US3479032A - Gunnery practice scoring apparatus - Google Patents

Gunnery practice scoring apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
US3479032A
US3479032A US557481A US3479032DA US3479032A US 3479032 A US3479032 A US 3479032A US 557481 A US557481 A US 557481A US 3479032D A US3479032D A US 3479032DA US 3479032 A US3479032 A US 3479032A
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United States
Prior art keywords
target plate
transducer
target
rod
vibration transmitting
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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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US557481A
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English (en)
Inventor
John Alex Ingvar Ohlund
Torsten Wilhelm Andersson
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Saab AB
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Saab AB
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Publication date
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Publication of US3479032A publication Critical patent/US3479032A/en
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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F41—WEAPONS
    • F41J—TARGETS; TARGET RANGES; BULLET CATCHERS
    • F41J5/00—Target indicating systems; Target-hit or score detecting systems
    • F41J5/04—Electric hit-indicating systems; Detecting hits by actuation of electric contacts or switches
    • F41J5/056—Switch actuation by hit-generated mechanical vibration of the target body, e.g. using shock or vibration transducers
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F41—WEAPONS
    • F41J—TARGETS; TARGET RANGES; BULLET CATCHERS
    • F41J5/00—Target indicating systems; Target-hit or score detecting systems
    • F41J5/06—Acoustic hit-indicating systems, i.e. detecting of shock waves

