AU1482300A - Device for correcting the position od aiming elements, specifically arm sights with respect to the bore axis - Google Patents

Description

WO 96/24815 1 PCT/ES96/00020 Apparatus for correcti the position of the aiming elements, especially siQhts or viewfinders of weapons with respect to the bore axis thereof FIELD OF APPLICATION OF THE INVENTION The invention applies to the field of the firing of all types of weapons equipped with aiming systems, especially sights or viewfinders, without requiring the attention of specialists nor having to use firing ranges especially provided to do so.

PRIOR ART 15 At present, in order to achieve perfect alignment .with the parallax corresponding to the firing distance, between the axis of the sight and that of the bore of the weapon in question, no special apparatus exists, but such correction is achieved by taking the weapon to a firing range, fixing it by means of tripods in order to prevent it from moving, and carrying out several firings, in order to see the distance and deviation existing between the impact and the point which marks the cross-hairs of the sight, in order to carry out the correction thereof.

This introduces the necessity to go to a firing range, to carry out the necessary firings to achieve coincidence between sight and impact, to return home or to the place where subsequent firings are to be performed, with the consequent danger of further maladjustment during the journey.

There also exist parallel rods, separated by a space equivalent to the distance existing between bore and axis of the sight. With one of them inserted through the muzzle, the other is aligned manually with the axis of the sight. This apparatus is notably lacking in accuracy.

A variant of this system is the alignment of the previously mentioned rods with the axis of the aiming point by means of a set of optical lenses. Although this WO 96/24815 2 PCT/ES96/00020 latter system is more accurate than the previous one, it also suffers from lack of accuracy, especially in not considering the firing distance. In addition it requires specialist equipment and personnel, something which is normally not generally within the reach of all users.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The apparatus for correcting the position of a sight or viewfinder with respect to the axis of the bore of the weapon, to which the present invention refers, consists of a basic tube of the appropriate calibre for being inserted into the housing of the bolt of the 1 weapon, which tube has, at its front end, a threaded 15 inner region for coupling a second piece, which is also cylindrical and terminated in a frustoconical region divided into sectors of decreasing diameter, this second piece being pierced along its axis with an orifice of narrow diameter, of the order of 2 to 5 millimetres. The various sectors of the frustoconical piece have diameters equal to the bases of the cartridges of the bullets of the various calibres of weapons. At least the last of the sectors, the one of smallest diameter, can be removed from the rest of the frustoconical piece. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, it is possible, at the point where this last sector of smallest diameter is connected, to couple empty bullet cartridges of various calibres, which are prepared for this purpose. The cartridge, being empty, allows the laser beam to pass through, due to which it achieves the same effects, of guiding the beam and of precise coupling to the front part of the breech, as the last smallest-diameter sector, which has been separated.

A third piece, which includes a system for emitting a laser beam, is also coupled further inside the tube. In long weapons, this device has available its own power supply source and a switch situated in the final base of the basic tube. On this tube is situated another piece, so that it can slide, formed by a sleeve of WO 96/24815 3 PCT/ES96/00020 internal diameter equal to the outside of the tube, with an outer, rear butt heel, a butt flange also being provided at the extreme end of the basic tube so that the sliding sleeve cannot come off over this end, or over the front end, since the conical region of the frustoconical piece has a base which is slightly larger than the cylindrical region so as to form a stepped butt piece.

In short weapons, the power supplies and/or the switch can be arranged separately from the emitter. The same would be true in the case of fitting the aiming systems of artillery pieces and tanks. In these cases the laser emitter can also be inserted either through the muzzle of the weapon or through the breech thereof. In both cases the power supply and/or the switch could be arranged separately from the said laser emitter.

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variant of the present invention provides for the emitter to be remotely activatable, either by means of wires, or by magnetic or wave means or the like. Likewise, in guided weapons for firing systems coupled to data processing equipment, the parameters inherent in the laser beam emitted- can be input as data into the guidance program of the weapon in order to fire it.

