Artillery with realignment mechanism

Abstract

An artillery piece is movable from a retracted position to a deployed position. The artillery piece comprises a gun mounted on a platform, wherein the gun is adjustable and generates recoil energy, a baseplate comprising an upper baseplate and a lower baseplate, wherein gun sits on the baseplate when in the deployed position, and a realignment mechanism for realigning the gun to the deployed position after the gun has been fired. The realignment mechanism comprises a base locking rod, an upper cable and a lower cable, and a realigning spring movable from a normal position to a compressed position, wherein the realigning spring absorbs some of the recoil energy from the firing of the gun to move to the compressed position, and biases the baseplate and the gun back to the deployed position in response to firing of the gun.

Description

ARTILLERY WITH REALIGNMENT MECHANISMThis patent application claims priority benefit of Singapore patent application 10202402828R, filed on 11 September 2024.FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to artillery, and more particularly to mobile artillery with a realignment mechanism to allow for rapid fire.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Artillery can be mounted on motor vehicles such as trucks for rapid movement and deployment. However, the force of firing a projectile when fired moves the gun away from its deployed position. The gun needs to be in the same position to prevent the need for extended recalculation of position for firing, which would slow down the ability to fire. It would therefore be desirable to provide an artillery piece where an alignment mechanism realigns the gun after each time the gun is fired.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] In accordance with a first aspect, an artillery piece is mounted on a motor vehicle and is movable from a retracted position to a deployed position. The artillery piece comprises a gun for launching projectiles, mounted on a platform, wherein thegun is adjustable and generates recoil energy when the gun is fired, a baseplate comprising an upper baseplate and a lower baseplate, wherein gun sits on the baseplate when in the deployed position, and a realignment mechanism for realigning the gun to the deployed position after the gun has been fired. The realignment mechanism comprises a base locking rod, an upper cable and a lower cable, wherein the upper cable is attached to the carriage and the base locking rod, and the lower cable is attached to the lower baseplate and the base locking rod, and a realigning spring movable from a normal position to a compressed position, wherein the realigning spring absorbs some of the recoil energy from the firing of the gun to move to the compressed position, and biases the baseplate and the gun back to the deployed position in response to firing of the gun.

[0004] From the foregoing disclosure and the following more detailed description of various embodiments it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention provides a significant advance in the technology of artillery. Particularly significant in this regard is the potential the invention affords for providing mobile artillery where re-alignment is needed after firing. Additional elements and advantages of various embodiments will be better understood in view of the detailed description provided below.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a rapidly deployable artillery mounted on a motor vehicle in a partially extended position in accordance with one embodiment.

[0006] Fig. 2 is an isometric view of the rapidly deployable artillery of the embodiment of Fig. 1 shown in a deployed position, shown biasing the rear wheels off the ground.

[0007] Fig. 3 is an isolated isometric view of a realigning mechanism of the artillery shown in the deployed position and before the gun is fired.

[0008] Fig. 4 is an isolated side view of the artillery shown after a gun has fired but before an upper base of the baseplate has returned to abut against the lower base of the baseplate, showing a realigning spring compressed.

[0009] Fig. 5 is an exploded isometric view of the baseplate, showing the upper base, the lower base and a platform for the gun.

[0010] Fig. 6 is an isolated isometric view showing lower cable attachments to the baseplate.

[0011] It should be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of various features illustrative of the basic principles of the invention. The specific design features of the realigning mechanism as disclosed here, including, for example, the specific dimensions of the baseplate, will be determined in part by the particular intended application and use environment. Certain features of the illustrated embodiments have been enlarged or distorted relative to others to help provide clear understanding. In particular, thin features may be thickened, for example, for clarity of illustration. All references todirection and position, unless otherwise indicated, refer to the orientation illustrated in the drawings.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

[0012] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that is, to those who have knowledge or experience in this area of technology, that many uses and design variations are possible for the mobile artillery disclosed here. The following detailed discussion of various alternate elements and embodiments will illustrate the general principles of the invention with reference to an artillery suitable for mounting on a motor vehicle. Other embodiments suitable for other applications will be apparent to those skilled in the art given the benefit of this disclosure.

