EP2138800A1 - Feldkanonenwagen - Google Patents

Feldkanonenwagen Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2138800A1
EP2138800A1 EP08252202A EP08252202A EP2138800A1 EP 2138800 A1 EP2138800 A1 EP 2138800A1 EP 08252202 A EP08252202 A EP 08252202A EP 08252202 A EP08252202 A EP 08252202A EP 2138800 A1 EP2138800 A1 EP 2138800A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
component
gun
configuration
firing
travelling
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
EP08252202A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
designation of the inventor has not yet been filed The
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
BAE Systems PLC
Original Assignee
BAE Systems PLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by BAE Systems PLC filed Critical BAE Systems PLC
Priority to EP08252202A priority Critical patent/EP2138800A1/de
Priority to CA2728642A priority patent/CA2728642A1/en
Priority to AU2009263988A priority patent/AU2009263988A1/en
Priority to EP09769590A priority patent/EP2304375B1/de
Priority to US13/001,188 priority patent/US8381634B2/en
Priority to PCT/GB2009/050647 priority patent/WO2009156749A1/en
Priority to AT09769590T priority patent/ATE547683T1/de
Publication of EP2138800A1 publication Critical patent/EP2138800A1/de
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F41—WEAPONS
    • F41A—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS COMMON TO BOTH SMALLARMS AND ORDNANCE, e.g. CANNONS; MOUNTINGS FOR SMALLARMS OR ORDNANCE
    • F41A23/00—Gun mountings, e.g. on vehicles; Disposition of guns on vehicles
    • F41A23/28—Wheeled-gun mountings; Endless-track gun mountings
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F41—WEAPONS
    • F41A—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS COMMON TO BOTH SMALLARMS AND ORDNANCE, e.g. CANNONS; MOUNTINGS FOR SMALLARMS OR ORDNANCE
    • F41A23/00—Gun mountings, e.g. on vehicles; Disposition of guns on vehicles
    • F41A23/28—Wheeled-gun mountings; Endless-track gun mountings
    • F41A23/32—Wheeled-gun mountings; Endless-track gun mountings with split trails

