Internal Equilibrator for Artillery Elevating Struts
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional artillery systems face challenges in efficiently raising and lowering guns due to the weight of the gun, which often requires complex gear reduction arrangements or externally mounted equilibrators that increase system weight and reduce operational speed.
Innovation Solution
The use of an internal elevating strut with a compressed fluid chamber that reduces the apparent weight of the gun by utilizing an accumulator to supply and receive compressible fluid, allowing the gun to be raised and lowered with less mechanical force, eliminating the need for heavy external equilibrators and complex gear systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If complex gear reduction arrangements are used to overcome the weight of the gun, then the mechanical strut can raise and lower the gun, but the speed of gun movement is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies hydraulic principles by using a fluid-filled chamber within the elevating strut. The fluid pressure generates force to counterbalance the gun weight, eliminating the need for complex gear reduction arrangements. This hydraulic mechanism provides both the necessary force and maintains fast movement speed, resolving the contradiction between force generation and speed limitation.
2Force
If externally mounted equilibrators are used to overcome the weight of the gun, then the mechanical strut can raise and lower the gun, but the overall system weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the equilibrator function directly into the elevating strut by integrating a fluid chamber within the strut structure. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate externally mounted equilibrators, thereby providing the necessary force to overcome gun weight while avoiding additional system weight. The combined design resolves the contradiction between force generation and weight increase.
3Ease of operation
If traditional mechanical strut systems are used to raise and lower the gun, then the gun can be moved, but the system complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nesting by placing the fluid chamber inside the elevating strut structure. This nested configuration integrates multiple functions (support, elevation, and weight compensation) into a single compact component, eliminating the need for separate external equilibrators and complex mechanical systems. The nested design maintains ease of operation while significantly reducing system complexity.
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
This solution enables faster and more efficient movement of the gun without increasing system weight or complexity, allowing for easier transport and deployment across various terrains while maintaining operational speed.
Implementation Method 1
The internal chamber is having a compressible fluid therein and operative to reduce an apparent weight of the gun overcome by the elevating strut during the manipulation
Implementation Method 2
an accumulator to supply and receive compressible fluid
Data Source
AI summary
An elevating assembly that includes an elevating strut that is manipulated mechanically between a first retracted configuration and a second extended configuration for moving the gun. An internal chamber can be defined within the elevating strut for compressible fluid. A pressure of the compressible fluid within the elevating strut can be tuned and maintained in order to reduce the weight of the gun overcome by the elevating strut during the manipulation.