Patent Application
20230204329
The invention relates to a multiple-charge remote-acting electroshock weapon (DESHO) with electrical stunning means for use primarily by law enforcement agencies and also for civilian self-defense.
As an analog of the proposed invention, widely known in the world DESHO TASER X26 [1] produced by the world's leading company in the field of electroshock weapons Taser Int. (currently Axon Enterprise, Inc. company (“Axon”) USA) was chosen, which is the most widely used DESHO model in the world. DESHO TASER X26 having the form of a pistol is designed for temporary incapacitation (immobilization, defeat, holding in a state of paralysis) of biological targets (target, offender, biotarget) by electrical current at a distance or in direct contact with the target. Striking the target at a distance is achieved using a firing cartridge that throws at the target two probes (projectiles) equipped with devices for holding them on the target (barbed needles), each of which probes is connected by means of an insulated wire (current conducting wire) to the corresponding current carrying electrode on the cartridge. When the cartridge is loaded in the DESHO, the current carrying electrodes of the cartridge are electrically (or through a gap of 0.1-0.5) connected to combat (contact) electrodes of the DESHO that entered the front end of the DESHO, to which, when the DESHO is started, a high-voltage electrical current that strikes the target is supplied from an electronic high-voltage assembly comprised in the weapon, wherein a combat high-voltage spark discharge is formed between the combat electrodes. The firing cartridges have a propellant charge of a pyrotechnic substance initiated by a high-voltage electrical current that strikes the target, which is supplied to the pyro charge when the DESHO is turned on.
The charge is initiated and depressurizes a container with compressed gas using a cutting device, with throwing the probes with the current conducting wires at the target. The cartridge is rigidly attached to the DESHO by means of a mechanical lock located on the cartridge. The immobilization of the target at a distance is achieved by closing the electrical circuit through the body of the biological target by means of the current conducting wires connecting the combat electrodes of the DESHO with the probes thrown at the target. The immobilization of the biological target by the contact method (in direct contact mode) is carried out by direct interaction of the combat electrodes of the DESHO with the body of the biological target (pressing the combat electrodes against the body), without firing a shot.
Said DESHO has the following disadvantages. To fire a second shot, for example, in the event of a miss on the target or in order to immobilize another target that has appeared, it is necessary to disconnect the fired cartridge and load a new one into the DESHO. Locking the cartridge in the DESHO with a mechanical lock that can only be opened using both hands of the user requires from poorly trained user a few seconds to reload the DESHO with a new cartridge and fire again. During this time, the offender may attack the law enforcement officer, try to run away or use available weapon. In order to use the DESHO in direct contact mode, it is necessary to disconnect the cartridge first, because when trying to use the DESHO in direct contact mode with the cartridge attached, the cartridge is always fired, that is, a point-blank shot is made with mechanical injury to the target. This feature is an obstacle to the rapid use of the DESHO with the cartridge loaded therein in situations where immobilization of the target at close range is needed but a shot from an extremely short distance is undesirable, since it can cause serious mechanical injury to the target. The disadvantage of the analog is also the impossibility of displaying of a combat electrical spark discharge to the aggressor without a shot (for psychological impact aiming at reduction of aggressiveness, before use in direct contact or remotely), since supplying a high stunning voltage potential to the combat electrodes of the DESHO, to which the current carrying electrodes of the cartridge are always ajoined, is followed by the immediate initiation of the pyro charge of the cartridge with the production of a shot. At the same time, it is well known that when a user threatens to use electroshock weapon with the displaying of a combat electrical spark discharge accompanied by a characteristic noise and the spark discharge glow, the offender stops aggressive actions in many cases, realizing that he will have to deal with electricity and, accordingly, with subsequent pain. It is well known that aggressive animals (for example, dogs or wild animals) almost always stop aggression when a person demonstrates electrical discharges. Therefore, the DESHO analog can be used in direct contact mode (or for displaying of a combat electrical discharge) only with the firing cartridge disconnected from the weapon, which excludes rapid remote use of the weapon in case of need.
As a prototype of the proposed invention, widely known in the world double-charge DESHO Taser X2 was chosen [2] (from Axon company), made in the form of a pistol and consisting of a housing in which an electronic part generating a high stunning voltage is comprised, consisting of an inverter that converts low voltage (6-12 V) of a battery or accumulator into an increased voltage of 2-3 kV and two high-voltage assemblies that convert the voltage of 2-3 kV into an output high-voltage electrical current of 50 kV that strikes the target. Each high-voltage assembly consists of a set of capacitors, diodes, gas dischargers and a high-voltage pulse transformer. DESHO Taser X2 is loaded with two firing cartridges through which the high stunning voltage generated by the high-voltage assemblies and supplied to the combat electrodes of the DESHO is transmitted to the target through the current conducting wires thrown from the cartridges and having devices for holding them on the target. At the same time, Axon company emphasized that a law enforcement officer, when firing from the DESHO, can immobilize two targets in succession (for example, two attacking offenders) with the current conducting wires thrown from the DESHO and keep both targets immobilized with the stunning electrical current at the same time. The new circuitry solution of Axon company is called the “Rotational-Pulse-Drive” system [3; 4] and characterized by the fact that the stunning electrical current voltage is transmitted to two targets from each of the high-voltage assemblies that do not work simultaneously, but sequentially, that is, each target receives bursts of stunning pulses from one or another high-voltage assembly operating alternately in series one after another, with sequences of action repeated (i. e. looped). Simultaneous operation of two high-voltage assemblies is not provided due to the impossibility to provide the supply of electrical power necessary for effective physiological impact to both targets from each high-voltage assembly in the dimensions of the DESHO having the form of a pistol. Due to the need in use of two high-voltage assemblies of known dimensions in any mode of operation (both one target and two targets immobilization), it is impossible to supply to one or two targets the full power generated by the inverter and the high-voltage assembly with the current output capabilities of modern power supplies (lithium batteries or accumulators) with the given overall dimensions of the weapon having a single firing cartridge (as in the DESHO TASER X26) and, accordingly, with the current output capabilities of modern power supplies (lithium batteries or accumulators). Therefore, in terms of the physiological effectiveness of the impact, which is determined primarily by the output electrical power of the DESHO, the prototype is significantly inferior to the analog considered above, which can supply the full power achieved by using a single high-voltage assembly with given dimensions of the weapon to a single target. Based on the results of the Taser X2 use, it was found that the “Rotational-Pulse-Drive” system can satisfactorily immobilize two targets simultaneously only under ideal but unachievable in practice conditions (with a large current loop of probes hit the target, with a biological target sensitive to electrical impact, without narcotic or alcoholic intoxication, and with a small own weight of the biological target). Therefore, to date, there is not any video frame of immobilization of two targets at the same time, with a huge number of video frames in the network showing real use against offenders of the DESHO Taser models from Axon company during police operations.
