Patent Application
20050260545
1. Field of the Invention
This application relates to firearm training simulators. More specifically, the invention provides a firearms training simulator duplicating the recoil of a conventional firearm, and providing indicia of the path of a bullet if such a bullet had been fired from a conventional firearm.
2. Description of the Related Art
Firearms training for military personnel, law enforcement officers, and private citizens increasingly encompasses role playing and decision making in addition to marksmanship. Such training often includes competing against role players and/or responding to situations projected onto a screen in front of the trainee. Although self-healing screens exist, permitting the use of conventional firearms for such training, the use of such a system requires a location appropriate to the use of conventional firearms. Furthermore, such systems are expensive and can be unreliable.
To increase the number of locations where such training may be safely conducted, and to provide a safe means of force on force role playing, alternatives to conventional firearms have been developed. These alternatives include paintball, Simunitions, and the use of a laser to show the path a bullet would have taken had one been fired. Such alternatives, however, do not duplicate all of the characteristics of a conventional firearm, thereby limiting the extent to which the training will carry over to the use of conventional firearms. The characteristics of a firearm that should be duplicated include size, weight, grip configuration, trigger reach, trigger pull weight, type of sights, level of accuracy, method of reloading, method of operation, location and operation of controls, and recoil.
Of all of these characteristics, recoil is the most difficult to duplicate. The inability to get a trainee accustomed to the recoil generated by a conventional firearm is one of the greatest disadvantages in the use of various firearm training simulators. Recoil not only forces the shooter to require the sights after shooting, but also forces the shooter to adapt to a level of discomfort that is proportional to the energy of the cartridge for which the firearm is chambered. Recoil is significantly more difficult to control during full automatic fire than during semi-automatic fire, making the accurate simulation of both recoil and cyclic rate critical in ensuring that simulator training carries over to the use of actual firearms.
An example of a presently available firearms training simulator is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,854, issued to Y. Kwalwasser on Jan. 12, 1999, disclosing a recoil simulator for a weapon. The recoil simulator includes a barrel having a plug therein, with an air inlet opening disposed just behind the plug. A piston is reciprocally mounted within a cylinder inside the barrel, with either the piston or the cylinder being stationery, and the other component being attached to a bolt. Upon detection of the firing hammer operation by a sensor, compressed air is directed into the air inlet opening, thereby driving back the bolt against the spring to produce a felt recoil. In an alternative embodiment, the piston and reciprocating bolt may be located within a gas tube above the barrel. A laser generator may be provided at the muzzle end of the barrel. The level of recoil generated is adjusted by modifying the length of travel of the piston and bolt, or the cylinder and bolt, depending upon the embodiment used.
U.K. Patent Application Number 2 319 076 A, published on May 13, 1998, discloses a device for cycling a training gun. The device includes a cylinder that is inserted into the barrel of the gun. A piston is reciprocally mounted within the cylinder and is spring biased towards a forward position. Upon the firing of a gas cartridge, the application recites that compressed gas will flow through a bore within the piston into a chamber forward of the piston, thereby driving the piston rearward with sufficient force to cycle a semi-automatic firearm. However, the compressed gun would also apply forward pressure on the piston, making it unlikely that this device would work as described.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,023,497, issued to W. Trammel on Dec. 10, 1935, discloses a shooting training device having a spring biased plunger, which, upon pulling the trigger, impacts a movable butt plate within the shoulder stock to simulate recoil. A beam of light is projected from the barrel to show the path that would be followed by a bullet fired from the barrel. A mechanically driven projector may be used in conjunction with the training gun to project a spot of light on a screen to be used to the target, and optionally a second spot of light to show the correct lead distance. The use of a movable butt plate is unrealistic in that the shooter's hands cannot be used to control recoil.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,829,877, issued to J. E. Zerega on May 16, 1989, discloses an accessory for converting a small bore firearm into a theatrical stage prop. The device includes a barrel having a rearwardly spring biased mass therein, and a plurality of passages parallel to and surrounding the barrel. Upon the firing of a blank cartridge, the expanding gases push the spring biased mass forward, until the mass has reached a position where it no longer blocks the entrance to the passages surrounding the barrel. The expanding gases then travel though these passages, back into the barrel beyond the spring for the mass, and out the muzzle. The spring drives the mass rearward, thereby simulating recoil. This would result in a recoil that is delayed as compared to the recoil of an actual firearm, because the mass must first move forward against spring pressure before moving rearward.