Weapon mount

• US 20100269679A1
• Filed: 01/23/2007
• Published: 10/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Foster-Miller Incorporated (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Foster-Miller Incorporated (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Desmeule, Nathan R., Hug, Hans, Johnson, Michael T., Fisk, Allan T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,895,930 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 89/37.110
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 25/08 adjustable

Abstract

A mobile remotely controlled robot includes a robot platform and a robot arm maneuverable with respect to the robot platform. A housing is configured to be removably mounted to the robot arm. A sleeve is translatable with respect to the housing for receiving a weapon therein. There is a gear rack on the sleeve and a pinion gear, rotatably disposed in the housing, is engaged with the gear rack. A braking subsystem resists rotation of the pinion gear when the gear rack translates upon firing of the weapon.

Claims

1. A mobile remotely controlled robot comprising:

a robot platform;

a robot arm maneuverable with respect to the robot platform;

a housing configured to be removably mounted to the robot arm;

a sleeve translatable with respect to the housing for receiving a weapon therein;

a gear rack on the sleeve;

a pinion gear rotatably disposed in the housing and engaged with the gear rack; and

a braking subsystem for resisting rotation of the pinion gear when the gear rack translates upon firing of the weapon.

2. The robot of claim 1 in which the housing includes a channel therethrough which receives the sleeve and the gear rack.

3. The robot of claim 1 in which the housing includes a clamping mechanism securable to the robot arm.

4. The robot of claim 1 in which the braking subsystem includes:

a shaft fixed to the pinion gear and rotatable with respect to the housing,

a brake disk fixed to the housing,

a brake hub fixed to the shaft and having a shoe portion adjacent one side of the brake disk,

a translatable brake shoe adjacent an opposite side of the brake disk, and

means for biasing the translatable brake shoe.

5. The robot of claim 4 in which there is a first brake pad between the shoe portion of the brake hub and the brake disk and a second brake pad between the translatable brake shoe and the brake disk.

6. The robot of claim 4 in which the means for biasing includes a plurality of Belleville springs about the brake hub adjacent the translatable brake shoe and a nut securable to the brake hub adjustable to bear upon the Belleville springs.

7. The robot of claim 6 further including an indicator ring settable with respect to the translatable brake shoe to mark the position of the nut on the brake hub.

8. The robot of claim 4 further including means for disengaging the pinion gear from the gear rack.

9. The robot of claim 8 in which the means for disengaging includes:

a carrier for the brake disk, and

a mechanism for locking the carrier with respect to the housing.

10. The robot of claim 9 in which the mechanism includes a pin.

11. A weapon mount comprising:

a housing through which the weapon translates when fired;

a conversion subsystem configured to convert translation of the weapon when fired into rotational motion; and

a braking subsystem for resisting rotation of the conversion subsystem.

12. The weapon mount of claim 11 in which the conversion subsystem included a gear rack fixed with respect to the weapon and a pinion gear in the housing in engagement with the gear rack.

13. The weapon mount of claim 12 in which the conversion subsystem further includes a sleeve translatable through a channel in the housing for holding the weapon, the gear rack secured to the sleeve.

14. The weapon mount of claim 12 in which the braking subsystem includes:

a shaft fixed to the pinion gear and rotatable with respect to the housing,

a brake disk,

a shoe portion fixed to the shaft and adjacent one side of the brake disk,

a translatable brake shoe adjacent on opposite side of the brake disk, and

means for biasing the translatable brake shoe.

15. The weapon mount of claim 14 in which there is a first brake pad between the shoe portion and the brake disk and a second brake pad between the translatable brake shoe and the brake disk.

16. The weapon mount of claim 14 in which the means for biasing includes at least one spring and a nut which bears upon the spring.

17. The weapon mount of claim 16 further including an indicator ring to mark the position of the nut.

18. The weapon mount of claim 11 in which the conversion subsystem includes a cable fixed on opposite ends with respect to the weapon and wrapped about a drum rotatably disposed in the housing.

19. The weapon mount of claim 18 in which the braking subsystem includes:

a brake disk fixed to the housing,

a shaft fixed to the drum and rotatable with respect to the housing,

a brake shoe on the shaft, and

a friction brake for biasing the brake shoe against the brake disk.

20. The weapon mount of claim 19 in which the braking subsystem further includes a one way roller clutch between the drum and the shaft.

21. The weapon mount of claim 18 further including a return spring on the shaft.

22. A weapon mount comprising:

a housing configured to be removably mounted to a robot arm;

a sleeve translatable through the housing for receiving a weapon therein;

a gear rack on the sleeve;

a gear rotatably disposed in the housing and engaged with the gear rack;

an adjustable friction brake subsystem for resisting rotation of the gear when the gear rack translates upon firing of the weapon; and

means for disengaging the gear from the gear rack to translate the weapon with respect to the housing when desired.

23. A recoil mitigation weapon mount comprising:

a housing through which a weapon is translatable when fired;

a gear rack which translates with the weapon;

a gear rotatably disposed in the housing and engaged with the gear rack; and

a braking subsystem for resisting rotation of the gear.