Abstract:
Device ( 12 ) for counting shots fired by an automatic firearm ( 11 ), having a cartridge chamber containing a cartridge that can be expelled through an expulsion window and a first emission means that emits a continuous electromagnetic signal in such a manner that it is interrupted by a casing expelled from the cartridge chamber which corresponds to the used cartridge. The shot-counting device ( 12 ) of the invention is capable of monitoring the number of casings expelled from a cartridge chamber of the firearm ( 11 ) via an expulsion window and showing, on a display screen, the corresponding number of shots left available in a magazine ( 13 ) fitted to the firearm ( 11 ).

Description:
SUBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
   In general terms, the present invention relates to a device for counting shots fired by a firearm. More specifically, the present invention relates to a shot counter that counts the shots fired by an automatic and/or semi-automatic firearm. 
   PRIOR ART 
   The development of firearms, such as small arms or pistols, has to date led to a pistol magazine having the capacity to be able to house more than one dozen cartridges, for example 18. Specifically, a cartridge comprises a casing, projectile or bullet. 
   However, in a firearm of the revolver type, i.e. a firearm having a cylinder normally capable of housing 6 cartridges, it is relatively easy mentally to monitor the number of cartridges fired or used. In the case of a pistol fitted with a magazine capable of storing 18 cartridges, plus one in the pistol&#39;s cartridge chamber, it can become arduous and complicated mentally to monitor the shots fired and the number of cartridges available in the firearm&#39;s magazine, with the result that the pistol user may be surprised by the last shot without prior warning, the pistol&#39;s slide being locked. 
   Therefore, it is necessary to develop a device capable of counting the number of shots fired and thus the number of unused cartridges remaining in the magazine that, at a given moment, is fitted to a small arm such as a pistol. The shot-counting device is also capable of showing the number of cartridges available in the magazine. 
   CHARACTERIZATION OF THE INVENTION 
   Device for counting shots fired by a firearm, comprising a cartridge chamber containing a cartridge that can be expelled through an expulsion window, comprising a first emission means that emits a continuous electromagnetic signal in such a manner that it is interrupted by a casing expelled from the cartridge chamber and corresponding to the used cartridge. 
   The shot-counting device of the invention is capable of monitoring the number of casings expelled from a cartridge chamber of the firearm via an expulsion window and showing, on a display screen, the corresponding number of shots left available in a magazine fitted to the firearm. 
   The counter also keeps an accumulative score of the total number of casings expelled from the cartridge chamber and is thus capable of showing the total number of shots fired with the firearm so that it is possible to determine the service life of the firearm or of one or more parts of it. 
   A further object of the invention is to guarantee that the information data shown on a screen viewed by a user of the firearm using same can be seen. 
   A further object of the counter of the invention is to keep a partial score of the shots fired with a specific magazine. The partial magazine counter can therefore be set to zero by actuating a data input means. 
   A further object of the invention is to produce a lightweight counter of small size and low cost. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
     A more detailed explanation of the invention is given in the following description based on the attached figures, in which: 
       FIG. 1  shows a view in elevation of a counting device according to the invention; 
       FIG. 2  shows a profile view of the counting device according to the invention; and 
       FIG. 3  shows a block diagram of the counting device according to the invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The device  12  for counting shots fired by an automatic and/or semi-automatic firearm is shown in  FIG. 1 . In describing the invention, the automatic and/or semi-automatic firearm example taken will be a pistol. Thus, this type of firearm  11  has a cartridge chamber located at the opposite end from the muzzle of the bore of the barrel, in which the cartridge is placed or housed. 
   On one side of the cartridge chamber there is an expulsion window  13 A from which the casing corresponding to the cartridge struck by the firing pin of the pistol  11  is expelled. That is to say, when a shot is fired with the firearm  11 , the cartridge casing is expelled, at a certain speed, from the cartridge chamber via the expulsion window. Likewise, a cartridge that is in the cartridge chamber and that has not been struck may be removed from the cartridge chamber via the expulsion window  13 A. 
     FIG. 3  shows a block diagram of the counting device  12  comprising a first means  31  for emitting electromagnetic signals such as infrared rays, which are received in a first receiving means  32  designed to detect possible variations or interruptions in the infrared signal received. The first receiver  32  is connected to a programmable logic control means  33  that in turn is connected to a display screen  21  designed visually to show information data associated with the number of shots fired by the firearm  11 . 
