Rest device for a vehicle

Abstract

The rest device (100) comprises: a base bracket (102) to be fastened to a hull (12) of a vehicle (10); a top holder (104) to be coupled to a barrel (18) of a firearm; an extensible structure (106, 108), which connects the base bracket (102) to the top holder (104), and which is movable into a first and, respectively, a second disposition, wherein the top holder (104) is brought to a first height (hl) and, respectively, a second height (h2) relative to the base bracket (102), and wherein the barrel (18) is intended to be constrained to the hull (12) with a first elevation angle (αl) and, respectively, a second elevation angle (α2). There is a locking assembly (110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128) configured to lock, in a repeatably releasable and resettable manner, the extensible structure (106, 108) in the first disposition and, respectively, in the second disposition.

Description

[0001] TITLE : "Rest device for a vehicle"

[0002] * * *

[0003] DESCRIPTION Technical field

[0004] The present invention relates to a rest device for constraining a barrel of a firearm to a hull of a vehicle , in particular a tank . Technical background

[0005] In several technical fields rest devices ( to be understood also as supporting or bearing systems ) are used for securing a movable member, even a heavy one , while a means of transport is in motion . Systems of cables , props and chains are typically employed, which are interposed between the movable member and the hull of a means of transport , so as to constrain the movable member .

[0006] In the artillery industry, vehicles are known which are equipped with firearms comprising a barrel movably mounted to the rest of the vehicle . In some running or transport conditions , it is desirable to secure the barrel to the vehicle to prevent it from moving and causing problems .

[0007] In particular, tanks have a hull and a turret , which i s normally mounted on the hull in such a way that it can rotate about a traversing axis . The firearm, typically a cannon, includes a barrel mounted in such a way that it can oscillate about an elevation axis relative to the turret . When the tank needs to be moved or transported, and no action is under way during which the cannon may have to be aimed and / or fired, rest devices can advantageously be used in order to avoid any undesired movements of the barrel as the tank moves .

[0008] However, rest devices for vehicles equipped with a firearm barrel suf fer from a few drawbacks which should be remedied .

[0009] Summary of the invention

[0010] It is one obj ect of the present invention to provide a rest device which represents an improvement over those made in accordance with the prior art .

[0011] According to the present invention, this and other obj ects are achieved through a device having the technical features set out in the appended independent claim .

[0012] It is understood that the appended claims are an integral part of the technical teachings provided in the following detailed description of the present invention . In particular, the appended dependent claims define some preferred embodiments of the present invention that include some optional technical features .

[0013] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in light of the following detailed description, provided herein merely as a nonlimiting example and referring, in particular, to the annexed drawings as summari zed below .

[0014] Brief description of the drawings

[0015] Figures 1 and 2 are side elevation views of a vehicle , in particular a tank, equipped with a firearm barrel . The tank also comprises a rest device made in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention . In more detail , in Figure 1 the rest device is shown in a first configuration, in which the barrel is constrained to a hull of the tank with a first elevation angle , in particular in a lowered position . Conversely, in Figure 2 the rest device is shown in a ( raised) second configuration, in which the barrel is constrained to the hull with a second elevation angle - which is , in particular, wider than that shown in Figure 1 , so that the barrel is in a raised position - as the tank is about to climb a slope.

[0016] Figures 3 and 4 are magnified partial side elevation views of the rest device shown in Figures 1 and 2, respectively, showing also the barrel and the hull of the tank shown in the preceding figures.

[0017] Figures 5 and 6 are exploded perspective views of the rest device shown in the preceding figures. Figures 7 and 8 are views similar to those shown in Figures 3 and 4, in which the rest device is further magnified, and in which, for clarity, the barrel of the tank is omitted.

[0018] For completeness' sake, the following is a list of alphanumerical references and names used herein to identify parts, elements and components illustrated in the abovesummarized drawings.

[0019] X. Elevation axis

[0020] Y. Traversing axis 0. Hinge axis al . First elevation angle a2. Second elevation angle hl . First height h2. Second height A. Forward direction 10. Tank 12. Hull 14. Turret 16. Cannon 18. Barrel 100. Rest device 102. Base bracket 104. Top holder 106. Base oscillating member 108. Top oscillating member 110. First support

[0021] 112. Second support

[0022] 114. Arms

[0023] 114a. Mounting ends of the arms

[0024] 114b. Coupling ends of the arms

[0025] 116. Locking rod

[0026] 118. Stop plate

[0027] 120. Base Housing

[0028] 122. Top housing

[0029] 124. Base protrusions

[0030] 126. Top protrusion

[0031] 128. Stop rod

[0032] 130. Transverse rod

[0033] 132. Torsion springs

[0034] 134. Spiral section

[0035] 136. Support end

[0036] 138. Operative end

[0037] Detailed description of the invention

[0038] With particular reference to Figures 1 and 2, numeral 100 designates as a whole a rest device (drawn schematically and to be understood as a supporting or bearing system) made in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, carried by a tank 10.

[0039] In particular, by way of example, tank 10, which is also drawn schematically in the drawings, is provided with a hull 12, and turret 14 is mounted on hull 12 rotatable about a traversing axis Y. Tank 10 further comprises a cannon 16 including a barrel 18 mounted on turret 14 in such a way that it can oscillate about an elevation axis X. When tank 10 needs to be moved or transported, and no action is under way during which cannon 16 may have to be aimed and / or fired or barrel 18 may simply have to be moved, rest device 100 prevents any relative movement between barrel 18 and hull 12, thus avoiding any undesired displacement.

[0040] As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, rest device 100 is also applicable to vehicles other than tank 10 and to firearms other than cannon 16. In particular, rest device 100 can be implemented wherever it is necessary to constrain a firearm barrel to the movement of a vehicle (or, more generally, a means of transport) that is supporting it. For completeness' sake, some examples of alternative vehicles, other than tank 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2, include - but are not limited to - an armoured car or an off-road vehicle. Also, some examples of alternative firearms, other than cannon 16, may include - but are not limited to - automatic firearms, e.g. a machine-gun.

[0041] Rest device 100 is configured to assume two different operating configurations. Figure 1 shows a first configuration, in which rest device 100 constrains barrel 18 to hull 12 with a first elevation angle al (e.g. 5°) , in particular keeping barrel 18 in a lowered position. Conversely, Figure 2 shows a second configuration, in which rest device 100 constrains barrel 18 to hull 12 with a second angle of elevation a2 (e.g. 9°) , wider than first elevation angle al, in particular keeping barrel 18 in a raised position. The possibility of alternately arranging barrel 18 into the lowered position and into the raised position offers a number of advantages. For example, the lowered position may be useful to avoid increasing the height of tank 10 while travelling on flat or slightly uphill terrain. On the other hand, the raised position may be useful to keep barrel 18 at an angle wide enough to allow travelling uphill or overcoming very steep ramps; for example, an elevation angle of 9° may be useful to confront slopes up to 60%. In the embodiment illustrated herein, as will be further described below, the switching between the first configuration and the second configuration is done manually by an operator handling rest device 100 .

[0042] Rest device 100 is shown in more detail in Figures 3 to 8 . In particular, Figures 3 and 7 show rest device 100 in the first operating configuration, i . e . the one shown in Figure 1 , wherein barrel 18 is lowered; conversely, Figures 4 and 8 show rest device 100 when the tank is in the second operating configuration, i . e . the one shown in Figure 2 , wherein barrel 18 is raised .

[0043] From a construction viewpoint , rest device 100 comprises a base bracket 102 to be fastened to hull 12 . Rest device 100 comprises also a top holder 104 to be coupled to barrel 18 .

