MORTAR SHELL EXTRACTION SYSTEM

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mortar shell extraction system, comprising gripping means adapted for being inserted into the mortar and holding the shell by the fuse, at least one connecting shaft connected to the gripping means, driving means connected to the at least one connecting shaft and configured for transmitting a driving force to the gripping means through the at least one connecting shaft.

Claims

1. A mortar shell extraction system, the extraction system comprising: gripping means adapted for being inserted into the mortar and holding the shell by the fuse, at least one connecting shaft connected to the gripping means, and driving means connected to the at least one connecting shaft and configured for transmitting a driving force to the gripping means through the at least one connecting shaft.

2. The extraction system according to claim 1, additionally comprising holding means which allow a user to hold the extraction system.

3. The extraction system according to claim 1, additionally comprising actuating means configured for transmitting movement to the driving means.

4. The extraction system according to claim 3, wherein the actuating means are arranged with the ability to perform rotational movement and the driving means are configured for being driven by the rotational movement of the actuating means and for converting said rotational movement into linear movement which is transmitted to the at least one connecting shaft.

5. The extraction system according to claim 3, wherein the actuating means are movably arranged and the driving means are configured for being driven by a change in position of the actuating means and for converting said change in position into linear movement which is transmitted to the at least one connecting shaft.

6. The extraction system according to claim 4, wherein the linear movement transmitted to the at least one connecting shaft drives the gripping means for holding the shell.

7. The extraction system according to claim 4, wherein the at least one connecting shaft is adapted for converting the movement it receives from the driving means into radial clamping movement and for transmitting it to the gripping means.

8. The extraction system according to claim 1, wherein the gripping means comprise an elastic clamping element allowing perimetral deformation thereof such that it is capable of housing the outer surface of the fuse of the shell by clamping.

9. The extraction system according to claim 4, wherein the at least one connecting shaft is adapted for converting the movement it receives from the driving means into rotational movement and for transmitting it to the gripping means.

10. The extraction system according to claim 1, wherein the gripping means comprise a clamp suitable for interlocking with a surface of the fuse of the shell by press fit.

11. The extraction system according to claim 3 or according to claim 4 when they depend on claim 3, additionally comprising a safety element located between the holding means and the actuating means, and comprising a bent sector which allows increasing the distance between the holding means and the longitudinal direction of the connecting shaft.

12. The extraction system according to claim 11, wherein the safety element is attached to the holding means by means of an interface configured for allowing rapid decoupling of the holding means and the safety element.

13. The extraction system according to claim 12, wherein the safety element and the interface are attached by means of a diametral fit.

14. The extraction system according to claim 1, additionally comprising a centering element adapted for positioning the extraction system inside the mortar tube.

15. The extraction system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one connecting shaft comprises a transmission rod arranged inside a sleeve, the transmission rod being movable inside the sleeve in the longitudinal direction of the transmission rod.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will become clearer based on the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, given only by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, in reference to the attached drawings.

[0043] FIG. 1 shows a front view of a shell extraction system according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0044] FIG. 2 shows a detail view of the gripping means of a shell extraction system according to a first embodiment.

[0045] FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of the gripping means of a shell extraction system according to a second embodiment.

[0046] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the actuating means.

[0047] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the driving means.

[0048] FIG. 6 shows a first step of extracting a shell with a shell extraction system according to FIG. 1.

[0049] FIG. 7 shows a second step of extracting a shell with a shell extraction system according to the preceding figure.

[0050] FIGS. 8 and 9 show the housing of the shell inside the gripping means shown in FIG. 2.

[0051] FIGS. 10 and 11 show the gripping of the shell by the gripping means shown in FIG. 3.

[0052] FIG. 12 shows a third step of extracting a shell with a shell extraction system according to FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0053] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the extraction system of the invention. The shell extraction system allows removing a shell that has not detonated after an operating failure of said shell inside the mortar. Said shell is housed in the mortar tube, from where it must be safely removed to prevent detonation therein.

[0054] The shell extraction system comprises holding means (1) which allow the user to hold the extraction system during the operation of inserting the system into the mortar and during the operation of extracting the system together with the shell once said shell is gripped by the system in the extraction system usage situation.

[0055] Said holding means (1) allow holding the extraction system such that the user can safely remove the shell. The holding means (1) preferably have a length that can be adapted to the length of the mortar tube from where the shell is to be extracted.

[0056] In this embodiment, the holding means (1) are attached to a first end of a safety element (2) through an interface. The attachment between the holding means (1) and the interface is a threaded attachment. The attachment between the interface and the safety element (2) is a diametral fit, which allows the immediate decoupling of the interface from the safety element (2) in the event of the accidental initiation of the mortar shell during the extraction process.

[0057] The safety element (2) is attached at its other end to the actuating means (3), through a connector (26).

[0058] The actuating means (3) allow the user to apply movement which is transmitted to the shell, causing the gripping of the shell to extract it from the mortar.

[0059] In this embodiment, the actuating means (3) comprise a lever (23) adapted for performing rotational movement. The rotational movement of the lever (23) is transmitted to the driving means (4) as longitudinal movement. Said driving means (4) generate the clamping force necessary for holding the shell (A) from the longitudinal movement received from the actuating means (3).

[0060] In another particular embodiment, the actuating means (3) can move between two different positions, according to which positions a movement that allows similar longitudinal movement towards the driving means (4) is generated. Said two positions are separated according to a longitudinal movement.

