FR2620211A1 - CANON OF ARTILLERY - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to artillery guns. It relates to a howitzer having a barrel 1 mounted on a mount 3. It comprises a base structure 15 and butt feet 11 which have a convex shape and comprise an intermediate part on which the assembly comprising the mount is articulated. . Several elements of the howitzer are made of light and very strong composite materials. Application to field howitzers.

Description

The present invention relates to guns

  artillery, and in particular the towing howitzers.

  The artillery gun called "British Lightweight Gun L118" (later called "Light Gun") is a well-known artillery gun, manufactured and sold

  by the Applicant. The structure of this artillery gun

  includes a barrel carried in a carriage-mounted stand with a saddle mounted on a short work spindle, the barrel being balanced around the ankle with a hook-and-spoke arrangement including tubular legs protruding towards the ground, behind the barrel. The kingpin is fixed on a platform to which the legs of the stock are also fixed, the platform being supported on axles carrying wheels which allow the

  towing the system if necessary.

  This light gun has a very light construction

  convenient that allows towing by a land vehicle-

  or transport by helicopter.

  However, it is desirable, for some applications, that an artillery gun has an even smaller weight given its size, compared to known constructions such as the

aforementioned light barrel.

  An artillery gun includes a barrel, a carriage on which the barrel is mounted, a base structure and a butt having a front portion connected to the base structure,

  a rear part adjacent to the ground and an inter-

  raised medial on which the watch is mounted under

articulated form.

  Preferably, the carriage is directly fixed

  to the stick which may include the buttocks.

  The fixing method can implement

  lons around which the barrel and the carriage can

to be raised.

  The raised intermediate portion of the feet A of the stock can be bent and curved so that it protrudes towards the ground behind the base structure,

  the feet of the stick being such that they reach,

  above the ground, a height sufficient for the feet to flex when firing the cannon and absorb

  thus a significant part of the recoil energy.

  The front end of the lacrosse feet may

  be directly attached to the basic structure, preferably

  by a coupling allowing a pivotal movement

  so relative of the buttocks and the structure

  basic. The coupling can form a ball joint.

  As in conventional artillery guns, the rear end of the gun is supported in a carriage, for example a carriage cradle, and may be

  raised by extensible arms

dice to the cart.

  In the artillery gun according to the invention,

  saddle (as used in conventional systems)

  such as the light barrel) is necessary for the support of the mass to be lifted including the barrel, a possible carriage in which the barrel is supported at its rear end, and other possible elements.

  connected to the barrel and the trolley. This allows you

  Gently obtaining a reduction in weight, given the size of the barrel, compared to the artillery guns known. In addition, the artillery gun according to the invention can be made so that the mass to be lifted has a low center of gravity when

  the gun is in the firing position. This increases the stability

  especially under the influence of the forces of

  the firing of the barrel, and thus allows the construction

  artillery gun with light elements.

  The relative movement of the butt and the base structure allows a pointing towards the barrel without displacement or rotation of the support structure. In general, the field guns described as examples herein have only limited displacement for pointing in direction. The rear part of the lacrosse legs distant from the basic structure can be fixed to 5 spades fixed on the ground. Preferably, a device allows a horizontal displacement of the rear part of the stick without moving spades so that the barrel can be pointed in the direction. In an arrangement, the rear portion of the buttocks is slidably attached to the spade. It is possible for the rear part of the lacrosse arms to have a common spade and a common device intended to allow a horizontal displacement of the rear part of the

stick in relation to the spade.

  The artillery gun according to the invention may

  include a positioning or storage device

  barrel and carriage in a rear position between the buttocks, which may include support rails placed between the buttocks and

  to which the cannon and the lookout can be retreated.

  The carriage can be mounted on rails near its end.

  Rear ment (relative to the barrel muzzle) through journals placed on the rails and can be mounted near its front end on the rails by other mounting pins similar to the trunnions. The pins can also be placed in positioning caps arranged in plates attached to the buttocks so that the barrel is placed in the use position. The carriage can be raised around the pins in this position so that

  the barrel height angle can be changed.

  A conventional damping and recovery device can be mounted between the barrel and the carriage so that it damps the recoil forces produced during firing and resets the gun after

hindsight.

