EP0072368B1 - One-piece bullet trap - Google Patents

Abstract

1. Bullet-trap composed of a revolution part whose length is superior to diameter, for grenade rifle-launched ordinarily by firing ball cartridge, designed to receive and stop the bullet progressively by transmitting part of its kinetic energy to the grenade without producing any shock harmful to the mechanical and pyrotechnical parts of the grenade. This one-piece device constitutes the only intermediate part linking up the body (1) to the tubular tail (2) of the grenade. Its median diameter is smaller than that of the tubular tail which slides upon the rifle barrel.

Description

The present invention relates to the sector of conventional infantry ammunition.

It concerns a bullet trap for a rifle grenade, which makes it possible to launch the grenade from a long distance by firing a cartridge with a war bullet.

Known bullet traps consist of at least two deformable elements, the last of which is located in front of the main element, placed on the path of the bullet and mounted inside the tail tube - which slides on the cover. rifle flames during launch.

Thus, in patent US-A-2 853 008, the elements are discs 22 and washers 24 stacked in the tailed tube 16. In patent FR-A-1 554 362, the elements are a "deformable interceptor 8 and a brake sleeve 5 introduced into the tailed tube 2. Already in FR-A-714 636, a deformable cylinder 12, the length of which is greater than the diameter and a deformable washer 16 were housed inside the tailed tube 7.

The originality of the present invention is to produce the bullet trap in a single piece constituting the single intermediate piece connecting the body of the grenade to the tubular tail of the latter, piece whose median diameter is less than the diameter of the part of the tubular tail which slides on the barrel of the rifle.

An embodiment will now be described by way of nonlimiting example with reference to the accompanying drawing.

The rifle grenade is made up of a body 1, a tubular tail 2 and the bullet trap 3.

Any body 1 is charged with an explosive, combustible or inert composition; it is equipped with a rocket for firing this composition.

The any tail 2 is constituted by a tube whose internal diameter of 22 mm allows the sliding on the standard flame arrester of war rifles; this tube is trimmed with a tail.

The bullet trap 3 is fixed axially to the rear of the body 1 and to the front of the tail 2.

It is a one-piece piece of revolution, made of a very resistant material.

It is axially hollowed out from the rear; the recess 4 has a decreasing circular section, its largest diameter being slightly less than that of the bullet and being located at the rear edge of the trap, at 5.

The front part 6, which is fixed to the body 1, is massive.

The middle part 7 has a diameter smaller than that of the front part 6 and that of the rear part 8.

Any disc 9 is arranged in contact with the tail 2; it closes it and prevents foreign bodies from becoming lodged in the recess 4 before using the grenade.

As a variant, the grenade can be constituted only by the body 1 and by the bullet trap 3, when it is desired to launch it at short distance using a blunderbuss fixed to the end of a rifle barrel.

Operation

In normal use, the grenade is provided with the tail 2, which is pressed onto the rifle's flame hider for launching.

When fired, the bullet crosses disc 9 as soon as it leaves the barrel of the rifle; then it enters the bullet trap, engaging in the recess 4; it gradually settles in and deforms there, transmitting part of its kinetic energy to the grenade.

The grenade is thus set in motion and pushed by the bullet; then, under the effect of the pressure of the combustion gases of the cartridge, the speed of the grenade increases until the end of its sliding on the flame arrester of the rifle.

When the deformed ball reaches the bottom of the recess, it is stopped there, because it has lost most of its energy and because the front part 6 is thick enough to resist the remaining force, avoiding any initiation of rupture and all fusion.

Thus, the front part 6 is massive and wide, while the middle part 7 is hollowed out and externally narrower in diameter.

All the walls in contact with the ball being relatively thick, they do not undergo any apparent deformation.

As the bullet is gradually braked while the grenade picks up speed, there is no projection of fragments or particles from the bullet towards the shooter.

Finally, to carry out the exercise shot, it is possible to re-use the body 1 and the tail 2 after each shot: it suffices to replace the bullet trap used.

Claims (3)

1. Bullet-trap composed of a revolution part whose length is superior to diameter, for grenade rifle-launched ordinarily by firing ball cartridge, designed to receive and stop the bullet progressively by transmitting part of its kinetic energy to the grenade without producing any shock harmful to the mechanical and pyrotechnical parts of the grenade. This one-piece device constitutes the only intermediate part linking up the body (1) to the tubular tail (2) of the grenade. Its median diameter is smaller than that of the tubular tail which slides upon the rifle barrel.

2. The bullet-trap (see claim 1) is axially bored (4) on the side of the tubular tail and is shaped so as to allow the uniform penetration of the bullet.

3. The bullet-trap (see claim 2) is made up of a closing disc (9) protecting the bored side, and set against the tubular tail (2).

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