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DE-102024133223-A1 - Pipe retrieval arrangement with at least one pipe retrieval

DE102024133223A1DE 102024133223 A1DE102024133223 A1DE 102024133223A1DE-102024133223-A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a pipe retrieval arrangement (1a, 1b) with at least one pipe retrieval (2, 3), wherein the at least one pipe retrieval (2, 3) has a retrieval cylinder (4, 9) and a piston (5, 10), wherein the piston (5, 10) is connected to a piston rod (6, 11), wherein the piston (5, 10) and the retrieval cylinder (4, 9) define a pressure chamber (7, 12), wherein a gas (8) is arranged in the pressure chamber (7, 12), wherein the gas (8) is compressed in the pressure chamber (7, 12) during a pipe return and expands during a pipe advance. Better control of the retraction force is made possible by the provision of two pipe retractors (2, 3), namely a first pipe retractor (2) and a second pipe retractor (3), wherein the first pressure chamber (12) of the first pipe retractor (2) is connected to a first end (14) of a first line (13) and a second end (15) of the first line (13) is connected to a first pressure gauge (16), wherein the second pressure chamber (12) of the second pipe retractor (3) is connected to a first end (18) of a second line (17) and a second end (19) of the second line (17) is connected to a second pressure gauge (20).

Inventors

  • Robert Frank
  • Rüdiger Borchert

Assignees

  • RHEINMETALL WAFFE MUNITION GMBH

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20241113

Claims (15)

  1. Pipe retrieval arrangement (1a, 1b) with at least one pipe retrieval device (2, 3), wherein the at least one pipe retrieval device (2, 3) comprises a retrieval cylinder (4, 9) and a piston (5, 10), wherein the piston (5, 10) is connected to a piston rod (6, 11), wherein the piston (5, 10) and the retrieval cylinder (4, 9) define a pressure chamber (7, 12), wherein a gas (8) is arranged in the pressure chamber (7, 12), wherein the gas (8) is compressed in the pressure chamber (7, 12) during a pipe retraction and expands during a pipe advance, characterized in that two pipe retrieval devices (2, 3), namely a first pipe retrieval device (2) and a second pipe retrieval device (3), wherein the first pipe retrieval device (2) comprises a first retrieval cylinder (4) and a first piston (5), wherein the first piston (5) a first piston rod (6), wherein the first piston (5) and the first retraction cylinder (4) define a first pressure chamber (7), wherein the gas (8) is arranged in the first pressure chamber (7), wherein the gas (8) is compressed in the first pressure chamber (7) during a pipe return and expands during a pipe advance, wherein the second pipe retractor (3) has a second retraction cylinder (9) and a second piston (10), wherein the second piston (10) is connected to a second piston rod (11), wherein the second piston (10) and the second retraction cylinder (9) define a second pressure chamber (12), wherein the gas (8) is also arranged in the second pressure chamber (12), wherein the gas (8) is compressed in the second pressure chamber (12) during a pipe return and expands during a pipe advance, wherein the first pressure chamber (7) is connected to a first end (14) of a first line (13) and a second end (15) of the first Line (13) is connected to a first pressure gauge (16), wherein the second pressure chamber (12) is connected to a first end (18) of a second line (17) and a second end (19) of the second line (17) is connected to a second pressure gauge (20).
  2. Pipe retrieval arrangement according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the two pressure gauges (16, 20) are arranged at a distance from the retraction cylinders (4, 9).
  3. Pipe retrieval arrangement according to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that a first filling nozzle (22) is arranged or formed between the first end (14) of the first line (13) and the second end (15) of the first line (13) and/or a second filling nozzle (23) is arranged or formed between the first end (18) of the second line (17) and the second end (19) of the second line (17).
  4. Pipe retrieval arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two filling nozzles (22, 23) are arranged at a distance from the retrieval cylinders (4, 9).
  5. Pipe retrieval arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a common valve arrangement (24) with at least one valve (26, 27) is arranged between the first end (14, 18) and the second end (15, 19) of the first and second lines (13, 17), wherein the valve arrangement (24) has a first connection (A), a second connection (B) and a third connection (V), the so-called supply connection (V), wherein the valve arrangement (24) is functionally connected with its first connection (A) to the first line (13), with its second connection (B) to the second line (17) and with its third connection (V), namely the supply connection (V), to a common filling nozzle (25).
  6. Pipe retrieval arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the following switching positions are realized by the valve arrangement (24), wherein either a) all connections (A, B, V) are separated from each other, this forms the so-called neutral position, or b) the first connection (A) is connected to the supply connection (V), or c) the second connection (B) is connected to the supply connection (V).
  7. Pipe retrieval arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a further switching position d) is realized by the valve arrangement (24), wherein both the first connection (A) and the second connection (B) are connected to the supply connection (V).
  8. Pipe retrieval arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a further switching position e) is realized by the valve arrangement (24), wherein the first connection (A) and the second connection (B) are connected to each other and the connection from the first connection (A) to the supply connection (V) is blocked and the connection from the second connection (B) to the supply connection (V) is blocked.
  9. Pipe retrieval arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the valve arrangement (24) preferably comprises a first valve (26) which is preferably designed as a 5/3-way valve, which connects the supply control is the terminal (V) and optionally the first terminal (A) and the second terminal (B).
  10. Pipe retrieval arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the valve arrangement (24) has a second valve (27), in particular a shut-off valve (27), wherein the second valve (27) can open or close a connection between the first port (A) and the second port (B).
  11. Pipe retrieval arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pipe retrieval arrangement (1a, 1b) is mounted on a cradle of a tank.
  12. Pipe retrieval arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressure gauges (16, 20) are connected to a data processing system (21) for weapon control.
  13. Method for controlling a pipe retrieval arrangement according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the sensor data of the two pressure gauges (16, 20) are compared with setpoints and/or limit ranges by means of the data processing system (21), in particular comparing whether the sensor data of the two pressure gauges (16, 20) are above a minimum pressure and below a maximum pressure.
  14. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that a direct comparison of the sensor data of the first pressure gauge (16) and the second pressure gauge (20) is carried out, checking whether the sensor data of the two pressure gauges (16, 20) match or are at least within a defined tolerance limit.
  15. Method according to one of the two preceding claims, characterized in that if deviations or errors have been detected, an error message is issued by means of the data processing system (21).

