LASER MACHINE GUN SIMULATOR

• US 3,748,751 A
• Filed: 09/07/1972
• Issued: 07/31/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alfred H. Rodemann, Denis R. Breglia, Windell N. Mohon
• Original Assignee: Alfred H. Rodemann, Denis R. Breglia, Windell N. Mohon
• Inventors: Breglia, Denis R., Rodemann, Alfred H., Mohon, Windell N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Michell, Robert W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wolff, J. H.
• Application Number:
  US05/287,120
• Time in Patent Office: 327 Days
• Field of Search: 35/25,1 273/101.1,105.1 356/4,5
• US Class Current: 434/21
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/2627 Cooperating with a motion picture projector

Abstract

A laser, automatic fire weapon (machine gun) trainer, comprising a laser, automatic fire weapon simulator including a high intensity visible laser light source, a rotating disc shutter means for producing from the light source a beam cyclically modulated to simulate the normal rate of fire of the weapon and a switch controlled ray interrupting second shutter means actuated from the weapon trigger to manually control the bursts of simulated fire, together with target display means for receiving the bursts of modulated light beams to visually indicate on the target display the accuracy of weapon manipulation and firing.

Claims

1. An improved, automatic fire weapon trainer comprising:

a. a laser, a trigger operated automatic fire weapon simulator, and a target display means, b. said simulator including means for activating a high intensity visible laser light source, a housing having means for mounting on an unloaded trigger operated automatic fire weapon, and means to direct a visible laser beam along the line of fire of the weapon as aimed, c. laser bEam modulated means including means to rotate a peripherally slotted disc shutter having a selected number and width of slots and positioned in said housing to modulate the beam of said laser light source to simulate the cyclic firing rate of said weapon, and d. a second shutter normally positioned to interrupt the beam of said laser and activation means including a mechanical, trigger-activated switch means for connection to the trigger of the weapon thereby moving said second shutter out of the path of said laser beam when the trigger of the automatic weapon is pressed to permit said laser beam to pass to said modulation means and project an output from said weapon simulator cyclic modulated beam, e. said target display means being positioned to receive said modulated laser beam and display thereon a relatively small, blinking area of light as an indicator of the degree of accuracy of operation and direction of the weapon simulator.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a. said display means includes the display of a moving target for gunner training in detection, recognition and tracking.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a. said target display means includes a plurality of stationary targets at a fixed range, and b. said trainer includes a camera filtered with a narrow bandpass filter whose spectral transmission is centered at the emitting wavelength of said modulated laser beam, the density of said filter being chosen based on the ambient light level and the contemplated firing exercise time such that the camera will record both target image and hits.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, including a. motorized means for rotating said disc shutter at a desired speed, b. elecrical actuating means for moving said second shutter out of the path of said laser beam when said means is energized, c. a power supply having a switch for energizing said laser light source and said motorized disc shutter to propagate said cyclically modulated laser beam, and d. switch means actuated by the trigger of the weapon and connected to said power source and said electrical actuating means for said second shutter to interrupt said modulated laser beam except when the weapon trigger is depressed.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said housing includes an apertured cover plate to interrupt any possible deflected laser beams and pass only a direct sighted normal modulated laser beam.