Patent GB-1451192-A (GB)
Title: Weapon training systems
IPC: F41G3/26
Filed: 1972-08-18
Abstract: 1451192 Weapon training systems SOLARTRON ELECTRONIC GROUP Ltd 7 Aug 1973 [18 Aug 1972] 38760/72 Heading F3C [Also in Division H4] A weapon training system for simulating the use of a weapon against a target comprises a source means, associated with the weapon, which produces a beam or beams of electromagnetic radiation, steering means for varying the direction in which said beam or beams is or are directed in relation to the direction in which the weapon is directed at a target or in relation to means of aiming the weapon at the target, scan-controlling means for causing the steering means to scan with the beam with reference to a datum direction, the scan controlling means co-operating with the steering means for scanning with the beam separately in two directions substantially orthogonal to one another, detecting means for detecting when a beam is incident on the target, and discriminator means which are responsive to signals representative of the direction in which a beam is directed when the detecting means detects that a beam is incident on the target for providing information concerning the direction of the target in relation to the datum direction. In an embodiment an attacking tank 1, Fig. 1, has a main gun 3 with a projector 2 mounted thereon. Simulated firing of the gun 3 causes pulsed beam or beams of radiation from a source (not shown) in the projector to scan in relation to the axis of the gun. When a beam impinges on a detector 4 which is mounted on a target tank 5, a signal is transmitted, by a radio frequency transmitter (not shown) on the target, to a receiver (not shown) on the attacking tank by means of an omni-directional radio frequency link. Fig. 2 shows the zones illuminated by each of two laser beams directed from the projector 2 towards the target 5. A first beam 6 is for scanning in elevation and a second beam 7 is used for scanning in azimuth. Both beams are for determining the range of the target from the attacker and for transmission of a "hit" signal from attacker to target. A simplified block diagram of equipment fitted to the target tank is shown in Fig. 3 and a simplified block diagram of the equipment fitted to the attacking tank is shown in Fig. 4. A source for both azimuth and elevation scanning comprises a laser 90, Fig. 6, which is mounted in a member 94, the latter being rotatable about a centre line 95 with respect to a frame 96. The centre of the radiating slit of the laser is coincident with the centre line 95. The member 94 has a flange 97 having teeth engaged with a pinion 98 on an electric motor 99 carried by the frame 96. The latter also carries a collimating lens 100, can pivot about an axis 101 with respect to a base 102 and is constrained by a spring 103 to remain in contact with a cam 104. The cam is rotatable about an axis 105 by an electric motor (not shown), so as to steer a beam from the laser 90 in elevation. The beam is steered in azimuth by members 106, 107 which are mounted in mountings 109, 110 respectively, the latter having teeth engaged by teeth of a bevel gear 111. The means of producing signals to simulate the use of a laser rangefinder is represented by the simplified block diagram of Fig. 7.