Finally, a further piece is provided, having a stepped surface of various diameters, with a flange at its large base, and pierced along its axis, with an orifice of the same diameter as the one of the frustoconical region of the apparatus. This last piece is for matching to the muzzle of the weapon in question; to do that, its stepped surface allows it to be perfectly matched and centred on the basis of the calibre of the weapon.

The apparatus of the invention can be inserted into the housing of the bolt, once the latter has been removed, so that, the frustoconical region of the end fits perfectly into the diameter of the breech in the region where the base of the cartridge sits when it is inserted into the breech, in such a way that the sliding sleeve fits perfectly within the receiver bridge through which the bolt is inserted, so that the axis of this apparatus WO 96/24815 4 PCT/ES96/00020 coincides completely with that of the bore of the weapon, and at the same time coincides with the piercing of the piece which is coupled to the muzzle, so that, when the switch of the laser beam emission system is actuated, the laser beam will come out physically representing the abovementioned bore and producing a spot of light on a surface onto which it is aimed. This spot of light will be the reference point for adjusting and correcting the deviation which exists with respect thereto on sighting through the sight or viewfinder, comparing the centre of the cross-hairs with the spot of light which physically represents the impact in the case of firing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS S A detailed description of the apparatus for correcting the position of a sight or viewfinder with respect to the bore axis of the weapon which is envisaged will be given below, with reference to the accompanying 20 drawings, in which a preferred embodiment is represented simply by way of non-limiting example, and capable of all those variations of detail which do not imply a fundamental alteration to the essential characteristics of the embodiment.

25 The said drawings illustrate: In Figure 1: longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus broken down into its components.

In Figure 2: sectional detail of the piece which can be matched to the muzzle.

In Figure 3: magnified longitudinal sectional view of the frustoconical end of the apparatus.

According to the embodiment represented, the apparatus for correcting the position of a sight or viewfinder with respect to the axis of the bore of the weapon, which is mentioned consists of a cylindrical tube of diameter appropriate for being inserted into the weapon, in place of the bolt, which is hollow and WO 96/24815 5 PCT/ES96/00020 equipped internally with threadings at the front and rear regions, of sufficient size for screwing at least two pieces thereto.

The first piece which is coupled to this thread is one of cylindrical shape, frustoconical to its rear, divided into sectors of decreasing diameter The diameters of the various sectors which form this piece are equal to the calibres of various weapons. At least the smallest-diameter sector arranged at the end of the frustoconical piece, can be uncoupled. The frustoconical piece is pierced throughout its length, internally, by an axial duct of narrow diameter (2-5 mm). This axial duct is designed to allow a laser beam to pass through, emitted by a system present in another internal .o 15 piece which is also threaded at the same region as the frustoconical end.

The laser beam emitter system, consisting of a 655 rnm, 1 mW diode, with an achromatic lens, is included in the piece coupled to its corresponding power supply, preferably in the form of 1.5 V batteries and to a switch screwed to the back end of the basic tube. While the apparatus is being mounted, the laser o- emitter is aligned, by means of small lateral orifices arranged on the basic tube, with the axial duct of the 25 frustoconical piece. In this way it is possible for the laser beam to exit through the muzzle, coinciding with the axis of the bore of the barrel of the weapon.

On the tube of the base piece is mounted a sleeve which. can slide with slight friction, whose outer diameter coincides with the internal diameter of the receiver bridge which houses the bolt so that, once the apparatus is inserted, in place of the bolt, making this sleeve move forward completely immobilizes the apparatus with respect to the weapon.

Given that the diameters of the receiver bridge for housing the bolt are variable from one weapon to another, a set of sleeves of various diameters will be available so that the right one can be used in each case.

