Device for electrically controlling an automatic weapon

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for electrically controlling an automatic weapon, whereby the term control initially refers to the cocking, locking of the safety catch, and unlocking of the safety catch of the weapon, and furthermore to the firing of the weapon and possibly to the sensing of certain conditions at the weapon.

[0002] The object of the invention is to provide a device for electrically controlling an automatic weapon that can be used with different types of weapons having various designs, and that permits an automatic weapon, which is customarily operated manually, to be operated with remote control, for example from the interior of a tank.

[0003] The realization of this object is inventively effected via a device for electrically controlling an automatic weapon that is characterized by a housing that is detachably mounted on the side of the weapon and on or in which is disposed an electric drive motor that can be controlled by an electric control device; the drive motor drives a threaded spindle that extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the weapon and on which a spindle nut is movable out of a starting position, counter to the firing direction, back into an end position; a driver is disposed on the spindle nut in such a way that a cocking bolt that is guided on the housing and is coupled with the breechblock of the weapon is disposed in the path of movement of the driver and is movable out of a starting position, counter to the spring force acting on the breechblock of the weapon, back into a cocking position in the end position of the spindle nut, in which it is arrested by an arresting lever disposed on the housing in the end position of the spindle nut, corresponding to a “safety” condition of the weapon, and is released by the spindle nut during advancement of the spindle nut in its starting position, which corresponds to the “released safety catch” condition of the weapon and leads to an advancement of the cocking bolt and breechblock of the weapon.

[0004] The basic concept of the invention is to provide a device that is mounted on an automatic weapon, preferably by means of a quick-release, and that, controlled by an electrical control device that may be disposed at a remote location, automatically enables certain operations of the weapon control, such as the cocking, locking of the safety catch, unlocking of the safety catch, and firing of the weapon.

[0005] For this purpose, the device first of all has a threaded spindle that is driven by an electric motor and with the aid of which, as will be described in greater detail subsequently with the aid of an embodiment, the cocking of the breechblock can be carried out, whereby the configuration is such that after the cocking, the weapon initially is automatically in the safety condition, and an unlocking or release of the safety catch, and hence an advancement of the breechblock and the carrying out of certain functions, such as, for example, a supply of rounds or cartridges, can be carried out only after the automatic locking of the safety catch is released, i.e., as a consequence of a further signal the weapon is shifted into the unlocked safety catch condition.

[0006] A particular advantage of the inventive device is that the driver that is disposed on the spindle nut is not fixedly connected with the cocking bolt, and is preferably spring-mounted on the spindle nut in such a way that when the end position is reached, no overloading can occur. As a result of this uncoupling of cocking bolt and driver, it is also possible to manually operate the weapon at any time.

[0007] The device can advantageously be embodied in such a way that there is further provided in the device an electromagnet for the firing of the weapon, and a series of sensors can be provided that detect certain conditions of the device and of the weapon. For example, a sensor can be disposed in such a way that it determines if a weapon is even mounted on the device. This can be important, for example, in the stabilized operation on a tank. Furthermore, sensors can be provided that indicate the position of the breechblock of the weapon and/or carry out a round count.

[0013] The device illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 has a housing 2 that is mounted on an automatic weapon W via a non-illustrated quick-release coupling that depends on the type of weapon. The quick-release coupling can be released by means of a rotary knob 4. Disposed on the housing 2 is an electric drive motor 1 that can be controlled by an electric control device 16 illustrated in FIG. 4. The drive motor 1 drives a threaded spindle 6 that extends parallel to the longitudinal axis L of the weapon and on which a spindle nut 10 is movable out of a starting position at the end of the threaded spindle 6 on the motor side, counter to the firing direction, into an end position illustrated in FIG. 2. A driver 9 is spring-mounted and disposed on the spindle nut 10 in such a way that a cocking bolt 5, which is guided on the housing 2 and is coupled with the breechblock of the weapon, is disposed in the path of movement of the driver in such a way that the cocking bolt 5 can be moved out of a non-illustrated starting position, against the spring force that acts upon the breechblock of the weapon, back into a cocking position, illustrated in FIG. 2, in the end position of the spindle nut 10. This means that cocking bolt 5 and driver 9 are basically uncoupled, so that the cocking bolt 5, and hence the breechblock, can also be operated manually. In the end position of the spindle nut 10 illustrated in FIG. 2, in other words the cocking position of a securing bolt 5, the cocking bolt 5 is captured and retained by an arresting lever that is illustrated in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, the arresting lever is illustrated in solid lines in a resting position and is designated in this position by 14a. The arresting lever 14a is pivotable about an axis 14c, against the force of a torsion spring, out of the arresting position into the release position designated by 14b. In the end position of the spindle nut 10 illustrated in FIG. 2, the arresting lever 14a is retained in the arresting position, so that the cocking bolt is locked or arrested in the position 5a illustrated in FIG. 3. This corresponds to the safety condition of the weapon in which the breechblock of the weapon is also retained and cannot advance.

[0014] If, upon an appropriate signal coming from the electric control device 16, the spindle nut 10 again advances into its starting position, it pivots the arresting lever into the release position indicated by 14b, and the cocking bolt 5a, together with the breechblock of the weapon, moves forward under spring force until the cocking bolt assumes the position designated by 5b in FIG. 3. This corresponds to the unlocked or released safety catch condition of the weapon. During the advancement, the breechblock of the weapon performs appropriate functions, such as, for example, the supply of rounds or cartridges.

[0015] Disposed in the housing 2 is an electromagnet 3 for the firing of the weapon as a consequence of a firing signal coming from the electric control device. Furthermore arranged in the housing 2 is a first sensor 7 that is connected with the electric control device and establishes whether the housing 2 is disposed on a weapon W. Further sensors 11 and 12 show the positions “breechblock forward” or “breechblock to the rear”, and a sensor 8 senses, via the cocking bolt 5, the return of the safety catch and conveys pulses to the electric control device, with the aid of which a round count is carried out.

[0016] FIG. 4 shows the same illustration as does FIG. 1, whereby the already described mechanical components of the device, namely the drive motor 1, the housing 2 and the electromagnet 3 for firing the weapon, are illustrated in the same manner as in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 furthermore shows an electric control device 16, which on the one hand is connected to a power supply 18 and on the other hand is connected via a line 19 to a control unit 17, from which control signals are conveyed via a line 20, and further on the one hand via a line 22 to the drive motor 1 and on the other hand via a line 21 to the electromagnet 3.

[0017] In case of emergency, a manual operation of the device is possible. As can be seen from FIG. 2, this can occur by placing a crank or a handwheel at the end 23 of the threaded spindle 6.

[0018] The specification incorporates by reference the disclosure of German priority document 102 40 507.7 filed Sep. 3, 2002 and PCT/DE2003/002708 filed Aug. 12, 2003.

[0019] The present invention is, of course, in no way restricted to the specific disclosure of the specification and drawings, but also encompasses any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.