Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
_ CA 02258737 1998-12-18
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High-angle Artillery Gun in aarticular Grenade Projector
This invention relates to a high-angle artillery gun, in particular a grenade
projec-
tor, comprising at least one pivoted gun barrel, a switch box for barrel
adjustment,
and an aiming means for the switch box for aligning the gun barrels.
From AT 399 221 B there is known such high-angle artillery gun, which to in-
crease the firing and combat efficiency has a plurality of gun barrels
combined to
a bundle of barrels and, since it is pivotally mounted on a vehicle, can
neverthe-
less be used rather flexibly. In the firing position, the ends of the gun
barrels are
supported via ball-and-socket joints on a base plate to be deposited on the
ground and by means of an adjusting frame are kept in the desired position,
which
adjusting frame consists of lateral pendulum supports and horizontal
transverse
yokes in the manner of a parallel crank for vertically and laterally aiming
the gun
barrels, and by means of adjusting arms can be pivoted with respect to the
base
plate, where in the adjusting arms as well as in the adjusting frame
integrated hy-
draulic drives provide for the required aligning movements. However, due to
the
incorporation of this aiming means into the switch box, the aiming range, in
par-
ticular the lateral aiming range, remains quite restricted and aiming itself
requires
an individual actuation of each of the hydraulic drives, which is complicated,
in-
volves a mutual influence of the lateral and vertical aiming and contradicts
the
principles of ergonomics. In addition, loading the aimed gun barrels creates
some
difficulties with respect to the alignment of the gun and involves
considerable
risks.
It is therefore the object underlying the invention to eliminate these
deficiencies
and create a high-angle artillery gun as described above, which is
characterized
by its economic use, its simple and safe handling and, last but not least, by
its
large aiming range and its ergonomically favorable aiming capacity.
CA 02258737 1998-12-18
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This object is solved by the invention in that the aiming means has an
independ-
ent aiming device preferably arranged separate from the switch box, by means
of
which the switch box can be operated or activated for laterally or vertically
aiming
the gun barrels in the sense of a rotary movement of each barrel axis along a
conical surface about a vertical axis and/or in the sense of a swivel movement
along an axial plane through this vertical axis. Independent of the number of
gun
barrels, there may be provided one or more parallel barrels, the vertical
position is
maintained during lateral aiming due to this aiming measure even without
employ-
ing a complex rotary tower system, and the lateral position is likewise left
un-
changed during vertical aiming. There is effected a comparatively fast and
precise
aiming, where an unrestricted 360° lateral aiming is possible, and the
gun barrels
can take any spatial position suitable for firing. Since a laterally directed
aiming
command actually only effects a lateral movement without influencing the eleva-
tion and without levelling error, and vice versa a vertically directed aiming
com-
mand does not affect the existing side value, a fast and precise aiming
operation
is ensured, which by means of the aiming device can also economically be real-
ized either mechanically or under computer control.
When the aiming device has an aiming disk rotatable about a vertical axis and
an
aiming carriage guided radially on the aiming disk with a pivot point for
actuating
rods engaging in the switch box, an economic construction is obtained, which
combines the aiming movements of the switch box and thus the barrel axes from
a
rotary movement for lateral aiming and a radial movement for vertical aiming,
and
resolves the aiming process into exactly transferable and easily controllable
aim-
ing components. For the actual aiming process of the switch box there need
therefore merely be ensured an appropriate transfer of the aiming movements by
means of actuating rods, where the actuating rods include mechanical lever sys-
tems, but also hydraulic rods and control lines with electric actuators or the
like.
In accordance with an advantageous aspect of the invention the switch box com-
prises a barrel support accommodating the gun barrels and rotatable about a
horizontal axis of rotation, by means of which the gun barrels can be
swivelled
from a firing position into a loading position independent of the aiming
means.
