METHOD AND ACCESSORY DEVICE TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCES OF BALLISTIC THROWERS

• US 20140215876A1
• Filed: 02/01/2013
• Published: 08/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Liviu Popa-Simil
• Original Assignee: Liviu Popa-Simil
• Inventors: Popa-Simil, Liviu
• Granted Patent: US 9,010,002 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 42/1.06
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 19/08 remote actuated; lanyard actuated
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 21/36 for recoil reduction recoil reduction arrangements in general F41A25/00; Stabilisators; Compensators, e.g. for muzzle climb prevention
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 25/00 Gun mountings permitting recoil or return to battery, e.g. gun cradles; Barrel buffers or brakes recoilless guns F41A1/08
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 27/22 Balancing or stabilising arrangements on the gun itself, e.g. balancing weights
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/12 with means for compensating for muzzle velocity or powder temperature with means for compensating for gun vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/142 based on observation of a first shoot; using a simulated shoot training F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/165 using a TV-monitor
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 5/10 Cinematographic hit-indicating systems cinematographic targets F41J9/14

Abstract

Disclosed is a accessory device for a ballistic thrower that can be handgun or a gun or other object throwing device that is meant to improve the quality of the action and the comfort and safety of the operator. It is made of accessory devices that stabilize the operation of the throwing device making it reproducible, predictable and controllable. It adds an improved target visualization system and environment monitoring electronics and actuators for accurately firing/throwing after aiming considering all the major perturbations, as movements, wind, humidity, atmospheric pressure, target movement, shooting post movement, etc. The device adds other features of safety for the shooter, as stealth action, by dampening the shock, flames and heat signature and having a remote operation.

Claims

1. A shooting method to improve ballistic thrower'"'"'s, and guns accuracy and range usable of any existent gun that:

a. Eliminates recoil'"'"'s rotational components by placing the center of mass on the borehole central axis by using additional masses above the gun, placed on an adjustable distance fixture, where the fixture adjusts dynamically the distance depending on the number of cartridges in the magazine.

b. Uses a muzzle adaptor that eliminates the random recoil due to escaped gas fringes random force application on muzzle, that may supplementary collect the propellant gas, filter from solid particulates and eliminate smoothly in environment

c. Places the fixture holding the gun on a recoil dumper device, that allows a larger gun movement to smoother the recoil

d. Collects the empty cartridges in a deposit under the gun in a specialized box

e. Uses a set of hinges and extender arm to hold the assembly remotely

f. Uses aiming button that is different from the shooting button on the extender holder hand-grip

g. Uses a camera visualization with zoom-in capability on the gun sight with a remote display for aiming

h. Uses an electronic data acquisition system at the gun site to measure the shooting parameters and calculate the ballistic parameters

i. Predicts the shooting parameters using target and shooter movement equations and the specific ballistic equation with all the corrections.

j. Uses the actuator system to carry out the shooting procedure execution as calculated by the electronic system, after the trigger fire button was pressed and in this way it splits the tasks where the shooter performs the aiming and the electronic system performs the shooting

k. Predicts the target hit probability and executes double or triple tap to bring the probability of hitting the target in preset limits.

l. Uses a sensor system to monitor the shooter environment changes and detect in advance unexpected threats to shooter.

m. Uses sets of stereoscopic camera to give the shooter the gun view all around, overlapped with other field information system.

n. Uses a camouflage system that works for IR, Visible, sound and vibration

o. Uses robotic systems to place the gun box remotely in the field near the target.

p. Uses electronic system with stabilization actuators to compensate vibration, recoil, and holder movement for the duration of the shooting process.

q. Uses a multiple field visualization and warning systems integrating local information with remote information increasing the shooter'"'"'s awareness, safety and comfort

r. A shooting algorithm that allows the system to accumulate the equation of movement of both shooter and target up to a high order of polynomial, generating fitting/extrapolation curves to predict the position of the target and shooter at the best firing moment and projectile arrival at the target.

s. Uses a balancing device to bring the gun assembly center of mass in the center of the borehole towards the muzzle

t. Uses a set of smart targets giving the position and speed of the bullet on its path and impact at destination in order to calibrate the bullet'"'"'s performances and use measured data in firing electronics box.

u. Uses a weather station at the gun site to measure local shooting environment parameters and use them in firing adjustments

v. Uses a remote communication system, to transmit GPS coordinates, and battlefield images to a center and receive supplementary information as maps, weather, and remote images increasing the shooter'"'"'s awareness in the terrain.

w. Controls the performances of the cartridge by measuring the recoil induced accelerations and pressure shock in the muzzle adaptor and the time of firing, recording the bullet'"'"'s evolution until after the target is hit.