[0044] Furthermore , rest device 100 comprises an extensible structure , e . g . an articulated structure including a pair of oscillating members 106 , 108 mutually hinged about a hinge axis 0. Oscillating members 106 and 108 connect base bracket 102 to top holder 104 . In more detail , there is a base oscillating member 106 which is connected, in particular hinged, to base bracket 102 . There is also a top oscillating member 108 which is connected, in particular rigidly fastened, to top holder 104 . In particular, top holder is a clamping device with a pair of j aws 109 configured to be peripherally clamped around a section of barrel 18 .

[0045] More speci fically, oscillating members 106 , 108 are movable into a first disposition, shown in Figures 3 and 7 , and into a second disposition, shown in Figures 4 and 8 . With reference to Figure 7 , when oscillating members 106 , 108 are in the first disposition, top holder 104 is at a first height hl from base bracket 102 . With reference to Figure 8, when oscillating members 106, 108 are in the second disposition, top holder is at a second height h2 from base bracket 102. In particular, second height h2 is greater than first height hl. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the pair of oscillating members 106, 108 constitutes just one possible embodiment of an articulated structure, and may be replaced, for example, with a pantograph-type articulated quadrilateral system. Furthermore, a person skilled in the art will appreciate that, in addition to articulated structures, one may also use, in general, other types of extensible structures, e.g. a telescopic system.

[0046] As will be described in more detail below, rest device 100 comprises also a locking assembly, whose components are identified as 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128 in Figures 3 to 8. The locking assembly is configured to lock, in a repeatably releasable and resettable manner, oscillating members 106, 108 in the first disposition and / or in the second disposition.

[0047] In particular, the locking assembly is configured to lock the position of hinge axis 0 when such oscillating members 106, 108 are in the first disposition (see Figure 3 and Figure 7) and, respectively, in the second disposition (see Figure 4 and Figure 8) . Even more particularly, the locking assembly is also configured to lock the mutual angular position of oscillating members 106 and 108 - in the embodiment illustrated herein, when oscillating members 106, 108 are in the second disposition.

[0048] The following will first describe the means - designated as 110, 112, 114, 116 - through which the locking assembly is configured to lock the position of hinge axis 0 when oscillating members 106, 108 are in the first disposition and, respectively, in the second disposition. In the illustrated embodiment , the locking assembly comprises a pair of supports 110 , 112 intended to be mounted to hull 12 on opposite sides relative to the pair of oscillating members 106 , 108 . In particular, with reference to the forward direction A of tank 10 , there is a first support 110 intended to be mounted in front of the pair of oscillating members 106 , 108 , and there is also a second support 112 intended to be mounted behind the pair of oscillating members 106 , 108 . More particularly, first support 110 is intended to be mounted to a front wall of hull 12 , while second support 112 is intended to be mounted to a top wall of hull 12 .

[0049] Furthermore , in the embodiment illustrated herein, the locking assembly comprises a pair of arms 114 . Preferably, each one of arms 114 is mounted to oscillating members 106 , 108 at hinge axis 0. As shown in more detail in Figures 7 and 8 , each one of arms 114 comprises a mounting end 114a hinged about hinge axis 0, and a coupling end 114b opposite mounting end 114a and configured to be connectable to , respectively, the first support 110 and the second support 112 . In the illustrated embodiment , coupling end 114b is coupled manually by an operator either to first support 110 or to second support . Moreover, each one of arms 114 is rotatable about hinge axis 0 between a first locking position ( see Figures 3 and 7 ) and, respectively, a second locking position ( see Figures 4 and 8 ) , wherein coupling end 114b can be fastened, in a repeatably releasable and resettable manner, to the first and, respectively, the second support 110 , 112 when oscillating members 106 , 108 are in the first disposition and, respectively, in the second disposition . In particular, arms 114 are mounted on laterally opposite sides relative to oscillating members 106 , 108 . As will be clear to a person skilled in the art, the embodiment illustrated herein may be subject to a number of variations, wherein: a single arm (e.g. mounted in a central position) replaces the pair of arms 114 mounted laterally relative to oscillating members 106, 108; and / or each arm is mounted to only one of oscillating members 106, 108; and / or each arm is rotatable about an axis other than hinge axis 0; and / or each arm can make a movement (e.g. a translational movement) other than the rotational movement of arms 114.

[0050] In the illustrated embodiment, with particular reference to Figures 3 and 7, when oscillating members 106, 108 are in the first disposition (corresponding to the first, i.e. lowered, configuration of barrel 18) , arms 114 are set "forwards" in the first locking position along forward direction A of tank 10. Conversely, with reference to Figures 4 and 8, when oscillating members 106, 108 are in the second disposition (corresponding to the second, i.e. raised, configuration of barrel 18) , lateral arms 114 are set "backwards" in the second locking position along forward direction A of tank 10.

[0051] In the illustrated embodiment, the locking assembly comprises also a locking member, e.g. a locking rod 116 configured to mutually lock lateral arms 114 and first and, respectively, second support 110, 112 in a repeatably releasable and resettable manner when said oscillating members 114 are in the first locking position (see Figures 3 and 7) and, respectively, in the second locking position (see Figures 4 and 8) . In particular, locking rod 116 is configured to cross, in a repeatably releasable and resettable manner, each one of lateral arms 114 and the respective support 110, 112 in the respective locking position. In particular, locking rod 116 can be laterally inserted, in a repeatably releasable and resettable manner, through coupling ends 114b of arms 114 and the respective support 110 , 112 between a first locking position ( see Figures 3 and 7 ) and, respectively, a second locking position ( see Figures 4 and 8 ) . For example , the above-described insertion ( and also the removal ) of locking rod 116 can be done manually by an operator . As will be apparent to those skilled in the art , some alternative embodiments may employ a locking member other than locking rod 116 used in the embodiment illustrated herein .

[0052] The following will describe the means - designated as 118 , 120 , 122 , 124 , 126 , 128 - through which the locking assembly is configured to lock the mutual angular position of oscillating members 106 , 108 when said oscillating members 106 , 108 are in the second disposition .

[0053] In the illustrated embodiment , the locking assembly comprises also a stop plate 118 configured to retain, in a repeatably releasable and resettable manner, oscillating members 106 , 108 in a predetermined mutual angular position, particularly when said oscillating members 106 , 108 are in the second disposition shown in Figures 4 and 8 . In more detail , oscillating members 106 , 108 are movable into a first angular position, shown in Figures 3 and 7 and corresponding to the first disposition, and, respectively, into a second mutual angular position, shown in Figures 4 and 8 and corresponding to the second disposition . In the embodiment illustrated herein, therefore , stop plate 118 is configured to retain oscillating members 106 , 108 in the second mutual angular position . Conversely, still with reference to the illustrated embodiment , stop plate 118 is not used also to retain oscillating members 106 , 108 in the first mutual angular position; as a matter of fact , it is barrel 18 itsel f that , being in a stable position, retains - through top holder 104 - the top oscillating member 108 and consequently also the base oscillating member 106 . In particular, an operator manually couples stop plate 118 to oscillating members 106 , 108 .

[0054] In the illustrated embodiment , when oscillating members 106 and 108 are in the second angular position, corresponding to the second disposition and shown in Figures 4 and 8 , oscillating members are mutually aligned in a direction substantially perpendicular to hinge axis 0.

[0055] With particular reference to Figures 5 and 6 , on one side stop plate 118 preferably comprises a pair of coupling parts that , in the illustrated embodiment , consist of a base housing 120 and a top housing 122 , e . g . formed as grooves in a face of top holder 118 . On the other side , base oscillating member 106 and top oscillating member 108 comprise , respectively, a base coupling part and a top coupling part that respectively comprise , in the illustrated embodiment , a pair of base protrusions 124 and a pair of top protrusions 126 . When oscillating members 106 , 108 are in the second angular position, base protrusions 124 are configured to mate , in a repeatably releasable and resettable manner, with the associated base housing 120 ; at the same time , top protrusions 126 are configured to mate , in a repeatably releasable and resettable manner, with the associated top housing 14 . In this way, when oscillating members 106 , 108 are set into the second mutual angular position, stop plate 118 is simultaneously fastened to them .

