EP3652495B2 - Storage box for an armored vehicle - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an armored vehicle according to claim 1.

Stowage boxes are used to store mobile or mission-specific equipment and/or devices. Armored vehicles often have limited storage space. However, these items and/or devices require storage space and the need for more storage space is increasing.

For example, the DE 10 2012 108 527 B4 a rear storage box for a truck, which is installed in the area of the vehicle chassis. This storage box is designed to be movable, namely longitudinally movable, so that the storage space can be enlarged and/or access to the storage space is simplified. DE 10 2004 025743 A1 reveals a shooting module with additional housing.

However, with an armoured vehicle, such an implementation is difficult because the chassis should be as closed as possible on all sides.

For this reason, it is common practice in armoured vehicles to attach storage space in the form of storage boxes to a vehicle body, such as a turret. To do this, it is common practice to attach a storage box to the rear of the turret using attachment points.

One difficulty with display cases attached to the tower, however, is that there is often a maintenance hatch at the rear positions where the storage boxes are located. This is necessary and therefore the area in front of the maintenance hatch is only available for limited storage space. The storage volume of such a storage box is correspondingly small.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide an armoured vehicle with a storage box with the largest possible storage volume, which does not hinder access to the maintenance hatch on the turret of an armoured vehicle.

This problem is solved with the features of independent claim 1.

For this purpose, an armored vehicle with a turret, a storage box and at least one attachment point on the turret is proposed, the storage box comprising at least one box flap, the storage box being designed in at least two parts, one of the parts of the storage box being able to be pivotally arranged by at least one pivot bearing at one of the attachment points, each part of the storage box having an opening which can be closed by a box flap, a maintenance area being provided in the turret which is accessible through a maintenance flap, and the maintenance flap being attached to the pivotable part of the storage box so that the pivoting movement is carried out jointly by the pivotable part of the storage box and the maintenance flap. At least one attachment point is provided on the turret to which the storage box can be attached. These attachment points are preferably provided as a rear-side arrangement.

The storage box is designed so that it is accessible through at least one box flap. The box flap is designed so that it can close at least one opening in the storage box. The box flap is also designed so that it can also clear the opening, thus ensuring free access to the interior of the storage box.

Hinges can be provided to allow the box flap to be pivoted. However, it is also possible to provide simple fastening options such as screw connections in order to be able to attach or detach the box flap to the opening.

According to the invention, the storage box is designed in at least two parts, with one of the two parts of the storage box being designed to be pivotable. By means of at least one pivot bearing at one of the fastening points, a part of the storage box is thus arranged so that it can pivot at the fastening point.

Each part of the storage box is a closed element in itself, so that once the box flap is attached to one part of the storage box, the box is closed all around. All parts of the storage box together form the storage box.

The attachment points on the tower allow the storage box to be pivoted with the movement of the tower and at least the pivotable part of the storage box can continue to be pivoted using the pivot bearing.

By pivoting one of the parts of the storage box, the storage box can be arranged partially or completely in front of a maintenance hatch on the tower. To access the maintenance hatch, the pivoting part of the storage box must then simply be pivoted away to ensure free access to the maintenance hatch. To ensure such free access to the maintenance hatch, it is necessary that only the part of the storage box that is designed to pivot is arranged in front of the maintenance hatch.

In the swivel area of the swiveling part of the storage box, there can be vehicle-side structures and/or equipment that protrude into the swiveling space. To ensure that these do not hinder the swiveling of the swiveling part of the storage box, in a preferred embodiment at least one recess is provided on the swiveling part of the storage box, which is dimensioned such that corresponding additional devices or structures of the vehicle do not hinder the swiveling movement of the swiveling part of the storage box.

In a further preferred embodiment, seals are provided between the openings and the box flaps in order to protect the storage area of the storage box from splash water. The seal is arranged all the way around the opening and by attaching the box flap to the storage box, the seal then protects the storage box against splash water.

Fastening means are also preferably provided to lock the pivoting part of the storage box. This is intended to prevent unwanted swinging movements when the tower moves or when the vehicle moves. A screw connection can be provided as a fastening means, with which the movable part of the storage box can be locked to the tower. A magnetic lock is also conceivable, as is a locking of the pivot bearing.

