Self-propelled gun system
A self-propelled gun system defining a recoil mitigation system comprises a chassis; a gun barrel and a chassis suspension system comprising a first wheel arm extending away from the chassis to a first wheel, the first wheel being rotatably mounted on the first wheel arm, the first wheel configured for engagement with a support surface. The first wheel arm and first wheel are configured to support the chassis a distance (Dz) apart from the support surface. The recoil mitigation system is operable such that a maximum recoil damping distance (Dz_max) of the chassis from the support surface in the z-axis for a gun firing condition is controlled to be set according to a predetermined relationship by pivoting the first wheel arm relative to the z-axis.
1 . A self-propelled gun system, comprising:
a chassis extending along an x-axis, a first end of the chassis and a second end of the chassis spaced apart from one another along the x-axis, the chassis extending along a y-axis, a first side of the chassis and a second side of the chassis spaced apart from one another along the y-axis, the x-axis being at right angles to the y-axis;
a gun barrel having a barrel axis, the barrel being mounted to the chassis by a pivot mount, the barrel being pivotable relative to the x-axis about a pivot axis aligned and/or parallel with the y-axis;
a chassis suspension system comprising a wheel arm extending away from the chassis to a wheel, the wheel being rotatably mounted on the wheel arm, the wheel configured for engagement with a support surface, the wheel arm and wheel configured to support the chassis a distance (Dz) apart from the support surface in a z-axis, the z-axis being perpendicular to the x-axis and y-axis;
a recoil mitigation system operable such that a maximum recoil damping distance (Dz_max) of the chassis from the support surface in the z-axis is variable to thereby vary the available damping distance in the z-axis to absorb recoil force (Fr) from the firing of a projectile from the gun barrel; and
a brake control device configured for applying a braking force to the wheel in response to movement of the chassis in the x-axis by a recoil force (Fr) from the firing of a projectile from the gun barrel,
wherein the brake control device is configured for applying the braking force to the wheel after the firing of a projectile from the gun barrel and after the wheel has started rotating along the support surface in response to the firing of a projectile from the gun barrel, and
wherein the brake control device is configured to gradually and/or intermittently apply the braking force to the wheel after the wheel has started rotating.
2 . The self-propelled gun system of claim 1 , wherein the brake control device is a regenerative braking device, and the regenerative braking device is operably linked with a rechargeable electric storage device and the wheel for generating an electrical current by decelerating the wheel and dissipating recoil of the self-propelled gun system.
3 . The self-propelled gun system of claim 2 , further comprising a processor in communication with the regenerative braking device and the rechargeable electric storage device such that in response to a movement of the chassis along the support surface, the processor causes the regenerative braking device to decelerate the wheel.
4 . The self-propelled gun system of claim 1 , wherein the gun barrel is constrained to pivot about the pivot axis in a plane of movement extending through the x-axis and z-axis and/or is constrained to pivot about the pivot axis between −5 degrees to the x-axis and +75 degrees to the x-axis.
5 . The self-propelled gun system of claim 1 , wherein the gun barrel is rotatable about the z-axis, limited to be rotatable no more than +/−5 degrees relative to a direction parallel to the x-axis around the z-axis.
6 . The self-propelled gun system of claim 1 , wherein a distance (Dy) of the wheel from the x-axis in a direction along the y-axis is operable to be increased to thereby increase the stability of the chassis along the x-axis and y-axis to maintain orientation of the chassis during and after the firing of a projectile from the gun barrel.
7 . The self-propelled gun system claim 1 , wherein the maximum recoil damping distance (Dz_max) of the chassis from the support surface in the z-axis for a gun firing condition is controlled to be set by pivoting the wheel arm relative to the z-axis, and the self-propelled gun system comprises:
a resilient suspension unit to bias the wheel arm to move the chassis back to being spaced apart from the support surface by the maximum recoil damping distance (Dz_max) after displacement of the chassis away from the maximum recoil damping distance (Dz_max).