Lb 2620211

  The carriage can be lifted by

  upright wounds that are articulated on the feet

  lacrosse or on the basic structure and which are articulated

  on the lookout. The arms can be folded into position

  close to the stick and can be locked in this position. Preferably, the arms can be locked in this position by a quick release mechanism allowing the arms to pivot in position so that the carriage is connected to the barrel,

  in a position prepared for uprising.

  The support rails may be placed near the buttocks but outside thereof, with respect to the axis of symmetry of the lacrosse arrangement. Preferably, the support rails can be lowered when the barrel is in its firing position so that access to the breech of the barrel by the

staff is facilitated.

  Preferably, the artillery gun can be towed behind a land vehicle, thanks to

  wheels which are preferably close to the structure

  base, that is, behind the base structure (relative to the barrel muzzle in the firing position). The wheels can be hinged so that they are put into storage position when the barrel is used. The attachment to the towing vehicle is

  preferably placed on the side of the spades of the buttocks.

  The barrel may comprise fasteners

  putting an air lift, for example by helicopter.

  Preferably the basic structure comprises

  a base that can be fixed in the ground and a platform

  shape or plate that can rotate around the axis of the base, via a coupling placed between the two. Lacrosse feet can be fixed

at the platform or at the plate.

  In an example of using light elements, the buttocks and / or the support rails can

  for example, consist of parts

  light weight of high strength, for example a lightweight composite material, or may incorporate such parts. The parts and accessories of the buttocks supporting the barrel are, however, preferably made of metal. For example, when the pins supporting the barrel and its carriage are placed in the plates fixed to the buttocks when the barrel is in the firing position, the plate and the parts of the feet which are attached thereto are preferably formed of a metal of mechanical resistance

  high, for example steel or a titanium alloy.

  When the stocking feet comprise a portion formed of a composite material, this part of the feet may be formed of any known composite material of high mechanical strength. For example, it may contain known reinforcing fibers chosen for example from one or more types of

  carbon, glass, "Aramid", metallic or polyolefin

  thin, placed in a polymeric binder that can be

  a polymerizable plastic material, for example thermo-plastic

  curable, or a thermoplastic material, so

  well known specialists in composite materials.

  The reinforcing fibers may or may not be woven and their direction may be selected to provide the directional resistance suitable for the forces which

must be applied.

  Layers of fiber-reinforced plastics may be made in the form of a known laminate structure with other layers, for example plastics reinforced with other fibers having

  different fibers or fibers oriented differently

  unarmed plastics or diapers

  metal, for example aluminum or titanium.

  The buttocks, when they comprise a portion formed of a composite material of the aforementioned types, are preferably tubular with an approximately square, rectangular, circular cross section 2620211 or any other convenient. The area surrounded by the

  tubular shape in section can decrease according to the length

foot.

  The support rails, when formed of a composite material, may comprise one of the materials described above, although, when the rails are tubular, the section may be smaller than

to that of the lacrosse.

  The artillery gun according to the invention may

  form a field howitzer that is light, transportable

  ble by air, for example by helicopter, and of caliber

  high, for example 105 or 155 mm.

  An alternative positioning device or storage of the barrel and the carriage in the rear position between the buttocks is adopted so that it allows the rotation of the barrel about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the barrel so that the barrel can turn to a position in which it is

found between the lacrosse feet.

  The rotation of the barrel allows the storage of the latter between the lacrosse feet and its transport

  by a land or air vehicle, in this position.

  The barrel may for example have wheels that can be folded over the ground when the barrel is used. The wheels can for example be mounted on extensible arms, for example telescopic,

  mounted on the back of the basic structure.

  The device for allowing rotation can be attached to the buttocks. This device may include journals and upright arms

  attached directly or indirectly to the buttocks.

  This attachment of the lifting arms is preferably placed above the fastening of the journals when the barrel is used. The barrel can be supported by

  a known carriage, for example a cradle, which may

  the trunnions and which can be lifted by the lifting arms. The barrel can thus turn around

trunnions.

