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
  • F41A23/24—Turret gun mountings
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F41—WEAPONS
  • F41H—ARMOUR; ARMOURED TURRETS; ARMOURED OR ARMED VEHICLES; MEANS OF ATTACK OR DEFENCE, e.g. CAMOUFLAGE, IN GENERAL
  • F41H5/00—Armour; Armour plates
  • F41H5/20—Turrets
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F41—WEAPONS
  • F41H—ARMOUR; ARMOURED TURRETS; ARMOURED OR ARMED VEHICLES; MEANS OF ATTACK OR DEFENCE, e.g. CAMOUFLAGE, IN GENERAL
  • F41H7/00—Armoured or armed vehicles
  • F41H7/02—Land vehicles with enclosing armour, e.g. tanks
  • F41H7/04—Armour construction
  • F41H7/044—Hull or cab construction other than floors or base plates for increased land mine protection
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F41—WEAPONS
  • F41H—ARMOUR; ARMOURED TURRETS; ARMOURED OR ARMED VEHICLES; MEANS OF ATTACK OR DEFENCE, e.g. CAMOUFLAGE, IN GENERAL
  • F41H7/00—Armoured or armed vehicles
  • F41H7/02—Land vehicles with enclosing armour, e.g. tanks
  • F41H7/04—Armour construction
  • F41H7/048—Vehicles having separate armoured compartments, e.g. modular armoured vehicles

Definitions

• the present invention is the technological field of the integration of guns of different calibers on a standard and interchangeable shell, said guns covering the range of means and large calibres, in other words between 20 mm and 130 mm, and said standard shell and interchangeable being considered as the basic structure of a modular turret mounted on any armored vehicle.
• the shell is the shielded frame in which and / or on which can be inserted and / or attached, via distinctive interfaces, at least systematically or optionally a (or an appropriate combination of) element (s). ) such as a gun of variable calibres (from medium to large), a sighting system, a basket containing a set of electronic and mechanical components, a bustle enclosing medium or large caliber ammunition, a missile launcher system (s) ), a close observation system, etc.
• element such as a gun of variable calibres (from medium to large), a sighting system, a basket containing a set of electronic and mechanical components, a bustle enclosing medium or large caliber ammunition, a missile launcher system (s) ), a close observation system, etc.
• the development of a turret takes into consideration several specific parameters, parameters which lead, in most cases and as far as possible, to the development of a single structure resulting from the optimization of each one. of them.
• the parameters mentioned above are relative to: - to the mass of the turret,
• the turrets usually designed are non-interchangeable or non-modular, which results in the fact that it is necessary to redefine a complete structure for each new user and / or each new mission.
• the shell also sees its architecture subject to the same parameters, that is to say that it can only be used under very specific conditions . Therefore, the modularity of the turret is often reduced to its simplest expression given the unique character of each project developed. For each new project, it is mandatory to rethink the architectural concept according to the needs of the user, which results in the fact that, in turn, the shell is not interchangeable vis-à-vis certain modules interior and / or exterior.
• the proposed solutions are based on the fact that the hull of the turret is defined according to the specificities requested by the user without taking into account the interchangeability at the level of certain structures to be grafted.
• the modularity aspect is not present since the design of said shell is associated with a single project.
• an assault tank equipped with a passenger compartment carried by a tracked traction means and an armed position disposed on the cabin roof such that the interior of the latter is subdivided into three regions: i) "front” in which are located the traction mechanisms and driver's seat, ii) "rear” at which appear the seats of the crew and iii) "intermediate” adapted for different purposes following the design of the vehicle, in particular for the adaptation of a turret and / or at least one seat for operators of the armed post and / or a storage compartment for ammunition and their loading devices.
• the first two regions have the same function for all variants of the vehicle while the third region is freer.
• the document WO2009004136 discloses a light military vehicle combining a chassis equipped with mobility means and at least one shielded habitable cabin fixed to the frame in a demountable manner by securing means.
