EP0327029A2 - Fire control device - Google Patents

Abstract

A fire control device with at least two control consoles comprises one module frame with electronic assemblies per control console, at least one functional assembly per frame and an interface and control assembly and a bus line, where at least some of the functional assemblies are formed from essentially identical standard assemblies, and where the overall control of the fire control device is carried out by a first pre-defined interface and control assembly and, if this fails, by a second pre-defined interface and control assembly and where, finally, if the bus line fails, the interface and control assembly of the module frame allocated to the main weapon carries out the independent control of the assemblies of this module frame. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a fire control system with at least two operator stations. These operator stations can be that of the gunner, that of the commander and, if applicable, that of the loader. Fire control systems of this type are primarily common in appropriately armed land vehicles, even if an appropriate use of the fire control system appears conceivable in air and water vehicles.

Conventional fire control systems with several operator stations are designed in such a way that each connection unit of the fire control system is assigned an electronics unit specific for this connection unit. The gyro stabilization for the main weapon is controlled by a special electronics unit, as is the gyro stabilization of the rifle target's rangefinder and, if necessary, the gyro stabilization of the commander's telescope. A special electronics unit is again provided for the ballistic fire control calculation. Disadvantageous This concept is based on the large number of required components of the electronic units of the fire control system at the various operator stations that differ in terms of structure and function. This results in logistical problems as well as maintenance problems and comparatively little flexibility with regard to changing the fire control system.

The object of the invention is to provide a largely standardized fire control system in which the most important functions are still provided even if individual system parts fail.

According to the invention, a fire control system which achieves this object and has at least two operator stations
- one slide-in frame with electronic assemblies per control station,
at least one functional assembly per frame, in particular a stabilization assembly for the main weapon or a target device or main supply assembly,
- at least one interface and control module per frame,
- a bus line to which the interfaces and control modules of all frames are connected,
at least some of the functional assemblies being formed by essentially identical standard assemblies,
wherein the overall control of the fire control system is preferably carried out by a predetermined first interface and control module and, if it fails, a predetermined second interface and control module, and
preferably also if the bus line fails, the interface and control module of the slide-in frame assigned to the main weapon is the automatic one Control of the modules of this rack.

Because of this construction according to the invention, largely structurally identical standard assemblies can be used, with the interface being adapted to the respective connection unit via the interface and control assembly, as well as the communication control via the bus line. The central control required for the functioning of the overall fire control system is carried out by a predetermined one of the otherwise standardized interface and control modules. If this fails, the central control is carried out by a predetermined second interface and control module, etc. In the event that the bus line fails and communication between the operating positions becomes impossible, it is provided that the slide-in frame assigned to the main weapon is provided with its electronic modules remains functional in "island operation".

In general, the connection units to be connected to the fire control system differ, even if they perform related functions. The gyro stabilization units used for the targeting devices and weapons are often different on the one hand in structure and, on the other hand, also differ in their reaction to changes in the position of the vehicle due to the greatly differing masses involved. Accordingly, the assembly group responsible for the gyro stabilization device can only work correctly if it is provided with the adaptation parameters of the connected connection unit required for the correct control or regulation of the tracking drives.

According to a first preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided for this that the standard assembly is designed with a data record memory, in which adaptation parameter data records are stored for all of the possible differently equipped operating stations, and that each insertion frame is provided with a data record selection device, which causes the selection of the respective data record. In this case, the standard groups with the same hardware are also equipped with the same software, with the possible adjustment parameter data records being stored from the outset. The required selection is made by the slide-in frame. For this purpose, it is particularly preferably provided that the slide-in frame is provided with a spatial code, in particular a pin code, which causes the selection of the respective data record when the standard assembly is inserted.

In an alternative embodiment, in which one does not need to determine and store the adaptation parameter data records beforehand, it is provided that the standard main group is provided with a self-optimizing, adaptive control circuit for automatic adaptation to the respectively connected devices. The standard module therefore "learns" at the beginning of operation from the reactions of the connected connection unit in an optimization process which adaptation parameters are to be used.

As an alternative to this, it can further be provided that one adaptation module is provided per frame with a data record memory for the adaptation parameters relevant for this frame. The standard modules only receive the relevant adaptation parameter set on the spot in the slide-in frame from the adaptation module. In extreme cases, this is the only one in each case Slide-in frame, ie assembly adapted to the respective connection unit of the slide-in frame.

