Patent Publication Number: US-6701821-B2

Title: Weapon turret intended for a military vehicle

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a weapon turret intended for military vehicles, which is equipped with a medium-calibre automatic weapon, especially an automatic cannon, and a relatively heavy-calibre weapon, especially a shell launcher or cannon, in which the two weapons are, firstly, mounted in a weapon holder fitted in the weapon turret such that they can be jointly pivoted about a common horizontal pivot axis and, secondly, can be pivoted jointly with the turret about a vertical centre axis of the same, and in which at least one ammunition magazine is disposed in the weapon turret with guides for guiding ammunition belts from the magazine to the automatic weapon. 
     PRIOR ART 
     A combat vehicle having a weapon turret which is equipped with two weapons of essentially different calibre and can be pivoted according to the above is previously known; compare, for example, the Russian “BMP-3” combat vehicle. The weapon turret of this known combat vehicle supports in a common weapon holder, firstly, a 30 mm automatic cannon and, secondly, a 100 mm cannon. The two weapons are fitted in the weapon holder in such a way, however, that the longitudinal axes of the weapon barrels are situated on both sides of and equidistant from the vertical pivot or centre axis of the weapon turret, regarded in plan view. A problem is thereby created with respect to firing accuracy, especially for the automatic cannon, since, during automatic fire, the latter subjects the weapon turret to repeated torsional shocks about the vertical pivot axis. 
     In this known weapon turret, furthermore, the weapons have a relatively limited elevation capacity (max. ca. +60°) because of difficulties in directing the ammunition to these same, in a relatively limited space, via so-called flex ducts, which reduces the possibility of firing at a target with a plurality of heavy projectiles which simultaneously strike the target as a result of the shots being discharged as the elevation of the barrels progressively decreases. Moreover, the Russian vehicle is incapable of precision-firing when in motion, since the weapon turret lacks a gyro-stabilizing mechanism. 
     OBJECT AND SOLUTION OF THE INVENTION 
     One object of the present invention is to produce a weapon turret of the type stated in the introduction, which allows improved precision when firing automatic fire from an automatic cannon, both when stationary and in motion. For this object, the weapon turret according to the invention is characterized by the characteristics specified in the following independent Patent claim  1 . 
     Another object is to produce a weapon turret which allows an enlarged range of elevation (&gt;90°) for a multi-calibre weapon combination, in which the weapons are mounted about the same horizontal pivot axis in the weapon turret. Specific design characteristics required for this object are specified in the following contingent patent claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a weapon turret according to the invention, equipped with an automatic cannon and a shell launcher and in which the parallel-fitted barrels of the weapons assume an elevation of 0°; 
     FIG. 2 is a partially broken-open view similar to FIG. 1, but with the barrels at a maximum elevation of ca. 85°; 
     FIG. 3 is a plan view of a part of the weapon turret according to the invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the weapon turret according to the invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the weapons of different calibres mounted pivotably about a common horizontal pivot pin; and 
     FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but with an elevation of 0°. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In FIG. 1, a weapon turret according to the present invention, intended for military vehicles, is denoted in general terms by  10 , which weapon turret is equipped with a medium-calibre automatic weapon in the form of an automatic cannon  12  and a relatively heavy-calibre weapon in the form of a shell launcher  14  (or cannon), in which the two weapons  12  and  14  are arranged parallel with each other and are mounted in a weapon holder fitted in the weapon turret  10  such that they can be jointly pivoted about a common horizontal pivot axis  18 . The weapon turret  10  is, in turn, mounted in a vehicle (not shown) pivotably about a vertical centre axis  20 . The weapon turret  10  comprises, firstly, a lower cage part  22 , which accommodates, inter alia, an ammunition magazine for the heavy-calibre weapon  14  and seats for one or more operators and which is mounted in the body of the vehicle rotatably about the said axis  20  and, secondly, an upper armoured turret superstructure  24 , which connects to the vehicle body. 
