Patent Application
20240053124
This invention relates to the field of weapon/sighting system alignment for all types of firearms that require optical or electro-optical sighting systems.
The alignment process in which the optical or electro-optical sighting system of a firearm is aligned with the gun line is termed bore-sighting.
In order to shoot accurately with a firearm, the gun line (centre line of the firearms barrel) must be accurately aligned with the sighting system aiming mark mounted on the firearm. The action of aligning the sighting system with the gun line is performed every time a sighting system is fitted to a firearm or (as required) prior to shooting with a firearm to confirm system accuracy.
In order to boresight a firearm with the sighting system mounted on the firearm, the gun line and the aiming point of the sighting system must be determined. Then, either by mechanical or software adjustment, the aiming point and gun line must be moved to align with the same point in inertial space. This alignment can be at any range and for different firearms, the default range at which the aiming point and gun line coincide will be different. Either mechanical offsets of the aiming mark in an optical system or software offsets in an electro-optical system will set the required ballistic offsets for different ranges.
The most common method for bore-sighting a firearm makes use of a device that is inserted into the barrel of the weapon. This device consists of two main components which are the component internal to the barrel and either a telescope or camera attached externally to this component for observing a bore-sight target. The component that is mounted in the barrel has two surfaces that interface with the inside of the barrel, these surfaces must be spaced at least three times the diameter of the barrel apart to ensure accuracy. These devices are usually machined to extremely tight tolerances and need to be handled with care so that these interface surfaces are not damaged. The telescope or camera also has an extremely accurately machined mounting interface surface which is calibrated to be parallel to, and has as small an offset as possible from, the centre line of the device and hence the weapon. This in turn means that the optical axis of the boresight will then be aligned with the gun line when inserted in the barrel. After aligning this optical axis with a target at a known range, the sighting system can be adjusted so that the aiming mark of the sighting system coincides with that of the gun line.
For small firearms, this can be done by a single operator, however, in armoured fighting vehicles which are fitted with larger calibre weapons, up to three operators may be required to complete this process. The use of a ladder may be required if the weapon is fitted to a vehicle.
This is the most common method used to boresight a weapon and sighting system and relies on a calibrated borescope as well as convenient boresight targets being available to the operator. This is not always the case especially in the case of armoured fighting vehicles.
The present invention is therefore aimed at simplifying the boresight procedure. In order to keep the cost and complexity as low as possible the procedure of calibrating the system is performed every time the system is used but this is quick and easy to perform which in the inventor's opinion will to most users be preferable to cost and complexity.
According to the invention, there is provided a gun sighting aid including: —
The body may be in the form of a generally cylindrical member. The cylindrical member may be sized to be received coaxially a muzzle end region or breach of the gun barrel. The cylindrical member may be in the form of a sleeve which is sized to receive coaxially and overlay an outer portion of the muzzle end region. Alternatively, the cylindrical member may be sized and configured to be received co-axially and complementally within the gun barrel at the muzzle end region.
The mounting means may include a fitting member which is sized and configured to provide an interference fit between the body and the muzzle end region or breach of the gun. Typically, the fitting member may be generally ring-shaped, preferably being in the form of an O-ring. The O-ring may be manufactured from any suitable resiliently deformable material, preferably being manufactured from rubber. Alternatively, the fitting member may be in the form of a bush, preferably being manufactured from Teflon, for allowing improved contact distribution between the body and the muzzle end region or breach of the gun so as to reduce errors as a result of bending of the body during operation. Typically, a pair of fitting members may be provided towards opposing end regions of the body. The pair of fitting members may be spaced apart a distance which corresponds to a bore diameter of the gun, preferably being spaced apart in the region of three times the bore diameter. A free end region of the body may be tapered to facilitate co-axial mounting of the fitting members thereon. The mounting means may further include a bearing element which is shaped to be interposed between the O-ring and the body, for allowing pivotal and/or rotatable displacement of the body relative the longitudinal axis of the gun barrel.
In another form of the invention, the mounting means may include an expansion arrangement which may include a longitudinally segmented tube arranged to receive the cylindrical member therethrough. Preferably, the longitudinally segmented tube may include three segments. A pair of retaining O-rings may be arranged toward opposing end regions of the segmented tube for keeping the segments thereof together and substantially around the cylindrical member. The expansion arrangement may further include a pair of conical collars which may be arranged between the segmented tube and the cylindrical member towards opposing end regions thereof, such that their smaller outer diameter portions face each other. A screw threaded collar may be provided on one side of the cylindrical member for pushing one of the pair of conical collars towards the other, thereby forcing the segmented tube to be pushed substantially radially away from the cylindrical member and to expand into the breach of the gun barrel. A biasing means may be provided for biasing the pair of conical collars away from each other toward an inoperative condition wherein the gun sighting aid is loose in the breach of the gun barrel. The biasing means may be in the form of a spring.