[0056] In the embodiment illustrated herein, the locking assembly comprises also a stop member, e . g . a stop rod 128 configured to secure , in a repeatably releasable and resettable manner, base oscillating member 106 to stop plate 118 , in particular when oscillating members 106 , 108 are , respectively, in the second mutual angular position shown in Figures 4 and 8 . Preferably, in order to accomplish such mutual fastening, stop rod 128 is configured to simultaneously cross both base oscillating member 106 and stop plate 118 . In particular, stop plate 128 can be inserted through base oscillating member 106 and through stop plate 118 manually by an operator .

[0057] The following will describe in more detail , with particular reference to Figures 5 and 6 , an exemplary hinged connection between base bracket 102 and base oscillating member 106 . First of all , there is a transverse rod 130 that goes through the ends of base bracket 102 and base oscillating member 106 to ensure mutual hinging thereof . Between base bracket 102 and base oscillating member 106 elastic means are mounted, e . g . a pair of torsion springs 132 , which tend to bring base oscillating member 106 into the second disposition shown in Figures 3 and 8 , in particular by pushing it upwards . This facilitates the work of an operator having to move base oscillating member 106 ( and anything weighing on it in operation) in order to move oscillating members 106 , 108 from the first disposition to the second disposition . In the illustrated embodiment , each torsion spring 132 has , in a per se known manner, a winding axis about which a spiral section 134 develops , from which a support end 136 extends on one side and an operative end 138 extends on the other side . Spiral section 134 of each torsion spring 132 is wound around transverse rod 130 , at a respective end of the latter . Support end 136 of each torsion spring 132 operatively presses against base bracket 102 , while operative end 138 presses against base oscillating member 106 ; spiral section 134 is elastically preloaded to cause operative end 138 to move away from base end 136, thereby pushing base oscillating member 106 away (upwards, i.e. towards the second disposition) from base bracket 102. As will be apparent to a person skilled in the art, some alternative implementations different from the embodiment illustrated herein may still make use of elastic means even if oscillating members 106, 108 are replaced with different extensible structures. Furthermore, the elastic means may also be configured to exert a bistable action on the extensible structure, e.g. tending to push the latter alternately towards two different stable positions, corresponding to the first disposition and, respectively, the second disposition. In addition, the elastic means may consist of components other than torsion springs 132.

[0058] Of course, without prejudice to the principle of the present invention, the forms of embodiment and the implementation details may be extensively varied from those described and illustrated herein merely by way of nonlimiting example, without however departing from the scope of the invention as set out in the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Rest device (100) for constraining a barrel (18) of a firearm (16) to a hull (12) of a vehicle, in particular a tank (10) , said device comprising: a base bracket (102) to be fastened to the hull (12) ; a top holder (104) to be coupled to the barrel (18) ; an extensible structure (106, 108) , which connects the base bracket (102) to the top holder (104) , and which is movable into a first and, respectively, a second disposition, wherein said top holder (104) is brought to a first height (hl) and, respectively, a second height (h2) relative to said base bracket (102) , and wherein the barrel (18) is intended to be constrained to the hull (12) with a first elevation angle (al) and, respectively, a second elevation angle (a2 ) ; and a locking assembly (110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128) configured to lock, in a repeatably releasable and resettable manner, the extensible structure (106, 108) in at least one of the first disposition and the second disposition .

2. Rest device according to claim 1, wherein said extensible structure is an articulated structure (106, 108) .

3. Rest device according to claim 2, wherein said articulated structure comprises a pair of oscillating members (106, 108) mutually hinged about a hinge axis (0) .

