Small weapons simulator

A small weapons simulator in which a plurality of functioning and control modules are supported by a gun body having an exterior configuration to simulate a real weapon. The functioning modules include a laser beam transmitter to synthesize the trajectory of a bullet, recoil simulating means, sound simulating means and means to develop a lifting force on the forward portion of the gun body upon trigger actuation of the trigger, the recoil means and the sound simulating means to synthesize the characteristic of muzzle-rise on discharging a projectile from a weapon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to weapon simulators and more particularly, it 
concerns a small caliber weapons simulator in which all physical 
characteristics exhibited by the firing of a real weapon are synthesized 
to provide a safe, economical and effective marksmanship training device. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,657,826 issued Apr. 25, 1972 to Albert H. Marshall et al 
and U.S. Pat. No. 3,938,262 issued Feb. 17, 1976 to Richard A. Dye et al 
exemplify prior art disclosures of weapon simulators in which a laser beam 
transmitter is employed to simulate the trajectory of a bullet discharged 
from a gun. In the Marshall et al patent, the laser beam transmitter is 
supported within a replica of a gun to be simulated and incorporates 
circuitry for synthesizing either automatic or semi-automatic operation of 
a real weapon. The simulator disclosed in the Dye et al patent uses a 
laser transmitter mounted on a real weapon and actuated in response to 
blank cartridges fired by the weapon. 
While the effectiveness of laser beam transmitters as a safe and economical 
aid to marksmanship training has been demonstrated by the prior art, there 
is a need for such a training device which simulates more accurately and 
completely the physical characteristics experienced by a marksman on 
firing a real weapon. Such characteristics as gun recoil and the audible 
report of a bullet discharged from a gun have an influence on the 
marksman's ability to sight and fire a weapon and should be accounted for 
in simulators. These characteristics are recognized in such prior art 
disclosures as U.S. Pat. No. 2,398,813 issued Apr. 23, 1946 to T. H. 
Swisher and U.S. Pat. No. 3,220,732 issued Nov. 30, 1965 to M. S. Pincus. 
In addition to recoil and sound, however, the discharge of a bullet from a 
rifle develops a reaction to initiation of bullet spin known as "muzzle 
rise" and which is exhibited as a lifting force on the barrel of the 
weapon. This latter characteristic has an effect particularly on 
repetitive firing whether resembling an automatic or semi-automatic mode 
of weapons operation. 
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
In accordance with the present invention, a weapon simulator is provided in 
which substantially all physical characteristics experienced during the 
firing of an actual gun are synthesized in a replica of a gun body which 
supports light transmitting means to represent the trajectory of a bullet. 
The gun body preferably includes two half-parts to present an exterior 
configuration resembling a weapon to be simulated and to define interior 
compartments for supporting light transmitting, recoil, muzzle rise, sound 
and control modules in a manner to enable use of the same modules in a gun 
body having differing desired external configurations. The muzzle rise 
module operates to develop a lifting force, when actuated, to the forward 
portion of the gun body by issuing a downwardly directed jet of air, for 
example. All modules are controlled by a common actuator for substantially 
simultaneous operation to develop the several physical reactions incident 
to firing a real weapon. 
A principal object of the present invention is therefore to provide an 
inherently safe, economical and effective small weapons simulator for 
marksmanship training or the like. Other objects and further scope of 
applicability will be apparent from the detailed description to follow 
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like parts 
are designated by like reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
In FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the exterior configuration of a gun body 
replica to be simulated is generally designated by the reference numeral 
10. The gun body illustrated in the drawings is intended as a replica of 
an M-16 rifle and as such includes components representing the exterior 
configuration of a buttstock 12; an action housing 14 supporting a trigger 
16, a trigger handle 18, a magazine 20 and a rear sight 22; a forestock 24 
supporting at its front end a front sight 26; and a barrel 28 having a 
muzzle 30. As may be seen in FIG. 2, the gun body 10 is divided 
longitudinally into two half-parts 10a and 10b releasably secured against 
one another by appropriate means such as screw bolts 32. The parts 10a and 
10b are preferably molded from any of several synthetic resinous or 
plastic materials capable of presenting an exterior appearance resembling 
the rifle or small arms weapon to be simulated. Also it is contemplated 
that the parts 10a and 10b may be appropriately weighted to simulate the 
weight and balance of an actual weapon. Further, it should be understood 
that although the gun body is a replica of the M-16 rifle in the 
illustrated embodiment, the parts 10a and 10b may be of a configuration to 
represent any of several weapons currently in or to be placed in use for 
military or civilian purposes. 
As shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, the gun body parts 10a and 10b are 
formed with a plurality of mating compartments to receive various 
functioning and control modules to be described in more detail below but 
which, when actuated, simulate the several physical characteristics 
experienced by a marksman on firing a real weapon. The several modules are 
operated by an external source of power which, in the illustrated 
embodiment, includes a source of electric power 34 and a source of 
compressed air 36, both of which are connected by a combined conduit 37 to 
the interior of the gun body preferably at the base of the trigger handle 
18. 
The functioning modules supported by complmentary compartments in the gun 
body 10 include a laser beam transmitter module 38 and muzzle rise module 
40 supported in the forestock 24 together with a recoil module 42 and a 
sound producing module 44 supported in the buttstock 12. Control modules 
supported in the action housing 14 include an electric module 46, an 
actuating switch module 48 and an air valve module 50. The several 
functioning modules are adapted to be actuated in substantially 
simultaneous fashion by movement of the trigger 16. In addition, each of 
the functioning modules may be placed in an active or inactive state by 
override controls including shut-off valves 52 and 54 for the muzzle rise 
and recoil modules, respectively, and master switches 56 and 58 for the 
respective laser beam transmitter 38 and sound module 44. 
The laser transmitter 38 may be of the type disclosed in the above 
mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,675,826 or of a low power helium-neon laser 
available under the designation selectron SEL-05 from Selectro-Scientific 
Inc. of Sunnyvale, California. The associated circuit module 46 may 
include pulsing circuitry as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,675,826 in order 
to simulate semi-automatic or automatic rifle operation. Preferably, the 
laser beam transmitted by the module 38 is on the axis of the tubular 
barrel 28 of the gun replica 10. 
The recoil module 42 is a pneumatic cylinder and piston arrangement, the 
piston (not shown) acting against an anvil 60 and butt plate 62 projecting 
at the end of the buttstock 12. A typically preferred piston cylinder unit 
for use as the recoil module 42 is a model AA Utica Pneumatic 137 
available commercially from Chicago Pneumatic of Utica, N.Y. As such, the 
module preferably includes a cycling valve (not shown) by which the module 
will develop a single impulse when supplied with compressed air for a 
short duration of time or will develop repetitive impulses with air supply 
over a longer duration. 
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the muzzle rise module 40 in the disclosed 
embodiment includes a tubular conduit 64 terminating in a downwardly 
directed nozzle 66 which is located under the forward end of the forestock 
24 in the illustrated embodiment. The acceleration of compressed air 
through the nozzle 66 will develop a lifting force effective at the front 
end of the forestock and in the region of the barrel 28. 
In FIG. 4, details of the air control valve 50 are shown to include air 
inlet porting 68 in fluid communication with the source of compressed air 
36 through the conduit 37 and a tube 70 extending from the conduit within 
the gun interior to the air control valve 50. A valve actuating plunger 72 
overlies a rearwardly extending lever arm 74 on the trigger 16 to be 
lifted to unseat a valve body 76 from a seat 78 when the trigger 16 is 
pivoted in a clockwise direction as shown in FIG. 4. Unseating of the 
valve body 76 will establish fluid communication between the inlet porting 
68 and outlet conduits 80 and 82 extending respectively to the recoil 
module 42 and the muzzle rise module 40. 
The sound module 44 includes a conventional audio speaker actuated under 
the control of the switches 48 and 58. In this respect the circuit module 
46 includes appropriate electronic circuitry (not shown) for actuating the 
module 44 to simulate the report of a rifle on firing a bullet. As may be 
seen in FIG. 3, a forwardly extending arm 84 on the trigger 16 engages an 
arm 86 on the switch module 48 also upon clockwise pivotal movement of the 
trigger 16. 
In operation, with the gun body connected to the source of electricity 34 
and compressed air 36 it may be operated in the manner of a real weapon by 
sighting a target and squeezing the trigger 16. Upon squeezing movement of 
the trigger 14, the laser transmitter module 38 is energized to transmit a 
beam at a target to simulate the trajectory of one or more bullets. 
Simultaneously with each energizing pulse of the laser transmitter 38 to 
simulate the trajectory of a bullet will be accompanied by a recoil 
generated by the module 42, an audible report from the module 44 and a 
lifting effect on the forestock 24 by a jet of air issuing from the nozzle 
66. In the event it is desired to deenergize any one of the functioning 
modules 38, 40, 42 or 44, this may be accomplished by actuation of either 
valve 52 or 54 or switch 56 or 58. 
Thus it will be seen that as a result of the present invention, a highly 
effective small weapons simulator is provided by which the stated 
principal objective, among others, are completely fulfilled. It is 
contemplated and will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the 
preceeding description that various modifications and/or changes may be 
made in the illustrated and described embodiment without departure from 
the present invention. Accordingly, it is expressly intended that the 
foregoing description and accompanying drawings are illustrative of a 
preferred embodiment only, not limiting, and that the true spirit and 
scope of the present invention be determined by reference to the appended 
claims.