TANK COMMANDER'S SEAT AND FOOT PLATFORM ASSEMBLY

• US 3,625,563 A
• Filed: 05/22/1970
• Issued: 12/07/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Albert H. Tucker, Nonnie F. Dickinson
• Original Assignee: Albert H. Tucker, Nonnie F. Dickinson
• Inventors: Dickinson, Nonnie F., Tucker, Albert H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mitchell, James C.
• Application Number:
  US05/040,292
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 297/338,345,333,433,434,437 248/383,162,408,409,423 244/122 296/63
• US Class Current: 297/333
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 3/20 Chairs or stools with vertically-adjustable seats tables with variable height A47B9/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/074 rotated about the transversal axis
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/163 Slides only
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1675 with weight compensating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1685 characterised by a lock
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/169 Stepwise movement mechanisms, e.g. ratchets B60N2/167 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/24 for particular purposes or particular vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 7/02 Land vehicles with enclosing armour, e.g. tanks endless-track vehicles, steering thereof B62D ; vehicles for placing portable or sectional bridges E01D15/127; vehicles carrying floating bridges E01D15/22
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 7/046 Shock resilient mounted seats for armoured or fighting vehicles

Abstract

A combined seat and foot platform assembly to be mounted in the turret of a military tank or like vehicle and consisting of a substantially I-beam column secured between the floor and roof of the tank'"'"''"'"'s turret. Spring loaded seat and foot platform assemblies are slidable along the column and are quickly adjustable in selected positions release levers which engage notches in the column. The seat and foot platform are quickly released for emergency descent from an open hatch to a combat position in the turret.

Claims

1. A seat and foot platform assembly for use by an observer in the turret of a military tank or like vehicle comprising in combination, a. A single column having positioning notches along portions of its length, said column being secured at its ends to the floor and top of said turret, b. A seat assembly slidable on said column, c. A foot platform assembly slidable on said column and disposed below said seat assembly, d. Means carried by said assemblies and cooperating with said notches in said column for adjustably positioning said assemblies on said column, e. Means on said column for limiting the travel of said assemblies along said column, and, f. Means for counterbalancing said assemblies.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said column comprises forward and reaRward end plates arranged in spaced, parallel arrangement, a strip medially connected to the inner sides of said end plates, there being a groove cut longitudinally in the inner ends of each said end plate, a series of notches cut in one side of said strip and a series of notches cut in the forward end plate, said notches in said strip extending a distance substantially the length of travel of said seat assembly along said column and said notches in said forward end strip extending a distance substantially the length of travel of said foot platform along said column whereby said notches cooperate with said adjusting means carried by said seat and foot platform assemblies for the positioning thereof along said column.

3. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said seat assembly comprises a support slidable on said column, a series of bearing rollers journaled in said support and riding in said column, a spring loaded, upholstered plate pivotally mounted to the forward end of said support and movable between an open and a folded position, a hand lever having a dog integral with its inner end and pivotally mounted in said support and a coil spring normally biasing said dog into a said positioning notch in said column.

4. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said seat platform assembly comprises a support slidable on said column, a foot plate, a shaft pivotally mounting said foot plate to the forward end of said support, said foot plate being movable between an open and a folded position, a housing secured to the forward end of said support, a spring biased plunger slidable in said housing normally engaging in a said notch in said column, a first lever pivoted to said housing and connected to said plunger, a second lever on said shaft and contacting said first lever and a release pedal on said shaft whereby when said pedal is depressed said shaft will rotate said levers to release said plunger from its respective notch in said column to permit said foot platform assembly to be raised or lowered along said column.

5. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for limiting the travel of said assemblies along column comprises a first stop having a resilient snubber at its upper and lower edges and fixed to the forward end of said column at a point midway of its length, and a second stop fixed to the forward end of said column near its lower portion, there being a resilient snubber carried by its upper edge, whereby the upward and downward travel of said seat assembly and said foot platform assemblies are limited.

6. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for counterbalancing said assemblies comprises a first bracket secured adjacent the top of said column and to its rearward side, a spool rotatable in said bracket, a clock spring wound on said spool, its free end being attached to said seat assembly, a second bracket secured to the forward end and at a point midway of said column, said bracket extending beyond both sides thereof, a spool rotatably carried by either side of said bracket and a clock spring wound on each said last names spools, their free ends being attached to said foot platform assembly.

7. In a seat assembly for use by an observer in the turret of a military tank and being adjustable at selected heights on a notched column secured between the top and floor of said turret, said seat assembly comprising a support slidable along said column, a pair of ears integral with the forward end of said support, a shaft mounted in said ears, a plate pivotally mounted on said shaft, a torsion spring encircling said shaft and normally biasing said plate to an upwardly folded position with respect to said column, a pad carried by the upper and lower surfaces of said plate a spring biased member carried by said support and cooperating with said notched column for releasably locking said support at selected heights therealong, and means connected to said support and said column for counterbalancing said seat assembly.

8. In A foot platform assembly for use by an observer in the turret of a military tank and being adjustable at selected heights on a notched column secured between the top and floor of said turret, said foot platform assembly comprising, a support slidable on said column, a shaft rotatably mounted on the forward end of said support, a spring loaded foot plate pivoted on said shaft and movable between folded and open positions, a spring biased plunger housed in said support and normally engaging in a notch in said column, a foot pedal fixed to said shaft, a first lever fixed to said shaft and a second lever pivoted on said support and abutting said first lever whereby a depression of said pedal will rotate said shaft, and said first and second levers to move said plunger from said notch to release said support for the adjustment of said assembly, and means connected to said column and said support for counterbalancing said foot platform assembly.