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,708,319, issued to W. A. Tratsch, on May 17, 1955, discloses an air rifle recoil simulator. The recoil simulator includes a spring biased piston within the shoulder stock, and an air passage extending from a valve to a location in front of the piston. Upon pulling the trigger, compressed air pushes the piston rearward against the spring, thereby simulating recoil. The use of a movable butt plate is unrealistic in that the shooter's hands cannot be used to control recoil.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,380,437, issued to G. W. Yarborough, Jr., on Apr. 19, 1983, discloses a small weapon simulator. The simulator includes a laser beam for simulating the path of a bullet. A muzzle-rise module releases a downwardly directed jet of air from the forward portion of the gun to simulate muzzle-rise. Recoil is simulated through an air pressure driven piston pushing against the butt plate. A sound module having an audio speaker simulates the noise of a rifle firing a bullet. The use of a movable butt plate is unrealistic in that the shooter's hands cannot be used to control recoil.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,244,431, issued to B. M. D'Andrade on Sep. 14, 1993, discloses a recoiling toy pistol. Upon the pulling of the trigger, a weight is pushed against a spring in one direction, and then is released to travel rearward under spring pressure, thereby simulating recoil. A weight moved by a single finger can hardly produce a realistic level of recoil.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,725,235, issued to J. E. Schoeder et al. on Feb. 16, 1988, discloses a marksmanship training apparatus. The apparatus includes a shoulder stock insert having a solenoid impacting a kick plate in response to trigger activation. The use of a movable butt plate is unrealistic in that the shooter's hands cannot be used to control recoil.
Accordingly, there is a need for a firearms training simulator duplicating the recoil of a conventional firearm. Additionally, there is a need for a firearms training simulator duplicating the full automatic cyclic rate of a conventional full automatic firearm. There is a further need to combine these characteristics into a firearms training simulator that may be used safely within a wide variety of locations, making training facilities easier and more economical to construct, lowering the cost of ammunition and training, reducing noise levels, and facilitating legal ownership.
The present invention provides a firearms training simulator providing a recoil similar to that of a gun firing a powder propelled projectile. The simulator may include a means for projecting a laser beam along the path of a bullet that would have been discharged from an actual firearm. The simulator also duplicates many other features of a conventional firearm, for example, the sights, the positioning of the controls, and method of operation. One preferred embodiment simulates the characteristics of an AR-15 or M-16 rifle, although the invention can easily be applied to simulate the characteristics of other conventional firearms.
The operation of a firearms training simulator of the present invention is controlled by a combination of the trigger assembly, bolt, buffer assembly, and valve. Preferred embodiments may be capable of semi-automatic fire and full automatic fire. Preferably, the cyclic rate of full automatic fire approximately duplicates the cyclic rate of a conventional automatic rifle. Alternatively two different full automatic cyclic rates may be provided.
The trigger assembly includes a trigger having a finger-engaging portion and a selector-engaging portion, a selector switch, a trigger bar, a sear trip, and a sear. The selector switch will preferably be cylindrical, having-three bearing surfaces corresponding to safe, semi-automatic fire, and full automatic fire at a low cyclic rate, and a channel corresponding to full automatic fire at a high cyclic rate. These surfaces and channel of the selector bear against the selector engaging portion of the trigger, permitting little or no trigger movement if safe is selected, and increasing trigger movement for semi-automatic fire, low cyclic rate full automatic fire, and high cyclic rate full automatic fire, respectively. The sear is mounted on a sliding pivot, and is spring-biased towards a rearward position. The sear has a forward end for engaging the sear trip, and a rear end for engaging the bolt. The bolt preferably contains a floating mass, and reciprocates between a forward position and a rearward position. Although the bolt is spring-biased towards its forward position, the bolt will typically be held in its rearward position by the sear except during firing.
The valve assembly includes a reciprocating housing containing a stationary forward valve poppet, a sliding rear valve poppet, and a spring between the front and rear valve poppets. The spring pushes the rear valve poppet rearward, causing the rear poppet to bear against the housing, thereby closing the rear valve and pushing the housing rearward. Pushing the housing rearward causes the housing to bear against the front valve poppet, thereby closing the front valve.
Before the trigger is pulled, the trigger is in its forwardmost position, the bolt is held to the rear by its engagement with the sear, and the sear, although spring-biased rearward, is pushed towards its forwardmost position by the bolt. Pulling the trigger causes the trigger bar to move rearward, pivoting the sear trip upward. The upward movement of the sear trip pushes upward on the forward end of the sear, causing the rearward end of the sear to move down. The bolt is then free to travel forward, where the bolt strikes the rear valve, thereby moving the rear valve relative to the housing and opening the rear valve. Air pressure between the O-ring on the bolt face and the O-ring on the rear of the valve housing causes the housing to move forward, thereby opening the forward valve. Opening the rear valve supplies air pressure to the bolt face, thereby causing the bolt to return to its rearward position. If semi-automatic fire is selected, the limited movement of the sear trip, combined with the rearward spring-bias on the sear, causes the sear to move backwards on its pivot to a position where the sear trip can no longer apply upward pressure to the forward portion of the sear. The rear portion of the sear therefore pivots upward. The bolt will be propelled rearward to a point slightly behind the position wherein it engages the sear. As the bolt returns forward, the sear, which is no longer held in place by the sear trip, will engage the bolt, preventing further forward movement. From this position of the components, the trigger must be released before it can be pulled to fire another shot.
If full automatic fire at a slow cyclic rate is selected, the trigger may be pulled slightly farther to the rear before it engages the selector, thereby causing the sear trip to pivot slightly higher. Whereas the upper bearing surface of the sear trip pushes the sear up to initially release the bolt, here, the lower end bearing surface of the sear trip pushes the sear up sufficiently so that, when the bolt catches the sear, there is only about 1/32nd inch of engagement between the sear and bolt. The floating mass bolt is thereby momentarily held in its rearward position by the sear, which cams forward off the sear trip as the forward motion of the bolt pushes the sear from its rearward position to its forward position.
If full automatic fire at a high cyclic rate is selected, the trigger is allowed to travel to its maximum rearward position. The sear trip is thereby pivoted upward to its maximum extent, causing the lower end bearing surface of the sear trip to push the sear completely out of the way of the bolt. Therefore, as soon as the spring behind the bolt driver overcomes the rearward momentum of the bolt, the bolt will simply return forward and again actuate the valve.
A compressed gas powered gun of the present invention uses a recoil buffer system for biasing the bolt forward, and for providing a recoil for the shooter in conjunction with the floating mass bolt. A preferred buffer system includes a floating mass bolt driver, and an air resistance bolt driver, with a spring disposed there between. This assembly is located in a tube within the air gun's shoulder stock, which is preferably a cylindrical tube. The buffer assembly may be oriented so that either the air resistance bolt driver or the floating mass bolt driver is positioned directly behind the bolt, with the other bolt driver placed at the rear of the stock. The forward bolt driver will thereby abut the rear of the bolt, pushing the bolt forward.
If the air resistance bolt driver is positioned directly behind the bolt, light recoil results. The air resistance bolt driver has less mass than the floating mass bolt driver, resulting in less mass reciprocating back and forth. Additionally, the air resistance bolt driver will trap air behind it as it reciprocates, thereby slowing travel of the reciprocating mass. Conversely, positioning the floating mass bolt driver behind the bolt results in heavier recoil, due to the increased reciprocating mass and the lack of the ability of the floating mass bolt driver to trap air. The shooter may therefore select the desired level of recoil to correspond with the recoil of the conventional firearm the shooter wishes to simulate.
