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
  • F41A9/00—Feeding or loading of ammunition; Magazines; Guiding means for the extracting of cartridges
  • F41A9/60—Empty-cartridge-case or belt-link collectors or catchers
• • 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
  • F41A15/00—Cartridge extractors, i.e. devices for pulling cartridges or cartridge cases at least partially out of the cartridge chamber; Cartridge ejectors, i.e. devices for throwing the extracted cartridges or cartridge cases free of the gun
• • 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
  • F41A35/00—Accessories or details not otherwise provided for
  • F41A35/02—Dust- or weather-protection caps or covers
• • 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
  • F41A9/00—Feeding or loading of ammunition; Magazines; Guiding means for the extracting of cartridges
  • F41A9/54—Cartridge guides, stops or positioners, e.g. for cartridge extraction
• • 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
  • F41H7/03—Air-pressurised compartments for crew; Means for preventing admission of noxious substances, e.g. combustion gas from gun barrels, in crew compartments; Sealing arrangements

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a shell stub catcher for an armament of a vehicle, in particular a battle tank, a turret for a vehicle, in particular for a battle tank, with such a shell stub catcher and a vehicle, in particular a battle tank, with such a shell stub catcher and/or such a turret.
• Main battle tanks are armed, usually in the form of a smoothbore gun.
• This armament is equipped with cartridge-loaded ammunition.
• cartridge-loaded ammunition consists of a partially combustible cartridge case, a propellant charge, and a projectile.
• a hollow cylindrical portion of the cartridge case burns away, leaving only a so-called cartridge case stub.
• This cartridge case stub is ejected, expelled, or extracted from the weapon.
• Such a cartridge case stub may have a metallic cartridge case base and an ignition tube welded to the cartridge case base.
• the cartridge case stub may have a length of, for example, 300 millimeters.
• the aforementioned design and dimensions of the cartridge case stub can lead to handling problems, particularly when using an automatic loader for the weapon. These handling problems include, for example, damage to sensitive components of a main battle tank's turret when ejecting the cartridge case stub or jamming of the cartridge case stub during weapon aiming movements.
• the shell stubs are undesirable for the shell stubs to be located in an undefined position under the turret in the hull of the main battle tank. Furthermore, in an unmanned turret, the shell stubs cannot be visually inspected and manually removed. be sorted and/or disposed of. Loose shell stumps can also become unwanted secondary projectiles if the main battle tank is hit by mines. This needs to be improved.
• the cartridge case stub catching device for the armament of a vehicle, in particular a battle tank, is proposed.
• the cartridge case stub catching device comprises guide walls configured to guide cartridge case stub impacting the guide walls downward along a direction of gravity.
• the guide walls have quick-connecting elements by means of which the guide walls can be connected to a holding structure without tools and can be released from the holding structure without tools.
• the casing butts striking the guide walls are guided downward along the direction of gravity, it is possible to guide the casing butts away from the weapon's breech block. This prevents the casing butts from colliding with the weapon, for example, during firing or during aiming movements.
• the guide walls also prevent the casing butts from falling out of the casing butt catcher or being ejected from it.
• the armament or weapon is preferably a smoothbore gun.
• the vehicle is a main battle tank.
• the vehicle may also be another armed vehicle.
• the shell stub is part of a cartridge or cartridge ammunition of the armament.
• cartridge ammunition has - as previously mentioned - a shell, a propellant charge or a projectile.
• the case stub comprises a case base and an ignition tube protruding from the case base.
• the case stub can be ejected, expelled, or extracted from the weapon after it has been fired.
• An automatic loader can be used for this purpose, which can also feed the loaded ammunition to the weapon.
• the case stub catcher can also be suitable for catching entire cases. Therefore, the case stub catcher can also be referred to as a case catcher for cases, especially for case stumps.
• the number of guide walls is optional. For example, four such guide walls are provided, arranged such that the cartridge case stub catcher encloses a receiving space for the cartridge case stub. After the weapon is fired, the cartridge case stub falls into the receiving space.
• the cartridge case stub preferably strikes the guide walls and is guided or directed downwards by them along the direction of gravity.
• "Downward" in this case means along the direction of gravity in the direction of a vehicle hull and/or in the direction of a turret platform floor of a vehicle turret.
• the guide walls are preferably flexibly deformable, at least in sections. This allows the guide walls to deform elastically upon impact of the sleeve stubs, whereby the sleeve stubs slide or are conveyed downwards along the guide walls under elastic deformation along the direction of gravity.
• the guide walls thus catch the sleeve stubs, whereby the guide walls or the The guide wall against which the respective sleeve stub impacts is elastically deformed.
• the guide walls thus decelerate the sleeve stub. Kinetic energy of the sleeve stub is converted into deformation energy of the guide walls.
• the guide walls are, in particular, reversibly deformable. Accordingly, the guide walls are preferably designed to guide or convey the sleeve stub downwards along the direction of gravity by catching the sleeve stub and elastically deforming in the process.
• a "quick-connect element” is understood here to mean a part or component that can be connected to and detached from the support structure manually, i.e., without a tool or without the use of tools.
• the support structure can, for example, be sheet-metal, grid-shaped, web-shaped, and/or tubular.
• the support structure can be part of the sleeve stub catch device. Alternatively, however, the support structure can also be part of the vehicle's turret, in particular the turret platform. Furthermore, the support structure can be assigned to both the sleeve stub catch device and the turret.
• the quick-connect elements can be wound in a loop-like manner around the supporting structure or guided through openings provided in the supporting structure.
• Each quick-connect element can, in particular, be connected to itself. If the quick-connect elements each have a hook-and-loop fastener, this can have an adhesive portion with hooks and a fleece portion with loops. By pressing the adhesive portion and the fleece portion together, the respective quick-connect element can be connected to itself, resulting in a loop-shaped geometry of the respective quick-connect element that surrounds or engages behind the supporting structure.
• the quick-connecting elements are, in particular, positively connected to the support structure.
• a positive connection is created by the interlocking or engaging of at least two connection partners, in this case the quick-connecting elements and the support structure.
• the guide walls are positively connected to the support structure with the aid of the quick-connecting elements.
• the support structure can be cage-shaped or frame-shaped. This can result in a cuboid-shaped structure of the sleeve stub catch device.
• the guide walls can be connected not only to the support structure but also to each other. This means, in particular, that the guide walls can also be connected to each other with the aid of the quick-connecting elements.
• the sleeve stub catching device has a modular structure in that either only a part or all of the guide walls are connected to the holding structure by means of the quick-connecting elements.
• module means that the sleeve stub catching device can be assembled from either some or all of the guide walls, depending on the application and/or usage profile of the sleeve stub catching device.
• the required guide walls are connected to the support structure using their quick-connecting elements.
• the sleeve stub catching device has at least two guide walls.
• the sleeve stub catching device can also have three or four guide walls.
• the sleeve stub catching device particularly preferably has four guide walls, resulting in a cuboid geometry of the sleeve stub catching device that defines or encloses the receiving space of the sleeve stub catching device.
• the guide walls comprise a first lateral guide wall, a second lateral guide wall arranged opposite and spaced from the first lateral guide wall, a front guide wall and a rear guide wall arranged opposite and spaced from the front guide wall.
• the case stub catching device preferably has four guide walls.
• One of the aforementioned guide walls is the first lateral guide wall
• one of the aforementioned guide walls is the second lateral guide wall
• one of the aforementioned guide walls is the front guide wall
• one of the aforementioned guide walls is the rear guide wall.
• the guide walls are preferably arranged such that the first lateral guide wall and the second lateral guide wall are parallel to and spaced from one another.
• the front guide wall and the rear guide wall are preferably arranged perpendicular to the two lateral guide walls.
• the first lateral guide wall and the second lateral guide wall are preferably flat or plate-shaped.
• the rear guide wall is preferably curved.
• the rear guide wall is curved outward from the receiving space enclosed by the case stub catching device.
• the case stub catching device is delimited at the bottom by the aforementioned tower platform floor. At the top, i.e., facing away from the tower platform floor, the case stub catching device is preferably open.
• the two lateral guide walls are preferably higher than the front guide wall and the rear guide wall.
• the front guide wall is preferably lower than the rear guide wall.
• the front guide wall is preferably located below the weapon's breech block. The breech block can protrude into the receiving space.
• the rear guide wall has a lower part and an upper part that can be pivoted relative to the lower part.
• the upper part can be folded away from the case stub catcher. This is advantageous, for example, when case stubs need to be removed from the receiving space of the case stub catcher.