• WO2004017012 discloses a rolling armored vehicle formed of several compartments: i) a traction section and ii) a mission section can be detached from the rear portion of the traction section and can be coupled thereto via a plane of traction. vertical separation.
• WO2013127654 discloses a turret for armored vehicle comprising firstly a structural unit metal, invariable and rigid having a central position in the turret and secondly at least one interchangeable module and removable by securing means.
• Document FR2579946 discloses a multi-purpose tracked motor vehicle comprising a crawler hull. On the horizontal top of the frame of the shell is applied a plane on the upper face of which is mounted an element completing the architecture of the vehicle, rapid assembly means being provided both for the mounting of the interface on the chassis of the hull as for the mounting of the element completing the architecture of the vehicle.
• Document DE19720815 discloses a combat structure having various sapped zones, one of which relates to the combat zone that can accommodate crew members and a set of electronic elements but also a cooling system.
• FR3017700 discloses a modular weapon station comprising a rotatable frame adapted to be mounted on a platform, and having a removable cradle with a weapon mounted thereon.
• DE3836718 discloses a turret characterized by a system of specific trunnions for interchanging a 105 mm caliber gun and a 120 mm caliber gun in a simple manner by changing the height of the trunnion axis for armored vehicles of different sizes.
• EP2195601, EP1955003, EP1508765, EP1468240, US9194664, WO2013010110, US7513187, US4601230, US3566742 and WO2016060719, are of interest but less significant than those described above.
• the present invention aims at the establishment of a standard and interchangeable architecture for the part commonly called hull of the turret, all in the same way as a car chassis at which are added a plethora of elements electrical, electronic and mechanical components considered indispensable and functional.
• the desired effect is to develop a standard and interchangeable structure, for said shell, characterized in that it has a very wide set of interface means for grafting systematically or optionally at least all a series of specific interior (basket, etc.) and / or exterior equipment (weapons of different calibres, close observation system (s), etc.) so that the occupants of the turret, ie say the commander and the shooter, are at every moment in a similar environment, ie an environment that is independent of the number and nature of the modules and / or systems associated with the standard and interchangeable hull.
• the project is based on a notion of "commonality" vis-à-vis the management of various equipment.
• the commonality rate is a French term used in the automotive field for designate the number of parts, subassemblies, and assemblies common to several vehicle models.
• HMI Human Machine Interface
• WO 2015/004569 A1 describes a turret comprising a hollow envelope provided with a barrel, said envelope comprising: a front part or shell, on which the barrel is mounted and which defines a front cavity, in which the barrel is partially housed and a rear portion or tail, which defines a rear cavity, in which is housed at least one projectile magazine or a mechanism for loading the projectiles into the breech of the barrel, said front part or hull and said rear part or tail being separate from each other and being mutually mechanically joined so that said cavities communicate at least partially with one another.
• a standard and interchangeable shell has the possibility of being grafted in, systematically (for example in the case of the barrel) or optionally (in other cases of modules and / or systems), at least one or an appropriate combination of the structures described below corresponding to modules and / or interchangeable and removable systems:
• a canon module comprising at least one barrel of caliber between 20 mm and 130 mm, which covers the range of means and large calibres,
• an ammunition storage module containing at least one supporting structure, the bustle, as well as an automatic or manual loading system, a basket intended to receive a crew (consisting of one to two men) and equipment (screens, levers, seats, etc.) necessary for the latter to control the turret but also to ensure the shooting,
• a module having at least one secondary weapon related to a small coaxial machine gun between 5.56 mm and 15 mm,
• the basket is not integrated with said standard shell and interchangeable. In this case, it is completely absent from the enclosure since the operations related to the operation of the turret take place directly from inside the armored vehicle itself by a member of the crew. This has the consequence that the commander and the shooter are not installed at the level of the basket but inside the vehicle.
• the project currently being developed makes it possible to reach operational, functional, ergonomic, economic, etc. levels. very high due to the interchangeability and standardization of the hull.
