Actuating metal shooting targets

Abstract

Aspects of the invention extend to methods, systems, apparatus, and computer program products for actuating metal shooting targets. A fluidic control system is used to raise or lower a metal plate from behind a shield made of armor plate metal. At a shooting range, a metal (e.g., steel) plate can be transitioned to an “up” position and presented to a shooter. The shooter can discharge a firearm aimed at the metal plate in an attempt to hit the metal plate with a bullet. If the shooter successfully hits the metal plate with a bullet (and the impact is sufficiently powerful), the metal plate transitions (e.g., falls over) into a “down” position (e.g., hinging at a hinge included in the connecting rod/hinge assembly). The fluidic control system can then transition the metal plate can be to the “up” position.

1 . A target actuation system, comprising
 a target assembly, including:
 a target; and 
 a target back mount, including:
 a first pivot hinge pin hole; 
 a second pivot hinge pin hole; and 
 a target manipulation tab including a target manipulation tab pin hole; 
 
   a front protective shield including a target base mount support shelf;   a first side protective shield mechanically connected to one side of the front protecting shield and including a third pivot hinge pin hole;   a second side protective shield mechanically connected to another side of the front protecting shield and including a fourth pivot hinge pin hole;   a target base mount resting on target base mount support shelf and including a target back mount support element, a fifth pivot hinge pin hole, and a sixth pivot hinge pin hole   a multi-state piston cylinder including a piston, a shaft, a shaft fork, a lower chamber below the piston, and an upper chamber above the piston, one end of the shaft mechanically connected to the piston and another end of the shaft mechanically connected to the shaft fork, the lower chamber configured to raise the piston when filled with fluid, the upper chamber configured to lower the piston when filled with fluid, wherein the shaft fork includes a first shaft fork pin hole and a second shaft fork pin hole;   a pivot hinge pin inserted through and spanning the first pivot hinge pin hole, the second pivot hinge pin hole, the third pivot hinge pin hole, the fourth pivot hinge pin hole, the fifth pivot hinge pin hole, and the sixth pivot hinge pin hole; and   a target manipulation pin inserted through and spanning the first shaft fork pin hole, the target manipulation tab pin hole, and the second shaft fork pin hole.   
     
     
         2 . The target actuation system of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-state piston cylinder is a pneumatic piston cylinder. 
     
     
         3 . The target actuation system of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-state piston cylinder further includes a first fluid port connected to the lower fluid chamber and a second fluid port connected to the upper fluid chamber; and
 further comprising:
 a manifold connected to a fluid source, the manifold including a first valve and a second valve; 
 a first fluid connection between the first fluid port and the first valve; and 
 a second fluid connection between the second fluid port and the second valve. 
   
     
     
         4 . The target actuation system of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 electrical controls;   a first electrical connection between the electrical controls and the first valve;   a second electrical connection between the electrical controls and the second valve; and   wherein the electrical controls utilize the first electrical connection to control transitioning the first valve between a first valve open state and a first valve closed state, the first valve open state permitting fluid from the fluid source to exit the manifold through the first valve, the first valve closed state preventing fluid from the fluid source from exiting the manifold through the first valve; and   wherein the electrical controls utilize the second electrical connection to control transitioning the second valve between a second valve open state and a second valve closed state, the second valve open state permitting fluid from the fluid source to exit the manifold through the second valve, the second valve closed state preventing fluid from the fluid source from exiting the manifold through the second.   
     
     
         5 . The target actuation system of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a first position and movement sensor; and   a second position and movement sensor.   
     
     
         6 . The target actuation system of  claim 5 , wherein the multi-state piston cylinder further includes a first fluid port connected to the lower fluid chamber and a second fluid port connected to the upper fluid chamber; and
 further comprising:
 a manifold connected to a fluid source, the manifold including a first valve and a second valve; 
 a first fluid connection between the first fluid port and the first valve; and 
 a second fluid connection between the second fluid port and the second valve. 
   
     
     
         7 . The target actuation system of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a feedback control system including a sensor input receiver and piston controls;   a first digital connection between the sensor input receiver and the first position and movement sensor;   a second digital connection between the sensor input receiver and the second position and movement sensor;   a first electrical connection between the piston controls and the first valve; and   a second electrical connection between the piston controls and the second valve.   
     
     
         8 . The target actuation system of  claim 6 , wherein first position and movement sensor senses the position and movement of the piston cylinder from a first location and sends first position and movement data indicative of the position and movement of the piston cylinder sensed at the first location to the input receiver;
 wherein second position and movement sensor senses the position and movement of the piston cylinder from a second different location and sends second position and movement data indicative of the position and movement of the piston cylinder sensed at the second location to the input receiver;   wherein the feedback control system determines how to transition the piston into a next position based on the first position and movement data and the second position and movement data; and   wherein the piston controls send electrical signals over one or more of the first electrical connection and the second electrical connection to control the first and second valves into a configuration causing the piston to transition into the next position.   
     
     
         9 . The target actuation system of  claim 1 , further comprising a mechanical connection mechanically connecting the piston cylinder between the first side protective shield and the second side protective shield. 
     
     
         10 . A target actuation system, comprising
 a target assembly, including:
 a target; and 
 a target back mount, including:
 a first pivot hinge pin hole; 
 a second pivot hinge pin hole; and 
 a target manipulation tab including a target manipulation tab pin hole; 
 
   a target base mount including a target back mount support element, a third pivot hinge pin hole and a fourth pivot hinge pin hole   a multi-state piston cylinder including a piston, a shaft, a shaft fork, a lower chamber below the piston, and an upper chamber above the piston, one end of the shaft mechanically connected to the piston and another end of the shaft mechanically connected to the shaft fork, the lower chamber configured to raise the piston when filled with fluid, the lower chamber configured to lower the piston when filled with fluid, wherein the shaft fork includes a first shaft fork pin hole and a second shaft fork pin hole;   a pivot hinge pin inserted through and spanning the first pivot hinge pin hole, the second pivot hinge pin hole, the third pivot hinge pin hole, and the fourth pivot hinge pin hole; and   a target manipulation pin inserted through and spanning the first shaft fork pin hole, the target manipulation tab pin hole, and the second shaft fork pin hole.   
     
     
         11 . The target actuation system of  claim 10 , wherein the multi-state piston cylinder is a pneumatic piston cylinder. 
     
     
         12 . The target actuation system of  claim 10 , wherein the multi-state piston cylinder further includes a first fluid port connected to the lower fluid chamber and a second fluid port connected to the upper fluid chamber; and
 further comprising:
 a manifold connected to a fluid source, the manifold including a first valve and a second valve; 
 a first fluid connection between the first fluid port and the first valve; and 
 a second fluid connection between the second fluid port and the second valve. 
   
     
     
         13 . The target actuation system of  claim 11 , wherein the target manipulation pin includes a hole; and
 further comprising a cotter pin inserted into the hole.