• To pivot the upper part its quick-connecting elements are released from the support structure, allowing the upper part to move relative to the lower part.
• the quick-connecting elements are belt-shaped, band-shaped and/or cord-shaped.
• quick-connection elements can be provided that are belt-shaped, further quick-connection elements that are band-shaped, and further quick-connection elements that are cord-shaped.
• the quick-connection elements can be made, for example, from a textile.
• the quick-connection elements can also be made from an elastically deformable plastic material, rubber, or leather.
• Metallic materials can also be used.
• Belt-shaped in this case refers to a component that has an elongated geometry and is flexibly deformable.
• “Band-shaped” in this case refers to a component that is made of a textile fabric and has a limited width and preferably has fixed selvedges on both sides.
• the quick-connection elements comprise hook-and-loop fasteners, buttons, pin buckles, toggles, snap fasteners, eyelets and/or hooks.
• the quick-connecting elements can, in principle, utilize any manually connectable and detachable connection technology.
• any textile connection technology can be used for the quick-connecting elements.
• a combination of hook-and-loop fasteners, buttons, pin buckles, toggles, snap fasteners, eyelets, and/or hooks can be provided.
• each guide wall has a support frame and a flexible covering with which the support frame is covered.
• the support frame is preferably tubular.
• the support frame can be composed of a plurality of sections, in particular tubular sections.
• the support frame can be sewn into the covering.
• the covering is, in particular, flexibly deformable.
• the support frame can be made of aluminum tubes or steel tubes.
• fiber composite materials can also be used.
• the support frame can have any desired geometry. In the simplest case, the support frame is rectangular. However, the support frame can also be designed with a stepped shape, at least in sections.
• the covering comprises a textile, in particular a net-shaped, heat-resistant, self-extinguishing and/or sound-insulating textile.
• a "textile” in this context can be understood as a woven fabric, a knitted fabric, a warp-knitted fabric, a braid, a stitch-bonded fabric, a nonwoven fabric, a net, or felt.
• the covering can comprise various textiles. Alternatively or additionally, the covering can also comprise rubber, leather, cork, or the like. Metallic materials can also be used.
• the covering can also be or comprise a plastic film, in particular a transparent plastic film.
• the covering can, for example, be multi-layered, so that different textiles are stacked on top of one another.
• the covering comprises a first textile and a second textile, wherein a mesh size of the first textile is larger than a mesh size of the second textile, and wherein the first textile in particular forms a window provided in the covering.
• the first textile is a coarse-mesh textile.
• the second textile is accordingly a fine-mesh textile.
• the covering is preferably formed from the second textile, with the first textile forming the window in the second textile.
• the window allows viewing of the receiving space of the tube stub catcher. This makes it possible, for example, to check how full the tube stub catcher is already with tube stumps.
• a transparent plastic film or the like can also be used for the window.
• the quick-connecting elements are sewn to the covering.
• the quick-connecting elements can also be vulcanized to the covering. However, the quick-connect elements can also be connected to the supporting frame alternatively or additionally.
• the covering has a zipper through which a receiving space enclosed by the sleeve stub catching device is accessible.
• the covering can have any number of zippers. However, the following refers to only one zipper. With the help of the zipper, it is possible, for example, to remove sleeve stumps from the storage space without having to remove one of the guide walls.
• the zipper enables quick and uncomplicated access to the interior.
• the zipper can, for example, reveal a slit-shaped opening.
• the zipper can also have a U-shaped geometry. In this case, it is possible to open and close a flap provided in the covering with the help of the zipper.
• the zipper can have any desired geometry. Other fastening technologies can also be used instead of a zipper.
• a turret for a vehicle in particular for a main battle tank, is proposed.
• the turret comprises an armament, in particular a smoothbore gun, a turret platform, and such a shell stub catcher, wherein the guide walls are configured to guide shell stub impacting the guide walls downwards along the direction of gravity toward a turret platform floor.
• the support structure is part of the tower platform, wherein the sleeve stub catching device is detachably connected to the support structure by means of the quick-connecting elements.
• the support structure can comprise various metal sheets, tubes, webs, gratings, or the like. These can be part of the tower platform.
• the support structure can have multiple functions. This means, in particular, that the support structure does not have to be intended exclusively for attaching the quick-connect elements.
• the support structure can also comprise components that serve only to attach the sleeve stub catch device. Such components can, for example, be support tubes connected to the tower platform.