4. Rest device according to claim 3, wherein said locking assembly (110, 112, 114, 116) is configured to lock the position of said hinge axis (0) when said pair of oscillating members (106, 108) are in said first and, respectively, second disposition.

5. Device according to claim 4, wherein said locking assembly comprises:a pair of supports (110, 112) intended to be mounted to the hull of said vehicle on opposite sides relative to said oscillating members (106, 108) ; at least one arm (114) mounted to at least one of said oscillating members (106, 108) and movable between a first and, respectively, a second locking position, which can be fastened in a repeatably releasable and resettable manner to said first support (110) and, respectively, said second support (112) when said pair of oscillating members (106, 108) are in said first disposition and, respectively, said second disposition.

6. Device according to claim 5, wherein said at least one arm (114) is rotatable between said first and second locking positions .

7. Device according to claim 6, wherein said at least one arm (114) comprises a mounting end (114a) hinged about said hinge axis (0) .

8. Device according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein said at least one arm (114) comprises a coupling end (114b) which can be coupled, in a repeatably releasable and resettable manner, to said first support (110) and, respectively, said second support (112) when said arm (114) is in the first locking position and, respectively, in the second locking position.

9. Device according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein said locking assembly further comprises a locking member (116) configured to mutually lock, in a repeatably releasable and resettable manner, said at least one arm (114) and said first support (110) and, respectively, said second support (112) when said at least one arm (114) is in the first locking position and, respectively, in the second locking position .

10. Device according to claim 9, wherein said locking member (116) is configured to cross, in a repeatably releasable and resettable manner, said at least one arm (114) and the first support (110) and, respectively, the second support (112) when said at least one arm (114) is in the first locking position and, respectively, in the second locking position.

11. Device according to claim 10, wherein said locking member (116) is configured to cross a coupling end (114b) of said at least one lateral arm (114) .

12. Device according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein said locking member comprises a locking rod (116) .

13. Device according to any one of claims 5 to 12, wherein said locking assembly comprises a pair of arms (114) mounted on laterally opposite sides of said oscillating members (106, 108) .

14. Device according to any one of claims 3 to 13, wherein said locking assembly (118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128) is further configured to lock the mutual angular position of said oscillating members (106, 108) when said oscillating members (106, 108) are in at least one of said first disposition and said second disposition.

15. Device according to claim 14, wherein said locking assembly further comprises a stop plate (118) configured to retain, in a repeatably releasable and resettable manner, said oscillating members (106, 108) in at least one predetermined mutual angular position when said oscillating members (106, 108) are, respectively, in at least one of said first disposition and said second disposition.

16. Device according to claim 15, wherein said stop plate (118) is configured to be simultaneously coupled to each one of said oscillating members (106, 108) when said oscillating members are in said at least one predetermined mutual angularposition .

17. Device according to claim 16, wherein said stop plate (118) comprises a pair of coupling parts (120, 122) , wherein each one of said coupling parts (120, 122) can be coupled, in a repeatably releasable and resettable manner, to an associated coupling portion (124, 126) formed in each one of said oscillating members (106, 108) .

18. Device according to claim 17, wherein each coupling portion comprises at least one protrusion (124, 126) , and each coupling part comprises at least one housing (120, 122) configured to house said at least one protrusion (124, 126) .

19. Device according to claim 18, wherein each coupling portion comprises a pair of protrusions (124, 126) carried by the respective oscillating member (106, 108) .

20. Device according to any one of claims 15 to 19, wherein said locking assembly further comprises a stop member (128) configured to secure, in a repeatably releasable and resettable manner, one of the oscillating members (106, 108) to said stop plate (118) when said oscillating members (106, 108) are, respectively, in at least one of the first and second mutual angular positions.

21. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein between said base bracket (102) and said extensible structure (106,108) elastic means (132) are mounted which tend to bring said extensible structure (106, 108) towards at least one of said dispositions.

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