Amusement devices: games – Aerial projectile game; game element or accessory therefor... – Target
Patent
1990-07-30
1991-11-19
Grieb, William H.
Amusement devices: games
Aerial projectile game; game element or accessory therefor...
Target
F41J 508
Patent
active
050660195
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a thermally-emissive, weaponry target, training aid or arc designator structure.
An electrically operated military target is known from WO 83/01105 which includes a plurality of modules mounted adjacent to one another on a support frame. Each module carries an electrically-conductive laminate for emitting infra-red radiation when a current is passed through it. The laminate in fact includes electrically-insulating top and bottom layers, between which an electrically-conductive layer is sandwiched. This electrically-conductive layer includes at least two areas having different effective electrical resistance to emit differing infra-red signals when an electrical current is passed therethrough for infra-red detection.
According to the present invention, there is provided a thermally-emissive structure including a surface, the surface being, in a region or regions intended to define an area to be detected by a thermal imager, darkened relatively to other regions thereof by high heat emissivity material and, in use, being heated above ambient temperature by a heating element in the form of a plastics film having an electrically-conductive matallic coating of substantially uniform electrical resistance, characterised in that said plastics film with its coating is joined to a flexible carrier member itself joined to a rigid backing member, which thereby provides a relatively high thermal mass, and said area is formed by an image defined by darkened regions over said area to achieve the desired thermal image when an electrical current is passed through said coating.
The image may be applied as a matrix of dots, bars or similar patterns. The high heat emissivity material may comprise matt black paint.
The matallic coating can be of aluminium or an aluminium alloy. The aluminium can be vacuum deposited on the plastics film. The plastics film may be a polyester film.
The rigid backing member can be of, for example, foamed plastics material or other material with good thermal insulating properties.
The high heat emissivity material can be applied to the surface of the coating facing away from the plastics film.
The surface of the coating which faces away from the plastics film may be covered by a material having good thermal insulation properties whilst having good transparency in the thermal range to allow transmission of thermal radiation therethrough. Such a material can be a plastics material such as a layer of polyethylene with air bubbles formed in it.
The structure can be in the form of a weaponry target structure and whole structure can be mounted as a panel, with others if required, onto target panels of two-dimensional or three-dimensional targets.
The structure in a smaller version could be used as a classroom training aid.
The structure can also be formed as an arc designator which would give a thermal indication to those in the field of the boundary of a safety area. Presently, arc designators are formed as panels about 20 m high with a letter or numeral painted on them.
For a better understanding of the invention and to show how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an electrically-heated, thermally-emissive, structure which can be used as a weaponry target, training aid or arc designator structure,
FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of a heating element shown in FIG. 1,
FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic front view of a thermally-emissive structure which can be used as a weaponry target, training aid or arc designator structure,
FIG. 4 is a photographic reproduction of a thermal image as detected by a thermal imager which was directed onto a structure according to the present invention, and
FIG. 5 is another photographic reproduction of a thermal image detected.
The structure described hereinafter is a weaponry target structure and is arranged to provide a thermal emissivity which is varied to provide a thermal image of a target capable of being detected on a thermal imager a
REFERENCES:
patent: 4253670 (1981-03-01), Moulton et al.
patent: 4260160 (1981-04-01), Ejnell
patent: 4279599 (1981-07-01), Marshall
patent: 4346901 (1982-08-01), Booth
patent: 4659089 (1987-04-01), Rosa
patent: 4706963 (1987-11-01), Geuss
patent: 4792142 (1988-12-01), Davies
Dean William R.
Waters John H.
Grieb William H.
Hitchcox Targets Limited
LandOfFree
Thermally-emissive, weaponry target, training aid or arc designa does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Thermally-emissive, weaponry target, training aid or arc designa, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Thermally-emissive, weaponry target, training aid or arc designa will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1365380