Some preferred embodiments of the invention will include a laser emitter structured to emit a laser substantially parallel to the path of a bullet that would have been discharged from an actual firearm upon the pulling of the trigger of the simulator. Suitable laser emitters are presently available, but have not yet been combined with firearms training simulators providing the advantages of the present invention. One preferred laser emitter assembly includes a laser emitter housed within a front sight block disposed forward of the forward hand guards, and underneath the front sight. The electronics, battery, and switch for the laser emitter may be located within the handguards, wherein they are easily reached for service. One embodiment of the switch may be a roller switch structured to be actuated by a switching rod extending forward from the bolt. When the bolt moves forward in response to pulling the trigger, the switching rod engages the roller of the switch, thereby depressing the switch and actuating the laser. Another embodiment uses a proximity switch mounted in a location wherein a magnet may be brought into contact with it upon forward movement of the bolt. A preferred location is adjacent to the juncture between a barrel and upper receiver. A magnet affixed to the bolt is structured to be brought into proximity with the proximity switch when the bolt is in its forwardmost position, thereby causing the proximity switch to actuate the laser.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a firearms training simulator simulating the recoil of a conventional firearm.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a firearms training simulator wherein the level of recoil provided to the shooter may be selected by the shooter.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a firearms training simulator capable of simulating the operation of a conventional firearm.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a firearms training simulator capable of both semi-automatic and full automatic operation.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a firearms training simulator wherein different cyclic rate of full automatic fire may be utilized.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a firearms training simulator including a laser emitter assembly structured to emit a laser substantially along the path of a bullet that would have been discharged from an actual firearm.
These and other objects of the present invention will become more apparent through the following description and drawings.
Like reference characters denote like elements throughout the drawings.
The present invention provides a firearms training simulator that simulates the recoil of a conventional firearm. Referring to
The upper receiver 16 is structured to receive a reciprocating bolt therein, as will be described in detail below. The upper receiver 16 is further structured to receive a charging handle 38 directly above the bolt, and structured to retract the bolt upon itself being retracted. The top of the upper receiver 16 includes a means for securing a rear sight thereon, with a preferred means being a universal sight rail 40 such as a Weaver rail. The illustrated rear sight 42 is a conventional carrying handle sight having an adjustable aperture sight mechanism 44 mounted thereon. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other conventional rear sights, such as folding aperture rear sights, telescopic sights, and/or illuminated dot sights or combinations thereof may be mounted to the sight rail 40. A forward assist assembly 45 is defined within the upper receiver 16, thereby facilitating any desired training drills utilizing a forward assist. The forward assist 45 is identical to that of a conventional AR-15 or M-16 rifle, and is therefore not further described.
A shoulder stock 46 is secured to the lower receiver 14. The illustrated embodiment of a shoulder stock 46 is a collapsible, telescoping shoulder stock having a buffer tube 48 upon which a sliding shoulder piece 50 is slidably mounted, with the shoulder piece 50 being structured to be locked in place on the buffer tube by the adjustment lever 52.
A barrel assembly 54 is mounted to the front portion of the upper receiver 16. The barrel assembly 54 includes a barrel 56 which is directly secured to the upper receiver 16. An upper handguard 58 and lower handguard 60 are secured between the nosecap 62 at their forward end and a lock ring 64 that is slidably mounted on a barrel nut assembly, which is not shown and well known to those skilled in the art. A front sight block 66 is disposed around the barrel 56 in front of the nosecap 62. The illustrated front sight block 66 includes a top Weaver rail 68, right side Weaver rail 70, lower Weaver rail 72, and left side Weaver rail 74 (
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to FIGS. 11 to 15, the trigger assembly 136, bolt 80, and valve assembly 138 are illustrated. The trigger 30 is pivotally secured within the lower receiver 14 at pivot 140, and is biased toward its forward position by the trigger return spring 142. The trigger 136 includes a finger engaging portion 144, and a selector engaging portion 146. The selector engaging portion 146 is structured to abut a selector 32 when the trigger 30 is pulled rearward. The selector 32 is best illustrated in
Referring to FIGS. 10 to 15, the valve assembly 138 is illustrated. The valve assembly 138 includes a valve body 182 having a forward valve 184 and rear valve 186 therein, with the forward valve 184 and rear valve 186 being separated and biased away from each other by the spring 188. In the illustrated embodiment, the forward valve 184 and rear valve 186 each include a stop 190, with a plunger 192 extending outwardly therefrom. A seal 194 is retained on the stop 190 by the plunger 192. A forward bushing 196 is retained within the forward portion of the valve body 182 by a retaining ring 198. The forward bushing 196 defines a circumferential groove 200 for securing the O-ring 202 therein. Likewise, a rear bushing 204 is secured within the rear portion of the valve body 182 by a retaining ring 206. The rear bushing 204 defines a circumferential groove 208 for securing an O-ring 210 therein. A preferred valve assembly 138 is a captive assembly, which in the illustrated embodiment includes a housing 212 fitting over the body 182, with the body 182 secured within the housing 212 by a pin 214 fitting within the hole 216 defined within the housing 212. The valve assembly 138 is therefore secured together by the interaction of the retaining ring 206 and the valve body 182 at its back end, and by the interaction of the retaining ring 198 and the housing 212 at its forward end. A compressed gas inlet fitting 218 is secured within the housing 212, and is in communication with a source of compressed gas.