[0061] The driving means (4) are attached at the other end thereof to a connecting shaft (5), such that the shaft (5) receives the clamping force generated in the driving means (4) and transmits it to the shell for holding said shell.

[0062] In turn, the connecting shaft (5) is attached to the gripping means (6) which allow holding the shell to extract it from the mortar.

[0063] In this embodiment, the safety element (2) is configured as an element with a bent sector which allows the user of the extractor system to hold it by the holding elements (1) along an axis that is shifted away from the longitudinal axis of the connecting shaft, thereby assuring that no part of the user's body is exposed to the line of fire of the mortar during the shell extraction operation.

[0064] In this particular embodiment, the connecting shaft (5) transmits longitudinal movement from the driving means (4) to the gripping means (6).

[0065] The centering element (7) envisaged in this embodiment advantageously makes it easier for the gripping means (6) to be located in the suitable position inside the mortar (B).

[0066] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the gripping means (6), in which the shell is held by clamping, such that the outer surface of the shell, particularly the outer surface of the fuse of the shell, is held by interference through an elastic clamping element (10). This embodiment is particularly advantageous in the case of shells that do not have a holding area. In this embodiment, in addition to the elastic clamping element (10), the gripping means (6) comprise an outer body (8) and an inner body (9). The clamping element (10), which is integral with the inner body (9), performs its holding function through the longitudinal movement received from the connecting shaft (5).

[0067] FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the gripping means (6) wherein the shell is held by press fit. In this embodiment, the gripping means (6) comprise a clamp (11) adapted for being clamped onto a holding surface of the shell, for example a notch, an actuator body (12) and a clamp holder (13). In the embodiment shown, the clamp (11) allows gripping the shell (A) by means of the housing or interlocking in a notch of the fuse of the shell (A). The gripping means (6) are activated through the longitudinal movement received from the connecting shaft (5).

[0068] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the actuating means (3) which in this case comprise a lever (23), a clamping cam (24) and a connector (26).

[0069] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the driving means (4) comprising a body (14), a release adapter (15), a coupler (16), an elastic assembly (17), a regulator (18), a guide ring (19) and a clamping nut (20). One end of the connecting shaft (5), connected to the driving means (4), can also be seen in FIG. 5. In this embodiment, the connecting shaft (5) comprises a transmission rod (21) arranged inside a sleeve (22).

[0070] The driving means (4) are responsible for transmitting rotational movement of the lever (23) as longitudinal movement of the transmission rod (21) along the inside of the sleeve (22). The driving means (4) generate the force necessary for gripping the shell from the longitudinal movement of the transmission rod (21) of the connecting shaft (5). In turn, the transmission rod (21) allows transmitting longitudinal movement from the driving means (4) to the gripping means (6), sliding along the inside of the sleeve (22).

[0071] FIG. 6 shows a first step of the extraction process for extracting a shell (A) from inside the mortar (B). The user holds the shell extraction system by the holding means (1) and inserts it, according to the longitudinal direction of the mortar (B), into the mortar (B) through the upper part thereof, i.e., through the part of the mortar (B) which has the opening where access for the shell (A) inside same is allowed.

[0072] As mentioned above, the presence of a centering element (7) makes it easier to tightly insert the gripping means (6) into the mortar (B) in a centered manner.

[0073] FIG. 7 shows a second step of the extraction process for extracting a shell (A) from inside the mortar (B). Once the extraction system has been inserted into the mortar (B) tube, the gripping means (6) and connecting shaft (5) are housed therein. The actuating means (3) and driving means (4) can be accessed from the outside, such that the user can act on said actuating means (3) to generate the force needed to be transmitted, such that the gripping means (6) properly hold the shell (A). Therefore, part of the shell (A) is housed in or surrounded by the gripping means (6), such that it can be extracted.

[0074] FIG. 8 shows the position in which the mortar shell (A) is housed inside the gripping means (6), for the case in which gripping is done by clamping. FIG. 10 shows the position in which the mortar shell (A) is positioned to be surrounded by the gripping means (6) for the case in which gripping is done by press fit. The gripping means depicted in FIGS. 8 and 10 correspond to those shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively.

[0075] After having positioned the gripping means (6) on the shell (A), by generating a rotational movement between two specific positions in the actuating means (3), configured as a lever (23) in this case, said movement is transmitted through the driving means (4) and the connecting shaft (5) to the gripping means (6) fitted on the shell (A). In the case of gripping by clamping, this movement of the lever (23) causes longitudinal movement “x” of the transmission rod depicted in FIG. 8, which in turn causes the inner body (9) to close. Driving the lever (23) to its final position, integral with the clamping cam (24), allows the final fitting of the inner body (9) of the gripping means (6). FIG. 9 shows the final position in which the mortar shell (A) is fixed to the gripping means (6) in the case of gripping by clamping.

[0076] FIGS. 10 and 11 show the case of gripping by press fit. Movement of the lever (23) causes the transmission rod (21) to move, causing the clamp (11) to close. Driving the lever (23) to its final position, integral with the clamping cam (24), allows final fixing of the clamp (11). FIG. 11 shows the final position in which the mortar shell (A) is fixed to the gripping means (6) in the case of gripping by press fit.

[0077] Once the shell (A) is fixed by means of the gripping means (6), the extraction system is removed from inside the mortar (B) by means of a movement in the longitudinal direction of the mortar (B), thereby removing both the shell (A) and the extraction system. This last step is depicted in FIG. 12.