US3854377A

US3854377A - Tank turret for automatic weapons

Info

Publication number: US3854377A
Application number: US00350234A
Authority: US
Inventors: A Schiele
Original assignee: Keller and Knappich GmbH
Current assignee: Keller and Knappich GmbH
Priority date: 1972-05-20
Filing date: 1973-04-11
Publication date: 1974-12-17
Anticipated expiration: 1991-12-17
Also published as: NL7307081A; IT987442B; NL172369B; NL172369C

Abstract

A housing for automatic weapons used in supporting a rapid fire cannon having a turret body that includes a removable portion. A pair of trunnions is disposed in the turret body. The weapon carrier is pivotably supported in and is disposed between the pair of trunnions. Bearing support means support the trunnions perpendicularly to the fixed turret axis. The bearing support means have a upper half and a lower half. The upper half is connected to the turret''s removable portion. The lower half is connected to the turret body. Means for detachably securing the turret''s removable portion to the turret body is utilized so that the cannon may be removed from the housing by separating the turret''s removable portion from the turret body.

Description

Elnite tates Patent Schiele Dec. 17, 1974 TANK TURRET FOR AUTOMATIC WEAPONS- [75] Inventor: August Schiele, Augsburg, Germany [73] Assignee: Keller & Knappich Augsburg Zweigniederlassung der Inudstrie-Weike Karlsruhe Augsburg Aktiengesellschaft, Augsburg, Germany [22] Filed: Apr. 11, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 350,234

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data May 20, 1972 Germany 7219032 [52] US. Cl. 89/36 K, 89/37 E, 89/37 K [51] Int. Cl F41f 21/06, F4lf 23/10 [58] Field of Search 89/36 H, 36 K, 37 E, 37 K, 89/40 B [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 814.859 3/1906 Meigs et al 89/37 E 3,759,136 9/1973 Fammler 89/36 K FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATlONS 1,193,399 5/1965 Germany 89/36 K 447,340 7/1971 Germany 89/37 E Primary ExaminerStephen C. Bentley Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Allison C. Collard [57] ABSTRACT A housing for automatic weapons used in supporting a rapid fire cannon having a turret body that includes a removable portion. A pair of trunnions is disposed in the turret body. The weapon carrier is'pivotably supported in and is disposed between the pair of trunnions. Bearing support means support the trunnions perpendicularly to the fixed turret axis. The bearing support means have a upper half and a lower half. The upper half is'connected to the turrets removable portion. The lower half is connected to the turret body.

Means for detachably securing the turrets removable portion to theturret body is utilized so that the cannon may be removed from the housing by separating the turrets removable portion from the turret body.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PAYENTEU 43171974 SHEE? 3 OF 4 Fig. 3

.1 TANK TURRET FOR AUTOMATIC WEAPONS This invention relates to a tank turret that rotates about a fixed axis and is used in supporting an automatic weapon. More particularly, the present invention relates to a rapid fire cannon support that is pivotably mounted between two trunnions. I

, In prior apparatus the bearings for the weapon trunnions are mounted underneath the tank turret roof. These trunnions are accessible only from the inside of the turret. The crowded installation of the tank turret parts makes access to the trunnions difficult. Often times the only way the trunnions can be reached is by completely dismantling the turret. This makes weapon maintenance and repair a cumbersome, time consumming and expensive operation.

According to the present invention the bearing support means for the trunnions are separable. Thus, the present invention utilizes an upper bearing portion comprising a single piece and connects to adjacent portions of the tank turret. Consequently the upper portion of the turret can be easily removed. The invention makes it possible to remove the weapon by upwardly lifting it from the tank turret. This is accomplished by merely loosening and removing the upper portions of the bearing support means. It may be done without removing any other parts from the turret before the weapon itself is removed. That removable portion of the tank turret together with the upper portions of the bearing support means should be large enough so that other parts connected to the weapon carrier may be removed without dismantling, the entire turret. These other parts may include the cartridge belt suppliers and discharge means for spent cartridges. In rapid fire cannons the discharge means is mounted within the hollow trunnions and occupies the entire width between them. The cartridges are discharged laterally from the space between the trunnions.

In a further embodiment of the invention concept, weapon accessibility is increased further by having the weapon carrier supplied with a pivotable plate in addition to pivoting the mount supporting the weapon. Consequently, it is possible to carry out repair and maintenance without dismantling the weapon carrier.

scription considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purposes of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention to which reference should be made to the appended claims.

