EP0499500B1 - Container provided with electrical connection means - Google Patents

Description

The field of the present invention is that of containers capable of receiving a propellant charge and more particularly that of containers used in the field of large caliber or tank artillery.

In order to adjust the range of the shot, it is often necessary to change the amount of powder that is used to launch a projectile.

Modular cylindrical containers made of combustible material have already been defined (see for example patent WO8601584 which describes the preamble of claims 1 and 2). Thanks to their rigidity, such containers are easier to use than traditional powder sachets.

In order to reduce the bulk of ammunition inside armored vehicles, it may also be necessary to divide them into two distinct parts, one carrying the main propellant charge and the other the projectile and possibly a secondary charge (we will look at example GB2136929 which describes such ammunition).

The containers or ammunition in two parts according to the state of the art are made of combustible materials and most of the time insulating.

Today the rockets carried by projectiles are programmed outside the weapon or else in the supply corridors and in any case a certain time before firing.

To make or modify the programming of a rocket carried by the projectile or to charge a capacitor carried by it, it would be useful to be able to establish an electrical connection between the weapon and the projectile.

However, the division of the munition into two burdens, most often entirely combustible, does not allow the immediate and reliable establishment of an electrical connection between the burden which carries the projectile and the weapon.

In the particular case where the two containers contain a propellant charge, there is also the problem of igniting these two charges.

Indeed, in order to obtain a homogeneous ignition and a good reproducibility of the characteristics of interior ballistics, it is necessary to ignite in a substantially instantaneous way the load over its entire length.

It is thus conventional to use igniter tubes (for example that described by patent FR 2 343 987) for cartridge-filled ammunition.

However, these cannot be used in the case of a load comprising several burdens.

Patent WO8601584 proposes to produce a container made of combustible material and comprising an axial channel which is delimited by annular tablets of an ignition composition. Thus, after stacking several containers, the axial channel acts as an igniter tube for complete loading. A single igniter at one end of the channel ensures instant ignition of all of the annular tablets.

Such an arrangement nevertheless has drawbacks.

Thus for very long loads (more than five calibers), the igniter can no longer ensure instant ignition of the entire load.

The pressure regime obtained is not regular and the ballistic performances are poor and not very reproducible.

Patent US4616565 shows a modular detonator intended to be assembled with other similar detonators to form a linear explosive charge.

It is a first object of the invention to propose a container intended to be made integral with at least one other container and comprising means authorizing the transmission of a signal between a weapon and a projectile regardless of the number of containers.

Thus the invention aims to ensure the reliable establishment of an electrical connection between two burdens of ammunition made of combustible materials

It is another object of the invention to propose an application of such means to the production of instant ignition of the entire propellant charge obtained after the containers have been assembled.

• un rétreint disposé au niveau de la face frontale, le rétreint étant destiné à être recouvert au moins partiellement par une bague de liaison mécanique lorsqu'il est solidaire dudit deuxième conteneur,
• des moyens de conduction de l'électricité, destinés à recevoir et à transmettre un signal provenant d'une arme, et
• des moyens de connexion électrique permettant d'assurer, après solidarisation avec le deuxième conteneur, une connexion électrique entre lesdits moyens de conduction d'électricité et d'autres moyens de conduction de l'électricité portés par le deuxième conteneur, ledits moyens de connexion électriques, qui sont destinés à venir en contact avec une surface conductrice complémentaire portée par ledit deuxième conteneur, comportant :
• une surface conductrice solidaire de la face frontale disposée au niveau du rétreint, et/ou
• une zone conductrice disposée au niveau de la partie du rétreint destinée à être recouverte par ladite bague.

Thus, the subject of the invention is a container constituting part of a propellant charge of ammunition in at least two bundles and comprising an envelope of combustible material delimiting an internal volume in which a propellant charge can be placed, container intended to be made integral with a second container at one of its front faces, container characterized in that it comprises:

• a constriction arranged at the front face, the constriction being intended to be covered at least partially by a mechanical connection ring when it is integral with said second container,
• means of conduction of electricity, intended to receive and transmit a signal coming from a weapon, and
• means of electrical connection making it possible to ensure, after joining with the second container, an electrical connection between said means of conduction of electricity and other means of conduction of electricity carried by the second container, said means of electrical connection , which are intended to come into contact with a complementary conductive surface carried by said second container, comprising:
• a conductive surface integral with the front face disposed at the neck, and / or
• a conductive area disposed at the part of the neck intended to be covered by said ring.