It is also possible for one of the frames to be provided with a main data memory in which adaptation parameter data records of all the insertion frames are stored, and for the interface and control module of this frame to transmit the respective adaptation parameter data records via the bus to the individual insertion frames initiated (initialization). This solution saves the adaptation module or the data set selection device for the individual slide-in frames.

In a further development of the invention, it can be provided that program memories are also provided in the central memory with the computer programs assigned to the individual standard modules, and that the associated interface and control module causes the transfer of these programs to the individual standard modules (initialization).

Due to the largely standardized system structure described above, the overall control of the system and the interface and control module can advantageously take on at least one of the following functions: bus control, operating mode selection, e.g. priority control during operation by the commander, fire control calculation (ballistic calculation if necessary taking into account signals from connected sensors such as vertical sensor, temperature sensor, cross wind, etc .; guiding and tracking target devices and weapon systems; fault detection and fault location within the fire control system; system adjustment, in particular parallelism of gyro axes or the like.

The invention is explained below using exemplary embodiments.

• Fig. 1 ein Block-Schaltbild einer Grundversion der erfindungsgemäßen Feuerleitanlage;
• Fig. 2 ein Block-Schaltbild einer zum Einsatz in einem Kampfpanzer vorgesehen Version und
• Fig. 3 ein Block-Schaltbild einer zum Einsatz in einem Schützenkampfwagen vorgesehenen Version.

It shows:

• Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a basic version of the fire control system according to the invention;
• Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a version intended for use in a battle tank and
• Fig. 3 is a block diagram of a version intended for use in a rifle.

The fire control system to be described in its various versions is characterized by a simple modular structure with a high degree of standardization. It requires little testing effort, easy error localization and a high degree of flexibility. As a result, additional devices or sensors can be easily connected, and individual devices or sensors can also be replaced with successor models. As the exemplary embodiments will show, the fire control system according to the invention can be used in a wide variety of weapon carriers without major changes.

The electronic assemblies of the fire control system are connected to a bus line, although it has proven to be particularly advantageous not to connect all the assemblies individually to the bus line, but to combine several assemblies, each assigned to an operator station, in a slide-in frame and via one to connect the only bus terminal to the bus line. Since each operating station is assigned a slide-in frame with largely complete electronics, there is the possibility of island operation if communication with the other slide-in frames is no longer possible, for example due to a failure of the Bus line or parts of other slide-in frames. Finally, the decentralized arrangement of the electronics is also advantageous with regard to the mostly limited installation space, since there is more space available for small-volume modules at the respective operator stations than at a central location for a correspondingly large overall system.

In the basic version shown in FIG. 1, a slide-in frame 10, 12, 14 is arranged at three operating stations, into which the electronic assemblies required there are inserted. The slide-in frame 10 is located in the area of the operating position of the gunner, the slide-in frame 12 in the area of the commandant's operating space and the slide-in frame 14 at any other location, for example in the vicinity of the radio. In the designated FLA electronics 1 (F your l eit a nLocated) withdrawable frame three modules are inserted 16,18 and 20th The assembly 16 is with a HW rod. referred to what is H AuPt w Monkey Bar ilisierung. The module is with interfaces u. Control referred, which stands for the interface and control module, the module 20 is finally indicated with ZG-EL, which stands for Z iel g erät- E lectronic. The interface and control module 18 takes over the interface adaptation of all modules in the rack 10 to the respectively connected connection units. In the case of the gunner Square this, a drive unit 22 side and height of the main weapon (HW page / height in Fig. 1 hereinafter) edien- an i ntegrated B and A nzeigeeinheit 24 (IBAS) and a W Slee b ild g unit 26 (WBG). The latter is provided with a Z iel g et up instrument SE sch ützen (ZGRisch 28) is integrated, which is in turn connected via a rigid mechanical link 30 with the main weapon. If necessary, the thermal imaging unit 26 can be equipped with a separate one Be connected Slee W b ild g erät- El ektronikeinheit (WBGEL 32) which is integrated in general in the thermal imaging device unit 26th The unit 32 can also be integrated into the frame 10.

The plug-in frame 10 and its assemblies 16, 18, 20 are connected to a bus line 36 (connecting line 38) via a bus terminal 34 denoted by T.

