Spherical Viewfinder Protective Flap for Ballistic Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing protective devices for steerable viewfinders on armored vehicles require opening to allow use, resulting in inadequate protection when operational, as they need to maintain a large longitudinal window for maximum angular travel of the line of sight.
Innovation Solution
A protective device with a spherical cowling and a spherical flap that rotates to seal the window, providing ballistic protection by maintaining only the necessary opening size for the viewfinder's line of sight, regardless of orientation, using a conical gearing system for rotational drive and a sector with conical teeth for precise alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a longitudinal window is maintained for maximum angular travel of the line of sight, then the viewfinder can operate across all orientations, but the exposed area increases and protection is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter is made dynamic by enabling it to rotate about the line of sight axis, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position and maintain sealing against the spherical cowling regardless of the viewfinder's orientation. This dynamic adjustment ensures the shutter remains effective across all angular positions without requiring a permanently large opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs a spherical cowling with a complementary spherical shutter that matches the curvature. This spherical geometry allows the shutter to maintain continuous contact and sealing with the cowling surface during rotation, enabling full angular travel while minimizing the exposed opening area at any given moment.
2Ease of operation
If the cowling is opened to allow viewfinder use, then operational functionality is enabled, but protection level is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The protective system is segmented into a stationary spherical cowling and a movable spherical shutter. This segmentation allows the shutter to be independently positioned - remaining closed for maximum protection or opening to the precise extent needed for operation - thereby decoupling protection level from operational functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The shutter's rotational position about the line of sight axis is varied as a controllable parameter. By adjusting this angular parameter, the system can optimize the balance between protection (minimizing opening area) and usability (maintaining necessary viewing aperture) depending on operational requirements.
3Area of stationary object
If a large longitudinal window is maintained for all orientations, then the opening size exceeds the necessary minimum, but if reduced it limits angular travel
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter dynamically rotates about the line of sight axis in response to the viewfinder's orientation changes, maintaining an effective seal against the spherical cowling. This dynamic adaptation allows the opening area to be minimized at each instant while still permitting the full range of angular travel needed for operational versatility.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~4a
Figure 4b~5b
AI summary
The subject of the invention is a protective device (1) for a vertically orientable viewfinder. This device comprises a cover (2) surrounding the viewfinder and having a longitudinal window (3) delimited by two lateral edges (3a, 3b) allowing the vertical movement (S) of a line of sight (4) of the viewfinder. The device is characterized in that the cover (2) is spherical and in that it has a flap (8) of spherical profile, complementary to that of the cover, and having an opening (9) for the line of sight (4) to pass through, the flap (8) being truncated by a sector and thus having a straight edge (25) disposed in the vicinity of a lateral edge (3a, 3b) of the window (3) for a median aiming position, the flap closing the window (3) and being able to pivot about the line of sight (4), the flap being moved vertically by aiming means such that the opening (9) follows the vertical positioning of the line of sight (4), the device also having means for driving the flap (8) in rotation during vertical aiming, thereby ensuring that the window (3) is closed by the flap for all vertical aiming positions.