ES2657066B1 - SYSTEM TO SHOOT A GUN - Google Patents

Abstract

System for firing a weapon that includes an actuator module (10) attachable to an actuator module (12) of a weapon, said actuator module (10) drives the actuator module (12) and fires the weapon (1). The actuator module (10) comprises a controller (18), a transmitter (14) and a receiver (16) both optically coupled, where the controller detects an interruption of the light beam received at the receiver (16) previously emitted by the transmitter (14) and to generate, in response to said interruption, a trigger signal to actuate the actuator module (12) and fire the weapon. Different embodiments are shown with and without trigger, as well as variants in the configuration of the transmitter-receiver pair.

Description

5

10

fifteen

twenty

25

30

SYSTEM TO SHOOT A GUN

DESCRIPTION

Technical field of the invention

The present invention belongs in general to the field of weapon actuators, and in particular refers to an optical trigger system for a weapon or similar device operable by hand to control the initiation of a firing sequence of the weapon.

Background of the invention or State of the Art

In most conventional weapons (rifles, shotguns, guns, revolvers, carbines, etc.) it is fired by manually pressing a key or piece called a trigger. The trigger is part of an actuator system and releases a mechanism that starts the firing operation. In the case of firearms, the actuator is called a firing pin and hits a piston or fulminant to cause ignition of the cartridge and so! shoot

The trigger, which is usually moved with the index finger of the hand, has traditionally been a mechanical component. The triggering of the trigger starts the firing operation in which numerous mechanical parts are set in motion (levers, springs, connecting rods, teeth, etc.). It is observed that this type of essentially mechanical drive involves several disadvantages and certain problems.

The mechanical components require the safety of a very precise manufacturing subject to strict tolerances that avoid failures during operation. The most common problems are irregularities in the force of tightening that must be applied to actuate the trigger, an excess of noise produced by the click of the mechanism that disengages the firing pin or greater maintenance due to the wear and tear of the mechanical elements over time and the use.

In another order of things is the accuracy of the shot, most mechanical triggers inherently require a movement of the trigger from the starting point to the point of

5

10

fifteen

twenty

25

30

Shooting. This affects the accuracy and may cause the shooter to anticipate the shot and move or move the firearm during trigger movement.

Although alternative systems based on electrical components (electromagnets, solenoids, piezoelectric elements) have also been proposed in which an electromechanical switch or other electrical element is activated by the trigger movement and releases the firing pin, many mechanical components still persist. Therefore, they suffer from problems similar to purely mechanical systems. Therefore, in view of the limitations observed in the state of the art, it would be desirable to have a non-mechanical trigger drive system.

Brief Description of the Invention

As indicated, in general, manually operated weapons, whether fire or compressed air, have a trigger that has undergone slight variations over time while maintaining the same principle of operation. This proposal presents a change in this principle of operation that even allows the mechanical trigger to be completely eliminated and replaced by an electronic optical barrier technology without the need for contact.

In general, the object of the present invention is a system for firing a weapon that includes an actuator module attachable to another actuator module of the weapon, wherein said actuator module drives the actuator module that triggers the weapon. The actuator module includes a circuit where there is an electronic controller, an optical emitter of a light beam and an optical receiver coupled both together. The controller allows detecting an interruption of the light beam received in the receiver previously emitted by the transmitter. This interruption is interpreted as a trigger signal to actuate the actuator module and fire the weapon.

Also object of the present invention is a weapon that incorporates the previous firing system.

The proposed system allows to generate a trigger signal without the need to overcome the usual resistance in conventional triggers. The trigger signal triggers the firing pin of the weapon or actuator (depending on the type of weapon) optically, through the detection, during the exercise of pulling the trigger, the breaking of an optical barrier between the emitter-receiver pair. Either caused by the gunner's own finger or by a simulated trigger.

5

10

fifteen

twenty

25

30

Thanks to this solution, a direct and contactless transmission of the movement of the shooter's finger to the firing pin is established without the need for intermediate mechanical elements. This fact reduces the frequency of maintenance and the requirements for tolerance in the manufacture of parts.

Favorably, this trigger system by optical barrier also improves the accuracy of the shot and reduces the phenomenon of the "trigger", that is, the anticipation of firing and recoil of the weapon. Logically when the shooter is ahead of the shot and the recoil, it moves in some way by moving the pointer elements. This translates into an impact outside the objective. Normally, the cause is the mechanical trigger, which to actuate the firing pin exerts some pressure and causes slight movements of the weapon.

Another advantage of this optical trigger system is to avoid the phenomenon of "machine gunning" that occurs in semi-automatic weapons whose trigger has been tuned to shoot with the minimum pressure. In semi-automatic weapons, the same recoil can cause, when the finger is on the trigger, a very dangerous self-feeding effect. The gun fires continuously until it runs out of ammunition. This can often occur if the trigger is too soft (requires little pressure).

The present optical trigger system also solves the above problem, thanks to the fact that it can be electronically limited and that it can dispense with finger contact with a mechanical element.

In particular, in precision shooting, this contactless solution is very convenient. The shot will always occur when cutting the optical barrier at the same point, without the shooter moving the weapon by having to push a mechanical trigger to its firing point.

Although the preferred application of the invention is in real weapons, whether for recreational or military purposes, it can also be favorably implemented in simulated weapons (toys, video games, simulators).

Brief description of the figures

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of system realization for firing a weapon with emitter and receiver facing each other.

