Weapon fire simulator

March 8, 1966

3,238,642

J. A. I. OHLUND

WEAPON FIRE SIMULATOR

Filed Sept. 4, 1963

Sheets-Sheet 1

<img file="US3238642A_D0001.tif" />

John Alex Ingvar Dtilvnl

March 8, 1966

3,238,642

J. A. 1. OHLUND

WEAPON FIRE SIMULATOR

Filed Sept. 4, 1963

Sheets-Sheet 2

<img file="US3238642A_D0002.tif" />

3,238,642

J. A. 1. OHLUND

WEAPON FIRE SIMULATOR

March 8, 1966

Filed Sept. 4, 1963

Sheets-Sheet 3

<img file="US3238642A_D0003.tif" />

<img file="US3238642A_D0004.tif" />

<img file="US3238642A_D0005.tif" />

March 8, 1966

3,238,642

J. A. I. OHLUND

WEAPON FIRE SIMULATOR

Filed Sept. 4, 1963

Sheets-Sheet 4

<img file="US3238642A_D0006.tif" />

<img file="US3238642A_D0007.tif" />

JohaAlex Ιτι^βτΰΐΐΙυτιά

March 8, 1966

3,238,642

J. A. I. OHLUND

WEAPON FIRE SIMULATOR

Filed Sept. 4, 1963

Sheets-Sheet 5

<img file="US3238642A_D0008.tif" />

<img file="US3238642A_D0009.tif" />

3,238,642

Patented Mar. 8, 1966

United States Patent Office

3,238,642

WEAPON FIRE SIMULATOR

John Alex Ingvar Ohhind, Huskvama, Sweden, assignor to SAAB Aktiebolag, a corporation of Sweden

Filed Sept. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 306,578

Claims. (Cl. 35—25)

This invention relates to military training apparatus and refers more particularly to a device for simulating the firing of weapons.

In military gunnery practice and field exercises, it is often desirable to simulate the firing of weapons from a fictitious enemy position so as to increase the realism of the exercise and to accustom troops undergoing training to the sights and sounds of actual combat. The most realistic means heretofore available for simulating fire from an enemy was the firing of blank ammunition from the supposed enemy position or positions; but blank ammunition was costly, especially if it was used to a realistic extent with automatic weapons and large bore guns. The use of blank ammunition had another very important disadvantage in that it required that men be stationed at the weapons from which it was fired, and hence the troops undergoing training could not be permitted to fire live ammunition at the gun emplacements of the fictitious enemy.

With these considerations in mind, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a simulator of weapons fire which can be suitably emplaced on terrain in which gunnery practice or field exercises are to take place, and which can be remotely controlled so that the simulator of this invention can comprises a target at which those undergoing training can fire with live ammunition without endangering other personnel.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a simulator of the character described which produces not only a sound closely imitative of that of actual firing of a weapon, but which also simultaneously produces a flash and a puff of smoke closely imitative in appearance of actual weapon fire.

Another and more specific object of this invention is to provide a simulator of the character described wherein a sound imitative of weapons fire is produced when pressurized gas from a pressure chamber, delivered thereto from a bottle or tank of compressed gas, is abruptly released through an outlet in the pressure chamber that is controlled by a movable element, and wherein actuation of the movable element can be controlled by an operator who may be stationed remotely from the device.

It is also a specific object of this invention to provide a remotely controllable weapon fire simulator of the character described, which can be started in operation at the will of an operator who is stationed remotely from the device and which can be automatically “put out of action” in a realistic manner when a target associated with the simulator is struck by a missile, to thus provide a realistic means for scoring gunnery or target practice.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiments of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate several complete examples of physical embodiments of the invention constructed according to the best modes so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a simulator embodying the principles of this invention and which is intended to imitate the firing of small bore automatic weapons;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a part of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1, portions being shown cut away to illustrate details of construction;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the plane of line 3—3 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a view partly in perspective and partly in section of the simulated smoke generator of the apparatus of this invention;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view with portions cut away of a modified embodiment of the sound generator illustrated in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of the disc which comprises a part of the sound generator and which is intended for simulating the sound of large caliber automatic weapons;

FIGURE 6 is a more or less diagrammatic view of another embodiment of the weapon fire simulator of this invention particularly intended for simulating the firing of large bore weapons;

FIGURE -8 is a perspective view of a control device intended to effect intermittent simulated firing of a device of this invention;

FIGURE 9 is a more or less diagrammatic view of an embodiment of a control apparatus adapted for cooperation with the simulator of this invention whereby the same is rendered responsive to hits placed upon a target, the apparatus being shown in its inoperative condition; and

FIGURE 10 is a view similar to FIGURE 9 but showing a modified embodiment of the control means embodying a target, the apparatus being shown in its operative condition in which it causes the simulator to produce simulated firing.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, the apparatus of this invention generally comprises a sound generator 5, which simulates the noise of weapon fire, a light bulb 6 which is employed to simulate the appearance of the flash from the muzzle of a weapon, a simulated smoke generator 7 which produces puffs of simulated smoke concurrently with the production of detonations and light flashes, and a pressure bottle or tank 8 containing compressed air, carbon dioxide or other gas under high pressure and which is connected with the sound generator 5 and the simulated smoke generator 7 through certain control elements described hereinafter.

