Weapon Maintenance Stand with Umbilical Guide Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Military weapon systems are often heavy, unbalanced, and delicate, making them difficult to move safely and efficiently, and their umbilicals are prone to damage during handling and transportation due to improper handling techniques.
Innovation Solution
A weapon maintenance system comprising a stand and a pallet with a base plate, support flange, and umbilical guide structure that secures and protects umbilicals, allowing for safe transportation and maintenance without damaging the delicate components, and enabling operation and testing while mounted, using a forklift or pallet jack instead of cranes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cranes and traditional rigging techniques are used to move weapon systems, then heavy loads can be transported, but the umbilicals are prone to damage and the process is costly and time-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary device - a specialized maintenance stand with integrated lifting points and umbilical protection features - that mediates between the weapon system and traditional cranes. This stand provides dedicated umbilical guides and routing paths that protect delicate cables during lifting and transportation operations, eliminating the need for manual handling that causes damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The maintenance stand is pre-configured with built-in lifting points, umbilical guides, and protective routing paths before the weapon system needs to be moved. This preliminary preparation allows for direct lifting and transportation without requiring subsequent manual intervention to protect umbilicals, thereby reducing both time and risk of damage.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional rigging with wooden blocking and straps is used, then weapon systems can be secured for shipping, but the process relies on operator skill and is costly
Solution Approach 1:
The maintenance stand is designed to be self-sufficient, incorporating all necessary features for secure weapon system handling directly into its structure. This includes integrated lifting points, built-in umbilical guides, and predetermined securement locations, eliminating the need for external rigging equipment and skilled operators to configure traditional wooden blocking and strap systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The maintenance stand serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support for heavy weapon systems, incorporates lifting points for mechanical lifting, includes umbilical guides for cable protection, and offers securement points for stabilization. This multi-functionality replaces multiple separate traditional rigging components and operations with a single integrated device.
3Productivity
If weapon systems are moved without specialized equipment, then transportation can be performed, but improper handling causes umbilical damage
Solution Approach 1:
The maintenance stand creates an equipotential environment for umbilical protection by providing continuous guidance and support paths throughout the entire weapon system. The umbilical guides are positioned to maintain consistent protection levels during all phases of handling - lifting, moving, and securing - eliminating variations in protection quality that occur with manual handling techniques.
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect the invention features a weapon maintenance stand that includes a base plate, a support flange, and a wall structure. The support flange is spaced from the base plate and defines a first plurality holes extending through the support flange. A subset of the first plurality of holes are configured to match a pattern of bolt holes of a deck-mounted weapon system and at least one of the first plurality of holes is configured to receive an alignment structure of the deck-mounted weapon system. The wall structure is attached to the base plate at a first end and attached to the support flange at a second end. The wall structure defines at least one tunnel extending through the wall, with the at least one tunnel being sized to accept umbilical components of the deck-mounted weapons system.