Abstract
The present invention regards a line-of-sight apparatus locking arrangement for demountably securing a line-of-sight apparatus to said arrangement, comprising a locking device for locking the apparatus to the arrangement comprising a handle member adapted for attachment to a rotation mechanism coupled to a translation mechanism adapted for, during maneuver of the locking device, converting rotational motion into translator motion, a pressing portion of the translation mechanism is provided for abutment against an abutment area of the apparatus. The translation mechanism comprising a resilient member provided for urging said pressing portion against the abutment area.
Claims
1. A locking arrangement for demountably securing a line-of-sight apparatus, the locking arrangement comprising: at least on locking device, including: a translation mechanism; a rotation mechanism coupled to the translation mechanism adapted for converting rotational motion into translator motion; a handle member attached to the rotation mechanism to rotate the rotation mechanism; the translation mechanism including a pressing portion for abutment against an abutment area of the apparatus; a resilient member for urging the pressing portion against the abutment area; a crank member; and a lever mechanism adapted to clamp the arrangement via the abutment area and locking the arrangement to the apparatus, wherein the translation mechanism is adapted to convert rotational motion of the rotation mechanism into a rectilinear motion in a direction corresponding with a longitudinal center line of the apparatus.
2. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the resilient member comprises at least one disc spring.
3. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a locking mechanism is arranged for locking the handle member in a locked position to prevent a rotating motion.
4. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement comprises two locking devices, including a receiver front locking device and a receiver rear locking device.
5. The arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the front locking device comprises a rectilinear translation mechanism.
6. The arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the rear locking device comprises a curvilinear translation mechanism.
7. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the line-of-sight apparatus is a gun.
8. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the line-of-sight apparatus is a sensor device.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The present invention will now be described by way of examples with references to the accompanying schematic drawings, of which:
(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a line-of-sight apparatus locking arrangement according to one aspect of the present invention;
(3) FIGS. 2a to 2d illustrate a locking arrangement according to one aspect;
(4) FIGS. 3a to 3b illustrate a screw member according to one aspect;
(5) FIG. 4 illustrates a locking device of a line-of-sight apparatus locking arrangement according to one aspect;
(6) FIGS. 5a and 5b illustrate a locking device of a line-of-sight apparatus locking arrangement according to one aspect;
(7) FIGS. 6a and 6b illustrate a locking arrangement according to one aspect of the present invention;
(8) FIGS. 7a and 7b illustrate a co-axial weapon comprising a locking arrangement according to one aspect;
(9) FIGS. 8a to 8d illustrate an arrangement according to one aspect;
(10) FIGS. 9a to 9d illustrate a resilient member comprising conical spring washers of a locking arrangement according to one aspect of the present invention;
(11) FIG. 10 illustrates one aspect of a locking arrangement comprising a locking device; and
(12) FIG. 11 illustrates a further aspect of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(13) Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein for the sake of clarity and understanding of the invention some details of no importance may be deleted from the drawings.
