Recoil system

Abstract

A field gun, comprising an elevating mass and a wheeled carriage. The elevating mass includes an ordnance for firing a projectile, and a cradle for holding the ordnance at a traverse and an elevation. The ordnance includes a barrel defining a barrel axis and having a muzzle towards a front end of the field gun and a breech assembly at a rear end of the barrel. The wheeled carriage is connected to the cradle and includes at least one wheel, a rechargeable electric storage device, and a regenerative braking system, which includes a brake control configured for applying a braking force to said at least one wheel in response to movement of the wheeled carriage, said movement caused by a recoil force from the firing of the projectile from the barrel.

Claims

1. A field gun, comprising: an elevating mass comprising an ordnance for firing a projectile, the ordnance comprising a barrel defining a barrel axis and having a muzzle towards a front end of the field gun and a breech assembly at a rear end of the barrel, and a cradle for holding the ordnance at a traverse and an elevation; and a wheeled carriage connected to the cradle and comprising at least one wheel, a rechargeable electric storage device, and a regenerative braking system comprising a brake control configured for applying a braking force to said at least one wheel in response to movement of the wheeled carriage, said movement caused by a recoil force from the firing of the projectile from the barrel.

2. The field gun according to claim 1, wherein the regenerative braking system is operably linked with the rechargeable electric storage device and the at least one wheel, for generating an electrical current by decelerating the at least one wheel and dissipating the recoil force of the field gun.

3. The field gun according to claim 1, wherein there is a processor connected to the brake control and to the rechargeable electric storage device, such that in response to a movement of the wheeled carriage, the processor causes the regenerative braking system to decelerate the at least one wheel.

4. The field gun according to claim 1, wherein the wheeled carriage is an electric driven vehicle, said vehicle comprising: an electric motor operatively connected to the at least one wheel to drive the at least one wheel; and a motor controller configured to connect the rechargeable electric storage device to the electric motor, to power the electric motor.

5. The field gun according to claim 1, wherein the at least one wheel comprises an anti-lock braking system.

6. The field gun according to claim 1, wherein there are at least four wheels, with at least one wheel comprising said regenerative braking system.

7. The field gun according to claim 1, wherein the elevating mass comprises a piston recoil system and a piston recuperator system.

8. The field gun according to claim 1, wherein the wheeled carriage comprises a body unit, the body unit comprising: a pair of front stabilisers, and a pair of rear trails.

9. The field gun according to claim 8, wherein each of the said rear trails comprises a trail leg, a trail arm which is pivotally connected to said trail leg, a spade, and a damper, wherein said damper is located between the trail leg and trail arm.

10. The field gun according to claim 8, wherein the front stabilisers and rear trails are located at a periphery of the body unit, such that they oppose forces the field gun experiences during firing.

11. A field gun, comprising: a gun barrel; and a wheeled carriage connected to the gun barrel and comprising at least one wheel, a rechargeable electric storage device, and a regenerative braking system configured for applying a braking force to said at least one wheel responsive to movement of the wheeled carriage, said movement caused by a recoil force from firing of a projectile from the gun barrel.

12. The field gun according to claim 11, wherein the regenerative braking system is operably linked with the rechargeable electric storage device and the at least one wheel, and configured to: generate an electrical current by decelerating the at least one wheel and dissipating the recoil force of the field gun; and store the electrical current in the rechargeable electric storage device.

13. The field gun according to claim 11, comprising a processor powered by the rechargeable electric storage device and connected to the regenerative braking system, the processor configured to cause the regenerative braking system to decelerate the at least one wheel via, responsive to a movement of the wheeled carriage.

14. The field gun according to claim 11, wherein the wheeled carriage is an electric driven vehicle, said vehicle comprising: an electric motor operatively connected to the at least one wheel to drive the at least one wheel; and a motor controller configured to connect the rechargeable electric storage device to the electric motor, to power the electric motor.

15. The field gun according to claim 11, wherein the regenerative braking system comprises an anti-lock braking system.

16. The field gun according to claim 11, wherein the wheeled carriage includes at least four wheels.

17. The field gun according to claim 11, comprising a piston recoil system and a piston recuperator system, each coupled to the gun barrel.

18. The field gun according to claim 11, wherein the wheeled carriage comprises a pair of front stabilisers, and a pair of rear trails, wherein each of the said rear trails comprises a trail leg, a trail arm which is pivotally connected to said trail leg, a spade, and a damper, wherein said damper is located between the trail leg and trail arm, and wherein the front stabilisers and rear trails are located at a periphery of the wheeled carriage, such that they oppose forces the field gun experiences during firing.

19. A field gun, comprising: a wheeled carriage comprising at least one wheel; and a regenerative braking system configured to generate an electrical current by decelerating the at least one wheel responsive to movement of the at least one wheel, and store the electrical current in a rechargeable electric storage device, wherein the movement of the at least one wheel is caused by a recoil force from firing of the field gun.

20. The field gun according to claim 19, comprising: a processor configured to cause the regenerative braking system to decelerate the at least one wheel, responsive to a movement of the wheeled carriage.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the figures, in which:

(2) FIGS. 1a and 1b show a simplified view

(3) FIGS. 2a and 2b show a wheeled field gun; and

(4) FIG. 3 shows a regenerative braking system according to the invention

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) Turning to FIGS. 1a and 1b, there is provided a schematic of a gun system 1, with a body 4, wheels 7. The body 4 comprising a trunnion 3 which provides a bearing for the gun barrel 8 to be mounted on. The gun barrel 8, further comprising a recoil/recuperator system 2, to absorb the energy. The wheels 7 being generally connected to the body 4, by means of vehicle suspension 9.

(6) Turning to FIGS. 2a and 2b, FIG. 2a is in a horizontal firing position 21, and FIG. 2b provides a high angle elevation firing position 31. The field gun 20 comprising an elevating mass 28 with a barrel/ordnance 32 for firing a projectile. The barrel axis is the main axis of the vehicle and the gun barrel 32. The muzzle and muzzle brake 30 is located at the nominal front end of the field gun, with a breech 33 assembly at the rear end of the barrel. The cradle 34 holds the ordnance at a traverse and an elevation. The wheeled carriage 35 comprising at least one wheel 27. The wheels may be driven by a combustion engine electrical motors, or hybrid means (not shown). The wheels are linked to he carriage 35 by suspension 29.

(7) Turning to FIG. 3 there is a simplified plan view of a wheeled carriage 41, comprising a rechargeable electric storage device 51; and a regenerative braking system 42. The regenerative a system comprising a brake control (not shown) configured for applying a braking force to the wheel 43 in response to movement of the carriage 41 by a recoil force from the firing of the projectile from the gun barrel.

(8) The regenerative braking system 42 is located on an axle 48. Alternatively, a wheel hub mounted regenerative braking system 62 is located on each wheel. 43. The regenerative braking system 42, 62, may further comprise a gearbox 47 or variable transmission means to speed up the flux cutting in the regenerative braking system, so as to allow slow carriage velocities to still provide an effective regenerative braking force. The wheels 43 may also further comprise friction brakes 54, to provide greater stopping forces.

(9) The carriage 41 may be powered by a driven train 45, such as, an internal combustion engine, electric motor or hybrid, wherein the drive may be transferred by drive shafts 46. The carriage may be powered by electrical motors 44 located either proximate to or located within (hub motor) the wheels 43. The electrical power 52 may be provided by the rechargeable battery 51. The rechargeable battery 51 may be recharged by the action of the regenerative braking system 42, 62 which flows electricity 50 into the rechargeable battery 51.