A FIRING SENSING SYSTEM FOR A SIMULATOR
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention, in general, relates to a Tactical firing simulator and in particular to a firing sensing system implemented in such a simulator.
BACKGROUND
A firing simulator is a device that simulates the firing of cartridge from assault rifles such as lnsas, 5.56, AK-47, AK-74, FN FNC, IMI Galil, G3 etc, during military training/exercises. This largely helps military academies provide exhaustive training to soldiers in real-time and battle-field conditions. Blank cartridges emulate live cartridge firing in terms of flash, vibration and sound. However, the blank cartridges do not carry splinter, bullet etc. Hence, firing of blank cartridges does not have injury risks.
In spite of being safe and emulating a live cartridge to some extent, the firing of blank cartridge does not have a projectile motion of a fired bullet of a live
cartridge. To overcome this limitation in the firing of the blank cartridges, laser beams are employed in the Tactical firing simulators to irradiate or mark a target
which would have been hit if an actual bullet had been used during the firing.
One of the commonly employed techniques in Tactical firing simulator to
actuate laser beam during blank round firing is to utilize a sound/vibration sensing
mechanism. An acoustic sensor, like microphone or a mechanical wave sensor.
senses a shock wave generated as a result of blank firing operation. This actuates
the employed sensor to switch on the laser beam generator to emit a laser beam.
This beam irradiates the target aimed at by the user of the simulator.

The activation of such sound/vibration sensors, however, requires elaborate calibration and often has proved to be ineffective. Specifically, the laser beam emission has been found to be false triggered by an external sound/vibration caused in the system at the time of gun loading or due to a neighboring simulator's firing.
SUMMARY
The present subject matter relates to a firing sensing system employed in a Tactical firing simulator to detect firing of cartridges. The firing sensing system includes a barrel, a firing indicator assembly and a sensing switch. The sensing switch is operably connected to the barrel to receive pressurized gases from the barrel. Subsequent to a receipt of the pressurized gases, the sensing switch actuates the firing indicator assembly. For this purpose, the sensing switch comprises a switching unit. The pressurized gases displace the sensing switch from a first position to a second position. Accordingly, the sensing switch triggers the firing indicator assembly.
The firing sensing system of the present subject matter facilitates prevention of false triggering of the firing indicator assembly due to external vibrations. Accordingly, the present firing sensing system has more precision as compared to the conventional firing sensing systems.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present subject matter will be better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS:
The above and other features, aspects and advantages of the subject matter will be better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:
Fig.la illustrates a front view of a firing sensing system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
Fig.lb illustrates a schematic top view of the firing sensing system of Fig la, ia accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
Fig.lc illustrates a sectional view of the firing sensing system of Fig lb along a sectional line A-A, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
Fig.2 illustrates an exploded view of the firing sensing system of Fig la, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
Fig.3a illustrates an isometric view of a sensing switch of the firing sensing system of Fig la, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
Fig 3b illustrates a schematic view of the firing sensing switch of Fig 3a, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
Fig,3c illustrates a sectional view of the firing sensing switch of Fig. 3b along a sectional line A-A, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig.4 illustrates an exploded view of the sensing switch of Fig. 3a, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 5 illustrates a sectional view of a portion of the sensing switch of Fig 3a from, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6a illustrates an isometric view of a Tactical firing simulator provided with the firing sensing system of Fig la, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 6b illustrates a front view of the Tactical firing simulator of Fig 6a, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 6c illustrates a top view of the Tactical firing simulator of Fig 6a, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The present subject matter relates to a firing sensing system, which is employed in a Tactical firing simulator. The Tactical firing simulator may be a gun or weapon simulator. The firing of a blank cartridge in the simulator produces gases inside a barrel of the weapon simulator. In one implementation, a blank firing adaptor is coupled to the barrel. However, it will be understood that the Tactical firing simulator may be used without the blank firing adaptor also. The blank firing adaptor connected to the barrel resists free flow of gases in an outward direction from the barrel, thereby facilitating optimum gaseous pressure within the barrel which helps reloading in self-loading rifles. In addition, the blank firing adaptor leads to a controlled passage of the pressurized gases in the outward direction towards the sensing switch, thereby actuating a firing indicator.
The firing sensing system according to the forthcoming description of drawings has been illustrated in terms of a blank round firing sensing system to detect firing of the blank cartridge. However, it will be appreciated that the present tiring sensing system may also be employed to sense firing in actual firearms or weapons.