• the guide walls of the sleeve stub catch device are detachably connected to this support structure by means of their quick-connect elements.
• the shell stub catching device is arranged at least in sections below and/or behind a breech block of the weapon.
• the front guide wall is placed under the breech block.
• the front guide wall is arranged between the breech block and the tower platform floor.
• the rear guide wall is in particular spaced from the breech block and thus also spaced from the front guide wall.
• An automatic loader can reach over the rear guide wall to feed loaded ammunition to the breech block.
• a vehicle in particular a battle tank, with such a shell stub catching device and/or such a turret is proposed.
• the vehicle is preferably a tracked vehicle.
• the vehicle can also be a wheeled vehicle.
• the vehicle can also be a self-propelled howitzer or a wheeled howitzer.
• the vehicle has a vehicle hull as mentioned above, on which the turret is rotatably mounted.
• the vehicle hull is protected against shelling, booby traps, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), mines, or the like.
• the turret platform protrudes downwards from the turret, in particular.
• the turret platform can protrude into the vehicle hull.
• the shell stub catcher is preferably detachably attached to the turret platform.
• the shell stub catching device, the turret, and/or the vehicle also include combinations of features or embodiments described above or below with respect to the exemplary embodiments that are not explicitly mentioned.
• the person skilled in the art will also add individual aspects as improvements or additions to the respective basic form of the shell stub catching device, the turret, and/or the vehicle.
• the Fig. 1 shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of a military vehicle 1.
• the military vehicle 1 is referred to simply as a vehicle below.
• the vehicle 1 is a highly protected vehicle.
• the vehicle 1 has armor plating.
• the vehicle 1 is a tracked vehicle.
• the vehicle 1 can be a battle tank.
• the vehicle 1 can also be an infantry fighting vehicle, an armored recovery vehicle, or the like.
• the vehicle 1 can also be a wheeled vehicle.
• the vehicle 1 is armed.
• Vehicle 1 is assigned a coordinate system with a first spatial direction, the longitudinal direction or x-direction x, a second spatial direction, the transverse direction or y-direction y, and a third spatial direction, the vertical direction or z-direction z.
• the directions x, y, and z are oriented perpendicular to each other.
• a direction of gravity g can be oriented essentially opposite to the z-direction z.
• the vehicle 1 comprises a protected vehicle hull 2, which accommodates the vehicle's crew.
• the vehicle hull 2 is protected against fire, booby traps, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), mines, or the like.
• the vehicle hull 2 encloses an interior 3 in which the crew can be located.
• the interior 3 of the vehicle hull 2 can be entered and exited from an area 4 of the vehicle 1 via hatches or doors.
• the vehicle 1 can have a turret 5 with a weapon or armament 6.
• the turret 5 can also enclose part of the interior 3.
• the interior 3 can also be arranged at least partially outside the vehicle hull 2, namely in the turret 5.
• the turret 5 is rotatably mounted on the vehicle hull 2.
• the turret 5 can include an electric or hydraulic drive to rotate the turret 5.
• the turret 5 can also be operated manually if the drive fails.
• the armament 6 can be a smoothbore cannon.
• the armament 6 can be a primary armament or main armament.
• the armament 6 can have a caliber of 130 mm.
• a secondary armament for example in the form of a machine gun, can also be provided.
• the vehicle 1 further comprises a tracked drive 7, with the aid of which the vehicle 1 can move on a surface 8 in a direction of travel 9.
• a tracked drive 7 with the aid of which the vehicle 1 can move on a surface 8 in a direction of travel 9.
• this does not exclude the possibility that the vehicle 1 can also move in the opposite direction to the direction of travel 9, for example in reverse gear.
• the direction of travel 9 is oriented along the x-direction x.
• the track drive 7 comprises a revolving chain 10, which is driven by a drive roller 11.
• the drive roller 11 is located at the rear.
• the chain 10 rotates clockwise as the vehicle 1 moves in the direction of travel 9.
• the chain 10 can comprise a plurality of interconnected chain links that are movably connected to one another.
• the chain links are made of a metallic material, such as steel.
• the chain 10 can also be a rubber chain or have rubber elements.
• the drive roller 11 is operatively connected to a drive of the vehicle 1.
• the drive can, for example, comprise an internal combustion engine, in particular a diesel engine, and a transmission.