Definitions

  • This invention relates to signaling devices for scoring gunnery target practice, and pertains more particularly to means for producing an electrical signal in response to a hit upon a target plate, whereby indications of the results of firing at the target plate can be made available at location remote therefrom.
  • the present invention relates to the class of signaling devices for scoring gunnery target practice that is disclosed in Patent No. 3,158,372, to I. A. I. Ohlund et al. issued Nov. 24, 1964, comprising a target plate that defines an area in which shots are to be placed and a transducer arranged to cooperate with the target plate in producing an electrical signal in response to each hit on the target plate.
  • the target plate was of substantially rigid vibration transmitting material, and the transducer, which was highly directional, was directly secured to an edge portion of the target plate with its axis of sensitivity substantially in the plane of the target plate.
  • a projectile striking and penetrating the target plate forced the plate material edgewise outwardly, thus propagating through the target plate an edgewise traveling shock wave that vibrated the transducer along its axis of sensitivity and thereby caused it to produce an electrical signal.
  • the signaling device of that patent was substantially nonresponsive to near misses and other disturbances which vibrated the target plate in directions other than edgewise.
  • the direct attachment of the transducer to the target plate also exposed the transducer to all fire directed towards the target plate, and the transducer was therefore likely to be struck by a projectile and destroyed at any time during the course of a target firing session.
  • Suchdestruction of the transducer was both inconvenient and costly, because it made necessary an interruption of the target firing session and replacement of the ruined transducer.
  • target practice signaling apparatus of the character above described, comprising a target plate of substantially rigid vibration transmitting material and a highly directional transducer, which apparatus is substantially nonresponsive to disturbances other than the striking of the target plate by a projectile, and features location of the transducer at a distance from the target plate so that the transducer can be disposed in a sheltered zone where it is not subject to the impact of projectiles or of stones and the like that are thrown up from the ground by projectiles striking near the target plate.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide a gunnery target practice hit signaling device of the type comprising a substantially rigid target plate and a highly directional transducer, wherein the transducer is mounted at a distance from the target plate, and can be so located as to be protected from the effects of firing at the target plate, and wherein there is a vibration transmitting connection between the target plate and the transducer which is of such character that the transducer produces signals substantially only in response to actual hits upon the target plate.
  • FIGURE 1 is a rear perspective view of :an array of fixedly supported target plates, each of which is provided with a signaling device embodying the principles of this invention;
  • FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through a bottom portion of one of the target plates shown in FIGURE 1 and through its associated transducer, particularly showing the connection between the target plate and the transducer;
  • FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of connection between the target plate and the transducer
  • FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view on a larger scale of the transducer
  • FIGURE 5 is a rear perspective view of another form of target equipped with modified signaling apparatus of this invention.
  • FIGURE 6 is a view generally similar to FIGURE 3 but illustrating details of the connection between the target plate and the transducer of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 5;
  • FIGURE 7 is a rear perspective view of another modified form of the invention, comprising a tiltable target plate
  • FIGURE 8 is a view generally similar to FIGURE 2 but illustrating another modified embodiment of the invention.
  • FIGURE 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the transducer of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGURE 8.
  • FIG- URES 1 and 2 illustrate gunnery target practice apparatus embodying the principles of this invention and comprising an array of upright target plates 5 mounted in substantially coplanar side-by-side relationship, each associated with a transducer 6 which produces an electrical signal when a hit is scored on the target plate.
  • the several transducers 6 are electrically connected, by suitable conductor means 7, with a recording device 8 of known type.
  • the recording device 8, which may be located remotely from the array of target plates 5, produces readily observable indications of the results of firing at the target plates.
  • the target plates are rigidly connected along their adjacent side edges to posts or standards 9 which support them.
  • the lower ends of the posts 9 are fixed to the ground by any suitable means, and are preferably located in a pit 10 above which the target plates project and in which the transducers 6 are disposed directly beneath their respective target plates, so that the transducers are thereby protected from the effects of weapons fire directed at the target plates.
  • Each of the target plates comprises a sheet of a substantially rigid vibration transmitting material, such as hardboard of the type available under the trademark Masonite.
  • a substantially rigid vibration transmitting material such as hardboard of the type available under the trademark Masonite.
  • connection comprises an elongated, substantially rigid vibration transmitting member 11, a U-shaped connecting member 12 by which one end of the vibration transmitting member is maintained firmly connected with an edge of the target plate, and means providing a rigid connection between the other end of the connecting member and the transducer.
