Device to recuperate the energy produced during the recoiling of a weapon

A device to recuperate the energy produced during the recoiling of a weapon provided with a hydraulic fluid power circuit, wherein said device comprises an energy recuperating cylinder activated by the recoil of said weapon, a double-acting cylinder comprising two chambers separated by a piston, a first chamber of said cylinder being connected to said hydraulic power circuit of said weapon, said piston of said cylinder pushing said hydraulic fluid in said circuit into a storage accumulator when said weapon recoils. The energy recuperating cylinder comprises a second chamber connected to a recoil mechanism that ensures pressurising of said mechanism.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The technical scope of the invention is that of braking systems for an element in motion, for example a weapon during the recoil caused by firing a projectile, and which allow the energy thus developed to be recuperated.

2. Description of Related Art

Such devices are known and reference may be made to patent EP-0403452, which describes a device allowing the stored energy to be used to close the breach of a weapon. The device described only allows the energy to be used for a single type of to and fro movement such as, for example, that of the opening/closing of the breech, or else the ejection of thee stub. Generally speaking, the devices proposed do not allow the recuperated energy to be stored for possible use to other ends.

Moreover, known energy recuperators do not allow several networks to be powered.

The powering of a hydraulic network often requires a hydraulic generator of the engine and pump type whose bulk and mass are problematic and make them difficult to integrate into the frame of the weapon.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the invention is to propose an energy recuperation device that overcomes these drawbacks whilst allowing part of the recoil energy of the weapon to be recuperated and rendered according to the user's needs.

The invention thus relates to a device to recuperate the energy produced during the recoiling of a weapon, wherein it comprises an energy recuperating cylinder activated by the recoil of the weapon, a double-acting cylinder comprising two chambers separated by a piston, a first chamber of the cylinder being connected to a hydraulic power circuit of the weapon, the piston of said cylinder pushing the hydraulic fluid in this circuit into a storage accumulator when the weapon recoils.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the energy recuperating cylinder comprises a second chamber connected to a recoil mechanism that ensures its pressurising.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the recuperating cylinder incorporates a rod integral with the piston, such rod pushed by the weapon during its counter recoil.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the energy recuperating cylinder is connected to the weapon's hydraulic power circuit by means of main piping divided into at least two secondary pipings provided with first and second valves allowing the passage of a fluid in one direction only, one secondary piping connecting the main piping to the storage accumulator and another secondary piping connecting the main piping to a supercharging accumulator.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the first valve is placed between the supercharging accumulator and the main piping, and the second valve is placed between the main piping and the storage accumulator, the first valve being closed and the second valve open when the weapon recoils.

The storage accumulator may supply the weapon's hydraulic network with pressurised fluid via service piping.

According to a variant embodiment of the invention, the second chamber of the recuperating cylinder is connected to the nitrogen chanter of the recoil mechanism.

According to another variant embodiment of the invention, the second chamber of the recuperating cylinder is connected to the recoil mechanism via an oil circuit delimited on the nitrogen chamber side of the recoil mechanism by a free piston which separates the nitrogen and the oil circuit.

According to another variant embodiment of the invention, the second chamber of the recuperating cylinder is connected to the oil chamber of the recoil mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The upper part ofFIG. 1shows a weapon1whose recoil mass1ais partially schematised. Each time the weapon is fired, and in a known manner, the weapon1performs a to and fro motion following arrow F1. This weapon1is attached to a recoil mechanism20comprising a first cylinder9whose rod21is integral with the recoiling mass of the weapon and a nitrogen chamber10. The rod21is integral with a piston32sliding in the cylinder9and delimiting chambers8and23. The nitrogen chamber10is limited by a free piston7that is also subjected to the action of a fluid in the cylinder9by means of a chamber22. When the weapon recoils after firing a round, the weapon moves rapidly in the direction of arrow F2. In a known manner, the fluid in cylinder9passes through a calibrated opening and supplies chamber22thereby causing the nitrogen contained in chamber10to be compressed by means of the free piston7. The recoil movement of the weapon is, moreover, rapidly braked thanks to a recoil brake (not shown) coupled with the recoil mechanism20.

The nitrogen compressed in chamber10exerts a pressure on piston7, which, after recoil, causes the counter recoil of the recoiling mass1a, and the return of the rod21to its starting position.

According to the invention, an energy recuperating device2is provided that is connected to the nitrogen chamber10and activated by the weapon's recoil. This device is shown in the lower part ofFIG. 1. To this end, the device comprises an energy recuperating cylinder3, comprising a piston24sliding in the cylinder body3and integral with a rod4pressing at one end against the recoiling mass1aof the weapon1.

This piston24delimits a first chamber6and a second chamber5. The second chamber5of the cylinder3communicates with the nitrogen chamber10and thus also contains nitrogen. The first chamber6communicates with a fluid accumulator assembly25.

The assembly25firstly comprises a supercharging accumulator15and secondly a storage accumulator16. The accumulator15may be supplied with oil by piping36bringing the oil back from the different actuators of the hydraulic circuit (not shown). The accumulator may also be supplied using a pump motor18. The supercharging accumulator15is a low pressure accumulator (pressure at around 3.105Pa to 106Pa).

The storage accumulator is in the form of a pressurised oil tank intended to supply one or several apparatus (not shown) by means of service piping27.

The storage accumulator16is a high pressure accumulator (pressure at around 1.5.107Pa to 2.5.107Pa).

The chamber6of the cylinder3communicates with the assembly25by main piping19that is divided into two branches11and12each provided with a non-return valve, respectively13and14. Valve13only allows the passage of compressed fluid from the supercharging accumulator15towards the cylinder3. Valve14only supplies the storage accumulator16with compressed fluid via a piston3(the low pressure of the supercharging accumulator15always being lower than the high pressure of the storage accumulator16).

The compressed fluid may classically be oil. Each accumulator15or16will classically incorporate a gas chamber, not shown, isolated from the fluid by means of a membrane and allowing the accumulator to become pressurised.

FIG. 2shows the device according to the invention during an intermediate step in the recoil phase of the weapon, that is, during the energy recuperation phase, the end position of the weapon not being shown since superfluous to understanding the operation.

The recoiling mass of the weapon1has recoiled a certain distance following arrow F2driving with it the rod21of the cylinder9. The recoil mechanism20fulfils its function and the fluid contained in chamber23is pushed back into chamber22thereby causing the nitrogen contained to chamber10to be compressed. The pressure of the nitrogen in chamber5increases concomitantly and pushes the piston24of the recuperators3, thereby pushing back the oil contained in the first chamber6. This pressurised oil is conducted by means of the valve14, into the high pressure storage accumulator16. Thus, part of the energy produced by the weapon's recoil has been recuperated. This energy is available in the accumulator16to be used at any time, for example by means of piping27.

FIG. 3shows the device according to the invention during the counter recoil phase of the weapon. It is the pressure of the nitrogen contained in the chamber10which, as succinctly explained above, causes this counter recoil movement of the weapon. The recoiling mass of the weapon1therefore pushes the rod4of the cylinder3(and thus the piston24) bringing it back into its starting position as shown inFIG. 1. This return movement of the piston24causes a depressurising of the oil in the main piping19resulting in the opening of valve13and the supercharging accumulator15ensures the first chamber6of the cylinder3is filled with oil. The valve14remains closed by the high pressure of the storage accumulator16which is greater than the pressure supplied by the supercharging accumulator15.

FIG. 4illustrates a variant embodiment of the recuperator device according to the invention.

In this example, the second chamber5of the recuperating cylinder3is connected to the recoil mechanism20by means of an oil circuit comprising piping29. This oil circuit is delimited on the, nitrogen chamber10side of the recoil mechanism20by a second free piston17that isolates the nitrogen and the oil circuit.

The chamber10containing the nitrogen no longer communicates with the second chamber5of the recuperating cylinder3.

The piston17carries a rod31whose protrusion from the recoil mechanism20allows the oil replenishment level of the system to be visualised. The operating principle remains globally the same, the nitrogen pressure in this case being applied to the piston24of the recuperating cylinder3by means of another fluid.

This embodiment offers the advantage of being safer. Indeed, should the piping29rupture accidentally, there would be no leakage of nitrogen and the recoil mechanism20would remain operational. Firing would still be possible.

FIG. 5shows another variant embodiment of the recuperation device according to the invention.

In this example, the second chamber5of the recuperating cylinder3is connected to the oil chamber22of the recoil mechanism20of the weapon by means of piping30. Thus, when the weapon1recoils, the oil is pushed from chamber23to chamber22and thus towards the second chamber5of the recuperating cylinder3. During the counter recoil phase, the nitrogen pressure in the chamber10causes the counter recoiling of the weapon's recoiling mass. The recoiling mass pushes back the rod4and the resulting depressurising of the oil in the main piping19causes the circuit to be resupplied with oil by the supercharging accumulator15. Other variants are naturally possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

In all the above Figures, the hydraulic circuit is shown schematically. The relative dimensions and proportions of the different components are thus not respected.

Naturally, this circuit also comprises the usual control and safety organs such as manometers and pressure control valves.