US3922949A - Gun turret with an observation opening closable by a hatch cover - Google Patents

Gun turret with an observation opening closable by a hatch cover Download PDF

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Publication number
US3922949A
US3922949A US448419A US44841974A US3922949A US 3922949 A US3922949 A US 3922949A US 448419 A US448419 A US 448419A US 44841974 A US44841974 A US 44841974A US 3922949 A US3922949 A US 3922949A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
gun
cover
turret
elevation
upper wall
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Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US448419A
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English (en)
Inventor
Andre Mechulam
Bruno M Saintours-Payerne
Guillaume A Gay-Chatain
Paul R Montjallard
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Gouvernement de la Republique Francaise
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Gouvernement de la Republique Francaise
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Publication date
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Publication of US3922949A publication Critical patent/US3922949A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F41—WEAPONS
    • F41H—ARMOUR; ARMOURED TURRETS; ARMOURED OR ARMED VEHICLES; MEANS OF ATTACK OR DEFENCE, e.g. CAMOUFLAGE, IN GENERAL
    • F41H5/00—Armour; Armour plates
    • F41H5/22—Manhole covers, e.g. on tanks; Doors on armoured vehicles or structures

Definitions

  • the turret has an upper wall with an observation opening thereon and a hatch cover is pivotably mounted on the upper wall adjacent the observation opening for opening and closing the same, the hatch cover being so pivotably mounted on the upper wall to provide a field of view through the observation opening corresponding to the direction of aim of the gun.
  • the cover and gun are coupled by a releasable connection to cause the cover to follow the pivotal movement of the gun for angles of elevation of the gun greater than a threshold level.
  • a releasable latch mechanism can hold the cover in closed position.
  • the invention relates to military equipment having a turret associated with at least one gun whose aim results from the orientation of the turret and whose range or elevation is effected by a rotation of the gun cradle about a horizontal axis, this rotation movement being effected by an operator by means of an elevation control mechanism within the interior of the turret.
  • association of such a turret and of its corresponding gun can be obtained either in the most general case of carrying the gun by the turret in a mounting on the roof of the turret, or by mounting the gun on an independently turnable support about an axis parallel to that of the turret and providing transmission means for conjugating rotation movements of the turnable support and of the turret such that they always present identical angular orientations.
  • military equipment with the gun turret is used here in a general sense and includes military uses with a fixed post, such as fortresses with gun turrets, ground vehicles, navel vessels and aircraft with gun turrets.
  • the invention is particularly adapted to armored cars equipped with a gun turret, such as combat vehicles, tanks, reconnaissance vehicles or personnel carriers (wheeled or tracked) equipped with at least one gun mounted on the roof of the turret.
  • Such observation opening is generally closable by an armored hatch cover pivotably mounted on an axle situated rearwards of the opening with respect to the direction of aim of the gun, such that progressive opening of the cover provides the operator with a field of observation gradually increasing in height notably to furnish direct observation (possibly with an externally mounted rough sighting device of reduced field) of an aerial target from the horizon through gradually increasing angles of sight.
  • the hatch is opened to a maximum degree to give a maximum angle of view, but this causes unnecessary risk of a surface attack (for which only a small opening of the hatch is necessary for visibility) or an aerial attack from an angle less than that of the maximum opening.
  • An object of the invention is to provide means for such military equipment to eliminate the risk to an op erator, at the time of marking or location operations or in following an aerial target or ground vehicle, due to an unnecessary degree of opening of the hatch cover of the observation opening should the operator of the sighted target fire a tracer or aiming round at the turret with the hatch unnecessarily open.
  • the military equipment comprises on the one hand a turret associated with at least one gun pivotably mounted on a horizontal axle and controlled by an apparatus for regulating its elevation, and on the other hand an observation opening formed in the upper wall of the turret and capable of being closed by an armored hatch cover which is opened by pivotal movement around a horizontal axle mounted rearwardly of the cover with respect to the direction of aim of the gun, such that the field of observation formed by the opening of the hatch cover presents the same orientation in direction as the gun associated with the turret, the equipment being characterized in that it further comprises coupling means between the gun and the hatch cover to provide corresponding movement between the two from a predetermined threshold level at an intermediate elevation position of the gun such that the opening of the hatch cover follows the elevational movements of the gun in the same direction.
  • the coupling means comprises a simple mechanical connection between the cradle of the gun and the hatch cover to correlate the angular elevational movements thereof in the same direction.
