Flexible Bellows Sealing for Weapon Tube Angular Displacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional protection devices for doorways in military vehicles and weapon systems fail to maintain NBC sealing and prevent contamination when the weapon tube undergoes significant angular displacement, and are not adaptable to various embrasure shapes, especially during large-angle movements and decontamination operations.
Innovation Solution
A protection device featuring flexible bellows secured to the weapon tube and the embrasure, with a pressurized intermediate chamber connected to the internal volume, and side wedges for additional sealing, allowing for NBC sealing and decontamination while maintaining the weapon's operational movement capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional flexible bellows are used for sealing the embrasure, then sealing is provided for small angular displacements, but the sealing fails when large angular displacements occur (greater than 45 degrees)
Solution Approach 1:
The bellows is designed with a dynamic structure that allows it to adapt to large angular displacements. The bellows can expand and contract significantly, and the guide grooves allow the bellows to move dynamically along the side edges of the embrasure, maintaining sealing effectiveness during large angular movements of the weapon tube.
Solution Approach 2:
Guide grooves are introduced as intermediary elements between the bellows and the embrasure structure. These grooves guide the bellows movement and allow it to accommodate large angular displacements while maintaining contact with the side edges, enabling the bellows to function effectively beyond conventional limitations.
2Reliability
If the bellows is made more rigid to maintain sealing tightness, then sealing effectiveness improves, but the ability to accommodate angular movement and decontamination operations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The bellows is constructed as a flexible structure that can deform to accommodate movement while maintaining sealing. The flexibility of the bellows allows it to follow the motion of the weapon tube during angular displacements and during decontamination operations, maintaining sealing tightness without restricting operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The bellows employs dynamic characteristics allowing it to change its shape and position in response to operational requirements. This dynamic behavior enables the bellows to maintain sealing effectiveness during both normal operation and decontamination operations without requiring increased rigidity.
3Ease of manufacture
If the bellows structure is simplified for ease of manufacture, then manufacturing cost decreases, but adaptability to various embrasure shapes and large-angle movements is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The bellows design incorporates universal features that allow it to adapt to various embrasure shapes and sizes. The guide grooves and the overall bellows structure are designed to be compatible with different configurations, enabling the same bellows to serve multiple functions across different weapon systems and operational scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic design of the bellows with guide grooves allows it to adapt to various embrasure shapes without requiring complex manufacturing. The bellows can move and deform as needed, providing versatility across different applications while maintaining a relatively simple structure that is ease of manufacture.
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
The solution ensures effective NBC sealing and prevents contamination during operational use and decontamination, maintaining tightness even with significant angular displacements of the weapon tube, and is adaptable to various embrasure shapes, ensuring optimal protection without restricting movement.
Implementation Method 1
which volume is pressurized by a pressurization means
Implementation Method 2
at least one flexible element secured on one side to an end edge of the recess and on the other side to the movable member, the movable element being a bellows
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a protective device for closing an opening (2) in a frame (1), an opening delimited by two lateral edges (2a, 2b) and two end edges (2c, 2d), and within which a movable member (3) carrying a movable wall (4) moves or pivots, interposed between the exterior and interior of the frame. This device comprises at least one flexible bellows (6) which is fixed on one side to an end edge of the opening (2) and on the other side to the movable member (3). It is characterized in that the bellows (6) and the wall define an intermediate chamber (7) which is connected to the internal volume (10) of the frame, a volume which is pressurized by a pressurization means (9).