Fig.la and Fig lb illustrate a front view and top view of firing sensing system 100, respectively.
The firing sensing system 100 includes a barrel 101, which is loaded with blank cartridges (not shown in the figure). Such barrel 101 is equivalent to the barrel of a firearm. In one implementation, the firing sensing system 100 is implemented within a Tactical firing simulator to sense blank round firing or firing of a blank cartridge. In the present firing sensing system 100, a sensing switch 102 is operably connected to the barrel 101 to detect firing of the blank cartridges.
Fig.lc illustrates a sectional view of the firing sensing system 100 of Fig. lb along a sectional line A-A, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. In addition to the abovementioned components in Fig. la, the firing sensing system 100 further has a blank firing adaptor 103 that may be interchangeably referred to as an adaptor 103. The adaptor is detachably connected between the sensing switch 102 and the barrel 101 and is fitted to a muzzle of the barrel 101. Accordingly, the adaptor 103 is axially connected to the sensing switch 102 and supported by the barrel 101.
Fig.2 illustrates an exploded view of the firing sensing system 100 of Fig. la, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. In the present firing sensing system 100, the sensing switch 102 is clamped to the barrel 101 by a clamping mechanism 201. As depicted in Fig. 2 and in accordance with one implementation of the present subject matter, the clamping mechanism 201 includes a top segment clamp 201a and a bottom segment clamp 201b, provided to the barrel 101, respectively.
As mentioned before, the adaptor 103 is fitted to the muzzle of the barrel 101. The sensing switch 102 in turn is connected to the barrel 101 in such a way

that an operating end or inlet of the sensing switch 102 is inline with an outlet of the adaptor 103.
In operation, a user fires a blank cartridge by operating the Tactical firing simulator. An explosion caused by a propellant (gunpowder) present within the cartridge produces gases that exert pressure within a chamber of the barrel 101. This pressure of gases is directed out of the barrel 101 towards the sensing switch 102.
Fig.3a and Fig 3b illustrates an isometric view and a front view of the sensing switch 102 of the firing sensing system 100, respectively, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. As shown in the figures, the sensing switch 102 includes a sensor body 301. A terminal holding unit (depicted in Fig 3c), is axially connected to the sensor body 301 and acts as a heat insulator. In addition, the sensing switch 102 includes a cap 310 axially connected to sensor body 301 such that the cap 310 holds a terminal holding unit (depicted in Fig 3c).
Fig.3c illustrates a sectional view of the sensing switch 102 of Fig. 3b along a sectional line A-A, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In addition to the components depicted in Fig 3a, the sensing switch 102 further includes a retaining spring 315 sandwiched between a switching unit (depicted in Fig 4) and a bottom terminal (depicted in Fig 4). The retaining spring 315 may also be interchangeably referred as the spring 315. The elasticity of the retaining spring 315 facilitates connection/disconnection of an electric contact between a top terminal (depicted in Fig. 4) and the switching unit (depicted in Fig 4) of the sensing switch 102. The positioning of the top and bottom terminals and the switching unit within the sensing switch 102 has been illustrated under the description of Fig 4.

As mentioned before, the terminal holding unit 305 is supported and held within the cap 310. In addition, a pair of connecting wires 320 emanate out of the cap 310 to convey an electric signal generated by an operation of sensing switch 102 to a firing indicator(not depicted in the figure). Accordingly, the cap 310 represents an outlet of the sensing switch 102. Such signal may be meant for activating or deactivating the firing indicator. This operation has been elaborated in the forthcoming description of Fig. 4 and Fig 5.
Fig.4 illustrates an exploded view of the sensing switch 102 of Fig. 3a, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The sensing switch 102, as mentioned earlier, detects a gaseous pressure directed from the barrel 101 through the blank firing adaptor 103. As mentioned before, such gaseous pressure emanates as a result of the firing of the blank cartridge. On detecting a presence of the gaseous pressure, the sensing switch 102 actuates the firing indicator which in one implementation is a laser beam generator (not depicted in the figure). The laser beam generator emits a laser beam on an aimed target by the user and irradiates the target, thereby indicating the occurrence of firing in the Tactical firing simulator.
As depicted in Fig. 4, the sensing switch 102 of the present subject matter is composed of a number of elements that work in tandem to actuate the laser beam generator. Specifically, the sensing switch 102 includes the sensor body 301, which is made of a low density material. The sensor body 301 is rigidly and axially connected to the muzzle of the barrel 101. In addition, a guide tube 401 is axially connected to the rear of the sensor body 301. Further, a switching unit 405 is axially guided in the guide tube 401 such that the guide tube 401 slidably holds the switching unit 405. In one implementation, the guide tube 401 is a conical shaped

tube. Apart from acting as a housing, the guide tube 401 also acts as a heat insulators.
The switching unit 405 is movably disposed within the sensing switch 102 and may follow a linear motion along the axis of the sensor body 301. In one embodiment, the switching unit 405 is composed of a collar shaped cylindrical head 405a forming a front portion of the switching unit 405. The rear portion of the switching unit 405 has a long cylindrical tube 405b acting as a slide. Further, the cylindrical tube 405b of the switching unit 405 passes through the top terminal 410.
The top terminal 410 is disposed at the rear of the cylindrical head 405a within the sensing switch 102. The top terminal 410 acts as a first electric terminal and is an electrical conductor. The retaining spring 315 is axially connected to the cylindrical head 405 a of switching unit 405 from the front and to a bottom terminal 415 from the rear. The spring 315 also acts an electric conductor between the cylindrical head 405a and the bottom terminal 415. The bottom terminal 415 acts as the second electric terminal. In addition, the cylindrical tube 405b slidably passes through the bottom terminal 415 and always remains in contact with the bottom terminal 415. Further, the pair of electrical wires 320 originate from the top terminal 410 and the bottom terminal 415 and may be referred to as the pair of connecting wires 320.
The bottom terminal 415, the top terminal 410 and the spring 315 are rigidly held within the terminal holding unit 305. The terminal holding unit 305 is in turn rigidly held by the cap 310. The cap 310 and the terminal holding unit 305 facilitate housing and passage of the pair of connecting wires 320 out of the sensing switch 102.