• un rétreint disposé au niveau de la face frontale, le rétreint portant une bague de liaison mécanique,
• des moyens de conduction de l'électricité, destinés à recevoir et à transmettre un signal provenant d'une arme, et
• des moyens de connexion électrique permettant d'assurer, après solidarisation avec ledit deuxième conteneur, une connexion électrique entre lesdits moyens de conduction d'électricité et d'autres moyens de conduction de l'électricité portés par le deuxième conteneur, ledits moyens de connexion électrique, qui sont destinés à venir en contact avec une surface conductrice complémentaire portée par ledit deuxième conteneur, comportant :
• une surface conductrice solidaire de la face frontale disposée au niveau du rétreint, et/ou
• ladite bague et une zone conductrice disposée au niveau de la partie du rétreint destinée à être recouverte par ladite bague.

The invention also relates to a container constituting a part of a propellant charge of ammunition in at least two loads and comprising an envelope of combustible material delimiting an internal volume in which a propellant charge can be put in place, container intended to be made integral with a second container at one of its front faces, container characterized in that it comprises;

• a constriction placed at the level of the front face, the constriction carrying a mechanical connection ring,
• means of conduction of electricity, intended to receive and transmit a signal coming from a weapon, and
• means of electrical connection making it possible to ensure, after joining with said second container, an electrical connection between said means of conduction of electricity and other means of conduction of electricity carried by the second container, said means of electrical connection , which are intended to come into contact with a complementary conductive surface carried by said second container, comprising:
• a conductive surface integral with the front face disposed at the neck, and / or
• said ring and a conductive area disposed at the portion of the neck intended to be covered by said ring.

It is thus possible to easily ensure an electrical connection between the weapon and the projectile, the information or else the energy intended for the projectile being able to be brought to the level of a container close to the breech of the weapon.

The container according to the invention could constitute a basic container for a propellant charge in two bundles and thus comprise a base carrying an igniter.

It can also constitute a projectile container for propellant loading in two bundles.

In one or the other case, the conductive zone disposed at the level of the constriction may be constituted by at least one conductive jumper pinched between the envelope of the container and a closure cover.

The conduction means may comprise a conductor integral with the envelope of the container.

In the case where the container comprises at least one flame transmission device extending axially over substantially its entire length, the conduction means may comprise a conductor integral with this flame transmission device.

According to variants, the conductor may consist of at least one metal track, the conduction means may include metallization of the internal wall of the envelope of the container.

The conduction means may include metallization of the wall of the flame transmission device.

In the case where the front face is carried by a cover, the conduction means may comprise an at least equally conductive part of the lateral surface of the cover.

The container according to the invention intended for a propellant charge in at least two loads can comprise an igniter with electrical initiation and the means of conduction and electrical connection can connect this igniter to a second igniter carried by the second container, these means of conduction and connection being intended to ensure the simultaneous ignition of the two igniters.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description of particular embodiments, description made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows in half-section ammunition consisting of two containers according to the invention intended to be assembled to each other.

Figure 2 is a section of the previous one along the plane A-A.

Figure 3 is a schematic representation of an igniter modified to be able to be adapted in a container according to the invention.

Figures 4 and 5 show the single envelope of a container according to a particular embodiment of the invention, Figure 5 being the half-section of the previous along the plane BB, and Figure 4 the section of Figure 5 according to the CC plan.

Figures 6, 7 and 8 are partial representations of different embodiments of containers according to the invention.

Referring to Figure 1, ammunition for armored vehicles has a load which comprises two containers 1a, 1b.

A basic container 1a carries a base 2, most often metallic, and an igniter 3a with electrical initiation secured to the base.

