EP2071268B1 - Retractable turret - Google Patents

Abstract

The turret has a cover (9) for protecting an active system (6), where the turret is mounted on a platform. The active system is moved from a retracted position to a deployed position using a pair of arms (1, 2), where the arms form an expanding parallelogram. The length of one of the arms is modified by an actuator (20) for permitting elevation aiming of the system, when the system is in deployed position. A crown (10) is fixed on the platform and forms a pivot for permitting directional aiming of the system.

Description

The technical sector of the present invention is that of cupolas mounted on a platform such as that described in the document US2336557A which forms a starting point for the preamble of claim 1.

It is known to date turrets equipping a platform (vehicle, building, ...) and intended to support an active system consisting of offensive or defensive weapons and / or a remote viewing means such as a periscope or a camera.

Gun-type devices are known having several tubes mounted in battery. They are not steerable and have an important rigid structure capable of supporting the efforts.

Deployable weapon systems are also known, but these weapon systems are not rechargeable from within a vehicle.

The invention therefore relates to a cupola mounted retractably and having means for sealing between the inside and outside of the platform, regardless of the position of the cupola.

This problem is solved by a cupola according to the invention having the characteristics of the characterizing part of claim 1.

According to another characteristic of the invention, one of the arms of the deformable parallelogram has a length that can be modified by an actuator, thus enabling the active system to be pointed in position when it is in the deployed position.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the cupola comprises a motorization for pivoting one of the arms relative to the crown thus controlling the passage of the system

active from one position retracted or deployed to the other position.

The box may form a closed chamber for sealing between the outside and inside of the platform, the box further comprising a flap for accessing the active system when the latter is in the retracted position.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the cover is fixed at a front portion of an upper face of the active system by at least one hinge, a spring means being provided for pivoting the cover relative to the active system. so as to disengage a front face of the active system in the deployed position.

The cover will advantageously carry at least one circular seal designed to be applied against an upper face of the crown when the active system is in the retracted position, the spring means also allowing to maintain the support of the hood against the crown in this retracted position.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the active system is orientable at an angle of between -10 ° and 60 °.

Advantageously, the cupola according to the invention occupies a reduced volume and thus allows a possible reloading in any position over the entire gyration zone.

• la figure 1 représente un tourelleau selon l'invention en position déployée,
• la figure 2 représente le tourelleau selon l'invention en position escamotée,
• la figure 3 est une autre représentation du tourelleau selon l'invention en position escamotée,
• les figures 4a et 4b sont deux représentations schématiques du tourelleau en coupe permettant de visualiser la cinématique du mouvement de déploiement, et
• la figure 5 est une vue de détail du montage de la couronne.

Other features, details and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly from the detailed description given below as an indication in relation to Perspective views on which:

• the figure 1 represents a cupola according to the invention in the deployed position,
• the figure 2 represents the cupola according to the invention in the retracted position,
• the figure 3 is another representation of the cupola according to the invention in the retracted position,
• the Figures 4a and 4b are two schematic representations of the cupola cup in section to visualize the kinematics of the deployment movement, and
• the figure 5 is a detail view of the mounting of the crown.

It is known that cupola can support one or more active systems. These systems can be means of vision, weapons or defenses. In the exemplary embodiments described hereinafter, this active system is a multitubes block allowing the firing of projectiles (for example masking or decoying). Of course, this example is not limiting and we can replace this multitube block by any other active system. The cupolas are intended to equip a platform 11 (represented on the figure 3 ), such as a vehicle or a building.

The figure 1 represents a cupola according to the invention in the deployed position. The cupola comprises an active system which is here formed by a block 6 comprising multiple launch tubes. A protective cover 9 covers the block 6. The block 6 is supported on each side by a pair of arms 1 and 2 to move it from a retracted position to an extended position. The two pairs of arms 1,2 are arranged on either side of the block 6 and connected on the one hand to the block 6 by a pivot connection and on the other hand to a box 12 (see FIG. figures 2 and 3 ), which is itself secured to the movable portion of a bearing ring 10.

