WO2013067997A1

WO2013067997A1 - Support structure

Info

Publication number: WO2013067997A1
Application number: PCT/DE2012/001085
Authority: WO
Inventors: Heinz Grell; Andreas Strohmeyer
Original assignee: Esw Gmbh
Priority date: 2011-11-07
Filing date: 2012-11-06
Publication date: 2013-05-16
Also published as: DE102012022149B4; DE102012022149A1

Abstract

The support structure (1) has a base mount (3), an oscillating frame (4) and a superstructure (2) for equipping with a weapons and/or an observation system. The superstructure is both rotatable azimuthally and pivotable relative to the horizontal (elevation). The superstructure is mounted so that a movement relative to the horizontal takes place along an arcuate path. The support structure can be stationary or mobile in use. A low overall height and a low centre of gravity are achieved. In particular a weapon platform for stationary or mobile applications can be provided.

Description

support structure

The invention relates to a support structure, comprising a base frame, a swing frame and a structure for equipping with a weapons and / or observation system, wherein the structure is both azimuthally rotatable and relative to the horizontal pivotable (elevation).

Such support structures, in particular support platforms, have long been known as weapons launchers. Many gun carriages are attached to a turntable and can be directed in height and azimuth. In terms of the vehicle, these carriages are solid. The carriages require with the associated weapon or observation unit already in the rest position relatively much space, the overall height of the vehicle is disadvantageously increased. They also have a relatively high emphasis and their work area is often limited.

Another weapon platform is known for example from DE 1 816 013 AI. It is multi-axially movable and has a Haibschalenträger for elevation, the underside is provided with a toothing. In the toothing engages a pinion of an actuator. By means of the actuator of the half-shell carrier is movable about a horizontal axis in the elevation direction. On the half-shell support a bogie is arranged, which carries a tank dome as WaffenAufbau. About the bogie the tank dome is azimuthally movable. This weapon platform requires by the half-shell support a lot of space in the vehicle interior. Another disadvantage is that the armored dome continues to be supported only on relatively few points on the vehicle roof.

Object of the present invention is to provide a support structure which has a high stability and versatility is used at a low height.

The object of the present invention is, in particular, to avoid the above-mentioned disadvantages and to provide a carrier platform which has a low overall height and a low center of gravity, yet with a large working range. When installed on a vehicle, it should have a freely usable structure with an interior space. ensure a robust and rigid system. Preferably, a bullet resistance is achieved.

The object is also achieved in that the structure is mounted so that its movement takes place along an arcuate path.

Due to the arched mounting of the structure can provide a very flat silhouette. Both metals and plastics can be used as materials.

The storage along an arcuate path provides a large articular surface. In a rest position, no moments are generated due to the effect of gravity. This supports easy stabilization even while driving.

The object is particularly in a carrier platform, which has as a structure a structure for equipping with a weapons or observation system, a base frame for azimuthal movement of the structure and a swing frame for elevation of the structure, wherein the swing frame relative to the structure or the base frame movable is, solved by the fact that the support platform has a swing frame.

The support structure according to the invention is suitable both for stationary arrangements, for example on a foundation, as well as for applications on vehicles, in particular on armored vehicles. In vehicles, the structure may be a structure or a housing-like receptacle for weapons and / or observation components. Each of the various embodiments described below always relates to at least one of all the possible forms of use, with only one of the respective applications often being expressly mentioned for the sake of simplicity. In particular, for example, all embodiments for support platforms and / or towers also refer to structures in general.

Of the three main components of the carrier platform, the superstructure, the swing frame and the base frame, the base frame is the lowest-placed component. The base frame for azimuthal movement is designed as a bogie and preferably arranged on the roof of a vehicle, in a stationary device on a base plate or on a building. The support platform can therefore be placed on any device that has a suitable receptacle such as a turntable, without the need for constructive adjustments of the substructure. As a result, the carrier platform is universally applicable. Preferably, the bogie is circumferentially movable.

As a separately manufactured unit, the carrier platform can be installed on a vehicle or a stationary device as a preassembled unit. Alternatively, the base frame is a part of the vehicle or the stationary device itself, so that the structures to be mounted are more compact.

About the swing frame, the base frame and the structure are elevationsbeweglich each other. The relative movement between these components takes place along a curve which has a variable pitch. The Relatiwerschiebung the structure and the base frame is thus dependent on angle. In a simple design, it is predetermined by the mechanical substructure. For example, the relative shift can take place along an arc by a pinion engaging in a curved toothing.

The construction is as flat as possible and, in one embodiment of the invention, designed as a gun structure. Alternatively or additionally, it has facilities for collecting information. It is not necessary that the structure contains rotatable or height-movable components for target detection, as he is himself on the swing frame height and rotatable about the base frame. In a particularly simple embodiment, it is designed as a flat, exchangeable cassette with standardized connections. This ensures that the structure on the support platform has a particularly low overall height and thus helps the support platform to a low center of gravity.