  Trunnions may be attached to the buttocks by plates attached to the buttocks in which trunnion locating caps are mounted. The lifting arms, in this example, can be extended by a mechanism comprising a

  cylinder that has a piston that can be pushed out

  from the inside of the cylinder. The pistons can be pushed hydropneumatically by the pressure of a pump which can be a manual or motor pump. It operates for example at a maximum pressure of 6.9.107 Pa, and feeds the cylinders with a flow rate of, for example, 1.97 l / min, and thus allows the rotation in less than 2 minutes of a mass to lift. a position at an angle of 5 in height (relative to the horizontal axis directed towards the front) at an angle of 175 (ie 5 above

  from the horizontal axis to the back).

  The cylinders of the lifting arms can be fixed to the respective feet of the stock by bearings allowing the rotation of the rolls around the bearings in a plane parallel to the plane of symmetry, between the butts of the stock. The pistons of the lift arms can be fixed to the lookout, on the opposite external faces thereof, by bearings allowing a rotation of the pistons. Preferably, the barrel comprises wheels mounted on extensible arms fixed to the structure

  which can be folded when using

  when the gun is in the firing position, but the wheels can be lowered

  by extending the arms so that the piece of arti-

  can be transported when the gun is

placed between the buttocks.

  Preferably, when the pins are placed in support plates fixed to the buttocks, the support plates and possibly the adjacent portions of the buttocks are formed of a very strong metal, for example stainless steel

or titanium alloy.

  Embodiments of the invention are now described by way of illustration with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a side elevation of an exemplary barrel according to the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the barrel of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an end view (from the front) of the artillery piece of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a side elevation of another example of an artillery gun; Figure 5 is an end view (of the front end) of the artillery piece of Figure 1); and FIG. 6 is a plan view of the part

  artillery shown in Figure 4.

  As indicated in FIGS. 1 to 3, a gun 1 is carried in a carriage 3 which can be supported

  by the support rails 5 (when it is in the position

  indicated in dashed lines as indicated

  50) by journals 7 placed at the end

  rear of the carriage 3 and 9 placed

  closer to the front end of the carriage 3.

  Buttocks 11 protrude upwardly from a base structure 13, the feet 11 being bent over the rails 5 and then towards the ground behind the

  ends of the rails 5. The feet 11 are

  at this end on a common spade 15 which

can be fixed in the ground.

  The base structure 13 comprises a base 17 having lugs 23 which can penetrate into the ground, a platform 19 placed above the base 17 and coupled thereto by a coupling 21 with a ball joint enabling rotation of the base. platform 19 relative to the base 17. The feet 11 are fixed to the platform 19. The rails 5 can be raised and lowered under the control of arms 27 or supports. Support arms 25 are hinged to a base member 29

  and the arms 27 are articulated on a base member 31.

  The arms 25 and 27 are placed along slots 33, respectively formed in the rails 5 and can be locked in the slots 33, 35 in position

  highest of the rails 5 (the support arms being

  in broken lines in this position by

  references 25a, 32a in FIGS. 1 to 3).

  There are essentially two configurations of gun use as shown in the drawings,

  the transport configuration and the configuration of use

  in-use (ie during use

cannon).

  In the transport configuration, the mass to be lifted comprising the carriage 3 and the barrel 1 is in the retracted position indicated in dashed lines by the references 3a and la, at the rear end of the rails 5. These are completely raised. The wheels 37 are fixed by arms 39 to an amount 41 fixed to the platform 19. The wheels 37 are lowered on the ground so that the base structure 13 is raised and a fixing accessory (not shown) to the spade 15 is hung on the vehicle (not shown) towing earth, so that the rear end

  is raised and the barrel is ready to be towed.

  The barrel can also be lifted by air, in this configuration. When the gun is to be set in the field use configuration, the wheels 37 are raised and the base 17 is lowered. The spade 15 is turned

  until the barrel axis is pointed in the direction

  necessary. The spade 15 is then anchored in the ground. The lifting mass comprising the carriage 3 and the barrel 1 is then moved forward along the rails 5. During this movement which can be facilitated by a winch mechanism (not shown), the carriage 3 and the barrel 1 are supported by the rails 5 by means of the journals 7 and the pins 9. When the barrel 1 reaches its forward or firing position, the journals 7 are fixed in the caps 8 for positioning the plates 10 fixed to the feet 11 of lacrosse. The lifting arms 41 which are locked against the stocking feet 11 in the transport configuration (indicated by reference 41a in this configuration) are released relative to the members

