Ex-cell-o Gmbh

Cadillac Gage Company

James C Hobson

Arthur John Wroble

A three rack and double pinion weapon elevation mechanism is disclosed and is useful for positioning and balancing a weapon, such as a cannon, on a combat vehicle. Two hydraulically-actuated gear racks are in facing relation with a main pinion in meshing engagement therebetween. The main pinion is integral with a shaft to which an output pinion is attached. Rotation of the main pinion produces an identical rotation of the output pinion. The output pinion is in mesh with a sector gear attached to the weapon. The two racks are slidable past the main pinion causing it and the output pinion to rotate in one direction or the other, producing a corresponding elevation or depression of the weapon. A third hydraulically-actuated rack is meshed with the main pinion to exert an elevating torque on the output pinion counter to a depressing torque exerted thereon by the weight of the weapon and which varies with changes in weapon elevation angle. A hydraulic accumulator arrangement pressurizes the third rack against the main pinion as a function of weapon position to automatically counter the depressing torque exerted by the weapon, thereby balancing the weapon on the combat vehicle.

Rack and pinion weapon elevation mechanism

A water cannon adapted for controlling large crowds of unruly people in a highly effective, yet non-lethal fashion. The cannon can be mounted on an appropriate vehicle, such as an armored car, so as to make it mobile and its supporting system completely self-contained. The water cannon discharges a high velocity stream of water in a pulsing fashion. Each pulse forms a water projectile which is effective against human targets at ranges up to one hundred feet. The water can be treated with a variety of desired additives. The water cannon includes a cannon body on which is operatively mounted a nozzle for discharging the discrete coherent water projectiles. The discharge of the water projectiles is controlled by a main stage valve, which is in turn controlled by a pilot valve. A water supply reservoir and pump are provided for supplying water under pressure to the main stage valve. An electronic control package emits pulses which in turn, energize a water cannon firing solenoid which controls the pilot valve, so as to cause the cannon to discharge in an 'on-off' fashion discharging discrete coherent water projectiles. The pulses emitted are each of a precisely timed duration, approximately 0.3 seconds 'on' and from 0.7 to 1.0 second 'off' to complete one 'on-off' cycle comprising 0.3 to 1.3 seconds duration. The electronic control package ceases emitting pulses after a plurality of shots, as for example three, and the gunner must then reinitiate the firing action.

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St. Clair Shores, MI, United States of America

James C Hobson