Patent Publication Number: US-7895932-B1

Title: Optically clear turret dome, and combined turret shroud

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This Application claims priority from U.S. Patent Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/859,117, for Optically Clear Turret Dome, and Combined Turret Shroud, filed Nov. 14, 2006, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention pertains to structure for providing anti-ballistic and anti-blast-shock-wave protection for a military gunner who is stationed on the roof of a vehicle, such as a military High Mobility Multi-wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), also referred to as a Humvee vehicle. In particular, it relates both to a unique, optically clear, dome-shaped overhead spanner structure which seats on the upwardly facing shoulder of a generally annular turret shroud which is disposed around a vehicle-top weapon, and to this dome in combination with the mentioned shroud. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In a warfare operating theater one of the weapons which is often deployed is a single gun, such as a large caliber machine gun, disposed on the roof of a military vehicle to be operated by a gunner positioned at least partially on top of the vehicle with that gun. Such a vehicle-top gun is made not only for raising and lowering of its barrel, but also for swiveling 360° about a generally upright axis. 
     It is obvious that a gunner positioned with this kind of a weapon is highly exposed as an enemy target, and the present invention provides structure which is intended to afford significant anti-ballistic, and also anti-blast-shock-wave, protection to such a gunner. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A vehicle-top gun turret shroud-dome structure for mounting on a vehicle-top gun turret includes a turret shroud having a generally annular base and an open upper margin; an optically clear dome structure constructed to mate with and seal to the open upper margin; wherein the turret shroud and the dome structure provide, for a gunner enclosed thereby, anti-shock, anti-ballistic and anti-blast shockwave protection. 
     This summary and objectives of the invention are provided to enable quick comprehension of the nature of the invention. A more thorough understanding of the invention may be obtained by reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention in connection with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevation of a vehicle having a top gun and a turret shroud-dome structure of the invention mounted thereon. 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevation of the turret shroud-dome structure of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a front isometric view of the turret shroud-dome structure of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a somewhat schematic view of a turret drive mechanism of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a front elevation of a seat structure of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The invention includes, and now referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , a turret shroud-dome structure  10  for mounting on a vehicle  12 , such as the military HMMWV, using the existing M-1114 turret mount. The turret shroud-dome structure of the invention includes a generally annular turret shroud  14  which circumsurrounds a roof-top weapon  16  and the operating gunner  18 , and an optically clear dome-like spanner structure  20  which seats on top of the generally annular rim, or upwardly facing shoulder,  22 , also referred to herein as an open upper margin, of turret shroud  14 . Collectively, the shroud and the dome-like cover provide substantial anti-ballistic and anti-blast-shock-wave protection against projectiles and blast shock waves that may be experienced by someone seated within the combined shroud and dome structure. Optical, clarity in the dome affords both high visibility for a rooftop gunner, while at the same time significantly protecting that gunner against the threats just mentioned above. 
     The turret shroud is designed with the gunner in mind. The turret shroud is flexible, providing a flexible shroud base, in that, an impact with the gunner&#39;s shoulder will not cause contusions or broken bones, as may be caused by conventional, rigid metallic shroud systems. The flexibility of the shroud also enhances the ballistic, including blast event, absorption capability because the flexibility of the composite structure absorbs and distributes ballistic energy over a larger area than does a rigid structure. Sitting in the turret has a “feel” of wearing a protective piece of body armor, yet, there is no additional weight which must be carried by the gunner. Advanced lightweight composite materials are used to provide cost effective gun turret Systems which have, among others, the following advantages: 
     Ballistic and fragmentation protection over a full horizontal 360° and, with the dome structure in place, vertical 180° protection above shoulder  22  of turret shroud  14 . 
     The shroud is, configurable for both .50 cal. and .30 cal. guns. The turret shroud and a gun shield (provided with a .50 cal. gun, not shown) have multi-hit capabilities and provide protection from small arms fire, including 7.62 mm LPS rounds. Ports  14   a  and  20   a  in turret shroud  14  and dome structure  20 , respectively, allow projection of gun  16  therethrough. 
     Turret shroud  14  has a base  24  which connects to the M-1114 turret, or to other similar turret systems on other military vehicles. The lower portion  26  of the turret shroud has an inward slope over approximately two-thirds of its periphery, terminating in a curved portion  28  midway up the height of the turret shroud, which flows into an upper portion  30  having an outward slope, or reverse curve, which has turret shroud shoulder  22  located at its upper margin. The curved shape of the turret shroud provides for off-angle obliquities of incoming rounds, which further enhances the protective qualities of the shroud. A reverse curl located adjacent the top margin of the shroud provides additional protection against ricochets or shrapnel, as from improvised explosive devices (IEDs). 
