Automated firing range
United States Patent [191 Weihl [451 Apr. 1, 1975 AUTOMATED FIRING RANGE [76] Inventor: Donald E. Weihl, 7705 W. Main St.,  
 Belleville, 111. 62223 [22] Filed: Nov. 30, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 420,550  
  Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 207,839. Dec. 14, 1971,  
 abandoned.  
 [52] U.S. Cl. 273/1056, 35/25 [51] Int. Cl F41j 9/01 {58] Field of Search... 273/l05.l, 105.6, 105.2;  
 35/8 A, 9 A, 25; 274/11 R; 353/15 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,706,634 4/1955 Valkcnburg 273/1056 2,889,742 6/1959 Martuarano 35/8 A 2.97.5,672 3/1961 Shields 35/8 A 3.323.800 6/1967 Knight 273/1056 3,721,493 3/1973 Schneiderman 35/8 A 3.756.715 9/1973 Niif 35/8 A FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1.038.952 9/1958 Germany 273/1056 Primar E.ruminerRichard C. Pinkham Assistant Eruminw-Marvin Siskind Attorney, Agenl, or FirmGravely, Lieder &amp; Woodruff [57] ABSTRACT In the operation of a firing range having targets, the visibility of which is controlled by remotely operated means, firing commands are recorded on one track of a tape passing through the recording head of a dual channel tape recording and playback machine. A synchronizer is connected with the other channel of the tape machine and that device generates inaudible target signals which are recorded on the other track of the tape in properly timed relation to the firing commands. When the tape is rewound and played back, the firing commands are reproduced through a speaker connected with the tape machine, while the reproduced target signals are directed to the synchronizer which closes an electrical circuit upon receipt of them. The coil of a relay switch is in the electrical circuit, and the remotely operated means are in circuit with the relay switch. Hence, when a target signal is received at the synchronizer, the remotely operated means is energized and the visibility of the target is increased, thus enabling the user of the range to sight upon and fire at the target upon receipt of and in proper sequence with the audible firing commands.  
 4 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure AUTOMATED FIRING RANGE This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 207,839, filed Dec. 14, 1971 now abandoned.  
 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to firing ranges and more particularly to a process and apparatus for operating firing ranges.  
  Conventional rifle and pistol ranges are basically composed of fixed targets and at least one firing line, and therefore only a limited number of firing exercises may be performed on these ranges. Greater versatility is obtained by mechanizing the targets so that they turn on command of the range operator, or else by organizing the range illumination such that the targets are illuminated upon command of the range operator. In neither case is the range operation fully automated since someone must be present to issue the firing commands and control the target operation or illumination. Moreover, when the same firing exercise is repeated for different contestants, the timing between the firing commands and the target operation may well vary, and as a result some contestants may be placed at a disadvantage.  
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide a process and an apparatus for automating the operation of firing ranges. Another object is to provide a process and an apparatus of the type stated for synchronizing oral firing commands with the visible ex posure of targets. An additional object is to provide a process and an apparatus of the type stated for enabling a firing exercise to be repeated many times with precisely the same timing between the firing commands and target operation. A further object is to provide an apparatus of the type stated which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture or assemble. These and other objects and advantages will become apparent hereinafter.  
  The present invention is embodied in a process for operating a firing range and that process includes simultaneously recording firing commands and target signals on a recording medium. The firing commands are reproduced through a speaker, whereas the target signals are directed to a synchronizer where they close a circuit connected with a means for remotely controlling the visibility of the range targets. The invention also resides in the apparatus for performing the process. The invention also consists in the parts and in the arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.  
 DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawing which forms part of the specification represents a schematic view of an apparatus for automatically controlling the operation of a firing range.  
 DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings, 2 designates an apparatus for automatically operating a rifle or pistol range having at least one target 4. The apparatus 2 automates the operation of the range in the sense that it coordinates the exposure of the target 4 with oral firing commands and enables the same firing exercise to be repeated many times in identical form. Broadly speaking, the apparatus 2 includes a dual channel tape recorder and playback machine 6, a speaker 8, a synchronizer 10, and a universal circuit 12.  
  The tape recorder and playback machine 6 may be any of the many varieties currently available on the market for recording signals on a magnetic tape 16 passing through a recording head 18 on the machine and for further reproducing the signals so recorded. It is essential that the machine have two channels so that simultaneous recordings may be made in two tracks on the tape 16. To accommodate the two channels the machine 6 is provided with a pair of input jacks 20and 22 and a pair of output jacks 24 and 26. The input jack 20 and the outputjack 24 are connected with one channel, and the input jack 22 and the output jack 26 are connected with the other channel.  
