US2396314A - Aircraft armament - Google Patents

Description

Filed NOV. 7, 1941 D. T. BROWN E lAL AIRCRAFT ARMAMENT March 12, 1946.

Makdlh 12, 1946. D, T, BROWN ETAL AIRCRAFT ARMAMENT Filed Nov. 7, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 y MaCh 12 1946 D. T. BROWN ETAL 2,395,3M

AIRCRAFT ARMAMENT Filed NOV. '7, `194:1 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 f// I f/ Patented Mar. 12, 1946 AIRCRAFT ARMAMENT Dayton T. Brown, Manhasset, Pedro S. Yujuico, Great Neck, and Horace T. Moore, Brooklyn, N.Y., assignors to Brewster Aeronautical Corporation, Long Island City, N.' Y.

Application-November 7, 1941, Serial No. 418,152

1 Claim.

This invention'relates to military aircraft, and more particularly to armament therefor. One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved military airplane having improved means for defense against attack from all directions rearwardly, above, below, and sidewise thereof. Another object of 'the invention is to provide an. improved rotatable gun turret for airplanes mounting `adjustable guns in an improved manner, and improved means for control thereof. Another object of theinvention is to provide an improved combination gun turret and gun battery and ammunition magazine arrangement for airplanes. Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the specification hereinafter.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows an airplane and gun turret and control mechanism of the invention in side elevation;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation, on an enlarged scale and with portions thereof shown in section, of the gun turret arrangement thereof;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation corresponding to Fig. 2, and showing portions thereof in section; and

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan of the lower gun battery and ammunition magazine arrangement of Figs. 2 and 3, showing the gun battery pointing vertlcally downwardly and the ammunition magazine in operative and in partially withdrawn positions.

The invention is illustrated in conjunction with an airplane having a fuselage fore part designated at I and its rear part designated I I and having a rudder I2 and stabilizer-elevator assembly I4 mounted rearwardly thereof. v

The crew cockpit is indicated at I6 as being enclosed by a transparent canopy I8. The pilot is indicated at 2U as being seated within a forward portion of the cockpit, and the gunner is indicated at 22 as being seated in a rear portion of the cockpit. The gun turret is indicated generally at 25 as being disposed interiorly of the airplane fuselage and mounted for rotation about a vertical axis 26 at a position spaced rearwardly of the position of the gunner 22.

The turret 25 comprises generally a unitary frame of hour-glass form having a pair of vertically spaced circular track portions 28 and 3B respectively for mounting the turret for rotation about the axis 26 while positioning the turret vertically with respect to the fuselage. At its upper end the turret mounts -a gun battery which is indicated at 32, and at its lower Vend it `mounts a gun battery indicated at v34. Thegun batteries gun form, but it will be understood that itiswithin the concept of the present invention that each of the gunV batteries referred to may comprise twin units or any other multiple gun type of battery wherein the guns are so mounted as to move in unison for training upon the target.

The upper and lower gun batteries 32e-34 are each mounted upon the turret 25 so as to be pivotable about transverse Vhorizontal axes in vertical directions in connection with elevational adjustments thereof for gun training purposes, and the guns are mounted so as to be disposed above and below the levels of the adiacent fuselage upper and lower decks or surfaces, respectively, so as to be adapted to shoot horizontally and toward the tail of the airplane without hitting the rear fuselage structure. In this connection it will be noted particularly that the cockpit canopy I8 terminates rearwardly at about the fore and aft position of the junction between the front fuselage section I0 and the rear fuselage section II which is of reduced vertical dimension in the region of its connection to the front fuselage section; and that the turret 25 is mounted longitudinally of the airplane so that the gun batteries 32--34 occupy the spaces directly behind the fr ont fuselage section above and below the levels of the rear fuselage section, respectively, in the region thereof. Thus, a-blister 35 may be mounted upon the turret 25 to enclose the upper gun battery 32 to protect the mechanism thereof from the elements and to cooperate with the cockpitcanopy I8 and the rear fuselage section to provide a substantially streamlined upper fuselage structure. Similarly, a blister 36 may be mounted upon the turret to enclose the lower gun battery 34 to substantially streamline the lower fuselage line of the airplane.