• the track drive 7 comprises a plurality of track rollers 12, of which Fig. 1 only one is provided with a reference symbol. For example, seven such track rollers 12 are provided on each side of the vehicle 1. However, the number of track rollers 12 is fundamentally arbitrary.
• the track drive 7 includes a deflection roller 13. The deflection roller 13 is provided at the front.
• the drive roller 11 can also be arranged at the front and the deflection roller 13 at the rear.
• the track drive 7 preferably comprises two chains 10, which are arranged on both sides of the vehicle 1, viewed along the direction of travel 9. Accordingly, the track drive 7 also comprises a pair of drive rollers 11 arranged on both sides of the vehicle 1, any desired number of track rollers 12, which are also arranged on both sides of the vehicle 1, and a pair of deflection rollers 13.
• the Fig. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of a sleeve stub 14.
• the cartridge case stub 14 is part of a cartridge ammunition or cartridge ammunition of the weapon 6.
• cartridge ammunition comprises a case, a propellant charge, and a projectile.
• a hollow cylindrical portion of the case burns, leaving only the cartridge case stub 14.
• the cartridge case stub 14 has a metallic cartridge base 15 and an ignition tube 16 welded to it.
• Each cartridge case stub 14 can have a length of, for example, 300 millimeters.
• the aforementioned geometry and dimensions of the cartridge case stub 14 can lead to handling problems, particularly when using an automatic loader for the weapon 6. These handling problems include, for example, damage to sensitive components of the turret 5 when picking out the cartridge case stub 14 or jamming of the cartridge case stub 14 during aiming movements of the weapon 6. Furthermore, it is undesirable for the cartridge case stub 14 to be located in an undefined manner under the turret 5 in the vehicle hull 2.
• the shell stumps 14 cannot be visually inspected and manually sorted and/or disposed of. Incidentally upright shell stumps 14 may collide with the breech of the weapon 6 when the weapon 6 is fired. Loose shell stumps 14 may become secondary projectiles if the vehicle 1 is loaded with mines.
• the Fig. 3 shows a schematic perspective partial view of a tower 5 as mentioned above.
• the Fig. 4 shows a schematic partial plan view of tower 5. In the following, the Figs. 3 and 4 referred to at the same time.
• the Turret 5 carries armament 6, which can be a smoothbore cannon, particularly of 130 millimeter caliber.
• Armament 6 features a gun barrel 17 whose azimuth and elevation can be adjusted. The gun barrel 17 is thus adjustable in azimuth and elevation.
• “Azimuth” in this context refers to a change in the angular position of the turret 5, in which the armament 6 rotates with the turret 5.
• the turret 5 is rotated relative to the vehicle hull 2 about a rotation axis oriented parallel to the z-direction z.
• Eleation in this context refers to a change in the angular position of the weapon barrel 17 relative to the turret 5.
• the weapon barrel 17 is pivoted relative to the turret 5 about a rotation axis oriented perpendicular to the z-direction z.
• the weapon barrel 17 is connected to a breech block 18 of the weapon 6.
• the breech block 18 follows the aforementioned azimuth and elevation movement with the weapon barrel 17, which can lead to unwanted contact with cartridge case stumps 14 ejected from the weapon 6, as mentioned above.
• the breech block 18 has a cartridge chamber 19 for each piece of the loaded ammunition.
• the cartridge stubs 14 are ejected, expelled, or extracted from the cartridge chamber 19.
• the cartridge chamber 19 is closed by means of a bolt (not shown) of the weapon 6.
• the weapon 6 is suspended from the turret 5, in particular from the housing of the turret 5 (not shown).
• the tower 5 has a tower platform 20, which projects at least partially into the vehicle body 2 and thus into the interior 3.
• the tower platform 20 is attached to the underside of the housing of the tower 5.
• the tower platform 20 has an annular fastening flange 21.
• the tower platform 20 can have a cylindrical geometry.
• the tower platform 20 has a plate-shaped tower platform base 22.
• the mounting flange 21 is positioned at a distance from the tower platform base 22, viewed along the z-direction z.
• the tower platform floor 22 is connected by means of connecting sections 23, of which Fig. 3 only one is provided with a reference symbol, is connected to the fastening flange 21.
• connecting sections 23 are provided, which can form part of a cylinder wall.
• the connecting sections 23 can also be rod-shaped or strut-shaped.