(14) FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a line-of-sight apparatus 1 locking arrangement 3 comprising a locking device 11 according to one aspect of the present invention. The FIG. 1 shows the arrangement 3 in a side view. The arrangement 3 comprises the locking device 11 for locking and securing a machine gun 5 (partially shown) to the arrangement 3. The arrangement 3 is thus adapted with a mechanism for demountable securing the machine gun 5. The arrangement 3 comprises a handle 15, which is fixed to a rotation spindle 2. A sleeve 4 having a bottom section 6 is rigidly provided as a part of the rotation spindle 2. The bottom section 6 of the sleeve 4 is fixed to the rotation spindle 2. The rotation spindle 2 and the sleeve 4 are arranged for rotational movement within a housing 33 comprising an open end 8 and a front wall 10. The handle 15 is positioned adjacent the front wall 10. A resilient stack of disc springs 31 being arranged around the rotation spindle 2. The resilient stack is resting partly against the interior of the front wall 10, and partly against outer side of the sleeve bottom section 6, thus arranged in biasing state holding the handle 15 in position towards the front wall 10. A screw 23 is provided with outer thread track in engagement with an internal thread track of the sleeve 4. When a user (not shown) rotates the handle 15, the rotation spindle 2, coupled to the screw 23 via the sleeve 4, will convert the rotational motion into a linear motion (rectilinear) motion. A pressing portion 27 is arranged to the end of the screw 23, which end is provided opposite the handle 15. The pressing portion 27, will during the linear motion, press against an abutment area AA of the apparatus 1. The abutment area AA is a surface of a fastening portion 13 of the apparatus 1. The fastening portion 13 exhibits a width (seen transverse to the longitudinal direction of the apparatus 1) and a length (seen in the longitudinal direction of the apparatus 1). The resilient stack of disc springs 31 will be compressed, when the user rotates the handle 15, and urges the pressing portion 27 against the abutment area AA. The clamping force provides fixation of the machine gun 5 to the arrangement 3. The clamping force will be constant irrespective of different measures in tolerances (e.g. width of the fastening portion of the apparatus) of different apparatuses of the same type. This constant clamping force is thus provided for each individual apparatus, irrespective different measures caused by wear or tolerances (which can vary up to 5 mm for the same type in regard to measures taken across the fastening portion). The arrangement 3 is adapted with a locking mechanism 78 arranged for locking the handle member 15 in a locked position for preventing rotational motion.
(15) FIGS. 2a to 2d schematically illustrate a locking arrangement 3 according to one aspect. FIG. 2a illustrates the arrangement 3 for demountable securing a weapon 1 and the weapon 1 being positioned roughly by a user (not shown) in the locking arrangement 3. The weapon 1 comprises an abutment area AA of a fastening portion 13, which comprises a reference point RF adapted to correlate with the arrangement's 3 line-of-sight LS. The weapon's 1 line-of-sight LS exhibits a predetermined orientation relative the reference point RF of the weapon 1. A supporting point SP of the arrangement 3 is determined to the arrangement's 3 line-of-sight LS. The arrangement 3 is adapted for clamping the weapon 1 rigidly in horizontal and vertical plane. The arrangement 3 comprises a hand grip 15 fixed to a rotation mechanism 17. The rotation mechanism 17 is in the form of an axis 19 rigidly connected to a sleeve 21 having internal thread TH. The internal thread TH is in engagement with a screw 23. The sleeve 21 is thus coupled to a translation mechanism 25 (comprising the screw) and adapted for, during maneuver of the arrangement 3 (as shown in following FIGS. 2b to 2d), converting rotational motion into translator motion.
(16) The translation motion is in this example straight or a so called rectilinear motion.
(17) By rotating the hand grip 15, the screw 23 moves towards the abutment area AA of the weapon's 1 fastening portion 13. The translation mechanism 25 comprising the screw 23 comprises a pressing portion 27 provided for abutment against the abutment area AA. In FIG. 2b is shown that the hand grip 15 is rotated and the sleeve's 21 rotation moves the screw 23 in rectilinear direction. The pressing portion 27 of the screw 23 will move towards the abutment area AA of the weapon 1. The fastening portion 13 of the weapon 1 is pressed towards the supporting point SP of the arrangement 3 and a distance from weapon's 1 line-of-sight LS to the supporting point SP is defined as D2.
(18) In FIG. 2c is shown how the reference point RF of the weapon 1 is in line with the supporting point SP and a distance from the weapon's 1 line-of-sight to LS the supporting point SP is marked with D3. The hand grip 15 has been rotated further by the user and the weapon 1 is clamped in position. The rotation of the hand grip 15 thus urges the pressing portion 27 towards the abutment area AA. A resilient member 29 (in the form of a stack of disc springs) is arranged between the sleeve 21 bottom wall's outer side and a house 33 housing the screw 23 and the sleeve 21. The resilient member 29 will be compressed and urges the pressing portion 27 against the abutment area AA with a constant force. In FIG. 2d is shown that the weapon's 1 fastening portion 13 is of larger dimension (wider) than average due to tolerance derivation and as the user rotates the hand grip 15 to the pre-determined end position, as he has been instructed for locking it in that position, the resilient member 29 will be further compressed. But as the compression force is constant, the force holding the weapon's 1 fastening portion 13 will be the same for all weapons (of the same type) having different tolerance measure in view of said dimension.
