Targeting system with projectile braking and recovery device
View Patent ↗A device is configured for braking and recovering projectiles and includes a support from which several braking tubes are suspended. The braking tubes are suspended by one of their ends on the support. The device further includes a motor driving the support in rotation about an axis of rotation. The braking tubes are suspended from the support by gravity so as to absorb the energy of a projectile impacting one or more of the several braking tubes.
1 . A device for braking and recovering projectiles, the device comprising: a support from which several braking tubes are suspended, the braking tubes being suspended by one of their ends on the support, wherein the braking tubes are arranged on the support in a plurality of annular alignments; and a motor driving the support in rotation about an axis of rotation, wherein the support is a shaft extending around the axis of rotation, and each one of plurality of annular alignments is arranged around the support along the axis of rotation of the support; wherein the braking tubes are suspended from the support by gravity so as to absorb the energy of a projectile impacting one or more of the several braking tubes.
2 . The device claim 1 , wherein the braking tubes are arranged around the axis of rotation.
3 . The device claim 2 , wherein the support is a plate whose axis of rotation is parallel to the braking tubes, the braking tubes being suspended by one end on a lower face of the support, the plurality of annular alignments being concentric.
4 . The device of claim 3 , wherein adjacent braking tubes of the same alignment and adjacent braking tubes of adjacent alignments are spaced apart by a distance greater than 1 millimeter (mm) and less than a diameter of the braking tubes.
5 . The device of claim 3 , wherein each straight line passing through a center of rotation of the plate intercepts at least one of the braking tubes of at least one of the plurality of annular alignments.
6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the support is perpendicular to the braking tubes hanging, each one of the plurality of annular alignments being juxtaposed along the axis of rotation of the support.
7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the support further includes for each braking tube of the braking tubes:
a hole in which the braking tube slides freely; and
a shoulder for securing the braking tube to the support, the shoulder being wider than the hole in the support into which the braking tube is inserted.
8 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a housing defining a cavity within which the support and the braking tubes are positioned, the housing including a lateral opening that is parallel to the axis of rotation of the support, the lateral opening being configured as an entry to receive projectiles into the device.
9 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the motor is positioned on a top cover of the housing and outside the cavity, the motor being connected to a disc via a connecting fastener that is fixed to the disc and to the motor, the connecting fastener passing through the top cover.
10 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the disc is supported by the top cover via the connecting fastener and a pin, the pin locking the connecting fastener in translation with respect to the top cover of the housing, the disc being further supported via a needle stop on which the pin rests and which allows rotation of the connecting fastener relative to the cover.
11 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a braking plate for braking a projectile, the braking plate being positioned parallel to the axis of rotation and perpendicular to a trajectory of a projectile, the braking plate being configured to brake the projectile before the projectile impacts one or more of the braking tubes.
12 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the braking plate is made of polyurethane.