• the connecting sections 23 preferably do not form a circumferentially closed wall of the tower platform 20, so that the latter is open or open at least in sections.
• the vehicle 1 and/or the turret 5 has a cartridge case stubs catching device 24, which is attached to the turret 5, in particular to the turret platform 20.
• a cartridge case stubs catching device 24 With the aid of the cartridge case stubs catching device 24, it is possible to catch the cartridge case stubs 14 ejected, expelled, or extracted from the cartridge chamber 19 and to guide them downwards towards the turret platform floor 22, with the cartridge case stubs 14 being guided along the cartridge case stubs catching device 24.
• the cartridge case stubs catching device 24 can also be suitable for catching entire cartridge cases. Therefore, the cartridge case stubs catching device 24 can also be referred to as a cartridge case stubs catching device for cartridge cases, in particular for cartridge case stubs 14.
• the Fig. 5 shows a schematic perspective view of the shell stub catching device 24.
• the Fig. 6 shows a further schematic perspective view of the sleeve stub catching device 24.
• the following refers to the Fig. 3 to 6 referred to at the same time.
• the sleeve stub catching device 24 has a first lateral guide wall 25 which is oriented in the direction of the Figs. 3 and 4 When viewed in the direction of the weapon barrel 17, it is arranged at least partially on the right side of the breech block 18, and a second lateral guide wall 26, which is arranged opposite and spaced from the first lateral guide wall 25 and thus at least partially on the left side of the breech block 18.
• the first lateral guide wall 25 can also be referred to as the first lateral guide wall.
• the second lateral guide wall 26 can also be referred to as the second lateral guide wall.
• the two lateral guide walls 25, 26 prevent a lateral movement of the cartridge stub 14 ejected, expelled or extracted from the cartridge chamber 19. If the turret 5 is in the Fig. 1 shown position, the two lateral guide walls 25, 26 prevent movement of the sleeve stubs 14 along and against the y-direction y.
• the case stub catching device 24 comprises a front guide wall 27, which is arranged at least partially below the breech block 18 and thus between the breech block 18 and the tower platform floor 22.
• the front guide wall 27 can also be referred to as a front guide wall.
• the case stub catching device 24 has a rear guide wall 28.
• the rear guide wall 28 can also be referred to as a rear guide wall or return wall.
• the front guide wall 27 limits the forward movement of the cartridge case stubs 14.
• the rear guide wall 28 prevents the cartridge case stubs 14 from moving backward. If the turret 5 is in the Fig. 1 shown position, the front guide wall 27 and the rear Guide wall 28 allows movement of the case stubs 14 along and against the x-direction x.
• the lateral guide walls 25, 26, the front guide wall 27, and the rear guide wall 28 enclose a receiving space 29 of the case stub catching device 24.
• the case stub catcher 24 is modular. "Modular" in this case means that the case stub catcher 24 can be adapted to a specific application and/or a specific area of use for the case stub catcher 24.
• either both or only one of the lateral guide walls 25, 26, the front guide wall 27, and/or the rear guide wall 28 can be optionally combined with one another to achieve a customized and customized design of the case stub catcher 24.
• the guide walls 25, 26, 27, 28 can be detachably connected to the turret 5, in particular to the turret platform 20, in a manner explained below.
• the Fig. 7 shows a schematic plan view of an embodiment of a first lateral guide wall 25 as mentioned above.
• the Fig. 8 shows the detailed view VIII according to the Fig. 7 .
• the Fig. 9 shows the detailed view IX according to the Fig. 7 .
• the structure of the second lateral guide wall 26, the front guide wall 27 and/or the rear guide wall 28 essentially corresponds to the structure of the first lateral guide wall 25. Therefore, all of the following statements concerning the first lateral guide wall 25 are correspondingly applicable to the second lateral guide wall 26, the front guide wall 27 and/or the rear guide wall 28 and vice versa.
• the first lateral guide wall 25 can be flat.
• the first lateral guide wall 25 comprises a support frame 30.
• the support frame 30 is tubular.
• the support frame 30 runs around the edge of the first lateral guide wall 25 and thus frames it.
• the support frame 30 is therefore frame-shaped.
• the support frame 30 can be made of aluminum tubes or steel tubes.
• fiber composite materials can also be used.
• the support frame 30 has a plurality of sections 31, 32, 33, 34, which give the support frame 30 a substantially rectangular geometry.
