WO1994017357A1

WO1994017357A1 - Anti-aircraft turret device

Info

Publication number: WO1994017357A1
Application number: PCT/NO1994/000025
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nils Aspehaug
Original assignee: Kvaerner Eureka A.S
Priority date: 1993-01-28
Filing date: 1994-01-27
Publication date: 1994-08-04
Also published as: NO930286D0; NO176536C; NO176536B; NO930286L; AU6012194A

Abstract

In an anti-aircraft turret (2) for armoured units, especially for armoured vehicles (1), the turret (2) constitutes an independent unit and is equipped with a launching ramp (3), e.g. for rockets. The launching ramp (3) is designed as an integral part of the turret (2) and is rotatable in the vertical direction from a launching position (5), via a neutral transport position to a loading position (6) where the ramp (3) projects down through a loading hatch (9) in the unit (1) down into the turret (2). The ramp (3) is equipped with an armoured protective mantle (8), which is rotatable with the ramp (3) and which covers the ramp (3) on the top and on the sides.

Description

Anti-aircraft turret device

The invention concerns an anti-aircraft turret device for armoured units, especially for armoured vehicles, where the turret comprises an independent unit and is equipped with a launching ramp, e g for rockets, which is rotatable in the vertical direction from a launching position, via a neutral transport position to a loading position where the ramp projects down through a loading hatch in the unit under the turret

From US patent no 3 316 808 there is known a rocket launcher with two launching tubes mounted on a rotatable axle in such a manner that when one of the launching tubes is in the firing position on the outside of the combat compartment, the other launching tube is located down in the combat compartment There is further provided an H-shaped hatch for alternating between the two positions Even though loading is performed down in the combat compartment with the loading hatch closed, the loading hatch must be fully opened before the exchange can be performed The combat compartment is then susceptible to the incursion of foreign bodies in one form or another

Furthermore from US 4 010 672 there is known a drive device for a cover which is provided over a magazine on an armoured vehicle It is stated that the cover provides some protection during loading, but this can scarcely be considered to be complete, since the hatch has to be opened before the launching tubes can be moved down to the opening The cover thus exposes the maαazine durin "-g__> loadinα

From US 4 466 333 there is further known a device wherein the entire turret can be rotated in the vertical plane During loading the turret is tilted upwards so that the rear part is facing obliquely down towards the loading hatch

Thereafter the loading hatch is opened and loading is performed by means of a transport device During loading the cover is completely withdrawn, thus forming an opening (6) between the hull and the turret Consequently loading takes place without complete protection for the crew and ammunition

Armoured vehicles are used by the military for a number of different purposes, both for transport of personnel and material as well as in the form of tanks This variety of uses at times results in a standard vehicle having to be altered and adapted for the special purpose Vehicles which have to be equipped with anti- aircraft weapons are normally equipped with turrets, and in this connection various hatch devices are necessary to enable the weapons in the turret to be operated and loaded

A further requirement in armoured vehicles of this kind is that they should protect the crew members to the greatest possible extent In the case of armoured vehicles equipped with turret structures which contain firearms, e g a rocket launching ramp, hatches must be provided to enable the personnel to reload the weapons This entails a considerable risk for the crew members who have to perform this operation, in addition to which the entire vehicle is exposed to danger due to open hatches

An object of the present invention is to provide an anti-aircraft turret device for armoured units and especially armoured vehicles, where the above-mentioned disadvantages are avoided Thus it is an ob|ect of the invention to provide an armoured unit which can be used as a basic unit for production of vehicles for different purposes, and where this basic unit can be equipped with an anti¬ aircraft turret which can be operated from the interior of the unit without the necessity of opening hatches or the like out into the open

This object is achieved with a device of the type mentioned in the introduction, which is characterized by the features in the claims presented

In the invention a design has been obtained by simple means of an anti-aircraft turret, which makes it possible for the launching ramp to be loaded with rockets from the interior of the vehicle while all apertures are essentially kept covered by armour plating, and where the firing can be performed in all directions from the turret, I e through an angle of 360 degrees Thus the device according to the invention makes a new loading method possible which increases the safety of the personnel during the loading process

The design according to the invention also provides a very space-saving sol¬ ution, which is of critical importance where armoured vehicles are concerned, since space is extremely limited With the design according to the invention, the work involved in performing the adaptation to different types of vehicles has been substantially simplified j

In short, the principle of the invention consists in the fact that the launching ramp can be rotated from a firing position to a neutral transport position and on down to a loading position, where the launching ramp is directed into the interior of the vehicle and can thus be loaded without the necessity of any personnel having to be exposed on the outside of the vehicle During loading an upper protective mantle for the launching ramp is placed as a cover over the loading hatch opening, thus protecting the crew in the vehicle In the firing position a loading hatch will cover the loading aperture