5

10

fifteen

twenty

25

30

FIG. 2 illustrates another example of system realization for firing a weapon with emitter and receiver on the same side facing a reflector element.

FIG. 3 illustrates another additional example of system realization for firing a gun with a simulated trigger.

Detailed description of the invention

For a better understanding, with reference to the previous figures, several embodiments of the invention are described schematically that should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention.

In FIG. 1 illustrates a first example of system realization for firing a weapon 1 manually. An actuator module 10 drives an actuator module 12 without the need for a trigger or finger contact with the weapon taker. The actuator module 12 is responsible for firing the gun 1 for this purpose preferably has a solenoid or electroiman 28 that replaces other mechanical elements such as springs, levers, pistons, etc. The actuator module 10 includes a controller 18, a transmitter 14 and a receiver 16. The transmitter-receiver pair is optically communicated directly in this embodiment (without additional intermediate optical elements). The controller 18 is connected to the emitter-receiver pair so that it can detect an interruption of the light beam received in the receiver 16 that was emitted by the transmitter 14. When this occurs, the circuitry associated with the controller 18 generates a trigger signal. which drives the actuator module 12 that is responsible for firing the gun 1.

In FIG. 2 you can see another realization different from the actuator module 10 in which the emitter-receiver pair is not in direct communication, but both are in the same area preferably in the handguard 22 (the area that is in the front part of the cylinder head assembly with which the weapon is held and the pointer is directed). Since they are not facing each other, it is necessary for an element to reflect the beam emitted to the receiver 16. For this purpose, a reflector is incorporated into the interior of the guard 24 (the arc-shaped piece intended to protect the trigger from weapons) 15, catadioptric, mirror or similar element that adequately directs the light of the beam for detection by the receiver 16 in the absence of movement of the finger to shoot and for said beam to be interrupted when there is said movement. This realization has the advantage that the electronic transmitter 14 and receiver 16 components that can be more delicate and sensitive, are

5

10

fifteen

twenty

25

30

they can accommodate more safely and compactly inside the weapon 1. As can be seen in FIG itself. 2, the sender-receiver pair is implemented as a single sender-receiver sensor device 17. For example, a retro-reflective photoelectric type with polarized, digital light (PNP transistor) although it can also work with other types (infrared or green light) ) with the advantage that the space in which emitter 14 and receiver 16 are located is only a few centimeters.

In other embodiments as shown by FIG. 3 a movable simulated trigger 11 can be incorporated whose function is not to act mechanically on any mechanism but optically, interrupting the beam during the movement of the finger to shoot. This simulated trigger 11 includes a portion, generally hidden within the weapon 1, which interrupts the beam emitted by the emitter 14 that reaches the receiver 16 also housed within the weapon.

This embodiment can be advantageous if the weapon is to be used in environments exposed to dust and dirt. Simulated trigger 11 may also be especially desirable in certain applications. For example, in the specialty of sports shooting, the regulation usually indicates that the weapons must have a trigger that places a certain resistance so that there is tact in the exercise of pulling the trigger to fire. This simulated trigger 11 can advantageously be designed to overcome a force of certain Newtons and thereby comply with the applicable regulations for a given sport shooting category.

In all of the previous embodiments, in anticipation that this trigger system can give the shooter little confidence, which he may think is too easy or unsafe to operate the weapon, a safety button 26 may be added that will be in an unequivocal preparation position. for shooting as shown in FIG. 1, 2 or 3. The safety button 26 is responsible for enabling the actuator 12. For example, allowing the electric trigger signal generated by the controller 18 to reach the solenoid or electromagnet 28 that triggers the firing pin causing the firing.

The emitter 14 can be chosen to generate the light beam with certain frequency or amplitude characteristics. However, it is usually preferable to be of coherent light to avoid dispersion. Therefore, laser emitters are usually chosen.

It is sometimes desirable that the type of transmitter-receiver sensor 17 be able to function in dirty environments with the presence of dust or moisture. In these cases, the sensors

Infrared are the most effective, which adds that they are not visible as if it occurs in red or green light sensors.

Claims (7)

5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 1. System for firing a weapon comprising: - an actuator module (10) attachable to an actuator module (12) of a weapon, said actuator module (10) configured to actuate the actuator module (12) and fire the weapon (1); characterized in that the actuator module (10) comprises a controller (18), a transmitter (14) and a receiver (16) both optically coupled, where the controller (18) is configured to detect an interruption of the beam of light received in the receiver (16) previously issued by the emitter (14) and to generate, in response to said interruption, a trigger signal to actuate the actuator module (12) and fire the weapon. 2. System for firing according to claim 1, wherein the actuator module (12) comprises a reflector (15) configured to change the direction of the beam of light emitted by the emitter (14) towards the receiver (16). 3. System for firing according to claim 2, wherein the reflector (15) is located in the guard (22) of the weapon (1) and the emitter (14) and the receiver (16) are both located in the guard (22) of the weapon (1). 4. System for firing according to claim 1, wherein the emitter (14) and the receiver (16) are located facing each other, one in the goalkeeper (22) and another in the handguard (24) of the weapon (1). 5. System for firing according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the actuator module (10) also comprises a simulated trigger (11) movable from a rest position, in which it lets the light beam pass, to a firing position. , which interrupts the beam of light. 6. System for firing according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a safety button (26) configured to inhibit the trigger signal of the controller. 5. System for firing according to any one of the preceding claims, where the light emitter (14) is configured to emit coherent light. 8. Weapon (1) comprising the firing system according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 7. 10