EP1450047B1 - Compact electro-hydraulic power supply for motorising a turret - Google Patents

Abstract

The generator has a hydraulic fluid reservoir (1), and an assembly having a motor (2) driving a hydraulic pump (3), a battery (4), a hydraulic fluid distribution unit (5) and a connection unit. The reservoir and the components of the assembly are inserted in a cylindrical volume, where the components are fixed to the reservoir. The volume is defined by a circular surface (13), and two flat sides of extremity (11, 12).

Description

The technical sector of the present invention is that of electro-hydraulic generator sets or rotary actuators used for rotating turrets or cupolas, for example weapons systems.

It is known to date hydraulic motorizations for rotating turrets or turrets. Such actuators have been frequently used in equipment or old weapons systems including vehicles when it was on board a hydraulic generation, already present for other functions, for example for propulsion. The actuator was then a hydraulic motor, the hydraulic power being provided by the central hydraulic generation of the equipment.

The current trend sees the progressive replacement of the hydraulic generating systems in favor of electric generating systems for the supply of equipment and especially vehicles. This naturally leads to the use of engines to set turrets or turrets in motion, of a type adapted to this energy available on the equipment, or electric geared motors. These systems are conventionally architected around an electric motor. The mechanical characteristics of such an engine are generally insufficient in terms of torque and oversized in terms of speed. Also, we add a gearbox output. This reducer is conventionally a mechanical gear-based system of a type well known to those skilled in the art. Such an electric geared motor is commonly used in the field of moving turrets or turrets, installed on both fixed equipment and vehicles.

Such an electric geared motor can provide a significant power in steady state, if one has a power supply of sufficient capacity. The electric geared motor has a secondary advantage of great compactness in particular by the small number of components and the use of compact reducers like epicyclic gear, wheel and screw or outer ring type flexible. A large reduction ratio also makes it possible to reduce the volume of the engine required.

However, the use profile of the motorization of a turret or a cupola is very discontinuous. Long idle or in standby, the cupola or turrets are solicited individually, punctually in time, but intensively. In addition, in the case of using multiple cupola, they are rarely solicited at the same time, but rather sequentially. A typical example of use, after a long inactivity, is to perform a rallying movement of the weapon system. A rallying movement consists of starting from the current or rest position of the system, moving it as quickly as possible to reach its new position of use. For this the motorization must allow to rotate the turret head of the weapon system up to 180 °. This rotation must be carried out according to ever faster speeds in order to respond to the constant evolution of threats. The cupola then becomes inactive and we can for example solicit another cupola to take over.

The power consumption profile is very discontinuous with a low average demand, but significant point spikes. The electric geared motor is not suited to such power demand profiles.
The hydraulic power, because of its storage possibilities, in accumulators, for example oleo-hydraulic, makes it possible to accommodate a large discontinuity of power demand. However, despite its high power density allowing a large power supply, the relatively large number of necessary components discourages those skilled in the art, when designing a compact architecture compatible with limited space requirements of the equipment.
Patent DE-4219462 discloses a hydraulic generator which comprises an oil reservoir, hydraulic components comprising a pumping unit which comprises an electric motor and a hydraulic pump, a hydraulic accumulator, a distribution means and connecting means.
These known means form the preamble of claim 1. The technical problem that seeks to solve this document is primarily to minimize the volume of the tank. This device excluded a large reservoir, which would have a stable base and a large external surface that would allow the attachment of hydraulic components. It also excludes drowning the pump and / or the engine in the tank which would further increase the volume. This leads to many components necessarily located outside the tank, too small to support them. Such a device is not intended to be integrated in a restricted volume, for example when the turret is carried by a tank, a ship or any other military vehicle.

The present invention overcomes these various disadvantages. To meet the significant need for power required for the movement of a turret or a cupola, the present invention retains a generation of hydraulic power. This is made possible by a particular arrangement of the different components of the hydraulic generator.