  43 and can pivot forward

  bearing 45 placed on an axle 46 (Figure 3), until they provide the connection with positioning bearings 47 ensuring the articulation of the arms 41 on the carriage 3. The lifting arms 41 can then operate in the same way as the conventional arms and can lift the front end of the carriage 3 so that the height angle of the barrel 1 is changed. The length of the arms 41 is enlarged substantially so that the height of the barrel 1 can be increased. When the barrel 1 is in the firing position, the support rails 5 can be lowered so that they allow the personnel to have access to the rear end of the barrel and can load the bolt (not shown) which is this end. After the firing of the barrel 1, the recoil forces which are produced are damped by a known damping member 49 (FIG. 3) mounted between the barrel 1 and the carriage 3. The construction of the buttocks 11 with respect to the height of the center of gravity of the lifting mass comprising the carriage 3 and the barrel 1 maintains the stability of the part under the action of recoil forces. The barrel 1 is returned to the firing position, after the recoil, by a known recuperator 5

(Figure 3).

  The composite parts of the buttocks 11 may be tubular sections, for example formed by winding layers of glass and carbon fibers previously impregnated with epoxy resin.

  around a mandrel whose section is that of sections

  The composite material is formed by polymerization of the epoxy resin by moderate heating, as is well known to those skilled in the art.

composites.

  In the second embodiment of the invention,

  4 to 6, a barrel 1 carried in a carriage 3 is supported by fasteners

  attached to the lacrosse feet which are formed of

  lightweight composite material. The fasteners of the support

  include extendable arms 9 of articulated uplift

  at the level of bearings 8 on the feet 5 and at the level of bearings 10 on the carriage 3, and also the pins 11 arranged in the caps 12 for positioning metal plates 13 attached to the

feet 5.

  The buttocks 5 are curved and protrude above the base structure 15 which has a platform 17 which is rotatable on a base 19 via a ball coupling 21. The buttocks 5 are attached to the platform 17. The rear ends of the buttocks 5 are fixed to a common spade 23 anchored in the ground. The buttocks reach, above the ground, a height

  greater than the center of gravity of the lift mass

  including the carriage 3, the barrel 1, a known damping member and a recuperator 7, mounted between

them, and the arms of uprising.

  The artillery gun depicted in the figures

  4 to 6 has two configurations of essential use-

  the transport configuration and configuration

use in the field.

  In this last configuration, the barrel

  is as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the structure

  base 15 and the spade 23 being fixed in the ground. Legs 24 of the base 19 allow attachment of the base structure. The spade 23 was turned, before anchoring, around the base structure so that the barrel 1 was pointed in the necessary direction. The arms 9, which are hydropneumatically elongate, are adjusted to a length chosen so that the barrel 1 has

the desired height.

  After firing the barrel 1, the recoil forces that are created are damped by the member 25 and are absorbed by the carriage 3 and the feet 5 of the butt. The center of gravity of the lifting mass comprising the barrel 1, the carriage 3, the damping member 25

  and the recuperator 27 as well as the arms 9 of raises

  are below the height reached by the grip feet so that the gun retains its stability under the action of the recoil forces, such as

previously described.

  Upon transition to the transport configuration, the lift arms 9 are elongated and the barrel is rotated until it is vertically directed

  up, and the length of the arms 9 is progressive-

  reduced, the rotation of the barrel 1 being continued until the barrel 1 and the carriage 3 reach the position between the buttocks 5 as shown in broken lines by the references la and 3a in FIG. barrel 1 is then fixed to the spade 23 by a quick release fastening member 33. A hook (not shown) of the spade 23 is then hooked to a towing vehicle (no

  represented) so that the barrel is lifted at the end

  rear mite (end that includes the spade 23).

  Wheels 35 are fixed by telescopic arms

  37 cantilevered to an upright 39 placed on the platform

  form 17, the wheels 35 being held in the storage position during use in the field, and being lowered for transport by elongation of the arms 37. This is the position shown in broken lines by the reference 35a in the figure 4. Lowering the wheels 35 causes the base structure to rise above the ground so that the artillery gun can be towed over the ground.

wheels 35.