For ensuring a heat control mechanism within the sensing switch 102, the terminal holding unit 305 and the guide tube 401 are made of heat and electrical insulating material to prevent conduction of heat within the sensing switch 102. Heat may develop within the sensing switch 102 due to pressurized and hot gases coming from the barrel 101.
in operation, the adaptor 103 leads to a controlled passage of the pressurized gases towards the sensing switch 102. The force of the pressurized gases generates a momentum to push the switching unit 405 in a direction Z that lies along the axis of the sensor body 301, as depicted in Fig 4. The momentum forces the contact of the cylindrical head 405a with the top terminal 410. In addition, the generated momentum compresses the retaining spring 315 sandwiched between the switching unit 405 and bottom terminal 415 to enable the contact.
As mentioned before, the switching unit 405 is free to move linearly along the axis of the sensor body 301. Accordingly, the pressurized gases cause the switching unit 405 to move towards the top terminal 410 in opposition to the force posed by the spring 315. Accordingly, the cylindrical head 405a of the switching unit 405 contacts the top terminal 410 and such contact remains as long as the momentum created by the pressure of gases due to the firing is more than the force needed to compress the spring 315.
Such contact between the switching unit 405 and top terminal 410 closes an electrical circuit implemented within the sensing switch 102. This circuit includes the top terminal 410, the switching unit 405. the bottom terminal 415. the pair of connecting wires 320 and the firing indicator (depicted in Fig 5). Such circuit may be interchangeably referred to as a firing indicator assembly. The closure of electric circuit generates an electric signal, which is transmitted by the pair of connecting

wires 320 to the firing indicator. The signal is transmitted via the pair of connecting wires 320.
Subsequent to the firing of the blank cartridge, the gaseous pressure towards the sensing switch 102 starts dropping gradually. When the pressure has decreased below a threshold value, the compressed retaining spring 315 pushes the switching unit 405 back to its original position. Accordingly, the switching unit 405 loses contact with top terminal 410, thereby preventing transmission of the electric signal through the pair of connecting wires 320..
Furthermore, the gases from the sensing switch 102 are expelled into the atmosphere via a circular passage provided within the sensing switch 102. For this purpose and in one embodiment of the present subject matter, every aforementioned element of the sensing switch 102 is ring shaped and is hollow at the centre. When all of these elements are assembled as displayed in Fig 3b, a uniform circular passage is achieved at the centre of the sensing switch 102. The pressurized gases, as received by the sensing switch 102 are transmitted through this circular passage into the atmosphere.
Fig. 5 illustrates a sectional view of a portion of the sensing switch of Fig 3a from, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. This sectional view of Fig 5 depicts the firing indicator assembly 500 of the sensing switch 102.
In one embodiment of the present subject matter, the firing indicator 505 employed in the present assembly 500 may be a laser beam generator 505. Accordingly, the contact of the switching unit 405 with the top terminal 410 within the sensing switch 102 as described in Fig 4 leads to firing of the laser beam generator 505. thereby generating a laser beam. Such laser beam when emitted denotes firing of the blank cartridge. As a result, the laser beam irradiates a target

which would have been hit if a real cartridge had been fired out of the tactical firing simulator. In other words, the emitted laser beam irradiates the target aimed at by the user of tactical firing simulator.
Fig. 6a and Fig 6b illustrate an isometric view and a front view of the Tactical firing simulator 600 provided with the firing sensing system 100 of Fig la, respectively, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Such tactical firing simulator may be in the shape of a weapon or firearm to give the user an actual look and feel of the firearm. The tactical firing simulator 600 includes a weapon body 605 that is usually held and controlled by the user during operation.
Fig. 6c illustrates a top view of the Tactical firing simulator of Fig 6a, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
The weapon body 605 of the tactical firing simulator 600 acts as a housing for the firing sensing system 100. For this purpose, the weapon body rigidly supports the barrel 101 that further acts as a seat for the sensing switch 102. Accordingly, the barrel 101 together with the sensing switch 102 constitute the firing sensing system 100 of the tactical firing simulator 600. It will be appreciated that the sensing switch 102 described by the present subject matter may also be employed in other forms of firing simulation system apart from the present tactical firing simulator 600.
The previously described versions of the subject matter and equivalents thereof have many advantages, including those which are described below:
The present firing sensing system 100 prevents unnecessary triggering of the laser beam generator 505 as the firing indicator 505, thereby preventing unnecessary emission of the laser beams. In case of an accidental actuation of the firing sensing system 100 by the user when no cartridge is loaded, there is no laser

emission. In addition, the laser emission is prevented in case an unwanted vibration is subjected to the simulator 600 by an external source.
Although the subject matter has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, other embodiments are possible. As such, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred embodiment contained therein.