The invention therefore relates to an electro-hydraulic generator for setting turret or turret movement, comprising a hydraulic fluid reservoir and a set of components comprising a motor driving a hydraulic pump, an accumulator, a fluid distribution means hydraulic and connecting means between these different components, characterized in that the reservoir and the components are inserted into a cylindrical volume delimited by a circular surface, a first planar end face and a second planar end face and in that that the components are attached to the tank.

According to one characteristic, the reservoir has an approximately cylindrical shape limited by a circular wall close to the circular surface, a first planar wall applied against the first planar face and a second planar wall.

The generator may comprise an exchanger arranged along the circular surface.

According to another characteristic, the generator comprises a filter inserted into the cylindrical volume and fixed on the reservoir.

Advantageously, the components and the filter are fixed on the second flat wall and the pump is immersed in the tank.

According to yet another characteristic, the second plane wall comprises, in line with at least one of the components or the filter, an axial recess and the motor is a low-voltage DC electric motor.

Advantageously, the filter is wholly or partly inserted into the reservoir.

According to yet another characteristic, the reservoir has, at the level of the circular wall, a radial recess for receiving the accumulator.

The invention also relates to the application of the generator to the setting in motion of at least one set of head comprising an actuator driving in rotation an axis integral with a turret head.

Advantageously, the actuator is a double-acting cylinder comprising a piston integral with a rack driven in translation, said rack meshing with a circular pinion integral with the axis.

Advantageously, the actuator is inserted into the cylindrical volume, disposed along a diameter of said cylindrical volume and fixed on the flat wall of the reservoir and in that the head assembly is disposed above the cylindrical volume.

Advantageously at least one head assembly is remote from the generator.

In general, the electro-hydraulic generator is conventionally constructed with the following components: a motor that drives a pump. This pump draws hydraulic fluid from a storage tank and compresses it into an accumulator. This accumulator, for example oleohydraulic, well known to those skilled in the art, can store hydraulic energy in the form of pressure, which can then be restored when the need appears. The hydraulic fluid is then controlled by a dispensing means. This distribution means, which may for example be a distributor or a servovalve, makes it possible to control the use of the hydraulic power by allowing or not the circulation of the hydraulic fluid towards the consumer component. This consumer component is for example an actuator having two chambers. The dispensing means controls the possible flow of hydraulic fluid to one or the other of the two chambers. The actuator produces a movement when it is urged by the arrival of hydraulic fluid in its first chamber. A movement of opposite direction is produced by the solicitation of the second chamber. The hydraulic fluid is then fed back to the tank. The various components traversed by the hydraulic fluid are connected together by connecting means for transporting the hydraulic fluid from one to the other. These means of connection comprise, for example, flexible or rigid pipe elements, connectors, machined blocks, or any other means for passing the hydraulic fluid. An advantageous construction of the electro-hydraulic generator according to the invention is to house all the components (motor, pump, accumulator, distribution means) and the reservoir in a first volume of cylindrical shape that can be materialized by a housing. Advantageously, the components are all attached to the tank.

Since the hydraulic generator produces a lot of heat by lamination of the hydraulic fluid, it is advantageous to add an exchanger for cooling the fluid. This exchanger is connected in such a way that the fluid flowing in the hydraulic generator passes through the exchanger in order to cool therein. This is well known to those skilled in the art of hydraulic systems. In the invention, the exchanger is advantageously arranged in an arc along the circular surface of the reservoir. This allows contact with the outside of the cupola and / or the carrier equipment.

An advantage of the device according to the present invention lies in the compactness of the electro-hydraulic generator. Its compactness, in addition to being a facility for designing equipment architectures, makes it possible to use in this type of application hydraulic energy with all its advantages well known to those skilled in the art.

Another advantage of the device according to the present invention is, when combining a compact generator with a compact actuator to be able to make a compact turret, mainly in the direction of the vertical extension. When mounting in a superstructure of fixed or mobile equipment, the entire cupola and, if applicable, the associated hydraulic generator are mounted above the roof level of the equipment. In the case of fixed equipment or military vehicles, this confers a decisive advantage because of a lower prominence of the cupola above the equipment, which improves its concealment and therefore its passive protection from detection and / or threats.

