Device for cocking a weapon, weapon station and method for operating a weapon

Abstract

A device for cocking a weapon (11) having an axially movable actuating element (2) that can be coupled to a cocking element (11.1) on the weapon for the purpose of cocking the weapon (11) may include a control device (3) that couples the actuating element (2) to a safety locking element (11.2) on the weapon, whereby the weapon (11) is simultaneously made safe and is armed by actuation of the actuating element.

Claims

1. A device for cocking a weapon (11) having an axially movable actuating element (2) coupled to a cocking element (11.1) on the weapon for the purpose of cocking the weapon (11), the weapon having a safety locking element (11.2) movable between a first position wherein the weapon is in an armed state, and a second position wherein the weapon is in a safe state, the device comprising: a control device (3) having a first control element (4) including a control track operatively connected to the axially movable actuating element, a second control element (5) having a pivot axis (A) and coupled to the safety locking element (11.2) on the weapon, such that pivotal movement of the second control element actuates the safety locking element between the first position and the second position, and an intermediate element having a first end connected to the second control element and a second end coupled to the control track of the first control element, whereby axial movement of the actuating element with the first control element causes the second end to follow the control track and pivot the second control element to move the safety locking element between the first position and the second position, whereby the weapon (11) is simultaneously made safe and is armed by actuation of the actuating element (2).

2. A weapon station comprising: a weapon (11) having a cocking device (1) with an axially movable actuating element (2) coupled to a cocking element (11.1) on the weapon for the purpose of cocking the weapon (11), and a safety locking element (11.2) movable between a first position wherein the weapon is in an armed state, and a second position wherein the weapon is in a safe state; and a control device (3) having a first control element (4) including a control track operatively connected to the axially movable actuating element, a second control element (5) having a pivot axis (A) and coupled to the safety locking element (11.2) on the weapon, such that pivotal movement of the second control element actuates the safety locking element between the first position and the second position, and an intermediate element having a first end connected to the second control element and a second end coupled to the control track of the first control element, axial movement of the actuating element with the first control element causes the second end to follow the control track and pivot the second control element to move the safety locking element between the first position and the second position, whereby the weapon (11) is simultaneously made safe and is armed by actuation of the actuating element (2).

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuating element (2) is moved by an electromotive drive (7) for the purpose of cocking the weapon (11) and also for the purpose of making the weapon (11) safe and arming the weapon (11).

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second control element (5) which is arranged at the weapon side.

5. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first and second control elements (4, 5) interact such that movement of the actuating element (2) in a cocking direction (S) of the weapon (11) is converted into a movement of the safety locking element (11.2) transversely with respect to the cocking direction (S) of the weapon (11).

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the intermediate element includes a sliding element that engages follows the control track.

7. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the control track (4) has first and second control sections (4.3, 4.4) which extend in a direction which is angled relative to a cocking direction (S) of the weapon (11).

8. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the control track (4) has a bypass (4.6) for bypassing the first and second control sections (4.1).

9. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the bypass (4.6) is equipped, at one or both of entry and exit sides thereof, with switches (4.4).

10. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second control element (5) includes a disengagement lever.

11. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control track includes a first control section and a second control section shaped such that axial movements of the first control element (4) are converted, via the first and second control sections (4.1), into transverse movements of the second control element (5) at the weapon side.

12. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first and second control sections (4.3, 4.4) form a control travel (WA directed transversely with respect to the cocking direction, greater than the safety locking travel (W.sub.2) of the safety locking element (11.2).

13. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the intermediate element (6) is of resilient design for the compensation of differences between the control travel (W.sub.1) and the safety locking travel (W.sub.2).

