FR2578317A1 - LAUNCHING AND GUIDANCE DEVICE FOR FLYING MACHINES FROM LAUNCHING TUBES AND POWERED BY REACTION. - Google Patents

Abstract

LAUNCHING AND GUIDING DEVICE, FOR MACHINERY LAUNCHED FROM TUBES AND PROPULATED BY REACTION, INCLUDING A SUPPORT1 RECEIVING THE LAUNCHING TUBE6 AND THE MEANS OF AIMING5. THIS SUPPORT IS ADJUSTABLE IN HEIGHT AND AZIMUT BY MEANS OF A HANDLE 7. FOR THIS EFFECT, IT IS MOUNTED ON A BODY OF BEARING3 SO AS TO BE ABLE TO PIVOT AROUND A HORIZONTAL2 AXIS. THE BEARING BODY IS ARRANGED SO AS TO PIVOT AROUND A VERTICAL AXIS 11. THE REDUCER FOR THE POINTING MOVEMENT IN HEIGHT IS CONSTITUTED BY A REDUCER WITH ELASTICAL DEFORMATION OF THE "HARMONIC-DRIVE" TYPE 12, OF WHICH THE INTERNAL PART13, OF ELLIPTICAL SHAPE, IS DRIVEN BY A SHAFT 17 TO WHICH THE ORIENTATION HANDLE7 IS FIXED

Description

LAUNCHING AND GUIDANCE DEVICE FOR

  FLYING MACHINES FROM LAUNCHING TUBES

AND PROPULSES BY REACTION

  The invention relates to a launching and guiding device, for flying machines starting from launching tubes and propelled by reaction, comprising a support receiving the launching tube as well as the aiming means, this support being adjustable in height and in azimuth at by means of a handle and being mounted on a bearing body so as to be able to pivot around a horizontal axis, the bearing body being arranged on a lower support, so as to pivot therein around a vertical axis, and having a reduction gear for the pointing movement and a bearing for the

pointing movement in azimuth.

  Such a device appears in patent DE-12 66 665. In this document, the reduction gear for the pointing movement in height is not damped and is constituted by a worm wheel sector mounted for rotation around a horizontal axis and cooperating with an endless screw rotatably mounted in a gearbox, the orientation handle being linked to the endless screw by means of bevel wheels. For the pointing movement in azimuth, there is provided, on the bearing housing, a pin which is mounted on the lower support so as to be able to pivot around the vertical axis, thanks to two needle stops and a rolling bearing. needles. The reduction gear for the pointing movement in azimuth is damped. To this end, there is, below the three needle bearings, a damping device constituted by several parallel discs arranged at a short distance from each other, fixed alternately to the trunnion and the lower support, a damping liquid being located between these discs . This

  known device is relatively bulky.

  The invention aims to achieve a launching and guiding device of the kind mentioned at the start, which will be compact. According to the invention, this object is achieved by the fact that the reduction gear for the pointing movement in height is constituted by an elastic deformation reduction gear of the "Harmonic-Drive" type, the internal part of which, in elliptical shape, is driven by a

  shaft to which the orientation handle is attached.

  Reducers with elastic deformation of the "Harmonic-Drive" type are known (see, for example the notice published by the company called HarmonicDrive-System

  GmbH, 6070 Langen, Federal Republic of Germany).

  Basically, they include: an elliptical inner part, called "Wave Generator" on which a bearing is mounted; a cylindrical, elastic steel bush, with external toothing, called "Flex-Spline" which is deformed by the elliptical part; and an outer ring or crown with internal toothing, called "Circular-Spline" which is a rigid steel ring whose teeth constantly mesh, by the large diameter, with those of the socket elliptically deformed. The meshing range is approximately 15% of the total number of teeth. The pitches of the teeth of the deformable sleeve and of the rigid ring are identical. The number of teeth, however, differs from, for example, two teeth. The diameter of the original circle of the deformable sleeve is smaller than that of the rigid ring, that of the difference of the two teeth. As a result, during the rotation of the elliptical inner part, a relative movement which, in the case where this part is driven while the deformable bush constitutes the stator, leads to a transmission with reduction between elliptical part and rigid ring. According to the invention, the shaft to which the handle is fixed drives the elliptical part. In the device according to the invention, the reduction ratio is preferably between 60 and 120. A damping device is preferably provided for the reducer with elastic deformation of the "Harmonic-Drive" type. This damping device is then preferably integrated into the orientation handle. It is advantageously constituted by a sleeve fixed to the bearing body so as to be integral therewith in rotation and by an annular gap which is between the shaft and the orientation handle and

  which is filled with a dampening liquid.

