IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0097147
(2002-03-13)
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우선권정보 |
SG-200101578-3 (2001-03-14) |
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Pek, Chong Guat
- Foo, Richard
- See, Andy
- Lim, Swam Wui
- Phey, Khee Teik
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출원인 / 주소 |
- Ordnance Development and Engineering Company of Singapore
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
1 인용 특허 :
1 |
초록
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The invention provides a self-propelled mobile system that is characterized by a lightweight space frame chassis on which is mounted a large caliber artillery piece. The weight of the system is preferably less than 8,000 kg and the artillery piece preferably has a caliber of up to a 155 mm 52 calibe
The invention provides a self-propelled mobile system that is characterized by a lightweight space frame chassis on which is mounted a large caliber artillery piece. The weight of the system is preferably less than 8,000 kg and the artillery piece preferably has a caliber of up to a 155 mm 52 caliber gun. The artillery piece may include a lightweight elevating and traversing mass and gun chassis mounted on a space frame vehicle, such vehicle having a weight which does not exceed 3,800 kg.
대표청구항
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1. A self-propelled vehicle comprising a chassis on which is mounted an artillery piece, the chassis including a lightweight space frame, at least two rear wheels and at least two front wheels mounted on the chassis, the rear wheels being mounted on the chassis by lifting means by which the rear whe
1. A self-propelled vehicle comprising a chassis on which is mounted an artillery piece, the chassis including a lightweight space frame, at least two rear wheels and at least two front wheels mounted on the chassis, the rear wheels being mounted on the chassis by lifting means by which the rear wheels can be raised and lowered relative to the chassis, wherein said chassis has a rear end which can be lowered to rest on the ground and lifted off the ground when the rear wheels are respectively raised and lowered relative to the chassis by said lifting means, wherein said rear wheels being mounted on the chassis by respective said lifting means, each said lifting means including a wheel arm having one end pivotally attached to the chassis, and an opposite end on which a respective wheel is mounted, wherein said lifting means further include respective hydro-pneumatic struts which are pivotally attached to a respective said wheel arm at a position offset from a point of pivotal attachment of said wheel arm to the chassis such that extension and retraction of the hydro-pneumatic struts produce rotation of the wheel arms relative to the chassis to vary height of the rear wheels relative to the chassis, wherein, in an extended configuration of the hydro-pneumatic struts, the wheel arms extend downwards and rearwards from their respective points of pivotal attachment to the chassis, such that the rear wheels are in contact with the ground for transit of the vehicle, and, upon moving from the extended configuration to a retracted configuration of the hydro-pneumatic struts, the wheel arms are rotated so as to extend upward from their respective points of pivotal attachment to the chassis, such that the rear wheels are lifted off the ground and the rear end of the chassis rests on the ground for firing of the artillery piece.2. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein a pair of said wheel arms, each carrying a respective rear wheel and each provided with a respective hydro-pneumatic strut, are provided on respective sides of the vehicle, said pair of wheel arms being interconnected by a pivot axle, and a third hydro-pneumatic strut is connected to a central portion of the pivot axle to provide additional force for rotating said pair of wheel arms.3. A vehicle as claimed in claim 2, wherein, the hydro-pneumatic struts are operable to rotate said pair of wheel arms to extend forward from their respective points of pivotal attachment to the chassis, such that the rear wheels are brought forward to a fully retracted position for firing of the artillery piece.4. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hydro-pneumatic struts operate to dampen vibrations from the rear wheels during transit of the vehicle.5. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hydro-pneumatic struts operate to adjust the height of the rear end of the chassis during transit of the vehicle.6. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the rear wheels are driven by respective, hydraulic, radial piston, in-hub motors.7. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said front wheel is connected to the chassis by an independent suspension system.8. A vehicle as claimed in claim 7, wherein the independent suspension system for each front wheel comprises a multi-link suspension system which includes upper and lower suspension arms and hydro-pneumatic struts respectively connected to at least one of the upper and lower suspension arms and operable to dampen vibrations from the front wheels during transit of the vehicle and also operable to absorb counter-recoil forces during firing of the artillery piece.9. A vehicle as claimed in claim 8, wherein the hydro-pneumatic struts on the front wheel suspension systems utilize nitrogen gas as a spring and hydraulic fluid as a damper.10. A vehicle as claimed in claim 9, wherein said hydro-pneumatic struts on the front wheel suspension system have an adjustable length to vary height of a front end of the chassis.11. A vehicle as claimed in claim 10, wherein each hydro-pneumatic strut is constructed for depressurizing fluid in a cylinder thereof for varying the height of the chassis.12. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one retractable outrigger mounted on the chassis at an end of the vehicle opposite an expected direction of firing of the artillery piece, said at least one outrigger being extendible to an extended configuration in which the outrigger is engageable with the ground to stabilize the vehicle against recoil during firing of the artillery piece in said expected direction, said at least one outrigger being retractable to a retracted configuration in which the outrigger is raised clear of the ground to facilitate transit of the vehicle.13. A vehicle as claimed in claim 12, wherein two said outriggers are provided, each outrigger being pivotally movable between said extended and retracted configurations by hydraulic pistons.14. A vehicle as claimed in claim 13, wherein said at least one outrigger carries a spade structure on a free end thereof which embeds in the ground when the outrigger is in the extended configuration to enhance stability of the artillery piece during firing.15. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the artillery piece is mounted on the chassis by at least one shock isolator for damping shock and vibration during transit of the vehicle and during firing of the artillery piece.16. A vehicle as claimed in claim 15, wherein said at least one shock isolator is mounted on mounting brackets which are mounted on the space frame, whereby, during firing of the artillery piece, a recoil load is transmitted to the at least one shock isolator which, isolates the recoil load from the space frame.17. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the space frame includes an occupant compartment having roll-over bars which can overlie the occupant compartment to protect occupants from injury in the event of roll over of the vehicle.18. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a hydromechanical transmission to drive the front wheels, the hydromechanical transmission comprising a hydrostatic transmission and a mechanical transmission.19. A vehicle as claimed in claim 18, wherein the hydromechanical transmission includes an adjustable swashplate pump and hydraulic motor, and a mechanical gearbox including a clutch, and the hydromechanical transmission has a hydrostatic mode in which the swashplate pump drives the hydraulic motor and the gearbox clutch is disengaged, a hydromechanical mode in which the swashplate pump drives the hydraulic motor and the gearbox clutch is engaged, and a fully mechanical mode in which the swashplate pump provides no hydraulic flow to the motor and the gearbox clutch is engaged.20. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vehicle has a pair of said front wheels and a pair of said rear wheels, and further including a switch by which a driver can select from two or more of the drive transmission modes of: front wheel drive, four wheel drive, and automatic drive in which selection of the front wheel drive or the four wheel drive is performed automatically depending upon the speed of the vehicle.21. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the artillery piece has a caliber of up to 155 mm.22. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the overall weight of the vehicle is less than 8,000 kg.23. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the artillery piece includes an elevating and traversing mass and a gun chassis mounted on the vehicle chassis, said vehicle chassis having a weight which does not exceed 3,800 kg.24. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, comprises a cradle and saddle for supporting the artillery piece.25. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the artillery piece is a howitzer gun which includes a barrel.26. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a barrel clamp for clamping a barrel of the artillery piece to the space frame when the artillery piece is not in use.27. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said space frame comprises a plurality of members spaced apart and interconnected to provide torsional and structural rigidity with relatively low weight.
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