System and method for recovery of undamaged frangible aerial targets

Abstract

A system and method for recovery of undamaged frangible aerial targets at shooting ranges includes a net positioned horizontally above ground level to cover a target fall zone. The net has mesh openings sized to retain undamaged frangible aerial targets while allowing damaged targets to pass through. The net forms a closed loop around parallel elongated front and rear rollers supported above ground by a plurality of fixed caster assemblies. A motor operatively coupled to at least one roller drives the net in a conveyor-like motion. Undamaged targets landing on the net are transported by the net to a collection area positioned adjacent to the front roller. The system may include friction strips on the rollers to enhance traction and a protective barrier shielding the collection area from stray shotgun pellets, thereby enabling recovery and reuse of targets that would otherwise break upon ground impact.

Claims

1. A system for recovery of undamaged frangible aerial targets at a shooting range comprising: a net having mesh openings to retain undamaged frangible aerial targets while allowing damaged frangible aerial targets to pass therethrough, the net positioned above ground level to cover at least a portion of a target fall zone; an elongated front roller and an elongated rear roller positioned substantially parallel to each other and spaced apart at a predetermined distance, wherein the net forms a closed loop around both elongated rollers; a plurality of support structures spaced along each respective elongated roller at predetermined intervals for supporting the respective elongated roller above ground level, wherein each of the plurality of support structures comprises a caster assembly, each caster assembly comprising a pair of fixed lower casters and a fixed upper caster, wherein the respective elongated roller is positioned between the pair of fixed lower casters and the fixed upper caster, wherein the predetermined intervals are approximately five feet along a length of each elongated roller; a motor operatively coupled at least to one of the elongated rollers to impart rotational motion; a collection area positioned adjacent to the elongated front roller for receiving undamaged frangible aerial targets from the net; and a plurality of elongated friction strips positioned longitudinally along a length of the elongated front roller and spaced approximately 120 degrees apart about a circumference of the elongated front roller.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a protective barrier positioned in front of the collection area opposite the elongated front roller.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein each friction strip has a length substantially equal to the distance between adjacent sets of fixed lower casters along the elongated front roller.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein a plurality of elongated friction strips are positioned longitudinally along a length of the elongated rear roller and spaced approximately 120 degrees apart about a circumference of the elongated rear roller.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the mesh openings of the net measure between 1.8 inch and 2.2 inch.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein each friction strip on the elongated rear roller has a length substantially equal to the distance between adjacent sets of fixed lower casters along the elongated rear roller.

7. A system located at a shooting range for recovery of undamaged frangible aerial targets comprising: a net adapted to act as a closed loop conveyor belt between at least an elongated rear roller and an elongated front roller; the net covering at least a portion of a target fall zone; the net having mesh openings sufficient to retain undamaged frangible aerial targets while allowing damaged targets to pass thru; at least one motor operatively connected to the elongated front roller; each elongated roller supported above a ground surface; a collection area positioned adjacent to the elongated front roller for receiving undamaged clay targets transported by the net; a plurality of elongated friction strips positioned longitudinally along a length of each of the elongated front roller and the elongated rear roller, the elongated friction strips spaced approximately 120 degrees apart about a circumference of each respective elongated roller; a plurality of fixed caster assemblies supporting each of the elongated front roller and the elongated rear roller, each fixed caster assembly positioned around the respective elongated roller and comprising at least two fixed lower casters and a fixed upper caster; and a protective barrier positioned in front of the collection area opposite the elongated front roller.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the mesh openings of the net measure between 1.8 inch and 2.2 inch.

9. A method for recovering undamaged frangible aerial targets at a shooting range comprising: a) providing a conveyor system comprising: a net having mesh openings dimensioned to retain undamaged frangible aerial targets while allowing damaged frangible aerial targets to pass through; an elongated front roller and an elongated rear roller positioned substantially parallel to each other and elevated above ground level, wherein the net forms a closed loop around the elongated front roller and elongated rear roller; a motor operatively coupled to at least one of the elongated rollers to impart rotational motion; a collection area positioned adjacent to the elongated front roller; b) positioning the conveyor system to cover a target fall zone of the shooting range; c) activating the motor to cause the net to move in a direction from the elongated rear roller toward the elongated front roller; d) catching undamaged frangible aerial targets on an upper surface of the net; and c) transporting the undamaged frangible aerial targets on the upper surface of the net to the collection area.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the mesh openings of the net measure between 1.8 inch and 2.2 inch.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising: providing a plurality of caster assemblies spaced at predetermined intervals along a length of each elongated roller, each caster assembly comprising a pair of fixed lower casters positioned to support a respective elongated roller and a fixed upper caster positioned above the respective elongated roller.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the predetermined intervals are approximately five feet along the length of each elongated roller.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the mesh openings of the net measure between 1.8 inch and 2.2 inch.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a target range utilizing the disclosed method and system.

(2) FIG. 2 is a top view of the system of FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3 is a front view of the disclosed system.

(4) FIG. 4, is a side view along line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

(5) FIG. 5 is a close up view of the elongated front roller and support illustrated in FIG. 5.

(6) FIG. 6 is a top close up view of a portion of net 104 and position of casters and friction strips on an elongated roller.

(7) FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the position of an elongated roller and netting between the casters.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(8) The figures presented herein are for illustrative purposes and the illustrated parts are not necessarily shown in correct proportion or scale.

(9) An example of a target range utilizing the disclosed method and system 100 is illustrated in FIG. 1. Typically, Shooter S stands approximately 16 yards in front of a trap machine (not shown) housed within a trap house 102 which launches frangible aerial targets T within a 75 degree arc approximately 50 yards.

(10) System 100 includes a net 104 for collecting undamaged frangible aerial targets T. Net 104 has mesh openings that measure between 1.8 inch and 2.2 inch. Net 104 is positioned horizontally above ground level G to cover the target fall zone.

(11) System 100 further includes an elongated front roller 108 and a elongated rear roller 110, each elongated roller is approximately 100 ft in length positioned between a caster assembly positioned on respective supports 120 which will be described later. Elongated rollers 108 and 110 are parallel to one another spaced approximately 30 feet apart. Both elongated rollers 108 and 110 are made of 1.25 OD steel pipe. Net 104 is positioned around both rollers to create a closed loop conveyor belt as best illustrated in FIG. 4. Net 104 is approximately 60 feet in length by 100 feet wide.

(12) A plurality of support structures 120 are spaced along each respective elongated roller at predetermined intervals of five feet for supporting the respective elongated roller above ground level.

(13) Each of the plurality of support structures 120 support a respective caster assembly 112, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 7. Each caster assembly 112 comprises a pair of fixed lower casters 122 and a fixed upper caster 124, wherein the respective elongated roller is positioned between the pair of fixed lower casters and the fixed upper caster. A total of 21 caster assemblies are used for each elongated roller with a caster assembly positioned at 5 foot intervals along each elongated roller. The fixed lower casters 122 support elongated rollers 108, 110 in a V-type configuration, and the upper caster 124 is positioned offset and closer to the opposing elongated roller. Upper caster 124 maintains the tension on net 104 by frictional engagement with the respective elongated roller.

(14) The elongated front roller 108 is operatively coupled to an electric motor 114 configured to operate at low rotational velocities to drive the conveyor system. The electric motor 114 used was a 30 watt, 100 KG load electric rotisserie motor. To mitigate potential slippage between net 104 and the rotating elongated rollers 108, 110 during operational cycles, each elongated roller incorporates a plurality of longitudinally-oriented friction strips 118 that enhance the coefficient of friction at the net-roller interface, as depicted in FIG. 6. Each friction strip 118 exhibits dimensional parameters of approximately 1 inch in width by 4.5 feet in length and is permanently affixed to the respective elongated roller via an adhesive bonding agent in the interstitial longitudinal space between adjacent caster assemblies. The friction strips 118 are strategically disposed in a tripartite configuration, with three longitudinal rows circumferentially spaced at approximately 120-degree intervals around the outer cylindrical surface of each elongated roller. Each friction strip 118 is fabricated from a coarse weave material specifically selected for its high-friction characteristics.

(15) When motor 114 is activated, the upper surface of net 104 displaces in a direction from elongated rear roller 110 to elongated front roller 108 as illustrated in FIG. 4. The operational coverage area of net 104 encompasses approximately 100 feet by 30 feet. For optimal system performance, net 104 is preferably maintained in continuous rotational motion during periods when frangible aerial targets T are being ballistically projected. Intact frangible aerial targets T, upon impact with the upper surface of net 104, are subjected to conveyance via the translational motion of the net toward and subsequently over the apex of elongated front roller 108, whereupon they undergo gravitational descent onto collection area 106 as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5. Following accumulation in collection area 106, the structurally intact frangible aerial targets T remain available for manual extraction by authorized range personnel for subsequent redeployment in shooting activities.

(16) As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, a protective barrier 116 can be used to shield net 104, collection area 106 and collected frangible aerial targets T from stray shotgun pellets.

(17) The method for recovering undamaged frangible aerial targets at a shooting range is as follows: providing a conveyor system that comprises: a net having mesh openings to retain undamaged frangible aerial targets while allowing damaged frangible aerial targets to pass through; an elongated front roller and an elongated rear roller positioned substantially parallel to each other and elevated above ground level, wherein the net forms a closed loop around the elongated front roller and elongated rear roller; a motor operatively coupled to at least one of the rollers to impart rotational motion; and a collection area positioned adjacent to the elongated front roller; positioning the conveyor system to cover a target fall zone of the shooting range; activating the motor to cause the net to move in a direction from the elongated rear roller toward the elongated front roller; catching undamaged frangible aerial targets on an upper surface of the net; and transporting the undamaged frangible aerial targets on the upper surface of the net to the collection area.