The stationary part of the storage box on the tower is attached to at least one of the fastening points in the same way as is already known from conventional storage boxes from the state of the art. This means that only a small amount of effort is required to replace existing storage boxes with the new version of a storage box.

One side of the swiveling part of the storage box facing the tower is already connected to the maintenance flap on the tower, so that when swiveling, not only the swiveling part of the storage box is swiveled, but also the maintenance flap. This makes it very easy to make the maintenance area accessible, namely simply by swiveling the swiveling part of the storage box. Once the swiveling part of the storage box is locked, the maintenance flap is also locked and the maintenance area is closed.

The storage box itself can be divided into smaller areas by subdivisions and its total volume is similar to the volume of the storage boxes already known from the state of the art, although the area in front of the storage flap can now also be fully used.

The storage box is preferably made of steel. Special hardened steels can be used if there are special safety requirements for the storage box. The storage box can also be made of the same material as the vehicle or the tower, for example structural steel. The materials can also be combined depending on the requirements.

The swivel range of the swiveling part of the storage box is preferably designed so that this part can be swiveled out by up to 90°.

In addition to the possible subdivisions of the storage space, it is also possible to have attachment points or mounting points for the equipment or objects to be stored.

Preferably, the use of the storage box in a Leopard 2 vehicle is proposed, since the aforementioned non-pivoting storage boxes are known for this purpose and already have the required fastening points. These storage boxes can be significantly improved with the present design.

Figur 1:

Perspektivische Ansicht eines Staukastens;

Figur 2:

Eine perspektivische Ansicht auf den schwenkbaren Teil eines Staukastens;

Figur 3:

Perspektivische Ansicht auf einen teilweise verschwenkten Staukasten mit Wartungsbereich und Wartungsklappe;

Figur 4:

Eine Draufsicht auf einen Staukasten;

Figur 5:

Perspektivische Ansicht in eine Öffnung eines Staukastens.

Further features can be seen in the attached drawings. They show:

Figure 1:

Perspective view of a storage box;

Figure 2:

A perspective view of the pivoting part of a storage box;

Figure 3:

Perspective view of a partially pivoted storage box with maintenance area and maintenance flap;

Figure 4:

A top view of a storage box;

Figure 5:

Perspective view into an opening of a storage box.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a storage box 1, 2. The storage box is arranged on an armored vehicle which has a turret.

The storage box is divided into two parts and there is a stationary part of the storage box 1 which is fixed to the tower. The attachment is located at the rear of the tower. There is also a second part of the storage box 2 which is arranged so that it can pivot on the tower. Both parts of the storage box 1, 2 are arranged at fastening points 10. These fastening points 10 are located on the tower of the vehicle, with the pivoting part of the storage box 2 being arranged at one of the fastening points 10 by means of a pivot bearing 11. The fastening points 10 are designed as a vertical column.

Also visible are two box flaps 3, 4, one box flap 3, 4 for each part of the storage box 1, 2. The box flaps 3, 4 are used to open the storage box 1, 2 in order to access the interior of the storage box. The interior of the storage box 1, 2 can then accommodate devices and/or accessories that are to be carried in the vehicle while driving.

The box flaps 3, 4 are designed in such a way that they can be attached to the respective part of the storage box 1, 2 and can thus close it or be opened by suitable means.

Additional equipment 12, such as power supplies, may be provided on the vehicle itself.

Figure 2 also shows a perspective view of the storage box 1, 2, only this time from the point of view of the pivotable part of the storage box 2. As already described, the pivotable part of the storage box 2 is arranged at a fastening point 10 by at least one pivot bearing 11 and can thus be pivoted in the pivot axis of the pivot bearing 11.

The fastening points 10 are each arranged on the tower. In this embodiment, the arrangement is shown on the rear side of the tower. The fastening points 10 can also be designed as flat surfaces instead of as points, so that several pivot bearings 11 can be arranged at one fastening point 10.

Figure 3 shows a storage box 1, 2, wherein the pivotable part of the storage box 2 is shown in the pivoted position. The pivotable part of the storage box 2 can preferably be pivoted out by up to 90° and has at least one recess 5 so that when pivoting it is not hindered in its pivoting movement by elements located on the vehicle, such as the additional equipment 12.

