CONFIGURABLE WEAPON STATION HAVING UNDER ARMOR RELOAD

摘要

A vehicle-mounted weapon station is configurable to adjust the height of a rotational elevation axis thereof. The weapon station is provided with at least one fixed hanging ammunition container that is reloadable under the armored protection of the vehicle and the weapon station shell. The weapon station may have both electrically-powered and manually-powered drive systems for rotating a pedestal about an azimuth axis relative to the vehicle, and for rotating weaponry and operational units about the elevation axis, wherein the electrical and manual drive systems transmit power through the same output gear.

主权项

1. A weapon station apparatus comprising:
a pedestal adapted to be mounted on an armored vehicle for rotation relative to the armored vehicle about an azimuth axis, the pedestal including a first attachment interface and a second attachment interface laterally-spaced from the first attachment interface; a first spacer including a bottom end configured for removable mounting on the first attachment interface of the pedestal and a top end having a yoke arm attachment interface; a second spacer including a bottom end configured for removable mounting on the second attachment interface of the pedestal and a top end having a yoke arm attachment interface; a driver elevation yoke arm configured for removable mounting on the first attachment interface of the pedestal and for removable mounting on the yoke arm attachment interface of the first spacer; a follower elevation yoke arm configured for removable mounting on the second attachment interface of the pedestal and for removable mounting on the yoke arm attachment interface of the second spacer; and a first elevation rotary bearing supported by the driver elevation yoke arm and a second elevation rotary bearing supported by the follower elevation yoke arm, wherein the first and second elevation rotary bearings define a rotational elevation axis; wherein the first spacer is selectably installable between the pedestal and the driver elevation yoke arm and the second spacer is selectably installable between the pedestal and the follower elevation yoke arm to change a height of the elevation axis above the pedestal.