GB2359351A

GB2359351A - Armoured vehicle with inverted periscope

Info

Publication number: GB2359351A
Application number: GB0003886A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jose O'brien
Original assignee: Thales AFV Systems Ltd
Current assignee: Thales AFV Systems Ltd
Priority date: 2000-02-18
Filing date: 2000-02-18
Publication date: 2001-08-22
Anticipated expiration: 2020-02-18
Also published as: GB2359351B; GB0003886D0

Abstract

An armoured vehicle having a rotatable cupola comprises an inverted periscope 9 to provide the seated occupant (4, Fig. 2) with an external field of view. The periscope 9 is inverted with respect to conventional mountings and is totally contained within the armour of the vehicle. The cupola has a window 14 in its side wall 16 and the casing of the periscope 9 is mounted on the side wall 16 so that its light receiving section is opposite the window 14 and its image viewing section is above said light receiving section. Preferably, a plurality of inverted periscopes are mounted inside the cupola at the same viewing height to allow the occupant panoramic viewing.

Description

2359351 1 ARMOURED VEHICLE WITH PERISCOPE

This invention relates to an armoured vehicle including a rotatable cupola (such as a gun turret), a seat for an occupant, and a periscope to provide the seated occupant with an external field of view.

A known periscope provides an operator in an armoured vehicle with an external field of view. Generally, it includes a tubular casing having an upper input light receiving section (glass prism), which projects above the roof of the vehicle and faces forwardly in the direction of travel, and a lower image viewing section (glass prism) within the vehicle into which the operator looks in order to steer the vehicle and to aim weapons. The casing needs to be long enough to accommodate the separation of these light input and output sections, especially where periscope needs to extend upwardly from the roof of the cupola to provide clearance. Such known periscopes are thus exposed targets and liable to damage by incoming fire. Shorter periscopes can be set closer to the roof of a cupola or tank turret, but these are still exposed to incoming fire and their location places design limitations on the positioning of access hatches, hatch hinges and opening mechanisms. Thus, while these known periscopes offer the operator some protection, they can become damaged in battle and impose restrictions on design. Whilst the periscope usually include prisms made of armoured glass, some ballistic projectiles are designed to penetrate the input light prism where they can deflected by the casing into the interior of the armoured vehicle. This risk increases with plunging fire, i.e. rounds directed downwardly at steep angles (near 25 the vertical) into the input light part of the casing, since these trajectories improve penetration.

The present invention seeks to provide a solution to these problems associated with conventional periscopes.

2 According to the invention, an armoured vehicle comprises a rotatable cupola or turret having a seat for an occupant; a periscope having a light receiving section, an image viewing section and a casing in which the sections are mounted, the casing being mounted in the cupola so that the image viewing section is substantially at eye level for the seated occupant of the vehicle, whereby the occupant has an external field of view, characterised in that:

(a) a side wall of the cupola has a window, and (b) the casing of the periscope is mounted within the vehicle and on said side wall so that its light receiving section is opposite the window, and its image viewing section is above the light receiving section; whereby the periscope is totally contained within the armour of the vehicle.

As the norinal viewing mode of the periscope is inverted in the invention, none of its casing need extend above the roof of the cupola, hence providing the periscope with the full protection of the armour of the vehicle. Moreover, since no part of the periscope projects above the vehicle, it is not directly exposed to fire. Besides eliminating the input light receiving section as a potential direct target, radar reflections are reduced. A further advantage of installing the light receiving section below the image viewing section is that the window in the cupola side wall can be closely adjacent a mounting flange in which the cupola or turret is rotatably supported. This flange extends radially outwardly with respect to the cupola side wall, so that it further reduces the risk of penetration, i.e. by obscuring any upwardly directed line of fire. The cupola wall in which the window is provided is preferably inclined towards the body of the armoured vehicle as it extends upwardly from the cupola mounting flange, to improve protection. Thus, although the window in the cupola side wall is still exposed to say direct horizontal fire, it is virtually impossible to direct fire upwardly into the window in order to penetrate the light receiving section of the periscope. (Plunging fire would also be useless against the internally mounted periscope.) 1 -.,^ln 3 In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the armoured vehicle includes means for raising and lowering the height of the seat with respect to the periscope (which is fixed) so that when an occupant is seated, the seat can be raised or lowered e.g. hydraulically. This could be done either manually (by pumping with a lever to increase pressure in a seat pillar, and releasing it with a valve), or drivably (by an electric motor/pump + valve) so that a viewing aperture of the image viewing section of the periscope is substantially at eye-level when an occupant is seated. This accommodates for differences in the physical sizes of the occupants. The means for raising and lowering the seat also preferably enables operation in a head- out or head in mode, thereby respectively providing the occupant with unobstructed viewing when the turret hatch is open, or periscope viewing when the turret is closed.

