particularly simple embodiment of the projectile feed device according to the invention, it is possible to carry out all movements of the device parts purely manually. This simple embodiment also has the great advantage that the heavy projectiles do not have to be lifted up by the operator inside the vehicle. During the upward movement of the charging cradle with the projectile lying on it, the crank mechanism provided for this purpose can be relieved by a spring balancer, as also explained in more detail below.

However, as described below, embodiments of the projectile feed device according to the invention are also possible in which at least some of the drive movements are effected by a motor.

Finally, it is possible to design the projectile delivery device according to the invention in such a way that the weapon can be loaded not only in a fixedly defined attachment position, but also within a larger directional range of, for example, 0 to 50 ° elevation.

In the projectile feeding device according to the invention, the actual attachment process can be carried out by hand. However, it is also advantageously possible to use the projectile feed device in combination with an automatic piecing device. The use of an automatic piecer, as described for example in the older, not previously published DE 43 17 639 A1, is particularly advantageous here.

Exemplary embodiments of a projectile feed device according to the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

• Fig. 1 in teilweise geschnittener Seitenansicht eine erste Ausführungsform einer Geschoßzuführungsvorrichtung im Heckbereich einer Panzerhaubitze;
• Fig. 2 die Geschoßzuführungsvorrichtung nach Fig. 1 gesehen aus der Richtung X in Fig. 1;
• Fig. 3 in einer Darstellung analog Fig. 1 eine zweite Ausführungsform einer Geschoßzuführungsvorrichtung in Kombination mit einem automatischen Ansetzer;
• Fig. 4 die Geschoßzuführungsvorrichtung nach Fig. 3 in einer Darstellung analog Fig. 2;
• Fig. 5 in einer Darstellung analog Fig. 1 eine Geschoßzuführungsvorrichtung zur Verwendung in Kombination mit einem Ansetzer und geeignet zum Laden innerhalb eines größeren Richtbereiches;
• Fig. 6 die Geschoßzuführungsvorrichtung nach Fig. 5 in einer Darstellung analog Fig. 2.

The drawings show:

• 1 shows a partially sectioned side view of a first embodiment of a projectile feed device in the rear region of a self-propelled howitzer;
• FIG. 2 shows the projectile feed device according to FIG. 1 seen from the direction X in FIG. 1;
• FIG. 3 in a representation analogous to FIG. 1, a second embodiment of a projectile feed device in combination with an automatic piecer;
• FIG. 4 shows the projectile feeding device according to FIG. 3 in a representation analogous to FIG. 2;
• FIG. 5 in a representation analogous to FIG. 1, a projectile feed device for use in combination with a piecing device and suitable for loading within a larger directional range;
• 6 shows the projectile feeding device according to FIG. 5 in a representation analogous to FIG. 2.

The projectile delivery device for a self-propelled howitzer described in FIGS. 1 and 2 represents a particularly simple embodiment which can be operated completely manually.

From the self-propelled howitzer, only the rear area H of the vehicle with the loading / unloading opening B opening to the rear, as well as part of the turret T and the tube end 25 of the heavy weapon, not shown, are shown. Arranged in the rear of the tower T is a storey magazine 23, which is not explained in detail, in which storeys are stored in several rows one above the other horizontally and with the tip pointing forward; The storeys in the storey magazine 23 are designated G1 in this position.

On the underside of the roof plate D of the turret T are arranged in the area between the projectile magazine 23 and the weapon end 25 transverse to the longitudinal direction of the turret guide rails 2.1, on which a carriage 2 is guided in the transverse direction. A suspension arm 1 is suspended on the slide 2 and extends essentially vertically downwards through the interior of the tower T. The support arm 1 is therefore displaceable in the transverse direction. It is handled by means of a handle 19 on which a lashing lever 19.1 is arranged. The lashing lever 19.1 is connected via a Bowden cable 19.2 to a positioning catch 20 which can engage in a positioning bar 21 which is attached to the tower roof D parallel to the guide rails 2.1. The support arm 1 can thus be locked after moving in the transverse direction in predetermined positions, which for example correspond to certain projectile positions within the projectile magazine 23.