  According to other possibilities provided by the invention: - a sheath can be arranged on the tree; - the thermal expansion of the shaft and / or of the sleeve, as well as of the sleeve and therefore of the annular interval, as well as the variation: of viscosity of the damping liquid as a function of the temperature are mutually harmonized so as to obtain a force

  temperature independent damping ;.

  - the sleeve can be removably attached to the bearing body; the sleeve with external teeth of the deformation reducer of the "Harmonic-Drive" type is secured in rotation to the bearing body, and the external ring with internal teeth of the reducer of the "HarmonicDrive" type is linked to the support by means of a reverse transmission; - The reversing transmission may be constituted by a pair of toothed wheel segments, the first gear wheel segment being fixed to the outer ring with internal teeth, and the other gear wheel segment being fixed to the support; - For the pointing movement in azimuth, the bearing body can be arranged on a pin fixed on the lower support by means of a bearing with four contact points, so as to pivot around the vertical axis; - One can provide a damping device consisting of an annular chamber provided in the bearing body, concentrically with the bearing at four contact points, and by an annular body fixed to the pin and arranged in the annular chamber, the interval between bodies annular and bearing body being filled with a damping liquid; - the thermal expansion of the annular body and e of the bearing body, therefore of the interval between them, as well as the variation of the viscosity of the damping liquid as a function of the temperature can be mutually harmonized so as to obtain a force of temperature independent damping; - the external toothed socket of the "Harmonic-Drive" type gearbox and the support are mutually coupled, without play, by a kinematic chain with arms

parallel swivels.

  It therefore appears that one can provide, according to the invention, independent damping devices for pointing movements in height

  and in azimuth, the damping action being adjustable.

  The two damping devices can advantageously be adjusted independently of each bearing and reducer, therefore for example independently of the friction of the bearing. As indicated, the two damping devices can be provided with a

  automatic temperature compensation.

  The characteristics and advantages of the invention

  will appear more fully in the description

  presented below by way of nonlimiting example with reference to the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which represents a sectional view of a device according to the invention. A support 1 is provided which, by means of a bearing 4, is mounted so as to be able to pivot about a horizontal axis 2, on a bearing body 3. To the support 1 is removably fixed, by means not shown, the aiming device 5, as well as the launch tube 6, shown in phantom. On the bearing body 3, there is provided an orientation handle 7, extending horizontally, with which the support 1 can be oriented for pointing both in height and in azimuth. In addition, the bearing body 3 is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis 11, by means of a bearing with four contact points 10, on a journal 9 provided on a part 8 of

connection to a tripod.

  The reducer for the pointing movement is formed by an elastic deformation reducer 12, of the "Harmonic Drive" type, which is constituted by an internal part 13, called "Wave-Generator", having an elliptical shape, on a plate. a bearing 14 is mounted, by an elastic sleeve 15, with external toothing, called "Flex-Spline", the elliptical part 13 deforming this sleeve, and by a rigid external ring 16 with internal toothing,

called "Circular-Spline".

  The elliptical part 13 is keyed onto a shaft 17 which extends in the longitudinal direction, in the orientation handle 7. This shaft 17 is mounted on the

  bearing housing 3 by means of bearings 18 and 19.

  At its end remote from the orientation handle 7, the deformable sleeve 15 is fixed,

  with fastening in rotation, to the bearing body 3.

  The rigid ring 16 is rotatably mounted on the bearing body 3 by means of bearings 20 and 21, the first being located on the shaft 17 between the orientation handle 7 and the elliptical part 13, and the second being located at the far end of the

orientation handle 7.

  In addition, a toothed wheel segment 22 is fixed to the rigid ring 16, at the end of the latter facing the orientation handle 7. This toothed wheel segment 22 cooperates with a toothed wheel segment 22 '

fixed on the support 1.

  The reducer 12, of the "Harmonic-Drive" type, is provided with a damping device 23 which has a sleeve 25 which can be secured in rotation to the bearing body 3 by means of a mechanism

quick orientation 24.

  The sleeve 25 is arranged around the shaft 17, in an annular gap 26 formed by a concentric recess arranged inside the orientation handle 7. The annular gap 26 is filled with a damping liquid, for example silicone oil, and is sealed by a seal 27 between the handle 7 and the sleeve 25, as well as by a seal 28 between the sleeve

and the bearing body 3.

  On the shaft 17 is further arranged a sheath 29 which is, for example, made of polytetrafluoroethylene ("Teflon"). The width of the annular gap 26, and therefore the amount of damping, can thus be precisely adjusted. As the sleeve 25 is made of metal, for example aluminum, and the sheath 29 of plastic material, for example of polytetrafluoroethylene, there occurs, during a variation of temperature, a variation of the interval and, consequently, a automatic compensation of the damping force in

function of. temperature.

