GB2600111A - Device and method for coupling a mounted implement on a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

A removable interface device 100 for connecting an implement to a vehicle 10 comprises vehicle mounting pins 101 which are attachable to towing eyes of the vehicle 10 in use. The device 100 is secured in position using jacking screws 102. An engineering implement such as a dozer blade, mine plough or surface clearance device may be attached to the interface device 100. The vehicle 10 may be a military vehicle such as a battle tank.

Description

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR COUPLING A MOUNTED IMPLEMENT ON A VEHICLE

The present invention relates generally to a device and a method for coupling an implement onto a vehicle.

It is known to provide armoured engineering vehicles with permanent features enabling front end equipment (FEE) to be rapidly fitted and removed to allow engineering tasks to be performed. Generally, the vehicle also provides a source of electrical or hydraulic power, conveniently located to enable operation of FEE. Future fitment of FEE is normally considered in the design of the vehicle.

Many armoured vehicles are not, however, designed with any engineering task capability; an example of this is a main battle tank. In most defence organisations, the inventory of main battle tanks (MBT) and the like largely outnumbers the engineering variants. Defence organisations would benefit from enhancing their current engineering capability by enabling non-engineering vehicles to conduct engineering tasks.

In some aspects and embodiments the present invention provides or relates to an interface that facilitates the mounting of an item of front end equipment (FEE) onto a vehicle such as an armoured vehicle.

A retasking device for a military vehicle, comprising an interface which is connectable to a host vehicle and allows an implement to be fitted thereto.

An aspect provides a retasking device for a military vehicle, comprising an interface which is connectible to a fighting vehicle and allows an engineering implement to be fitted thereto.

Some aspects and embodiments of the present invention facilitate a change of purpose. For example, a previously dedicated fighting vehicle could be re-tasked/re-purposed to provide engineering functionality.

An aspect provides a non-permanent coupling interface device for allowing an item of equipment, such as front end equipment, to be fitted to and operated from an armoured vehicle.

Some embodiment comprise means for attachment to vehicle towing eyes.

Some embodiments comprise jettison functionality for allowing front end equipment to be jettisoned from a vehicle. The jettison means may be automatic. A manual override may be provided.

In some embodiment a multi-purpose control unit is provided.

The device may provide energy transformation functionality.

The device may comprise means for taking vehicle electrical power and convert it into hydraulic power for operation of the equipment.

The present invention also provides a device as described herein in combination with a vehicle, such as a main battle tank. The combination may be fitted with an item of front end equipment, such as a plough or blade. Some embodiments enable a MBT to conduct engineering tasks, for example.

Embodiments may embody a structure that is able to be fitted and removed without permanently modifying a host vehicle. Some embodiments are configured so that a vehicle can be returned to an original state after conversion.

Some devices are configured to transmit the loads induced by FEE into a vehicle hull.

Fitment of additional hardware to a frontal glacis can affect the approach angle of the vehicle. When fitted, embodiments of the present invention may minimise the reduction in the approach angle of the armoured vehicle and not impede its ability to drive across large terrain features.

In some embodiments, to mitigate the effects of reduced manoeuvrability, additional mass fitted to the front of the vehicle may not exceed 450kg.

Some embodiments are formed to provide a tool that enables FEE to be fitted to and operated from within a vehicle.

Some embodiments may provide a device that acts as an intermediary between an item of FEE and a vehicle, such as a MBT.

The device may be formed as an environmentally sealed structure.

In some embodiments the device is designed to be easily fitted onto the front of a vehicle, such as a MBT, for example with crane assistance.

When in position, the device may be pinned into position through vehicle towing eyes. The device may be jacked-off from the vehicle, to remove residual rattle.

In some embodiments, once fitted the device may then be controlled using a multi-purpose control unit (MPCU) from within a driver compartment of a host vehicle.

Devices of some embodiments may take vehicle electrical power and convert it into hydraulic power as required for the FEE.

Once fitted, various FEE can be easily fitted and removed to the vehicle using the device, without the need for additional tools, such as a crane. This means that FEE can be rapidly fitted and removed from the vehicle in the field of operation, for example.