Linear guides 18 are arranged on the support arm 1, on which a charging cradle receptacle 11 is slidably guided. The charging cradle receptacle 11 carries a charging cradle 22, which is pivotably mounted in the charging cradle receptacle 11 by means of a trunnion fixed to the charging cradle about a horizontal axis running in the transverse direction. The pivot carries a control lever 8, at the end of which a guide roller 15 is fastened, which is guided in a guide groove 6 of the support arm 1. As can be seen from FIG. 1, this guide groove 6 has a special shape, which ensures that the charging cradle 22 each assumes a certain angular position with respect to the horizontal during the upward and downward movement explained below. For example, the charging cradle 22 is in its lowermost position at an angle of approximately 20 °, which, as explained below, corresponds on the one hand to the attachment position defined in this embodiment and on the other hand to the loading / unloading position, which is also defined. If the charging cradle 22 is lifted upward by moving the charging cradle receptacle 11, it is rotated into a horizontal position via the guide groove 6 and the control lever 8.

The charging cradle 22 or the charging cradle receptacle 11 is raised by means of a rotating chain drive 3, on the chain 3.1 of which the bearing cradle receptacle 11 is fastened. By actuating a hand crank 4, the chain drive 3 is set in motion and, depending on the direction of rotation, the charging cradle 22 is moved up or down.

In order to reduce the torque on the hand crank 4 when lifting a projectile arranged in the charging cradle 22, a spring balancer is arranged on the support arm. The spring balancer has a cable drum 16 which is connected to the upper chain deflection wheel 3.2. A gas spring 17.1, which is arranged in the vertical direction in the support arm 1 and on the push rod at the lower end of which the cable 17 guided around the cable drum 16 is fastened, does the necessary Compensating torque generated.

At the rear end of the charging cradle 22, a projectile retaining lug 13 swiveling under spring force into a locking position is arranged, which prevents the projectile G 3 inserted into the charging cradle 22 from sliding back. The projectile holding lug 13 can either be brought into the unlocking position by means of a hand lever 13.1 or it is automatically brought into the unlocking position when the charging cradle 22 is raised by an unlocking lever 13.2 connected to the projectile holding lug 13 running onto a guide rail 7. As shown in dashed lines in Fig. 1, the projectile retaining lug 13 is thereby pivoted downward, so that a projectile G 1 can be inserted into the charging cradle 22 (projectile position G4) from behind in the storey magazine 23 when approaching the bottom row of storeys.

The charging cradle receptacle 11 and thus the charging cradle 22 are locked in the various raised positions in front of the storey magazine 23 via a locking roller 14 which is arranged on the charging cradle fixed to the charging cradle 22 and engages in one of the three possible grid positions of an actuating unit 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3 , with which an exact transfer of the projectiles from the storey magazine 23 or in the opposite direction is possible.

In the lowermost position of the charging cradle 22 shown in solid lines in FIG. 1, like shown, either projectiles G 2 are fed from the outside via the roller conveyor 24 or a projectile G 1 conveyed from the projectile magazine 23 can be conveyed further. In order to bring the projectile G 3 lying in the charging cradle 22 closer to the weapon end 25, a shell-like charging cradle inner part 9 is arranged in the charging cradle 22 and can be moved out of the charging cradle 22 in the direction of the weapon. The inner part 9 of the charging cradle is pushed forward by means of a handle 10. At the rear end of the inner part of the charging shell, an automatically swiveling driving lug 12 is arranged. When the inner part 9 of the charging cradle is advanced by means of the handle 10, the driving lug 12 automatically pivots behind the floor of the projectile G 3, so that it can be conveyed into the position G 5. From there, the projectile can be pushed further into the loading space of the weapon 25 by hand.

In the embodiment of a projectile feeding device shown in FIGS. 1 to 2, a projectile G 2 supplied via the roller conveyor 24 can be inserted into the charging cradle 22, which is in its lowest position, by unlocking the projectile retaining nose 13 by means of the hand lever 13.1. From there it can either be as described above, fed to the weapon 25 or conveyed into the storey magazine 23 by lifting the charging cradle 22. Furthermore, the storeys G 1 stored in the storey magazine 23 after lifting the charging cradle 22, Pushing the projectiles G 1 into the charging cradle and again lowering the charging cradle 22 can either be fed to the weapon 25 or they can be conveyed out of the vehicle through the loading / unloading opening B via the roller conveyor 24.

