US 11,940,236 B2
Stealth vehicle with integrated fast deployment weapon system
Philippe Bolen, Angleur (BE); and Fabian Corona, Retinne (BE)
Assigned to JOHN COCKERILL DEFENSE SA, Loncin (BE)
Appl. No. 17/419,304
Filed by JOHN COCKERILL DEFENSE SA, Loncin (BE)
PCT Filed Feb. 7, 2020, PCT No. PCT/EP2020/053156
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 29, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/169368, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 27, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 19158468 (EP), filed on Feb. 21, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0074696 A1, Mar. 10, 2022
Int. Cl. F41A 23/20 (2006.01); F41H 7/02 (2006.01)
CPC F41A 23/20 (2013.01) [F41H 7/02 (2013.01)] 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An armored land vehicle, comprising:
a roof delimited by an opening containing a recess;
a retractable weapon system configured to be deployed automatically between a first retracted position located inside the vehicle in the recess of the roof and a second deployed and operational position located outside the vehicle;
an automatic mechanism configured to ensure, during use, a movement of the weapon system between the first and second positions;
an armored cap secured to the weapon system configured to cover the recess by forming a junction between an outer contour of the armored cap and a periphery of the opening of the roof with a perfect fit and as an extension of the roof surface, when the weapon system is in the first position; and
an ammunition supply rail located within the recess of the roof so as to supply the weapon system from inside the vehicle, the rail remaining within the recess in both the first and second positions of the weapons system,
wherein the weapon system comprises at least one weapon with a caliber of up to 40 mm, the at least one weapon comprising a barrel, such that, in the first position, the barrel is positioned forward with respect to the vehicle and a width of the at least one weapon is larger at a back of the at least one weapon than at a front of the at least one weapon,
wherein the opening containing the recess is fitted or related to dimensions of the weapon system and the armored cap, the armored cap being adapted to the dimensions of the weapon system so as to have a smallest possible surface area, the armored cap having a width larger at a back thereof than at a front thereof with respect to the vehicle, the armored cap being perfectly inserted into a remainder of the roof without overlap in the first position so as to ensure continuity of the roof surface,
wherein the weapon system is installed on a weapon support, the weapon support being mounted pivotably with the weapon system by a rolling bearing,
wherein the weapon support is mounted so as to be pivotable 360° about a vertical axis,
wherein a closing of the recess by the armored cap creates a sealed space containing the weapon system, the sealed space being ensured by at least one seal, and
wherein the armored cap comprises a protective shell completely surrounding at least a part of the weapon system.