WO1991016590A1

WO1991016590A1 - Activating unit for weapon

Info

Publication number: WO1991016590A1
Application number: PCT/NO1990/000074
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jan Otto Ringdal; Svein H. Kallum
Original assignee: Ringdal Patenter A/S
Priority date: 1990-04-26
Filing date: 1990-04-26
Publication date: 1991-10-31

Abstract

Activating unit for releasable mounting to an externally powered automatic gun or cannon to secure full automatic functioning when firing with cartridges having significantly reduced fire energy in relation to normal charges, the unit comprising at least one sensor (6, 7) being adapted to detect firing from a low energy cartridge, a signal transformer (1) being connected with the sensor(s) and adapted to transform a signal received from the sensor(s) into a signal similar to signals from the integrated electronic gun control unit (4) when firing a normal shot, thereby activating the gun drive motor (2) to perform the normal operation sequence for preparing the weapon for a new shot, whereby the activating unit (1) is adapted for serial connection between the gun control unit (4) and the gun drive motor (2), thereby utilizing the existing cable connections and without any need for mechanical changes of the weapon components.

Description

Activating Unit for Weapon

The present invention relates to an activating unit that releasably can be mounted on an externally powered automatic gun or cannon to secure full automatic functioning when firing with cartridges having significantly reduced fire energy in relation to normal charges. Automatic functioning of guns and cannons, such as throwing out the empty cartridge, mostly is ensured through the recoil force in the weapon system caused by the energy from a fired shot or the weapon is externally powered by an external motor drive unit. Activating units built into recoil operated weapons normally will function only through a full explosion of the cartridge, thereby securing sufficient recoil energy to throw out the empty cartridge and reload, thereby preparing the weapon for fireing the next shot. Especially for weapons with calibers exceeding 20 mm, externally powered drive means has been built into the weapon to secure and ease the automatic firing especially for guns with high firing rate. In connection with such externally powered automatic guns and cannons, it is important to have a control system including sensors and activators to secure that all the necessary gun-functions will take place in a preset sequence, time and order. Different systems are developed for the different weapons to take care of the functioning and safety requirements. Most such systems, however, are depending on sensors activated by the recoil force created by firing the cartridge. If full explosion has not taken place within the time the cartridge is fully closed in the cartridge chamber of the gun, so called "hangfire" may occure if the full explosion takes place after the cartridge has been thrown out of the cartridge chamber of the gun. This may cause dangerous accidents, and most weapons therefore are designed to immediately stop if the full load has not exploded during the time the cartridge is securely placed in the weapon chamber. Normally the recoil force or the relative movement of the barrel to other fixed part of the gun, will prove that the full load has exploded, and a switch or sensor will therefore detect that this movement has taken place. The gun then will continue according to the preset program.

By firing with cartridges given a reduced recoil energy, for example a Blank cartridge or a Short or Limited Range training cartridge, the weapon will not assume the same recoil or other determined signature, to let the weapon function continue for the next cartridge. The weapon will halt.

Weapons are designed and build to have a secure and safe functioning with normal cartridges and will therefore not function in automatic mode when loaded with such training ammunition, giving a significantly reduced recoil energy.

As there today is a severe problem in training with such caliber guns and cannons, due to the safety and cost aspects, as well as a rare availability of firing ranges having the necessary range length, necessary and adequate training is a problem. Different kinds of training ammunition have been introduced at the market for some calibres and guns, that makes gun training and target training possible in a cost efficient manner that may as well be performed at local ranges having a reduced length than would be needed for firing with 5 the normal live cartridges.

To uilize such training ammunition, giving low recoil energy, in a realistic manner with the actual guns and cannons, automatic firing mode will have to be secured as well as all the safety aspects when firing. o It is an object of the present invention to provide an activating unit to be used in connection with firing of low charge cartridges without any need for altering any of the mechanical components of the weapon, thereby also maintaining the integrity and functioning of the weapon. 5 The objective of the present invention is to provide a separate unit that can be mounted and dismounted on a externally powered gun or cannon that will make full automatic firing possible even when firing with ammunition having a significantly reduced recoil energy, by detecting a physical apperance from the firing with the training cartridge and transmitting this message of a fired shot to the gun control system thereby ensuring that the normal sequence of automatic functions follows the shooting even when no shot has letft the gun pipe therby creating a recoil force.

The clearance or impulse message to the gun control system will replace the signal normally given when firing a full normal live cartridge. The activating unit for weapons according to the present invention provides a possibility to ensure safety as to the automatic functions of the weapon beeing released when firing a shot, also with reduced charges such as 50%, 30% or even lower. It is furthermore essential that no changes must be made of the mechanical parts, the electrical wiring system or the sequencial functioning of the weapon. Such and other advantages are achieved by utilizing the activation unit according to the present invention as defined by the features of the acconpanying claims. The sole drawing schematically discloses a weapon provided with the activating unit according to the present invention.

The signal derived from the firing with training ammunition or low recoil ammunition, can be generated through detection of shock, vibration, light, sound, airpressure or a combination of such, detected at a suitable place on the weapon.

