FR2764683A1 - Safety system for electric trigger circuit in small or medium calibre personal firearm - Google Patents

Abstract

The safety system comprises an interrupter switch (1) located in the firearm's electrical firing circuit (3) and able to move between a first position in which the circuit is open and cannot operate, and a second position which closes the circuit. The interrupter switch is linked to the firearm's trigger by a connecting mechanism (20) which moves the switch into its second position when the trigger is pulled. The interrupter switch has a mobile support (5) carrying a first conductor (7) which is moved relative to a fixed conductor when the trigger is pulled. The mobile support is mounted on a pivot (15) on the body of the firearm and is connected to the trigger by a rod (22). The firing circuit is designed to operate a percussion hammer (30) which moves between cocked and percussion positions; the position of the hammer is detected by a sensor (32) linked to the firing circuit.

Description

 The present invention relates to a safety system for an electric triggering circuit for firing in an individual firearm of small or medium caliber.

 In general, a firearm of the aforementioned type is equipped with a mechanical triggering device for shooting which comprises in particular a trigger controlled by the trigger of the weapon to release a percussion hammer, or a device for electric triggering of the shooting.

 In the case of a firearm equipped with an electric triggering device for firing, it is known to provide an electrical safety consisting of a switch which, in a first safety position, prevents the passage of current in the circuit electric trigger to prevent accidental fire.

 However, when the shooter wants to make a shot, he must first perform a specific action to erase the electrical safety, this specific action consisting in manually passing the switch into a second position to authorize the shot.

 The object of the invention is to improve this type of electrical safety by providing for automatic erasure of the safety and by providing other advantages.

 To achieve this object, the invention provides a safety system for an electric triggering circuit for firing in an individual firearm of small or medium caliber, this safety system comprising a device forming a switch interposed in the electrical triggering circuit. firing with automatic and mobile control between two positions, a first safety position to open said circuit and inhibit its operation, and a second position to close said circuit and validate its operation, characterized in that said switch is connected to the trigger of the weapon by a link mechanism to move the switch to its second position when the shooter pulls the trigger.

 In general, the switch comprises a movable support on which a first conductive element is mounted, and a second fixed conductive element, the movable support being connected to the connection mechanism for moving the first conductor relative to the second conductor.

 According to one embodiment, the movable support of the switch is mounted articulated around an axis supported by the body of the weapon, and the connection mechanism comprises a rod mounted articulated on the trigger on the one hand, and on the mobile support on the other hand.

 By way of example, the articulation between the rod and the movable support of the switch, is constituted by a tenon freely mounted in a light, the tenon being integral with the rod and the light formed in the support or vice versa .

 According to a preferred embodiment, the movable support of the switch comprises an insulating part and a conductive part, the latter forming the first conductive element of the switch, and the second conductive element consists of at least one blade in contact either with the insulating part, or with the conductive part of the support depending on the position of the latter.

 When the electric trigger trigger circuit acts on a percussion hammer movable between an armed position and a percussion position, a position sensor is advantageously provided for detecting the position of the hammer, this sensor being connected to the electrical trigger circuit of the shoot.

 According to an advantage of the invention, when the shooter takes a shot, he first aims at a target and then he presses the trigger of the weapon to erase the electrical safety on the one hand, and inform the device for electrically triggering the shot that the shooter is ready for shooting on the other hand.

 According to another advantage of the invention, the position sensor associated with the hammer also informs the electrical trigger circuit that the weapon is ready for shooting, and can also make it possible to count the number of shots made by the weapon .

 According to another advantage of the invention, the switch device is designed to open or close the electrical trip circuit in a safe and efficient manner.

Other advantages, characteristics and details of the invention will emerge from the explanatory description which follows, given with reference to the appended drawings given solely by way of example and in which
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a safety system according to the invention and shown in a safety position preventing the firing of shots,
FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view along the line II-II in FIG. 1,
FIG. 3 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the system after erasing the electrical safety, and
- Figure 4 is a partial sectional view along line IV-IV of Figure 3.

 The safety system according to the invention for an electric triggering circuit for firing in an individual firearm of small or medium caliber, comprises a device forming a switch 1 which is interposed in the electrical triggering circuit 3 for manual firing and it is movable between two positions, a safety position to open said circuit 3 and inhibit its operation, and a second position to close said circuit 3 and confirm its operation.

 In general, the switch 1 comprises a movable part and a fixed part. Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the movable part is constituted by a support 5 on which is mounted a first conductive element 7, while the fixed part is constituted by a second conductive element 9. More specifically, according to one embodiment , the movable support 5 comprises a conductive part which forms the first conductive element 7, and an insulating part 11.