Accordingly, the slide-in frame, which is designated by FLA electronics 2, is located at the operator's control station. An interface and control module 40 and a target device tracking module 42 are inserted therein. The module 40 serves, among other things, to adapt the interfaces of the modules of the slide-in frame 12 with the connected connection units. These are one or more fire control sensor units 44 (vertical sensor, powder temperature sensor, cross wind sensor, or the like.), An integrated control and display unit 46, if necessary, a corresponding integrated control and display unit 48 for a L ade s protect (LS) and a target device unit 50. The target device tracking unit 42 then ensures the actuation of corresponding tracking drives in the connection unit 50. If the commander target device is to be of a position-stabilized design, in particular in the form of a gyro-stabilized panoramic periscope, see above Instead of the aiming device tracking unit, a corresponding aiming device stabilizing unit 42a is to be inserted into the insertion frame 12, as is the case with the embodiment according to FIG. 2. In the case of a mechanical coupling indicated in FIG. 3 between the target device unit 50 and the main weapon or the connection unit for setting the side / height of the main weapon, the corresponding insertion in the insertion frame 12 is omitted.

In systems in which a charging contactor is provided instead of an automatic charger, the integrated operating and display unit of the charging contactor 48 can be connected to the interface and control module 40.

In addition to its function of adapting the interface, the interface and control module 40 also serves as the central unit for overall control of the system. In addition to the ballistic calculations, it provides e.g. for the operating mode selection, which enables either the gunner or the commander, if necessary with priority control in favor of the commander, to issue the corresponding fire commands. The assembly 40 causes via the bus 36 and the assemblies of the slide-in frame 10, which are in connection with the connection unit 22 for adjusting the height and side of the main weapon, that the main weapon is guided or tracked accordingly. The assembly 10 can also be used for fault detection and fault localization of the overall system and for system adjustment, for example if several stabilizing gyros are used, the axes of which are to be aligned parallel to one another.

In the slide-in frame 14 there is in turn an interface and control module 52 as well as a main distributor module 54. The module 52 in turn provides the interface adaptation to the connected connection units, here to a radio adapter unit 56 designated AEF connected control receiver unit 58 (radio for data radio). In Fig. 1 as well as in the other figures, a dashed connecting line or outline of the respective block of the block diagram indicates that this line or the block can also be omitted. Accordingly, the connection for data radio omitted.

The assembly 54, designated HV (main distributor), is used for the central power supply of all fire control assemblies, including device protection. Lights and other on-board electrical equipment can also be connected.

If required, further modules for special functions can also be plugged into the mounting frame 14, e.g. for an ammunition bunker door control.

In order to also receive data about the driving state, the bus line 36 can be connected via a slip ring 60 to a connecting bus line 64 within the vehicle body or armored tank. An assembly 68 which provides the data connection to the chassis can in turn be connected to this bus line 64 within a corresponding slide-in frame 66. In this way, the interface and control module 40 responsible for the overall control can also carry out a direct check of the on-board electrical system.

2 shows a version of the fire control system intended for use in a battle tank. In contrast to the simple basic version according to FIG. 1, both the aiming device unit 28a of the gunner and the targeting device unit 50a of the commander are each equipped with mutually independent stabilizing devices, which in turn have a corresponding aiming device stabilizing assembly 20a or 42a in the insertion frame 10 or 12 connected to the corresponding position stabilization of the respective target device even at full speed. It should also be noted that an auxiliary rifle scope 70 may be rigidly connected to the main weapon. Another difference from FIG. 1 is that an automatic loader 72 is now provided, which is connected to a corresponding module 74, referred to as "auto loader", in the slide-in frame 14 via the interface and control module 52.

3 is a fire control system for a rifle combat vehicle. It is assumed that at least one primarily stabilized machine gun is provided for the weapon system. A fire control system is no longer required for combat vehicles with even simpler armament.

In this version, the aiming units 28 and 50 for the gunner and the commander are mechanically coupled to the main weapon. Since in such vehicles the weapon turrets have small spatial dimensions and thus the installation space is further restricted, the electronic assemblies to be inserted concentrate on the slide-in frame 10 (FLA electronics 1) and the slide-in frame 14 (FLA electronics 3).

