The present invention relates to the field of target launching machines. It finds a particularly advantageous application in the sports shooting industry, and in particular in ball-trap shooting.
In the target shooting sector, and particularly in the ball-trap community, customers want a wide variety of shots. This implies the need for machine manufacturers to allow for a wide range of possible trajectories for the targets.
Many existing target launching machines have mobilities that allow varying the shooting angles of the targets. Thus, the machine described in the patent publication FR3066813A1 discloses a target launching machine equipped with a support enabling two mobilities at 90° to one another, by means of circle-arc shaped slides.
Hence, one object of the present invention is to provide a machine base, and a launching machine system equipped with such a base, offering an improved mobility of the machine relative to the base.
The other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon examining the following description and the appended drawings. It should be understood that other advantages may be incorporated.
To achieve this objective, according to one embodiment, a base for a target launching machine is provided, comprising:
Advantageously, the base is such that:
Thus, for example, it is possible to obtain an increase in the success rate of the shooters in order to attract more customers than experienced shooters. Indeed, standard targets have a discoid shape and are provided with a domed cap and except in the trajectories overflying the shooter, the orientation of the target in flight, in practice, exposes only its lateral profile to interfere with the plumb pellets, which confers some complexity on the shots. Hence, a larger angular displacement of the machine, as made possible herein, allows increasing the area that the plumb pellets could reach.
Moreover, the arcuate shape allows having significant rigidity in a preferred direction by limiting the overall volume of the portion equipped with this arch, the lower portion or the upper portion. Furthermore, it enables nesting of the inner arch in the outer arch, preferably forming a relatively homothetic superposition of the two arches, without substantially increasing the height of the base. In general, the lower portion of the inner arch, and preferably most of the height of the inner arch, is accommodated into the inner volume of the latter, when the inner arch is in the same plane as the outer arch.
This shape is also favourable to the largest possible displacement of the inner arch during rotation thereof.
Another aspect relates to a target launching system comprising a target launching machine and a base as described herein, the target launching machine being carried by the base.
Considering the considerable weight of the machine, mounting it on such a base advantageously enables an optimised positioning to limit the influence of the movement of the centre of gravity of the movable assembly when the machine is inclined.
The aims, objects, as well as the features and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the detailed description of an embodiment of the latter which is illustrated by the following appended drawings, wherein:
The drawings are given as examples and do not limit the invention. They consist of schematic representations of principle intended to facilitate understanding of the invention and are not necessarily plotted to the scale of practical applications.
Before starting a detailed review of embodiments of the invention, optional features are set out hereinafter below, which could possibly be used in association or alternatively:
It is specified that, in the context of the present invention, the expression “substantially equal” should be understood as a value that is not different by more or less than 10% of another value. The arch shape offers a concave geometry. By “nested”, it should be understood the fact that the inner arch is mounted so as to be able to move in the concavity of the outer arch. Typically, this nesting is such that, when the inner arch is in a vertical plane at rest, it extends generally parallel to the outer arch, the profiles of the two arches being superposed. This does not exclude the inner arch protruding beyond the outer arch, in particular above the swing axis. In other words, when the two arches are in the same plane and brought close to one another, the inner arch is inscribed within the concave space defined by the outer arch above the latter, the concave profiles of the two arches being directed on the same side.
The invention described herein comprises a machine 5 configured to throw targets 6. These may be of the clay pigeon type, which have a circular section, in the form of a tray and which are generally used for practicing ball-trap. This application is not limiting. In particular, targets made of a polymer material for practicing archery on a moving target are another possible application.
In general, it is possible to implement a machine 5 of the current design and to attach it on the base described in detail in the remainder of the description. Typically, the machine 5 comprises a launch portion 51. In the latter, a ready-to-launch target is generally arranged on a launch plane 511 ready to be thrown by an arm 512 movable in rotation and controlled by a motor-driven arming and triggering system.
To allow repeated shooting practice, it is generally known to combine a barrel 52 with the launch portion 51. As shown in
The barrel 52 typically comprises a plurality of columns in each of which the targets 6 may be stacked. Thus, one could typically store several tens of targets 6. One could easily understand that the weight of the machine 5 is heavy, especially when many targets are stored. For example, the weight of a vacuum machine 5 may be 70 kg and the maximum target load 30 kg. Hence, the base on which the machine 5 rests should be capable of withstanding such a weight, and that being so in different positions of the machine, to enable different shooting directions. In particular, these may include very inclined positions of the machine with respect to the base, as shown for example in
As shown in particular in the embodiment of
At least, there is therefore a relative rotational mobility between the arches 1, 3.
According to one possibility, at least one of the actuators 15, 35, 45 is a cylinder, and preferably an electric cylinder. In particular, at least one of these cylinders may be controlled via a control interface like a remote control, and/or via a programmable device ensuring random or non-random position variations.
Referring to
In this example, the outer arch 1 has a first branch 11 forming a portion of its length, and a second branch 12 forming another portion of its length, the two branches being opposite one another. Still in this example and without limitation, the branches 11, 12 are fixedly connected by a junction block 13 located typically at the mid-length of the outer arch 1. As will be seen later on, the block 13 also preferably gives the possibility of ensuring a connection to the support 2.
For example, the length of the inner arch in projection onto the support plane 21 may be larger than or equal to 80 cm and/or smaller than or equal to 150 cm.
