Target practicing device

362-112

SR

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XR 2s>089?901

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MUg. 10, 1937. _ C. KOLLMAYER ET AL : ' . _ TARGET. PRACTICING DEVICE

Filed June 12, 1936

2,089,901

Sheets-Sheet 1

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Aug. 10, 1937. C. KOLLMAYER ET AL . 2,089,901

TARGET PRACTICING DEVICS /, Filed June 12. 193S . 3 Sheets-Sheet 2

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Aug. 10, 1937.

C. KOLLMAYER ET AL 2,089,901

TARGET PRACTICING DEVICE . ·

Filed June 12,.1936 . 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

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. Patented. Aug. 10, 1937 .

2,089,901

TARGET PRACTICING DEVICE

Charles Kollrnayer and John Sheehan, New York, N. Y., assignors to Sheehan-Kollmayer Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York

Application June 12, 1935, Serial No. 84,847

Claims.

This invention relates particularly to target practicing devices of the gun type utilizing a moving objective upon or as the target.

Objects

Among the principal objects which the present invention has in view are:—to provide an improved gun-type target practicing device employing a moving objective; to utilize a light10 projected objective; to simulate with the objective actual distance and maneuvering of an airplane or the like; to provide for simulating an apparent falling of the airplane objective as an indication of a perfect shot; to provide a mechal-> nism which will bring different objectives successively before the user; to make the successive objectives appear at different positions upon the screen; to require re-aiming to register perfect shots upon successive objectives; to provide an •20 apparatus simulating a gun which will cause the objective to appear to fall when the gun is properly trained upon the objective and the firing mechanism, such as a trigger, thereupon operating; to employ electric contact means dependent 2.-, upon proper aiming to complete the circuit; to provide a circuit for operating the objective under control of the operator by pulling a trigger or similar device; to make the closing of the circuit dependent upon co-ordination of proper aiming :::) and simultaneous pulling of the trigger or the like to be effective; to provide a plurality of members each of which bears an objective to be lightprojected; to provide for steady, relatively slow rotation of the member during the aiming periods;

3., to both rotate and revolve said members; to provide for a more rapid rotation of said member when a perfect shot is made; to continue the steady rotation of all other members except the one whose objective is being projected and has

:) been shot; to provide a structure enabling the aiming to be accomplished either by directly holding the gun or by manipulating it with foot pedals and hand controlled stick In simulation of airplane machine-gun mounting and control; to secure simplicity of construction and operation; and to obtain other advantages and results as may be brought out in the following description.

Drawings

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a target practicing device embodying our invention with the near side of the cockpit removed and some narts. in section;

Figure 2 is a plan of .the objective projecting ^υ·> and controlling unit;

(Cl. 35—25)

Figure 3 Is a sectional view taken on line 3—3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a rear sectional view of the device looking toward the front of the cockpit;

Figure 5 U a perspective vievz of a part of the 5 objective projecting and operating mechanism; and

Figure 6 Is a perspective view showing the track mounting for the trip mechanism.

Description

As seen In the drawings the reference numeral (0 indicates an Imitation gun, which has been here shown as a representation of a machinegun. This gun is mounted upon a stand 11 which 15 preferably is shaped to represent a cockpit of an airplane. Means is provided within this stand or cocspit I ί to project the image of a moving objective upon a screen (not shown) toward which the gun is pointing. There is an inter- 20 connection between the projecting mechanism and the gun so as to give an indication of perfect shooting upon the screen. The details of the structure and interconnection may be considerably varied within the scope of the invention, 25 but the specific embodiment herein illustrated will be described In detail without limiting, except as hereinafter claimed, to the details described.