     The overall weight of the turret shroud, dome structure and gun shield is less than that of a conventional, metallic turret shroud, and is fabricated to be more balanced than existing turret shroud systems, thus provided enhanced functionality of the turret system. The underlying turret shroud is formed, in the preferred embodiment, of multiple layers of a contour-woven, fibre-reinforced anti-ballistic, anti-shock-wave material woven with a Kevlar®-type material and coated/sealed with a material known as TUFF STUFF, made by Rhino Linings USA, Inc. of San Diego, Calif. The turret shroud structure has, because of the materials from which it is made, a certain degree of flexibility which allows it to yield and flex on impact by a striking projectile for the purpose of dissipating projectile energy. 
     A modified form of the turret shroud may incorporate ceramic tiles disposed just under the outer surface of the turret shroud to enhance the ballistic capabilities of the turret shroud. 
     The dome structure of this invention may be either a single-layered structure, or a plural-layer structure, which utilizes, for at least one of its layers, a material known as BATTLEVIEW, which is a multi-component polyurethane formulation, which is optically clear, castable (and thus readily formable), and anti-ballistic. Dome structure  20 , also referred to herein as a spanner structure, in the preferred embodiment, is formed of multi layers of material, which may include layers of acrylic or polycarbonate material which sandwich a layer of BATTLEVIEW therein. This multi layer structure may be fabricated using a thermoforming process for the acrylic/polycarbonate and a casting process for the BATTLEVIEW material. 
     The dome structure herein is preferably mounted on the upper rim portion, or shoulder, of a generally opaque (though not necessarily so) turret shroud for selective opening and closing, and when closed, is suitably firmly anchored in place on top of an underlying turret shroud. A hinge and latch structure (not shown) allows for the dome structure, or closure dome, to be opened or removed when desired. 
     The clear armor of the dome structure provide excellent vision for the gunner and excellent IED protection from the initial blast and from the resultant shrapnel and debris. The dome structure&#39;s geometric configuration provides enhanced protection for the turret shroud, while allowing the gunner to maintain surveillance of the environment about the vehicle. Additionally, the dome structure retains the gunner in the vehicle in the event of a roll-over. A comfort factor is provided by the dome structure, as the heated or cooled air in the vehicle does not readily escape with the dome structure in place, thus providing a somewhat sealed environment within the vehicle. This sealed environment also facilitates communication between the gunner and the vehicle crew because of the geometric shape of the dome itself: the gunner&#39;s head is effectively positioned inside a speaker cone. 
     Because of the lighter weight and balanced configuration of the turret shroud and dome structure, the addition of two features is facilitated. The first feature, and now referring to  FIG. 4 , is the provision of a powered drive  40  for the turret, which augments the hand crank currently used in M-1114 turret systems. Drive  40  includes a motor  42 . The turret is rotated by simple movement of the gunner&#39;s thumb on a joystick  44 , which is mounted near the gun trigger, which activates reversible motor  42 , powered by vehicle power  46 . A gear  48  on motor  42  engages a gear ring  50 , which is part of the M-1114 turret. The turret powered drive is constructed to provide 360° rotation of the turret in less than three seconds, which is considerably faster than manual systems. Motor  42  is equipped with a back EMF function to provide braking for the turret system. The turret motor is provided with a “through crank”  52  so that the turret may still operate using the standard hand crank mechanism in the event of a motor failure or power loss. Because of the reduced weight and balancing of the turret, shroud and dome, the turret may be operated with the vehicle in 20°+ orientations, which is not safely possible with existing systems, which must be locked down in the event of 20°+ operations. The lock down structures are, of course, still provided so that a turret may be locked down during travel. 
     The second feature, and now referring to  FIG. 5 , is the provision of a gunner&#39;s seat structure  60 , which allows the gunner to remain in a comfortable, seated, safe position whilst manning the vehicle gun. Seat structure  60  includes seat supports  62 , which are fixed to the M-1114 turret structure, a seat  64  having a seat cushion  66  fixed thereto, seat hinges  68  and seat release pins  70 . The seat of the invention is adjustable to the gunner&#39;s height and comfort, by adjusting the location of seat  64  by selecting a location in seat supports  62  through which pins  70  are secured. Seat structure  60  actually lowers the gunner&#39;s and the vehicle&#39;s centers of gravity. The seated position allows the turret shroud and dome structure fully to enclose the gunner. The seat is provided with quick-release pins  70 , which are crew accessible, and which allow the crew to “drop” the gunner into the vehicle if required. Shoulder straps  72  are provided to retain the gunner in the event of a roll-over, which straps do not impede the gunner&#39;s ability to man the gun. 
     A variation of the seat structure includes provision of an accelerometer  74 , mounted to the vehicle to monitor vehicle orientation, such that, in the event of a blast or roll-over event, the accelerometer trips a switch  76 , which activates a pin pulling mechanism  78 , which immediately drops seat  64  and draws the gunner into the interior of the vehicle. 
     Thus, an optically clear turret dome, and combined turret shroud for use on a military vehicle has been disclosed. It will be appreciated that further variations and modifications thereof may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.