ES2911206T5 - Storage box for an armored vehicle - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

Storage box for an armored vehicle

The present invention relates to an armored vehicle according to claim 1.

Storage boxes are used to store mobile or mission-specific equipment or devices. Storage space is often limited in armored vehicles. However, the items and/or devices mentioned require storage space, and the need for more space is increasing.

For example, DE 102012 108527 B4 describes a rear storage box for a cargo vehicle, which is attached to the vehicle's chassis. This storage box is of a mobile design, i.e., longitudinally movable, which allows for increased storage volume and/or easier access to the storage space. DE 102004025743 A1 discloses a trigger module with an additional housing.

However, in an armored vehicle, implementing such solutions is difficult, as the chassis must be as closed as possible on all sides.

Therefore, it is common in armored vehicles to place storage space in the form of storage boxes within a vehicle structure, for example, in a turret. To achieve this, it is common practice to attach a storage box to the rear of the turret using attachment points.

However, one difficulty with turret-mounted storage boxes is that a maintenance cover is often located in the rear positions where the storage boxes are mounted. This is necessary, so the area in front of the maintenance cover can only be used to a limited extent as storage space. Consequently, the storage volume of such a box is quite small.

The objective of the present invention is therefore to provide an armored vehicle with a storage box that offers the largest possible storage volume, without hindering access to the maintenance cover on the turret of the armored vehicle.

This objective is solved with the characteristics of independent claim 1.

For this purpose, an armored vehicle is proposed with a turret, a storage box, and at least one attachment point on the turret, the storage box comprising at least one box lid, and where the storage box is configured such that it has at least two parts, one of these parts being pivotable by means of at least one hinge bearing at one of the attachment points, and each part of the storage box has an opening that can be closed with a box lid, a maintenance area being provided in the turret, accessible by means of a maintenance lid, and the maintenance lid being mounted on the pivoting part of the storage box, such that the pivoting movement of the pivoting part of the storage box and the maintenance lid are performed simultaneously. At least one attachment point is provided on the turret, to which the storage box can be attached. Preferably, these attachment points are arranged at the rear.

The storage box is configured so that it can be accessed through at least one box lid. To this end, the box lid is designed to close at least one opening in the storage box. Furthermore, the box lid is designed to clear the opening, ensuring unobstructed access to the interior of the storage box.

To achieve this, hinges can be provided to pivot the box lid. However, simple fixing mechanisms, such as screws, can also be used to secure or remove the box lid above the opening.

According to the invention, the storage box is configured in at least two parts, one of which is pivotable. Thus, a part of the storage box is pivotably arranged at the fixing point via at least one pivot bearing at one of the attachment points.

Each part of the storage box is a self-contained element, so that after attaching the box lid to one part of the storage box, the box is completely closed. All the parts of the storage box together form the storage box.

Via the attachment points on the tower, the storage box moves with the movement of the tower, and at least the pivoting part of the storage box can be further moved via the articulation bearing.

By moving one of the parts of the storage box, it can be partially or completely positioned in front of a maintenance cover on the tower. To access the maintenance cover, simply move the pivoting part of the storage box to ensure unobstructed access to the maintenance cover. To ensure such unobstructed access to the maintenance cover, only the pivoting part of the storage box must be positioned in front of the maintenance cover.

In the pivoting area of the pivoting portion of the storage box, vehicle structures and/or devices may be located that protrude into the pivoting area. To prevent these from impeding the movement of the pivoting portion of the storage box, in a preferred embodiment, at least one recess is provided in the pivoting portion of the storage box, which is dimensioned such that additional devices or vehicle structures do not impede the pivoting movement of the pivoting portion of the storage box.

In a further preferred embodiment, seals are provided between the openings and the box lids to protect the storage area of the box from water splashes. The seal is positioned circumferentially around the opening, and by securing the box lid to the storage box, the seal protects the storage box from water splashes.

