The present invention concerns a device for simulation of recoil of a weapon upon firing simulated shots with real weapons or simulated weapons.
Traditional weapon training has several drawbacks and limitations in terms of providing a realistic handling of a weapon during training. Today's systems for training with the use of blank ammunition, compressed air or other types of gas, and/or entirely simulated weapons such as soft-guns, toy weapons etc., have a number of limitations and it may be difficult to achieve fully realistic training under different training scenarios. The training systems can be unstable and have error margins that do not provide a realistic training scenario.
Blank ammunition can be used in real firearms to simulate the use of real shots. Blank ammunition is in fact used in substantial amounts globally. However, blank ammunition has a negative impact on the environment. Blank ammunition is a disposable consumer product which may be left in the nature after use. As it is made of plastic and metal, the decomposition process will be very long-lasting and therefore adversely impact the environment. Also, considerable amounts of environmentally harmful waste are produced by the use of powder charge.
Moreover, blank ammunition has limitations concerning where it can be used, as fouling will leave marks and pollute the environment where it is used. Examples of use are indoor training in buildings, airplanes, or other civil installations where training is necessary. The use of blank ammunition involves a safety risk as particles are shot out of the barrel and heat could cause personal injury or damage objects in the vicinity of the firearm. Additionally, the use of blank ammunition may cause hearing impairment as the noise level is very high. Blank ammunition also causes wear and tear of the firearm. Sediments in the barrel increase the need for cleaning the firearm. Blank ammunition has a tendency to jam in bolts and often ruins exercise drills and other training. Additionally, the purchase cost of blank ammunition is high.
The training systems can be demanding in terms of associated cost, equipment and personnel. Today's training systems are based on use of powder charge or compressed air/gas to achieve a simulation of the effect of kickback from a real weapon under training. Furthermore, the training systems do not necessarily provide a realistic simulation of kickback, also known as recoil, of real weapons. Personnel training for battle in the field, in urban areas, indoors and in objects where it is important with realistic training of kickback, also known as recoil, and where the kickback is so large that the barrel of the weapon moves beyond the sight picture during firing, is especially important. Such simulated kickback effects are difficult to achieve with today's training systems.
Simulated weapons do not provide realistic training as it can be difficult to replicate the recoil as experienced by an operator of a real weapon firing live ammunition.
Weapons, either real or simulated, using compressed air or other types of gas rely on pressurized containers that may interfere with regular use of the weapon and provide a different operator experience.
There is therefore a need for realistic recoil simulation without the abovementioned drawbacks.
The invention provides in a first aspect a recoil simulation device for simulation of recoil of a weapon, the recoil simulation device is adapted to be attached on the weapon or integrated in the weapon, the device comprising a recoil device adapted to be activated upon pulling a trigger of the weapon. The recoil device may be adapted to perform an unstable movement upon pulling the trigger of the weapon. The unstable movement may comprise a torsional movement.
The recoil device may comprise a rod with a weight element. The rod may be provided with grooves. The recoil simulation device may be adapted for electromechanical simulation of the recoil of the weapon. The recoil simulation device may further include an actuator for the recoil device. The actuator may be a linear actuator or rotary actuator. The recoil simulation device may further include an activator for movement of the actuator. The activator may be an electromechanical or electromagnetic device. Further, the recoil simulation device may comprise a mechanical amplifier for amplifying the movement of the activator.
The recoil simulation device may further comprise a microcontroller. A stopper device for stopping movement of the movable recoil device may be provided. A sensor may sense the movement of the movable recoil device. The recoil simulation device may further comprise an energy source. The activator may be activated by a trigger of the weapon. Wired or wireless transmission of signals may be used. The recoil simulation device may be adapted to replace a buttstock of the weapon, or adapted to be attached to rails or a handguard of the weapon. The recoil simulation device may also be adapted to be attached to a barrel of the weapon. The recoil simulation device may be adapted to be attached to or integrated into a simulated weapon during production of the simulated weapon.
In a second aspect, the invention provides a weapon comprising a recoil simulation device according to above. The recoil simulation device may be removably attached to the weapon. The weapon may be a real weapon or an imitation weapon.
The present invention provides a system for electronic and mechanical simulation of kickback, also known as recoil, as is provided by firing with live ammunition in a real weapon. The system for simulation of kickback can be used when firing simulated shots on a real weapon or upon firing a simulated weapon. The system uses electronic and mechanical generation of the kickback. The system is usable on all types of weapons and weapon systems for simulating the effect of shooting with live ammunition.
The present invention provides a realistic physical simulation of kickback, also known as recoil, that a shot provides upon firing live ammunition with a real weapon enabled by electronic and mechanical generation of the kickback simulation. The system may vary in size and shape and be adapted to be arranged on the weapon in a number of different positions including e.g. rear part, buttstock, handguard or barrel.
