GB2169389A

GB2169389A - Mortars

Info

Publication number: GB2169389A
Application number: GB07909858A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anton Politzer; Hans Sackenreuter
Original assignee: Diehl GmbH and Co
Current assignee: Diehl Verwaltungs Stiftung
Priority date: 1978-05-27
Filing date: 1979-05-21
Publication date: 1986-07-09
Also published as: DE2823170C1; NO791392L; GB2169389B; NO157030B; NO157030C; FR2578316A1; CA1213162A; IT7921777A0; FR2578316B1; IT1166740B

Abstract

In a mortar in or for an armoured vehicle a barrel 4' is axially displaceable in a mount 26 from the firing position shown to a raised position allowing rotation of a drum 108, having six ammunition-receiving tubular portions, to bring a selected loaded tubular portion 109 into alignment with barrel 4', whereupon the barrel 4' can then be moved down into its firing position, above the drum tubular portion aligned with it. The barrel 4' is lockable to the mount 26 by means of studs 101 which engage in grooves in the side of the mount, being movable out of these grooves via a control cam 102 on rotation of the barrel 4'. In another embodiment, the rotatable drum has swingable tubular portions each loadable in a position at right angles to the barrel axis; and in a further embodiment the rotatable drum has swingable end-pivoted tubular portions each loadable in a position oblique to the barrel axis. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A mortar in or for an armoured vehicle This invention relates to a mortar in or for an armoured vehicle.

In our Patent Application No. 41281/77 there is described a mortar wherein a barrel of the mortar is displaceable in accordance with the length of a projectile whereby the projectile can be arranged, in alignment with the axis of the bore of the barrel, on a base piece of a mount. Then, the barrel has to be put over the entire projectile and, after abutment against the base piece, be locked to the mount. This loading operation can be too time-intensive, more especially in the case of overlong projectiles, on account of the described barrel movement, and may therefore allow a rate of fire which is only comparatively low.

The task of the present invention is to provide a modification or development of the invention described in our said Patent Application such that, by simple means, a higher rate of fire is possible.

According to the present invention, there is provided a mortar in an armoured vehicle with a mount which is arranged in an armoured shield, arranged so as to swivel on the vehicle side, and which receives the barrel of the mortar, and with a ball head, arranged thereon, for a vehicle traverse mounting, and with a tubular portion for the axial guidance of the barrel and for the mounting of the mount in the shield, and with a locking device which is provided on the mount, characterised in that between the inner end of the barrel and the mount is a body which has tubular portions for receiving the ammunition and which is mounted for rotation in the mount parallel to the axis of the bore of the barrel, the tubular portion which is for the time being in alignment with the barrel being sealed by way of sealing means at the barrel side or at the barrel side and the mount side, and in that the inner length of the tubular portions is substantially less than the shortest ammunition.

Thereby, the result can be achieved that projectiles, even in the event of vehicle jolts, are held reliably in a storage position and, in the event of detonation misfires, can be removed without any problems from the body which received the projectiles. Also, in the case of nose fuze projectiles, it is readily possible to mount the fuzes only on the projectiles which have been inserted into the tubular portions, or to set same to specific values.

A considerable saving in time exists as a result of the barrel being displaceable approximately only half as far as compared with the said mortar described in our aforesaid Patent Application. Advantageously, also the danger of the spontaneous ignition of the projectiles as a result of overheating of the tubular portions is obviated. As a result of the separation of the barrel from the tubular portions, a flow of heat from the barrel to the body with the tubular portions is not possible. On the other hand, as a result of the relatively great mass and large outer surface, acting in a cooling manner, of the body, the spontaneous ignition temperature of the projectile is not reached.

The body may have, for receiving ammunition, tubular portions each swingable on the body, via swivel joints from a basic position, parallel to the axis of the barrel bore or the axis of rotation of the body, radially outwards into a loading position. Such an arrangement has the advantage of an additional saving in time as a result of a particularly favourable possibility of loading the tubular portions. As a result of the swivel joints, which can lie in the base region of the tubular portions, the projectiles are, from ammunition magazines, on the vehicle side, insertable, through the horizontal loading possibility, rapidly into the tubular portions.

