EP2219005B1 - Recoil impulse generator for a weapon simulator - Google Patents

Abstract

The generator has a drive e.g. electric motor, for driving a spindle, and a coupler (12) connected with a sliding carriage (4) and a release spring. The coupler is engaged in the spindle in a relaxed condition and shifted along the spindle during rotation of the spindle for setting the carriage in a tight condition by a force applied by the spring. A declutching unit switches the coupler in a declutched condition when the carriage reaches the tight condition. A clutching unit switches the coupler in a clutched condition when the carriage reaches the relaxed condition.

Description

The present invention relates to a recoil pulse generator for a weapon simulator having a force storage element and a displaceable pulse mass that is displaced from a biased to a relaxed position upon actuation of a trigger element by the force storage element to generate a recoil pulse. In general, the recoil impulse generator can be used to simulate the recoil of a wide variety of weapons. Preferably, the recoil pulse generator involved here is suitable for handgun simulators.

The US 2008/0155875 A1 The starting point for claim 1 describes a mechanism for recoil pulse generation in a toy weapon. An electric motor drives there via a multi-part reduction gear on a piston of a pneumatic cylinder. The retrieval of a pulse mass is effected in a pneumatic manner.

The US 2,472,002 describes a screw and self-holding mechanism that can be used for example in an aircraft machine gun and the re-tensioning of the weapon is used when it comes to a jam. The mechanism employs a spindle driven by an electric motor, a momentum mass, and a coil spring as a force storage element. A coupling is formed by a housing, which introduces running balls in the spindle to experience an axial displacement. The clutch is disengaged when the pulse mass has been moved to the cocked position and engaged when the pulse mass has returned to the relaxed position. Since jamming occur only occasionally, the described mechanism is only the occasional cocking of the weapon, so that the engine is not designed for a permanent operation.

From the DE 27 26 396 C2 a device for simulating the recoil force of a weapon is known. For a separate from the weapon recoil generating device is provided, which transmits an adjustable recoil force on the barrel of the weapon. Due to the size of this device is stationary set up at a shooting range and particularly suitable for coupling to rifles. By acting on the outside of the rifle lever mechanism, the handling properties of the weapon change significantly, so that the shooting simulation only partially corresponds to the actual conditions when using the weapon.

The DE 36 31 262 A1 describes a gun simulation apparatus for a handgun. In the handgun simulator for this purpose, the closure piece is moved by electro-magnetic or gas-pressure actuated drive means against the force of the closing spring in the open position. In this constellation, either strong drive elements must be used or the recoil force that can be generated is too low. For the generation of large recoil simulation forces a very strong electromagnet would be needed, which is structurally difficult to accommodate in handguns and also has a large energy consumption. If instead a gas pressure cartridge is used as a drive means, this would have to be replaced frequently when realistic forces are provided. The attachment of a gas pressure cartridge in the front area of the barrel of the handgun, as proposed in the document, also prevents the simultaneous arrangement of a target system in the front barrel section, which is also required for a complete handgun simulator.

The DE 103 50 307 A1 shows a simulation device for imitating the semi-automatic and fully automatic function of a firearm. An example arranged in the weapon lock propellant gas tank is connected to a cylinder and drives a valve via a movable piston. Again, the actually achievable recoil forces are much lower than a real firing, as limited propellant gas quantities can not be applied as large forces, such as those resulting from the ignition of a cartridge.

In the EP 1 043 561 A2 is a weapon simulator described, which can be used in particular in a main battle tank. A carriage serves to transport a training projectile. The carriage is driven by two parallel spindles.

The object of the present invention is thus to provide an improved recoil pulse generator for a weapon simulator which produces realistic high cadence recoil forces corresponding to the cadence of modern handguns. In particular, the frequent change of propellant cartridges should be avoided. Likewise are unwanted to avoid strong electromagnetic fields as generated by strong electromagnets. In addition, the weapon simulator should not exceed the dimensions, weight, balance and shape of a real weapon, in particular a handgun, and despite the attachment of the recoil pulse generator provide sufficient space for mounting a target finding or target detection unit. Finally, the recoil pulse generator should be universally adaptable to various firearm simulators so that both guns, rifles and other recoil-generating weapons can be equipped with them.