  • the coupling means can be rendered inoperative such that the operator can, in case of danger and assuming the cover to be at least partially open, decouple the coupling means and close the cover while the gun remains at the same angle of elevation to which it was placed at the time of decoupling, this being advantageous for the operator when he follows the object (with the hatch cover closed) by utilizing sighting apparatus in the interior of the turret generally coupled to the gun to follow the aim thereof.
  • the coupling comprises a hooking system so constructed that when the angle of elevation of the gun is above the threshold level, the cover can be automatically connected to the gun cradle to provide a particular degree of opening of the cover, the closure of the latter being effected by the operator via a manually operable member causing decoupling of the hooking system.
  • hooking systems of this type are conventional in door latches having a bolt with an inclined face subjected to a spring action, the user being able to close the door by simply pushing the same towards the door frame whereas to open the door, it is only necessary to turn the handle and pull or push the door.
  • the hatch cover is provided on the one hand, with a controlled latch bolt permitting locking of the cover in closed position, and on the other hand, with recall means capable, when the latch bolt is released, of urging the cover to a completely open position.
  • the cover in the case where the gun is externally mounted on the turret above the hatch cover, the cover is provided with an automatic latching bolt whose release is manually controlled from within the turret, the cover being subjected to the action of a spring tending to open the cover.
  • the cover can carry at its upper part a bracket extending in the direction of the gun cradle, said bracket being provided at its upper extremity with a hooking finger for automatic engagement with the gun cradle when the latter is above the threshold angle of elevation, the gun cradle being provided with a curved slot in which the hooking finger is engaged and entrained as the gun is raised and lowered in elevation to cause the cover to follow these movements, a manual control element being operative to release the finger from the slot to permit decoupling of the cover from the gun cradle if it should become necessary to rapidly close the cover.
  • the gun cradle can carry an abutment such that when the gun is at an elevation below the threshold level, said abutment limits the opening of the cover.
  • the operator of the military equipment is assured of a limited vulnerability (as compared to equipment with a hatch cover which is either all open or closed) i.e. without unnecessary risk corresponding to the operations of marking and sighting of an aerial object and a reduced vulnerability (cover partly open and free) in facing enemy fire operating at ground level, which is usually the most accurate and therefore the most dangerous.
  • FIG. 1 is a side view, partly in section, of the upper portion of a gun turret of a military ground vehicle, the turret being shown with its cover open and connected to the cradle ofa gun mounted on the roof of the turret,
  • FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1 except that the cover of the turret is disconnected from the cradle of the gun and is in closed position,
  • FIG. 3 is a transverse part-sectional view taken on line IIIIII in FIG. 2,
  • FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 1 except that the cover of the turret is shown disconnected from the cradle of the gun and is in a position in which it is held partly open,
  • FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 6 showing a closure latch for the turret cover
  • FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VIVI in FIG. 5.
  • FIG. 1 therein is seen the roof 1 ofa turret of a military armored vehicle, the roof 1 serving to support a gun 2 which can be a cannon or a machine gun or the like.
  • a cradle 3 of the gun is mounted for pivotal movement on horizontal axle 4 and is subject to the action of a control apparatus such as gearboxes 5, 6 controlled by a crank 7 in order to adjust the elevation of the gun from the interior of the turret.
  • a control apparatus such as gearboxes 5, 6 controlled by a crank 7 in order to adjust the elevation of the gun from the interior of the turret.
  • an observation opening 8 which is capable of being closed by an armored cover 9 which is opened by being pivotably moved around horizontal axle 10 mounted rearwardly of the cover with respect to the direction in which the gun is pointed.
  • the elevation movements of the gun 2 and the opening of the cover 9 are conjugated in the same sense from a given limit of elevation of the gun, for example, above the horizontal, by a bracket having ajournal pin 11 mounted in the cover approximately perpendicularly to cradle 3, the journal pin 11 being provided at its external extremity with a hooking finger 12 capable of being engaged in a curved guide slot 13 carried on the cradle and being concave upwards.
  • journal pin 1 l The opposite internal extremity of the journal pin 1 l is provided with a handle 14 for turning the pin 11 to disengage the hooking finger l2 and to free the cover 9 which can thus close without modification of the elevation of the gun.
  • the guide slot 13 is extended forwardly by an abutment ledge 13a, the slot 13 and ledge being positioned with respect to the cover such that when the operator opens the cover, the finger 12 abuts the ledge 13a below the threshold of elevation chosen for the connection of the cover and the cradle, thereby to prevent such connection, whereas at elevations above the threshold level, the finger comes into engagement with the slot 13 to permit connection of the cover 9 with the cradle 3.
  • the hooking finger 12 is constituted as a lock bolt with an inclined face subjected to the action of a spring 15 (see FIG. 3) such that the finger automatically engages in the slot 13 when it arrives thereat, its disengagement being controlled by handle 14 whose normal position is one in which the finger is engaged in the slot.
