Apparatus for aiming a weapon of a combat vehicle

US5648632A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Rheinmetall Industrie AG · DE

Inventors

• Wilfried Becker · Düsseldorf, DE
• Dirk Kilfitt · Velbert, DE
• Hans-Ulrich Desgranges · Celle, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 4, 1996
• Grant date: Jul 15, 1997
• Expiry date: Sep 4, 2016

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F41G3/22
• WIPO field: Other special machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A weapon system for a combat vehicle includes a weapon movably mounted on the vehicle; an electronic weapon control device connected to the weapon; a weapon operating station for accommodating a gunner; a plurality of angled mirrors disposed in an array in the weapon operating station to provide a panoramic view for the gunner when situated in the weapon operating station; a separate switch associated with each angled mirror and connected with the electronic weapon control device; a camera attached to the weapon to be movable therewith; a display screen connected with the camera for reproducing an image representing a view seen by the camera; a support arrangement for movably supporting the display screen for travel along the array; a positioning drive connected to the electronic weapon control device and the display screen whereby upon operation of one of the switches belonging to one of the angled mirrors through which a target is observed, the electronic weapon control device moves the weapon at the target and simultaneously the positioning drive moves the display screen along the array to an immediate vicinity of the one angled mirror through which the target was observed.