Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F41—WEAPONS
  • F41J—TARGETS; TARGET RANGES; BULLET CATCHERS
  • F41J13/00—Bullet catchers

Definitions

• bullet stop means Provided for in firing ranges, behind the targets, are bullet stop means, usually used for reducing the kinetic energy of the bullets, to avoid rebound thereof, as well as allowing recovery of the same.
• the most common ballistic solutions are made up of metal deflectors, variously mutually arranged to form energy reduction septa; further embodiments provide for a chamber for the containment of bullets at the convergence of said deflectors, see for example the facility described in patent US 5.811.718.
• the bullet containment chamber is made up of a plurality of consecutive plates.
• containment means according to the prior art do not allow an optimal solution to the problems regarding efficient interception and arrest of the bullets without contraindications regarding rapid and at times too rapid wear of the sheets forming the means at the points most frequently subjected to impact, avoiding phenomena related to sublimation of lead due to overheating, which represents a considerable problem in environments usually mostly indoors as well as contraindications regarding limited possibility of recovering and recycling some bullet components, which is particularly contraindicated as regards with environmental protection.
• the main object of the present invention is that of providing a bullet stop device for firing ranges such to obtain the maximum functionality and reliability possible regarding the reduction of the kinetic energy of the bullets, preventing possible rebounds, reducing the respective overheating - with the ensuing sublimation of lead contained therein and generation of harmful gases - as much as possible, as well as maximising the percentage of recovery of the material forming the bullets themselves, thus also conceiving and implementing an innovative ecological method for stopping the bullets themselves.
• the inertial bullet stop facility structure for firing ranges comprising at least one pair of overlapped first impact sheets (5 6) angled on the horizontal plane with respect to the upper sheet (5) by a maximum of 10° and with respect to the lower sheet (6) by a maximum of 2°, forming a channel (4) for conveying the bullets into a pair of deceleration half-volutes (8, 9) separated by an interruption (11), said half-volutes being configured segmented into a plurality of consecutive adjacent sheets (10) overlapped with respect to each other with mutual inclination between contiguous elements not exceeding 15°, whereby those subsequent (10A) to the first three (1OC, 1OD, 10E) downstream of said conveying channel (4) and those subsequent (10B) to the first (10F) downstream of said interruption having a maximum width of 10 centimetres, said half- volutes (8, 9) also being mutually separated by said interruption (11) arranged at the lower part to accommodate the inert bullet which drops into the
• Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of a bullet stop facility structure for firing ranges, in indoor galleries, according to the present invention
• Figures 2 and 3 show a schematic side view of two details thereof
• Figure 4 shows an axonometric schematic view of an embodiment of a bullet stop facility structure for firing ranges according to the present invention.
• Each of the structures 1 comprises a channel 4 for conveying bullets, made up of an overlapped pair of first impact sheets 5 and 6, made of ballistic steel, angled on the horizontal plane with respect to the upper sheet 5 by a maximum of 10° and with respect to the lower sheet 6 by a maximum of 2°.
• the channel 4 for conveying bullets ends at the bottom in an opening 7, which leads to a first deceleration half-volute 8 developing downwards, configured segmented into a plurality of consecutive sheets 10 adjacently overlapped with mutual inclination between contiguous elements not exceeding 15°, also made of ballistic steel, preferably 4 to 10 millimetres thick.
• the first three adjacent sheets 1OC, 1OD and 1OE, downstream of the conveying channel 4 have, in the most practical alternative of the embodiment, i.e. preferably, mutual inclination of 13° and are counterfaced upstream by the sheet of a safety rebound 12, located beneath the opening.
• the consecutive adjacent sheets 1OA, successive to the first three 1OC, 1OD and 1OE downstream of said conveying channel 4 have a maximum width of 10 centimetres, where preferably such dimension is 5 centimetres, and also preferably have a mutual inclination of 8° to 10°.
• the first deceleration half-volute 8 projects into a second introflexed deceleration half- vo lute 9, with the interposition of a lower interruption 11 therebetween.