  • the cover 9 is shown in FIG. 1 in open position connected to the cradle, while in FIGS. 2 and 3 it is closed and disconnected. In FIG. 4, the cover is partly open but disconnected from the cradle.
  • the cover is preferably subjected to the action of a recall spring (not shown) tending to open the cover, the cover then being equipped with a closure latch 16 which automatically closes and holds the cover in closed position and can be controllably released.
  • a recall spring not shown
  • FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate an embodiment of such a closure latch which comprises a bolt 17 with an inclined face 17a, the bolt 17 being slidably mounted in a guide 18 fixed to the external wall of the cover 9, the bolt 17 being subjected to the action of a spring 19 which urges the bolt towards a recess 20 formed in a boss 21 fixed on the roof 1 of the turret in facing relation with the path of travel of guide 18.
  • the closure latch further comprises a manual control assembly to effect displacement of bolt 17 against the opposition of spring 19, said control assembly including a journal pin 22 extending through cover 9 and carrying at its internal extremity a handle 23 for imparting rotation to the pin 22 and at its external extremity a transverse ball-shaped finger 24 pivotably engaged in a notch provided in the pin 17.
  • the cover when the handle 23 is turned to disengage bolt 17 from recess 20, the cover is urged outwards by its recall spring (not shown). If the gun is at an elevation above the threshold value, the pin 12 can engage in slot 13 to connect the cover with the gun cradle. Continued elevataion of the gun will produce raising of the cover. Manual disengagement of the cover from the cradle can be effected by turning handle 14, whereupon the cover can be manually lowered and locked in closed position by engaging bolt 17 of the closure latch in recess 20 in boss 21.
  • Military equipment comprising a turret, at least one gun mounted for pivotal movement in elevation, means controlled from within the turret to adjust the angle of elevation of said gun, said turret including an upper wall with an observation opening therein, a hatch cover pivotably mounted on said upper wall adjacent said observation opening to controllably open and close the same, the hatch cover being so pivotably mounted on said upper wall to provide a field of view through the observation opening corresponding to the direction of aim of the gun, and means outside said turret for coupling said cover and gun to cause the cover to follow the pivotal movement of the gun, said coupling means comprising means for providing a coupling connection between said cover and gun only for angles of elevation of the gun greater than a threshold level.
  • Military equipment as claimed in claim 1 comprising a manually operated latch which holds the cover in closed position and is released from within the turret.
  • Military equipment comprising a turret, at least one gun mounted for pivotal movement in elevation, means controlled from within the turret to adjust the angle of elevation of said gun, said turret including an upper wall with an observation opening therein, a hatch cover pivotably mounted on said upper wall adjacent said observation opening to controllably open and close the same, the hatch cover being so pivotally mounted on said upper wall to provide a field of view through the observation opening corresponding to the direction of aim of the gun, and means for coupling said cover and gun to cause the cover to follow the pivotal movement of the gun, said coupling means comprising means for providing a coupling connection between said cover and gun only for angles of elevation of the gun greater than a threshold level.
  • said coupling means includes means for decoupling the same to free the cover from said cradle.
  • said coupling means includes means on said cradle and cover for effecting automatic locking engagement therebetween when the gun exceeds the threshold level of angular elevation.
  • Military equipment comprising a turret, at least one gun mounted for pivotal movement in elevation, means controlled from within the turret to adjust the angle of elevation of said gun, said turret including an upper wall with an observation opening therein, a hatch cover pivotably mounted on said upper wall adjacent said observation opening to controllably open and close the same, the hatch cover being so pivotally mounted on said upper wall to provide a field of view through the observation opening corresponding to the direction of aim of the gun, and means for coupling said cover and gun to cause the cover to follow the pivotal movement of the gun, said coupling means comprising a turnable pin mounted in said cover and having an external end of the pin, a control member on the internal end of the pin and a guide member with a curve slot on said cradle, said pin and guide slot being relatively positioned such that said locking finger is engageable in said slot when the angle of elevation of the gun has exceeded a predetermined threshold angle of elevation.
  • said cradle includes an abutment flange extending in prolongation of said guide slot to limit the degree of opening of the cover when the angle of elevation of the gun is less than the threshold value.
  • said coupling means further comprises a spring acting on said locking finger in a direction to urge the same into said slot.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Aiming, Guidance, Guns With A Light Source, Armor, Camouflage, And Targets (AREA)
  • Forklifts And Lifting Vehicles (AREA)
  • Jib Cranes (AREA)
US448419A 1973-03-08 1974-03-05 Gun turret with an observation opening closable by a hatch cover Expired - Lifetime US3922949A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR7308235A FR2220766B1 (de) 1973-03-08 1973-03-08