  The speaker 8 is connected with the output channel 26 of the machine 6, while the corresponding input channel 22 is connected to a microphone 28. Thus, oral firing commands spoken into the microphone 28 will be recorded on one track of the tape 16, and the commands so recorded will be reproduced through the speaker 8 when the tape 16 is played back.  
  The synchronizer 10 has a double terminal input jack 40, output jack 42, and recording jack 44, and a signal switch or button 46. The input jack 40 is connected with the output jack 24 of the tape machine 6 through a double conductor wire 48 so that signals recorded on the second channel of the tape 16 are delivered to the synchronizer 10 by way of the wire 48. The recording jack 44, on the other hand, is connected with the input jack 20 of the machine 6 by way of a double conductor wire 50. The synchronizer 10 is constructed such that when the button 46 is depressed, an inaudible signal is generated within the synchronizer l0, and this signal is delivered to the tape machine 6 through the wire 50. Since the wire 50 is connected with the input jack 20 of the tape machine 6, the signal is recorded on the second track of the tape 16, and when the machine 6 isset for playback the signal is reproduced and delivered to the synchronizer 10 through the wire 48 and the input jack 40. The synchronizer 10 is further constructed to amplify the reproduced signal delivered to it at .the input jack 40, and this amplified signal is used to close a switch, the terminals of which are connected to the output jack 42. Thus, when the synchronizer 10 receives a signal from the recording machine 6, the double terminal output jack 42 will conduct an electric current between the terminals thereof, but when no signal is delivered to the synchronizer 10 the output jack 42 will not conduct a current.  
  Devices suitable for use as the synchronizer 10 are currently available on the market and are sold for use in coordinating a tape lecture with the operation of a slide projector. They are often referred to as tape-slide synchronizers. Bell and Howell markets a suitable tapeslide synchronizer, calling it Audio Cube 766,327. Edmund Scientific Company of Barrington, N.J., also markets a tape-slide synchronizer and has assigned it Stock No. 41,222.  
  The universal circuit 12 includes a double terminal input jack which is connected to the output jack 42 of the synchronizer 10 by a double conductor wire 62. In addition, the universal circuit 12 includes a relay switch 64 and an electrical energy source 66 capable of energizing the coil of the relay switch 64. The output jack 42 of the synchronizer 10, the coil of the relay switch 64 and the electric current source are all connected in series so that when the synchronizer receives a signal from the tape machine 2 and thereby closes the switch to which the output jack 42 thereof is connected, the electrical energy source 66 will be placed across the coil of the relay switch 64 and will energize the same. The electrical energy source 66 may be batteries or a transformer connected to the mains to provide a reduced voltage for operating the relay switch 64. The universal circuit 12 further includes a double terminal output jack 68 to which the two terminals of the relay switch 64 are connected. Thus, when the coil of the relay switch 64 is energized, the switch 64 is closed and the output jack 68 will conduct a current. The universal circuit is encased in a box 69 which may be detached from the synchronizer 10 by disconnecting the wire 62 from either the input jack 60 of the circuit 12 or the output jack 42 of the synchronizer 10.  
  The target 4 is mounted such that it swivels from an exposed position wherein it faces the firing line to an unexposed position wherein it faces away from the firing line, in which case the actual target face is not visible from the firing line. The target 4 is rotated by an air cylinder 70, and this air cylinder contains a four way valve 71 in which a solenoid is connected to the mains through double conductor wire 72. One conductor of the wire 72 is connected with the output jack 68 of the universal circuit 12 and hence is normally interrupted by the relay switch 64. However, when the coil of the relay switch 64 is energized, and thus closes, the solenoid in the valve 71 of the air cylinder 70 is placed across the mains, in which case it will turn the target 4.  
 OPERATION To utilize the apparatus 2 for the automatic operation of a firing range, firing commands as well as target signals must first be placed on the tape 16 in proper relation to one another. This is achieved by setting the tape machine 6 for recording and then uttering the firing commands into the microphone 28 in the proper sequence and with the correct time intervals between commands. In other words, the commands should be recorded as if they were being delivered during an actual firing exercise.  
  Contemporaneously with the recording of the audible firing commands on the tape 16 through the other channel of the machine 6, target signals are recorded on the tape 16 through the other channel of the machine 6. In particular, the audible firing commands are initiated with the target 4 facing away from the shooter and the firing line at which he stands. During the course of the firing commands, a point will occur at which the target should move to a position facing the shooter. At this point in time the button 46 on the synchronizer 10 is depressed and that button is held in the depressed position for as long as the exercise requires the target 4 to face the shooter. Then it is released. When the button 46 is depressed the synchronizer generates a signal which is delivered to the tape machine 6 through the wire 50, and this signal is recorded on the second track of the tape 16 for as long as the button 46 remains depressed.  
