EP1448947B1 - Observation and/or firing system - Google Patents

Abstract

The observation and firing system is held on a military vehicle (1). The vehicle has an elevation unit (3) and an observation unit (4). The elevation unit has an interface (19) so that the observation unit can interface to a vehicle holding structure or the elevation unit.

Description

The technical sector of the present invention is that of observation systems.

Observation and / or firing systems are generally mounted on vehicle chassis and placed in such a way that the vehicle must be at the target of observation or firing to carry out a mission, particularly in compartmentalized terrains such as urbanized or wooded areas. As a result, the target may take actions of concealment, evasion or retaliation. Once revealed to its target, the vehicle is vulnerable to aggressive action by that target.

Current observation and / or firing systems mounted on an articulated arm or on a telescopic mast (or on a combination of both) use a support (the mat or the arm) whose function is only to bring the system of observation and / or shooting in a work position while keeping the vehicle chassis hidden from the target of observation or shooting behind a terrain accident, obstacle or construction. Some articulated arms mounted on vehicles charged with the layout of the ground are provided with interfaces allowing the fast assembly and without manual intervention of various tools. These interfaces allow the mechanical assembly of the tools as well as their power supply. The known deployment systems are dedicated to the observation system. It is not possible to assign the deployment means to another use and it is not possible to separate the observation means from the deployment means.

The patent DE-3338479 , which forms a basis for the preamble of claim 1, describes a vehicle equipped with a weapons system consisting of a telescopic lift arm and an armed platform. These last two elements are indissociable and the arm is assigned to a single use.

The patent EP-0338762 describes a weapon system mounted on a combat vehicle via a chassis and having an integrated elevation system and an armed platform. The elevation system is an integral part of the platform and its only role is to position this platform.

The patent DE-3120338 describes a vehicle equipped at the front with an articulated arm connected to the vehicle by a rotating platform and carrying at its free end an armed platform. The articulated arm is thus dedicated with the platforms to the sole support of the armament.

However, vehicles equipped with observation systems are required to fulfill multiple missions and the rigidity of the mast equipped with the means of observation is a handicap. It is desirable, for example, that the elevating means can be used for hoisting, ground clearing, etc., with appropriate tools.

The object of the present invention is to provide versatility to vehicle-mounted elevation means and to an observation system by providing an appropriate interface on the elevating means for connection to any observation system and an appropriate interface on the observation means for its connection with the elevating means or a supporting structure.

Another object of the invention is to allow the use of the lifting means of a vehicle with an observation means carried by any supporting structure, for example the vehicle itself.

Another object of the invention is to provide multipurpose vehicles intended to fulfill not only observation and / or firing missions, but land development operations or handling operations or lifting loads and / or of people.

The subject of the invention is therefore an observation and / or firing system intended for an observer housed in a vehicle equipped with an elevation means for an observation means, said observation means being supported by a bearing structure, said lifting means being equipped with an interface for power supply and communication with the observation means, characterized in that the observation means comprises a base adapted to fit on the supporting structure and on the means of elevation, a first cradle movable along a first axis with respect to the bearing structure under the action of a motorization means, a second cradle movable along a second axis under the action of an engine relative to the first cradle, and power supply and communication interfaces between the basic structure , the first cradle and the second cradle.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the observation means is constituted by a cupola adapted to the supporting structure and removable relative thereto.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the cupola is a component of the usable supporting structure, said supporting structure being a vehicle.

Advantageously, the elevating means is constituted by the operating arm of the vehicle.

According to one characteristic, the cupola is equipped with control means actuated by the observer when the cupola is supported by the elevating means or fixed on the vehicle.

According to another characteristic, the cupola is equipped with sensors for distance measurement or identification of vehicles or targets.

Advantageously, the sensors are day-type, low-light, thermal-infrared, light-intensifying, radar, optical or laser rangefinder cameras, imagers, dotted optical detectors or goniometers.

According to one characteristic, the cupola is equipped with offensive devices intended to neutralize, destroy, blind a target.

Advantageously, the offensive devices consist of grenade launches, automatic weapons, guns or mortars, missile launches or lasers.

According to yet another advantageous embodiment, the vehicle is equipped with means for controlling the observation means from the control cabin, means for receiving signals transmitted by the observation means, and image display means.

According to one characteristic, the offensive and the observation means are fixed on the second cradle.

Advantageously, the elevation means, the motorization means and the observation means are supplied with electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic power.

A first advantage of the system according to the invention lies in the modular design of the observation system since the elevation means can support any turret. This feature is important insofar as the destroyed observation means can be dropped and replaced by another means taken from another bearing structure.

Another advantage lies in the resulting versatility of the elevating means. Indeed, the arm being provided with a versatile interface, one can adapt different systems without modifying the elevation function.

