EP1483544B1 - Firing module - Google Patents

Abstract

A firing module having a fully automatic shell supply mechanism for supplying shells to a heavy weapon in a housing. A shell ram having a loading tray is disposed on a free end of a shell transfer arm that is pivotable between a raised position, in which the loading tray is aligned with the gun bore axis, parallel to a plane of elevation, and a lowered position, in which the tray is essentially vertical. A gripping mechanism on a shell transport arm grasps a vertical shell stored in at least one ammunition magazine for supplying a shell from a shell transporter, to the loading tray, in the lowered position of the shell transfer arm. The ammunition magazines and transporter are disposed in the housing ahead of a trunnion. The loading tray is pivotable about a pivot axis, which is essentially vertical in the lowered position of the shell transfer arm, by at least 180° between a receiving position opening ahead of the trunnion, and a delivery position opening behind the trunnion. At least one propellant charge magazine is disposed in the housing next to or behind the trunnion. A fully automatic propellant charge supply mechanism is disposed in the housing for supplying propellant charges to the weapon, and has a propellant charge supply tray pivotable into a region behind the weapon and in alignment with the gun bore axis.

Description

The present invention relates to a shooting module with a rotatably mounted in azimuth on a support structure housing in which a heavy weapon is pivotally mounted about a trunnion in elevation, wherein the weapon projectiles are fed by means of a fully automatic operating bullet feed device, which is pivotally mounted on a trunnion Geschoßübergabearm has, at its free end a provided with a loading tray bullet and is arranged from a raised position in which the loading tray is aligned with the Rohrselelenachse of the weapon, parallel to the elevation plane in a lowered position in which the charging tray is substantially vertical is aligned, as well as a Geschosentransporter with a transport arm having a gripping device at its free end, by means of each one In a bullet magazine, vertical and with the tip pointing upwards, the bullet is gripped and fed by the bullet transporter in the lowered position of the bullet transfer arm to the loading pallet.

Such a device is in a training as a tank howitzer in the European Patent EP 0 331 980 B1 described.

In the known Panzerhaubitze the housing is designed as a rotatable tower on which the heavy weapon is arranged. The tower rests in azimuth rotatably on a support structure, which is designed as a tracked vehicle. The projectile magazines are located in the known device below the pivot bearing in the vehicle pan of the carrier vehicle, and the projectiles are gripped by the Geschosentransporter and initially stored in a likewise arranged in the vehicle pan, initially horizontally aligned transport rail. The transport rail moves the respective projectile linearly and rotates about the vertical axis to compensate for the different possible tower positions relative to the chassis. After reaching the tower position, the transport rail folds the lying floor in a vertical position and passes it into the charging tray of the piecing. The bullet transfer arm is then swung up about the trunnion axis until the loading shell of the bullet attachment is aligned with the bore axis of the weapon. The propellants are supplied in the known device by hand of the weapon.

The invention has the object of providing a shooting module of the type mentioned above in such a way that a considerable savings in space, especially height, and weight is achieved and further the bullet feed device is simplified in its construction. The shooting operation should be fully automatic, so for example, from a command post outside the shooting module itself can be carried out, and the shooting module should be versatile, ie as a support structure should serve both a tracked vehicle and a wheeled vehicle for road or rail as well as a solid structure or even a ship.

1. a) Im Gehäuse sind im Bereich vor dem Schildzapfen mindestens ein Geschossmagazin sowie der Geschosstransporter angeordnet;
2. b) die Ladeschale am Geschossübergabearm ist um eine in der abgesenkten Stellung des Geschossübergabearms im wesentlichen vertikal ausgerichtete Schwenkachse um mindestens 180° zwischen einer sich zum Bereich vor dem Schildzapfen hin öffnenden Aufnahmestellung und einer sich zum Bereich hinter dem Schildzapfen hin öffnenden Abgabestellung schwenkbar;
3. c) im Gehäuse ist im Bereich neben oder hinter dem Schildzapfen mindestens ein Treibladungsmagazin angeordnet;
4. d) der Waffe werden Treibladungen mittels einer im Gehäuse angeordneten vollautomatisch arbeitenden Treibladungszuführungsvorrichtung zugeführt, die eine in den Bereich hinter der Waffe und fluchtend zur Rohrseelenachse der Waffe einschwenkbare Treibladungszuführungsschale mit einem Treibladungsansetzer aufweist.