• Said interchangeability is a major asset to respond effectively and quickly to various internal and / or external changes related to arrangements on the hull, and ultimately the turret, in order to align with the various specificities requested by the user and / or the mission in Classes.
• the architecture of the turret is obtained by the implementation of modules and / or predefined internal and / or external systems grafted at the level of the standard shell and interchangeable so that the various combinations of assembly of said modules and / or systems constitute a new modular turret meeting the standard requirements. Thanks to the interchangeability and standardization of the hull, different variants of the turret will be proposed.
• One embodiment of the invention discloses a modular turret for a shielded vehicle, comprising on the one hand an invariable and unique basic unit that can be interchangeable, called standard shell, equipped with interface means, and on the other hand, a plurality of modules and / or functional systems interchangeable and removable, able to be secured to the standard shell by specific and distinctive fixing means of the connection of each functional module to said standard shell, the means of interface being thus designed to allow the assembly of all the different modules and / or systems of the same functional type on said standard shell at an interfacing zone on the latter, said standard shell comprising the assembly of a plurality of plates of different shapes and dimensions giving the standard shell a geometric shape of fixed dimensions, said plates being able to have orifices and / or connectors for fixing said modules and / or functional systems interchangeable and removable.
• said plurality of plates comprises at least:
• a base plate constituting the base of the standard shell over the entire area thereof, and pierced at its center to define the fixing of a ring;
• each of the plates comprising an orifice intended to receive a gun module and / or a secondary weapon module; lateral plates starting from the barrel support plates by following the base plate to finish at the rear of the standard hull,
• said standard shell being characterized in that it further comprises:
• the modular turret further comprises, systematically or optionally, at least one of the following characteristics or an appropriate combination of several thereof:
• the interchangeable and dismountable functional modules and / or systems are selected from the group consisting of a barrel module in a given range of calibres, ranging from medium to large calibres, a small secondary weapon module, a basket, a aiming system, an ammunition storage module or bustle an overblind kit, a missile launcher system (s), a grenade launcher system (s), a close-up observation system, a wave communication system radios, a weather station, hatches, episcopes, a roof weapon system, a laser beam detection system, a navigation system, a system electrical control, a power system, a shielded "boresight" system, etc .;
• the caliber of the barrel module is between 20 mm and 130 mm;
• said lateral plates have an angle less than 90 ° with respect to the base plate on the front face of the standard shell, and are welded perpendicularly to the base plate on the lateral sides;
• the barrel module is interfaced to the standard shell between the barrel support plates, either via a support, the mask and bearings, or by means of journals, ball joints and flanges, the method of fixing being designed to be independent of the caliber of the barrel module;
• the secondary weapon module whose size is preferably between 5.56 mm and 15 mm, is interfaced to the standard shell, or in conjunction with the barrel module between the gun support plates at the mask associated with the standard hull so that the gun module and the secondary weapon module are both attached to the mask attached to the standard hull, or out of said gun support plates so that the secondary weapon module is integrated outside said mask, or both between and outside the barrel support plates, the modes of attachment being designed to be independent of the caliber of the barrel module;
• the main axis of the secondary weapon module is oriented in the same direction and the same direction as the main axis of the gun module, in other words so that coaxiality appears between the two weapons;
• the ammunition storage module or bustle is interfaced to the standard shell at the rear of the latter through the interface plate acting as means of attachment of the bustle, the latter being respectively:
• the interface plate matching the base plate and lateral preferably on a width of a few millimeters
• a "firewall” that is to say an additional plate used to isolate the ammunition storage compartment i) in case of fire, (ii) in order to increase the ballistic degree, iii) to increase protection in the event of an ammunition explosion, iv) etc., resembling a complete junction, the interface plate closing the entire rear surface of the standard shell by connecting the base and side plates ,
• the plurality of interchangeable and removable modules and / or functional systems is specifically grafted to the same locations of the standard shell without modifying the structural and functional aspects of the standard shell and independently of the caliber of the barrel module;
• the assembly of the plurality of plates of different shapes and dimensions giving the standard shell a geometric shape of fixed dimensions is a welded assembly while the cover, optional, is attached to said standard shell using screws ;
• Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a standard and interchangeable modular turret shell according to the present invention with its different shielding plates.