• la figure 1 est vue d'un véhicule équipé du moyen d'observation,
• la figure 2 est une vue perspective du tourelleau,
• la figure 3 est une vue éclatée du tourelleau,
• la figure 4 montre la phase de préhension du tourelleau, et
• la figure 5 montre le tourelleau en phase opérationnelle.

Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly from the description given below as an indication in relation to drawings in which:

• the figure 1 is seen from a vehicle equipped with the means of observation,
• the figure 2 is a perspective view of the cupola,
• the figure 3 is an exploded view of the cupola,
• the figure 4 shows the gripping phase of the cupola, and
• the figure 5 shows the cupola in operational phase.

On the figure 1 , there is shown a perspective view of a vehicle 1, of the tracked armored type for example, driven and served by operators, whose roof 2 supports means consisting of a manipulator arm 3 and a cupola 4. The Vehicle thus constitutes a bearing structure of the cupola 4. The arm 3 is articulated with respect to the roof by means of a base 5 and carries at its free end an excavator 6. The arm is actuated in elevation by cylinders 7 and 8 and is controlled by the operators housed inside the vehicle in a completely conventional manner and the position of use thereof is stopped by these operators. The cupola 4 connected to the vehicle 1 by a connecting interface 9 which will be described more fully hereinafter. This interface 9 allows the use of all or part of the functions of the cupola by the operators. The cupola 4 incorporates observation and / or firing means and this cupola can be supported by the arm as will be explained below. Of course, the cupola 4 comprises gripping means intended to cooperate with the manipulator arm thus constituting a means of elevation. The excavator 6 must then be disengaged from the arm to cooperate with the cupola.

It goes without saying that the manipulator arm 3 already equips the vehicle 1 support. We can equip with advantage a vehicle or any support with a dedicated manipulator arm. The arm 3 or elevation means may be constituted by a telescopic mast or an articulated arm or by a combination of an articulated arm and a telescopic mast. This elevation means 3 may be equipped with different interfaces to support the cupola 4, the excavator or any other element. It further comprises connection means for providing electrical control energy, for example, and for controlling the vehicle from the vehicle to the cupola and transferring the information collected by the observation means.

The frame of the vehicle 1 support includes of course mounting interfaces, power supply and control signals for the cupola attached thereto.

The cupola 4 according to the invention is intended to provide observation and / or firing functions.

On the figure 2 , there is shown a perspective view of the cupola 4 equipped with observation, defense and attack means according to the invention. This cupola 4 comprises a base structure 10 or interface that fits on the support, the vehicle 1 for example. This structure 10 is removably secured to the support by any means and is provided with member 11 for communication with the vehicle if the carrier is a vehicle. This structure 10 is surmounted by a first cradle 12 movable in rotation relative thereto allowing the cupola to be driven by a rotation of 360 ° which will be called bearing rotation. This first cradle is surmounted by a second cradle 13 fixed to the latter by a shaft 14 disposed substantially horizontally in the plane of the figure and actuated in rotation by a motor 15. This second rotational rotation will be referred to as a site. The rotation of the second cradle 13 is therefore carried out along an axis orthogonal to the axis of rotation in the bearing of the first cradle 22. These two rotations allow the cupola 4 to have an adequate operational field of observation.

For observation, the cupola 4 comprises attached to the second cradle 13, means 16 comprising sensors allowing an operator to apprehend his environment, estimate distances, identify targets, identify vehicles, devices or people friends or enemies. These sensors are, for example, day or low-light cameras, thermal infrared cameras, light intensification cameras, ultraviolet cameras, radar, optical rangefinders, laser rangefinders combat identification, millimeter wave imagers, laser imagers, dotted optical detectors, laser spot detectors, laser or radar warning detectors, goniometers, or any combination thereof. We see that the cupola can be equipped with a variety of means that depend on the mission to be performed and the wishes of the operational.

Smoke lances 17 may be provided on the cupola 4 for example at the first cradle 12. These smoke lances are intended to create a cloud of smoke masking the vehicle or stakeholders in the field.

The cupola 4 may also comprise, at the level of the second cradle 13, offensive devices 18 for destroying, neutralizing, disabling, blind a target. These devices may include grenade launches, rifles, small and medium-sized automatic weapons, heavy machine guns, rocket launchers, demolition spears, cannons or mortars, dotted optical or shooting control jammers. , electronic countermeasures and / or electro-optical means, or any combination of these devices.

Of course, the cupola 4 further comprises means for orienting the sensors and offensive devices in the desired direction by the operator present in the vehicle. These means are constituted by the motor 15 to orient in the bearing the second cradle 13 and another motor not shown in this figure to orient the first cradle 12 in site.

