GB2115121A

GB2115121A - Apparatus for adjusting sighting devices

Info

Publication number: GB2115121A
Application number: GB08304907A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Laar Klaus Von; Cavit Winter; Wilhelm Machmer
Original assignee: Diehl GmbH and Co
Current assignee: Diehl Verwaltungs Stiftung
Priority date: 1982-02-25
Filing date: 1983-02-22
Publication date: 1983-09-01
Also published as: FR2522132A1; SE8300958D0; FR2522132B1; SE453325B; GB8304907D0; GB2115121B; DE3206657C2; DE3206657A1; SE8300958L

Abstract

In an apparatus for adjusting a sighting device, eg. a periscope (19) on a weapon barrel (1), a holding ring (5) is mounted for rotation in a plane which is transverse the longitudinal axis (6) of the barrel (1) and is operatively connected to the periscope (19). Means for indicating (8) when the holding ring (5) is suitably levelled ensure that the periscope is readjusted to point in a desired direction when the barrel (1) has been tilted. The periscope (19) may be adjusted about the axis of elevation. Both the adjustment of the holding ring (5) and that of the periscope (19) may be effected manually (eg. by hand drive (15)) or by an electric motor (eg. motor (14)). In an alternative embodiment, the holding ring (5) is mounted for rotation about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the barrel (1), being mounted about a pin supported by a plate, the latter being mounted about the weapon barrel. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for adjusting a sighting device on, or associated with, a weapon barrel The invention relates to the adjusting of a sighting device, for example a periscope, on or associated with, a weapon barrel of a weapon disposed in a fixed position on the ground or on a vehicle, more particularly a high-trajectory weapon mounted on an armoured vehicle, a mortar or a gun.

A high-trajectory weapon or a mortar is set up both on open ground and on an armoured vehicle by means of a bipod which supports the weapon barrel and gives it the required elevation setting and angle of sighting. The weapon barrel itself is supported by means of its breech plate in a ball socket of a traverse guide arm or a base plate. The known bipod has elevating and traversing gearing by means of which the height and angle of sighting of the weapon barrel can be adjusted in each case with the aid of a hand crank drive. When the weapon is set up in an armoured vehicle the two support legs the bipod are connected to a roller carriage having rollers which run in a curved roller rail on the floor of the armoured vehicle and thereby enable the hightrajectory weapon or mortar to be pivoted.The known bipods also have a so-called tilting mechanism by means of which, again via a hand crank drive, the elevating gear is adjusted vertically and the traversing gear is adjusted horizontally, this being necessary, for example, when the armoured vehicle is in a sloping position on uneven ground. Asighting device or periscope is also fitted on a sight of the bipod so that the side position and height of the weapon and weapon barrel can be adjusted.

A high-trajectory weapon set up in the abovedescribed manner in an armoured vehicle requires considerable space because of the necessary bipod and the sighting gear, but in the relatively smaller interior of armoured vehicles space is limited and needed for equipment and ammunition storage. The hand crank drive for the elevating and traversing gear and for the tilting mechanism is clumsy, time-consuming and also takes up a lot of room.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for adjusting a sighting device on, or associated with, a weapon barrel, the apparatus comprising: a holding ring which is mounted for rotation on a plane which is transverse the longitudinal axis of the weapon barrel, the holding ring being operatively connected to the sighting device; and means for indicating when the holding ring is suitably levelled, the arrangement being such that, when the holding ring is suitably levelled,the sighting device points in a desired direction.

Thus, by way of the sighting device, which may be a periscope, being in operative connection with a holding ring which is rotatably mounted centrally about the weapon barrel or an axis parallel to the axis of the weapon barrel, and which has indicating means or a levelling device which, when suitably levelled when the holding ring is turned, points the periscope in zero position in the firing direction of the weapon barrel, adjusting of a periscope connected to the weapon barrel in the manner according to the invention may be achieved simply, without great technical outlay and without the need for the tilting mechanism on the known bipod.

The type and mode of operation of the device according to the invention firstly provides the possibility of installing a high-trajectory weapon in an armoured vehicle without it being supported by the bipod, while relating all the adjusting functions.

Omitting the bipod also saves considerable space which can usefully be used in other ways and also facilities the handling of the high-trajectory weapon.

