Artillery Shell Gripping Device with Adjustable Jaws
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current shell gripping devices for artillery guns face challenges in reliably gripping and releasing shells of significant mass, especially when the weapon's aiming angle changes, leading to strain on crews and potential shell instability or fall during rapid or spaced firing.
Innovation Solution
A shell gripping device with adjustable jaws, where the first jaw surrounds the ogive and the second jaw surrounds the base, featuring a frustoconical recess and a cylindrical indentation, with a mechanism for adjusting spacing and clamping via an opening cylinder and spacing cylinder, allowing secure gripping and release without interfering with the support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cylindrical sheath is used to surround the shell body, then the shell can be gripped, but it becomes difficult to remove and grip the shell because the sheath must pass between the shell body and the support
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping device is divided into two separate jaws (first jaw and second jaw) that can independently position and grip the shell. This segmentation allows the jaws to approach the shell from different directions and avoid interference with the support structure, resolving the contradiction between grip reliability and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The gripping mechanism transitions from a single cylindrical sheath to a multi-dimensional jaw structure where the first jaw surrounds the ogive and the second jaw surrounds the base. This dimensional change allows the gripping device to secure the shell without needing to pass between the shell and support, eliminating the operational difficulty.
2Adaptability or versatility
If jaws are made linearly movable along a rail to adjust spacing, then the grip of a shell on the ground is possible, but the release of the shell is difficult because it is necessary to move the jaws on which the shell is in support of all its mass
Solution Approach 1:
The second jaw is made pivotally mounted about a pivot axis, allowing it to rotate and adapt to different shell positions and orientations. This dynamic capability enables the jaw to release the shell by pivoting away, avoiding the need to move the entire jaw assembly against the shell's full mass, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacing between jaws is made adjustable through the rectilinear slide mechanism, allowing the gripping device to adapt to different shell lengths and positions. This parameter adjustment capability provides versatility without requiring complex movement of the entire jaw assembly during release.
3Reliability
If a cradle and pivoting front jaw are used to surround the warhead, then the shell can be carried, but the device requires the shell to be deposited on the stretcher beforehand and does not allow gripping of a shell placed on a support
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping device with two independently positionable jaws can grip shells in multiple positions and orientations - whether deposited on a stretcher or placed on a support. The first jaw can surround the ogive while the second jaw surrounds the base, providing universal gripping capability that works with different shell positions and support structures.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the weapon's aiming angle changes, then the loading angle adapts, but the gripping device must maintain reliable grip across varying angles which strains the system
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotally mounted second jaw can rotate about its pivot axis to accommodate changes in the weapon's aiming angle and loading angle. This dynamic adjustment maintains reliable grip stability across varying angles without straining the gripping system, as the jaw can naturally align with the new orientation.
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 reliable and secure gripping and release of shells across varying aiming angles, reducing crew strain and ensuring stable shell handling during rapid or spaced firing.
Implementation Method 1
the clamping and opening action of the first and second jaws is ensured by an opening cylinder
Implementation Method 2
the spacing between jaws is adjustable by means of a spacing cylinder
Implementation Method 3
the second jaw being pivotally mounted about a pivot axis, the pivoting of the second jaw being controlled by the opening jack thus ensuring a gripper movement in order to be able to wedge a shell between the first jaw and the second jaw
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a shell gripping device characterized in that it comprises: - a shell gripping means (11) comprising a first (12) and a second (13) jaw whose clamping and opening action is ensured by an opening cylinder (14), the first jaw (12) intended to surround at least partially the ogive of the shell and the second jaw (13) intended to surround at least partially the base of the shell (30). - a means for adjusting the gap (15) between jaws (12, 13) comprising a straight slide (18), the gap being adjustable by means of a spreading cylinder (15).