EP2163843B1 - Retractable turret - Google Patents

Abstract

The turret (1) has a firing unit (2) deployed through an opening (3), and protecting cover (5) for closing the opening. The cover comprises nozzles (6a, 6b) and cameras (9a, 9c) at its external surface. The nozzles respectively disperse lacrimator material and extinguishing material. The cameras are coupled to a display screen (10b) placed inside the platform, where the turret is mounted on the platform.

Description

The technical field of the invention is that of turrets mounted on a platform (fixed or mobile) and in particular turrets mounted on a military vehicle.

It is known to make an ammunition launch system that is retractable inside an armored vehicle. The patent FR2712386 describes such a system which comprises several tubes oriented along different axes and which are all integral with a pivoting hatch panel.

The advantage of such a system is that the refilling of the tubes can be performed from inside the vehicle. This system however has the disadvantage of providing protection against threats located at medium or long distance (distance greater than 15m).

In addition, the opening of the hatch cover makes the vehicle vulnerable to a close threat.

In the context of urban combat, there is today a need for a defense device that can also ensure the protection of the vehicle at short or very short range.

The invention therefore aims to provide a retractable cupola to ensure both a vehicle protection or the medium or long-range platform and protection very short range.

Thus the invention relates to a retractable turret mounted on a platform, comprising a firing means deployable through an opening, a protective cover ensuring the closure of the opening and pointing means in site and in deposit of the firing means, turret characterized in that the protective cover carries at an external face, on the one hand at least one close defense means and secondly at least one observation means coupled to a visualization means arranged inside the platform.

The close defense means may comprise at least one means for dispersing a tear gas material.

The close defense means may comprise at least one means for dispersing an extinguishing material.

The means for dispersing tear materials and / or extinguishers will be connected to at least one pressurized storage container internal to the platform.

Advantageously, the protective cover may also carry at its outer face at least one target designation means.

According to another characteristic, the protective cap is integral with the firing means and can pivot in bearing with the latter both in the open position and in the closed position, thus allowing an orientation of the close defense means and the observation means.

The firing means may be movable from a folded position to an extended position by means of at least one pair of arms forming a deformable parallelogram.

One of the arms of the deformable parallelogram may have a length that can be modified by an actuator, thus enabling the firing means to be pointed in position when it is in the deployed position.

Advantageously, the firing means may comprise a block comprising at least two bores each receiving a projectile.

The block of the firing means may also comprise at least two bores of different calibres.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective externe d'un tourelleau selon un mode de réalisation de l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une autre vue en perspective de ce même tourelleau,
• la figure 3 est une vue latérale schématique montrant les principaux organes du tourelleau selon l'invention,
• la figure 4 est une vue de détail du montage de la couronne,
• les figures 5a et 5b sont deux représentations schématiques du tourelleau en coupe permettant de visualiser la cinématique du mouvement de déploiement.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, description made with reference to the accompanying drawings and in which:

• the figure 1 is an external perspective view of a cupola according to one embodiment of the invention,
• the figure 2 is another perspective view of this same cupola,
• the figure 3 is a schematic side view showing the main bodies of the cupola according to the invention,
• the figure 4 is a detail view of the mounting of the crown,
• the Figures 5a and 5b are two schematic representations of the cupola cup in section to visualize the kinematics of the movement of deployment.

The Figures 1 and 2 represent a cupola 1 according to the invention. This cupola comprises a firing means 2 which is deployable through a circular opening 3 arranged in a platform 4. The firing means 2 can exit through the opening 3 by means of deployment means which will be described later. The platform 4 may be a vehicle or a fixed installation.

The cupola also comprises a protective cover 5 which closes the opening 3. In addition it also comprises pointing means in the site and in the bearing of the firing means 2, which means will be described later.

According to a feature of the invention, the protective cover 5 carries at its outer face means of close defense 6a and 6b. These means consist here of four dispersion nozzles, two nozzles 6a which ensure the dispersion of a tear gas material and two other nozzles 6b which will ensure the dispersion of a fire extinguishing material.