A crate-like frame 12 is supported within the 30 cockpit f f and in turn carries a large part of the operating and control mechanism hereinafter described so as to permit that mechanism to be moved as a unit both for an initial adjustment and for removal In event repairs may be neces- 35 sary. This frame supports a light projector 13 which may conveniently contain an electric light bulb 14 from which light will be directed forwardly through suitable lenses to direct the beam through an aperture (5 and thence forwardly 40 through a focusing tube f S likewise having appropriate lenses therein. This structure Is designed to cast an image on the screen in front of the gun, and therefore it is preferred to slope the axis of the light projector and lenses upwardly toward 45 the line of the sight of the gun. This accordingly accounts for the tilted position of the frame 12. · In passing, it may be pointed out that an appropriate window opening IT is provided at the front of the cockpit for passing the directed light beams 50 therethrough to the screen.

Between, the light pro jector 13 and the aperture 15, but below the direct line of the light beam are two rotors 18,19 which rotate constantly upon a common axis which is parallel to the axis of the 55' ,

2,039,.901 light projector and lenses. The forward one of these rorcrs. namely 13, is fast upon a rotating shaft 20. The rearward one, 13, of this pair of rotors is fast with’ respect to a sleeve 2i rotatably 5 mounted upon said shaft 20. The rear end of sleeve 2 f is fast, with respect to a beveled gear 22 so that the sleeve arid rearward rotor !S will be driven by said beveled gear which is shown also facing rearwardly. Shaft 20 passes through this 10 rearwardly facing beveled gear without attachment thereto, and has a forwardly facing beveled gear 23 attached to it. Said beveled gears 22 and 23 are therefore parallel and face each other, and are both driven by a single beveled gear 24 15 positioned between them on another shaft 25 normal to shaft 20 and sleeve 2( and shown directed downwardly to be driven by a bevel gear 28 secured thereon, in turn driven by another bevel gear 27. An electric motor 28 functioning through 20 suitable reduction gearing (not shown) enclosed in casing 23 drives the last mentioned bevel gear continuously and thus obtains a continuous rotation of rotors f 3 and 19. This rotation is relatively slow, in that we prefer to use a reduction gearing 25 in casing 23 of approximately nine hundred to one. It will be noted that by the construction shown and above described that the rotors IS and IS rotate in opposite directions, that is to say, looking from the rear toward the front in the di30 rection of projection of light, the rearward rotor rotates in a clockwise direction and the forward one 13 rotates in an anti-clockwise direction.

The forward rotor (3 preferably has an annular transparent radially projecting plate 30 35 thereon which is constantly in front of aperture 15 through which the light passes. This plate 30 may conveniently be of mica and. may have a cloud and sky effect thereon so that the light will project the appearance of moving clouds in. the 40 sky upon the screen as the rotor rotates.

The rearward rotor 19 has a plurality of members 31 trunnfoned thereon next the periphery thereof, which members are likewise transparent and are arranged to present an objective between 45 the light projector (3 and aperture 15. This member 31 is arranged to be rotated upon its trunnion 32 so that the projectton of the objective upon the screen will show the objective in motion. Preferably the objective is a representation of an 50 airplane or the like, and the motion thereof is contra to the direction of movement of the cloud indication.

It Is also a feature to maintain a steady movement of member 31 until the user of the device 55 simultaneously correctly points the gun at the objective on the screen and pulls the trigger. It is then arranged that member 31 shall rotate quickly to give the illusion of the objective falling, as If it had been shot down. The structure to accomco plish this purpose accordingly includes a pinion 33 on the rear end of trunnion 32 in mesh with a gear 34 upon a rotatable rod 35 extending rearwardiy from.rear rotor 19 in which it receives bearing support, said rod being parallel to the axis g₅ of said rotor. An appropriate number of members 31 are provided around the rotor 19 so that successive objectives will be continuously presented upon the screen. For simplicity and clarity of illustration, only one such member and its con70 trolling rod 35 have been shown In each of the several views. It will be understood, however, that if all of the rods 35 were shown, they would, give the appearance of a cylindrical cage of parallel bars.