This barrel support therefore provides for swivelling the gun barrels into an
ap-
proximately horizontal position, in which they can be loaded easily and
safely. By
swivelling back the barrel support, the newly loaded grenades not only slide
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downwards in the gun barrels to the firing position, but upon reaching the
starting
position the exact aiming position of the gun barrels is resumed, which consid-
erably increases the firing speed. Since the gun barrels are swivelled into a
sepa-
rate loading position, stationary loading shells for the provided ammunition
may
be prepared, so that the actual loading operation itself is accelerated and
can be
performed with less risk. Suitable coupling means between barrel support and
switch box on the one hand and additional drives for the relative swivel
movement
of the barrel support on the other hand provide for an at least semiautomatic
loading operation without much additional effort.
When there is provided a vehicle-bound high-angle artillery gun comprising a
base plate pivotally mounted on a vehicle by means of pivoted deposition arms
for
supporting the gun barrel ends via ball-and-socket joints, and an adjusting
frame
in the manner of parallel cranks for barrel adjustment, where the adjusting
frame
has lateral pendulum supports parallel to the barrel axes and likewise mounted
on
the base plate via ball-and-socket joints and at least one transverse yoke
connect-
ing the pendulum supports with each other and pivotally mounted at the gun bar-
rels, the aiming device of the aiming means is advantageously disposed on the
vehicle, and the actuating rods are coupling the aiming carriage with the
adjusting
frame in the sense of a synchronous movement of the pivot points. There is ob-
tained a mechanical actuation of the adjusting frame, where the actuating rods
at
their one end engage in the pendulum supports in the vicinity of the
transverse
yoke and at the other end may be pivotally mounted at the pivot point of the
aim-
ing carriage. As a result, a rotary movement of the aiming disk is transferred
as a
revolving movement to the pendulum supports, whose axes therefore describe a
conical surface with the tip in the base point, so that the gun barrels also
make a
corresponding parallel movement. A radial adjusting movement of the aiming car-
riage, however, results in a swivel movement of the pendulum supports and thus
also of the barrel axes in planes parallel to the carriage guideway through
the
vertical axes, which guarantees a perfect lateral and vertical aiming in a
mechani-
cal way.
When for swivelling the gun barrels into a loading position, the transverse
yoke is
mounted so as to be swivelled about a longitudinal axis with respect to the
pendu-
lum supports, and when the pendulum supports are vertically adjustable for
lifting
the gun barrel ends from the base plate, it is possible to achieve a separate
load-
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ing position for the gun barrels, as for this purpose it is merely necessary
to raise
the pendulum supports, in order to lift the gun barrels out of the ball-and-
socket
joints of the base plate, and then the transverse yoke can freely bring the
gun bar-
rels into an approximately horizontal loading position. Upon loading, the
barrels
swivel back into their position parallel to the pendulum supports, the
pendulum
supports put the gun barrels back into the ball cups, and the artillery gun is
ready
for firing.
When an armoured vehicle is provided with a tailgate, the base plate can be
piv-
otally mounted at the armoured vehicle instead of the tailgate, and to reach a
roof-
side transport position of the gun barrels the transverse yoke can preferably
be
swivelled beyond the loading position. For transport purposes, the base plate
performs the role of the tailgate, but in the firing position it properly
supports the
artillery gun at the ground, where expediently the aiming device is disposed
at the
ceiling of the interior of the vehicle. Since the gun barrels should not fill
the inte-
rior of the vehicle during transport, swivelling the transverse yoke with the
base
plate swung up provides for depositing the gun barrels with the orifice to the
rear
on the side of the roof in a transport position.
In accordance with a particularly advantageous construction, a barrel support
ro-
tatable about a horizontal axis of rotation is provided for supporting the gun
bar-
rels, on which barrel support the gun barrels are pivotally mounted about
trans-
verse axes normal to the barrel axis and the rotational axis of the support,
where
at a distance from the rotational axis of the support an adjusting coupler is
piv-
otally mounted at the gun barrels with pivot axes parallel to the transverse
axes.
The gun barrels can be swivelled about a horizontal axis by means of the
barrel
support and by means of the adjusting coupler also about transverse axes
normal
thereto, so that the desired aiming movements are obtained by a combination of
these two swivel components. The barrel support may be designed as a massive
component which absorbs the recoil forces upon firing, and there is obtained a
compact artillery gun to be used for a variety of applications, where of
course
known measures for reducing the recoil, such as recoil brakes, may be incorpo-
rated to relieve the barrel support.
When the associated aiming device is disposed axially beside the barrel
support
and the vertical axis of the aiming disk intersects the rotational axis of the
support,
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where in the intersection of the axes there is a fixed kinematic point of an
aiming
lever engaging in the pivot point of the aiming carriage, which aiming lever
is in
drive connection with the barrel support and the adjusting coupler in the
sense of
a synchronous movement of aiming lever and gun barrel axes by means of the
actuating rods comprising sliding and rotating levers, there is also ensured a
functionally reliable and simple mechanical alignment. When corresponding di-
mensions are maintained, the axis of the aiming lever is always parallel to
the bar-
rel axes, so that this aiming lever is optimally suited for accommodating the
aim-
ing optics and the elevation indicator, and it is possible to determine the
lateral
aiming just as with a panoramic telescope without parallax error.
To achieve for loading purposes a swivelling of the gun barrel independent of
the
aiming means, a positive clutch is incorporated in the actuating rods, and for
the
barrel support an additional drive is provided for swivelling the gun barrels
into a
loading position, where preferably the aiming carriage has a heterodyne drive
for
raising up the gun barrels. The positive clutch effects a defined barrel
position at
the moment of coupling, so that even after the loading operation the set
barrel
position can safely be taken again. To align the barrels normal to the swivel
axis
for loading purposes, a heterodyne drive may be provided, which raises up the
barrels from the set lateral position vertical to the support axis, and only
then re-
leases the clutch for swivelling into the loading position.
Due to the compact design, the barrel support can be incorporated in various
gun
frames or also vehicles, where it is particularly advantageous when the barrel
support is mounted in an armoured vehicle, preferably a combat vehicle, trans-
verse to the direction of travel, as the high-angle artillery gun can easily
be ac-
commodated here and can safely be handled, which leads to a high mobility.
When the barrel support constitutes a hollow box for accommodating the gun bar-
rel, which is equipped with covering shells cylindrical with respect to the
rotational
axis of the support, where the armoured vehicle has a recess adapted to these
covering shells in the roof cover, the entire weapon constitutes one building
unit,
and the remaining interior of the vehicle can easily be protected.
A further embodiment is obtained in that the barrel support is incorporated in
the
tailgate of an armoured vehicle, which by means of actuators can be swivelled
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open about a transverse axis on the side of the ground, where the rotational
axis
of the support extends parallel to the tailgate axis, and the tailgate
pivotally
mounted at the vehicle via lug-type hinges or the like comprises supporting
legs.
Thus, the gun is operably integrated in the tailgate, which in an at least
partly
open position as firing position is independently supported on the ground via
sup-
porting legs. The movement of the tailgate can also be used as vertical aiming
means, where side swivelling is effected by means of the adjusting coupler
about
axes normal to the barrel support axis. The barrel support itself is pivotally
mounted in the tailgate, so that the gun barrels are swivelled together with
the
same relative to the tailgate and can be brought into a loading position,
which of-
fers the possibility of operating and loading the weapon from the armoured
vehi-
cle.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the gun barrels are
seated in
a barrel support, which is pivotally mounted about a horizontal swivel axis
normal
to the barrel axes in a rotary tower of an armoured vehicle, which is
rotatable
about a vertical axis, where preferably the rotary tower additionally accommo-
dates a flat-angle gun pivotally mounted along a plane normal to the swivel
axis of
the support. In this armoured vehicle, the vertical aiming of the gun barrels
can be
predetermined by swivelling the barrel support, whereas the lateral aiming is
achieved by means of the existing rotary tower, so that there is again ensured
the
desired wide aiming range. However, it is also possible in addition to equip
the
rotary tower with a flat-angle gun, for instance a machine gun or a machine
can-
non, and to fit an armoured vehicle with two fundamentally different types of
weapon, which leads to a particularly effective armament. Both weapon systems
can together be aligned towards the side, but due to the different systems the
ver-
tical alignment of the two weapons should be effected independent of each
other,
for which there is advantageously used a fire control computer. For instance
in the
case of indirect aiming, merely the high-angle artillery gun is set
independent of
the machine gun by vertically aiming the gun barrels, when fighting against
flying
targets the machine gun system is aimed independent of the high-angle
artillery
gun, and in the case of direct aiming it is then of course also possible for a
gun
layer to employ both types of weapon in one target simultaneously or
successively
via the same aiming optics.