Definitions

  • the following invention relates to a carriage for a field gun, the field gun being convertible between a travelling condition and a firing condition.
  • a field gun In a firing condition, a field gun generally has a structure that should withstand the forces encountered during the firing of a projectile from the gun barrel. Such forces include: the recoil force which is exerted on the gun as the gun reacts against the firing of the projectile; and the counter-recoil force which succeeds the recoil force, occurring as the elastic strain energy, stored by the gun over the course of the recoil force, is released.
  • the gun should also be capable of counteracting any tipping moments whilst in the firing position. In order to withstand the forces and counteract the moments, field guns in firing conditions are generally securely engaged with the ground.
  • a field gun In a travelling condition, a field gun should be easy to tow by a propulsion device, for example a truck. Therefore, in the travelling condition, the field gun should be able to move freely relative to the ground.
  • 155mm calibre field guns such as the M777 lightweight howitzer and the FH-70 howitzer have therefore been provided with components which can be relocated between a firing configuration and a travelling configuration.
  • the field gun as a whole can be converted between a firing condition and a travelling condition.
  • Manipulation is generally undertaken manually by a field gun crew.
  • a carriage for a field gun the field gun being convertible between a travelling condition and a firing condition, the carriage comprising:
  • such a carriage can be converted between conditions quicker than a carriage having only independently manipulated components. This means that the gun can be redeployed, so as to be ready to fire, in less time. This increases the rate at which the field gun can fire from a plurality of positions and thus offers a tactical advantage on the battlefield
  • the first component is rotatable about a pivot axis and the manipulation of the first component is a rotation about the pivot axis. It is further preferable that the first component has an elongate form so as to present a substantial moment arm extending from the pivot axis.
  • the rotatable elongate form allows an operator to apply a greater force to the second component for the same amount of work done to the back leg.
  • the second component requires a substantial force to relocate it, it can be more easily relocated.
  • the second component is extensible and the relocation of the second component is a linear extension or retraction such a relocation will require a substantial force if the extension lifts the gun and beneficially, the use of the moment arm will facilitate this mode of relocation.
  • the first component is a structural member suitable for resting on a ground plane in the firing condition, the first component resting on the ground plane at a back ground contact point.
  • the second component is a structural member suitable for forming a base whereby the field gun may rest on a ground plane in the firing condition, the second component resting on the ground plane at a front ground contact point.
  • the carriage defines a pitch, the pitch being a distance between the forward ground contact point and the back ground contact point when the gun is in the firing condition, the carriage further comprising:
  • the first component is a back leg which in the first travelling configuration is disengaged from the ground plane
  • the back leg Since it is generally a necessary stage in the conversion of a field gun to disengage a back leg from the ground (e.g. because the back end of the back leg has become embedded in the ground), the back leg will be a focus of attention for the operating crew's manpower. By saving the operating crew from attending to other parts of the field gun (e.g. the front leg), the gun can be converted quicker.
  • the second component is a retractable front leg comprising a wheel for contacting the ground plane at a forward ground contact point such that when the front leg is retracted into the carriage, the retractable front leg is in the second travelling configuration
  • the front leg when converting from the travelling condition to the firing condition, the front leg extends. Therefore the pitch is increased relative to an unextended equivalent front leg.
  • the gun is better suited to withstanding toppling moments.
  • the manipulation of the first component is effected in part by the gravitational potential of the first component in which case it is preferable that the link is damped so as to dissipate the gravitational potential and effect a controlled manipulation.
  • the back leg of a field gun that is pivoted at one end and rotated through approximately 180 degrees will tend to fall in all situations other than when the centre of gravity of the leg is held vertically over the pivot. If such a back leg were dropped from a position just off vertical, then it could cause considerable damage to any operator who was positioned between the leg and the ground if its motion was not damped. Damping, e.g. of the rotation of the back leg, makes the gun safer to convert because it reduces the speed at which the back leg rotates.
  • the carriage is provided with a third component for occupying a third travelling configuration when the gun is in the travelling condition, and for occupying a third firing configuration when the gun is in the firing condition, wherein the actuator is connected to the third component such that a manipulation of the first component from the first travelling configuration to the first firing configuration actuates a relocation of the third component between the third travelling configuration and the third firing configuration.
  • the third component is an additional front leg.
  • a third component for occupying a third travelling configuration when the gun is in the travelling condition, and for occupying a third firing configuration when the gun is in the firing condition
  • a fourth component for occupying a fourth travelling configuration when the gun is in the travelling condition, and for occupying a fourth firing configuration when the gun is in the firing condition
  • the link is connected to the fourth component such that a manipulation of the fourth component from the first travelling configuration to the fourth firing configuration actuates a relocation of the third component between the third travelling configuration and the third firing configuration.
  • the fourth component is an additional back leg and the third component is an additional second front leg.
  • references to 'front' or 'back' or 'forwards' or 'backwards' are to be interpreted in the accepted meaning of the art. For example, when the gun is in the firing condition, a component that is generally closer to the muzzle of the barrel than another component, is construed as being forwards of the other component.
  • references to 'up' or 'down' or 'upwards' or 'downwards' are to be interpreted in the accepted meaning of the art. For example, when the gun is in the firing condition and deployed on a ground plane, a component that is generally closer to the ground plane than another component, is construed as being downwards of the other component.
  • a field gun 100 comprises a carriage 110 and a cannon 120.
  • the carriage 100 rests on a ground plane 200 and supports the cannon 120.
  • the cannon 120 comprises a cradle 80 and a barrel 90.
  • the barrel 90 is able to slide within the cradle 80, along the axis of the barrel, so that it may react to recoil forces and counter-recoil forces in a manner that tends to reduce the stress on components.
  • the cradle 80 also provides the interface between the cannon 120 and the carriage 110: a bearing (not shown) connects a lower portion of the cradle 80 to a central body 10 of the carriage 110.