  The composite parts of the butt arms may be formed of tubular sections, for example by wrapping layers of glass and carbon fibers previously impregnated with epoxy resin around a mandrel whose overall section and configuration correspond to those of the sections. desired, the composite material being formed by curing the epoxy resin as a result of moderate heating,

  as the specialists in the field know.

26202 1l1 - / 4

Claims (20)

  1. Artillery barrel, characterized in that it comprises a barrel (1), a carriage (3) on which is mounted the barrel, a base structure (17) and a butt having a front portion connected to the structure base, a rear portion adjacent to the ground and a raised intermediate portion on which the carriage (3) is hinged. 2. Cannon according to claim 1, characterized in that the carriage (3) is mounted directly on the butt by a trunnion (7).   3. Cannon according to claim 1, characterized in that the butt comprises feet (11) having protruding intermediate parts, curved in convex form so that they protrude above the ground behind the base structure, the feet ( 11) such that they reach, above the ground, a sufficient height so that the buttocks can flex during the firing of the barrel and can thus absorb   a significant part of the recoil force.   4. Cannon according to claim 3, characterized in that the feet (11) of the stock are formed by parts comprising a lightweight composite material of high mechanical strength or comprise at least such parts.   5. Cannon according to claim 1, characterized in that the front portion of the stock is directly attached to the base structure (17) by a coupling (21) allowing a relative pivoting of the stock and the basic structure.   6. Cannon according to claim 5, characterized in that the coupling comprises a ball joint (21). 7. A barrel according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises a spade (15) attached to the rear part of the stick and intended to cooperate with the ground while ensuring the attachment, and a device for allowing a movement of the back part of   the stick in relation to the spade, in a sensitive plan   horizontally, so that the barrel can be pointed in direction.   8. Cannon according to claim 7, characterized in that the rear portion of the stock is slidably mounted on the spade 15 so that the rear portion of the stock can move by   relative to the spade in a substantially horizontal plane.   9. Cannon according to claim 1, characterized in that the butt comprises feet (11) of the butt and a positioning device of the barrel (1) and the carriage (3) in a rearward facing position between   the buttocks when the barrel should not fire.   10. Cannon according to claim 9, characterized in that the device comprises support rails (5) placed between the buttocks and allowing the recoil of the cannon and the lookout.   11. Cannon according to claim 10, characterized in that the carriage (3) is mounted on support rails near its rear end, relative to the mouth of the barrel (1), by means of trunnions (7). ) placed on the rails and mounted mounting pins (9)   near the front end on the support rails.   12. Cannon according to claim 11, characterized in that the pins (7) are also placed in caps formed in plates fixed to the buttocks so that the barrel is placed in position use. -   13. A barrel according to claim 10, characterized   in that the carriage (3) is lifted by extensible lifting arms (25,27) which are articulated at a first end to the buttocks or the support structure, and which are articulated   on the lookout at the other end.   14. Cannon according to claim 13, characterized in that the lifting arms (25, 27) can be stored in a position close to the feet (11) of the stock,   feet that can be locked in position by a   fast release mechanism, allowing pivoting of the lifting arms in the position in which they are connected to the carriage when the barrel is in position prepared for the uprising.   15. Cannon according to claim 10, characterized in that the support rails (5) can be lowered when the barrel is in the firing position so that the access of the breech of the barrel by the operating personnel be facilitated.   16. Cannon according to claim 9, characterized in that the device is intended to allow the rotation of the barrel (1) about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the barrel so that the barrel can be turned to a position in which it is housed between buttocks (11).   17. Canon according to claim 16, characterized in that the device intended to allow the rotation is attached to the feet (11) of stock.   18. A barrel according to claim 17, characterized in that the device intended to allow rotation comprises trunnions (7) and lifting arms (25,27) fixed directly or indirectly to the buttocks, the attachment of the arms of uplift above trunnion attachment when the barrel is used.   19. Barrel according to claim 18, characterized in that the trunnions (7) are fixed to the feet (11) of the stock by plates attached to the buttocks, the positioning caps of the trunnions being arranged in these plates.   20. Cannon according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises wheels (37) for transporting the barrel which can be stored in position above   from the ground when the barrel is in the position of use.