GB2170581A

GB2170581A - Weapon mounting

Info

Publication number: GB2170581A
Application number: GB8601722A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Thomas Pearman
Original assignee: GLOVER WEBB Ltd
Current assignee: GLOVER WEBB Ltd
Priority date: 1985-02-04
Filing date: 1986-01-24
Publication date: 1986-08-06
Also published as: GB8601722D0

Abstract

A mounting for supporting a weapon, eg. a machine gun, comprises a tubular support (8) slidably guided in a tubular column (2) so as to be adjustable in height. A gas strut (14) biases the support (8) upwardly with a force that may be greater than the weight to be supported, while a foot pedal (30) fixed to the support (8) is used to lower it against the gas strut (14). A releasable clamp (40) at the top of the column (2) is provided to fix the support (8) at the desired height. The adjustability in support height is used to compensate for changes in height of the gun butt with changing elevation of the gun (not shown) on the support (8). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Mountings This invention relates to weapon mountings and is particularly, but not necessarily, concerned with mountings for machine guns.

With a machine gun having the known form of gimbai or ball joint for supporting it on its mounting near its centre of gravity, the user may find it difficult to adapt to different elevations of the weapon because the butt of the gun may be swung a considerable distance up and down and accordingly the user must change his stance to sight along the gun barrel. He may therefore have to adopt cramped and uncomfortable positions as the gun barrel is moved to higher or lower targets, which can disturb his aim and slow his reactions.

According to the present invention, there is provided an adjustable weapon mounting comprising an upwardly extendable for the weapon to be borne by the mounting, means being provided for applying an upwards force to the support that at least partly compensates for the weights of the object.

By providing the ability to raise and lower the weapon bodily it is possible to place it in a raised position when a higher elevation is required, e.g. when firing on aircraft, and in a lower position when firing on ground targets, so that the change of height of the butt is reduced or even reversed, and the user can select the position to get the best result.

Preferably, the force applying means of the mounting are arranged to produce a force slightly greater than the weight to be raised, so that the weapon does not require to be lifted by the user to its raised position.

It is also preferably arranged that the user is able to adjust the height of the support by foot pressure to avoid interference with the handling of the weapon. If the mounting is biased to go to the raised position, this can be very simply achieved by providing the extendable support with a pedal or other foothold on which the user bears to lower the weapon.

Conveniently, the support is urged upwards by a fluid-pressure device such as a telescopic strut.

An example of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 and 2 are, respectively, a side view and a plan view of a machine gun mounting according to the invention.

The illustrated mounting comprises a tubular column 2 set at one side of and extending vertically from a baseplate 4 on which it is supported rigidly by bracing bars 6 by extending to near the top of the column. A tubular carrier 8 is mounted coaxially in the column and is slidably guided along it by a guide bush 10 within the upper end of the column. The carrier has a top plate 12 to which a machine gun (not shown) can be mounted by a ball joint that is a part of the weapon and that is located forwards of the trigger, near its centre of gravity. A telescopic fluid pressure device in the form of a gas strut 14 of generally conventional design is disposed within the column and carrier, being secured at its lower end to a lug 16 on the baseplate 4 by a screw and nut attachment 18, and at its upper end by a pin 20 to a lug 22 within the upper end of the carrier 8.A flexible bellows casing 24 secured by clamping bands 26, 28 to the tops of the column and carrier helps to keep foreign matter from the guide bush 10.

When the carrier is slid into the column, the contracted strut 14 is in compression and exerts a force greater than that of the moveable part, (i.e. the gun, its ammunition and the slidable carrier) by some 20-30kg. The carrier is thus normally held in the raised position shown in Fig. 1.

A pedal 30 (Figs. 4 & 5) is secured to the lower end of the carrier 8 by a bolt that projects through a longitudinal slot (not shown) in the column 2. The slot extends from near the bottom of the column to just below the guide bush. The pedal comprises a dependent flange plate 36 on which two low-friction, e.g. nylon, pads 38 project to bear on the side of the column in order to prevent deflection of the pedal when pressure is put on it to lower the carrer.

A clamp 40 is provided at the top of the column to secure the carrier at a required position. The clamp comprises a pair of blocks 42, fixed at opposite sides of a vertical slot extending through one side of the column 2 and bush 10 for a short distance from the top of the column, within the space enclosed by the casing 24. One block has a tapped hole for a clamping screw 48 that extends through a clearance hole in the other block and that is provided with a hand knob or lever 50 projecting from the casing. The slot terminates at its lower end in a radial slit 52 extending to a diameter of the column and bush so that the block are fixed to relatively fiexible wings.

Tightening the screw 48 can thus draw the blocks 42, together and so contract the upper end of the column and bush to grip the carrier.

In use, if the mounting is allowed to extend to its full height by the action of the gas strut 14, the gun is at a convenient height to be used against targets such as aircraft. By applying foot pressure to the pedal 30 the gun can be lowered to an appropriate position to fire on ground targets. The range of movement may be about 400mm and by means of the clamp 40 the mounting can be fixed firmly in any position between its top and bottom limits.

It is also possible to arrange that the pedal acts as a clamp when foot pressure is released from it so that the user's hands are left free at all times.

Claims

1. An adjustable Weapon mounting comprising an upwardly extendable support for the weapon to be borne by the mounting, and means for applying an upward force to the support.

2. A mounting according to claim 1, wherein the force applying means produce an upward force greater than the combined weights of the support and the weapon.

3. A mounting according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the support is provided with a pedal or other foot-hold for adjusting its upward extension.

4. A mounting according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a releasable clamp to fix the upward extension of the support.

5. A mounting according. to claims 3 together with claim 4, wherein the clamp is releasable by pressure on the pedal.

6. A mounting according to any preceding claim wherein the support is slidably guided by a coaxial tubular column of a base of the mounting.

7. A mounting according to claim 6 wherein the force applying means comprise a spring connected between the column and support.

8. A mounting according to claim 7 wherein the spring is a gas strut.

9. A weapon mounting substantially as herein described, with reference to the drawings.