EP1074810A1 - Firearm with an authorization control system - Google Patents

Abstract

The electric safety catch for a firearm has a stop to selectively prevent arming of the pistol. An electronic control circuit (8) releases the trigger actuating mechanism or prevents its connection to stop cocking of the firearm as required. The electronic safety control can be connected to a sensor (10) to identify and authorize the user.

Description

The invention relates to a weapon with authorization system. firing, this weapon including a firing mechanism with a trigger and other parts, the system authorization including an electrical control element capable of cooperating with a part of the firing mechanism so as to prevent or allow arming as the case may be of this mechanism.

Such a weapon with an authorization system is described in US patent no. 5,704,153. The element of electrical control is an electrical solenoid commanding a core forming a stop which can block the rod control which is connected to the trigger and which carries the hook cooperating with the trigger.

The electrical control element is powered by a current source through a device electronic control so that the item electric puts the stop in the unlocked position when coded signal, identifying a shooter authorized to shoot with the weapon is received by a radio wave transceiver to which the control device is connected.

The control device and the supply of the element of electrical control are activated as soon as the shooter actuates a switch starting the system laser sighting electronics.

Such a system with an electric control element commanding a stop blocking the firing mechanism requires relatively high energy consumption and is especially of limited reliability.

As long as the signal authorizing the shooting is not received, the stop blocks the control rod and thus prevents actuation of the trigger. It is therefore not excluded than a shooter pulling the trigger with high force manages to force the firing or breaking mechanism or distort the stop.

The invention aims to remedy these drawbacks and to provide a weapon with a fire authorization system which is more reliable and whose electrical control element can be done in a way that consumes little energy.

This is achieved by the fact that the control element electric is a disconnection element that can disconnect a mechanical part from the ignition mechanism or prevent the connection of this part if it is already disconnected, thus preventing the movement of the trigger can arm this firing mechanism.

Instead of blocking, the electrical control element ensures disconnection without preventing movement of the relaxation.

Preferably, the electrical control element is connected to an electronic control system checking whether certain conditions are met.

This control system may include means identification of an authorized shooter and / or the means of recognition of a place and / or means of control of environmental parameters.

The aforementioned means of identification may include a device transmitting an identification signal carried by an authorized shooter, the control device being able to check this signal.

la figure 1 est une vue en coupe schématique d'une partie d'une arme pourvue d'un système d'autorisation de tir selon l'invention, en position de repos;

la figure 2 est une vue similaire à celle de la figure 1, mais au moment de la pression de la détente, lorsque les conditions d'autorisation du tir sont réunies;

la figure 3 est une vue similaire à celle de la figure 1, mais au moment de la pression de la détente, lorsque les conditions d'autorisation du tir ne sont pas réunies.

For clarity, some examples of implementation of the invention will be given below by way of illustration and not limitation, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of part of a weapon provided with a firing authorization system according to the invention, in the rest position;

Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1, but at the time of trigger pressure, when the conditions for authorizing the shot are met;

Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 1, but at the time of the pressure of the trigger, when the conditions of authorization of the shot are not met.

The weapon, part of which is shown in the figures, is a pistol, comprising a carcass 1 in which is mounted a firing mechanism of which only the trigger 2, the control rod 3 and striker hook 4 are represented.

The trigger 2 pivots around an axis 5 mounted in the carcass 1 and is pivotally connected by a pin 6 to a end of the control rod 3 of which the other end forms a hook 3A which can cooperate with the hook 4 of the striker.

The control rod 3 is supported with its edge upper cut on a pin 7 mounted on the carcass 1, while a spring, not shown, surrounding the axis 6, forces the control rod 3 to move away from the trigger 2, so that when moving backwards of the trigger 2, the end forming the hook 3A is moves, in a first movement, normally towards the high under the action of the spring after which in a second movement, it moves towards the front of the weapon.

