Storage box for an armored vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a storage box (1, 2) for an armored vehicle. The vehicle has a turret and at least one fastening point (10) on the turret. Furthermore, the storage box (1, 2) has at least one box flap (3, 4). The storage box (1, 2) is constructed from a plurality of parts, but at least from two parts. The storage box (1, 2) is then arranged on the vehicle in such a way that one of the parts of the storage box (2) is arranged on one of the fastening points (10) for pivoting by means of at least one pivot bearing (11). The further parts of the storage box (1) can be arranged on the vehicle in a stationary manner or likewise in a pivotable manner.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an armored vehicle according to claim 1.

[0002] Storage compartments 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.

[0003] For example, DE 10 2012 108 527 B4 discloses a rear storage box for a truck, which is mounted in the area of ​​the vehicle chassis. This storage box is designed to be movable, namely longitudinally movable, allowing for increased storage space and / or simplified access to the storage space. DE 10 2004 025743 A1 discloses a shooting module with an additional housing.

[0004] However, in the case of an armored vehicle, such an implementation is difficult because the chassis should be as closed as possible all around.

[0005] For this reason, it is common practice in armored vehicles to attach storage compartments to a vehicle body, such as a turret, in the form of storage boxes. For this purpose, a storage box is attached to the rear of the turret using attachment points.

[0006] One difficulty with tower-mounted display cases, however, is that the rear positions where the storage boxes are located often also have a maintenance hatch. 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.

[0007] 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.

[0008] This problem is solved by the features of independent claim 1.

[0009] 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, wherein the storage box is designed in at least two parts, wherein one of the parts of the storage box can be pivotally arranged by at least one pivot bearing at one of the attachment points, wherein each part of the storage box has an opening which can be closed by a box flap, wherein a maintenance area is provided in the turret which is accessible through a maintenance flap, and wherein the maintenance flap is attached to the pivotable part of the storage box such 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.

[0010] The storage box is designed to be accessible through at least one flap. The flap is designed to close at least one opening in the storage box. The flap is also designed to allow the opening to be uncovered, thus ensuring unobstructed access to the interior of the storage box.

[0011] Hinges can be provided to allow the box flap to pivot. However, simple fastening options such as screw connections can also be used to attach or detach the box flap to the opening.

[0012] According to the invention, the storage box is designed in at least two parts, with one of the two parts being pivotable. At least one pivot bearing at one of the attachment points allows a part of the storage box to be pivoted to the attachment point.

[0013] Each section of the storage box is a self-contained element, so that once the box flap is attached to one section of the storage box, the entire box is closed. All sections of the storage box together form the storage box.

[0014] The attachment points on the tower allow the storage box to pivot with the tower movement and at least the pivoting part of the storage box can continue to pivot using the pivot bearing.

[0015] By pivoting one of the parts of the storage box, the storage box can be positioned partially or entirely in front of a turret maintenance hatch. To access the maintenance hatch, the pivoting part of the storage box simply needs to be pivoted away to ensure unobstructed access to the maintenance hatch. To ensure unobstructed access to the maintenance hatch, only the pivoting part of the storage box needs to be positioned in front of the maintenance hatch.

[0016] Within the pivoting range of the pivoting part of the storage box, there may be vehicle-mounted superstructures and / or equipment that protrude into the pivoting space. To ensure that these do not impede the pivoting of the pivoting part of the storage box, a preferred embodiment provides at least one recess on the pivoting part of the storage box, which is dimensioned such that corresponding additional equipment or superstructures of the vehicle do not impede the pivoting movement of the pivoting part of the storage box.

[0017] In a further preferred embodiment, seals are provided between the openings and the box flaps to protect the storage area of ​​the storage box from splash water. The seal is arranged circumferentially around the opening, and by attaching the box flap to the storage box, the seal protects the storage box from splash water.

[0018] Also preferably, fastening means are provided to lock the pivoting part of the storage box. This is intended to prevent unwanted swinging movements when the tower or the vehicle moves. A screw connection can be provided as a fastening means, allowing the movable part of the storage box to be locked to the tower. A magnetic locking mechanism is also conceivable, as is a locking mechanism for the pivot bearing.

[0019] The stationary part of the storage box, which is fixed to the tower, is attached to at least one of the mounting points in the same way as conventional storage boxes known from the state of the art. This means that only minimal effort is required to replace existing storage boxes with the new version of a storage box.