Thus, it will be understood that the upper and lower` gun batteries are arranged to be simultaneously adjustable in azimuth for gun training purposes upon rotation of the turret 25, and Vthat the guns are vertically movable relative to the turret for elevational adjustments thereof; whereby upon proper manipulation of the guns they may be directed against a target in anydirection rearwardly or sidewise or above or below the airplane in an improved manner. In this connection it is to be particularly noted it is contem-4 plated that any suitable type of Agun fire interrupter vdevices will be employed inA conjunction with the guns so'that theyA will be automatically prevented from firing-into thefuselage `and empennagestructures of 'the airplane; `and that, in

are illustrated in the drawings as being of single l addition, any suitable arrangement for stopping gun adjusting movements of the guns whenever they approach positions of interference with respect to the adjacent portions of the airplane structure will be employed.

Hence, it will be understood that by reason of the general arrangement of the gun turret 25 and the gun batteries 32--34 provision is made for directing defensive gun rlre rearwardly of the airplane and in all directions sidewise and vertically thereof in such manner that at least one of the gun battery units may at all times be trained upon a target within this sphere. For example, if the target is to the rear and below the longitudinal plane of the airplane, the lower gun battery 34 will be free to train thereon while the upper gun battery 32 will be stopped as in the position thereof shown in Fig. 1 and prevented from ring into the rudder structure l2 by means of the re interruption mechanism referred to hereinabove. If the target then traverses the longitudinal plane of the airplane and proceeds to positions thereabove, the upper gun battery 32 will thereupon be enabled to train upon the target while the lower gun battery 34 will be stopped at a position of substantial parallelism with respect to the under-surface of the fuselage tail. However. if the target appears koff to either side of the airplane. the turret may be adjusted in azimuth so as to train both gun batteries upon the target; and it will therefore bel appreciated that the arrangement of the invention provides for permissible continuous fire at a target pursuing the airplane or attacking it from any direction except head-on. Y

More specifically. as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. the turret 25 comprises a mid-frame member 3l of generally hour-glass form fabricated of sheet metal material or the like so as to provide a rigid framing element terminating in an upper end wall or deck 38 and a lower end wall or deck 39. The circular track formations 28-30 encompass the corresponding upper and lower end portions. respectively. of the frame 31. A series of rollers 4i are mounted to extend from xed yportions of the airplane fuselage so as to bear against the tra^k formation 28 so as to support the upper end of the turret for rotation about the vertical central axis 26. A similar set of rollers 4B is mounted to Vbear Vagainst the track formation 30 Vso as to rotatably support the lower end of the turret frame. Additional sets of oopositely mounted rollersM and 49 are mounted in verticallv onposed relation to engage against corresponding upper and lower surface portions of the track formation 30. whereby the turret frame 31 is positioned verticallv with respect to the airplane fuselage without interference with rotation thereof about the axis r26.

The upper deck 38 of the turret frame mounts a yoke bracket 50 carrying a trunuion pin 52 which mounts the gun 32 upon the turret frame for pivotal adjustment about the axis of the pin 52; whereby the gun may be adjusted in elevation but is otherwise mounted to move as a unit with the turret 25. Similarly, the lower deck 39 of the turret frame mounts a yoke bracket 54 which carries the lower gun 34 by means of a trunnion pin 55; and thus the guns 32-34 are similarly mounted in inverse manner relative to the turret frame. Quadrants 58 and 59 extend from the guns 32-34 respectively, so as to have their respective toothed portions 60-62 disposed concentrically of the corresponding axesfof rotation ofY the guns about the pivot pins 52--56. Motors 64--66 are operatively coupled through corresponding suitable gearing indicated at E8- 69 with the quadrants 58-59 so as to be adapted to motivate the guns 32-34 for elevational adjustments relative to the turret frame 3l in response to energization of the motor devices 64-66.