In the figure, we can still see that the cupola 4 is equipped with a mechanical and energy interface 19 cooperating with the arm 3. The mechanical interface allows a rigid connection between the arm and the cupola and the energy interface allows a power supply between the controls of the vehicle and the movements of the cupola and the transfer of control signals.

It goes without saying that the movements or positions of the cupola are controlled by the operator present in the vehicle 1 to thus view the signals from the sensors mounted on the cupola and control the offensive devices.

The observation and / or firing cupola 4 can be used from the chassis of the carrier vehicle in a conventional fixed position. The elevation means 3 can then be used for land development tasks, handling or lifting loads or people. In this configuration, the cupola 4 is supplied with energy, either electrical, pneumatic or hydraulic, directly from the frame through a specific connection. The control signals travel from or to the vehicle to or from the cupola through the links. The characteristics of the links (type, rate, support) are adapted to the type of signal to be transmitted. The operator has a set of means allowing him to control the movements of the cupola, to control the sensors and to visualize the data and to control the weapons or offensive devices mounted on this cupola. The operator uses sensors embedded on the chassis and / or on the cupola to detect, acquire, identify, recognize, measure, telemetry targets. The scanning of the environment of the vehicle with the sensors is done by the movements of the cupola. The operator chooses a target from among those previously detected, acquired, identified, recognized, measured or telemetered and targets it with the appropriate sensor using the movements of the cupola. He then uses weapons or other offensive devices of the cupola to destroy, neutralize, incapacitate, blind the chosen target by directing the firing line of weapons or offensive devices by the movements of the cupola.

Once mounted on the elevation means, the cupola 4 allows the observation and / or firing of targets while keeping the vehicle away from a location and protected from any aggressive actions. This cupola is used as a remotely operated member whose position in space can be removed from the chassis of the carrier vehicle. Sensors and offensive devices can point to a target or target without the chassis being visible to the target or target. The energy required for the operation of the cupola is transmitted by the arm or mast through a specific connection, this arm being supplied with energy from the vehicle. The control signals pass from (or towards) the frame to (or from) the cupola through links carried by the arm or the mast. The characteristics of the links are adapted to the type of signal to be transmitted. The operator of the system has a set of means allowing him to control the movements of the cupola, to control the sensors and to visualize the data and to control the weapons or other offensive devices. The means for controlling the movements of the arm or the mast are used in addition to bring the cupola in position in space with respect to the vehicle. The operator uses the sensors on the chassis and / or on the cupola to detect, acquire, identify, recognize, measure telemetry targets. The scanning of the environment of the vehicle with the sensors is done by the movements of the cupola and / or the movements of the arm or the mast. He chooses a target among those he has previously detected acquired, identified, recognized, measured or telemetered and targets it with the appropriate sensor using the movements of the cupola and / or movements of the arm and / or mast. He then uses the weapons or other offensive devices of the cupola to destroy neutralize, incapacitate, blind the chosen target by directing the line of fire of these weapons or offensive devices by the movements of the cupola and / or the movements of the arm or the mast.

To move the cupola from its position on the frame to the position on the arm, it must first release it from the tool it carries. Then the operator of the arm uses the possibilities of movements thereof to bring the mounting interfaces of the arm in front of those of the cupola. The connection of the cupola on the arm is done by the same operator. The cupola is then released from its mounting on the vehicle. The arm is controlled to bring the cupola to the chosen position in the space for its use. The cupola is then controlled as explained above.

To return the cupola to the frame, the operations are carried out in the opposite direction.

On the figure 3 , there is shown an exploded view of the cupola 4 showing its essential parts.

The base 10 is in the form of a base plate 20 extended by a continuous side wall 21. The gripping interface 19 is fixed on the side wall 21 and the interface 11 communicating with the chassis is fixed to the plate 20 to cooperate with the complementary means fixed facing the vehicle to ensure the various controls of the vehicle. cupola in the event that the cupola is controlled by being integral with the vehicle.

The first cradle 12 which supports the smoke lances 17 is in the form of a substantially cylindrical rigid base 23 extended on the same side by two wings 24 parallel to each other. The base 23 is for example intended to engage inside the side wall 21 of the fixed base 10 and is connected thereto by means not shown. The connection is free to rotate 360 ° along an axis D1 through a motor 25 whose role is to rotate the first cradle 12 relative to the base. A rack and pinion system, not shown, can be used for this purpose.

A second cradle 13 is connected to the first cradle 12. To this end, the two wings 24 supports the shaft 14, not shown here, actuated in rotation by the motor 15 along the axis D2. The second cradle 13 is fixed to said shaft and supports on one side the observation means 16 and the other of the offensive devices 18. These may be constituted by launching tubes 26 of projectiles or a machine gun 27. The tubes 26 can be protected by a cowling 28.