The solution of this object is achieved according to the invention in that the shooting module has the following features:

1. a) In the housing at least one bullet magazine and the projectile transporter are arranged in the area in front of the trunnion;
2. b) the loading tray on the projectile transfer arm is pivotable about a substantially vertically aligned pivot axis in the lowered position of the projectile transfer arm by at least 180 ° between a receiving position opening towards the area in front of the trunnion and a delivery position opening towards the area behind the trunnion;
3. c) in the housing at least one propellant charge magazine is arranged in the area next to or behind the trunnion;
4. d) the weapon propellant charges are supplied by means disposed in the housing fully automatic propellant charge supply device having a pivotable in the area behind the weapon and in alignment with the tube axis of the weapon Treibladungszuführungsschale with a propellant charge applicator.

Advantageous developments of the invention are described below.

The basic idea of the invention resides in arranging both the bullet magazines and the fully automatic bullet feed apparatus in the same housing above a rotary bearing, in which all the propellant charge magazines and also a fully automatic propellant charge supply apparatus are accommodated. In this case, there is a clear separation of the bullet magazines from the propellant charge magazines and the bullet feed device from the propellant charge supply device. This results in very short ways of transferring both the projectiles and the propellant charges to the weapon, which allows a high firing frequency.

Weapon, bullet transfer arm and the bullet magazine with the bullet transporter thus form a unit, the shooting module, which is arranged above the pivot bearing. The necessary in the known device transport rail is eliminated, whereby the bullet feed device is simplified and reduced in weight. By eliminating the transport rail and the height of the shooting module is reduced. In order to enable a fully automatic shooting operation, the bullet feed device has been supplemented by a fully automatic propellant charge supply device.

The inventive shooting module allows the separation of the gun operators of weapon, straightener, bullet feeder, propellant charge device and ammunition. Thus, the existing in the known device ballistic protection structure can be limited to the protective volume of the staff and thus the command post.

With this measure, the total weight of a gun consisting of a low-protection firing module and optimally protected command post can be brought to a weight while largely maintaining the other types of firing characteristics (firepower, range, cadence, automatic), allowing air transport with smaller and medium-sized transport aircraft.

The full automation also allows the reduction of operating personnel, which in turn leads to less risk to personnel in the case of operation and peacekeeping.

By separating operator and shooting module, the number of personnel can be reduced to a minimum and the staff can be protected with an optimal ballistic protection structure. Furthermore, the total weight of the gun can be minimized.

Furthermore, the separation of personnel and shooting module in the form described allows new loader concepts, as previously reserved for the gun operator rooms can be used. It can be used for the electric drives higher voltages and thus weight and cost reductions and / or performance increases can be achieved. Furthermore, the cost of air conditioning and ABC protection ventilation is lower, since only a relatively small command state volume must be estimated. An improvement in the protection of the personnel is achieved by the spatial separation and foreclosure of the ammunition carried and by gunning and loading movements.

In the shooting module according to the invention, the shooting operation can be carried out fully automatically, and it is from a location outside the housing, so for example, a set up in the field command post or from the cab of a host vehicle, operable. As explained in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments, the propellant charge magazines and the propellant charge supply device can be configured such that different sized propellant charges are freely selectable and deliverable. A particularly fast availability of the propellant charges is achieved if, as described below, two independent propellant charge magazines and two propellant charge supply devices are arranged in the housing.

In the following embodiments of a shooting module according to the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1

In einer teilweise geschnittenen Seitenansicht ein Schießmodul in einem als Kettenfahrzeug ausgebildeten Trägerfahrzeug;

Fig. 2

in einer Teildarstellung analog Fig. 1 das Schießmodul nach Fig. 1 mit weiteren Einzelheiten;

Fig. 3

das Schießmodul nach Fig. 1 in einer teilweise geschnittenen Rückansicht;

Fig. 4

ein Treibladungsmagazin des Schießmoduls nach Fig. 1 bis 3 in Rückansicht;