Electric power conductor cables lil-l2 lead into connection with the corresponding motors (i4-66 from corresponding terminal boxes 14-15 having corresponding conductors i1-'i8 leading therefrom into connection with commutator ring elements indicated generally at 'IS-30. The commutator elements are arranged concentrically of the Vaxis 26 of rotation of the turret and are mounted upon areduced diameter central portion of the turret frame 33. A commutator brush boX 82 is arranged adjacent the commutator elements 'I3-80 and fixed to a stationary portion of the airplane fuselage so as to be adapted to provide electrical connections between the conductors 11-18 and conductors 84--85 leading to the turret control device which will be described more indetail hereinafter. The motors Slt-6E are grounded, and a battery is similarly grounded and connected into the control system by means of a cable 06. Thus, upon energization of the conductors 04-85 through operation of the turret control device, it will be understood that the elevating motors 64-86 will be energized to drive the corresponding gear and quadrant mechanisms so that the guns 32-34 will be adjusted in elevation about their mounting pivot 4pins F12- 55.

A third motor is suitably mounted upon a stationary portion of the airplane fuselage so as to engage through means of a gear train 92 with a ring gear portion 94 which is mounted upon and encompasses the circular track portion 28 of the turret frame. A conductor conduit 9S is arranged in operativer association with the motor 90 and the commutator device so as to provide electrical connection through the brush box 82 with e conductor conduit 98 leading to the turret control device. Thus, it will be understood that throughY energization of the motor 99 the turret frame 36 will be caused to rotate about the Vertical axis 26 in either direction of rotation as may be called for by gunner operation of the control device'sol as to train the gun batteries of the turret l in azimuth.

As illustrated in Fig. l, the turret control mechanism includes a duplex periscope type y sighting member which is indicated generally at |00. The sight comprises a tubular frame member |02 mounted to extend vertically of the airplane fuselage and to be rotatable relative thereto about its vertical axis. For this purpose the sight tube is carried by alpedestal bearing |04; and a seat |06 for the gunner 22 is mounted upon the sight tube so as to be adapted to rotate therewith while supporting the gunner in upright seated position while straddling the sight tube. A circular foot rail |08 is carried by the sight tube for the convenience ofthe gunner.

The sight tube |02 mounts a vertically pivotable periscope sight device at the upper and lower ends thereof as indicated at II--I |2 respectively, and it will be noted that the sight members |I0| I2 are arranged to extend beyond the corresponding upper and lower contour limits of adjacent portions of the airplane fuselage so as to be enabled to sight in all directions above and belowV the airplane fuselage lines. An eye piece ||4 is arranged in conjunction with the .sight tube |02 so as tovbe invregistry with the position of the eyes of the gunner; and it willbe understood that the sighting member: will.` include suit-` able prism andreflectoridevices operatively as-A sociating the sight devices ||l l2 and the'eye piece lili so that the gunner will be enabled `toV view the territory surrounding the airplane through the eye piece H4; as in the manner pro-y vided for by any suitable form of duplex periscope sight mechanism. Preferably, the gunners seat |66 will be arranged to beadjustable toward and away from the sight tube-|02 as indicated by broken lines in Fig. l, so that the gunner may withdraw from the eye piece under non-combat conditions.

Manually operable sight control means for causing the periscope sight devices to be actuated to follow moving targets and to sight atdiiferent positions within the range thereofiare arranged' A pair within convenient reach of the gunner. ofmanual control members are provided at`||i for manipulation by the gunner andare operatively coupled with suitable motor devices arranged in `conjunction with the sight tube |ii2so that, for example, movement of one of the control members is automatically productive of rotation of the sight tube i-'iZ about its vertical axis, and thus it will be understood that the sight tube will be adjusted in azimuth soY as to provide any necessary adjustments of they periscope sight mechanism in azimuth for sighting upon a target. The other control member is operably associated with other motors connected to the sight devices |e-| i2 in such manner that they will be thereby caused to pivot simultaneously in vertical directions, so that their lines of Vsight will be thereby adjusted in elevation whereby the gunner may sight unon a target anywhere within range of the sighting mechanism and may follow a moving target with ease and facility. It is to be understood that the duplex periscope sight mechanism per se referred to hereinabove does not constitute a portion. of the present invention, and that any suitable such type of sighting mechanism as made by optical manufacturers may be employed in conjunction with the turret of the invention for control thereof as described.

