Helicopter weapon mounting system
First Claim
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1. A weapon mounting system comprising:
- a weapon cradle for releasably coupling to a machine gun;
a carriage operably coupled to the weapon cradle and defining an elevational axis, the cradle configured to pivot about the elevational axis;
a tubular pintle supporting the carriage and defining a pintle passageway, the pintle operably coupled to the carriage and defining an azimuth axis extending perpendicular to the elevational axis, the carriage configured to rotate about the azimuth axis;
a tubular support post supporting the pintle and defining a support post passageway; and
an ejection collection device extending between the weapon cradle and the carriage, the ejection collection device including a first side wall, a second side wall spaced apart from the first side wall, the first and second side walls extending downwardly from the cradle for pivoting movement about the elevational axis with the weapon cradle and configured to direct spent shell casings and links from the machine gun through an ejection path, the ejection path including the pintle passageway and the support post passageway.
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Abstract
A weapon mounting system for a vehicle, such as a helicopter. The weapon mounting system illustratively includes a weapon cradle supporting a machine gun for pivoting movement about a generally horizontal elevational axis. A carriage supports the weapon cradle and is supported by a pintle for rotation about a generally vertical azimuth axis. An ejection collection device is supported by the carriage and collects spent shell casings and links ejected from the machine gun for discharge through the pintle. A trigger assembly illustratively provides for manual operation by a gunner and for remote electrical operation by a pilot.
139 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A weapon mounting system comprising:
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a weapon cradle for releasably coupling to a machine gun; a carriage operably coupled to the weapon cradle and defining an elevational axis, the cradle configured to pivot about the elevational axis; a tubular pintle supporting the carriage and defining a pintle passageway, the pintle operably coupled to the carriage and defining an azimuth axis extending perpendicular to the elevational axis, the carriage configured to rotate about the azimuth axis; a tubular support post supporting the pintle and defining a support post passageway; and an ejection collection device extending between the weapon cradle and the carriage, the ejection collection device including a first side wall, a second side wall spaced apart from the first side wall, the first and second side walls extending downwardly from the cradle for pivoting movement about the elevational axis with the weapon cradle and configured to direct spent shell casings and links from the machine gun through an ejection path, the ejection path including the pintle passageway and the support post passageway. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A weapon mounting system comprising:
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a weapon cradle for releasably coupling to a machine gun; a carriage operably coupled to the weapon cradle and defining an elevational axis, the cradle configured to pivot about the elevational axis; an ejection collection device operably coupled to carriage, the ejection collection system including a first side wall, a second side wall in spaced relation to the first side wall, the first and second side walls extending downwardly from the cradle for pivoting movement about the elevational axis with the weapon cradle, a first adjustable end wall positioned intermediate the first side wall and the second side wall, the first adjustable end wall having a first end coupled to the carriage and a second end configured to move with the cradle, and a second adjustable end wall positioned intermediate the first side wall and the second side wall and in spaced relation to the first adjustable end wall, the second adjustable end wall having a first end coupled to the carriage and a second end configured to move with the cradle, and an opening defined at the bottom of the carriage to receive ejected shell casings from the machine gun. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A weapon mounting system comprising:
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a weapon cradle for releasably coupling to a machine gun; a carriage supporting the weapon cradle for pivoting movement about an elevational pivot axis; a pintle supporting the carriage for rotating movement about an azimuth axis extending perpendicular to the elevational axis; a trigger assembly operably coupled to the weapon cradle, the trigger assembly including a handle grip, a lever arm supported for pivoting movement relative to the handle grip, an electrically operable actuator, and a paddle operably coupled to the lever arm and the electrically operable actuator, wherein pivoting movement of the lever arm causes the paddle to pivot into engagement with a trigger mechanism on the machine gun in a manual mode of operation, and activation of the actuator causes the paddle to pivot into engagement with a trigger mechanism on the machine gun in a remote electrical mode of operation; and an ejection collection device extending between the weapon cradle and the carriage, the ejection collection device including a first side wall, a second side wall spaced apart from the first side wall, the first and second side walls extending downwardly from the cradle for pivoting movement about the elevational axis with the weapon cradle and configured to direct spent shell casings and links from the machine gun through an ejection path, the ejection path including the pintle passageway and the support post passageway. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A weapon mounting system comprising:
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a weapon cradle for releasably coupling to a machine gun; a carriage operably coupled to the weapon cradle and defining an elevational axis, the cradle configured to pivot about the elevational axis; a tubular pintle supporting the carriage and defining a pintle passageway, the pintle operably coupled to the carriage and defining an azimuth axis extending perpendicular to the elevational axis, the carriage configured to rotate about the azimuth axis; a tubular support post supporting the pintle and defining a support post passageway; an ejection collection device operably coupled to carriage, the ejection collection system including a first side wall, a second side wall in spaced relation to the first side wall, the first and second side walls extending downwardly from the cradle for pivoting movement about the elevational axis with the weapon cradle, a first adjustable end wall positioned intermediate the first side wall and the second side wall, the first adjustable end wall having a first end coupled to the carriage and a second end configured to move with the cradle, and a second adjustable end wall positioned intermediate the first side wall and the second side wall and in spaced relation to the first adjustable end wall, the second adjustable end wall having a first end coupled to the carriage and a second end configured to move with the cradle, and an opening defined at the bottom of the carriage to receive ejected shell casings from the machine gun configured to direct spent shell casings and links from the machine gun through an ejection path, the ejection path including the pintle passageway and the support post passageway; and a trigger assembly operably coupled to the weapon cradle, the trigger assembly including a handle, an arm supported for pivoting movement relative to the handle, an electrically operable actuator, and a lever operably coupled to the arm and the electrically operable actuator, wherein pivoting movement of the arm causes the lever to pivot into engagement with a trigger mechanism on the machine gun in a manual mode of operation, and activation of the actuator causes the lever to pivot into engagement with a trigger mechanism on the machine gun in a remote electrical mode of operation.
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Specification