Modular weapon station system
AssigneeMerrill Aviation, Inc.
InventorJames C. Hobson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A modular weapon station includes a rotatable frame adapted to be mounted on a platform and is configured to have a removable cradle with a weapon mounted thereon. The rotatable frame may also include a removable ammunition feed chute, an optical sighting unit, and azimuth and elevation drives. The modular weapon station may also include a rotatable drum and ammunition loading assembly coupled with the rotatable frame assembly. The rotatable drum and ammunition loading assembly may be located in an under armor position such that an operator may replenish ammunition from an under armor position and not be subjected to hostile fire while replenishing ammunition. Belted ammunition rounds may travel along an ammunition feed path stemming from the loading assembly within the rotatable drum to a selected weapon.
Claims20
A modular weapon station mountable on a platform and adapted to secure a weapon for firing, comprising:
- a rotatable frame;
- a rotatable drum coupled with and rotatable with said rotatable frame, said rotatable drum configured to be accessible from an under armor position such that a plurality of ammunition rounds may be replenished from said under armor position;
- an ammunition feed path stemming from said rotatable drum to said weapon;
- and
- a plurality of ammunition feeds disposed along said ammunition feed path, at least one of said ammunition feeds configured to aid in the transport of said plurality of ammunition rounds from said under armor position to said weapon.
A removable cradle configured to be mounted on a modular weapon station, said removable cradle adapted to have a weapon mounted thereon, comprising:
- a first guide tube having a length along a longitudinal axis, said first guide tube having a first recoil damping unit to dampen recoil and counter-recoil forces generated by the discharge of said weapon;
- a second guide tube having a length along a longitudinal axis, said second guide tube having a second recoil damping unit to dampen recoil and counter-recoil forces generated by the discharge of said weapon;
- said first guide tube and said second guide tube spaced apart in an opposed parallel relationship;
- an inner cradle assembly;
- an outer cradle assembly, said inner cradle assembly and said outer cradle assembly separated by a recoil travel clearance and coupled together by said first guide tube and said second guide tube;
- said inner cradle assembly configured to reciprocate approximately the length of said recoil travel clearance to permit said first recoil damping unit and said second recoil damping unit to dampen the recoil and counter-recoil forces generated by the discharge of said weapon.
An azimuth drive assembly for electrically driving a modular weapon station in an azimuth direction and for engaging and disengaging said modular weapon station between a manual mode to a power/stabilized mode, comprising:
- a fixed azimuth drive assembly attached to a rotatable frame assembly of said modular weapon station, said fixed azimuth drive assembly having an azimuth pivot shaft;
- a rotatable azimuth drive assembly coupled to said fixed azimuth drive to allow for said rotatable azimuth drive assembly to rotate about said azimuth pivot shaft;
- a stationary azimuth ring gear coupled with said rotatable frame;
- said rotatable azimuth drive assembly having an azimuth pinion gear configured to engage and disengage said stationary azimuth ring gear, said azimuth pinion gear configured to drive about said stationary azimuth ring gear in a planetary-like fashion to move said modular weapon station in an azimuth direction.
An elevation drive assembly for engaging and disengaging a weapon mounted on a modular weapon station between a manual mode to a power/stabilized mode, comprising:
- a block having a manual position and a power/stabilized position;
- a handgrip moveable between said manual position and said power/stabilized position;
- a lockshaft coupled with said handgrip, said lockshaft having a lockshaft end configured to be inserted into one of said manual position and said power/stabilized position;
- an elevation arm coupled with said lockshaft;
- an eccentric shaft having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion coupled with a rotatable frame of said modular weapon station, said second portion coupled with said elevation arm to permit rotation of said elevation arm;
- an elevation plunger having a plunger top portion and a plunger bottom portion;
- an eccentric ball joint rod end having a bottom portion and a top portion, said bottom portion coupled with said elevation arm forming an eccentric, and said top portion coupled with said plunger bottom portion;
- a pivot shaft;
- a pivot ball joint rod end having a threaded portion and a pivot portion, said threaded portion coupled with said plunger top portion, and said pivot portion coupled with said pivot shaft;
- an elevation pinion adapted to engage an elevation sector gear;
- and
- an elevation lever having an engagement portion and a lever pivot portion, said engagement portion coupled with said elevation pinion, said lever pivot portion coupled with said pivot shaft, said elevation lever rotatable about said pivot shaft to move said elevation pinion in an out of engagement with said elevation sector gear when said eccentric is rotated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.