EP0869327B1 - Adjustment system for elevation and bearing of an armement support mounted on a carrier - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an adjustment system in site and in deposit of an armament support mounted on a carrier, this system comprising means of adjustment in elevation and means for adjusting the positioning of the arming support compared to a reference of the wearer.

A firearm on board a carrier such as an aircraft for example, is mounted on an arming support which can be fixed under a mast carrying the aircraft. In this case, it must know and be able to adjust the position on site and deposit of this armament support in relation to a reference of the shooting system such as a telescopic sight for example.

The patent US4587881 thus describes a mounting device of a cannon in an aircraft pod. According to this device a some capacity of adjustment in site and deposit is possible but for the barrel compared to the pod itself and not for the pod relative to the wearer.

Patent US4223591, which serves as the basis for the preamble of the main claim, proposes a device for adjusting site and deposit of a canon pod in relation to a carrier.

According to this document, the adjustment means are worn by a front support comprising eccentric rings, the pod can then pivot relative to a fixed rear axis. This device is of complex structure and only allows pivoting with respect to the rear axis.

The object of the invention is to design a system of adjustment in elevation and in bearing of the arming support which is simple to implement and easy to adjust.

To achieve this object, the invention proposes a system of site and bearing adjustment of a mounted arming support on a load-bearing mast, comprising means for adjusting in elevation and means for adjusting the positioning of the arming support with respect to a reference of the wearer, said means of site and deposit adjustment being fully integrated into the cocking support, the cocking support being fixed to the mast carrier by two hooking elements and the means of deposit adjustment comprising an eccentric device, system characterized in that the adjustment means in deposit are split into two eccentric devices similar which each incorporate a hooking element, each eccentric device comprising a mounted ring free to rotate relative to the arming support but fixed in translation, and the two hooking elements being respectively screwed into the two rings along axes offset from those of the rings.

Thus by rotating a ring of one of the eccentric devices it is possible to rotate the arming support relative to the other device eccentric, and vice versa. Concretely the setting in armament support will be rotated simultaneous of the two rings of the two eccentric devices in two opposite directions of rotation to rotate the arming support with respect to a point between the two eccentric devices, which provides a possibility of greater adjustment.

The rotation of each ring can be controlled by a tool acting on a castellated nut integral in rotation of the ring.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the means adjustment devices consist of two devices similar which frame the two adjustment devices in deposit, each site adjustment device including in particular two shoes movable in translation, one towards the other or beyond each other along an axis perpendicular to the axis defined by the two devices eccentric means of adjustment in deposit.

According to one embodiment, the two pads of each on-site adjustment device are mounted opposite, guided in translation by means of slides fixed to the armament support and traversed right through by a rod threaded with two reverse threads so that that, according to the direction of rotation printed on the threaded rod, the two skates can approach or move away one of the other.

The assembly formed by the two pads and the threaded rod connecting them, is movable in translation in the slides during a field adjustment operation.

The two pads of each site adjustment device form counter skids which respectively come in support against fixed pads supported by the carrying mast.

According to an important advantage of the invention, the fixing operations of the armament support on the mast on the one hand, and the site adjustment operations and deposit of this support in relation to a reference of the carrier on the other hand, are perfectly dissociated from each other.

According to another important advantage of the invention, the site and field adjustment operations are simple to and the adjustment means are easy to handle.

In general, the system according to the invention has more particularly designed to ensure adjustments fairly low in the order of ± 1 ° in deposit as in site, but which prove sufficient in practice.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective éclatée d'un mode de réalisation selon l'invention d'un système de réglage en site et en gisement d'un support d'armement monté sur un porteur,
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective éclatée d'une partie des moyens de réglage en gisement du support d'armement,
• la figure 3 est une vue en perspective des moyens de réglage en site du support d'armement,
• les figures 4 et 5 sont des vues en perspective pour illustrer le principe du réglage en gisement du support d'armement, et
• la figure 6 est une vue en perspective pour illustrer le principe du réglage en site du support d'armement.

Other advantages, characteristics and details of the invention will emerge from the additional description which follows with reference to the appended drawings, given solely by way of example and in which:

• FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment according to the invention of an adjustment system in elevation and in bearing of an arming support mounted on a carrier,
• FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of part of the means for adjusting the bearing of the armament support,
• FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the means for adjusting the site of the arming support,
• FIGS. 4 and 5 are perspective views to illustrate the principle of adjustment in bearing location of the arming support, and
• Figure 6 is a perspective view to illustrate the principle of site adjustment of the arming support.

The arming support 1 illustrated on the Figure 1 is fixed by two hooking rings 3 under the mast 5 of a carrier (not shown).

The fixing of the arming support 1 is obtained by two fingers 7 which pass through rings 3. These fingers 7 are provided with or cooperate with unrepresented means which have the function of producing permanently a traction torque which pulls the rings 3 to the carrying mast 5.

