Trailer for gun artillery

Abstract

The invention relates to a trailer (1a-d, 2-5) designed to receive a device (5-6) for gun artillery. The trailer (1a-d, 2-5) comprises at least wheels (2), coupling elements (3) for connection to a towing vehicle, extendable support legs (1a-d) and a control device that controls the extension of the extendable support legs (1a-d). The control device is designed to control the extension of the extendable support legs (1a-d) so that the distribution of force each support leg (1a-d) exerts on the ground reaches a selected force distribution. This means that each individual support leg takes the smallest possible share of the effect of the recoil. After firing, the control device controls the extension of the extendable support legs (1a-d) so that the selected force distribution is achieved again. This means that if the support legs (1a-d) no longer have a desired force distribution, a return to the selected force distribution occurs.

Description

The present invention relates to a trailer for gun artillery according to the preamble of the independent claim.Background of the inventionTrailers that can be used for gun artillery, for example, are known from US3912288. Such trailers are typically equipped with retractable support legs, which provide increased stability to the trailer and where the support legs absorb part of the effect of the recoil from the gun artillery generated when fired. To provide optimal stability, the support legs must be in good contact with the ground even after a shot has been fired. When fired, the support legs can push away material they were standing on, be forced down into a flexible ground in an asymmetrical manner and the entire trailer (1a-d, 2-5) can move so that the support legs (lad) no longer have good contact with the ground when the next shot is fired, which is unsuitable. Depending on how the support legs are in contact with the ground when fired, the effect of the recoil can affect one support leg more than others, so that it breaks.An object of the invention is therefore to provide a trailer for gun artillery that controls the contact of the support legs with the ground so that the risk of damage to any of the support legs is reduced.Another object of the invention is therefore to provide a trailer for gun artillery that ensures that the support legs rest against the ground after firing such that better support is achieved than with trailers according to prior art.These and other objects are achieved by a gun barrel artillery trailer according to the characterizing elements of the independent claim.Summary of the inventionThe invention relates to a trailer 1a-d, 2-5 designed to receive a device 5-6 for gun artillery, where the trailer 1a-d, 2-5 comprises at least wheels 2, coupling elements 3 for connection to a towing vehicle, extendable support legs 1a-d and a control device that controls the extension of the extendable support legs 1a-d. The control device is designed to control the extension of the extendable support legs 1 -d, so that the distribution of force at least the respective support legs 1a-d exert on the ground reaches a selected force distribution. This advantageously means that each individual support leg takes the smallest possible share of the effect of the recoil.After a shot, the control device controls the extension of the extendable support legs 1a-d, so that the selected force distribution is achieved again. This advantageously means that, if, for example, the support legs 1a-d have pushed away material they were standing on during a shot, if the support legs 1a-d have been forced down into a flexible surface in an asymmetrical manner during a shot, or if the trailer 1a-d, 2-5 has moved during a shot so that the support legs 1a-d are no longer standing with a desired force distribution, a return to the selected force distribution occurs.In an advantageous embodiment, the control device is designed to control the extension of the extendable support legs 1a-d, so that the distribution of the force the wheels 2 and the respective support legs 1a-d exert on the ground reaches a selected force distribution.In a further advantageous embodiment, the control device is designed to control the extension of the extendable support legs 1a-d to a selected force distribution, so that when the force applied by each support leg 1d to the substrate is the same.In an additional advantageous embodiment, the control device is designed to control the extension of the extendable support legs 1a-d to a selected force distribution, so that when the force of the respective support legs 1a-d and the wheels 2 is applied to the ground, it is the same.Brief description of the figuresFig. 1 shows a first embodiment of the invention with a first force distributionFig. 2 shows the first embodiment with a second force distributionFig. 3 shows the first embodiment with a third force distributionDescription of a preferred embodimentThe invention relates to a trailer intended to receive a device for gun barrel artillery. When the gun barrel artillery is fired, a recoil is generated which can cause the trailer to be dislodged so that it changes direction or position. The stabilization of the gun barrel works under the condition that the trailer itself does not move more than a certain limit, so to minimize the impact of the recoil on the trailer it is provided with foldable and extendable support legs.With each recoil, the extendable outriggers can work their way down into a flexible surface, slide sideways on the surface or throw material under the feet of the outriggers, so that even though the outriggers were optimally positioned before the first shot, the outriggers can slide out of this position and potentially end up in a position where they provide poorer support for the trailer or no support at all.The solution to the problems with support legs moving relative to the ground to which the invention relates is that the trailer is provided with a control device which, between each section, distributes the force exerted by each leg against the ground to a desired distribution. In this way, all the legs at each section provide maximum support for the desired stability of the trailer. The distribution of load-bearing capacity between the support legs is typically done in such a way that only part of the weight of the trailer and the gun artillery device is placed on the support legs and the remainder is carried by the trailer's wheel set. Figures 1-3 illustrate three different ways of distributing the weight of the trailer and the gun artillery device on the support legs and the trailer's wheel set.Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of the invention with a first power distribution. The figure illustrates a trailer 1a-d, 2-5 with a device 5-6 for gun barrel artillery with a gun barrel 6 received thereon. The trailer 1a-d, 2-5 comprises a carrier element 4 which receives the device 5-6 for gun barrel artillery. On the underside of the carrier element 4 are arranged two pairs of wheels 2 which, with the first power distribution, are only used when the trailer 1a-d, 2-5 is pulled by a motor vehicle. On what in the figure is the left edge of the carrier element 4, there is a ball coupling 3 for connection to a towing vehicle.On the four corners of the trailer 1a-d, 2-5 support element 4 are four extendable support legs 1a-d, of which only the three support legs 1a-c are visible in the figure while the fourth is obscured, which in the figure are extended for use. The extendable support legs 1a-d are also extendable and have been extended to a position where they lift the two wheel pairs 2 from the ground. The force required to hold the trailer 1a-d, 2-5 in this position is distributed by the force F1a on support leg la, the force Fib on support leg 1b, the force F1c on support leg 1c and the force F1d on support leg 1d. The forces on the four support legs 1a-d are here equal, so that F1a = F1b = F1c = F1d. This is intended to distribute the effect of the recoil from the gun artillery device equally between the support legs, so that each individual support leg takes the smallest possible share of the effect of the recoil.The trailer 1a-d, 2-5 is provided with a non-illustrated control device, which between each bulkhead controls the support legs 1a-d so that the force of each support leg 1a-d acts against the ground with the same force. The control device can use force or pressure sensors in the support legs 1d for this purpose.Fig. 2 shows the first embodiment with a second force distribution. Here the control device has not extended the support legs 1a-d further than the two wheel pairs 2 reach the ground and jointly absorb part of the force. The force the two wheel pairs 2 exert on the ground is Fw and in this second force distribution the forces from all four individual support legs 1a-d are identical and identical to the force the two wheel pairs 2 exert on the ground, so Fw = F1a = F1b = F1c = F1d. Here the force is thus distributed over five points, all of which absorb the same force. This is intended to distribute the effect of the recoil from the gun artillery device equally between these five elements, so that each individual element takes the smallest possible share of the effect of the recoil, between each shot the control device controls the support legs 1a-d so that the force that the support legs 1a-d exert against the ground is equal and, moreover, as great as the force that the two pairs of wheels 2 exert against the ground.Fig. 3 shows the first embodiment with a third force distribution. Here too, the control device has not extended the support legs 1a-d further than the two wheel pairs 2 reach the ground and jointly absorb part of the force. The force with which the two wheel pairs 2 act on the ground is Fw and in this third force distribution, the forces from all four individual support legs 1a-d are identical and each constitutes a quarter of the force with which the two wheel pairs 2 act on the ground, so Fw / 4 = F1a = F1b = F1c = F1d. In other words, the four support legs 1a-d together absorb a force identical to the force with which the two wheel pairs 2 act on the ground. Here, the force is thus distributed over five points, which do not all absorb the same force. This is intended to distribute the effect of the recoil from the gun artillery device equally between these five elements, so that the two wheel pairs 2 take a larger share of the recoil than each individual support leg 1a-d. The two wheel pairs 2 are typically provided with suspension, damping and torsional dampers, so the wheel pairs 2 can be thought of as being suitable for absorbing a larger share of the effect of the recoil. Here too, the control device between each shot controls the support legs 1a-d so that the force distribution returns to the original one.Alternative embodimentsThe illustrated embodiment shows a trailer with two pairs of wheels and four support legs, but obviously the trailer can be provided with both more and fewer pairs of wheels and support legs respectively. The support legs are in the illustrated embodiment foldable from a stowed position and placed in the four corners of the trailer, but obviously the support legs can be positioned differently and cannot be folded away.In all three illustrated force distributions, the force distribution is such that the force applied by all outriggers to the ground is identical, so F1a = F1b = F1c = F1d. The aim is to distribute the effect of the recoil equally between the outriggers, so that each individual outrigger takes the smallest possible share of the effect of the recoil. Of course, the force distribution between the outriggers can be different, for example if the weight of the trailer and the gun-artillery device is offset in the trailer's direction of movement or sideways. The force distribution between the outriggers can also deviate from uniform, to compensate for an asymmetrical effect of the recoil. Regardless of how the force distribution between individual legs is selected, the control device adjusts the force distribution between each shot to the originally selected one, so that the force distribution when each new shot is made has been restored.In the second and third illustrated force distributions, the force distribution is such that the force is distributed between all the outriggers and the wheels. While the outriggers may be nearly rigid, individual wheels are typically provided with suspension and damping, and the wheel set is provided with torsional dampers. In order to give the trailer optimum characteristics, the most suitable force distribution between the wheels and the outriggers may deviate from those suggested in the second and third illustrated force distributions. This may also be combined with a non-uniform force distribution between individual outriggers. Regardless of how the force distribution between individual legs and wheels is selected, the control device between each section adjusts the force distribution to the originally selected one, so that the force distribution when each new section is made has been restored.The originally selected force distribution between individual legs and the wheels can of course be changed to a new selected force distribution and the control device then adjusts the force distribution between each shot to the new selected force distribution, so that the force distribution is then restored to the new selected force distribution when each new shot occurs.The control device is not illustrated in the figures, but is designed in a conventional manner with an input unit for setting the desired force distribution, typically a display for showing the actual and desired force distribution and other necessary elements. The support legs 1a-d are extendable and can change length with, for example, pneumatic cylinders, hydraulic cylinders or in another suitable way. The control device includes, for pneumatic cylinders or hydraulic cylinders, a suitable pump and valves for increasing or decreasing the gas or liquid pressure in the respective support legs 1a-d. Especially for pneumatic cylinders, the force with which a support leg 1a-d acts against the substrate can be estimated from the gas pressure in the cylinder, while for differently designed support legs 1a-d other types of force sensors may be needed.The trailer 1a-d, 2-5 carrier element 4 comprises suitable elements for receiving and typically attaching a device 5-6 for gun artillery, but these are not illustrated in the figures. The illustrated embodiment shows a trailer 1a-d, 2-5 with a ball coupling 3 for connection to a towing vehicle, but obviously any other type of coupling element for connection to a towing vehicle can be used. The term trailer is not limiting, but is used here for any type of trailer that can be pulled by a towing vehicle and can receive any type of device 5-6 for gun artillery.