14. The weapon (11) of claim 1, wherein the weapon is an automatic weapon.

15. A method for providing a weapon (11) having a cocking element for cocking the weapon with a device (1) for cocking the weapon, the weapon having a safety locking element (11.2) movable between a first position wherein the weapon is in an armed state, and a second position wherein the weapon is in a safe state, the method comprising: connecting an axially movable actuating element (2) of the device for cocking the weapon to the cocking element for cocking the weapon; and coupling the actuating element (2) to the safety locking element (11.2) on the weapon by means of a control device (3) by coupling to the actuating element a first control element (4) including a control track operatively connected to the axially movable actuating element that is movable jointly with the actuating element, coupling a first end of an intermediate element to the first control element, and coupling to a second end of the intermediate element a second control element having a pivot axis (A) and that is coupled to the safety locking element, such that axial movement of the actuating element with the first control element causes the second end to follow the control track and pivot the second control element to move the safety locking element between the first position and the second position, whereby the weapon (11) is simultaneously made safe and is armed by actuation of the actuating element (2).

16. The method of claim 15, wherein coupling the actuating element (2) to the safety locking element (11.2) includes coupling the actuating element to the safety locking element by mounting the second control element (5) on the weapon for pivotal movement.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising operatively connecting the first control element (4) to the intermediate element (6) by a sliding element.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein operatively connecting the intermediate element (6) to the first ft control element (4) includes connecting the intermediate element to the control track (4) such that the sliding element engages a first control section that is inclined relative to a second control section, such that the intermediate element and the second control element are moved in accordance with the gradient of the first control section until the safety locking element reached the second position.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising placing the weapon in a weapon station.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further details of a device according to the invention and of a weapon station according to the invention and also of a method according to the invention will be explained below with reference to the appended drawings of exemplary embodiments, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic plan view of a device according to the invention in a schematic view, in which not all components are shown,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic plan view of a device according to the invention in a schematic view, in which not all components are shown,

(4) FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of a device according to a first exemplary embodiment,

(5) FIGS. 4a-e show schematic views of a device as per the illustration in FIG. 3, illustrating the processes during the cocking of the weapon and the processes of making the weapon safe and arming the weapon,

(6) FIG. 5 shows an enlarged view of a device according to a second exemplary embodiment, and

(7) FIGS. 6a-e show schematic views of a device as per the illustration in FIG. 5, illustrating the processes during the cocking of the weapon and the processes of making the weapon safe and arming the weapon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) FIGS. 1 and 2 show a weapon 11 which is a commercially available, also manually operable machine gun, which is received in a weapon station 10 (only partly illustrated).

(9) By means of the weapon station 10, the weapon 11 can, by a gunner, be directed in terms of azimuth and elevation toward a target to be engaged. In this case, the gunner may be located at some distance from the weapon 11 in a space which is protected against military threats, such as for example a vehicle cabin with ballistic protection, such that the gunner is protected against hostile threats while firing shots.

(10) However, before the weapon 11 can be actuated, it must be cocked by means of a cocking element 11.1 arranged on the weapon 11, for which purpose the cocking element 11.1 is moved counter to the firing direction of the weapon 11 into a cocking position. In this case, by means of the cocking element 11.1, a recoiling part (not illustrated) of the weapon 11 is moved into a cocked position counter to the force of a spring, which is placed into a stressed state. Then, when the weapon 11 is triggered, the recoiling part of the weapon 11 is accelerated in the direction of the ammunition by means of the stressed spring and, when it impacts against the ammunition, triggers the shot. After the shot has been fired, the recoiling part of the weapon 11 is moved into the cocked position again owing to the resulting recoil. Here, multiple triggering of the weapon 11 results in a pendular motion of the recoiling part of the weapon 11, and a multiplicity of shots can be fired within short periods of time.

(11) Before the first shot is fired, it is also necessary for the weapon 11 to be armed. For this purpose, the weapon 11 has a safety locking element 11.2 which is arranged on the weapon 11 and which is configured in the manner of an axially movable pin which, in its safe position, blocks the recoiling part of the weapon 11, such that in the safe position of the weapon 11, no shots can be fired. Shooting is possible only when the safety locking element 11.2 has been moved into an armed position.