The system can be assembled and disassembled on a real weapon in a simple manner, such that the weapon can be used again with live ammunition, without modifications to the weapon itself. The system may be portable.
The kickback simulation device may also be attached to or integrated into simulated weapons during production. The kickback simulation device may then be fixed and non-removable, but may also be removably arranged on the weapon.
In the following, example embodiments of the invention will be explained with reference to the following drawings:
In order to operate a real weapon, the charging handle 2 is pulled toward the buttstock 1 along with a bolt. A first shot can be fetched from the magazine 6. The shot is pushed into the chamber 5 when the bolt advances to a forward position when the charging handle 2 is released. An operator of the weapon can align the weapon to aim at a target. When the muzzle 9 is aligned with the target, the muzzle 9 aims within a sight picture. The weapon is ready to be fired. The firing of a shot is accomplished by pulling the trigger 4, which releases a hammer. The hammer hits the bolt, which in turn detonates a powder charge in a cartridge. The shot is fired out through the barrel 8 and the muzzle 9. A rearward thrust is generated on the weapon. This rearward thrust is known as kickback or recoil. An effect of the recoil impulse is that the muzzle 9 moves out of the sight picture of the weapon, unless counteracted by the operator of the weapon. If the kickback is not counteracted by the operator of the weapon, the weapon is no longer aligned with the intended target and the operator needs to realign the muzzle 9 into the sight picture. In order to provide realistic training, it is important to be able to simulate a realistic recoil impulse upon simulated firing of the weapon using simulated shots to ensure the operator of the weapon is realistically trained to counteract this rearward thrust.
The invention concerns a device 10, 11, 12, 49, 50, 51 for simulation of kickback, also known as recoil, as would have been provided by a real weapon upon firing of a real live shot. The recoil device for simulation of kickback may be arranged on a real weapon or on a simulated weapon. Non-limiting example embodiments of the recoil simulation device 10, 11, 12 are shown on a two-handed, real weapon in the form of an AR15, in
Example embodiments of the recoil simulation device 10, 11, 12 are illustrated in more detail in
The recoil simulation device 10, 11, 12 may be adapted in construction, shape and size to fit the actual weapon and to the specific placement on the weapon. The basic principle of the recoil simulation devices illustrated in the
The recoil simulation device 10, 11, 12 in
The recoil simulation device 10, 11, 12 in
The recoil device 13, 25, 37 may be in the form of a piston 27, 30, 42 with a weight element 13, 25, 37. The weight element may be arranged at the end of the piston as shown in
An activator 19, 20, 33, 44 in the form of e.g. an electromotor, an electromechanical or magnetic device, causes movement of the actuator 18, 31, 43. The type of electromotor can be chosen according to the power required by the device 10, 11, 12 to provide a realistic recoil simulation. The activator 19, 20, 33, 44 can for instance become activated upon pulling of the trigger 4 of the weapon. A sensor can sense the pull of the trigger 4 and transmit a signal to the activator 19, 20, 33, 44. Upon receipt of the signal from the sensor, the activator 19, 20, 33, 44 can initiate the process within the recoil simulation device 10, 11, 12 in order to simulate the recoil. The recoil can therefore be simulated in response to the pull of the trigger 4 on the weapon. The transmitted signal from the trigger sensor to the activator 19, 20, 33, 44 can be wireless (e.g. Bluetooth) or be transmitted through wires.
A movement amplifier in the form of e.g. a mechanical amplifier or e.g. a gear device 21, 32, 45, may amplify the movement from the activator 19, 20, 33, 44 to the actuator 18, 31, 43. This may reduce the load on the activator 19, 20, 33, 44 whilst increasing the force of the output movement by the recoil device 13, 25, 37. The movement amplifier may act on the actuator 18, 31, 43 via e.g. an axle or a shaft.
In order to achieve a precise movement and impulse force of the recoil device, a movement of the main rod 17, 30, 42 may be sensed by a sensor 16 or a movement stopper 29, 41. This enables stopping movement of the recoil device 13, 25, 37 once one stroke of the recoil device 13, 25, 37 is performed. One stroke is performed when the weapon is set for firing single shots. One pull of the trigger 4 will therefore cause one stroke of the recoil device 13, 25, 37 to simulate the recoil of one real shot. If the weapon is set to firing of multiple shots upon pulling of the trigger 4, the sensor 16 or the movement stopper 29, 41 will let the recoil device 13, 25, 37 simulate a plurality of subsequent recoil movements until the trigger 4 no longer is pulled. The safety selector 3 on the weapon can for instance select between the settings “save”, “single shot” and “automatic shots”. The setting “automatic shots” can for instance cause thirty strokes of the recoil device 13, 25, 37.
The recoil simulation device 10, 11, 12 may be provided with an energy source 15, 28, 40 in the form of e.g. a battery 15, 28, 40 or a rechargeable battery 15, 28, 40. The energy source can also be external to the recoil simulation device and be arranged on or in another part of the weapon.
The recoil simulation device may include a printed circuit board. The recoil simulation device may be controlled by a microcontroller 23, 36, 48 that may be arranged on the printed circuit board.
In an example embodiment, the recoil simulation device 10 replaces the buttstock 1 of the weapon as illustrated in
In a further example embodiment, the recoil simulation device 11 is attached to the rails or handguard 7 of the weapon.
In a third embodiment illustrated in
The recoil simulation device is not limited to be arranged on an AR15, but may be arranged on all kinds of real weapons, from light weapons, e.g. pistols, to heavy stationary weapons, and on simulated weapons. The recoil simulation device 10, 11, 12 can be adapted to fit the different types of real weapons and simulated weapons.
The recoil simulation device 10, 11, 12 can be assembled onto and disassembled from a real weapon in a simple manner. Furthermore, the addition of the recoil simulation device 10, 11, 12 does not require any permanent modification of the real weapon. The real weapon can be used again as a real weapon after the removal of the device 10, 11, 12. The modification of the real weapon is therefore reversible.
The recoil simulation device 49, 50, 51 can also be used on a simulated weapon. Simulated weapons include replica training weapons, toy guns, gas-based weapons, and soft-guns. The recoil simulation device 49, 50, 51 can provide a more realistic training than training with a simulated weapon without the recoil simulation device 49, 50, 51 due to the realistic simulation of the recoil. The recoil simulation device 49, 50, 51 does not require any permanent modification of the simulated weapon. The simulated weapon can continue its prior use as a simulated weapon after the removal of the recoil simulation device 49, 50, 51. The modification of the simulated weapon is therefore reversible. The recoil simulation device may also be arranged on or integrated into the simulated weapon during production of the simulated weapon.
The recoil simulation device may also be attached to or integrated into simulated weapons during production. The operator of the simulated weapon will then experience a kickback when pulling the trigger of the simulated weapon as if firing a real weapon with live ammunition. The recoil simulation device may be fixed and non-removable from the simulated weapon, but may alternatively also be removably arranged on the simulated weapon to be exchangeable if e.g. damaged. The recoil simulation device may e.g. be integrated into the buttstock if the simulated weapon as illustrated in
The device 10, 11, 12 can be implemented on a weapon in combination with other simulation devices and systems for simulating shots with a weapon. The recoil simulation device 10, 11, 12 can for instance be combined with electronic blanks in the form of an electronic magazine as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,770,978 and/or a simulation device for simulating mechanical functions of a weapon as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 10,598,459, both hereby incorporated by reference. Both of these patents belong to the applicant of the present invention. The description below describes use of the recoil simulation device together with the simulation technology disclosed in these patents. A total system consisting of the technology disclosed in these patents and including the recoil simulation device of the present invention, enables full realistic training for an operator using his/hers real weapon as the real weapon may be operated in accordance with the standard operation procedures for the real weapon also during training. The total system provides electronic and mechanical simulation of the operation of the weapon and the operator of the system experience a weapon behaving in the normal way also during training.
The recoil device 13, 25, 37 is activated by pulling the trigger 4 of the weapon. Pulling the trigger 4 may provide a signal through a sensor coupled to an electronic and mechanical system within the weapon chamber 5 or within an electronic magazine system inserted in the magazine funnel simulating a real magazine 6. The signals for activating the activator 19, 20, 33, 44 of the recoil simulation device can for instance be transmitted wirelessly (e.g. Bluetooth) or through cables from the electronic and mechanical simulation system within the weapon chamber 5 or the electronic magazine system. Activation of the weapon trigger 4 may initiate a sequence of activators for simulating a multitude of functions of a real weapon. For instance, recoil device 13, 25, 37 can receive power through activator 19, 20, 33, 44; the electronic magazine can play the sound of a shot; a simulation of bolt movement can be performed within the weapon chamber 5; and a muzzle flash simulator provided at the end of the muzzle 9 can light up. To start the system, a system activation must be performed. This may be done by inserting an electronic magazine in the magazine funnel and pulling the charging handle 2 in order to perform a charging movement. A sensor is arranged on the charging handle 2 for registering when the charging movement is performed. The safety selector 3 can then be changed from the «save» setting to the «single shot» setting or the «automatic shots» setting.
Note that the embodiments described above are only examples. Persons skilled in the art will be able to carry out a numerous other modifications and variants within the framework of the present invention as defined in the enclosed patent claims.
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