Another advantage of the device according to the present invention is to allow the use of hydraulics to have a large instantaneous power in a small volume.

Another advantage of the device according to the present invention, related to the use of hydraulics and a means of accumulation, is to be able to store energy and to be able to handle the large variations in consumption, while maintaining a immediate availability.

Another advantage of the device according to the present invention is to allow the advantages of hydraulics to be combined while taking energy from the electrical network available on board the equipment or the vehicle.

Another advantage of the device according to the present invention lies in its cylindrical shape which extends the volume of the hold of the turret head.

Another advantage of the device according to the present invention lies in the fixing of all the components on the tank. This gives a monobloc assembly easily handled and can be installed in a single operation in its housing.

Another advantage of the device according to the present invention is to allow the use of a single hydraulic generator to feed several cupolas installed, for example, on the same fixed equipment or the same vehicle. This also gives economic benefits, an important gain of space.

Another advantage of the device according to the present invention is to allow to install a close cupola head assembly directly above the generator and / or one or more remotely remote turret head assemblies.

Another advantage of the device according to the present invention obtained when a turret head is removed is to substantially reduce the height of the cupola above the fixed equipment or the vehicle with the advantages. less detectability that result.

Another advantage of the device according to the present invention resides in the use of connecting means which can be flexible or rigid pipes, offering possibilities of offset of the hydraulic generator which allow a great flexibility of architecture, the generator does not necessarily have to be housed under the head assembly.

• la figure 1 présente une vue d'ensemble, en perspective, d'une réalisation préférentielle du générateur électro-hydraulique objet de la présente invention,
• la figure 2 présente, en vue en perspective, un tourelleau complet emportant à titre illustratif une arme à double tube,
• la figure 3 illustre une configuration avec un ensemble de tête proche et deux ensembles de tête déportés, et
• la figure 4 illustre une configuration sans ensemble de tête proche et avec deux ensembles de tête déportés.

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

• FIG. 1 presents an overall perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the electro-hydraulic generator that is the subject of the present invention;
• FIG. 2 presents, in perspective view, a complete cupola carrying for illustrative purposes a double tube weapon,
• FIG. 3 illustrates a configuration with a near head assembly and two remote head assemblies, and
• Figure 4 illustrates a configuration without a near head assembly and with two remote head assemblies.

In FIG. 1, the electro-hydraulic generator device comprises the following components: a hydraulic fluid reservoir or tank 1, a motor 2, a pump 3 housed inside the tank 1, facing the engine 2, an accumulator 4 , a distribution means 5, a filter 6, an exchanger 7, an actuator 8. The connecting means 9 are not shown in the figure. They are located sometimes outside, sometimes inside the tank 1 and connect the components 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and the tank 1 to form a circuit.

The hydraulic generator occupies a cylindrical volume 10. This first cylinder is limited laterally by a circular surface 13, downwards by a flat end surface 11 and upwards by a flat end surface 12.

In FIG. 1, the hydraulic generator is represented installed in a cylindrical housing. The interior of the cylindrical housing materializes this first cylinder 10, 11, 12, 13. In the configuration or the head assembly is mounted close, this housing provides protection of the hydraulic generator and the support of the head assembly of turret.

The reservoir 1 occupies a generally cylindrical volume. This cylinder is limited laterally by a circular wall 13 ', downwards by a flat end wall 11' and upwards by a flat end wall 12 '.

The circular wall 13 'matches the circular surface 13. It has a slightly smaller diameter. She covers the bottom part.

The flat wall 11 'rests on the flat surface 11 that it marries.

The cylindrical volume remaining in the cylindrical volume 10 and not occupied by the tank 1 is used to house the components 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.

