Helicopter weapon mounting system

摘要

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.

主权项

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.