Also, according to the invention, there is provided a mortar in or for an armoured vehicle having in the vehicle body an aperture for accommodating swivel movement of a barrel of the mortar, said mortar having a mount which receives said barrel and is swivelly supported on, or swivelly supportable on, an interior part of the vehicle, the barrel being axially displaceable relatively to the mount between a lowered position and a raised position, and being lockable to the mount, characterised in that there is provided, between the inner end of the barrel and a base of the mount, a rotatable body which is mounted for rotation, when the barrel is in a raised position, relatively to the mount about an axis parallel to the axis of the bore of the barrel to bring a tubular portion or bore, with which said body is provided and which is for receiving ammunition for firing through the barrel, into alignment with the barrel, the barrel being, when said tubular portion or bore is in alignment therewith, movable down into a firing position in which its lower end communicates with the upper end of the aligned tubular portion or bore.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a mortar with a drum shown in section; Figure 2 shows a portion of the barrel of the mortar in accordance with Figure 1; Figure 3 shows the mortar in accordance with Figure 1 in a loading position; Figure 4 shows a section on the line IV--IV, Figure 1; Figure 5 shows the lower part of a mortar generally in accordance with Figure 1 but which has a drum which is different from that shown in Figure 1; Figure 6 shows a section on the line VI- VI, Figure 1; Figure 7 shows a further mortar; Figure 8 shows a modified tubular portion for the mortar in accordance with Figure 7; Figure 9 shows a further mortar; Figure 10 shows a section on the line X-X, Figure 9; and Figure 11 shows a partial section on the line Xl Xl, Figure 10.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, a mortar 4, which has a barrel 4' arranged in a mount 26, is mounted via a tubular portion 25 in an armoured shield 13, and via a ball head 34 and ball cup 34' in a vehicle-side traverse 6.

A hydraulic elevating device 100, known in itself, is provided for the axial displacement of the barrel 4'.

A locking device for the barrel 4' in the mount 26 consists, in accordance with Figure 2, of locking studs 101 and a control cam 102, which is co-operable with a non-rotatable pin 107 which is fastened to a piston 106.

The locking studs 101 engage, in accordance with Figures 3 and 4, into mount-side grooves 99.

The mount 26 has, furthermore, a frame comprising a base piece 103, a front wall 104 and a strut 98 for the front wall 104. A shaft 105 of a six-round drum 108 (Figures 1, 4 and 5) is mounted for rotation in the front wall 104 and in the base piece 103.

The drum 108 is provided with tubular portions 109, 109', 109", 109"', 118, 119, which are open at the top, for the reception of projectiles 110 and 111 of different lengths. Drum inserts 108' with bores 112 for ignition cartridges (not shown) are arranged at the base side.

The drum or the inner length 113 of the tubular portions such as 109 is of such dimension that, in the case of the shortest type of projectile 110, at least one quarter of the length of the projectile projects beyond the drum upper surface 114. The protruding length of projectile is not limited to a quarter.

It may have any extent, insofar as it is ensured that the projectile can be withdrawn at its protruding part.

The distance 115 (Figure 2) between the said drum surface 114 and the shield 13 is, in the projectile loading position A, somewhat greater than the length 111' of the projectile 111.

The drum 108 carries a worm toothing 116 which meshes with a worn 117 which is mounted in the mount 26. The worm 117 is driven by a motor 97 which is shown in Figure 4.

After the short projectile 110 has been fired from the tubular portion 109"', let it be assumed that the long projectile 111 is to be fired. For this purpose, first the barrel 4' is, during an initial stroke of the elevating mechanism 100 over the length 102' (Figure 2), rotated, by co-operation of the control cam 102 and the pin 107, which is only axially movable, in the circumferential direction of said barrel 4'. Thus the locking studs 101 pass in known manner out of the locking position, shown in Figures 1 and 4, into a free space 120 of the mount 26. Then a lift of the barrel end 122 as far as the position 121 is effected. Then the drum 108 is rotated to such an extent that the long projectile 111 in the tubular portion 109 is in alignment with the barrel 4'. The barrel 4' is then brought into the initial position shown in Figure 1. Now the long projectile 111 can be fired.In the tubular portion 109"' which has been emptied by firing, there is, in the direction of the arrow 124, insertable, in the position A, a projectile in accordance with the types of projectile 110 or 111. Similarly into the empty tubular portions 109', 109", 118, 119.

The drum 125 in the arrangement shown in Figure 5, is, unlike the drum 108 in accordance with Figure 1, provided on the base side with open tubular portions 126. In this way the projectiles 110 or 111 can, with sufficient space underneath the drum 125, also be inserted "from below", in the direction of the arrow 127. The (only partially shown) projectiles 110 are protected against dropping out, in the tubular portions 126, by known resilient catch means which are not shown here. To seal the tubular portion in alignment with the axis of the bore of the barrel, a gasreinforced sealing device 130 is provided in the mount.

A stressing-bolt 133, which can be driven by the gas pressure in the direction 132 of the axis of the bore, is mounted so as to be axially displaceable in a bore 131 of the base piece 103 of the mount 26. This stressing bolt 133 has a cone 134, against which there butt balls 136 which are mounted so as to be radially displaceable in a recess 135 of the base piece 103. The balls 136 lie against an axially displaceable and frontally obturating sealing ring 138 which is similarly mounted in the base piece 103. When the projectile 110 or 111 is fired, as a result of the gas pressure of the ignited projectile propellant charge 139 the stressing bolt 133 is moved in the direction of the arrow 132. This movement thereof is deflected by the balls 136 to the sealing ring 138, which carries out a stroke of 3/10 mm and is pressed in sealing manner against the drum 108.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 7, a mortar 4" has, on an arm 128 of a base piece 129, a bearing pin 140' for a rotary body 140. The body 140 carries two pivots 141, 142. These support two tubular portions 143, 144 which are open at the front and base. The tubular portions 143, 144 are shorter than the shortest projectile 110 (Figure 1).