The engine 2 is advantageously, when one has an electrical network, an electric motor adapted to this network. In the case, for example, of an application on a vehicle, where there is a low-voltage direct current network, the motor is a low voltage direct current type electric motor.

This motor 2 drives in rotation a rotary hydraulic pump 3. This pump 3 is advantageously immersed in the reservoir 1 of hydraulic fluid and, where appropriate, in the hydraulic fluid. The pump 3 is for example of the piston pump type or any other type of equivalent pump, well known to those skilled in the art (vane pump, gear pump, ...). During its rotation, the pump 3 draws hydraulic fluid from the tank 1 and sends it via a connecting means 9 to the accumulator 4. This accumulator 4 makes it possible to store hydraulic energy in the form of pressure. The hydraulic fluid can be incompressible, it is useful to have a battery 4 to store energy. The accumulator may for example be of the oleohydraulic type. In this type of accumulator 4, well known to those skilled in the art, a chamber containing a fluid compressible is separated from the hydraulic fluid by a deformable waterproof membrane. The hydraulic fluid, under the action of the pump 3, presses against the deforming membrane compresses the compressible fluid, the pressure of which increases. If the pressure in the hydraulic fluid decreases, the compressible fluid relaxes and communicates its pressure to the hydraulic fluid. One can also consider any type of equivalent accumulator device.

Such an accumulator device advantageously makes it possible, on the one hand, to have a large power reserve, which can be considerably greater than the average power of the pump 2, which is immediately available, and on the other hand to absorb the large discontinuous variations of power consumption, with continuous production of the pump.

In order to be able to use this hydraulic energy and to control it, the hydraulic fluid is then directed towards a distribution means 5. This means of the servovalve type, dispenser or any other equivalent device makes it possible to choose to direct the hydraulic fluid towards one or the other consumer.

The hydraulic fluid tends to heat up by compression and rolling in the various components 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and connecting means 9. This heating may have drawbacks and in particular adversely affect the proper functioning of the generator hydraulic. Advantageously disposed on the path of the hydraulic fluid exchanger 7 for cooling said fluid. The principle of such an exchanger 7 is well known to those skilled in the art. It consists in presenting a large exchange surface between the hydraulic fluid and another colder medium. This exchanger 7 is advantageously placed, as shown in FIG. 1, on the circular periphery 13 of the cylinder 10.

The hydraulic fluid can be loaded during its course of particles / impurities that can subsequently affect the proper functioning of certain organs, it is advantageous to filter it permanently. For this we have a filter 6, generally as it is the last component traversed by the hydraulic fluid during its circuit, before returning to the tank 1. This filter 6, for the sake of saving space can be partially or entirely inserted into the reservoir 1.

As shown in Figure 1, the components are all attached to the reservoir 1. Advantageously, in a preferred embodiment, all the components are attached to the end wall 12 '. The wall 11 'of the tank is flat and constitutes an end of a cylindrical volume. The wall 12 'is substantially planar and constitutes the other end of said volume. It is arranged according to the heights of the various components that are attached to it. Thus, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, the height of the distribution means 5 allows it to be positioned between the flat end wall 12 'and the flat end surface 12. In this case the wall 12' is not modified. On the other hand, the height of the motor is greater than the free height between 12 and 12 '. In this case the wall 12 'is modified by a local recess 14 in the direction of the height. In this place, at the right of the engine 2, the plane wall 12 'is locally close to the plane wall 11' to allow the engine 2 to be housed.

The actuator 8 is shown in FIG. 1 in the form of a jack 8. FIG. 1 represents a close-type assembly in which the actuator 8 and the axis 15 are fixed as close as possible to the hydraulic generator. In this case the cylinder 8 is mounted on the tank 1, fixed on the wall 12 '. It is housed in the volume limited by the circular surface 13 and between the flat face 12 and the flat wall 12 '. It is placed according to a diameter of the cylinder 10. The actuator 8 is a double-acting cylinder. It has two chambers in which the dispensing means 5 can alternatively send the hydraulic fluid pressure. Between these two chambers is housed a piston 18 moving in translation along the axis of the cylinder 8, respectively in one direction or the other under the effect of the pressure exerted respectively in one of the chambers or in the other. This piston is integral with a rack 18. This rack 18 meshes with a pinion 19 integral with the axis 15. The axis 15 is rotatable about the axis of the cylinder 10. This pin 15 is integral with a turret head and drives it. in rotation.

