EP0528722A1 - Projectile arrester, especially for bullets, for shooting ranges - Google Patents

Abstract

The projectile arrester according to the invention comprises a first and a second flat wall (1, 4) arranged vertically facing each other so as to delimit a corridor (7) whose width is greater at their front transverse edges than at their rear transverse edges, and which exhibits a vertical plane of symmetry (P1), as well as a first and a second cylindrical wall (8, 9) respectively extending the first and second flat walls beyond their rear transverse edge, the first and second cylindrical walls being respectively tangential to the first and second flat walls and delimiting a curved channel (10) extending the corridor as far as a vertical slot (11) whose width is substantially equal to the dimensions of the projectiles, the axis (A2) of the second cylindrical wall (9) being situated inside the volume delimited by the first cylindrical wall (8), on the side of the corridor (7) with respect to the vertical plane (P2) which passes through the axis (A1) of the said first cylindrical wall (8), and which is parallel to the vertical plane of symmetry (P1). <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a projectile trap for a shooting range, comprising first and second planar walls each having an anterior transverse edge and a posterior transverse edge, these walls being arranged vertically opposite one another so as to delimit a corridor whose width is greater at their anterior transverse edges than at their posterior transverse edges and which admits a vertical plane of symmetry.

Sometimes, in shooting ranges of this type, bullets or similar projectiles go backwards, risking injury to shooters or people in the vicinity of them.

The present invention proposes to overcome this drawback and, to do this, it relates to a projectile trap of the aforementioned type, which is characterized in that a first and a second cylindrical walls extend respectively the first and second planar walls beyond their rear transverse edge, the first and second cylindrical walls being respectively tangent to the first and second flat walls and delimiting a curved channel extending the corridor to a vertical slot whose width is substantially equal to the dimensions of the projectiles, l the axis of the second cylindrical wall being located inside the volume delimited by the first cylindrical wall, on the side of the corridor with respect to the vertical plane which passes through the axis of said first cylindrical wall and which is parallel to the vertical plane of symmetry of the corridor.

Thanks to this trap, the projectiles which enter the corridor are forced, whatever their angle of incidence, to move towards the vertical slot after a greater or less number of twists on the plane and cylindrical walls, and s '' immobilize at the level of the slot without being able to go back towards the shooters. The risk of accidents is thus eliminated.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the axes of the first and second cylindrical walls are located in a plane perpendicular to the vertical plane of symmetry of the corridor.

It is moreover desirable that the vertical slot opens into a receptacle extending along the first planar wall and provided with a removable closure member.

When they enter the receptacle, the projectiles can no longer exit therefrom and are therefore completely harmless. The receptacle also makes it possible to concentrate them in a limited space, which facilitates their recovery after one or more firing operations.

Advantageously, the flat and cylindrical walls extend between two horizontal plates fixed along their longitudinal edges.

The function of the horizontal plates is not only to channel the projectiles towards the vertical slot, like the plane and cylindrical walls, but also to form with these, a rigid and stable structure.

In order to facilitate the assembly and / or disassembly of the projectile trap according to the invention, it is preferable that the plates, the flat walls and the cylindrical walls comprise complementary assembly means which can be locked by tapered keys.

By way of example, the complementary assembly means may comprise studs fixed on the plates as well as lugs fixed on the walls and each provided with a hole intended to receive a stud, the studs comprising a diametrical slot intended to receive a locking key between its bottom and the corresponding tab.

But of course, the pins could be fixed on the walls, while the legs could be fixed on the plates.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un piège à projectiles conforme à l'invention, la porte du réceptacle étant représentée en position démontée ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en coupe horizontale du piège à projectiles en position montée ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en coupe partielle et à échelle agrandie effectuée selon la ligne 111-111 de la figure 2 ; et
• la figure 4 est une vue en coupe partielle et à échelle agrandie effectuée selon la ligne IV-IV de la figure 2.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a projectile trap according to the invention, the receptacle door being shown in the disassembled position;
• Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the projectile trap in the mounted position;
• Figure 3 is a partial sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along line 111-111 of Figure 2; and
• FIG. 4 is a view in partial section and on an enlarged scale taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 2.