The camera mounting means may include any suitable conventional connecting means for connecting the camera to the body. The camera mounting means may be in the form of a camera mounting member which may include a tubular member which may receive the camera, the data transmitting means and the energising means therein. The tubular member may be sized, shaped and configured to be received by the cylindrical member. A pair of camera mount O-rings may be provided for mounting the tubular member coaxially within the cylindrical member. The camera mount O-rings may be arranged towards opposing end regions of the tubular member and may provide an interference fit between the tubular member and the cylindrical member. A pivoting means may be provided for allowing a user to pivot the tubular member and the camera in the operative mounted condition the gun sighting aid is mounted within the gun barrel. The pivoting means may be in the form of an extension which extends beyond the screw-threaded collar, free of the expansion arrangement to permit user access to the extension.
The data transmitting means may be in the form of any conventional data transmitter which may transmit image data via any suitable electromagnetic frequency range, preferably radio waves. The radio waves may be transmitted on a frequency range described by Bluetooth and/or Wi-Fi. Alternatively, the data transmitter may transmit the image data via a suitable data carrier, preferably a cable, which may electrically interconnect the camera and the remote display device.
The remote display device may form part of a mobile computing device. The mobile computing device may be in the form of any one or more of the group including, but not limited to, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet, a smart phone, and, a smart watch. The remote display device may include a remote data receiver for remotely receiving the image data transmitted by the data transmitter and a data converter for converting the image data into an image to be displayed on a remote display. The remote display device may further include digital cross-hairs which may be superimposed on the remote display. The digital cross-hairs may be displaceable relative the image and the display. The remote display device may yet further include a manipulator for manipulating the position of the cross-hairs relative the display. The manipulator may be in the form of button which, when pressed, changes the position of the cross-hairs relative the display. Preferably, a plurality of buttons may be provided for allowing the cross-hairs to be displaced in various directions relative the display.
An alerting means may be provided for alerting a user to the gun sighting aid when it is in the operative mounted condition to prevent a user from firing the gun with the sighting aid mounted on the gun barrel. The alerting means may be in the form of a protuberance which is sized, shaped and configured to protrude substantially radially outward from the body and into the view of a user when attempting to fire the gun. The protuberance may be brightly coloured to further assist in alerting the user.
An energising means may be provided for energising, preferably electrically, the camera and transmitting means. The energising means may be in electrical communication with the camera and transmitting means. The energising means may be in the form of a battery.
A housing may be provided for housing the transmitting means and energising means therein. The housing may be defined in the body towards a middle region thereof. The housing may include a charging port, preferably in the form of a USB charging port, arranged in electrical communication with the energising means, which port may be configured to allow a user to charge the energising means using any suitable conventional power source.
The camera may be any suitable conventional camera for capturing images and video. The camera may include an adjustment collar for adjusting the focus of the camera.
A lens assembly may be provided for directing light towards a light sensor of the camera. The lens assembly may include a lens holder and lens mounted fast therein. A lens protecting member may be provided for protecting the lens when not in use. The lens protecting member may be in the form of a cap which may be sized to fit snugly over a free end region of the lens assembly.
A lens connecting member may be provided for interconnecting the camera and the lens assembly. In one form of the invention, the lens connecting member may be in the form of an engaging formation or collar-like extension which may be sized to engage complementally the housing. The lens connecting member may be formed integrally with and/or extend from the lens holder. In another form of the invention, the lens connecting member may include a threaded engaging formation which may be shaped so as to allow complementary engagement with the lens assembly. The lens connecting member may further include a receiving zone located opposite the threaded engaging formation for receiving the camera therein, the camera preferably being secured therein via an adhesive such as epoxy.
According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of sighting a gun, which method includes: —
A gun sighting aid in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In the drawings: —
In a first embodiment of the invention shown in
The body 12 is in the form of a generally cylindrical member 30. The cylindrical member 30 is sized to be received coaxially a muzzle end region 32 of the gun barrel 16. The cylindrical member 30 is sized and configured to be received co-axially and complementally within the gun barrel 16 at the muzzle end region 32 thereof.
The fitting member 20 is sized and configured to provide an interference fit between the body 12 and the muzzle end region 32 of the gun barrel 16. The fitting member 20 is in the form of an O-ring 34, which is formed from a suitable resiliently deformable material, typically being manufactured from rubber. A pair 36 of O-rings 34 are provided towards opposing end regions of the body 12. The pair 36 of O-rings 34 are spaced apart a distance of three times the bore diameter of the gun 18. As an alternative, and as shown in
The data transmitter 26 transmits image data via a suitable electromagnetic frequency range, preferably radio waves. The radio waves are transmitted on a frequency range described by Wi-Fi.
