Loral Electro-optical Systems Inc.

Lauren B Althaus

Robert J Pederson

Lawrence J Gallagher

Benjamin Rubinstein

Jack V Miller

Stephen N Schomotolocha

The invention comprises a surrogate weapon for simulating the sound and flash of gunfire having a combustion chamber system in which a primary chamber is an elongated cavity, having a proximal end closed with a head and an open distal end. A combustible mixture is injected via electronically timed hydrocarbon fuel and oxidizer pulses into the combustion chamber near the closed end through an annular injector having a plurality of spaced apart fuel and oxidizer nozzles. The fuel nozzles are axially spaced from the oxidizer nozzles and are closer to the head. Thus the injected fuel/oxidizer charge is stratified with a fuel concentration distribution preferentially being richer at an ignition source near the head. The open distal end of the combustion chamber is in the form of an annular convergent nozzle which also comprises the proximal end of a secondary chamber that is acoustically tuned and provided at its open distal end with an annular muzzle having a cross-sectional shape capable of controlling the fundamental frequency and modifying tuned frequency overtones of the acoustic signature. One embodiment provides the fuel nozzles as a plurality of radial grooves on the proximal side of a generally flat plate transverse to the primary combustion chamber cavity and having an aperture therethrough, the aperture being flush with the inner surface of the combustion chamber cavity, and also providing oxidizer nozzles as a plurality of radial grooves on the distal side of the flat plate.

Surrogate weapon for weapons effects signatures

The invention comprises a combined machine gun and large bore cannon weapons effects signature simulator having a rapid fire small bore methane and oxygen fired combustion chamber disposed within the combustion chamber of a large bore main tank gun weapons effects signature simulator and supplied from a common source of pressurized methane and oxygen. One embodiment includes the injection of ambient temperature oil into the large bore chamber prior to firing the combustible mixture to augment the flame content of the weapon signature. Another embodiment provides for the emission of hot oil vapor to augment the smoke content of the weapon signature. Yet another embodiment provides the machine gun simulator combustion chamber integral with and in intimate thermal contact with the wall of the large bore combustion chamber, whereby the machine gun combustion chamber utilizes the large bore combustion chamber wall to dissipate heat. Still another embodiment provides a large bore combustion chamber coaxially and distally extending from the distal end of the small bore combustion chamber, whereby the large bore combustion chamber may be filled through the small bore combustion chamber with methane and oxygen, and ignition of all of the combustible mixture is initiated in the small bore combustion chamber.

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Montclair, CA, United States of America

Lauren B Althaus