In general the sound generator shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, which is intended to simulate the sound of firing of an automatic weapon, comprises a pressure chamber 9 having an inlet 10 through which pressurized gas from the tank or bottle 8 is introduced, a rotatable disc 11 which controls the release of gas from the pressure chamber, a pneumatic motor 12 which rotates the disc, and a hopper or horn 13 into which pressure gas discharges from the chamber and which functions in the manner of a megaphone to concentrate and direct the sound in a desired direction.

Through one wall of the pressure chamber 9, preferably its top wall 14, there is a bore 15 which is spaced from the inlet 10 and which preferably extends parallel to the rotational axis of the disc 11 and is spaced therefrom. The disc has a large enough radius so that it overlies the bore 15, and it has an opening 17 which is

3,238,642

Ο adapted to align with the bore in one rotational position of the disc. The underside of the disc is spaced a short distance above the top wall 14 of the pressure chamber, but except at times when the opening 17 in the disc is aligned with the bore 15, a sealing element 18 cooperates with the disc and the top wall of the pressure chamber to prevent the escape of pressurized gas from the chamber.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGURE 2 the sealing element 18 comprises a plunger 20 which is slidable in the bore 15 with a close fit and which has an axial passage or hole 21 extending through it. Externally of the bore 15, in the space between the top wall 14 of the chamber and the disc 11, the plunger is somewhat enlarged in one lateral direction and reduced in the other lateral direction to provide an outlet nozzle 22 which has the shape of a long narrow rectangle as seen from the upper end of the plunger (compare FIGURES 2 and 3). In the outlet nozzle 22 the passage 21 through the plunger diverges upwardly in the first mentioned lateral direction so that at the upper end of the plunger the mouth of the passage has a shape and size that closely conform to those of the opening 17 in the disc. The rim of the outlet nozzle 22 (i.e., the upper end of the plunger) provides a coplanar sealing surface 24 all around the mouth of the passage 21 through the plunger, which sealing surface can engage the underside of the disc 11.

The nozzle portion of the plunger is so designed as to have a cross sectional area somewhat smaller than that of the bottom end of the plunger; hence pressurized gas exerts a net upward biasing force upon the plunger to normally maintain its top surface 24 sealingly engaged with the disc. It will be apparent that the value of this biasing force for a given gas pressure in the pressure chamber can be predetermined by selection of the proper relationship of the respective cross sectional areas of the bottom end of the plunger and of its upper nozzle portion, so that the plunger causes minimal friction against the disc to impede rotation thereof but at the same time makes a good seal with the disc.

FIGURE 5 illustrates a modified form of sealing element 18, comprising a diaphragm 25 which extends across the bore 15 in the top wall of the pressure chamber. The outer marginal edge portion 26 of this diaphragm is resilient, while its central portion 27 is substantially rigid and has a substantially coaxial hole 21' therethrough which can correspond in shape and size to the opening 17 in the rotatable disc. The sealing surface that engages the underside of the disc is provided by the upper surface of an annular ridge or land 28 on the rigid central portion of the diaphragm, surrounding the hole 21'. It will be apparent that for any given pressure of gas in the chamber, the sealing ridge 28 will be biased into engagement with the rotatable disc under a force that depends upon the difference between the total cross sectional area of the diaphragm and the area of its upper surface that is enclosed within the ridge 28.

The horn 13 is mounted, as by means of a suitable bracket 29, with its inner end substantially aligned with the bore 15. Hence when the disc 11 is rotated to the position in which the opening 17 therein aligns with the hole or passage 21 in the sealing element, pressurized gas from the pressure chamber can abruptly escape into the horn, producing a loud report which closely simulates the sound of a weapon being fired.

The light bulb 6 is also mounted in the structure that comprises the pressure chamber, beneath the rotatable disc, spaced from the bore 15, and at a different radial distance from the disc axis than the opening 17 in the disc. Hence the disc can be provided with another opening 30, so located as to align with the light bulb at the same time that the opening 17 comes into alignment with the opening 21 in the sealing element, thus briefly uncovering the light to produce a simulated muzzle flash concurrently with production of a detonation, A suitable reflector 31, preferably mounted on the horn, projects the flash from the light bulb in an appropriate direction.

