GB2198822A - Gun systems - Google Patents

Abstract

A gun system comprises a gun 1 mounted on a carriage support and having a trail arrangement 13 for providing a stable balance of the gun about the carriage support, wherein the carriage support comprises a saddles by which the rear end 3 of the gun is supported, a support 21 on which the saddle is mounted, a base 11 which may be located on or anchored in the ground G and a spherical coupling 23 between the support 21 and the base 11 allowing the support 21 and saddle 5 to pivot relative to the base 11. Upon recoil, the load upon the trunnions 7 causes the saddle 5 to rotate relative to the coupling 23 causing the load to be absorbed into the ground via the support 21 and base 11. <IMAGE>

Description

GUN SYSTEMS The present invention relates to gun systems especially towable howitzer systems.

The artillery gun system known as the British Light Gun Lulls (hereinafter referred to as the "Light Gun") is a widely known artillery gun system manufactured and sold by the present applicant company. The structure of this system comprises a gun carried in a cradle on a carriage support comprising a saddle mounted on a short pintle, the gun being balanced about the pintle by a trail arrangement comprising tubular legs projecting to the ground behind the gun. The pintle is fixed on a platform to which the trail legs are also attached, the platform being supported on axles carrying wheels which allow the system to be towed when necessary.

The Light Gun has a very convenient lightweight construction which allows the system to be towed by a land vehicle or transported by helicopter.

However, it is desirable for use in certain applications to provide a novel gun system construction which offers further savings in weight, relative to the size of gun, compared with known systems constructions such as that of the Light Gun.

According to the present invention a gun system comprises a gun mounted on a carriage support and having a trail arrangement for providing a stable balance of the gun about the carriage support, wherein the carriage support comprises a saddle by which the rear end of the gun is supported, a supporting structure on which the saddle is mounted, a base structure which may be located on or anchored in the ground and a coupling between the supporting structure and the base structure allowing the supporting structure and saddle to pivot relative to the base structure.

The gun system according to the present invention uses a novel stabilising principle to keep the gun balanced upon recoil of the gun.

In artillery gun systems the stabilising moment acting through the trail arrangement which keeps the gun balanced in a stable condition about the centre of gravity of the system is reduced when the gun moves rearward under recoil causina the centre of gravity to move toward the trail. However, in known systems such as the Light Gun the stabilising moment is kept sufficiently large during and after recoil by the weight of the trail.

In contrast, the gun system according to the present invention makes use of a stabilising principle which is novel in its application to artillery gun systems. The tendency for the stabilising moment produced by the shift in the centre of gravity to be reduced upon recoil is counteracted by a tendency for the stabilising moment to increase by rotation of the saddle relative to the said coupling. The overall effect is that the gun system may be balanced in a stable position by a trail arrangement which, relative to the size of the gun system, may be lighter than that used in known systems.

The gun system according to the present invention may include additional means assisting to keep the system in a stable balanced condition upon recoil. For example, the stabilising moment may be enhanced by allowing the gun trunnions to move upward during recoil as described in a copending application of even date by the present a-'icant.

The trail arrangement in the system according to the present invention may therefore comprise two trail legs made of or incorporating a lightweight, e.g. composite material, for instance a fibre reinforced plastics material.

Preferably; the saddle is mounted directly above the trail arrangement, e.g. above the trail legs at their end nearer the gun where they may be fitted to the support structure, preferably clear of the ground.

This arrangement, combined with the rotatability of the saddle by pivoting about the said coupling, causes the trail arrangement to receive a bending load upon recoil but considerably reduces the compressive load acting upon the trail arrangement. Such a load is potentially harmful to lightweight materials, e.g. composites, and its reduction is therefore very beneficial. In known structures, in contrast, the trail legs normally receive both a substantial bending and compressive load produced by recoil.

The said supporting structure in the system according to the present invention may comprise a supporting pillar which may be in the form of a pintle affixed to the saddle by a bush.

The said coupling in the system according to the present invention may comprise a flexible or universal coupling, e.g. a ball and socket joint. For example, a projection incorporated in and projecting upward from the base structure may have a spherical upper surface which is fitted in a complementary socket provided by a bush or sleeve attached to the supporting structure, e.g. a pillar or pintle. Such a coupling not only prevents excessive reduction of the stabilising moment by allowing rotation of the saddle, as explained above, but also facilitates support of the saddle when the base structure is located on uneven ground.

The trail arrangement preferably comprises two trail legs which may be fitted with spades at their end for anchoring the legs into the ground. Preferably, the portion of the legs beneath the saddle comprises a metal, e.g. steel or titanium alloy because that portion is subjected to the greatest loads upon recoil.

Where the trail legs comprise a portion made of a composite material this portion of the legs may be formed of any known high strength composite material. For example it may comprise any known reinforcing fibres e.g.

selected from one or more of carbon glass, aramid, metal or polyolefin fibres set in a polymeric matrix material which may be a curable, e.g. thermosetting, plastics material or thermoplastic material as is well known to those skilled in the composites art. The reinforcing fibres may be woven or unwoven and their direction may be selected to give directional strength matched to the loads to be applied.