The loading hatch is preferably rotatable into the vehicle or the armoured unit and accompanies the ramp when it is moved to the loading position An alterna¬ tive will also be that the loading cover is first pushed aside In order to keep the number of apertures in the armoured vehicle to a minimum, a flap can cover the front section of the protective mantle when the ramp is in the loading position

In order to use the least possible force in performing the movement of the launching ramp, it can be pre-tensioned, e g with a torsion spring or by other means, which provides pre-tensioning in the direction of the firing position The moveable parts are mounted about one or more axes, preferably an axis at the rear of the turret and at the turret's uppermost area, thus causing the launching ramp to remain standing relatively high up in the launching position, thus enabling it also to be fired while it is located over the armoured vehicle

The invention will now be illustrated in more detail by means of an embodiment which is depicted in the drawing, which includes

Fig 1 is a side view of an armoured vehicle with the device according to the invention, the launching ramp being represented in several positions,

fig 2 is the vehicle in fig 1 , viewed from immediately above,

fig 3 is an axonometπcal view showing the anti-aircraft turret with the ramp in the transport position, and

fig 4 is a view corresponding to fig 3 with the ramp in the launching position

In the drawing the armoured unit or armoured vehicle is generally indicated by 1 . while the anti-aircraft turret is indicated by 2 The rocket launching ramp is indicated bv 3 and is illustrated bv extended lines in the transport position or neutral position, which the ramp will assume when it is not in use The ramp is rotatable about an axis 4 between a launching position 5 and a loading position 6 These two positions are indicated by dotted lines in fig 1 As indicated in fig 2, the ramp is provided in the central area of the anti-aircraft turret and consti¬ tutes an integral part of it

The usual observation and aiming equipment for the launching operation are located on both sides of the launching ramp and are generally indicated by 7

As illustrated especially in figs 3 and 4, the launching ramp 3 is equipped with a covering mantle of armoured plating material This mantle is indicated by 8 and encloses the launching device on the top and on both sides Under the launching ramp there is provided an additional plate-shaped element which constitutes a cover for the loading hatch opening The cover is. indicated by 9, while the loading hatch opening is indicated by 10

The rockets 1 1 are located on a joint securing device The securing device is hinged to the turret via the axis 4 and equipped with a suitable system for elevation

During transport and firing the rockets and their securing device will be pro¬ tected by the protective mantle 8 which therebv will also automatically give additional protection to the crew inside the vehicle

During loading the launching ramp is pulled down, as illustrated by the dotted line in fig 1 , to a position where the front end of the ramp projects into the interior of the vehicle, from where the loading of the rockets can be performed The loading hatch opening 10 will thereby be freed and the loading hatch cover will accompany the launching ramp into the vehicle At the same time the protective mantle 8 will remain lying over the thereby created aperture, thus blocking it and ensuring that it stays covered by the armour plating material The front of the protective mantle may be covered with a rotatable flap In this wav the number of apertures into the interior of the vehicle is kept at a mini- mum After loading the ramp 3 is raised again until it is located inside the protective mantle 8 and the loading hatch cover 9 blocks the aperture From this position the launching ramp can then be raised further, e g also by means of forces from a torsion device, to the launching position, where it is also shielded by the protective mantle in the launching position At the same time the loading hatch 9 closes the aperture to the interior of the vehicle, as is clearly illustrated

With this design and this special mechanism for loading of the weapon part clear advantages have been obtained, the interior of the vehicle being completely shielded at all times, including during the loading process This means a signifi¬ cant improvement in the safety of the crew By providing the axis of rotation for the moveable parts in the upper rear edge of the turret, the launching ramp will also be positioned so high up that firing can be performed with the ends of the rockets located over the actual vehicle This means that the firing angle will be increased to a full 360 degrees

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1 An anti-aircraft turret device (2) for armoured units, especially for armoured vehicles ( 1), where the turret (2) comprises an independent unit and is equipped with a launching ramp (3), e g for rockets, which is rotatable in the vertical direction from a launching position (5), via a neutral transport position to a loading position (6) where the ramp projects down through a loading hatch (9) in the turret (2), characterized in that the launching ramp (3) is designed as an integral part of the turret (2) and is equipped with an armoured protective mantle (8) which is rotatable with the ramp and which covers the ramp (3) on the top and the sides, and that the protective mantle (8) in the transport position acts as additional armouring over the loading hatch (9) and during the entire loading operation where the ramp (3) and the loading hatch (9) are rotated into the vehicle unit ( 1 ), as a protection over the loading hatch opening ( 10)

2 A device according to claim 1. characterized in that the protective mantle (8) in the neutral position is covered in the front by a rotatable flap

3 A device according to claim 1. characterized in that the protective mantle (8) and preferably also the loading hatch (9) are pre-tensioned towards the launching position (5), e g by means of a torsion spring in the swivel joint

4 A device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the ramp (3) is rotatable about an axis (4) provided at the upper part of the turret (2)

5 A device according to claim 1. characterized in that the ramp (3) is provided in the middle of the turret (2) and is rotatable about an axis (4) in the rear edge of the turret