The disc 11 is mounted on an upright shaft 32 that is carried in suitable bearings in the structure that defines the pressure chamber, and the pneumatic motor 12 can be mounted, as by means of a bracket 33, to have its shaft 34 at right angles to the disc shaft 32 and connected thereto by bevel gearing 35.

Pressurized gas can be conducted from the bottle 8 to the pressure chamber 9 and to the pneumatic motor 12 by way of a manually controllable valve 36 and a distributor valve 37, the latter being under the control of a solenoid valve 38 (see FIGURE 1). The bottle, which can have the manual valve 36 at its outlet, is connected with the distributor valve 37 by means of a duct 39 in which there can be connections for pressure gages 40. The solenoid valve 38 is connected with the distributor valve by means of ducts 41 and 42, and may be of the kind disclosed in Swedish patent application Serial No. 11,518/61.

When the solenoid valve effects opening of the distributor valve, the latter permits flow of pressurized gas from the duct 39 to a manifold or T 43, by way of a duct 44; and from the T such gas flows to the inlet 10 of the pressure chamber 9 by way of a duct 45, and also to the pneumatic motor 12 by way of a duct 46, and to the inlet 47 of the simulated smoke generator 7 by way of a duct 48. A manually adjustable throttling valve 49 in the duct 46 provides for regulation of the speed of the motor 12 and thus enables adjustment of the frequency of simulated firing.

The simulated smoke generator 7 comprises, as best seen in FIGURE 4, a container 50 in which there is a store of air dispersable material 51 such as fine powder or suitably colored liquid. A delivery tube 52 extends downward in the container, nearly to its bottom, and projects above the top of the container to cooperate with an eduction nozzle 54 which discharges obliquely across the top of the delivery tube and which has its inlet 47 connected with the pressure gas duct 48, as mentioned above. Thus material is expelled from the container and atomized so long as the solenoid valve 38 is energized to permit pressure gas to flow to the simulated smoke generator. Preferably the eduction nozzle 54 and the outlet of the delivery tube 52 are so positioned relative to the light beams from the reflector 31 that the simulated smoke is illuminated by the flashes of reflected light.

The solenoid valve 38 is electrically connected in series with a battery 57 and a manually operable switch 58 that can be located remotely from the apparatus, the circuit being such that the solenoid valve, and hence the distributor valve 37, are open as long as the switch is closed. The light bulb 6 is also energized from the battery, its energizing circuit likewise being under the control of the switch 58.

The strength and character of the sound shock produced by the simulator can be varied by changing the gas pressure, the rotational speed of the disc, or the shape of the nozzle 22. It will be apparent that an increased frequency of simulated firing sounds can be obtained by making a number of openings 17 in the disc 11, spaced at regular circumferential intervals around the same, the spacing of such openings of course being correlated with the speed of the pneumatic motor. The disc would then have a corresponding number of openings 30 for the light to shine through, which openings would be so arranged that the light flashes would always coincide with the detonations produced by the sound generator.

FIGURE 6 suggests another possible modification of the disc, whereby it can be used to provide a realistic reproduction of the sound of a gun having a detonation of comparatively long duration. In this case the disc is^ provided with a plurality of openings 17 that are spaced apart by only a small distance circumferentially of the_;disc, so that these openings pass the nozzle 22 in rapid,

3,238,642 succession as the disc rotates. As will be appreciated from this, the duration and intensity of the light flashes can be controlled by varying the shape and size of the light emitting opening or openings 30 in the disc.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG- 5 URE 7 is particularly intended to simulate the firing of large bore weapons. In this case the pressure chamber 109 comprises a cylinder 109' having a pressure gas inlet 110 at one end thereof and outlet ports 115 in its side wall, near its other end. The inlet 110 is communicated jq with a bottle 8 of compressed gas by means of a duct 60 having a suitable throttling restriction 61. The outlet of the bottle, to which the duct 60 connects, can be provided with a manually operable valve 62.

A piston 111, having a coaxial rod 63 that projects 15 from the inlet end of the cylinder, is slidable in the cylinder 109 to and from a normal position intermediate the ends of the cylinder, in which position the piston blocks communication between the inlet 110 and the outlet ports 115. The piston is held in this position by means of a 20 releasable latch 64 that is engaged in a groove or notch 65 in the rod, so that pressure can gradually build up behind the piston as gas flows from the bottle 8 to the cylinder through the throttling restriction 61.