   In a similar way, the programmable logic control means  33  based on a programming means such as a microprocessor is connected to a data input means  34  comprising an alphanumeric and function keyboard as vertical upward and downward movement, whereby data may be input. Furthermore, a number of keys may be associated with various characters and/or functions. 
   The keyboard  34  makes it possible, manually, to change information displayed on the screen  21  to other information in an easy and rapid manner, i.e. if the initial selection was to display the number of shots corresponding to the magazine  13  fitted to the firearm  11 , by actuating the corresponding key  34  the total number of shots fired by the firearm  11  may be displayed. 
   When a shot is fired, the corresponding casing is expelled via the expulsion window  13 A such that the casing interrupts the continuous infrared signal emitted from the first emitter  31 . Once the first receiver  32  detects the momentary absence of infrared signal, it generates an electrical control signal corresponding to the interruption of the infrared signal received, and this is supplied to the microprocessor  33  that increments, by one unit, not only the score of the number of shots fired by the firearm  11  but also the score of the number of shots fired using the magazine  13  fitted to said weapon. 
   Consequently, the screen  21  of the counter may show, visually, information selected by the user of the firearm  11  from the various information items that the screen  21  of the counter is able to show, such as total number of shots fired, number of shots remaining in the current magazine  13 , number of shots fired using the current magazine  13 , and the like. To this end, the user of the weapon merely has to select, by means of the keyboard  34 , the type of information he wishes to see on the screen  21 . 
   The counter  12  is located on the upper part of the barrel of the firearm  11 , over the expulsion window and such that the display screen  21  can be seen by the user of the firearm  11  when he is about to fire a shot, i.e. the screen  21  faces the user (cf.  FIG. 2 ). Also, the first emitter  31  and the first receiver  32  have to be located such that it is guaranteed that the casing, when expelled from the cartridge chamber, will interrupt the infrared signal. 
   In addition, the screen  21  may be offset from the axis of the bore of the barrel of the firearm  11 , i.e. it is not on the vertical of the barrel, such that in this position the firearm  11  can be fitted with a telescopic sight, for example. Similarly, the counter  12  has to be removed from the barrel so that the user of the firearm  11  can use the sight point of the weapon  11  when firing a shot. 
   The counter  12  comprises a battery  35  that supplies electrical energy to all the circuits of the counter  12 . The battery  35  is small in size and is a long-life type, such as a lithium battery that provides a stand-alone capacity of over 10,000 operating hours. 
   To extend the life of the battery  35  as far as possible, the counter  12  has a switching means (not shown), which switches the counter  12  on and off such that when the firearm  11  is to be used the switch is set to the on position and when use of the weapon  11  has finished the switch is set to the off position. In this condition, the microprocessor  33  continues to receive an electrical energy supply with the end of keeping certain information stored, such as the total number of shots fired with the firearm  11 . The counter  12  therefore includes circuitry associated with the microprocessor  33  and the battery  35 , which fulfils the task of maintaining the electrical energy supply to the microprocessor  33  during the time for which the counter  12  is in the off state. 
   The display screen  21  may be of the liquid crystal LCD, electroluminescent, plasma or similar type, as such technologies involve a lower electrical energy consumption. Also, the screen  21  may be a touch-sensitive screen, and in such a case certain functions of the data input means  34  can be implemented from said screen  12 . 
   Furthermore, the counter  12  may allow remote control of the consumption of ammunition by the firearm  11 , as the counter may be divided into two parts such that one of them is located on the weapon  11  and the other may be separate from the firearm  11 . 
   The counter  12  may also include a laser aiming device for aiming the firearm  11  at an objective such that the laser aiming device is located behind the display screen  21 . 
   The part of the counter  12  located on the weapon  11  includes a second means for emitting electromagnetic signals, such as radio signals. The second emitter is connected to the first receiver  32  such that the interruption of the infrared signal is converted into a radio signal transmitted to the separate part of the counter  12 , which includes a second reception means that receives the signal transmitted via radio and converts it into an electrical signal that is supplied to the microcomputer  33 . 
   Obviously, other components may be separate from the counter  12 , for example the screen  21  is separate from the counter  12 . In such a case, the second emitter receives an electrical signal from the microcomputer  33  and this is converted into a radio signal that is emitted to the second receiver that transforms it into a signal supplied to the screen so that the desired information may be viewed. 
   As a result, on the basis of the separation type achieved for the counter  12 , a predetermined number of components of the counter  11  will be fitted to the firearm  11 . Obviously, each part of the counter  12  includes a battery that supplies the electrical energy to enable the two parts of the counter  12  to operate.