For this purpose, Figure 3 An APU, i.e. an additional power supply, is shown as additional equipment 12. The recess 5 of the pivotable part of the storage box 2 is thus designed in such a way that the additional equipment 5 does not hinder the pivoting process when pivoting. The volume of the recess 5 is accordingly matched to the additional equipment 12 located in the pivoting area. The surface of the vehicle is also considered to be additional equipment 5.

Also in Figure 3 A maintenance area 14 is shown, which can be closed or opened with a maintenance flap 13. By pivoting the pivotable part of the storage box 2, access to the maintenance flap 13 is now free and this can be opened to allow access to the maintenance area 14.

The maintenance area 14 in the tower contains electronic and/or hydraulic components that must be made accessible for maintenance. To do this, the maintenance hatch 13 is opened to allow access.

The maintenance flap 13 is attached to the pivotable part of the storage box 2, so that the pivoting movement is carried out jointly by the pivotable part of the storage box 2 and the maintenance flap 13. For this purpose, it is preferably proposed to fasten the maintenance flap 13 to a wall of the pivotable part of the storage box 2 by means of guide rails.

Figure 4 shows the storage box 1, 2 again, with the pivoted part of the storage box 2 shown pivoted. The top view again shows the fastening points 10 to which the parts of the storage box 1, 2 are attached, as well as the pivot bearing 11, by means of which a part of the storage box 2 is designed to be pivotable.

Figure 5 shows a part of the storage box 2 with the box flap 4 open, whereby a seal 6 can be seen all around the opening. This seal 6 provides protection against splash water when the box flap 2 is closed. This protects the objects in the storage box against splash water. The stationary part of the storage box 1 is also provided with a seal 6.

It is proposed to provide a locking option for the movable part of the storage box 2. For this purpose, fastening means 7 are attached to the storage box 2, by means of which the movable part of the storage box 2 can be fastened to the tower of the vehicle. This serves to avoid unintentional pivoting movements of the pivotable part of the storage box 2 when the vehicle or the tower is moving.

In the figures, the embodiment of the invention shown is shown on a Leopard 2 vehicle. The use on Leopard 2 vehicles represents a preferred use of the storage box 1, 2.

The invention is not limited to the aforementioned features. Rather, other embodiments are conceivable. It is possible to manufacture the storage box from non-metallic materials, for example plastic. It is also conceivable to design two or more parts of the storage box so that they can pivot. To do this, at least one pivot bearing must be arranged at each of the fastening points.

REFERENCE SYMBOL LIST

1-

storage box, stationary

2-

storage box, pivoting

3-

box flap on 1

4-

box flap on 2

5-

recess

6-

seal

7-

fasteners

10-

attachment point

11-

swivel bearing

12-

additional equipment

13-

maintenance hatch

14-

maintenance area

Claims (8)

1. Armored vehicle comprising a turret, a stowage box (1, 2) and at least one attachment point (10) on the turret, the stowage box comprising at least one box flap, wherein the stowage box (1, 2) is designed in at least two parts, wherein one of the parts of the stowage box (2) can be arranged pivotably by at least one pivot bearing (11) on one of the attachment points (10), wherein each part of the stowage box (1, 2) comprises an opening which can be closed by a box flap (3, 4), wherein a maintenance area (14) is provided in the turret which is accessible through a maintenance flap (13), and wherein the maintenance flap (13) is attached to the pivotable part of the stowage box (2), so that the pivoting movement is carried out jointly by the pivotable part of the stowage box (2) and the maintenance flap (13).
2. Armored vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that at least a part of the stowage box (1) is arranged stationary and immovable at one of the attachment points (10).
3. Armored vehicle according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one recess (5) is provided on the pivotable part of the stowage box (2) in order to ensure freedom of movement of the pivotable part of the stowage box (2).
4. Armored vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that additional equipment (12) is provided on the vehicle which projects at least partially into the pivoting range of the pivotable part of the stowage box (2) and the recess (5) is adapted to this additional equipment (12).
5. Armored vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that seals (6) are provided between the opening and the box flap (3, 4).
6. Armored vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that fastening means (7) are provided to lock the pivotable part of the stowage box (2).
7. Armored vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the maintenance flap (13) can be covered by the pivotable part of the stowage box (2).
8. Armored vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that lower parts are provided in the stowage box (1, 2).

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