Fixing means are also preferably provided to lock the pivoting part of the storage box. This is intended to prevent unwanted movement during movement of the tower or vehicle. To this end, a threaded connection can be provided as a fixing means, with which the movable part of the storage box can be locked to the tower. Magnetic fixing is also contemplated, as is locking of the articulation bearing.

The stationary part of the storage box, permanently attached to the tower, is also secured to at least one of the attachment points, as is known from conventional storage boxes in the prior art. This means that only minimal effort is required to replace existing storage boxes with the new version of the storage box.

The side of the pivoting part of the storage box facing the tower is already connected to the tower's maintenance cover. This means that during the pivoting movement, not only the pivoting part of the storage box moves, but also the maintenance cover. This facilitates access to the maintenance area, as only the pivoting part of the storage box needs to be moved. Once the pivoting part of the storage box is locked, the maintenance cover is also locked and the maintenance area is closed.

The storage box itself can be subdivided into smaller areas by means of subdivisions, and its total volume is similar to the volume of the storage boxes already known in the prior art, although now the area in front of the storage lid can also be fully utilized.

The storage box is preferably made of steel. For this purpose, special hardened steels can be used if special safety requirements are required for the storage box. The storage box can also be made of a material similar to that of the vehicle or tower, for example, structural steel. Depending on requirements, materials can also be combined.

The turning area of the pivoting part of the storage box is preferably designed to allow this part to be rotated up to 90°.

In addition to the possible subdivisions of the storage space, it is also possible to include receptacles or fixing points for the devices or elements to be stored.

Preferably, the storage box is suggested for use on a Leopard 2 vehicle, as the non-pivoting storage boxes mentioned above are already known in this case, and the necessary attachment points are already present. These storage boxes can be significantly improved with the proposed design.

Other features are derived from the accompanying drawings. They show:

Figure 1: Perspective view of a storage box;

Figure 2: Perspective view of the pivoting part of a storage box;

Figure 3: Perspective view of a partially pivoted storage box with maintenance area and maintenance lid;

Figure 4: Top view of a storage box;

Figure 5: Perspective view of a storage box opening.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a storage box 1,2. The storage box is arranged on an armored vehicle equipped with a turret.

In this case, the storage box is divided into two parts, with a stationary storage box part 1 permanently attached to the tower. The assembly is located at the rear of the tower. There is also a second storage box part 2, which is pivotally arranged on the tower. Both storage box parts 1, 2 are arranged at fixing points 10. These fixing points 10 are located on the vehicle tower, and the pivoting storage box part 2 is mounted via a pivot bearing 11 at one of the fixing points 10. The fixing points 10 are designed as a vertical column.

Two box lids 3, 4 can also be seen, one box lid 3, 4 corresponding to each part of the storage box 1, 2. The box lids 3, 4 are used to open the storage box 1, 2 and access the interior of the storage box. The interior of the storage box 1, 2 can store equipment and/or accessories that must be carried during travel by vehicle.

The box lids 3, 4 are designed so that they can be fixed to the respective part of the storage box 1, 2, and thus close it, or be opened by suitable means.

Additional equipment 12, such as power sources, may be provided in the vehicle itself.

Figure 2 also shows a perspective view of the storage box 1,2, but this time from the view of the pivoting part of the storage box 2. As described above, the pivoting part of the storage box 2 is mounted by means of at least one hinge bearing 11 on a fixing point 10 and can therefore rotate in the hinge bearing 11.

The attachment points 10 are arranged on the tower in each case. In this embodiment, the arrangement is shown at the rear of the tower. The attachment points 10 can also be surface-shaped rather than point-shaped, so that several pivot bearings 11 can be arranged at a single attachment point 10.

Figure 3 shows a storage box 1, 2, where the pivoting part of the storage box 2 is shown in a rotated position. The pivoting part of the storage box 2 can preferably be rotated up to a maximum of 90° and has at least one recess 5 so that it is not hindered during rotation by elements located in the vehicle, such as the additional equipment 12.