(19) FIGS. 3a to 3b schematically illustrate a screw 23 of a locking arrangement 3 according to one aspect. FIG. 3a shows the screw member 23 in a side view. In this embodiment the screw 23 per se is fixed to a crank (not shown) which is rotatable by a user. The screw 23 is in engagement with a nut shaped member (not shown) which in turn is fixed to a press rod (not shown). When the user rotates the screw 23, the press rod will move linear towards the apparatus 1 fastening portion 13 and clamp the fastening portion 13 (see for example FIG. 2c) against a support surface (not shown) of the arrangement 3. In FIG. 3b the screw 23 is shown in a direction corresponding with the longitudinal direction of the screw 23. The screw 23 is provided with four threads TH (grooves) running parallel with each other and exhibiting corresponding pitch and the nut shaped member exhibits one protruding thread. This means that four thread TH entrances appear at the end of the screw 23. In such way the user can select multiple entrance angles for the screw 23, and also permitting tightening of the pressure, which acts upon the fastening portion 13 of the weapon. He can thus easy adjust the clamping force of the arrangement 1 depending upon which type of weapon being used.
(20) FIG. 4 schematically illustrates an arrangement 3 according to one aspect. The arrangement 3 comprising two grip members 15, which are fixed to an arm 16, which in turn comprises a crank motion disc 18 including a helical formed groove 20 in which a pin 22 is arranged to engage for achieving linear motion. The pin 22 is in turn fixed to a stud 24 which is arranged for rectilinear motion RM. The stud 24 comprises a pressing portion 27 provided for abutment against an abutment area AA of the apparatus 1. A resilient member 29 is provided for urging said pressing portion 27 against the abutment area AA, which member 29 provides a constant clamping force, when the grip members 15 are in locked position, regardless various tolerances of the apparatus 1 being mounted. The pressing portion 27 presses the apparatus 1 against a supporting surface SS with a constant pressing force (clamping force). The supporting surface SS corresponds with a reference line RFL.
(21) FIGS. 5a and 5b schematically illustrate a locking arrangement 3 according to one aspect. FIG. 5a shows the arrangement 3 in a side view. A handle 15 is pivotally hinged for co-operating with a translation mechanism 25 comprising a push rod 26 acting upon a lever mechanism 28 adapted to clamp the apparatus 1 via the abutment area AA and locking the apparatus 1 to the arrangement 3. A resilient member 29 comprises a conical compression spring (not shown). It is provided for urging a pressing portion 27 of the lever mechanism 28 against the abutment area AA of the apparatus 1. The reference plane RFP is defined as a horizontal plane HP towards which the apparatus 1 is clamped. The apparatus 1 is free to move in longitudinal direction LD. For properly positioning the apparatus 1 relative a vertical reference plane VP (see FIG. 5b), a spring loaded shoulder 30 is arranged to urge the apparatus 1 in the horizontal plane HP towards supports 36. See also FIG. 5b illustrating the locking device 11 from above. The shoulder 30 adjusts the apparatus 1 in horizontal plane HP towards the vertical reference plane VP and the lever 28 clamps the apparatus 1 against the horizontal plane (reference plane RFP).