The tubular portion 143 is shown in the loading position. The tubular portion 144 is shown in the firing position.

The barrel 4' of the mortar is axially displaceable via a handle 150. Locking studs 101 which are arranged on the barrel engage into grooves 99, of known form, in barrel sleeve 25'.

The joint between the tubular portions 143 or 144 and the barrel 4' is sealed by a known, axially movable, sealing ring 146. The base-side joint shown at 147 is sealed by a sealing device 130 of the construction described with reference to Figure 5.

If, instead of the form of tubular portions 143, 144 which is shown in Figure 7, there is used a tubular portion 147 (Figure 8) which is closed on the base side, then the gas-reinforced sealing device 130 in the base piece 129 of the mount 26' is omitted.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 9, a mortar 4"' with a barrel 4' is shown in a position which is inclined with respect to the mortar 4 in accordance with Figure 1. Instead of supporting a drum 108 in accordance with Figure 1, the shaft 105 supports a mushroomshaped body 150. The body 150 is provided with four recesses 151-154 for tubular portions 155-158 which are closed at the base side, four bearing blocks 160-163, four catch devices 165 known in themselves, four pins 166 and an encircling stop surface 167.

The tubular portions 155 158 each have at the base side a recess 168 and two bores 169 (Figure 11). The tubular portions 155-158 butt, in the basic position which is shown in Figure 9, against a respective surface 171, bounded by an offset 170, of the recesses 151-154. The catch devices 165, having features which are not provided with reference numbers here, such as a bore, spring, and ball catch recess, secure the tubular portions 155 158 in the basic position.

A base surface 175 (Figure 9) of each tubular portion butts in each position, during swivel movement of the tubular portion in the direction of the arrow B, against the bearing block 160 or 161-163.

For loading a projectile 110 or 111 into one of the tubular portions 155-158, in the position, of the body 150, shown in Figure 9 the tubular portion has to be swung out of the depicted basic position, in the direction of the arrow B, into the position shown in dot-dash lines. In this position a projectile is easily and rapidly insertable. Then the return movement of the loaded tubular portion into the basic position is effected. By rotating the body 150 by hand, until the loaded tubular portion is in alignment with the raised barrel 4', a further projectile is available for firing.

The described loading operation can also be carried out in the position in which the tubular sleeve 156 stands in accordance with Figure 10.

Claims

1. A mortar in an armoured vehicle with a mount which is arranged in an armoured shield, arranged so as to swivel on the vehicle side, and which receives the barrel of the mortar, and with a ball head, arranged thereon, for a vehicle traverse mounting, and with a tubular portion for the axial guidance of the barrel and for the mounting of the mount in the shield, and with a locking device which is provided on the mount, characterised in that between the inner end of the barrel and the mount is a body which has tubular portions for receiving the ammunition and which is mounted for rotation in the mount parallel to the axis of the bore of the barrel, the tubular portion which is for the time being in alignment with the barrel being sealed by way of sealing means at the barrel side or at the barrel side and the mount side, and in that the inner length of the tubular portions is substantially less than the shortest ammunition.

2. A mortar in or for an armoured vehicle having in the vehicle body an aperture for accommodating swivel movement of a barrel of the mortar, said mortar having a mount which receives said barrel and is swivelly supported on, or swivelly supportable on, an interior part of the vehicle, the barrel being axially displaceable relatively to the mount between a lowered position and a raised position, and being lockable to the mount, characterised in that there is provided, between the inner end of the barrel and a base of the mount, a rotatable body which is mounted for rotation, when the barrel is in a raised position, relatively to the mount about an axis parallel to the axis of the bore of the barrel to bring a tubular portion or bore, with which said body is provided and which is for receiving ammunition for firing through the barrel, into alignment with the barrel, the barrel being, when said tubular portion or bore is in alignment therewith, movable down into a firing position in which its lower end communicates with the upper end of the aligned tubular portion or bore.

3. A mortar as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the body is a drum which is able to be stepped-on via drive means.

4. A mortar as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that mounted on the body is at least one rotatable tubular portion which receives the ammunition and the axis of rotation of which lies substantially at right angles to the axis of rotation of the body.

5. A mortar as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the or each tubular portion or bore is open at one end.

6. A mortar as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the or each tubular portion or bore is open at both ends.

7. A mortar as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the body, has for receiving ammunition, tubular portions each swingable on the body, via swivel joints, from a basic position, parallel to the axis of the barrel bore or the axis of rotation of the body, radially outwards into a loading position.

8. A mortar as claimed in Claim 7, characterised in that the body has stop surfaces and catch elements, for co-operating with the tubular portions in the basic position, and has bounding surfaces for co-operating with said tubular portions in the outermost loading position.

9. A mortar substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 and 6, or to Figures 1 to 4 and 6 as modified by Figure 5, or to Figure 7, or to Figure 7 as modified by Figure 8, or to Figures 9 to 11, of the accompanying drawings.