8 . The self-propelled gun system of claim 7 , wherein the wheel arm extends away from the chassis at an angle to the x-axis and the y-axis, and the resilient suspension unit extends between the chassis and the wheel arm.
9 . The self-propelled gun system of claim 7 , wherein the resilient suspension unit comprises at least one of air springs, switchable shock absorbers, hydropneumatic suspension, hydrolastic suspension, and hydragas suspension, wherein the resilient suspension unit is configured to vary its spring stiffness.
10 . The self-propelled gun system of claim 1 , wherein the chassis suspension system further comprises a leg strut, the leg strut pivotably attached to the chassis at a coupling end, and extending to a foot configured for engagement with the support surface to support the chassis apart from the support surface.
11 . The self-propelled gun system claim 1 , wherein the unladen mass of the self-propelled gun system is no greater than 10 tonnes.
12 . The self-propelled gun system claim 1 , wherein the unladen mass of the self-propelled gun system is no greater than 5 tonnes.
13 . A method of operation of a self-propelled gun system, the self-propelled gun system including
a chassis extending along an x-axis, a first end of the chassis and a second end of the chassis spaced apart from one another along the x-axis, chassis extending along a y-axis, a first side of the chassis and a second side of the chassis spaced apart from one another along the y-axis, the x-axis being at right angles to the y-axis,
a chassis suspension system comprising a wheel arm extending away from the chassis to a wheel, the wheel being rotatably mounted on the wheel arm, the wheel configured for engagement with a support surface, the wheel arm and wheel configured to support the chassis a distance (Dz) apart from the support surface in a z-axis, the z-axis being perpendicular to the x-axis and y-axis, the wheel arm being pivotable relative to the chassis,
a resilient suspension unit to bias the wheel arm to move the chassis back to being spaced apart from the support surface by a set maximum recoil damping distance (Dz_max) after displacement of the chassis away from the set maximum recoil damping distance (Dz_max), and
a brake control device configured for applying a braking force to the wheel in response to movement of the chassis in the x-axis by a recoil force (Fr) from the firing of a projectile from the gun barrel; and
the method comprising, for each gun firing condition:
pivoting the wheel arm relative to the chassis to change the distance of the chassis from the support surface in the z-axis to the set maximum recoil damping distance (Dz_max) for the gun firing condition;
wherein the set maximum recoil damping distance (Dz_max) of the chassis from the support surface for the gun firing position is set according to a predetermined relationship; and
the brake control device is controlled to apply the braking force to the wheel after the firing of a projectile from the gun barrel.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the predetermined relationship is a function of:
a mass of a projectile being fired from the gun barrel;
the type and mass of charge provided to propel the projectile; and/or
angle of the barrel axis relative to the x-axis.
15 . A gun system, comprising:
a chassis;
a gun barrel;
a chassis suspension system comprising a wheel arm extending away from the chassis to a wheel, the wheel being rotatably mounted on the wheel arm, the wheel configured for engagement with a support surface, the wheel arm and wheel configured to support the chassis a distance (Dz) apart from the support surface;
a recoil mitigation system operable such that a maximum recoil damping distance (Dz_max) of the chassis from the support surface is variable to thereby vary the available damping distance in a first direction to absorb recoil force from the firing of a projectile from the gun barrel; and
a brake control device configured for applying a braking force to the wheel in response to movement of the chassis in in a second direction by a recoil force from the firing of a projectile from the gun barrel,
wherein the brake control device is configured to gradually and/or intermittently apply the braking force to the wheel after the wheel has started rotating along the support surface in response to the firing of a projectile from the gun barrel.
16 . The gun system of claim 15 , wherein the brake control device is configured for applying the braking force to the wheel after the firing of the projectile from the gun barrel.
17 . The gun system of claim 15 , wherein the brake control device is a regenerative braking device for generating an electrical current by decelerating the wheel and dissipating recoil of the gun system, the gun system further comprising a processor in communication with the regenerative braking device such that in response to a movement of the chassis along the support surface, the processor causes the regenerative braking device to decelerate the wheel.