In Figure 2 is shown, a complete cupola carrying for illustrative purposes a double tube gun. This cupola is constructed by assembling, in close configuration, a head assembly 20 comprising a cupola head 16, an actuator 8 (not shown) and an axis 15 (not shown), on a hydraulic generator 22. The hydraulic generator is housed inside the cylindrical casing of the cupola. It can be seen on the rear periphery of this housing a radially extending outgrowth corresponding to the housing of the exchanger 7. This figure illustrates a configuration with a single cupola consisting of a generator 22 and a head assembly 20 mounted close.

FIG. 3 illustrates another configuration with a generator 22 supplying hydraulic power, via connection means 23, three head assemblies 20, 21. The figure is illustrative of a near head assembly 20 and two sets of deported heads 21.

FIG. 4 illustrates another configuration with a generator 22 supplying hydraulic energy, via connection means 23, two remote head assemblies 21. It is not necessary to have a head assembly 20 close to each other. the generator. The generator 22 can then be housed with more freedom.

Claims (14)

1. Electro-hydraulic generator comprising a tank (1) of hydraulic fluid and a set of components comprising a motor (2) driving a hydraulic pump (3), an accumulator (4), means (5) to distribute the hydraulic fluid and means (9) linking the different components, characterized by the fact that the tank (1) and the components (2, 3, 4, 5, 9) are inserted into a cylindrical volume (10) delimited by a circular surface (13), a first plane end face (11) and a second plane end face (12), and in that the components (2, 3, 4, 5, 9) are fastened to the tank (1).
2. Generator according to Claim 1, wherein the tank (1) is approximately cylindrical in shape delimited by a circular wall (13') near to the circular surface (13), a first plane wall (11') applied against the first plane face (11) and a second plane wall (12').
3. Generator according to any one of Claims 1 or 2, wherein it incorporates an exchanger (7) arranged according to the circular surface (13).
4. Generator according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein it incorporates a filter (6) inserted in the cylindrical volume (10) and fastened on the tank (1).
5. Generator according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the components (2, 3, 4, 5, 9) and the filter (6) are fastened on the second plane wall (12').
6. Generator according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the pump (3) is immersed in the tank (1).
7. Generator according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the second plane wall (12') incorporates, at right angles to at least one of the components (2, 3, 4, 5, 9) or the filter (6), an axial setback (14)
8. Generator according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the motor (2) is a direct current low voltage electric motor.
9. Generator according to any one of Claims 4 to 8, wherein the filter (6) is partly or fully inserted into the tank (1).
10. Generator according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the tank (1) has, at its circular wall (13'), a radial setback (14') intended to receive the accumulator (4).
11. Application of the generator according to any one of Claims 1 to 10 to the movement of at least one head assembly (20, 21) comprising an actuator (8) driving a shaft (15), integral with a turret head (16, 17), in rotation.
12. Application of the generator according to Claim 11, wherein the actuator (8) is a double-acting cylinder comprising a piston integral with a rack (18) driven in translation, said rack meshing on a circular pinion (19) integral with the shaft (15).
13. Application of the generator according to any one of Claims 11 or 12, wherein the actuator (8) is inserted in the cylindrical volume (10), arranged according to a diameter of said cylindrical volume (10) and fastened on the plane wall (12') of the tank (1) and wherein the head assembly (20) is arranged above the cylindrical volume (10).
14. Application of the generator according to any one of Claims 11 to 13, wherein at least one head (21) assembly is offset at a distance from the generator (22).

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