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3922949A true US3922949A (en) 1975-12-02

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ID=9115951

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US448419A Expired - Lifetime US3922949A (en) 1973-03-08 1974-03-05 Gun turret with an observation opening closable by a hatch cover

Country Status (11)

Country Link
US (1) US3922949A (de)
AT (1) AT330029B (de)
BE (1) BE812072A (de)
CA (1) CA992779A (de)
CH (1) CH582869A5 (de)
DE (1) DE2406099A1 (de)
ES (1) ES422657A1 (de)
FR (1) FR2220766B1 (de)
GB (1) GB1421088A (de)
IT (1) IT1002476B (de)
SE (1) SE408223B (de)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
RU2130577C1 (ru) * 1998-03-13 1999-05-20 Закрытое акционерное общество "Специальное конструкторское бюро" Закрытие огневого сооружения
RU2181423C1 (ru) * 2000-08-04 2002-04-20 Открытое акционерное общество специального машиностроения и металлургии "Мотовилихинские заводы" Запирающее устройство
FR2885854A1 (fr) * 2005-05-19 2006-11-24 Giat Ind Sa Dispositif de manoeuvre d'une trappe
RU2399738C1 (ru) * 2009-03-25 2010-09-20 Общество с ограниченной ответственностью Специальное конструкторское бюро средств гражданской обороны (ООО "СКБ СГО") Устройство для запирания тяжелых дверей

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
SE441388B (sv) * 1984-05-04 1985-09-30 Bofors Ab Observationslucka for stridsfordon
RU2171963C1 (ru) * 2000-07-11 2001-08-10 Открытое акционерное общество специального машиностроения и металлургии "Мотовилихинские заводы" Запирающее устройство, преимущественно закрытия огневого сооружения

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
SE301283B (de) * 1966-06-03 1968-05-27 Bofors Ab
DE1932991A1 (de) * 1969-06-28 1971-01-28 Wegmann & Co Nebelkerzen- und Sprengkoerper-Wurfanlage fuer gepanzerte Fahrzeuge

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
SE301283B (de) * 1966-06-03 1968-05-27 Bofors Ab
DE1932991A1 (de) * 1969-06-28 1971-01-28 Wegmann & Co Nebelkerzen- und Sprengkoerper-Wurfanlage fuer gepanzerte Fahrzeuge

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
RU2130577C1 (ru) * 1998-03-13 1999-05-20 Закрытое акционерное общество "Специальное конструкторское бюро" Закрытие огневого сооружения
RU2181423C1 (ru) * 2000-08-04 2002-04-20 Открытое акционерное общество специального машиностроения и металлургии "Мотовилихинские заводы" Запирающее устройство
FR2885854A1 (fr) * 2005-05-19 2006-11-24 Giat Ind Sa Dispositif de manoeuvre d'une trappe
RU2399738C1 (ru) * 2009-03-25 2010-09-20 Общество с ограниченной ответственностью Специальное конструкторское бюро средств гражданской обороны (ООО "СКБ СГО") Устройство для запирания тяжелых дверей

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2406099A1 (de) 1974-09-26
AT330029B (de) 1976-06-10
ES422657A1 (es) 1976-04-16
CA992779A (fr) 1976-07-13
ATA101074A (de) 1975-08-15
CH582869A5 (de) 1976-12-15
FR2220766B1 (de) 1978-02-10
BE812072A (fr) 1974-09-09
GB1421088A (en) 1976-01-14
FR2220766A1 (de) 1974-10-04
IT1002476B (it) 1976-05-20
SE408223B (sv) 1979-05-21

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