Each dispersion nozzle is connected by a pipe 7a, 7b (see figure 3 ) at least one pressurized storage container 8 having a controllable opening valve. This container 8 is internal to the platform 4 (here only a container is visible).

According to another characteristic of the invention, the protective cover 5 carries on its external face at least one observation and / or sighting means 9. Three means are represented here: 9a, 9b and 9c. These means are coupled to a display means 10b disposed inside the platform. A first means 9b is a sighting means which is here a laser designator. This designator will facilitate the pointing of the firing means 2 of the turret when the latter is in the deployed position.

The means 9a and 9c which are arranged on either side of the laser designator 9b are constituted by a diurnal observation means (9a) and a night observation means (9c). The observation means 9a and 9c will preferably be electronic cameras. These cameras (and the designator 9b) will be connected to the display means which will include a screen 10b. The designator 9b can also be controlled from an interface connected to a computer 10a.

It can be seen from the figures that the hood 5 here carries three observation and sighting means 9a, 9b and 9c installed in parallel. The close defense means 6a and 6b are also arranged two by two diametrically with respect to each other and the two diameters considered are orthogonal.

With such an arrangement it is possible to disperse four directions of space from the inside of the platform in four directions and a 360 ° self-protection blanket is provided. The observation and aiming means 9a, 9b and 9c are directed in a firing direction which is the same as that of the firing means 2 itself.

As this is particularly visible on Figures 5a and 5b the firing means 2 is supported on each side by a pair of arms 11 and 12 which enable it to be moved from a retracted position to an extended position. The two pairs of arms 11, 12 are disposed on either side of the firing means 2 and connected on the one hand to this means by a pivot connection and on the other hand to a box 13, which is itself secured. of the movable part of a ring 14 of positioning in the bearing.

The figure 4 shows more precisely the mounting of this ring 14. The ring 14 comprises a movable portion 14b, a fixed portion 14a and rolling means 14c to provide a pivot connection between the cupola 1 and the platform 4 on which it is mounted .

The fixed part 14a is fixed to the platform 4 by screws 15. The movable part 14b carries the box 13 which is fixed by other screws 16. In addition a circular toothing 17 is secured to the box 13. A pinion ( not shown on the figure 4 ) is driven by a motor (not shown) integral with the fixed portion 14a of the ring. The crown 14 thus forms a pivot for pointing the turret.

This pivoting is possible whether or not the cupola 1 is deployed through the opening 3. A cowling 14d caps the ring 14 and protects the rolling means 14c. It is integral with the movable portion 14b.

The figure 1 represents the cupola according to the invention in the retracted position. It can be distinguished that in this configuration, the cover 5 is applied to the ring 14, which ensures sealing with the outside of the platform. A circular seal 18 (see figures 4 , 5a, 5b ) is applied against the upper face of the crown 14 when the firing means 2 is in the retracted position.

The figure 2 shows more particularly the box 13 inside which is housed the firing means 2 in its retracted position. The casing 13 forms a closed enclosure that makes it possible to seal between the outside and the inside of the platform 1. For this purpose, the casing 13 comprises a flap 19 which is provided with a seal and which makes it possible to close a rear face of the casing at an opening 20. This flap 19 provides access to the firing means 2 when the latter is in the retracted position. Part 19 ensures also sealing the assembly with respect to the outside once the cupola 1 in the deployed position. This shutter, once the cupola in the retracted position, tilts to allow the supply of ammunition from inside the platform 4. It will be noted that the shape of the opening 20 of the box 13 is substantially complementary to the shape of the flap 19 in order to cooperate together and to seal the device when the cupola is deployed. In addition, the box 13 is secured to the movable portion of the ring 14. Thus, a reload is possible in all positions of the cupola over the entire turning zone (360 °).

A firing plate 21 comprising a percussion system is locked in the rear part of the firing means 2 and provides the firing chain of the selected munition. Locking means (not shown) makes it possible to keep the moving firing plate 21 locked.

As we notice on the figure 2 , the firing means 2 is constituted by a parallelepiped block which comprises bores 33a, 33b of different calibres. There are shown here two rows of eight bore 40m 40a and a row of six bores 33b 56 mm caliber. These bores are intended to receive grenades at low speed. Such munitions of either caliber are commercially available standards. Providing bores of different calibres on the same firing means 2 makes it possible to use the firing means 2 with all the ammunition ranges existing on the market.