The structure can be adapted for different applications. For example, it can be provided with one or more weapons systems as a weapons construction or can have one or more measuring or observation devices for detecting the surroundings as an observation structure.

In one embodiment of the invention, the structure and the oscillating frame are elevationsbeweglich each other. In a second embodiment, the base frame and the swing frame are elevationsbeweglich each other. In a third embodiment, the elevation takes place both to the base frame as well as to the structure. This has the advantage that the carrier platform is particularly compact, since about twice the elevation at a constant Axialvor- Set thrust. All three variants allow a large swivel range, which can range from + 90 ° to -30 °, for example.

Preferably, the base frame, the structure and the swing frame are formed as three separately manufactured components.

In a variant of the swing frame to the structure, the base frame or both components via a rack and pinion drive adjustable. The adjustment of the swing frame by means of tooth profiles represents a robust and at the same time precise Verstellart. The tooth profile is arranged in one embodiment on a curved rack. The slope change of the curvature should be monotonic to ensure that the change in elevation between the two elevation endpoints is always increasing or decreasing. For example, the curved rack may have as a ring segment a constant radius of curvature, which allows a particularly simple design of all components. This is a fixed ratio of rotation of the drive shaft of the electric motor for elevation change. More complex controls or adjustments for elevation determination are not necessary.

In the rack engages a gear, wherein one of the components rack or gear on the swing frame and the other component is arranged on the body or on the base frame. Alternatively, for example, a tooth profile is provided, which is pieced together from individual racks. Such relatively short racks are easier to produce. In particular, if no uniform change of the elevation angle is desired, but in a region a particularly fine adjustment is required without restricting the entire work area, a tooth profile of individual racks, each having a constant curvature, but mutually different curvatures are composed. The curved racks are preferably easy to make circular arc segments.

In one embodiment, the gear is designed as a drive gear, via which the adjustment of the swing frame takes place. The rack or racks are firmly connected to the counterpart component. The drive gear is moved by a motor. In principle, the drive can take place via any type of engine. Depending on the intended use, for example, hydraulic motors offer, which is particularly advantageous in vehicles or stationary facilities that have hydraulic circuits to fulfill other functions, since an integration can be carried out in a particularly simple manner and allows a flexible installation location of the engines. Also electric motors or the vehicle main drive are provided as possible drives.

The drive gear is preferably arranged on the swing frame, while the rack, in which engages the drive gear is fixed to the base frame or the structure.

In one embodiment of the invention, the drive gear meshes simultaneously with two different racks, one rack is attached to the body and the other rack on the base frame. If the drive gear is moved, then simultaneously a reli tiwerschiebung the swing frame to the base frame as also a Relatiwerschiebung the swing frame to the structure. With the same axial feed thus a greater elevation can be achieved than with a fixed coupling of the swing frame to the structure or to the base frame. The carrier platform thereby builds compact.

In a next embodiment, the drive gear is driven by an electric motor. The electric motor is preferably fixedly arranged on the component which has the drive gear. The unit then takes up little space, since waves or other mechanical transmission elements can be short. Particularly compact builds a unit in which the drive gear is arranged directly on the output shaft of the electric motor.

In one embodiment of the aforementioned embodiment of the invention, the electric motor is arranged on the swing frame. The frame can then be particularly simple and integrated into the vehicle or the stationary device by the manufacturer. The base frame including substructure can then be used for other purposes, without being burdened with the cost of the electric motor. The same applies to the structure, which can be built with less effort. This allows a cost-effective replacement of the on, weapons-out or observation structure, since the electric motor does not have to be installed on every body.

In a next embodiment of the invention, the carrier platform has a plurality of drive gears. The drive gears can each intervene in different racks. If these are arranged parallel to the axis, this arrangement is suitable for a U-shaped oscillating frame with two legs, on each of which a drive unit is arranged. Alternatively or additionally, several drive gears mesh in the same toothing. The applied by each riebszahnrad forces can be reduced, so that smaller gears can be installed and the overall height of the support platform continues to fall. In this case, the gears are preferably arranged symmetrically.

The mutually elevationsbeweglichen assemblies are mounted to each other. For this purpose, the carrier platform in a further development a set of rollers between the swing frame and the oscillating frame relative to be moved component. The swing frame and the structure or the frame are thus roller bearings. For this purpose, a set of rollers consists of two or more rollers, which may be formed, for example, as a rotatably mounted solid cylinder. To further reduce the friction, the rollers may in turn be formed by individual bearings.

