Light beam deflection means particularly for range compensation in weapons training aids

Claim 2

Light beam deflection means for altering the angle of inclination of a beam of light to a selected value, comprising a pivotally mounted mirror positioned to reflect the beam of light, a cam movable to selected positions dependent upon selected inclinations, a cam follower engageable with the cam, linkage means interconnecting the cam follower and the mirror and an electrically actuated stop operble to engage a lower end of the linkage means in a first extended position and comprising a solenoid in which the stop forms the plunger thereof and which is movable between the first operative extended position in which the stop engages the linkage means lower end to retain the mirror in a datum position irrespective of the position of the cam corresponding to a datum inclination of the beam and a second retracted position in which the linkage means lower end falls by gravity and is engaged by the cam which is selectively positioned depending on the selected inclination whereby the mirror occupies a pivotal position which reflects the beam of light at the selected inclination.

Claim 3

In a gunnery training aid comprising a projector and means for moving a film through the projector, a screen onto which a beam of light emanating from the projector may be projected to form a moving image serving as a target at an apparent range, and synchronizing means for stopping movement of the film through the projector when a bullet is fired from a gun at the moving image, the improvement comprising light beam deflection means in the projector for altering the angle of inclination of the beam to a selected value which compensates for the drop in trajectory of the bullet which would have occurred at the apparent range, the light beam deflection means comprising a pivotally mounted mirror positioned to reflect the beam of light, a cam movable to a position dependent upon the selected inclination, a cam follower engageable with the cam, linkage means interconnecting the cam follower and the mirror, and a stop movable under the control of the synchronizing means between an operative extended position in which the stop acts to retain the mirror in a datum position irrespective of the position of the cam corresponding to a datum inclination of the beam, and a retracted position in which the cam follower engages the cam in such a manner that the mirror occupies a pivotal position which reflects the beam of light at the selected inclination, the stop occupying the operative position during the projection of the moving image onto the screen and being moved to the retracted position on stopping movement of the film through the projector.

Claim 4

In a gunnery training aid comprising a projector and means for moving a film through the projector, a screen onto which a beam of light emanating from the projector may be projected to form a moving image serving as a target at an apparent range, and synchronizing means for stopping movement of the film through the projector when a bullet is fired from a gun at the moving image, the improvement comprising light beam deflection means in the projector for altering the angle of inclination of the beam to a selected value which compensates for the drop in trajectory of the bullet which would have occurred at the apparent range, the light beam deflection means comprising a pivotally mounted mirror positioned to reflect the beam of light, a cam movable to a position dependent upon the selected inclination, a cam follower engageable with the cam, linkage means interconnecting the cam follower and the mirror, and a stop movable under the control of the synchronizing means between an operative extended position in which the stop acts to retain the mirror in a datum position irrespective of the position of the cam corresponding to a datum inclination of the beam, and a retracted position in which the cam follower engages the cam in such a manner that the mirror occupies a pivotal position which reflects the beam of light at the selected inclination, the stop occupying the operative position during the projection of the moving image onto the screen and being moved to the retracted position on stopping movement of the film through the projector.

Claim 5

The improvement in the gunnery training aid according to claim 2, wherein the linkage means comprise an L-shaped arm movable downwardly under gravity, an upper end of which is attached to the movable mirror and the lower end of which carries the cam follower and is supported by the stop in the operative position.

Claim 6

The improvement in the gunnery training aid according to claim 2, wherein the cam is attached to a manually rotatable knob bearing markings corresponding to the angle of inclination of the beam.

Claim 7

The improvement in the gunnery training aid according to claim 2, wherein the stop is biased to the operative extended position and is associated with electromagnetic means which act to move the stop to the retracted position, the electromagnetic means being energized under the control of the synchronizing means.

Claim 8

The improvement in the gunnery training aid according to claim 5, wherein the electromagnetic means comprise a solenoid, the stop forming the plunger of the solenoid.

Claim 9

Range compensation apparatus for a weapons training aid comprising light projector means for projecting a beam of light simulating a target and target screen means positioned a fixed distance from the light projector means for displaying the simulated target, comprising means for altering the vertical position of the projected beam of light on the target screen means after the weapons have been fired by altering the angle of inclination of the beam of light to preselected values to compensate for trajectory change at varying apparent ranges, said means comprising a pivotally mounted mirror positioned to reflect the beam of light, a cam movable to selected positions dependent upon selected inclinations, a cam follower engageable with the cam, linkage means interconnecting the cam follower and the mirror, a stop operative to engage a lower end of the linkage means in a first position in which the stop acts to retain the mirror in a datum position irrespective of the position of the cam corresponding to a datum inclination of the beam and movable to a second range compensating position in which the cam follower engages the cam in such manner that the mirror occupies a pivotal position which reflects the beam of light at a selected inclination to thereby adjust the vertical position of the projected beam of light on the target screen means.

Claim 10

Range compensation apparatus for a weapons training aid comprising light projector means for projecting a beam of light simulating a target and target screen means positioned a fixed distance from the light projector means for displaying the simulated target, comprising means for altering the vertical position of the projected beam of light on the target screen means after the weapons have been fired by altering the angle of inclination of the beam of light to preselected values to compensate for trajectory change at varying apparent ranges, said means comprising a pivotally mounted mirror positioned to reflect the beam of light, a cam movable to selected positions dependent upon selected inclinations, a cam follower engageable with the cam, linkage means interconnecting the cam follower and the mirror, a stop operative to engage a lower end of the linkage means in a first position in which the stop acts to retain the mirror in a datum position irrespective of the position of the cam corresponding to a datum inclination of the beam and movable to a second range compensating position in which the cam follower engages the cam in such manner that the mirror occupies a pivotal position which reflects the beam of light at a selected inclination to thereby adjust the vertical position of the projected beam of light on the target screen means.