The sloping position of the armoured vehicle and thus the tilting of the weapon is overcome in respect of the periscope by turning the holding ring about the weapon axis or an axis parallel thereto until the levelling device is levelled and points the periscope in zero position in the firing direction. This means that both the position of the weapon barrel and the location of the armoured vehicle can be changed; the periscope can be moved at any time quickly and safely into the adjusted position and thus enables rapid and reliable corrections to be made to the firing direction of the weapon barrel.

In an embodiment of the invention the holding ring can be rotatably mounted about a pin which can be fixed concentrically to the axis of the weapon barrel on a carrier connected directly or indirectly with the weapon barrel. This solution enables the periscope and the levelling mechanism to be mounted at a distance from the weapon barrel, which makes the operation of the weapon and of the periscope easier. On the other hand, when there is only limited space available the holding ring may, according to another feature of the invention, be centrally mounted in an axially fixed position about the weapon barrel.

In a further embodiment of the invention the levelling device can be fixed on a bracket arm of the holding ring and disposed at right angles to the axis of elevation of the periscope.

The rotary movement of the holding ring may be produced according to an embodiment of the invention by the holding ring being in a drive connection via an intermediate drive unit with an electric motor and/or a mechanical band drive. This enables the adjustment of the sighting device to be achieved both by manual adjustment and via the electric motor. The holding ring may at the same time be part of a drive unit, more particularly a worm drive, which meshes with a corresponding drive unit component so that the solution used for the rotary drive for the holding ring can be achieved on the one hand with a minimum of components and on the other hand in a space-saving manner.

In order to mount the periscope simply and safely and to enable it to be adjusted according to the position of the weapon barrel there may also be connected to the holding ring a support member which may be pivoted by a prescribed angle and which holds the periscope which, together with the support member, is rotatable about the axis of elevation into the vertical position by an electric motor and/or by a mechanical hand drive.

The rotary movement of the periscope may also be controlled by a uniaxial position sensor in operative connection with an electric motor. A preferred pivoting range of the periscope may be + 20 from the axis of elevation, an angle sensor or a vernier indicating the elevation of the weapon barrel in respect of the vertically aligned periscope.

Instead of the simple levelling device, an electrolyte levelling device or a pendulum sensor or a uniaxial position sensor may be in operative connection with an electrical control circuit for effecting the electromotively driven, automatic adjustment of the holding ring. The same also applies for the adjustment of the periscope. When a biaxial position sensor is used, both the periscope and the holding ring may be adjusted simultaneously without the necessity for further sighting gear.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a periscope with a holding ring on a weapon barrel.

Figure 2 shows a section through the holding ring and the periscope along the line ll-ll in Figure 1, with sensor.

Figure 3 shows the holding ring with a support memberforthe periscope.

Figure 4 shows in partial section a holding ring mounted about an axis parallel to the axis of the weapon barrel.

The weapon-barrel 1 of a high-trajectory weapon is supported by means of its ball end 2 on the breech plate 3 in a ball socket 4. The high-trajectory weapon is supported by means on the armoured vehicle - not shown here because they are not part of the invention. A holding ring 5 is rotatably mounted centrally about the weapon barrel 1. The holding ring 5 is attached to the weapon barrel 1 in an axially fixed position. Parallel to the weapon barrel axis 6 a bracket arm 7 is connected to the holding ring 5 and its free end carries a levelling device 8 arranged at right angles to the axis of elevation of the periscope.

The rotary movement of the holding ring 5 is achieved by means of a worm drive 11, initiated by a hand drive 9 and/or an electric motor drive 10. The electric motor 10 and the hand drive 9 are advantageously on one axis and are connected to the worm 12, which is arranged therebetween and which may if necessary be disengaged, of the worm drive 11. The worm 12 drives the worm wheel 13 which is moulded in one piece with the holding ring 5 and extends only a curved piece approximately + 150 from the common central axis. The levelling device 8 is displaced by 90 from the longitudinal axis of the drive assembly: electric motor-wormhand drive.