• Figure 2 shows a plan view of the standard and interchangeable shell shown in Figure 1.
• Figure 3 shows an exploded view of the fixing system of the module of large caliber and medium gauge caliber respectively.
• Figure 4 shows a front view of the standard and interchangeable shell associated with the basket.
• Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the location of the various modules and / or systems.
• the basic element forming the subject of the invention is the shell.
• modules and / or systems interior and / or exterior are positioned at the same places in and / or on the standard hull, which allows the crew to be confronted at every moment with a similar operating environment independent of the number and the nature of the modules and / or systems inside and / or outside.
• each plate are not considered a limiting and binding element of the invention. Indeed, some variations may appear (that is to say for example an increase thereof) but will not change the standardization of the hull. They will potentially promote an increase in the available interior space for grafting larger modules and / or systems (volumetric aspect) or more modules and / or systems (quantitative aspect).
• base plate 2 plate constituting the base of the standard hull 1 over the entire surface of the hull 1 and pierced at its center to delimit the fastening ring 3. This is the interface between the vehicle and the standard hull 1.
• the diameter of the ring 3 is variable according to the type of vehicle, in other words it oscillates between 1200 mm and 2200 mm;
• - gun support plates 4 two structured components arranged perpendicular to the base plate 2 and located at the front of the standard shell 1. They are each characterized by an orifice for receiving a gun module 5 of medium or large caliber and potentially a secondary weapon module 6 of small caliber;
• - side plates 7 plates starting from the barrel support plates 4 following the base plate 2 to finish at the rear of the standard shell 1.
• the bustle 9 is the structure making among other things office ammunition box but also that can perform other functions with some adjustments.
• the interface plate 8 matches the base 2 and lateral plate 7 over a width of a few millimeters so that the bustle 9 is in direct relationship with the standard shell 1, which allows the ammunition rack (or any device for storing and transporting ammunition) to simultaneously overlap the standard shell 1 and the bustle 9.
• said interface plate 8 presents the same characteristics and functions but is associated with an additional plate, called "firewall", similar to a complete junction (total closure) between said sheets 2, 7, and said bustle 9;
• upper plates 10 plates closing the standard shell 1 by associating with the gun support plates 4, side plates 7, and interface plate 8;
• arches 11 structures ensuring the junction between the front and the rear of the standard shell 1. They appear in the form of a rectilinear channel i) issuing from the barrel support plates 4 up to the interface plate 8 to stiffen the standard shell 1, and ii) characterized by a certain fixed height. Thus, as shown in FIG. 4, they systematically define three zones that are identical from a functional and structural point of view, independently of the gun module 5, encountered inside the standard shell 1, namely a "shooter” zone (on the right, looking from the front of the vehicle), a "commander” zone (on the left), and a "central” zone intended to receive the main weapon 5. These three specific zones appear so similar to the level of the basket 12 located inside the modular turret 13.
• the standard shell 1 described above has the characteristic of being interchangeable vis-à-vis a series of modules and / or indoor and / or outdoor systems. These come integrate / graft on the standard shell 1 according to appropriate methods of fixing and according to the criteria defined by both the user and the stakes of the mission. In fine, the characteristic arrangement of all the modules described below makes it possible to obtain a modular turret 13 from a standard and interchangeable shell 1.
• the integration of the gun module 5 constitutes the heart of the present invention. It operates at the front of said standard shell and interchangeable 1, and conditions all the reflection related to the interchangeability and size of the latter.
• the canon module 5 is:
• the choice of the caliber of the canon module 5 is a function of the requirements of the user as well as the missions envisaged;
• the first path is effected via a support 15 (which may be optional), the mask 16 and bearings 17;
• the second track favors the use of pins 18, ball joints 19 and flanges 20.
