GYROSCOPICALLY ASSISTED WEAPON STABILIZATION SYSTEMS

Abstract

Gyroscopically assisted weapons stabilization systems are provided which include a spring-assisted recoil assembly for mounting a weapon having an elongate axis and a gyroscope assembly having multiple pairs of axially opposed gyroscopes having respective spin axes. The multiple pairs of axially opposed gyroscopes are positioned so that the respective spin axes thereof are in a common plane and are offset relative to one another by an angle α. A mounting assembly dependently mounts the gyroscope assembly to the recoil assembly so as to allow for adjustments of the gyroscope assembly in parallel and perpendicular adjustment planes relative to the elongate axis of the weapon

Description

FIELD

The embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to systems for stabilizing a weapon, especially systems that employ gyroscopic stabilization for the weapon.

BACKGROUND

There are many instances during military or police actions whereby stabilization of a marksman's weapon may be desired to ensure shot accuracy. Weapon stabilization is known to be achieved for such purposes by providing gyro-stabilization systems, a few examples of which are shown by U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,113,745; 7,870,814 and 8,028,611, the entire content of each such prior issued patent being expressly incorporated hereinto by reference.

Although the known gyroscopically assisted weapon stabilization systems may be satisfactory for their intended purpose, continued improvements are sought. It is towards providing such an improvement that the embodiments disclosed herein are directed.

SUMMARY

In general, the invention as embodied in the systems described herein is directed toward gyroscopically assisted weapons stabilization systems which include a spring-assisted recoil assembly for mounting a weapon having an elongate axis and a gyroscope assembly comprised of multiple pairs of axially opposed gyroscopes having respective spin axes. The multiple pairs of axially opposed gyroscopes are positioned so that the respective spin axes thereof are in a common plane and are offset relative to one another by an angle α. A mounting assembly is provided to dependently mount the gyroscope assembly to the recoil assembly so as to allow for adjustments of the gyroscope assembly in parallel and perpendicular adjustment planes relative to the elongate axis of the weapon.

According to some embodiments, the system will include an elastomeric member positioned between the recoil damper assembly and the gyroscopic stabilizer assembly to allow for relative movement therebetween.

The mounting assembly may include a base plate having a tubular upright sleeve and a support post having an upper end connected to the recoil assembly and a lower end slidably received within the sleeve. In such an embodiment, the sleeve and support post may thus be provided with aligned cross-apertures to establish one of a plurality of separation distances of the base plate relative to the recoil assembly. A retaining pin may be inserted into the aligned cross-apertures to establish the desired separation distance once the apertures have been aligned.

According to certain embodiments, the recoil assembly includes a transverse shaft and a universal joint assembly operatively connected to the recoil assembly. In such an embodiment, the mounting assembly may be provided with a base plate having a tubular upright sleeve and a support post having a lower end slidably received within the sleeve, and a U-shaped mounting bracket at an upper end thereof. The U-shaped mounting bracket will thereby define a recessed space for receiving the universal joint. Additionally, the U-shaped mounting bracket may include fore and aft flanges connected to the recoil assembly and an elastomeric member positioned between the flanges and the recoil damper assembly to allow for relative movement between the recoil damper assembly and the gyroscope assembly.

The recoil damper assembly can include a lower mounting block to which the fore and aft flanges are connected. In such an embodiment, the elastomeric member may thus be positioned between the flanges and the mounting block.

According to certain embodiments, the recoil damper assembly may include a platform base, a pair of laterally spaced apart mounting rods having ends fixed to the platform base and being slidably received within the mounting block. Compression springs positioned about the mounting rods between the ends thereof and the mounting block absorb and dampen recoil forces acting on the platform base when the weapon is fired and/or provide shock isolation to the gyroscopes to thereby prevent gyroscope damage that may result from the recoil forces.