(22) FIGS. 6a and 6b schematically illustrate a locking arrangement 3 according to one aspect of the present invention. The locking arrangement 3 comprises a front and a rear locking device 11, 11. The arrangement 3 is fixed to a weapon station 7. A machine gun 5 is mounted to the arrangement 3. A translation mechanism 25 is adapted to convert rotational locking motion into a rectilinear motion RM of a clamping head 44. After positioning the clamping head 44 in proper position, a securing slide 46 is moved in securing position for securing a handle 15 of respective locking device 11, 11. The translation mechanism 25 comprises a resilient member 29 provided for urging respective pressing portion 27 against respective abutment area AA of the apparatus 1. For each locking device 11, 11 is provided; a first apparatus 1 distance AD taken from a pressing portion point PP to a reference point RF of the machine gun 5 corresponds to a second distance SD taken from the abutment area AA to a supporting point SP of the arrangement 3. The resilient member 29 acts upon the abutment area AA via the pressing portion 27, wherein the reference point RF of the machine gun 5 will rest against the supporting point SP of the arrangement 3 and the first apparatus distance AD will always be the same as the second distance SD. The position of the pressing portion point PP is achieved by the resilient member 29 translating the pressing portion 27 in a direction towards the supporting point SP of the arrangement 3. In such way the measure between abutment area AA and reference point RF of the machine gun 5 corresponds to the measure taken between pressing portion point PP and the supporting point SP. This implies that even if wear (and/or high range of tolerance variation) of a set of machine guns 5 of the same type (meaning that each individual machine gun 5 exhibits a dimension different from others within section S), the first distance AD always is the same as the second distance SD. Thereby the reference point RF will always correspond to the supporting point SP of the arrangement 3. The supporting point SP of the arrangement 3 is in turn defined in relation to the weapon station sight line SL. The clamping force is also adjustable to be constant for different dimensions in section S. In FIG. 6b the arrangement 3 is shown in a front view. An upper locking device 11 of the arrangement 3 is adapted to clamp the machine gun 5 towards the horizontal plane HP.
(23) FIGS. 7a and 7b schematically illustrate a co-axial weapon 51 comprising an arrangement 3 according to one aspect of the present invention. FIG. 7a shows the arrangement 3 with mounted machine gun 5. The machine gun 5 comprises a receiver 6. A front locking device is a receiver front part locking device 12 and a rear locking device is a receiver rear part locking device 12. According to one aspect of the invention the machine gun 5 is easy and quickly mounted by a user 66 to the co-axial weapon 51 and the arrangement 3 in such way that the sight line SL of the machine gun 5 corresponds to the pre-determined sight line. Due to the arrangement 3 according to one aspect, the machine gun 5 sight line SL will always be the same each time the user 66 mounts the machine gun 5 to the arrangement 3. FIG. 7b shows the co-axial weapon 51 used in a weapon station of a combat vessel 68. The machine gun 5 is remotely controlled the user 66.
(24) FIGS. 8a to 8d illustrate an arrangement 3 according to one aspect. The arrangement 3 is arranged to hold a sensor device 1 used in combat training and simulation practice. FIG. 8a shows that the sensor device 1 is moved into position roughly onto the arrangement 3. FIGS. 8b to 8d show that during maneuver of the arrangement 3, a rotational motion rr being converted into translator motion in the form of curvilinear (curved) motion CM of a pressing portion 27 of a locking device 11. A translation mechanism 25 comprises the pressing portion 27 provided for abutment against an abutment area AA of the sensor device 1. The translation mechanism 25 comprises a resilient member 29 provided for urging the pressing portion 27 of the locking device 11 towards the abutment area AA of the sensor device 1. A crank arm 70 of the translation mechanism 25 provides movement of a lever arm 72 hinged over a crank motion pin 74 in motion downwards and backwards so that the pressing portion 27 of the locking device 11 properly will come into clamping position for urging the sensor device 1 towards a horizontal plane HP. The sensor device 1 (by the insertion of the sensor device into the arrangement) will abut a vertical plane by means of a pair of spring loaded lips (not shown).
(25) FIGS. 9a to 9d schematically illustrate a resilient member 29 comprising conical spring washers 31 of an arrangement 3 according to one aspect of the present invention. The resilient member 29 is adapted for clamping or holding a gun (not shown) to the arrangement 3 with a constant pre-determined clamping force.
(26) According to one aspect, the resilient member 29 comprises six conical spring washers 31 as shown in FIGS. 9a and 9b. In FIG. 9a is shown unloaded state and FIG. 9b shows the loaded state. Even in case the resilient member 29 further being compressed caused by tolerance variation, the clamping force of the arrangement 3 still will be the same. In case the user wants to adapt the arrangement 3 to a larger dimension of the fastening portion of the gun, he simply removes (as shown in FIG. 9c) a pair of spring washers 31. In case the user wants to change other characteristics of the resilient member 29, he simply turns upside down selected spring washers 31 (as shown in FIG. 9d) for providing a stiffer mounting to the arrangement 3.