• the gun module 5 of medium gauge, or the gun module 5 of large caliber which results in the fact that the attachment mode is optimized depending on the caliber of the canon module 5 envisaged, while the interface of the standard and interchangeable shell 1 is independent of said caliber.
• the support 15 present or not
• the mask 16 and the bearings 17 as well as the pins 18, ball joints 19 and flanges 20 are considered as intermediate fasteners very easily interchangeable on the standard and interchangeable shell 1.
• the standard and interchangeable shell 1 is not previously dedicated to a canon module 5 of defined caliber but has been designed and optimized geometrically for a range of calibers of the inserted gun module 5.
• the standardization / neutrality of the standard and interchangeable shell 1 remains valid vis-à-vis the vehicles, in other words all the geometric and functional parameters have been optimized regardless of the vehicle on which said standard shell and interchangeable 1 .
• the optimization of the geometry of the standard and interchangeable shell 1 took into account the movement of some components of the gun module 5, said movement relative to a horizontal axis parallel to the base plate 2 having the both an elevation and a depression.
• the elevation reaches a value of + 42 ° while the depression indicates a value of -10 ° for the module 5 of large caliber while the values are respectively + 60 ° and -10 ° for the canon module 5 of medium caliber.
• the positioning of the barrel module 5 is not identical as a function of the caliber studied: i) for the large caliber barrel module 5, the latter 5 is centered with respect to the standard and interchangeable shell 1, while ii) for the barrel module 5 of medium caliber, it may be slightly off-center, for example, to facilitate the transverse supply ammunition.
• the module of the secondary weapon 6 it is generally related to a coaxial machine gun characterized by a gauge extending from 5.56 mm to 15 mm, regardless of the caliber of the gun module 5, and preferably 7.62 mm.
• the positioning of the secondary weapon module 6 is independent of the caliber of the barrel module 5 but has been preferentially selected according to the constraints proposed by each of them. between them. In other words, even if the structural aspect allows any insertion, the functional aspect plays a preponderant role in the choice of location.
• the three integration possibilities of the secondary weapon module 6 are as follows: i) the distance between the two gun support plates 4 is such that it is possible to jointly insert the module barrel 5 as well as the secondary weapon module 6, which means that they are fixed directly on the mask 16, ii) the secondary weapon module 6 is integrated outside said mask 16 considering the canon module 5 introduced alone between the two gun support plates 4, and iii) the secondary weapon module 6 is located both on and off the mask 16, in which case the standard and interchangeable shell 1 contains two secondary weapon modules 6 simultaneously in the presence of the canon module 5.
• the coaxiality is based on the fact that the machine gun 6 has its main axis in the same direction and the same direction as those defined by the gun module 5.
• the secondary weapon module 6 can also be grafted to another place on the standard and interchangeable shell 1, which is not necessarily close to the gun module 5.
• the present invention allows to integrate other modules and / or systems on the standard and interchangeable shell 1 without changing the structural and functional aspects of the latter 1.
• the integration of these is also independent of the caliber of the canon module 5 following a significant set of interface means for each of them.
• the modules and / or external and / or internal systems are interchangeable for both the means and for the large calibers of the gun module 5 so that the crew members may find themselves confronted with every moment to a similar work environment in terms of ergonomics, features, etc.
• modules and / or systems envisaged are taken over, systematically or optionally, at least one module and / or system (or a combination of said modules and / or systems) (FIGS. 4 and 5): i) the module of ammunition storage, formed by a closed and shielded metal structure, the bustle 9, comprising, according to the caliber of the gun module 5, an automatic or manual ammunition rack.
• the bustle 9 is attached to the rear of the standard and interchangeable shell 1 at the interface plate 8 by particular securing means by simultaneously integrating sealing means. According to the invention, a screw / nut approach associated with sealing means has been retained.
• the size of the bustle 9 is a function of the caliber of the gun module 5 and the number of onboard ammunition.