The recoil damper assembly may include a quick release base connectable to the weapon to allow the weapon to be dismounted from the platform base. Certain embodiments of the quick release base will be provided with a dovetail grooved mount connectable to a conformably shaped rail associated with the weapon. Additionally or alternatively, the platform base may include a cross-apertured U-shaped receiver with the quick release base having a rearward end received within the U-shaped receiver. A removable pin may thus be positioned in the aligned apertures of the U-shaped receiver and the rearward end of the quick release base. In such an embodiment, the quick release base may be provided with a hooked recess formed within a forward end thereof to allow engagement with a conformably shaped hook formed on the platform base.

According to some embodiments, the angle α by which the respective spin axes of the multiple pairs of axially opposed gyroscopes are offset relative to one another is about 90°. The mounting assembly may thus be provided so as to mount the gyroscope assembly to the recoil damper assembly such that the elongate axis of the weapon substantially bisects the angle α. Additionally or alternatively, the mounting assembly can adjustably mount the gyroscope assembly to the recoil damper assembly so that the respective angles α1 and α2, which may be the same or different from one another, formed between the spin axes of the multiple pairs of axially opposed gyroscopes may be between about 0° to about 90°.

These and other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more clear after careful consideration is given to the following detailed description of the preferred exemplary embodiments thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The disclosed embodiments of the present invention will be better and more completely understood by referring to the following detailed description of exemplary non-limiting illustrative embodiments in conjunction with the drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is perspective view of an airborne environment for a weapon and an exemplary embodiment of a gyroscopically assisted weapon stabilization system in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the weapon and the exemplary weapon stabilization system as depicted in the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged upper front perspective view, partly exploded, of the exemplary embodiment of the weapon stabilization system;

FIG. 4 is a lower right side perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the weapon stabilization system;

FIG. 5 is a lower left side elevational view of the exemplary embodiment of the weapon stabilization system;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the exemplary embodiment of the weapon stabilization system;

FIG. 7 is a left side elevational view of the exemplary embodiment of the weapon stabilization system;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the exemplary embodiment of the weapon stabilization system;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are upper front and lower rear perspective views, respectively, of the recoil damper assembly employed in the exemplary embodiment of the weapon stabilization system; and

FIG. 10 is top perspective exploded view of the gyroscopic stabilizer assembly employed in the exemplary embodiment of the weapon stabilization system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Accompanying FIG. 1 depicts a weapon W mounted to a gyroscopically assisted weapon stabilization system 10 according to an embodiment of the invention. In this regard, the system 10 is depicted in an exemplary environment whereby gyroscopically assisted stabilization of the weapon W is desired, e.g., an airborne environment using an aircraft AC (e.g., a rotor wing aircraft) as the weapon's platform. It will of course be appreciated that any other vehicular or non-vehicular platforms may be provided with the stabilization system 10 to be described herein, for example, ground-based wheeled and/or tracked vehicles, fixed observation posts and the like. Thus, the description herein of an airborne environment (e.g., a rotor wing aircraft) is merely one non-limiting example of the environments in which the embodiments of the invention may be satisfactorily employed.

As is perhaps better seen in the enlarged depiction of FIG. 2, the system 10 is comprised generally of an upper spring-assisted recoil damper assembly 12 and a lower gyroscopic stabilizer assembly 14. The system 10 is suspended between support uprights 10a, 10b supported by the airframe structure of the aircraft AC by respective elastic suspension straps 16a, 16b (e.g., bungee cords or the like). Although not shown in the drawings, the support uprights 10a, 10b may be connected to a rotating base to allow the uprights 10a, 10b and hence the weapon W to traverse about an upright pivot axis as may be required for the particular installation. The suspension straps 16a, 16b are connected operatively to the U-shaped shackles 18a, 18b located at each end of the shaft 20. Shaft 20 is in turn connected operatively to the mounting block 22a of platform base 22 associated with the recoil damper assembly 12 by a universal joint assembly, e.g., a ball joint assembly 24 (see FIG. 9B). The universal joint 24 thereby allows the marksman to traverse the weapon W in vertical and/or horizontal planes as may be required for sighting. The structures employed to mount the platform base 22 to the support uprights 10a, 10b may be those as more fully described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,303,341 (the entire content of which is expressly incorporated hereinto by reference).