[0020] One side of the storage box's pivoting section, facing the turret, is already connected to the maintenance hatch on the turret, so that when the box is pivoted, not only the pivoting section of the storage box pivots, but also the maintenance hatch. This makes it very easy to access the maintenance area simply by pivoting the pivoting section of the storage box. Once the pivoting section of the storage box is locked, the maintenance hatch is also locked, and the maintenance area is closed.

[0021] 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.

[0022] The storage box is preferably made of steel. Special hardened steels can be used if the storage box has specific safety requirements. The storage box can also be made of the same material as the vehicle or the tower, for example, structural steel. Depending on requirements, the materials can also be combined.

[0023] The swivel range of the swiveling part of the storage box is preferably designed so that this part can be swiveled out up to 90°.

[0024] In addition to the possible subdivisions of the storage space, holders or attachment points for the equipment or objects to be stored are also possible.

[0025] 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 attachment points. These storage boxes can be significantly improved with the present design.

[0026] Further features are shown 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.

[0027] 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.

[0028] The storage box is divided into two parts, with a stationary part of the storage box 1 being permanently attached to the turret. The attachment is located at the rear of the turret. There is also a second part of the storage box 2, which is pivotably mounted on the turret. Both parts of the storage boxes 1, 2 are arranged at attachment points 10. These attachment points 10 are located on the vehicle's turret, with the pivoting part of the storage box 2 being arranged at one of the attachment points 10 via pivot bearings 11. The attachment points 10 are designed as a vertical column.

[0029] Also visible are two box flaps 3, 4, one for each part of the storage box 1, 2. The box flaps 3, 4 serve to open the storage box 1, 2 to access the interior of the storage box. The interior of the storage box 1, 2 can then accommodate equipment and / or accessories that are to be carried in the vehicle while driving.

[0030] 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 thus close it or can be opened by suitable means.

[0031] Additional equipment 12, such as power supplies, may be provided on the vehicle itself.

[0032] Figure 2also shows a perspective view of the storage box 1, 2, only this time from the viewpoint 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.

[0033] The attachment points 10 are each arranged on the turret. In this embodiment, the arrangement is shown on the rear side of the turret. The attachment points 10 can also be designed as flat surfaces instead of points, allowing multiple pivot bearings 11 to be arranged at one attachment point 10.

[0034] Figure 3shows a storage box 1, 2, wherein the pivotable part of the storage box 2 is shown in a 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 its pivoting movement is not obstructed by elements located on the vehicle, such as the additional equipment 12, when pivoting.

[0035] For this purpose, Figure 3 An APU, i.e., an additional power supply, is shown as additional equipment 12. The recess 5 of the pivoting part of the storage box 2 is thus designed such that the additional equipment 5 does not interfere with the pivoting process during pivoting. Accordingly, the volume of the recess 5 is adapted to the additional equipment 12 located within the pivoting range. The surface of the vehicle is also considered additional equipment 5.

[0036] Also in Figure 3Shown is a maintenance area 14, 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.

[0037] Maintenance area 14 in the tower contains electronic and / or hydraulic components that must be made accessible for maintenance. To do so, maintenance hatch 13 is opened to allow access.

[0038] 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 attach the maintenance flap 13 to a wall of the pivotable part of the storage box 2 by means of guide rails.

[0039] Figure 4shows 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.

[0040] Figure 5 shows a portion of the storage box 2 with the box flap 4 open, with a seal 6 visible around the opening. This seal 6 provides protection against splash water when the box flap 2 is closed. This protects the items in the storage box from splash water. The stationary part of the storage box 1 is also provided with a seal 6.

[0041] It is proposed to provide a locking mechanism 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 attached to the vehicle's turret. This serves to prevent unintentional pivoting movements of the pivoting part of the storage box 2 when the vehicle or the turret is moving.

[0042] The figures show the embodiment of the invention on a Leopard 2 vehicle. The use on Leopard 2 vehicles represents a preferred use of the storage box 1, 2.

[0043] The invention is not limited to the aforementioned features. Further embodiments are conceivable. For example, it is possible to manufacture the storage box from non-metallic materials, such as plastic. It is also conceivable to design two or more parts of the storage box so they can pivot. For this purpose, at least one pivot bearing must be arranged at each of the attachment points. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0044] 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-Pivot bearing 12-Accessories 13-Maintenance hatch 14-Maintenance area

Claims

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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