  • the vibration transmitting member 11 which can comprise a metal rod, must be capable of transmitting vilbrations along its length, and the transducer must have its directional axis substantially in the plane of the target plate and substantially coinciding with the axis of its adjacent end portion of the vibration transmitting member. Under these conditions the transducer will respond to edgewise traveling shock waves in the target plate but wil be substantially nonresponsive to other oscillations and vibrations of the target plate.
  • the U-shaped connecting member 12 by which a vibration transmitting connection is maintained between the rod 11 and the target plate, straddles the lower marginal edge portion of the target plate with its legs 14 and 15 overlying the opposite faces thereof.
  • a set screw 16 through the leg 14 of the U-shaped member engages its adjacent face of the target plate to clampingly secure the U-shaped member thereto.
  • the vibration transmitting member or rod 11 6X- tends through a loosely fitting hole 17 in the bight portion of the U-shaped member, between and parallel to the legs 14 and 15 thereof.
  • a coiled expansion spring 18 surrounding the upper end portion of the rod 11 reacts between the bight portion of the U-shaped member and a nut 19 threaded onto the tip portion of the rod to bias the rod upwardly toward firm endwise abutting engagement with the lower edge of the target plate.
  • the nut 19 can be adjusted axially along the upper portion of the rod to vary the load on the spring 18 and thereby adjust the force under which the rod engages the edge of the target plate.
  • a small load distributing plate 21 can be confined between the lower edge of the target plate and the top of the rod. Washers 22 and 23 carry the reaction forces of the spring 18 into the nut 19 and the bight portion of the U-shaped member, respectively.
  • the upper end portion of the vibration transmitting rod 111 is threaded through the bight portion of the U-shaped connecting member 112 so that the rod can be screwed through the U-shaped member to an axial position in which the top of the rod has firm engagement with the lower edge of the target plate.
  • a transverse pin 24 through the rod 111 facilitates turning the rod for the purpose of adjusting it to such position.
  • a load distributing plate 21 is preferably confined between the top of the rod 111 and the bottom edge of the target plate.
  • a pad 25 of resilient vibration damping material is confined between the leg 15 of the U- shaped member and its adjacent surface of the target plate to minimize the transmission of flatwise oscillations.
  • the directional transducer 6, as illustrated in FIGURE 4, comprises a rigid closed housing 26 of insulating material which can be generally drum shaped, but with a coaxial nipple 27 on its top into which the lower end of the vibration transmitting rod 11 projects.
  • a transverse pin 2-8 extends through the nipple and the rod to provide a rigid vibration transmitting connection between them which insures that the housing 26 partakes of axial vibrations of the rod.
  • Secured to and extending through the side wall of the housing 26 are a pair of spring metal strips 30 and 31, which have at their inner ends relatively fixed and movable contact members 32 and 33 that are normally in circuit making engagement with one another.
  • the projecting outer end portions of the spring strips 30 and 31 provide terminals 34 that are connectable with the conductors 7 by which the contact members 32 and 33 are connected in series circuit with a suitable current source and with the recording device 8.
  • the inwardly projecting arm 35 of the spring strip 30, which carries the relatively fixed contact member 32, is fairly short and therefore comparatively rigid, while the inwardly projecting arm 36 of the spring strip 31, which carries the movable contact member 33, is relatively long and resilient and has a mass load 37 near its free end so as to be inertia responsive.
  • the arms 35 and 36 project substantially radially into the housing from opposite sides thereof, with the longer arm 36 disposed above the shorter arm 35.
  • the contact members 32 and 33 are normally held engaged under a biasing force which can be adjustably varied by means of a set screw 38 threaded up through the bottom of the housing and acting upon the shorter arm 35 to force it upwardly to a greater or lesser extent and thereby vary the flexing load on the longer arm 36.
  • the spring arm 36 Since the spring arm 36 is disposed with its surfaces normal to the housing axis, vibrations and oscillations of the transducer in directions transverse to its axis do not cause separation of the contact members.
  • the transducer housing can be filled with oil to damp motion of the spring arm 36.
  • the transducer To protect the transducer from. air pressure shock waves due to passing projectiles and from other vibrations such as those arising from stones thrown up against it, it is embedded in a body of spongy material 40 that is enclosed in a metal shell 41, and the shell is in turn enclosed in a cage 42 of rubber or similar elastic material that protects it from damage.
  • the conductors 7 pass through a resilient nipple or grommet 43 in the shell.
  • the target plate 5 is suspended from a rigid frame 9' by means of elastic supporting strips 45 of a material such as rubber cloth, so that the target plate is insulated from vibrations of the frame.
  • the transducer 6 is located in a protected position, in a pit 10 beneath the target plate, and a rod-like vibration transmitting member 211 connects the target plate with the transducer.
  • the medial portion of the vibration transmitting rod 211 is formed as a helical spring, as at 46, so as to be substantially incapable of transmitting vibrations and oscillations in directions perpendicular to its axis, such as oscillations of the target plate in directions normal to the plane thereof.