As already mentioned, in the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2, the projectile feed device is operated purely manually.

3 and 4, an embodiment of the projectile feeding device is shown, in which the displacement of the support arm 1 in the transverse direction is done manually. However, the charging cradle 22 is raised and the inner charging cradle part 9 is extended to attach a projectile by a motor drive. Furthermore, this embodiment of the projectile feeding device is well suited for combination with an automatic piecing device, which is also motor-driven.

3 and 4, components which correspond essentially exactly to the components shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are designated by the same reference numerals. These components are no longer or only briefly explained below.

Also in the embodiment according to FIGS. 3 and 4, the charging cradle 22 is mounted on the charging arm receptacle 11 on the support arm 1, which is suspended on the carriage 2 running in the guides 2.1. The support arm 1 can be moved in the transverse direction by means of the handle 19, the positions of the support arm 1 being given by the positioning catch 20 and positioning bar 21. The charging cradle 22 is in turn raised via a chain drive 3 (lower chain deflection wheel 3.3), which in this case is driven by an electric motor 26 arranged at the upper end of the support arm 1. The movement of the charger 11 and the charger 22 and their guidance and locking takes place in the same manner as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 and will not be described in the following. The different positions can be approached in a manner known per se and not shown by limit switches and stops.

The pivoting of the charging cradle 22 from the lowest position (approx. 20 °) into the horizontal position in the elevated positions also takes place in this embodiment in the manner already described, via the guide roller 15 and the guide groove 6 Charging cradle inner part 9 serves a further chain drive, which is described below. Via a clutch, not shown, the drive motor 26 can be connected to a chain wheel 27, the chain 27.1 of which runs around a second chain wheel 27.2 arranged at the lower end of the support arm 1. With the sprocket 27.2, a gear 28 is connected, which meshes with a gear 29, which is connected via a pinion shaft 30.1 guided by the pivot of the charging cradle 22.1 to a pinion 30, which is in one on the Loading shell inner part 9 arranged rack 31 engages. By switching the drive motor 26 via the clutch to the second chain drive 27, the charging shell inner part 9 is moved forward with a projectile G 3 arranged thereon into the position shown in broken lines in FIG. 3, in which the projectile G 5 is in a position, in which it can be applied. During this movement, the driving lug 12 is pivoted in behind the floor in the manner already described.

If the charging cradle 22 is raised from its lowest position shown in FIG. 3, the gears 28 and 29 are automatically decoupled, as can be seen from FIG. 4, so that in the raised positions the inner charging cradle 9 no longer extends for safety reasons is possible.

In order to relieve the drive device when lifting the charging cradle with a projectile, the device according to FIGS. 3 and 4 is also provided with a spring balancer, consisting of the cable drum 16, the cable 17 and the gas spring 17.1, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 described, equipped.

For emergency operation, there is a square 4.1 on the drive shaft for the two chain drives, onto which a hand crank can be attached for manual operation.

As can be seen from Fig. 3, this embodiment can advantageously with an automatic Raisers are used, which is only briefly explained below and is described in detail in the older patent application P 43 17 639.9. In this automatic piecing device, a displacement device for the projectile is provided, which has a guide tube 32, which is arranged parallel to the barrel core axis on the weapon 25 and on which a rack is arranged, by means of which it can be displaced in the longitudinal direction V1 by means of a drive pinion of a drive device 34. The guide tube 32 has in the area behind the weapon barrel end a curved end portion 32.1 which is curved forward by a total of 180 ° in such a way that the end of the end portion 32.1 can be pivoted into the area immediately behind the inner part 9 of the charging cradle moved forward. Within the guide tube 32, a spring-stiff feeder chain 33 is guided, which can be displaced in the guide tube 32 in the direction V2 by means of a second drive pinion of the drive device 34 such that one end extends from the curved end section of the guide tube 32, the front end 33.1 of the feeder chain being Displacement element is formed.