The individual roles of a set of rollers are formed in an embodiment of equal size and arranged along a curve whose curvature is adapted to the rack. The rollers may then be arranged in a guide groove extending at a constant distance to the rack, so that the oscillating frame and the mounted component can always support at the same time as many as possible, ideally all roles. Manufacturing technology is a simple guide groove, which is arranged on the component that has the curved rack and parallel to the curved rack. The swing frame may be formed as a circumferential and thus annularly closed component. Particularly suitable is a U-shaped swing frame with a base and two parallel from the base legs. If this swing frame via drive gears, which engage in curved racks moves, the legs may also be formed bent. They then preferably have the same curvature as the racks.

In armored vehicles, it is advantageous if the structure of the frame is as accessible as possible to allow maintenance activities from the inside. In general, this also applies to other vehicles with body. For easy and quick maintenance, the carrier platform in one embodiment therefore has a bearing, which is arranged offset from the racks starting laterally outwards. In conjunction with a U-shaped swing frame is then almost the entire distance between the legs of the swing frame for direct engagement or the largest possible closable opening available.

Due to the closable opening, accessibility to the frame is provided by the structure. In particular, a Zuführmöglichkeit is created, for example, for ammunition. In particular, it is thus also possible to provide a recharge facility from the interior of the vehicle.

The object is further achieved by a vehicle having one of the support platforms described above, wherein the structure has on the inside a closable opening, wherein a closing element in at least one Ele vationswinkel to the interior of the vehicle can be opened.

It is not necessary that the closing element can be opened in any position of the structure. However, at least one angular position is provided in which the inner region of the structure is accessible from the frame. The closable opening may be an ABC lock.

In summary, the invention provides an elevation-mounted carrier platform which is compact and low-build, robust and lightweight and has a high rigidity. The presented elevation storage is suitable for support platforms of different sizes.

With regard to the swing frame is especially thought that the or the motors move along. Via an intermediate ring or an intermediate segment, an increased freedom of movement is provided with high mechanical stability. When using only one motor is preferably a coupling of the respective gears via a connecting rod. The intermediate frame or the intermediate segment leads to a high rigidity, which supports in particular a storage control for the gun.

As an alternative to use as a weapons platform, an application for holding and positioning a container is also possible. An upper lid is optional and improves the application possibilities. Description of the drawings

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to drawings of an embodiment. Show it:

1 shows a carrier platform according to the invention with a

Structure, a swing frame and a frame in a perspective oblique view,

Fig. 2 is a side view of the carrier platform of FIG

1 with the structure in an end position,

Fig. 3 is a side view of the carrier platform of FIG

1 with the structure in a middle position,

4 shows a longitudinal section of the carrier platform according to FIG

3,

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the swing frame of the support platform of Figure 1 and

Fig. 6, the support platform of Figure 1 without the

Construction closing roof in a rotated presentation.

1 shows a support structure formed as a support platform 1 with three main components, a structure as a structure 2, a base frame 3 and a swing frame 4. The base frame 3 can be rotatably arranged in an application for a vehicle on a turntable shown in Figure 2 17 of a vehicle roof 18 , Generally, the base frame 3 is arranged on an arbitrary mounting base. This can be, for example, the vehicle roof 18 or a foundation.

The base frame 3 according to Figure 1 comprises two parallel frame legs 23, 24, which have a Ab ^¬ from each other. Between the frame legs 23, 24, a motor 21 is arranged as an electric drive for rotating the base frame 3 on the vehicle roof 18. The frame legs 23, 24 are connected to each other via a cross member 22. To save mass, the frame legs 23, 24 recesses 25.

The frame legs 23, 24 according to FIG. 1 have a substantially straight course on the vehicle roof side and are designed to be concave radially as regards the oscillating frame as a negative contour of a circular path. Almost over their entire longitudinal extension, the frame legs 23, 24 each have a toothing, which is formed by respective one-piece, curved racks 5. The tooth pitch of the teeth is equidistant.

As can be seen from FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, a drive toothed wheel 6 fastened to the oscillating frame 4 is in permanent engagement with the frame-fixed toothed rack 5. At the same time, the drive gear 6 is in permanent engagement with a relatively movable rack 15. The drive gear 6 is arranged on the output shaft of an electric motor 7, which is also arranged on the swing frame 4 (Figure 5). The movement of the drive gear 6 is thus transmitted via the racks 5, 15 both on the frame 3 and on the structure of the second To reduce the friction, to distribute the forces and to relieve the drive gear 6 is the base frame

3 to the swing frame 4 according to Figure 4 and Figure 5 via a plurality of rollers 9 stored. The individual rollers 9 are formed, for example, as roles of equal size, in particular as cylindrical rollers and arranged on their inner rings 26 on the swing frame 4 successively to a set of rollers 8, that their centers are equidistant from the path of the drive gear 6. As a result, the rollers 9 according to Figure 5 can extend over their outer rings 27 in a guide groove 10 of the base frame 3 and the swing frame 4 effectively supported on the base frame 3 and store this friction. In the same way, the structure 2 is mounted on rollers 9 on the swing frame 4 in a guide groove 11.