(27) FIG. 10 schematically illustrates one aspect of a locking arrangement 3. The arrangement 3 is provided for securing a general firearm 5 to a sub-structure 60. The arrangement 3 comprises a spring mechanism 29 provided for motion (vertically) transverse the sight-of-line of the firearm 5. The spring mechanism 29 exhibits a pivoting axis 71 around which a lever arm 72 middle section 73 is pivoted. At one distal end of the lever arm is mounted a grip handle 15. At the other distal end of the lever arm 72 there is arranged a linkage mechanism 74, which is pivotally mounted in a journal bearing member 75. An actuator arm 76 comprising a hook 77 is mounted to the bearing member 75. The hook 77 is adapted for engagement with the upper side (of fastening portion 13) of the firearm 5. When a user (not shown) turns the grip handle 15 upwardly (orientation as seen in the Figure), the lever arm 72 will rotate about the pivoting axis 71 so that the other distal end will move the actuator arm 76 in a direction downward. If the firearm 5 exhibits a thicker fastening portion 13 than general, the spring mechanism 29 provides that the pivoting axis 71 will be moved upwardly. This will compress a conical compression spring 31 of the spring mechanism 29, still maintaining constant clamping force upon the fastening portion 13.
(28) Thereby the pressure of the hook 77 acting upon the firearm 5 will be the same for all tolerances of the general type of the actual firearm. The handle member 15 is adapted with a locking mechanism 78 arranged for locking the handle member 15 in a locked position for preventing rotational motion of the handle member 15 and eventual accidental unlocking of the handle member 15 is prevented.
(29) FIG. 11 illustrates a further aspect of a locking arrangement 3. The arrangement 3 is adapted for demountable securing a line-of-sight apparatus, such as a machine gun or in this case a TV-camera 1, to the arrangement. The arrangement 3 comprises a locking device 80 for locking the apparatus to the arrangement 3. The locking device 80 comprises a handle member in the form of a wheel 15, being fixed to a rotation mechanism 81. The rotation mechanism 81 comprises a screw 23 extending in rotational engagement through a threaded bore of a rigid portion 82 of the arrangement 3. The screw 23 will due to rotation move a tilt arm 85, which is hinged pivotally around an axis 86 of the rigid portion 82. The rotation mechanism 81 is thus coupled to a translation mechanism 87 comprising the screw 23 moving in rectilinear direction and acting upon the tilt arm 85. The translation mechanism 87 also comprises the tilt arm 85. The tilt arm 85 will in turn clamp upon the TV-camera 1 in proper position despite tolerances. The arrangement is thus adapted for, during maneuver of the locking device 80, converting rotational motion into translator motion. The tilt arm 85 comprises a pressing portion 27, which is provided for abutment against the abutment area AA of the TV-camera 1.
(30) The translation mechanism 87, comprising the screw, also comprises a resilient member 29 provided for urging the pressing portion 27 against the abutment area AA.
(31) The present invention is of course not in any way restricted to the preferred embodiments described above, but many possibilities to modifications, or combinations of the described embodiments, thereof should be apparent to a person with ordinary skill in the art without departing from the basic idea of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
(32) Examples of suitably apparatuses to be mounted to the arrangement are machine guns, sensors, TV-cameras, general machine guns, firearms, small arms and others. Suitably weapon stations for encompassing the arrangement are co-axial weapon stations, remote controlled weapon stations, track fire stations and others. The arrangement material can be cast steel, stainless steel, composite material, aluminum and other materials. There could be two, three or even four locking devices of the type described herein for locking the apparatus in position to the arrangement achieving a pre-determined sight-line. The arrangement may comprise different mechanisms adapted to convert the rotational motion into a rectilinear motion or into a curvilinear motion. The locking device of the arrangement may comprise a combination of the mechanisms adapted to convert the rotational motion into a rectilinear motion and into a curvilinear motion. A front locking device of the arrangement may comprise the mechanism adapted to convert the rotational motion into a rectilinear motion and a rear locking device of the arrangement may comprise the mechanism adapted to convert the rotational motion into a curvilinear motion.