The projectile trap shown in the drawings was designed to be installed behind a target in a shooting range, and to prevent projectiles, in particular bullets, from going back so that they are not likely to injuring the shooter or bystanders.

It firstly comprises a first flat wall 1 having an anterior transverse edge 2 and a posterior transverse edge 3, as well as a second planar wall 4 having an anterior transverse edge 5 and a posterior transverse edge 6.

The walls 1 and 4 are arranged vertically opposite one another so as to delimit a corridor 7 admitting a vertical plane of symmetry P₁, this corridor being wider at the front transverse edges 2 and 5 than at posterior transverse edges 3 and 6.

The projectile trap also comprises a first cylindrical wall 8 extending the first flat wall 1 beyond its rear transverse edge 3, and a second cylindrical wall 9 extending for its part the second flat wall 4 beyond its rear transverse edge 6.

The first and second cylindrical walls 8, 9 are respectively tangent to the first and second flat walls 1, 4 with which they delimit a curved channel 10 extending the corridor 7 to a vertical slot 11 whose width is substantially equal to the diameter of the projectiles .

So that a projectile, for example a bullet, can reach in a safe way until the slit 11 after a certain number of rebounds on the planar and cylindrical walls, it is essential that the axis A₂ of the second cylindrical wall 9 is located inside the volume delimited by the first cylindrical wall 8, on the side of the corridor 7 relative to the vertical plane P₂ which passes through the axis A₁ of said first cylindrical wall and which is parallel to the vertical plane of symmetry P₁ cited above.

If we designate by R₁ and R₂ the radii of the first and second cylindrical walls, these radii must in fact be chosen so as to satisfy the following relation: $$\text{R₁ <R₂ <2R₁}$$

The tests carried out with different projectiles have also been shown to be particularly satisfactory when the axes A₁ and A₂ of the first and second cylindrical walls were located in a plane P₃ perpendicular to the plane P₁, as shown in FIG. 2.

This figure also clearly shows that the vertical slot 11 is located slightly upstream of the plane P₃ by considering the direction of propagation of the projectiles and that it opens into a receptacle 12 extending along the first plane wall 1.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the receptacle 12 is delimited by the first flat wall 1, the first cylindrical wall 8 and a door 13 in the shape of an L, this door being articulated on the first flat wall 1, around a vertical axis 14 and extending the second cylindrical wall 19, downstream of the slot 11, when it is closed.

The receptacle 12 could however have a different configuration provided that it has a door allowing the projectiles to be recovered at the desired moment.

In order to perfectly channel the projectiles towards the vertical slot 11, the flat walls and the cylindrical walls are held between two horizontal plates 15, 16 fixed along their longitudinal edges.

More specifically, the plates comprise vertical studs 17 each provided with a diametrical slot 18, while the walls comprise horizontal tabs 19 each provided with a hole 20 intended to receive a stud 17.

It will be noted here that the pins of the lower plate 15 are turned upwards, while those of the upper plate 16 are turned downwards.

It will also be noted that the tabs 19 are located outside of the corridor 7 and the curved channel 10 so as to be out of the range of the projectiles.

• on dispose les parois planes et les parois cylindriques (qui sont de préférence solidaires de ces dernières), verticalement sur la plaque inférieure 15 en faisant en sorte que les tétons 17 pénètrent dans les perçages 20 des pattes 19 ;
• on introduit une clavette de verrouillage 21 dans chacune des fentes diamétrales 18 des tétons 17, entre le fond de chaque fente et la patte 19 correspondante ;
• on pose la plaque supérieure 16 horizontalement sur les parois planes et cylindriques de telle façon que les tétons 17 pénètrent dans les perçages 20 des pattes 19 ; et
• on introduit à nouveau une clavette de verrouillage 21 dans chacune des fentes 18 des tétons 17, toujours entre le fond de chaque fente et la patte correspondante.