The envelope 9a of this first container is made of combustible material such as nitrocellulose or else cardboard, it is made integral with the base 2 by means of a fixing washer 8 (but any other means of attachment could be envisaged) , and it is closed at its other end by a cover 11a also made of combustible material.

The envelope also has at its end opposite the base a constriction 22a on which comes a ring 12 whose function will be explained later.

A projectile container 1b also includes an envelope 9b made of combustible material. The envelope is closed by a cover 11b and it carries a projectile 4 (here an arrow projectile) by means of a connecting means 5 made of plastic, for example polyamide.

This connecting means 5 is obtained by injection on the body of the projectile at an annular groove and it is fixed by rivets 6 on the casing 9b (the rivets could be replaced by bonding).

The envelope 9b also includes a constriction 22b.

The two containers are brought into contact at their end faces 10a, 10b. The ring 12 ensures good relative positioning of the two containers and it also makes it possible to secure the joining of the two parts of the load.

It suffices for this to slide the ring 12 on the constriction 22b and to make it overlap the two constrictions 22a and 22b. It is then immobilized in this position for example by means of sticky paper.

It is also possible to provide a ring 12 whose internal diameter is slightly less than that of the necks and which ensures a connection by the localized deformation of the envelopes 9a and 9b of the containers.

The container 1a delimits an internal volume 37a inside which are disposed a propellant charge in grains 23a and a flame transmission device which is here a chimney 13, made of combustible material, and disposed substantially coaxially with the envelope 9a. This chimney is held in position by means of two combustible spacers 15 which are supported on the internal surface of the casing 9a.

The spacers will preferably be glued to the chimney, they include lights 16 (see FIG. 2), regularly distributed, which facilitate the placing of the propellant charge in grains 23a in the internal volume 37a of the container.

The chimney is pierced with holes 14 for igniting the propellant charge 23a.

A relay charge 17a consisting of a sachet filled with black powder and covering substantially the entire section of the container 1a is placed in the vicinity of the igniter.

It ensures ignition of the load 23a on a substantially flat front normal to the axis of the container.

The chimney acts as an igniter tube for the part of the load contained in the base container 1a.

The flame from the relay charge 17a propagates in the tube and ignites the main charge 23a through the holes 14.

An electrical wire 18, in insulating sheath, provides an electrical connection between the igniter 3a and a conductive surface 21a deposited on the cover 11a at the front face 10a.

In this particular embodiment, the wire 18 passes through the interior of the chimney 13, its stripped end is fixed to the conductive surface by means of conductive adhesive paper (for example an adhesive aluminum strip).

The container 1b delimits an internal volume 37b inside which are placed a propellant charge in grains 23b and a relay charge 17b which is a sachet of black powder covering substantially the entire section of the container 1b.

A second electric igniter 3b of known type is disposed inside this bag, it is connected by a ground wire 19 to the projectile 4 (here by the tail 7 on which it is brazed or fixed by a self-adhesive aluminum strip), and by a connecting wire 20 to a conductive surface 21b deposited on the cover 11b at the front face 10b. The stripped end of the wire 20 will also be fixed by conductive adhesive paper.

The conductive surfaces 21a and 21b are preferably annular and surround openings 32a and 32b arranged in the covers at the axis of the containers.

These openings (closed by sheets of paper) allow the flame from the igniter 3a to be used to complete the ignition of the relay load 17b.

It will be advantageous to use the openings 32a and 32b for the passage of the wires 18 and 20.

The containers 1a and 1b therefore comprise in their internal volume 37a, 37b means for conduction of electricity (the connecting wire 18 for the container 1a and the connecting wires 19 and 20 for the container 1b).

These conduction means will transmit to the second container 1b the ignition signal which is supplied by the weapon at the level of the igniter 3a secured to the first container 1a.

The containers also include connection means (conductive surfaces 21a and 21b of the covers).

These connection means make it possible to provide the electrical connection between the conduction means carried by the first container 1a and the conduction means carried by the second container 1b.

When the two containers are joined together, the conductive surfaces 21a and 21b come into mutual contact, and thus make the electrical connection between the internal circuits of the containers 1a and 1b. The electrical circuit thus established connects the two igniters 3a and 3b and makes it possible to ensure simultaneous ignition of the two igniters.

The propellant charge 23b may be in grains but it will advantageously consist of "sticks" or strands of powder having axial orifices. Such a charge ensuring rapid propagation of the flame front.

The chimney could be replaced by another flame transmission device such as a black powder igniter tube or a detonating cord (of the type described in patents FR2343987 and FR2509038), in all cases the wire 18 will be made integral with the device, for example by bonding to an external generator thereof.

The containers are assembled as follows:

For the container 1a, the envelope 9a is made integral with the base carrying the igniter on which the wire 18 is fixed.

Grain powder is placed at the bottom of the base to ensure a maximum filling rate, then the relay charge bag 17a is put in place. The chimney 13 carrying its spacers 15 is disposed in the envelope, the wire 18 passing inside the chimney.

The socket is filled by the propellant charge 23a through the openings 16 of the spacers. The load is vibrated to ensure an optimum filling rate.

The cover is put in place and the wire 18 connected to the conductive surface 21a.

For the container 1b, the envelope 9b is first of all linked to the projectile by the rivets 6.

The powder is put in place as well as the ground wire 19 and the relay charge bag 17b.

The cover 11b is put in place and the wire 20 connected to the conductive surface 21b.

Figure 3 shows the igniter 3a which is used. It comprises a conductive body 24 which is screwed into the base 2. A housing receiving an inflammatory primer 26 is screwed into an axial housing of the body 24.

A second housing containing a flame-enhancing composition 27 is also screwed into the housing of the body, and comes into contact with the housing of the primer.

An insulating support 28, for example made of plastic, closes the axial housing of the body 24 and receives a conductive touch 25 which is in electrical contact at one of its ends with one of the contacts of the primer 26.

An insulating washer 29 is clamped between the insulating support 28 and the casing of the primer.

The connecting wire 18 has a stripped end which is pinched between the insulating washer 29 and the touch 25.

This wire leaves the body 24 of the igniter by a radial cut 36.

When the assembled containers are placed in the chamber of a weapon, the primer 26 is connected to the mass of the weapon via the body 24 and the base 2.

The igniter 3b is connected to the mass of the weapon by means of the projectile 4.

When the firing is ordered, the touch 25 receives an electrical voltage which is transmitted to the primer 26 and to the igniter 3b via the conduction means arranged in the internal volumes of each container and connection means which provide the electrical connection between these conduction means after the two containers have been joined.

The two igniters are therefore initiated at the same time, which ensures simultaneous ignition of the charges contained in the two containers and a uniform pressure regime in the chamber of the weapon.

The means of conduction and electrical connection can take other forms.

Thus, FIGS. 4 and 5 show an alternative embodiment in which the conduction means comprise conductive tracks 30 arranged on the internal surface of the envelope 9a of the container 1a and which fulfill the same role as the connecting wire 18 of the embodiment. previous achievement.

These tracks, here four in number regularly distributed angularly, are produced for example by bonding aluminum sheets.

They are electrically connected to each other by a circular track 31 disposed at the bottom of the envelope 9a and also produced by bonding an aluminum sheet.

A wire (not shown here) connects the igniter 3a to the circular track for example by means of conductive adhesive paper, the diameter of the circular track 31 will therefore be greater than the diameter of the fixing washer 8 of the casing 9a on the base 2.

In this case, it may be advantageous to extend the tracks 30 on the external surface of the envelope at the level of the constriction 22a.

According to a variant, the conductive tracks can be embedded in the thickness of the envelope of the container during the manufacture of the latter. The ends of the tracks will nevertheless come out of the envelope at the lower and upper ends of the container to allow electrical connections to be made with the igniter 3 on the one hand and with the connection means on the other hand.

According to another variant, the conduction means could also include metallization of the entire internal surface of the envelope 9a.

The means of electrical connection between the tracks thus described and the container 1b will now be specified with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

In the embodiment partially shown in Figure 6, the covers 11a and 11b have conductive surfaces 21a and 21b substantially annular and intended to come into mutual contact.

