EP0244124A1

EP0244124A1 - Armoured vehicle with crane

Info

Publication number: EP0244124A1
Application number: EP87303320A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alan Hodgson
Original assignee: Vickers PLC
Current assignee: Vinters Ltd
Priority date: 1986-05-02
Filing date: 1987-04-15
Publication date: 1987-11-04
Also published as: GB8610782D0; KR870011445A

Abstract

An armoured vehicle comprises a chassis (2) on which is mounted a rotatable turret (4). A crane (12) is mounted on the turret (4) to be rotatable therewith and pivotal relative thereto.

Description

This invention relates to armoured vehicles provided with cranes whereby they are capable of being used as recovery vehicles, engineer/repair vehicles and the like.
Conventional armoured recovery vehicles commonly incorporate a crane mounted on the hull or chassis of the vehicle, the crane being used in the recovery or repair of bogged in, disabled or broken down vehicles. Such vehicles may also incorporate winches mounted in or on the hull or chassis, again for recovery or repair purposes.
The aforementioned cranes may be fixed in position on the hull of the vehicle, in which case it is necessary to manoeuvre the vehicle as a whole into a suitable position relative to a vehicle to be rescued prior to operating the crane.
Alternatively, the crane may be supported on a turntable mounted on the hull or chassis, the crane being rotatable relative to the chassis on its associated bearing race thus somewhat improving access to a vehicle to be rescued compared with the first-mentioned arrangement. However, the crew in such a vehicle remain stationary relative to the crane, and consequently manoeuvrability relative to a vehicle to be rescued can still pose problems.
It would be desirable to be able to provide an armoured vehicle incorporating a crane less restricted in its movements and more easily controlled by the vehicle crew than heretofore.
According to the present invention there is provided an armoured vehicle comprising a chassis on which is mounted a rotatable turret, and a crane mounted on the turret tjp be rotatable with said turret and pivotal relative thereto.
It will be appreciated that, with such an arrangement, the crane does not require a separate bearing race of its own but is rotatable with the turret and its occupants through 360°, whereby, in conjunction with the pivotability of the crane, all round manoeuvrability relative to the armoured vehicle is achieved, the crew moving with the crane whereby control thereof is improved.
Preferably the crane comprises a support structure or framework, for example an A-frame or the like, pivotally mounted on, externally of, the turret, said framework having an extensible outer end section carrying a crane-hook, one or more fixed-length ties extending between the turret and said end section, the arrangement being such that extension and retraction of said end section relative to the remainder of the framework, which may be achieved hydraulically, electrically or mechanically, results in lowering and raising of the framework relative to the turret.
Conveniently the crane-hook is attached to a rope or cable supplied from a winch such that the position of the crane-hook relative to the framework can be altered. The winch may be mounted on the framework or in the vehicle turret.
By way of example only, an embodiment of the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of an armoured vehicle according to the invention, and
Fig. 2 is a plan view from above of the vehicle of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the illustrated armoured recovery or repair vehicle comprises a tracked hull 2 on which is mounted a turret 4 rotatable about a central vertical axis 'A' as indicated by arrows 'B', the turret including a conventional crew hatch 6 and a cupola 8.
Mounted adjacent the front regions of, to be rotatable with, the turret 4 is a crane indicated generally at 10, the crane comprising an A-frame 12 the free ends of the arms of which are each pivotally mounted to the turret at 14.
The frame 12 carries a box-section member 16 from which extends a telescopic end section 18 the position of which relative to the member 16 and the A-frame 12 can be adjusted, for example hydraulically, electrically or mechanically.
A pair of fixed length ties 20 extend between the turret 4 and a bracket 22 mounted on the free end of the end section 18, said end section 18 further carrying a pulley wheel 24.
A transverse support member 26 extending between the arms of the A-frame 12 provides rigidity to said frame and a mounting for the member 16, a rope winch 28 also being mounted on said support member 26. A rope 30 extends from the winch 28, around the pulley wheel 24 and carries a crane hook 32 the position of which relative to the telescopic end section 18 can be adjusted by appropriate actuation of the winch 28.
It will be appreciated that, in view of the fixed lengths of the ties 20 extending between the turret 4 and the bracket 22, extension and retraction of the telescopic end section 18 relative to the frame 12 serves to lower and to raise the crane 10 as indicated by the arrow 'E in Fig. 1, with the A-frame 12 pivoting about the points 14. Thus the position of the hook 32 is substantially universally adjustable through appropriate rotation of the turret 4, pivoting of the A-frame 12 and actuation of the rope winch 28, the crew within the turret 4 being able to control and follow said movement of the crane very closely.
Clearly the precise'construction of the crane, which may be mounted other than on the front of the turret 4, can vary from that illustrated. The frame 12 may be other than A-shaped, there may be one or more than two ties 20, which ties may comprise cables, rods or the like, while the winch 28 may be mounted in the turret 4 instead of on the frame 12. Other modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. An armoured vehicle comprising a chassis (2) on which is mounted a rotatable turret (4) and characterised by a crane (10) mounted on the turret (4) to be rotatable with said turret (4) and pivotal relative thereto.

2. An armoured vehicle as claimed in claim 1 in which the crane (10) comprises a support structure or framework (12) pivotally mounted on, externally of,the turret (4), said framework having an extensible outer end section (18) carrying a crane hook (32), and one or more fixed length ties (10) extending between the turret (4) and said end section (18), the arrangement being such that extension and retraction of said end section (18) relative to the remainder of the framework (12) results in lowering and raising of the framework (12) relative to the turret (4).

3. An armoured vehicle as claimed in claim 2 in which the crane hook (32) is attached to a cable (3) supplied from a winch (28) such that the position of the crane hook (32) relative to the framework (12) can be altered.

4. An armoured vehicle as claimed in claim 3 in which the winch (28) is mounted on the framework (12).

5. An armoured vehicle as claimed in claim 3 in which the winch (28) is mounted in the turret (4).