When a simulated firing is to take place, the latch 64 25 is disengaged from the piston rod 63, and under the biasing force of pressurized gas in the inlet end of the chamber the piston 111 abruptly slides to the other end of the cylinder, uncovering the outlet ports 115 as it does so and permitting the pressurized gas to escape through 30 them into a more or less conical horn or hopper 113 which surrounds the outlet end of the cylinder. A disc 66 of rubber or the like at the outlet end of the cylinder serves as a bumper or snubber to damp the impact of the piston against the cylinder end wall, and it will be 35 observed that the outlet ports 115 are spaced from the outlet end of the cylinder by a distance at least equal to the axial length of the piston so that the outlets will be cleared by the piston when the latter engages the bumper.

If desired, a supplementary gas chamber 209 can be ⁴θ attached to the cylinder 109', communicated with its interior through an opening 68 near its inlet end. The supplementary container can be readily replaceably threaded into the cylinder wall to permit different sized supplementary containers to be fitted, for varying the pressure gas volume of the pressure chamber 109 and thus ⁴⁵adjusting its sound output.

The latch 64 is swung to and from its piston rod engaging position by means of a pneumatic latch actuator comprising a cylinder 70 in which a piston 71 is slidable. A coaxial rod 72 on the latch actuator piston 71 projects ⁵through one end of its cylinder 70 and is pivotally connected at its free end with one end of the latch 64, which comprises a lever that is medially fulcrumed about a fixed pivot 73. The inlet 74 to the latch actuator cylin- ₅₃der 70 is near the end thereof that is opposite the piston rod, and is communicated with the pressure bottle 8 by means of a duct 75 controlled by a solenoid valve 138. A spring 76, which surrounds the piston rod 72 inside the cylinder 70 and reacts between the piston 71 and the rod θθ end of the cylinder, biases the piston toward the inlet end of the cylinder and hence toward a position in which the latch 64 is engaged in the notch or groove 65. When the solenoid valve 138 is opened to admit pressurized gas to the latch actuator cylinder 70, such gas moves the ₆₅piston 71 against the bias of its spring 76 to release the latch, in turn allowing the pressure chamber piston 111 to move toward the outlet end of its cylinder 109' in response to the pressure of gas therein, as described above.

After all pressurized gas is released from the pressure γθ chamber 109, the piston 111 is automatically returned to its normal or latched position by means of a compression spring 79 that surrounds the piston rod 63 and reacts between the adjacent end of the pressure chamber and a flange or washer 80 fixed on the rod. The latch 64, 75 which acts like a pawl, automatically reengages when the piston 111 returns to its normal position, thus readying the apparatus for another detonation as soon as gas pressure in the chamber 109 reaches a high enough value.

The solenoid valve 138 can be manually controlled by a normally open momentary contact switch 158, connected in series with the solenoid valve and a battery 57. Since the switch 158 is intended to be closed only briefly when the simulator is “fired,” it can also control the energizing circuit for a light 6, so that the light flashes concurrently with each energization of the solenoid valve and hence with each detonation.

It is to be noted that the solenoid valve 138 does not control flow of gas to the pressure chamber 109. Instead, gas flows to said chamber continuously, through the throttling restriction 61, so long as the manually controllable valve 62 is open. However the solenoid valve does control flow of pressure gas to a simulated smoke generator 7', which in this case comprises a container 150 for powdered material, having an inlet tube 147 extending downwardly thereinto and terminating near its bottom and having an outlet tube 152 extending upwardly from near its bottom and terminating in a nozzle 154 spaced above the top of the container. The inlet tube 147 is connected with a pressure gas duct 148 which branches from the duct 75 that connects the solenoid valve 138 with the latch actuator, and hence pressure gas flows into the container whenever the solenoid valve is opened, driving powdered material upwardly in the outlet tube 152 and expelling it through the nozzle 154 as a simulated puff of smoke.

If desired, the simulator shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 can be automatically “fired” in intermittent bursts, and the simulator illustrated in FIGURE 7 can be automatically caused to “fire” repeatedly, at intervals, by means of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 8, which comprises a drum 85 of insulating material, driven for rotation about its axis by means of an electric motor 86. A series of axially extending conductor strips 87 is arranged at circumferentially spaced intervals on the cylindrical surface of the drum, to be engaged by a pair of brushes 88 and 89. Whenever the drum rotates to a position in which the two brushes are simultaneously engaged with a conductor strip 87, a circuit is completed through the brushes, and hence the apparatus just described can be connected into the electrical circuit of the simulator of FIGURES 1 and 2 in place of the switch 58, or into the circuit of the FIGURE 7 simulator in place of switch 158, the circuit connections in each case being made to the brush terminals instead of to the switch terminals. A suitable switch controlled energizing circuit for the motor 86 will of course be provided, or the drum 87 can be driven by an air motor connected to the bottle 8 and controlled by a suitable valve.