• the sections 31, 32, 33, 34 can be tubular sections.
• the sections 31, 32, 33, 34 are firmly connected to one another.
• the sections 31, 32, 33 have an elongated, straight geometry, whereas section 34 has a stepped geometry. This allows, for example, an adaptation of the first lateral guide wall 25 to a geometry of the breech block 18.
• the support frame 30 is covered with a covering 35.
• the covering 35 is sheet-like.
• the covering 35 can be flexibly deformable.
• the covering 35 preferably comprises a textile.
• a "textile" in this context can be understood as a woven fabric, a knitted fabric, a braided fabric, a stitch-knitted fabric, a nonwoven fabric, a net, or a felt.
• the covering 35 can comprise various textiles.
• the support frame 30 can be sewn into the covering 35.
• the covering 35 can also comprise rubber, leather, cork, or the like.
• the covering 35 can also be or comprise a plastic film, in particular a transparent plastic film.
• the covering 35 can comprise textiles 36, 37 with different mesh sizes.
• a window 38 can be provided which is formed with a coarse-meshed first textile 36 having a larger mesh size than a fine-meshed second textile 37 used outside the window 38 for the covering 35.
• the covering 35 can be transparent within the window 38 to allow a view into the receiving space 29 from the outside.
• the entire covering 35 can be formed with the coarse-mesh first textile 36, so that the entire covering 35 is transparent.
• the coarse-mesh first textile 36 can be a net or have a net-like design.
• the window 38 can also comprise a transparent plastic film.
• the first lateral guide wall 25 further comprises a plurality of quick-connection elements 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, with the aid of which the first lateral guide wall 25 can be connected to the tower 5, in particular to the tower platform 20.
• the number of quick-connection elements 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50 is arbitrary. However, preferably, at least four such quick-connection elements 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50 are provided.
• the quick-connecting elements 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50 can also be referred to as connecting elements or fastening elements.
• the quick-connecting elements 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50 are in the Figs. 3 and 4 not shown and in the Fig. 5 and 6 not provided with reference symbols.
• the quick-connection elements 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50 are belt-shaped, band-shaped, cord-shaped, or strip-shaped.
• the quick-connection elements 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50 are preferably sewn to the covering 35.
• the quick-connection elements 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50 are elastically deformable, in particular bendable.
• the quick-connecting elements 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50 can be looped around a tubular component.
• the quick-connecting elements 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50 have, for example, buttons, hooks, pin locks, hook-and-loop fasteners, eyelets, or any other textile fastening mechanism. This allows the Quick-connecting elements 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50 can be released and closed again without tools.
• Zippers 51, 52 can be provided in the covering 35, which allow access to the receiving space 29, for example, to remove sleeve stubs 14 from the receiving space 29. This allows the receiving space 29 to be emptied without having to dismantle the entire first lateral guide wall 25. Any number of zippers 51, 52 can be provided at any position on the covering 35. Fig. 7 By way of example only, a first zipper 51, which can open a slit-shaped opening, and a U-shaped second zipper 52 are shown, with the aid of which a flap 53 in the covering 35 can be opened and closed.
• the rear guide wall 28 has a lower part 54 and an upper part 55.
• the upper part 55 can be pivoted relative to the lower part 54 in order, for example, to be able to remove sleeve stubs 14 from the receiving space 29.
• the lower part 54 and the upper part 55 are preferably not flat, but curved.
• the lower part 54 and the upper part 55 are preferably curved outwards away from the receiving space 29.
• the reference number 56 in the Fig. 5 and 6 a support structure in the form of a fastening plate.
• the support structure 56 is part of the sleeve stub catching device 24.
• the support structure 56 can also be part of the tower platform 20.
• the tower platform 20 can have any number of support structures 56 in the form of fastening plates, webs, struts, grids, pipes or the like, to which the sleeve stub catching device 24
• the holding structures 56 can each have several functions and serve, for example, only in their secondary function of fastening the sleeve stub catching device 24.
• the second lateral guide wall 26 and/or the rear guide wall 28 can be releasably fastened to the holding structure 56 shown by means of their quick-connecting elements 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50.
• the Fig. 10 shows the detail view X according to the Fig. 5 .
• the upper part 55 has tabs 57, 58 sewn into the covering 35.
• the lower part 54 can also have such a tab 59.
