Turret drive mechanism

• US 6,101,917 A
• Filed: 05/26/1998
• Issued: 08/15/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: BAE Systems Tactical Vehicle Systems LP (BAE Systems Plc)
• Original Assignee: O'Gara-Hess & Eisenhardt Armoring Company
• Inventors: Malone, Dennis Jerome, Klatte, Kevin Mathew
• Primary Examiner(s): JOHNSON, STEPHEN
• Application Number:
  US09/085,078
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 89/41.01, 89/41.22, 89/37.13, 89/37.11, 89/37.07, 89/40.03
• US Class Current: 89/41.01
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 27/20 Drives for turret movements
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 27/22 Traversing gear F41A27/18 takes precedence

Abstract

A turret drive assembly fixedly secured to a turret causes rotation of the turret via rotation of an aiming wheel fixed to the turret drive assembly. The turret drive assembly comprises a drive mechanism which is operatively coupled to an aiming wheel and a first sprocket wheel so that rotation of the aiming wheel rotates the first sprocket wheel. Rotation of the first sprocket wheel rotates a second sprocket wheel which rotates a drive gear which is engaged with a fixed ring gear secured to a vehicle. Rotation of the drive gear, when engaged with the ring gear, rotates the turret. The drive gear and ring gear may be disengaged from one another and held in such a position.

Claims

1. A vehicle mounted turret assembly comprising:

a ring gear fixed relative to the vehicle,

a drive gear engaged with said ring gear,

a rotatable turret operatively connected to said drive gear, and means for rotating said drive gear to rotate said turret, said means comprising a drive mechanism, a wheel operatively connected to said drive mechanism, a first sprocket wheel operatively connected to said drive mechanism, a second sprocket wheel operatively connected to said drive gear, and a chain interconnecting said first and second sprocket wheels, said wheel being operative by a user to rotate said drive gear, and

a locking mechanism for locking said drive gear out of engagement with said ring gear.

2. A vehicle mounted turret assembly comprising:

a ring gear fixed relative to the vehicle,

a drive gear engaged with said ring gear,

a rotatable turret operatively connected to said drive gear,

a drive mechanism for rotating said drive gear to rotate said turret, and

a locking mechanism for locking said drive gear out of engagement with said ring gear wherein said locking mechanism comprises at least one pair of linkage members operatively associated with said drive gear and a handle having a notch therein engageable with a bar secured to one of said linkage members.

3. In combination, a fixed circular ring gear and a turret drive assembly capable of rotating inside said fixed circular ring gear, said turret drive assembly comprising

a drive mechanism,

an aiming wheel operatively coupled to said drive mechanism,

a rotatable first sprocket wheel operatively coupled to said drive mechanism,

a rotatable second sprocket wheel spaced from said first sprocket wheel,

means extending between said first and second sprocket wheels for rotating said second sprocket wheel upon rotation of said first sprocket wheel,

a drive gear operatively coupled to said second sprocket wheel, said drive gear being engaged with said ring gear whereby rotation of said aiming wheel causes said drive gear to rotate relative to said ring gear causing said turret drive assembly to rotate, and

a disengagement mechanism for disengaging said drive gear from said ring gear and holding said drive gear in a disengaged position, said disengagement mechanism comprising at least one pair of linkage members.

4. The turret drive assembly of claim 3 wherein said drive mechanism is contained within a housing.

5. The turret drive assembly of claim 4 further comprising a mounting plate fixed to said housing for mounting a turret.

6. The turret drive assembly of claim 3 further comprising a handle and handle extension portion, said handle extension portion having a notch therein engaged with a locking bar secured to one of said linkage members when said drive gear is disengaged from said ring gear.

7. In combination a fixed circular ring gear having a plurality of inwardly directed teeth and a turret drive assembly capable of rotating inside said fixed circular ring gear, said turret drive assembly comprising

a rotatable first sprocket wheel rotated by a drive mechanism, said drive mechanism being contained within a housing,

a rotatable second sprocket wheel spaced from said first sprocket wheel,

means extending between said first and second sprocket wheels for rotating said second sprocket wheel upon rotation of said first sprocket wheel,

a drive gear operatively coupled to said second sprocket wheel, said drive gear having a plurality of teeth engaged with said teeth of said ring gear whereby a user may rotate said turret assembly by rotating a wheel operatively connected to said drive mechanism, and

at least one pair of linkage members extending between plates secured to said housing and at least one bearing member operatively coupled to said drive gear, said at least one pair of linkage members functioning to move said drive gear radially inwardly out of engagement with said ring gear.

8. The turret drive assembly of claim 7 further comprising a handle extension for lockingly engaging said at least one pair of linkage members in order to disengage said drive gear from said ring gear.

9. In combination, a turret drive assembly and a fixed circular ring gear having a plurality of inwardly directed teeth, said turret drive assembly being capable of rotating inside said fixed circular ring gear and comprising

a drive mechanism contained within a housing,

a rotatable first sprocket wheel rotated by said drive mechanism,

a rotatable second sprocket wheel spaced from said first sprocket wheel,

a member looped around said first and second sprocket wheels causing said second sprocket wheel to rotate when said first sprocket wheel rotates,

a drive gear operatively coupled to said second sprocket wheel, said drive gear having a plurality of teeth engaged with said teeth of said ring gear whereby a user may rotate said turret assembly by rotating an aiming wheel operatively connected to said drive mechanism, and

a pair of horizontal plates fixedly secured to said housing.

10. The turret drive assembly of claim 9 further comprising a pair of bearing members operatively connected to said drive gear.

11. The turret drive assembly of claim 10 further comprising at least one pair of linkage members, each pair of linkage members extending between one of said bearing members and one of said mounting plates.

12. In combination a fixed circular ring gear having a plurality of inwardly directed teeth and a turret drive assembly capable of rotating inside said fixed circular ring gear, said turret drive assembly comprising:

a drive mechanism contained within a housing, said drive mechanism being operatively coupled to an aiming wheel and to a rotatable first sprocket wheel whereby rotation of said aiming wheel causes said first sprocket wheel to rotate,

a rotatable second sprocket wheel spaced from said first sprocket wheel,

a member looped around said first and second sprocket wheels causing said second sprocket wheel to rotate when said first sprocket wheel rotates,

a drive gear operatively coupled to said second sprocket wheel whereby rotation of said second sprocket wheel causes said drive gear to rotate, said drive gear having a plurality of teeth engaged with said teeth of said ring gear whereby a user may rotate said turret assembly by rotating said aiming wheel, and a disengagement assembly for locking said drive gear in a disengaged position in which said teeth of said drive gear do not engage said teeth of said ring gear.

13. The turret drive assembly of claim 12 wherein said disengagement assembly comprises a pair of horizontal plates secured to said housing, a pair of bearing members operatively coupled to said drive gear and said second sprocket wheel and a pair of linkage members extending between each horizontal plate and each bearing member.

14. The turret drive assembly of claim 13 further comprising a handle and handle extension having a notch therein, said notch being engaged with a locking bar secured to one of said linkage members when said disengagement assembly is in said disengaged position.

15. In combination a fixed circular ring pear having a plurality of inwardly directed teeth and a turret drive assembly capable of rotating inside said fixed circular ring gear, said turret drive assembly comprising:

a drive mechanism,

an aiming wheel operatively coupled to said drive mechanism,

a rotatable first sprocket wheel operatively coupled to said drive mechanism,

a rotatable second sprocket wheel spaced from said first sprocket wheel,

means extending between said first and second sprocket wheels for rotating said second sprocket wheel upon rotation of said first sprocket wheel, and

a drive gear operatively coupled to said second sprocket wheel, said drive gear being engaged with said ring gear whereby rotation of said aiming wheel causes said drive gear to rotate relative to said ring gear causing said turret drive assembly to rotate,

a linkage functioning to pull said drive gear out of engagement with said ring gear and means for holding said drive gear in a disengaged position.

16. The turret drive assembly of claim 15 wherein said means for holding said drive gear in a disengaged position is a handle having a notch engageable with a bar secured to said linkage.

17. In combination, a ring gear fixed to a vehicle and a turret drive assembly comprising:

a drive gear engaged with said ring gear,

a rotatable turret operatively connected to said drive gear, and

a disengagement mechanism for disengaging said drive gear from said ring gear and holding said drive gear in a disengaged position, said disengagement mechanism comprising at least one pair of linkage members whereby said disengagement mechanism is activated by a handle operatively associated with said at least one pair of linkage members wherein said handle has an inner portion and an extension portion, said extension portion having a notch engageable with a bar secured to said at least one pair of linkage members.