A conventionally mounted gunnery periscope (with an upper light receiving section and a lower image viewing section) can be retained in the armoured vehicle, which is independent of the inversely mounted viewing periscope, the viewing apertures of both being substantially at eye-level when the occupant is seated. Preferably, there is more than one inverted fixed viewing periscope (beside a gunnery periscope). For example, there is at least one forward looking viewing periscope and a similar one or two at each side (adjacent the occupants shoulders). The occupant can thereby obtain a wide view (forward and sides) by simply twisting the body to look into the required periscope. In some cases, one or more rear mounted inverted periscopes can be provided, but as these would be inaccessible with a seat fixed for rotation with the turret (which is normally the case), they could be viewed by making the seat rotatable about the pillar axis. This could be provided as selective option from being normally fixed for rotation with the turret, so that the turret would be rotated by operating a traverse drive for rapidly changing the view through the forward and side periscopes.

In the case of seat rotation, controls normally mounted on the turret shell could be mounted for rotation with the seat to avoid disorientation. Generally speaking, one or more inverted periscopes can be mounted on the turret, as required, to provide the occupant with a suitable view of the external surroundings. The occupant rotates the 4 turret to use the gunnery periscope and engage the armament of the vehicle, and this will change the view through the viewing periscopes.

Preferably, the turret is comparatively small, in that the occupant's head is close enough to at least the forward looking viewing periscope and (if fitted) to all other viewing periscopes, so that the occupant does not need to bend forwards to look into any of the viewing apertures. The occupant needs only to twist in the seat with respect to the turret andlor turn the head to see into each viewing aperture in turn to get a wide view of the outside. The number and disposition of the of the inverted periscopes will provide a viewing arc in order to see a given sector. A head rest fixed to the seat assists the occupant to maintain this head-up viewing.

An advantage of using this head-up viewing arrangement with several inverted viewing periscopes is that it provides for quicker viewing of a target sector on account of not having to rotate the turret to view (and aim). The periscopes are also all under the main armour of the vehicle. This is a distinct irnprovement over a conventional vehicle fitted with a conventional periscope and side viewing slots or windows. In the latter case, the periscope needs to be moved with the turret, the slots or windows can be penetrated by incoming fire, the windows require to be of high quality armoured glass and the occupant needs to lean forwards when viewing though the slots or windows. This can take significantly more time. With the invention, more viewing periscopes can be used to facilitate target sector viewing independently of turret movement. The viewing periscopes move with turret, but they always partially surround the occupant.

In a preferred embodiment, the periscope casing includes a lower armoured part containing the light receiving section, and this lower part is separable from an upper part containing the viewing section, the upper part being optionally or less heavily armoured. This possibility exists because the periscope is totally contained within the armour of the vehicle and hence is more protected. As the casing can be more 30 simply and less expensively made, and as the periscope can be manufactured as a separate unit and more easily installed (see below), it provides the possibility of equipping the annoured vehicle with several periscopes to give (e.g.) all- round vision whilst all are totally protected by the armour. A further advantage of not annouring the upper part of the casing is that if an incoming round penetrated the input light section it could be deflected by the lower armoured part of the casing so that it ascends vertically through the casing and then exits the unarmored section without being deflected towards the image viewing section. Such a round would be spent against the roof armour of the vehicle.

In a preferred embodiment, the cupola comprises upper and lower armoured shells with an intermediate inwardly directed flange, the intermediate flange being apertured to provide at least one slot-in support for the periscope.

The periscope also preferably includes light receiving and viewing sections made of prismatic armoured glass with an intermediate air gap provided between the prisms for ballistic projection and filters to absorb radiation such as lasers. As it is totally enclosed by the armour, the periscope can be shorter, less bulky, more easily produced and installed. It also does not limit the design of the hatch.

Typically, the rotatable cupola includes an access hatch above the seat and this preferably opens outwardly and forwardly of the vehicle and is operated by hydraulics.

As the armour of the vehicle is not invaded to provide access for the periscope casing (as in the prior art), this simplifies the design of armoured vehicles. In a preferred embodiment, the cupola or turret includes upper and lower shells with an intermediate inwardly directed flange. The flange is apertured to provide convenient drop-in slots for the periscope casing. The slots facilitate replacement of say a periscope damaged by incoming fire. All that needs to be done is to remove the damaged periscope by lifting it out of the slot, and then to drop a replacement periscope into the slot.

Also, it is a simple matter to equip the vehicle with more than one periscope e.g. in 6 adjacent side walls of the cupola, by providing these location slots as well as apertures in the side walls of the cupola (which can be blanked off with armoured plates if not needed). Thus, a vehicle can be easily equipped so as to give all round vision.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to Figs. 2 - 4 of the accompanying drawings, in which drawings:

Fig. 1 is a schematic elevation showing a rotatable cupola and periscope according to the prior art;

Fig. 2 is a similar view but of an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation showing the periscope of Fig. 2 in more detail; Fig. 4 is a cross-section through the cupola of Fig. 2 showing the positions of further periscopes; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view, partly cut away, showing the construction of the upper shell of the cupola and an interTnediate flange.

Referring to Fig. 1, which illustrates a known construction, rotatable cupola 1 is supported by a circular flange 2 which is mounted on rollers bearing on a track on the body of the armoured vehicle. The cupola has a rearwardly opening hatch 3 to provide access for an operator 4 who occupies seat 5. The seat 5 is supported by a framework 6 which extends upwardly from a lower pivotal mounting 7. Rotation of the cupola 1 is controlled by electro-mechanical drives (not shown) in order to aim gun 8. Known devices (not shown) are also provided for controlling the elevation and firing of the gun 8.

1.

7 A conventional periscope 9a has an upper light receiving section 10 (for input light L) and a lower image viewing section 11. These sections, which include, for example, glass prisms, are spaced apart in a casing 12 which extends upwardly through the roof 13 of the cupola. This enables the light receiving section 10 to have a field of view ahead of the vehicle. However, the light receiving section 10 is exposed to incoming fire, besides increasing the radar reflecting surfaces of the vehicle. It may also be penetrated by steeply descending (i.e. nearly vertical) rounds which can then move directly downwardly into the casing 12 of the periscope.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, which show an embodiment of the invention fitted to a smaller generally similar cupola 1. As best seen in Fig.3, a periscope 9b is in an inverted orientation with respect to the conventional mode of use and it is now totally enclosed within the armour of the vehicle. The image viewing section 10 is at substantially eyelevel when the occupant 4 is seated in the cupola, but the light 15 receiving section 11 is below eye-level. The light receiving section 11 is positioned opposite a window opening 14. This window opening could be glazed and thus protected by a thick pane of armoured laminated glass. However, the opening 14 could alternatively be glazed by a thinner sheet of non-armoured, non laminated glass 14a (set into a framework 14b), and an armoured shroud (internal to the turret and 20 not shown in the drawings) can be provided for the periscope so as to stop projectiles that penetrate the turret wall. The lower part 9d of the casing is armoured since it is behind the window. The construction of this window is shown in more detail in Fig. 3 and several similar periscopes 9b are shown in Fig.2 (the forward periscope not being shown in detail, because it is obscured by the gunnery periscope). The 25 periscope 9b has a much shorter casing 9a than the conventional periscope and it preferably includes armoured glass prisms (not shown) in the input light receiving and viewing sections 10,11, which are separated by an air gap (not shown) to provide ballistic protection.

A lever (not shown) can be manually operated by the seated occupant 4 to pump 8 hydraulic fluid (and to release fluid) in a mechanism 7a,7b for raising and lowering the height of the seat 6 with respect to the periscope (which is fixed). Thus, when an occupant is seated, the seat height can be adjusted so that the viewing aperture of the image viewing section 10 is substantially at eye-level (to accommodate for differences in the physical sizes of the occupants). A conventionally mounted gunnery periscope 9a (with an upper light receiving section and a lower image viewing section) is retained in the armoured vehicle, which is independent of the inversely mounted viewing periscope 9b, the viewing apertures of both being positioned substantially at eye-level when the occupant is seated. There are enough inverted fixed viewing periscopes 9b to provide a required sector of vision, for example, one or two forward and one or two at each side (adjacent the occupants shoulders). These (or their positions) are more easily seen in Fig. 5 (which shows a somewhat larger turret). Any suitable number of viewing periscopes could be mounted on the turret as required, to provide the occupant with a viewing sector of the external surroundings.

The turret is comparatively small in Fig.2, i.e. the occupant's head is close enough to all the viewing periscopes so that the occupant does not need to bend forwards to look into any of the viewing apertures. The occupant need only twist in the seat with respect to the turret and turn the head to look into each viewing aperture in turn to build up a panoramic impression of the outside. A head rest fixed to the seat helps the occupant to maintain this head-up viewing.