  • the vibration transmitting rod has its upper and immovably anchored to the U-shaped connecting member 212 that straddles a lower marginal edge portion of the target plate, and the set screw 16 by which the U-shaped member is secured to the target plate is inclined downwardly and inwardly and engages an obliquely upwardly facing bevel 48 on the target plate, so that tightening the screw 16 tends to force the bight portion of the U-shaped member upwardly toward snug engagement with the edge of the target plate.
  • a load distributing plate 21 is interposed between the edge of the target plate and the bight portion of the U-shaped member to promote transmission to the vibration transmitting rod of edgewise traveling shock waves in the target plate; and a pad 25 of vibration damping material is interposed between the leg 15 of the U-shaped member and its adjacent surface of the target plate.
  • the target plate 5 is mounted between frame members 49 which are pivoted on coaxial trunnions 50 and 50 carried on short upright posts 9" so that the target plate can be swung between a substantially horizontal inoperative position, in which it is practically invisible, and an upright operative position in which it is shown.
  • An arm 51 on one of the frame members, projecting beyond the axis of the trunnions, is connected with a double acting hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 52 by which the target plate can be tilted to and from its operative position.
  • the transducer 6 is mounted on an inward extension 53 of the trunnion 50, with its axis coinciding with that about which the target plate tilts.
  • the vibration transmitting rod 311 is L-shaped, and has its upper end connected with the lower marginal edge portion of the target plate, as by means of any of the above described U-shaped connectors, while its lower portion extends horizontally along the tilting axis of the target plate and is connected with the transducer 6 in the manner previously described.
  • the conductors 7 that are connected with the transducer are brought out of the shell around the transducer on its axis, the trunnion 50" upon which the transducer is mounted being tubular so that the conductors can extend through it.
  • the connection between the target plate 5 and the vibration transmitting rod 11 is the same as in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGURE 2, but the vibration transmitting rod 11 must be formed of electrically conductive material inasmuch as its lower end comprises the fixed contact member 32 of the transducer 6.
  • the tranducer housing 26' is a sleeve of insulating material that is firmly secured to the lower end portion of the rod 11 in telescoped relation thereto, preferably by being threaded onto the rod.
  • the lower end of the sleeve 26' is closed by an electricaly conductive set screw 38' threaded upwardly thereinto and p a washer 34 confined between a pair of locking nuts 55 on the set screw 38.
  • the locking nuts of course maintain the set screw in any axial position to which it may be adjusted. Such adjustment of the set screw, by regulating the preload on the spring 36', controls the sensitivity of the transducer.
  • this invention provides very reliable signaling apparatus for scoring gunnery target practice, which apparatus is responsive to direct hits scored upon the target but is substantially nonresponsive to other distrurbances; and it will also be apparent that in the apparatus of this invention the sensitive and relatively expensive transducer, which produces an electrical signal in response to a shock wave due to a hit on the target, can be located at a distance from the target and in a protected location where it is safe from projectiles fired at the target.
  • a signaling device for scoring gunnery target practice comprising:
  • biasing means reacting between the housing and the second contact member to urge the latter in the direction toward the first contact member, said biasing means being yieldable to permit inertia produced separation of the contacts in consequence of abrupt motion of the housing in the opposite direc tion.
  • transducer of claim 1 further charatcerized by:
  • a covering of soft vibration absorbing material around said housing for substantially preventing the transducer from being affected by shock and vibration forces other than shock waves traveling edgewise through the target plate.
  • a signalling device for scoring gunnery target practice of the type comprising a target plate of substantially rigid vibration transmitting material defining an area in which shots are to be placed, and a shock Wave responsive transducer for producing an electrical signal in response to a shock wave traveling through the target plate as the result of a projectile hitting the same:
  • (D) means providing a second vibration transmitting connection between the transducer and the other end of the elongated member, whereby the elongated member transmits to the transducer shock waves traveling edgewise through the target plate.
  • the signaling device of claim 3 further characterized by:
  • (B) spring means reacting between the U-shaped member and the elongated member to maintain biasing force upon said one end portion of the elongated member urging it axially toward said edge portion of the target plate.
  • the signaling device of claim 3 further characterized by:
  • said cooperating means on the U-shaped member and on the elongated member comprising a screw threaded connection between them.
  • the signaling device of claim 3 further characterized by:
  • a signaling device for scoring gunnery target practice of the type comprising a target plate of substantially rigid vibration transmitting material defining an area in which shots are to be placed, and a shock wave responsive transducer for producing an electrical signal in response to a shock wave traveling edgewise through the targetplate in consequence of a hit upon the same by a projectile:
  • (A) means mounting the tranducer in a protected location spaced edgewise from the target plate and near the plane thereof and with the axis of sensitivity of the transducer substantially parallel to the plane of the target plate surface;

