Swing arm mounting system

Abstract

A swing arm system is disclosed for supporting a weapon on a platform such as a moving vehicle. Upper and lower arm assemblies are pivotally joined together by a connection including a pintle socket. A second pintle socket is provided at the free end of the swing arm assemblies. Friction locks are provided to limit travel and to stabilize the mounting system during operation.

1 . A swing arm mounting arrangement, comprising:
 a first swing arm having a pivot end and an opposed free end for supporting a weapon;   a second swing arm having a pivot end and a support end for securing the mounting arrangement to a platform;   a pivot connection joining the pivot ends of the first and the second swing arms;   a first pintle socket carried on the free end of the first swing arm; and   a second pintle socket carried on the pivot end of the first swing arm, whereby the weapon is adapted to be pivotably supported at either the first pintle socket or the second pintle socket of the first swing arm.   
   
   
       2 . The swing arm mounting arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the pivot connection comprises a unitary connector member having a first end defining a pintle socket, an opposed second end defining a pivot pin and an intermediate body portion having a generally non-circular cross-sectional shape. 
   
   
       3 . The swing arm mounting arrangement of  claim 2  wherein the intermediate body portion has a generally square cross-sectional shape. 
   
   
       4 . The swing arm mounting arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the free end of the first swing arm defines a cylindrical recess and said first pintle socket has a generally cylindrical exterior surface. 
   
   
       5 . The swing arm mounting arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the first swing arm comprises a housing having opposed enlarged ends and an intermediate housing portion. 
   
   
       6 . The swing arm mounting arrangement of  claim 5  wherein the pivot end of the first swing arm defines a passageway having a generally non-circular cross-section. 
   
   
       7 . The swing arm mounting arrangement of  claim 6  wherein the pivot connection comprises a unitary connector member having a first end defining a pintle socket, an opposed second end defining a pivot pin and an intermediate body portion having a generally non-circular cross-sectional shape. 
   
   
       8 . The swing arm mounting arrangement of  claim 7  wherein the pivot end of the first swing arm defines a passageway having a generally square cross-section. 
   
   
       9 . The swing arm mounting arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the intermediate body portion has a generally square cross-sectional shape. 
   
   
       10 . The swing arm mounting arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the support end of the second swing arm has a continuously closed upper surface. 
   
   
       11 . The swing arm mounting arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the pivot connection comprises a unitary connector member having a first end defining a pintle socket surrounded by an enlarged head portion covering at least a part of the pivot end of the first swing arm. 
   
   
       12 . The swing arm mounting arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the first pintle socket includes an enlarged head portion covering at least a part of the first swing arm free end. 
   
   
       13 . A swing arm mounting arrangement, comprising:
 a first swing arm having a pivot end and an opposed free end for supporting an article;   a second swing arm having a pivot end and a support end for securing the mounting arrangement to a support;   a pivot connection joining the pivot ends of the first and the second swing arms;   a first friction clamp carried on the pivot end of the second swing arm; and   a second friction clamp carried on the support end of the second swing arm, the first and second friction clamps being adapted to selectively limit movement of the first swing arm relative to the second swing arm and the second swing arm relative to the support, respectively.   
   
   
       14 . The swing arm mounting arrangement of  claim 13  further comprising a first and a second pintle socket carried on the free end and the pivot end of the first swing arm, respectively. 
   
   
       15 . The swing arm mounting arrangement of  claim 13  wherein the first and second friction clamps comprise a split collar defining an internal aperture, including first and second opposed portions movable toward and away from one another to clamp and release a member received in the internal aperture. 
   
   
       16 . The swing arm mounting arrangement of  claim 15  wherein the internal aperture has a generally circular cross-section. 
   
   
       17 . The swing arm mounting arrangement of  claim 15  wherein the first and the second friction clamps further comprise wings extending from the first and the second opposed portions to transmit clamping forces thereto. 
   
   
       18 . The swing arm mounting arrangement of  claim 13  wherein the pivot end and the support end of the second swing arm define downwardly opening cavities for receiving the first and the second friction clamps, respectively. 
   
   
       19 . The swing arm mounting arrangement of  claim 18  wherein the first and the second friction clamps include outer surfaces with generally non-circular cross-sectional shapes. 
   
   
       20 . A swing arm mounting arrangement, comprising:
 a first swing arm having a pivot end and an opposed free end for supporting an article;   a second swing arm having a pivot end and a support end for securing the mounting arrangement to a support;   a pivot connection joining the pivot ends of the first and the second swing arms;   a first pintle socket carried on the free end of the first swing arm;   a second pintle socket carried on the pivot end of the first swing arm;   a first friction clamp carried on the pivot end of the second swing arm for limiting movement of the first swing arm relative to the second swing arm; and   a second friction clamp carried on the support end of the second swing arm for limiting movement of the second swing arm relative to the support;   whereby the article is adapted to be supported at either the first pintle socket or the second pintle socket of the first swing arm.   
   
   
       21 . A swing arm mounting arrangement, comprising:
 a first swing arm having a pivot end and an opposed free end for rotatably supporting an article;   a second swing arm having a pivot end and a support end for rotatably supporting the mounting arrangement to a support;   a pivot connection rotatably joining the pivot ends of the first and the second swing arms; and   at least one friction clamp carried on the second swing arm for limiting movement of the second swing arm.   
   
   
       22 . The swing arm mounting arrangement of  claim 21  further comprising a first and a second pintle socket carried on the free end and the pivot end of the first swing arm, respectively. 
   
   
       23 . The swing arm mounting arrangement of  claim 21  wherein the at least one friction clamp comprises a split collar defining an internal aperture, including first and second opposed portions movable toward and away from one another to clamp and release a member received in the internal aperture. 
   
   
       24 . The swing arm mounting arrangement of  claim 23  wherein the internal aperture has a generally circular cross-section. 
   
   
       25 . The swing arm mounting arrangement of  claim 23  wherein the at least one friction clamp further comprises wings extending from the first and the second opposed portions to transmit clamping forces thereto. 
   
   
       26 . The swing arm mounting arrangement of  claim 21  wherein the second swing arm defines a downwardly opening cavity for receiving the at least one friction clamp. 
   
   
       27 . The swing arm mounting arrangement of  claim 26  wherein the at least one friction clamp includes outer surfaces with generally non-circular cross-sectional shapes. 
   
   
       28 . A swing arm mounting arrangement, comprising:
 a first swing arm having a pivot end and an opposed free end for rotatably engaging an article;   a second swing arm having a pivot end and a support end for rotatably engaging a support;   a pivot connection rotatably engaging the pivot ends of the first and the second swing arms;   a first pintle socket carried on the free end of the first swing arm for supporting the article in a first position;   a second pintle socket carried on the pivot end of the first swing arm for supporting the article in a second position; and   at least one friction clamp carried on the second swing arm for selectively restricting movement of the second swing arm.   
   
   
       29 . The swing arm mounting arrangement of  claim 1  further comprising a travel lock arm extending between the weapon and the first swing arm to restrict rotational movement of the weapon relative to the first swing arm.