Another disadvantage of the “Rotational-Pulse-Drive” system is that for the operation of each high-voltage assembly, the inverter of the prototype should supply a voltage of 2-3 kV to each of them in turn. The voltage supply from the inverter to the high-voltage assemblies in series is carried out by two solid-state switch units (high-voltage IGBT transistors). In fact, the DESHO Taser X2 has two generators of high stunning voltage that operate independently of each other, with a single high-voltage inverter.
The electronic components of the high-voltage assemblies are very expensive (high-voltage gas dischargers, capacitors, diodes), most particularly high-voltage pulse transformers, which should be made ultra-small with sufficient output power, that taking into account the voltages of the stunning electrical current necessary for weapons with electrical stunning means (40-80 kV), is the most difficult technical task in the manufacturing of such transformers in terms of providing reliable internal insulation of the winding to prevent electrical breakdowns between turns of the secondary winding, and also interwinding breakdowns. A high-voltage pulse micro transformer providing the spark-over (air discharge) distance of up to 40 mm necessary for reliable striking a target with an electrical current is the most expensive part of any electroshock weapon. Furthermore, for producing the DESHO with the “Rotational-Pulse-Drive” system, it is necessary to have already two identical sets of expensive electronic components, since switching in said DESHO is carried out not based on the high-voltage of the stunning electrical current, but based on a voltage of 2-3 kV maximum, which entails the use of several high-voltage assemblies.
The high-voltage gas dischargers, capacitors, diodes, IGBT transistors of the size required for the production of modern electroshock weapons are not produced in Russia. Also in Russia there are no technologies for the production of high-voltage pulse microtransformers of a size available in the USA.
Furthermore, Axon company produced also the version DESHO Taser X3 [2] being loaded with three firing cartridges and having the “Rotational-Pulse-Drive” system. The principle of striking of three targets simultaneously does not differ from that described above and is implemented by using already three high-voltage assemblies, which further increases the cost of the DESHO, reduces the effectiveness of each target striking and, in addition, increases dimensions of the DESHO to unacceptable for comfortable carrying by law enforcement officers in a holster on the body both due to the increased size because of presence of the additional high-voltage assemblies and due to increased thickness with an increase in the number of firing cartridges more than two. At present, although the production of the Taser X3 version has been discontinued, said DESHO, which are already available to the US police, are being used. Based on many years of experience in the use of multi-charge DESHO by US law enforcement agencies, experts from law enforcement agencies and the US Department of Justice believe that two-charge DESHO versions are sufficient for police practice. DESHO Taser X3 can also be considered as a prototype of the proposed invention. At the time, the police and other law enforcement agencies in Russia do not have multi-charge DESHO versions, and even more so DESHO versions with the function of immobilizing several targets with electrical current at the same time, like the Taser X2 DESHO models.
The patents of Axon company, even when replacing American electronic components with those purchased by the Russian Federation from the People's Republic of China, do not allow copying the considered scheme into Russian DESHO, with no prospect of export to developed and developing countries of the world.
At the same time, the tenders for the supply of DESHO to law enforcement agencies held all over the world (except for internal tenders in Russia) consider the function of immobilizing several targets at the same time to be necessary due to the requirements for the functionality of modern DESHO, already established by Axon company, the world's leader in the DESHO development and production. For example, for many years, the leader of domestic production and development of DESHO, OOO MART-GRUPP company, for many years of trying to participate in tenders for the foreign police market does not win a single tender if Axon presents its products in the same tender.
The disadvantage of the prototype also lies in the fact that the firing cartridges are attached to the weapon by means of a mechanical lock with no automatic separation from the weapon after the shot. On the line of the next shot, there may be current conducting wires from the previous shot already stretched towards the target, that will inevitably change the trajectory of the probes motion in the new shot that will not hit the target even with correct aiming. The disadvantage of the prototype also lies in the fact that for reloading the weapon, the fired cartridges have to be removed from the cavity of the DESHO (the front hollow cavity in the housing of the DESHO for installing firing cartridges) using both hands of the user to open the mechanical lock. It is impossible to remove the fired cartridge after a shot automatically or using one hand with which the user is holding the weapon. Therefore in order to reload the weapon when it is necessary to continue firing quickly, the user loses time to remove the fired cartridge using both hands.