These conductive surfaces extend over at least part of the lateral surface of the covers so as to come into contact with the tracks 30 (for the cover 11a), and to pinch the stripped end of the connecting wire 20 (for the cover 11b).

It would be possible, in the context of this variant, to replace the tracks 30 by a connecting wire pinched between the cover 11a and the casing 9a and connected to the igniter 3a as in the configuration of FIG. 1.

It would also be possible to use a container 1a, the entire interior surface of which would be metallized.

In the alternative embodiment partially shown in FIG. 7, the covers 11a and 11b are completely insulating.

The connection means comprise one or more conductive jumpers 34a, 34b which are arranged at the necks 22a and 22b (for example folded aluminum sheets).

They are positioned so as to be in electrical contact with the tracks 30 (for the jumpers 34a), and to pinch the stripped end of the connecting wire 20 (for at least one of the jumpers 34b).

The connection means also include the connecting ring 12 which has a conductive internal surface 33 and therefore provides the electrical connection between the jumpers 34a and the jumpers 34b after assembly of the containers 1a and 1b.

In the context of this variant, it would also be possible to metallize part of the internal surface of the cover 11b as well as its periphery in contact with the jumpers 34b. The connecting wire 20 would then be connected to the metallized cover by a conductive sticky paper.

Advantageously, the internal metallization of the cover could be made in the form of self-adhesive conductive tracks extending radially from the internal face of the cover 11b to its peripheral surface in contact with the jumpers.

In some cases, for example when the projectile is of the sub-calibrated type placed inside a shoe made of insulating material, it may be necessary to connect the ground wire 19 of the igniter to the ground of the weapon through the base 2.

FIG. 8 represents a variant of containers according to the invention which is adapted to the latter case.

The container 1a then has on the one hand tracks 30 arranged on the internal surface of the casing 9a and electrically connected to the base 2 (for example by contact between the circular track 31 and the fixing washer 8), and on the other hand share a metallized external surface 35 of a chimney 13.

Jumpers 34a are arranged at the neck 22a in the same way as in the previous variant.

A first connecting wire (not shown here) connects the surface 35 to the igniter 3a and a second connecting wire 18 connects this surface 35 to the annular conductive surface 21a of the cover 11a. The wire 18 will advantageously pass through the axial opening 32a of the cover.

The container 1b carries jumpers 34b which pinch the ground wire 19, the connecting wire 20 being connected to the annular conductive surface 21b through the axial opening 32b.

A ring 12 has an internal conductive surface 33 and provides the electrical connection between the jumpers 34a and the jumpers 34b.

• un circuit de masse qui comprend des moyens de conduction du conteneur 1a (pistes 30), des moyens de conduction du conteneur 1b (fil de masse 19) et des moyens de connexion (bague 12 et cavaliers 34a, 34b).
• un circuit d'alimentation qui comprend des moyens de conduction du conteneur la (premier fil de liaison, surface métallisée 35, deuxième fil de liaison 18), des moyens de conduction du conteneur 1b (fil de liaison 20) et des moyens de connexion (surfaces de contact 21a et 21b des couvercles).

This variant therefore shows containers in which the connection and conduction means are associated with two circuits:

• a ground circuit which comprises means for conduction of the container 1a (tracks 30), means for conduction of the container 1b (ground wire 19) and connection means (ring 12 and jumpers 34a, 34b).
• a supply circuit which comprises means for conduction of the container 1a (first connection wire, metallized surface 35, second connection wire 18), means for conduction of the container 1b (connection wire 20) and connection means ( contact surfaces 21a and 21b of the covers).

As already explained above, it would be possible here to replace the ground wire 19 by conductive tracks carried by the internal surface of the cover 11b.

It would also be possible to metallize the entire internal surface of the container.

Finally, the container according to the invention can also be a modular type container intended to be made integral with two other containers so as to produce an artillery charge of given power. Modular containers are already known in particular from patent WO8601584. In the context of such an application, the invention will ensure instant ignition of the entire load regardless of the number of containers stacked.

