US4019422A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicular mounted tow missile system
Assignee: Paccar Inc
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Filing: 1976-07-19
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Granted: 1977-04-26
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Expires: 1996-07-19
Abstract
Abstract A base of a TOW missile system is mounted on a rotatable turret of a vehicle and is also rotatably mounted relative to the rotation of the turret so that the orientation of the base about its own rotational axis remains stationary. The positioning of the TOW base on the turret allows the turret to rotate generally about an axis which can be aligned with the person operating the sight. Thus the diameter of the opening in the vehicle is reduced. One embodiment uses a planetary gear system for holding the orientation of the base. A second embodiment uses a flexible link.
Inventors
- 👤 Roland A. Magnuson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 11:00
CPC Classifications
F; F41; F41A; F41A27/00; F41A27/06; F41A27/18; F41G; F41G5/00; F41G5/14; F41G5/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
A vehicular turret mounting system for a TOW missile system of the type having a traversing unit, said traversing unit having a means providing an elevation pivot axis, an optical sighting and tracking unit mounted for movement about said axis, handle means for manually traversely rotating said traversing unit, means for elevationally pivoting said sighting and tracking unit, and a base having viscous bearing means supporting said traversing unit and for providing a resistance to said manual traverse rotation of the traversing unit, the improvement comprising: a vehicle having a hull, an opening in the hull, and a turret supported for rotational movement about a turret axis concentric with said hull opening, at least one missile launch tube elevationally pivotally mounted on said turret, a personnel station in said opening generally aligned with said turret axis, means mounting said traversing unit on said turret adjacent the periphery of said hull opening offset from said turret axis, said mounting means including means for holding the orientation of said base stationary with said hull for simulating a ground-supported TOW missile system, and servo means for traversing said turret in response to movements of said traversing unit on said base.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
197 words
A vehicular turret mounting system for a TOW missile system of the type having a traversing unit, said traversing unit having a means providing an elevation pivot axis, an optical sighting and tracking unit mounted for movement about said axis, handle means for manually traversely rotating said traversing unit, means for elevationally pivoting said sighting and tracking unit, and a base having viscous bearing means supporting said traversing unit and for providing a resistance to said manual traverse rotation of the traversing unit, the improvement comprising: a vehicle having a hull, an opening in the hull, and a turret supported for rotational movement about a turret axis concentric with said hull opening, at least one missile launch tube elevationally pivotally mounted on said turret, a personnel station in said opening generally aligned with said turret axis, means mounting said traversing unit on said turret adjacent the periphery of said hull opening offset from said turret axis, said mounting means including means for holding the orientation of said base stationary with said hull for simulating a ground-supported TOW missile system, and servo means for traversing said turret in response to movements of said traversing unit on said base.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 1, said orientation holding means including a gear system coupled to said turret and having a plurality of meshed gears of ratios providing a counter rotation to said base equal to the turning distance caused by movements of the turret.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 2, said gear system including a planetary gear train.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 1, said orientation holding means including a flexible, non-rotatable link coupled at one end to said hull and at another end to said base.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said sighting and tracking unit are pivotally mounted on said traversing unit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
94 words
A vehicular weapon control system comprising at least one weapon mounted on a rotatable turret, said turret being rotatably supported for movement about a turret axis, sighting and tracking means, means supporting the sighting and tracking means on said turret for movement therewith and for rotational movement about a traverse axis offset from said turret axis, said supporting means including a base, servo means for rotating said turret in response to traverse rotation of said sighting and tracking means, and means for holding the base rotationally stationary relative to rotation of said turret axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
94 words
A vehicular weapon control system comprising at least one weapon mounted on a rotatable turret, said turret being rotatably supported for movement about a turret axis, sighting and tracking means, means supporting the sighting and tracking means on said turret for movement therewith and for rotational movement about a traverse axis offset from said turret axis, said supporting means including a base, servo means for rotating said turret in response to traverse rotation of said sighting and tracking means, and means for holding the base rotationally stationary relative to rotation of said turret axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 6, said base including viscous dampening means to dampen movements of said sighting and tracking means on said base.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 7, said means for holding the base including gear means for providing a rotation to the base counter to rotation of the turret and proportional thereto so that the base maintains a fixed orientation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 8, said gear means including a planetary gear train.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 7, said means for holding the base including a flexible, non-rotatable link fixed to the vehicle hull.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system of claim 7, said weapon including a missile launch tube mounted for elevational pivoting on said turret, said launch tube movable about a first elevational axis, said sighting and tracking means mounted on said supporting means for elevational pivotal movement about a second elevational axis concentric with said first elevational axis.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3466968A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-04-25 | 1980-10-25 | 1981-04-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-04-25 | 1984-10-25 | 1985-04-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-04-25 | 1988-10-25 | 1989-04-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |