The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 10, 1984
Filed:
Sep. 27, 1982
James C Hobson, St. Clair Shores, MI (US);
Ex-Cell-O Corporation, Troy, MI (US);
Abstract
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.