Combustion – Combustion bursts or flare-ups in pulses or serial pattern
Patent
1998-04-27
1999-08-31
Dority, Carroll B.
Combustion
Combustion bursts or flare-ups in pulses or serial pattern
446401, 42 55, F23C 1104
Patent
active
059445025
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to a weapon simulator for use for example in gunnery or weapons training to simulate the sound of gunfire or the explosion of, for example, a weapon strike.
BACKGROUND ART
It is known to provide gunfire simulators which simulate the flash and noise of a gun being fired. At their simplest such gunfire simulators may be no more than blank cartridges which directly take the place of live ammunition. However for use in simulating the firing of battlefield weapons from small arms, through missile launchers to heavy guns such as tank guns and field artillery it is known to provide pyrotechnic devices which are housed in a metal block which may, for example, hold 12, 20 or 24 rounds and which is fixed to the exterior of the weapon platform close to the barrel of the weapon in question. Usually the weight of such devices is such that they cannot be fixed directly to the barrel of the weapon. Often the devices are sufficiently bulky to create an obstruction to the sight of the tank or gun crew. Since such devices are limited to a relatively small number of rounds, a lack of realism can result. Also the cost of the pyrotechnic devices, while being much less than that of live ammunition, is nevertheless appreciable.
Our U.K. Patent GB 2250333 discloses a gunfire simulator comprising a combustion chamber, means for admitting fuel gas to the combustion chamber, a flap valve for admitting air to the combustion chamber, means to force ambient air into the combustion chamber through the flap valve, ignition means for igniting fuel gas in the combustion chamber to cause an explosion, an exhaust port in the combustion chamber and outlet valve means in the form of a frangible diaphragm for closing the exhaust port and arranged to open rapidly and with audible result in response to explosive pressure rise within the combustion chamber. In use the fuel gas in the combustion chamber will be ignited by the ignition means, which may comprise a spark plug, to cause an explosion of gases from the exhaust port resulting not only in noise but also a flash which further simulates gunfire.
It is a particular object of the invention to provide a weapon simulator which generates sound but does not require a frangible diaphragm.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided a weapon simulator comprising a combustion chamber, means for admitting fuel gas to the combustion chamber, an inlet valve through which air can be admitted to the combustion chamber, the inlet valve being biased open and arranged to close in response both to pressure rise above atmospheric and to pressure drop below atmospheric in the combustion chamber, means to induce ambient air into the combustion chamber through the inlet valve, ignition means for igniting fuel gas in the combustion chamber to cause an explosion, and an exhaust port in the combustion chamber through which exhaust gases can exit rapidly and with audible results in response to explosive pressure rise within the combustion chamber.
The function of the inlet valve is to close rapidly on pressure rise in the combustion chamber due to explosive combustion of the fuel gas and to close rapidly in response to the creation of a depression in the combustion chamber due to the subsequent rapid evacuation of the combustion gases through the exhaust port. It has been found that the rapid shutting of the inlet port at the onset of the depression in the combustion chamber increases the sound level created by the simulator.
The fuel gas admission means is preferably a device which precisely meters the amount of fuel admitted. The fuel gas admission means may be a solenoid valve. The means for admitting fuel gas into the combustion chamber is preferably arranged to direct the fuel in a direction towards the inlet valve.
The inlet valve may comprise a resiliently suspended member arranged for movement in opposite directions and arranged to close an opposed pair of ports. The inlet valve may comprise a plate-like member suspended on springs, e.g. th
REFERENCES:
patent: 2950592 (1960-08-01), Frank
patent: 3091224 (1963-05-01), Rydberg
patent: 4260361 (1981-04-01), Huber
patent: 5090891 (1992-02-01), Hemsath
patent: 5180878 (1993-01-01), Denchfield
Dority Carroll B.
Lockheed Martin Tactical Systems U.K. Limited
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