Integrated Laser Range Finder and Sighting Assembly for Grenade Launcher and Method Therefor

• US 20120043381A1
• Filed: 11/01/2011
• Published: 02/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wilcox Industries Corp.
• Original Assignee: Wilcox Industries Corp.
• Inventors: Teetzel, James W., Lemire, Gary M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,561,518 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/404
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/473 for lead-indicating or range-finding, e.g. for use with rifles or shotguns
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/06 with rangefinder rangefinders per se G01C
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/08 with means for compensating for speed, direction, temperature, pressure, or humidity of the atmosphere measuring G01

Abstract

An integrated laser range finder and sighting assembly includes a range finder for determining a distance to a target and an onboard ballistics computer for calculating a trajectory and automatically rotating a pointing laser to the proper angle for aligning with the target for lobbing of a grenade.

Claims

1. A combined range finder and sighting apparatus for a grenade launcher having a barrel having an axis, said combined range finder and sighting apparatus comprising:

an optical range finder for calculating a distance to a selected target, said optical range finder including an optical emitter for sending an optical signal to the target and an optical detector for detecting the signal reflected from the target;

a sight assembly rotatable with respect to said optical range finder;

a processor for calculating a trajectory angle of the grenade launcher based on the calculated distance to the selected target so that the grenade launcher will launch a grenade a distance that corresponds to a calculated distance to the selected target; and

a controller for controlling an angle of rotation of the sight assembly relative to the axis of the barrel of the grenade launcher, such that the barrel of the grenade launcher will be aligned with the trajectory angle when the sight assembly is aligned with the target.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising wherein said sight assembly includes one or both of:

a laser sight including at least one pointing laser for selectively pointing a laser spot at the target; and

an auxiliary sight selected from a mechanical sight and an optical sight

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the auxiliary sight is selected from a reflex sight and a telescopic sight.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein an optical axis of the auxiliary sight is substantially horizontally aligned with an optical axis of the laser sight.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein an optical axis of the auxiliary sight is substantially vertically offset with respect to an optical axis of the laser sight.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

said laser sight including a visible pointing laser and an infrared pointing laser.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a rail interface member for attaching said apparatus to a firearm.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a rail interface member for attaching said apparatus directly to a grenade launcher.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a display for displaying a numerical indication of the distance to the selected target.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the numerical indication of the distance to the selected target is selected from one or both of an actual distance to the selected target and an effective ballistic distance to the selected target.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a ladder sight system.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a housing having a plurality of distance indicia thereon;

said sight assembly being manually rotatable with respect to said optical range finder, said sight assembly including a pointer, wherein the grenade launcher will launch a grenade at a trajectory which corresponds to a distance indicated by a selected one of said distance indicia that is aligned with said pointer when the sight assembly is aligned with the target.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a remote control unit for selectively operating said sight assembly and said optical rangefinder.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a windage adjustment and an elevation adjustment for boresighting said sight assembly to the grenade launcher.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an anti-cant indicator for providing a visual indication of the degree of rotation of said apparatus about an optical axis of said sight assembly.

16. A method of aligning a barrel of a grenade launcher with a trajectory angle relative to a line of sight to a selected target so that the grenade launcher will launch a grenade a distance that corresponds to a calculated distance to the selected target, said method comprising:

using an optical range finder to determine a calculated distance to the selected target, said optical range finder including an optical emitter for sending an optical signal to the target and an optical detector for detecting the signal reflected from the target;

calculating the trajectory angle based on the calculated distance; and

automatically controlling a degree of rotation of a sight rotatable with respect to said optical range finder so that the barrel of the grenade launcher is aligned with the trajectory angle when the sight is directed toward the selected target.