The various component structures associated with the system 10 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 3-10. In this regard, as noted previously, the system 10 is generally comprised of an upper spring-assisted recoil damper assembly 12 and a lower gyroscopic stabilizer assembly 14. The platform base 22 is provided with front and rear pairs of connection tabs 26a, 26b between which laterally separated mounting rods 28a, 28b are mounted. In preferred embodiments, the ends of the mounting rods 28a, 28b are mounted to the tabs 26a, 26b by means of bolts 29a and elastomeric washers 29b (see FIG. 9A). The elastomeric washers 29b thereby allow for some slight (but meaningful) movement of the platform base 22 (and hence the axis A_w of the weapon W attached thereto) relative to the gyroscopic spin axes A₁, A₂).

The recoil rods 28a, 28b are slidably received by the mounting block 22a to allow the mounting plate 22 to reciprocally translate rearwardly relative to the mounting block 22a from the position shown during recoil of the weapon W when fired. Front and rear pairs of compression springs 30a, 30b are positioned about respective front and rear portions of the recoil rods 28a, 28b so as to absorb and dampen the recoil and return forces acting on the platform 22 when the weapon W is fired and/or provide shock isolation to the gyroscopes to thereby prevent gyroscope damage that may result from the recoil forces.

A quick release base 32 for the weapon W is detachably mounted to the platform base 22 to allow the weapon W to be quickly disconnected from the system 10. The quick release base 32 includes fore and aft dovetail grooved mounts 32a, 32b, respectively which are adapted to being rigidly connected to a conformably configured mounting rail (not shown but e.g., a conventional Picatinny rail) associated with the weapon W. A rearward part of the quick release base 32 is provided with a cross-apertured boss 32c which is configured to be accepted within a cross-apertured U-shaped receiver 22b fixed to the platform base 22. The platform base 22c also includes a fixed hook member 22c spaced forwardly of the receiver 22b and adapted to be received within a corresponding hooked recess 35 (see FIG. 3) formed in the forward portion of the quick release base 32. When coupled to the platform base 22, therefore, a quick release pin 33 may be inserted through the aligned apertures of the receiver 22b and boss 32c so as to fix the quick release base 32 (and hence the weapon W) to the platform base 22. However, it will be appreciated that removal of the pin 33 will then allow the shoulder stock of the weapon W to be moved generally upwardly so as to disengage the quick release base 32 (and hence the weapon W) from the platform base 22. It is of course to be appreciated that the weapon W can be mounted in an immovably fixed position to the platform base 22, in which case the quick release base 32, receiver 22b and hook member 22c would not necessarily need to be provided.

The gyroscopic stabilizer assembly 14 includes a mounting assembly comprised of a base plate 40 which is rigidly provided with a tubular upright sleeve 42. The upright sleeve 42 receives a lower mounting post 44 to which is rigidly connected an upper generally U-shaped support bracket 46 having fore and aft apertured flanges 46a, 46b, respectively. Fore and aft mounting bolts 48a, 48b, respectively, are provided so as to connect the support bracket 46 (and hence the mounting post 44) to threaded holes (not shown) of the mounting block 22a associated with the platform base 22 of the spring-assisted recoil damper assembly 12. Suitable sleeve washers 48c are provided to accept the bolts 48a, 48b (see FIG. 10). The U-shaped support bracket 46 will thereby provide a recessed space to receive therein the universal joint 24 when the flanges 46a, 46b are mounted adjacently thereto.

Pairs of elastomeric members in the form of waffle washers 50a, 50b are provided with each of the mounting bolts 48a, 48b on each upper and lower side of the flanges 46a, 46b, respectively, so as to allow some movement to occur between the upper spring-assisted recoil damper assembly 12 and a lower gyroscopic stabilizer assembly 14 about all axes of movement (i.e., about the roll, pitch and/or yaw axes established by the barrel axis A_w of the weapon W). Thus the elastomeric waffle washers 50a, 50b provide a measure of shock isolation for the lower gyroscopic stabilizer assembly 14 when the weapon W is fired.

