Bullet trap with modular impact plates

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a bullet trap for shooting ranges for catching bullets.

[0002] Prior art includes bullet trap devices with funnels consisting of two baffle plates forming the funnel. The baffle plates of known designs are heavy and large, making them difficult to replace when worn. Examples of prior art bullet trap devices can be found in US8827274B2, US8602418B1, US10240904B2, and US2016 / 187108A1.

[0003] The purpose of the invention is to provide a bullet trap that allows for simpler and more cost-effective maintenance.

[0004] The problem is solved by a bullet trap according to claim 1.

[0005] In a first aspect, the invention relates to a bullet trap comprising a substructure, several baffle plates, and at least one deflector. Each baffle plate has at least one fastening means. The baffle plates can be attached to the substructure by means of the at least one fastening means. The substructure is designed such that, when installed, the baffle plates form one or more funnels, each with two or more funnel walls. Each funnel wall comprises at least two baffle plates. A deflector is arranged behind each funnel.

[0006] The bullet trap is designed to catch projectiles on a shooting range and prevent them from ricocheting and damaging people or objects in the vicinity. Furthermore, the collected projectiles can be disposed of more easily.

[0007] The projectiles enter the hopper, where they strike the impact surface of one of the deflector plates. The deflector plates redirect the projectiles towards the center of the hopper. Deflectors behind the hoppers guide the projectiles into a circular path, where they gradually release their kinetic energy.

[0008] According to the invention, the fastening means are hooks with which the impact plates are hung on the substructure.

[0009] The substructure allows the impact plates and deflectors to be mounted using a hook system. Because the impact plates can be attached to the substructure with fasteners, they can be smaller and modular. In case of wear, only individual impact plates need to be replaced, simplifying maintenance of the bullet trap. Furthermore, individual impact plates can be less expensive than large, single-piece impact plates that form the funnel walls. This also reduces maintenance costs for the bullet trap.

[0010] Preferably, each component weighs no more than 40 kg. The impact surfaces can be, in particular, 350 mm by 900 mm. At a weight of 40 kg, the panels can be carried by two people.

[0011] In one embodiment, the baffle plates are made of a steel sheet with a hardness of 500 HBW or more. Such a hard sheet provides particularly effective protection against deformation of the baffle plates due to the impact of the projectiles.

[0012] Preferably, the substructure consists of individual parts. A substructure made up of individual parts advantageously makes it easy to assemble.

[0013] In one embodiment, the fastening means of the impact plates are designed to form different hooks and can be hooked onto the substructure. According to the invention, the hooks are welded to the back of the impact plates.

[0014] In one embodiment, the bullet trap between the fasteners and the substructure comprises an intermediate layer of ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber (EPDM).

[0015] Since the baffle plates in the firing channel deform after a certain time, according to the invention, the baffle plates are reinforced on one side opposite the impact side with welded-on flat steel bars. The rear reinforcement improves the baffle plates' resistance to deformation.

[0016] In order to counteract edge impact despite deformation, in one embodiment the impact plates can be arranged partially overlapping each other, for example like roof tiles.

[0017] In one embodiment, the bullet trap comprises three funnels formed from baffle plates. The width of the funnels is scalable, allowing the bullet trap to be adapted to the specific layout of the shooting range. Preferably, the bullet trap has only two lateral edges, so that as few vertical edges as possible lie in the firing path.

[0018] In one embodiment, the projectile trap has a collection device located below the deflection point. The collection device can, for example, consist of a drawer or a conveyor system. In particular, a conveyor system can collect projectiles from several adjacent or very wide hoppers and gather them at one point for efficient disposal.

[0019] In one embodiment, the impact plates are inclined at a 20-degree angle to the horizontal trajectory of a projectile.

[0020] In one embodiment, all edges of the substructure are designed or covered with guide plates in such a way that no projectile fragments can accumulate there.

[0021] In one embodiment, a single-layer or multi-layer splinter protection curtain is arranged in front of the bullet trap and, in particular, in front of the funnel surfaces.

[0022] In another embodiment, the bullet trap is enclosed all around. In particular, the circumferential enclosure of the bullet trap, combined with a connection for an extraction system, virtually eliminates the escape of lead dust. A fire-resistant splinter guard is preferably recommended. A splinter guard that also serves as a projection surface for projector applications is especially preferred.

[0023] In one embodiment, the substructure comprises a load-bearing element, in particular a steel beam, which is mounted to a wall of a building with a base plate and a spacer. In another embodiment, a freestanding version of the floor catcher is possible.

[0024] The individual cantilevered funnel segments, which will later hold the impact plates and deflectors, are then mounted onto the supporting element. The center-to-center distance between the individual sections is preferably less than one meter. The funnel segments can be horizontally aligned, for example, using threaded rods, to ensure that the funnel sections are parallel to each other and not skewed. Once the substructure is aligned, the impact plates are suspended within it.

[0025] In one embodiment, the bullet trap is mounted so that it can be accessed from the rear. Rear access allows for the removal of bullet fragments and the maintenance of wear parts. Preferably, there is a passage approximately 1 m wide between the bullet trap and the wall behind it, thus enabling maintenance of the bullet trap from the rear.

[0026] In one embodiment, the bullet trap includes an extraction opening from which dust, and in particular lead dust, can be extracted.

[0027] Preferably, the side walls that can be fired upon are faced and lined with ricochet-resistant material in front of the front hopper area or the splinter protection curtain. Steel is preferably used for the facing and / or cladding. The steel particularly preferably has a hardness of 500 HBW or greater.

[0028] Further advantages, objectives and features of the invention are explained with reference to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which exemplary objects according to the invention are shown. Figure 1 shows a cross-section through a bullet trap. Figure 2 shows a cross-section through a bullet trap with an indicated bullet trajectory. Figure 3 shows an arrangement of impact plates. Figure 4shows a fastening device for an impact plate.

[0029] Figure 1 Figure 1 shows a cross-section through a bullet trap 10 with three funnels 12 arranged one above the other. The bullet trap 10 is designed to catch bullets fired at the bullet trap 10 or at a target positioned in front of it. "In front of it" refers to... Figure 1 to the left of the bullet trap 10. That is, in the figure, a bullet would hit the bullet trap 10 from the left. Behind the funnels 12 are deflectors 14 and guide plates 16.

[0030] When a projectile strikes a funnel 12, it is deflected into its center and then by the deflectors 14. During deflection, the projectile transfers energy to the deflector and is thereby slowed down. It either falls directly, for example, from the deflector behind the lowest funnel 12, or indirectly via guide vanes 16 into a collection device (not shown here).

[0031] The bullet trap is connected to its surroundings, for example a building wall, via a support system 18. Behind the bullet trap 10 is a maintenance room 20, through which individual impact plates can be replaced or the collection device emptied. The maintenance room 20 is preferably 1 m wide.

[0032] Figure 2 shows the bullet trap 10 from Figure 1 The trajectories 22 of the projectiles that are caught by the projectile trap 10 are indicated by lines. The projectiles that are caught by the funnels 12 are deflected so that they are collected in a collecting device 24.

[0033] A splinter guard 26 is arranged in front of the middle funnel 12, which prevents projectile fragments from ricocheting out of the funnel 12.

[0034] Figure 3Figure 1 shows a section of the arrangement of baffle plates 28 within a funnel 12. The baffle plates 28 are arranged slightly overlapping each other, like roof tiles. The baffle plates 28 are preferably inclined at approximately 20° to a horizontal line, shown here as a dashed line.

[0035] The impact plates 28 each include one or more fasteners 30 with which they can be attached to a substructure. The upper impact plates 28 each include two fasteners 30. The lower impact plates 28 each include one fastener 30.

[0036] The fastening devices 30 are each designed as hooks and in Figure 4Shown larger. An intermediate layer 34 made of a plastic, in particular EPDM, is inserted between the fasteners 30 and the substructure 32, which supports the impact plates 28. The intermediate layer 34 absorbs vibrations caused by the impact of a projectile on an impact plate 28. List of reference symbols

[0037] 10 Bullet trap 12 Funnel 14 Deflection 16 Guide plate 18 Support system 20 Maintenance room 22 Trajectory 24 Collection device 26 Splitter 28 Baffle plate 30 Fasteners 32 Substructure 34 Intermediate layer

Claims

1. A bullet trap (10) for shooting ranges for catching bullets, comprising • a support structure (32), • a plurality of baffle plates (28) and • at least one deflector (14), wherein the baffle plates (28) each have at least one fastening means (30), wherein the baffle plates (28) are attached to the support structure (32) by means of the at least one fastening means (30), wherein the support structure (32) is configured such that the baffle plates (28) form one or more funnels (12), each having two or more funnel walls, wherein each funnel wall comprises at least two baffle plates (28), wherein a deflector (14) is arranged behind each funnel (12), characterised in that the fastening means (30) comprise hooks welded to a rear side of the baffle plates (28) opposite the impact side of the projectiles, wherein the baffle plates (28) are hooked to the support structure (32) using the hooks, wherein the baffle plates (28) are reinforced on the rear side with welded-on flat steel plates.

2. The bullet trap (10) according to claim 1, wherein the bullet trap (10) comprises a collection device (24) for the bullets, formed by a conveyor mechanism, which is arranged below the deflector (14).

3. The bullet trap (10) according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein all edges of the support structure (32) are clad with guide plates.

4. The bullet trap (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a single-layer or multi-layer fragment protection curtain (26) is arranged in front of the bullet trap (10).

5. The bullet trap (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the bullet trap (10) is clad all round.