Active Recoil Control for Mobile Mortar Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing large caliber weapon systems lack mobility and maneuverability in rough terrain, require large gun crews, and have limited firing azimuths, exposing soldiers to enemy fire and reducing responsiveness.
Innovation Solution
A weapon system with an active recoil control system that includes a multi-disc brake, solenoid, rack gear, recoiling mass position encoder, and weapon control unit, allowing for automated operation, reduced recoil forces, and enhanced mobility by mounting on lighter platforms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If traditional hydro-pneumatic recoiling systems are used, then recoil forces are reduced by approximately seventy five percent, but weapon mobility and maneuverability in confined areas remain limited
Solution Approach 1:
The weapon system is divided into modular components including the weapon mount, recoil system, and platform. This segmentation allows the weapon to be mounted on lighter platforms such as ATVs and side-by-sides, improving mobility while maintaining recoil management capabilities through the hydro-pneumatic system.
Solution Approach 2:
The weapon mount incorporates adjustable elevation and azimuth mechanisms that allow dynamic repositioning of the weapon. This dynamic capability enables the weapon to engage targets in various directions without requiring heavy stabilization systems, thereby improving maneuverability on light platforms.
2Force
If spades are used to transmit recoiling forces directly to the ground, then recoil forces are effectively managed, but added time is required to position and lower the weapon
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the spade mechanism from the weapon system entirely, replacing it with a hydro-pneumatic recoiling system that manages recoil forces without requiring ground contact. This elimination of the spade mechanism removes the time-consuming positioning and lowering operations while maintaining effective recoil management.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical spade-based recoil management system is replaced with a hydro-pneumatic system that uses fluid pressure and gas compression to absorb and dissipate recoil forces. This substitution eliminates the need for mechanical ground contact, thereby reducing the time required to deploy and reposition the weapon.
3Stability of the object's composition
If large caliber weapon systems are mounted on heavy platforms, then stability and recoil management are improved, but mobility in rough terrain and confined areas is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The hydro-pneumatic recoiling system acts as a counterbalancing mechanism that compensates for the lack of platform mass. By actively managing recoil forces through hydraulic damping and pneumatic compression, the system provides stability equivalent to heavy platforms while enabling deployment on lightweight, highly mobile vehicles.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of platform weight from fixed and heavy to variable and lightweight. By decoupling stability from platform mass through active recoil management, the weapon can be mounted on lighter platforms with improved mobility while maintaining firing stability through the hydro-pneumatic system's force absorption capabilities.
4Measurement precision
If mortar systems fire at high angles above 45 degrees, then they can engage distant targets, but time of flight increases and responsiveness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The weapon mount provides dynamic elevation adjustment capabilities that allow rapid changes in firing angle. This dynamic positioning enables the system to optimize trajectories for different target ranges and types, balancing time of flight against engagement capability by quickly adjusting between low-angle rapid-fire modes and high-angle distant-target modes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables faster, more accurate engagements with reduced soldier exposure, smaller crew size, and improved 'shoot-and-scoot' capabilities, enhancing mobility and responsiveness on rough terrain.
Implementation Method 1
The disc assembly further comprises stators and rotors. As the disc assembly is subjected to an axial load, a torque is applied on the brake shaft, and a spring that applies a force to a pressure plate. The pressure plate selectively transmits the spring force to the disc assembly, causing the brake to apply a damping force to the recoiling mass.
Implementation Method 2
A solenoid controls the operation of the multi-disc brake for adjusting the weapon recoil wherein the solenoid selectively opposes the spring force via the pressure plate, to relieve the spring force transmitted to the disc assembly, in order to allow the brake shaft to spin freely.
Data Source
AI summary
An automated weapon system comprising an active recoil control system, a bi-directional recoil containment and double strike prevention system and a mortar retention system. The active recoil control system uses multiple sensors in combination with a solenoid controlled multi-disc brake to adjust the weapon recoil. Using outputs from the sensors, a controller predicts and reacts to a recoiling mass performance and applies the required braking force, in order to compensate for anticipated or actual variations. Feedback from the sensors allows the active recoil control system to adjust braking during the recoil strokes and counter-recoil strokes in order to optimize the weapon operation and performance in extreme firing conditions.