The base plate 40 is rigidly connected to a mounting plate 52 associated with the gyroscope assembly 54 by attachment bolts 52a. The gyroscope assembly 54 is comprised of two pairs of axially opposed mass stabilization gyroscopes 54-1 through 54-4 which are supplied by electrical power (e.g., from an on-board electrical power supply carried by the aircraft AC) via cable 55. Each of the gyroscope pairs 54-1, 54-3 and 54-2, 54-4 are oriented relative to common spin A₁, A₂, respectively, with the spin axes A₁, A₂ being in a common plane and angularly offset from each other by an angle α (see FIG. 8). In preferred embodiments, the angle α is substantially 90° (i.e., the respective spin axes A₁ and A₂ are mutually orthogonal to one another in a common plane) so as to be in a generally X-shaped configuration. When mounted to the recoil damper assembly 12, the barrel axis A_w of the weapon W is therefore oriented so as to be angularly offset by angles α1 and α2 relative to spin axes A₁, A₂, respectively. In some preferred embodiments, the barrel axis A_w of the weapon W bisects the mutually orthogonal spin axes A₁ and A₂ (i.e., so that each of angles α1 and α2 is substantially about 45°). The angles α1 and α2 however may be different from one another and may range between about 0 to about 90°. A suitable gyroscope assembly 54 that may be employed in the system 10 of the embodiments described herein is the “X-Series” of gyroscopes commercially available from Kenyon Laboratories LLC of Higganum, Conn.

The gyroscope assembly 54 may be adjusted both upwardly/downwardly and forwardly/rearwardly in respective vertical and horizontal adjustment planes disposed perpendicular and parallel to, respectively, the barrel axis A_w of the weapon W. In such a manner, therefore, the gyroscope assembly 54 may be adjusted within such planes relative to the upper recoil damper assembly 12 and the center of gravity of the weapon W. Specifically, generally vertical upward/downward adjustment of the gyroscope assembly 54 in a generally vertical adjustment plane relative to the recoil damper assembly 12 is permitted by aligning the cross-apertures 42a of the support sleeve 42 with one of the vertically separated cross-apertures 44a associated with the support post 44. A retaining pin 60 may thus be inserted into the aligned apertures 42a/42b to thereby establish the desired generally vertical separation distance of the gyroscopic assembly 54 below the recoil damper assembly 12. A set screw 62 may also be received within a threaded aperture 42b so as to remove any play between the post 42 and the sleeve 44.

The forward/rearward adjustment of the gyroscope assembly 54 in a generally horizontal plane relative to the recoil damper assembly 12 is permitted by aligning one of the longitudinal series of apertures 40a, 40b and 40c formed in the base plate 40 with a respective one of the circumferentially separated apertures 40d (see FIG. 4) formed in the mounting plate 52 associated with the gyroscope assembly 54. Passing the bolts 52a through such aligned apertures and securing the plates 40 and 52 together by the nuts 52a-1 (see FIG. 4) will therefore establish the desired positioning of the gyroscope assembly 54 in a horizontal plane parallel to the weapon's barrel axis A_w. It will also be observed that the plate 52 can be rotated about a generally vertical axis (i.e., due to the circumferentially separated series of apertures 40d) to allow the respective spin axes A₁ and A₂ to be angularly offset as may be desired relative to the weapon's barrel axis A_w. Thus, for mutually orthogonal spin axes A₁ and A₂, such an angular offset of angles α1 and α2 may be selected to be respectively between about 0° to about 90° depending on the angular separation of the series of apertures 40d in the plate 52.

The adjustments as described above will thereby enable the gyroscope assembly 54 to be located at an optimum position relative to the center of gravity of the weapon W and thereby provide optimum stabilization capabilities. Such adjustments also permit different styles and/or types of weapons W (with concomitantly different weights and/or centers of gravity) to be employed in combination with the stabilization system 10.

The gyroscope assembly 54 has been described in an embodiment whereby the orthogonal spin axes A₁ and A₂ are disposed in a common generally horizontal plane. However, it is conceivable that the gyroscope assembly 54 could alternatively be mounted to the recoil damper assembly 12 in such a manner that the orthogonal spin axes A₁ and A₂ are disposed in a common generally vertical plane. Thus, the depiction of the gyroscope assembly 54 in the accompanying drawing Figures represents one preferred embodiment of the invention.