Due to the need to use both hands of the user to remove fired cartridges, the time for the second shot is increased, whereby reloading with a new cartridge instead of the fired one is impossible without the use of both hands of the user. To reload the prototype weapon with the cartridges, the user must release the handle of the weapon intercepting the weapon by the housing, press the button of the mechanical lock for the cartridges in the housing, which is located practically on the front end of the weapon, with the finger of said hand, grab the cartridge with his second hand and remove it from the cavity of the weapon. Again, loading with a new cartridge is done using both hands of the user, wherein the shooting hand still intercepts the weapon and the user must intercept the weapon handle again for subsequent shots. That is, the prototype weapon is unloaded and loaded slowly and inconvenient.
As the prototype of the firing cartridge for the proposed invention. a cartridge for a multi-charge DESHO according to the patent [5] was chosen. In this case, it is necessary to indicate the shortcomings of the weapon according to that patent, which uses only cartridges of this type. The cartridges have a propellant charge of a pyrotechnic substance being initiated from a low voltage electrical current supplied via cartridge start contacts to a charge igniter when a trigger (trigger element) is pressed, to throw current conducting wire at the target. After the first shot and before the second shot, the fired cartridge with the current conducting wires is automatically extracted from the housing of the DESHO by a spring compressed when loading (installing) the cartridge into the housing of the pistol immediately after the trigger is released. After the second shot and before the third shot, the second fired cartridge with the current conducting wires is also automatically extracted from the housing of the DESHO immediately after the trigger is released. The third fired cartridge with the current conducting wires is also automatically extracted from the housing of the DESHO after the trigger is released. That is, the extraction of fired cartridges with the current conducting wires being stretched to the target for its immobilization is stopped immediately after the trigger is released by the user. Therefore, the main disadvantage of the DESHO using cartridges according to the patent [5] is that it does not have the function of arrest (immobilization with seizure) of the offender, which function is already considered standard in the DESHO models from Axon company. The arrest function as implemented in all DESHO models from Axon company, in which the firing cartridges after firing, hitting the target, and releasing the trigger by the user of the DESHO are not automatically extracted from the DESHO, but are removed from the DESHO only manually. In the DESHO from Axon company, when the trigger is released after a shot and hitting the target by the current conducting wires, fired cartridges are not automatically removed from the weapon and still connect the DESHO to the target with the current conducting wires until the fired cartridge is manually removed, and the stunning current voltage is still supplied to the target even after releasing the trigger, during the timer operation (up to 5-15-30 s) depending on the specific DESHO version or purpose (police or civilian). Therefore, the law enforcement officer hits the target, releases the trigger, puts the DESHO on the ground, and handcuffs the immobilized offender while the timer delivers the stunning electrical current to the target keeping the target immobilized. In this way, the main number of arrests (seizures) of offenders involving the use of DESHO has been made in the United States for more than 20 years. In Russia, the DESHO with the arrest function has not yet entered service in security services. In the DESHO according to the patent [5], the cartridges are automatically extracted after releasing the trigger, so the arrest of the offender after release of the weapon from user's hands and the release of both hands for seizure is impossible. In addition, the disadvantage of such prototype DESHO according to the patent [5] lies in the fact that the extraction of fired cartridges with the current conducting wires in the process of firing can only be done after the gas engine of the cartridge has been activated. In case of its failure, for example, if the piston of the gas engine does not extend after the shot (due to seizing, sticking or blocking of gas engine parts resulted from the backwardness of domestic technologies in manufacturing precision, freezing (if moisture gets into gas engine parts in the cold season)) or is not fixed in the extended position after the shot, due to reasons similar to those described above or inaccuracies during the manufacturing of the piston or elements fixing it in the extended position, the cartridge will not be extracted. Furthermore, the failure of extraction after the first shot, for example, of the first firing cartridge, makes the defeat of the second target by the second (and subsequent) shot ineffective, since the stunning electrical current voltage that should be supplied to the second (and then subsequent) target after firing the second (and subsequent) cartridge at the target is bypassed by the first target, which was hit with the current conducting wires of the first cartridge being fired but not extracted. That is, in case of failure to extract one cartridge hit the target with current conducting wires, the next shot at the next target will be “short circuited” (bypassed), wherein the stunning electrical current voltage that should be transmitted to the next target will be bypassed by the target hit first. Therefore, no stunning effect on the second and subsequent targets occurs. But even if the current conducting wires of the first shot do not hit the target, and the device for automatic extraction of the first fired cartridge fails, the second shot fired at the target will almost always be ineffective in terms of striking the target, since the current conducting wires from the first shot inevitably cross when falling to the ground, both in the case of a miss with both current conducting wires and a miss on target with one current conducting wire. In Russia, there are no technologies for the production of analogs of the high-voltage current conducting wire DuPontTM Tefzel® ETFE [2] with an electrical insulation strength of 11-16 kV alternating current (for one core) used in all versions of the DESHO from Axon company. The current conducting wires in all versions of Russian DESHO without exception are a usual mounting wire of the type MS, MSE or MGTF with sintered or twisted without sintering winding made of fluoroplastic-4D and designed for a rated voltage of 250-500 V alternating current (for a common core of a stranded wire). Therefore, in the case of crossing of the current conducting wires of all DESHO vesions produced and used in Russia, taking into account the high stunning voltage in the DESHO, an inevitable electrical breakdown of the insulation of the current conducting wires occurs in the DESHO forming corresponding short circuit of the current conducting wires with bypassing of the electrical current designated for striking the target. For the second shot at the target unaffected by the first shot, it is necessary to quickly extract the fired cartridge with the current conducting wires crossed after the first shot.