When FEE is fitted to the device, functions such as raise, lower, float and jettison of the FEE can be conducted. This enables FEE such as a dozer blade, full width mine plough (FVVMP), and Surface Clearance Device (SCD) to operate as per their original intent In some embodiments the device can be configured to be rapidly removable from the vehicle. Once removed, the vehicle can be returned to its original state, unmodified by the fitment of the device.

The device can be used to enhance the scalability of the engineering capability of an armed force, by enabling non-engineering vehicles to be re-tasked to undergo engineering tasks.

The device may be formed as a highly modular device that enables a defence organisation to fit various tools to their vehicle inventory, depending on the situation.

The device may be configured to maintain similar engineering performance in comparison to simply fitting FEE to an engineering variant When operating using the device, there is little or no compromise on the performance of the FEE. Hydraulic performance may be equivalent. Approach angle and vehicle step height, largely dictated by FEE offset, may be similar or possible only slightly reduced.

In some embodiments the device is designed to clear the gun sweep of a MBT.

The device may offer a universal interface that can be considered in future incarnations of FEE.

In some embodiments the device offers a jettison function for the FEE which is not offered by the direct fitting FEE.

Different aspects and embodiments of the invention may be used separately or together.

Further particular and preferred aspects of the present invention are set out in the accompanying independent and dependent claims. Features of the dependent claims may be combined with the features of the independent claims as appropriate, and in combination other than those explicitly set out in the claims. Each aspect can be carried out independently of the other aspects or in combination with one or more of the other aspects.

The present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Example embodiments are shown and described in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to embody and implement the systems and processes herein described. It is important to understand that embodiments can be provided in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples set forth herein.

Accordingly, while embodiments can be modified in various ways and take on various alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and described in detail below as examples. There is no intent to limit to the particular forms disclosed. On the contrary, all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims should be included. Elements of the example embodiments are consistently denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the drawings and detailed description where appropriate. The invention is not limited in the design and shape of the structure shown in the drawings.

The terminology used herein to describe embodiments is not intended to limit the scope. The articles "a," "an," and "the" are singular in that they have a single referent, however the use of the singular form in the present document should not preclude the presence of more than one referent. In other words, elements referred to in the singular can number one or more, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes," and/or "including," when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, items, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, items, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein are to be interpreted as is customary in the art. It will be further understood that terms in common usage should also be interpreted as is customary in the relevant art and not in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

Structural Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure I. The main structure of the device (100) is pinned onto the two frontal towing eyes of the host vehicle (10) using the vehicle mounting pins (101). The device is locked into position using two jacking screws (102). The function of locking the device using the jacking screws serves two purposes: to remove rattle from the FEE; and to ensure load is transmitted through the jacking screws into the vehicle hull.

Lower reaction blocks (103) react normal to the vehicle's lower glacis plate in compression only. The upper jacking screws react normal to the vehicle's upper glacis plate in compression only. The vehicle interface pins ensure fixed translation in X and Y directions only (104).

FEE is secured onto the device by upper FEE jettison pins (105) and lower anchor blocks (106). The loads induced into the device by the FEE are directed into the vehicle at the lower glacis plate, upper glacis plate and towing eyes.

Jettison system Embodiment An embodiment of a jettison system is shown in Figure 2.

The pin and anchor block design enables FEE to be rapidly fitted and removed from the device. When required by the operator, FEE can be automatically jettisoned from the device, for example from within the driver's compartment. When requested, hydraulic oil pressurises the annulus side of the jettison cylinder (201), resulting in translation of the jettison rods. This in turn forces the jettison pin (202) to retract and therefore FEE is rapidly disengaged from device.

In the event of hydraulic failure, the device jettison system also incorporates a manual backup Jettison. To reduce quantities of additional components, a manual backup jettison assembly is incorporated into the automatic jettison assembly.

The manual backup jettison assembly comprises the following: cylinder rod (203), link bar (204) jettison pin, locking collar (205), supporting fixed fabrication (206).

The rod of the cylinder has a deep female thread (207). To achieve manual jettison, the link bar is screwed into the cylinder rod. As the link bar is attached to the jettison pin, this enables the pin to be retracted, in turn releasing the attached FEE. During normal operation, the link bar is secured in place by a locking collar, which is fixed to the cylinder rod.

Hydraulic System Embodiment -DC Motor/ Tandem Pump Unit Hydraulic pressure, is generated by a combined motor pump unit, located within the structure of the device. As it is desired that the offset between the FEE and host vehicle is minimal, it is desirable to include a smaller diameter DC motor within the structure of the device. To achieve the desired output hydraulic flow characteristics, the smaller diameter is coupled with a twin fixed displacement tandem pump incorporating two pumps PI and P2.

The tandem pump is driven by a single shaft from the DC motor and provides the hydraulic pressure necessary for powering the FEE and jettison system. At higher pressures, a hydraulically piloted valve automatically opens. This action disconnects pump P2 from the FEE circuit. In this scenario, the DC motor requires only to power pump PI, meaning reduced torque, increased duty etc. Hydraulic System Embodiment -Non/powered deployment The hydraulic circuit within the device permits a non-powered controlled deployment of the FEE. A hydraulic valve is proportionally opened by the operator using the MSCU, located within the driver compartment of the host vehicle. Hydraulic flow is metered, enabling FEE to deploy slowly, or quickly, depending on the level of operator engagement on the MFSU joystick. The key benefit of this feature is increased system efficiency and therefore system duty. The system is also safer as the equipment can be steadily lowered, rather than at a rapid speed.

Hydraulic System Embodiment -'Balanced Jettison' The double ended jettison cylinder incorporates a flow divider valve. This valve takes an input flow and outputs two separate flows of equal volume flow rate, thus enabling the two cylinder rods of the double ended jettison cylinder to retract at equal speed.

When there are multiple routes, hydraulic flow will occur primarily at the path of least resistance. If pressure was applied to both rods of the jettison cylinder, one rod would typically complete its actuation first, then the second rod would begin its actuation. In this case, one jettison pin would disengage from the FEE, which can cause FEE to lock in position, preventing the jettison action.

Incorporating the flow divider valve within the jettison cylinder ensures that the jettison pins retract at the same rate, improving the effectiveness of the jettison function.

Reservoir Assembly Embodiment An embodiment of a reservoir system is shown in Figure 3.

To reduce overall space, the oil reservoir protrudes from the main fabrication, serving also an environmentally sealed cover plate.

The reservoir fabrication comprises of a front environmentally sealing plate (301), made from thicker gauge material, which offers increased frontal impact strength, whereas the rear plates forming the fabrication are made from thinner gauge material, to save mass (302).

Reservoir/ Filter Installation Adaptor Embodiment An embodiment of a reservoir/filter installation adaptor is shown in Figure 4.

The hydraulic suction filters (401) are fully assembled within the reservoir fabrication (402) from the outside by the bespoke filter adaptor (403). The filter adaptor is threaded to allow the suction filter to be sub assembled before fitment within the reservoir. The filter adaptor is then screwed into the reservoir from the outside and secured by an external hexagon profile (404). Standard hydraulic fittings are then attached to the filter fitting as required (405).

Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments shown and that various changes and modifications can be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims (16)

1. CLAIMSI. A retasking device for a military vehicle, comprising an interface which is connectable to a dedicated fighting vehicle and allows an engineering implement to be fitted thereto.
2. 2. A non-permanent coupling interface device for allowing an item of front end equipment to be fitted to and operated from an armoured vehicle.
3. 3. A device as claimed in claim I or claim 2, comprising means for attachment to vehicle towing eyes.
4. 4. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising energy transformation functionality.
5. S. A device as claimed in claim 4, in which the device can transform electrical energy from a host vehicle into hydraulic power for an implement
6. 6. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising jettison functionality for allowing equipment to be jettisoned from a vehicle.
7. 7. A device as claimed in claim 6, comprising a double ended jettison shaft
8. 8. A device as claimed in claim 7, comprising a manual override. 25
9. 9. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a multi-purpose control unit.
10. 10. A device as claimed in any preceding claim in combination with a vehicle. 5
11. 11. A combination as claimed in claim 10, in which the vehicle is a fighting vehicle
12. 12. A combination as claimed in claim I I, in which the vehicle is a main battle tank.
13. 13. A combination as claimed in claim 10 or claim I I and fitted with an implement.
14. 14. A combination as claimed in claim 13, in which the implement is an item of front end equipment.
15. IS. A fighting vehicle converted to engineering work capability.
16. 16. A fighting vehicle re-purposing adapter which is non-permanently connectable to a fighting vehicle and can receive an implement.