In a classic way ammunition of different types (smoke, tear, lightening, anti personnel) are recognized by a marker (mechanical or electronic chip). The type of ammunition present in a given tube is thus detected by the firing means 2 (using appropriate sensors integral with the firing plate 21). The serving of the cupola can therefore order at any time the firing of the type of ammunition he wishes to implement.

The Figures 5a and 5b schematically an embodiment of the internal architecture of the cupola 1 and show in particular the kinematics of deployment of the firing means 2 by the arms 11 and 12.

The figure 5a shows the cupola 1 in its retracted position. We see that the firing means 2 is housed inside the box 13 and the latter has a profile which is inclined relative to the pivot plane of the ring 14 (horizontal plane of the platform 4). Thus the rear face 13a of the box is oriented towards the inside of the platform 4 and provides easy access to the firing means 2 when the latter is in the retracted position.

We did not represent on these Figures 5a and 5b the shutter 19 for closing the box 13 at the rear face 13a. The box 13 is secured to the movable portion 14b of the ring 14. Thus the pivoting of the box 13 is possible around the vertical axis 22 to allow pointing in the bearing.

We see on Figures 5a, 5b that the firing means 2 is movable from its retracted position to its deployed position by means of at least one pair of arms 11 and 12 which form a deformable parallelogram. The arms 11 and 12 are fixed at one end at the box 13 and at their other end by means of firing 2. The fasteners 11a, 12a, 12b are constituted by pivot joints. The lower end 11b of the arm 11 is also integral with a shaft driven by a motor 23. The motor 23 (rotation R) controls the active system from its retracted position ( figure 5a ) to its deployed position ( figure 5b ). The attachment points 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b are chosen by those skilled in the art so that the deformable parallelogram formed by the arms 11, 12 ensures the deployment kinematics desired. We see that in deployed position ( fig 5b ) the firing means 2 is offset in front of the axis 22 and is slightly inclined upwards. The arms 11 and 12 are then in a substantially vertical orientation.

According to another characteristic, one of the arms 12 of the deformable parallelogram has a length which can be modified by an actuator 24. Advantageously, this characteristic is ensured by producing the arm 12 in the form of a linear jack 24.

Such an arrangement makes it possible to achieve the pointing in site (arrow S) of the firing means 2 when it is in the deployed position. The modification of the length of the arm 12 causes the pivoting of the firing means 2 around the articulation 11a of the fixed arm 11.

The Figures 5a and 5b also show the mounting of the cover 5 on the firing means 2. The upper face 2a of the firing means 2 carries at its front portion lugs 25 which receive hinges 26 integral with the cover 5. Also at least one means spring 27 is fixed between the cover 5 and a tab 28 attached to the upper face 2a of the firing means 2, in the vicinity of a rear portion.

When the cupola is in its retracted position ( figure 5a ), we see that the spring 27 is in extension. The force exerted by the spring means 27 makes it possible to maintain the support of the hood 5 against the crown 14 in the retracted position. The seal 18 is thus compressed.

When the firing means moves into the deployed position, the spring means rotates the hood relative to the firing means around the hinge 26. It is thus ensured to clear the front face 2b of the firing means 2 in the deployed position. The hood 5 does not interfere with the ammunition firing.

In a similar way to figure 5a , the figure 3 watch the cupola 1 in the retracted position. This figure has been used to describe the provisions relating to close defense and means of observation.

It can thus be seen that the cover 5 bears on its upper face the dispersion nozzles (only two nozzles 6a, 6b are visible in this figure) and the observation or sighting means 9 (only one camera 9a is visible here). It is noted that the dispersion nozzle 6a is connected by a pipe 7a to a pressurized storage container 8 which is integral with the casing 13. The nozzle 6b is connected to another container (not shown) by another tubular 7b. Furthermore, a control box 29 (integral with the box 13) is connected on the one hand to the cameras 9 and on the other hand to the valves 30 allowing the opening of the storage containers 8 (a valve per container). The pipes 7a, 7b and the cables 32 connecting the cameras / designator 9a, 9b and 9c to the housing 29 will have lengths sufficient to allow the opening of the hood 5 and the deployment of the firing means 2.

