U.S. patent application number 10/623079 was filed with the patent office on 2004-08-05 for cant indicator for firearms.
Invention is credited to Burzel, Timo.
Application Number | 20040148841 10/623079 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 30116661 |
Filed Date | 2004-08-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040148841 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Burzel, Timo |
August 5, 2004 |
Cant indicator for firearms
Abstract
An indicator device includes an indicator and an inclination
sensor that is calibrated relative to a vertical axis and to which
a vertical plane is allocated, and the inclination sensor senses a
deflection of the vertical plane with respect to the vertical axis.
The indicator device forms a module and is provided with a
fastening device for mounting on a system consisting of a weapon
and a telescopic sight. The indicator includes at least one
lighting element.
Inventors: |
Burzel, Timo; (Lahnau,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
M. Robert Kestenbaum
11011 Bermuda Dunes NE
Albuquerque
NM
87111
US
|
Family ID: |
30116661 |
Appl. No.: |
10/623079 |
Filed: |
July 19, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
42/123 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41G 1/44 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
042/123 |
International
Class: |
F41G 001/38 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 3, 2002 |
DE |
102 35 695.5 |
May 13, 2003 |
DE |
103 21 341.4 |
Claims
I claim:
1. An indicator device including an indicator and an inclination
sensor that is calibrated with respect to a vertical axis and with
which a vertical plane is associated, wherein the inclination
sensor senses a deflection of the vertical plane with respect to
the vertical axis, and wherein a module (27) is formed with an
indicator device (22) and is provided with a fastening device (33)
for mounting on a system comprising a firearm (1) and a telescopic
sight (7).
2. The indicator device according to claim 1, wherein the indicator
(25) has at least one lighting element (43).
3. The indicator device according to claim 1, wherein the indicator
(25) has at least one lighting element that is a light emitting
diode (45).
4. The indicator device according to claim 2, wherein the module
(27) is provided with a fastening device (33) for mounting to the
system comprising a firearm (1) and a telescopic sight (7).
5. The indicator device according to claim 1, wherein a sensor
emitting an electrical signal is provided as the inclination sensor
(23), the electrical signal being supplied to a control device (31)
is in signal connection with the indicator (25).
6. The indicator device according to claim 1, wherein the indicator
(25) includes a lighting element (43).
7. The indicator device according to claim 1, wherein the indicator
(25) is an indicator giving a signal in different colors, and at
least one of the direction and amount of a deflection from the
vertical axis (21) being indicated the different colors.
8. The indicator device at least according to claim 2, wherein
plural lighting elements (43), for indicating the direction of a
deflection with respect to the vertical axis (21), are provided as
the indicator (25).
9. The indicator device according to claim 1, wherein a deflection
with respect to the vertical axis (21) is indicated by a display
(47).
10. The indicator device according to claim 1, wherein at least one
of a deflection with respect to the vertical axis (21) and the
amount of a deflection with respect to the vertical axis (21) are
indicated by a flashing signal.
11. The indicator device according to claim 1, wherein an adjusting
element (49) is provided for adjusting the brightness of the
indicator (25).
12. The indicator device according to claim 1, wherein a rotary
element (51) is provided as the adjusting element (49).
13. The indicator device according to claim 12, wherein the rotary
element (51) has a rotation axis that is arranged perpendicularly
of an optical axis (17) of the telescopic sight (7).
14. The indicator device according to claim 1, wherein at least one
press button switch (53) is provided as an adjusting element
(49).
15. The indicator device according to claim 1, wherein a toggle
switch (55) is provided as an adjusting element (49).
16. The indicator device according to claim 1, wherein the module
(27) can be fastened to an eyepiece (11) of the telescopic sight
(7) by fastening device.
17. The indicator device according to claim 4, wherein a clamp
device (35) is provided as the fastening device (33).
18. The indicator device according to claim 2, wherein plural
lighting elements (43) are arranged coaxially of the field of view
of the eyepiece.
19. The indicator device according to claim 1, wherein the module
(27) can be arranged between the weapon and a telescopic sight by
clamps.
20. The indicator device according to claim 1, wherein the
indicator device (22) has a battery compartment (29).
21. The indicator device according to claim 1, wherein the
indicator device (22) includes a solar cell (30).
22. The indicator device according to claim 1, wherein the control
device (31) is in signal connection with an element (53) by the
actuation of which an offset value, which is stored in a control
device (49), can be established.