2. An accurate shooting method according to claim 1 that uses a passive device for range measurement using the best overlap of the stereoscopic image obtained from the two cameras in front in the appropriate zoom-in mode.

3. A shooting method according to claim 1 where the shooter is setting the probability of hitting the target, is aiming the target and triggers the fire but the local electronic box is performing the shooting using the best calculations for shooting parameters

4. A shooting method according to claim 1 where a composite stereoscopic or simple image is projected in the shooter'"'"'s vision device (goggles or screen display) showing the surroundings threats and the zoomed target, at demand, integrating with remote data as maps, battlefield status, target selection requests, weather, thermal and radar images, enemy electronics, surrounding noise locations, moving projectiles trajectories.

5. A shooting method according to claim 1 where a standoff may be resolved by using a plurality of autonomous airborne robotic system with ground stepping-rolling propulsion that may be remotely controlled and monitor the battlefield.

6. A shooting method according to claim 1 where hollow targets are used to measure the bullet'"'"'s position and speed on trajectory using bullet'"'"'s laser imaging and timing methods and measure the bullet'"'"'s impact energy deposition in target.

7. A ballistic thrower accessory device that increases the usage comfort, safety and quality of the gun made of:

a. a grip system that balances the gun bringing its center of mass in the center of the borehole in front of the loaded cartridge, making the recoil along the center axis using profiled sheets connected on slides, that catches the gun holder and uses a lateral weight to compensate its left or right asymmetry.

b. a system of dynamically balancing the variation of mass due to ammo usage made of two weights placed on the upper side of the foil modifying their position as function of the number of cartridges loaded

c. a frame system that allows the gun to recoil and to slowdown with constant acceleration making the recoil intensity smaller and easier to absorb made of end of range bellow bumpers that absorb the gases made by the bullet'"'"'s propeller, and slow-down bumpers that are made of bellows ejecting the gas trough controlled orifices, or simply a sponge on a spring support to bring the gun back in the firing position.

d. a burned gas system that dampers the shock in the muzzle and the associated recoil in a vortex system that separates the unburned gunpowder in a collector, and moves the gases out

e. a system of connecting the recoil control sliding frame to an outer support allowing it to tilt and rotate in order to make the ballistics adjustment having the gun muzzle in the center of rotation

f. a system of visualization along the gun sight, using the gun sight devices and a camera with zooming capability with remote visualization screens

g. a rangefinder system that can be passive or active and a gun site weather station associated with a ballistic calculator that predicts the firing angles and timing making the necessary corrections

h. a system of actuators that places the gun system in the right position after the fire was triggered, maintaining the gun sight image almost unaltered.

i. a telescopic arm holder to allow the shooting box be placed in best shooting position while the shooter takes shelter behind corners or under shielding obstacles

j. a system of sensors and actuators used to compensate the shooter'"'"'s arm movement during the shooting process, maintaining the shooting box in the right position.

k. a camouflage system making the camera invisible in IR, visible and sound detection attached on the exterior box

l. a system of sensors and placed in the camera able to let the shooter have all around view and zooming capabilities with a stereoscopic view.

m. A communication system that allows the shooter receive multiple information on the surrounding environment

n. A remote control system that allows the gun being controlled remotely

o. A system of arm stabilization to make the shooting platform be stable to hand vibrations and recoil shock

p. A firing calculator allowing that both the target and shooter to move, and calculating the probability of hitting the target, and bullet dispersion based on instrumentation errors and possible wind non-homogeneities.

q. A robotic support system transporting the shooting box in the best location

r. A stealth system based on imaging screens and cameras and IR thermal fingerprint reduction based on a surface temperature control system

s. A thermal camouflage using ventilation and cooling system generating on each side the temperature of the environment behind and made on a material with moderate IR emissivity and reflectivity.

t. A ventilation system filtering the aspired gas in, cooling the gun and taking the propellant gases out through a filter and dump in a hidden place in environment mixing with atmosphere such as to eliminate any visible thermal gas plume.