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WO 96/24815 6 PCT/ES96/00020 Finally, optionally, another piece (Fig. 2) will be provided, whose external shape is stepped into various consecutive cylindrical sectors, and which is also pierced internally with the same orifice as that existing in the frustoconical piece, and fitted with a flange which limits its insertion into the corresponding muzzle, depending on its calibre, being exactly centred and therefore coincident with the axis of the piercing in the conical piece, with no possibility of being inclined due to the stepping of its surface into consecutive cylinders.

With the apparatus designed in this way, in order to use it it will be sufficient to extract the bolt from the weapon, and insert the apparatus in its place, whose 15 frustoconical end will be matched to the calibre of the front region of the breech so that, by means of the appropriate sliding sleeve it is completely matched ~to the bolt entry bridge, so that the axis of the apparatus will coincide exactly with that of the bore of the weapon.

Optionally fitting the front piece (Fig. 2) in the muzzle, the internal piercing thereof also coincides with the said bore axis, so that, on actuating the switch of the laser beam emitter system, the latter will physically represent the bore axis and, being projected on a flat surface, a spot of light will be produced which corresponds to the impact in the case of firing, assuming that the bullet does not suffer a drop at this distance.

Projecting this spot of light onto a target situated at the distance which is required in each case, the mechanisms of the sight or viewfinder will be actuated to make the cross-hair point of the sight coincide with the spot Qf light projected through the bore axis of the weapon. It is not necessary to immobilize the weapon to carry out this operation.

It is obvious that this operation can be carried out by the shooter himself, including "in situ", since the procedures required to use it are simple, requiring no special site to carry them out nor specialist skills, WO 96/24815 7 PCT/ES96/00020 possible errors being corrected at the same place where the weapon is to be used, by which possible subsequent maladjustments, by transport and handling in general, are eliminated.

For the correction, targets provided for various distances can be used, since parallax is not the same for short and long distances.

The form, materials and dimensions can be variable and, in general, anything which is ancillary and secondary, as long as it does not alter, change or modify the essential nature of the purpose which has been described, remains covered within the scope of protection of the invention described.

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Claims (3)

1. 2. Apparatus for correcting the position of the aiming elements, especially sights or viewfinders, of weapons with respect to the bore axis thereof, according to Claim 1, characterized in that the laser beam emitter device consists of a hollow cylindrical tube of a smaller calibre than that of the weapon in question, in that its front and internal end is provided with a connecting region, for fitting an extension piece thereof, with a frustoconical end divided into sectors of increasing diameter, pierced axially by an internal duct and, optionally, coupled, at least the last one of smallest diameter, to one another, for fitting to the front region of the breech, whatever its internal calibre.
2. 3. Apparatus for correcting the position of the aiming elements, especially sights or viewfinders, of weapons with respect to the bore axis thereof, according to Claims 1 and 2, haracterized in having provision, on the basic tube, for a sleeve sliding with slight fric- tion, of external calibre matching that of the receiving bridge which fixes the bolt in the rear region, for the purposes of immobilizing and centering the apparatus.
3. 4. Apparatus for correcting the position of the aiming elements, especially sights or viewfinders, of weapons with respect to the bore axis thereof, according to Claims 1 to 3, characterized in making use optionally of a piece with its surface stepped into cylinders of progressive diameter in order to be fitted to the muzzle according to its calibre, which piece is also pierced along its axis, so as, with the laser beam which passes 'e I WO 96/24815 9 PCT/ES96/00020 through it, physically to represent the bore axis of the weapon in question. Method for correcting the position of the aiming elements, especially sights or viewfinders, of weapons with respect to the bore axes thereof, characterized in using the apparatus described according to Claims 1 to 4, in conjunction with a set of targets, corresponding to various distances, on which the difference in height which has to exist between the cross of the aiming element and the spot of light of the laser beam is represented, and, based on that, without having to immobilize the weapon, in being able to make the corre- sponding correction to the aiming mechanisms, optionally using connected data processing means, depending on the 15 distance at which the weapon is going to be used. S S