23. The indicator device according to claim 24, wherein the
indicator device (22) can be electronically adjusted by an offset
value.
24. A firearm with a barrel axis and with a telescopic sight,
wherein a preferred plane is fixed by virtue of the optical axis of
the telescopic sight and the barrel axis and an axis running
perpendicularly to these two axes, and wherein an indicating device
(22) is provided according to claim 1, by which a deviation is
indicated from a vertical axis (21) established by gravitational
force.
25. The firearm according to claim 24, wherein the indicator (25)
is arranged in the visual region of the marksman, outside the field
of view (39) of the telescopic sight.
26. The firearm according to claim 24, wherein the indicator (25)
is arranged in the visual region of the marksman, outside the field
of view (39) of the telescopic sight.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The invention relates to an indicator device an indicator
and an inclination sensor that is calibrated with respect to a
vertical axis and with which a vertical plane is associated, and
the inclination sensor senses a deflection of the vertical plane
with respect to the vertical axis and a system consisting of a
firearm. The invention also relates to a telescopic sight where the
module can be fastened to the eyepiece of the telescopic sight by
the fastening device.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0004] For a modem equipped precision firearm, under optimum
environmental conditions, the target point aimed at can be attained
at target ranges of up to 1,200 meters with a hit accuracy of 40 cm
with a 0.338 caliber.
[0005] Besides the unavoidable error factors such as thermals or
changing wind directions within the flight path of the shot, weapon
cant is an important possible source of error. Thus, for example, a
cant of 3.degree. at a target range of 600 meters, with a bullet
drop of 3 meters, results in a hit deviation of 16 cm. An alignment
of the weapon with the aid of the cross hairs and orientation aids
in the place of use, such as edges of buildings and lampposts, is
not always possible. Particularly for use in impassable terrain
such as mountains, the required orientation aids for alignment of
the weapon are not available.
[0006] From German Patent Document DE 22 59 913, a telescopic sight
is known, with a construction by means of which hit deviations due
to system cant and air pressure effects can be mechanically
compensated. In this system, optical elements of the telescopic
sight are displaced for compensating the cant. Thus the inverting
system contained in the telescopic sight is mounted by means of a
spring, so that the inverting system is deflected with respect to
the telescopic sight by the effect of the spring in dependence on a
cant.
[0007] Such a mechanical compensation is connected with a high
mechanical expense. Furthermore, such a construction has the risk
of destabilizing the target line, since optical elements for
imaging the target line are not mounted with axial stability.
[0008] From German Patent Document DE 34 01 855 A1, an auxiliary
aiming device for firearms is known. This auxiliary aiming device
consists of an inclinometer associated with the sighting device for
monitoring the cant angle of the firearm. The inclinometer consists
of a closed profile tube ring of transparent material, which is
about half filled with a liquid. The ends of the liquid column are
associated with a marking, so that a cant of the weapon can be read
off from the liquid level in relation to the marking. In this
design of an inclinometer, it is disadvantageous that the viscosity
of the liquid changes in dependence on temperature, and thus the
accuracy of indication depends upon the temperature, which is
undesirable.
[0009] From Swiss Patent Document CH 48379, a panoramic leveling
telescope for firearms is known. In this panoramic leveling
telescope, a spirit level is attached to the eyepiece housing with
its axis running perpendicular to the eyepiece axis.
[0010] From the Anschutz company, a sight is known under the
designation "Universal Sight 7002/20", as advertised in the Kettner
2002 hunting catalog on page 114, and can be pivoted for
compensating cant.
[0011] Furthermore, telescopic sights are known in which a spirit
level is integrated as an alignment aid into one image plane. This
however has the disadvantage that parallax is always present for
imaging, and that the spirit level is often poorly visible. Besides
this, the functionality is restricted when shock and temperature
fluctuations occur.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The object of the invention is to provide a system that can
be universally used and is cost-effective.
[0013] Another object of the invention is to provide a device
making it possible for a marksman to exactly align the firearm,
even in impassable terrain.
[0014] The object of the invention was attained by the following
features: an indicator and an inclination sensor that is calibrated
with respect to a vertical axis and with which a vertical plane is
associated, and the inclination sensor senses a deflection of the
vertical plane with respect to the vertical axis, which includes a
module that is formed by an indicator device and is provided with a
fastening device for mounting on a system consisting of a firearm
and a telescopic sight. By the measure of forming the indicator
device as a module that can be attached by means of a fastening
device to a system consisting of a firearm and telescopic sight, it
is possible to retrofit such a system with an indicating unit for
the indication of a cant. Such an indicator device can also be used
with different telescopic sights. Furthermore it is thereby
possible not to basically have to equip all the telescopic sights
of a series with the same kind of indicator device in order to be
able to offer this convenience to a potential customer.