Once the arming support 1 is fixed under the mast 5, a system allows the adjustment in site and in deposit of support 1 with respect to a reference of carrier, this reference can be a telescope aim of the shooting system.

The site and deposit adjustment system is fully integrated with the arming support 1, and includes means G for adjusting the deposit and means of site adjustment which will be described below.

The means G for adjusting the deposit are constituted by two eccentric devices G1 and G2, similar and mounted at a distance from each other next an X-X axis.

According to the embodiment illustrated in the Figure 2, each eccentric device G1 and G2 includes in particular a ring 10 whose axis x-x of its wall internal cylindrical 10a is offset from the axis y-y of its external cylindrical wall 10b.

Each ring 10 passes right through one well 12 (FIG. 1) formed in the arming support 1 and in which the ring 10 is mounted free to rotate. However, each ring 10 is fixed in translation at by means of a flange 14 provided at one end of each ring 10 and a castle nut 16 screwed onto a external thread machined to the other end of each ring 10 (Figure 2). Once the 10 rings are immobilized in translation, their respective nuts 16 are secured to the rings 10 by means known per se but not shown, these means being able be a radial pin engaged in both the nut and the ring. Finally, a removable plate is provided 18 (Figure 5) to immobilize each nut in rotation 16 and therefore each ring 10 when there is no adjustment to perform.

The two eccentric devices G1 and G2 are respectively associated with the two rings hooking 3 of the arming support. More precisely, each ring 3 is extended by a threaded rod 3a intended to be screwed into a tapping complementary machined on the internal wall 10a of the associated ring 10 (Figure 2).

Thus, the two attachment rings 3 of the arming support are an integral part of the means for adjusting the position of the arming support 1.

The means of site adjustment are constituted by two devices S1 and S2, similar and respectively mounted in the vicinity of the two devices eccentrics G1 and G2. Specifically, the two devices S1 and S2 frame the two devices G1 and G2, i.e. they are not located between G1 and G2.

Each device S1 and S2 (Figure 3) includes in particular two pads 20 movable in following translation a Y-Y axis perpendicular to the X-X axis defined by the two eccentric devices G1 and G2.

The two pads 20 are mounted opposite and traversed right through by a threaded rod 22 having two reverse threads 22a and 22b so according to the direction of rotation printed on the rod 22, the two pads 20 can come closer or move away from each other.

Each shoe 20 includes a sole 24 crossed by the rod 22 and a bearing surface inclined 25. The sole 24 of each shoe 20 is guided in a slide 27 fixed to the arming support 1 at screw means 29.

In the example illustrated, each slide 27 includes a U-shaped base section 31 with a bottom 33 and two wings 35 which delimit between them a guide groove 37. A plate 39 is attached on the free end surface of each wing 35 of so that one of the sides of the plate 39 makes protruding into the guide groove 37 thereby forming a rib 40. The sole 24 of each shoe 20 comprises two grooves 42 in which respectively come accommodate the two ribs 40. Screws 45 are used to fix the pads 39 on the soles 31 of the slide 27.

After each site adjustment of the support armament 1, the assembly formed by the pads 20 and the threaded rod 22 is immobilized in translation. In this effect, we use the screws 45 for fixing the pads 39 on the bases 31 of the slides 27 to create a friction between the ribs 40 of the plates 39 and the grooves 42 of the pads 20. It suffices for this to tighten melts the screws 45. Of course, any other device immobilization pads 20 could be considered.

In general, the carrying mast 5 supports two sets of two pads fixed 50 which, when the arming support 1 is fixed, come to rest respectively on the two sets of two pads 20 means S for adjusting site.

The arming support 1 is fixed under the mast carrier 5 by means of the two attachment rings 3 which were previously screwed into the two rings 10 of adjustment means G in bearing, knowing that this operation is carried out without worrying about the system adjustment of the arming support in elevation and in bearing 1.

• à libérer les plaquettes amovibles 18 qui immobilisent en rotation les deux bagues 10 des dispositifs excentriques G1 et G2, et
• à desserrer les vis 45 d'immobilisation en translation des patins 20 des moyens S de réglage en site.

Before adjusting the setting of the armament support 1 relative to the carrying mast 5, first of all, preliminary operations are carried out which consist of:

• releasing the removable plates 18 which immobilize in rotation the two rings 10 of the eccentric devices G1 and G2, and
• loosening the screws 45 for immobilizing the pads 20 of the elevation adjustment means S in translation.

Generally, the adjustment in bearing consists of performing a combined and reverse rotation of the two rings 10 of the two eccentric devices G1 and G2 to cause a pivoting movement of the support of arming 1 around a point P located on the X-X axis and at halfway between the two eccentric devices G1 and G2.

