Mortar safety device
A safety device for a front-loading weapon of the type comprising a mortar barrel having a closed breech end and an opposite open end for launching a mortar projectile. The device includes at least one sensor, configured for mounting adjacent the mortar barrel, for sensing a mortar projectile upon its insertion in the barrel and an electronic circuit, coupled to said sensor, for detecting movement of the mortar projectile past said sensor, thereby to detect the presence of the projectile in the barrel.
1. A safety device for a front-loading weapon comprising a mortar barrel having a closed breech end and an opposite open end for launching a mortar projectile, said safety device comprising, in combination:
(a) at least one sensor, mounted on the mortar barrel, for sensing a mortar projectile when the projectile moves past the sensor within the barrel;
(b) an electronic logic circuit, coupled to said sensor, for detecting the presence of the mortar projectile in the barrel as the projectile moves past said sensor, both when entering and exiting the barrel, and for determining when the mortar projectile remains inside the barrel longer than expected; and
(c) a warning device, coupled to said electronic logic circuit, for providing at least one of a visual and audible warning when the mortar projectile remains in the barrel longer than expected and has thus failed to timely fire,
whereby a weapon user is warned against inserting another mortar projectile into the barrel.
2. The safety device of claim 1 , wherein said warning device produces at least one of an audible and a visual indication of the presence of the mortar projectile in said barrel.
3. The safety device of claim 1 , wherein said sensor is mounted on the mortar barrel adjacent said open end of said barrel.
4. The safety device of claim 1 , wherein said sensor is mounted on the mortar barrel substantially midway between said breech end and said open end of said barrel.
5. The safety device of claim 1 , wherein said sensor is mounted on the mortar barrel adjacent said breech end of said barrel.
6. The safety device of claim 1 , wherein said sensor includes a metal detector.
7. The safety device of claim 6 , wherein said metal detector includes a coil of wire windings and said electronic circuit is operative to detect changes in an electric current in said coil caused by a movement of the projectile past said coil.
8. The safety device of claim 7 , wherein said wire windings of said coil surround said barrel.
9. The safety device of claim 6 , wherein said metal detector includes comprises a primary coil and a secondary coil, and wherein said electronic circuit is operative to pass an electric current through said primary coil and to detect changes in an electric current induced in a said secondary coil caused by a movement of the projectile past said secondary coil.
10. The safety device of claim 6 , wherein said metal detector includes a permanent magnet and a coil of wire windings surrounding the barrel, and wherein said electronic circuit is operative to detect when a metal projectile passes through the barrel at the location of the wire windings, a resulting fluctuation in magnetic flux and current indicating that a metal projectile has transited through the barrel.
11. The safety device of claim 1 , wherein said sensor includes a thermal sensor and said electronic circuit is operative to detect changes in temperature caused by hot propulsive gases produced by the projectile as it is launched from said barrel.
12. The safety device of claim 11 , wherein said thermal sensor is configured for mounting on the mortar barrel adjacent said open end of said barrel.
13. The safety device of claim 1 , wherein said sensor includes a radiation emitter and a radiation sensor disposed on opposite sides of said barrel and wherein said electronic circuit is operative to detect changes in radiation received by said radiation sensor caused by a movement of the projectile between said emitter and said sensor.
14. The safety device of claim 13 , wherein said emitter and said sensor are configured for mounting on the mortar barrel adjacent said open end of said barrel.
15. The safety device of claim 13 , wherein said radiation is visible light.
16. The safety device of claim 13 , wherein said radiation is ultraviolet light.
17. The safety device of claim 13 , wherein said emitter is a laser.
18. The safety device of claim 1 , wherein said sensor includes a radiation detector and wherein said electronic circuit is operative to detect changes in radiation received by said radiation sensor from a pyrotechnic propellant of the projectile.
19. The safety device of claim 18 , wherein said radiation detector is configured for mounting on the mortar barrel adjacent said open end of said barrel.
20. The safety device of claim 18 , wherein said radiation is visible light.
21. The safety device of claim 18 , wherein said radiation is ultraviolet light.
22. The safety device of claim 18 , wherein said radiation is in the thermal radiation band.
23. The safety device of claim 1 , further comprising a linear accelerometer configured for mounting on the mortar barrel, and a second electronic circuit, coupled to said accelerometer, for detecting changes in acceleration caused by the launch of the projectile from the barrel, thereby to determine the instant of launch.