₇₅ The rear end of the rod 35 is shown rotatably supported iti a circular carrier 38 parallel to the rotors and a little forward of the pair of bevel gears 22, 23. -This carrier is likewise shown circular and concentric with the axis of shaft- 20 and sleeve 2¹.. Parallel to and spaced a short dis- 5 tance to the rear of carrier 3S is a disc 31. This disc '37 is concentric and fast with respect to sleeve 21, so that it will rotate in unison with the rear rotor f9. Candor 36· is secured to and mounted from disc 37 as by bolts 33 upon which are posi- 10 tioned spacers 39 between the disc and carrier. It will therefore be observed that carrier 38 likewise rotates with and has a fixed relationship with respect to the rearward rotor. Consequently the several rods 35 will always remain parallel to each 15 other and perpendicular to the rotor and to the carrier in which mounted. Behind the position of each rod 35 is a radially projecting bracket ¢0, the outer end of which is forked to receive therebetween a latch 41. The outer ends of the 20 forks are looped over to provide a pivotal mounting for the latch enabling said latch to be swung toward and away from its respective rod in a plane containing the axis of the rod. Next to the carrier 36 on the opposite side thereof from disc 37 is a 25 circular fin 42 having a notch 43 at one part of its periphery. This notch is shaped to receive the end of latch 4i which is normally retained therein by a spring 44 (shown in Figure 3) between the opposite end of said latch and. the 30 bracket. This circular fin 42 is fast upon rod 35 so that the latch will normally keep the rod from rotating. When the latch is released the rod may rotate and positive means is preferably provided to insure such rotation. The means shown com- 35 prises a weighted arm 45 fast upon the rod 35 and projecting sidewise therefrom so as to be influenced by gravity. Release of the rod so that it may rotate occurs only when the rod Is substantially at an uppermost pi-.rt of the orbit of its 40 revolution about the axis of the shaft 20 and sleeve 2i. Thus weighted arm 45 will give the rod 35 substantially a quarter turn when the latch is released by virtue of the weighted arm swinging to a depending position. As the rod is re- 45 volved to and past its lowermost position, weighted arm 45 accomplishes an oscillation back to its former relation with respect to the rotor and carrier and thus brings the notch 43 of the circular fin 42 back to registration with latch 4 i which 50 therefore again secures the rod in its normal position. At this normal position of the rod, the r ember 3ί positions the objective radially outward from rotor (9 and in the path of the light beam. Tims it is that the steady rotation of 55; the rotor imparts the normal movement of the objective and the releasing of the latch 41 permits weighted arm 45 to impart rotation to said member 31 upon its trunnion 32 to give the appearance of the objective falling. 60

Release of latch 41 is effected by electro-mechanical means. Behind each latch in the disc 37 is a slidable trip pin 46 perpendicular to the disc and passing through the same. Tiffs trip pin is preferably spring pressed to normally rest in its 65 rearward position. Its forward end, being juxtaposed at the rear of the latch will engage and trip the latch whenever the trip pin is moved forwardly.

To the rear of the disc 37 at the upper part 70 of the same is positioned a carriage 47 which may move horizontally and also vertically. The carriage supports a magnet or solenoid 48'which is axially directed toward the rear face of disc 37. The particular construction shown provides a 75 '

3,08θ,&amp;01 finder pin 49 which extends through the solenoid and which will be partially expelled therefrom toward the disc 37 wheiiever’the electric circuit coming to said magnet by way of wires 56, 5f is 5 closed. If, at the moment the finder pin Is thus expelled it is axially alined with a trip pin 45, the latch will be released and the objective on the screen will seemingly drop. The permitted horizontal and vertical movement of the carriage 10 enables the operator, if he is skillful, to move the finder pin through the same orbit and tn axial alinement with the trip pin during the period of projection of the corresponding objective.