(12) The weapon 11 can generally be cocked, made safe and armed without difficulty in the case of manual actuation, because the corresponding cocking and safety locking elements are arranged directly on the weapon 11 and can be operated within an extremely short time by experienced gunners. Particular demands arise when the weapon 11 is operated within the remote-operable weapon station 10, for which purpose a cocking device 1 is provided, the details of which will be discussed below.

(13) FIG. 1 shows a device 1 for cocking a weapon 11 and making the weapon safe, said device having an actuating element 2 which is movable axially in the cocking direction of the weapon 11 by means of a drive 7. The actuating element 2, and also the associated drive 7 which may for example be an electromotive linear drive, are arranged on the weapon station 10 and interact with the weapon 11 that is placed into the weapon station 10.

(14) The actuating element 2 is coupled to the cocking element 11.1 on the weapon such that the cocking element 11.1 follows the axial movements of the actuating element 2, such that the weapon 11 can be cocked by way of movement of the actuating element 2.

(15) As shown in particular in the illustration in FIG. 2, in which the cocking element 11.1 on the weapon is not shown, the actuating element 2 performs a dual function. This is because the actuating element 2 serves not only for cocking the cocking element 2 but simultaneously also for actuating the safety locking element 11.2 on the weapon. For this purpose, the actuating element 2 is coupled to the safety locking element 11.2 by means of a control device 3, such that the weapon 11 can be made safe and armed by means of corresponding movements of the actuating element 2.

(16) Structural details of a first exemplary embodiment will firstly be described in detail below on the basis of the illustration in FIG. 3, before the corresponding processes during the cocking of the weapon 11, and the process of making the weapon 11 safe, by means of the device 1 are described on the basis of the illustrations in FIGS. 4a to 4c.

(17) FIG. 3 shows a cocking device 1 which extends substantially parallel to the weapon 11 inserted into the weapon station 10. For cocking the weapon 11, a linear drive 7 is provided, by means of which an actuating element 2 can be moved back and forth in a direction parallel to the firing direction of the weapon 11. Both the cocking element 11.1 of the weapon 11 and the safety locking element 11.2 of the weapon 11 are coupled to the actuating element 2, such that both the cocking element 11.1 and the safety locking element 11.2 can be actuated by means of the common actuating element 2, and thus by means of only one drive 7.

(18) The coupling of the actuating element 2 to the cocking element 11.1 of the weapon 11 is such that the cocking element 11.1 follows the movements of the actuating element 2. The actuating element 2 thus forms a driver for the cocking element 11.1 of the weapon 1, by means of which driver the cocking element 11.1 can be moved into its cocked position, and the weapon 11 can be cocked. In the exemplary embodiment, the cocking element 11.1 of the weapon 11 has a pin-like section 11.3 which engages into a U-shaped opening of the actuating element 2. The cocking element 11.1 can be driven in two directions by means of the two legs 2.1, 2.2 of the U-shaped opening.

(19) The coupling of the actuating element 2 to the safety locking element 11.2 of the weapon 11 is realized by means of a control device 3. Whereas the coupling of the actuating element 2 to the cocking element 11.1 is such that the cocking element 11.1 follows the movements of the actuating element 2, the coupling of the actuating element 2 to the safety locking element 11.2 is such that the movements of the actuating element 2 are converted, by means of the control device 3, into a differently oriented movement of the safety locking element 11.2.

(20) The weapon 11 provided in the exemplary embodiment is made safe and armed by linear movement of the safety locking element 11.2 transversely with respect to the direction of the weapon 11. The invention is however not restricted to weapons 11 with safety locking elements 11.2 of this type. For example, it may also be the case that the safety locking element 11.2 is pivoted or rotated in order to make the weapon 11 safe. In a device 1 according to the invention, these movements, too, may be generated from the linear movements of the actuating element 2 by means of a suitable control device 3.

(21) The control device 3 has a first control element 4 at the actuating element side and second control element 5 at the weapon side, which are connected to one another by means of an intermediate element 6.

(22) The control element 4 at the actuating element side is coupled to the actuating element 2 so as to move jointly with the actuating element 2. During the cocking of the weapon 11, the control element 4 thus follows the movements of the actuating element 2.