Fig. 5

das Schießmodul nach Fig. 1 bis 4 in Seitenansicht in einer auf dem Trägerfahrzeug um 180° Azimut gedrehten Stellung mit angehobener Waffe;

Fig. 6

das Schießmodul nach Fig. 1 bis 5 in einer teilweise geschnittenen Ansicht von oben;

Fig. 7

eine Variante des Schießmoduls nach Fig. 1 bis 6 in einer teilweise geschnittenen Rückansicht mit als Bandmagazine ausgebildeten Treibladungsmagazinen;

Fig. 8

eine weitere Ausführungsform des Schießmoduls in teilweise geschnittener Seitenansicht mit waffenfest angeordneten Treibladungsmagazinen;

Fig. 9

das Schießmodul nach Fig. 8 in einer teilweise geschnittenen Ansicht von oben;

Fig. 10

das Schießmodul nach Fig. 8 und 9 in teilweise geschnittener vergrößerter Teildarstellung mit angehobener Waffe;

Fig. 11

eine weitere Ausführungsform des Schießmoduls in einer teilweise geschnittenen Ansicht von oben mit sternförmig angeordneten Geschossmagazinen;

Fig. 12

eine weitere Ausführungsform eines Schießmoduls in teilweise geschnittener Rückansicht mit Treibladungsmagazinen, die als waffenfeste Bandmagazine ausgebildet sind.

In the drawings show:

Fig. 1

In a partially sectioned side view of a shooting module in a trained as a tracked vehicle carrier vehicle;

Fig. 2

in a partial representation analog Fig. 1 the shooting module after Fig. 1 with more details;

Fig. 3

the shooting module after Fig. 1 in a partially sectioned rear view;

Fig. 4

a propellant charge magazine of the shooting module after Fig. 1 to 3 in rear view;

Fig. 5

the shooting module after Fig. 1 to 4 in side view in a rotated on the carrier vehicle by 180 ° azimuth position with raised weapon;

Fig. 6

the shooting module after Fig. 1 to 5 in a partially sectioned view from above;

Fig. 7

a variant of the shooting module after Fig. 1 to 6 in a partially sectioned rear view formed as a tape magazines propellant magazines;

Fig. 8

a further embodiment of the shooting module in a partially sectioned side view with gun-mounted propellant charge magazines;

Fig. 9

the shooting module after Fig. 8 in a partially sectioned view from above;

Fig. 10

the shooting module after Fig. 8 and 9 in partially cut enlarged partial representation with raised weapon;

Fig. 11

a further embodiment of the shooting module in a partially sectioned top view with star-shaped bullet magazines;

Fig. 12

a further embodiment of a shooting module in a partially sectioned rear view with propellant magazines, which are designed as weapon-resistant tape magazines.

That in the Fig. 1 to 6 shown shooting module has a housing 1, which is rotatably mounted on a rotary bearing 2 in azimuth on the chassis of a trained as a chain motor vehicle carrier vehicle T.