Fibre reinforced plastics layers may be formed into a known laminate structure together with other layers, e.g.

other fibre reinforced plastics with different reinforcing fibres or with fibres orientated differently, non-reinforced plastics or metal layers e.g. of aluminium or titanium.

The trail legs, if comprising a portion formed from any of the above composite materials, are preferably tubular of approximately square, rectangular, circular or any other convenient cross-section. The area enclosed by the tubular shape in cross-section may taper along the length of the leg. The legs may be straight or curved in overall shape.

The gun may be supported by the saddle by being carried in a cradle attached to the saddle by trunnions.

The angle of elevation of the gun may be adjusted by a known elevating system. The recoil forces produced upon firing the gun may be damped by a known buffer connected between the cradle and gun and the gun may be reset by a known recuperator. The gun system may include known balancing gear and known traversing gear.

The gun system according to the present invention may be a lightweight towable howitzer of large bore, e.g.

155mm. Towing may be possible by wheels stowable during operational use of the system. The system may also be provided with attachments for air lifting, e.g. by helicopter, which is possible from the low weight obtained by the novel construction.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a gun system.; Figure 2 is a partly cross-sectional side elevation of a more detailed form of coupling for use in the system shown in Figure 1.

In Figure 1 a gun 1 having a known muzzle brake 2 is carried in a cradle 3 which is supported in a saddle 5 by a trunnions 7 and conventional elevating arms 9 (only one of each being shown in Figure 1).

The gun 1 and cradle 3 are balanced about a firing platform 11 by trail legs 13 (one only shown in rigure 1).

The trail legs 13 are anchored into the ground G by spades 15 attached to them, and the firing platform 11 is also anchored into the ground.

The trail legs 13 are formed of a fibre reinforced plastics composite material along the lower part of their length but their upper portion 17 directly beneath the saddle 5 is made of metal.

The saddle 5 is mounted above the firing platform 11 by a support 21 which comprises a coupling 23 allowing the saddle 5 to rotate about the coupling 23. A restraining bracket 2d is fitted on the underside of the saddle 5 where the saddle 5 curves away from the trail legs 3.

When the gun 1 is fired recoil forces are reduced by the muzzle brake 25 and are damped by a conventional buffer and recuperator system (not shown) allowing the gun 1 to move backward under recoil relative to the cradle 3 and then to be restored to its firing position after recoil.

Upon recoil the load upon the trunnions 7 tend to rotate the saddle 5 relative to the coupling 23 and this rotation flexes the trail legs 5 and the load is absorbed into the ground mainly via the support 21 and firing platform 11.

As described in a copending patent application the load to be absorbed upon recoil may be reduced by allowing the gun 1 and cradle 3 to move upward by allowing the trunnions 7 to move upward in a track (not shown).

The gun system may have other known components (not shown in Figure 1) such as equilibrating gear for balancing the system when the angle of elevation of the gun 1 is increased, wheels for towing the gun by land vehicle, which may be hinged into a stowable position, and traversing gear for traversing the gun in azimuth.

One form of the support 21 and coupling 23 is shown in Figure 2. The firing platform 11 which is sunk into the ground has formed in its upper surface a projection 33 whose surface comprises the major part of a sphere.

The projection 33 is inserted in a complementary socket 35 formed in a bush 37 to provide the coupling 23.

The bush 37 rests on shoulders 39 laterally projecting at the lower end of a generally tubular pintle 39 which is attached at its upper end to the saddle 5 to support the saddle 5.

The upper portions 17 of the trail legs 13 are hinged at the structure 21 comprising the pintle 39 and the bush 37.

Claims (11)

Claims:

1. A gun system comprising a gun mounted on a carriage support and having a trail arrangement for providing a stable balance of the gun about the carriage support, wherein the carriage support comprises a saddle by which the rear end of the gun is supported, a supporting structure on which the saddle is mounted, a base structure which may be located on or anchored in the ground and a coupling between the supporting structure and the base structure allowing the supporting structure and saddle to pivot relative to the base structure.

2. A gun system as claimed in claim 1 and which includes additional means ass-isting to keep the system in a stable balanced condition upon recoil by allowing the gun trunnions to move upward during recoil.

3. A gun system as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the trail arrangement comprises two trail legs made of or incorporating a lightweight material.

4. A gun system as claimed in claim 3 and wherein the trail arrangement comprises two trail legs made of or incorporating a fibre reinforced plastics material.

S. A gun system as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the saddle is mounted directly above the trail legs at their end nearer the gun where they are fitted to the supporting structure clear of the ground.

6. A gun system as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the said supporting structure comprises a supporting pillar which may be in the form of a pintle affixed to the saddle by a bush.

7. A gun system as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the said coupling comprises a flexible or universal coupling.

8. A gun system as claimed in claim 7 and wherein a projection incorporated in and projecting upward from the base structure has a spherical upper surface which is fitted in a complementary socket provided by a bush or sleeve attached to the supporting structure.

9. A gun system as claimed in claim 7 and wherein the trail arrangement comprises two trail legs which are fitted with spades at their end for anchoring the legs into the ground.

10. A gun system as claimed in claim 3 and wherein the portion of the legs beneath the saddle comprises a metal.

11. A gun system having a supporting structure substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to the accompanying drawings.