Device for displaying sea targets

Abstract

Device (1) for displaying sea targets for hand and medium caliber weapons - with a shaping, textile covering (2) and - with a flexible, structure-forming, buoyant insert (4, 5), wherein - the insert (4, 5) is formed by a first lower insert (4) made of bubble wrap (4) and a second insert (5) arranged above it made of wire mesh (5), wherein - the shaping, textile covering (2) is completely filled by the flexible, structure-forming, buoyant insert (4, 5).

Description

[0001] The invention describes a device for displaying sea targets for hand-held and medium-caliber weapons.

[0002] Sea targets for target practice are already known from several sources.

[0003] From JP 2002-147998 A, a device for displaying sea targets with the features of the preamble of claim 1 is known.

[0004] US patent 2015 / 0048572 A1 discloses a floating target with reflector elements on its surface for reflecting laser beams.

[0005] From JP 2015-215142 A, a sea target is known which can be easily detected by the infrared sensor of a missile, even in bad weather conditions, and has a more cost-effective design than the conventional one.

[0006] US 3 613 097 A describes a sea target consisting of a bag made of thin, flexible material.

[0007] WO 2000 / 49214 A1 describes a buoyant, textile surface structure with incorporated, air-filled buoyancy bodies.

[0008] Patent specification DD 300 248 A5 discloses an electronic evaluation circuit used in automatic targets employing the magnetic-inductive hit indication method for marksmanship training at sea. The target consists of two induction loops to which the electronic evaluation circuit – depicted in the block diagram – is connected. When the target is fired upon from both sides, the signal induced by a magnetized projectile triggers two separate hit indication signals only if the target lands within one of the two induction loops. The assignment of these signals depends on the side from which the target is fired upon. Electromagnetically induced interference signals are completely suppressed, even if they are within the operating frequency range and superimposed by mechanically induced interference vibrations. Similarly, near misses do not trigger a hit indication.

[0009] Furthermore, German patent application DE 33 11 530 A1 discloses a method for deploying decoys and / or camouflages to replicate the target signature of a watercraft, wherein the decoys and / or camouflages are positioned in the vicinity of the watercraft to be protected against target-seeking devices, in particular anti-ship missiles. An underwater vehicle is used to position the decoys and / or camouflages in a predetermined position replicating the target signature. The decoys and / or camouflages can be positioned without damaging the underwater vehicle. After completion of the deployment process, the underwater vehicle can be recovered or sunk by flooding.

[0010] Finally, patent specification DD 300 658 A5 discloses a multi-hulled carrier for towed sea targets, preferably for use in artillery firing exercises at sea. The floats consist of several buoyancy cells, which are easily detachable and arranged on a connecting frame and are conditionally interchangeable. By installing suitable splinter-proof decks in the buoyancy cells, special protective compartments can be created to house components of the target's sensor technology. Buoyancy cells damaged by gunfire can be detached from the assembly, replaced, or repaired, and then reinserted into the assembly, even while the vessel is afloat.

[0011] The disadvantage of all these known solutions for displaying naval targets is that they are very complex to set up, correspondingly large, and therefore expensive. This expense is only justified for artillery firing exercises or missile firing drills, where the cost of the ammunition is proportionate to the effort required to display the target.

[0012] For firing with small arms or medium-caliber weapons up to 40 mm caliber, no suitable sea target is yet known that offers a comparable level of effort and cost.

[0013] The object of the invention is therefore to present a device for displaying sea targets that is suitable for hand-held and medium-caliber weapons, with an optimized cost-benefit ratio.

[0014] This problem is solved by the characterizing features of the main claim. Advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

[0015] The advantage of the invention lies particularly in the fact that a shape-giving flexible covering does not produce any bounce-offs and can simultaneously be designed in all conceivable shapes.

[0016] Upon impact with the inventive devices for displaying sea targets, projectiles penetrate the flexible, shaping casing and exit the device again depending on their energy content. The flexibility of the device results in only minor deviations in the trajectory, thus preventing ricochets.

[0017] The design of the sea targets allows for all conceivable target shapes due to the form-giving casing. These range from simple cuboids to replicas of boats and ships, and even buildings representing harbor facilities. Firing on a simulated harbor facility, or parts thereof, has the advantage of allowing fire from land onto the open sea, thus reducing the risk of fire from the background.

[0018] The flexible, shape-defining covers are, for example, cut from a polypropylene fabric and sewn or glued along the contours. Of course, other fabrics are also suitable. Floating fabrics are particularly advantageous, as they allow the individual parts to be retrieved from the water's surface if the target fails.

[0019] A very cost-effective and simple geometry is described in dependent claim 2. The use of a commercially available big bag made of polypropylene fabric with dimensions of 90x90x110 cm forms a flexible, shape-giving, cuboid-shaped covering according to the invention.

[0020] A further advantage of the invention is that the flexible, structure-forming, buoyant insert is initially suitable for completely filling the shaping casing. This also prevents a hard surface from being presented to a projectile upon impact, thus preventing ricochets even within the shaping casing.

[0021] The structure can be formed by internal stresses in the insert, for example, a foamed plastic. Besides open-cell plastics, which exhibit structure due to foaming, closed-cell plastics can also be used. Similarly, structure formation through air inclusion in non-foamed plastics can be utilized, as in bubble wrap according to the invention. Polyethylene bubble wrap can be used as single-layer films with bubbles between 5 and 35 mm, preferably 10-25 mm.

[0022] Depending on the specific design of the device according to the invention, the term "insert" here encompasses several parts of the flexible, structure-forming, buoyant material. The invention provides for the use of two different inserts: a first lower insert made of bubble wrap and a second insert made of wire mesh arranged above it, in order to minimize damage from gunfire.

[0023] According to the invention, the first flexible, structure-forming insert, like the shaping casing, is also designed to be buoyant. On the one hand, transporting a lightweight and buoyant sea target is easy. On the other hand, detached or destroyed individual parts or sea targets are easy to recover after being hit, and finally, the sea target remains usable even after multiple hits, although not in its complete geometric shape.

[0024] For better understanding, the following example is described: A big bag made of polypropylene fabric with dimensions of 90×90×110 cm is lined with bubble wrap containing approximately 28,000 air chambers / m². 3 filled. This creates a floating lake target of approximately 1 m. 3 Volume with a mass of approximately 5 kg. The sea target can be easily deployed.

[0025] Deployment can be carried out using either a watercraft or an aircraft, for example a drone. The advantage of deployment with drones is that the device according to the invention can also be used safely as a movable sea target.

[0026] A particular advantage of deployment using drones arises when an embodiment of the device according to the invention incorporates air cushions with a volume of approximately 500 ml. The total weight of the device for displaying sea targets is less than three kilograms. In this variant, it is possible to position the sea target above the water's surface using a simple drone, thus creating a target unaffected by waves.

[0027] After being shelled with 800 rounds of 7.62 caliber ammunition, the sea target is still usable, buoyant, and can be recovered in one piece.

[0028] The show Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 a device according to the invention for displaying sea targets in perspective.

[0029] It shows Fig. 1 a cuboid sea target of about 1 m 3 Volume in partial section.

[0030] It shows Fig. 2 an arrangement of several devices for displaying a sea target as a movable sea target with drone train.

[0031] It shows Fig. 1. A device 1 for displaying sea targets, comprising a shaping textile covering 2. In this embodiment, the shaping textile covering 2 is a big bag with dimensions of 90 x 90 x 110 cm, provided with target markings 3. Inside the shaping textile covering 2 is a two-part insert 4, 5. A lower first insert 4 consists of a folded bubble wrap 4. Above this, a bullet-resistant wire mesh 5 is arranged as a second insert 5. The device 1 for displaying sea targets floats on the water surface 6 and is positioned on the seabed 10 by a ballast 7 and an anchor line 8 with an anchor 9.

[0032] It shows Fig. 2 a combination of devices 11 for displaying sea targets according to Fig.1. The assembly traces the outline of a boat. Any other outline is conceivable. However, the assembly is not positioned on the seabed, but is towed as a unit by a drone 12 and serves in this form as a moving target. Reference symbol list: 1 Device for displaying sea targets 2. Wrapping 3 Target marking 4 First layer, bubble wrap 5 Second layer, wire mesh 6 Water surface 7 Ballast 8 anchor lines 9 anchors 10 Seabed 11. Compound of devices for displaying sea targets 12 drones

Claims

[1] Device (1) for sea target display for small arms and medium caliber weapons - with a shaping textile covering (2) and - with a flexible, structure-forming, buoyant insert (4, 5), wherein - the insert (4, 5) is formed by a first lower insert (4) made of bubble wrap (4) and a second insert (5) made of wire mesh (5) arranged thereabove, wherein - the shaping textile covering (2) is completely filled by the flexible, structure-forming, buoyant insert (4, 5). [2] Device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the shaping textile covering (2) consists of polypropylene fabric. [3] Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the total weight of the device (1) is less than three kilograms. [4] Device (1) according to one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the shaping textile covering (2) is a big bag. [5] Device (1) according to claim 4, wherein the big bag is provided with target markings (3).

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