Due to the special kinematic conditions, a translation of the application speed is achieved with this adapter. After attaching the feeder chain 33 is drawn back into the guide tube 32, which is then pivoted in a manner not shown from the area behind the charging cradle 9 into a rest position, so that the charging cradle 9 is retracted and the shot can be delivered without the return of the gun barrel 25 is hindered.

5 and 6, an embodiment of a projectile feeder device is shown, which differs from the two previously described embodiments primarily in that the projectile can be attached to the weapon barrel 25 not only in a single position by means of the automatic applicator already described , but within a large range from 0 to + 50 ° elevation, for example.

5 and 6, components which correspond in structure and mode of operation to the components according to the preceding exemplary embodiments are denoted by the same reference number, which is provided with a "". These components are no longer described in detail below.

In this embodiment too, the support arm 1 'is suspended on a carriage 2' which can be displaced in the transverse direction to the tower T on guide rails 2.1 '. The support arm 1 'in this embodiment, however, does not extend essentially straight vertically downward, but rather is curved forward, in such a way that the guides 18' for the charging cradle receptacle 11 ', which in this embodiment are fixed to the charging cradle 22nd 'is connected, are guided on a circular path on the support arm 1', the center of which lies on the shield pin axis S of the weapon 25 '. The travel path thus corresponds to the charging cradle 22 (with projectile) automatically the rotation radius of the weapon 25 'around the shield pin axis S.

In this embodiment too, the charging cradle 22 'is moved by a chain drive 3' and the inner part 9 'of the charging cradle is extended by means of a second chain drive 27' which are driven by a drive motor 26 '. For this purpose, a sprocket 29 'is mounted in the charging cradle 22' and engages in the chain 27.2 'which runs around the lower sprocket 27.1' of the second chain drive. The chain wheel 29 'is connected to a pinion 30' which engages in a rack 31 'arranged on the inner part 9' of the charging cradle. The two chain drives can be driven synchronously or only the second chain drive 27 'by a clutch, not shown, on the drive motor 26'. The drive for the charging cradle is controlled via an angle transmitter 35 mounted in the pivot point of the weapon 25 'in such a way that the charging cradle 22' is brought into the attachment position behind the weapon 25 '. By selecting the individual transfer or takeover positions, the charging cradle 22 'automatically moves to the required positions.

The loading and unloading of the storey magazine 23 'and the firing from the stack from the outside takes place in this embodiment via a roller conveyor 24' mounted on the vehicle floor. The floors G2 'are pushed with the floor facing forward over the roller conveyor 24' and then, as indicated by the arrow K, tipped onto the charging cradle 22 '.

For emergency operation there is a square 4.1 'on the upper drive shaft of the two chain drives 3' and 27 ', on which a hand crank can be attached. The switching of the individual functions is then also done manually.

The displacement of the support arm 1 'in the transverse direction is carried out manually by means of the handle 19' in the manner already described in the earlier embodiments. Likewise, the positions of the support arm 1 'in the transverse direction can be locked by the positioning catch 20' and the positioning bar 21 '.

The parts of the automatic piecing machine, namely the guide tube 32 'with the curved section 32.1', the feeder chain 33 'with the displacement element 33.1' and the drive device 34 ', correspond exactly to the components described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 and, together with their mode of operation not explained in more detail below.

Claims (19)

Projectile feeding device for a self-propelled howitzer with a rotatable turret arranged on a vehicle in the area behind the center of the vehicle, on which a heavy weapon is pivotably arranged in elevation, in the turret rear behind the weapon a projectile magazine for receiving projectiles essentially horizontally with the projectile tip pointing forward and in the rear of the vehicle there is a loading / unloading opening accessible from the rear, characterized in that on the inside of the roof plate (D) of the turret (T) between the rear end of the weapon (25) and the projectile magazine (23) there is a transverse guide (2.1) is fastened, on which a carriage (2) is slidably guided and on the carriage (2) a support arm (1) extending down into the interior of the tower is suspended, on which a charging cradle receptacle (11) along the support arm (1 ) is movably guided, which carries a charging cradle (22) such that the longitudinal axis of the charging cradle e in at least one elevation position of the weapon (25) can be brought into a position in alignment with the barrel core axis of the weapon, and in positions in which the rear end of the charging cradle (22) lies directly in front of predetermined storage spaces of the projectile magazine (23) and into one position, in which the rear end of the charging cradle (22) directly adjoins the front end of a roller conveyor (24) arranged in the region of the loading / unloading opening (B). Projectile feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that the charging cradle (22) is pivotally connected to the charging cradle receptacle (11) about an axis parallel to the shield pin axis of the weapon (25). Projectile feeding device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the support arm (1) is oriented essentially vertically downwards and the charging cradle receptacle (11) is displaceably guided on the support arm (1) perpendicular to the shield pin axis of the weapon (25). Projectile feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that the support arm (1 ') is oriented essentially curved downwards and the charging cradle receptacle (11') is guided on a circular path on the support arm (1 '), the center of which is on the shield pin axis (S) of the weapon (25 '), the charging cradle (22') being firmly connected to the charging cradle receptacle (11 '). Projectile feeding device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a shell-like inner shell part (9, 9 ') is arranged in the loading shell (22, 22'), which in the direction of the weapon (25, 25 ') from the loading shell (22, 22 ') can be moved out. Projectile feeding device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that for driving the charging cradle receptacle (11, 11 ') along the Support arm (1, 1 ') is a chain drive (3, 3') arranged on the support arm. Projectile feeding device according to claim 6, characterized in that the chain drive (3) can be driven by means of a hand crank (4). Projectile feeding device according to claim 6, characterized in that the chain drive (3, 3 ') can be driven by means of a drive motor (26, 26'). Projectile feeding device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that a spring compensator (16, 17, 17.1) reducing the lifting torque is arranged between the support arm (1) and chain drive (3). Projectile feeding device according to claim 9, characterized in that the spring balancer has a cable drum (16) coupled to the upper chain wheel of the chain drive (3) and the cable (17) wound on the cable drum with the lower end of the push rod one in the support arm (1) in essentially vertically arranged gas spring (17.1) is connected. Projectile feeding device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the pivot pin of the charging cradle (22) carries a control lever (8) with a guide roller (15) which runs in a guide groove (6) arranged on the support arm (1), which thus is designed such that the charging cradle (22) assumes predetermined angular positions as a function of its position on the support arm (1). Projectile feeding device according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that a projectile retaining lug (13) which swivels into a locking position under spring force is arranged at the rear end of the loading shell (22). Projectile feeding device according to claim 12, characterized in that the projectile holding nose (13) can be brought into the unlocking position on the one hand by a guide rail (7) arranged automatically in the area in front of the projectile magazine (23) on the support arm (1) and on the other hand by means of a hand lever (13.1) is. Projectile feeding device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized by a releasable locking device (20, 21) for fixing the support arm (1) at predetermined points of the movement path in the transverse direction to the tower (T). Projectile delivery device according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized by handles (19, 10) arranged on the support arm (1) and on the inner part of the charging cradle (9) for manual actuation of the projectile delivery device. Projectile feeding device according to claim 5, characterized in that an automatically swiveling driving nose (12) is arranged at the rear end of the inner charging part (9). Projectile feeding device according to claim 8, characterized in that the drive motor (26) can be connected by means of a switchable coupling either to the chain drive (3) or to a drive device (27) for moving the inner part of the charging cradle (9). Projectile feeding device according to Claim 17, characterized in that a second chain drive (27, 27 '), which drives a pinion (30, 30') and is arranged on the support arm (1, 1 '), serves to drive the inner part of the charging cradle (9, 9'), which engages in a rack (31, 31 ') arranged on the inner part of the charging cradle (9, 9'). Projectile feeding device according to claim 18, characterized in that the pinion (30) for driving the inner part of the charging cradle (9) is coupled to the second chain drive (27) only in the lowest position of the charging cradle receptacle (11).

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