GB2233433A - Thermal target structure - Google Patents
Thermal target structure Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2233433A GB2233433A GB8914136A GB8914136A GB2233433A GB 2233433 A GB2233433 A GB 2233433A GB 8914136 A GB8914136 A GB 8914136A GB 8914136 A GB8914136 A GB 8914136A GB 2233433 A GB2233433 A GB 2233433A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- target
- panel
- reflective
- thermal
- structure according
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F41—WEAPONS
- F41J—TARGETS; TARGET RANGES; BULLET CATCHERS
- F41J2/00—Reflecting targets, e.g. radar-reflector targets; Active targets transmitting electromagnetic or acoustic waves
Abstract
A thermal target structure to act as a weaponry target, training aid or arc designator structure has a target panel (1) with a reflective surface (2) placed at an acute angle relatively to a heat emissive surface (4) of a heated panel (5). By placing the target panel so that the reflective surface is at an angle when viewed from the front, the heated surface (4) of the heated panel (5) lies in the incident field of view and this causes the target depicted on the reflective surface (2) to appear to be heated. <IMAGE>
Description
THERMAL TARGET STRUCTURE
This invention relates to a thermal target structure to act as a weaponry target, training aid or arc designator structure.
Thermally-heated target structures are known which have a target surface with areas of varied heat emissivity. The -target surface is arranged to present a visual image and the areas of varied heat emissivity, when heated, produce a thermal image corresponding to the visual image.
In order to conserve electrical energy used for the heating unit in the field, the thermally emissive target structure needs to be thermally insulated to minimise convective and conductive heat losses.
It is an object of the present invention to simplify such a target structure, whereby the structure itself can remain at substantially ambient temperature without requiring any insulation on the target surface.
According to the present invention, there is provided a thermal target structure including a reflective target surface with areas of different reflective values and a heat emissive surface positionable to lie facing the target surface at an acute angle thereto, the arrangement being such that, in use, an area of said target surface of higher reflective value reflects infrared radiation from said heat emissive surface thereby to depict a target hot spot, whilst an area of lower reflective value on said target surface reflects less of said radiation.
The reflective target surface can be provided by an aluminium foil or a metallised polyester film mounted on a target panel. The target panel may itself be removably mounted in a target panel holder.
The heat emissive surface may be provided by a heating unit which heats the heat emissive surface. The heat emissive surface can be in the form of a panel which can be laid at a slightly inclined position close to ground level. The target panel would then be arranged to be at an angle to the vertical so that infrared radiation emitted from the heat emissive surface of the heated panel is reflected by the reflective target surface substantially along the line of sight of an infrared radiation detector.
The areas of different reflective values can be provided by varying mark-space ratios, for example, by providing a pattern of dots of varying density, whereby darkened areas give higher emissivity and therefore lower reflective values and the areas can be arranged to provide the image of, for example, a military tank to be identified by the infrared radiation detector. It will be appreciated that the areas of different reflective values of the target surface will provide a varied heat signature, dependant upon the reflective value.
For a better understanding of the invention and to. show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawing, in which the single Figure is a diagrammatic illustration of a thermal target structure for use as a weaponry target, training aid or arc designator structure.
The thermal target structure includes a target panel 1 having a reflective surface 2, the target panel being removably located in a target holder 3 at an acute angle relatively to a heat emissive surface 4 of a heated panel 5. The heated panel 5 is located close to the ground level 6 and at a slight inclined angle thereto and, in relation to the reflective surface 2, such that infrared radiation from the heat emissive surface 4 strikes the reflective surface 2 at an angle of incidence which causes the radiation to be reflected substantially along lines of sight such as the line of sight 7 shown in the drawing. Such a line of sight would be the line of sight of an infrared radiation detector.
The reflective surface 2 is such that the reflective target such as a military tank, depicted thereon, is characterised by having areas of low heat emissivity which are of high reflectance, where the depicted vehicle would have hot spots.
Other areas are progressively darkened by, for example, varying the mark-space ratios to give higher heat emissivity and therefore lower reflective values. These areas can also be darkened, for example, by varying the number of layers of paint or the like.
By placing the target panel 1 so that the reflective surface 2 is at an angle when viewed from the front, the heated surface 4 of the heater unit panel 5 lies in the incident field of view and this causes the target depicted on the reflective surface 2 to appear to be heated.
It will be appreciated that any desired representation can be depicted on the reflective surface 2.
No heat insulation is required on the target and it remains substantially at ambient temperature in use.
Claims (8)
1. A thermal target structure including a reflective target surface with areas of different reflective values and a heat emissive surface positionable to lie facing the target surface at an acute angle thereto, the arrangement being such that, in use, an area of said target surface of higher reflective value reflects infrared radiation from said heat emissive surface thereby to depict a target hot spot, whilst an area of lower reflective value on said target surface reflects less of said radiation.
2. A thermal target structure according to claim 1, wherein said reflective target surface is formed of an aluminium foil mounted on a target panel.
3. A thermal target structure according to claim 1, wherein said reflective target surface is formed by a metallised polyester film mounted on a target panel.
4. A thermal target structure according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said target panel is removably mounted in a target panel holder.
5. A thermal target structure according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said heat emissive surface is provided by a heatable panel which can be laid at a slightly inclined position close to ground level.
6. A thermal target structure according to claim 5 as appendant to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein said target panel is arranged, in use, at an angle to the vertical so as to be able to reflect heat emitted from said heat emissive surface.
7. A thermal target structure according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said areas of different reflective values are provided by varying mark-space ratios to provide darkened areas of varying degrees of darkness.
8. A thermal target structure, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8914136A GB2233433A (en) | 1989-06-20 | 1989-06-20 | Thermal target structure |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8914136A GB2233433A (en) | 1989-06-20 | 1989-06-20 | Thermal target structure |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB8914136D0 GB8914136D0 (en) | 1989-08-09 |
| GB2233433A true GB2233433A (en) | 1991-01-09 |
Family
ID=10658733
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8914136A Withdrawn GB2233433A (en) | 1989-06-20 | 1989-06-20 | Thermal target structure |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2233433A (en) |
Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4260160A (en) * | 1979-03-05 | 1981-04-07 | Saab-Scania Ab | Target device for practice shooting in darkness |
| US4405132A (en) * | 1980-09-04 | 1983-09-20 | Polytronic Ag | Target member simulating an object to be fired on |
| GB2148532A (en) * | 1983-09-29 | 1985-05-30 | British Aerospace | Thermal image simulators |
| GB2191848A (en) * | 1986-06-19 | 1987-12-23 | Schlumberger Electronics | Training apparatus |
| WO1989007232A1 (en) * | 1988-02-01 | 1989-08-10 | Hitchcox Targets Limited | Thermally-emissive, weaponry target, training aid or arc designator structure |
-
1989
- 1989-06-20 GB GB8914136A patent/GB2233433A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4260160A (en) * | 1979-03-05 | 1981-04-07 | Saab-Scania Ab | Target device for practice shooting in darkness |
| US4405132A (en) * | 1980-09-04 | 1983-09-20 | Polytronic Ag | Target member simulating an object to be fired on |
| GB2148532A (en) * | 1983-09-29 | 1985-05-30 | British Aerospace | Thermal image simulators |
| GB2191848A (en) * | 1986-06-19 | 1987-12-23 | Schlumberger Electronics | Training apparatus |
| WO1989007232A1 (en) * | 1988-02-01 | 1989-08-10 | Hitchcox Targets Limited | Thermally-emissive, weaponry target, training aid or arc designator structure |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB8914136D0 (en) | 1989-08-09 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |