Method and apparatus for absorbing shock in an optical system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016290767-A1
Application number	US-201615185902-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 17, 2016
Priority date	Mar 14, 2013
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A shock attenuation system configured to reduce shock experienced by an optical device coupled to a weapon includes an inner rail support configured to couple to the weapon and at least two outer rail supports substantially parallel to the inner rail support. The at least two outer rail supports are configured to couple to the optical device. The shock attenuation system also includes a first spring feature coupled to a first of the at least two outer rail supports and the inner rail support, and a second spring feature coupled to a second of the at least two outer rail supports and the inner rail support. The shock attenuation system further includes a viscoelastic material coupled to at least one of: the inner rail support, the first outer rail support, the second outer rail support, the first spring feature, or the second spring feature.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A shock attenuation system configured to reduce shock experienced by an optical device coupled to a weapon, the shock attenuation system comprising:
an inner rail support configured to couple to the weapon; at least two outer rail supports substantially parallel to the inner rail support, wherein the at least two outer rail supports are configured to couple to the optical device; a first spring feature coupled to a first of the at least two outer rail supports and the inner rail support, and a second spring feature coupled to a second of the at least two outer rail supports and the inner rail support; a viscoelastic material coupled to at least one of: the inner rail support, the first outer rail support, the second outer rail support, the first spring feature, or the second spring feature.

2 . The shock attenuation system of claim 1 , wherein the shock attenuation system is configured to reduce shock experienced by the optical device during operation of the weapon to less than 250 g's.

3 . The shock attenuation system of claim 1 , wherein the spring features are configured to allow for motion of the outer rail supports with respect to the inner rail support.

4 . The shock attenuation system of claim 3 , wherein the distance between the inner rail support and each of the outer rail supports is large enough such that the inner rail support and the outer rail supports remain separated during operation of the shock attenuation system.

5 . A shock attenuator operable with a weapon and an optical device, the shock attenuator comprising:
a weapon support configured to couple to an accessory rail of the weapon, the weapon being characterized by a predetermined g load during operation; an optical device support configured to couple to the optical device; and a spring feature configured to couple to the rail support to the optical device support; wherein the shock attenuator is configured to reduce shock experienced by the optical device during operation of the weapon to less than the predetermined g load.

6 . The shock attenuator of claim 5 , wherein the spring feature is configured to allow for motion of the optical device support with respect to the weapon support.

7 . The shock attenuator of claim 5 , wherein the shock attenuator is configured to reduce shock experienced by the optical device during operation of the weapon to less than 250 g's.

8 . The shock attenuator of claim 7 , wherein the predetermined g loading is over 1400 g's.

9 . The shock attenuator of claim 5 , wherein the shock attenuator is configured to reduce shock experienced by the optical device during operation of the weapon to less than 200 g's.

10 . The shock attenuator of claim 5 , further comprising a viscoelastic material coupled to at least one of the group of: the weapon support, the optical device support, and the spring feature.

Assignees

• Drs Network & Imaging Systems Llc

Inventors

• Pekarek Brian
• Pietrasik Kenneth

Classifications

• F41G11/003

  Mountings with a dove tail element, e.g. "Picatinny rail systems" · CPC title

• F41G11/002 Primary

  Mountings with recoil absorbing means · CPC title