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Measuring Fluid Pressure (AREA)
  • Radar Systems Or Details Thereof (AREA)
  • Apparatuses For Generation Of Mechanical Vibrations (AREA)
US557481A 1965-06-17 1966-06-14 Gunnery practice scoring apparatus Expired - Lifetime US3479032A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE8005/65A SE306483B (xx) 1965-06-17 1965-06-17

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US3479032A true US3479032A (en) 1969-11-18

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US557481A Expired - Lifetime US3479032A (en) 1965-06-17 1966-06-14 Gunnery practice scoring apparatus

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US (1) US3479032A (xx)
AT (1) AT261453B (xx)
BE (1) BE682693A (xx)
CH (1) CH448811A (xx)
GB (1) GB1090508A (xx)
NL (1) NL6607828A (xx)
NO (1) NO117285B (xx)
SE (1) SE306483B (xx)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4222564A (en) * 1977-06-13 1980-09-16 Aba Electromechanical Systems, Inc. Automated scoring target system
US4865329A (en) * 1986-12-11 1989-09-12 Carlheinz Geuss Retainer means for use with a hit sensor
US5944317A (en) * 1997-07-07 1999-08-31 Rohrbaugh; George Wilson Shock wave scoring apparatus employing dual concentric curved rod sensors
US20090102129A1 (en) * 2007-09-21 2009-04-23 Saab Ab Shooting target system for automatic determination of the point of impact
US20120091660A1 (en) * 2010-10-18 2012-04-19 Lockheed Martin Corporation Target impact-point sensing system
CN111609765A (zh) * 2020-05-18 2020-09-01 北京盈想东方科技股份有限公司 半封闭式声电定位报靶系统

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2120760B (en) * 1979-01-08 1984-05-23 Australasian Training Aids Pty Marksmanship training apparatus

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1009068B (de) * 1955-11-24 1957-05-23 Theissen Soehne Fritz Selbsttaetig umlegbare Schiessscheibe
US3097848A (en) * 1958-10-29 1963-07-16 Zschokke Ag Conrad Shooting installation
US3158372A (en) * 1961-02-20 1964-11-24 Svanska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget Signaling device for scoring gunnery target practice

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1009068B (de) * 1955-11-24 1957-05-23 Theissen Soehne Fritz Selbsttaetig umlegbare Schiessscheibe
US3097848A (en) * 1958-10-29 1963-07-16 Zschokke Ag Conrad Shooting installation
US3158372A (en) * 1961-02-20 1964-11-24 Svanska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget Signaling device for scoring gunnery target practice

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4222564A (en) * 1977-06-13 1980-09-16 Aba Electromechanical Systems, Inc. Automated scoring target system
US4865329A (en) * 1986-12-11 1989-09-12 Carlheinz Geuss Retainer means for use with a hit sensor
US5944317A (en) * 1997-07-07 1999-08-31 Rohrbaugh; George Wilson Shock wave scoring apparatus employing dual concentric curved rod sensors
US20090102129A1 (en) * 2007-09-21 2009-04-23 Saab Ab Shooting target system for automatic determination of the point of impact
US20120091660A1 (en) * 2010-10-18 2012-04-19 Lockheed Martin Corporation Target impact-point sensing system
US8561993B2 (en) * 2010-10-18 2013-10-22 Lockheed Martin Corporation Target impact-point sensing system
CN111609765A (zh) * 2020-05-18 2020-09-01 北京盈想东方科技股份有限公司 半封闭式声电定位报靶系统

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AT261453B (de) 1968-04-25
NL6607828A (xx) 1966-12-19
GB1090508A (en) 1967-11-08
SE306483B (xx) 1968-11-25
CH448811A (de) 1967-12-15
NO117285B (xx) 1969-07-21
BE682693A (xx) 1966-12-01

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