In the drawings wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section in the plane of the trunnion axis showing the tank turret;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the tank turret with the opened pivotal plate and the pivoted weapon mount;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view according to FIG. 2 with both trunnion bearings and weapon carrier removed; and,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the tank turret and weapon carrier.

Referring now to the FIGS. 1-4, there is shown a portion of a tank turret 1 extending above the ceiling of a tank vehicle a having wheels b. A weapon:carrier 3 is mounted in turret l by means of two trunnions 2 and bearing support means 4, 4'. An elevation means 5 effects rotation of weapon carrier 3 about the trunnion axis. As shown, mount 6 for a rapid fire cannon 7 is supported in weapon carrier 3. A cartridge belt supplier 8 for live cartridges 9, and a discharge means 10 for empty cartridges (not shown) are arranged on both sides of weapon mount 6 so as to be within hollow trunnions 2. Thus, the cartridges discharge laterally with respect to the space between the two trunnions. Weapon chamber 11 of tank turret l is sealed from a combat chamber 12 by a wall 13.

Bearing support means for trunnions 2 are separated into an upper half 4 and a lower half 4. Lower half 4 is an integral part of tank turret body 1. Upper half 4 is integrally formed with adjacent areas or portions 1' of tank turret 1. Upper half 4 and adjacent areas or portions 1' may be easily lifted from tank turret 1. Nuts and bolts (not shown) connect members 1' and 4' with

members

1 and 4. These bolts are accessible partly from the inside and partly from the outside of the tank turret 1. As shown, weapon carrier 3 having weapon mount 6 with weapon 7 along with the other parts, for example, cartridge belt supplier 8, and shell discharge means 10 may be lifted from the turret l. Thisis accomplished by merely loosening the aforesaid nuts and bolts and removing bearing support section 4' and portion 1. As may be seen in FIG. 3, removal of the weapon and its associated support apparatus is achieved without dismantling any other parts of the tank turret. Removal requires onlyseparation of the supply lines (not shown) from their quick couplings (not shown). I

Referring now to FIG. 2, access to weapon 7 is provided by a pivoted plate 14 that is mounted on an upper portion of weapon carrier 3. Plate 14 pivots at joint 15. Weaponmount 6 may pivot outwardlyfrom weapon carrier 3 by means of joint 16. Two rest positions are provided in the pivoting swing of the weapon mount.

The dashed line shows the weapon position used for repair and maintenance. Consequently, repair and maintenance may be done from any side. To exchange a weapon, the weapon swung to the position of the dashdot line.

While only several embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those persons skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is: p l. A housing for automatic weapons usedin supporting a cannon comprising in combination: a turret .body having a removable portion;

a pair of trunnions disposed in said turret body; a weapon carrier pivotably supported in and disposed between said pair of trunnions; a weapon mount pivotably supported in said weapon carrier, said weapon carrier further comprising a rotatable plate pivotable about the front of said weapon carrier allowing access to the cannon; separable bearing support means supporting the trunnions perpendicularly to the fixed turret axis, said separable means having an upper half and a lower half, the upper half being affixed rigidly to said turrets removable portion, the lower half being affixed rigidly to said turret body; and means for detachably securing said turrets removable portidn to said turret body so that the cannon may be removed from the housing by separating said turrets removable portion from said turret body.

Claims

1. A housing for automatic weapons used in supporting a cannon comprising in combination: a turret body having a removable portion; a pair of trunnions disposed in said turret body; a weapon carrier pivotably supported in and disposed between said pair of trunnions; a weapon mount pivotably supported in said weapon carrier, said weapon carrier further comprising a rotatable plate pivotable about the front of said weapon carrier allowing access to tHe cannon; separable bearing support means supporting the trunnions perpendicularly to the fixed turret axis, said separable means having an upper half and a lower half, the upper half being affixed rigidly to said turret''s removable portion, the lower half being affixed rigidly to said turret body; and means for detachably securing said turret''s removable portion to said turret body so that the cannon may be removed from the housing by separating said turret''s removable portion from said turret body.

2. A housing for automatic weapons as recited in claim 1 wherein said securing means comprises a plurality of bolts detachably securing said turret''s removable portion to said turret body.

3. A housing for automatic weapons as recited in claim 2 wherein said weapon mount is pivotable in a downward direction to a position allowing the cannon to be repaired and exchanged from the housing.

4. A housing for automatic weapons as recited in claim 3 wherein a plurality of bearing races are disposed between said separable bearing support means and said pair of trunnions.