Arrangement is made for causing the gun batteries 32-34 to be adjusted in synchronism with the movements of the sight members |||l| I2 as explained hereinabove so as to provide corresponding actuation of the gun batteries (i2-34. For example, a suitable means for this purpose may involve use of a Selsyn motor arrangement wherein Selsyn nctor units will operatively be coupled to the motor devices Sl-SG-S Aof the" turret and to the sighting mechanism in such manner that elevational and` azimuth adjustments of the sighting mechanism will automatically cause control impulses to travel through the conductors 34-85-38 and to the motors $4- BG-SD so as to energize the latter to produce commensurate elevational and azimuth adjustments of the gun batteries 32-34. Thus, Selsyn motor units may be arranged in conjunction with the turret motor devices as indicated at |23- |22|24 to cooperate with similar Selsyn motor units arranged to engage the sighting mechanism as indicated at lit-|28 (Fig. l).

Suitable servo-amplifiers may be employed as indicated at |3ii and amplidynes' may be employed as indicated at 32 in conjunction with the electrical connections between the corresponding Selsyn units to provide the desired operation of the mechanism; but it is to be understood that within the concept of the present invention any nisms may be employed to connect the sighting mechanismand thezgun turret so that the gun batteries 32--34wil1 be automatically actuated in 1 synchronismwith sighting adjustments of the sighting mechanism, and that the Selsyn and amplifying devices per se illustrated and referred to hereinabove form no part of the present invention. Inthis connection it is to be noted that the remote control actuating mechanism will include suitable means for permitting the gun batteries 32-34 to be stopped against movement into positions of interference with portions of the airplane while the sighting mechanism moves throughr a path corresponding to such interference, and for subsequently driving the gun batteries into positional agreement with the sighting mechanism after it emerges from such interference position. For this purpose any suitable type of mechanism not forming per se part of the present invention may be employed; as for example, an arrangement such as is disclosed in Patent 1,958,245. Installation of such a device is ndicated diagrammatically at |35 in Fig. 1.

Provision is made for feeding ammunition to the gun batteries of the turret i mounting ammunition containers upon each so as to be carried thereby as a unit therewith during all gun training adjustments. The ammunition magazine for the upper gun battery 32 is illustrated at |40. and it will be seen that the magazine |40 is generally of rectangular box-like form having suchwidth'as to freelv accommodate the gun cartridge when packed within the container in directions transversely thereof. The gun cartridges will, of course, be arranged in the form ofa continuous cartridge belt as indicated at |122 by means of the usual form of connecting links; and the cartridge `belt will nreferablv he loaded within the magazine in accordion-pleated manner, as illustrated in Fig. 3.

The magazine MU is generally semi-circular in end view and is mounted to be suspended below the gun 32 and to be substantially centered upon the gun as viewed in Fig. 3. Thus, it will be understood that the gun and magazine unit is adapted to pivot upwardly and downwardly from the position thereof illustrated by Figs. 1 to 3 for gun aiming purposes, and that in connection withsuch movements of the gun magazine unit the arcuate formation of the bottom wall of the magazine adapts the magazine to move adjacent the circulariside wall portions of the blister 35 and the turret enclosure in closely conforming and complementing manner without interference therefrom. Thus, the magazine Hill may be of maximum lateral and depth dimensions whereby a maximum ammunition load may be carried thereby in View of the space available for movement of the magazine within the turret and turret enclosure structure.

To facilitate nesting of the cartridge belt ifi?! within the magazine |40 and its feeding therefrom into the gun 32, the magazine is transversely partitioned by a central vertical wall lil and a side wall |46 which is spaced from the adjacent side wall portion of the magazine MD. A roller |48 is preferably mounted adjacent the upper end of the partition wall |46. Thus, the first end portion of the cartridge belt may be packed in folded arrangement within the compartment at the left hand side of the magazine as viewed in Fig. 3, wherefrom it may be trained over the roller |48 and thence through the passageway between the partition wall |46 suitable formof synchronizing motor mecha-` and the adjacent bottom wall portion ofthe magazine, and thence into the compartment at the right hand side of the magazine wherein it will be similarly folded and nally threaded into Y engagement with the feed pawl mechanism of the gun 32 in the region of the cartridge feedway portion of the gun whichis designated at |49. A. link ejection chute |56 is provided to conduct the ejected links to a container |52 disposed adjacent and to the rear of the magazine lfm.