The gunnery periscope moves with the turret for aiming and firing the weapon. The viewing periscopes move also with the turret, but they always face in different directions to enable viewing. This enables quicker target acquisition because viewing is more rapid.

The means for raising and lowering the seat also enables operation in a head-out or head-in mode, thereby respectively providing the occupant with unobstructed viewing 9 when the turret hatch is open, or periscope viewing when the turret is closed.

In Figs 4 and 5, a (larger) cupola 1 is shown with an upper shell 15, a lower shell 16 and an intermediate annular inwardly protecting flange 17. The flange 17 has a series of rectangular apertures 18 which provide a convenient method of installation for respective periscopes 9b. As these do not need to project upwardly through the roof of the cupola, they can be separately made and simply slotted into place in the respective apertures 18, i.e. so that the shoulder 20 of each periscope rests on the flange 17. This provides the all-round vision. Moreover, each periscope can be simply installed and/or replaced (if damaged). As the periscopes 9b are mounted under the armour, they need not be as robust (i.e. heavily armoured) as conventional periscopes and the are also smaller, making them much less expensive to manufacture (hence more can be provided at equivalent costs).

As the periscopes 9b do not extend through the cupola roof, the hatch 3 can be installed so as to open forwardly, i.e. because the hinge 21 can be located forwardly in place of the location normally occupied by the conventional periscope.

As the light input section 11 of each periscope 9b is located in a lower position, i.e. 1 opposite the window 14, and as the window 14 is located just above the outwardly extending mounting flange 2 (Fig. 4), periscope 9b is effectively protected against any upwardly directed line of fire. The walls of the lower shell 16 of the cupola are also inclined towards the mounting flange 2 as shown in Fig. 4.

If the window 14a (Fig.3) is penetrated, the inclined portion 9c of the lower part of the casing 9d, which can be armoured (shown by close cross hatching), can deflect the incoming round upwardly into the main body of the casing. The upper part 9e of the casing (shown in wider cross hatching) need not be armoured and can be made of, for example, plastics. This not only reduces the expense of manufacture, but an upwardly travelling round could pass out towards the cupola roof, rather than deflect 1 1 into the interior.

11

Claims

2. An armoured vehicle according to clahn 1, wherein the cupola wall (in which the window is provided) is inclined towards the body of the armoured vehicle.

1. An armoured vehicle comprising a rotatable cupola having a seat for an occupant; a periscope having a light receiving section, an image viewing section and a casing in which the sections are mounted, the casing being mounted in the cupola so that the image viewing section is substantially at eye level for a seated occupant of the vehicle, whereby the occupant has an external field of view; characterised in that: (a) a side wall of the cupola has a window, and (b) the casing of the periscope is mounted on the side wall of the cupola so that its light receiving section is opposite the window, and its image viewing section is above the light receiving section; the periscope being totally contained within the armour of the vehicle.
3. An armoured vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cupola wall (in which the window is provided) extends upwardly from a cupola mounting flange which extends outwardly away from said wall, whereby the light receiving section is protected against a direct line of fire.
4. An armoured vehicle according to any preceding claim, wherein the cupola comprises upper and lower armoured shells with an intermediate inwardly directed flange, the intermediate flange being apertured to provide at least one slot-in support for the periscope.
5. An armoured vehicle according to any preceding claim, wherein the periscope casing includes a lower armoured part, containing the light receiving section, which lower part is separable from an upper part containing the viewing section, which 12 upper part is optionally not or less heavily armoured.
6. An armoured vehicle according to any preceding claim, wherein the light receiving section and the viewing section of the periscope are of prismatic glass and 5 an intermediate air gap is provided between the prisms for ballistic protection.
7. An armoured vehicle according to any preceding claim, wherein the rotatable cupola includes an access hatch above the seat.
8. An armoured vehicle according to any preceding claim, wherein adjacent side walls of the cupola are fitted with similar periscopes.
9. An armoured vehicle according to any preceding claim, wherein:

a plurality of said periscopes are fitted to the vehicle so as to provide at least a sector of viewing and preferably substantially all round viewing; the occupant can twist in the seat independently of the turret to look into any of the periscopes; the turret is comparatively small, in that the occupant's head is close enough to all of the periscopes, so that the occupant does not need to bend forwards to look into any of the viewing apertures, but need only twist in the seat and/or turn the head to view with the head up.
10. An armoured vehicle substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.