The above object is achieved by a recoil pulse generator having the features mentioned in claim 1.

According to the invention, the recoil pulse generator uses as drive an electric motor which drives a spindle, via which a clutch and a connected pulse mass are moved from the relaxed position to the cocked position, with simultaneous tension of the force storage element, for example as a release spring, pneumatic element, flywheel or the like can be trained. Hereinafter, as a typical example of an impulse mass, consider a carriage of a handgun which, together with the clutch, represents the moving mass that generates the simulated recoil pulse. In other embodiments, other components may form the pulse mass. For the displacement of the carriage in the cocked position, the clutch preferably engages rotatably in the coupled state in the spindle, so that it is displaced along the spindle during rotation of the spindle, as is generally known from a linear transmission. Once the carriage has reached the cocked position, the Coupling switched by a disengaging means in a disengaged state. Upon actuation of the trigger element, which is formed for example by a trigger, the force storage element accelerates the carriage and attached thereto, disengaged coupling (together with the pulse mass) preferably against the weft direction. This acceleration and in particular the striking of the carriage in the relaxed position simulate the recoil force close to reality. Finally, an engagement means is provided which switches the clutch back into the engaged state once the carriage has reached the relaxed position to bring it back into the cocked position in preparation for another shot simulation.

The electric motor is preferably a brushless synchronous motor that realizes high speeds (approximately 20,000 ^-1 to 80,000 ^-1 ). The electric motor may be coupled in a preferred embodiment via a gear to the spindle or act as a gearless direct drive. The transmission is designed for example with a reduction ratio of 2: 1 to 5: 1 and can cause a reversal of the direction of rotation. Of importance is that a relatively high speed of the spindle (or a high torque at low speed) is achieved to bring the carriage in a short time from the relaxed to the cocked position. This time equals the duration of automatic reloading on semi-automatic small arms and should preferably take less than a second. In order to simulate such fast reloading times, the electric motor is preferably driven permanently during a firing sequence, so that the driving forces act on the carriage immediately when the clutch is engaged. This also has the advantage that the starting torque acting inevitably on the handgun simulator, which arises during start-up and braking of the electric motor, while the firing order does not occur, which can avoid or reduce target errors. The same purpose is used in a modified embodiment, a symmetrically constructed coupling which engages from two opposite sides in the spindle, so that the moments occurring thereby largely compensate.

Likewise, an embodiment is expedient which uses two counter-rotating spindles, which simultaneously engage in the coupling. By appropriate threading the axial displacement of the coupling is caused by two threaded spindles, while compensate for the moments occurring.

According to a modified embodiment, the recoil pulse generator comprises one or more sensors which serve to detect the current position of the carriage or the pulse mass, the clutch and the trigger or the triggering element. By evaluating the sensor signals, the sequence in the recoil pulse generator can be controlled and certain particular firing situations can be simulated, such as, for example, an empty magazine or a loading inhibition.

Fig. 1:

eine geschnittene Seitenansicht eines Handfeuer- waffensimulators mit einem erfindungsgemäßen Rück- stoßimpulserzeuger in einer entspannten Position;

Fig. 2:

eine geschnittene Detailansicht des Rückstoßimpulser- zeugers;

Fig. 3:

eine geschnittene Seitenansicht des Handfeuerwaffen- simulators mit dem Rückstoßimpulserzeuger in gespann- ter Position sowie eine perspektivische Detailansicht eines Auslösewinkels im Moment der Freigabe der Kupp- lung bei Betätigung des Abzugs;

Fig. 4:

eine Detailansicht mit einem Schlittenfanghebel in aktivierter Stellung;

Fig. 5

eine Schnittansicht der Kupplung.