  • the carriage 110 comprises the central body 10, a back leg 20, a front leg 30, a link 40, an ear 50, a pantograph link 60 and a linear actuator 70.
  • the central body 10 is pivotally connected to the back leg 20 at a back joint 12 that allows the back leg 20 to rotate (e.g. X or Y) relative to the central body 10 about a pivot axis (which is not shown, but extends from the back joint 12 in a direction generally perpendicular to the page).
  • the ear comprises an ear lug 51 that extends upwards from the back joint 12.
  • the back leg 20 extends from the back joint 12 in two generally opposite directions.
  • the substantial majority of the back leg 20 extends in a first direction and has a portion 24 with elongate form.
  • This elongate form terminates at the back end of the back leg 20 where the back leg 20 has the form of a spade 21.
  • the spade 21 contacts the ground at a back contact point Q when the gun is in the firing condition.
  • a lesser portion of the back leg 20 extends in a second direction to form a lever 22 that has formed in it an arcuate recess. Further, the lever 22 is pivotally connected at a lever pivot 23 to the back end of the link 40.
  • Back leg 20 also comprises a tenon (not shown) that interlocks with a mortise (not shown) formed in the ear 50 when the back leg 20 is fully relocated to its firing configuration.
  • a tenon not shown
  • a mortise not shown
  • the ear 50 is pivotally mounted at back joint 12 and extends upwards to form an ear lug 51 which is pivotally connected to the pantograph 60 at ear lug pivot 52.
  • lever joint 23 When in the firing condition the lever joint 23 is forwards of the back joint 12 but when in the travelling position the lever joint 23 is backwards of the back joint 12.
  • the pivotal connection between the central body 10 and the front leg 30 occurs at a front joint 11 and allows relative rotation between body 10 and leg 30.
  • the front joint 11 is positioned on the central body 10 and forwards of the back joint 12.
  • the front leg 30 comprises a sleeve 31, an arm 32 and a wheel 33.
  • the arm 32 slides within the sleeve 31 thereby allowing the front arm 30 to retract or extend.
  • the wheel 33 is for contacting the ground at a front contact point P, and is rotatably mounted on a bearing 37at the front end of the arm 32.
  • the sleeve 31 forms, at a front joint 11, the connection between the central body 10 and the front leg 30.
  • the sleeve 31 comprises a lug 35 that extends upwards from the front joint 11, and comprises at sleeve pivot 72 a connection to the linear actuator 70.
  • the sleeve pivot 72 is forward of the front joint 11.
  • the arm 32 is connected at is back end to a front end of the link 40 by way of an arm pivot 34.
  • a slot (not shown) is provided in the sleeve 31 so that the link 40 can extend from the arm pivot 34, out of the sleeve 31 and towards the back leg 20.
  • the back end of the link 40 is curved: firstly so as to fit into the reciprocal arcuate recess in the back leg lever 22 when the gun is in the travelling configuration; and secondly to avoid obstruction of the front joint 11 when in the firing configuration.
  • the pantograph link 60 connects the ear lug 51 and the sleeve lug 35 at the respective pivot joints 52 and 36.
  • the linear actuator 70 is pivotally connected at one end of the sleeve 31 by means of the sleeve pivot 72, and also pivotally connected to the central body 10 by means of pivot joint 71.
  • the figures show only one side of the carriage 110, for example only a single back leg 20 and a single front leg 30 are visible.
  • the field gun 100 has a far side which is provided with equivalent carriage components to those described and illustrated (excepting the central body 10 of which there is only one).
  • the field gun carriage 110 is generally symmetrical, having a front leg and back leg pair each having a distinct link for connecting the front leg to the respective back leg
  • the aforementioned arrangement of components allows the front leg 30 of the field gun 100 to be converted from the firing condition to the travelling condition by manipulating the back leg 20.
  • a conversion can be effected by rotating the back leg 20 about the back joint 12 so as to relocate the front leg 30.
  • the back leg is particularly suitable for such manipulation because it is arranged in a readily accessible position and moreover because the proportions of the leg 20 (especially the elongate portion 24) mean that there is a considerable moment arm from the back end of the leg 20 to the back joint 12.
  • the gun Prior to converting the gun from the firing condition to the travelling condition it may be necessary to extract the spade 21 from an embedded position in the ground. If it is not possible for the crew alone to extract the spade, then the extraction may be done by pulling the gun 100 at the muzzle of the barrel 90 with a propulsion means. Once the spade 21 is sufficiently detached from the ground so that crew members may lift the back leg 20, the conversion may commence.
  • link 40 As the back end of the link 40 rotates clockwise about joint 12, link 40 is drawn generally backwards.
  • the gun 100 when the gun 100 is in the travelling condition as shown in figure 2 , it can be converted to the firing condition by rotating the back leg 20 about back joint 12 in an anticlockwise direction Y.
  • the actuator 40 is placed under a generally compressive load which tends to push arm 32 out of sleeve 31 thus extending front leg 30 and thereby relocating the front leg 30 between the travelling and firing condition.
  • the sleeve 31 and arm 32 are interfaced so as to provide damping to back leg 20.
  • the arrangement of the ear lug 51, pantograph 60 and sleeve lug 35 is such that in the absence of the link 40, there is a tendency for the pitch, i.e. the distance between front and back ground contact points P and Q, to reduce. This is disadvantageous because the reduced pitch is less stable particularly with regard to counteracting counter recoil tipping moments.
  • the muzzle of the gun barrel 90 will need to be supported for both conversion operations. Otherwise the central body 10 would tend to fall to the ground as back leg 20 was rotated in direction X.
  • this support can be easily provided by a towing pintle (or other towing attachment means) of a propulsion vehicle such as a truck. In the absence of a propulsion vehicle, should the need to convert the gun arise, some of the operating crew may provide the required support at the muzzle.
  • a variant form of the field gun 100 occurs if a single link connects a single back leg to two front legs and accordingly effects the relocation of said front legs.
  • the link 40 is a generally rigid member made from a single piece of material having suitable properties in compression and tension.
  • the link 40 may comprise a an actuator such as a hydraulic piston.
  • an actuator such as a hydraulic piston.
  • the provision of an actuator within the link could enable a greater force to be applied to rotate the back leg 20 and effect the conversion. This would be likely to allow the back leg 20 to be extracted from the ground 200 more easily as might be required if the spade is otherwise held fast in the ground.
  • the field gun may be made out of any materials known in the art to be suitable. Various steel alloys, titanium alloys and composite materials may be suitable depending on the in service requirement.
  • the example described above may relate to a 155 mm calibre field gun, the invention is not intended to be limited to a particular calibre.
  • the invention could, for example, be embodied in a 105 mm calibre field gun.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Toys (AREA)
EP08252202A 2008-06-26 2008-06-26 Feldkanonenwagen Ceased EP2138800A1 (de)