The axes D1 and D2 may be orthogonal or perpendicular to ensure a field of view of the field of operation. As an indication D1 may be a bearing axis and D2 a site axis.

On the figure 4 , an operating phase has been illustrated in which the arm 3 has been separated from the excavator and has been equipped with a complementary gripping means 30 intended to cooperate with the interface 19. Once secured, the arm 3 is controlled to unlock the cupola 4 relative to the vehicle 1. This unlocking can be performed by simply rotating the base 10 relative to the roof of the vehicle. When the unlocking is performed, the arm 3 is controlled in rotation and in elevation to occupy the position shown on the figure 5 . In this figure, the vehicle 1 is immobilized and stabilized by lowering a shovel 31 to the ground. The arm 3 is then controlled to observe with the turret 4 an area in front of the vehicle or the side areas. Thus, the vehicle 1 can be concealed and only the unmanned cupola is in advanced position and likely to be assaulted. We see that when the cupola is attached to the arm 3, it is placed in a position opposite to that it occupies on the vehicle.

Various variants of use of the system according to the invention may be provided. It has already been stated that the cupola can be used directly on the chassis of the vehicle on which it is mounted or from the arm of this vehicle alternatively. We can also use a cupola stored on an inert carrier structure or on another vehicle with the arm of a vehicle itself already equipped with a cupola.

It goes without saying that the links between the vehicle and the cupola, the signals pass from (or to) the man / machine interface and the display means placed in the user vehicle from (or to) the sensors, the engines and the engines. armament of the cupola by wired means (electric cables, optical fiber, hydraulic hose). As a variant, the signals pass from (or to) the human / machine interface and the display means placed in the user vehicle from (or to) the sensors, actuators and armaments of the cupola by radio and / or optical means and / or sound.

It follows from the foregoing that the operator guiding the cupola may or may not be on board the vehicle carrying the cupola. It goes without saying that several operators can control the cupola on board the vehicle and / or outside the vehicle. Of course, the visualization is done where the operator is.

The cupola may comprise communication relays, radio communication means, loudspeakers, microphones, lighting projectors and miniature UAV launchers.

Claims (13)

1. An observation and/or firing system intended for an observer housed in a vehicle (1) equipped with elevation means (3) for the observation means (4), said means (4) being supported by a supporting structure, said elevation means (3) being equipped with an interface (19) to provide a power supply and communications with the observation means (4), characterised in that the observation means (4) comprise a base (10) able to be adapted onto the supporting structure (1) and onto the elevation means (3), in order to allow its binding with said elevation means (3) or supporting structure (1), a first cradle (12) able to move along a first axis (D1) with respect to the supporting structure under the action of motor means (25), a second cradle (13) able to move along a second axis (D2) under the action of a motor (15) with respect to the first cradle, and interfaces to provide power and communications between he structure and the base, the first and second cradle.
2. An observation and/or firing system according to Claim 1, characterised in that the observation means (4) are constituted by a cupola adapted to the supporting structure and able to be removed from it.
3. An observation and/or firing system according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the cupola (4) is a component of the usable supporting structure.
4. An observation and/or firing system according to Claim 3, characterised in that the supporting structure is a vehicle (1).
5. An observation and/or firing system according to Claim 4, characterised in that the elevation means (3) are constituted by a manoeuvring arm of the vehicle.
6. An observation and/or firing system according to Claim 5, characterised in that the cupola (4) is equipped with control means activated by the observer when the cupola (4) is attached to the elevation means (3) or to the vehicle.
7. An observation and/or firing system according to one of Claims 5 or 6, characterised in that the cupola (4) is equipped with sensors to measure the distance or identify the vehicle or targets.
8. An observation and/or firing system according to Claim 7, characterised in that the sensors are cameras that can be of the day, low level lighting, thermal infrared, light intensifying type, radars, optical or laser range finders, imaging systems, pointed optics detectors or position finders.
9. An observation and/or firing system according to any one of the above Claims, characterised in that the cupola (4) is equipped with offensive devices intended to neutralise, destroy or blind a target.
10. An observation and/or firing system according to Claim 9, characterised in that the offensive devices (18) are constituted by grenade launchers, automatic weapons, cannons or mortars, missile launchers or lasers.
11. An observation and/or firing system according to Claim 10, characterised in that the vehicle (11) is equipped with control means for the observation means from the driver's cabin, reception means for the signals transmitted by the observation means and image display means.
12. An observation and/or firing system according to Claim 11, characterised in that the offensive devices (18) and the observation means (16) are fastened to the second cradle (12).
13. An observation and/or firing system according to any one of the above Claims, characterised in that the elevation means (3), the motor means and the observation means (4) are provided with electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic power.

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