The end of the control rod 3 forming the hook 3A is located opposite an electrical control element, that is to say an electromagnet 8 which can attract the rod 3 when powered by a current source 9, for example batteries, and so prevent the above first upward movement.

This feeding takes place through a system control electronics 10 checking whether certain conditions are met.

Among these conditions is the correct identity of the shooter, this control system 10 then comprising means of identification consisting in the example given in a device 11 for transmitting an identification signal carried by a shooter, the control device being able to check this signal.

The electric control element 8, the current source 9 and the control system 10 therefore form a system authorization system, this system works as follows:

In Figure 1 the weapon and the authorization system are shown in the rest position. The end forming the hook 3A of the control rod 3 is in its lower position, close to the electromagnet 8 which is not powered.

As soon as the trigger 2 is pressed or in another way, the control system 10 is activated and it checks whether the conditions are met to authorize the shooting, i.e. if a correct signal is received from the device transmitter 11.

If this is the case, the control system prevents the supply of the electromagnet 8.

As soon as the trigger is pressed, the end forming the hook 3A of the above control rod 3 moves first upwards and hooks hook 4, as shown in Figure 2.

By pressing the trigger 2 further back, the rod command 3 moves towards the front of the weapon, causing the hook 4 which will arm the striker spring which is temporarily held back, but will be released later.

If, on the other hand, the identification of the shooter is impossible to determine or is incorrect, which means that the shooter is not authorized to shoot with this weapon, the control system 10 allows the supply of the electromagnet 8. As a result, the latter attracts the control rod 3 which remains disconnected.

When moving this control rod forward 3, it will not cause the hook 4 and the striker will not cannot be armed and a shot is not possible.

The normal movement of trigger 2 remains possible but has no effect. Since the firing mechanism is disconnected, no part of this mechanism can be forced.

Instead of or in addition to the correct identity of the shooter, other conditions may need to be met before the use of the weapon is authorized.

One such condition is recognition of a place or a geographical location. If the control system 10 does not not recognize a specific place, the electromagnet 8 will cause disconnection or prevent connection of the control triangle 3.

The control system 10 can also be constructed from in order to control environmental parameters, for example example light, in which case shooting can be prevented when there is insufficient light.

It is obvious that the firing mechanism can be of a construction different from that described and that the electromagnet 8 can control other parts disconnectable from the firing mechanism.

So instead of attracting a piece of the delivery device fire to modify its course, a part can be moved to cause disconnection, for example an axis around which another piece pivots.

Instead of an electromagnet 8, other elements of electrical controls are possible, such as a micro-motor electric.

It is obvious that the invention is in no way limited to examples of embodiments described above or shown in attached drawings, but many modifications can be brought to the aforementioned weapon without depart from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (8)

Weapon with fire authorization system, this weapon comprising a firing mechanism with a trigger (2) and other parts, the authorization system comprising a electric control element (8) capable of cooperating with a part of the firing mechanism so as to prevent or allow the arming of the firing mechanism, as the case may be, characterized in that the electrical control element (8) is a disconnect element that can disconnect a part mechanical firing mechanism or prevent the connection of this room if it is already disconnected, thus preventing the movement of the trigger (2) from arm this firing mechanism. Weapon according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrical control element (8) is connected to a electronic control system (10) checking whether certain conditions are met. Weapon according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control system (10) includes means identification of an authorized shooter. Weapon according to claim 3, characterized in that the aforementioned means of identification include a device transmitting an identification signal (11) to carried by an authorized shooter, the control system (10) being able to verify this signal. Weapon according to any one of the claims previous, characterized in that the control system (10) includes means for recognizing a place and / or still means for controlling environmental parameters. Weapon according to any one of the claims previous, characterized in that the mechanical part controlled by the electrical control element (8) is a part of the trigger mechanism. Weapon according to claim 6, characterized in that the mechanical part controlled by the control element electric (8) is the control rod (3) connected to the trigger (2). Weapon according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrical control element (8) is an electromagnet.

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