Various modifications within the skill of those in the art may thus be envisioned. Therefore, while the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope thereof.

Claims

1. A weapon stabilization system comprising:

a spring-assisted recoil assembly for mounting a weapon having an elongate axis;

a gyroscope assembly comprised of multiple pairs of axially opposed gyroscopes having respective spin axes, wherein

the multiple pairs of axially opposed gyroscopes are positioned so that the respective spin axes thereof are in a common plane and are offset relative to one another by an angle α, and

a mounting assembly to dependently mount the gyroscope assembly to the recoil assembly to allow for adjustments of the gyroscope assembly in parallel and perpendicular adjustment planes relative to the elongate axis of the weapon.

2. The weapon stabilization system as in claim 1, further comprising an elastomeric member positioned between the recoil damper assembly and the gyroscopic stabilizer assembly to allow for relative movement therebetween.

3. A weapon stabilization system as in claim 2, wherein the mounting assembly includes a base plate having a tubular upright sleeve and a support post having an upper end connected to the recoil assembly and a lower end slidably received within the sleeve.

4. A weapon stabilization system as in claim 3, wherein the sleeve and support post have aligned cross-apertures to establish one of a plurality of separation distances of the base plate relative to the recoil assembly, and a retaining pin inserted into the aligned cross-apertures.

5. The weapon stabilization system as in claim 1, wherein the recoil assembly includes a transverse shaft and a universal joint assembly operatively connected to the recoil assembly.

6. A weapon stabilization system as in claim 5, wherein the mounting assembly includes a base plate having a tubular upright sleeve and a support post having a lower end slidably received within the sleeve, and a U-shaped mounting bracket at an upper end thereof, wherein the U-shaped mounting bracket defines a recessed space for receiving the universal joint.

7. The weapon stabilization system as in claim 6, wherein the U-shaped mounting bracket includes fore and aft flanges connected to the recoil assembly, and wherein the mounting assembly further comprises an elastomeric member positioned between the flanges and the recoil damper assembly to allow for relative movement between the recoil damper assembly and the gyroscope assembly.

8. A weapon stabilization system as in claim 7, wherein the recoil damper assembly includes a lower mounting block to which the fore and aft flanges are connection, wherein the elastomeric member is positioned between the flanges and the mounting block.

9. The weapon stabilization system according to claim 8, wherein the recoil damper assembly includes a platform base, a pair of laterally spaced apart mounting rods having ends fixed to the platform base and being slidably received within the mounting block, and compression springs positioned about the mounting rods between the ends thereof and the mounting block to absorb and dampen recoil forces acting on the platform base when the weapon is fired.

10. The weapon stabilization system as in claim 9, wherein the recoil damper assembly includes a quick release base connectable to the weapon to allow the weapon to be dismounted from the platform base.

11. The weapon stabilization system as in claim 10, wherein the quick release base includes a dovetail grooved mount connectable to a conformably shaped rail associated with the weapon.

12. The weapon stabilization system as in claim 10, wherein the platform base includes a cross-apertured U-shaped receiver, and wherein the quick release base includes a forward end received within the U-shaped receiver, and a removable pin positioned in aligned apertures of the U-shaped receiver and the forward end of the quick release base.

13. The weapon stabilization system of claim 12, wherein the quick release base includes a hooked recess formed within a rearward end thereof, and wherein the platform base includes a hook engageable with the recess.

14. The weapon stabilization system of claim 1, wherein the angle α is about 90°.

15. The weapon stabilization system of claim 14, wherein the mounting assembly mounts the gyroscope assembly to the recoil damper assembly such that the elongate axis of the weapon substantially bisects the angle α.

16. The weapon stabilization system of claim 1, wherein the multiple pairs of axially opposed gyroscopes are positioned so that the spin axes thereof are offset relative to the elongate axis of the weapon by respective angles α1 and α2.

17. The weapon stabilization system of claim 16, wherein the angles α1 and α2 may be the same or different and are between about 0° to about 90°.