Priority Applications (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP08252202A EP2138800A1 (de) 2008-06-26 2008-06-26 Feldkanonenwagen
CA2728642A CA2728642A1 (en) 2008-06-26 2009-06-10 Field gun carriage
AU2009263988A AU2009263988A1 (en) 2008-06-26 2009-06-10 Field gun carriage
EP09769590A EP2304375B1 (de) 2008-06-26 2009-06-10 Wagen für feldgeschütz
US13/001,188 US8381634B2 (en) 2008-06-26 2009-06-10 Field gun carriage
PCT/GB2009/050647 WO2009156749A1 (en) 2008-06-26 2009-06-10 Field gun carriage
AT09769590T ATE547683T1 (de) 2008-06-26 2009-06-10 Wagen für feldgeschütz

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP08252202A EP2138800A1 (de) 2008-06-26 2008-06-26 Feldkanonenwagen

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2138800A1 true EP2138800A1 (de) 2009-12-30

Family

ID=40032715

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP08252202A Ceased EP2138800A1 (de) 2008-06-26 2008-06-26 Feldkanonenwagen

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2138800A1 (de)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2010142930A1 (en) * 2009-06-10 2010-12-16 Bae Systems Plc Field gun aim
US8011286B2 (en) 2007-12-18 2011-09-06 Bae Systems Plc Field gun aim

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB167466A (en) * 1920-08-05 1921-12-08 Schneider & Cie Trail spades for wheeled gun carriages having divided trails
GB761708A (en) * 1953-07-28 1956-11-21 Oerlikon Buehrle Ag Improvements in and relating to carriages for guns and the like
US6024007A (en) * 1988-12-14 2000-02-15 Vickers Shipbuilding & Engineering Limited Field howitzers

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB167466A (en) * 1920-08-05 1921-12-08 Schneider & Cie Trail spades for wheeled gun carriages having divided trails
GB761708A (en) * 1953-07-28 1956-11-21 Oerlikon Buehrle Ag Improvements in and relating to carriages for guns and the like
US6024007A (en) * 1988-12-14 2000-02-15 Vickers Shipbuilding & Engineering Limited Field howitzers

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8011286B2 (en) 2007-12-18 2011-09-06 Bae Systems Plc Field gun aim
WO2010142930A1 (en) * 2009-06-10 2010-12-16 Bae Systems Plc Field gun aim

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