All the embodiments described above relate to containers filled with a propellant charge and the means of conduction of electricity and connection are in all cases intended to ensure the electrical connection of two igniters.

The conduction and connection means which have been previously described can also be used to connect the rocket of a projectile (for example an explosive) and the base container base. The base will then be modified to receive several contact pads through which the signals intended for the projectile will be sent.

These pads will be connected to the conduction and connection means described above (tracks, metallizations, covers, jumpers, etc.) by flexible wires and conductive adhesive strips.

And the projectile-carrying container (containing or not a propellant charge) will include the conduction and connection means described above (covers, jumpers, tracks, metallization, etc.) connected by flexible wires to the body of the projectile, for example at the base. or to the tail.

Claims (10)

1. A container (1a-1b) forming part of the propellant charge of a piece of ammunition composed of at least two sections and comprising an envelope (9a - 9b) made of a combustible material marking out an inner volume in which a propellant charge in particular can be positioned, a container intended to be made integral with a second container such as is described in Claim 2, by one of its front faces (10a - 10b), characterised in that it incorporates :

   - a necking (22a, 22b) arranged on the front face (10a, 10b), the necking being intended to be covered at least partly by a mechanical joining ring (12) when it is integral with said second container,

   - electrical conduction means, intended to receive and transmit a signal coming from a weapon, and

   - electrical connection means which, after integration with the second container, provide an electrical connection between said electrical conduction means and other electrical conduction means carried by the second container, said electrical connection means, which are intended to come into contact with an additional conductive surface carried by said second container, comprising :

   - a conductive surface (21a - 21b) integral with the front face (10a, 10b) arranged at the necking (22a, 22b), and/or

   - a conductive zone arranged at the part of the necking intended to be covered by said ring (12).
2. A container (1a-1b) forming part of the propellant charge of a piece of ammunition composed of at least two sections and comprising an envelope (9a-9b) made of a combustible material marking out an inner volume in which a propellant charge in particular can be positioned, a container intended to be made integral with a second container (1b-1a) by one of its front faces, characterised in that it incorporates :

   - a necking (22a, 22b) arranged at the front face (10a, 10b), the necking carrying a mechanical joining ring (12),

   - electrical conduction means, intended to receive and transmit a signal from a weapon, and

   - electrical connection means which, after integration with said second container, provide an electrical connection between said electrical conduction means and other electrical conduction means carried by said second container, said electrical connection means, which are intended to come into contact with a matching conductive surface carried by said second container, comprising :

   - a conductive surface (21a, 21b) integral with the front face (10a, 10b) arranged at the necking (22a, 22b), and/or

   - said ring (12) and a conductive zone arranged at the part of the necking intended to be covered by said ring (12).
3. A container according to one of Claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the conductive zone arranged at the necking (22a- 22b) is formed of at least one conductive staple (34a- 34b) pinched between the container envelope (9a-9b) and a covering cap (11a-11b).
4. A container according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the conduction means comprise a conductor integral with the container envelope.
5. A container according to one of Claims 1 to 4 and comprising at least one flame transmission device (13) extending axially over roughly its full length, characterised in that the conduction means comprise a conductor integral with this flame transmission device.
6. A container according to one of Claims 4 or 5, characterised in that the conductor is formed of at least one metallic track (30-31).
7. A container according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the conduction means comprise the metallization of the inner wall of the envelope (9a-9b) of the container (1a-1b).
8. A container according to one of Claims 1 to 7, and comprising at least one flame transmission device (13) extending axially over roughly its full length, characterised in that the conduction means comprise the metallization of the wall of the flame transmission device (13).
9. A container according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the front face (10a-10b) is carried by a cap (11a-11b) and in that the conduction means comprise a part which is at least equally conductive of the side surface of the cap.
10. A container according to one of Claims 1 to 9 and intended for a propellant charge composed of at least two sections, characterised in that it incorporates an electrically-initiated igniter (3a-3b) and in that the electrical conduction and connection means connect this igniter to a second igniter carried by the second container, these conduction and connection means being intended to ensure the simultaneous ignition of the two igniters.

Images