Gun mount

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12504249-B2
Application number	US-202218700567-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 10, 2022
Priority date	Oct 11, 2021
Publication date	Dec 23, 2025
Grant date	Dec 23, 2025

Abstract

The present invention relates to a removable weapon system, specifically to a weapons system that is magnetically engaged to a platform. There is provided a removable weapon system for a platform comprising a weapon system with a first mount, said platform comprising a second mount,
said first and second mount comprising a reversible engagement device, wherein the reversible engagement device is a magnet

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A removable weapon system for a platform comprising a platform mount and a combat system, the removable weapon system comprising:
a weapon system with a first mount; said first mount comprising a reversible engagement device, wherein the reversible engagement device adapted to engage with the platform mount, wherein the reversible engagement device is a magnet; and wherein the weapon system is adapted to receive electrical power and/or data from the combat system via the first mount and the platform mount.

2 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the magnet is a switchable magnet capable in use of being switched from an energised state to an un-energised state, to allow reversible engagement.

3 . The system according to claim 2 , wherein the switchable magnet is an electromagnet, a magnetic chuck, a switchable permanent magnet, part of a magnet array, or a superconducting magnet.

4 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the first mount comprises the reversible engagement device.

5 . The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a safety interlock to prevent disengagement of the reversible engagement device of the first mount from the platform mount, whilst the weapon system is operational.

6 . The system according to claim 5 , wherein the safety interlock prevents disengagement of the first mount from the platform mount when there is ammunition or payload present in the weapon system.

7 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the weapon system is a medium calibre gun, a small calibre gun, a remote weapon system (RWS), a torpedo launcher, a countermeasure launcher, or a life-raft launcher.

8 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the first mount and the platform mount comprises at least one cooperatively locating lug and void.

9 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the second mount is a ferrous material on said platform.

10 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the platform is a vehicle vessel or craft.

11 . A weapon mounting system, comprising:
a first mount configured for coupling to, or part of, a weapon system; a second mount configured for coupling to, or part of, a platform comprising a combat system; one or more magnets in the first mount; and a switch in the second mount; wherein the switch is controllable to switch the one or more magnets from an energised state to an un-energised state, to allow reversible engagement of the first and second mounts, and wherein the weapon system is adapted to receive electrical power and/or data from the combat system via the first mount and the second mount.

12 . The system according to claim 11 , wherein the switch and the one or more magnets collectively provide an electromagnet, a magnetic chuck, a switchable permanent magnet, a switchable magnet array, or a superconducting magnet.

13 . The system according to claim 11 , wherein the first mount includes the switch, and the second mount includes the one or more magnets.

14 . The system according to claim 11 , comprising a safety interlock configured to prevent disengagement of the first mount from the second mount, responsive to the weapon system being operational.

15 . The system according to claim 14 , wherein the safety interlock prevents disengagement of the first mount from the second mount, responsive to the weapon system being loaded with ammunition or payload.

16 . The system according to claim 11 , comprising the weapon system, wherein the weapon system is a medium calibre gun, a small calibre gun, a remote weapon system (RWS), a torpedo launcher, a countermeasure launcher, or a life-raft launcher.

17 . The system according to claim 11 , wherein the first and second mounts comprises at least one cooperatively locating lug and void.

18 . A weapon mounting system, comprising:
a first mount configured for coupling to, or part of, a weapon system; a second mount configured for coupling to, or part of, a platform comprising a combat system; one or more switchable magnets in the first mount; and wherein the one or more switchable magnets are switchable from an energised state to an un-energised state, to allow reversible engagement of the first and second mounts; and wherein electrical power and/or data is transferrable between the platform and the weapon system via the first and second mounts.

19 . The system according to claim 18 , comprising a safety interlock configured to prevent disengagement of the first mount from the second mount, responsive to the weapon system being operational or loaded.

Assignees

• Bae Systems Plc

Inventors

• Lewin Richard Peter
• Andrew Griffith Peter

Classifications

• F41A23/34 Primary

  on wheeled or endless-track vehicles · CPC title

• F41A23/00

  Gun mountings, e.g. on vehicles; Disposition of guns on vehicles (F41A25/00, F41A27/00 take precedence) · CPC title

• F41A23/24 Primary

  Turret gun mountings (feeding, loading or guiding ammunition F41A9/00; mechanical elevating or traversing systems for turret guns F41A27/18) · CPC title

• F41A11/02

  Modular concepts, e.g. weapon-family concepts · CPC title

• F41A11/00 Primary

  Assembly or disassembly features; Modular concepts; Articulated or collapsible guns (F41A3/64, F41A19/10 - F41A19/15, F41A21/48, F41A25/26 take precedence) · CPC title