Granulate backstop assembly

• US 6,293,552 B1
• Filed: 02/22/2000
• Issued: 09/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Meggitt Training Systems, Inc. (Meggitt PLC)
• Original Assignee: Caswell International Corporation (Meggitt PLC)
• Inventors: Faust, Paul T., Nesler, Leslie F., Wojcinski, Alan Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Mark S.
• Application Number:
  US09/510,571
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 273/410, 273/404, 89/360.2
• US Class Current: 273/410
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 13/00 Bullet catchers

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a projectile trap for capturing projectiles emitted along a line substantially parallel to an underlying ground/floor surface. The trap includes a support structure including an inclined support surface that is inclined relative to the line of the projectiles. The inclined support surface includes a front edge positioned generally at the ground/floor surface, and a rear edge oriented at a higher elevation than the front edge. The trap also includes a particulate flowable granular material supported by the support structure. At least a portion of the granulate material is disposed above the inclined support surface such that the inclined support surface is substantially covered with granulate material. The granulate material is adapted for slowing down and capturing the projectiles.

Claims

1. A projectile trap for capturing projectiles, the trap comprising:

a support structure including an inclined support surface that is inclined relative to horizontal;

a particulate flowable granular material supported by the support structure, at least a portion of the granulate material being disposed above the inclined support surface such that the inclined support surface is substantially covered with granulate material, the granulate material being adapted for slowing down and capturing the projectiles; and

a non-flow-through retaining trough positioned in front of a lower edge of the inclined support structure for accumulating particulate material that flows downwardly from the support structure, the retaining trough including a floor below which the granular material is not free to pass, the retaining trough also including a front retaining wall extending, across a front of the projectile trap, at least some of the granular material engaging the front retaining wall such that the granular material is retained behind the front retaining wall, the front retaining wall having a height substantially shorter than a height of the projectile trap.

2. The projectile trap of claim 1, further comprising a self-healing member covering the granulate material.

3. The projectile trap of claim 2, wherein the self healing member defines holes for allowing granular material to flow into the trough.

4. The projectile trap of claim 3, further comprising means for vibrating the inclined support surface to encourage the granulate material to flow through the holes into the trough.

5. The projectile trap of claim 1, wherein the granulate material comprises particulate rubber, and the trap further includes an anti-adhesion material interspersed between the particulate rubber, whereby the anti-adhesion material prevents adhesion of the particulate rubber in the presence of heat generated by the received projectiles.

6. The projectile trap of claim 5, wherein the anti-adhesion material comprises a powdered material which adheres to particulate rubber material.

7. The projectile trap of claim 6, wherein the powdered materials comprises talc.

8. The projectile trap of claim 5, wherein the anti-adhesion material comprises a powdered fire-retardant material which adheres to the particulate rubber material.

9. The projectile trap of claim 8, wherein the powdered fire-retardant material comprises a noncorrosive sodium bicarbonate chemical.

10. The projectile trap of claim 1, wherein at least portions of the support structure are made of steel.

11. The projectile trap of claim 1, wherein the support structure is a solitary inclined support surface that is inclined relative to the line of projectiles.