(23) The control element 4 is formed in the manner of a control track which has different sections. The two ends of the control track 4 are formed by linear sections 4.1, 4.2 which extend parallel to the cocking direction of the weapon 1 and thus to the movement direction of the actuating element 2. In the exemplary embodiment, the end-side linear sections 4.1, 4.2 of the control track 4 are arranged in alignment with one another. In the direction of the center of the control track 4, the two end-side sections 4.1, 4.2 are adjoined by first and second control sections 4.3, 4.4, respectively. The control sections 4.3, 4.4 extend in a direction which is angled relative to the end-side sections 4.1, 4.2. The control sections 4.3, 4.4 are angled linear sections, though use may also be made of control sections 4.3, 4.4 of some other form, in particular curved control sections. The two control sections 4.3, 4.4 are arranged symmetrically with respect to a central plane of the control track 4, and enclose between them a central linear section 4.5 which connects the control sections 4.3, 4.4 to one another, resulting in a continuous control track 4. The central linear section 4.5 is arranged parallel and offset with respect to the end-side linear sections 4.1, 4.2, resulting in a type of trapezoid.

(24) The control element 5 at the weapon side is coupled to the safety locking element 11.2 on the weapon and serves for transmitting a movement of the actuating element 2 to the safety locking element 11.2 on the weapon. By means of a movement of the control element 5, the safety locking element 11.2 can be switched, that is to say moved back and forth between an armed position and a safe position of the weapon 11.

(25) For coupling to the safety locking means 11.2 on the weapon, the control element 5 has an opening 5.5 in which the safety locking means 11.2 on the weapon is held. The opening 5.5 is delimited by two limbs 5.1, 5.2 which extend substantially parallel. The limbs 5.1, 5.2 clamp the safety locking element 11.2 between them, for which purpose the opening 5.5 may have a certain undersize in relation to the safety locking element 11.2. To allow certain movements of the safety locking element 11.2 on the weapon relative to the control element 5 at the weapon side, the ends of the limbs 5.1, 5.2 each have an elevation 5.3, 5.4 in the region of contact with the safety locking element 11.2 on the weapon. To make it easier for the safety locking element 11.2 to be inserted into the opening 5.5, the elevations 5.3, 5.4 are each equipped with insertion bevels. Altogether, the control element 5 at the weapon side has a pincer-like geometry and is mounted so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis A, preferably in a pivot bearing (not illustrated in the figures) of the device 1.

(26) The two control elements 4, 5 are operatively connected to one another by means of the intermediate element 6. The intermediate element 6 is fixedly connected, by one end, to the control element 5 at the weapon side, such that a movement of the intermediate element 6 leads to a pivoting movement of the control element 5 about the axis A. By its other end, the intermediate element 6 is coupled to the control element 4 at the actuating element side. The intermediate element 6 has, for this purpose, a sliding element 6.1 which is guided in the manner of a sliding block in the control element 4, which is in the form of a control track. During the movement of the control element 4 jointly with the actuating element 2, a sliding element 6.1 moves in the control track 4. The resulting movement leads to a movement of the intermediate element 6, and thus to a pivoting movement of the control element 5, whereby the safety locking element 11.2 of the weapon 11 can be switched.

(27) The processes during the cocking of the weapon 11, and the processes of making the weapon 11 safe and arming the weapon 11, will be explained in detail below on the basis of the illustrations in FIGS. 4a to 4e.

(28) FIG. 4a shows the device 1 with an uncocked, armed weapon 11. To cock the weapon 11, the actuating element 2 moves from the forward position illustrated in FIG. 4a into the cocked position illustrated in FIG. 4c counter to the firing direction of the weapon 11. In the process, the actuating element 2 drives along the cocking lever 11.1 of the weapon 11, whereby the recoiling part (not illustrated in the figures) of the weapon 11 is also transferred into its cocked position. In this position, the weapon 11 is cocked and thus prepared for the firing of a first shot.

(29) After the weapon 11 has been cocked, the actuating element 2 can be moved back in the firing direction together with the cocking element 11.1 of the weapon 11.