The housing 29 incorporates short-range radio transmission means that allow it to exchange data with a relay box 31 which is connected to the display means, which is for example a display screen 10b connected to a computer 10a. The housing 29 thus transmits on the screen 10b the images provided by the cameras 9a, 9c. It also transmits to the valves 30 the opening control commands of the storage containers 8, commands supplied by a remote control means (here the computer 10a) via the relay box 31.

In the folded position represented at figure 3 , the cover 5, which is supported on the movable portion 14b of the ring 14, can pivot in a bearing around the axis 22.

It is therefore possible for the operator located in the platform to direct the close defense means 6a and 6b to counter a threat that has been detected at using the observation means 9a and 9c. Rapid and very short-range defense is possible without the need to deploy the device. It is thus possible to disperse aggressors by means of tear gas or extinguish a fire (caused for example by a Molotov cocktail) using extinguishing means. The operator will control from the computer 10a both the movements of the turret 1 that the valves 30 to release the contents of the storage containers 8 through the dispersion nozzles 6a and 6b.

It has been noted that the two nozzles (6a or 6b) dispersing a given type of material are arranged diametrically with respect to each other. It thus facilitates the positioning of a type of nozzle facing a given threat, a quarter turn of the cap 5 being necessary to the maximum to guide a given nozzle type (6a or 6b) to a detected threat.

To counter a threat located at medium or long range, the operator will command: the deployment of the firing medium 2, the positioning in site and field of the turret 1 and the firing of one or more ammunition of the desired type. Of course, the choice of the ammunition, the deployment and positioning of the firing means and the firing will be controlled from the computer 10a. The cameras 9a, 9c may of course also be used (as the designator 9b) when the firing means 2 is in the deployed position.

It is of course possible to implement the invention with a firing means that will be deployed and positioned using different structure means. In particular, it will be possible to implement a simplified turret in which there will be only one set of arms 11, 12 fixed to a lateral face of the firing means, or a turret in which the positioning commands in the field and in deposits are insured manually.

Claims (10)

1. A retractable light turret (1) mounted on a platform (4), comprising firing means (2) that can be deployed through an opening (3), a protective cowling (5) ensuring the closing of the opening (3) and elevation and azimuth aiming means for the firing means, such light turret wherein the protective cowling (5) has, on its external face, firstly close-in defence means (6a, 6b) and secondly at least one observation means (9a, 9c) coupled with display means (10) arranged inside the platform (4).
2. A retractable light turret according to Claim 1, wherein the close-in defence means comprise at least one means (6a) to disperse a lachrymatory agent.
3. A retractable light turret according to Claims 1 or 2, wherein the close-in defence means comprise at least one means (6b) to disperse a fire-extinguishing agent.
4. A retractable light turret according to one of Claims 2 or 3, wherein the means (6a, 6b) to disperse the lachrymatory and/or fire-extinguishing agents are linked to at least one pressurised storage container (8) inside the platform.
5. A retractable light turret according to one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the protective cowling (5) has at least one target-designation means (6b) on its external face.
6. A retractable light turret according to one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the protective cowling (5) is integral with the firing means (2) and can pivot in azimuth with the firing means both in its open position and in its closed position, thereby enabling the close-in defence means (6a, 6b) and the observation means (9a, 9c) to be oriented.
7. A retractable light turret according to Claim 6, wherein the firing means (2) can be moved from a retracted position into a deployed position by means of at least one pair of arms (11, 12) forming a deformable parallelogram.
8. A retractable light turret according to Claim 7, wherein one of the arms (12) of this deformable parallelogram is of a length that can be modified by an actuator (24) thereby enabling the aiming in elevation of the firing means (2) when in the deployed position.
9. A retractable light turret according to one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the firing means (2) comprise a unit incorporating at least two boreholes (33a, 33b) each accommodating a projectile.
10. A retractable light turret according to Claim 9, wherein the firing means unit incorporates at least two boreholes (33a, 33b) of different calibres.

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