In this case, the extraction of the cartridge with the failed gas engine from the housing of the DESHO according to the patent [5] can be performed only with two hands of the user, wherein user's hand holding the weapon must intercept it by the housing. The user must hold the weapon with one hand and press a head (pressure piece) of a mechanical spring lock of the cartridge having the gas engine failed with his other hand to extract it. With one hand of the user holding the weapon during firing, said manipulation of extraction of the cartridge with the failed gas engine cannot be performed due to the location of the heads of the mechanical spring locks behind a trigger guard of the housing of the weapon and out of reach of the fingers of the hand holding the weapon and at the same time due to the need to press the heads perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the weapon from below to extract the cartridge. Due to the need for the user to use both hands in the event of the gas engine failure, the time period for reloading with a new cartridge instead of the fired one increases, since the user is forced to use his second hand to extract the fired cartridge first and only then to install a new cartridge into the weapon. Given more than 25 years of the widest practice of using DESHO by the US police, it is known that in many cases of stopping offender's aggression, law enforcement officer uses his second hand to hold handcuffs, a flashlight or a firearm and therefore simply physically cannot quickly use it to extract the fired cartridge for subsequent reloading with a new one.
As follows from the practice of using multiply-charge DESHO by the US police, in multiple cases a second shot is fired at the same target as the first one. It is done if the first shot for some reason did not hit the target (missing on the target with one or two current conducting wires, current conducting wire breakage, penetration of probes into thick folds of clothing, etc.). That is, the second shot is used mainly as a reserve or spare, although it can be used to immobilize the second offender after the first one (Taser X2) with simultaneous immobilization of both targets at the same time. For the reliable striking an aggressive and armed target, in order to exclude the possibility of missing on the target with one cartridge and the loss of time for the law enforcement officer to realize that the target was not hit (with the corresponding possibility for the offender to use weapon), quick shots at the target are used, with two cartridges one after the other (duplicate shot), as well as in the usual practice of using firearms in US law enforcement agencies (striking the same target with several quick successive shots at once). In DESHO according to the patent [5], double striking a target with quick-following shots is impossible, since when the trigger is released after the shots, the cartridges with the current conducting wires being stretched to the target are automatically extracted from the weapon and the electrical impact on the target is abandoned.
The purpose of the invention is to create a DESHO for effective immobilizing several targets at the same time, with the possibility of making an arrest while eliminating the likelihood of bypassing the DESHO, with the possibility of finish loading and accelerated reloading the weapon, with a correspondingly increased reliability and efficiency, with the possibility of using low-cost firing cartridges, and with the possibility of producing the DESHO in Russia and exporting abroad. The proposed weapon in terms of the set of properties obtained and flexibility of use surpasses the best DESHO samples (analog and prototype) of the “Axon Enterprise, Inc.” company, which is the world's leader in the DESHO development.
This purpose is achieved in that an electroshock weapon comprises a housing, a power supply, an electronic circuit for setting the sequence of the firing cartridges initiation and generating a high-voltage electrical current that strikes the target, which circuit includes a generation timer, a trigger element, at least two firing cartridges with throwable current conducting wire, cartridge locks for locking in the housing, spring ejectors of the firing cartridges, additional elements for deliberately locking firing cartridges in the housing, wherein the devices for locking the firing cartridges in the housing have human-powered actuators for deliberately unlocking the firing cartridges from the housing of the weapon, said actuators being actuated by the finger of the user's hand holding the weapon, the timer has a control element for setting the time of generation of the high-voltage electrical current that strikes the target independently of the position of the trigger element after the shot, an electromechanical high-voltage switch unit is located in the housing for alternately intermittent or continuous supply of the high stunning voltage to the firing cartridges having a switch of operation of the electromechanical high-voltage switch unit to the continuous supply of high stunning voltage to one or another cartridge.
An additional feature of the proposed weapon is that it has a manual mechanical contactor of the outputs of the high-voltage switch unit for supplying high stunning voltage to the firing cartridges.
An additional feature of the claimed weapon is that the timer control element for setting the time of generation of the high-voltage electrical current that strikes the target is mechanically or electrically connected to additional devices for deliberately locking firing cartridges in the housing.
An additional feature of the claimed weapon is that the electromechanical high-voltage switch unit uses a stepper motor or a servo motor as a drive.
An additional feature of the claimed weapon is that the electromechanical high-voltage switch unit uses a collector or brushless electric motor as a drive.
An additional feature of the claimed weapon is that the electromechanical high-voltage switch unit has at least one position sensor for the movable contacts.
An additional feature of the claimed weapon is that the electromechanical high-voltage switch unit uses at least one long-stroke solenoid with a movable system of connected permanent magnets as a drive.
An additional feature of the claimed weapon is that it has a switch to disable the operation of the electromechanical high-voltage switch unit.
An additional feature of the claimed weapon is that the electronic circuit for setting the sequence of the firing cartridges initiation has a switch selector of the sequence of the firing cartridges initiation.
The firing cartridge 2 (hereinafter referred to as type 2) with automatic pyrotechnic unlocking from the housing when fired does not fundamentally differ from firing cartridges according to the patent [5] but has a gas engine which, unlike the cartridges according to the patent [5], does not push a protrusion out of the cartridge when fired, but pulls a movable protrusion 4 on the cartridge 2 inside the cartridge case flush with the generatrix of the surface of the cartridge case. On the cartridge case 2, recesses 5 for locking the cartridge in the housing 1 by the piece of a trigger mechanism and recesses 7 of deliberately locking in the housing 1 are made. The firing cartridge 8 (hereinafter referred to as type 8) of reduced cost (simplified design) does not have a gas engine but also has a protrusion 9 made integral with the case of the cartridge.