The movement of carriage 47 is controlled by 15 the aiming of the gun. For this purpose the gun is mounted upon the upper end of a yoke 52 through the agency of a trunnion 53 fixed to and extending upwardly from the middle of the top reach of the yoke to a position beneath the mid 20 part of the gun and above the cockpit 11. This trunnion is actually illustrated as a· tube welded or otherwise secured to the yoke and having a stud 54 inserted in the upper end of the tube and held fast by a set screw 55, said stud having a 25 vertical flat portion 55 for receiving a horizontal pivot 57 which likewise passes through depending ears 53 on the gun and next io said fiat portion. Horizontal oscillation of the gun therefore will turn yoke 52 which is unaffected by vertical ³⁰ oscillation of the gun. From the sides of the yoke, as from hooks 59, 59 extends a flexible member, such as a sprocket chain GO which passes over a sprocket wheel SI at the upper end of and fast with respect to a long pinion 52. This pin³⁵ ion is in mesh with a rearwardly facing rack 63 on the rear of carriage 47. Oscillation of the gun and yoke sideways will therefore obtain a lateral shifting of carriage 47 in the same direction in which the gun is pointed or oscillated. Verti40 cal movement of the carriage does not affect the oscillation of the same by the means described in view of the continued meshing between the long pinion and the rack 63.

Vertical movement of the carriage 47 Is ob45 tained by vertical oscillation of the gun by means of a link 64 which depends from the gun at the rear of trunnion 53, the lower end of said link being attached to a bracket 65 which is fixed with respect to a carriage support 66. This carriage 50 support is shown in the nature of a track running cross-wise of the crate-like frame 12, and in turn supported by vertical and parallel slides 67 which ride in upwardly directed tracks 63, S3 at the rear side corners of said crate-like frame 12.

The structure above described enables the operator to control the device by holding onto the butt of the gun and aiming it at the objective. However, it is usual, where an airplane is being flown by the same operator who acts as gunner, 60 to aim the gun by altering the course of the airplane. This is done in a real airplane by manipulation of foot pedals and a stick. We therefore make it a feature of the present invention to direct the gun 10 in its lateral oscillation by means 65 of foot pedals 69, 69 directly connected to the bottom part of yoke 52 as if the airplane were being altered In its horizontal course. The vertical shifting of the gun, as if accomplished by a .vertical alteration of the airplane course is ac70 complished by swinging a stick 70 forwardly or rearwardly. This stick is pivoted to the floor of the cockpit as at 71, and is connected as by a yoked link 72 to the carriage support. A seat 73 is provided in appropriate proximity to the gun, pedals and stick to enable the operator to sight the gun and to operate pedals and stick simul- ’ taneously. .-.-. Tire gen is equipped with a trigger 74 by which a switch 75 may be closed to complete a circuit through wires 75 and 77 to a suitable source of 5 current supply, here illustrated as battery 73 to wires 50 and 51 and magnet 48. A parallel switch closure 79 may be provided by way oi a button trigger at the upper end of stick 70. The operator may thus close the switch with the hand t hat 10 eperates the stick when aiming through the agency of the stick or may close the switch by the hand that is aiming the gun by pulling trigger 74 when aiming by holding onto the butt of the gun. is

The position of the objective upon member 31 is carefully arranged in manufacture to agree with the position of the trip pin 46. That is to say, the trip pins 46, as illustrated in Figure 5. are at different radial distances from the center· 20 or axis of rotation of the disc 37 in which they are meunted. A corresponding difference in radial distance of the objective on each member 31 enables pin 49 to properly aline with pin 46, notwithstanding the uneven radial positioning there- 25 of when the gun is properly trained upon the ob- jective on the screen. By this arrangement, the successive objectives will be at different parts of the screen and the operator therefore must take a new aim with the appearance of each new eb- 3® jective. We wish to emphasize so long as an objective appears upon the screen and the operator has the gun trained upon the objective, pins 49 and 43 will be alined, and therefore the operator may effectively pull the trigger at any time the ³⁵objective appears and while pointing toward any part of the screen providing at the moment of pulling the trigger true aim is had toward the objective. When the aim is bad, the pins do not aiine and pulling the trigger at such time will. 40 only move the finder pin 49 but will not-affect trip pin 45 because the finder pin on its forward movement does not engage it under those conditions. We also wish to emphasize that the trip pin, latch, associated rod and objective member 45 31 will automatically reset themselves before the objective comes to position passing aperture 15.