The figure 5 shows more precisely the mounting of this ring 10. The ring 10 comprises a movable portion 10b, a fixed portion 10a and rolling means 10c in order to make a pivot connection between the cupola and the platform on which it is mounted.

The fixed part 10a is fixed to the platform 11 by screws 14. The movable part 10b carries the box 12 which is fixed by other screws 15. In addition a circular toothing 16 is secured to the box 12. A pinion ( not shown on the figure 5 ) is driven by a motor 5 (see figures 1 and 2 ) integral with the fixed part 10a of the ring. The ring 10 thus forms a pivot allowing pointing in the turret.

A cowling 10d caps the ring 10 and protects the rolling means 10c. It is secured to the movable part 10b.

The figure 2 represents the cupola according to the invention in the retracted position. It can be distinguished in particular that in this configuration, the cover 9 is applied to the ring 10, which ensures sealing with the outside of the platform. A circular seal 17 (see figures 1 and 5 ) is applied against the upper face of the ring 10 when the active system is in the retracted position.

We also represented on the figure 2 the box 12 inside which is housed the active system 6 in its retracted position. The box 12 forms a closed enclosure which makes it possible to seal between the outside and the inside of the platform 11. For this purpose the box 12 comprises a flap 7 which is provided with a seal and which makes it possible to close a rear face 12a of the box carrying an opening 13. This flap 7 makes it possible to access the active system 6 when the latter is in the retracted position. The flap 7 also seals the assembly with respect to the exterior once the cupola in the deployed position. This flap, once the cupola in the retracted position, tilts to allow the supply of ammunition from the inside of the platform 11. It will be noted that the shape of the opening 13 of the box 12 is substantially complementary to the shape of the flap 7 in order to cooperate together and to ensure the tightness of the device when the turret is deployed. In addition, the box 12 is secured to the movable portion of the ring 10. Thus, a reloading is possible in all positions of the cupola over the entire turning zone (360 °).

A movable bolt 3 comprising a percussion system is locked at the rear of the block 6 and provides the firing chain of the selected munition. An unlocking means 8 makes it possible to unlock the mobile breech block.

The figure 3 is another representation of the cupola according to the invention in the retracted position. there is shown a wall of the platform 11 supporting the cupola.

In this figure, it can also be seen that the breech block 3 has been unlocked in order to reload ammunition 4 block 6 multiple tubes.

The Figures 4a and 4b schematize the architecture of the cupola and show in particular the kinematics of deployment of the block 6 by the arms 1 and 2.

The figure 4a shows the cupola in its retracted position. We see that the active system 6 is housed inside the box 12 and the latter has a profile which is inclined relative to the pivot plane of the ring 10 (horizontal plane of the platform 11). Thus the rear face 12a of the box is oriented towards the inside of the platform 11 and provides easy access to the active system 6 when the latter is in the retracted position.

We did not represent on these Figures 4a and 4b the shutter 7 allowing the closure of the box 12 at the rear face 12a.

The box 12 is secured to the movable portion 10b of the ring 10. Thus the pivoting of the box 12 is possible around the axis 18 to allow pointing in the bearing.

We see on Figures 4a, 4b that the active system 6 is movable from its retracted position to its deployed position with the aid of at least one pair of arms 1 and 2 which form a deformable parallelogram.

The arms 1 and 2 are fixed at one end at the box 12 and at their other end to the system. active 6. The fasteners la, 2a, 2b are constituted by pivot joints. The lower end 1b of the arm 1 is also secured to a shaft driven by a motor 19 (motor also visible on the figure 1 ). The motor control 19 (rotation R) moves the active system from its retracted position ( figure 4a ) to its deployed position ( figure 4b ). The fixing points 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b are chosen by those skilled in the art so that the deformable parallelogram formed by the arms 1, 2 ensures the desired deployment kinematics. We see that in deployed position ( Fig. 4b ) the active system 6 is offset in front of the axis 18 and is slightly inclined upwards. The arms 1 and 2 are then in a substantially vertical orientation.