The second conductive element 9 consists of two blades 13 which are either in contact with the first conductive element 7 or with the insulating part 11 of the support 5 according to the position occupied by the switch 1.

 The support 5 is pivotally mounted about an axis 15 supported by the body of the weapon, this support 5 being connected to the trigger 17 of the weapon by a connection mechanism 20 for controlling the position of the switch 1.

 The connection mechanism 20 comprises a rod 22, one end of which is hinged on the trigger 1 around an axis 24 and, towards its other end, the rod 22 is hinged on the movable support 5 of the switch 1. L articulation between the rod 22 and the support 5 is for example constituted by a tenon 25 and a light 27. More specifically, the tenon is for example integral with the rod 22 and is freely engaged in the light 27 formed in the movable support 5 .

 When the trigger 17 of the weapon is in a rest position, the switch 1 is in a first safety position where the two fixed conductive strips 13 are in contact with the insulating part 11 of the support 5. Under these conditions, the electric trigger circuit 3 of the shot is inhibited.

 When the shooter wants to fire, he must first erase the electrical safety, this erasure being automatically obtained when the shooter presses on the trigger 17. The displacement of the trigger 17 following a stroke C1 causes the displacement of the rod 22, which has the effect of rotating the movable support 5 towards a second position where, as shown in FIG. 4, the two conductive blades come into contact with the first conductive element 7. once this contact has been made, an electric current can pass through the switch 1 and thus validate the operation of the electrical trigger circuit 3 of the shot.

 Advantageously, the shooter presses the trigger 17 only after having carried out the aiming on the target which he wishes to reach. By doing so, the shooter not only clears the electrical safety but informs the electrical trigger circuit 3 that it is ready to fire. The electric trigger circuit 3 can then send a control signal which triggers the firing, in a manner known per se, by means of a hammer 30 for example. The control signal can be sent by an electronic shooting aid system which does not fire, for example, until the target and the target point coincide.

 Advantageously, the hammer 30 can be associated with a position sensor 32 which informs the electric tripping circuit 3 about the position occupied by the hammer 30. Under these conditions, the electric tripping circuit 3 is informed not only that the shooter is ready for shooting but also that the weapon is also ready for shooting.

 Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments of the switch which has been previously described. It will be noted that the hammer 30 is capable of pivoting under the action of a return spring (visible in the figures), is immobilized in the armed position (profile in solid line in the figures) by a lock whose erasure will be controlled electrically for example by means of an electromagnet.

The percussion position is that shown in broken lines in the figures. In the case of an electric firing, the trigger 17 plays the role of a switch making it possible to trigger the firing. The trigger system causes a high voltage discharge between an electrode and a special primer integrated in the ammunition. You can also adapt an induction firing.

Claims (7)

 1.- Safety system for an electric trigger circuit (3) for firing in an individual firearm of small or medium caliber, this safety system comprising a device forming a switch (1) interposed in the electrical trigger circuit ( 3) automatic control shooting which is movable between two positions, a first safety position to open said circuit (3) and inhibit its operation, and a second position to close said circuit and confirm its operation, characterized in that said switch (1) is connected to the trigger (17) of the weapon by a connecting mechanism (20) to move the switch (1) in its second position when the shooter pulls the trigger (17).  2. A safety system according to claim 1, characterized in that the switch (1) comprises a movable support (5) on which is mounted a first conductive element (7), a second fixed conductive element (9), and in that the movable support (5) is connected to the link mechanism (20) to move the first conductor (7) relative to the second conductor (9).  3.- safety system according to claim 2, characterized in that the movable support (5) of the switch (1) is mounted articulated about an axis (15) supported by the body of the weapon, and in that the connecting mechanism (20) comprises a rod (22) mounted articulated on the trigger (17) on the one hand and on the support (5) on the other hand.  4. Security system according to claim 3, characterized in that the articulation between the rod (22) and the movable support (5), is constituted by a pin (25) freely mounted in a slot (27), the tenon (25) being integral with the rod (22) and the light (27) formed in the support (5) or vice versa.  5. A safety system according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the movable support (5) of the switch (1) comprises an insulating part (11) and a conductive part, the latter forming the first conductive element ( 7).  6. A safety system according to claim 5, characterized in that the second conductive element (9) consists of at least one blade (13) in contact either with the insulating part (11) or with the conductive part (7 ) of the support (5) according to the position occupied by the latter.  7. A safety system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electric triggering circuit of the shot (3) acts on a percussion hammer (30) movable between an armed position and a percussion position, and in that the position of the hammer is detected by a sensor (32) which is connected to the electric trigger circuit (3) of the shot.