In the slide-in frame 10 there is in turn the main weapon stabilization assembly 16, the interface and control assembly 18 and in this case a thermal imaging device assembly 32a, which replaces the separate unit 32 in FIGS. 1 and 2. If necessary, for example when complete functional redundancy is required for safety reasons, the slide-in frame 12 which is not required in the normal version can be provided. While in the normal version the integrated operating and display unit 46 intended for the commander is connected to the slide-in frame 10, this can alternatively also be connected to the slide-in frame 12.

The other, not specifically listed components of the arrangements in FIGS. 2 and 3 correspond to those in FIG. 1 and are accordingly provided with the same reference numbers in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The fire control systems described have a high level of reliability. If, for example, the overall control of the system and the interface and control module 40 fails, its function is immediately taken over by the interface and control module 18. also the full data bus control, so that the control of the FLA electronics 3 with the automatic loader is still possible by the gunner without restriction. Only the commander is no longer able to use the main weapon himself. Finally, if the bus line 36 fails, FLA electronics 1 can still be fully functional by itself, even if the automatic charger would have to be triggered manually in this case.

Hardware-equivalent modules have the same hardware structure, e.g. all interface and control assemblies 18, 40, 52 and all stabilization assemblies 16, 20a and 42a. The required adjustment parameter data records are supplied to the modules in the manner already described above.

The groups of plug-in frames 10, 12, 14 are connected to the bus 36 in each case via the only bus terminal 80 which is controlled by the respective interface and control module. Furthermore, it should be noted that further units, such as further sensors for ballistic parameters or the like, can also be connected to the bus 36 without further notice.

The invention as described above can be summarized as follows:

A fire control system with at least two control stations comprises a slide-in frame with electronic modules per control station, at least one function module as well as an interface and control module and a bus line per frame, at least some of the function modules being of essentially identical standard Modules are formed, and wherein the overall control of the fire control system is carried out by a predetermined first interface and control module and, if it fails, by a predetermined second interface and control module, and finally, if the bus line fails, the interface and control Assembly of the slide-in frame assigned to the main weapon carries out the automatic control of the assemblies of this slide-in frame.

Claims (9)

1. Fire control system with at least two operator stations, comprehensive
- one slide-in frame (10, 12, 14) with electronic assemblies per control station,
at least one functional assembly, in particular a stabilization assembly (16, 20a, 42a) for the main weapon or a target device or main supply assembly (54),
- at least one interface and control module (34, 40, 52) per frame,
a bus line (36) to which the interfaces and control modules of all frames are connected,
at least some of the functional assemblies being formed by essentially identical standard assemblies,
preferably the overall control of the fire control system from a predetermined first interface and control module (40) and, if it fails, is carried out by a predetermined second interface and control module (18), and
Preferably, if the bus line (36) fails, the interface and control module (18) of the slide-in frame (10) assigned to the main weapon (22) carries out the automatic control of the modules (16, 20) of this slide-in frame (10). 2. Fire control system according to claim 1, characterized in that the standard assembly is designed with a data record memory in which adjustment parameter data records are stored for all of the possible, differently equipped operating stations, and that each insertion frame is provided with a data record selection device which prompted the selection of the respective data record. 3. Fire control system according to claim 2, characterized in that the slide-in frame is provided with a spatial code, in particular pin code, which causes the selection of the respective data set when the standard assembly is inserted. 4. Fire control system according to claim 1, characterized in that the standard module is provided with a self-optimizing, adaptive control circuit for automatic adaptation to the respectively connected devices. 5. Fire control system according to claim 1, characterized in that an adaptation module is provided per frame with a data record memory for the relevant adjustment parameters for this frame. 6. Fire control system according to claim 1, characterized in that one of the frames is provided with a main data memory in which adjustment parameter data records are stored in all slide-in frames, and in that the interface and control module of this frame is used to transmit the respective adjustment parameter data records Initiated via the bus to the individual slide-in frames. 7. Fire control system according to claim 6, characterized in that in the central memory further program memories are provided with the individual standard modules associated computing programs, and that the associated interface and control module causes the transfer of these programs to the individual standard modules (initialization) . 8. fire control system according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the overall control of the system performing interface and control module (40) performs at least one of the following functions: bus control, operating mode selection, fire control calculation, guiding and tracking target devices and weapon systems, Fault detection and fault localization, system adjustment, especially parallel alignment of gyro axes. 9. Fire control system according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that only one bus terminal (80) is provided per slide-in frame (10, 12, 14).

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