In the housing 1, a heavy weapon W is pivotally suspended about a trunnion 3 in elevation. In the front part of the housing 1 in the area in front of the trunnion 3 two ammunition magazines 4.1 and 4.2 are arranged on both sides of the longitudinal center axis L of the housing, in which projectiles 4.11 and 4.21 are arranged in a vertical position with pointing upwards tip. From these bullet magazines 4.1 and 4.2, the bullets are conveyed by means of a fully automatic bullet feed device into the area behind the weapon W. This bullet feed device has a pivotable mounted on the trunnion 3 Geschoßübergabearm 5, at the rear free end of a charging tray 5.1 of a bullet tappet, not shown, is arranged. The projectile transfer arm 5 can be pivoted parallel to the elevation plane into a lowered position from a raised position, not shown, in which the loading tray 5.1 is aligned flush with the pipe axis axis R of the weapon W, in the Fig. 1 and 3 can be seen and in which the charging tray is oriented substantially vertically, ie perpendicular to the housing bottom 1.1. The charger 5.1 is like the Fig. 1 and 2 can be pivoted about a in the lowered position of the projectile transfer arm 5 vertically aligned pivot axis 5.3 by 180 ° between an opening to the area in front of the trunnion 3 receiving position and an opening to the area behind the trunnion 3 Abgabestellung. In the Fig. 1 and 3 Ladeschale and standing in her bullet are shown in dashed lines in both positions. The bullet feed device further has a bullet transporter 6, which is arranged in the region between the bullet magazines 4.1 and 4.2. The Geschosentransporter 6 has in a conventional manner a transport arm 6.1, which has at its free end equipped with two grippers gripping device 6.2, by means of each stored in one of the bullet magazines 4.1 and 4.2 projectile 4.11 or 4.21 and grabbed by the Geschosstransporter in the lowered position of the floor transfer arm 5 of the charging tray 5.1 is supplied. The charging tray 5.1 is then around the Axis 5.3 swiveled by 180 °. Then the projectile transfer arm 5 is pivoted up into the raised position and the projectile is fed to the gun W by means of the bullet tappet.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 1 to 6 are located in the area behind the trunnion 3 two propellant magazines 7.1 and 7.2, which are designed to receive modular propellant charges. As can be seen from the figures, the propellant charge modules are arranged vertically one above the other in shafts 7.11, 7.12, 7.13, 7.14, 7.15 and 7.16, from which they are conveyed by non-specifically shown conveyors cyclically upwards and delivered at the top. The propellant charges are conveyed by means of a fully automatic propellant charge supply device from the magazines to the weapon and this supplied. The propellant charge supply device has in the illustrated embodiment, two propellant charge transfer arms 8.1 and 8.2, on each of which a propellant charge feed tray 8.11 and 8.21 is arranged. The propellant charge supply shells are attached to the propellant charge transfer arm 8.1 and 8.2 arranged pivot arms 8.12 and 8.22. Like, for example Fig. 3 Recognizable, the propellant charge modules at the top of the propellant charge magazines are fed to the propellant charge magazine towards pivoted position of the swing arm 8.12 or 8.22 of the propellant charge supply shell 8.11 or 8.21. The respective pivoting arm 8.12 or 8.22 is then pivoted inwardly about an axis, which is possibly after a corresponding pivoting of the propellant charge transfer arm 8.1 or 8.2 parallel to Rohrseelenachse R of the weapon until the respective propellant charge supply - Fig. 3 For example, the propellant charge supply shell 8.11 - behind the weapon in alignment with the tube axis axis R. In this position, the propellant charge modules are supplied to the cargo space of the weapon W by means of a not specifically illustrated propellant charge applicator, which may be formed, for example, as a back-rigid chain. In this type of supply of propellant charges, it is possible to take one of the propellant magazines 7.1 or 7.2 exactly the number of propellant charge modules that are needed for the shot concerned. In the illustrated embodiment, a maximum of six propellant charge modules can be removed from each magazine for each shot, which are pushed together in the propellant charge supply tray and fed together. The arrangement of two independent propellant magazines 7.1 and 7.2 and two propellant charge supply devices, a rapid deployment of the propellant charges behind the weapon is possible.

The exact portioning of the desired number of propellant charge modules in the automatic feed ensures that no residual stock of propellant charge modules remains, as is usually the case in the manual feed when propellant charge modules present in six-packs are used.

Depending on the structure of the propellant charge magazines and the feeders, and propellant charges of different lengths can be promoted and supplied.

Since the two propellant charge magazines 7.1 and 7.2 are firmly connected to the housing 1, serve the propellant charge transfer arms 8.1 and 8.2 for safe delivery in different elevation positions of the weapon W.

The shooting module described is extremely variable in terms of the arrangement and design of the bullet magazines and the propellant charge magazines.

Fig. 7 shows an embodiment in which the propellant charge magazines 17.1 and 17.2 again firmly arranged in the housing 1, but not as a shaft magazines but as tape magazines are formed. Again, the propellant charge modules are supplied to propellant charge trays 18.11 and 18.21, the can be swung in the manner already described from the field of propellant magazines behind the weapon behind. Otherwise, the embodiment is after Fig. 7 designed as well as the embodiment of the Fig. 1 to 6 ,