In use, the front rear valve 184 will be stationary. The unit formed by the housing 212 and body 182 reciprocates between a forward position and a rearward position, with the seal 194 of the forward valve 184 bearing against the bushing 196 to close the front valve 184 when the body 182/housing 212 are in their rearward position, and with the seal 194 being separated from the bushing 196 when the housing 212 and body 182 are in their forward position. The rear valve 186 reciprocates within the body 182. In the rearward position of the valve 186, the seal 194 is pressed against the bushing 204, closing the rear valve 186. When the rear valve 186 moves forward, the seal 194 is separated from the bushing 204, thereby opening the rear valve.
Referring to
The barrel assembly 54 also includes a rear clamp 242, having a barrel aperture 244 for securing the clamp 242 around the barrel 56, and a switch activation rod guide aperture 246 structured to receive and guide the switch activation rod 114 as it reciprocates with the bolt, so that the switch activation rod 114 will engage the roller 236 and depress the switch on 234 when the bolt 80 is in its forward position, as illustrated in
An alternative switching mechanism is illustrated in FIGS. 22 to 26. The remainder of the laser emitter assembly within these figures uses the same circuit board 220, battery box 222, and laser emitter 226 as the previously described embodiments. However, the roller switch 224 has been replaced with a proximity switch 248 mounted adjacent to the breach end 250 of the barrel 56, and passing through the lock ring 64 into the upper receiver 16. The bolt key 106 has a magnet 252 secured within the aperture 118, where it replaces the switch activation rod 114. When the bolt 80 is in its forward position, the magnet 252 is brought sufficiently close to the proximity switch 248 to trip the proximity switch 248.
To use the firearms training simulator 10, a supply of compressed gas is connected to the fitting 34. The gas selected may either be compressed air, or any compressed gas commonly used for air guns, for example, carbon dioxide. Compressed air will be supplied to the fitting tube 218 of the valve assembly 138, between the forward valve 184 and rear valve 186. Before firing, the trigger mechanism 136, valve assembly 138, and bolt 80 are in the positions illustrated in
A typical cyclic rate for full automatic fire with a low cyclic rate is approximately 600 rounds per minute. A typical cyclic rate for full automatic fire at a high cyclic rate is approximately 900 rounds per minute, approximately simulating the cyclic rate of an M-16 rifle.
If desired, the lower receiver assembly 14 and components therein of the firearm training simulator 10 of the present invention may be mated with an upper receiver assembly and barrel assembly of an air gun as disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/756,891, from which this application is a continuation-in-part. The trainee therefore has the option of training using either a laser simulator or an air gun merely by mounting the appropriate upper receiver and barrel assembly on the same lower receiver assembly. The upper and lower receiver assemblies 14, 16, may be detached from one another by first driving the takedown pin 24 to its rightmost position, and then removing the screw or pin 18. Those skilled in the art will recognize that this is the same method of removing the upper assembly from the lower assembly of a conventional M-16 or AR-15 rifle.
The firearms training simulator therefore simulates the recoil, cyclic rate, configuration, controls, and mode of operation of the firearm for which it is intended to be used to train a shooter. The training simulator therefore provides the opportunity to conduct decision-making training scenarios projected on a screen, with the safety and reduced facilities cost of using a laser instead of live ammunition, while duplicating a sufficient number of the characteristics of a conventional firearm so that the training will effectively carry over to a conventional firearm.
While a specific embodiment of the invention has been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention which is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any and all equivalence thereof.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/756,891, filed Jan. 9, 2001 entitled “Compressed Gas Powered Gun Simulating the Recoil of a Conventional Firearm.”
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 09756891 | Jan 2001 | US |
| Child | 10994840 | Nov 2004 | US |