• the first sheet 1OF of the second deceleration half- volute 9, downstream of said interruption 11 preferably has an inclination of about 20° with respect to the last sheet 1 OA of the first deceleration half-volute 8, furthermore, the respective development is such to end up slightly beyond the point of incidence thereon of the ideal extension of the plane of the same last sheet 1OA of said first deceleration half- volute 8.
• the adjacent sheets 1OB successive to the first sheet 1OF downstream of said interruption 11, also have a maximum width of 10 centimetres, where preferably such dimension is 5 centimetres, and preferably have a mutual inclination of 10° to 12°.
• a container 13 for collecting bullets and the respective components is located beneath the base of the structure 1, beneath the lower interruption 11, interposed between the first deceleration half- volute 8 and the second deceleration half- volute 9 of the modular bullet stop facility structure 1.
• the adjacent sheets 10 forming the first deceleration half- volute 8 and the second deceleration half- volute 9 are mounted on sheet plates 14, suitably shaped and spaced by beam segments 15, which allow the adjacency of the structures 1, i.e. also the transversal modularity of the overlapped structures 1 of the bullet stop facility, in such a manner to cover the entire extension of the bottom of the shooting range for the purposes illustrated hereinafter.
• the bullets shot from the firing platforms at the beginning of the shooting line reach the conveying channels 4 of the overlapped bullet stop structures 1 arranged at the bottom of the shooting line, behind the targets (not illustrated), and impact against the sheets 5 and/or 6 with lower angle thus reducing the force of the impact itself.
• the bullets rupture through the bottom opening 7 of the conveying channel 4, remaining entrapped in the first deceleration half-volute 8, through which a curved trajectory is imposed thereto, made to bounce by the respective segmented structure in the plurality of adjacently overlapped consecutive sheets 10, in such a manner that the bullet does not graze continuously along the curved surface, like it occurs in the bullet arrest solutions of the prior art thus overheating and subliming the respective lead forming harmful gas, hence the bullet cools a little in the brief airborne motion corresponding to each bouncing, thus mostly reducing overheating and respective sublimation thereof, but suitably decelerating at the same time.
• the bullet is subjected to the same bouncing deceleration process when it bounces in the second deceleration half-volute 9, also segmented into a plurality of adjacently overlapped consecutive sheets 10, until it completes its single circumvolution by orthogonally impacting, by now substantially free of kinetic energy, against the sheet 1 OF and falling therefrom inert and almost integral weight- wise into the container 13.
• the bullet stop facility structure for firing ranges according to the present invention may be alternatively implemented through equivalent technical and mechanical elements, by means of devices possibly complemented by further integrative solutions, same case applying to all configurations representing the embodiment which may be suitably varied to suit the purpose thereof.
• the bullet stop facility structure for firing ranges according to the present invention offers advantages corresponding to the attainment of the preset objects alongside other advantages: as a matter of fact, the solution described herein incorporates a safe, functional and polyvalent technology to meet the functions of bullet stop devices in any type of shooting range, both outdoor and indoor, preventing the bullets and the respective components from rebounding; furthermore: the bullet stop facility structure for firing ranges according to the present invention requires little maintenance, in that the limited angles of impact of the bullets against the ballistic sheets thereof reduces the wear of the sheets, which, when excessively worn out in any case, may be easily replaced selectively, without requiring total replacement; the modular configuration of the structure facilitates inspection operations in the facility, conferring safety, prevention and reduction of maintenance downtimes advantages thereto; the respective characteristics allow use thereof for first class weapons (developing initial kinetic energy up to 80 kilogram-meter) , second class weapons (developing initial kinetic energy from 80 to 130 kgm) and

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Aiming, Guidance, Guns With A Light Source, Armor, Camouflage, And Targets (AREA)
• Hydroponics (AREA)
• Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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Family Cites Families (4)

• 2008
  • 2008-11-07 IT ITPS2008A000024A patent/IT1395872B1/it active
• 2009
  • 2009-11-04 EP EP09764477A patent/EP2350557A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2009-11-04 WO PCT/EP2009/064574 patent/WO2010052227A1/en active Application Filing

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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