     In the state shown in FIG. 1, the barrels  26  and  28  of the two weapons  12  and  14  respectively assume an elevation of 0°, whilst in FIG. 2 the barrels  26 ,  28  have been pivoted about the axis  18  to an elevation of ca. +85°. This is also shown in side view in FIG.  4 . The barrels  26 ,  28  can also assume a somewhat downward-pointing position, depending on the configuration of the vehicle body. For example, an elevation of at least ca. −8° is able to be assumed, as shown in FIG.  4 . 
     As shown in greater detail in FIG. 3, the automatic cannon  12  is fitted in the weapon holder such that the longitudinal axis  30  of the barrel  26  extends through the vertical pivot axis  20  of the weapon turret  10 . Accordingly, no torsional shocks are suffered by the weapon turret  10  about the axis  20  during automatic fire, which would otherwise impair the firing accuracy of the automatic cannon in the lateral direction. Improved firing accuracy in the vertical direction is also aided by the fact that the longitudinal axis  30  of the automatic cannon  12  also extends through the horizontal pivot axis  18  for the weapon holder (FIG.  4 ), no torsional shocks being generated about this axis, which would otherwise disturb the firing accuracy in the vertical direction during automatic fire. Preferably, the weapons  12 ,  14  are mounted in the weapon holder such that their common centre of gravity ends up on the pivot axis  18 , thereby facilitating maneuvering of the weapons  12 ,  14  into the desired position. 
     The shell launcher  14  (or cannon) is fitted close up to and next to the automatic cannon  12  and has its barrel  28  directed parallel with the barrel  26  of the automatic cannon  12 . Despite the somewhat asymmetrical fitting of the shell launcher  14  (cannon), its firing accuracy is not affected, since the barrel  28  has no time to move in the lateral direction during the brief period in which the item of ammunition is present therein during firing but manages to return to the firing position before the next shot is due to be discharged. 
     As can be seen from FIG. 5, the barrel  28  of the shell launcher  14  is mounted such that it is axially displaceable in a casing tube  32  fixed in the weapon holder. A recoil brake  34  is connected to the casing tube  32  and to a back piece  36  on the rear end of the barrel  28  and is placed on the bottom side of the rear part of the shell launcher  14 . An advance mechanism  38 , which returns the barrel  28  to its front position following absorption of the recoil after firing, is likewise connected to the casing tube  32  and to the back piece  36  on the bottom side of the rear part of the shell launcher  14 . Fixed to the top side of the casing tube  32  are a pair of ammunition guides  40 ,  42 , which have a curvature following the cylindrical outer side of the casing tube  32  and lead to the ammunition intake of the automatic cannon  12 . These fixed ammunition guides  40 ,  42  are placed entirely behind the horizontal pivot axis  18 , resulting in minimal vertical motions of the ammunition intake as the automatic cannon  12  is elevated. This placement of the fixed ammunition guides  40 ,  42  further facilitates the connection of flexible ammunition feed ducts  44 ,  46  to the automatic cannon  12  (see FIGS.  2  and  6 ), which ducts extend along one side in the turret superstructure  24  from a rear-situated magazine  48  and allow a rotational and curving motion necessary for a 90° elevation motion of the automatic cannon, as well as motions in the axial direction of the ducts  44 ,  46 . The described placement of fixed ammunition guides  40 ,  42  on the top side of the casing tube  32  and on the opposite side of this to the recoil brake  34  and the advance mechanism  38  helps to keep the diameter of a so-called weapon drum  50 , surrounding the weapon holder, small and helps simultaneously to permit a wide range of elevation of the weapons  12 ,  14  in a relatively compact weapon turret. In FIGS. 2,  6 , the ammunition is fed in upright position from the magazine  48 , but it can also be stored and fed horizontally. The inlets of the fixed guides  40 ,  42  can alternatively be inclined at an angle of about half the elevation angle range relative to the longitudinal axis of the barrel  26  in order to reduce rotation of the ducts during normal elevations. 
     The weapon turret  10  is provided with a gyro-stabilizing mechanism (not shown), which makes it possible to fire at targets when the vehicle is in motion.