Claims

1 A trailer (1a-d, 2-5) designed to receive a device (5-6) for gun artillery, wherein the trailer (1a-d, 2-5) comprises at least wheels (2), coupling elements (3) for connection to a towing vehicle, extendable support legs (1a-d) and a control device that controls the extension of the extendable support legs (1a-d), characterized in that the control device is designed to control the extension of the extendable support legs (1a-d), so that the distribution of force at least the respective support legs (1a-d) exert on the ground reaches a selected force distribution and wherein after firing, the control device controls the extension of the extendable support legs (1a-d), so that the selected force distribution is achieved again.2 A trailer (1a-d, 2-5) according to claim 1, characterized in that the control device is designed to control the extension of the extendable support legs (1a-d), so that the distribution of the force the wheels (2) and the respective support legs (1a-d) exert on the ground reaches a selected force distribution and where after the shot, the control device controls the extension of the extendable support legs (1a-d), so that the selected force distribution is achieved again.3 A trailer (1a-d, 2-5) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control device is designed to control the extension of the extendable support legs (1a-d) to a selected force distribution, so that when the force the respective support legs (1a-d) exert on the ground is the same and where after a shot, the control device controls the extension of the extendable support legs (1a-d), so that the selected force distribution is achieved again.4 A trailer (1a-d, 2-5) according to claim 2, characterized in that the control device is designed to control the extension of the extendable support legs (1a-d) to a selected force distribution, so that when the force of the respective support legs (1a-d) and the wheels (2) on the ground is the same and where after a collision, the control device controls the extension of the extendable support legs (1a-d), so that the selected force distribution is achieved again.