• main ammunition With respect to the supply of ammunition up to the canon module 5 and, in fine, the ejection of the latter (called “main ammunition”), this is done from the rear (bustle 9) to the front (gun module 5) of the standard and interchangeable hull 1 according to two distinct approaches: o for large caliber ammunition,
• Standard ammunition are stored in a box inside the standard and interchangeable shell 1 and are conveyed to said secondary weapon module 6 only by the action of the latter 6.
• the mode of operation is based on the approaches following:
• this supply is effected by passing through hoses in order to reach the gun support plate 4.
• the secondary ammunition is ejected either through specific ducts located between the two gun support plates 4 so that they automatically end their race outside the modular turret 13 to Like the links of the main ammunition, either inside the vehicle under the base plate 2 inducing a more significant intrusion, and therefore a larger footprint. Upstream of these two operations (routing and ejection) appears the (re) loading of ammunition.
• the caliber of the latter operates either from outside the modular turret 13, or from within it 13 as a result of its optimized and structured arrangements and architectures. In both cases, it is the set of conditions (enemy threats, terrain relief, etc.) in which the crew members find themselves preferentially conditioning an approach.
• the area intended for the crew aka the basket 12, which is fixed to the standard and interchangeable shell 1 at the level of the base plate 2 by securing means.
• This structure generally metallic, presents the command and shooting positions for, respectively, the commander and the shooter, positions equipped with the various electronic and / or mechanical control devices of the modular turret 13 (HMI, Human Machine Interface) necessary and indispensable to the associated actions.
• HMI Human Machine Interface
• the nature of the basket 12 is independent of the caliber of the barrel module 5, in other words it is a standard structure characterized by a personalized arrangement according to the demands of the user.
• the modular turret 13 is characterized by an absence of the basket 12, which results in control from inside the vehicle itself.
• the sighting system 21 being inserted (in) directly on the (the) sheet (s) upper (s) 10.
• An example configuration is shown in Figure 5.
• the securing means are a function of the specificities of each sighting system present on the market.
• said standard and interchangeable shell 1 consists of a shielded outer casing subdivided into specific geometrically defined zones defined either by the location of the modules and / or external systems, or by spaces blanks likely to be potentially used later to attach one (or more) module (s) and / or external system (s).
• metal connectors provide the junction between the standard and interchangeable shell 1 and said kit 22, and their number is considered fixed by standard shell and interchangeable 1.
• the unused connectors can be functional again with some adaptations.
• An example configuration is shown in Figure 5.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Aiming, Guidance, Guns With A Light Source, Armor, Camouflage, And Targets (AREA)
• Body Structure For Vehicles (AREA)

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Publications (2)

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• 2016
  • 2016-10-10 EP EP16193124.1A patent/EP3306259A1/de not_active Withdrawn
• 2017
  • 2017-06-07 EP EP17727271.3A patent/EP3469299B1/de active Active
  • 2017-06-07 WO PCT/EP2017/063876 patent/WO2017211911A1/fr unknown
  • 2017-06-07 KR KR1020187037945A patent/KR102324572B1/ko active IP Right Grant
  • 2017-06-07 BE BE20175406A patent/BE1025823B1/fr active IP Right Grant
  • 2017-06-07 CA CA3023403A patent/CA3023403A1/en active Pending
  • 2017-06-07 PL PL17727271T patent/PL3469299T3/pl unknown
  • 2017-06-07 ES ES17727271T patent/ES2807963T3/es active Active
  • 2017-06-07 CN CN201780031152.XA patent/CN109154487B/zh active Active
  • 2017-06-07 US US16/307,945 patent/US10712115B2/en active Active
  • 2017-06-07 BR BR112018075416-1A patent/BR112018075416B1/pt active IP Right Grant
  • 2017-06-07 SG SG11201810558VA patent/SG11201810558VA/en unknown
• 2018
  • 2018-10-31 ZA ZA2018/07302A patent/ZA201807302B/en unknown
  • 2018-11-04 IL IL262748A patent/IL262748B/en active IP Right Grant

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