Diametrically opposed and parallel to this drive assembly a second drive assembly is arranged on the holding ring 5 and is again formed by an electric motor 14 with coupling and a hand drive 15. The hand drive 15 and the electric motor 14 act on a pick-up member or support member 16 via an intermediate drive unit 17. The pivoting range ofthe pick-up member 16 is approximately 20 on both sides of the vertical axis. On the free end of the pick-up member 16 there is a moulded piece 18 which is fixedly coupled with a counterpart of the periscope 19. For an automatically controlled motor drive a sensor 21, which adjusts the vertical position of the periscope 19 about the elevation axis 26, is in operative connection with the electric motor on an arm 20.

When the firing direction through the weapon barrel 1 is altered in elevation setting and/or angle of sighting, the invention provides the possibility of bringing the periscope 19 back into the correct position with respect to axis 6 if necessary when the weapon barrel 1 has been tilted. For this purpose the holding ring 5 is turned by the hand drive 9 or an electric motor 10 about the weapon barrel 1 until the levelling device 8 is levelled and thus points the periscope 19 in zero position in the firing direction.

Then, or if a sensor is incorporated, simultaneously, the periscope 19 is brought into the vertical position by hand drive 15 or electric motor 14 via the drive unit 17; i.e. it is pivoted about the axis of elevation.

Figure 4 shows a holding ring 5.1 which is rotatably mounted about a pin 22 and again is integral with the worm wheel 13.1. The pin 22 is attached to a plate 23 which is itself connected to the cylinder 24for the elevation adjustment of the weapon barrel 1. The periscope 19 is connected to the moulded piece 18.1.

In this Example the holding ring 5.1 does not turn directly about the weapon barrel 1 but about an axis 25 of the pin 22, parallel to the weapon barrel axis 6.

In this way the periscope 19 is clear of the hightrajectory weapon. The drive for the rotary movement of the holding ring 5.1 is again derived from a hand drive 9 or electric motor 10 which act on a worm 12.1 which is in operative connection with the worm wheel 13.1

Claims

1. Apparatus for adjusting a sighting device on or associated with, a weapon barrel, the apparatus comprising: a holding ring which is mounted for rotation in a plane which is transverse the longitudinal axis of the weapon barrel, the holding ring being operatively connected to the sighting device; and means for indicating when the holding ring is suitably levelled, the arrangement being such that, when the holding ring is suitably levelled, the sighting device points in a desired direction.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1,wherein the sighting device is a periscope.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the holding ring is mounted for rotation in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the weapon barrel.

4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the holding ring is mounted for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the weapon barrel.

5. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the holding ring is mounted for rotation about an axis which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the weapon barrel.

6. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the holding ring is mounted for rotation about a pin which is supported by a plate, the plate being mounted about the weapon barrel.

7. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the holding ring is coaxial with the weapon barrel and is fixed with respect to movement in a longitudinal direction.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said indicating means is attached to the holding ring by way of a supporting arm.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the holding ring is operatively connected via a gear unit to an electric motor.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the holding ring is operatively connected via a gear unit to a mechanical hand driven unit.

11. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 9 or 10, wherein the holding ring is provided with teeth which, in use of the apparatus, mesh with the gear unit.

12. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sighting device is supported by a support member connected to the holding ring, and wherein the support member and therewith the sighting device are pivotable about a vertical axis by means of an electric motor.

13. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sighting device is supported by a support member connected to the holding ring, and wherein the support member and therewith the sighting device are pivotable about a vertical axis by means of a mechanical hand driven unit.

14. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 12 or 13, wherein the pivoting action about the vertical axis of the sighting device is controlled by a position sensor.

15. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 14, wherein the position sensor is a water levelling device.

16. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 14, wherein the position sensor is an electrolytic levelling device.

17. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 14, wherein the position sensor is a biaxial position sensor.

18. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 14, wherein the position sensor is a pendulum sensor device.

19. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 13 to 18 wherein the sighting device can be pivoted between + 20 from the vertical axis.

20. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein an angle sensor or vernier scale indicates the angle between the longitudinal axis of the weapon barrel and the vertical.

21. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said indicating means is an electrolytic levelling device.

22. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 20, wherein said indicating means is a pendulum sensor.

23. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 20, wherein said indicating means is a uniaxial position sensor.

24. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 20, wherein said indicating means is a biaxial position sensor.

25. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the indicating means is in operative connection with control means for automatically adjusting the position of the sighting device and/or the holding ring.

26. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 25, when said control means is an electrical control circuit.

27. Apparatus for levelling a sighting device on a weapon barrel substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.