For this purpose, an APU, i.e., an additional power source, is shown in Figure 3 as additional equipment 12. The recess 5 in the pivoting portion of the storage box 2 is designed such that, during rotation, the additional equipment 5 does not hinder the rotational movement. In this way, the volume of the recess 5 is tailored to the additional equipment 12 present in the rotation area. The vehicle surface is also considered as additional equipment 5.

Also shown in Figure 3 is a maintenance area 14, which can be closed or opened by means of a maintenance cover 13. By rotating the pivoting part of the storage box 2, access to the maintenance cover 13 is released, which can be opened to allow access to the maintenance area 14.

Maintenance area 14 in the tower includes electronic and/or hydraulic components that must be accessible for maintenance. To do this, open maintenance cover 13, allowing access.

The maintenance cover 13 is mounted on the pivoting portion of the storage box 2, such that the rotational movement of the pivoting portion of the storage box 2 and the maintenance cover 13 is carried out simultaneously. For this purpose, it is preferable to mount the maintenance cover 13 on the wall of the pivoting portion of the storage box 2 using sliding rails.

Figure 4 again shows the storage box 1, 2, with the rotated part of the storage box 2 shown in a rotated position. The top view again shows the attachment points 10, where the storage box parts 1, 2 are attached, as well as the pivot bearing 11, by means of which the storage box part 2 can be rotated.

Figure 5 shows a portion of the storage box 2 with the box lid 4 open, where a seal 6 can be seen around the opening. This seal 6 provides protection against splashing water when the box lid 2 is closed. In this way, the objects inside the storage box are protected against splashing water. Similarly, the fixed portion of the storage box 1 is also equipped with a seal 6.

It is suggested to provide a locking mechanism for the movable part of the storage box 2. For this purpose, securing means 7 are provided on the storage box 2, by means of which the movable part of the storage box 2 can be secured to the vehicle tower. This is intended to prevent unwanted movements of the pivoting part of the storage box 2 during vehicle or tower movement.

The figures show the embodiment of the invention in a Leopard 2 vehicle. The use in Leopard 2 vehicles represents a preferred application of the storage box 1, 2.

The invention is not limited to the aforementioned features. Rather, other configurations are conceivable. Indeed, it is also possible to manufacture the storage box from non-metallic materials, such as plastic. It is also possible to design two or more parts of the storage box as pivoting parts. To achieve this, at least one pivot bearing must be provided at one of the attachment points.

List of references

1- Storage box; stationary

2- Storage box; pivoting

3-in-1 box lid

4- Box lid in 2

5- Reduction

6- Seal

7- Fixing means

10- Fixing point

11- Joint bearing

12- Additional equipment

13- Maintenance cover

14- Maintenance area

Claims (8)

1. Armored vehicle with a turret, a storage box (1, 2) and at least one attachment point (10) on the turret, the storage box comprising at least one box cover, the storage box (1, 2) being formed of at least two parts, where one of the storage box parts (2) can be rotated by at least one joint bearing (11) arranged at one of the attachment points (10), each storage box part (1, 2) having an opening which can be closed by a box cover (3, 4), and a maintenance area (14) being provided in the turret, which is accessible by means of a maintenance cover (13), and where the maintenance cover (13) is fixed to the rotating part of the storage box (2), so that the rotational movement of the rotating part of the storage box (2) and of the maintenance cover (13) is carried out together. 2. Armored vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that at least a part of the storage box (1) is arranged stationary and immobile at one of the fixing points (10). 3. Armored vehicle according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one recess (5) is provided in the rotating part of the storage box (2) to ensure freedom of movement of the rotating part of the storage box (2). 4. Armored vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that additional equipment (12) is provided on the vehicle, which extends at least partially into the rotation area of the rotating part of the storage box (2), and the recess (5) is adapted to said additional equipment (12). 5. Armored vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that seals (6) are provided between the opening and the lid of the box (3, 4). 6. Armored vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that fixing means (7) are provided for locking the rotating part of the storage box (2). 7. Armored vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the maintenance cover (13) can be covered by the rotating part of the storage box (2). 8. Armored vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that divisions are provided within the storage box (1, 2).