(30) During the movement of the actuating element 2, the safety locking element 11.2 of the weapon 11 is actuated simultaneously because the actuating element 2 is coupled to the safety locking element 11.2 by means of the control device 3. Since the actuating element 2 is fixedly connected to the control element 4, in the form of a control track, of the control device 3, the actuating element 2 drives the control element 4 along. During said movement, the sliding element 6.1 of the intermediate element 6 runs through the control track 4, such that the control element 5 pivots about the pivot axis A.

(31) In the position shown in FIG. 4a, the weapon 11 is armed, which can be seen from the fact that the safety locking element 11.2 is situated in the lower end position in the drawings. During the movement of the actuating element 2, the weapon 1 then remains armed until the intermediate element 6, or the sliding element 6.1 thereof, enters the section 4.1 and the control section 4.3. The control section 4.3 is inclined relative to the section 4.1, such that the intermediate element 6, and with that the rotatably mounted control element 4, are moved in accordance with the gradient of the control section 4.3 until the safety locking element 11.2 has, as per the illustration in FIG. 4b, reached its safe position in which firing of shots is not possible even when the weapon 11 is cocked. During the further movement of the actuating element 2, the intermediate element 6 runs through the central section 4.5, which is directed parallel to but is offset with respect to the end-side sections 4.1, 4.2. As the section 4.5 is passed through, the weapon initially remains in its safe state until the next control section 4.4 is reached. The control section 4.4 is oriented oppositely with respect to the control section 4.3, such that after the second control section 4.4 has been passed through, the safety locking element 11.2 is armed again. When the end-side linear section 4.2 has then also been passed through, as per the illustration in FIG. 4c, the weapon 11 is armed and cocked.

(32) After the cocking of the weapon 11, the actuating element 2 is moved back into its initial position, cf. FIGS. 4d and 4e. In the process, the actuating element 2 drives the control track-like control element 4 back along with it, wherein the safety locking element 11.2 on the weapon is switched again in the control sections 4.4, 4.3, and the weapon 11 is situated in the cocked and armed state in the position illustrated in FIG. 4e.

(33) If it is now sought to make the weapon 11 safe, the actuating element 2 can be moved again. In this case, although the cocking element 11.1 is driven along in turn, this however has no influence on the recoiling part of the weapon 11 because the latter is already situated in its cocked position. The actuating element 2 can thus be moved merely with the aim of switching the safety locking element 11.2 on the weapon and thus making the weapon safe or arming the weapon.

(34) For the compensation of tolerances, and in order to make it possible for a weapon station 10 to receive different weapons 11 whose safety locking elements 11.2 have different safety locking travels, the intermediate element 6 is of resilient form. In FIG. 4c, the safety locking travel W.sub.2 covered by the safety locking element 11.2 during the movement from the safe position into the armed position, and the control travel W.sub.1 made up of the offset between the sections 4.1 and 4.2 and the central section 4.5, are shown. The control travel W.sub.1 is greater than the safety locking travel W.sub.2. In this way, in combination with the intermediate element 6 in the form of a leaf spring, it is ensured that the safety locking element 11.2 on the weapon is always effectively actuated even taking tolerances into consideration, by virtue of the fact that, owing to the intermediate element 6, the safety locking element 11.2 on the weapon is held in position by means of the control element 5 under spring preload. The combination of the intermediate element 6 of resilient form and the difference in length between the control travel W.sub.1 and safety locking travel W.sub.2 have the effect that different weapons 11 can be reliably cocked and made safe by the cocking device 1.

(35) As the control sections 4.3, 4.4 are passed through, the sign of the bending stress in the intermediate element 6 changes, such that, in the central section 4.5, said intermediate element pushes the safety locking element 11.2 on the weapon in the direction of its safe position. In the two other linear sections 4.1, 4.2, the safety locking element 11.2 is pulled in the direction of its armed position by means of the intermediate element 6 in the form of a leaf spring.