  When depressed, the button 46 also closes the circuit through the output jack 42 of the synchronizer 10. This in turn places the coil of the relay switch 64 across the electrical energy source 66 of the universal circuit 12,  
 thereby closing the relay switch 64. The closure of the relay switch 64 places the solenoid in the valve 71 of the air cylinder across the mains, and the target 4 moves to its exposed or visible position and remains there as long as the switch 64 is closed, which is, of course, as long as the button 46 remains depressed.  
  When the button 46 is released, the target 70 returns to its original unexposed position and the second channel of the tape 16 receives no further signal.  
  The button 46 is depressed as many times as there are target exposures during the firing exercise, and, of course, in proper relation to the voice commands.  
  To conduct the actual firing exercise, the tape 16 is first rewound on the machine 6 and then the machine 6 is set for playback. As the tape 16 advances through the recording head 18 on the machine 6, the firing commands recorded on the first track of the tape 16 are reproduced through the speaker 8 and are clearly audible to the shooter standing at the firing line. When the firing commands reach a point at which the target is to be exposed, the target signal recorded on the second track of the tape 16 is reproduced and sent to the synchronizer 10 through the wire 48. The target signal recorded on the second track of the tape 16 is reproduced and sent to the synchronizer 10 through the wire 48. The target signals are amplified within the synchronizer 10 and the amplified signal closes the switch to which the output jack 42 is connected. This establishes electrical contact between the two terminals of the jack 42 and between the two conductors of the wire 62 leading to the universal circuit 12 so that the coil of the relay switch 64 is placed across the electrical energy source 66. Consequently, the relay switch 64 closes and remains closed for the duration of the target signal on the tape 16. The closure of the relay switch 64 places the solenoid in the four way valve 71 in the air cylinder 70 across the mains, and the air cylinder 70 moves the target 4 to is exposed position, that is the position facing the firing line. The air cylinder 70 holds the target 4 in the exposed position for the duration of the signal, and once the signal passes, the relay switch 64 opens and the target 4 moves back to its initial unexposed position by reason of the action of the four way valve 71 which is an integral part of the air cylinder 70. When the relay switch 64 is opened, the solenoid in the four way valve 71 is returned by a coil spring action which causes compressed air from a supply tank 74 to enter the opposite end of the air cylinder 70. This in turn moves the target 4 back to its initial unexposed position.  
  In lieu ofthe air cylinder 70 the target 4 may be operated by an electric motor. In such a case the motor would be controlled by limit switches, and the forward and reverse switches of the motor in turn would be connected to and controlled by the relay switch 64.  
  Similarly, the apparatus 2 may be utilized to operate range lights instead of an air cylinder 70. In that case the lights would be connected to and controlled by the relay switch 64, and no need would exist for the targets 4 to move for their exposure would be dependent on the operation of the range lights.  
  This invention is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosure which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.  
 What is claimed is:  
  1. A firing range comprising: a tangible target of fixed size and shape which is movable between a generally obscured position and a highly visible firing position; target positioning means for physically moving the target between its obscured and firing positions; a recording and playback machine through which a single recording medium passes, the machine being capable of simultaneously recording two different commands on separate tracks of the recording medium, and further being capable of reproducing those different commands in the same sequence and time intervals as they were recorded; a microphone connectable to the machine such that audible firing commands directed into the microphone are recorded on one of the tracks of the recording medium; a speaker connected with the machine for emitting the audible commands recorded on said one track when they are rep&#39;roduced by the machine; synchronizer means capable of generating inaudible commands, the synchronizer means being connected to the machine such that the inaudible commands are recorded on the other track of the recording medium and such that the inaudible commands when reproduced by the machine are received by the synchronizer means, the synchronizer means further being capable of amplifying the reproduced inaudible commands and being connected to the target positioning means for causing the target positioning means to physically change the position of the target when an inaudible command is received thereby.  
  2. A firing range according to claim 1 and further characterized by a relay switch interposed between and connected with the synchronizer means and the target positioning means; and wherein the amplified inaudible command constitutes an electrical current capable of actuating the relay switch.  
  3. A firing range according to claim 2 wherein the relay switch is contained in a package separate from the synchronizer means and is detachable from the synchronizer means.  
 4. A firing range according to claim 1 wherein the recording medium is a tape.