CA 02258737 1998-12-18
When the barrel support is mounted in an adjusting frame for a relative swivel
movement, which adjusting frame is in turn inserted in a hollow box so as to
be
swivelled about the swivel axis of the support for vertically aiming the gun
barrels,
the barrel support can be aligned in its elevation via the adjusting frame,
but can
in turn be swivelled with respect to the adjusting frame for loading and
unloading
purposes. The hollow box protects the operating crew against the movements of
the weapon, prevents splinters or the like from penetrating through the firing
hatch
on the side of the roof, provides for a forced ventilation of the hollow box
space
and the like, so that in addition to the weapon systems sufficient space is
left in
the rotary tower for a safe accommodation of the crew.
It is particularly advantageous when the hollow box is supported in the rotary
tower so as to be swivelled about a horizontal swivel axis normal to the
swivel
axis of the support, where possibly the flat-angle gun is mounted so as to be
swivelled together with the hollow box, so that by means of a simple swivel
movement a swing compensation can be achieved, where this swing compensa-
tion just as the lateral aiming is effected simultaneously both for the high-
angle
gun and for the flat-angle gun.
When the hollow box has a loading device on the side facing away from the flat-
angle gun, and preferably an unloading device on the side of the ground, where
a
grenade magazine is associated to the loading device in the rotary tower, an
automatic loading and unloading operation can be achieved, for which purpose
the barrel support should be swivelled with respect to the adjusting frame
first to-
wards the unloading device and then towards the loading device. To take into
ac-
count the swing compensation, the hollow box might again swivel back to a neu-
tral position for loading purposes, in which neutral position the loading
device is
adapted to the magazine firmly mounted in the rotary tower, or it is possible
to
provide an adjustable grenade magazine, which makes a parallelogram-like
offset
movement along with the swing compensation for adaptation to the respective
position of the hollow box.
To facilitate the cooperation of the two weapon systems and their simultaneous
alignment, the barrel axes of the gun barrels and of the flat-angle gun and
the
swivel axis of the hollow box define a common plane.
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In the drawing, the subject-matter of the invention is represented in detail
by way
of example, wherein:
Fig. 1 represents an embodiment of an inventive high-angle artillery gun in a
functional diagram,
Fig. 2, 3 and 4 show a vehicle-bound high-angle artillery gun in accordance
with
the invention in a side view, a rear view and a top view,
Fig. 5, 6 and 7 show a further embodiment of an inventive high-angle artillery
gun
in a partly sectional side view, a rear view, and the transport position of
this gun in a side view,
Fig. 8 shows a modified embodiment of an inventive high-angle artillery gun
in a functional diagram,
Fig. 9, 10 and 11 show such high-angle artillery gun incorporated in an
armoured
vehicle in a partly sectional side view, in a top view and in a partly sec-
tional rear view,
Fig. 12, 13 and 14 show a further embodiment of an inventive high-angle
artillery
gun in a partly sectional side view during the transport and in the firing
position as well as in a rear view, and
Fig. 15 and 16 represent an additional embodiment of an inventive high-angle
artillery gun in a partly sectional side view and in a top view, as well as
Fig. 17, 18 and 19 represent part of this high-angle artillery gun in three
different
functional positions, each in cross-section.