The firing cartridge 2 providing automatic pyrotechnic unlocking from the housing when fired does not fundamentally differ from the firing cartridges according to the patent [5], but it has a gas engine which, unlike the cartridges according to the patent [5], does not extend the protrusion from the cartridge when fired as in the patent [5], but pulls a movable protrusion 4 on the cartridge 2 into the cartridge case flush with the generatrix of the cartridge case. The internal design of the cartridges is described with reference to
A trigger 6 is designed to start the electronic circuit of the DESHO that generates high stunning voltage pulses, initiates shots of firing cartridges 2 or 8, locks them in housing 1 at the time of firing and the time period during which the target is stunned by the electrical current, and also unlocks the cartridges from the housing 1 after the shot. On each side of the housing, there are pressure pieces 10 of the locks for deliberately locking of the cartridges in the housing 1.
At the front end of the housing 1, there is a common combat electrode 11 and combat electrodes 12 and 13. Between electrode 11 and electrode 12 and between electrode 11 and electrode 13 there are so-called “combat (or working) spark gaps” in which “combat (or working) spark electrical discharge” is produced by the high-voltage assembly of the DESHO both in the case of the contact use of the DESHO and in the case of a remote shot with a firing cartridge.
In the handle of the DESHO, there is a power source in the form of an electrical battery (or accumulator) 14 of a removable or permanent type, at the end of the housing 1 there is a safety trigger 15 and buttons (switches) 16 for setting modes of the DESHO operation, and also a display indicator 17 of the operation of the weapon electronic systems can be located thereon. To implement the following embodiments of the claimed DESHO operation, there may be more than 2 buttons 16 (shown in the figure), however, various necessary modes of operation can be implemented by programming using a different number and duration of pressing only two buttons, as it is customary when programming various electronic devices with touch or button programming widely used today, with a small number of buttons or touch points on the programmable electronic circuit.
The housing 1 comprises an electronic circuit that generates a high-voltage electrical current that strikes the target and includes as part thereof a control element with a micro controller for controlling circuit elements, including a high-voltage switch unit (see below), an inverter 20 (wherein the control element including a micro controller may also be located in the common case with the inverter), a high-voltage assembly 21 (including a set of capacitors, gas dischargers, a diode, a high-voltage pulse transformer), an electronic circuit for setting the sequence of the firing cartridges initiation, a timer for controlling the time of generation of the voltage that strikes the target, and a display indicator 17 of the operation of the electronic circuit, accumulator battery (and other information related to operation of the weapon), if necessary, and an accumulator 14 for the power supply of the DESHO.
The mechanical lock 18 can be driven both from the actuator 3 (button) using longitudinal movement relative to the length of the weapon or from the actuator using transverse movement or rotary movement around a certain axis. Longitudinal, transverse or rotary movement of the actuator relative to the housing of the weapon is determined by the designer. Rotary movement and transverse movement of the actuator can be transmitted to the mechanical lock 18 by simple devices in the form of levers, inclined planes, rack and pinion gears or their combinations (for example, see
This allows, if the user moves two pressure pieces 10 up before firing, to immobilize two targets simultaneously with the current conducting wires from two cartridges (arrest mode) or to immobilize single armed target with the current conducting wires from two cartridges, for the reliability of striking the target with a duplicate shot.
The high-voltage switch unit operates as follows.
When the DESHO is operating (in direct contact or remote action mode), the high-voltage assembly 21, powered by the control element 58, which in turn is powered by an electrical battery or accumulator 14 and comprises an inverter 20, generates a high stunning voltage, which is supplied to the brush contact 34 through its first output 35 and to the common combat electrode 11 through the second output 38. Flexible spring 26 being attracted to the alternating-sign rotated magnet 25, which is driven by the electric drive 23 controlled by the element 58 according to the rotation algorithm with a certain frequency of change of the direction of rotation, moves in coordination with the rotation of the magnet 25 and connects alternately the movable contacts 28 and 29 with the fixed contacts 32 and 33, in such a sequence that, depending on the position of the movable contacts inside the tubular guides 24 and their contacting to the fixed contacts (direct contact or with a gap of fractions of a millimeter), the high-voltage of the electrical current is applied alternately to the electrode 12 and then to the common electrode 11 through the combat spark gap, or to the electrode 13 and then to the common electrode 11 through the combat spark gap.
In
When the high-voltage switch unit is turned on, the DESHO can operate according to several execution algorithms.
The simplest algorithm of operation in the case of shots at two targets from the DESHO provides for the operation of the high-voltage assembly 21 which continuously (while maintaining the maximum allowable time for supplying electrical current to a biological target according to established legal and medical standards) generates a high stunning voltage, while the switch unit alternately connects and disconnects the movable and fixed contacts in the tubular guides with a certain switching frequency thereby alternating the supply of high stunning voltage to both targets through current conducting wires thrown from the cartridges that remain fixed to the targets. In this version of the switch unit, at the moment of the position of the magnet 25 and, accordingly, the spring 26, in which both movable and fixed contacts are disconnected (middle (intermediate) position of the movable contacts in the tubular guides), an overvoltage occurs on the high-voltage pulse transformer of the high-voltage assembly 21, which can lead to an internal high-voltage breakdown of the transformer. Therefore, the transformer of the assembly 21 is protected by the protective spark gap in the spark discharge gap of which between the discharge electrodes 37 at the moment of complete separation of both movable and fixed contacts (the middle position of both movable contacts in the tubular guides 24) a parasitic high-voltage spark discharge occurs. The distance between the discharge electrodes 37 in the protective spark gap and, accordingly, the ignition voltage must be somewhat greater than these values for the electrodes 11; 12 and 11; 13. The simplest algorithm also uses the simplest version of the electric drive switch unit using a DC collector or stepper motor without position sensors for the movable contacts 28 and 29.