[0013] Turning now to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows artillery 10 mounted on a motor vehicle 20 in a partially deployed position. In the retracted position the artillery is off the ground and readily moveable on the motor vehicle from one location to another, as needed for fast deployment. The artillery comprises a gun 30, a baseplate 40, and an attachment mechanism 50 movably and operatively connecting the artillery 10 to the motor vehicle 20, allowing from movement from the retracted position to a deployed position shown in Fig. 2. The gun 30 may be mounted on a platform 90, for example, and is adjustable with respect to the platform for target aiming, typically pivotably adjustable about multiple axes (at least two). In the deployed position of Fig. 2 a bottom of the gun 30 rests on a baseplate 40 comprising top baseplate 42 and bottom baseplate 44. The bottom baseplate may be provided with serrations 45 to better secure the artillery to the ground. In this embodiment when the artillery 10is in the deployed position the baseplate 40 is firmly planted on the ground, and rear tires 25 of the motor vehicle are biased off the ground as shown, providing three- point stability (front tires 24 and baseplate). When the gun is fired, there is a large recoil. Increasing space between the elements touching the ground enhances stability. It is desirable to have the gun returned to its previous location as quickly as possible so that additional rounds may be fired at the same target without having to recalibrate.

[0014] Fig. 3 shows an isolated view of a realigning mechanism 80 for the gun in accordance with one embodiment, shown in the deployed position but before the gun has been fired. The gun sits on the upper plate 42 of the baseplate. A single realigning mechanism 80 may be provided, or the realigning mechanism may comprise a pair of realigning mechanisms 80, 180, one on each side of the gun, as shown in the embodiments in the drawings. The two realigning mechanisms 80, 180 can have the same elements and be essentially mirror images of one another.Looking at realigning mechanism 80 in greater detail, a top or upper cable 70 and a bottom or lower cable 60 are provided. The upper cable 70 is attached at one end to the carriage 93, and at another end to a base locking rod 66. The carriage may be affixed to the platform 90. The upper cable may be routed around a pulley wheel 73 such that the base locking rod is between the pulley wheel 73 and the baseplate 40. The lower cable 60 may also be provided with a pulley wheel 69. The lower cable 60 is provided with a ferrule 61 (shown in Fig. 5) at one end so as to be operatively connected to the bottom baseplate 44. The lower cable 60 may extend through an opening in the upper baseplate 42 and a corresponding opening in the lower baseplate, with the ferrule engaging and underside of the lower baseplate. Normallythe weight of the upper baseplate and lower base plate biases the lower baseplate against the ferrule such that the lower cable is taut due to a realigning spring 65 exerting a tensioning force through the base locking rod 66. The realigning spring 65 is provided extending between a flat surface 63 of an anchor 62 and a bottom surface 67 of the base locking rod 66. The anchor 62 can be thought of as an extension of the platform which the lower cable extends through and the realigning spring can abut against. Normally, in the deployed position the upper cable 70 and lower cable 60 each pull on the base locking rod 66 such that the realigning spring is not fully compressed. However, when the gun has been fired and the artillery piece is subject to significant recoil forces, there is relative movement of the gun, upper baseplate and lower baseplate, and the realigning spring can be compressed.

[0015] Fig. 4 shows an example of the realigning spring 65 compressed after the gun has been fired. In this case once the recoil forces dissipate the energy in the compressed spring is released which biases the baseplate 40 to return to the deployed position. Advantageously the upper baseplate 42 is provided with a conical upper surface 43 such that if the gun is temporarily separated from the baseplate during firing, once the recoil forces dissipate the gun will be biased back towards the deployed position. This is a highly advantageous element which allows for rapid fire on a target without having to spend a significant amount of time recalculating launch angle and position of the gun the hit the same target.