  The rapid orientation mechanism 24 makes it possible to remove the connection between the sleeve 25 and the bearing body 3, therefore to remove the damping action, for example when, in the case of an air attack, the support 1 must be quickly moved up,

by pivoting.

  The rapid orientation mechanism 24 consists of a pin 31 arranged so that it can slide in the bearing body 3 and urged by a spring 30 towards recesses arranged around the periphery of the sleeve 25, this pin being provided with a button actuator 32 located near

the handle 7.

  The support means for the pointing movement in azimuth consist of the bearing body 3 mounted on the pin 9 by means of the bearing with four contact points 10, and by a device

depreciation 33.

  The damping device 33 has an annular chamber 34 of rectangular section, arranged around the bearing with four contact points 10, concentric with it, and in which is arranged an annular body 35 whose cross section is also rectangular, of so that a gap is formed between the wall of the annular chamber 34

  in the bearing body 3 and the annular body 35.

  As the annular body 35 is made of plastic, for example polytetrafluoroethylene, while the wall on the other side of the gap, in other words the bearing body 3, is made of metal, for example aluminum, there is, in case of temperature variation, a variation of the interval, therefore a compensation

  automatic damping force.

  This interval is filled with a damping liquid. By means of a disc 36, the annular body 35 is secured in rotation to the pin 9. In a recess arranged in this pin 9 is provided a device for measuring the speed of rotation which is linked, on one side, to the bearing housing 3

  and, on the other side, in pin 9.

  Of course, we can also give up the rapid orientation mechanism. In addition, it has been found that the damping device 23 for the "Harmonic-Drive" type reducer, in other words for the pointing movement, can generally be omitted without great inconvenience. On the other hand, the damping device 3 of the support means for the pointing movement in azimuth is, in all cases, essential for obtaining an operation

  satisfactory of the device according to the invention.

Claims (12)

  1. Launching and guiding device, for flying machines starting from launching tubes and propelled by reaction, comprising a support receiving the launching tube as well as the sighting means, this support being adjustable in height and in azimuth by means of a handle and being mounted on a bearing body so as to be able to pivot around a horizontal axis, the bearing body being arranged on a lower support so as to pivot thereon around a vertical axis and having a reduction gear for the movement of pointing in height and a bearing for the pointing movement in azimuth, characterized in that the transmission mechanism for the pointing movement in height consists of an elastic deformation reducer of the "Harmonic-Drive" type l (12), of which the inner part, of elliptical shape (13), is driven by a shaft (17) to which the orientation handle (7) is fixed. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that a damping device (23) is provided for the elastic deformation reducer (12). 3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the damping device (23) consists of a sleeve (25) fixed to the bearing body (3) so as to be secured to it in rotation, and by an annular interval (26) which is between the shaft (17) and the orientation handle (7) and   which is filled with a dampening liquid.   4. Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that a sheath (29) is arranged on the tree (17).   5. Device according to any one of   claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the   1 0 thermal expansion of the shaft (17) and / or of the sleeve (29), as well as of the sleeve (25) and therefore of the annular gap (26), as well as the variation in viscosity of the damping liquid in temperature function are mutually harmonized so as to obtain a   damping force independent of temperature.   6. Device according to any one of   Claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the sleeve   (25) is removably attached to the bearing housing (3).   7. Device according to any one of   previous claims, characterized in that the   bush (15) with external teeth of the elastic deformation reducer (12) is made to rotate with the bearing body (3), and in that the external ring (16), with internal teeth, of the reducer is linked to the support (1 ) via an inversion transmission. 8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the inversion transmission consists of a pair of toothed wheel segments, the first toothed wheel segment (22) being fixed to the outer ring (16) with internal teeth, and the other   toothed wheel segment (22 ') being fixed to the support (1).   9. Device according to any one of   previous claims, characterized in that, for   the pointing movement in azimuth, the bearing body (3) is arranged on a pin (9) fixed on the lower support by means of a bearing with four contact points (10), so as to be able to pivot around the vertical axis (11).   10. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that there is provided a damping device constituted by an annular chamber (34) provided in the bearing body (3), concentric to the bearing at four contact points (10) , and by an annular body (35) fixed to the pin (9) and arranged in the annular chamber (34), the gap between the annular body (35) and the bearing body (3) being filled with a damping liquid . 11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the thermal expansion of the annular body (35) and of the bearing body (3), therefore of the interval between them, as well as the variation of the viscosity of the damping liquid in function of the temperature are mutually harmonized so as to obtain a damping force independent of the temperature. 12. Device according to any one of   previous claims, characterized in that the   bush with external teeth of the elastic deformation reducer (12) and the support (1) are mutually linked, without play, by a kinematic chain with parallel pivoting arms.