A more complex, energy saving algorithm involves use of the position sensors for movable contacts 28 and 29 or sensors for the angle of rotation of the magnet 25, or a sensor for the angle of rotation of the electric drive shaft 23. In this case, one position sensor (or two position sensors) for the movable contacts being connected to the control element 58, turns off the switch unit 21 in the process of its operation at each position of the movable contacts 28 and 29 in which the high-voltage breakdown can occur in the switch unit 21 (the middle position described above (for ease of understanding) or the position approaching it (depending on the transformer reserve of the high-voltage pulse transformer in terms of breakdown through air distance in excess of the structural distance between the combat electrodes. Therefore, the parasitic spark discharge in the protective spark gap does not form, which makes it possible to reduce the power consumption from the power supply 14.
Another algorithm for the operation of the switch unit, also using the position sensors for the movable contacts, considers installation of only one pair of movable and fixed contacts in the closed position, depending on which firing cartridge has thrown the current conducting wires at the target. In this case, the full continuous power of the stunning electrical current voltage from the switch unit 21 will be supplied to the first target through the thrown current conducting wires of the first fired cartridge. When the current conducting wires of the second firing cartridge are thrown at the second target, the switch unit will supply the full continuous power of the stunning electrical current voltage to the second target while turning off the power supply to the first target.
The operation algorithms are set by the user using the buttons 16 of the programming control element 58, which organizes the operation of the switch unit and the generation of the stunning electrical current voltage.
When using a collector or brushless electric motor without a gearbox providing the highest possible switching speed of movable contacts (up to tens of Hertz) as electric drive, it is advisable to use position sensors for the movable contacts not only to eliminate the parasitic spark discharge in the protective spark gap, but also to turn off the electric motor of the electric drive when the movable contacts come to the extreme positions and turn on the motor with a smooth increase in current to prevent wear of the motor brushes due to high starting currents and self-induction currents when the motor is suddenly stopped. When using a steering machine as an electric drive, the angular position of the output shaft on which the magnet 25 is installed (and hence the position of the movable contacts) is always known without additional sensors, since the angular position sensor is always built into steering machine itself.
The design of the switch unit for three firing cartridges without position sensors for the movable contacts differs from the design of the switch unit according to
The claimed device in the above-mentioned versions with two or three firing cartridges does not comprise two or three sources of high stunning voltage (high-voltage assemblies) as in the prototype DESHO, but only one, which fact additionally reduces the cost of the DESHO as well as the lack of use of imported and expensive components for several high-voltage assemblies. At the same time, the overall dimensions of the proposed device make it possible to place it in the DESHO having the form of a pistol with dimensions similar to a firearm carried in a holster, and to produce the DESHO with high-voltage discharge switching for the Russian security services.
The distance between the discharge electrodes 37 in the protective spark gap and, accordingly, the ignition voltage must be somewhat higher than these values for the electrodes 12; 11 and 13; 11.
In the lower view of the figure, the switch 71 (see description of its operation below) of the high-voltage switch unit is removed from the housing for purposes of better visibility of other parts. The cartridges are locked in the housing 69 by a protrusion 9 on the cartridge case, by means of movable spring-loaded lock 18 (placed in each half of the housing) that moves vertically down relative to the housing of the weapon when interacting with a spring-loaded pusher-type drive 72 (which is also placed in each half of the housing) and interacting with the carrier 73 having an axis passing through the wall of half of the housing and connected to the push and turn lever 70. When the user presses the lever 70 with his finger, and the carrier 73 connected thereto is turned, accordingly moving the pusher-type drive 72 interacting with the carrier forward relative to the housing of the weapon, it interacts with the mechanical lock 18 moving it down relative to the housing of the weapon, and at the same time the protrusion 9 of the cartridge is unlocked from the mechanical lock 18 and the cartridge is pushed out (extracted) from the housing of the weapon by one of two spring-loaded ejectors (extractors) located in the housing, the ejection springs of which are compressed by cartridge cases during loading the cartridges into the cavity of the weapon for installing cartridges. Therefore, it is possible both unload the weapon from the cartridges loaded into it, when it is necessary to unload the weapon (for example, for storage), or quickly and deliberately extract the fired cartridge after the shot, by pressing the lever 70 with the finger of the hand holding the weapon.
The housing 69 comprises an electronic circuit that generates a high-voltage electrical current striking the target and includes as part thereof a micro controller for controlling circuit elements, an inverter 20, a high-voltage assembly 21, an electronic circuit for setting the sequence of the firing cartridges initiation, a timer for controlling the time of generation of the voltage striking the target, and a display indicator 17 of the operation of the electronic circuit, battery (and other information related to operation of the weapon), if necessary, and a battery 14 for the power supply of the DESHO. The housing 69 also comprises an electromechanical high-voltage switch unit 74 (having its base numbered) with solenoids 75, non-conductive tubular guides 76, and a protective spark gap 77.
The described magnetic contact systems indeed are movable contacts of the switch unit set in motion with a long stroke (long stroke in a solenoid is a characteristic property of the coupled magnetic systems of the described design) by means of action of the electromagnetic field of the solenoids on the magnetic contact systems, which are successively supplied with electrical current pulses of the required duration and frequency from the control element 58 to move the magnetic contact systems inside the guides 76 with a frequency selected by the designer of the DESHO according to various requirements. High-voltage switch unit driven by a solenoid, in contrast to the high-voltage switch unit driven by an electric motor described above, can provide a high-voltage switching rate (commutation) with a frequency of up to a hundred Hertz or more (depending on the selected length of the maximum stroke of the magnetic system, weight of the system, and the electrical power supplied to the solenoids, and also from the selected constructive distance of the spark electrical breakdown in the air of the high-voltage assembly 21). The second output 38 of the high-voltage assembly 21 is connected to the common combat electrode 11 of the DESHO, which is also the common electrode of the firing cartridges. The protective spark gap 77 is connected electrically in parallel to the high-voltage outputs 35 and 38 of the generator assembly 21. The switching principle of the solenoid drive high-voltage switch unit does not differ from that described in
When the DESHO is turned on (in direct contact or remote action mode), the high-voltage assembly 21, powered by the control element 58, which in turn is powered by an electrical battery or accumulator 14 and comprises an inverter 20, generates a high-voltage stunning current that, is supplied to the conductive springs 78 electrically connected to each other through its first output 35 and then through the connector 81 to the poles of the magnets facing the fixed contacts 82 and 83 on which conductive sharp tips can additionally be installed (as seen in
In
The circuitry of the solenoid drive high-voltage switch unit allows to precisely know the position of the movable magnetic contact systems without special position sensors, since the open position of the fixed contacts of the switch unit and the magnetic contact systems is provided only at the moment the current is applied to the solenoid and, accordingly, the control element 58 at this moment can interrupt the supply of high stunning voltage to the magnetic contact system and the fixed contact at the same moment. Therefore, the operation of the assembly 21 will not occur in the middle position of the fixed contacts and movable magnetic contact systems, which means that the spark gap 77 in the solenoid drive switch unit can either not be used, or remain only as a safety measure in case of failure of the control element 58. Therefore, with the solenoid drive switch unit, even without the use of position sensors, it is possible to hold two targets simultaneously in an immobilized state without parasitic consumption of the energy of the DESHO power supply source for the formation of a spark discharge in the spark gap at the middle position of the magnetic contact systems in the process of switching. In addition, the switch unit driven by a solenoid drive has a lower inertia compared to switch unit driven by an electric motor and accordingly has a higher possible switching frequency that makes its use in the DESHO preferable.
According to the proposed invention, very diverse embodiments of the DESHO operation (use) exist.
If it is necessary to demonstrate a spark electrical discharge to the offender to remove aggression from him or to use weapon in direct contact mode (without shots), the user disables the operation of the part of the electronic circuit responsible for the sequence of the firing cartridges initiation for firing using one of the buttons 16. In this case, the low electrical current voltage is not generated and is not supplied to the electrical contacts 44 (see
Loading of the DESHO is carried out by inserting cartridges 2 into the cavity in front of the housing, wherein the springs 43 of the extractors 42 are compressed providing extraction of the cartridges from the cavities after the shot or when the DESHO is unloaded.
When inserting the cartridges into the cavity, the protrusions 4 of the cartridges press the spring-loaded mechanical locks 18 down relative to the housing of the weapon, which locks snap onto the protrusions 4 fixing the cartridges in the housing 1 when the cartridges are fully inserted into the cavities. The weapon is unloaded by pressing the actuators 3 and therefore the same device for manually unlocking the cartridges from the housing of the weapon performs both the function of a device duplicating automatic extraction and the function of a device for weapon unloading.
When using the DESHO in remote action mode by default (without setting any additional modes of operation with the buttons 16), after the trigger is pressed, the stunning electrical current voltage is supplied to the cartridge initiated, with continuous supplying for all the time until the user releases the trigger. When the trigger is pressed again, the stunning electrical current voltage is supplied to the second initiated cartridge, with continuous supplying for all the time until the user releases the trigger. In this case, the maximum single time and continuous time of supplying the stunning electrical current voltage to the target both in the direct contact mode described above and in all modes of operation described below, even if the user does not release the trigger or in arrest mode, can be interrupted programmatically in accordance with the law and biomedical standards (in the Russian Federation, continuous time is 3 s), in the USA, the same time varies from 5 s to 30 s, depending on the output power of the DESHO or expert recommendations). The maximum time for supplying the stunning electrical current voltage to the target also varies depending on the purpose of the DESHO (police or civilian). In police versions, both in the Russian Federation and in the United States, an increased exposure time to the target or an increased output power of the stunning electrical current or both is allowed. At the same time, use of single high-voltage assembly 21 in the claimed DESHO allows to obtain the maximum output power of the stunning electrical current for the type of inverter used and the power output of the power source (electrical battery or accumulator), which is fundamentally unattainable in the prototype DESHO comprising two high-voltage assemblies.