Description

The invention relates to a pipe retrieval arrangement with at least one pipe retrieval having the features of the preamble of claim 1. The at least one pipe retrieval device has a retrieval cylinder and a piston, wherein the piston is connected to a piston rod, wherein the piston and the retrieval cylinder define a pressure chamber, wherein a gas is arranged in the pressure chamber, wherein the gas in the pressure chamber is compressed during a pipe return and expands during a pipe advance. A recoil mechanism is a component of a gun's upper carriage. Recoil mechanisms are used in many military guns, such as tank guns and artillery, but they can also be found on older naval guns. A recoil mechanism is particularly essential in automated and rapid-firing weapon systems to ensure a maximum rate of fire. Mounted primarily on a cradle, the recoil mechanism serves to return the gun barrel to its starting position after the recoil, which is dampened and limited by a recoil brake, and to hold it there. Firing a gun generates enormous recoil, which pushes the barrel backward. The recoil brake ensures that this recoil is controlled and slowed, and the recoil mechanism then pulls the barrel forward again. The terms "rear," meaning opposite to the direction of fire, and "front," meaning in the direction of fire, refer to the direction of fire. Pneumatic and hydropneumatic recoil mechanisms exist in the prior art. In hydropneumatic systems, the recoil brake and the recoil mechanism are connected: During recoil, a brake piston in the recoil brake forces brake fluid into the recoil mechanism, which compresses nitrogen gas behind a piston. The subsequent expansion of the nitrogen gas returns the gun barrel to its starting position. Another advantage of the barrel recoil arrangement is the increased precision, as the gun barrel returns to the exact starting position, which has a positive effect on aiming accuracy. The EP 0 119 299 A1 This describes a pneumatic recoil mechanism in which a first cylinder is attached to a cradle and contains a piston and piston rod. The cylinder and piston form a first pressure chamber. The piston rod is fixed to a base piece connected to a gun barrel. During firing, the base piece moves rearward, causing the piston to compress gas in the pressure chamber. An adjustment mechanism is provided to adapt the recoil force to the gun barrel's cant and consists of an adjustment cylinder whose adjustment pressure chamber is connected to the first pressure chamber. By varying the size of the adjustment pressure chamber, the effective working volume of the gas is varied, thus adjusting the recoil force. A displacer piston with a hollow piston rod is guided within the adjustment cylinder, allowing the introduction and discharge of pressurized fluid through several openings and valves. A control piston in the piston rod regulates the connection between the chambers. A cam track in the gun carriage moves the control piston as the gun is tilted, thereby increasing or decreasing the recoil force of the recoil mechanism depending on the gun barrel's inclination. Further hydropneumatic variants are revealed. Here, control is achieved via a valve system that automatically adjusts the recoil force using compression springs and pistons. An electrically operated control valve can also control the function via electrical signals, thus optimizing the recoil mechanism's operation at different gun elevations. This recoil mechanism has disadvantages. The precision and controllability of the recoil force are limited for several reasons: The gas volume is adjusted via a mechanical cam system that moves the control piston depending on the gun's elevation, thereby opening or closing the connecting ports. This control is indirect and highly dependent on the gun's exact position. Therefore, the recoil force cannot be controlled directly or precisely, making it difficult to monitor. The pressure is adjusted by varying the volume in the adjustment cylinder, whereby the gas must first flow through various chambers and ports. This design can lead to delays, as pneumatic systems generally exhibit a certain inertia in pressure adjustment. The result is a delayed response from the recoil mechanism, which can be particularly problematic during rapid fire. While the system can adjust the recoil force by changing the volume, this adjustment is difficult to control in practice. Furthermore, temperature and ambient pressure changes affect the gas properties within the adjustment cylinder. These fluctuations affect the pressure and thus the restoring force of the pipe retrieval mechanism, which further complicates stable and reliable control of the retrieval force. The invention is based on the objective of designing a pipe retrieval arrangement in such a way that better control of the retrieval force is enabled. This problem is now solved by a pipe retrieval arrangement with the features of claim 1, namely a pipe retrieval arrangement w