u. A multi-pod robotic system having capabilities of stepping and crawling over obstacles while maintaining the technologic platform where the shooting camera is in a stable position

v. A gun calibration and adjustment system that is used to determine the position of the auxiliary masses in order to maintain the center of mass in the right position in order to be used in the dynamically balance of the gun as function of number of cartridges in the magazine

w. A system of targets used at the calibration shooting range that measures the speed and position of the bullet in different positions on the trajectory, and the target'"'"'s power deposition profile, generating ammunition parameters that will be used in ballistic calculator electronics box.

x. Uses a set of accelerometers and pressure sensors to certify the bullet'"'"'s performances and the accurate balance of the gun assembly.

y. Uses a data integration system fusioning the remote data with the terrain data and creating composite images for the shooter and remote monitor.

z. Uses a computer system to calculate the ballistic path and determine if is obstacle free, by using the imaging system and laser range finder, when allowed together with weather station for rain and snow to determine the target hitting probability.

8. A device, according claim 7 where the recoil dumpers are made of bellows compressing the air in the back of the gun slide and forcing it in the cooling system and making a vacuum in the front used to increase aspiration of the propellant gas in the muzzle device.

9. A device according the claim 7 where the range finder is made using a set of two cameras and measuring the tilt angle between them that drives to the best overlapped image of the target, to correlate with the range, where the image from the gun is transmitted to the shooter video-goggles creating an artificial view, with eye safety against directed energy systems.

10. A device according the claim 7 where the muzzle recoil is eliminated by using a coecialized chamber that spilts the burst in many fractions centrifuged them to separate the gas from solid particulates and recombines in a directed exhaust.

11. A device according the claim 7 where the shooting external box is made stealth in IR and visible using controlled airflow that brings the exterior at the environment temperature, and removes the generated heat of electronics and shooting using a hose down far from the gun and shooter mixing it with the atmosphere to reduce the local temperature increase.

12. An accessory device according to claim 7 that uses a computer controlled actuator system to perform shooting, while shooter performs the aiming only and authorization to shoot.

13. An accessory device according the claim 7 where the computer calculates and predicts the position of the target, and the best shooting angles based on using high degree polynomials for the equation of movement, and ballistic equation.

14. An accessory device according to claim 7 where the performance of the cartridges and inertia correction system is continuously measured and evaluated and the probability of hitting the target is calculated making the decision for multiple firing as soon the gun reloaded.

15. An accessory device according to claim 7 where the gun is mounted inside the actuated box, and the box is supported by a arm extender, ending with several joints and hinges that allows shooter to take shelter far from the edge of the shielding obstacle, being protected against explosive ammunition with range control, or dum-dum high penetration ammunition.

16. An accessory device according to claim 7 that may be installed on any ballistic thrower, as arches, crossbows, compressed air, electro-magnetic and chemical impulse propulsion inside the thrower, to improve accuracy and compensate for environment vibrations or sudden moves.

18. An accessory device according claim 7 using an inertial base and an actuator system to maintain position of the shooting box for the time from last aiming to shooting in order to preserve accuracy and avoid any change due to hand inaccuracy vibrations or sudden moves in that fraction of second.

19. A cheap version accessory device for ballistic thrower that increases the usage comfort, safety and quality of the process made of:

a. a center of mass balancing system forming a solid body with the thrower having the position of the masses adjustable for the number of cartridges in the magazine, created by using its supplementary equipment mass

b. A system of variation of mass compensation based on pantograph structure actuated simultaneously in indexed positions as a function of number of cartridges in the magazine

c. A camera and classical gun sight system placed on the thrower adaptor

d. A muzzle recoil dumper for guns and throwers with chemical propellant made of a special labyrinth box, that also filtrates the burned gas, using a cyclone separator and eliminates via a suction and mixing system far from the gun

e. A dumper system made on shock absorbing materials placed behind the gun in an universal indexed connector

f. A set of intermediary, adjust and lock hinges connected between

g. A set of modular arm extenders with universal connectors

h. A weather and inertial station mounted on the gun

i. A set of cameras for range finding and sighting connected to a mobile monitor screen or headset

j. A IR laser pulse range finder

k. A ballistic calculator and firing actuators adjusting the sighting system with respect to the gun, forcing the shooter to adapt the position of aiming and firing

20. A accessory device according claim 19 where a balancing system hangs the gun, in order to determine the position of masses in order to bring the center of mass on the projectile trajectory to eliminate the perpendicular recoil components as function of various process imposed mass distributions.