Configurable weapon station having under armor reload
View Patent ↗A vehicle-mounted weapon station is configurable to adjust the height of a rotational elevation axis thereof. The weapon station is provided with at least one fixed hanging ammunition container that is reloadable under the armored protection of the vehicle and the weapon station shell. The weapon station may have both electrically-powered and manually-powered drive systems for rotating a pedestal about an azimuth axis relative to the vehicle, and for rotating weaponry and operational units about the elevation axis, wherein the electrical and manual drive systems transmit power through the same output gear.
1. A weapon station apparatus comprising:
a pedestal adapted to be mounted on an armored vehicle for rotation relative to the armored vehicle about an azimuth axis, the pedestal including a first attachment interface and a second attachment interface laterally-spaced from the first attachment interface;
a first spacer including a bottom end configured for removable mounting on the first attachment interface of the pedestal and a top end having a yoke arm attachment interface;
a second spacer including a bottom end configured for removable mounting on the second attachment interface of the pedestal and a top end having a yoke arm attachment interface;
a driver elevation yoke arm configured for removable mounting on the first attachment interface of the pedestal and for removable mounting on the yoke arm attachment interface of the first spacer;
a follower elevation yoke arm configured for removable mounting on the second attachment interface of the pedestal and for removable mounting on the yoke arm attachment interface of the second spacer; and
a first elevation rotary bearing supported by the driver elevation yoke arm and a second elevation rotary bearing supported by the follower elevation yoke arm, wherein the first and second elevation rotary bearings define a rotational elevation axis;
wherein the first spacer is selectably installable between the pedestal and the driver elevation yoke arm and the second spacer is selectably installable between the pedestal and the follower elevation yoke arm to change a height of the elevation axis above the pedestal;
wherein each of the first and second attachment interfaces includes fastener holes defining a plurality of selectable attachment positions spaced in a longitudinal direction of the pedestal, whereby a longitudinal position of the elevation axis relative to the armored vehicle is adjustable.
2. The weapon station apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an elevation drive motor;
an elevation drive hub connected to the elevation drive motor and supported by the first elevation rotary bearing, wherein the elevation drive hub is rotatable about the elevation axis by operation of the elevation drive motor; and
an elevation follower hub supported by the second elevation rotary bearing;
wherein the elevation drive hub and the elevation follower hub are configured for removable mounting of a primary weapon thereto such that the primary weapon resides between the driver and follower elevation yoke arms and is rotatable about the elevation axis by operation of the elevation drive motor.
3. The weapon station apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the elevation drive motor is coupled to the driver elevation yoke arm and is not coupled to the first spacer.
4. The weapon station apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second elevation rotary bearings are self-aligning rotary bearings.
5. The weapon station apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the top end attachment interface of at least one of the first and second spacers is offset laterally relative to the corresponding attachment interface of the pedestal, whereby a lateral spacing between the driver elevation yoke arm and the follower elevation yoke arm differs depending upon whether or not the first spacer and the second spacer are installed.
6. A weapon station apparatus comprising:
a pedestal adapted to be mounted on an armored vehicle for rotation relative to the armored vehicle about an azimuth axis;
a yoke assembly carried by the pedestal, the yoke assembly being adapted to support at least one weapon for rotation relative to the pedestal about an elevation axis, wherein the yoke assembly includes an elevation hub rotatable about the elevation axis;
an azimuth drive gear rotatable to drive rotation of the pedestal about the azimuth axis;
an elevation drive gear rotatable to drive rotation of the elevation drive hub about the elevation axis;
an azimuth drive motor operable by electric power to rotate the azimuth drive gear to thereby rotate the pedestal and yoke assembly about the azimuth axis;
an elevation drive motor operable by electric power to rotate the elevation drive gear to thereby rotate the elevation hub about the elevation axis;
an azimuth drive train manually operable to rotate the azimuth drive gear to thereby rotate the pedestal and yoke assembly about the azimuth axis;
an elevation drive train manually operable to rotate the elevation drive gear to thereby rotate the elevation hub about the elevation axis;
a slip ring configured to transmit power and data across a rotary interface defined by the pedestal and the armored vehicle, wherein the slip ring includes a passageway extending through the slip ring across the rotary interface, and at least one of the azimuth drive train and the elevation drive train extends through the passageway.
7. The weapon station apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein both of the azimuth drive train and the elevation drive train extend through the passageway.
8. The weapon station apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the azimuth drive gear and the elevation drive gear are coupled to the pedestal and rotate with the pedestal relative to the armored vehicle about the azimuth axis.