In accordance with the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, a high-angle artillery gun
1
comprises four gun barrels 3 supported on a base plate 2 and disposed one be-
side the other transverse to the direction of travel of the associated
vehicle, where
the barrel axes A extend parallel to each other. For barrel adjustment, the
gun
barrels 3 are inserted in a parallel-crank-type adjusting frame 4, which
includes
lateral pendulum supports 5 parallel to the barrel axes A, which are likewise
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mounted on the base plate 2 via ball-and-socket joints, and at least one trans-
verse yoke 6 connecting the pendulum supports 5 with each other and pivotally
mounted at the gun barrels 3. For aligning the gun barrels 3 with respect to
the
predetermined target, the adjusting frame 4 has an associated aiming means 7
which has an independent aiming device 8 arranged separate from the adjusting
frame 4, which aiming device consists of an aiming disk 9 rotatable about a
verti-
cal axis H and an aiming carriage 10 guided radially on the aiming disk 9. The
aiming carriage 10 has a pivot point 11, on which fork-like actuating rods 12
are
pivotally mounted, which engage in the pendulum supports 5. The adjusting
movement of the aiming disk 9 and/or the aiming carriage 10 can thus synchro-
nously be transferred to the adjusting frame 4, so that the circular adjusting
movement of the aiming disk 9 enforces a movement of the barrel axes A along a
conical surface about a vertical axis H extending through the pivot points on
the
side of the base plate and guides a radial adjustment of the aiming carriage
10 to
perform a swivel movement of the barrel axes A through these vertical axes H.
There is obtained a simple and exact lateral and vertical aiming of the gun
barrels
3, where the lateral aiming can be effected without influencing the elevation,
and
the vertical aiming can be effected without influencing the lateral aiming.
In accordance with the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 to 4, the high-angle
artillery
gun 1 is mounted on a vehicle 13, where the base plate 2 is pivotally mounted
on
the rear of the vehicle via deposition arms 14 and can be lowered from a
transport
position on the loading surface (dash-dotted position shown in Fig. 2) into a
stand-by position on the ground. The aiming device 8 of the aiming means 7 is
firmly mounted on the vehicle 13 and upon depositing the gun 1 to the ground
provides for a fast and precise alignment of the gun barrels 3, where an unre-
stricted lateral aiming is ensured.
In accordance with the embodiment shown in Fig. 5 to 7, the high-angle
artillery
gun 1 is mounted on a combat vehicle 15, where the base plate 2 is pivotally
mounted at the rear of the vehicle and not at the tailgate and can be swung up
and down via adjusting cylinders 16 as deposition arms. The adjusting frame 4
has vertically adjustable pendulum supports 51, and the transverse yoke 61 is
mounted so as to be swivelled with respect to the pendulum supports 51 about a
longitudinal axis L, so that the gun barrels 3 can be swivelled out of the
plane of
the adjusting frame 4 together with the transverse yoke 61. By lifting the
pendulum
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supports 51, the pivoted ends 17 of the gun barrels 3 are lifted out of the
ball cups
of the base plate, so that by means of an appropriate swivel drive for the
trans-
verse yoke 61 the gun barrels are then swivelled into an approximately
horizontal
loading position (indicated in broken lines in Fig. 5) and can be loaded
horizon-
tally from the interior of the combat vehicle 15. By swivelling back the gun
barrels,
the grenades slide into the firing position, the gun barrels resume their
aimed
position when the transverse yoke 61 is properly seated between the pendulum
supports 51, and upon lowering the pendulum supports 51 the gun barrels are
again properly supported on the base plate 2 and ready for firing. For
actually
aiming, the adjusting frame 4 is adjusted via the actuating rods 12 by the
aiming
device 8 mounted at the inside of the vehicle roof. For transport purposes,
the gun
barrels 3 can be swivelled beyond the loading position into a roof-side
transport
position (Fig. 7), so that the interior of the vehicle is left free for the
crew.