Referring now to
An alerting means in the form of a protuberance 46 is provided for alerting a user to the gun sighting aid 10 when it is in the operative mounted condition to prevent a user from firing a gun 18 with the sighting aid 10 mounted within the barrel 16 of the gun 18. The protuberance 46 is sized, shaped and configured to protrude substantially radially outward from the body 12 and into the view of a user when attempting to fire the gun 18. The protuberance 46 is brightly coloured to further assist in alerting the user.
An energising means in the form of a battery 48 is provided for electrically energising the camera 24 and data transmitter 26. The battery 48 is in electrical communication with the camera 24 and data transmitter 26.
A housing 50 is provided for housing the data transmitter 26 and the battery 48 therein. The housing 50 is defined in the body 12 towards a middle portion thereof.
The camera 24 includes an adjustment collar (not shown) for adjusting the focus of the camera 24.
A lens assembly 52 is provided for directing light towards a light sensor (not shown) of the camera 24. The lens assembly 52 includes a lens holder 52.1 and lens 52.2 mounted fast therein. A lens protecting member (not shown) is provided for protecting the lens 52.2 when not in use. The lens protecting member (not shown) is in the form of a cap (not shown) which is sized to fit snugly over a free end region 53 of the lens assembly 52.
A lens connecting member 76 is provided for interconnecting the camera 24 and the lens assembly 52. The lens connecting member 76 is in the form of an engaging formation or collar-like extension 78 which is sized to engage complementally the housing 50. The lens connecting member 76 is formed integrally with and extends from the lens holder 52.1.
For the purposes of clarity, further embodiments incorporating like parts have been labelled with like numerals where possible.
In a second embodiment of the gun sighting aid as shown in
In this embodiment, the body 112 is in the form of a cylindrical member 130 which is sized to be received coaxially the breach 154 of the barrel 116 of the gun 118.
The mounting means is in the form of an expansion arrangement 156, which includes a longitudinally segmented tube 158 arranged to receive the cylindrical member 130 therethrough. A pair of retaining O-rings 160 are arranged toward opposing end regions of the segmented tube 158 for keeping the segments 158.1, 158.2 and 158.3 of the tube 158 together and substantially around the cylindrical member 130. A pair of conical collars 162 are arranged between the segmented tube 158 and the cylindrical member 130 towards opposing end regions thereof, such that their smaller outer diameter portions 163 face each other. A screw threaded collar 164 is provided on one side of the cylindrical member 130 for pushing one of the pair of conical collars 162 towards the other thereby forcing the segmented tube 158 to be pushed substantially radially away from the cylindrical member 130 and to expand into the breach 154 of the gun barrel 116. A biasing means in the form of a spring 166 is provided to bias the pair of conical collars 162 away from each other toward an inoperative condition wherein the gun sighting aid 110 is loose inside the breach 154 of the gun barrel 116.
The camera mounting member 122 is in the form of a tubular member 168 which receives the camera (not shown), a data transmitter (not shown) and the battery (not shown) therein. The tubular member 168 is sized and shaped to be received by the cylindrical member 130. A pair of camera mount O-rings 170 are arranged towards opposing end regions of the tubular member 168 for providing an interference fit between the tubular member 168 and the cylindrical member 130. A pivoting means in the form of an extension 172 is provided for allowing a user to pivot the tubular member 168 and the camera (not shown) in the operative mounted condition wherein the gun sighting aid 110 is mounted within the breach 154 of the gun barrel 116. The extension 172 extends beyond the screw-threaded collar 164, free of the expansion arrangement 156 to permit user access to the extension 172.
Referring now to
The gun sighting aid 110 is typically used for sighting large calibre guns which are typically used on larger artillery which include tanks, howitzers and cannons.
In a third embodiment of the gun sighting aid as shown in
In this embodiment, the housing 250 is longer in length and smaller in size than housing 50. In particular, the housing 250 has a diameter in the range of 15 mm to 35 mm, typically being 25 mm. The housing 250 is in the form of a conventional electrical conduit. The housing 250 includes a charging port (not shown), typically in the form of a USB charging port, arranged in electrical communication with the battery 248, which port is configured to allow a user (not shown) to charge the battery 248 using any suitable conventional power source (not shown) without the need to dismantle the device 210 to remove the battery 248 from the housing 250. The inventor believes this embodiment of the invention to be advantageous in that a smaller housing 250 manufactured from conventional electrical conduit significantly reduces overall manufacturing costs of the gun sighting aid 210.