The sensor used for the such detection may as well be adjustable to receive or filter the physical appearance by firing so to tune in the system for use on a special kind of training ammunition, giving different firing signatures.

As most weapon manufacturer or the users of the weapon will not allow any physical changes on the weapon or permanent elements to be mounted on the weapon for the purpose of training with the weapon, an important element with this invention is the separate unit that easily can be mounted and dismounted on the weapon whereby no such physical changes or alterations on the weapon will have to take place. Further is important that the mechanical integrity and functioning of the weapon remain unchanged.

Another important advantageous feature of the present invention is that in case the unit, a part of it or components of the unit should be out of order, the automatic functions of the weapon will stop and no firing can take place. This "fale to safe" system secures that no "hang-fire" will take place when firing with training ammunition.

The invention contains relatively small physical parts that is easy to place on the gun and incomplicated to contain on the weapon.

One practical embodiment, as disclosed in the drawing, is to connect at least one sensor on or near the weapon, being connected with the unit signal transformer, the transformer thereby being cennected serially in the circuit between the gun drive motor 2 and the gun control unit 4 which again is being energized through a cable 10. This is easily achieved by connecting the signal transformer 1 of the activating unit in the gun control system through a connector to be placed in-between the gun control system box 4 and the the gun drive motor 2, thereby utilizing the normal cables and plugs of the weapon, as disclosed in the drawing by the dotted line 3 which as line 3 is connected with the signal transformer 1, the signal transformer 1 thereby being connected with the gun drive motor 2 by the cable 5.

The actual recoil energy necessary to activate the system is basically negligable, depending somewhat on what detection method and type of sensor is used. However, as the mentioned training ammunition, Bland and Short or Limited Range training ammunition, has a significantly reduced recoil energy, the system will work for ammunition having less than 50% of the recoil energy created by a normal live cartridge.

One embodiment of the present invention may comprise a Piezoelectric accellerator 6 mounted on the barrel 11 as disclosed in the drawing, The accellerator 6 is connected by a cable 9 to a convertion box or signal transformer 1 that will transform a signal in the right form and at a correct time to be passed over to the gun control system, thereby simulating the impuls/signal that would have been transmitted from gun control unit 4 when the limiting switch or other sensor would be activated by the recoil when firing normal cartridges. It is important that the signal is converted and passed over in the correct time and sequence to secure the normal continuation of the firing program.

An alternative embodiment is mounting an infrared sensor 7 detecting the flash from firing a cartridge. The sensor 7 is connected with the signal transformer 1 by a cable 8. A signal from the sensor 7 then again will activate the signal transformer 1 to transmit an impulse to the gun control system, e.g. to the gun drive motor 2.

The sensor or sensors may be adopted to detect alterations in air pressure, light, sound or combinations therof or to detect vibrations, accellerations or the like physical impulses created by firing of a shot from a low energy cartridge, however, of such small amounts which the normal, built in control unit of the weapon will not be able to_detect. Advantagously the sensitivity of the sensors may be adjusted to detect firing of cartridges having variable firing energy. To ensure the sensors will not react on irrelevant impulses, shields are covering the sensors.

Another advantage with the present invention is the quit and easy monting and dismantling of the unit to the weapon for the period the weapon is to be used for training activities with coresponding low energy ammunition.

Claims

P A T E N T C L A I M S5

1. Activating unit for releasble mounting to an externally powered automatic gun or cannon to secure full automatic functioning when firing with cartridges having significantly reduced fire energy in relation to normal o charges, CHARACTERIZED IN the unit comprising at least one sensor (6, 7) being adapted to detect firing from a low energy cartridge, a signal transformer (1) being connected with the sensor(s) and adapted to transform a signal received from the sensor(s) into a signal similar to signals from the integrated s electronic gun control unit (4) when firing a normal shot, thereby activating the gun drive motor (2) to perform the normal operation sequence for preparing the weapon for a new shot, whereby the activating unit (1) is adapted for serial connection between the gun control unit (4) and the gun drive 0 motor (2), thereby utilizing the existing cable connections and without any need for mechanical changes of the weapon components.

2. Unit according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED IN the sensor(s) (6, 7) being adapted to detect changes in air 5 pressure, light, sound, vibrations or accelleration of the weapon created by firing a shot, or combinations of such.

3. Unit according to claims 1-2, CHARACTERIZED IN the signal transformer (1) being adjustable to correspond with variable cartridge charges. 0

4. Unit according to claims 1-3, CHARACTERIZED IN the the sensor(s) (6, 7) being adjustable to correspond with variable cartridge charges.

5. Unit according to claims 1-4, CHARACTERIZED IN the sensor(s) (6, 7) being adapted for releasbly arrangement on the

35 weapon.

6. Unit according to claims 1-5, CHARACTERIZED IN the signal transformer (1) being adapted for releasbly arrangement on the weapon.

7. Unit according to claims 1-6, CHARACTERIZED IN the sensor(s) (6, 7) being shielded to prevent receipt of irrelevant impulses.

8. Unit according to claims 1-7, CHARACTERIZED IN the unit being adapted for serial connection in the circuit connecting the gun control unit (4) with the gun drive motor (2).