More specifically, it rotates the two rings 10 by means of a key 52 (FIG. 5) which comes engage in two opposite slots of the nut 16 associated with each ring 10. Thus, by training rotation of the two rings 10 in two directions of rotation inverses of each other indicated by the arrows R1 and R'1 (figure 4), the arming support 1 will pivot around from point P in the direction indicated by arrow F1 or, conversely, following arrow F2 for both directions of rotation R2 and R'2 of the rings 10.

During the pivoting movement of the support of armament 1 with respect to the carrying mast 5, each assembly constituted by the pads 20 and the rod threaded 22 of each device S1 and S2 for adjusting site can move in translation compared to slides 27 since the screws 45 have been previously loosened, so that the pads 20 remain always in contact with the fixed pads 50 of the mast carrier 5.

Once the field adjustment operation of the arming support 1 carried out, the plates 18 are at new fixed to immobilize the rings 10 in rotation of the two eccentric devices G1 and G2, and the pads 20 of the means for adjusting in elevation are immobilized in translation by the screws 45.

Before making an on-site adjustment of the arming support 1 with respect to the carrying mast 5, the only preliminary operation to be carried out is to release in translation the pads 20 of the means S for adjusting site. You just have to loosen the screws 45.

Site trips are obtained by the approximation of the pads 20 of the device S1 and the distance of the pads 20 from the device S2, or conversely, by turning the threaded rods 22 in appropriate directions of rotation by means of a key 54 inserted into the hollow end part of the rods 22 (Figure 3).

More specifically, it is assumed that the elevation adjustment device S1 is located towards the front of the support mast 5 (FIG. 6).
In this case, to lower the axis XX of the cocking support 1, that is to say to obtain a displacement in negative elevation, the threaded rod 22 of the rear device S2 is rotated to bring the pads 20 l ' one of the other according to the arrows F3, which has the effect of creating a clearance between these pads 20 and the associated pads 50 of the carrying mast 5. Then, the threaded rod 22 of the front device S1 is rotated in rotation to separate the pads 20 from one another according to arrows F4. As the pads 20 of the front device S1 are already in contact with the associated fixed pads 50 of the carrying mast 5, the pads 20 will slide on the pads 50 while pushing down the front device S1, which has the effect of pivoting the arming support 1 relative to the rear hooking ring 3 to bring the pads 20 of the rear device S2 in contact with the associated fixed pads 50 of the carrying mast 5. In other words, the axis XX is lowered according to the arrow F5 and read according to arrow F6. During the pivoting movement of the arming support 1, the front hooking ring 3 which is permanently pulled by the finger 7 rises slightly.

To obtain a positive site displacement, just operate in reverse to the previous to raise the X-X axis of the arming support 1.

Once the site adjustment has been made, again blocks the shoes 20 in translation tightening screws 45.

Claims (7)

1. An elevation and traverse control system for a weapon support (1) mounted on a carrier strut (5), comprising elevation control means (S) and traverse control means (G) for the weapon support (1) with respect to a carrier reference, said means (S, G) being fully integrated into the weapon support (1), the weapon support (1) being fastened to the carrier strut (5) by two hooking elements (3), and the traverse control means being formed by an off-centre device, characterized in that the traverse control means (G) are split into two similar off-centre devices (G1, G2) which incorporate each a hooking element (3), each off-centre device (G1, G2) comprising a ring (10) mounted free to rotate with respect to the weapon support (1) but fixed in translation, and in that the two hooking elements (3) are respectively screwed into these two rings (10) along off-centre axes with respect to those of the rings.
2. A system according to Claim 1, characterized in that the traverse control of the weapon support (1) is carried out by the rotation of the two rings (10) in two opposite directions in order to make the weapon support (1) swivel with respect to a point (P) located between the two rings (10).
3. A system according to Claim 2, characterized in that the rotation of each ring (10) is controlled by a tool (52) acting on a castle nut (16) integral in rotation with the ring (8).
4. A system according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the elevation control means (S) are formed by two similar devices (S1, S2) which frame the two traverse control devices (G1, G2), and in that each elevation control device (S1, S2) comprises two runner plates (20), mobile in translation to bring them together or move them apart along an axis (Y-Y) perpendicular to the axis (X-X) defined by the two traverse control devices (G1, G2).
5. A system according to Claim 4, characterized in that the two runner plates (20) of each elevation control device (S1, S2) are mounted opposite one another, guided in translation by slides (27) fastened to the weapon support (1) and intersected from one side to the other by a threaded rod (22) having two inverted threadings such that, according to the direction of rotation given to the threaded rod (22), the two runner plates (20) can come closer together or move further apart.
6. A system according to Claim 5, characterized in that the assembly formed by the two runner plates (20) and the threaded rod (22) connecting them is mobile in translation in the slides (27) during a traverse adjustment operation.
7. A system according to any one of Claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the runner plates (20) of the two elevation control devices come into contact respectively with the fixed plates (50) integral with the carrier strut (5).

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