Round counter

• US 4,001,961 A
• Filed: 09/03/1975
• Issued: 01/11/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army
• Original Assignee: The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army
• Inventors: Johnson, Curtis D., Weidner, Hal E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bentley, Stephen C.
• Application Number:
  US05/610,028
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• Field of Search: 42/1 E, 42/1 A, 89/9, 324/94, 340/173 CH, 346/38
• US Class Current: 42/1.03
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 19/01 Counting means indicating the number of shots fired

Abstract

An electrochemical elapsed time meter indicator with round counter circui for a gun to indicate past usage whereby maintenance and repair or replacement procedures will insure greater reliability in critical field use. The meter, working on an electroplating principle as a function of current and time, may be activated by gun use such as by a switch on the gun trigger, an inductance or piezoelectric transducer in the buffer, a recoil operated microswitch or as part of the circuit in externally powered guns. The meter preferably is color coded to indicate weapon condition, area of use, and replacement or maintenance required.

Claims

1. A weapon having parts capable of mechanical movement in the firing of said weapon,

a weapon buffer, a transducer on said weapon buffer, and an electrochemical elapsed time meter indicator with counter circuitry for indicating the number of cycles a mechanical movement and hence the firing of said weapon to which said indicator and said circuitry are attached, and transducer means on said weapon buffer for actuating said indicator.

2. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transducer is an inductance transducer.

3. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transducer is a piezoelectric transducer.

4. An electrochemical elapsed time meter indicator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said circuitry includes a power source, a unidirectional electrical energy filter, a meter scaling resister, a charging capacitor and a transducer actuated in response to said mechanical movement, said filter being connected in series with said power source, said transducer, said indicator and said resister, said charging capacitor being in parallel with said resister and said indicator.

5. An electrochemical elapsed time meter indicator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said circuitry includes an energy source producing energy pulses in response to said mechanical movement, said energy source being connected in series with a scaling resister and said meter, and a charging capacitor being in parallel with said resister and said indicator.