In accordance with the embodiment shown in Fig. 8, the high-angle artillery
gun
101 likewise comprises four mutually parallel gun barrels 103 arranged one be-
side the other, which gun barrels 103 are supported on a barrel support 102 ro-
tatable about a horizontal axis of rotation D and are in turn pivotally
mounted
about transverse axes Q normal to the barrel axis A and the rotational axis D
of
the support, where an adjusting coupler 104, which is pivotally mounted at the
gun
barrels 103 about pivot axes K parallel to the transverse axes Q, provides for
a
parallel swivel movement. The barrel support 102 is of a stable construction
and
can form a hollow box 105 accommodating the gun barrel support and the gun
barrels, so that there is obtained a compact building unit. Due to the rotary
move-
ment of the barrel support 102 on the one hand and the swivel movement of the
gun barrels on the other hand, aiming movements of the barrel axes A can be
performed, which for lateral aiming involve a conical movement about the
associ-
ated vertical axes H and for vertical aiming involve a swivel movement in an
axial
plane extending through the vertical axes H. The aiming means 107 comprises an
aiming device 108 disposed axially beside the barrel support 102, where an aim-
ing disk 109 rotatable about a vertical axis H includes a radially adjustable
aiming
carriage 110. An aiming lever 112 engages in the pivot point 111 of the aiming
carriage 10, which aiming lever has a fixed kinematic point in the
intersection S
between the vertical axis H of the aiming disk 109 and the rotational axis D
of the
barrel support. By means of actuating rods consisting of rotating and sliding
lev-
ers 113, 114 the barrel support 102 and the adjusting coupler 104 are in drive
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connection with the aiming lever 112, so that an aiming adjustment of the
aiming
device 108 effects a corresponding aiming movement of the barrel support 102
and the adjusting coupler 104 and thus of the barrel axes A. In the case of
appro-
priate dimensions, the aiming lever 112 always extends parallel to the barrel
axes
A, so that the position of the gun barrels 103 can be taken from the position
of the
aiming lever 112. In this case, too, a rotary movement of the aiming disk 109
ef-
fects a conical movement of the barrel axes A about their vertical axes H, and
a
radial adjustment of the aiming carriage 110 leads to a swivel movement of the
barrel axes A in an axial plane through the vertical axis H, so that again
perfect
aiming movements can be achieved both laterally and vertically.
When a positive clutch 115 is incorporated in the actuating rods, the barrel
sup-
port 102 can again be swivelled independent of the aiming position, and the
gun
barrels 103 can be brought into a loading position. When a heterodyne drive
not
represented in detail is provided for this purpose in the vicinity of the
aiming car-
riage 110, the gun barrels 103 can be swivelled up into a position normal to
the
rotational axis D of the support before swivelling them into the loading
position, in
order to simplify the loading operation.
In accordance with the embodiment shown in Fig. 9 to 11, the high-angle
artillery
gun 101 is incorporated in a combat vehicle 116, where the barrel support 102
is
seated in the vehicle with its rotational axis D transverse to the direction
of travel.
By swivelling the barrel support 102, the gun barrels 103 can be swivelled
into a
horizontal barrel holder 117, which on the one hand determines the loading
posi-
tion of the gun barrels, but on the other hand is also utilized as transport
position.
In addition, the barrel support 102 is equipped with covering shells 118, 119
cy-
lindrical with respect to the rotational axis D of the support, which covering
shells
fit into a corresponding recess 120 of the roof cover 121 of the armoured
vehicle,
and thus always ensure a safe closure of the interior of the vehicle even
during a
swivel movement.