To install the projectile trap according to the invention, the procedure is as follows:
the lower plate 15 is placed horizontally on the ground;

• the flat walls and the cylindrical walls (which are preferably integral with the latter) are placed vertically on the lower plate 15, making sure that the pins 17 penetrate into the holes 20 of the tabs 19;
• a locking key 21 is introduced into each of the diametrical slots 18 of the pins 17, between the bottom of each slot and the corresponding tab 19;
• the upper plate 16 is placed horizontally on the flat and cylindrical walls so that the pins 17 penetrate into the holes 20 of the tabs 19; and
• a locking key 21 is again introduced into each of the slots 18 of the pins 17, still between the bottom of each slot and the corresponding tab.

It is easily understood that the assembly and disassembly of the projectile trap according to the invention can be carried out quickly and without tools, which greatly simplifies the task of the personnel responsible for their realization.

To be complete, it will be noted that the assembly of the first cylindrical wall with the horizontal plates can be ensured by means of parallelepiped studs fixed either on the first cylindrical wall or on the horizontal plates, and cooperating with shaped slots complementary formed either in the horizontal plates, or in lugs integral with the first cylindrical wall. This assembly is carried out without the aid of keys since it is not possible to access the interior of the first cylindrical wall when the latter is between the horizontal plates.

It will also be noted that the thickness and the constitution of the flat walls, the cylindrical walls and the horizontal plates are chosen according to the projectiles used during the shooting sessions.

Of course, several projectile traps according to the invention can be installed one after the other, behind the different targets of the shooting range, these traps being able to be linked together so as to form a perfectly stable unit.

Claims (6)

Projectile trap for a shooting range, comprising first and second planar walls (1, 4) each having an anterior transverse edge (2, 5) and a posterior transverse edge (3, 6), these walls being arranged vertically one opposite the other so as to delimit a corridor (7) whose width is greater at their anterior transverse edges than at their posterior transverse edges and which admits a vertical plane of symmetry (P₁), characterized in that first and second cylindrical walls (8, 9) respectively extend the first and second planar walls beyond their posterior transverse edge, the first and second cylindrical walls being respectively tangent to the first and second planar walls and delimiting a curved channel (10) extending the corridor to a vertical slot (11) whose width is substantially equal to the dimensions of the projectiles, the axis (A₂) of the second wall cylindrical (9) being located inside the volume delimited by the first cylindrical wall (8), on the side of the corridor (7) relative to the vertical plane (P₂) which passes through the axis (A₁) of said first wall cylindrical and which is parallel to the vertical plane of symmetry (P₁) of the corridor. Projectile trap according to claim 1, characterized in that the axes (A₁, A₂) of the first and second cylindrical walls (8, 9) are located in a plane (P₃) perpendicular to the vertical plane of symmetry (P₁) of the corridor ( 7). Projectile trap according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the vertical slot (11) opens into a receptacle (12) extending along the first flat wall (1) and provided with a removable closure member ( 13). Projectile trap according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the flat (1, 4) and cylindrical (8, 9) walls extend between two horizontal plates (15, 16) fixed along their longitudinal edges. Projectile trap according to claim 4, characterized in that the plates (15, 16), the flat walls (1, 4) and the cylindrical walls (8, 9) comprise complementary assembly means lockable by tapered keys (21). Projectile trap according to claim 5, characterized in that the complementary assembly means comprise studs (17) fixed on the plates (15, 16), as well as lugs (19) fixed on the walls (1, 4, 8, 9) and each provided with a bore (20) intended to receive a stud, the studs comprising a diametrical slot (18) intended to receive a locking key (21) between its bottom and the corresponding tab (19).

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