According to another characteristic of the invention, one of the arms 2 of the deformable parallelogram has a length which can be modified by an actuator 20. Advantageously, this characteristic is provided by producing the arm 2 in the form of a linear jack 20.

Such an arrangement makes it possible to achieve the pointing in site (arrow S) of the active system 6 when it is in the deployed position. The modification of the length of the arm 2 causes the pivoting of the active system 6 around the articulation la of the fixed arm 1.

The Figures 4a and 4b also show the mounting of the cover 9 on the active system 6.

The upper face 6a of the active system 6 carries at its front part tabs 22 which receive articulations 21 integral with the cover 9 (see also figure 1 ).

Furthermore at least one spring means 23 is fixed between the cover 9 and a lug 24 attached to the upper face 6a of the active system, in the vicinity of a rear portion.

When the cupola is in its retracted position ( figure 4a ), we see that the spring 23 is in extension. The force exerted by the spring means 23 allows to maintain the support of the cover 9 against the ring 10 in the retracted position. The seal 17 is thus compressed.

When the active system moves to the deployed position, the spring means rotates the hood relative to the active system around the hinge 21. It is thus ensured to disengage the front face 6b of the active system in the deployed position. The hood 9 does not interfere with the ammunition firing.

Different variants are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. It will thus be possible to use other types of actuators. For example, the cylinders 20 may be replaced by racks or screws actuated by an electric motor.

One can provide two arms 1 and 2 on either side of the active system 6 or a single set of arms 1,2 on a side face of the system. If only one deformable parallelogram 1.2 is implemented, the attachment points of this parallelogram may also be located at a lower face of the active system 6.

Claims (7)

1. A retractable light turret mounted on a platform (11), comprising an active system (6), a protective cowling (9) for the active system, elevation and azimuth aiming means, the active system being able to be displaced from a retracted position to a deployed position by means of at least one pair of arms (1, 2) forming a deformable parallelogram, light turret incorporating a ring (10) fixed to the platform (11) and forming a pivot enabling aiming in azimuth, such ring incorporating a fixed part (l0a) integral with the platform (11) and a mobile part (10b) on which an active system is fixed by means of the arms (1, 2), light turret characterised in that it also incorporates a caisson (12) integral with the mobile part of the ring (10), caisson inside which the active system (6) is housed in its retracted position, such caisson (12) having a profile that is tilted with respect to the pivoting plane of the ring (10) and thus incorporating a rear face (12a) providing access to the active system (6).
2. Light turret according to Claim 1, characterised in that one of the arms (2) of the deformable parallelogram is of a length that can be modified by an actuator (20) thereby enabling the active system (6) to be aimed in elevation when in the deployed position.
3. Light turret according to Claims 1 or 2, characterised in that it incorporates motorization (19) enabling one of the arms (1) to be made to pivot with respect to the ring (10) thereby driving the passage of the active system from a retracted position or a deployed position to another position.
4. Light turret according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the caisson (12) forms a closed chamber enabling the air-tightness to be ensured between the exterior and the interior of the platform (11), the caisson further incorporating a shutter (7) to access the active system (6) when the latter is in its retracted position.
5. Light turret according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the cowling (9) is fixed at a front part of an upper face (6a) of the active system by at least one hinge (21), spring means (23) being provided enabling the cowling (9) to be made to pivot with respect to the active system (6) so as to disengage a front face (6b) of the active system in the deployed position.
6. Light turret according to Claim 5, characterised in that the cowling (9) has at least one circular seal (17) intended to be applied against an upper face of the ring (10) when the active system (6) is in the retracted position, the spring means (23) further enabling the cowling (9) to be pressed against the ring (10) in this retracted position.
7. Light turret according to one of the above Claims, wherein the active system (6) can be oriented in elevation by an angle of between -10° and 60°.

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