Preferably, the first branch 11 and the second branch 12 are symmetrical with respect to a plane passing through the middle of the length of the outer arch 1 and directed according to the section of the branches. It will be seen that this plane may comprise an axis of rotation 14 of the arch 1 relative to the support 2.
Preferably, the outer arch 1 also has a symmetry according to a plane 17 illustrated in
Preferably, the branches 11, 12 and the block 13 are made of a material or based on a metallic material, such as steel. The configuration in the form of arcuate profiles of the branches allows using hollow elements limiting the weight of the arch 1. At the same time, a satisfactory rigidity is ensured.
The outer arch 1 defines, between these two distal ends 111, 121, a concavity directed upwards forming a displacement space for the upper portion, and in particular for the inner arch 3.
This displacement is enabled about a swing axis 34 schematised in
Reference may be made to the description of the outer arch 1 for examples of details of possible embodiment for the inner arch 3; in particular for the selection of materials, the geometry and making in the form of profiles. In particular, the arch 3 may include a first branch 31 and a second branch 32 fixedly connected via a junction block 33 advantageously located at the centre of the inner arch 3 and opposite the junction block 13 in the situation of
The length, in projection onto the plane 21, of the inner arch 3 is smaller than that of the outer arch 1 so that the branches of the outer arch 1 surround the branches of the inner arch 3. According to a height direction, the inner arch 3 extends predominantly, and even totally, between these two ends so as to be located in the concavity of the outer arch 1 when it is directed in the plane 17, as shown in
As indicated before, the rotation about the axis 34 is performed by an actuator 35.
This arrangement enables a degree of freedom between the lower portion and the upper portion of the base, to make the inclination of the machine vary according to the direction 34. For example,
To drive the machine 5 in this inclination, the base includes a support 4 carried by the inner arch 3. As shown in
Preferably, the support 4 is rotatably mounted on the inner arch 3, about an axis 44 visible in
According to an advantageous option, the actuator 45 may be mounted on the support 4 at different locations of the tray 41 corresponding to the anchor point 47 referenced in
To guide this rotation, a pivot is preferably positioned at the centre of the plate 41 opposite the junction block 33.
In the case of the different figures, the support 2 includes a plurality of feet 23 extending from a central area 24 to tabs 22 configured to form a support surface of the support 2 on the support plane 21, these reference numerals being visible in
Preferably, a flat support is formed between the tabs 22 and the plane 21. Preferably, the feet 23 have an inclination comprised between 20° and 60° with respect to the support plane 21. Preferably, the central area 24 extends according to a plane parallel to the support plane 21. Still advantageously, the axis 14 is perpendicular to the support plane 21. And the plane 17 of the outer arch preferably comprises the axis 14. Thus, the lower portion of the base is centred in its movement with respect to the support 2.
Moreover,
For example, it is possible to consider a configuration of the assembly formed by the machine and the upper portion of the base corresponding to a maximum load, i.e. when the barrel 52 is completely filled with targets 6. This maximum-load configuration adds the fixed weight of the machine and of the upper portion, for example a total substantially equal to 70 kg, and that of a full loading of targets, for example substantially equal to 30 kg, corresponding to a maximum load of 100 kg. Conversely, a minimum-load configuration corresponds to a situation in which the barrel is empty of targets, equivalent for example to a total load of 70 kg.
It should be understood that the position of the centre of gravity of this assembly evolves when the machine is inclined. Therefore, the force moment exerted by its weight on the lower portion of the base also varies, by switching from a minimum value around a position in which the inner arch 3 is directed in the plane 17 into a maximum value when the inner arch 3 is in an extreme inclination position, for example in the case of
Besides placing the axis 34 at an intermediate position according to the height of the machine, which is enabled by the inner arch 3, whose concavity allows receiving a lower portion of said machine, it is also possible to refine the position of the axis 34 so as to avoid an excessive variation of the torque caused by the weight of the assembly between the maximum-load and minimum-load configurations.
To this end, the ratio between the weight of the assembly and the distance between a vertical axis G3y passing through the axis 34 and a vertical axis G2y and Gly passing through the centre of gravity of the assembly should be kept identical, respectively in the maximum-load configuration and in the minimum-load configuration.
In the example of a maximum load of 100 kg and a minimum load of 70 kg,
According to a more approximate option, one could simply place the axis 34 at least between the directions G2y and G3y.
Moreover, it is possible to arrange for the projection onto the support plane 21 of the direction G2y (vertical direction passing through the centre of gravity of the assembly formed by the machine at the upper portion of the base in the maximum-load configuration) being always inscribed within the surface of the central area 24 of the support 2. The latter area 24, thus ingeniously sized, ensures good stability, to the extent that the unbalance of the machine is never too eccentric so that there is no risk of tilting thereof. Thus, it is possible to best size the footprint surface of the support 2, which, surprisingly, could be relatively reduced thanks to the invention and the optimisation of the placement of the centre of gravity of the movable elements with respect to the lower portion of the base.
According to an additional possibility, the position of the counterweight is adjustable in height, so as to vary its influence in terms of force moments on the entire load produced by the assembly carried by the base. According to another possibility, cumulative or alternative, the counterweight made removable on the base, so as to be able to use it only when necessary and/or so as to be able to mount a counterweight having the mass the most suited to the situation.
The invention is not limited to the previously-described embodiments.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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FR2201109 | Feb 2022 | FR | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2023/051011 | 1/17/2023 | WO |