Magnetic heading reference system and gun position system for military vehicles
OwnerLeslie A. Hamiltoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a magnetic heading system which is used with a vehicle having a body which is capable of assuming any magnetic heading and a turret which is mounted on said body and which may be rotated 360 degrees in azimuth independently of the body. A transmitter which is located in the turret provides an indication of the magnetic heading that is not altered by the rotation of the turret.
Claims12
A magnetic heading indicator system for use in a vehicle having a body and having a turret which is rotatable with respect to said body, said system comprising:
- a magnetic heading indicator which is mounted inside the body of the vehicle for indicating the magnetic heading of the vehicle;
- a transmitter which is mounted on the turret of the vehicle so that substantially all of the magnetic signature of the vehicle is below the transmitter, which transmitter operates:
- (i) to produce heading information to the indicator indicative of the magnetic heading of the vehicle;
- and (ii) to prevent changes in said heading information due to turret rotation.
A transmitter for use in a vehicle including a body, a turret which is mounted on the body and which rotates independently of the body, and a magnetic heading indicator in the body of the vehicle for displaying the magnetic heading of the vehicle, which transmitter is mounted on the turret of the vehicle so that substantially all of the magnetic signature of the vehicle is below the transmitter and which transmitter comprises:
- (a) sensing means disposed in the transmitter for producing heading information to the magnetic heading indicator indicative of the magnetic heading of the vehicle.
- (b) means for detecting rotation of the turret of the vehicle;
- and
- (c) means for preventing a change in said heading information based on turret rotation.
A gun position indicator system for use in a vehicle having a body, a turret which is rotatable with respect to said body, the turret including a gun and means for positioning the gun in a given direction, said system comprising:
- an indicator which is mounted inside the vehicle for displaying the direction of the gun with respect to magnetic north;
- and
- a transmitter which is mounted on the turret so that substantially all of the magnetic signature of the vehicle is below the transmitter and which operates to produce gun control signals to the indicator when the vehicle assumes a new heading, which gun control signals cause the indicator to display the new direction of the gun with respect to magnetic north.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.