Further advantages, details and developments will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the recoil pulse generator according to the invention, with reference to the drawing. Show it:

Fig. 1:

a sectional side view of a handgun simulator with a recoil pulse generator according to the invention in a relaxed position;

Fig. 2:

a detailed sectional view of the recoil pulse generator;

3:

a sectional side view of the handgun simulator with the recoil pulse generator in a clamped position and a perspective detail view of a trigger angle at the moment of release of the clutch on actuation of the trigger;

4:

a detailed view with a carriage catch lever in the activated position;

Fig. 5

a sectional view of the coupling.

Fig. 1 shows in a sectional view of a handgun fire simulator, the shape and dimension as accurate as a real handgun (here a gun) is modeled to make the simulation close to reality can. The simulator comprises a pistol housing with a handle 01, in which a magazine shaft is provided. Instead of a conventional cartridge magazine, a simulation magazine 02 is used in the magazine shaft, which contains, for example, an electric accumulator 03 as an energy source. Furthermore, a carriage 04 is provided, which slides on a carriage guide 05 in the weft direction. The handgun simulator also includes a trigger 06 and a barrel 07. A recoil pulse generator is arranged in the axial direction of the barrel 07.

Fig. 2 shows a detailed view of the main elements of the recoil pulse generator in a sectional view. An electric motor 08, for example, with 50,000 revolutions per Minute is coupled via a gear 09 to a spindle 10 to cause them to rotate. The gear 09 can for example realize a reduction ratio of 3: 1, so that the spindle 10 is still operated at high speeds of about 10,000 ^-1 , but at the same time can muster the necessary forces to tension a force acting as a force storage elements tripping spring 11. In a preferred embodiment, the gear 09 realizes a reversal of rotation, which has the advantage that the angular momentum generated by the electric motor 08 is largely compensated for the axial orientation of the handgun simulator by the opposite angular momentum of the gear 09 and the spindle 10. On an angular momentum compensation can be omitted if the moving masses are small relative to the total mass of the simulation weapon.

The release spring 11 is designed in the illustrated embodiment as a helical spring which extends around the spindle 10 and extends between the gear 09 and a clutch 12. Other power storage elements can also be used. In other embodiments, modified combinations of drive and storage element can be used, such as a direct drive, a pneumatic drive or a solenoid with capacitor or storage coil.

At the clutch 12, the carriage 04 is fixed, so that it is moved with an axial displacement of the clutch 12 with. The end facing away from the gear 09 of the spindle 10 is mounted in a housing-fixed spindle bearing 13.

In the Fig. 1 and 2 is the clutch 12 and the attached carriage 04 in a relaxed position I, in which the clutch 12 is removed from the gear 09 and the trigger spring 11 is largely relaxed.

Fig. 2 shows the clutch 12 in the engaged state in which a plurality of balls 14 engage the spindle 10. Instead of the balls 14 modified engagement elements such as cones or pins can be used. When the spindle 10 is rotated, this leads to an axial movement of the clutch 12 in the direction of the gear 09. As a result, the release spring 11 is compressed and the carriage 04 is moved into a tensioned position II ( Fig. 3 ).

For example, by a first sensor 15 is determined whether the clutch 12 has moved away from the cocked position. If this can be determined, the electric motor 08 is put into operation to drive the spindle 10 and to move the clutch 12 with the coupled pulse mass again in the cocked position. Thus, an acceleration of the movement is achieved because the engine is already accelerated, while the pulse mass is still moving in the direction of the relaxed position, to achieve a high cadence. Depending on the control, the electric motor for this can be activated from an idle state or an idle state and put into a full load state. To allow a high firing frequency (cadence), it is expedient not to turn off the electric motor after disengaging the clutch but only to reduce its speed and thus put it in an idling state. The full load condition is then reached faster by increasing the speed, especially during the period in which the carriage is thrown back from the cocked to the relaxed position. At lower Cadence, the engine speed can be further throttled or the engine is completely switched off.

