METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FIREARM RECOIL SIMULATION

• US 20180023915A1
• Filed: 09/27/2017
• Published: 01/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haptech, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Haptech, Inc.
• Inventors: Monti, Kyle, Marse, Daryl
• Granted Patent: US 10,508,883 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 33/02 Light- or radiation-emitting guns ; Light- or radiation-sensitive guns; Cartridges carrying light emitting sources, e.g. laser
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 33/06 Recoil simulators
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/003 for military purposes and tactics
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 41/031 of the permanent magnet type

Abstract

A method and apparatus for firearm training simulator which simulates realistic recoil of conventional firearms. The method and apparatus incorporates a linear motor and controllable mass for generating recoil. One embodiment includes an adjusting system for adjusting the amount of recoil provided. Also provided are means for simulating semi-automatic and/or full automatic operation of firearms. One embodiment can include a laser emitter which simulates the path for a bullet fired from a firearm that the method and apparatus is simulating.

Claims

1. A simulation system, comprising:

a body;

a linear motor including a sliding mass, the linear motor attached to the body;

a mechanical stop;

a controller in communication with the linear motor and controlling movement of the sliding mass,

wherein the controller communicates an impulse value to the linear motor and the motor drives the sliding mass against the mechanical stop transferring a reaction force proportionate to the impulse value to the body.

2. The simulation system of claim 1, wherein the body is at least one of a firearm and a simulated firearm.

3. The simulation system of claim 1, wherein in the mechanical stop is attached to the body.

4. The simulation system of claim 1, further comprising a power unit that supplies power to at least one of the linear motor and the controller.

5. The simulation system of claim 4, wherein the power unit includes a battery.

6. The simulation system of claim 5, wherein the power unit is in the form of an ammunition clip that is securable to the body.

7. The simulation system of claim 4, wherein the power unit is remotely connected to the body via a power cable.

8. The simulation system of claim 4, wherein the power unit and the controller are at least one of secured to the body and located within the body such that the simulation system is tetherless.

9. A system, comprising:

a body, a linear motor attached to the body, the linear motor controlling a sliding mass;

a controller that controls the movement of the sliding mass such that the sliding mass produces a force on the body.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a mechanical stop, wherein the sliding mass is driven against the mechanical stop.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the body is at least one of a firearm and a simulated firearm.

12. The system of claim 9, further comprising a power unit that supplies power to at least one of the linear motor and the controller.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the power unit includes a battery.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the power unit is in the form of an ammunition clip securably attachable to the body.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the power unit is remotely tethered to the body.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the power unit and the controller are at least one of attached to the body and located within the body.

17. The system of claim 9, wherein the sliding mass includes a plurality of permanent magnets linearly aligned adjacent each other with like poles facing like poles.

18. The system of claim 9, wherein the linear motor includes a plurality of independently controllable magnetic coils that are each independently controllable regarding the timing and in each coil control at least one of the amount of current flow and direction of current flow.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein each of the plurality of independently controllable magnetic coils includes a plurality of sub-coil sections that are spaced apart from each other and connected electrically in series, wherein the electrically serially connected spaced apart sub-coil sections form a single independently controllable magnetic coil.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein at least one sub-coil of a first independently controllable magnetic coil of the plurality of coils is intermediately spaced between two spaced apart sub-coils of a second independently controllable magnetic coil of the plurality of coils.

21. The system of claim 9, wherein the linear motor includes a plurality of independently controllable magnetic coils which are longitudinally aligned with each other and closely spaced, wherein at least two adjacent independently controllable magnetic coils are energized to create oppositely polarized magnetic fields.

22. The system of claim 9, wherein the linear motor comprises a plurality of independently controllable magnetic coils which are longitudinally aligned, wherein adjacent independently controllable magnetic coils are simultaneously energized to create oppositely polarized magnetic fields.

23. The system of claim 9, wherein the linear motor comprises a plurality of independently controllable magnetic coils which are longitudinally aligned with each other and closely spaced and slidingly connected to the sliding mass, the sliding mass including a plurality of longitudinally aligned adjacent magnets, wherein the linear motor causes movement of the sliding mass of magnets by varying current through individual independently controllable coils in relation to the proximity of a particular magnet in the plurality of magnets to a particular coil in the plurality of independently controllable magnetic coils.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein the plurality of individually controllable magnetic coils in the plurality of coils include at least 2 independently controllable coils.

25. The system of claim 9, further comprising a sensor operatively connected to the linear motor, wherein the sensor provides at least one of a signal representing velocity, an acceleration, and a linear position of the sliding mass to the controller.

26. A simulation system, comprising:

a body having a universal housing;

an interchangable linear motor system removably attached to the universal housing, the linear motor system including a sliding mass and a controller in communication with the linear motor and having a programmed recoil impulse value, wherein the controller communicates the recoil impulse value to the linear motor and the motor drives the sliding mass such that it produces a reaction force to the body that simulates the recoil impulse value.

27. The simulation system of claim 26, wherein the linear motor system further includes a mechanical stop, wherein the sliding mass is driven against the mechanical stop to simulate the reaction force.

28. The simulation system of claim 26, wherein the body is at least one of a simulated firearm and a firearm.

29. The simulation system of claim 26, wherein linear motor system is interchangeable with at least one other body having a universal housing for securably receiving the linear motor system.

30. The recoil simulation system of claim 26, further comprising a power unit that supplies power to at least one of the linear motor and the controller.

31. The recoil simulation system of claim 30, wherein the power unit includes a battery.

32. The simulation system of claim 30, wherein the power unit is remotely connected to the body via a power cable.

33. The simulation system of claim 30, wherein the power unit and the controller are at least one of secured to the body and located within the body such that the simulation system is tetherless.

34. A system, comprising:

a body, a linear motor attached to the body, the linear motor controlling a sliding mass;

a controller that controls the movement of the sliding mass such that the sliding mass produces a force on the body corresponding to preprogrammed effect.

35. The system of claim 34, further comprising a mechanical stop, wherein the sliding mass is driven against the mechanical stop to produce the effect.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein the body is at least one of a firearm and a simulated firearm.