Figure 5 shows the U-shaped swing frame 4 with its base 12 and legs 13, 14. The legs 13, 14 are mutually parallel and provided with a curvature corresponding to the path of the drive gear 6 on the racks 5, 15. For protection against external influences, the legs 13, 14 are provided with frame cheeks 28 which cover the racks 5, 15 according to Figure 4 at the adjacent components 2, 3 in the installed state.

On the frame cheeks 28, the rollers 9 are arranged laterally offset to the drive gear 6 according to FIG. The roller set 8 for the storage of the body 2 on the swing frame

4 and the roller set 8 for the storage of the swing frame 4 on the base frame 3 are thus arranged in a plane and only radially spaced from each other. Due to the lateral arrangement of the rollers 9 to the drive gear 6 little radial space is required, so that the carrier Platform 1 with such a swing frame 4 can be made particularly flat and the interior 29 of the body 2 is freely accessible from the vehicle interior.

The electric motors 7 as drive motors for the drive gears 6 are flanged on the swing frame 4 and arranged in their main extension direction parallel to the legs 13, 14. This leaves between the legs 13, 14 a large distance, which further improves the accessibility of the structure 2 from the inside. The two drive gears 6 are arranged on each one of the legs 13, 14 and move on a circular path. They mesh respectively with a frame-fixed rack 5 and a rack rack 15 which are constructed as circular arc segments.

The racks 5, 15 have less than a quarter arc length, but allow in their interaction an adjustment of the structure 2, which is more than 90 °. Thus, the structure 2 shown in the embodiment can be adjusted from + 90 ° to about -30 ° and thus has a large work area at the same time low working height.

The structure 2 may be formed as a weapon structure and has in addition to the two racks 15 a flat roof, which is formed by a flat maintenance flap 16. By means of a recessed into the maintenance flap 16 handle 31, this can be opened to release access to the interior 29 of the body 2 from the outside. Seen in longitudinal section, the outer shell of the structure 2 has a shape of a circular segment formed by a chord and a circular arc section, which are folded in one direction. The fold is formed as a frame 32, in the interior of which is arranged at approximately right angles to the maintenance flap 16, a front 33 with a sensor unit 34 and an opening 35 for a weapon operated via a tensioning mechanism. The sensor unit 34 may be designed, for example, as a laser range finder, as a thermal imaging camera, as a radar or satellite-based system.

In at least one angular position, the interior 29 of the body 2 is accessible through a closure 30 from the vehicle interior. The closure 30 is designed as an ABC sliding closure.

Claims

Patent claims

1. support structure (1), comprising a base frame (3), a swing frame (4) and a structure (2) for equipping with a weapons and / or observation system, wherein the structure (2) both azimuthally rotatable and relative to the horizontal is pivotable (elevation), characterized in that the structure (2) is mounted so that its movement takes place relative to the horizontal along an arcuate path.

Second support structure (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the structure (2) with the oscillating frame (4) for elevation of the structure (2) is mounted.

3. support structure (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the oscillating frame (4) relative to the structure (2) and / or the base frame (3) is movable.

4. support structure (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the oscillating frame (4) between the structure (2) and the base frame (3) is arranged.

5. support structure (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the structure (2) or the base frame (3) has a curved rack (5, 15) and the oscillating frame (4) has a drive gear (6), wherein the drive gear (6) is meshed with the curved rack (5) for elevation.

6. support structure (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that both the structure (2) and the base frame (3) each have a curved rack (5, 15) and the oscillating frame (4) a drive - gear (6), wherein the drive gear (6) at the same time with both curved racks (5, 15) meshes.

7. support structure (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the oscillating frame (4) has at least one electric motor (7) for driving the drive gears (6).

8. Support structure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the oscillating frame (4) has a plurality of rollers (9) for supporting the swing frame (4).

9. support structure according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rollers (9) are formed equal to each other.

10. support structure (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the base frame (3) or the structure (2) has a guide groove (10, 11), in which the rollers (9) are arranged.

11. carrier structure (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the oscillating frame (4) is mounted laterally to the drive gear (6) on the structure (2) and on the base frame (3).

12. support structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the oscillating frame (4) U-shaped with a base (12) and two legs (13, 14) is formed, wherein the two legs (13, 14) are formed as arc sections.

13, support structure (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support structure (1) is at least partially formed of a composite material.

14. Carrier structure (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the support structure (1) is arranged on a vehicle and the structure (2) to the interior of the vehicle in the region of a closable opening has a closure (30) which in at least An elevation angle can be opened.