Wheel arm for a howitzer system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11971237-B2
Application number	US-202117999458-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 17, 2021
Priority date	May 21, 2020
Publication date	Apr 30, 2024
Grant date	Apr 30, 2024

Abstract

A wheel arm (114) for a chassis (140) of a towed howitzer system (100). The wheel arm (114) comprises a chassis coupling feature (116) centred on a wheel arm pivoting axis (160), and a wheel coupling feature (118) centred on a wheel rotation axis (162). The chassis coupling feature (116) is spaced apart from the wheel coupling feature (118). The wheel arm (114) comprises a lever engagement feature (122). The lever engagement feature (122), the wheel coupling feature (118) and the chassis coupling feature (116) are provided in series along the length of the wheel arm (114).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A wheel arm for a chassis of a towed howitzer system, the wheel arm comprising:
a chassis coupling feature centered on a wheel arm pivoting axis;
a wheel coupling feature centered on a wheel rotation axis, wherein the chassis coupling feature is spaced apart from the wheel coupling feature; and
a lever engagement feature provided as a protrusion which extends away from the wheel arm along an engagement feature axis, the protrusion comprising a wall defining a cavity with an opening centered on the engagement feature axis, and the wall defines a drain aperture extending through the wall;
wherein the lever engagement feature, the wheel coupling feature, and the chassis coupling feature are provided in series along the length of the wheel arm.

2. The wheel arm of claim 1 , wherein:
a line extending between the wheel arm pivoting axis and wheel rotation axis defines a longitudinal axis of the wheel arm; and
the engagement feature axis is aligned with, parallel to, or at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis.

3. The wheel arm of claim 1 , wherein the drain aperture is one of a plurality of drain apertures that extend through the wall.

4. The wheel arm of claim 1 , wherein:
the lever engagement feature is provided as a cavity which extends into the wheel arm; and
the cavity extends along an engagement feature axis.

5. A towed howitzer system comprising:
the wheel arm of claim 1 ;
a chassis, wherein the wheel arm is pivotably coupled to the chassis via the chassis coupling feature; and
a lever provided with (a) a coupling feature at a coupling end configured to engage with the lever engagement feature, and (b) a handle region at a free end opposite to the coupling end.

6. The towed howitzer system of claim 5 , wherein the coupling feature of the lever and the lever engagement feature are configured so that the coupling feature of the lever is a passage defined by a wall of the lever, the passage configured to receive the lever engagement feature of the wheel arm.

7. The towed howitzer system of claim 5 , wherein:
the lever engagement feature is the cavity, and the coupling feature of the lever is configured to extend into the cavity.

8. The towed howitzer system of claim 5 , wherein:
the lever engagement feature is provided as a cavity which extends into the wheel arm;
the cavity extends along an engagement feature axis; and
the lever engagement feature is the cavity, and the coupling feature of the lever is configured to extend into the cavity.

9. A method of operation of a towed howitzer system, the howitzer system including:
a wheel arm pivotably coupled to a chassis of the howitzer, the wheel arm comprising:
a chassis coupling feature centered on an arm pivoting axis;
a wheel coupling feature centered on a wheel rotation axis, and wherein the chassis coupling feature is spaced apart from the wheel coupling feature; and
a lever which extends from the wheel arm to a handle region at a free end, the lever having a lever engagement feature provided as a protrusion which extends away from the wheel arm along an engagement feature axis, the protrusion comprising a wall defining a cavity with an opening centered on the engagement feature axis, and the wall defines a drain aperture extending through the wall;
wherein the lever, the wheel coupling feature, and the chassis coupling feature are provided in series along the length of the wheel arm;

the method comprising:
a user grasping the handle region of the lever and applying a force to the lever so that the wheel arm pivots relative to the chassis about the arm pivoting axis.

10. The method of claim 9 , comprising coupling the lever to the wheel arm.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the howitzer system further includes a suspension system, and the method comprises:
operating the suspension system with the lever when the lever is disconnected from the wheel arm.

12. A method of manufacture of a wheel arm,
the wheel arm including:
a chassis coupling feature centred on a wheel arm pivoting axis;
a wheel coupling feature centred on a wheel rotation axis, wherein the chassis coupling feature is spaced apart from the wheel coupling feature; and
a lever engagement feature provided as a protrusion which extends away from the wheel arm along an engagement feature axis, the protrusion comprising a wall defining a cavity with an opening centered on the engagement feature axis, and the wall defines a drain aperture extending through the wall;
wherein the lever engagement feature, the wheel coupling feature and the chassis coupling feature are provided in series along the length of the wheel arm;

the method comprising:
providing a wheel arm precursor; and
attaching the lever engagement feature to the wheel arm.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
preparing the region of the wheel arm precursor to which the lever engagement feature is to be attached before attaching the lever engagement feature to the wheel arm precursor.

14. A towed howitzer system comprising:
the wheel arm of claim 1 ;
a chassis, wherein the wheel arm is pivotably coupled to the chassis via the chassis coupling feature; and
a lever provided with (a) a coupling feature at a coupling end configured to engage with the lever engagement feature, and (b) a handle region at a free end opposite to the coupling end.

15. A towed howitzer system comprising:
the wheel arm of claim 2 ;
a chassis, wherein the wheel arm is pivotably coupled to the chassis via the chassis coupling feature; and
a lever provided with (a) a coupling feature at a coupling end configured to engage with the lever engagement feature, and (b) a handle region at a free end opposite to the coupling end.

16. A towed howitzer system comprising:
the wheel arm of claim 1 ;
a chassis, wherein the wheel arm is pivotably coupled to the chassis via the chassis coupling feature; and
a lever provided with (a) a coupling feature at a coupling end configured to engage with the lever engagement feature, and (b) a handle region at a free end opposite to the coupling end.

17. A towed howitzer system comprising:
the wheel arm of claim 3 ;
a chassis, wherein the wheel arm is pivotably coupled to the chassis via the chassis coupling feature; and
a lever provided with (a) a coupling feature at a coupling end configured to engage with the lever engagement feature, and (b) a handle region at a free end opposite to the coupling end.

Assignees

• Bae Systems Plc

Inventors

• Kittley Andrew James

Classifications

• F41A23/30 Primary

  the wheels being liftable from the ground for firing · CPC title

• B60B35/009

  adapted for tiltable wheels · CPC title