Consequently the development of the indicator device and of new
telescopic sights can proceed separately from each other, which
also has a positive effect on the development costs. Furthermore,
the indicator device that includes a separate item or equipment,
and a series with low numbers of product, which do or do not have a
cant indicator, are avoided.
[0015] Furthermore, the possibility is also provided to send an
indicating device that has a defect for repair, and to continue to
use the telescopic sight or the system of firearm and telescopic
sight. Also, a quick change is at comparatively little cost, since
the telescopic sight does not also have to be changed as well.
[0016] Since the indicator has at least one lighting element, it
can be ensured that a cant can be clearly indicated to the marksman
even in conditions of poor visibility. It can also be provided that
a lighting element is provided for lighting the indicator, so that
the lighting element itself does not serve to indicate a cant.
[0017] The more precisely the alignment of the weapon is made
possible, the more precise certainty of a hit can be ensured, even
at great ranges.
[0018] Since a cant of the weapon is indicated to the marksman by
this indicator device, the marksman can himself correct the
alignment of the weapon, and the optics of the telescopic sight are
stably mounted in the telescopic sight, so that destabilizing of
the aiming line or of the aiming point cannot occur.
[0019] It has been found to be advantageous to provide an
inclination sensor emitting an electrical signal. This signal is
supplied to a control device that is in signal connection with the
indicator. A cant can be very accurately sensed by such an
inclination indicator, and thus even very small cant angles a can
be indicated to the marksman. Electrical inclination sensors are
also obtainable which require only very little constructional space
and operate independently of temperature and shock.
[0020] A control device makes it possible to provide different
limits for permissible cants. It has been found to be advantageous
to provide a control device into which data can also be read in via
an interface, preferably a watertight infrared interface.
[0021] It has furthermore been found to be advantageous to provide
as the lighting element a diode that requires little electrical
energy.
[0022] It has been found to be advantageous to signal the direction
and amount of cant to the marksman by the nature of the light,
flashing signal and/or colored signal, of the at least one diode or
of the one lighting element.
[0023] It has been found to be advantageous to provide an adjusting
element by which the brightness of the lighting element,
particularly of the LED or indicator, can be adjusted. A rotary
ring, push button, preferably two, and a toggle switch have been
found to be advantageous adjusting elements. This adjusting element
can also be provided for activating the indicator device.
[0024] It has been found to be advantageous to provide a battery
compartment so that the inclination sensor and also the lighting
element can be supplied with electrical energy by a battery. It has
furthermore been found to be advantageous to provide a solar cell,
so that the energy supply can be at least partially provided by the
solar cell, or the batteries can be recharged by the solar
cell.
[0025] In an embodiment, it is provided that the marksman is made
aware of a poor energy status of the battery by a predetermined
signal, particularly a flickering signal of the indicator.
[0026] As a fastening device, a clamp device has been found to be
suitable, without having to provide a counterpart of a fastening
device on the system of telescopic sight and fastening device.
[0027] In order to make available to the marksman an unrestricted
field of view of the telescopic sight, it has been found to be
advantageous to arrange this indicator outside the field of view of
the telescopic sight, but within the markman's field of view. It
can thereby be attained that the marksman in shooting position can
perceive the indication. In particular, an arrangement coaxial with
the eyepiece of the telescopic sight has been found to be
advantageous.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] Further measures are described according to the invention.
The invention is described in detail with reference to embodiments
shown in the accompanying Figures.
[0029] FIG. 1 shows the system consisting of firearm and telescopic
sight.
[0030] FIG. 2 shows an eyepiece-side plan view of a telescopic
sight with indicator device.
[0031] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the eyepiece section of the
telescopic sight with indicator device.
[0032] FIG. 4 shows an indicator device with plan view.
[0033] FIG. 5 shows an indicator device in side view.
[0034] FIG. 6 shows an indicator device in spatial
representation.
[0035] FIG. 7 shows an indicator device with a toggle switch as the
adjusting element.
[0036] FIG. 8 shows an indicator device with press button
switch.
[0037] FIG. 9 shows an indicator device with a plurality of
lighting elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0038] The principal structure of a system consisting of firearm
and telescopic sight is first described using FIG. 1.