(36) Below, a second exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described on the basis of the illustrations in FIGS. 5 to 6e, which second exemplary embodiment differs from the first exemplary embodiment with regard to the design of the control element 4 in the form of a control track but otherwise substantially corresponds to said first exemplary embodiment, for which reason, in order to avoid repetition, primarily the differences in said design will be discussed.

(37) Whereas it is the case in the first exemplary embodiment as per FIG. 3 that the control track 4 has only one possible path through which the sliding element 6.1 runs both in one direction and in the other direction, the control track 4 in the second exemplary embodiment as per FIG. 5 additionally has a bypass 4.6. The bypass 4.6 connects the end sections 4.1, 4.2 of the control track 4 directly, so as to bypass the two control sections 4.3, 4.4 and the offset section 4.5. The end-side sections 4.1, 4.2 and the bypass 4.6 are in alignment with one another.

(38) Switches 4.7, 4.8 are arranged at the entry and exit sides of the bypass 4.6, said switches being designed such that the bypass 4.6 is passed through in one movement direction, and the path via the control sections 4.3, 4.4 is followed in the other direction. In the exemplary embodiment, the switches 4.7, 4.8 are designed similarly to spring-loaded check valves, wherein one of the switches 4.7 may also be designed to be actuable, as will be explained in more detail below with reference to the illustrations in FIGS. 6a to 6e.

(39) It is again the case that, initially, the actuating element 2 is situated in an initial position as per the illustration in FIG. 6a. To cock the weapon 11, the actuating element 2 is then moved counter to the firing direction of the weapon 11, wherein the cocking element 11.1 is driven along into its cocked position, illustrated in FIG. 6c. By contrast to the processes described in the first exemplary embodiment, that end of the intermediate element 6 which is formed as a sliding element 6.1 in this case does not pass through the control sections 4.3, 4.4 of the control element 4, but instead follows the direct path from one end 4.1 of the control element to the opposite end 4.2 via the bypass 4.6 arranged so as to lie in between. In the process, the rear switch 4.8 temporarily deflects upward counter to the force of a spring. During the return movement of the actuating element 2, the sliding element 6.1 then however follows a different path via the control section 4.4, the central section 4.5 and the control section 4.3 into the end section 4.1, until the end position illustrated in FIG. 6e is reached, in which the weapon is armed and cocked.

(40) To make the weapon safe, it is now possible for the sliding element 6.1 to be moved along the bypass 4.6 again into the end section 4.2 and subsequently moved into the central section 4.5, wherein the safety locking element 11.2 on the weapon is transferred into the safe position.

(41) In the case of this embodiment, owing to the bypass 4.6 and the associated switches 4.7, 4.8, it is possible for the sliding element 6.1 or the intermediate element 6 to follow different paths in each case during the movement of the actuating element 2 in the cocking direction and counter to the cocking direction, which is an advantage in particular in the case of weapons 11 which can be cocked only when in the armed state, or which can be made safe only when they have also been cocked.

(42) The device 1 described above and the weapon station 10 described above and also the method described above are characterized in that, by means of the coupling of a safety locking element 11.2 on the weapon to the actuating element 2 for cocking the weapon 11, a weapon 11 with the actuating element 2 can be cocked and made safe, and owing to the coupling to the safety locking element 11.2 on the weapon, there is no risk of undesired shots being fired even in the event of removal of the weapon 11.

TABLE I

Reference Numbers

(43) 1 Device 2 Actuating element 2.1 Limb 2.2 Limb 3 Control device 4 Control element 4.1 Linear section 4.2 Linear section 4.3 Control section 4.4 Control section 4.5 Offset section 4.6 Bypass 4.7 Switch 4.8 Switch 5 Control element 5.1 Limb 5.2 Limb 5.3 Elevation 5.4 Elevation 5.5 Opening 6 Intermediate element 6.1 Sliding element 7 Drive 10 Weapon station 11 Weapon 11.1 Cocking element 11.2 Safety locking element 11.3 Pin A Pivot axis S Cocking direction W.sub.1 Control travel W.sub.2 Safety locking travel