In a fourth embodiment of the gun sighting aid as shown in
In this embodiment, a lens connecting member 376 is provided for interconnecting the camera 324 and the lens assembly 352. The lens connecting member 376 includes a threaded engaging formation (not shown) which is shaped so as to allow complementary engagement with the lens assembly 352. The lens connecting member 376 further includes a receiving zone (not shown) located opposite the threaded engaging formation (not shown) for receiving the camera 324 therein, the camera 324 typically being secured therein via an adhesive such as epoxy (not shown).
According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of sighting a gun, which method includes mounting a gun sighting aid as hereinbefore described within a barrel of a gun, transmitting data captured by a camera of the gun sighting aid to a remote display device, aligning digital cross-hairs on a display of the display device with a reference point in the form of a target or object thus defining a pre-rotation position of the cross-hairs, rotating the camera 180 degrees relative the barrel of the gun about a central longitudinal axis of the gun barrel while ensuring the gun remains steady during rotation of the camera, noting a difference in position of the cross-hairs relative reference point on the display as a result of rotating the camera thus defining a post-rotation position of the cross-hairs, and displacing the cross-hairs relative the display from the post-rotation position to a point on the display approximately midway between the pre- and post-rotation positions to locate and/or identify an intersection point between the central longitudinal axis of the gun barrel and a target.
In use, in order to locate an intersection point (not shown) of the central longitudinal axis 14 of the gun barrel 16 and a target (not shown), in a first step a user (not shown) would typically power up the camera 24 and the data transmitter 26 housed within the housing 50 of the gun sighting aid 10 and insert the aid 10, via the body 12, into the gun barrel 18 towards the muzzle end region 32 thereof in respect of a gun sighting aid 10, 210 and 310 and a breach end region 154 in respect of a gun sighting aid 110.
In step 2, as a result of the data transmitter 26 transmitting the camera image to the display 40, the user (not shown) is able to view the camera image and align the digital cross-hairs 42 superimposed on the display 40 with a reference point (not shown). The reference point is typically in the form of a target or object (not shown), typically having horizontal and/or vertical edges or markings for ease of reference. It is to be appreciated that the camera image displayed on the display 40, typically due to manufacturing errors, does not necessarily align perfectly with the gun barrel axis 14, that is, a central pixel of the camera image does not correlate with the intersection point (not shown).
In step 3, once the cross-hairs 42 are aligned with the reference point (not shown), the user (not shown) rotates the camera 24 180 degrees relative the housing 50 and body 12 via the camera mounting means 22.
It is to be appreciated that the fitting members 20 thereof in respect of a gun sighting aid 10, 210 and 310 and the an expansion arrangement 156 in respect of a gun sighting aid 110, being in complementary interference fit engagement with the gun barrel 16, serve to align the sighting aid 10, 110, 210 or 310, respectively and rotational axis of the camera mounting means 22 substantially with the central longitudinal axis 14 of the gun barrel 16 so as to cause the camera 24 to be rotatable about the gun barrel axis 14.
As a result of misalignment between the camera 24 and the gun barrel axis 14, rotation of the camera 22 by 180 degrees causes the digital cross hairs 42 to be spaced apart from its pre-rotation position on the display 40 relative the reference point (not shown). Due to the fact that the camera 24 rotates about the gun barrel axis 14, the distance between the pre- and post-rotation positions of the cross hairs 42 corresponds to a diameter of a virtual circle having its centre which is co-axial with the gun barrel axis 14 and is therefore aligned with the intersection point (not shown).
In step 4, the user (not shown) then displaces the cross-hairs 42 relative the display 40, typically using the control buttons 44 provided, from the post-rotation position to a point on the display 40 which is approximately midway between the pre- and post-rotation positions of the cross-hairs 42. The new position of the cross-hairs 42 substantially corresponds and aligns with the gun barrel axis 14.
However, whilst steps 2 to 4 are automatable using software, human error in estimating the point midway between the pre- and post-rotation positions of the cross-hairs 42 results in slight misalignments between the cross-hairs 42 and the intersection point (not shown). In order to reduce such misalignments, the steps 2 to 4 are typically carried out iteratively until a desired degree of accuracy is achieved.
The inventor believes the current invention to be advantageous in that it provides a quick and easy method to assist a user to sight a gun without the need to fire the gun at a shooting range which therefore saves money when the projectile to be fired is costly as is the case with large calibre guns. The inventor further believes that the current invention calibrates out various factors including gun jump and recoil.
It is, of course, to be appreciated that the gun sighting aid in accordance with the invention is not limited to the precise constructional and functional details as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings and which may be varied as desired.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020/04161 | Jan 2021 | ZA | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/ZA2022/050001 | 1/7/2022 | WO |