The Fig. 8 to 10 show an embodiment of the shooting module, in which the propellant charge magazines 27.1 and 27.2, which are formed as a shaft magazines, are not fixed to the housing 1, but firmly connected to the weapon W and thus accompany the pivotal movement of the weapon in the elevation. This has the consequence that the propellant charge modules, which are supplied from the propellant charge magazines 27.1 and 27.2 the propellant charge supply shells 28.1 and 28.2, already arranged at the correct elevation angle and only by means of a device that the pivot arms 8.12 and 8.22 from Fig. 3 corresponds to need to be swung in behind the weapon. Propellant transfer arms are not required in this embodiment. The propellant charges are instead fed from the propellant charge magazines 27.1 and 27.2 first respectively a Portionierstation 27.11 and 27.21 and then passed to the propellant charge trays 28.1 and 28.2 and there after pivoting by means of a propellant charge 28.3 the cargo space of the weapon W supplied. As Fig. 9 can be fed, depending on the shot to be prepared a different number of propellant charge modules are supplied. For example, the propellant charge tray 28.1 includes six propellant modules, while the propellant charge tray 28.2 contains only four propellant modules.

As in the in the Fig. 8 to 10 illustrated embodiment in the housing 1 of the downward movement of the rear part of the weapon with the propellant charge magazines arranged thereon and the propellant charge supply device is only a limited space down available, to ensure the full elevation range of the weapon, the propellant magazines 27.1 and 27.2 more in the field arranged the shield pin 3. This As a result, the propellant charge modules delivered by the propellant charge magazines must be supplied to the weapon in a particular way, which in Fig. 9 is indicated. As can be seen, the propellant charge modules from the propellant charge magazines 27.1 and 27.2 are initially conveyed in the direction of the arrow T1 into the portioning stations 27.11 and 27.21, respectively. From there they are transferred in the direction of arrows T2 to the propellant charge shells 28.1 and 28.2. These are then pivoted in the direction of the arrows T3 behind the weapon, and the propellant charges are then supplied in the opposite direction to the arrow T1, namely in the direction of arrow T4 by the propellant charge to the loading space of the weapon.

The pushing together of the propellant charge modules and possibly the mating to a propellant charge unit can be carried out by means of a displacement device already in the portioning station. This is in Fig. 9 for the portioning 27.21 shown with the displacement device 27.22. The portioning 27.11 is equipped in an analogous manner.

In the remaining parts the shooting module is after the Fig. 8 to 10 built in the same way as the shooting module after the Fig. 1 to 6 ,

The Fig. 11 and 12 show a shooting module, in which on the one hand the propellant charge magazines are fixed to the weapon as tape magazines 37.1 and 37.2 and on the other hand, a special, star-shaped arrangement of the projectile magazines 14 is present. The propellant charge modules are supplied from the propellant charge magazines 37.1 and 37.2 via the portioning 37.11 and 37.21 the propellant charge trays 38.1 and 38.2, and these are pivoted in the manner already described inwardly behind the weapon by means of the pivot arms 9.1 and 9.2, where the propellant charge trays 38.1 and 38.2 are attached.

The swiveling in of the propellant modules behind the weapon is over Fig. 12 to recognize. In Fig. 12 the swivel arm 9.1 is shown with the propellant charge supply shell 38.1 in both positions and in a receiving position in the region of the upper end of the propellant charge magazine 37.1 and in a delivery position behind the weapon W. The propellant charge supply tray 28.1 moves in the direction of arrow S from the receiving position to the delivery position. In the remaining parts, the embodiment of the Fig. 11 and 12 constructed in the same way as the embodiment according to Fig. 1 to 6 ,

Claims (10)

1. Firing module, having a housing which is mountable on a carrier structure so as to be rotatable in azimuth and in which a heavy weapon is mounted so as to be pivotable in elevation about a trunnion, shells being supplied to the weapon by means of a shell supply mechanism which operates fully automatically, has a shell transfer arm pivotably mounted on the trunnion, on the free end of which arm a shell ram provided with a loading tray is arranged and which arm is pivotable from a raised position, in which the loading tray is aligned with the barrel bore axis of the weapon, parallel to the plane of elevation, into a lowered position, in which the loading tray is substantially vertically oriented, and a shell transporter having a shell transport arm, which on its free end has a gripping mechanism, by means of which a respective shell vertically stored in a shell magazine with its tip pointing upwardly is grasped and supplied by the shell transporter to the loading tray in the lowered position of the shell transfer arm, characterised by the following features:

   a) At least one shell magazine (4.1, 4.2) and the shell transporter (6) are arranged in the housing (1) in the region ahead of the trunnion (3);

   b) the loading tray (5.1) on the shell transfer arm (5) is pivotable about a pivot axis (5.3), which in the lowered position of the shell transfer arm is substantially vertically oriented, by at least 180° between a receiving position, which opens towards the region ahead of the trunnion (3), and a delivery position, which opens to the region behind the trunnion (3);

   c) at least one propellant charge magazine (7.1, 7.2; 17.1, 17.2; 27.1, 27.2; 37.1, 37.2) is arranged in the housing (1) in the region beside or behind the trunnion (3);

   d) propellant charges are supplied to the weapon (W) by means of a propellant charge supply mechanism which operates fully automatically and is arranged in the housing (1), and which has a propellant charge supply tray (8.11, 8.21; 18.11, 18.21; 28.1, 28.2; 38.1, 38.2) having a propellant charge ram, which tray is pivotable into the region behind the weapon (W) and in alignment with the barrel bore axis (R) of the weapon.
2. Firing module according to Claim 1, characterised in that the propellant charge magazine (7.1, 7.2 ; 17.1, 17.2) is fixedly arranged on the housing, and the propellant charge supply mechanism has at least one propellant charge transfer arm (8.1, 8.2) which is pivotably mounted on the trunnion (3) and on the free end of which are arranged the propellant charge supply tray (8.11, 8.21; 18.11, 18.21) and the propellant charge ram, and which is pivotable from a receiving position, in which propellant charges can be supplied to the propellant charge supply tray, parallel to the plane of elevation, into a delivery position, in which the propellant charge supply tray (8.11, 8.21; 18.11, 18.21) is pivotable, by means of a pivot arm (8.12, 8.22), in a plane perpendicular to the barrel bore axis (R) of the weapon, into a position in alignment with the barrel bore axis (R) of the weapon.
3. Firing module according to Claim 1, characterised in that the propellant charge magazine (27.1, 27.2; 37.1, 37.2) is fixedly arranged on the weapon, and the propellant charge supply mechanism has a propellant charge supply arm (9.1, 9.2) which is pivotable about an axis parallel to the barrel bore axis (R) of the weapon (W) and on the free end of which are arranged the propellant charge supply tray (28.1, 28.2; 38.1, 38.2) and the propellant charge ram, and which is pivotable from a receiving position, in which propellant charges can be supplied to the propellant charge supply tray, in a plane perpendicular to the barrel bore axis (R) of the weapon (W), into a delivery position, in which the propellant charge supply tray is aligned with the barrel bore axis of the weapon.
4. Firing module according to Claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the propellant charge magazines (7.1, 7.2; 17.1, 17.2; 27.1, 27.2; 37.1, 37.2) are embodied for receiving modular propellant charges and are provided with devices for delivering a prescribed number of propellant charge modules, which can be arranged one after another in the propellant charge tray.
5. Firing module according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that two propellant charge magazines are present, and a propellant charge supply mechanism is associated with each propellant charge magazine.
6. Firing module according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the propellant charge magazine is embodied as a compartment magazine (7.1, 7.2; 27.1, 27.2) in which the propellant charge modules are situated one above the other in individual compartments (7.11 to 7.16), and can be cyclically delivered from each individual compartment.
7. Firing module according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the propellant charge magazine is embodied as a circulating band magazine in which the propellant charge modules are stored on individually circulating bands, and can be cyclically delivered from each band.
8. Firing module according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that an apportioning station (27.11, 27.21) is arranged at each propellant charge magazine (27.1, 27.2), into which station the desired number of propellant charge modules are delivered from the propellant charge magazine, and the propellant charge modules are transferred from the apportioning station into the propellant charge supply tray.
9. Firing module according to Claim 8, characterised in that, with the use of propellant charge modules which can be fitted into one another, the pushing together of the propellant charge modules is effected in the apportioning station (27.11, 27.21).
10. Firing module according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the shell supply mechanism and the propellant charge supply mechanism or mechanisms have automatically controllable drive devices and control devices which be controlled from an operating station outside the housing.

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