It will be apparent that when the “firing” of the simulator is manually controlled, the control switch 58 or 158 can be located remotely from the simulator, so that an operator of the device is not endangered by bullets fired at it, but under these circumstances it would be difficult for the operator to judge the accuracy of fire aimed at the simulator. The invention therefore contemplates automatic means for interrupting or discontinuing operation of the device when a hit is made on a target associated with it.

FIGURE 9 illustrates such a control device, comprising a target board 90, which is preferably cut out to an outline of some suitably realistic shape and which is easily camouflaged or partly camouflaged so as to make it difficult to see. The target board is mounted in an upright position, close to the location of the simulator to be controlled, and to it is attached a transducer 91 of known type which generates an electrical impulse signal in response to the impact of a missile upon the target board. (The transducer can be of the type disclosed in Swedish patent application Serial No. 1,734/61.)

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Signals from the transducer 91, as amplified by an amplifier 92, are fed to a normally closed relay 93 in an energizing circuit for the solenoid valve 38. The energizing circuit also includes the battery 57 or some other suitable power source, a holding relay 94, and a normally closed manually operable switch 358. When simulated firing is to be produced by the device, the operator briefly closes a manually operable normally open momentary contact switch 258 to energize the holding relay 94 through a shunt circuit comprising a conductor 95 which connects the coil of the holding relay with said switch 258, and through it with the battery. The switch 258 can be released after a brief closure because the holding relay 94 thereafter maintains itself energized through a circuit that includes, in series, the battery 57, a conductor 96, the normally closed switch 358, another conductor 97, the contacts of the normally closed relay 93, a third conductor 98, the contacts of the holding relay, and a ground connection 99. The winding 100 of the solenoid valve is connected in parallel with the coil of the holding relay 94 hence the solenoid valve is energized at all times that the holding relay is closed, and simulated firing therefore takes place at such times. If the operator for any reason wishes to discontinue simulated firing, he momentarily opens the normally closed switch 358, thus breaking the energizing circuit to the holding relay 94 and the solenoid valve, and simulated firing will not recommence until he again closes the normally open switch 258.

If the target board is struck by a missile while the holding relay 94 and solenoid valve 38 are energized, the amplified signal from the transducer 91 which is produced in consequence of a hit upon the target board 90 energizes the normally closed relay 93, which has its winding connected across the output of amplifier 92, and thus interrupts the energizing circuit to the holding relay 94 and the solenoid valve winding 100, terminating simulated firing immediately. The operator can thereafter cause simulated firing to be resumed by momentarily closing the switch 258.

The modified embodiment of the control apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 10 again comprises a target board 90 of suitable shape, which in this case, however, is mounted for tilting motion to and from an upright position, and which is adapted to swing down, parallel to the ground, when struck by a missile fired at it, so as to substantially disappear when hit. The target board is carried for such swinging motion on the upper end of a lever 101 that is medially fulcrumed on a fixed horizontal pivot support 102. At its lower end the lever 101 is pivotally connected to a piston 103 which is slidable in a pneumatic cylinder 104, and a compression spring 105 in the cylinder acts upon the piston to bias it in the direction to swing the target board to its lowered position. Pressurized gas, brought to the cylinder 104 by way of a duct 106 controlled by the solenoid valve 38, moves the piston 103 against the bias of its spring 105, thus causing the target board to be swung to its upright position. Hence the target board remains upright as long as the simulator is in operation.

The control circuit for the FIGURE 10 apparatus is essentially identical with that described above, and includes a transducer 91 secured to the target board and which emits an electrical impulse when the target board is struck. When energization of the solenoid valve 38 ceases, either as a consequence of a hit signal from transducer 91 or as a result of opening of the normally closed switch 358, the flow of pressurized gas to the simulator and to cylinder 104 is of course cut off, and spring 105 acts to swing the target board down to its horizontal position simultaneously with termination of simulated firing by the simulator.

From the foregoing description taken together with the accompanying drawings it will be apparent that this invention provides a very realistic simulator of weapons fire which is capable of reproducing the sound detonations of almost any type of recoil weapon and which also provides a realistic imitation of the appearance of a weapon being fired by producing a simulated muzzle flash and puff of smoke concurrently with the sound. It will also be apparent that the simulator of this invention is well adapted to be remotely controlled and has special value for training purposes because it can be automatically “put out of action’” by a hit scored on a target board associated with it.