• Attached to the tabs 57, 58, 59 are quick-connecting elements 39, 40, 41 as previously mentioned, which engage around a further support structure 60 in the form of a fastening tube.
• the support structure 60 is—like the support structure 56—part of the tower 5, in particular of the tower platform 20.
• the support structure 60 can also be part of the sleeve stub catch device 24.
• the front guide wall 27 has an S-shaped curvature, at least in sections.
• the front guide wall 27 has a deformation region 62 facing away from an upper edge 61 of the front guide wall 27.
• the deformation region 62 is, in particular, S-shaped in cross-section.
• the deformation region 62 enables, in particular, an accordion-like deformation of the front guide wall 27. This can be advantageous during directional movements of the weapon barrel 17.
• the guide walls 25, 26, 27, 28 or at least a part of the guide walls 25, 26, 27, 28 are connected to the respective holding structure 56, 60 by means of their quick-connecting elements 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50. Furthermore, it is also additionally or alternatively possible to connect the guide walls 25, 26, 27, 28 or to connect at least some of the guide walls 25, 26, 27, 28 to one another or to one another by means of their quick-connecting elements 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50.
• a sleeve stub 14 strikes one of the guide walls 25, 26, 27, 28, this wall is elastically deformed, and the sleeve stub 14 is guided downwards along the direction of gravity g toward the tower platform floor 22.
• the sleeve stub 14 cannot leave the receiving space 29.
• the window 38 allows observation of how much the receiving space 29 is filled with sleeve stub 14. By opening the zippers 51, 52, the sleeve stub 14 can be removed from the receiving space 29 without having to dismantle any of the guide walls 25, 26, 27, 28.
• the use of textiles 36, 37 for the covering 35 results in a good deceleration effect, good accessibility of the receiving space 29, and the possibility of easy viewing into the receiving space 29, for example, via the window 38. This creates the possibility of reducing the heat signature of the weapon 6 by thermal insulation integrated into the covering. This can be achieved by a suitable selection of the respective textiles 36, 37.
• the guide walls 25, 26, 27, 28 effectively slow down the ejection energy of the case stubs 14.
• the case stub catcher 24 has a lightweight construction, is quick to assemble and disassemble, and presents a low risk of injury.
• easy-to-operate quick fasteners such as hook-and-loop fasteners, buttons, knots, hooks, or
• the use of self-extinguishing materials for the covering 35 ensures a high level of safety.
• the shell stub catcher 24 is easy and inexpensive to maintain and replace.
• the guide walls 25, 26, 27, and 28 are very light and narrow.
• the side guide walls 25, 26 are arranged to limit lateral movement of the ejected cartridge case stubs 14.
• the rear guide wall 28 limits longitudinal movement of the ejected cartridge case stubs 14.
• the front guide wall 27 is mounted below the breech block 18 of the weapon, limiting forward movement of the ejected cartridge case stubs 14.
• the guide walls 25, 26, 27, 28 are, where possible, attached to existing support structures 56, 60 of the turret 5. Where this is not possible, additional support structures 56, 60, for example in the form of support tubes, support plates, or the like, are introduced.
• the guide walls 25, 26, 27, 28 can be manually detached from the support structures 56, 60 without tools to obtain free access to the breech block 18 and/or to a sliding door of an ammunition compartment of the turret 5.
• the guide walls 25, 26, 27, 28 separate the movement area of the breech of the weapon 6 and an ammunition feed, particularly in the form of an automatic loader, from the commander's and gunner's positions to minimize the risk of injury from accessing moving parts.
• the guide walls 25, 26, 27, 28 are heat-resistant and flame-retardant. Should the guide walls 25, 26, 27, 28 nevertheless catch fire, they do not emit toxic gases and are self-extinguishing.
• the guide walls 25, 26, 27, 28 reduce the noise level within the tower 5.
• the guide walls 25, 26, 27, 28 can be designed as nets in order to better observe the processes in the tower 5.
• the receiving space 29 can be emptied easily and quickly using the zippers 51, 52.
• the guide walls 25, 26, 27, 28 are preferably flexible enough to allow the driver to enter and exit through the turret 5, even when the turret 5 is in the 6:00 o'clock position.

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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)
• Toys (AREA)

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  • 2024-01-29 DE DE102024102458.5A patent/DE102024102458A1/de active Pending
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