If it is necessary to arrest an offender, the user must press pressure pieces 10 of the locks 46 for deliberately locking the cartridges in the housing 1 and, using one of the buttons 16, turn the weapon operation mode into the timer operation mode (arrest mode) before using the DESHO, to continue the operation of the striking part of the electronic circuit for a certain predetermined time with interruption of operation at the end of the task or for intermittent supply (according to the established algorithm for supplying current and pause to restore the function of the respiratory and cardiac system of the biological target) of high-voltage electrical current striking the target to the biological target after releasing the trigger. The button for switching the electronic circuit operation to the arrest mode can be mechanically or electrically connected to the lock 46 or the pressure piece 10 of the locks (for example, using a magnetic element fixed in the lock 46 or piece 10) and a reed switch located in the housing 1 and connected to the button (or directly to the electronic part of the weapon), being turned on when the pressure piece 10 is switched to the arrest mode. This mode of the DESHO operation allows to strike the target with one or two shots, put the weapon with the working striking part of the electronic circuit on the ground and make an arrest the offender by handcuffing him. After making the arrest, the user should switch the weapon operation mode to the operation mode of the timer for continuous operation of the striking part of the electronic circuit. The extraction of fired cartridges is carried out by pressing the pressure pieces 10 of the locks with the index finger, moving them down relative to the housing of the weapon.
If it is necessary to arrest two offenders at once (for example, in case of an alleged conflict with two offenders), the user must press the pressure pieces 10 of the locks 46 for deliberately locking the cartridges in the housing 1 before using the DESHO, and switch the weapon operation mode to the mode of operation of the striking part of the electronic circuits and operation of the high-voltage switch unit using one of the buttons 16. One-time pressing the trigger results in switching the stunning electrical current voltage only to the cartridge initiated first by the switch unit, wherein the first target is struck, and when the trigger is pressed again, the second cartridge is initiated and the second target is struck while the switch unit starts to switch the stunning electrical current voltage to the first and second cartridges alternately maintaining immobilization of both targets.
If it is necessary to make a duplicate shot at an armed offender, the user has the opportunity to use the arrest mode with two quick one by one shots at the offender, but in this case, the full output power when using the switch unit 22 without a system for determining the position of closed and open movable and fixed contacts (position sensors) is not achieved, since part of the output power per unit of time will be spent on the formation of a parasitic spark discharge in the protective spark gap (see the description of the switch unit 22 operation). Therefore, it is advisable to implement the duplicated shot mode either if the switch 71 of the high-voltage switch unit is present (see
The switch (it is essentially a contactor) 71 is a lamellar plastic member with side protrusions moving on the upper surface of the housing of the DESHO in guides, and having an internal metallized electrical connector of the side protrusions. When the switch is moved forward, the side protrusions are connected to the combat electrodes 12 and 13, closing them together, and therefore, at any position of the movable contacts of the switch unit driven by the electric motor in the process of operation thereof, except for the middle position, stunning electrical current voltage from the high-voltage assembly 21 is simultaneously supplied to the electrodes 12 and 13. When using the switch unit driven by the electric motor with position sensors of movable contacts and the switch 71 to supply the full power to the combat electrodes, it is necessary to set (for example, using the button 16) the switch operation mode by moving the movable and fixed contacts into a permanent closed position when the DESHO is turned on, so that the middle position of the movable contacts is surely not reached.
If it is necessary to carry out preventive immobilization, before using the DESHO and then if the offender does not obey, for the turning the arrest mode on, the user should press the pressure piece 10 of the lock 46 only of the second firing cartridge for deliberately locking the cartridge. After the first warning shot and extraction of the cartridge, in case of further disobedience of the offender to the requirements of the law enforcement officer, the user presses the button 16 thereby setting the arrest mode and fires again with the immobilization of the offender before handcuffing him.
The proposed weapon can use both the firing cartridges of the type 2 with automatic pyrotechnic unlocking from the housing and cartridges of the type 8 of reduced cost, since such cartridges do not comprise a number of parts that require high manufacturing accuracy and accordingly increase the cost of shot. The firing cartridge of the type 8 of reduced cost has a protrusion 9 made integral with the cartridge case. When such a cartridge is fired from the weapon, automatic extraction does not occur, but the user of the weapon, having the necessary skill in deliberately unlocking cartridges using the actuators 3 or lever 70 trained, can, in case of need, extract cartridges almost as quickly as with automatic extraction. For simultaneous immobilization of two targets or duplicate shot or arrest using cartridges of reduced cost, it is no longer necessary to use the locks 46 with their pressing pieces 10 that simplifies the use of the weapon. An example of DESHO without locks 46 for use with the cartridges of the type 8 is shown in
The above description discusses the preferred embodiments of the present invention, which may be changed or modified without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the claims.
Comparison of the proposed technical solution with the identified prior art analogs did not reveal an identical match of the set of essential features of the invention. The proposed differences of the claimed electroshock weapon, which directly follow from the statement of the purpose of the invention, are not obvious to a person skilled in the field of electroshock devices.
1. https://www.axon.com/products/taser-x26p
2. https://global.axon.com/products/taser-x2;
2. https://investor.axon.com/press-releases/press-release-details/2009/TASER-X3-With-Rotational-Pulse-Drivetm-to-Launch-July-27/default.aspx
3. https://www.policeone.com/police-products/less-lethal/press-releases/taser-x3-with-rotational-pulse-drivetm-to-launch-july-27-XMfZQTGxn1sGroLu/
4. Ladyagin Yu. O. “Remote-acting electroshock weapons” Moscow: Stalingrad Foundation Publishing House, 2017, p. 44.
5. Patent RU No. 2462678
6. Ladyagin Yu. O. “Remote-acting electroshock weapons” Moscow: Stalingrad Foundation Publishing House, 2017, p. 173.
7. https://www.nidec.es/en/x2
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020111656 | Mar 2020 | RU | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/RU2020/000519 | 10/6/2020 | WO |