[0039] In the system shown in FIG. 1, a rifle 3 is shown as the
firearm 1, and has a barrel 5. Instead of this, however, a crossbow
could also be shown.
[0040] A telescopic sight 7 is fixed to the rifle 3 by means of a
fastening 15. This telescopic sight 7 is aligned so that the
optical axis 17 of the telescopic sight 7 runs in a basic position
parallel or approximately parallel to the barrel 5 of the rifle 3
and is situated in the plane of symmetry of the rifle.
[0041] When mounting the indicator device 22, care must be taken
that a deflection with respect to the plane of symmetry of the
rifle, also termed the vertical plane 19, from the vertical axis 21
is sensed by the inclination sensor 23. The vertical axis coincides
with the direction in which gravitational force is effective. An
adjustment can be performed either purely mechanically or also by
the input of an offset value.
[0042] Adjustment by the input of an offset value has been found to
be particularly convenient, since no special requirements are
placed on the mounting of the indicator device. The indicator
device 22 is fastened to the system consisting of the telescopic
sight 7 and firearm 1. A sight is taken on a reference line
arranged parallel to the vertical axis. An element connected to the
control device is then actuated, which can be formed as a push
button, or the element provided for adjusting the brightness can be
used. The sensed deviation of the vertical plane to the vertical
axis is thereby given in the control device as an offset value.
This offset value is thereafter taken into account in the
determination of a cant. It is thereby possible with little expense
to adjust the indicator device 22 after mounting on another system
consisting of a firearm 1 and telescopic sight 7. A mechanical fine
adjustment is thus not necessary with such a system.
[0043] The telescopic sight 7 includes an objective 9 and an
eyepiece 11. The telescopic sight is furthermore provided with an
adjusting knob 13 for parallax compensation and an adjusting knob
13 for setting a ballistic compensation. The telescopic sight 7 is
furthermore provided with an indicator device 22. This indicator
device 22 is arranged coaxially of the eyepiece 11 and is provided
for indicating a cant of the rifle 1 with respect to the vertical
axis 21, as described in detail hereinafter using FIG. 2.
[0044] As sketched in FIG. 2, the vertical plane 19 is fixed by
means of the barrel 5 and the plane of symmetry of the weapon, and
runs through the telescopic sight and the rifle. The vertical axis
21 is aligned according to the effective gravitational force. The
acute angle included between the vertical axis 21 and the vertical
plane is denoted by .alpha.. As long as the vertical axis 21 does
not coincide with the vertical plane, there is said to be a cant of
the rifle. If the rifle is canted, a sighted target, as explained
in DE 22 59 913, is hit with a lateral offset. For example, with a
target distance of 600 meters and a bullet drop of 3 meters, an hit
point deviation of 16 cm in the horizontal direction results when
the cant is 3.degree.. The indicator device 22 is provided in order
make possible for the marksman a reliable alignment of the weapon 1
without cant.
[0045] FIG. 3 shows a telescopic sight 7 provided with a possible
embodiment of an indicator device 22. The indicator device 22
includes an inclination sensor 23 that is arranged in a housing 26
of the indicator device 22. A control device 31 is furthermore
arranged in the housing 26 and is in signal connection with an
indicator 25. The control device 31 is preferably embodied by a
board on which the various components of the control device 31 are
arranged and are connected together in signal connection. ROMs and
RAMs may be provided.
[0046] A cant of the rifle 3 is signaled to the marksman by this
indicator. In this embodiment, a lighting element 43, specifically
an LED 45, is provided as the indicator 25, and is arranged outside
the field of view of the telescopic sight. However, the indicator
25 is arranged within the field of view of the marksman, so that
the marksman can always see this indicator 25 when sighting.
[0047] Electrical energy is required for operating this indicator
device 22, and is provided by means of a battery provided in the
housing 26. The battery is arranged in a battery compartment 29
with a cover 28. A solar cell 30 can in addition be provided for
providing electrical energy, and can recharge the battery, and the
indicator device can directly be operated with the energy provided
by the solar cell.