[0016] Fig. 5 is an isolated, exploded view of the baseplate 40 comprising upper baseplate 42 and lower baseplate 44. Upper baseplate 42 may be affixed to the support 90 (to which the anchor and upper cable are also affixed), and is providedwith the conical upper surface 43 to bias the gun 30 back towards the deployed position after firing. The lower baseplate 44 may also have accommodating conical surface to accommodate the conical upper surface 43 of the upper baseplate 42. The upper baseplate 42 is also shown to define openings 81 , 181 , one for each corresponding lower cable. The lower baseplate 44 is shown to define corresponding openings 91 , 191 , which, when the artillery piece is in the deployed position, are aligned with each other such that the corresponding cable can extend through each set of openings. Ferrules 61 , 161 having a size greater than a size of the openings 81 , 181 , 91 , 191 are positioned at corresponding respective ends of cables 60, 160 to secure the upper plate to the lower plate. This arrangement allows for the realigning spring to absorb some of the recoil energy of firing the gun and bias the gun and baseplate back to the deployed position after firing.

[0017] Fig. 6 shows an isolated isometric view of the realignment mechanism 80 and the baseplate 40, connected to one another with a pair of lower cables 60, 160 routed by one of more pulleys, as shown. The upper baseplate is provided with a conical upper surface for helping to guide the gun of the artillery back to the deployed position.

[0018] From the foregoing disclosure and detailed description of certain embodiments, it will be apparent that various modifications, additions and other alternative embodiments are possible without departing from the true scope of the invention. The embodiments discussed were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to use the invention in variousembodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:1 . Artillery mounted on a platform and movable from a retracted position to a deployed position comprising, in combination: a gun for launching projectiles, mounted on the platform, wherein the gun is adjustable and generates recoil energy when the gun is fired; a baseplate comprising an upper baseplate and a lower baseplate, wherein gun sits on the baseplate when in the deployed position; and a realignment mechanism for realigning the gun to the deployed position after the gun has been fired, comprising a base locking rod, an upper cable and a lower cable, wherein the upper cable is attached to a carriage and the base locking rod, and the lower cable is attached to the lower baseplate and the base locking rod, and a realigning spring movable from a normal position to a compressed position, wherein the realigning spring absorbs some of the recoil energy from the firing of the gun to move to the compressed position, and biases the baseplate and the gun back to the deployed position in response to firing of the gun.

2. The artillery of claim 1 wherein the realigning mechanism comprises a pair of realigning mechanisms, each on an opposite side of the gun.

3. The artillery of claim 1 wherein the gun rests on the upper baseplate in the deployed position and is pivotably adjustable about a pair of axes.

4. The artillery of claim 1 wherein the upper baseplate is formed with a conical shape to bias the gun back towards the deployed position after firing.

5. The artillery of claim 1 wherein the lower baseplate has serrations on a lower surface adapted to better secure the artillery to the ground.

6. The artillery of claim 1 wherein the realigning spring is positioned between an anchor attached to the platform and the base locking rod.

7. The artillery of claim 6 wherein the anchor defines a flat surface, and the base locking rod defines another flat surface, and the spring is positioned between the anchor flat surface and the base locking rod flat surface.

8. The artillery of claim 7 wherein the lower cable extends through an opening in the anchor and through a portion of the realigning spring to reach the base locking rod.

9. The artillery of claim 1 wherein the upper baseplate defines an opening, and the lower baseplate defines another opening, the lower cable extends through both the opening of the upper baseplate and the another opening of the lower baseplate, and a ferrule has a size which exceeds a width of the opening and the another opening.

10. The artillery of claim 1 wherein the platform is operatively connected to a motor vehicle.11 . The artillery of claim 1 further comprising a pulley wheel routing the upper cable such that the base locking rod is between the pulley wheel and the baseplate.

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