Provision is made for feeding ammunition to the lower gun 34 by mounting a magazine |55 upon the gun structure so as to be carried thereby throughout all phases of the gun adjusting operation. The magazine |55 is generally similar in form to the magazine |45; that is, it is of box-like formation and generally semi-circular in end view (Fig. 3) whereby it is adapted to move with the gun 3llrrelative to the inner wall portions of the'lower blister 36 and the turret enclosure in the manner described hereinabove in connection with the magazine |55. The magazine |55 is mounted upon thegun 35 by means Aof a special bracket or truss which comprises generally a central body portion |55 adapted to substantially embrace the body of the gun ifi and to firmly attach to the lower portion of the gun casing as at |53. Opposite leg portions |59 extend from the central body portion |555 for detachable connection with the rmagazine |55 at its oppositevlower sides thereof through means of pins wil- |62 respectively. `The pins are arranged to extend through suitably apertured portions of the magazine and transversely thereof so as to provide therebetween rigid mounting connection means for holding the magazine at its opposite sides.

To service the magazine |55 or to replace it when emptied withl another similar magazine, the gun-magazine unit may first be swung upon the pivot pin 56 so as to point the gun 31% downwardly whereupon the magazine |55 will be disposed substantially horizontally. The locking pin 62 may then be removed and the magazine may then be swung about the vaxis of the hinge pin ii, as illustrated by broken lines in Fig. 4, so as to extend the magazine outwardly and away from the confines of the turret so as to be con' drawn and the magazine carried bodily in a side-V wise direction out of engagement with its mounting mechanism. A lled magazine may thenfbe remounted in connection with the gun by performing the operation in reverse order. A rejected link chute |65 and an empty case ejection chute |57 is provided in conjunction with the gun 34 for discharging the links and empty cases through the bottom of the blister 36, the blister 36 being transversely slotted as indicated at |58 for this purpose, and for the purpose of permitting the barrel of the gun 34 to traverse the plane of the blister during elevational adjustments of the gun. It will be understood, of

f course, that the upper blister 35 will be similarly slotted for permitting elevational adjustments of the gun 32.

Thus, it will be appreciated that the airplane of the invention embodies a. novel fuselage and duplex turret gun battery arrangement whereby a substantially streamlined airplane is provided in conjunction with an improved armament arrangement for defending the airplane against attack from the rear. It will be appreciated that the remote control arrangement in connection with the turret of the invention provides important features andA advantages with respect to the facility provided for controlling the turret and the gun batteries thereof. Particular attention is called to the fact that the upper and lower gun battery elements are both centered upon the vertical axis 26 of rotation of the turret, whereby accurate training of the guns upon a target is made possible; and in this connectionit is ofcourse contemplated that the gun battery elevational control mechanisni may include means for automatically converging the lines of fire of the upper and lower gun batteries, if desired. Thus, the arrangement of the invention provides marked features and advantages as compared, for example, `to arrangements of the prior art such as wherein the gunner is crowded into the turretenclosure, and wherein either the gun battery must be displaced forwardly of the center of turret rotation or the turret dimensions must be undesirably enlarged. i

It will also be appreciated that although onlyV one form of the invention has been shown and described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited but that various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

ln an airplane, a cylindrical turret, a gun mounted within said turret for adjustment about an axis substantially intersecting the center line of said turret, an ammunition magazine for said gun mounted upon said gun by means of a pair of spaced V`detachable pin connections to move as a unit therewith, said magazine extending from said gun and terminating in an arcuate end Awall portion whereby to substantially conform to the cylindrical wall form of said turret and to avoid interference therewith upon movement of said gun magazine unit so asv to dispose said magazine transversely of the longitudinal axis of said turret, said magazine being pivotable upon one of said pin connections upon detachment of the other thereof whereby said magazine may be swung laterally relative to said gun and turret for access thereto for magazine servicing purposes.

DAYTON T. BROWN.

PEDRO S. YUJUICO.

HORACE T. MOORE.

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