The clutch 12 is designed so that it automatically engages as soon as the relaxed position I is reached. The easiest way to do this via mechanical coupling means which act on the stop of the clutch in the relaxed position on this, to cause the engagement of the balls 14 in the spindle 10. The clutch will be detailed below in detail Fig. 5 described.

A second sensor 16 generates a second sensor signal as soon as the carriage 04 has arrived in the cocked position II and thus the release spring 11 is tensioned. At this time, the clutch 12 is disengaged so that the engine and spindle can continue to idle without further axial displacement of the clutch and attached carriage. The disengagement can be achieved by reaching the tensioned position by a mechanical action of a disengaging means on the clutch or be caused by an actuator in response to the second sensor signal.

Fig. 3 shows the handgun simulator with the recoil pulse generator in the cocked position II at the moment of trigger 06 (Fig. a). As can be seen from the detail view (Fig. B), two actuation angles of the coupling 17 are pivoted by actuation of the trigger to release the clutch 12 previously blocked by these actuation angles (instead of the actuation angle, a pawl or a similar element may be used become). As a result, the release spring 11 can relax and the clutch is with the carriage 04 against the weft direction axially accelerated until the carriage strikes in the relaxed position I. The release of the trigger spring 11, the pulse triggered by the striking of the moving masses and the acceleration of the carriage forward by immediate re-tensioning of the trigger spring 11 simulate the recoil during the firing.

In the in Fig. 4 shown detail view of a carriage catch lever 19 is shown in an activated position in which the adjustment of the trigger angle 17 to release the clutch 12 is prevented. In the vicinity of the trigger 06, a third sensor 20 (FIG. Fig. 1 ) whose sensor signal signals the delivery of the simulated shot. A control unit (not shown) can evaluate the third sensor signal, for example to count the number of shots fired and to activate a catch lever actuator 21 when the magazine is "emptied". The catch lever actuator 21 pivots the carriage catch lever 19, which engages in the carriage, so that it remains in the relaxed position I, based on the coupling position. The release spring is cocked, even if the carriage remains in the relaxed position. The energy storage element itself is in a cocked position. The carriage catch lever 19 can be brought back to its rest position only by manual operation.

At the trigger 06, a fourth sensor (not shown) can be arranged, which already detects the start phase of a shot firing, for example by the deflection of the trigger is detected, even before the pressure point of the trigger is exceeded and the shot is fired. The fourth sensor signal indicates that the firing is imminent. For example, the electric motor can thus early be brought into the full load condition in order to realize even higher cadences.

In the Fig. 1 illustrated embodiment further has a lock, in particular a pawl actuator 22, which can be activated by a supervisor during use of the handgun simulator. The pawl actuator 22 actuates a pawl which prevents the trip angles 17 from releasing the clutch 12 in the cocked position II. In this way, a jam can simulate. The control signal for the pawl actuator 22 may, for example, be transmitted via a wireless communication link from an external control unit to the handheld weapon simulator.

In general, a modified mechanism can be used as a lock. Such a modified locking mechanism is detected for example by a sensor which controls an actuator. This also allows the behavior of the trigger to be adapted to different simulators or states. Such a mechanical decoupling of the trigger also prevents unwanted self-release, which may otherwise occur in shock.

Like from the Fig. 1 and 3 can be seen remains due to the compact design of the recoil pulse generator in the front portion of the barrel 7 sufficient space to mount there a target detection unit 23, the details of the recoil pulse generation but are not important.