[0048] A fastening device 33 is provided for fastening the
indicator device 22 to the telescopic sight 7. This fastening
device 33 is formed as a clamping device 35 that includes an
elastic strip element as clamp jaws 37. It is possible to fasten
the indicator device 22 to different telescopic sights by such a
clamping device. Strip elements of different lengths can be used,
and fastening of the indicator device 22 to telescopic sights or
eyepieces of different diameter can thus be performed. Another kind
of clamping device that preferably has plural clamp jaws can of
course also be used. Mounting by a positive connection, for example
by a screw segment that is, for example, screwed with a thread in
the fastening 15, is conceivable and could also be performed at
little cost by later turning of a thread on; the fastening 15 for
mounting of a telescopic sight.
[0049] An actuating element 49 is provided for switching on the
indicator device 22. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, a rotary
ring 51 is provided as the actuating element 49. A toggle switch 55
could alternatively be used, as shown in FIG. 8. On toggling the
toggle switch 55 in one direction, the indicator device 22 is
switched on, and by further holding the toggle switch 55 the
brightness of the lighting element(s) 43 of the indicator is
increased. On toggling the toggle switch 55 in the opposite
direction, the brightness of the lighting element(s) 43 is reduced.
With a reduction of the brightness of the lighting element(s) 43 to
zero, the indicator device is switched off. A further alternative
of an actuating element 49 is shown in FIG. 9. This actuating
element 49 consists of two press buttons 53, with the press button
nearer the marksman in the mounted state being provided for
switching on or for increasing the brightness of the lighting
element or of the indicator 25. The press button 53 on the
objective side is provided for reducing the brightness and for
switching off the indicator device. Separate actuating elements
could of course be provided for switching the indicator on and
off.
[0050] Plural alternative solutions as the indicator are shown in
FIGS. 5, 8 and 10. In FIG. 8, a display 47 is provided as the
indicator 25. By different representation on the display, the
amount and direction of the cant can be indicated to the marksman.
Numeral and letter codes can be used for this, for example "3 r"
for a cant of 3.degree. to the right. A purely graphic display, for
example, by an arrow, is also conceivable.
[0051] In FIG. 10, a plurality of LEDs is provided instead of one
LED as the indicator 25. Depending on the detected cant, at most
two LEDs are driven, the amount and direction of cant being
indicated to the marksman by their lighting up. For the different
LEDs, different angular amounts are allocated to a deflection from
the vertical axis, both LEDs being driven for a value between the
values allocated to two adjacent LEDs.
[0052] Clamping to the fastening device 15 is possible as an
alternative to the arrangement of the indicator device coaxial to
the eyepiece 11, the indication then preferably being arranged
between the telescopic sight 7 and the rifle 3.
[0053] For mounting the indicator device 22 on the system
consisting of firearm 1 and telescopic sight 7, or directly on the
telescopic sight 7, it must be ensured that the indicator device 22
is aligned with respect to the vertical plane 19 such that upon a
coincidence of the vertical axis 21 with the vertical plane 19, the
inclination sensor 23 detects a deflection of the vertical plane 19
of 0.degree. with respect to the vertical axis 21.
[0054] The permissible cants may depend on the weapon used, with a
permissible cant having an acceptable deviation from the aiming
point sighted on remaining constant, becoming smaller with
increasing target distance. A cant of maximum 1.degree. has been
found to be an acceptable amount for a still permissible cant,
since a weapon can still be held as precisely as this by an
experienced marksman. With a target distance of 600 meters, a
deviation of the hit point of at most .+-.5 cm results.
[0055] Smaller values can of course also be indicated to the
marksman as still permissible cant by the indicator device, by
corresponding programming of the control device. This is of
particular interest when the indicator device is not used together
with a freely held firearm.
[0056] Reference List
[0057] 1 weapon
[0058] 3 rifle
[0059] 5 barrel
[0060] 7 telescopic sight
[0061] 9 objective
[0062] 11 eyepiece
[0063] 13 adjusting knob
[0064] 15 fastening
[0065] 17 optical axis
[0066] 18 preferred plane
[0067] 19 vertical plane
[0068] 21 vertical axis
[0069] 22 indicator device
[0070] 23 inclination sensor
[0071] 25 indicator
[0072] 26 housing
[0073] 27 module
[0074] 28 battery compartment cover
[0075] 29 battery compartment
[0076] 30 solar cell
[0077] 31 control device
[0078] 33 fastening device
[0079] 35 clamping device
[0080] 37 clamp jaws
[0081] 39 field of view of the telescopic sight
[0082] 43 lighting element
[0083] 45 LED
[0084] 47 display
[0085] 49 adjusting element
[0086] 51 rotary ring
[0087] 53 press button switch
[0088] 55 toggle switch
* * * * *