Granulate backstop assembly

• US 5,435,571 A
• Filed: 03/08/1994
• Issued: 07/25/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Meggitt Training Systems, Inc. (Meggitt PLC)
• Original Assignee: Caswell International Corporation (Meggitt PLC)
• Inventors: Wojcinski, Allan S., Faust, Paul T., Nesler, Leslie F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grieb, William H.
• Application Number:
  US08/207,855
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 273/410, 273/404
• US Class Current: 273/410
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 13/00 Bullet catchers

Abstract

A range backstop assembly having a container with an opening typically closed by a rubber sheet and serving for projectile entry. The container is filled with a particulate flowable granulate material which slows down the entering projectiles. An anti-adhesion medium is further interspersed between the particles of the granulate material to prevent adhesion of the granulate material in the presence of heat generated by the entering projectiles.

Claims

1. A range backstop assembly comprising:

(a) a container having an opening closed up by a medium and serving for projectile entry;

(b) a particulate flowable granulate material contained within the container for slowing down the entering projectiles; and

(c) an anti-adhesion medium interspersed between the particles of the granulate material, whereby the anti-adhesion medium prevents adhesion of the granulate material in the presence of heat generated by the entering projectiles.

2. The range backstop assembly of claim 1 wherein the anti-adhesion medium comprises a powdered material which adheres to the particles of the granulate material.

3. The range backstop assembly of claim 2 wherein the powdered material comprises talc.

4. The range backstop assembly of claim 1 wherein the anti-adhesion medium comprises a powdered fire-retardant material which adheres to the particles of the granulate material.

5. The range backstop assembly of claim 4 wherein the powdered fire-retardant material comprises a noncorrosive sodium bicarbonate chemical.

6. The range backstop assembly of claim 1 further comprising fluid circulation means for collecting fluid from the bottom of the container and circulating it to the top of the container, whereby the fluid is interspersed between the particles of the granulate material by gravitational action, the fluid acting as coolant for use with high-temperature entering projectiles.

7. The range backstop assembly of claim 6 wherein the fluid comprises water.

8. The range backstop assembly of claim 6 wherein the anti-adhesion medium comprises a powdered material which adheres to the particles of the granulate material.

9. The range backstop assembly of claim 8 wherein the powdered material comprises talc.

10. The range backstop assembly of claim 6 wherein the anti-adhesion medium comprises a powdered fire-retardant material which adheres to the particles of the granulate material.

11. The range backstop assembly of claim 10 wherein the powdered fire-retardant material comprises a noncorrosive sodium bicarbonate chemical.

12. A range backstop assembly comprising:

(a) a container having an opening closed up by a permeable self-healing sheet and serving for projectile entry;

(b) a particulate flowable granulate material contained within the container for slowing down the entering projectiles; and

(c) granulate circulation means for collecting granulate from the bottom of the container and circulating it through a screen to the top of the container, whereby the entering projectiles are separated from the granulate material by the screen.

13. The range backstop assembly of claim 12 wherein the size of granulate particles is greater than the size of the entering projectiles.

14. The range backstop assembly of claim 12 wherein the size of granulate particles is less than the size of the entering projectiles.

15. The range backstop assembly of claim 12 further comprising fluid circulation means for collecting fluid from the bottom of the container and circulating it to the top of the container, whereby the fluid is interspersed between the particles of the granulate material by gravitational action, the fluid acting as coolant for use with high-temperature entering projectiles.

16. The range backstop assembly of claim 15 wherein the fluid comprises water.

17. The range backstop assembly of claim 12 wherein the granulate circulation means comprises vibration means in physical contact with an external side of the container for agitating the granulate material.

18. The range backstop assembly of claim 17 wherein the vibration means comprises portable vibration means for agitating the granulate material in at least one location within the container.

19. The range backstop assembly of claim 18 wherein the portable vibration means further comprises extension means for directly agitating at least one area of the granulate material within the container.

20. A range backstop assembly comprising:

(a) a container having an opening closed up by a permeable self-healing sheet and serving for projectile entry;

(b) a particulate flowable granulate material contained within the container for slowing down the entering projectiles; and

(c) granulate circulation means for collecting granulate from the bottom of the container and circulating it through a separation assembly to the top of the container, whereby the entering projectiles are separated from the granulate material by the separation assembly.

21. A range backstop assembly comprising:

(a) a container having an opening closed up by a medium and serving for projectile entry;

(b) a particulate flowable granulate material contained within the container for slowing down the entering projectiles, the granular material having an anti-adhesion medium interspersed between the particles of the granulate material, whereby the anti-adhesion medium prevents adhesion of the granulate material in the presence of heat generated by the entering projectiles; and

(c) granulate circulation means for collecting granulate from the bottom of the container and circulating it through a screen to the top of the container, whereby the entering projectiles are separated from the granulate material by the screen.

22. The range backstop assembly of claim 21 wherein the anti-adhesion medium comprises a powdered material which adheres to the particles of the granulate material.

23. The range backstop assembly of claim 22 wherein the powdered material comprises talc.

24. The range backstop assembly of claim 21 wherein the anti-adhesion medium comprises a powdered fire-retardant material which adheres to the particles of the granulate material.

25. The range backstop assembly of claim 24 wherein the powdered fire-retardant material comprises a noncorrosive sodium bicarbonate chemical.

26. A range backstop assembly comprising:

(a) a container having an opening and serving for projectile entry;

(b) a particulate flowable granulate material contained within the container for slowing down the entering projectiles;

(c) a first medium for closing up the opening and allowing entering projectiles to pass through into the granulate material, the first medium comprising at least one permeable self-healing sheet; and

(d) a second medium attached externally to the first medium for closing up the opening in a high-fire area of the first medium, the second medium comprising at least one permeable self-healing sheet.