In accordance with the embodiment shown in Fig. 12 to 14, a high-angle
artillery
gun 201 with its four gun barrels 203 is incorporated in the tailgate 204 of
an ar-
moured vehicle 205. This tailgate 204 has supporting legs 206 for supporting
the
same at the ground, is pivotally mounted at the rear of the vehicle via lug-
type
hinges 207, and can be swung up and down via hydraulic arms 208. The gun bar-
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rels 203 are pivotally mounted about transverse axes Q on a transverse barrel
support 202, which is inserted in the tailgate 204 so as to be swivelled about
a
rotational axis D parallel to the tailgate axis P. For vertical aiming, the
swinging
position of the tailgate may be utilized, and the hydraulic drive 208 may be
used
as aiming means. The lateral aiming is in turn effected by an adjusting
coupler
209, where for coordinating the aiming movements an aiming means not repre-
sented in detail is provided in the vehicle. The barrel support 202 provides
for a
swivel movement of the gun barrels relative to the tailgate 204, so that the
gun
barrels can be brought into an unloading and loading position directed towards
the interior of the vehicle (indicated in broken lines in Fig. 13).
In accordance with the embodiment shown in Fig. 15 to 19, the high-angle
artillery
gun 301 is equipped with four gun barrels 303, whose barrel axes A are moved
along conical surfaces about a common vertical axis H for lateral aiming, and
in a
common axial plane through this vertical axis H for vertical aiming. The. gun
bar-
rels 303 are seated in a barrel support 302, which is supported in a rotary
tower
304 of an armoured vehicle 305 which is rotatable about the vertical axis H,
so as
to be swivelled about a horizontal swivel axis D normal to the barrel axes A.
The
barrel support 302 is mounted for a relative swivel movement in an adjusting
frame 306 which can in turn be swivelled about the rotational axis D of the
support
for vertically aiming the barrel support 302 via a pendulum aiming drive 307,
where a hollow box 308 accommodates the entire high-angle artillery gun 301.
The hollow box 308 is pivotally mounted inside the rotary tower 304 about a
hori-
zontal swivel axis N normal to the swivel axis D of the support, which
provides for
a swing compensation, and for the gun barrels 303 it is on the one hand
equipped
with an unloading device 309 and on the other hand with a loading device 310,
where a grenade magazine 311 is associated to the loading device 310 in the ro-
tary tower 304.
In addition to the high-angle artillery gun 301 the rotary tower 304 is
equipped
with a flat-angle gun 312, where the barrel axis F of the flat-angle gun 312
lies in
a plane defined by the barrel axes A of the high-angle artillery gun and the
swivel
axis N. The holder 313 of the flat-angle gun is connected with the hollow box
308
via the swivel bearing 314, so that not only the rotation of the rotary tower
304,
but also the swivel movement of the hollow box 308 are equally effective for
both
weapons. There is thus achieved a combination of two weapon systems, for which
CA 02258737 1998-12-18
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the lateral aiming and the swing compensation are effected together, and only
the
vertical aiming must each be performed separately because of the different sys-
tems.
The hollow box 308 is closed towards the interior of the tower, so that the
operat-
ing crews remain protected although the firing hatch of the high-angle
artillery gun
is open at the top when the hatch cover is open, where here as well the
relative
adjustment of the barrel support 302 with respect to the adjusting frame 306
pro-
vides for loading independent of the aiming operation. When the barrel support
302 with the gun barrels 303 is swivelled into a horizontal position with the
barrel
orifice facing away from the flat-angle gun 312, there is obtained a transport
posi-
tion, but also a loading position, in which grenades from the magazine 311 can
be
introduced into the gun barrels via the loading means 310 (Fig. 17). Now, the
bar-
rel support 302 can be swivelled back into the adjusting frame 306, which has
been brought into a pre-aimed position and therefore immediately effects the
de-
sired alignment also for the loaded gun barrels, where stops not represented
in
detail determine the mutually allocated positions (Fig. 18). Upon discharge of
a
shot, the barrel support 302 with the gun barrels 303 swivels towards the
unload-
ing station 309, where the grenades to be unloaded are dumped into correspond-
ing collecting devices (Fig. 19). Subsquently swivelling back into the loading
posi-
tion provides for another loading of the high-angle gun and makes the same
again
ready for firing.
By means of a fire control computer, the flat-angle gun 312 and the high-angle
artillery gun 301 can be adjusted to each other, where with one gun layer both
guns can perfectly be aligned.