Fig. 5 shows an embodiment of the coupling 12 in a sectional view in detail. The clutch 12 has a clutch housing 25, in which an axially displaceable dome group 26 is used. As already mentioned above, the clutch engages in the engaged state with balls 14 in the spindle 10 a. For this purpose, the side 27 of the dome group directed towards the relaxed position I strikes against a stop (coupling-in means) in this relaxed position II, so that the dome group 26 is displaced axially. This causes a displacement of, for example, eight actuating pins 28, which are arranged parallel to the spindle 10 circumferentially distributed in the coupling. As a result, the balls 14 are pressed into the helical groove of the spindle 10, whereby the clutch is set in the engaged state and caused by the rotating spindle to an axial movement. Once the clutch 12 has arrived in the cocked position II, it proposes with this facing side 29 of the dome group 26 in turn to a stop (Auskuppelmittel). The actuating pins 28 are displaced oppositely, so that the balls 14 leave the helical groove of the spindle 10 and the clutch is set in the disengaged state. An important advantage of the clutch is the possibility of engagement with spindle rotating at full load, which supports a high cadence.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

01

handle

02

simulation Magazine

03

electric accumulator

04

carriage

05

carriage guide

06

deduction

07

run

08

electric motor

09

transmission

10

spindle

11

release spring

12

clutch

13

spindle bearings

14

roll

15

first sensor

16

second sensor

17

release angle

18

-

19

Slide stop lever

20

third sensor

21

Fanghebelaktor

22

retaining pawl actuator

23

Target detection unit

24

-

25

clutch housing

26

dome group

27

to the relaxed position facing side of the dome group

28

operating pins

29

side of the dome group facing the cocked position

Claims (14)

1. A recoil impulse generator of a weapon simulator with a energy storage element and a shiftable impulse mass, which is shifted from a cocked to an uncocked position by the energy storage element upon actuation of a trigger element so as to simulate a recoil impulse, wherein the recoil impulse generator also encompasses:

   - an electric motor, which causes a mandrel (10) to rotate uninterruptedly in a firing sequence simulating several shots;

   - a coupling (12) connected with the impulse mass and energy storage element, which in a coupled state engages into the mandrel (10) and is shifted along the latter by the rotation of the mandrel (10), so as to move the impulse mass into the cocked position against the force applied by the energy storage element;

   - a decoupling means that switches the coupling (12) to a decoupled state once the impulse mass has reached the cocked position;

   - a coupling means that switches the coupling (12) to the coupled state once the impulse mass has reached the uncocked position.
2. The recoil impulse generator according to claim 1, characterized in that the electric motor is coupled to the mandrel (10) by a variable speed gear (09) or gearlessly.
3. The recoil impulse generator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a first sensor (15) is provided that detects whether the coupling (12) has left the cocked position, wherein the generated first sensor signal is used to accelerate the electric motor out of an idling speed.
4. The recoil impulse generator according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it has a trigger means that initially keeps the coupling (12) in the cocked position after decoupling, and releases it upon actuation of the trigger element, so that it switches to the uncocked position.
5. The recoil impulse generator according to claim 4, characterized in that it has a locking mechanism that can be pivoted by a locking mechanism actuator into a locked position, in which it blocks the trigger means, so as to prevent the release of the coupling (12).
6. The recoil impulse generator according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the impulse mass is formed by a slide (04) and the coupling (12) coupled thereto.
7. The recoil impulse generator according to claim 6, characterized in that it has a slide stop lever (19), which can be pivoted into a catch position by a stop lever actuator (21) to lock the slide (04) in the cocked position.
8. The recoil impulse generator according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the coupling (12) has a coupling group (26) with at least one engaging element, which engages into the mandrel (10) in the coupled state.
9. The recoil impulse generator according to claim 8, characterized in that the coupling (12) has several coupling balls (14) that are distributed on the periphery relative to the axis mandrel (10).
10. The recoil impulse generator according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that that the cocked position of the slide (04) lies before the uncocked position in the firing direction.
11. The recoil impulse generator according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the energy storage element is a coil spring, in whose axis the mandrel (10) is situated.
12. The recoil impulse generator according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that its constituents are arranged in the weapon simulator in such a way that the front section of a barrel (07) is available for integrating a targeting or target acquisition unit (23).
13. The recoil impulse generator according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the decoupling means consist of a stop that switches the coupling (12) to the decoupled state when moving into the cocked position.
14. The recoil impulse generator according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that coupling means consist of a stop that switches the coupling (12) to the coupled state when moving into the cocked position.

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